Aaron Hill recorded a maximum break for the second time in a month while playing at the Xi'an Grand Prix this afternoon, while world number one Judd Trump also achieved the feat on the way to a 5-2 victory over Ng On-yee.
Hill, in action against Huang Jiahao in the first round, made the break in the second frame before going on to win the match 5-2, with another century in the penultimate frame.
The 23-year-old also achieved the feat at last month's English Open, and in doing so, became the first player from the Republic to do so in a ranking event. Antrim's Mark Allen has made five competitive maximums in his career, with four of those coming at ranking events, most recently in April's World Championship.
Judd Trump crafted a maximum in the fifth frame against three-time women’s world champion Ng. It was the ninth 147 of his career.
He had put himself in line for the tournament’s £5,000 highest break bonus, before Hill repeated it two hours later. They will share the prize as it stands.
After Ng took the opener off a break of 74, Trump responded with a century and then 94 ahead of his perfect clearance, with a run of 55 enough to take the seventh frame and secure a place in the next round.
Trump, runner-up to Kyren Wilson in Xi’an last year, will go on to meet former UK and Masters champion Matthew Stevens next.
Ronnie O'Sullivan made two centuries on an impressive return to action for the first time since mid-August as he coasted past Iulian Boiko 5-0.
The 49-year-old last played competitively at the Saudi Arabia Masters, where he was beaten in the final by Neil Robertson.
O’Sullivan – who has recently moved to Dubai with his new wife Laila Rouass – subsequently missed the English Open and British Open having withdrawn due to medical reasons.
There was, though, little sign of rustiness from the seven-time world champion, who was playing for the 1,000th time in a ranking event match during Tuesday’s evening session.
O’Sullivan capitalised on an early error from 20-year-old Ukrainian Boiko to take the opening frame with a well-crafted 107.
After a rapid opener, the second frame was a much tighter affair, with errors from both players before O’Sullivan came from behind to clear the colours from the green.
Boiko’s safety errors continued as O’Sullivan capitalised to edge the third frame 74-50 and take control of the match at 3-0.
O’Sullivan bided his time before making the most of another opportunity in the next to build a second century of 112 ahead of the mid-session interval.
Boiko stuttered again when back at the table, having got himself 36-0 ahead, allowing O’Sullivan to make 46 before he overcut a red.
The 20-year-old, though, could not make the most of his second chance. O’Sullivan eventually closed out victory 76-49 on the back of a tough snooker and then running through the yellow to pink as he secured a place in the next round against Yao Pengcheng.
Elsewhere, former world champion Neil Robertson proved too strong for Cork's Leone Crowley, easing to a 5-1 win.
The 19-year-old, who became the first Irish player to win the World Snooker Federation Junior championship earlier this year, took the opening frame before the Australian found his groove to reel off five frames on the spin.
Reigning men’s world champion Zhao Xintong beat compatriot Wang Xinbo 5-2 and Jak Jones saw off fellow Welshman Dylan Emery by the same score.
Defending Xi’an Grand Prix champion Wilson was given a walkover after Marco Fu withdrew.
