Chris Wakelin has spoken out about a controversial foul call during his defeat to Neil Robertson at the World Snooker Championship, admitting the decision still frustrates him but accepting he did not play well enough to win. The match, which took place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, saw Robertson secure a 13-7 victory to advance to the quarter-finals.
The Controversial Incident
With Robertson leading 7-6 in the best-of-25-frame contest, Wakelin potted a long red ball, cueing close to the yellow in the process. Referee Peggy Li immediately called a foul, claiming Wakelin had touched the yellow with his cue. Wakelin appeared surprised by the decision and requested a video review. However, replays proved inconclusive, and Li upheld her original call. Robertson then capitalized with a break of 65 to extend his lead to 8-6, a margin that proved crucial as he went on to win the match comfortably.
Wakelin's Reaction
Speaking after the match, Wakelin expressed his frustration but ultimately accepted the referee's decision. 'I thought I played like an absolute berk if I'm being truthfully honest,' he said. 'It was just a really frustrating day yesterday, what happened in the 14th frame. I don't think that had an impact on me over the next few frames, but it definitely had an impact on Neil. Going 7-7, he still needs to try and establish a lead, but going 8-6 it meant that he can relax, knowing he's not going to be behind going into today.'
Wakelin, who won the Scottish Open earlier this season, admitted that the incident got to him more than usual. 'I don't normally come away from matches in recent years, anything other than just philosophical. Yesterday did get to me and that probably has cost me.' He added, 'I've watched it back a hundred times and I'd have my house that it weren't a foul, but it's one of them, it's frustrating. The bottom line is I've got nothing against Peggy, she's a brilliant referee, but I just didn't play well enough, so I'll go back to the drawing board for next season.'
Robertson's Perspective
Neil Robertson, the former world champion and 2024 Masters winner, acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. 'It was a tough one. When Chris played the shot, Peggy called the foul straight away. Chris didn't really dispute it, he just went, "oh, okay, are you sure? Maybe just check?" I came out and had a look at the monitor but they couldn't really come up with a close up of what actually happened. Peggy stuck with it and Chris accepted it. If Chris had kicked up a massive fuss then we would have hung around and seen if they could have got more close-up footage. It's just one of those things. If there's not a conclusive replay available then you just have to go with the referee's word. She was in the perfect spot.'
Match Summary
Robertson produced a strong performance after the controversial frame, compiling two centuries in a burst of form that took him to victory. Wakelin managed only one more frame as Robertson powered to a 13-7 win. The Australian now faces John Higgins in the quarter-finals, a match that begins on Tuesday afternoon.
Wakelin, despite his disappointment, praised referee Li and called for improved technology in the future. 'She was in the best position to see. I was looking at the red because it was a difficult pot anyway, so I wasn't even looking at the white ball or the yellow. She was standing in the right place. If she thought it was a foul, then I trust Peggy. Me watching it back myself, I couldn't see it. If I'd have had one little piece of evidence that went, there you go, it was a foul, I could have just accepted it. I think we need to get some higher resolution cameras next season so we can check these things out.'
The incident has sparked debate among snooker fans, but both players have moved on, with Robertson focusing on his upcoming quarter-final clash against Higgins, a four-time world champion.
