World Snooker Championship semi-final interrupted by power failure, leading to an apology and a switch to a nature program.

The World Snooker Championship's evening session at the Crucible Theatre faced an unexpected disruption on Thursday night due to a power outage that interrupted the live broadcast during the semi-final match between Mark Allen and Wu Yize. The incident occurred at 7:51 PM, just as Allen had established a 31–0 lead in the third frame. Viewers were left without coverage for approximately 12 minutes, during which broadcasters scrambled to restore the feed across various platforms.

As the power issue unfolded, BBC Two viewers were abruptly switched to a rerun of the nature documentary "Wild Isles." An on-screen message informed audiences of the technical difficulties, stating, "We are sorry for the break in this programme and are trying to correct the fault. Please stay with us; we are experiencing some technical faults." By the time the broadcast resumed, Allen had already completed the third frame, marking the beginning of his semi-final campaign.

Upon the return of coverage, presenter Hazel Irvine offered a detailed apology and explanation for the interruption. "Welcome back to Sheffield and our apologies for the interruption to our evening at the Crucible in this second semi-final," she stated. Irvine clarified that the power outage was unexpected and not due to any negligence, adding that Allen had continued to perform well during the disruption, amassing a break of 91 before play resumed.

Six-time world champion Steve Davis, serving as a pundit, described the confusion that ensued within the arena as the power went out. He noted that the sudden blackout left players and officials bewildered, with many questioning what had happened. Despite the chaos, Davis praised Allen's ability to maintain his focus and composure throughout the incident, highlighting that the power issue recurred during play but did not deter Allen's performance.

As the match progressed, Allen demonstrated resilience, compiling a break of 76 in the fourth frame to level the contest. The semi-final remains tightly contested, with Allen and Wu Yize vying for a place in the final. In the other semi-final, Shaun Murphy faces John Higgins, both of whom have shown strong form leading up to this stage. The concluding sessions of the semi-finals are set for May 2, with the final scheduled for May 3 and 4, promising an exciting conclusion to this year's championship.