The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has announced that Shaun Murphy has stepped down from his role of Chairman of the Players Commission.
The Englishman has also made the decision to vacate his position on the Board of Directors with immediate effect.
The former world champion was elected to the WPBSA board in December 2017.
However, Murphy has now decided that the time is right to focus on his playing career.
The 36 year-old, who is among an elite group of 11 players to have won the career Triple Crown – consisting of the World and UK Championships, as well as the prestigious Masters – has struggled for form in recent times.
After a 2017/18 campaign in which the “Magician” captured the Champion of Champions at the expense of Ronnie O’Sullivan while also finishing runner-up in four ranking tournaments, fortunes have deserted him in the last 15 or so months.
Murphy managed a final appearance in the Scottish Open in December, a rare run to the business end of a competition during the 2018/19 term.
But such was the regularity in which he lost in the early stages, Murphy’s ranking has plummeted to number 14 in the world.
Whether his WPBSA commitments hindered his efforts on the Main Tour or not, it seems that Murphy is intent on rechannelling his energy in an attempt to climb back up the ladder again.
The seven-time ranking event winner begins the new campaign on Thursday with a preliminary round fixture against Zhang Anda in the Riga Masters.
Murphy follows that tie with an International Championship qualifier against recent Q School graduate Riley Parsons on Friday in Sheffield.
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Shaun during his time with us.”
“He is passionate, committed, and has helped us to shape many things that have been for the benefit of the players and our sport as a whole.
“I am sure that he will continue to make a great contribution to our sport over the seasons to come and on behalf of the WPBSA board of directors I would like to wish him every success for the future.”
Plans for the administration of the Players Commission will be announced in due course.
