Rogue fly stops play in Masters Snooker clash as insect lands on the cueball

With neither player yet to register a point on the board, a plucky fly threatened to disrupt proceedings.

In the first frame of the match, Ryan had to wait for the referee to remove the insect from the cueball.

Footage from the Alexandra Palace shows the official leaning down to pick up the fly, after it landed on the table just behind the group of reds.

After a short struggle, he did manage to pick up the small creature and remove it from the table.

Play quickly resumed with a bemused John Virgo saying “well there’s a fly” from the commentary box.

Bizarrely, it is the second time in two days that an insect has interrupted play.

Yesterday, Mark Selby’s first-round clash with Mark Williams was halted when an ant was spotted on the white.

Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will look to defend the championship when he faces Marco Fu on Tuesday.

Ronnie is the bookie's favourite for the 2018 tournament, too.

Betfair offer odds of 5/2 on the Rocket, with Judd Trump being his closest rival at 6/1.