Shaun Murphy expressed strong displeasure towards Matchroom regarding the timing of Monday’s Champion of Champions competition. His frustration stemmed from his recent participation in the quarter-finals of China’s International Championship just four days prior.
The Magician found himself in the tournament’s opening match, where he suffered a significant 4-1 loss to Lei Peifan. Murphy, aged 43, disclosed that he was informed of his Monday match while returning from Nanjing, learning about the event’s schedule only on the morning of the competition.
After his defeat to Lei, Murphy vented his frustration about the event arrangements, criticizing Matchroom for what he deemed as disrespectful treatment. He expressed disappointment in the lack of communication and professionalism in the tournament’s organization, especially given his long history with Matchroom.
In contrast to Murphy’s situation, other players like Mark Williams, Mark Allen, and Alfie Burden, who did not participate in the recent International Championship, were scheduled to play in the Champion of Champions later in the week, unlike Murphy who played on the first day.
Matchroom responded to Murphy’s complaints with a statement acknowledging his frustrations and emphasizing their commitment to player priorities and fair competition based on seeding. They acknowledged the scheduling challenges and pledged to strive for improvements in future events.
On the opening day of the Champion of Champions, Judd Trump secured a 4-1 victory over Bai Yulu, advancing to face Lei in the evening. The following day’s matches include Kyren Wilson vs Jack Lisowski, Allen vs Ziao Xintong, Williams vs Burden, Selby vs Maguire, Robertson vs Ford, and Higgins vs Xiao Guodong.
Overall, Murphy’s criticism sheds light on the challenges and controversies surrounding tournament scheduling and player treatment, prompting organizers to consider improvements for future events.