‘I didn’t know we could do that’, gasps BBC commentator as World Snooker Championship referee uses VAR

SNOOKER fans were left in shock after a referee used VAR at the World Championships.

Stuart Bingham, who knocked out Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter-finals, returned to the Crucible today for the semi-final.

BBC

Referee Marcel Eckardt went to VAR[/caption]

BBC

Replays showed the white ball hit the pink before the red[/caption]

BBC

Stuart Bingham’s reaction to the ref going to VAR[/caption]

With the match against Jak Jones in the balance at 9-9, referee Marcel Eckardt was unsure whether the Welshman’s shot hit the pink or red ball first.

The official could be heard, saying “I need to check that.”

And he then walked over to a television screen at the side of the table to watch a close-up replay of the shot.

The slow-motion capture showed the pink was clipped before it made contact with the red.

It left BBC commentator in shock as he said: “I’ve never seen this before.

“I’ve never seen one of our referees go to VAR. I didn’t know we could do that.”

Snooker legend Dennis Taylor added: “There’s always a first for everything isn’t there. Top-class referee Marcel Eckhardt.”

Fans also watched on in disbelief and claimed the German ref put the Premier League to shame.

One wrote online: “Snooker showing how VAR should be used.”

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Another added: “Snooker using VAR and it was so simple so quick and the right decision was made. It’s easy when you know how.”

More reacted: “Whatever next?”

The winner from Bingham vs Jones will play Kyren Wilson or David Gilbert in tomorrow’s final.

VAR has been used in snooker before but is very rarely seen.