Judd Trump vs Neil Robertson suspended at UK Championship as players leave arena | Other | Sport

Play during Judd Trump and Neil Robertson’s match at the UK Championship was stopped because of a medical emergency in the crowd.

The two were facing off in the first round of action at the event being held in York when the incident took place.

Robertson was spotted putting his cue down on the table before walking away from the table, with Trump closely following behind.

Reacting to the incident, BBC commentator John Virgo explained: “I think we’ve got a problem with someone in the audience, so they’ll just take a pause.”

The cameras stayed fixed on the empty table for some time before BBC Sport presenter Hazel Irvine added: “Well we appear to have a break in play at the moment, I think a member of the audience wants to be taken out of the arena and has been taken ill. We hope all is well.”

A few seconds passed before the broadcast showed fans inside the York Barbican getting out of their seats and leaving the arena themselves.

Irvine chimed in once again, saying: “Well it would appear that the audience is being asked to leave Barbican centre at the moment. We’re not quite sure what’s going on but I’m imagining we might have to make room for some paramedics at the moment.”

The official WST account confirmed the stoppage, posting on X: “Play has been suspended as a member of the crowd has been taken ill.”

A delay in excess of 10 minutes followed before the fans and subsequently, the players re-emerged following their impromptu break.

Upon the players returning, Irvine told BBC viewers: “Play just to remind you was suspended after a gentleman in the audience took ill. He was helped out of the arena, he was on his feet and he was being helped by paramedics. Of course, we wish him well.”

Robertson had already gone 1-0 up ahead of the stoppage, but the Australian continued his strong showing and snatched a second frame shortly after the restart.

Trump took the third frame to make it 2-1 heading into the fourth.

Elsewhere, Guoqiang He trails John Higgins by a hefty four frames to none, with the victor set to face the winner of Trump vs Robertson in the second round.

Zhang Anda vs Lei Peifan and Mark Williams vs Stuart Bingham completes the first-round action in York later today.