The first player to compile 100 century breaks during the 2024/25 snooker season will pocket a jackpot £100,000 bonus, it was announced on Tuesday.
The century of centuries milestone has only been reached twice before for a single campaign on the World Snooker Tour.
Neil Robertson memorably became the first player to achieve the feat when he contributed a record 103 tons during the 2013/14 snooker season.
Judd Trump almost matched the Australian six years later when he made 102 century breaks across the 2019/20 snooker term.
They were both special moments in the sport, particularly Robertson’s which made significant headlines when he completed the century of centuries at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The World Snooker Tour is perhaps hoping to tap into that kind of media frenzy by goading its players into playing more attacking snooker during its busy schedule.
As a result, the first player to compile 100 century breaks this season will land a handsome bonus worth £100,000.
All events on the 2024/25 WST calendar count towards a player’s tally, with Trump currently leading the way having compiled ten tons at last week’s Shanghai Masters.
If two or more players reach the 100 milestone having played the same number of frames in the same round of the same tournament, then the bonus will be shared.
WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “We are delighted to introduce this new bonus as it creates an extra story line which will run throughout the season.”
“If a player is on target for the ‘century of centuries’ going into the last few events then the drama will build with every match.”
Trump was the leading century maker last season on 79, with only Kyren Wilson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and John Higgins compiling more than 50.
Therefore, it seems unlikely that there’ll be many players challenging for this prize.
However, it remains an interesting incentive, and it certainly would be entertaining if two or more players are vying it for it come the conclusion of the campaign.
2024/25 snooker season century breaks
After the Shanghai Masters
1. Judd Trump – 10
2. Shaun Murphy – 8
3. Ali Carter – 6
4. Mark Williams – 5
5. David Gilbert – 5
6. Zhou Yuelong – 5
7. Jack Lisowski – 4
8. Gary Wilson – 4
Bonuses have become more common on the World Snooker Tour over the last number of years, although several have never been claimed.
When the Home Nations tournaments began in 2016, there was a £1 million jackpot on offer for any player who could win all four events on the series in the same season.
Unsurprisingly, that never materialised and the bonus was taken away after a few years.
More recently, there was a 147 break bonus on offer during the recent 2023/24 snooker season in the Triple Crown events.
Any player who could compile two maximum breaks at the UK Championship, Masters, and World Championship would have received a tidy £147,000 windfall.
Despite a few players managing to get one, though, it ultimately wasn’t required for the money to be dished out.
Whether or not that bonus will return this season is yet to be announced.
2024/25 WST calendar
Note: Dates are provisional and subject to change
(NR = Non-ranking event)
COMPLETED
Championship League Snooker
Champion: Ali Carter
Shanghai Masters (NR)
Champion: Judd Trump
Xi’an Grand Prix
Champion: Kyren Wilson
Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters
Champion: Judd Trump
English Open
Champion: Neil Robertson
British Open
Champion: Mark Selby
Wuhan Open
Champion: Xiao Guodong
Northern Ireland Open
Champion: Kyren Wilson
International Championship
Champion: Ding Junhui
Champion of Champions (NR)
Champion: Mark Williams
UK Championship
Champion: Judd Trump
Snooker Shoot Out
Champion: Tom Ford
Scottish Open
Champion: Lei Peifan
DECEMBER
16th to 22nd
– German Masters qualifiers
– World Open qualifiers
(Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield)
18th to 20th
Riyadh Season Snooker Championship (NR)
(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
JANUARY
12th to 19th
The Masters (NR)
(Alexandra Palace, London)
27th to February 2nd
German Masters
(Tempodrom, Berlin)
FEBRUARY
10th to 16th
Welsh Open
(Venue Cymru, Llandudno)
24th to March 2nd
World Open
(TBC, China)
MARCH
4th to 9th
World Grand Prix
(Hong Kong)
17th to 23rd
Players Championship
(Telford, England)
31st to April 6th
Tour Championship
(Manchester Central, Manchester)
APRIL
7th to 16th
World Championship qualifiers
(EIS, Sheffield)
19th to May 5th
World Snooker Championship
(Crucible Theatre, Sheffield)
Featured photo credit: WST
It could definitely motivate players to enter a few extra events that they wouldn’t ordinarily play in. Trump is the only one likely to reach it currently as O’Sullivan doesn’t play enough and Robertson is still trying to navigate his way back to the top.
These bonuses create some publicity but not sure fans are that bothered by achievement that is primarily a monetary one. I’m an O’Sullivan fan but for me the motivation is to see him break records, dominate and play beautiful snooker. I couldn’t care less if he knocks in a ‘Golden Ball’ for an astronomical figure.