Crucible crowds snookered after one day’s action

EVEN lab rats would have lasted longer than this. Ronnie O’Sullivan had complained that players and paying punters were being treated like they were taking part in a scientific experiment after the Crucible was chosen as the place to pilot the return of indoor crowds. But the Rocket could never have envisaged that the test would be aborted on day one. On the hottest day of the year in Sheffield, around 170 spectators sat socially distanced inside this air-conditioned but tiny theatre to witness the opening session of this year’s rescheduled World Championship. Those in attendance — including this correspondent — were aware they were a part of history as the first fans to watch a sporting event indoors since the Covid-19 lockdown in March. But little did they know just how privileged their place in the audience was about to become. It was only two hours after defending champion Judd Trump, down 5-4, broke off against Tom Ford that Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the pilot of crowds at sporting venues in England was being abandoned. With their phones switched off, those inside the Crucible were none the wiser until they emptied the arena after the nine-frame first session. But watching Johnson’s speech live on a big screen backstage in Sheffield was World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn. ‘I am gutted,’ admitted Hearn (above). ‘I am disappointed for the teams that worked so hard to get this event to where it is today and I am disappointed for people who bought a ticket. ‘Congratulations to those guys who went today because they will be able to talk about this for the rest of their lives — the ultimate golden ticket. ‘I’ve never known a circumstance change in a couple of hours, but that is symbolic of what is happening in the world. You are going one step forward, two steps back.’ In the second match of the morning session, former world champion Stuart Bingham established a 5-4 overnight lead over local favourite Ashley Carty. And 11th seed Ding Junhui also leads by the same score heading into today’s conclusion after a competitive first session against veteran opponent Mark King.