Chang Bingyu's Historic 147 Earns £172,000 Windfall as Season Maximum Record Smashed

A Maximum That Means Much More Than Points

Chang Bingyu has produced one of the most financially significant breaks in recent snooker history, firing in a 147 maximum during his Halo World Championship Qualifying clash against 2023 Crucible champion Luca Brecel — and the payout could reach as much as £172,000. The 23-year-old Chinese potter, who reached the final of the Scottish Open this season, potted all 15 reds with blacks, all six colours, and in doing so triggered a bumper bonus that had been building since the autumn.

The key to the remarkable payout lies in a dual-maximum bonus structure. Chang had already compiled a 147 during UK Championship qualifying earlier this season, and snooker's governing body offers a £147,000 reward to any player who records maximum breaks at two of the sport's four major events in the same campaign. That bonus is now confirmed. On top of that, a £10,000 prize is available for making a 147 at the World Championship qualifiers specifically, and the £15,000 high break prize for the event also appears to be Chang's to claim. Should all three elements be confirmed, the total prize fund from that single break would stand at £172,000 — by far the largest single payday of Chang's professional career to date.

Session Summary: Chang in Commanding Form Against Brecel

The maximum was the centrepiece of an outstanding afternoon's snooker at the Crucible qualifying venue. Chang ended the first session leading Brecel 5–4 in their best-of-19 encounter, having compiled three centuries alongside the 147 and two additional breaks of 50 or more. It was a display of remarkable consistency and scoring power against an opponent who, just two years ago, lifted the world title at the Crucible itself. The pair are scheduled to resume on Monday afternoon from 2:30pm to complete the match, with a place on Judgement Day — the final stage of World Championship qualifying — at stake.

The 241st Maximum in Snooker History

According to CueTracker records, Chang's break is the 241st maximum in snooker history, placing him in a select group of players who have achieved the feat more than once on the professional circuit. The milestone also contributes to what has already become a record-breaking season for 147s across the tour. There have now been 24 maximum breaks made this season, comprehensively surpassing the previous all-time single-season record of 15. That figure — 24 maximums in one campaign — underlines a broader shift in scoring rates across the modern game, with the increased volume of events, higher-quality cueing, and greater table consistency all cited as contributing factors.

Season Maximum Breaks in Context

Source: CueTracker

A Career-Defining Moment for a Player on the Rise

Chang's trajectory this season has been striking. Still only 23, he has already demonstrated he belongs in conversations about the sport's most dangerous emerging talents. A Scottish Open final appearance and now a maximum break with £172,000 attached to it mark out 2024/25 as the campaign in which he has genuinely announced himself at the highest level. Whether he can complete the job against Brecel on Monday and reach Judgement Day will determine whether this week ends in triumph or near-miss — but financially and statistically, the afternoon session alone has already secured its place in snooker's record books.