KYREN WILSON was involved in an explosive war of words with “unprofessional” Shaun Murphy ahead of his Crucible title defence.
On Good Friday, it emerged that the Warrior is “disappointed” over an incident that occurred in a practice room the last time they played three months ago.
GettyKyren Wilson has slammed Shaun Murphy[/caption]
AFPThe world champions has labelled Murphy as ‘unprofessional’[/caption]
Wilson, 33, says what former world champion Murphy “did before the evening session was uncalled for and quite unprofessional”.
But Murphy, 42, says he has NO idea what “green-eyed monster” Wilson is talking about, telling his opponent: Be a proper bloke and have the bottle to tell the world why you are moaning.
The beef between the cueing pair, who both hail from Northamptonshire, began before the evening session of the 2025 Masters final at Ally Pally in January.
Wilson, who trailed 6-2, says he and younger brother Taylor – who is also his manager – complained to the Magician and coach Peter Ebdon about an unspecified situation.
It explains why he called Murphy – the 10-7 winner – an “old man” and reckoned he “needs this more than me” following the clash in North London.
Wilson said: “Shaun knows what he did.
“It’s nothing to do with performance-wise, because he was absolutely fantastic during the Masters.
“It’s almost like snooker player preferences. We all know the dos and don’ts. There was a bit of a don’t in the evening session just before the final.
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“There was nothing going on during the game. No off-putting or anything like that. It’s in the practice room.
“Did I tell him at the time? Yeah, we had a chat about it. Me and Taylor pulled him and Peter up on it.
GettyMurphy hit back at Wilson and urged him to ‘tell the world’[/caption]
“I helped Shaun out a lot over the past couple of years. Especially when he was living in Ireland, needed a practice base and a suitcase to borrow.
“So I was disappointed how that happened. But at the end of the day, no bad blood whatsoever against Shaun.”
Over the past few months, the two players have had coffee together in China and were part of a group of 11 men who attended Thursday night’s inaugural Champions’ Dinner in Sheffield.
Yet Murphy – who hit some surprise and theatrical tricks shots in that final – has vowed to thrash it out with the world No.2 when they next meet.
Murphy, the 2005 world champion, said: “I’m totally baffled by it.
“I was in the barbers minding my own business. I came out and my phone had gone nuts. My mates were saying: ‘What did you do? What’s the story?’
“I’ve got absolutely no idea. I’m disappointed that he has chosen that now is the time to bring it up, whatever it is.
“He has had months to say something to me if he wanted to.
“I think it’s really poor form on him to say it the way he said it. To leave everybody hanging.
“If you’re going to have the bottle to pull somebody over something, at least call me about it. He could have said it to my face.
“He could have been a proper bloke and actually addressed me himself. He has chosen not to do that.
“I was sore when I saw that comment because my professionalism is something I pride myself on and have done for many years.
“I’m left scratching my head as to what he could possibly be referring to. I’ve no idea.
“The Masters I remember, we left the venue and I filled my car up with washer fluid, I took it for a car wash and we went for a team Starbucks.
“I’m not sure what he’s talking about. Maybe he was offended by my Starbucks.
“He didn’t mention anything at the dinner. He shook my hand and was nice as pie.
“If you are going to call someone out, don’t go half-baked and leave everybody, including me, hanging.
“He has always had a bit of a chip on his shoulder about the fact that I was first (from our area) and was ahead of him.
“Maybe it’s the good, old-fashioned green-eyed monster.”
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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