SHAUN MURPHY has lobbied for a shot clock to be introduced in snooker after calling out Mark Allen’s alleged slow play.
Murphy was on BBC commentary when he commented on Allen’s approach during his semi-final clash against Barry Hawkins at the UK Championship.
Shaun Murphy has come up with a radical snooker rule change
It comes after his feud with Mark Allen over his potential ‘slow game plan’
Murphy had been knocked out by Hawkins in the previous round.
The 2005 world champion suggested that Allen was playing slow on purpose in an effort to upset Hawkins’ rhythm.
His comments got back to fellow snooker star Allen, who hit back on X after the match.
Allen posted: “As for Shaun in comms. He’s absolutely entitled to his opinion on things but perhaps best to leave personal feelings out of the commentary box in future.
“All because I called out some of his recent BS.”
But Murphy was later asked what snooker could do to help officials when players take their time.
Murphy said: “I’d bring in a shot clock. And I’ve been saying this for 20 years, so I’m super-consistent on this.”
When his co-host Phil Seymour asked for a number, Murphy added: “30 seconds. I think a shock clock that is unemotive, unemotional.
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“It can’t be swayed, it’s not open to opinion – takes all of the pressure off the referees.
“This section of the rules puts our referees in a terrible position where some of them get involved and warn a player who’s fighting. If we had shot clock, and you can negotiate on 30 seconds.
“Years ago, I got widely criticised for wanting a shot clock. Now the tide is starting to turn, not in totality, but it is starting to turn and I think, in years to come, we’ll see it become a thing.”
It came after youngster Stan Moody was warned by a referee during the UK Championship qualifiers.
Murphy has also said he was “disappointed” with how Allen responded to his remarks in commentary.
The Magician added: “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.”
Hawkins still won the match against Allen, but later lost to Judd Trump.
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
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
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