A referee relied on the help of a spectator’s phone during David Gilbert and Aaron Hill’s World Snooker Championship qualification match.
With the pair battling for a place in the main round of the snooker showpiece, the bizarre scene unfolded in the opening frame of the match when Hill fouled on the brown.
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This prompted referee Leo Scullion to call for the shot to be retaken and he promptly put the white back in place.
However, the official soon found himself in hot water, as he struggled to reset the balls from memory with the help of Hill.
It was at this point that Gilbert decided to take matters into his own hands, as he was seen approaching the crowd.
The 43-year-old then returned to the table carrying a phone given to him by a member of the audience, which appeared to have a picture of the balls before the foul had taken place.
Clearly amused by the unlikely scene, the crowd could be heard laughing and applauding as Scullion gratefully accepted the phone.
He could then be seen resetting the table with the help of the spectator’s phone, before play was then able to get back underway moments later.
And there was plenty more drama in store in the match itself, as Gilbert sealed his spot at the Crucible with a narrow 10-9 victory over Hill.
Despite heading into the clash as favourite, having reached the semi-finals of last year’s event, Gilbert was made to work after falling 6-3 down.
Hill twice sat in pole position, first leading 8-5 and then moving to within a frame of victory when he went 9-7 up in the contest.
But his world number 23-ranked opponent fought back, replying with breaks of 118 and 53 to force a decider.
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Although Hill had a chance in the final frame, he then broke down on 20, allowing Gilbert to put together a match-winning break of 63 to edge the thrilling encounter.
The Englishman now advances to the main stage at the Crucible, where he will make up one of 16 players to progress from the qualifying round.
The rest of the draw will be made up of the top 16 snooker stars in the world rankings, who automatically progress to the first round.
Gilbert will be hoping to replicate his heroics at last year’s event, where he reached the final four, defeating defending champion Luca Brecel in the opening round, before losing to eventual champion Kyren Wilson.
But all eyes will be on sporting great and seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, whose participation this week is still unclear.
The Rocket has not missed a tournament since making his debut at the age of 17 in 1993, but has not played competitively since his appearance at the Championship League in January.
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In the last three months, he has withdrawn from nine tournaments, including the Masters, citing ‘medical grounds’ as the reason.
The 2025 World Snooker Championship main draw gets underway on Saturday and runs through to the final on May 5, with Wilson bidding to defend his first ever title he won last year.
