Shaun Murphy goes on an extraordinary rant after a shock loss to amateur Si Jiahui

Shaun Murphy has slammed the UK Championship’s determination to enable amateur gamers to compete there – after being knocked out by one within the first spherical.

The 2005 winner of the occasion was pitted towards Si Jiahui, who benefited from a participant withdrawing to safe his place on the event at York Barbican.

The 19-year-old definitely took his probability, and regardless of seeing his 5-1 lead evaporate as Murphy took 4 straight frames, the Chinese teenager held his nerve to safe a memorable victory. 

Shaun Murphy stated after shedding to Si Jiahui that the amateur ‘should not even be within the constructing’

Murphy trailed 5-1 earlier than coming to again to stage the match at 5-5 – solely to lose the ultimate body

Murphy was lower than impressed and angrily instructed BBC Radio 5 stay: ‘I really feel extraordinarily onerous accomplished by that I’ve misplaced to somebody who should not even be within the constructing.

‘I do not know why we as a sport enable amateurs to compete in skilled tournaments. This is our livelihood. This is our dwelling. 

‘We are self-employed people and never contracted sportsmen. We do not play for a group. 

‘The different runners and riders within the event, it’s their livelihood too. It is fallacious, in my view, to stroll into any person who isn’t enjoying with the identical pressures and considerations I’m. 

‘He performed like a man who doesn’t have a care on the earth, as a result of he doesn’t have a care on the earth. It isn’t truthful, it isn’t proper. Amateurs shouldn’t be allowed in skilled tournaments, the top.

‘This is our livelihood. This is how I put meals on the desk. This is how I earn cash. Since turning skilled at 15, I’ve earned the suitable to name myself a skilled snooker participant. He hasn’t accomplished that. He should not be on the desk.’ 

In response to Murphy’s feedback, the World Snooker Tour stated: ‘We respect Shaun’s opinions, however on this case we strongly disagree together with his feedback. 

‘Many elite amateur gamers like Si Jiahui practice and compete full-time within the hope of incomes a assured tour place, due to this fact they’re competing below important stress with no ensures.

‘Providing alternatives for the perfect amateur gamers is essential for our progress as a sport and that’s one thing that Shaun benefited from throughout his early days as a participant.’

Si took his place within the draw following a withdrawal from the occasion and claimed a shock victory

The assertion additionally stated that Si ‘deserves his place in our occasions based mostly on his outcomes’ regardless of his amateur standing.

Defending champion Neil Robertson, who faces amateur John Astley on Thursday, was one participant to come out in help of Murphy’s viewpoint, saying: ‘I completely get the place Shaun’s coming from.

‘When you are enjoying one of many Chinese boys, a few of them are amateurs, however some are pretty much as good as anyone within the high 50 on the earth.

‘Amateurs are below a fully completely different stress the place there’s really no stress, as a result of they don’t seem to be competing for rating factors. 

‘They’re principally on a free hit at a professional, so I fully agree with what Shaun’s saying there, as a result of it is vitally harmful.’  

Amateur gamers are wanted within the present UK Championship draw as there are 128 spots up for grabs, however solely 122 professionals on the World Snooker Tour through the present 2021-22 season.  

Neil Robertson – who received the UK Championship final yr – helps Murphy’s viewpoint

Many followers took to social media to accuse Murphy of hypocrisy over his outburst as an article was dug up from 2019 displaying the previous World No 3 trying to qualify for The Open golf.

In the article, Murphy stated of his amateur standing within the lead-up to the occasion: ‘Golf is not my livelihood. 

‘Relative to the opposite gamers I shall be enjoying towards, it does not actually matter to me if I win or lose. 

‘I will not be below the stress they’re below. Most of them are attempting to win. I’m simply making an attempt to have a good day trip. I might knock it spherical in something from 68 to 108!’