Shaun Murphy not intimidated by Ronnie O’Sullivan: World Snooker Championship 2011
The verbal onslaught between Shaun Murphy and Ronnie O’Sullivan continues before their second-round clash of the World Snooker Championship 2011 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday, April 23.
The Harlow potter, Murphy, has been the most outspoken critic of O’Sullivan in the current season. The 2005 World Snooker Champion Murphy called Ronnie’s actions “pathetic, offensive and unprofessional” when the ‘Rocket’ refused to pot the final black to
compile a maximum 147 break at the World Open in Glasgow because the prize money of the maximum break (£4,000) was not enough.
A couple of months later he insisted that “It’s not about Ronnie O’Sullivan” when the former triple champion O’Sullivan crashed out of the UK Championship. He also looks upon O’Sullivan’s request to pull out of the World Championship 2011 as a publicity
campaign only.
A couple of days back he said that the ‘Rocket’ did not put his weight in the current season to promote the sport. On the other hand, O’Sullivan replied that he cannot play an ambassadorial role like Murphy because he is not a saint to do everything right.
He added that he has done more for the game than any player in the last 10 years.
However, the Magician, Murphy, knows his match with the Wordsley potter O’Sullivan will be a thrilling encounter and he has to give his best against the world number 10.
“My match with him is over three sessions and I could get three different players turning up. That’s what makes it so exciting and fascinating, having two gladiators out there. If he gives me chances, he’ll get beat. But I know he’s a genius. If he gets
out of bed the right side he could do me some damage and I can’t afford to give him chances,” said Murphy.
A lot of hype has been created by this verbal altercation between both cuemen that can turn the match into an extraordinary encounter. However, the world number seven says O’Sullivan does not intimidate him at all.
He said, “O’Sullivan doesn’t scare me, not at all. Gone are the days when I would be intimidated by any of the players. I have earned my stripes in the sport and my place among the best. I may not have won as many tournaments as someone like O’Sullivan,
but I have won big ones.”
Meanwhile, the Welsh Potting Machine, Mark Williams has surged into the quarter-final stage of the Championship after defeating the Englishman Jamie Cope convincingly with a score line of 13-4.
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