Shaun Murphy

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Si Jiahui of China plays a shot during their Semi Final match against Luca Brecel of Belgium on Day Fourteen of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship 2023 at Crucible Theatre on April 28, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Crucible star Si hoping he has to change his travel plans once again

ATTACK-MINDED: Si Jiahui in action against Anthony McGill (not pictured) on day twelve of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA

Snooker - Jiahui determined to maintain attack-minded approach against Brecel

Shaun Murphy of England reacts during their round one match against Si Jiahui of China (Picture: George Wood/Getty Images)

Si Jiahui is a future world snooker champion, insists vanquished Shaun Murphy

Si Jiahui during his match against Shaun Murphy during day six of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Picture date: Thursday April 20, 2023. PA Photo. See PA Story SNOOKER World. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

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Milkins stages Crucible fightback as Murphy suffers shock exit

Ronnie O'Sullivan will look to successfully defend his World Championship crown for only the second time (Picture: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Ronnie O'Sullivan handed tricky first-round tie in World Snooker Championship

Shaun Murphy was a winner in Hull at the weekend (Picture: Zac Goodwin - Pool/Getty Images)

Shaun Murphy delivers emphatic response with win in Hull

Kyren Wilson of England is through to the last four in Hull (Picture: George Wood/Getty Images)

Kyren Wilson's Hull bid put in perspective, as Shaun Murphy makes last four

Shaun Murphy heads to Hull this week with the top eight players this year (Picture: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Former world snooker champion Shaun Murphy reveals his new lease of life

Shaun Murphy will jump oput of a plane for charity before a new tournament begins in Hull (Picture: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Shaun Murphy throwing himself out of a plane before new tournament in Hull

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen poses with the winner's trophy after the snooker final of the 2022 Cazoo UK Championship at the York Barbican in York (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

Snooker stars descend on Hull for Tour Championship

Sheffield-based Ding Junhui. Picture: PA.

Sheffield-based Ukraine teenager Iulian Boiko flying the flag for troubled homel...

NOT FAIR: Shaun Murphy pictured during his first round match against Si Jiahui UK Championship at the York Barbican. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

UK Snooker Championship: ‘Grumpy old man’ Shaun Murphy left bitter after exit

Helping hand: Mark Selby, right, poses with coach Chris Henry after winning the title at The Crucible. (Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA)

Mark Selby ready to dominate snooker after winning fourth world title

Mark Selby poses for photos after winning the Betfred World Snooker Championship. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA

‘Unbelievable’ Mark Selby storms to World Championship triumph

HARD SLOG: Mark Selby considers nis next shot at The Crucible, Sheffield. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA

World Snooker Championship finale finely poised between Selby and Murphy

England's Shaun Murphy waits to walk out for his semi-final at the Crucible. Pictures: PA.

‘The Crucible has been a house of horrors for me every year since 2015’

That missed blue - England's Judd Trump at the table during the final at the Betfred.com World Snooker Championships of 2011 against John Higgins (Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

Judd Trump, a missed blue, and the start of a glorious career

Shaun Murphy.

Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy suffer shock exits at World Championship

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire.

Ronnie O’Sullivan says he is not bothered about breaking records at World Champi...

Ashley Carty

Ambitious Ashley Carty earns himself World Championships dream ticket

Reflected glory: World snooker champion Shaun Murphy. Picture: Gareth Copley/PA

On top of the world covering Shaun Murphy’s big break - best sporting moments se...
Continuing our new series of the best sporting moments our correspondents have covered, sports writer Richard Hercock delves into the highs and lows of covering events from the press box.

Shaun Murphy in action against Neil Robertson on Thursday.

World Championship: Former Crucible champion Shaun Murphy reveals how he was “le...

Ronnie O'Sullivan plays a shot as referee Olivier Marteel watches on.

Relieved Selby survives early exit scare at Crucible

Record exit: Luo Honghao, right, falling to Shaun Murphy at The Crucible.

Snooker at The Crucible: ‘Danny The Dustman’ happy to consign record to the bin

Shaun Murphy.

Judd Trump provides sting in the tail for Shaun Murphy

Shaun Murphy

Everything changes, on and off the table, for new dad Murphy

Ronnie O'Sullivan was in cruise control during his last 16 match against Shaun Murphy (Photo: PA)

World Snooker Championships: Ronnie O'Sullivan compares himself to a singer afte...

