The favourites are safely negotiating their first-round challenges so far.
The first round of the UK Championship continued on Wednesday with routine victories for Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson – and a 147 from Stuart Bingham.
The latter compiled the perfect break in the sixth frame of his 6-2 triumph over Zak Surety at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
It came only a day after Kyren Wilson’s maximum effort on Tuesday, taking the overall count for this season to six.
The stellar knock represents Bingham’s seventh 147 of his career, taking him into fourth on the all-time list behind only O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, and John Higgins.
O’Sullivan, meanwhile, advanced to the last 64 with ease as the record seven-time champion thrashed Leo Fernandez in a whitewash display.
Robertson similarly inflicted a bagel on his hapless challenger, French amateur Brian Ochoiski.
It means that every top 16 member has avoided an early exit so far in the competition, with the opening stage set to conclude on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Joe Perry maintained his late charge to earn a spot in this season’s Masters with an equally dominant bagel of Alex Borg.
However, 2020 Masters runner-up Ali Carter’s hopes of a return to the prestigious invitational were dashed following a 6-4 reverse against Ashley Carty.
European Masters finalist Martin Gould was another unexpected loser, the “Pinner Potter” going down in a deciding-frame defeat to Jordan Brown.
Among the other competitors who managed to progress beyond their initial hurdle were China’s Zhao Xintong, Iranian Hossein Vafaei, and Noppon Saengkham from Thailand.
Veteran Jimmy White, the 1992 UK champion, additionally rolled back the years with a terrific 66 clearance in the last frame to beat old foe Alan McManus 6-4.
The “Whirlwind” was featuring in a 100th UK Championship match since making his debut in 1981.
Defending champion Ding Junhui, world number one Judd Trump, and Northern Irishman Mark Allen are set to enter the fray on Thursday.
Live coverage of the first round of the UK Championship is on Eurosport and via various other global services.
According to Cuetracker, White was also playing in his 1500th professional match.
Good spot, thanks.
No worries. Another milestone to look out for is that Ronnie O’Sullivan needs three more wins in the UK Championship to reach 1000 match victories in professional competition.