Snooker’s World Championship resumes at the Crucible after Just Stop Oil zealot’s protest 

Snooker’s World Championship resumed as planned at the Crucible Theatre after a Just Stop Oil protester threw orange powder on the table to delay play on Monday night.

Two eco activists invaded the arena at venue in Sheffield shortly after play began.

A man interrupted the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry by jumping on the table where he released a packet of orange powder.  

A female protester was stopped from halting the match between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi on table two after the intervention of referee Olivier Marteel. 

Play was immediately suspended at the event as cleaners brought vacuum cleaners into the arena and master of ceremonies Rob Walker was among those helping to sweep up the mess.

Snooker’s World Championship were delayed on Monday following a Just Stop Oil protest

Jack Lisowski began Tuesday’s session against Noppon Saengkham on a re-clothed table

World Snooker were forced to delay the match between Milkins and Perry, with their table having to be re-clothed overnight due to the protest.

Organisers confirmed the opening session of their match has been rescheduled to Tuesday evening, with the last-32 clash now set to conclude on Thursday. 

Allen and Fan’s match resumed after a 40-minute delay on Monday night.

Play was able to resume as planned on both tables on Tuesday, with Jack Lisowski facing Noppon Saengkham on the re-clothed table one.  

Gary Wilson’s match against Elliot Slessor opened table two action.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed a 30-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage following the protest.

It marked the second time in three days that a major international sporting event had been disrupted, after 118 people were arrested at Aintree on Saturday as they tried to scale the perimeter fence at the Grand National.