Steve Davis calls out Masters crowd as snooker icon left unimpressed | Other | Sport

Steve Davis pulled up the Alexandra Palace audience for being too boystrous during one player’s performance during The Masters on Saturday. And the six-time world champion called for a little more decorum from the stands after semi-finalist Wu Yize was greeted by chants of his name during his 6-5 semi-final defeat to Kyren Wilson.

The 22-year-old rising star was unfortunate to miss out on a place in Sunday’s final as an impressive debut at The Masters ended in the semis, which was also disrupted by a phone going off in the audience. And while he didn’t let on that the chorus of crowd members echoing his name – Wu – during important moments got to him at all, it would be understandable if the Chinese gem became distracted. For that reason, Davis shared this thoughts that he felt The Masters was too prestigious an event for those kinds of actions. Instead, he suggested they belonged in tournaments like the Snooker Shoot Out, where fans are encouraged to sing and chant.

“Different type of match for Wu Yize here,” said Davis in the BBC studio during an interval. “It’s the first time he’s had a sticky sort of part [during] a match in this tournament. It’s gonna be interesting to see how he copes with that…

“Gotta say, call me old fashioned, right. This ‘Wuu’ lark, it’s not for me. Save that for the Shootout. It’s Mickey Mouse, as far as I’m concerned.”

Fellow BBC pundit and World Championship-winner could be heard off to the side with a tongue-in-cheek groan to those remarks. The Irishman smiled as he told his colleague “Come on,” as if to suggest he was being grouchy by railing against the fans.

Host Hazel Irvine stepped in and attempted to smoothen any tensions by suggesting organisers may be trying to add to the attraction by allowing such practices. However, there was no budging Davis.

“Feels like it’s comedy at the moment,” he added. “That the crowd like it [with too much] comedy. I wouldn’t like it. I wouldn’t like it as Wu.”

Doherty then chimed in by concurring he didn’t feel he’d like it if he was on the receiving end of the chants. And while they may be good-natured, respect for the athletes should be paramount at any Triple Crown event.

Wu ultimately succumbed against Wilson, who came back from 5-4 down to win the last two frames and advance to Sunday’s decider. He’ll face off against two-time Masters winner John Higgins, who is hoping to end his 20-year search for a third crown in this tournament after also raging at the crowd during his semi.

Wilson has made the Masters final on two occasions but has never managed to clinch the title at Alexandra Palace. That could be partially due to the fact he has raised question with the choice of venue, which hosts this competition days after the rowdier World Darts Championship comes to a close.

“The Masters is a real showpiece event now for snooker, but it is hard for players to settle in there,” he told 247Bet prior to the tournament. “It’s quite unique in terms of a playing environment. It’s hard wading through all those empty beer barrels that all of the darts fans have gone through.”