World Snooker explain why frame ‘that embarrassed the sport’ was allowed to happen

The frame lasted more than 100 minutes...

The semi-final between Wu Yize and Mark Allen was overshadowed by a single frame in the opening session that lasted over 100 minutes, with many in the snooker world suggesting referee Marcel Eckardt should have stepped in.

What happened?

The frame, the longest lasting in the history of the Crucible, came about when eight red balls moved to cover the black in a corner pocket, meaning players could not pot any of the reds without also facing a penalty for potting the black.

The result: both players took 75 safety shots over an agonising 100 minute period.

No player potted a single ball for 55 minutes, imaginably leading to serious frustrations amongst fans in attendance, and causing the BBC to move away from the snooker in their live coverage.

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Pressure mounted on referee Eckardt to conclude the frame, but no such decision was forthcoming.

It only ended when Allen eventually potted the black, putting everyone in the arena out of their misery.

What has been said about the frame?

The snooker world has almost unanimously come together to condemn Eckardt's decision.

BBC Sport's Hazel Irvine said: "It is the most torturous frame I think we have seen at the Crucible."

Stephen Hendry was even less forgiving in his description of the frame.

The seven-time world champion said: "The referee's got to get involved here, in my opinion,"

"This is the dark side of snooker.

"It's been a horrendous frame but it's helped Wu Yize so much.

"He didn't look like winning another frame, but the ludicrous nature of this has just helped to lighten the load on him and free him up, forget what was happening to him in this session."

Steve Davis, whose comments have come to define the frame in media reports, said: "In a nutshell that frame is an embarrassment to snooker, and the referees' and the players' association need to try to work out a way so that never happens again."

World Snooker defend Eckardt's decision

Despite those negative remarks from so many of snooker's biggest names, World Snooker have defended Marcel Eckardt's officiating.

As reported by the Mirror, the organisation has reportedly made clear their belief that: "The rule was applied correctly." 

As a result, the referee was correct to allow play to continue.