Ronnie O'Sullivan reflects on 'tough' situation for fellow pros after World Snooker Championship protest

Ronnie O’Sullivan sympathised with Robert Milkins and Joe Perry after their match at the World Championship was delayed, and then rescheduled, after two protestors invaded the Crucible on Monday. A man climbed onto the table and covered it in orange powder, while a woman was prevented from damaging the neighbouring table during the clash between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi after a quick intervention from referee Olivier Marteel. Ad With the baize covered in orange residue, organisers were forced to pull the match from the evening programme and hastily find a gap in the schedule for the second session.

The match belatedly concluded on Thursday morning as Milkins fought back from 7-2 down to win 10-9 and book a spot in the second round. World ChampionshipO’Sullivan and Vafaei share 'slightly icy' fist bump ahead of grudge matchAN HOUR AGO O’Sullivan praised tournament organisers for how they handled the aftermath of the protest, which environmental activist group Just Stop Oil quickly claimed credit for. “I thought they [the organisers] did good,” he told Eurosport.

“It’s hard to fit matches in – they have it at Wimbledon with the weather, so I suppose you can do it. “I felt for the guys that were playing, Rob and Joe. You get ready for a match and then all of a sudden you don’t play, it’s tough.

I felt for them. “I guess we’re all experienced enough to just reset, switch off, that’s what you do as a player.” Exclusive: Perry — I was in a state of shock during Crucible protest 'This is unfortunate' — Perry left stunned as he's wrongly introduced in comical gaffe O’Sullivan was speaking ahead of his grudge match with Hossein Vafaei. The pair have traded barbs in the build-up, with Vafaei saying he wanted to “shut”