“SHAUN MURPHY branded himself an “idiot” live on TV – after blowing the chance of a 147 at the Masters. The former world champion powered to an emphatic 6-2 win over Neil Robertson on Thursday afternoon. 3 Shaun Murphy missed out on a 147 in his 6-2 win over Neil Robertson Credit: BBC 3 The”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
The former world champion powered to an emphatic 6-2 win over Neil Robertson on Thursday afternoon.
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Shaun Murphy missed out on a 147 in his 6-2 win over Neil RobertsonCredit: BBC
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The 42-year-old branded himself an “idiot” during his BBC interviewCredit: BBC
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Murphy snookered himself behind the blue on his way to a perfect frameCredit: BBC Murphy was at his brilliant best as he overcame the Aussie in front of a packed house at Ally Pally.
The 42-year-old almost ended the game with a perfect 147 break – before inexplicably snookering himself behind the blue.
Murphy potted the black and played for position on the yellow, only to leave his shot miles short.
Despite missing out on the 147, Murphy still sealed victory with the century break of 120.
Following the match, reigning world champ Kyren Wilson joined John Parrott and host Hazel Irvine in the BBC studio.
Asked for his immediate thoughts on Murphy’s performance, Wilson laughed: “What a wally!
“What a wally. Fancy snookering yourself on the blue.”
Still laughing, he added: “No, what an effort. What a fantastic performance.
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“Neil will be walking away there thinking ‘I didn’t do too much wrong.'”
Murphy joined the trio moments later – and before being prompted, let out his frustration at missing out on the maximum and £15,000 for the highest break of the tournament.
Holding his head in his hands, he spluttered: “What an idiot!
“I wouldn’t mind but I’ve done the exact same thing before, in the Welsh Open years ago. You’d think I would have learnt.”
Murphy has made eight career 147s, with his last in the 2023 Snooker Shoot Out.
And he admitted this one would have been special – as it’s his mum’s birthday.
Murphy added: “I couldn’t breathe [during the end of the break.]
“I just thought, please stop anywhere but there.
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins
“When you’re playing one of the greats, you know you have to step up to the mark.
“I was really pleased with how I finished the game, especially after Neil came back from [5-1 down] against John Higgins.
“It would have been a great present, it’s my mum’s birthday today”.
Now through to the semi-finals, Murphy faces the winner of Mark Selby and Mark Allen who play at Alexandra Palace tonight.