Maflin qualified for the 2020 World Snooker Championship, in the first round against David Gilbert in frame 16 he attempted a 147 but the cueball hit the yellow on its spot after he potted the 14th red on so he was not on the black to continue the maximum, he stuck his middle finger at the cueball and was subsequently warned by the referee for the obscene gesture at the start of the next frame, warned that he would be docked a frame if he repeated such a thing. He was not fined for misconduct however.