Snooker is a game known for its relative tranquillity, but it almost became a blood sport at the 2004 World Championships.
Australian firebrand Quinten Hann went into his first round encounter against England’s Andy Hicks full of expectation given he was the No. 14 seed.
However, Hann was left frustrated throughout as Hicks, a one-time semi-finalist of the World Championships, showed plenty of composure to take the ascendancy.
Hann was even warned by referee Lawrie Annandale for swearing as the match slowly got away from him.
But things came to an explosive end after Hicks sealed a 10-4 victory to book a spot in the second round.
It also marked Hicks’ first win at the Crucible since his run to the semi-finals in 1995.
As Hann walked over to shake Hicks’ hand, the latter said: “That’s you out of the top 16 next season.”
Hann added fuel to the fire and replied: “You are short and bald and you can have me outside whenever you want.”
The Australian was also heard on the broadcast stating: “Hey, if you’re man enough to go outside, I’ll be waiting for you out there.”
Annandale had to quickly get between the two rivals to avoid a punch-up inside the Crucible, such was the ferocity of the exchange.
Speaking after the contest, Hicks explained it was a mid-match comment from Hann that lit the fuse for the post-match scenes.
“Quinten reckons I started it by saying something nasty at the end but he did during the middle of the match when he said, ‘I enjoyed the last three times I beat you,’” Hicks said.
World Snooker Tour – YouTubeHicks made sure to remind Hann he was going to drop in the world rankings[/caption]
World Snooker Tour – YouTubeIt prompted a furious reaction from Hann, who wanted to see his rival outside[/caption]
“That started it off so I thought I’d have my say at the end. Maybe in the heat of the moment I said the wrong thing but I stand by it.
“He wound me up so I wound him up in return. I don’t have any grudges against anybody but I wanted to beat him.”
Although Hicks may have been reluctant to act upon Hann’s demand to see him outside, the Australian was more than willing to throw down.
“I’d love to fight him,” Hann said.
“I’ve beaten him three times before, they were all close games and there was a bit of needle before the start.
“He shook my hand at the end and said, ‘Well, you won’t be in the top 16 next year.’ I knew he was going to say something right from the start.
“He was doing subtle things like not getting out the way when I was coming to the table. I wasn’t happy. I thought it was a bit low.”
Hann added his jibe about Hicks being ‘short and bald’ was nothing more than ‘harmless fun and entertainment for the crowd.’
Despite the animosity in the immediate aftermath, Hicks later claimed his comments were out of character and would do things differently if he had his time again.
“We all make mistakes,” Hicks said.
“It is very unusual for something like that to happen. It’s a game for gentleman and that is the way it should be.
“There is a lot of pressure out there because there is so much at stake. And we all say and do things that we regret later.
“If somebody had sat me down for five minutes after the game and I had had time to think before I shook his hand, I would not have said anything.
“So yes, I do regret getting involved. I have been playing snooker for 14 years and nothing like that has happened before.”
Hicks’ run at the 2004 World Championships came to an end in the second round as he was beaten 13-11 by the eventual winner Ronnie O’Sullivan.
As for Hann, he ended up fighting Mark King, who was a friend of Hicks, in a boxing bout that raised thousands for a boxing club in Dagenham.
It’s unlikely a similar scene will take place at this year’s World Championship, which gets underway on April 19 at the Crucible.
But, as Hicks and Hann proved in 2004, it only takes a slice of mid-match needle to lay the foundations for some fiery scenes.
