Snooker star Kurt Maflin is warned for giving the CUE BALL the middle finger after a wayward shot as he closed in on a maximum 147-break worth £40,000 in the World Championship
- Maflin was warned for making an obscene gesture in his match vs David Gilbert
- While attempting a rare maximum break, Maflin lost control of the cue ball
- Maflin took his frustration out on the white ball by showing it the middle finger
- Match referee Tatiana Woollaston had to warn the player over his conduct
Kurt Maflin was warned for making an obscene gesture in the 16th frame of his win over David Gilbert in the World Championship first round.
Maflin directed the gesture towards the table after his bid for a maximum break ended when he ran out of position on the penultimate red.
The prize for a maxinum 147 break at this year’s event is £40,000 – and Maflin was unable to hide his annoyance atmissing out.
Referee Tatiana Woollaston took Maflin aside before the start of the next frame and told him: ‘I have to warn you – the next one, you lose the frame.’
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT
Kurt Maflin showed the cue ball the middle finger after he lost position during his 147 attempt
World Snooker confirmed that Maflin would not face any further punishment beyond the referee’s warning, while Eurosport commentator Dominic Dale apologised to viewers for any offence.
Maflin went on to win the match 10-8 and become the first unseeded player to book his place in the second round.
Maflin said: ‘I meant nothing by it – it was purely aggression being taken out on the cue ball.
Maflin (above) was warned for making an obscene gesture in his win over David Gilbert
Maflin ran out of position on the penultimate red after his effort collided with the yellow
‘I felt like I’d worked really hard to get into that position… and when the white hit the yellow, it was just one of those reactions.
‘She (Woollaston) was whispering and I thought she was telling me to tuck my shirt in, but she told me she had to warn me for the gesture. I wasn’t quite with it at that stage.’