Mark Allen Hits Perfect 147 at Crucible, Fan Takes Home £25,000
If there’s ever a way to electrify the Crucible Theatre, it’s with a perfect maximum break. Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen stunned both fans and players by firing the 15th 147 in the World Snooker Championship’s storied history. This moment of brilliance unfolded during his second-round clash against Chris Wakelin, adding Allen’s name to the slick list of just 11 pros to reach this ultra-rare feat under the severe spotlight of Sheffield’s Crucible.
The 147 break is the ultimate in snooker—the potting of all 15 reds with blacks and the six colours, a run that brings not only prestige but a handy windfall. But the drama didn’t stop on the table. This year, a new twist guaranteed one lucky fan their very own payout. As Allen cleared the final black, a ripple turned to a roar—Brian Nicholls, celebrating his 75th birthday and attending the Crucible for the first time, discovered he’d bagged a surprise £25,000 jackpot. Turns out, fortune didn’t care that Brian was following a totally different match on the adjoining table. His son’s birthday treat just got a lot more memorable than either could have possibly expected.
For Allen, it was a double dose of history and hard cash. The break unlocked a £40,000 bonus from sponsor Midnite—a serious payday for a handful of immaculate pots. This is Allen’s first maximum at the Crucible, slotting him among snooker’s true greats like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry, both synonymous with perfection on this famous stage. The 147 capped off a session full of side stories too: two matches going on at once, electrified crowds shifting their gaze, and a sense that the unexpected lurks at every turn in world championship play.
Subplot: The Scoreboard Doesn't Lie
Beneath the euphoria of the maximum break and the off-table jackpot, the match score paints a starker picture. Allen managed this magic while trailing Chris Wakelin 10-3 in their best-of-25 marathon. It takes more than one bit of history to drag yourself out of a deficit like that. Allen’s up against it—he needs to snag 10 of the next 12 frames just to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Wakelin carries real momentum: he ousted top seed Neil Robertson in round one, making it clear he’s not just window dressing in Sheffield this year.
The Crucible has always revelled in ‘where were you?’ moments, and the 2025 championship is stacking up nicely. Two years have slipped by since the last Crucible 147—Mark Selby’s break in the 2023 final. Now Allen’s gem resets the clock. More importantly, it shows that even with one foot out of the competition, you can steal the spotlight with pure skill and nerve. Plus, a birthday fan goes home richer than most first-round losers. If anyone needed a reason to buy a ticket, Allen and Brian Nicholls just gave it to them.
April 26 2025 0
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