Pullen’s Quest for 147: The Cost of Missing 14th Black

Tom Pullen saw his bid for a maximum break end in heartbreaking fashion during fourth-round qualifying for the World Championship. He was competing against Noppon Saengkham of Thailand in a best-of-19 match when a 147 attempt collapsed at the 14th black.

Pullen had built a superb break and reached 105 points before the black ricocheted off both sides of the pocket and ran away. The miss left him visibly stunned and brought an abrupt end to the chance of a maximum.

Match details and immediate reaction

Pullen led early in the match and was 5-4 ahead at the interval. The contest offers a place at the Crucible for the winner, with the match first to 10 frames.

Commentators on TNT Sports expressed sympathy and urged Pullen to refocus on closing out the tie. The coverage noted how crushing the miss was, while stressing the importance of winning the match to reach the Crucible.

Financial impact

Converting a 147 would have paid a headline bonus of £147,000. An additional share linked to the highest break is worth £12,500. Together that totals roughly £159,000 that Pullen now misses out on.

Another qualifier, Chang Bingyu, compiled a 147 in the third round against Luca Brecel. As things stand, Chang will receive bonuses totalling £25,000 for that achievement and is set to earn about £172,000 from the result.

What it means for Pullen’s earnings

This lost payout would have exceeded what Pullen has earned over the last four seasons. His prize money so far this season stands at £59,000. His largest career single payday remains £22,350 from reaching the Xi’an Grand Prix quarter-finals last year.

If Pullen wins and reaches the Crucible, he is guaranteed at least £20,000 for a first-round loser there. A defeat to Saengkham would leave him with £15,000 from this event.

Background and context

Pullen has previously made a maximum, recording a 147 in the first round of the 2025 UK Championship. The missed black in qualifying will be remembered for both the quality of the break and the narrowness of the finale.

Filmogaz.com credits TNT Sports for the match footage and commentary. Pullen’s quest for a 147 and the cost of missing the 14th black underline how small margins can carry huge financial and sporting consequences in professional snooker.