Liang Wenbo admitted he rushed a big chance to make snooker history in York as he went close to making the 100th professional maximum break during his williamhill.com UK Championship opener.
The 26-year-old Chinese player was bidding for his second career 147, having made his first five years ago, but after clearing 15 reds and adding black each time he missed the yellow, and with it went the chance of a £59,000 bonus.
Steve Davis made the first maximum in professional competition in 1982, with Judd Trump firing the 99th during the Antwerp Open earlier this month.
The 120 break put the seal on a 6-2 win for Liang over 19-year-old Gateshead potter Elliot Slessor, and he had been in the dark about the money he would have earned for a perfect break.
The prize money for a maximum stands at £55,000 this fortnight, with an additional £4,000 for the tournament’s highest break.
“I didn’t know it was £59,000 and just concentrated on playing,” Liang said. “I got a very good chance but I was unlucky. I potted the last red, got the angle on the last black and hit it a little bit too hard so it wasn’t easy on the yellow.”
He added on world snooker.com: “I still had a chance but I think I rushed it a bit. Maybe next time.”
Liang was joined in reaching the last-64 stage by Welshman Michael White, who saw off Joe Swail 6-0, while Scotland’s Marcus Campbell edged out 15-year-old Chinese prospect Lyu Haotian 6-5.
Ryan Day bowed out 6-5 to 109th-ranked Chris Wakelin and Jack Lisowski beat Scot Michael Leslie 6-4.