JOHN HIGGINS gestured for two snooker fans to leave the Yushan Sport Centre during his World Open showdown.
The Scot later joked that his dodgy tummy - from too many Chinese HOT POTS - helped him beat Zhou Yuelong 5-4 in the last-16 on Wednesday.
The camera then panned to two punters sheepishly making their way out of the arena before Higgins regained his composure and potted a red.
Higgins was trying to put distance between himself and Zhou in the third frame, with the scores tied up at 1-1.
Higgins equalled Ronnie O'Sullivan's record of reaching 146 ranking event quarter-finals.
