Officials at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield were forced to call a halt to the competition this evening after protesters disrupted the competition and sprayed orange powder on one of the tables.
On the third day of competition at the Crucible theatre, two games were being played live on BBC television.
As the event progressed, at least two demonstrators were wrestled away from the main arena.
Officials are currently determining what was in the powder and whether it can be cleaned up in time for competition to resume this evening.
When the male protester ran out of the spectator seats and leapt on top of the table, Robert Milkins and Joe Perry were playing their first-round match.
The demonstrator, who was dressed in a Just Stop Oil t-shirt, ripped open a packet and threw orange powder all over the table.
Mark Allen of Northern Ireland and Fan Zhengyi of China were also playing on a second table at the time.
Referee Olivier Marteel assisted in keeping a female protester from going on the table, and they were escorted out of the theatre by security personnel.
After a 40-minute delay, play in the Allen versus Fan match resumed.
The decision on the second game is still pending.
Rob Walker, the master of ceremonies, was spotted hoovering the table in an attempt to restart play.
Former world champion Stephen Hendry told the BBC: “I have never seen that before at a snooker event. It’s a first.”