World Snooker Championship: 'Unfortunate' - Joe Perry left stunned as he's wrongly introduced in comical gaffe

Published 20/04/2023 at 10:40 GMT

Joe Perry managed to find the funny side of the situation as he was incorrectly introduced as his opponent, Robert Milkins, in a farcical but hilarious moment at the World Snooker Championship. Emcee Rob Walker clearly suffered a misunderstanding of which player was going to emerge first, and he left Perry and the audience at the Crucible Theatre entertained by his comical gaffe.

Hilarious moment as confused Joe Perry is introduced as opponent Robert Milkins

There were confusing and amusing scenes at the World Snooker Championship on Thursday morning as Joe Perry was wrongly introduced as his opponent, Robert Milkins, by emcee Rob Walker.

The early match, which was not originally supposed to be played on this day, saw Perry lead the Welsh Open champion Milkins 7-2 following the first session of the encounter as the pair target a place in the second round.

There was some entertainment before the players had even got to the table as Walker seemingly got confused over which player was due to enter the venue first and gave Perry a full introduction as his opponent, leaving The Gentleman utterly baffled.

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"Please welcome a player coming to the end of his best season on tour," began a typically enthused Walker.

"He now needs to find the form that helped him lift the Welsh Open title in such fine style in February. He's been a grafter for his entire career and he will go for it this morning.

"He's a cider drinker, but we call him 'The Milkman', Robert Milkins!"

Out strode a bewildered Perry, who tried to smile while shaking his head and pointing to his watch, before he eventually got to the table and embraced Walker, who suddenly realised what had happened.

"As if by magic," Walker responded, improvising with a laugh, "it's The Gentleman, Joe Perry!"

"Well, this is unfortunate because, of course, Perry is the qualifier so he comes out first," explained Dave Hendon, on commentary for Eurosport at the time.

"This is not Robert Milkins, this is Joe Perry! It's early for everyone, even Rob Walker, who is human."

It was the latest unusual incident in the match, which had to be delayed until this impromptu morning session on Thursday due to protesters halting it originally and throwing orange powder onto the table.

WST confirmed after the shocking incident that the match would have to instead begin on Tuesday at 19:00 UK time, at the time their second session was originally scheduled with the second session to take place on Thursday at 09:30 when no morning play was originally going to be held.