World number one Mark Selby made a quick exit from the Champion of Champions event in Coventry, but not before completing a 147-break.

‘The Jester’ made a perfect maximum in frame two of his clash with Neil Robertson, levelling the match in the process.

The Aussie potter responded with a 95-break to regain the lead before Selby again levelled via a century break.

Leicester’s three-time world champion gained the lead for the one and only time at 3-2 but Robertson claimed the final two frames and moved on to the group final where he would be crushed 6-1 by an impressive Dafabet Masters champion Mark Allen.

Selby’s sublime 147 maximum break came in a tournament where there is no bonus on offer for making the magical number, with the Champion of Champions event not even featuring a high-break prize.

It had been five years since Selby last constructed snooker’s perfect break in tournament play. That came in the 2013 UK Championship, where he fired in the 100th ever official maximum break during his semi-final win over Ricky Walden.

With no bonus on offer, Selby took to social media to query World Snooker’s Barry Hearn on the subject.

He tweeted: “Not to be in the [Champion Of Champions] but happy to make my third 147, just thinking what to spend the money on….oh no I just get a clap, you must be struggling at the moment [Barry Hearn]”

The chairman duly responded in jest, as he told Selby: “No but I’m clapping! Special mention coming at the awards dinner.”

Selby’s effort was the 144th ratified competitive maximum break and leaves the total just three short of the magic 147 mark.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is favourite to win the Champion of Champions at 1.80 ahead of his semi-final with defending champion Shaun Murphy on Friday.

Masters champions Allen, 4.00 to win the tournament, faces a rematch of Alexandra Palace final with Kyren Wilson in the second semi-final.