Friday night at the Crucible delivered a slice of sporting theatre money truly could buy. Mark Allen, trailing 10-2 to qualifier Chris Wakelin, rattled in a faultless 147 in frame 13, the 15th maximum in tournament history.
While Allen’s celebration drew the immediate headlines, it was 75 year old Brian Nicholls from Barnsley who enjoyed the night’s biggest surprise. Thanks to a Midnite Sports promotion, any ticket holder present for a main draw maximum pocketed 25000 pounds.
Nicholls, who admitted he was actually following the neighbouring John Higgins match on a roaming pass, learned of his windfall from the arena announcer and was ushered to centre stage for a photo with the Northern Irishman.
“I missed the break but I will not forget the cheque,” he laughed. Allen’s effort also earned him 40000 pounds in high break bonuses, proving the century pot still carries financial bite.
Despite the flair, the Antrim man could not complete a comeback, eventually losing 13-6. Tournament sponsor Betfred confirmed that almost 40 percent of online bets placed during the session backed Allen to produce at least one century, a reflection of his attacking style. Yet few punters foresaw a perfect clearance in a losing cause.
As Nicholls clutched his oversized cheque, he quipped that he will return next year, “but this time I will stay in my seat.” The sequence added another layer to a championship already rich in drama and unexpected moments.
