Judd Trump issues complaint to snooker referee in Mark Williams match as he doubles down

 Judd Trump complained to the referee during his World Snooker Championship semi-final clash with Mark Williams at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday

Judd Trump confronting the referee

Judd Trump was left frustrated during his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Mark Williams, as he spoke to the referee about the conditions of the Crucible Theatre. The Englishman's annoyance was clear as he approached referee Rob Spencer after the 17th frame on Saturday morning, not long after falling behind.

The BBC reported that Trump had some issues with the cool air inside the room, insisting it was too chilly to play. Given how even mild temperature shifts can affect players' performance and the behaviour of the balls on the table, Trump’s concerns were made with some merit.

John Virgo, who featured on BBC's coverage, said: "I don't know what the referee can do about it." However, the complaint was still made and the referee went over to explain the situation to Trump's opponent Williams, before allowing play to continue.

Fellow snooker star Shaun Murphy also chimed in, adding: "It could affect things. All atmospherics can affect the table and how the balls move around it and it's difficult to get the practice table the same as this one."

John Parrott then joked: "They should try coming in here (studio). It's not cold in here!"

But this isn't the first time Trump had spoken out over the playing conditions. He was also vocal about the chilliness inside the Crucible Theatre in the first round of the tournament, too.

Following on from his 10-4 win over China’s Zhou Yuelong in the initial round, Trump admitted that the conditions weren't the greatest, and did impact his play.

The snooker pundits did find some light-heartedness during the incident

Speaking to TNT Sports, the 35-year-old said: "It’s not ideal, it’s quite damp and cold in there for me. It’s not great for snooker, even though it looked amazing on TV.

"They’re not my favourite conditions to play in, I think the Masters always plays the best. The time of the year affects it. Being cold and the heating on inside is probably perfect for snooker.

"It’s difficult because it’s the same every single year, it’s never going to get easier for me. This tournament, how the table plays, maybe doesn’t suit my style.

"It doesn’t play that reactive and that responsive. But if you go out there with enough confidence and put it to the back of your head you can just about get by."