Snooker Star Chang Bingyu Bags £172,000 Bonus with Maximum Break in Crucible Qualifying
Qualifying for the 2026 World Snooker Championship is currently in progress, and organisers have already been compelled to distribute a substantial financial reward less than a week before the tournament officially commences at the Crucible Theatre.
Chinese snooker professional Chang Bingyu has clinched a potential £172,000 prize following his remarkable 147 maximum break during the qualifying rounds. The 23-year-old talent was competing against Luca Brecel on Sunday, and he now holds a favourable 5-4 lead after the opening session, positioning him strongly for advancement to the main event.
Stunning Achievement Amidst Past Controversy
Chang had even greater cause for celebration, as he earned thousands of pounds for his flawless break. He executed a brilliant 147 against Brecel, who had initially taken the lead in their match. Chang surged ahead 3-1 with breaks of 69, 129, and 100, before Brecel won three consecutive frames to level the contest.
Chang then regained the advantage with his money-spinning maximum break. This accomplishment secured him a £147,000 prize, supplemented by an additional £10,000 for achieving a maximum in the qualifying stage. Furthermore, he is eligible for a further £15,000 if his break remains the highest of the tournament, though this bonus would be shared should another 147 occur during the championship.
Background of Match-Fixing Scandal and Redemption
This stunning achievement follows a turbulent period in Chang's career, as he was previously handed a two-year ban for involvement in a match-fixing scandal. He returned to professional snooker in 2024 after issuing a public apology and maintaining that he received no monetary gain from the incident.
In the interim, Chang will also focus on thwarting any comeback attempts from Brecel, who has expressed his ambition to return to elite tournaments. Speaking prior to his match against Chang, Brecel stated: "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."
Brecel added: "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."
Motivation and Future Prospects
Reflecting on his motivations, Brecel continued: "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."
He concluded: "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 2026 World Snooker Championship is scheduled to begin at the Crucible on Saturday, April 18. Last year's champion, Zhao Xintong, secured the title with a victory over Mark Williams, setting the stage for another thrilling competition this season.
