Neil Robertson has demanded that the traditional Triangle Chalk favoured by Ronnie O'Sullivan be outlawed from professional snooker, insisting fellow competitors despise it and that it creates chaos on the playing surface.
The 2010 world champion made his feelings clear following O'Sullivan's dramatic 13-12 last-16 exit against John Higgins at the World Championship on Monday.
"All the players hate it, it just destroys it. You get kicks, bounces and it makes an absolute mess of the table," Robertson declared in his post-match press conference.
The Australian, who defeated Chris Wakelin 13-7 to reach the quarter-finals, expressed relief at avoiding O'Sullivan and his controversial chalk choice.
O'Sullivan remains one of just a small number of professionals on the World Snooker Tour who continue using the traditional chalk, with the vast majority having switched to Taom Chalk.
Critics argue the older product leads to more poor contacts, causing 'kicks' when the cue ball strikes the object ball, which frequently leaves players out of position or missing shots entirely.
Robertson offered a wry comparison when discussing the mess left behind.
Neil Robertson has demanded that the traditional Triangle Chalk favoured by Ronnie O'Sullivan be outlawed from professional snooker, insisting fellow competitors despise it and that it creates chaos on the playing surface
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"I know he is friends with Damien Hirst, but it's like he is making artwork with the chalk all over the cloth," he said, whilst insisting O'Sullivan does not use it deliberately to unsettle opponents.
The 44-year-old jokingly dubbed the controversy "chalkgate".
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry weighed in during BBC coverage while Higgins struggled on Sunday, noting that O'Sullivan's old-fashioned chalk deposits marks on cushions that cause significant bounces when balls make contact.
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Five quirky facts about snooker | PA"The table can play heavy and the players are not used to that because everyone else uses the other chalk - there's no marks, there's nothing, no bounces, no kicks," Hendry observed.
Six-time champion Steve Davis provided further technical insight, explaining that when Taom Chalk entered the market, it dramatically reduced instances of poor contact caused by chalk residue interfering between cue ball and object ball.
"Nearly all of the players adopted it because it's far better," Davis said, adding that O'Sullivan simply chose to stick with what he knew.
Higgins, who progressed to the quarter-finals for a 20th time, acknowledged the difficulties of facing O'Sullivan's chalk choice.
Neil Robertson previously won the World Snooker Championship in 2010
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"Ronnie plays with different chalk and that makes it difficult, and makes the pockets seem tighter than they appear to be," the Scot explained, adding that a fresh cloth on Monday helped considerably as there were no chalk marks to contend with.
A World Snooker Tour spokesperson confirmed that players currently have complete freedom over their chalk selection.
Robertson revealed he refuses to let practice partners use Triangle Chalk on his table, claiming even snooker clubs are banning it because it damages cloth and carries a health warning label.
"Shaun Murphy and I would love to see it removed from the face of the Earth," he added.