Mark Allen Hits Historic 147 at Crucible in Comeback Attempt
Mark Allen Scores Sensational 147 in Comeback Bid at Crucible
Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen produced a sublime maximum break to reignite his World Snooker Championship hopes against Chris Wakelin at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The Antrim man found himself trailing 10-2 to his English opponent heading into Friday morning’s session.
Despite the daunting deficit, Allen showed his class and bottle in the 13th frame, clinching the 15th maximum break in Crucible history. It was the first 147 at the iconic venue since Mark Selby’s clearance in the 2023 final.
Allen’s flawless break, consisting of 15 reds, 15 blacks and the colours, electrified the crowd and drew applause from Wakelin. The 36-year-old punched the air in delight after sinking the final black, knowing he had etched his name into snooker folklore.
With the maximum, Allen became only the 11th player to achieve the feat at the World Championship. He has now made 147s at each of snooker’s fabled Triple Crown events – the Masters, UK Championship and World Championship.
However, Allen still faces an uphill battle to keep his title dreams alive at the Crucible. Wakelin restored his eight-frame lead by taking the 14th frame and ended the session 12-4 ahead, needing just one more frame for victory in the race to 13.
Allen showcased his fighting qualities by compiling a century break to claim frame 15, but he will need to summon more of that scoring power and resilience to complete an improbable comeback.
Regardless of the match outcome, Allen’s maximum break will live long in the memory as one of the most thrilling moments of the 2025 World Snooker Championship. The Northern Irishman’s name is now immortalized among the Crucible greats.
Key Takeaways:
- Mark Allen scored the 15th maximum break in Crucible history
- The 147 was Allen’s first at the World Championship, adding to maximums at the Masters and UK Championship
- Allen trails Chris Wakelin 12-4 heading into their final session, with Wakelin needing one frame for victory
- The maximum showcased Allen’s supreme talent and tenacity as he attempts a stirring comeback in Sheffield
