Referee warns spectators after mobile phone disruption at World Championship
Spectators at the Crucible Theatre were issued a stern warning from referee Tatiana Woollaston during Saturday’s World Championship semi-final between Shaun Murphy and John Higgins after a mobile phone disrupted play, reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred just 15 minutes into the afternoon session, with Murphy building towards victory in the 25th frame having potted the black to reach 70-0. Woollaston paused proceedings to address the audience directly: “Please, can everyone check their phones and switch them off and put them on silent. You don’t want to be the one I ask to leave if it rings again.”
The crowd responded with applause, coming less than 24 hours after widespread complaints about audience behaviour during the tournament’s longest ever frame. Following the interruption, Murphy demonstrated remarkable composure, compiling a break of 132 to close the gap to a single frame at 13-12, before levelling the match with yet another contribution of 127.
However, Higgins responded emphatically, regaining control of the contest and moving two frames clear with just five remaining in the best-of-33 encounter. The semi-final had already been impacted by crowd issues during Friday’s play, when a spectator shouted encouragement for Higgins just as Murphy prepared to take his break shot.
Pundit Dennis Taylor expressed his frustration at the disruption, stating: “What are they shouting about? Just get them out of the Crucible, we don’t need that in our game.” The incidents during the Murphy-Higgins clash followed a particularly controversial evening, which had already tested the patience of players, officials, and television commentators alike at the Sheffield venue.
The previous evening’s match between Wu Yize and Mark Allen saw a single frame stretch to nearly two hours and feature 75 safety shots, with spectators voicing their displeasure as the tactical stalemate dragged on. Snooker legend Steve Davis condemned the episode, declaring: “In a nutshell that frame is an embarrassment to snooker,” adding that both the referees’ and the players’ association need to ensure a similar situation is not repeated in the future.
Such incidents highlight the ongoing challenges within the sport as it navigates the complexities of maintaining decorum in the face of fervent public interest.
