Snooker: Stephen Maguire pocketed a memorable 147 maximum as he battled his way past Ryan Day and into tomorrow's China Open final.
Maguire held his nerve to clinch a dramatic 6-5 victory over
Day, winning the match on the final blue ball in a final-
decider.
But it was in the second frame that the Scot wrote his name in the record books, his superb total clearance the first ever to be compiled in a ranking tournament in Asia.
After spreading the reds perfectly early in the frame, this season's Northern Ireland Trophy champion took just over 13 minutes to clear all 15 reds and 15 blacks, as well as the colours.
It was the second 147 of Maguire's career, eight years after his maximum in the qualifying rounds of the Scottish Open.
Thailand's James Wattana is the only other professional player to have made an official maximum in Asia, at the 1997 China International. However, that tournament was not a ranking event, nor was it televised.
Maguire's achievement has seen him join three other players who have registered maximums this season. Scottish compatriot Jamie Burnett, from Glasgow, Tom Ford and crowd favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan (twice) have all compiled 147s.
Maguire's 147 was the 61st in snooker history, the 38th in a ranking event and now the fifth of the season.