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Spectators return to sport at Crucible for World Championship

:Headline: Spectators return to sport at Crucible for World Championship:
The venue was set to be at 33 per cent capacity for the first round.
Sports Mole

Spectators returned to sport on Saturday morning as Ronnie O’Sullivan started the defence of his World Championship crown at the Crucible.

As one of the Government’s pilot events, which are being used to help England and sport out of lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, the venue in Sheffield opened its doors to fans again.

Six-time world champion O’Sullivan was taking on Mark Joyce in the first session of the tournament, with Martin Gould playing Yan Bingtao on the other table.

All four players walked to the table to applause from the crowd, which was set to be at 33 per cent capacity for the first round.

With sanitiser stations provided around the venue, fans had their tickets scanned before sitting in designated seats socially distanced.

World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn tweeted: “Here we go! Blood sweat and tears but after all the problems and setbacks we are on the brink of a return to normality thanks to the unbelievable efforts of the @WeAreWST team.

“My thanks to everyone involved. Now sit back and enjoy the greatest snooker show on earth.”

O’Sullivan was a long way from his best despite establishing a 6-3 lead ahead of Saturday evening’s scheduled conclusion.

In a session scattered with errors, O’Sullivan fired a top break of 70 in the sixth frame as Joyce failed to take advantage of the opportunities that came his way.

The tone for the opening session had been set after just three shots when the players asked the referee to replace the cue ball due to a blemish.

O’Sullivan won the eighth frame after firing a fortunate cross-double blue, then seized on a missed red by Joyce to rack up a break of 69 and establish a three-frame advantage.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
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