Taken from : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/snooker/14896444.stm

Snooker chiefs are to investigate an incident involving Mark Selby and Mark Williams in the Shanghai Open final.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has launched an inquiry into a snooker that Williams laid in the 17th frame.

Williams, who lost 10-9, was convinced Selby fouled, insisting he struck the pink, but referee Eirian Williams said Selby hit a red first.

"I was robbed. The referee made such an appalling decision," said Williams.

The WPBSA made clear the result of the match would stand, regardless of the inquiry.

At the time of the incident, the Welshman led the best-of-19-frames match 9-7 and was 48-5 ahead in the 17th, but lost the frame in question and the last two of the match.

"It was plain to see that he hit the pink. We didn't need to play it back," added Williams.

But slow-motion replays were inconclusive and there was no freeze-frame option available at the tournament.

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson will lead the inquiry along with former referee Alan Chamberlain, with finalists Williams and Selby and referee Williams to give statements.

"I want to make very clear from the outset that this inquiry is not part of any disciplinary procedure and has no effect on the outcome of the match," said Ferguson.

"Mark Selby is a deserving champion and won the match fair and square. Our rules state that any decision by the referee is final.

"However, through this inquiry, we will look to establish tighter guidelines for referees when such difficult decisions need to be made."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjgmPepA7hc

around 11 mins in is the moment which has caused the arguments.

so whos right? the ref at first awarded Williams the foul, Williams asked if the ref was going to look at it using the freeze frame technology but it wasn't available, Selby points out the TV screen showing a normal reply and after watching it and hearing Selby's view he changes his decision. Williams felt sure the pink was hit first, Selby was happy to take the advantage offered to him and the ref was stuck in the middle. Opinions etc?

Very unprofessional of Williams.

Impossible to tell which ball it hit first, but from the angle the white was approaching the balls red was far more likely.

Whatever, he should just accept the decision and get on with it, he should have won the match regardless, he blew it.

Just read this and watched the clip. I'm a big Williams fan so I want to believe it was pink first and I've watched the replay a ton of times, but I think at 3:04 in this clip is the most conclusive replay. Just knowing how snooker balls react I just can't believe the red can go to that position after an almost full ball contact with the pink. Red first afaict. Sorry Mark.

That said, it's poor refereeing the way he went back and forth on his decision, taking input from the players.

if you stop it at 3.10 you can see that the pink is in motion and the red is stationary/slowly moving. not conclusive by any means and its really poorly handled by the ref.

I have read a lot of mumbling about Selby being ruthless in situations like this were as traditionally snooker players are more fair and honest. was Selby right to pressure the ref like he did?

Well, initially the ref didn't call the foul, then you could hear him mumble something and say "was that pink first?" before finally announcing the foul, so assumedly it was Williams who first pressured the ref. If that was the case, then I'm sure Selby is well within his rights to fight his cause.

I like that there's a little player input in things like calling fouls on themselves, helping the referee put the balls back in the right positions etc, but I really don't think they should have any say whatsoever in calling the legality of a shot like this - leave it the referee, and his decision is final.

To be fair to the referee, they often ask for players input when making decisions.

In snooker you are allowed to appeal a decision by a ref, though, and I think that's a good rule. When you go play in, say, the BCA tournament in Vegas where they have very inexperienced refs you see all sorts of bizarre calls being made, and ultimately having to stand because the refs aren't allowed to reverse themselves once they make a call.

As for the shot in the video, I think if you watch it at real-time speed with sound there was clearly a 'snick' just before the sound of the white hitting the pink, which I think makes it a red first hit.

Selby and Williams were both being ruthless. The ref did what he thought was the right thing to do (as far as I know there is no rule that actually prevents a referee from using a live TV replay, even though there is no "video ref") but he should have been ruthless too and stuck to his original decision from the off.