China's Liang Wenbo came within six pots of making the 100th maximum break in snooker history during a 6-2 win over Elliot Slessor at the UK Championship here on Wednesday.

Liang potted 15 reds with blacks in the last frame of the match, but left himself a difficult cut on the yellow, and left it in the jaws. A bumper bonus of 55,000 pounds plus the 4,000 high break prize is a available for a maximum at the York Barbican Center.

Liang, who won an Asian Tour event earlier this season, earlier made breaks of 72 and 79 as he raced into the last 64.

"I didn't know it was 59,000 pounds and just concentrated on playing," he said. "During the last frame I thought I could make a high break after the second red. I got a very good chance but I was unlucky. I potted the last red, got the angle on the last black and hit it a little bit too hard so it wasn't easy on the yellow. I still had a chance but I think I rushed it a bit. Maybe next time." Endi