Spectator ejected in disrupted start to World Championship final

A female spectator shouted out midway through the third frame of the match.

Referee Rob Spencer prevents a spectator from encroaching on the table in the World Championship final (Mike Egerton/PA)

Shaun Murphy’s World Championship final against Wu Yize got off to a rowdy start with a protester ejected from the Crucible and referee Rob Spencer admonishing the audience for keeping their phones on during play.

A female spectator was swiftly ejected by security officials after starting to shout out midway through the third frame of the match as the 22-year-old Chinese player was preparing to take a shot.

It followed a similar disruption late in Saturday night’s semi-final between Wu and Mark Allen, in which an audience member shouted out “never forget the Epstein files” and was also escorted from the arena.

Shaun Murphy appeared unhappy with conditions early in the final at the Crucible (Mike Egerton/PA)

In a separate incident, Murphy threw down his rest in disgust after missing a green in the second frame, having seemingly been distracted by a phone ringing.

The incident prompted Spencer to address the audience at the end of the frame, warning: “Make sure your phones are on silent, or switched off. Don’t be the person that has to be thrown out.”