Snooker star Shaun Murphy: what’s my target for the future? I’m aiming to be world number one
Snooker star Shaun Murphy has one single aim as he prepares for the new season – to become the best player on the planet.
The former World Champion made the final of the Shanghai Masters earlier this month.
But Shaun, nicknamed The Magician, is already focused on something much bigger.
“I’m in a good place, and really positive about what the future holds,” he said.
“My mate Mark Allen just got to world number one. And that’s inspired me even more because that’s one of the few goals I set myself when I turned pro which I’m still yet to go on and achieve.
“I wanted to be World Champion and win the triple crown and all the rest of it, and I’ve done that. But getting to the top of the rankings is something that’s eluded me. But I look at it, and think ‘if Mark could do it then why can’t I’? Now I’ve got to knuckle down and work hard, which I will.”
For the 41-year-old there’s another factor acting as a source of inspiration.
Speaking to growth marketing agency Champions (UK) plc, he explained: “I look at the game now, that class of 1992 – Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams – and they keep showing how your career is a lot longer than it ever used to be.
“Many of that class of 92 are nearly 50, yet they’re still at the top of the game. They’re showing people of my generation how I might have another 10 years. So there’s a lot to go for and be positive about..”
Reflecting on his performance in Shanghai, Shaun said: “I wasn’t doing cartwheels at coming second. I’ve never competed for a second in my life. But it is definitely a better start than last season where I went out in round one. And, hopefully, it’s a sign of good things to come.”
Another positive, Shaun says, is the decision by snooker bosses to introduce a new £100,000 prize for the first player to make 100 century breaks this season.
“I think it’s brilliant,” Shaun said. “There are only two players who have ever done that. Judd Trump and Neil Robertson. So everyone’s calling it the Trump/Robertson bonus. I think there’s a few of us who are in with a shout of doing it. It’s not easy. But I’ve had eight or nine centuries already in the Shanghai Masters so, I’m a 10th of the way there.
“It’ll be something that keeps people interested. To make 100 centuries you obviously need to go deep in tournaments. But it’s a really good initiative and a boost for the game.”
Meanwhile, Shaun has also paid tribute to snooker legend Ray Reardon. The iconic player died, aged 91, while he was participating in Shanghai and his death is still being absorbed by those who loved him.
“Ray was an absolute legend of our sport,” Shaun reflected. “And, you know, legends transcend the sport, don’t they? We had a minute silence in Shanghai before the start of the final and the crowd all stood up.
“They all knew the name Ray Reardon and I just thought ‘wow’. This is a guy who retired 30 years ago, but his name is still revered and you know, and that’s exactly how it should be. So yes, we’ve lost a legend. That’s a word often used too often, but I think in Ray’s case, it’s absolutely right. Quite simply when he spoke, people listened. And the sport will miss him.”
Murphy, currently placed seventh in the World Snooker rankings, became the 2005 Snooker World Champion when he famously beat Welsh icon Matthew Stevens.
He has since compiled over 600 century breaks, 25 event victories and completed the ‘Triple Crown’. Known for his exceptional cue ball control and break-building skills, Murphy has secured multiple titles throughout his career, and claimed the title of the last-ever Embassy Champion, second-youngest player of all-time and WST Magical Moment of the Year 2024.
Beyond his prowess on the snooker table, he is also a respected commentator and analyst, contributing his insights to various snooker broadcasts.
Murphy’s dedication to the sport and his charismatic presence have made him a massively loved figure in the world of snooker.
To find out more about Shaun visit www.championsukplc.com
