FLIGHT OF FANCY AT CRUCIBLE

HECTOR NUNNS

DEFENDING champion Mark Selby saw his match against Yan Bingtao interrupted by a pigeon at the Crucible Theatre yesterday.

The No.1 seed at the Betfred World Championship was trailing Chinese star and former Masters champion Yan 3-2 during their last-16 clash.

But after Selby left for a toilet break the bird flew down past Yan in his seat and alighted next to the green pocket. It then proceeded to strut up towards the middle pocket and, with referee Rob Spencer in pursuit, flew off into the commentary box area, past the returning Selby and then out of the arena.

Ken Doherty started to sing “Catch the pigeon!” and then added: “How did he get into the Crucible? That’s the first time I have seen anything like that.”

The pigeon was eventually taken out of the building before being released.