Small hits out at crowd and streaker

Chris Small hit out at a partisan crowd – and a streaker – after beating People’s Champion Jimmy White 5-1 to reach the second round of the Citywest Irish Masters in Dublin last night.

It was White’s sixth defeat in as many world ranking tournaments this season but the main story came from Small’s post-match press conference.

“I was absolutely disgusted with the crowd. I knew what to expect before the match. It was a near full house and I knew the crowd would be rowdy,” said the 29-year-old Scot.

“When I was down on the shot people were trying to put me off. When I was on my backswing there were people coughing and Quinten Hann, who was in the arena, said the guy next to him was even stamping his feet on the floor.

“I love Ireland and I love the hotel here but when the streaker ran on near the end I’d had a gutful. I think people forget that Jimmy and I were out there to earn our living. This match was vital to my hopes of getting into the top 16 next season.

“I don’t mind people shouting for Jimmy White – you will always get that when you play him – but when people try to deliberately put you off, I think that’s terrible.

“I felt under a lot of pressure but I handled it well. I’m really pleased with my performance but what happened out there has spoilt it for me.”

When told of Small’s comments, White said: “I didn’t really get involved enough in the match to notice that. It didn’t look to bad to me.”

Small, winner of the LG Cup in Preston last October, produced another rock-solid performance. Breaks of 57, 39, 53 and 31 helped him establish a 4-1 lead and he then completed victory with a 118 clearance to the pink – interrupted briefly by a male streaker invading the playing arena.