Watch Chris Wakelin open 2026 in style with first competitive 147 at Championship League - 'A career-defining moment'

React to this story

The 2025/26 season is already a record one for 147 breaks, and the sport's maximum bonanza shows no signs of drying up at the outset of the new year. Chris Wakelin, fresh from winning the Scottish Open in Edinburgh last month, joined the party by becoming the 17th player since July to produce the perfect clearance during his meeting with Pang Junxu at the Championship League in Leicester.

Watch Wakelin's wondrous title-winning century break in FULL

Video credit: TNT Sports

Chris Wakelin opened 2026 in style as he produced a brilliant maiden 147 maximum break at the Championship League in Leicester on Friday night.

Wakelin, who watched Ronnie O'Sullivan hit two maximums against him at the Saudi Arabia Masters in August, ended 2025 with a 9-2 win over Chang Bingyu in the Scottish Open final at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh.

And the world No. 14 picked up from where he left off on the first day of competition at the Mattioli Arena in a 3-2 Group 1 win over Pang Junxu.

Shanghai Masters

O'Sullivan beaten by Wilson in tight battle as Trump overcomes Hawkins

28/07/2026 at 18:18

Wakelin faced a tricky final black to complete the 147, but rolled it in confidently before punching the air in delight to celebrate the landmark moment.

"You can see what it means to him. The first 147 of his career," said three-time ranking event winner Dominic Dale on commentary.

"He won the Scottish Open a couple of weeks ago, but I'm sure this is of equal measure because it is a career-defining moment for any player to make a 147."

The first frame saw him produce the first maximum of his career before closing breaks of 61 and 90 earned him victory against Pang, who had led 2-1, boosted by a 93 break in the third frame.

A record 17 maximums have been made so far this season, two more than the record total of 15 from last season.

Joe O'Connor and Jackson Page ended the day top of the seven-player section with three points from four matches, with Wakelin third on two points from four outings and Elliot Slessor also picking up two points.

Pang and Tom Ford have one point with Hossein Vafaei yet to secure a win after his first three fixtures.

The top four in the section advance to the next stage after Saturday's concluding matches in Group 1.

Snooker's record maximum men in 2025/26

17. January 2, 2026, Chris Wakelin v Pang Junxu (Championship League)
16. November 24, 2025 Chang Bingyu v Stephen Maguire (UK Championship)
15. November 22, 2025 Liam Pullen v Kaylan Patel (UK Championship)
14. November 4, 2025 Zak Surety v Aaron Hill (International Championship)
13. October 7, 2025: Aaron Hill v Huang Jiahao (Xi'an Grand Prix)
12. October 7, 2025: Judd Trump v Ng On Yee (Xi'an Grand Prix)
11. October 2, 2025 Gary Wilson v Artemijs Zizins (International Championship)
10. September 17, 2025: Ali Carter v Aaron Hill (English Open)
9. September 14, 2025: Aaron Hill v Yao Pengcheng (English Open)
8. September 2, 2025: Zhou Yuelong v Julien Leclercq (Xi'an Grand Prix)
7. August 25, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Pang Junxu (Wuhan Open)
6. August 24, 2025: Xiao Guodong v Mink Nutcharut (Wuhan Open)
5. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
4. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
3. August 10, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Jordan Brown (Saudi Arabia Masters)
2. July 29, 2025: Zhang Anda v Ding Junhui (Shanghai Masters)
1. July 17, 2025: Fan Zhengyi v Xu Si (Championship League)

- - -

Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the UK Championship, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Halo World Championship

'Gentleman' Wakelin praised in response to 'very painful' foul controversy

26/04/2026 at 23:32

Halo World Championship

Allen seals victory over Wilson to reach Crucible quarter-finals

25/04/2026 at 13:57