Maiden Max for Davis in Coventry
Mark Davis has tonight made the first maximum break of his career tonight to claim victory against Neil Robertson in the Group Three final at the Championship League in Coventry.
Having won the fourth frame to force a decider, the 44-year-old began the break with an excellent long red cued from tight on the baulk cushion, before proceeding to clear the table with his first professional maximum break.
The maximum is the first of 2017 and the ninth of the current season, following the two compiled in Barnsley at the German Masters qualifiers by Ali Carter and Ross Muir last month. The break is extra significant for Davis who now becomes the oldest player ever to make a 147 break in professional competition, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Fergal O’Brien almost a year ago, also in the Championship League.
Davis told the tournament’s official website: “The max was my first one in a major professional tournament. The balls were there but it was brilliant to do it. I ran out of position a couple of times but I still hadn’t won the frame at that stage but I wanted to go for it as I might not get another chance to do that. I lost position a couple of times again towards the end but managed to get it back together again. I was pleased with that!”
Davis will earn a bonus of £500 for making the highest break during the group.
The break was officiated by Sheffield’s Brendan Moore, who now having presided over five perfect breaks stands behind only Alan Chamberlain (7), Pete Williamson (7) and Jan Verhaas (6) on the all-time referees list.
