Amateur duo fall just short of televised snooker history with unique maximum break feat

Zachary Richardson and Phil O’Kane teamed up as a pairing to take part in the latest heat of the doubles competition held on the 24/7 dedicated snooker channel.

For each of nine weeks, there is an eight-team, one-frame straight knockout event with the winners from the first eight weeks then coming together for the tournament-concluding Finals Night where the overall title will be decided. Played under ‘Snooker 900 Rules’ with a match and shot-clock, a scotch doubles format is used meaning pairings take it turns for each shot, not each visit as per normal doubles rules.

Last week at the Crucible Sports and Social Club in Reading - home venue for the 900 - former world number two Tony Knowles teamed up with Gary Filtness to win their group and book a ticket for the big party in a few weeks time.

In this the third week of the event, Richardson and O'Kane defeated Jersey duo of former world seniors champion Aaron Canavan and youngster Archie Greier in the opening round before seeing off Matt Ford and Paul Bunyard in the semi-finals.

It was in the final against Andrew Norman and Matt Lancaster when the duo nearly accomplished something never seen before in televised snooker, as they got to within eight pots of completing a scotch doubles maximum 147 break.

After sinking 14 reds with blacks, Richardson - the current English amateur champion - tried getting position on the final red that was awkwardly placed in the baulk area. But he ended up snookering his partner O’Kane, and the effort ended on 112.

However, their main objective of winning the tie and the evening’s group was achieved, and they’ll return for a crack at the top prize.

A scotch doubles 147 has been completed before by Mark Allen and Kyren Wilson at an exhibition in Donegal, Ireland a few years ago.

In official professional competition, no 147 has ever been made at a doubles tournament, yet alone under the scotch doubles format.

Albeit being in a non-professional event, Richardson and O’Kane’s alternating effort was even more incredible under timed conditions, with only 20 seconds allowed per shot. Only one maximum break in top flight snooker has ever been made under a shot-clock - that was produced by Shaun Murphy at the 2023 Snooker Shoot Out.

At the Crucible Cup held in the Pluto TV Snooker 900 arena back in November, eventual champion Neil Robertson potted 13 reds with blacks before coming up short whilst trying to force the 14th red along the baulk cushion to get position back on the black.

Also during Thursday evening’s action in Reading, 12-year-old Greier won £250 for potting the latest ‘Golden Shot’ challenge - sinking a blue from its spot with the cueball in the D.

Earlier in the week, George Pragnell became the latest winner of an Amateur League 900 title after defeating former European Tour event winner Rory McLeod 5-2 in the final.

The Englishman set a new Pluto TV Snooker 900 record by winning all six of his matches, including his five round robin fixtures which saw him finish top of the pool with 17 points.

McLeod - winner of the first 900 amateur accolade last October - qualified for the final after coming second in the group that also included Craig Steadman, Michael Judge, Brian Salmon and Patrick Wallace.