### Jackson Page Wins £147,000 at World Snooker Championship Without Reaching Main Draw
In a surprising twist to this year’s World Snooker Championship, Welsh professional Jackson Page secured a windfall of £147,000, despite failing to qualify for the prestigious event at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. The 23-year-old from Ebbw Vale accomplished the lucrative feat thanks to the World Snooker Tour’s Triple Crown Bonus, out-earning even seasoned champions like Ronnie O’Sullivan, who reached the tournament’s semi-finals.
Page began his qualification campaign strongly, dispatching Allan Taylor with a convincing 10-2 victory. However, his run was cut short when he succumbed to a 10-7 defeat by Joe O’Connor in the next round, dashing his hopes of competing further in the tournament. Yet, while missing out on the Crucible may have been a disappointment, Page managed to create a headline of his own, courtesy of a remarkable on-table achievement.
During his clash with Taylor, Page amassed two maximum 147 breaks – one in the eighth frame and another in the following session. Under a rule change introduced by the World Snooker Tour in 2023, any player achieving two 147 breaks during the Triple Crown Series is awarded the substantial bonus. The bonus, which can be claimed up to three times across the season, could potentially net a player nearly half a million pounds should they repeat the feat on multiple occasions.
Speaking to BBC 5 Live Drive, the elated Welshman described his feelings as “over the moon” and remarked, “It’s a bizarre sort of feeling really. I knew the bonus was there for a second 147, so I went for it right from the first ball and, somehow, it happened. The pressure felt just like being deep in a tournament, and after the 15th black, I knew I could finish the job.” The achievement was made even more impressive as it marked the first time Page had ever racked up a competitive 147 since turning professional in 2019.
The windfall provides welcome security for Page at a crucial moment, with a three-month-old son at home and the recent purchase of a house. He commented that the bonus would make a “huge difference” to his family’s future.
On the financial front, Page’s bonus cheque of £147,000 actually exceeded that collected by legendary seven-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who earned £100,000 for his semi-final effort at this year’s main event. O’Sullivan bested the likes of Ali Carter, Pang Junxu, and Si Jiahui, before being ousted in the semi-finals by China’s Zhao Xintong, the eventual tournament winner.
Also falling at the semi-final stage was Judd Trump, whose efforts similarly secured him £100,000 in prize money. By contrast, Page’s brief campaign, consisting solely of two matches and his maximum break heroics, delivered a significantly bigger payday than the two former world champions who reached the tournament’s latter stages.
Meanwhile, the championship concluded with Zhao Xintong making history as the first Asian player to claim the title, delivering an 18-12 victory against Welshman Mark Williams in a gripping final. Zhao’s triumph capped a remarkable tournament, seeing him play 111 frames across nine matches over 29 days. For his efforts, Zhao was awarded a championship record of £500,000, underscoring snooker’s growing global appeal.
Reflecting on his landmark achievement, Zhao told the BBC: “This is like a dream. I can’t believe it. The nerves and pressure were enormous, especially knowing how quickly Mark could come back. He’s still a top player and really pushed me to the limit.”
The story of Jackson Page’s maximum break bonus is a reminder that, in snooker as in sport, unexpected triumphs can arise even at the margins of the main stage – and sometimes, the greatest rewards come from seizing your moment, even when the spotlight is elsewhere.