Ronnie O’Sullivan was not happy with his warning (Image: PA / BBC)
Ronnie O’Sullivan received a warning from the referee about a gesture during a fiery final, the World Snooker Tour confirmed.
The Rocket is approaching a record for the seventh Crucible title at the World Snooker Championships, after a dominant performance in two sessions to maintain a 12-5 lead over Judd Trump.
But one incident in particular made everyone confused and spoke on social media after O’Sullivan had a disagreement with referee Olivier Marteel in the final session of the first session.
The 46-year-old blast hit the yellow on two pillows and hit the black man in frustration before returning to his chair, before Marteel headed to where O’Sullivan was sitting, seeming to whisper a kind of warning.
‘You didn’t see anything. It doesn’t start, “a frustrated O’Sullivan was heard saying to the referee as he walked away.
A short statement from the World Snooker Tour read: “Ronnie O’Sullivan has received an official warning from the referee following a gesture he made in the eighth round.”
Ronnie Oâ € ™ Sullivan reacts angrily to a warning from Olivier Marteel 🠑€ 😤
Judd Trump suggests the warning could have been issued after the 🗠£ # ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/2jRZxG6bBi – Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) May 1, 2022
The six-time world champion later denied any wrongdoing on his part in a brief interview with Eurosport.
“I think he (Marteel) seems to be looking for trouble. I just get that vibration from the guy, he said.
“They have hundreds of rooms there and they can go and check them all out.
“I will not have any of this because I think he is just trying to create something. He has to take care of it, not me.
Also, the referee’s actions did not seem to fit in well with Trump, who was frustrated by the referee’s decision to warn O’Sullivan before his own shot and to disrupt his pace in the process.
O’Sullivan is already facing an investigation by the WPBSA for allegedly making a lascivious gesture after he missed a black in his 10-5 first-round victory over Dave Gilbert.
But for now, Rocket will be hoping to stay calm when tomorrow’s session begins knowing he is just six frames away from equaling Stephen Hendry’s record of seven Crucible titles.
MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan is on track for seventh world title, 12-5 ahead of Judd Trump
MORE: “Don’t start!” – Ronnie O’Sullivan gets angry at the referee’s warning in the fiery final of the World Snooker Championship
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