STUART BINGHAM’S clash with Jack Lisowski briefly paused for a bizarre reason… as Ball-run attempted to remove a ladybird from the table.
Bingham, 47, took on Lisowski at The Crucible looking for a place in the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals.
X / @EUROSPORTStuart Bingham found a ladybird on the baize[/caption]
X / @EUROSPORTThe 2015 world champion was careful when picking it up[/caption]
X / @EUROSPORTHe made sure to place it safely under the table[/caption]
While leading 10-8, the Basildon-born star had to take a quick pause, as a creature had made its way onto the table.
The Eurosport commentator initially feared that Bingham had accidentally “killed” the ladybird.
But his co-commentator pointed out that it was “still kicking”, and that Bingham had been “humane” in how he treated it.
Ball-run was careful to pick the ladybird up as gently as he possibly could, eventually grasping it and removing it from harm’s way, to the applause of the Crucible crowd.
The incident didn’t throw him off, as he held his nerve to triumph 13-11.
In the process, he booked a mouthwatering clash with seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The ladybird wasn’t the only unusual object that Bingham had to remove from the table during his clash with Lisowski.
At one point, he picked up a stray hair from the baize.
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After flicking it to the floor, the bald potter joked: “Not mine.”
With the crowd enjoying the 2015 world champion’s comment, the commentator then chirped: “It wasn’t one of yours, Stuart.”
O’Sullivan, meanwhile, booked his place in the quarters with a comfortable 13-7 triumph over Ryan Day.
After his win, the Rocket revealed that he has been fasting during the tournament.
O’Sullivan, 48, said: “I’m intermittent fasting for this tournament because it gives me more energy.
“It’s a tournament of endurance, stamina, concentration.
“Once the tournament’s over, I’ll be back to eating 24 hours a day but there are times when you have to work out what’s right for you.”
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