Mike Dunn fired in a maximum 147 break en route to whitewashing Kurt Maflin in the first qualifying round for the German Masters at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.
Dunn, who turned 40 a couple of days ago, has been a stalwart journey man on the professional tour for twenty years but had never before compiled a competitive break over 140, let alone complete the perfect frame.
It is the 79th time that a 147 has been constructed in professional competition and comes on the eve of the 30 year anniversary since Steve Davis achieved the feat for the first time at the 1982 Lada Classic.
There has been a stream of heated debate on Twitter since the landmark break with confusion surrounding whether or not the Englishman will actually earn any prize money.
It is widely hoped that he does because, despite the obvious strength and depth in quality throughout the sport at the moment, a 147 break is still relatively uncommon and should therefore be rewarded at every opportunity.
However, if it was to turn out that Dunn will not receive any monetary winnings, it should not take away from what should be considered as an excellent day for the Middlesbrough man.
Indeed, it was only a matter of weeks ago that Dunn was speculating that he may quit the game after a run of desperate form.
Perhaps more important than the break itself, a comprehensive victory over Maflin sends Dunn to within two victories of a seat on the plane to Berlin.
Elsewhere today, Jimmy White and Steve Davis enjoyed 5-3 triumphs over Matthew Couch and Joe Meara respectively.
In a battle of the young hot-shots, teenager Sam Craigie shocked countryman Jack Lisowski 5-1 while Ben Woollaston beat Rod Lawler by the same scoreline.
There were tight deciding frame wins for China’s Yu Delu as well David Grace and Stuart Carrington of England while Alfie Burden, Adrian Gunnell and Robert Milkins also progressed – the latter with an impressive 5-0 drubbing of the dangerous Tian Pengfei.
Late on in the day, Adam Wicheard knocked out Maltese favourite Tony Drago 5-2 and there were similar wins for Peter Lines, Jamie Burnett and Jamie Jones.
