Ally Pally wasp makes comeback for Masters Snooker: ‘Hope it’s only the one’

The infamous ‘Ally Pally wasp’ has returned less than two weeks after the PDC World Darts Championship.

Fans caught a glimpse of the insect at the Masters Snooker on Tuesday morning.

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The bug made a surprise appearance on the cloth prior to the start of the third day’s play.

However, it was unable to disrupt proceedings after being captured in a glass on the table and released unharmed.

There were multiple instances of wasps on stage at Alexandra Palace during the recent PDC World Darts Championship.

They included an appearance during the final between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen which caused the former to step away from the oche.

Wasps are common at the north London venue due to the noise, lights and heat produced by events being held on stage.

The combination of factors are known to wake their queens from hibernation early.

Former snooker referee Paul Collier revealed the Ally Pally wasp had been captured prior to the start of Tuesday’s action on social media.

Sharing snaps of the insect, the World Snooker Tour tournament director wrote on X: “The Ally Pally wasp paid WST a visit this morning at the Johnstone’s Paint Masters.

“I safely captured it in a glass, and it was released unharmed. Just hope it’s the only one.”

Fortunately, the wasp was discovered over an hour before the start of the day’s opening session.

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Kyren Wilson and Si Jiahui’s best of 11 frames encounter began at 1pm, with a place in the last eight on offer.

The winner will face either Neil Robertson or Chris Wakelin in the quarter-finals.

This year’s Masters is the 14th edition to be held at Alexandra Palace since the tournament was moved to the venue in 2012.

Every edition since has taken place at Ally Pally, with the exception of the 2021 Masters.

On that occasion, the tournament was played behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes due to Covid-19 restrictions.

A total of £1.015million in prize money is on offer this week, with the non-ranking event running from January 11 to 18.

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The prize pot includes £350,000 for the winner and a £15,000 bonus for the highest break.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is absent, though, having withdrawn last week on medical grounds, with Wakelin replacing him in the draw.

The Masters also forms part of snooker’s Triple Crown alongside the UK Championship and World Snooker Championship.

Making two maximum breaks across those events and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will see a player land a further £147,000 bonus.