Gray day at York as David hits 147

David Gray recorded the 50th competitive maximum 147 break in his second-round match against Mark Selby at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York today.

The world number 14 accomplished the feat in frame five to take a 4-1 lead and will collect £31,000 (€44,000) unless if the achievement is not matched later in the event.

It was the first maximum for the 25-year-old from Surrey, who is renowned for his accuracy around the black spot, and Selby is a lucky opponent for him.

Selby was the beaten finalist when Gray captured his only ranking title, the 2003 Regal Scottish Open.

Elsewhere, John Parrott was maintaining his improved form as he opened up a 5-1 lead over Hong Kong’s Marco Fu, while Alan McManus also had a clear advantage, 5-2 against Ryan Day.

Last week’s British Open hero John Higgins, who will withdraw from the tournament if his wife Denise goes into labour with their second child, began his match against Ricky Walden by losing the first two frames.

The Scot then hit back by taking the next four, though only nature will decide whether he is still in York tomorrow afternoon when the clash is scheduled to conclude.

One walk-out did take place today, as illness forced Jimmy White to retire when trailing 7-0 to Ali Carter in the morning session.

The ‘Whirlwind’ had endured a terrible start to the match and even his one significant break, a 55 in frame two, was not enough to get him off the mark as his opponent responded with a 67.

After a scrappy seventh frame White decided he could not continue, his concession giving Carter a night off, and the 25-year-old from Essex is not back in action until Sunday against Paul Hunter or Quinten Hann.

The world number 19 revealed that his stomach problems had eased since his opening match on Monday.

Hunter was 5-3 up on Hann at the end of their first session while Dubliner Ken Doherty and Andy Hicks were level at 4-4, as were Chris Small and Joe Perry.

World Championship runner-up Graeme Dott edged 4-3 ahead of up-and-coming Australian youngster Neil Robertson.

British Open runner-up Stephen Maguire, up to a provisional number seven in the rankings for next season, held a 5-2 lead over Mark Davis in the final first-round match.