Fans are confused by unknown part of snooker table, but there's a simple explanation

Fans have been questioning an unusual part of the snooker table during the ongoing Masters tournament - but there is a simple explanation behind why it is in place.

The Masters event is being played at the Alexandra Palace, with the current top 16-ranked players all involved. However, there are no ranking points on offer, as it is an invitational tournament.

Early results have seen Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump both progress to the quarter-finals - although the latter, who is world number one, needed to win a last-frame decider against Kyren Wilson.

It was during Tuesday evening's match between Barry Hawkins and Neil Robertson, though, that one fan took to Reddit with a question about the table - and they were not alone in wondering.

The Reddit user highlighted a small section under the table - a dial structure which featured several numbers.

Some fans joked that the device was a Venus flytrap, given how many flies and wasps have appeared on the table at the Alexandra Palace during the tournament thus far.

But the device may, in fact, have an influence on the amount of bugs - as it directly controls the temperature of the table.

A snooker table has to be heated to the exact temperature before a match begins and during intervals, with even a slight anomaly causing significant differences to the playing conditions.

You will often see players critical of cold tables, with three-time world champion Robertson slamming the cool conditions during a UK Championship match in 2020.

The Australian told Eurosport: "I found the table very difficult. It was quite cold in and around the table, and that is normally a recipe for disaster with how the cushions were going to play.

"I'm a big believer in just making the arena just a little bit too hot. The table will play well if the arena is a bit hotter.

"Players would prefer to be a little bit too hot, rather than having to ask for a mug of tea or hot water just to keep their hands warm."

Tables are usually heated at around 50 degrees celsius, which helps to keep moisture out of the cloth, enables the cushions to be consistent when balls bounce off them, and makes the table itself play faster as well as avoiding friction.