One of the controversial moments in German Masters historical past concerned snooker legend John Higgins.
John Higgins was concerned in a weird incident on the German Masters (Picture: Getty)
A snooker star was warned “do not do it once more” after nearly costing himself a landmark victory over John Higgins on the German Masters. Yuan Sijun induced an enormous shock on the 2019 version of the match by beating one of many legends of the game 5-4 in a deciding body that went right down to the ultimate black.
It was Sijun, then simply 18, who bought over the road by sinking the black with a tough relaxation shot. The teen instantly turned and celebrated his triumph earlier than shaking palms with Higgins and the referee. Nonetheless, he had forgotten to take away the remaining from the desk and with each his and the official’s again turned, the cue ball rolled into the tools. There was then a clumsy second because the referee realised what had occurred.
Technically, a foul ought to have been referred to as and the black re-spotted however the outcome was allowed to face. The incident sparked appreciable debate, with some arguing that the body ought to have resumed.
Addressing the incident on Eurosport’s protection of the match, pundit and former world primary Neal Foulds felt the outcome ought to have stood however that it ought to function a lesson for the Sijun.
Foulds mentioned: “I observed that the referee noticed it on the finish. I feel all the pieces has to remain the identical as it’s. Clearly, the ball wasn’t stepping into.
“I do not assume John want to win a match in that approach. He may need to declare the factors and it might go to a re-spot. However I might say to Yuan Sijun, ‘Do not do it once more, mate, ever.’ That is the reply.”
Yuan Sijun pots the match-winning black earlier than turning to the have fun (Picture: Eurosport)
The cue ball hits the remaining whereas the gamers and referee are shaking palms (Picture: Eurosport)
In the meantime, punditry colleague and snooker legend Jimmy White mentioned: “If the referee had seen it, he would have referred to as a foul shot however he did not see it till after. He was simply standing there, then he realised himself. It was too late.
“However the cue ball wasn’t going close to any pockets. The child had gained the match. It was just a bit bit naive of him to not put the remaining away.”
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Foulds added: “Technically, it is a foul. If he’d have referred to as a foul, it might have been one. However generally, it’s important to have a look at the spirit of the sport moderately than simply the letter of the legislation. I feel it might have been an actual disgrace had a foul been referred to as. The ref simply did not see.”
Regardless of that win, and others over prime gamers, Sijun’s profession did not kick on as hoped. He was relegated from the World Snooker Tour in 2021, though he quickly regained his card by way of Q-Faculty. The 2026 German Masters continues with the quarter-finals on Friday and the semis on Saturday earlier than Sunday’s last.
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