World Snooker Championship 2025 qualifying: Marco Fu becomes seventh player in history to achieve extremely rare clearance
Published 10/04/2025 at 15:06 GMT+1
Marco Fu completed a 16-red total clearance in his World Championship qualifier against Ben Mertens on Thursday. It was only the seventh time a 16-red clearance had ever happened in a professional competition, according to the WST. Fu completed the break before racing into an 8-1 lead against Mertens in round two, with their encounter set to continue in the evening session.
Xintong makes fourth century of match with clinical 141 break
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marco Fu completed a lesser-seen 16-red total clearance in his World Championship qualifier against Ben Mertens at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield, on Thursday.
World Snooker Championship qualifying takes place this week, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, as the tour hopefuls battle it out to earn a place in next week’s main event.
While the world’s top 16 automatically qualify for the Crucible main event, the rest of the tour is put through a set of qualification matches.
And as Hong Kong cueist Fu cruised into a big lead in his qualifying encounter with Mertens on Thursday, he wowed the audience with a rare 16-red clearance.
After a four-point foul from Mertens at the start of the fourth frame, Fu was given a free-ball opportunity, meaning he could pot any of the colours and have it count as a red.
The 47-year-old went on to clear the table by potting the rest of the reds, and then the colours.
It is only the seventh time a 16-red clearance has ever happened in a professional competition.
The World Snooker Championship will begin in earnest on April 19, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, with Ronnie O’Sullivan’s involvement uncertain.
The seven-time world champion has pulled out of a string of tournaments, including the Masters, since January.
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His last competitive appearance came at the non-ranking Championship League in January when he broke his cue in anger and withdrew from the competition.
O’Sullivan said he will leave it as late as possible before deciding whether to participate.
Watch and stream the 2025 World Championship live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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