World Snooker Championship 2023: Live scores, order of play, schedule, results and draw

On the other table, a tussle of Tynesiders, with Wallsend-born Gary Wilson taking on Gateshead’s Elliot Slessor. Wilson secured his first ranking title at the Scottish Open earlier this season but has struggled a little for consistency since, but will have fond memories of the crucible after progressing to the semi finals as a qualifier in 2019.

Right, on to today’s action with the opening breaks fast approaching. It should be a lively start to Tuesday’s action, with two fascinating match-ups.

We’ll be focussing on Jack Lisowski’s encounter with Noppon Saengkham. The English left-hander has been the nearly man of the last few years on the snooker circuit, a six time tournament runner-up yet to lift a title, but with his vibrant attacking game could emerge as a real threat after making a first Crucible quarter final last year. His Thai opponent, meanwhile, showed good form at the World Grand Prix in January, beating Mark Selby, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams on his way to the last four.

While last night’s protest was the big story of a busy Monday at the Crucible, a couple of comments from Hossein Vafaei also caught the eye. The Iranian beat Ding Junhui to reach the second round, with the chance to refamiliarise himself with Ronnie O’Sullivan. The pair have plenty of history and it appears their rivalry is starting to simmer again.

Murphy has also been speaking to BBC Radio Five Live this morning, suggesting that he thinks the World Championship’s protocols are sure to be tweaked in a bid to avoid any repeat protest.

“I’d be surprised if the protocols at the Crucible yesterday are in play today,” Murphy said. “One of the great things is the fans can almost reach out and touch the players.

“I would hate to see iit, but it’s inevitable now [that] the relationship with the crowd, allowed to be so close, will inevitably change.

“I think that’s a real shame. I’m not raging war against Just Stop Oil. But it shouldn’t have happened at the snooker.

“My question: I don’t understand with these issues – doesn’t the government and others have access to the same research? Or are they just not listening?”

It was a fine performace from Mark Allen after the resumption, nailing a tricky red to the middle after returning to the table and going on the seal victory. The Northern Irishman moves into a mightily intriguing encounter with Stuart Bingham in the second round.

Allen’s only reached the last four at the Crucible once, of course, as Shaun Murphy was keen to remind his rival last night…

We are, however, all set for an on time start at 10am BST this morning at the Crucible Theatre, which will be back to a two table set up. Table One was reclothed overnight.

Mark Allen on the protest to BBC Sport: “I think I was the last person in the whole arena to work out what was going on because I was focused on the shot I was about to play.

“I heard a bang, that I thought it was on the other table and then I turned round and there was a woman on my table.

“It could have been a lot worse – you saw what happened on the other table and how much disruption it caused.

“It was a surreal moment but I feel like even talking about it is giving them airtime they don’t deserve because they are just idiots. What are they trying to gain from what they have done? I am sure there are better ways to get their point across.”

Jack Lisowski vs Noppon Saengkham

Gary Wilson vs Elliot Slessor

Judd Trump vs Anthony McGill

John Higgins vs David Grace

Robert Milkins vs Joe Perry

Gary Wilson vs Elliot Slessor

First round Results (best of 19)

Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 Pang Junxu

Stuart Bingham 10-4 David Gilbert

Neil Robertson 10-3 Wu Yize

Luca Brecel 10-9 Ricky Walden

Ali Carter 6-10 Jak Jones

Ding Junhui 6-10 Hossein Vafaei

Mark Williams 10-5 Jimmy Robertson

Play was halted at the Crucible during the World Snooker Championship after a protester wearing a Just Stop Oil t-shirt ran into the arena, jumped onto the table and scattered a bag of orange powder across the surface.

The incident happened during Robert Milkins’ clash with Joe Perry in the evening session, forcing a delay of around 40 minutes before any play resumed.

“We’ve got a protester who is throwing powder on the table – I’ve never seen the likes of this before,” said the shocked commentator on Eurosport as events unfolded. “He’s being roundly booed by the audience but play is going to have to be suspended while they deal with the mess on the table. I don’t know what he’s protesting and frankly I don’t care – thankfully no-one was hurt and they’re going to have to try and remove that complete mess.”