Snooker star makes stance clear on Ronnie O'Sullivan with another dig at World Championship

Snooker star makes stance clear on Ronnie O'Sullivan with another dig at World Championship

WATCH NOW: Ronnie O'Sullivan lifts an eighth Masters title earlier in 2024

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 30/04/2024

- 17:28

Shaun Murphy disagrees with the seven-time world champion's view on the Crucible

Shaun Murphy has taken another dig at Ronnie O'Sullivan by giving his opinion on the future of the Crucible hosting the World Snooker Championship.

O'Sullivan has previously said that the tournament should be played elsewhere but 2005 champion Murphy is insistent that shouldn't be the case.


The Crucible has hosted the World Championship since 1977 but the current deal at the venue expires after the 2027 tournament.

Matchroom Sport founder Barry Hearn has challenged the Sheffield City Council to improve or rebuild the venue, or it could be moved out of the UK entirely.

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan has made it clear he wants the World Snooker Championship to move away from the Crucible

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Saudi Arabia has been tipped as a future destination for the event after hosting the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker in March.

O'Sullivan won that tournament and has been vocal in his support of playing more in the country.

The Crucible can only seat fewer than 1,000 supporters and its facilities have been criticised by some players.

But Murphy is adamant that it should remain the home of the World Championship.

Monday evening saw dramatic conclusions to two matches, with John Higgins winning in a thrilling decider against Mark Allen.

Murphy took to social media after the action ended to give his verdict and appeared to take a dig at the likes of O'Sullivan.

He wrote on X: "And some people think we should leave the crucible." He followed his post with three crying-with-laughter emojis.

O'Sullivan is through to his 22nd quarter-final, where he faces 2015 champion Stuart Bingham.

Ahead of the tournament, he told The Sun about his desire to see it move to either Saudi Arabia or China.

O'Sullivan said: "I don’t like the Crucible. I don’t think you can get in and out of it.

"I think definitely it’s a wise decision to take it away from Sheffield.

"Still have a tournament there. Why not? But just not the world championship over 17 days.

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Shaun Murphy

Shaun Murphy has made his stance clear on Ronnie O'Sullivan's Crucible verdict

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"It’s a massive circus and you need a massive space to accommodate it.

"I think Saudi Arabia would be great. They’ve got the resources and would do it great.

"If you’re going to take it to China, you’d have to take it to Shanghai. Or another major city like Shenzhen or Guangzhou.

"It’d be done properly. Courtesy cars will be laid on. Food will be there. Hotels will be great. Everything would be paid for. Prize money would be astronomical.

"The snooker becomes secondary. What are the facilities like? What’s it like for the fans? What’s the access like?

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan says the World Snooker Championship should move to Saudi Arabia or China

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"You don’t need a 10 out of 10 venue. But everything else has to be right."

It is not the first time Murphy has sent a message to O'Sullivan this week.

He also claimed that players who defect to a breakaway tour should no longer be allowed to play Triple Crown events.

O'Sullivan confirmed he would be interested in breaking away from the World Snooker Tour.

"I wouldn't like a situation where players can go off and then come back to the Triple Crown events. I don't think that should happen," Murphy said on the BBC.

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