Watch shock moment Kurt Maflin gives white ball middle finger at Snooker World Championships at missing out on 147 break

NORWAY'S Kurt Maflin was lucky to escape a fine after giving the MIDDLE FINGER to the white ball.

The qualifier was on course for a 147 in the 16th frame but a wild shot ruined his chance at history and then he made the rude gesture in anger on day three of the Betfred World Snooker Championship

Referee Tatiana Woollaston gave him a warning, saying: “I saw that. I have to warn you. And the next one you lose the frame.”

Fans who spotted the hilarious gesture took to social media with one writing: "That is absolutely sensational."

Another person said: "Hilarious. Can't blame him really."

A third added: "Iconic piece of television."

World Snooker didn't appear to see the funny side, warning Maflin although added he would receive no further punishment.

Maflin was on course for a 147, which would have been the first one here for eight years and earned him a £40,000 bonus.

Yet he missed his chance at 104 and then apologised for the gesture.

The 36-year-old said: “I apologise tremendously if I have offended anyone. It was pure frustration.

“I don’t swear or moan or complain. It was one of those moments. I either took out my frustrations against Dave or the cue ball.

“I meant nothing by it. It was purely aggression being taken out on the cue ball. That was it. I felt like I had worked hard to get into that position.

“It was one of those reactions where I thought: For f*** sake.

“I couldn’t make out what the ref was saying. She was whispering. I thought she was telling me to tuck in my shirt.

“She said she would warn me for the gesture. I wasn’t quite with it at that stage.

“I have just seen it back. It doesn’t look great, does it?”

There were six centuries on display – a record for a first-round Crucible match – as Maflin beat David Gilbert 10-8 in the first shock of the event.

Meanwhile legend Ronnie O'Sullivan got off to a blistering start with an 8-1 advantage over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh heading into Monday's contest.