Shaun Murphy has spoken out in support of Ronnie O’Sullivan after the Rocket’s late withdrawal from the Masters.
The snooker icon will be absent from the tournament, which he won for a record-extending eighth time 12 months ago, with his place being taken by Neil Robertson. His withdrawal, on medical grounds, came a day after he quit the Championship League before his final scheduled group match.
After a run of disappointing results, which saw him lose three out of four matches on Wednesday, his frustrations boiled over during Thursday’s action. While leading Robert Milkins 2-1, O’Sullivan lost it after missing a simple pink to a corner pocket, smashing his cue on the table before going on to lose 3-2.
He is then rumoured to have dumped the cue in a bin before withdrawing from the tournament and leaving the Leicester venue before his final group match against Ali Carter. Confirmation that he wouldn’t be defending his Masters title followed on Friday.
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The news has drawn a compassionate response from Murphy, the 2005 world champion. It’s well known that the pair aren’t best friends, with Murphy criticising O’Sullivan’s conduct at times over the years.
However, amid concerns over his wellbeing following his behaviour at the Championship League, Murphy showed his true colours by expressing his sympathy for the seven-time world champion and the pressure he faces.
“Ronnie has been at the top end of the game since bursting on the scene in 1992, and I’ve often criticised his antics on and off the table,” Murphy told the Metro.
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Shaun Murphy has expressed sympathy for Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has pulled out of the Masters
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“But one of the things I’ve always been clear about is that nobody has carried the weight of expectation that he does. There are players who have had that weight of public expectation for periods of time, but he has carried it since he turned professional.
“To achieve what he has achieved while carrying that weight of expectation must take immense strength of character and it can’t be easy to do that all the time. To be under such scrutiny and in the light so much must take a toll. I hope that he’s okay and nothing too seriously wrong with him and we’ll see him back to his best sooner rather than later.”
Robertson, the leading player outside the world’s top 16, will now face John Higgins in the first round this afternoon (Sunday). Meanwhile, Murphy begins his campaign against Gary Wilson tonight.