Ding Junhui compiled a majestic 147 break during his first-round match at the 2024 Masters on Monday.
The Chinese competitor produced the moment of magic during the seventh frame of his contest with Ronnie O’Sullivan in London.
Ding delighted the packed Alexandra Palace crowd by constructing the perfect break, marking the second time he has achieved the feat at the prestigious invitational.
The 36 year-old was rarely in trouble during the run but did have to pot a tricky yellow to hold for the green.
Upon sinking the final black, Ding punched the air in delight as he added to the 147 break he compiled in the Masters back in 2007.
It also represents just the fourth maximum in Masters history – Kirk Stevens contributed the first in 1984 while Marco Fu made a 147 in the 2015 edition.
If the 147 break isn’t matched during this tournament, Ding Junhui will collect the high break prize worth £15,000.
However, the world number 11 will additionally now have his eyes on the new 147 jackpot on offer at the Triple Crown tournaments.
A player who makes two maximum breaks at the trio of events that comprises the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Championship will receive a whopping £147,000 bonus.
Unfortunately for Ding, the special knock won him just the single frame.
The 2011 Masters champion was left to rue a slow start to the fixture, looking out of sorts as he fell 4-0 behind at the mid-session interval.
Ding eventually rallied and reeled off breaks of 56 and 92 before compiling his seventh career 147 break.
But after pulling back to within one frame of O’Sullivan, who he lost to in last month’s UK Championship final, he ultimately couldn’t restore parity.
The Rocket dominated the last couple of frames with breaks of 127 and 93 helping him past the winning line.
Bidding for a record-extending eighth Masters crown, O’Sullivan will meet either Neil Robertson or Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals.
2024 Masters
– draw, live scores, results –
Last 16 (bo11)
Judd Trump 6-5 Kyren Wilson
Mark Williams 4-6 Ali Carter
Mark Selby 6-1 Robert Milkins
Mark Allen 6-5 John Higgins
—
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson 3-6 Barry Hawkins
Shaun Murphy 6-2 Zhang Anda
Luca Brecel 2-6 Jack Lisowski
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Judd Trump 5-6 Ali Carter
Mark Selby 5-6 Mark Allen
—
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Barry Hawkins
Shaun Murphy 6-3 Jack Lisowski
Semi-Finals (bo11)
Ali Carter 6-3 Mark Allen
—
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-2 Shaun Murphy
Final (bo19)
Ali Carter 7-10 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Featured photo credit: WST
Only Hendry and O’Sullivan have made more 147s in Triple Crown events than China’s finest.
O’Sullivan into a record-extending 25th Masters quarter-final.
John Parrott, on the BBC, mentioned the 147 bonus as a possible target for O’Sullivan during the mid-session interval.