Mark Selby wins snooker frame with staggering 155 points to beat 147 maximum as opponent gifts him bonus points
MARK SELBY has beaten the 147 maximum by winning a frame of snooker with a staggering 155 points.
The Jester from Leicester had been gifted points by his opponents during a dominant performance this week.
Selby was competing at the International Championship qualifiers in Sheffield.
He faced Latvia’s Artemijs Zizins in a best of 11 frames encounter for a place in the main draw of the tournament.
Leading 2-1, Selby scored 155 in the fourth frame, eight points more than a 147 maximum.
The four-time world champion had been handed 12 points after Zizins fouled twice on the pink.
Selby then put together a 143 break to clear the table and finish on 155 as he extended his lead to 3-1.
Despite a fightback from his 18-year-old opponent, the world number four went on to close out a 6-3 victory.
In doing so, he has qualified for the International Championship in Nanjing, China later this year.
The event’s main draw is currently scheduled to get underway in early November.
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Selby’s 155 comes after he won the British Open in Cheltenham on Sunday, beating John Higgins 10-5 in the final.
It was his 23rd career ranking title and his first in over a year after losing the 2023 final in the same event.
The rules of snooker
THE aim of snooker is to clear the table of all balls - and achieving it in an incredible 147 break is the ultimate goal.
The rectangular table features green baize, a baulk line and semi-circle, known as the D.
It has six pockets, four in each corner and two midway down both long sides.
There are 15 red balls which are arranged in a triangular shape.
There are also six colour balls, and the white cue ball.
Each colour sits on its own designated spot at the start of the game.
While red balls are worth one point when potted, the colours all have a different value.
In ascending order these are:
- Yellow – two points
- Green – three points
- Brown – four points
- Blue – five points
- Pink – six points
- Black – seven points
The first player will cue off and must hit at least one of the red balls in the triangle.
If they pot a red, they can then continue by potting a colour.
However, if no red is potted then their opponent will play the next shot – going for a red first.
Each player must first pot a red ball when it’s their turn to play. If nothing is pocketed it is the other player’s turn at the table.
After each red is potted they must then follow with a colour, then a red, then a colour, and so on.
Whilst there are still red balls on the table, the potted colour balls are returned to their designated spot.
Once all the red balls are pocketed, the player at the table must pot the colours in the order as outlined above.
If they miss then their opponent will have the opportunity to clear the table.
A 147 is a maximum break when all reds are potted by one player in one stint at the table.
In order to achieve 147, the player must pot all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points.
They must then clear all the colours, concluding with the black for 27 points.
During play the rules state that the cue must only touch the white cue ball.
The cue ball also must hit the correct colour ball – reds or colours in order.
If it hits the incorrect colour then a foul is called.
If the cue ball fails to hit any ball or is pocketed it is also a foul.
The player’s turn at the table ends if they play a foul shot.
Players are also penalised if they touch any ball on the table with their person.
However, he is now set for a break from the table ahead of next week’s Wuhan Open.
Selby failed to reach the main draw in China after losing in qualifying to Long Zehuang.
Despite making breaks of 135 and 130, Selby surrendered a 4-1 lead to lose 5-4, with Long qualifying at his expense.