John Higgins almost matched Ronnie O'Sullivan's feat in making a maximum 147 break at the World Championships but broke down on the final green today.
Higgins, the 1998 world champion, was on course to claim a share of O'Sullivan's Stg£169,000 (the combined prize for making the highest break of the tournament) during his second round match against Sean Storey.
The Scot had cleared 15 reds and 15 blacks in the second frame but, after potting the yellow, was poorly positioned on the green.
He missed the pot and the break ended on 122 to the dismay of spectators at the Crucible Theatre and the television audience.
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Higgins has twice before made a televised maximum break, at the 2000 Nations Cup and later that year at the Irish Masters.