The Crucible Theatre’s famous green baize turned orange at the World Snooker Championship on Monday when a protester interrupted a match by jumping on the table and releasing a packet of powder, causing play to be suspended.
Two “Just Stop Oil” protesters invaded snooker’s most famous arena shortly after play began in two matches in the evening session.
On one table, where Robert Milkins and Joe Perry were playing, a man leapt onto the table — scattering the balls — and threw orange dye over one half of the baize as boos and jeers came from the audience.
Photo: AP
On the other table, featuring a match between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi, a woman was stopped from getting onto the table by quick-thinking referee Olivier Marteel.
Just Stop Oil named those responsible as Margaret Reid, a 52-year-old former museum professional from northwest England, and Eddie Whittingham, 30, a student at the University of Exeter.
Former world champion Stephen Hendry, who was on commentary duties for the BBC, said it was a “scary” incident and feared the cloth on the table might not be able to be used again.
“For me, straight away as a snooker player I am thinking: ‘Is the table recoverable?’ We don’t know what that is on the table,” Hendry said.
Just Stop Oil issued a statement saying the protesters were removed from the Crucible and arrested.
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