A fire broke out in the foyer of the UK Championships at the York Barbican, forcing snooker players and spectators to flee.
Minutes before the evening session was about to resume on Sunday, the fire was discovered shortly before 19:00 GMT.
The fire, which was started by an overheated ventilation fan, was put out by crews from York, Acomb, and Huntington, according to North Yorkshire Fire Service.
The event caused an approximately one-hour delay in the tournament’s play.
Players were herded into the comfort of a local tavern during the wait.
After the break, Hossein Vafaei and Shaun Murphy continued their play, with Vafaei winning 6-4.
In the other match of the evening, Matthew Selt, an Englishman who defeated Ali Carter 6-3, said to BBC Sport: “I was in the practice room when the guy came in screaming saying we needed to evacuate.”
“We were all still quite laid back, but hopefully that won’t happen again.
It would not have been pleasant to spend forty minutes outside in the cold, so we headed over to the bar to enjoy the warmth. Although it was an odd evening, everything worked out OK in the end [for me].
Confirmation from the World Snooker Tour: “A small fire was discovered by the Fire Brigade in the York Barbican’s reception area.
“It has now been put out and the building has been adjudged as safe for fans and players to return.”
“York, Acomb, and Huntington crews attended a building, following a report of smoke inside,” the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service stated.
“On arrival, crew located an overheated ventilation fan.”