Ronnie O'Sullivan studies the table in his match against Shaun Murphy. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is firmly in driving seat against Shaun Murphy

Mark Selby won the Betfred World Snooker Championship for the second time after beating China's Ding Junhui 18-14 in the final in Sheffield last year

Snooker: No luck of the Irish for Fergal O'Brien as he draws world No.1 Mark Sel...

Leeds snooker player David Grace

Leeds snooker player David Grace avoids Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby in Worl...

Barry Hawkins

'˜Settled' Barry Hawkins overcomes off-colour No 1 Mark Selby

TOP MAN: Mark Selby celebrates with the UK Championship trophy after victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA.

State of the Nation - Snooker: Mark Selby still the man to beat after memorable ...
Mark Selby ruled the world in 2016 and it is hard to see beyond the Leicester cueman as the player to dominate the green baize over the next 12 months.

Shaun Murphy.

Sheffield academy teenagers inflict surprise German Masters qualifying defeats o...

Ding Junhui surveys the layout of the balls ahead of a shot during his World Championship match against world No 5 Judd Trump (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA).

Ding and Wilson both chase history at the Crucible

Former world champion Peter Ebdon is the player standing between Leedss David Grace and a place in the last eight of the UK Championship in York (Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire).

Grace is looking to fans to spur him on in York

Mark Williams.

Williams edges through at Barbican

York's Ashley Hugill, 21.

Yorkshire duo Hugill and Lam suffer early exits at UK Championship

Ashley Hugill, from York, will play former world champion Shaun Murphy in the first round of the UK Championship at the Barbican this week. Picture: Scott Merrylees.

Hugill has chance to make most of ‘home’ comforts

Stuart Bingham celebrates with the trophy after winning the final of the Betfred World Championships.

Saturday Interview: Weight of world on Bingham’s shoulders

Mark Selby will be competing in Barnsley.

See world’s top snooker stars for free in Barnsley

top of the world: Stuart Bingham celebrates with the trophy after defeating Shaun Murphy 18-15 in the final of the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA

Bingham proves his bottle as slur sparks way to title

Stuart Bingham celebrates with the World Championships trophy at the Crucible Theatre. Picture: PA.

Seven things you didn’t know about snooker’s world champion

Stuart Bingham celebrates with the trophy.

Bingham sees off Murphy for Crucible glory

Stuart Bingham during his semi final match with Judd Trump.

Hawkins fightback delays Murphy’s progress at Crucible

China's Ding Junhui.

Ding pushed to the edge as Trump shines at Crucible

Judd Trump celebrates beating Marco Fu.

Trump and Murphy clinch Crucible quarter-final spots

Quarter-final spots clearly in sight for Crucible quartet

CONTENDER: Judd Trump in action against Stuart Carrington at the Crucible Theatre. Picture: : Nigel French/PA.

Quiet confidence sees Trump emerge as realistic contender

Mark Selby celebrates after winning the final of the Dafabet World Snooker Championships.

Saturday Interview: Family man Selby back and hungry for more

Mark Selby

Five players on cue at The Crucible

Ashley Carty.

Carty’s belief pays off as he eyes prized O’Sullivan match

ON TARGET: Rotherham teenager Ashley Carty would love to emulate Shaun Murphys success on the world snooker stage.

Berlin trip gives Rotherham’s Carty ideal platform to shine

Mark Selby celebrates after winning the final of the Dafabet World Snooker Championships at The Crucible, Sheffield. The world championships will continue at its traditional home until at least 2017.

Extended Crucible stay for world snooker

Mark Selby celebrates after winning the World Championship at The Crucible, Sheffield.

Breaking: New deal to keep snooker’s World Championship in Sheffield

Ronnie OSullivan did not appear to like this shot in his 6-0 whitewash of Matthew Selt (Picture Tom Goode/PA).

O’Sullivan hits 13th maximum in romp

Shaun Murphy is a big fan of York.

York wins battle to retain UK finals to delight of top players

Barry Hearn

York gets thumbs-up from Hearn to continue hosting top event

Rookie Mitchell has eye on bright future

Davison on cue to realise a dream in York

Prize money rises for UK finals in York