Shaun Murphy has demanded answers from the World Snooker Tour following a bizarre lighting incident that disrupted his dramatic first-round victory over Fan Zhengyi at the Crucible. The 2005 world champion overcame a tense deciding frame to win 10-9, but not before being distracted by lights from an adjacent table flickering on unexpectedly during the 17th frame.
The Incident
With the score tied at 8-8, Murphy was preparing to pot a blue ball when the lights from the neighbouring table, where play had already concluded, suddenly illuminated. The unexpected glare visibly threw Murphy off his rhythm, though he managed to pot the blue and eventually win the frame. His bewildered expression drew laughter from the crowd, with BBC commentator Lee Walker remarking, 'The light has come on from the other table. Not sure how that's come on, don't think anyone else is coming to play on here tonight!'
After speaking to referee Tatiana Woollaston, the light was switched off. Murphy later expressed his frustration, stating, 'We don't ask for much as snooker players. Leave the lights off is one of them. It affected the shot, it affected the match. That was poor.'
Inquest Promised
Murphy confirmed that World Snooker is conducting an inquest into the incident. 'I think World Snooker are having a bit of an inquest into how that happened because that shouldn't happen. I hope to find out because that should never happen,' he said. 'I've never seen the light come on a table here. Somebody might not be employed tomorrow. I was on the blue and it really put me off because, as I was about to strike, the lights came on. I didn't hit that ball as I intended. I meant to hit it a bit harder and it made me stop on it. Maybe if I'd hit the ball as I meant to I'd have been on a red better and the break might have carried on.'
Thrilling Decider
After Fan forced a deciding frame, Murphy found himself 36 points behind with only four reds remaining. However, the Magician produced one of the finest clearances of his career to snatch victory. 'I can't believe I won the match from that position, the way the balls were. It's the best break I have ever made, given what was at stake, and I am so proud. The most nerve-racking thing I have done outside snooker was my driving test and this was 50 times worse,' he admitted.
Murphy added, 'I have no idea how I did it, I was preparing my losing speech. Fan played a great match and he had more than a foot in the last 16. I didn't want to be the first seed to lose.'
Murphy's quest for a second world title continues against Xiao Guodong, who defeated Zhou Yuelong 10-6 in the first round.
