'They will have to do something about it' - Sloping table controversy at start of Mark Williams v Judd Trump semi-final

Controversy has cast a shadow over the start of the first World Championship semi-final between Mark Williams and Judd Trump, with the players seemingly of the opinion that the table is rolling off straight. The Crucible has been transformed from two tables to one, with one of the tables from the early rounds being moved into the centre of the arena. Ad/> Moving a table can have an impact, and it can take time for it to settle.

Snooker'Terribly exciting' – O'Sullivan, Higgins and a golden sporting rivalry that has defied time2 HOURS AGO Early in the contest, Trump looked bemused after playing a shot, while at the end of the first mini-session, Williams played two practice shots extremely slowly to suggest the table is not playing true. “He is testing the table,” David Hendon said on Eurosport's commentary. “He’s done it twice now but has made his point.” In the Eurosport studio, Alan McManus said it can take time for a table to find its natural position.

“It is not an exact science,” McManus said. “The table has been in situ for six, eight hours. “It takes generally two or three days, maybe up to a week, for a table to settle, gravity to do what it does, and you get little tweaks.

«It will get there.” O'Sullivan, Higgins and a golden sporting rivalry Higgins relishing 'special' O'Sullivan semi-final Jimmy White has said an intervention will be needed if it is not playing true. “The occasion outrides the conditions, you adapt to it,” White said. “But if the table is rolling off they will have to do something about it because all of a sudden you start to allow for that, everything can go wrong and you look silly.