Mark Allen’s remarkable achievement of scoring a 147 during Friday’s World Snooker Championship match has come with a significant financial caveat. While he secured an initial £40,000 prize for the maximum break – a feat that hadn’t been witnessed at the Crucible Theatre this year – a portion will be forfeited to income tax.
The Northern Irishman’s flawless frame, celebrated with a jubilant punch of the air and acknowledgement from his opponent, Chris Wakelin, arrived during a challenging period in the match. Trailing 10-2 after losing four consecutive frames, Allen’s perfect break offered a glimmer of hope, though he ultimately trails Wakelin by a score of 12-4.
The £40,000 bonus is part of a promotional initiative from tournament sponsor Midnite Sports and Casino. The program awards £40,000 to the player achieving a maximum break, with an additional £25,000 going to a randomly selected fan in attendance.
In this instance, Brian Nicholls, a 75-year-old gentleman from Tamworth, was the fortunate recipient of the £25,000 windfall.
However, Allen’s final earnings will be considerably less than the initial sum. A UK tax calculator estimates that approximately 20% of the £40,000 bonus will be deducted for income tax, reducing his take-home amount to roughly £32,321 – a difference of nearly £8,000.
Allen’s impressive 147 marks him as the eleventh player in World Snooker Championship history to achieve this milestone and the fifteenth maximum break recorded during the tournament’s main draw. It also represents the first perfect frame seen at the Crucible since Mark Selby’s performance in last year’s final.
The accomplishment is particularly noteworthy as it was Allen’s first 147 at the Crucible, completing a prestigious set – he has now achieved maximum breaks at all three Triple Crown events: the Masters, the UK Championship, and the World Championship.
“Mark Allen, take a bow. What a performance.” – Stephen Hendry
Despite the celebratory moment, Allen remains on the brink of elimination from the tournament, trailing Wakelin and set to resume play at 7:00pm.
Key Facts & Figures:
- Allen’s Prize Money (Initial): £40,000
- Tax Deduction (Estimated): 20% (£8,000)
- Allen’s Final Earnings (Estimated): £32,321
- Fan Bonus: £25,000 (won by Brian Nicholls)
- Number of Players to Score a 147 at the World Championship: 11
- Total Maximum Breaks in Tournament History: 15
