Gary Wilson joins exclusive 147 snooker club at International Championship as all-time maximum record set to be smashed

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Gary Wilson booked his spot at next month's International Championship in Nanjing by becoming only the 10th player in history to hit over five or more maximum breaks. The Wallsend-born player finished off a 6-3 win over talented Latvian potter Artemijs Zizins with the 11th 147 of the season, only four short of last season's total record haul of 15, with the new campaign only four months old.

Watch: Wilson hits brilliant 'walk-off' 147 to cap win over Zizins

Video credit: TNT Sports

Gary Wilson joined an exclusive list of maximum makers on Thursday when he compiled the sixth 147 of his career at International Championship qualifying in Sheffield.

The former Welsh and Scottish Open champion completed the feat behind closed doors in the final frame of a 6-3 win over Artemijs Zizins of Latvia at Ponds Forge to book his trip to China for the tournament's final stages.

Wilson also produced runs of 133, 61 and 79 as he emulated the form that saw him reach the Wuhan Open final in August where he was edged out 10-9 by Xiao Guodong.

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Judging by his strong scoring form, the world No. 17 will be confident of another deep run when the second staging of the Xi'an Grand Prix begins on Tuesday morning with a £177,000 first prize on the table.

The quick-fire Wallsend potter had produced his fifth career maximum against John Higgins in last year's Welsh Open semi-final in Llandudno, a competition over Martin O'Donnell.

He will again meet O'Donnell in the last 64 of the International Championship.

The latest maximum means a remarkable 11 147s have been produced since Fan Zhengyi made the first at the Championship League in July with the all-time record haul of 15 set last season already under serious threat.

It was far from a straightforward finish with Wilson producing a superb shot with the rest on the final yellow to land on green, before rolling home a tricky blue to pot pink and black.

He was warmly congratulated by his opponent for producing the 228th perfect break in the modern televised history of the sport before wiping his brow with the highest break prize of £5,000 also in his sights.

Steve Davis famously made the first at the Lada Classic against John Spencer in January 1982 with only another seven rolled in over the rest of the decade, incredibly three less than the first few months of the 2025/26 season.

Watch: Wilson hits brilliant 'walk-off' 147 to cap win over Zizins

Video credit: TNT Sports

The International Championship, which will be staged by the Chinese city of Nanjing between November 2-9, is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Wilson returns to action against amateur hopeful Zhang Xiao on the opening day of the Xi'an Grand Prix at 3:00 UK time.

Meanwhile, Kyren Wilson opens his title defence of the Xi'an Grand Prix with a match against Haris Tahir at the same time.

World No. 1 Judd Trump faces Ng On Yee at 7:00 UK time with Ronnie O'Sullivan, who became the first player to make two maximums in the same match at the Saudi Arabia Masters, up against Iulian Boiko at 12:30pm.