Mark Allen and Wu Yize played out the longest frame in World Championship history during a dramatic afternoon session at the Crucible Theatre. The 14th frame lasted an extraordinary one hour and 40 minutes, leaving the pair tied at 7-7 overnight.
A Bizarre Stalemate
The frame was characterized by a cluster of eight reds jammed around the black ball over the corner pocket, creating a perplexing stalemate. Referee Marcel Eckardt had to appeal to the Crucible crowd for calm as the players struggled to make progress. Eventually, Allen fouled the black, but the frame continued to drag on.
Allen's Fightback
Allen had trailed 6-2 overnight but showed resilience to win a scrappy opening frame in the afternoon session. Despite Wu missing a key brown, Allen capitalized to take the frame on the black. The Northern Irishman then compiled a tournament-best 145 break to level the match at 6-6.
Historic Century Breaks
Allen maintained his momentum with a 121 break, his ninth century of the tournament, moving him ahead of Zhao Xintong for the most centuries. This gave him the lead for the first time in the match.
The Record-Breaking Frame
The 14th frame saw the black ball crowded by reds, leading to a lengthy safety battle. Allen eventually knocked the black in, but Wu battled back to clinch the frame and level the semi-final. The frame set a new record for the longest in Crucible history.
Six-time world champion Steve Davis criticized the situation, calling it "an embarrassment to snooker" and urging the referees' and players' associations to prevent such occurrences in the future.
