Fan Zhengyi emulates landmark Cliff Thorburn feat with first 147 of new snooker season at Championship League – ‘Fantastic from Fan’

The first 147 of the new 2025/26 snooker season was constructed in some style on the final day of the first-round group stage at the Championship League in Leicester on Thursday.

Former European Masters champion Fan Zhengyi became only the 38th player in the modern history of the sport to compile multiple maximums.

Despite finishing third behind Group 29 winner and compatriot Xu Si at the city's Mattioli Arena, Fan, 24, had the considerable consolation of etching his own name in folklore by producing the 218th 147 in elite competition since Steve Davis recorded the first at the Lada Classic in 1982.

1980 world champion Cliff Thorburn of Canada became the first player to make a second maximum at the Matchroom League in 1989, after memorably becoming the first man to celebrate a Crucible 147 in 1983.

Snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan, who Fan defeated 10-9 in the 2022 European Masters final, remains the most prolific maximum maker of all time with 15.

The highlight of the Chinese player's majestic effort was arguably a tough cutback yellow to a blind pocket on 120 as he navigated the white off three cushions to come back for the green in baulk.

"The last few pots have been super," said Phil Yates on commentary.

David Hendon added: "First of the season, but we know with the quality of players, it won’t be the last. Fantastic from Fan Zhengyi."

His opponent Xu did not let Fan’s effort in the second frame of their match derail his ultimate ambitions as he recovered from 2-0 behind to earn a 2-2 draw in finishing the day unbeaten.

A 107 break had earlier helped him earn a 3-0 win over Michal Szubarczyk before knocks of 92, 90 and 84 saw him complete a 3-1 win over Liam Highfield, who finished a point behind Xu in second spot.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Welsh hopeful Dylan Emery downed Aaron Hill 3-0 in their Group 27 decider to reach the last 32.

Emery also drew 2-2 with Sahil Nayyar before rolling in a 126 in a 3-0 win over Thomson.

The second group phase at the season’s opening ranking event begins at midday on Friday with Zhang Anda, Stephen Maguire, Yuan Sijun and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh meeting in a tasty Group B set-up.

Meanwhile, Ng On Yee becomes the first woman to compete in the last 32 of a ranking competition in Group A, a section that also includes Joe O’Connor, Elliot Slessor and Haydon Pinhey.

The Championship League runs between June 30 and July 23, with 32 groups of four producing 32 winners, who are then split into eight groups of four.

Two final groups of four will determine who contests the final on July 23, with the winner earning £33,000 and a place in the Champion of Champions event in Leicester in November.

• Group 15: Stephen Maguire (Sco)
• Group 26: Yao Pengcheng (Chn)
• Group 3: Alfie Burden (Eng)
• Group 22: Matthew Selt (Eng)
• Group 25: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
• Group 18: Yuan Sijun (Chn)
• Group 28: Ricky Walden (Eng)
• Group 9: Wu Yize (Chn)
• Group 2: Zhang Anda (Chn)
• Group 32: Ng On Yee (HK)
• Group 11: Stuart Bingham (Eng)
• Group 17: Elliot Slessor (Eng)
• Group 6: Liam Davies (Wal)
• Group 7: Amir Sarkhosh (Irn)
• Group 13: Jack Lisowski (Eng)
• Group 14: Pang Junxu (Chn)
• Group 12: David Gilbert (Eng)
• Group 19: Lei Peifan (Chn)
• Group 10: Ben Mertens (Bel)
• Group 23: Sam Craigie (Eng)
• Group 21: Liu Hongyu (Chn)
• Group 8: Tom Ford (Eng)
• Group 4: Artemijs Zizins (Lat)
• Group 30: Robbie Williams (Eng)
• Group 1: Hayden Pinhey (Eng)
• Group 20: David Lilley (Eng)
• Group 31: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
• Group 24: Liu Wenwei (Chn)
• Group 5: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
• Group 16: Joe O'Connor (Eng)
• Group 29: Xu Si (Chn)
• Group 27: Dylan Emery (Wal)

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