BBC snooker followers win combat over ‘sq. tables’ then discover one thing new to moan about
The BBC appears to have adjusted the camera angle after fans’ complaints, so the Masters table looks rectangular instead of square – but viewers now have a new gripe
The Masters snooker tournament has been hit with controversy(Image: PA)
Fans won their campaign to get BBC camera angles switched so snooker tables do not look square on TV – but are now moaning about the carpet.
Viewers tuning into The Masters at London’s famous Ally Pally claimed the rectangular green baize had been compressed to make it look like it had four sides of equal length.
Snooker lovers moaned it looked ‘weird’ and was ruining their enjoyment of the tournament. Broadcast news site The TV Room triumphantly reported that the main camera had been altered as a result of the rumpus.
It wrote on X: “The camera angle used for the main shot of the table during the BBC’s coverage of The Masters has now been adjusted.”
One viewer said: “John Virgo acknowledges the change of main camera angle on the BBC Masters coverage and tells viewers ‘there was a little bit of a problem’ with how it was before.”
Another fan said: “So turns out the camera angle issue was fixable & not something ‘we just have get used to’ as some in the game were telling us. “Well done BBC & well done all who made their voices heard on the issue. Nothing good in life comes from dutiful compliance.”
But some were still not satisfied – and turned their attention to the black carpet on the floor.
“It still doesn’t look right,” said one viewer. “The camera seems to be too high up and that is creating this weird appearance. Plus, the black carpet doesn’t help either.”
Another tweeted: “The carpet is the problem – looks like a hologram or something. Looks weird.”
“Still not right,” said another.
One more said: “It’s not like they’ve never broadcast snooker before. How difficult can it be?”
The BBC has not responded to a request for comment.
But The Masters’ table has been steeped in controversy since the tournament started.
Former world champions Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis criticised it during Xiao Guodong’s first-round victory over Mark Selby.
The pair said balls appeared to be drifting off line and clinging to cushions before dropping into corner pockets.
Davis said: “There’s something wrong with the table. It happened this afternoon. The balls are hugging the rail.
“The top slates need levelling up. The table fitters need to go out and check the level of the top slates.
“If those balls are hugging that top rail then it’s going to make the game incredibly easy to make big breaks. It’s also wrong that a ball should go in that easily. This looks like it’s not level.”
Mark Allen then reported to officials that the balls were ‘drifting’ during his victory over Mark Williams.
He said: “It’s a difficult job the fitters have got and I’ve got in enough trouble over the years calling them out on stuff.
“The one thing I noticed from today’s match was it was drifting a bit from green to yellow across that way of the table.”
Organisers World Snooker said: “The table is checked before, during and after every match as is standard at any event.
“We strive to provide the best possible playing conditions and our team of expert table fitters do a fantastic job.”
