- The quarter-finals are currently ongoing at the famed Crucible in Sheffield
- Temperatures have soared into the mid-twenties across the country
- Number five seed Ronnie O’Sullivan was among those in action this afternoon
This was the moment a snooker fan collapsed live on television during the afternoon session of the World Snooker Championship.
The tournament in Sheffield began on April 19 as the sport’s top players battle it out for the title and the £500,000 first prize.
Tuesday afternoon featured quarter-final ties between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Si Jiahui on Table One, with Judd Trump facing off with Luca Brecel on Table Two.
But while awaiting the afternoon’s play, fans took the opportunity to pass their time in the sunshine away from the darkened confines of The Crucible as the BBC’s coverage moved outside.
Presenter Abigail Davies was midway through conducting an interview when a man in the crowd appeared unsteady on his feet.
In the background of the interview, cameras captured the man then falling to his feet, with supporters around him quick to draw attention to his condition.
A snooker fan looked unsteady on his feet during the live broadcast from the World Snooker Championship on Tuesday
The fan began to slide to his feet after appearing to take ill as the interview took place
The man’s fellow supporters came to his aid after he disappeared from view during the show
Temperatures have soared to the mid-20s across parts of the United Kingdom this week, with Tuesday afternoon seeing the thermometer hitting 23 degrees in south Yorkshire.
Earlier on in the day inside the venue, four-time world champion John Higgins claimed a 5-3 lead after the first session against Mark Williams.
Williams had become the oldest man to make the last eight at the tournament since Steve Davis in 2010, but although he managed to claw back two frames after Higgins streaked 5-1 ahead, the 50-year-old will have work to do in their second session.
Elsewhere, Zhao Xintong faced off with Chris Wakelin, with the latter winning the final frame of the first session to cut the Chinese player’s lead to 6-2.
While weather conditions in Yorkshire might be described by most as heavenly, O’Sullivan claimed that he is in ‘hell’ going into his quarter-final, despite a strong run in the competition so far.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was in action on Tuesday afternoon in a quarter-final clash at the Crucible
‘I feel so unconfident, it’s horrible,’ said the Rocket. ‘It’s hell. Feeling wise, this is the worst I’ve ever felt.
‘I don’t know where my back arm is, I don’t know where my left arm is, sometimes I can’t even see where I am hitting it. It’s just guesswork.
‘I’ve completely overachieved as far as this tournament is concerned.’
O’Sullivan thrashed Pang Junxu 13-4 to book his spot in the quarter-final, after defeating Ali Carter in his first-round match.
