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Barry Hawkins dismisses chances of £1m bonus pay out for 147 breaks: ‘Jesus Christ, it’s not likely at all’


Barry Hawkins is not convinced by the new 147 bonus (Picture: VCG via Getty Images)

World Snooker will pay out a £1m bonus to all players who hit a 147 break this season, as long as 20 are made, which Barry Hawkins says almost certainly will not happen.

Barry Hearn, chairman of World Snooker, announced the new initiative at this year’s World Championship, which will see the seven-figure prize shared between the players who make any of 20 maximums this season.

Ronnie O’Sullivan was quick to dismiss the idea as a ‘cheap sound bite’ and world number 10 Hawkins is very confident that no one will be winning any money for their 147 breaks this campaign.

‘Jesus Christ, it’s not likely at all, I don’t think there’s ever been 20 in a season, I don’t even know what the highest number is,’ Hawkins told Metro.co.uk.

The most maximums ever made in a single season was 13 in 2016/17, which puts into context just how extraordinary 20 this season would be.

Last season there were 12 147s and just eight in 2017/18. After two months of the current season there has been just one – Tom Ford making the monster break in qualifying for the International Championship.

While acknowledging that it is not out entirely out of the question, Hawkins agrees with the Rocket that the move was simply a publicity stunt.

‘It’s possible, anything’s possible but the chances are slim,’ Hawkins continued. ‘Barry Hearn’s not stupid, he knows it’s not likely to happen, it’s another little headline to get people interested.

‘The chances are he’s not going to be giving away a million pounds this year.’

Qualifiers for this season’s China Championship are currently ongoing in Barnsley, giving players a chance to become the second to make the 147 break this season.

Hawkins is in action on Friday morning against veteran campaigner Barry Pinches.

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