BBC slammed as 'useless' over World Snooker Championship coverage after series of gaffes

BBC slammed as 'useless' over World Snooker Championship coverage after series of gaffes

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 23/04/2024

- 18:57

Mark Williams became the latest top seed to lose in the first round of the World Snooker Championship to Si Jiahui.

Snooker fans have vented their frustration with the BBC for their coverage of the World Championships following Mark Williams' loss to Si Jiahui.

The BBC has broadcast the world championship every year since it moved to the Crucible in 1977.


Snooker previously dominated the channel in previous years, but the BBC has had to strip it down on terrestrial TV and move uninterrupted coverage to iPlayer, BBC Sport website and the mobile app.

It's caused some frustration with snooker fans over the years with its TV coverage being interrupted and jumping to different channels.

The World Snooker Championships have been on the BBC since it moved to the Crucible

The World Snooker Championships have been on the BBC since it moved to the Crucible

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Williams is one of the most popular snooker players on the circuit with a large following hoping to tune in to see him in action.

The three-time world champion 's first-round match with 21-year-old Si went the distance on Tuesday with the Chinese star coming out on top.

Williams stood up to shake hands with his opponent, but coverage cutaway almost immediately after the match was finished.

Some were left upset that they were unable to see any player interviews live.

One viewer fumed: "F***ing BBC has got to it's allotted time so we don't get any player interviews. Useless!"

Another moaned: "I know there was a time factor with BBC going off but both BBC and Eurosport--or World Snooker--really ought to pay for professional interpreters."

The BBC have also been guilty of a couple of gaffes in the first few days of the world championships.

Shaun Murphy eased into the second round of the tournament with a 10-5 win over Lyu Haotian on Monday.

Mark Williams was knocked out of the world championships

Mark Williams was knocked out of the world championships

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But there appeared to be some confusing on the BBC broadcast at the start of the match as they mistakenly named Dublin as Murphy's birthplace.

The Englishman has lived in Dublin for the past few years, but was born in Essex.

The BBC had another case of mistaken identity relating to Williams midway through his match against Si.

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Si Jiahui made it through after a deciding frame

Si Jiahui made it through after a deciding frame

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Williams and the 21-year-old got their first-round match underway on Monday with nothing separating them to start.

The BBC flashed up an update of the scores at 5-4, but an error on the coverage angered Williams.

Instead of having the Welsh flag next to his name, the BBC put the English flag up there.

Williams complained on social media, writing: “Cmon bbc ffs get the welsh dragon on there okease (sic).”

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