John Parrott has delivered a scathing assessment of Xiao Guodong's tactics after the Chinese player repeatedly forced Shaun Murphy to escape a snooker during their World Championship clash at the Crucible. Murphy, the 2005 world champion, found himself needing eight attempts to get out of the snooker, eventually succeeding to a chorus of cheers and a glance towards the commentary box.
Speaking on BBC, Parrott said Xiao got 'exactly what he deserved' for not allowing Murphy to play from the baulk end instead of taking penalty points. 'The points are immaterial when there are still all those reds left on the table,' Parrott added, baffled by the decision.
Murphy capitalised on the incident, firing a break of 103 to establish a 3-0 lead and then dominating the fourth frame to enter the mid-session break 4-0 up. The Chinese player faces a monumental task to turn the match around.
Off the table, Murphy has been vocal about introducing a shot clock in snooker to speed up play. Referee Desislava Bozhilova, who officiated last year's final, has backed the idea, suggesting a 30-second limit for routine shots but extra time when a player is snookered.
Murphy's first-round match also made headlines after he publicly criticised a spectator who muttered 's*** shot' during his tense 10-9 victory over Fan Zhengyi. He took to Instagram to remind fans in the front row to be considerate.
