Shaun Murphy shouts ‘what an idiot’ as he enters BBC studio after blunder as world snooker champion calls him a ‘wally’

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.

BBC Shaun Murphy missed out on a 147 in his 6-2 win over Neil Robertson[/caption]

BBC The 42-year-old branded himself an “idiot” during his BBC interview[/caption]

BBC Murphy snookered himself behind the blue on his way to a perfect frame[/caption]

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.

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