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| - Defending champion Judd Trump has labelled Anthony Hamilton "selfish" after the qualifier's late withdrawal from the World Snooker Championship due to his coronavirus concerns. Hamilton was scheduled to play his first round match against Kyren Wilson on Friday, but the 49-year-old, who suffers from asthma, has decided to pull out on the eve of the event. The World Championship, which starts on Friday in Sheffield, is one of three events being used to test the return of spectators to British sport on a limited basis. A reduced capacity is being used at the Crucible Theatre, with spectators issued with a code of conduct and asked to adhere to strict rules, including wearing face masks. But Hamilton's exit angered world number one Trump, who insisted Hamilton should have pulled out prior to the qualifying tournament to give other players an opportunity. "I find it very hard on the other people that he has taken the opportunity from - I think this was announced with enough time to know there was going to be a crowd at this tournament," Trump said. "There is a lot of money to be played for in this tournament. A lot of low ranked players struggle to put food on the table and especially with things going on, you've got to try to earn a living. "People need to think of the bigger picture sometimes and try not to be selfish and give others the opportunity to provide as well." After beating Scott Donaldson in the final round of qualifying on Monday, Hamilton had criticised the move to allow a limited number of fans into the Crucible. Hamilton had warned: "Let's say one person gets ill and dies from the Crucible - it's one person who died for no reason at all, just for entertainment." But in a statement on Thursday, Hamilton apologised to the two players he beat in qualifying -- Donaldson and Sam Craigie -- and claimed he made his decision after undertaking a "personal risk assessment". "It has been a really difficult decision for me. I was extremely impressed by the way that WST and their partners ran the qualifying rounds, they made the players feel totally safe," Hamilton said. "However due to my health condition, after careful consideration I have decided not to play in the final stages." World Snooker Tour said the four-time quarter-finalist will still receive the £20,000 he earned by reaching the last 32. "I want to apologise to my opponents at the qualifiers, Sam Craigie and Scott Donaldson, and assure them that I had every intention of playing at the Crucible," he said. "But it was only after I finished the qualifying rounds that I was able to do a full personal risk assessment based on the latest information and discussions with WST." Hamilton's withdrawal came 24 hours after five-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, who will compete in the tournament, claimed players were being treated like "lab rats" over the fan experiment. smg/dj
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