Veteran snooker player Barry Pinches has hit out at Andrew Pagett on social media after the pair were involved in a spat during their qualifying match the 6 Red World Championship.
Pinches ultimately won 6-2, but was left fuming after Pagett apparently questioned the legitimacy of the cold he was carrying and the fact he was coughing during their match. In a post on Facebook, Pinches fumed: "Quite frankly, I've never been close to being so angry during my entire life.
"I am carrying a cold… and was coughing a lot during our game. After being 2-0 down and making a couple of 40-odd breaks to virtually draw level, Andrew Pagett said to me something like: 'do you know you didn't cough once during those two breaks?'
"I replied: 'what are you trying to say and do you know how long I've been playing this game?' I was then about to say I have NEVER been pulled up for any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct in 40 years but before I could finish he said: 'I don't care how long you've been playing.'
"I had a discussion with our referee after the game and I asked him if I'd coughed while my opponent was on the shot and he confirmed that I hadn't." Pinches then accused Pagett of deliberately chalking his cue while he was attempting a shot.
"To add to the drama of the day during the match before 'coughgate', Andrew Pagett chalked his cue while I was down on the shot but I let it go," he added. "A few minutes after the coughing argument, he chalked his cue again while I was down on the shot!
"I immediately got up absolutely seething and said something like: 'don't you ever chalk your cue while I am down on the shot.' I've marked his card regarding chalking his cue while I was down on the shot, so future opponents be wary."
According to Eurosport, Pagett responded to Pinches' claims on Twitter with a post that has since been deleted, claiming his rival "will be fined" for his actions.
"This is the first time I've said anything about this," he wrote. "All I know is that he's in the wrong and will be fined."
