Snooker referee Olivier Marteel found himself at the centre of a heated exchange with Ronnie O’Sullivan as the first session of the World Snooker Championship final drew to a close. The world number one was given a formal warning by the official for a gesture made in the eighth and final frame of the session.
The argument that followed overshadowed some captivating snooker, as the Rocket insisted the official was in the wrong about the accusations. He claimed Marteel had "seen nothing”, before telling him ”don’t start”, and sternly pointed his finger at the Belgian as he returned to the table to officiate.
Once the frame came to a close, O’Sullivan gave Trump a fist bump but refused to acknowledge the referee as he exited the Crucible. It was one of the 42-year-old official’s most challenging sessions of his career, but perhaps nothing he has encountered in the snooker world can compare to his experiences working on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
