[Sport] UK Snooker Championship 2020: Kyren Wilson makes maximum 147

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UK Snooker Championship 2020: Kyren Wilson makes maximum 147

 

World number four Kyren Wilson made a maximum 147 break en route to a 6-4 win over Ashley Hugill in the first round of the UK Championship.

World Championship finalist Wilson compiled the perfect break in the sixth frame, the third maximum of his career.

It was the second tournament in succession in which a maximum was made after Judd Trump's effort at the Northern Ireland Open last week.

Wilson's break was the 17th maximum made at the UK Championship.

If no other player matches the feat by the end of the tournament, he will collect a £15,000 bonus for the highest break.

Aside from the maximum, Wilson made further runs of 107, 92 and 90 to progress.

Wilson said: "Amazing to have another one, especially in a Triple Crown event. You know everyone is watching these events in particular. I got nervous on it."

The 147 was made without any fans in attendance as the event is being played behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

Wilson added: "Sometimes you can thrive off the energy of the crowd and other times the 'oohs' and 'aahs' get to you. The silence is deafening and it can be hard to hold your concentration out there sometimes."

In all, a total of 162 maximums have now been compiled in snooker history.

How to watch the UK Championship live across the BBC
Meanwhile, 2004 UK champion and last year's beaten finalist Stephen Maguire made it through to the second round with a comfortable 6-1 win over 15-year-old Ukrainian teenager Iulian Boiko.

Shaun Murphy, the 2008 champion, advanced with a 6-5 victory over Welshman Lee Walker, while there were also wins for Luca Brecel, David Gilbert and Ricky Walden.

The 2003 winner Matthew Stevens withdrew from the event on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19, allowing fellow Welshman Jamie Jones a bye into the next round.

World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, seeking an eighth UK title, meets amateur Leo Fernandez in his opening match on Wednesday, while world number one Trump begins against Paul Davison in Thursday's evening session.

Defending champion Ding Junhui plays Jamie Curtis-Barrett on Thursday afternoon.

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