World Snooker Championship: Tempers flare during Jamie Clarke vs Anthony McGill clash at the Crucible

Tempers flared at the Crucible as Jamie Clarke and Anthony McGill had a heated confrontation during their World Snooker Championship second-round encounter.

Trailing 7-2 in the afternoon session, McGill accused Clarke of deliberately standing in his eyeline as the Scot prepared to play a long yellow from the baulk end.

Referee Jan Verhaas came between the qualifiers and ordered Clarke from the other end of the table, directing him to his chair.

BBC coverage picked up Verhaas telling Clarke: "Listen, listen, it's no big deal, but if you're in his eyeline we'd prefer you to be on that side."

As an animated McGill continued to confront his opponent, Verhaas told the Scot: "Leave it, leave it," before Clarke won the frame on the black and left the arena, with McGill running out after him.

Clarke tweeted cryptically: "You want to dance, let's dance" during an interval but the incident clearly fired up McGill, who won five straight frames to close to only 8-7 behind.

Additional reporting by PA.