Michael Holt's foul in Welsh Open first round with Mark Williams called by 'very unusual' source, Neal Foulds says 'I don't think I've ever seen that'

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There was a moment of drama during Mark Williams' Welsh Open first-round match against Michael Holt, as the latter was called for a foul by a "very unusual" source. In an incident which was seemingly missed by Holt, Williams and referee Colin Humphries, the former Shoot Out champion followed through with his cue and accidentally fouled by nudging the yellow ball, until the intervention came.

'Wasn't that subtle' - Unusual scenes as marker calls foul on Holt

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports commentator Neal Foulds said "I don't think I've ever seen that before" after Michael Holt's foul in the Welsh Open first round was called by a "very unusual" source.

A frame down but 39-1 ahead in the second against home favourite Mark Williams in Llandudno, Holt committed a foul when he left his cue dangling after potting a long red, and it caught the nearby yellow ball.

Holt, Williams and referee Colin Humphries seemed to miss the infringement, before a voice emerged from the darkness behind the table.

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The shout came from the marker - the official who uses replays to aid the referee, but rarely intervenes to initiate such decisions. Kevin Dabrowski was in the seat for the match.

In a lengthy exchange, referee Humphries was heard saying to Dabrowski: "Why? I didn’t see it [the yellow ball] move."

But replays clearly showed Holt followed through his strike by nudging the yellow with his cue, holding up Dabrowski's claim, as Humphries returned to the table and penalised the former Shoot Out champion.

McManus praises marker Dubrowski for 'strong' decision against Holt

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I think that’s right," Foulds said on commentary for TNT Sports and discovery+. "The marker has called a foul, I think the yellow did move. The tip of Michael Holt’s cue touched it at the end of the shot. Well spotted."

Humphries said to Dabrowski the contact Holt made with his cue was "so fine", before Foulds reacted: "It doesn’t matter whether it’s fine or not, it either moved or it didn’t - and it did."

Alongside Foulds in the commentary booth, Philip Studd remarked: "It very obviously moves - in fact, there’s no doubt whatsoever. It wasn’t even that subtle in the end."

But Foulds was surprised by the manner in which the foul was called, saying it was "very unusual" for the infringement to be first spotted, and flagged, by a marker.

"People always say you know when you’ve made a foul, but you only know about the ones you do know about," he said. "There have to be occasions when you’re not aware of it.

"It’s a foul, and it’s a very good spot. I saw Kevin Dabrowski in the marker’s chair, and it’s very unusual that a marker would call a foul, but it’s common sense that if a foul has been made, he is called out for it.

"I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before."

'Lucky!' - Holt comments after Williams celebrates difficult snooker escape with home crowd

Video credit: TNT Sports

While the incident was a moment of drama that went against Holt, it did not stop him from levelling the scores at one frame apiece, as he successfully completed a clearance from 63-39 behind.

The pair traded frames once again before Williams pulled back ahead with a break of 64.

The tie looked to be heading to a decider when Williams uncharacteristically skewed a pink into the jaws amid a potential match-winning break.

But Holt was unable to clinically counter, as the home favourite returned and sunk a fabulous long pink to seal the win.

Speaking in the TNT Sports studio afterwards, expert Alan McManus praised Dabrowski for intervening when he spotted Holt's foul, and said he would like to see markers help out their referees more often.

"I tell you what, good on Kevin Dabrowski, the marker," McManus said. "You have to get up early in the morning if you’re going to catch him out.

Williams sinks 'emphatic' long pink to seal first-round win over Holt

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Michael pots the long red, and the eagle-eyed Kevin is sat this end of the table, he senses he’s spotted a little foul.

"Just when Michael comes away, touches the yellow, and he alerts the referee. He absolutely does the correct thing, everyone is out there to aid each other."

He added: "I'd like to see it [more often]. I don’t like to see fouls, but if there is any indiscretion whatsoever, they are there to aid one another.

"It’s a four-man team out there, it was a really good decision, a strong one. He also made one with Hossein [Vafaei] against Jimmy [White] a few years ago."

Williams 'unlucky' after nailing stunning long red following 'stern warning' from referee

Video credit: TNT Sports

Williams will face either Tom Ford or Martin O'Donnell in the second round.

Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Welsh Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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