A commentator at the World Snooker Championships has called out a ‘ridiculous’ issue with the tables this year.
The annual championship is currently underway at the Crucible, but former-snooker-player-turned-Eurosport-commentator Neal Foulds reckons he’s spotted a problem with the tables, with many fans agreeing.
Foulds made the comments during yesterday’s match against John Higgins and Kyren Wilson.
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Higgins took an ambitious shot in an attempt to pot the black, rolling it along the back cushion, but it looked as though he mis-shot as the ball then rolled away from the cushion.
However, the ball still ended up landing in the pocket, prompting Foulds to comment: "How on earth? That's ridiculous.”
He went on: "I've got to make this statement, and I don't want to detract from any of the play, because the standard has been brilliant. I never bang on about conditions.
"This table has played easy, very easy all week. Not to say these players are not brilliant at what they do.
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"That had no right to go in."
Many viewers agreed with Foulds’ comments, with some even calling for the tournament to be re-done with ‘proper pockets’.
One commented: “Been massive for years , no surprise that went in," while another wrote: “Thought the red shouldn’t have gone in either.”
And someone else said: “Pockets ruining this championship for me. Way too big. Even I'd fancy making a score.”
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While a fourth person tweeted: "Time to start the tournament again with proper pockets."
Potential pocket problems aside, Higgins won the match and was, understandably, chuffed with his success.
Speaking after his win, Higgins told Eurosport: “I am over the moon just to beat Kyren, but to beat him with a session to spare I would never have believed that was possible.
“I felt as if I could just play there all day. It felt really good, and you do not get that many times here. It was amazing to be 8-0 and it was in my mind to just share the session four-all and be 12-4 in front going into the third session, but it is a bonus winning it – I now get a day off.
“I have been feeling as if this has been coming for the past month, that I could go on a run of breaks, and that is what you need to do here because I am going to come up against that sooner rather than later.”
Claire Reid