A fan nearly disrupts the World Snooker Championship final

The final match of the World Snooker Championship was temporarily halted following an unexpected incident involving a spectator who staged a protest against the cost of the BBC television licence.

The incident unfolded in the third frame of the final at the Crucible Theatre, as Chinese player Wu Yize was preparing to take his shot, leading Shaun Murphy 67-31.

From the stands, a woman shouted out emotionally, "Who even pays for a TV licence?" sparking unrest and murmurs among the crowd. She then added, "Nobody pays," before being escorted out by security.

Match referee Rob Spencer reacted quickly, stepping in to stop the fan’s attempt to approach the table. Security soon removed the disruptive spectator from the arena.

This was not the first such incident at the tournament. Just a day earlier, a semi-final match was also interrupted when politically charged chants referencing the Jeffrey Epstein case erupted from the stands, forcing the referee to remove the offending spectator.

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After four frames, it’s worth noting that Murphy is trailing Wu Yize 1-3.