Mark Selby hits first ever maximum in World Snooker Championships final with stunning 147

Mark Selby hits first ever maximum in World Snooker Championships final with stunning 147,The 2023 World Snooker Championship final saw Mark Selby hit a stunning 147 break on the biggest of stages, joining the competition's history books in the decider against Luca Brecel

Mark Selby hits first ever maximum in World Snooker Championships final with stunning 147

Mark Selby made World Snooker Championship history on Sunday after becoming the first player to complete a 147 break in a final during his decider against Luca Brecel.

'The Jester from Leicester' recorded the 14th maximum break at the Crucible and the second witnessed at this year's snooker showcase. Kyren Wilson notched the first in his opening-round showdown against Ryan Day, and like 'The Warrior', Selby's feat will bag him a bonus payday worth £40,000.

However, Selby's achievement is in a league of its own after recording the first maximum witnessed in any final in almost a century of the competition taking place. Having started Sunday's evening session trailing 6-2, a timely 147 helped the 39-year-old rein in Brecel to just a two-frame lead at the time.

READ MORE: Mark Selby fires back at online trolls at 1am after reaching World Championship final

Selby soaked up the admiration of the Crucible crowd and beamed as he rose back from his chair to conjure another cheer from those in attendance. And deservedly so given the context behind his feat, pulling off that which even icons like Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Ray Reardon could not.

As well as shaking the hand of opponent Brecel in the wake of his World Championship first, Selby also embraced referee Brendan Moore, who is poised to retire after the final. Fans dubbed the break of 15 reds and 15 blacks 'absolutely brilliant', while one sympathised: "I bet Kyren is a bit gutted."

Will Mark Selby build on Sunday's 147 to win his fifth World Championship on Monday? Let us know in the comments section.

Mark Selby hit a 147 in the final at the Crucible (Image: BBC)

Wilson was just one match away from earning an additional £15,000 for the highest break of the tournament, though it now looks as though that prize pot will be split with Selby. And Monday's performance will decide whether the Jester has a fifth world title gong to go along with it.

Former world champion-turned-broadcaster Ken Doherty described the feat as a 'magic moment' before gushing: "It doesn't get any better than this, the crowd are on their feet, we're on our feet.

Selby embraced retiring referee Brendan Moore (Image: BBC)

Selby's slick round was all the more incredible considering he didn't seal a semi-final win over Mark Allen until the early hours of Sunday morning. The four-time world champion officially booked his place against Brecel at 12:48 a.m. on the day of the final and fired back at his online doubters immediately after proving his critics wrong.

Fans were in awe of the maximum but also the standard of the final in what was a superbly matched contest. "Lovely stuff. Been a great final so far," praised one admirer. "Could be one of the best ever if they keep this standard up [on Monday]."

As if the stage wasn't already set for a grand enough conclusion in the best-of-35 encounter, Selby signed off Sunday's session by narrowing the gap to a single frame. Brecel leads 9-8 heading into the last phases of this year's Crucible but won just three of the last nine frames played as momentum shifted in favour of his foe.

"This has really been one of the best World finals I've seen," said 1991 world champion John Parrott on BBC 2. "The standard has been absolutely fabulous – it's had everything so far in these opening two sessions, including that wonderful maximum break. But the match has just been played so well by both players. It's been some final so far, absolutely brilliant stuff from both boys."

While others may follow in future tournaments to come, no-one will match Selby as the first player to record a 147 on the biggest stage in snooker.