Alfie Burden, Kenton's rising snooker star, produced a spectacular display of potting that brought comparison with the game's greatest entertainers in his World Championship debut at the Crucible in Sheffield.

Though beaten 10-8 by Malta's Tony Drago in a first-round thriller that captivated a huge TV audience, Burden, 22, became the first man to compile two century breaks in his championship debut.

A 105 clearance was quickly followed by an astonishing 115 break in only 5min 20sec. But Burden missed a great opportunity to square the match at 9-9, and was finally edged out in a black-ball decider, 55-57.

After watching the two superb high-speed centuries, TV presenter David Vine sung the youngster's praises, saying: "Welcome to the club Alfie Burden -- that was as good as anything we have seen from the likes of Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and Ronnie O'Sullivan."

Former world-ranked player John Virgo, now a TV pundit, agreed, observing: "What a great debut, you won't see many breaks like that at the Crucible. It's great to see a youngster potting balls like that."

Burden told Times Sport: "I was disappointed to lose, but pleased that I showed people I could play the game.

"Two black-ball games cost me the match, but I felt I played the better snooker. But for a double-hit foul shot I would have squared the match at 8-8 and gone on to win. At 8-9 I had three chances to pot a red and leave Drago needing a snooker. But I left one over the pocket and he cleaned up.

"Being mentioned in the same breath as O'Sullivan, White and Higgins was a great compliment to me. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Crucible, and I'll be back to win a few games."

Burden's brilliant 115 came after disaster struck in the 16th frame. Trailing 8-7 after missing a chance to win the previous frame on the black, Burden raced into a 49-5. But, in potting a red in the middle pocket, he followed through with his cue and struck the cue ball for the second time. Drago took the frame 66-49, for a 9-7 lead.

But Burden hit back in great style with his 115, narrowing the gap to 9-8.

He looked set to square matters when leading 49-24 in the next, needing only the next red to leave Drago requiring snookers. But he missed narrowly with three long range attempts, and a greatly relieved Drago seized his chance to scrape home 57-55 to clinch the match.

Among those rooting for Burden was his former Arsenal youth team-mate Stephen Hughes, now established in the Gunners first team squad, who faxed The Crucible to wish Alfie luck.

Burden was a promising footballer on the books of both Arsenal and Swindon before serious injury wrecked his career and led to him concentrating on snooker.

Burden's already shown he has the potential to go to the top in the world of snooker.

Earlier indications came when he scored shock wins over world-ranked Nigel Bond and Gary Wilkinson in the Bournemouth Grand Prix towards the end of last year. That lifted him from 122 to 80 in the world ratings.

Further confirmation, if any was needed, came with the tremendous performance against Drago.

"I was so very proud of him," said Alfie's father Tony." He never let things get to him, played brilliantly and broke into the record books. ."

SCORES (Burden first): Saturday: 2-96, 75-8, 6-58, 64-34, 62-45, 66-24, 6-100, 14-86, 31-85. (Burden 4, Drago 5).

Sunday: 71-45, 105-0, 31-76, 72-0, 12-103, 53-62, 49-66, 123-0, 55-57. Burden 8, Drago 10.

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