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Defeated Murphy adds voice of concern
FORMER champion Shaun Murphy added his voice to complaints about the playing conditions at the Crucible after suffering a 13-4 thrashing at the 888.com World Championship.
Murphy, the 2005 winner, lost to Essex's Ali Carter in the second round and afterwards echoed John Higgins' attack on the state of the tables.
"We have a gambling sponsor, why don't we take the championship to a casino and have a real game of chance?" said Murphy, who had reached the semi-finals or better in six of his last seven events, but managed a high break of just 60 in the 17 frames.
"This is the world championship, the gala event we all look forward to. Yes I'll hold my hands up, I missed some shots I shouldn't have but there were a lot of problems out there that cost me the match.
"It's not just me and John Higgins having a problem with it and it's not just because we lost. It will look like sour grapes but it's not and it will cost other players.
"The comments have been made backstage for days. The cloth is so thin and light it's only good for three days' play. After three days you get bad bounces and balls going where they shouldn't be and it makes a mockery of the biggest tournament we've got.
Hear Richard Hercock on the hottest Crucible topics in this week's SportsTalk.
"I filled a complaint form out immediately after my first round match. The cloth is made very well but it needs to be changed after every round."
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Carter had few complaints about the table after securing a quarter-final clash with Peter Ebdon.
"I thought the table was playing okay," said the 28-year-old, who resumed tonight 12-4 ahead and quickly secured the one frame he needed for victory.
"I got a few bounces but I am playing on the same table as Shaun. It can cost you if you get a ping off the cushion but it's the same for both of us.
"It's not the best conditions there has ever been but it's not the worst.
"I played very well yesterday, put Shaun under pressure and he didn't play so well. It's nice to be in the quarter-finals, we're at the business end of the tournament.
"I know what I'm up against against Peter, he wants it badly but so do I so I'm going to go out there and give it everything."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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