Shaun Murphy has reacted to comments made by Mark Allen on the back of his commentary for the BBC at last week’s UK Championship.
The pair, whose friendship on the circuit over the years has been common knowledge, have for months been involved in a repetitive online tit for tat.
While initially it appeared as though it was just banter, the frequency of the headline-generating jibes have led many to start believing that the situation is boiling over into something more serious.
Murphy received criticism on social media for an apparent attack on Allen’s style of play during the Northern Irishman’s semi-final defeat to Barry Hawkins in York on Saturday.
The Magician suggested that the Pistol was playing slow on purpose in an effort to upset the rhythm of an opponent Murphy had lost to in the previous round.
Allen, who exited in a deciding frame after a five-hour encounter, reacted on X, stating: “As for Shaun in commentary, he’s absolutely entitled to his opinion on things.”
“But perhaps [it’s] best to leave personal feelings out of the commentary box in future. All because I called out some of his recent BS.”
On Wednesday ahead of his appearance in the 2024 Snooker Shoot Out, former world champion Murphy responded with confusion on the possibility of a growing feud.
“You know, I’m sat here with you right now, and I’m totally in the dark,” Shaun Murphy told co-host Phil Seymour on the OneFourSeven Snooker Podcast.
“I know as much as you know about it. I was disappointed to see his comments following the game.”
“But, you know, you come off a match that you’ve lost. It’s a high-intensity moment. You’re trying to win the UK Championship, you’re in the semis, and it means a lot.
“You’re thrust into a media centre and possibly given a quote of a sentence I’ve said in the commentary box, and then asked to give an opinion on it.
“It’s not easy to think clearly in those moments. But I don’t look back at the match or my contribution to the broadcast with regret or anything like that.
“It seems as if, judging by Mark’s social media output, that he has taken my comments about his game very personally. They certainly weren’t meant personally.
“I’m employed by the BBC to call the game as I see it, and that’s what I did. I don’t remember ever saying that there was anything wrong with what he did.
“I said he was perfectly within his rights, perfectly within the rules.
“And if I’m totally honest, I was watching in admiration because he was breaking down a player who the day before had slaughtered me.
“You’re watching the play and trying to work out what you could have done differently, and Mark’s slow play did seem to work. At one o’clock in the morning, they’re still playing.
“I can only reiterate that I don’t think I said anything that was out of order. I didn’t mean any of my criticisms in the way it seems to have been taken.”
Allen additionally commented on the subject on Wednesday after beating Ross Muir to successfully begin the defence of his Snooker Shoot Out crown – a tournament that incorporates a shot clock.
“That shot time means nothing to me because I try my best. I’ll never, ever apologise for giving 100 per cent,” Allen said on Eurosport.
“If that’s 32 seconds on one day or 22 on another day, I don’t actually care. I didn’t go into that match trying to slow it down, absolutely not.”
Shaun Murphy, meanwhile, also took the opportunity on his podcast to pay tribute to former players Terry Griffiths and Mark Wildman, who both passed away in recent weeks.
“The first qualifier to win a World Championship, at his first attempt no less,” Murphy said on 1979 Crucible champion Griffiths.
“It is totally mad to think that. If we just stop there for a second, and I feel like I can speak about this with some authority as the second qualifier to win the world title.”
“The fact that he did it at his first attempt, it puts him in a different stratosphere for me. And it’s something that perhaps wasn’t made enough of.
“He won the world title at his first attempt as a qualifier. There’s that wonderful piece of footage that we’ve all seen many times where he wins the semi-final to get through to the final.
“I watched it the other night. The applause after he beats [Eddie] Charlton, and this is into the early hours, lasts for two or three minutes.
“You can see David Vine comes down and he’s trying to quiet the crowd, but the crowd are having none of it.
“He chimes in with his wonderful, classic line of, ‘I’m in the final now, you know!’ He was a wonderful man.”
Shaun Murphy faces Sean O’Sullivan in the first round of the 2024 Snooker Shoot Out on Thursday.
Featured photos credit: WST
O man. Even when talking about Griffiths he turns the attention to himself. Talk about disappointing …
That’s a mad remark. When someone passes away you often recount personal dealings with that person.
Tim pieters why o why just don’t say anything the guy just payed his respects to a character of the sport that’s all just stop jumping on the murphy slaughter bandwagon
Mark Selby obviously has used the use of slow play for ages, how come Murphy has not said anything about it! Jobs for the boys? Almost given up watching snooker! But why does Murphy constantly believe as a member of the so called management, he wants to run things his way,now bored with all them, and who takes the biggest chunk out of the game? BH.
Murphy. Just keep you’re mouth shut.
Must say whilst not a massive fan of Shaun Murphy (a bit pompous at times) he does have a point about Mark Allen. Not only is MA doing himself no favours he’s killing the game. Like watching paint dry 🥱 Zzzzzz
Shaun Murphy is his own news cycle these days.
He’s only in the news if sites decide to use his podcast chat for stories. Murphy is one of snooker’s most eloquent and interesting observers. He’s been a superb edition to the BBC team.
How much does it cost for a spectator to these matches, the ones in this country and the ones abroad,