World Snooker Championship match disrupted by frog noise as referee intervenes

World Snooker Championship match disrupted by frog noise as referee intervenes

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 25/04/2024

- 18:21

David Gilbert had to recompose himself after a distraction in his World Snooker Championship match against Robert Milkins on Thursday.

Snooker is one of just a few sports where silence is needed when play is ongoing, but one spectator didn't get that memo during David Gilbert's clash with Robert Milkins at the World Championships.

The English duo were facing off for a place in the quarter-finals and Gilbert had raced ahead into a 3-1 lead.


Milkins put himself in a good position to claw one frame back after taking a 54-point lead.

Gilbert was given a chance after Milkins failed to get himself onto a red when potting the blue.

David Gilbert was just about to attempt a long pot before the interruption

David Gilbert was just about to attempt a long pot before the interruption

BBC

A back-and-forth between the two players ensued resulting in Gilbert being left with a long pot on a red into the corner pocket.

Tension inside the Crucible could be cut with a knife as Gilbert got into position on the cue ball.

But he jolted back to his feet after a ribbit sound echoed around the arena from the crowd.

A spectator in the arena appeared to have forgotten to turn their phone on silent with the frog ringtone playing just before Gilbert was about to play his shot.

The 42-year-old seemingly saw the funny side of it as he smiled to himself while trying to recompose himself.

Referee Desislava Bozhilova announced: “Please make sure your phones are on silent.”

Eurosport commentator Phil Yates added: “Oh deary me.

"It’s not just a phone going off, it sounds like a frog croaking. It’s still going!”

David Gilbert has to recompose himself

David Gilbert has to recompose himself

BBC

After a brief walk back around the table to check his angles again, Gilbert returned to the cue ball and confidently potted the red.

The pot drew plenty of applause from the 980-strong crowd, but he was unable to leave himself on a colour.

Both players went on a spree of missing long pots in a safety exchange after that as Gilbert struggled to eat into Milkins' lead.

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David Gilbert was able to laugh about the distraction

David Gilbert was able to laugh about the distraction

GETTY

Two consecutive fouls from Gilbert eventually gave Milkins the ability to wrap up the frame.

The afternoon session ended with Gilbert holding a 5-2 lead over Milkins in their second-round clash.

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