World Snooker Championship: The most bizarre moments from tournament's first round - including Paul Scholes on Ronnie O’Sullivan watch
Updated 24/04/2026 at 09:59 GMT+1
React to this story
Fans have been treated to some thrilling matches, major drama and bizarre moments during the first round of the World Snooker Championship.
'We don't need Fergie time!' - Scholes captivated as O'Sullivan sinks another century for victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
The tournament, which has been shown live and on-demand on HBO Max, has featured some of the biggest names in the sport and the action is heating up before the start of the second round.
However, first, let’s take a look back at some of the strangest moments from the opening round.
Ronnie wins in front of Scholes
Greatness recognised greatness at the Crucible on Wednesday as Manchester United and England legend Paul Scholes watched Ronnie O'Sullivan beat He Guoqiang.
Scholes pulled the strings in the heart of The Red Devils' midfield across three decades and he watched in awe as O'Sullivan showed off a similar level of dominance against his Chinese rival.
The Rocket won the match 10-2, moving one step closer to an eighth World Championship, but spare a thought for Scholes, who only got to watch one of the greatest of all time for less than an hour before the win was secured.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/23/image-67a41e74-2757-4c0b-8188-6ca8e3da700a-85-2560-1440.png)
'If I had his game, I'd have won more' - O'Sullivan on 'everyone's favourite player' Higgins
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jones lashes out in Selby loss
Mark Selby is also through to the second round after beating Jak Jones 10-2.
It was a match to forget for Jones, and he showed his anger at the climax of the contest.
The 32-year-old’s frustration bubbled over with his last shot of the match as he committed a reckless foul by hitting the cue ball with a careless amount of power to hand Mark Selby the win.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/07/16/image-da56d627-8469-4fbb-9b15-48e8357f84c8-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch: Jones smashes ball in 'sheer frustration' to hand Selby victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
Murphy’s ‘best break’ helps him edge thriller
Shaun Murphy came out on top in one of the matches of the round against Fan Zhenghyi.
He beat his rival 10-9 after wrapping up the win with a mouth-watering half-century.
After the match, Murphy claimed that it was his best-ever break at The Crucible.
"Of all the breaks I've ever made at the Crucible, that's the best one," Murphy told TNT Sports.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/20/image-aec4e130-4a89-483a-8719-271e2a3ca61c-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Total class' - Murphy takes slender lead over Fan with 140 break
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie uses two cues
Scholes’ surprise appearance was not the only reason why O'Sullivan’s win against He made headlines.
The Rocket also caught the eye of many an eagle-eyed viewer after using two cues during the emphatic victory.
He took a 7-2 lead in the opening session on Tuesday, but emerged for the final three frames on Wednesday with a new cue.
He confirmed that he made the change due to an issue with his tip.
"I can’t play with a poor tip,” he said. ”I can have a great cue, terrible tip, and it’s a waste of time. Or I can have a half-decent cue with a great tip, and think, 'Actually, I can play.'
"Yesterday, I had no touch and feel with certain shots I just didn’t fancy, and it chips away at your confidence. I thought, 'If I carry on with this, it gets worse and worse.'"
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/22/image-c2553765-ef7e-4af0-8860-18ae2e6f1576-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Can be a really stressful thing' - O'Sullivan explains changing cues in first-round win
Video credit: TNT Sports
‘Amazing talent’ Moody pushes Wilson to the limit
Stan Moody is one of snooker’s most exciting young talents and he pushed Kyren Wilson to the limit in the first round.
He eventually had to settle for a 10-7 defeat but caught the eye as he pushed an experienced operator to the limit despite being just 19 years old.
One of the eyes he caught was that of Judd Trump, who showered Moody with high praise.
”He is an amazing talent; he will be back here so many times,” he said.
”Obviously, Stan, it was there for the taking. I was there watching, screaming at the TV and telling him to relax.”
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/21/image-0cb23bb6-b8aa-4ce0-94aa-aaf5c75fd27f-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Trump offers crucial advice to 'amazing talent' Moody - 'I was screaming at the TV'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson corrects the referee
Neil Robertson does not give up easily and referee Terry Camilleri learned that the hard way during the Australian’s clash with Pang Junxu.
With Robertson trailing 69-34 in the fourth frame, Camilleri announced that he had conceded the frame.
However, the 44-year-old quickly corrected the referee, emphasising that he had not conceded just yet.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/22/image-931cb676-eaff-44a5-9e2b-cf7a7618b954-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
More confusion as Robertson corrects referee over frame concession
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wilson rages at cue tip
Kyren Wilson's frustration with his cue tip was laid bare when the 2024 world champion began to bash his cue on the floor during his clash with Mark Allen.
Wilson, who previously said he "hates his cue" and was "fighting it all the time", was seen knocking it on the ground in what TNT Sports commentator Dominic Dale explained was an attempt to "bed his tip in...trying to firm it up."
"I can’t help but wait for the season to finish for Kyren, so he can sort out the problems," Dale added. "He’d love to bite that tip off, but I’m sure it’s the cue and the tip, a combination of both. I don’t think he likes either."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/24/image-a997ba6e-7f32-4f36-bc74-027005a49fc8-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'He'd love to bite that tip off' - Wilson displays cue frustration
Video credit: TNT Sports
You can watch every day of the 2026 World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports. It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max
Advertisement
Advertisement