Sports Relief get one of its first large donations for 2010 campaign

The sponsors of this years World Championship Snooker tournament Bet Fred are to donate £147,000 to Sports Relief following the maximum 147 break achieved by Stephen Hendry in his match on Tuesday at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, the last prior recorded professional 147 break belonged to Ding Junhui in the Maplin UK Championship in December 2008.

Sport Relief’s Head of Fundraising, Karl Reynolds said “We are thrilled that Stephen Hendry’s skill has potted Sport Relief an amazing £147,000. A big thank you to Stephen and Betfred for one of the first donations to Sport Relief 2010.”

The founder of Bet Fred;Fred Done said: “It’s fantastic that Sport Relief are receiving the £147,000 donation and I’m delighted that it was a true snooker legend in Stephen that made the 147 break.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter record 147 Breaks at World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O’Sullivan was celebrating on Monday after netting himself £157,000 for potting a 147 break at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. The two time former World Champion recorded the maximum break in the final frame of his 13-7 2nd round victory over Mark Williams. The money was put up by Championship sponsors 888.com, £147,000 for any player achieving a maximum break plus £10,000 for the highest break in the tournament.

However, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s winnings were soon depleted on Tuesday when Ali Carter also notched a maximum break during his 13-9 Quarter Final victory over Peter Ebdon. The two players must now share the £157,000 bonus.

The odds of any player recording a maxmimum break in the 2008 World Championship were 7/4 prior to the tournament starting and the odds of two players recording maximum breaks in successive days would have been much bigger, had anybody been clever enough to predict such an occurence.