Ten facts about Kurt Maflin

KURT Maflin (pictured) will be the guest professional at the Cuestars finals day at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, on Sunday.

The world number 50 will present the trophies and play exhibition frames against all the various champions.

Factfile:

1.    Kurt started playing snooker at the age of four.

2.    In 2000, he became the first player to retain the English Under-17 Championship.

3.    He won the 2006 IBSF World Championship.

4.    In 2010, he made the first ever 147 break in a Players Tour Championship event.

5.    The same year, he lost a match 4-0 two days after breaking his collarbone in three places in a car crash.

6.    Born in London, Kurt speaks fluent Norwegian and is married to Norwegian Anita Rizzuti. They have a son called Neon.

7.    He reached the semi-finals of the China Open in 2014/15.

8.    Last year, at the age of 31, Kurt fulfilled his childhood dream of appearing at the Crucible by qualifying for the TV stages of the World Championship. He lost 10-9 to defending champion Mark Selby in the first round having beaten six-time world champion Steve Davis 10-1 in the second qualifying round.

9.    John Virgo had actually predicted the Crucible visit 18 years previously. Kurt appeared on the BBC’s Junior Big Break and, after filming was completed, the veteran commentator told him: “Kurt, I’ll see you at the Crucible.”

10.   He has won 54 per cent of the 3,018 frames he has played in professional tournaments.

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