World Snooker Championship was brought to a halt with players and spectators in stitches ...Middle East

A pigeon once caused play to be stopped during the World Snooker Championship after landing at the Crucible.

The bizarre moment occurred during second-round fixtures of the prestigious competition in 2022, whilst Mark Selby was facing Yan Bingtao, and Zhao Xintong was competing against Stephen Maguire.

With Bingtao leading 3-2 and preparing to break off in the sixth frame of his clash, the day’s action was suddenly interrupted by a surprise visitor.

A pigeon had found its way into the auditorium, and made a beeline for the table Selby and Bingtao were playing on.

The incident left both players startled, with the Chinese star flinching when the bird first flew down towards him, before appearing amused as it headed to take centre stage at the major event.

This was certainly a sight to behold for spectators, who could be heard laughing and cheering as the hilarious incident unfolded.

And it wasn’t just the crowd who couldn’t believe what they were seeing, with commentator Rob Walker also expressing his bemusement at the events.

He said: “We have seen some things at the Crucible before but we have never seen that. Well, I never. 

“How on earth are they going to get it out?”

It wasn’t long before the pigeon made way, with the referee following the feathered guest in a bid to chase him off the table.

The crowd were certainly amused by this, who cheered as the unlikely events continued in front of them, before the pigeon eventually flew away.

Bintao could be seen laughing as the bird disappeared, while Selby then joked to the audience: “He has gone to the dressing room!”

Play was soon able to resume after the pigeon was ushered out of the venue through the players’ entrance, but not before the crowd were urged to ‘settle down’ by the match referee.

It was believed to be the first time a pigeon had made its way into the Crucible at the World Snooker Championship.

Despite the highly entertaining interruption, the match action that day also proved to be hugely entertaining.

Heading into the 2022 instalment as defending champion after victory in the previous year, four-time world champion Selby found himself on the receiving end of a huge upset as he was beaten 13-10 by Bingtao.

The match featured the longest individual frame in World Championship history, with the 22nd lasting a staggering 85 minutes and 22 seconds.

Meanwhile, the other interrupted match saw Maguire claim a 13-9 victory over Xintong.

Despite providing plenty of entertainment value, this year’s competitors at the World Snooker Championship will no doubt be hoping their games are not disrupted by similar events.

Of those involved in the bizarre incident in 2022, only Selby and Xintong are in action at the Crucible this week.

The English star and world no.4 gets his campaign underway against Ben Woollaston on Wednesday night, while Xintong sealed his place in the second round with a 10-4 win over Jak Jones.

However, there is no room for both Maguire and Bingtao in this year’s main draw.

Scottish snooker player Maguire was denied a spot in the first round after suffering defeat to 20-year-old Gao Yang in the qualifiers last week.

Meanwhile, 2021 Masters champion Bingtao is currently serving a five-year ban from competition after being found guilty of a range of match-fixing offences in 2022.

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