SPORTS> Ding Junhui in Spotlight
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SPORTS> Ding Junhui in Spotlight
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Ding Junhui hits rare Wembley Maximum
(RTE News)
Updated: 2007-03-23 18:16 Chinese ace Ding Junhui made sure this year's SAGA Insurance Masters started in sparkling fashion Sunday with the first maximum 147 break seen at the Wembley Arena in 23 years.
It was only the second maximum clearance in Masters history, with Kirk Stevens the last player to have achieved the difficult feat 23 years ago. Back in 1984, Stevens made a 147 break in a 6-4 Masters semi-final defeat against Jimmy White at the Wembley Exhibition and Conference Centre. But aged 19 years and nine months, Junhui rewrote the record books again to become the youngster player to have ever made a televised maximum. Chinese snooker Ding Junhui smiles after he achieved a preeminent maximum 147 break at the SAGA Insurance Masters on Sunday, Jan 14, 2007. It's the first maximum seen at the Wembley Arena in 23 years.[China Foto Press] He also pocketed ?35,000 in prize money, unless the break is matched by another player at this year's event, which concludes next Sunday. He stands to win ?10,000 for the highest break prize and ?25,000 for the maximum break prize. Two-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan held the record at 22 years and five months, as the youngster player to have netted a televised 147 when he did so in the 1997 World Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. Chinese snooker Ding Junhui prepares to hit his shot during the SAGA Insurance Masters Jan 14, 2007.Ding achieved a preeminent maximum 147 break at the Masters on Sunday. It's the first maximum seen at the Wembley Arena in 23 years.[sina.com] Three-times a ranking event winner, Shanghai's Junhui, who practises at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield, compiled two further centuries in a comfortable 6-3 first round win over Nottingham's Anthony Hamilton and now meets good friend Peter Ebdon - last month's Maplin UK Championship winner - in the next round on Tuesday night. |
