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A crowd member at the Crucible was removed after shouting "never forget the Epstein Files". The incident took place at the beginning of the deciding frame of Wu Yize's semi-final against Mark Allen.

Allen had just missed a shot down the table on the red and the 22-year-old Chinese snooker player prepared to take his shot, a spectator made a series of outbursts regarding the Epstein Files. Referee Marcel Eckardt addressed supporters saying: "Can you get this person out please, now please." While other spectators called for the vocal member of the crowd to shut up. The score was tied at 16 frames each after Allen missed a match-winning shot on the black.

TNT Sports' commentary team were left aghast by the outburst after the spectator made repeated calls to "never forget the Epstein Files". Commentator Philip Studd said: "That's person seen the last of snooker for quite a while, I think". Eckardt moved to calm the crowd further as he urged them to let the players concentrate.

The semi-final went down to the wire, with Shaun Murphy awaiting in the final after beating John Higgins, Allen had moved clear of the Chinese when he potted the pink and found himself looking to ease the black into the bottom-left pocket. However, it bounced across the pocket and squirmed out allowing for Wu to sweep away to take the match to a decider.

The 22-year-old looked to be beaten and headed out at the semi-final stage after an inspired performance from Allen appeared to take the game away. But the missed black opened the door.

And Wu capitalised with a vengeance. Allen couldn't shrug off the disappointment from the previous frame after initially banking 47 in the opening exchanges during the deciding frame. The world number 10 snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after clearing the table of reds and colours to book his showdown with Murphy.

After the defeat, Allen said: "Yeah, I don't deserve to be in a world final if you're missing balls like that. That was just pure pressure, to be honest.

"Normally I'm pretty good under pressure but just didn't handle it well today. Had two, three good chances to close out the match and didn't do it, so full credit to Wu. I t was another opportunity to win. 'Just win the next frame', that's what I always say. So I was a little unlucky when I potted the pink, split the reds and didn't land on anything. But yeah, I had more than enough chances to win before that.

"I don't know how much he understood, but yeah I just wished him good luck and said he played really well. I think he's going to be a world champion. I think even though I'm devastated to lose that match, I think the right person's in the final. I think the way he plays is great for the game: scores heavy, pots some ridiculous long balls, just keeps potting, doesn't seem to mind the pressure.

"He stepped up, made a really good clearance I think at 16-14, done what he needed to in the last as well, from behind. So all credit to Wu. I think if he doesn't win it this time, he's going to win many world titles the way he's playing, but it's a sore one for me for sure."