Walsall cueman Mark Joyce caught up in snooker 'cheat' storm
Table manners are of the utmost importance when it comes to the genteel world of the green baize.
However, Walsall cueman Mark Joyce has come under fire after distracting his snooker rival Mark Allen in the Northern Ireland Open.
There is little love lost between the two but Ulsterman Allen, who has played league snooker in the West Midlands, accused the Black Country potter Joyce of chalking his cue and standing in his opponent's eye-line while Allen was trying to take his shot during their contest at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast.
Allen walked over towards his opponent, complaining Joyce had been in his eye-line when shaping up to cue before moving off around the table as he took his shot.
Joyce swiftly apologised and sat down as Allen completed his break of 52 to win the frame. While Joyce did level the match at 1-1, Allen went on to take control after edging a tense third frame 66-52 before going on to win 4-1.
Allen later confirmed he felt Joyce was trying to distract him.
Allen said: "He was chalking his cue while I'm down on the shot, there's just no excuse for it.
"He did it quite a few times in the match even after I said something, so there's no excuse for it.
"It's my shot when I'm at the table, I wouldn't do when he's at the table. Have some respect.
"There's just no excuse for it, regardless of whether it's Mark Joyce, who I dislike anyway, or whether it be anyone. It's something that we as snooker players don't do – you don't try to put your opponent off."
