Mark Allen hits first ever maximum 147 in stunning UK Championship break
MARK ALLEN recorded his first career maximum break, clearing the table during his second-round UK Championship clash with Rod Lawlor.
Mark Allen achieved snooker's maximum 147 break for the first time at the UK Championship
Allen is currently ranked No 10 in the world and won the Players Championship last year to take his tally of ranking tournament wins to three.
He is also a former UK Championship finalist having lost 10-8 to Judd Trump in 2011.
But having come through a close first-round encounter with China's Chen Zhe, Allen lit up the Barbican Centre in York with a stunning 147.
The Northern Irish player has never recorded a maximum in tournament play before but came close back in 2010 World Championship, potting 15 reds and 15 blacks before missing the green.
Mark Allen has previously come within five balls of a 147 break
He made a 146 in the same tournament five days later but lost 13-12 in an epic quarter-final clash with Graeme Dott.
But Allen made no mistakes in the seventh frame against Lawlor, pocketing a £5,000 prize for his break and a chance at another £5,000 for the highest break at the tournament if it is not equalled.
The break gave him a 4-3 lead which he turned into a 6-4 victory and a spot in the third round, but Allen admitted he was glad to get his first tournament maximum at last.
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"It's great to get monkey off my back," Allen said afterwards.
"The pressure was on big time because it was all there for me."