Shaun Murphy says he regrets the timing of his livid rant about amateur gamers in snooker after his shock UK Championship loss – and apologises to rookie Si Jiahui for ‘taking the shine off his nice win’
- Amateur Si Juahui claimed a memorable victory over Shaun Murphy on Tuesday
- Former World No 3 Murphy later claimed that Si ‘should not be within the constructing’
- Those feedback have been broadly condemned from many figures inside snookerÂ
Shaun Murphy has admitted he regrets the timing of his outburst about amateur gamers and apologised to opponent Si Jiahui.
Former world champion Murphy bitterly complained that amateurs shouldn’t be allowed to compete in skilled tournaments after shedding 6-5 to 19-year-old Si within the first spherical of the UK Championship on Tuesday. Murphy stated he had misplaced to a participant ‘who shouldn’t even be within the constructing’.
Those feedback have been broadly condemned from many inside snooker and within the wider sporting world. Â
Shaun Murphy stated amateurs shouldn’t be allowed to compete on the UK Championship
On Saturday, Murphy instructed the BBC: ‘I think if I could go back in time I perhaps wouldn’t have stated what I stated, having simply misplaced to Si Jiahui. I feel it took the shine off his victory and I remorse that, and I’d like to apologise to him for that.Â
‘It was a great win, he played really well. He played better than I did and he deserved his victory.
‘Listen, I stand by my point of view. I don’t suppose amateur gamers must be allowed to ready to play in skilled occasions.
‘Ultimately the powers that be, Steve Dawson (chairman) and his team at World Snooker Tour, they’ve been very clear on the industrial explanation why we permit amateurs and high ups into the sport.’
Ronnie O’Sullivan eased into spherical three, profitable 5 frames in a row to beat Robbie Williams 6-2.
Murphy was sad after shedding 6-5 to amateur Si Jiahui within the first spherical on Tuesday
Advertisement