Prince Philip funeral: How World Snooker Championship in Sheffield will pay tribute the Duke of Edinburght as other major sporting events are rescheduled

Many sporting events, including Premier League matches, rugby fixtures and this weekend’s F1 race, have been rescheduled to avoid clashing with the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral service, which begins at 3pm.

However, the afternoon session at the Crucible is due to go ahead at 2.30pm as planned, though play on both tables will be paused for a minute’s silence half an hour in.

The snooker will be broadcast live on BBC2, with the funeral being covered on BBC1 and ITV.

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A spokesman for the World Snooker Tour, which runs the tournament, said: “This will be the first time in the 94-year history of the Championship that we have paused matches in order to honour the Royal Family and a country that is in mourning.

"The session will start at 2.30pm as planned and then just before 3pm the matches will be paused. This event is broadcast to over 100 countries around the globe so people watching worldwide can pay their respects to Prince Philip at the same time.”

Players, referees and fans will be asked to observe the minute’s silence, with the four players and both referees wearing black armbands.

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The tournament is part of the Government’s pilot scheme to enable fans to return safely to sporting and cultural venues, with the venue set to operate at a third of capacity for the first round, rising to full capacity for the final.

All spectators will be required to take a Covid-19 test before arriving and another five days afterwards.