RONNIE O’SULLIVAN’S World Championship semi-final with Zhao Xintong is warming up nicely.
But it might not be the hottest – or spiciest – thing at !
Fans heard what appeared to be referee Leo Scullion’s tummy rumbling – just as was liningup a red.
The much-respectedofficialappeared to give the game away as to his role in the matter by quickly putting his hand to his stomach.
And viewers wondered what he’d been eating to produce such a gurgle.
One posted: “Shouldn’t have had that curry last night Leo.”;
Another wrote: “Sounds like he had a Taco Bell last night.”;
A third observersuggested: “Dodgy takeaway last night.”;
A fourth fan was more brutal as he asked: “WTF is that noise?”;
But a fifth viewer might have hit the back of the onion bag with his theory.
He posted: “Scullion has been on the scallions.”;
The 67-year-old, is a professional ref who has been overseeing Pro Tour matchessince 1999.
But even that reputationdidn’t save him from TNT Sports havingfun over the incident.
The broadcaster posted a clip of the sight and sound.
Not only that, TNT added the comment: “Was that a stomach rumble from the referee?”; – followed by a laughing emoji.
Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to affect Zhao.
The Chinese ace didn’t break his focus for an instant as he poted the red to the middle pocket. potted the ruby – sorry, the red – smoothly.
He then compiled 86 – his best break of the match at that stage – as he powered back to level against at four frames apiece.
Zhao is clearly a cool customer – as later in the same eighth frame he also dealt with .
