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‘I will never watch snooker on BBC again' – Fans fume at World Championship coverage after scheduling decision

‘I will never watch snooker on BBC again' – Fans fume at World Championship coverage after scheduling decision

The Irish Sun30-04-2025

FRUSTRATED snooker fans have hit out at the BBC after being unable to watch a portion of Mark Williams' epic win over John Higgins.
The Welsh Potting Machine
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Mark Williams booked his place in the Crucible semi-finals with a brilliant 13-12 win over Mark Higgins
Credit: Alamy
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Some BBC viewers were frustrated the action wasn't broadcast on BBC2 in the morning session
Credit: Alamy
But it was Williams who advanced to the final four, sinking the blue, pink and black to take the decider 74-69.
Some viewers were upset that the BBC's scheduling and timeshare with TNT Sports resulted in them missing a large proportion of the morning session.
BBC2's coverage began at 10am on Wednesday morning, before breaking at 11.15am for Politics Live.
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The Beeb returned to the snooker on the channel at 1pm, in time to watch the conclusion of the match.
However, some viewers were unhappy they had been unable to watch the contest in its entirety.
One
Another
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And a third said: "The horror show that is #BBCSNOOKER take the superb Higgins v Williams quarter-final that is nearing completion off air and show a midmatch mismatch on the red button instead. You wouldn't think it possible for them to mess up this many times."
Despite no coverage on BBC 2 between 11.15pm and 1pm, the match was available uninterrupted on the BBC website, Red Button and iPlayer.
Ronnie O'Sullivan gives concerning interview despite World Snooker Championship win
SunSport has contacted the BBC for comment.
Williams has become
And the Welshman jokingly put his success down to "balls of steel" after holding his nerve in the decider.
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Williams said: "[My blue] was such a tough shot, it was thinner than it looked like.
"I have gone for the blue full bloodied. I had to go for it.
"I tried to stay calm. Roll in the pink, roll in the black. There were no nerves. I don't get that.
World Snooker Championship 2025
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"My hands were not shaking. My heart was not pounding.
"People say I am lucky, I don't know any different.
"When I play poker, I get a pair of aces and my heart is pounding. I didn't think he was going to miss it."

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