Why huge snooker jackpot is set to go unclaimed despite record-breaking 147 season with Mark Selby leading century chase

The 2025/26 season is already a record one for 147 breaks with 22 and counting rolled in so far. Ronnie O'Sullivan scooped a £147,000 bonus for producing two in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters, but despite the stunning array of maximums, the £100,000 bonus for producing the coveted century of centuries is likely to go unclaimed. Watch the Welsh Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

'Look at this' - Crowd goes wild as Trump makes 100th century of season

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Any player who makes a century of centuries across the 2025/26 season will earn a tasty £100,000 bonus, but it is looking highly unlikely that the six-figure jackpot will be claimed this term.

Mark Selby leads the ton chase on 63, but his shock 4-3 defeat to Jiang Jun in the first round of his Welsh Open title defence in Llandudno leaves him facing an uphill task to finish the campaign on the coveted three figures.

With just the World Open, Tour Championship and World Championship to come, it leaves Selby needing deep runs in the final three ranking events to emulate Judd Trump's feat of reaching a record 107 last season.

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He would need to produce an average of 12 centuries in each remaining competition to join Trump (2020 and 2025) and Neil Robertson (2014) as the only men in the modern professional era to achieve the feat.

Trump, who is not competing at the Welsh Open, finished with 107 centuries last season after running in 103 in 2020, but is sixth with 46 this season and out of the running.

Robertson was the first man to achieve the feat when he hit 102 in a season 12 years ago, but has made a more modest 50 so far this season.

'Absolutely superb' - Zhao with brilliant century in frame 4 against Fan

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"I would rather make the century of centuries here than a 147," said Robertson after reaching the landmark figure in a 13-11 quarter-final win over Trump at the World Championship.

"I’ve made a couple of 147s, and it’s nowhere near the same achievement.

"Nobody will ever achieve 200 centuries. That would be impossible.

"For me to be the first player to achieve 100 centuries in a single season is a great honour."

World champion Zhao Xintong is second this season on 61, but like Selby, would require a huge effort to threaten the bonus prize by the time he defends his title at the Crucible (April 18 to May 4).

While it remains highly unlikely, it is of course not impossible with Chang Bingyu producing four in one match in a rapid 4-0 whitewash of Shaun Murphy in the first round of the Welsh Open.

Meanwhile, the 147s have been flying in across the main World Snooker Tour with a record 22 and counting, overtaking last season's record total of 15.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Xiao Guodong, Zhang Anda, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Aaron Hill are the five men to have produced two maximums this season.