Arabic version: تعادل تاريخي في الإطار يميز نصف نهائي بطولة العالم للبلياردو
Mark Allen and Wu Yize played out the longest frame in Crucible history during their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre. The 14th frame lasted 100 minutes and 21 seconds, concluding with a foul by Allen that allowed Wu to secure his only frame of the session. This drawn-out battle contributed to a shortened session that ended 7-7, featuring only six of the eight frames scheduled.
According to BBC News, the impasse saw no balls potted for 55 minutes, prompting referee Marcel Eckardt to warn the players. The World Snooker organization has ruled out changes to the rules regarding re-racks, asserting that the referee applied the rules correctly during the match.
The match had initially seen Wu dominate, but the momentum shifted as Allen capitalized on Wu’s mistakes, including a missed final red. Allen displayed remarkable skill, achieving a sublime 145 break, the highest of the championship so far, before the frame’s extraordinary conclusion.
Commentators and former players expressed their disbelief at the frame’s length, with Steve Davis labeling it an embarrassment to the sport. Stephen Hendry suggested that the referee should have intervened much earlier to prevent the stalemate. The match’s unusual circumstances have sparked discussions regarding the rules and the role of referees in maintaining the flow of the game.
