Mark Allen lashes out at 'Yes Man' Shaun Murphy again as snooker war of words continues
Published 03/10/2024 at 09:42 GMT+1
Mark Allen has decided to withdraw from next week's Wuhan Open in China, but the Champion of Champions holder is not exactly short of action off the table after taking to social media to again lament the opinions of Shaun Murphy. Allen is unhappy with Murphy after he was criticised by the 2005 world champion for berating table conditions at the British Open. "Baffling behaviour," said Allen.
Murphy qualifies for International Championship with victory over Heathcote
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mark Allen has opted to withdraw from the Wuhan Open next week, while describing Shaun Murphy as a "Yes Man" on social media for defending table conditions at last week's British Open.
The world No. 3 was due to meet Jamie Clarke in the second round in Wuhan on Monday at the season's sixth ranking event with his opponent given a bye to the last 32.
Allen had defeated Bai Yulu 5-1 in July to secure qualification, but won't travel to China with Judd Trump defending the title live on Eurosport and discovery+ (October 6-12).
Meanwhile, the Northern Irishman delivered another riposte against Murphy following criticism by the 2005 world champion after Allen ridiculed the tables at the British Open in Cheltenham.
The green baize war of words began when Allen said the tables should be "burned" after edging Gary Wilson 4-3 in the first round before losing 6-3 to Mark Selby in the semi-finals.
But Murphy, who represents the interest of the professionals as chairman of the WPBSA Players Board, was quick to dismiss Allen's claims as a "misconception" while commenting: "I think some of the criticism from fellow professionals has been nothing short of rude and amateurish.”
This prompted Allen to lament Murphy's views as "irrelevant" before firing off another volley on Wednesday in response to a podcast by Murphy in which he gave his views on why a discontented world champion Kyren Wilson is not always on the main showpiece TV table.
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Allen makes Masters maximum 147 break against Selby
Video credit: TNT Sports
“It’s about time the players understood that it’s about which match is the most attractive, the most exciting, which is going to pull more viewers in and that’s the one that will go first, it’s no more complicated than that," said Murphy on his podcast.
“Kyren asks what are the rewards for being world champion. You’ve got half a million pounds, that was your reward for winning the World Championship.
“You’ll forever be known as a world champion, that’s your reward. It doesn’t entitle you to be on table one every match.”
Allen took to social media to accuse Murphy of giving one opinion to the players at tournaments and another one in public on social media with their tete-a-tete showing no signs of drying up.
- Allen beats Ajaib in International Championship qualifiers
- Selby, Murphy and Robertson seal International Championship qualifying wins, Brecel crashes out
- Wuhan Open: How to watch? What's the schedule? Is Ronnie O'Sullivan playing?
“Actually getting a bit bored of reading Shaun Murphy’s recent views,” wrote Allen on X.
“This is someone who’s meant to represent the players at board level, but openly criticising the current world champ and others.
“Baffling behaviour or is it just attention seeking from the yes man?"
In response to another post, he added: "Trust me, it's one view for you guys on social media and another behind the scenes in the players room. That's why I get frustrated with his "opinions"."
World No. 8 Murphy is due to begin his campaign in Wuhan against Anthony Hamilton at 12:30pm on Monday.
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