Shaun Murphy has been getting stick for applauding his opponent during a game, not just from trolls on social media, but from snooker royalty in Stephen Hendry.
The Magician was beaten was beaten 5-1 by Xiao Guodong in the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open last week in a blistering performance from the eventual champion.
Xiao knocked in breaks of 139, 113, 125 and 75 to race into a 4-0 lead, with Murphy making a 112 in the only frame he won.
As the third of his three straight centuries went in, Murphy went from a gentle tap of his knee to full on clapping, appreciating the immense display that was being put on.
However, despite the sportsmanship on show, the former world champion was criticised for the gesture.
‘Some of the comments I got on social media last week on clips of me applauding Xiao Guodong from my seat after watching him make three centuries on the bounce,’ Murphy told Metro.
‘Some of the criticism and abuse I got for that and what that means for my psychology, people telling me I’m too soft and that’s not the way to behave…everyone’s entitled to an opinion, but all I was doing was applauding somebody’s brilliance. That’s the world we’re living in.’
He added on his OneFourSeven Podcast: ‘I understand to some degree that it comes with the territory, but it’s a weird world we live in. I sat there and just out of appreciation I tapped my knee, which quite a few players do stuff like that, I’m not the only person who does stuff like that.
‘He made a nice century break, he made three of them and you find yourself clapping politely as a professional acknowledgement, saying that you appreciate his skill.
‘The comments that are out there…there’s a serious world out there. I think people need to find a hobby or find something to do or perhaps weren’t hugged enough as children.’
It wasn’t just run of the mill social media abuse, though, with seven-time world champ Hendry also not impressed with the show of appreciation.
‘What is Shaun doing?’ Hendry said on WST’s Snooker Club podcast. ‘Shaun was staying in the same hotel as me in Wuhan and we were having a drink one night. I love Shaun, the way he talks, but sitting there applauding your opponent, that cannot be the way forward!
‘He’s different and he’s great for the game, an unbelievable ambassador, but sat in the chair actually applauding? I’ve tapped my knee when someone’s made a great break before, but to actually applaud like you’re at the theatre?’
Murphy’s disbelief continued after Hendry’s criticism, posting on X: ‘Appreciating my opponent’s play. What a horrible person I am 😂.’
Xiao went on from that stunning win over Murphy to beat Long Zehuang in the semis and then Si Jiahui in the final to claim his first ranking title at 35 years old and after 17 years as a professional.
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