The first player to compile 100 century breaks during the 2024/25 snooker season will pocket a jackpot £100,000 bonus, it was announced on Tuesday.
The century of centuries milestone has only been reached twice before for a single campaign on the World Snooker Tour.
Neil Robertson memorably became the first player to achieve the feat when he contributed a record 103 tons during the 2013/14 snooker season.
Judd Trump almost matched the Australian six years later when he made 102 century breaks across the 2019/20 snooker term.
They were both special moments in the sport, particularly Robertson’s which made significant headlines when he completed the century of centuries at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The World Snooker Tour is perhaps hoping to tap into that kind of media frenzy by goading its players into playing more attacking snooker during its busy schedule.
As a result, the first player to compile 100 century breaks this season will land a handsome bonus worth £100,000.
All events on the 2024/25 WST calendar count towards a player’s tally, with Trump currently leading the way having compiled ten tons at last week’s Shanghai Masters.
If two or more players reach the 100 milestone having played the same number of frames in the same round of the same tournament, then the bonus will be shared.
WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “We are delighted to introduce this new bonus as it creates an extra story line which will run throughout the season.”
“If a player is on target for the ‘century of centuries’ going into the last few events then the drama will build with every match.”
Trump was the leading century maker last season on 79, with only Kyren Wilson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and John Higgins compiling more than 50.
Therefore, it seems unlikely that there’ll be many players challenging for this prize.
However, it remains an interesting incentive, and it certainly would be entertaining if two or more players are vying it for it come the conclusion of the campaign.
2024/25 snooker season century breaks
After the Shanghai Masters
1. Judd Trump – 10 2. Shaun Murphy – 8 3. Ali Carter – 6 4. Mark Williams – 5 5. David Gilbert – 5 6. Zhou Yuelong – 5 7. Jack Lisowski – 4 8. Gary Wilson – 4
Bonuses have become more common on the World Snooker Tour over the last number of years, although several have never been claimed.
When the Home Nations tournaments began in 2016, there was a £1 million jackpot on offer for any player who could win all four events on the series in the same season.
Unsurprisingly, that never materialised and the bonus was taken away after a few years.
More recently, there was a 147 break bonus on offer during the recent 2023/24 snooker season in the Triple Crown events.
Any player who could compile two maximum breaks at the UK Championship, Masters, and World Championship would have received a tidy £147,000 windfall.
Despite a few players managing to get one, though, it ultimately wasn’t required for the money to be dished out.
Whether or not that bonus will return this season is yet to be announced.
2024/25 WST calendar
Note: Dates are provisional and subject to change
COMPLETED Championship League Snooker Champion: Ali Carter
Shanghai Masters Champion: Judd Trump
JULY
25th to August 3rd – Xian Grand Prix qualifiers – British Open qualifiers – Wuhan Open qualifiers (Mattioli Arena, Leicester)
AUGUST 19th to 25th Xi’an Grand Prix (Xi’an, China)
30th to September 7th Saudi Masters (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
SEPTEMBER 12th to 22nd English Open (including qualifiers) (Brentwood Centre, Brentwood)
23rd to 29th British Open (The Centaur, Cheltenham)
28th to 30th Northern Ireland Open qualifiers (Ponds Forge, Sheffield)
OCTOBER 1st to 3rd International Championship qualifiers (Ponds Forge, Sheffield)
6th to 12th Wuhan Open (Wuhan, China)
20th to 27th Northern Ireland Open (Waterfront Hall, Belfast)
28th to 30th Scottish Open qualifiers (Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield)
NOVEMBER 3rd to 10th International Championship (Tianjin, China)
11th to 17th Champion of Champions (Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton)
16th to 21st UK Championship qualifiers (Mattioli Arena, Leicester)
23rd to December 1st UK Championship (York Barbican, York)
DECEMBER 4th to 7th Shoot Out (Mattioli Arena, Leicester)
9th to 15th Scottish Open (Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh)
16th to 22nd – German Masters qualifiers – World Open qualifiers (Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield)
JANUARY 12th to 19th The Masters (Alexandra Palace, London)
27th to February 2nd German Masters (Tempodrom, Berlin)
FEBRUARY 10th to 16th Welsh Open (Venue Cymru, Llandudno)
MARCH TBC World Grand Prix (TBC)
3rd to 9th World Open (Yushan, China)
17th to 23rd Players Championship (Telford, England)
31st to April 6th Tour Championship (Manchester Central, Manchester)
APRIL 7th to 16th World Championship qualifiers (EIS, Sheffield)
19th to May 5th World Snooker Championship (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield)
