Just Stop Oil protester tosses orange paint over table during World Championship

A Just Stop Oil protester threw orange paint over a snooker table during a World Cup match, causing tonight’s match to be canceled.

Two eco-activists invaded the arena of the Crucible Theater in Sheffield shortly after play began, with a man interrupting the game between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry by jumping onto the table where he released a pack of orange dye.

A female protester was stopped from attacking the match between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi on table two by referee Olivier Marteel’s quick-thinking reaction.

Play was immediately interrupted during the event, sponsored by used car dealer Cazoo, when cleaners brought vacuum cleaners into the arena and master of ceremonies Rob Walker was among those who helped clean up the mess.

Snooker fans booed and booed the activist as he interrupted play. An annoyed fan yelled, “Get him off!”

The eco-zalot by means of orange powder paint on the table, which interrupts the game tonight

Former world champion Stephen Hendry, commenting for the BBC, said: ‘I’ve never seen that in a snooker event before. It’s a first.

‘It is scary. Wow! You just hope that the canvas can be repaired. It surprised us all and then this happens.

‘For me as a snooker player I immediately think, ‘Is the table repairable?’ We don’t know what’s on the table.’

Just Stop Oil released a statement saying: ‘Around 7.20pm two Just Stop Oil supporters disrupted the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield and interrupted play.

The pair then covered the tables with orange powder paint before being removed by security and arrested.

“They are demanding that the government immediately halt all new fossil fuel projects in the UK and are calling on British sporting bodies to join a civil resistance against the government’s genocidal policies.”

World Snooker Tour officials confirmed that the match between Allen and Zhengyi would resume after a delay of around 45 minutes.

Security guards rushed to the table and grabbed the eco-protester by his left arm before removing him from the table

Security dragged him off the table and he was reportedly later arrested, according to Just Stop Oil

Orange powder on the table after a Just Stop Oil protester jumped on the table during the game between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry

The balls and one end of the table were covered in the orange paint the protester threw

He was quickly taken away by venue security and play at the tournament resumed

The affected table was set and will be re-dressed at night.

However, the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry was canceled tonight.

The World Snooker Tour said the match “would not resume tonight” and the pair “will play their first session from 7pm on Tuesday evening”.

Just Stop Oil wouldn’t tell MailOnline why they focused on snooker. However, after the break-in, Just Stop Oil told their followers that “oil and gas will cheat us.”

The group told MailOnline: ‘Millions of people watch snooker. Millions of people have already seen our message.

“Now is not the time to be a spectator, fossil fuels are killing millions and pushing us closer to the collapse of human civilization.

The game between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry has been canceled after tonight’s protest

‘Within a few decades we will be confronted with crop failures, drought and famine. Allowing new oil and gas is the greatest crime in human history.

“It is time for everyone to join us in civil resistance or else face the loss of everything we know and love. Which side are you on?’

In a separate statement, the group said: “[The protesters] demand that the government halt immediately all new fossil fuel projects in the UK and call on British sporting establishments to join the civil resistance against the government’s genocidal policies.”