A female protestor disrupted the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre on May 3, 2026. She jumped over a barrier and shouted about the BBC TV licence fee. This occurred while Wu Yize was leading Shaun Murphy 67-31 in the frame.
The protest halted the match for a brief period. Security personnel quickly removed the protestor from the venue. Witnesses reported that she shouted, “Who f***ing pays their TV licence anyway?”
This incident follows another disruption during the semi-final, where a male spectator shouted about the Epstein files. As of midday, officials have not confirmed whether further actions will be taken against the protestor.
The match resumed shortly after security dealt with the situation. The event was being broadcast on BBC One, which may have contributed to the protestor’s message.
Key facts:
- Wu Yize’s score during the protest was 67.
- Shaun Murphy’s score at that time was 31.
- The seating capacity of the Crucible Theatre is 980.
John Parrott, commenting on the incident, said, “Sorry for that disturbance, it’s all sorted.” Rob Spencer added, “Make sure your phones are on silent or switched off. Don’t be the person that has to be thrown out.”