World Snooker Championship semi-finalist Shaun Murphy is once again vying for Crucible glory, 20 years after his sensational 2005 title win as a qualifier. He currently faces John Higgins in a tightly contested semi-final, level at four frames apiece after Thursday's session.
Murphy, 43, has endured a turbulent personal life away from the table. He divorced his first wife, Clare, after a scandal in 2008, and his second marriage to Elaine ended in 2023 despite attempts to reconcile. The couple share two children. In November 2025, he announced his engagement to current partner Jo.
The snooker star's weight soared to 20 stone amid depression, prompting him to undergo gastric sleeve surgery in 2022. Murphy credited the operation with saving his life, saying he was in a 'very, very bad state mentally' before the procedure. His form subsequently improved, winning the Players Championship and Tour Championship in 2023.
Murphy's grudge against Ronnie O'Sullivan dates back more than 30 years. In 2025, he revealed he continues to harbour resentment towards the seven-time world champion for the way he was treated when they first met.
