CHINA’S Ding Junhui reached the second round of the World Championship on Tuesday despite embarrassingly squandering an opportunity to record a maximum 147 break.

    Ding potted 12 reds and 12 blacks to rack up 96 points but after knocking in the 13th red he screwed back up the table to get position on the blue.

    The world No. 3 suddenly realized what he had done and held his head in his hands before starting to giggle along with his first-round opponent Mark Davis.

    He composed himself before attempting a very difficult cut on the black but was unable to keep the break going when his shot missed.

    Ding would have pocketed 30,000 pounds (US$44,700) for a maximum break, which has only been achieved 10 times in the World Championships at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield.

    Asked when he had realized his error, Ding said: “Until the last red I potted, and then I heard the noises and looked at the scoreboard. I tried to make it difficult for myself, and that’s it!

    “I just make centuries. I didn’t know, really. I didn’t even think about playing for a 147, but to keep going and keep potting the balls.”

    The miscalculation drew gasps from the audience, while Ding put his head in his hands, but he soon regained his composure and went on to complete a 10-7 victory.

    In the day’s other match, Mark Allen established a 6-3 lead over Ryan Day ahead of the resumption of play later.

    (SD-Agencies)