SHEFFIELD, England — In a thrilling turn of events at the world snooker championship, a fan went home with a £25,000 ($33,000) windfall on Friday, thanks to a rare maximum break of 147.
The fortunate fan, Brian Nicholls, was in for a surprise. The tournament, held at the renowned Crucible Theatre, features a unique tradition where one lucky audience member is selected for each session. If a player achieves a maximum break—15 reds, followed by 15 blacks, and all the colors—the chosen fan receives a cash prize.
Nicholls found himself in an unusual situation during the event. Positioned on one side of the venue, he was engrossed in a match between Mark Williams and Hossein Vafaei. Meanwhile, on the opposite table, Mark Allen achieved the sought-after 147 break. Separated by a partition, Nicholls could only witness Allen’s accomplishment through the arena’s screens. The moment Allen, a 39-year-old from Northern Ireland, potted the final black ball was captured on TV, along with Nicholls’ jubilant reaction. Allen’s feat marked only the 15th time a 147 had been completed at the Crucible.
Interestingly, the prize Nicholls took home outstrips the £20,000 ($26,600) given to players eliminated in the first round of the championship. As for Allen, his successful 147 could earn him close to $60,000.
The experience in Sheffield was particularly special for Nicholls, as reported by the BBC. His visit to the Crucible was a first, made possible by a ticket gifted by his son for his 75th birthday.