Protester covers snooker table in orange powder during World Championships
The World Snooker Championship 2023 resumes after the chaotic scenes on Monday during Robert Milkins’ clash with Joe Perry.
A Just Stop Oil protester covered a table in bright orange powder, forcing a delay of around 40 minutes. While a second protestor was seen attempting to climb onto the adjacent table where Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi were playing, apparently attempted to affix themselves to it.
Former world champion Stephen Hendry, on commentary duties for the BBC, said: “I have never seen that before at a snooker event. It’s a first. it is scary. Wow!
The afternoon session at the Crucible sees four-time champion John Higgins resume his first-round match against David Grace needing just three frames for victory, having built a 7-2 lead in the opening session. And perhaps the most eagerly-anticipated clash of the first round begins as superstar Judd Trump takes on Crucible specialist Anthony McGill.
While Ronnie O’Sullivan has been criticized by rival Hossein Vafaei ahead of their second-round match – follow all the latest scores and results below:
Gary Wilson builds up commanding lead over Elliot Slessor at Crucible
Before we resume this afternoon, here’s a reminder of everything you might have missed in this morning’s session, where Gary Wilson starred to leave himself well placed to progress to the second round of the World Championship for only the second time.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:52
Judd Trump 2-2 Anthony McGill
McGill raises his bat with the yellow, eventually ending with a break of 119 and the frame. Two a piece at the interval.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:47
Judd Trump 2-1 Anthony McGill
Anthony McGill is able to chuckle as a spectator’s sneeze right as he draws the cue back failing to prevent the black ball from finding the corner. He may lack Trump’s spectacular array of shots but these last two frames have been McGill at somewhere near his best, expert angles and calm, precise potting to methodically build breaks.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:45
Judd Trump 2-1 Anthony McGill
Again the yellow is the springboard used to open the bunch, the cue ball this time sliding slightly off line but still making just enough contact to loosen a few.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:43
Judd Trump 2-1 Anthony McGill
McGill is beginning to fizz. It’s far from an easy opportunity as he comes to the table in frame four, and there appears limited routes forward as he knocks in two reds, but a superb entry into the bunch from the yellow dislodges a couple more to allow him to press onwards.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:39
Judd Trump 2-1 Anthony McGill
And there appears to be more good news for those whose preferences lie north of the border as McGill continues in composed fashion up to a frame-winning 77. That will make him feel rather better, with Trump reminded of the world number 21’s scoring prowess.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:34
Judd Trump 2-0 Anthony McGill
McGill is forced to pause as applause reverberates around the arena after fellow Scot John Higgins seals his place in the second round on the other table with a sparking final break of 124. Higgins will face either Kyren Wilson or Ryan Day next in Sheffield.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:31
Judd Trump 2-0 Anthony McGill
It doesn’t feel like Anthony McGill has done too much wrong so far, but he’ll rather keen to right the ship and avoid falling three frames behind. This is a good opportunity, a handful of reds available as Trump leaves a starter on. A well judged pink to the middle, cueing over a hampering red, takes McGill into the thirties.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:30
Judd Trump 2-0 Anthony McGill
John Higgins has moved to within one frame of victory on the either side of the partition, a pretty 97 putting him 9-3 in front against David Grace, who can probably start arranging his journey back up to Bradford.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:24
Judd Trump 2-0 Anthony McGill
So, of course, it’s a remarkable fluke that puts Trump in position to win the frame – he’s only trying to play safe off the final red but a little peck of the yellow on the way up the table sends it in to the corner. Trump misses the green, but doubles his lead with McGill not returning to the table with several snookers needed.
Harry Latham-CoyleApril 18, 2023 15:23