Kettering's Kyren is the maximum man in Cardiff

The world No.8 got off to a stunning start at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena in his first round match against Jackson Page on Tuesday, racing into a 2-0 lead and prevailing 4-3 after a defiant comeback from his 18-year-old opponent.

And Kettering’s Wilson, who last notched a maximum at the 2017 International Championship in China, admitted he had an inkling it would be his day after the very first ball dropped in.

“I fancied it as soon as I potted the first red,” the 28-year-old said.

“I did feel like I was more or less in prime position for it the whole way through, and I was just thinking ‘I just need to hold myself together and take it out.’

“I was shaking like a leaf on the last black and I just wanted it to disappear - you’re thinking of all sorts there.

“There were only about two people in the crowd for my last one in China so I was delighted to see it go in and to do it in front of this crowd and on TV.

“It’s a bit of a bucket list thing as a snooker fan to see a 147 live, so I was delighted I could do it for the people in there tonight.”

The three-time ranking event winner has had a turbulent season, reaching the semi-finals at the World Open and last week’s World Grand Prix but succumbing to disappointing early defeats at the UK Championship and Scottish Open.

And as he continues his pursuit of a first major trophy since the German Masters in February 2019, he says the Welsh capital would be the perfect place to do it.

“It would be awesome to have a good run here, and having that first round win has stood me in good stead for that now,” he added.

“The Welsh Open is a great tournament but I’ve just never really had a good record here, and I’d love to change that.

“The hardest round in these events is always the first round, but now that one’s out of the way I feel like I can relax a bit and enjoy the tournament.”

Watch the Welsh Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds