Shaun Murphy demands World Snooker investigation after X-rated comment during match | Other | Sport
Shaun Murphy wants World Snooker to look at a couple of unsavoury incidents (Image: Getty)
Shaun Murphy is looking for answers from World Snooker after a series of unsavoury incidents during his opening match at the Crucible. The one-time world champion edged a final-frame decider against Fan Zhengyi to book his place in the second round. It was far from straightforward for Murphy, who was left furious after being heckled by an unruly fan.
After taking a shot on the blue, the 43-year-old was on the receiving end of a foul-mouthed jibe from a spectator in the crowd. It stayed in Murphy’s head and he ended up missing a routine red with his next effort. After his victory, he gave an account of what happened and didn’t mince his words.
“I’ve got no idea where they were, I think they were sat on the front row,” said Murphy. “I played a blue in and out of baulk, as it came round I clipped the green, came off the cushion, cannoned into the reds.
“It was pretty much the shot I played, it was actually quite a good shot, I’ve definitely played worse shots. Then literally as the applause died down, he went: ‘S*** shot’.
“It’s unlike me. I would normally confront somebody like that because we’re not football, you don’t behave like that at the Crucible. As I got down to play the next red, I was still thinking: ‘Jeez, maybe they’ve had a bit too much hospitality’.
“They might have been enjoying the beer a bit too much. And before I knew it I’d missed the red. It was a lesson, I suppose, that if you’re disturbed, start again.”
In a separate incident on Tuesday evening, Murphy was left incensed after being struck by an unexpected bright spark. Lights from the neighbouring table abruptly flickered on mid-stroke, prompting The Magician to confront the officials backstage.
He said: “We don’t ask for much as snooker players. Leave the lights off, is one of them. It affected the shot, it affected the match. That was poor.
Murphy also complained about a light flickering on while he was taking a shot (Image: Getty)
“I think World Snooker are having a bit of an inquest into how that happened because that shouldn’t happen. I hope to find out because that should never happen.
“I’ve never seen the light come on a table here, just phantom. World Snooker are having an inquest, somebody might not be employed tomorrow.
“I was on the blue and it really put me off because, as I was about to strike, the lights came on. I didn’t hit that ball as I intended. I meant to hit it a bit harder and it made me stop on it.
“Maybe if I’d hit the ball as I meant to I’d have been on a red better and the break might have carried on. I was lucky the blue went in because literally, as I was about to hit the ball, I could see the reflection of the light come on the blue and it totally took my eye off.
“I was lucky the blue went in, but it really altered the way I was going to hit the ball. I didn’t get the pace in it I wanted. It affected the result of the shot.
“That was a new one. I’ve been coming here for a long time now and I’ve never had that happen before. It could hardly have happened at a more important moment.”
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