Mark Allen hailed security staff and referee Olivier Marteel for their efforts to halt the protest at the Crucible on Monday night, which took place during his 10-5 victory over Fan Zhengyi.
There were wild scenes in Sheffield as a protester jumped on the table during the Rob Milkins vs Joe Perry match, while another activist tried to get to the table during Allen’s match with Fan.
The disrupter on one side of the dividing wall sprayed orange powder all over the table, but thankfully Marteel and security stopped the woman completing her protest on Allen’s table.
Milkins and Perry’s work was finished for the night as the table had to be recovered, but Allen and Fan returned after a delay, with the Northern Irishman picking up a solid enough win.
Most impressively, when the disruption happened he was on a break of 24 and he returned 40 minutes later to complete a superb effort of 126.
He admitted that he wasn’t even aware of what was going on when it started, but was glad it wasn’t any worse.
‘I think I was the last person to realise what was going on, I was just so engrossed in the shot I was trying to play,’ Allen told Eurosport.
‘I heard a bang, I thought it was on the other table, still focussed on the shot, I turned round and there was someone on the table.
‘It was a bit surreal, but I feel like even speaking about it…I don’t feel like we should be giving them any airtime. Just complete idiots.
‘[It was] Completely crazy and very fortunate Oliver was on the ball for this one or else we’d have faced the same consequences. Don’t really see any point or purpose of what they’re trying to do, there’s probably better ways to get their point across.
‘I was completely oblivious because I was playing, but if you’d seen it unfold like other people have, it could be daunting because they could have had weapons, could have had anything really.
‘Fair play to Olivier and all the security staff, because they were very on the ball.’
On his own performance, which included two tons and four half-centuries, Allen thought it was fine, but will need to be improved in the next round against Stuart Bingham.
Asked for marks out of 10, he said: ‘Five. It was satisfactory, if it was on a school report. I always felt like I was in complete control, even when it was close at 7-5.
‘I missed one or two shots here and there, just didn’t score as heavy as I’d like to, but had a couple of centuries and finished the match off well.
‘Credit to Fan, some of his long-potting is absolutely ridiculous. If he could just work on his cue ball a little bit, he’ll be a handful for anyone. He creates so many opportunities for himself with his great long-potting.’
MORE : Protester jumps on table during World Snooker Championship match at the Crucible
MORE : Luca Brecel says no practice was key to first Crucible win: ‘I’ve been playing darts’
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