Spectator thrown out of World Snooker Championship final between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize after phone goes off mid-frame

A spectator was ejected from the World Snooker Championship final between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize at the Crucible on Sunday evening after their phone went off mid-frame.

This year’s World Championship has been plagued by pings from phones, and it continued during the final.

In the first session on Sunday, Murphy slammed the rest on the table in frustration after being put off by a bleeping noise in the crowd.

In a bid to avoid a repeat, referee Rob Spencer issued a warning to those in attendance at the Crucible in Sheffield at the start of the second mini-session on Sunday evening.

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Speaking to the crowd, Spencer said: "What’s going to happen from now on, just so we are all clear, if a phone goes off and the security team see whose phone it is, you will be asked to leave.

The intervention from Spencer at the start of the 13th frame received a warm round of applause, but it once again fell on deaf ears.

Two frames later, with Murphy down at address and ready to take on a tough green, a phone went off.

Quick as a flash, Spencer said: ”They are going.

”Do we know whose it was?”

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'I don't want to have to keep doing this' - Referee issues stern warning over phone interruptions

Video credit: TNT Sports

The culprit either acknowledged it was their phone or they were identified by someone inside the Crucible, as seconds later Spencer said: ”Out please. Out, go, out.”

There was a brief pause, with noise coming from the back of the arena, but the spectator was escorted from the Crucible.

”It is very unfortunate for that gentleman, but he can’t say he was not warned,” Phil Studd said on commentary for TNT Sports.

”Time and time again, every session of all 17 days, it keeps happening.”

Referring to the spectator being asked to leave, Studd said: "If that is not an incentive for it to stop, then I don't know what is.”

Murphy returned to his seat while the spectator was asked to leave, but got up to huge encouragement and potted a superb green.

”Good on Murphy, as you do not want to have your rhythm interrupted and that was a good pot,” Studd added. 

On the table, the two players were locked in battle and will continue over two more sessions on Monday when the champion will be crowned.

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