ASTLEY PROVES IT’S AMATEUR HOUR
JOHN ASTLEY showed Shaun Murphy just how good amateurs can be – as he sensationally knocked out defending champion Neil Robertson at the UK Championship yesterday.
Raging Murphy fumed earlier in the week that those not on the pro tour had “no place in the building” at York’s Barbican or at any major tournament as a top-up player.
But unranked Geordie Astley, 32, a yo-yo player who has fallen off the circuit
by HECTOR NUNNS twice, proved his worth with a stunning shock 6-2 victory over the Australian.
The last time three-time UK winner and world No.4 Robertson defended his title in York in 2016 he also went out to an amateur in the shape of Peter Lines.
World No.6 Murphy’s ‘boot them out’ rant came after his defeat to amateur Si Jiahui.
Astley was under no illusions that this was an especially sweet win against a man who publicly agreed with Murphy – and one for the little guys.
He said:“It probably is the biggest win of my career, in a massive tournament. And maybe the stars were aligned a bit.
“I had seen Neil’s opinion on it too, which everyone is entitled to. One thing where I really don’t agree with Shaun is about byes – you should earn your wins.
“Shaun said he is trying to put food on the table, but so am I. I haven’t won a match in the UK since beating Ken Doherty a few years ago.
“Even if I am an amateur, I do play pretty much full time, as well as doing some coaching. Snooker is still very much my life.”
A crestfallen Robertson, 39, said: “I defended Shaun a bit because I know where he is coming from. Maybe John was fired up by the row about amateurs and even what I had said about it. He was getting a lot of support.”