Disgraced snooker star pockets nearly £150k payout after match fixing | Other | Sport

Chinese snooker sensation Chang Bingyu has pocketed a whopping £172,000 prize after scoring a 147 maximum break in qualifying for the World Snooker Championship. The 23-year-old took to the table against Luca Brecel on Sunday and now finds himself in an excellent position to advance, having established a 5-4 lead in the opening session.

Yet he had even greater cause for celebration, having earned thousands for a breathtaking break. Chang produced a stunning 147 against Brecel, who had initially seized the advantage in the match. The Chinese star moved 3-1 ahead with breaks of 69, 129 and 100.

Brecel then claimed three frames on the bounce, before Chang drew level and subsequently edged ahead once more with his lucrative maximum break. The feat earned him the £147,000 prize, along with an additional £10,000 bonus for achieving a maximum in qualifying.

He also stands to pocket a further £15,000 should his score remain the highest throughout the tournament. However, should another 147 be recorded during the event, Chang would be required to share that bonus, His remarkable feat comes in the wake of a two-year ban he received for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

Chang made his return in 2024 following a public apology, maintaining throughout that he received no financial gain from the scandal. In the meantime, he will also be looking to fend off any resurgence from Brecel, who has made clear his determination to return to the sport’s biggest stages.

Speaking ahead of his clash with Chang, he said: “Every season, I want to really get into the top eight and top-16 tournaments, like the Players Championship and the Tour Championship. I want to be in the real elite tournaments. This season I’ve skipped about eight or nine tournaments. I have not felt well. But I never use excuses. It’s just the way it is.

“Your whole career or your whole life as a young player, you just want to win the Worlds. You see that as something really special and it is. But once you win that, you need to be motivated by something else. So my motivation now is just to be the best version of myself for the next 15-20 years.

“I know it’s only been one season, but I’ve really missed it. I’m still very young, especially in the snooker world. Thirty-one is very young. I’ve had the experience. I’ve won tournaments already. I’ve seen the ups and the downs. I see it as a fresh start. The best is really yet to come.”

The World Snooker Championship commences at the Crucible on Saturday 18 April. Zhao Xintong claimed the title last year with victory over Mark Williams.