Mark Allen gave himself a glimmer of hope in his World Snooker Championship second round match against Chris Wakelin after he hit a sensational 147 break. Trailing 10-2 to the Englishman in Friday morning's session, Allen proved to be the man for the big occasion once more with a superb maximum break to keep his Crucible dreams alive.
Entering Friday's session with a 6-2 deficit, the Antrim man suffered a nightmare start, losing the opening four frames. However, frame 13 proved to be a turning point for Allen as he clinched the 15th maximum at the famous Sheffield venue, the first since Mark Selby's clearance in the 2023 final, reigniting his challenge.
After sinking the final black, Allen punched the air in celebration, receiving congratulations from Wakelin, who still stands a chance of wrapping up victory with a session to spare. Unfortunately, a missed red proved costly for Allen in the 14th frame, allowing Wakelin to pot the final red and colors, restoring his eight-frame advantage in the race to 13.
Undeterred, Allen showcased his mettle once more in the next frame, racking up a century break to close the gap. However, Wakelin won the final frame of the session, leaving the score at 12-4 in his favor, with only one frame required to seal victory over Allen.
Allen’s 147 is particularly significant as it marks his second maximum of the season, having achieved one during his third-round match against Ben Mertens at the British Open. It is also the fifth of his career and the 217th maximum in snooker history. The achievement earns the 39-year-old Allen a £45,000 cash bonus, which will be split if another player makes a 147 in the tournament.
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry praised Allen's performance, stating, "What a performance. Unbelievable. Incredible from Mark Allen. He was 10-2 behind and he's not scored a point for three frames, comes out after the interval and he makes a 147."
Adding to the excitement, one lucky fan, Brian Nicholls from Tamworth, won £25,000 thanks to Allen's maximum break. Nicholls, a lifelong snooker fan attending his first Crucible event, was selected at random by sponsors Midnite Sports and Casino as part of an initiative where a fan wins £25,000 if a 147 occurs during a session. He expressed his delight, saying, "Twenty-five grand is a lot of money, it's lovely. I wasn't calm, my heart was pounding. After the yellow, that was the ball where I thought 'it's on'."
As the session concluded, Allen found himself on the brink of elimination, needing a remarkable comeback against Wakelin, who turned a 6-2 overnight lead into an almost irretrievable 10-2 advantage by the mid-session interval. Despite Allen's stunning maximum, Wakelin pressed on, establishing a 12-4 lead at the end of the morning's play.
Wakelin, the world number 20, who previously beat former world champion Neil Robertson in the first round, displayed an impressive performance throughout the session, hitting breaks of 119, 71, and 75. His attacking style paid rich dividends, and he received accolades from commentators, with Hendry describing one of his shots as "one of the best shots I’ve ever seen."
As the match resumes at 19:00 BST, Allen's hopes of a bright start had evaporated when he missed a simple yellow off its spot in the opening frame of the day, gifting Wakelin the chance to extend his lead to 7-2. The 33-year-old from Rugby then proceeded to dominate the next three frames, leaving Allen with no points in that stretch.
In the aftermath of Allen's 147, the atmosphere in the Crucible was electric, with fans on their feet in jubilation. The moment was reminiscent of the dramatic highs and lows that snooker can deliver, and Allen's achievement will surely be remembered, regardless of the match outcome.
Meanwhile, in another match, Wales' three-time champion Mark Williams ended level at 4-4 in his last-16 match against Iran's Hossein Vafaei. There was only one break above 50, which came from Williams with his 67 in frame four to level the match. Williams, who turned 50 in March, expressed hope that eye surgery in June will help extend his snooker career.
The second session of three for both matches comes this evening, and with the stakes high, fans can expect an exciting conclusion to the day’s action.
As the World Snooker Championship unfolds, the spotlight remains firmly on Allen as he attempts to defy the odds and keep his title hopes alive, while Wakelin seeks to secure his place in the quarter-finals with just one frame needed to clinch victory.
In the broader context of the tournament, Barry Hearn has raised concerns about the future of the Crucible as a venue, stating that it is no longer “fit for purpose.” With the hosting contract set to expire in 2027, discussions are ongoing about the future of the event. Hearn emphasized the need for improvements to the venue to ensure snooker continues to thrive in Sheffield.
As the matches progress and tensions rise, one thing is certain: the drama of the World Snooker Championship continues to captivate audiences, and the stakes have never been higher.
