Chang Bingyu has created a new milestone in the snooker season by compiling a brilliant 147 break during UK Championship qualifying. His flawless effort has pushed the season’s maximum tally to 16 — the highest ever recorded with more than half the campaign still to go.
Break Against a Former Champion
The 23-year-old from China produced the maximum in his third-round match against Scotland’s Stephen Maguire. The perfect break gave him a 4-3 lead and also marked the first 147 of his professional career. Chang, who turned professional in 2019, delivered the moment with impressive composure under pressure.
Return After Suspension
Earlier this year, Chang resumed his career following a two-year suspension related to a match-fixing investigation. His performance in this event has been viewed as a significant sign of rebuilding form and confidence. However, despite the landmark break, he eventually lost a close match 6-5 to Maguire.
A Record-Breaking Season
A maximum break in snooker consists of potting all 15 reds with 15 blacks followed by clearing the six colours — the sport’s toughest feat. The previous record of 15 maximums in a single season was set in 2024-25. That number was matched earlier in qualifying by Liam Pullen before Chang moved the bar even higher.
Snooker’s Top Stars Join the List
This season has already seen multiple 147s from some of the sport’s biggest names. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has compiled two maximums, as have Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Aaron Hill. The level of high-quality snooker suggests the record may continue to grow as the season progresses.
Legacy of the Maximum
Chang’s achievement contributes to the expanding list of snooker perfection. There have now been 233 officially recognised maximum breaks in the sport’s history — and with the way players are performing, many more are expected before the end of the year.
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