Snooker star forced to stop mid-shot as fire alarm goes off during Selby match

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Snooker star Muhammad Asif was mid-shot when a fire alarm began ringing as the Pakistan professional took on Mark Selby in an interrupted International Championship qualifier on Thursday. Pond Forge in Sheffield set the stage for some of the sport’s biggest names, but there was momentary worry when sirens blasted around the arena.

Asif was bidding to take a crucial fifth frame having found himself 3-1 down to the two-time champion, but had cut Selby’s advantage to just two points as the Englishman led 49-47 in that frame. Asif had lined up a red that he would have felt that he should pot, with an opportunity to clear up and put the pressure on his opponent.

However, before Asif was able to take on that red to the bottom pocked he was interrupted mid-shot by a fire alarm sounding inside the arena. He looked stunned having been forced to take his seat and wait for the siren to conclude, though there was little panic in the arena as there is no indication that a fire started at Pond Forge.

The referee then even began scratching his head in disbelief at the situation he found himself in, having discussions with those at the event to ensure that he, the players and spectators were all safe.

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It was not the only occasion that the fire alarm went off on Thursday, as videos posted on social media captured the warning going off another time – but this time there was no one at the table to be disrupted as Asif had been.

Whether his game was affected by the fire alarm only Asif will know, but despite being in an advantageous position he was unable to capitalise after finally returning to the table – as Selby won that frame to take a commanding 4-1 lead.

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Asif won the sixth but the Jester from Leicester took the next two to seal a 6-2 victory, which included his 780th career century in the fourth frame, as he advanced to the next round where he will face Stuart Carrington.

Asif will be left ruing the moment where he had a chance to pull back to 3-2, in a match that he made very difficult for Selby despite what ended up looking like a comfortable victory.

Asif, who last month defeated seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry to qualify for the British Open, was eyeing up another scalp but had his progress halted by Selby and an unfortunate alarm in Sheffield.

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