Dafabet Masters: Marco Fu scores 147 maximum break in first-round victory over Stuart Bingham
Sunday 11 January 2015 22:56, UK
Marco Fu thrilled the Alexandra Palace crowds with a sparkling 147 maximum break on the first night of the Dafabet Masters.
The 37-year-old from Hong Kong fired in the third perfect break of his career as he beat Stuart Bingham at the historic London venue.
Fu moved 3-1 ahead with his magnificent clearance and went on to triumph 6-3, setting up a possible shot at Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals.
The only previous Masters maximums had been posted by Canadian Kirk Stevens against Jimmy White in 1984, and China's Ding Junhui in his match with Anthony Hamilton in 2007.
Fu completed the overseas hat-trick, and there was scarcely a moment in the break when he looked troubled.
He celebrated with a fist pump, handshakes for referee Brendan Moore and Bingham, and a wave to the crowd, before walking off for the mid-match interval.
His previous 147s came against Ken Doherty at the Scottish Masters in 2000 and in World Open qualifying in January 2012, when Matt Selt was his opponent.
It will earn him a £10,000 reward unless it is matched during the tournament, which runs until next Sunday, in which case Fu will have to share the bounty.
Fu will tackle defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan on Thursday if the 39-year-old world number three sees off Ricky Walden on Tuesday.
