The Rocket should put a sock in it
Murphy tells Ronnie to stop mouthing off about state of game and do something to help snooker chiefs
SHAUN MURPHY has told Ronnie O’Sullivan to either help or shut up after the Rocket’s scathing attack on the state of snooker.
World No.1 and reigning world champion O’Sullivan, 47, claimed this week that the game was in “the worst state ever” with regard to overall prize money.
And O’Sullivan, who bids for a record eighth world crown at the Crucible next month, reckoned the situation was “beyond a crisis”, called for players to strike and slated the efforts of those running the sport.
But Murphy was quick to point out that this year’s £10.5million total prize money far exceeded the 2009-10 figure of only £3.5m – when there were just six ranking events compared to 15 this term.
And he challenged O’Sullivan to turn up to key meetings about snooker’s future. The Rocket was not present at one of the biggest for years last week.
Murphy said: “It’s a shame that not just Ronnie but other players won’t come to the table and talk with WST and WPBSA Players board. I was always taught not to air your dirty laundry in public, and all of the things Ronnie refers to –none of them are made any easier by him speaking so publicly about them.
“I don’t see how players can’t understand that. This isn’t about gagging orders or restricting free speech. It’s having the sense to realise some of these things are sensitive, and need dealing with in-house.
“We need to be a unified voice in snooker to grow the game and make it bigger and better – and there is very little of that going
around at the moment. In simple mathematical terms, for prize money and number of tournaments, he is incorrect to say it is the worst it is ever been.
“I don’t know where he’s coming from with his comments. He wasn’t at the meeting last week, neither were other players that have been vocal recently like Stephen Maguire and Ali Carter.
“There are a lot of criticisms flying round but not many solutions. It’s all well and good criticising from the sidelines, let’s see some of these players get their hands dirty and getting involved.
If Ronnie could be motivated to get involved he would be a real asset
SHAUN MURPHY WANTS ROCKET TO CONTRIBUTE
“Help make the game better. Ronnie is the biggest star we’ve ever had, no question. He puts more bums on seats.
“But snooker was here before Ronnie O’Sullivan, and it will be here long after he puts his cue down. The frustration with Ronnie is that there is the odd good idea in there. If he could be motivated to get involved he would be a real asset. But I have no idea who can do that.”
● Jimmy White produced a major shock at the World Snooker Tour Classic by beating world No.5 Judd Trump 4-2 to reach the last 16 in Leicester but then blew his chance to make the quarter-finals.
The veteran lost 4-1 to China’s Pang Junxu but said after beating Trump: “When I started off I was really nervous. And it’s OK to be nervous because at my age it means you’re alive. If you’re not a fan of Judd Trump you’re not a fan of snooker. It’s a big win.”
John Higgins reached the last eight with an excellent 4-2 victory over Kyren Wilson but Scott Donaldson bowed out, beaten 4-1 by Oliver Lines.