Jackson Page has received a £147,000 bonus after becoming the first snooker player to compile two 147 breaks in the same match in Sheffield on Monday. The 23-year-old from Ebbw Vale achieved the unique feat in the eighth and 12th frames of his 10-2 win over Allan Taylor in the third round of world championship qualifying.
The prize fund was available for any player who made two 147 breaks in the three “triple crown” events and the Saudi Arabian Masters this season. It will rise further if he holds on to the tournament’s £15,000 high break prize.
Page, who had never previously made a competitive maximum, said: “It’s a great feeling to have my first and second on the tour, but I’ve made loads in the club so it felt routine at the end. I never ever go for them in a match, but after the first one planted itself I had to go for the second one. I never usually do that but I did today and it paid off.”
Page made his first maximum in the eighth frame on Sunday as he established an 8-1 overnight lead, then repeated the feat when play resumed on Monday to seal a win that moves him one game away from a return to the Crucible. He will face Joe O’Connor in the final qualifying round on Tuesday.
The world No 35 told BBC 5 Live the money would come in particularly handy as he has a three-month-old son and has just bought a house. Page reached the Crucible last year, but lost 10-1 to Ronnie O’Sullivan in his opening match.
Elsewhere in the penultimate round of world championship qualifying, the former champion Stuart Bingham lost 10-6 to Michael Holt, who will face China’s Zhengyi Fan for a place in the Crucible draw. Jimmy Robertson edged out the 18-year-old Stan Moody 10-9 and will next play Matthew Selt, who saw off Anthony Hamilton 10-3.
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The former world championship finalists Ali Carter and Matthew Stevens also advanced to the final round of qualifying, but Stephen Maguire lost 10-3 to China’s Gao Yang.