Mark Williams Fuels Controversy Over Referee Brendan Moore’s Officiating in Players Championship Quarter-Final; WST Introduces Live Video Reviews for Foul Calls.
Telford, England — Three-time World Champion Mark Williams has ignited fresh debate in the snooker world after publicly criticizing referee Brendan Moore’s decisions during his 6–3 quarter-final defeat to Judd Trump at the 2026 Players Championship. Speaking hours after the match, Williams accused Moore of “missing key calls” and allowing “unfair advantages” that tipped momentum Trump’s way — sparking outrage among fans and sparking calls for an official review.
“I wasn’t just playing Judd,” Williams told reporters outside the venue. “I was playing the referee too. Brendan Moore missed two critical fouls in the fifth frame that cost me a chance to stay in it. One was a clear push-out on the red, the other a missed double touch on the black. That’s not how you referee a quarter-final.”
The controversy centers around Frame 5, where Williams trailed 4–1 and needed a frame to swing momentum. Replays show Trump committing a push-out on a red ball while attempting a safety shot — a foul that would’ve given Williams ball-in-hand. Moore ruled “no foul,” allowing Trump to continue and eventually clear the table with a 75 break. Later in the same frame, Trump appeared to double-touch the black while lining up a pot — again, Moore waved play on.
Williams, known for his calm demeanor, rarely speaks out against officials — making this outburst all the more striking. “I’ve respected referees all my career,” he said. “But when mistakes change the outcome of a match at this level… someone has to say something.”
Trump, who went on to win 6–3 and advance to the semi-finals against John Higgins, defended Moore: “I think Brendan did a good job under pressure. Mark’s frustrated — I get that. But let’s not rewrite the match.”
The World Snooker Tour (WST) issued a brief statement: “All refereeing decisions are reviewed internally after major matches. We take player feedback seriously and will examine the incidents flagged by Mark Williams.” No formal disciplinary action or replay has been announced yet.
Fans took to social media, splitting sharply. Some backed Williams: “If refs keep missing calls, big players get robbed!” Others sided with Moore: “One bad call doesn’t decide a whole match. Trump played better.”
Brendan Moore, a veteran referee with over 300 matches under his belt including multiple World Championship finals, has faced criticism before — most notably during the 2023 UK Championship when he was accused of inconsistent penalty calls involving Neil Robertson.
Williams’ comments come at a sensitive time for the sport. Recent scandals involving betting irregularities and match-fixing allegations have heightened scrutiny of officiating standards. Some analysts argue stricter use of technology — like live video reviews for key fouls — could prevent future disputes.
Despite the fallout, Williams remains focused on returning to form. “I’m not here to dwell,” he said. “I’ll keep grinding. But snooker needs better consistency from its referees — especially in big matches.”
The controversy adds another layer to an already dramatic Players Championship, where John Higgins and Zhao Xintong await their semi-final opponents while Trump prepares to face Higgins.
WST introduce live video reviews for foul calls after this incident
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