Crucible debutant Zak Surety wins fans and bows out in style with century break record

The world number 73 was one of the star performers during the qualifying rounds held at the English Institute of Sport earlier this month, navigating three rounds to reach the 32-player World Championship main draw for the first time in his career.

The 33-year-old Englishman won three preliminary matches at the EIOS: defeating Antoni Kowalski 10-2, Jack Lisowski 10-8, and then three-time ranking event winner Ricky Walden 10-3 in the final qualifying round.

Against world number 25 Lisowski, Surety conjured up an inspired spell of snooker from 8-5 down, compiling breaks of 100, 80, 64 and 103 in the final four frames.

The qualifiers came off the back of Surety's best ever result as a professional when he went all the way to the semi-finals of World Open in Yushan, China in February.

Surety began his run in that tournament with a 5-0 whitewash over top 16 star Si Jiahui in round one to reach the main venue stages in the Far East several weeks later.

In China, Surety eliminated Jordan Brown and Duane Jones in consecutive rounds via deciding frames before also seeing off Liu Hongyu and Tom Ford.

In a memorable last four meeting with four-time World Champion John Higgins, Surety was within touching distance of the final as he led 5-3, but was agonisingly denied a spot in the title match as Higgins battled back for a 6-5 win. Higgins went on to defeat Joe O'Connor in the final and end his four-year wait for a ranking event title.

It appears that Surety wasn't knocked back by that disappointment, and instead focused on his great run to the semis, bringing and continuing that fine form into his 2025 World Championship campaign.

In his match-up with Ding in round one proper at the Crucible, it was a very difficult start for Surety, as he fell 4-0 down to the current International Championship title holder.

However, Surety settled in by claiming frames five and six to get on the board, before finishing the opening session on a high by fashioning a break of 109 - joining a band of players who have made a ton in their first Crucible match.

That frame kept Surety in touch of his opponent, but he still needed a fast start when they returned the following afternoon for their concluding session - and that’s exactly what he did.

Surety won the opening mini session 3-1, constructing runs of 109, 136 and 110 in the process - a sensational spell of power-scoring, meaning he totted up four centuries within five frames if you include the last of the first session.

Now only 7-6 behind, Surety was firmly back in the chase for a last 16 spot, but former finalist here Ding strapped on his scoring boots too, crafting breaks of 86, 116 and 75 as he took three of the next four frames for a 10-7 victory.

In defeat, though, Surety became a record-breaker. No player in the history of the World Snooker Championship had made more than three century breaks in their debut match at the Crucible Theatre.

Surety’s quad eclipsed the efforts of Ryan Day (2004) and Jackson Page (2022), who both made three centuries each during their maiden Crucible outings.

Please visit our 2025 World Snooker Championship tournament information centre here for details on the draw, results, format and order of play.