JOE O’CONNOR pulled off a miraculous shot that even left the referee stunned.
O’Connor was in action in the third round of the Welsh Open against Matthew Stevens.
XWelsh Open fans spot referee’s ‘priceless’ reaction after Joe O’Connor’s lucky shot sets up incredible snooker,[/caption]
XWelsh Open fans spot referee’s ‘priceless’ reaction after Joe O’Connor’s lucky shot sets up incredible snooker,[/caption]
The 29-year-old was winning 2-0 in frames without conceding a single point after 99-0 and 87-0 wins.
Stevens finally got into the game in frame three.
While he was leading the frame 65-32, O’Connor was given the chance to claw some points back.
However, the cue ball was positioned right up against the table cushion, making the shot difficult.
O’Connor fired a shot forwards, hitting the yellow ball.
As the cue ball bounced off to the left, the yellow cannoned into the black ball which then moved in the same direction.
A green ball was positioned over the corner pocket, which the cue ball narrowly passed after bouncing off of the far end cushion.
But it then became sandwiched as the black ball nestled itself right up against it, snookering Stevens in place.
The Welsh cueist smiled in disbelief at the shot, while the referee was also visibly stunned as he pursed his lips.
Fans on social media were equally shocked, but could not help but highlight the referee’s reaction.
One user said: “The referees reaction was brilliant.”
Another said: “I like it that refs also enjoy a quality match and good shots.”
A third said: “The referee’s reaction, priceless.”
Stevens did go on to win the frame 76-39 before restoring his two-frame advantage by winning frame four 113-1.
He then won the fifth and final frame 82-0.
O’Connor is now going up against Ali Carter in the quarter-finals.
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 – John Spencer
1970 – Ray Reardon
1971 – John Spencer
1972 – Alex Higgins
1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
1977 – John Spencer (2)
1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
1979 – Terry Griffiths
1980 – Cliff Thorburn
1981 – Steve Davis
1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
1983 – Steve Davis (2)
1984 – Steve Davis (3)
1985 – Dennis Taylor
1986 – Joe Johnson
1987 – Steve Davis (4)
1988 – Steve Davis (5)
1989 – Steve Davis (6)
1990 – Stephen Hendry
1991 – John Parrott
1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 – Ken Doherty
1998 – John Higgins
1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 – Mark Williams
2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2002 – Peter Ebdon
2003 – Mark Williams (2)
2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
2005 – Shaun Murphy
2006 – Graeme Dott
2007 – John Higgins (2)
2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
2009 – John Higgins (3)
2010 – Neil Robertson
2011 – John Higgins (4)
2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
2014 – Mark Selby
2015 – Stuart Bingham
2016 – Mark Selby (2)
2017 – Mark Selby (3)
2018 – Mark Williams (3)
2019 – Judd Trump
2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
2021 – Mark Selby (4)
2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
2023 – Luca Brecel
2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 – Alex Higgins
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