The World Snooker Championship is once again underway at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, drawing top talent from around the world to compete for the prestigious title.
As always, excitement fills the air with high-stakes matches, and the Round of 32 is just getting started.
Among the eagerly awaited games is Ronnie O’Sullivan’s clash with Ali Carter, a showdown many fans have been looking forward to.
However, despite the tournament only being a few days old, some issues have already arisen—though not related to the usual suspects like the table or baize.
This time, the problem seems to be with the new set design, and it’s been causing quite a stir, especially among the commentators.
New Set Design Raises Concerns
Veteran commentator and former semi-finalist John Virgo has voiced concerns over the new set layout, which seems to be interfering with play.
During a match between Chris Wakelin and Neil Robertson, Virgo pointed out a particular issue: a protruding board near the edge of the table that was causing problems for the players.
In this instance, Wakelin was trying to play a shot to access a red ball placed behind the brown, but the design of the new set made it difficult for him to do so.
Virgo observed, “I saw this happen the other night—I don’t remember players ever having a problem with this before.”
Player Struggles with Set Design
This new layout has already disrupted a few games, and Virgo mentioned that even Kyren Wilson had faced similar issues.
It seems that the protruding ledge could be affecting players’ cueing, which is a serious concern.
“If it is interfering with his cueing, that’s wrong!” Virgo noted, highlighting the potential impact on the flow of the game.
Despite the challenge, Wakelin showed impressive skill, managing to navigate the tricky situation and even pull off a clever snooker.
He hid the cue ball behind the pink, leaving his opponent in a tough spot.
Virgo’s Impressed Reaction
Virgo couldn’t help but express his admiration for Wakelin’s shot, which he described as “unbelievable.”
Even though Wakelin had looked to be in a difficult position, he somehow managed to escape and create an impressive snooker.
“It could have gone in off the pink, but he’s got a snooker from nowhere,” Virgo exclaimed in awe.
As the tournament continues, it will be interesting to see if these set design issues are addressed or if they will continue to be a problem throughout the rest of the competition.