The World Snooker Championship descended into chaos on Monday when action was halted after a male protester ran from the crowd, interrupted an ongoing game between Joe Perry and Robert Milkins and poured orange powder onto the table.
A female protestor attempted to do the same to the table which was hosting the match between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi, but was prevented from doing so after an intervention from referee Olivier Marteel.
South Yorkshire Police announced a 52-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman had been taken into custody shortly after the incident.
READ MORE: Grand National protestors promise "summer of action" at a host of sporting events
The protesters were representing the 'Just Stop Oil' organisation which is campaigning for an end to the use of fossil fuels. Shortly after the incident, Just Stop Oil released a statement on the situation.
"At around 7:20pm, two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, interrupting play. The pair proceeded to cover the tables in orange powder paint before being removed by security and arrested.
"They are demanding that the Government immediately stop all new UK fossil fuel projects and are calling on UK sporting institutions to step into in civil resistance against the Government’s genocidal policies."
Just Stop Oil describe themselves on their website as "a nonviolent civil resistance group demanding the UK Government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects."
They believe that "allowing the extraction of new oil and gas resources in the UK is an obscene and genocidal policy that will kill our children and condemn humanity to oblivion."
Explaining their reasons for campaigning, their website states: "Climate collapse will mean the end of workers’ rights, women’s rights, all human rights. It is already the greatest injustice visited on the global south in human history.
"If you are not in resistance you are appeasing evil. If you continue to stand by you are betraying 200 years of struggle and the sacrifice of those that came before us.
"It is time to put everything aside, we are going into resistance with or without you. Are you bystander or are you going to rise up?"
The protests come just days after the Aintree Grand National was disrupted by animal rights group 'Animal Rising.'
The beginning of the race was delayed by 15 minutes as protesters used ladders to try and gain access to the course.
Galvin, ridden by Davy Russell and trained by Gordon Elliott, was cut by one of these ladders and needed to be patched up by the vet after the race.
Over 100 protesters were arrested for their actions in Liverpool on Saturday, although 42 of these were later 'de-arrested.'
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