Murphy reveals unfulfilled Crucible dream and drawing inspiration from fellow sporting superstar

It is 21 years on since a 22-year-old Shaun Murphy stunned the snooker world when winning the sport’s ultimate prize at the Crucible Theatre as a qualifier.

The Englishman has returned to the grand stage every year since and come close to another world crown with runner-up finishes in 2009, 2015 and 2021.

His latest quest to join an exclusive club of multiple-time Crucible conquerors began with a nail-biting 10-9 win over Fan Zhengyi - that was decided on the final pink - before an impressive 13-3 crushing of number nine seed Xiao Guodong with a session to spare in round two.

Next up for this season’s British Open champion Murphy is a blockbuster showdown with reigning and defending world champion Zhao Xintong, a player he has lost to in both of their encounters this season.

Speaking exclusive to World Snooker Championship sponsor Midnite, Murphy revealed admiration for the player most pundits seem to think is the most in-form player on the planet at present: “He's very difficult obviously. He’s the defending champion, the current world champion, and seems to win when he wants, but Zhao Xintong, for me at the moment, is just so easy on the eye to watch. I love watching him play.

“He's easy to get a bit mesmerised by, when you're playing him, in all honesty; so in awe of just how easy he makes the game look. Yeah, wonderful player.”

Murphy’s maximum ambition

This is 43-year-old Murphy’s 24th Crucible appearance - he made his debut in 2002 - making him one of the most experienced cueists on the famous stage of all-time.

He has won the ultimate prize - as well as the sport’s two other majors at the UK Championship and Masters - but would love to realise a specific dream in Sheffield that he still has.

‘The Magician’ is only one of four players who have compiled 10 or more maximum 147 breaks in professional competition, although none of his perfect frames have come at the Crucible.

At the time of writing, since the World Snooker Championship was first staged there in 1977, only 15 maximum breaks have been witnessed at the Crucible, from 11 different players, and Murphy would dearly love to join that elite club.

“I've been coming here since 1992. I was a nine-year-old I was when I first came here to watch Peter Ebdon make his debut against Steve Davis. And I've enjoyed coming back every year since.

“I do remember my debut against Stephen Hendry in 2002 where if you'd said to me at that moment, spell your name, stop, write your name, I couldn't have done it. I was shaking like a leaf, too nervous.

“It's been a dream of mine to make a 147 in the Crucible all my life. I think I got to 112, so that's the closest I got. I asked for them to bring the dividing wall up because play had stopped on the other table. I wanted everyone else to see it, then I missed the next shot. So that's typical of me. But I was desperate to do it. I've never got close. Maybe this year could be my year.”

“I’ve got no pressure” says Murphy ahead of Crucible quarters

Away from the snooker table, Murphy is a keen golf fan and an accomplished player himself; he once took part in British Open qualifying.

And heading into snooker’s premier event, Murphy has taken inspiration from the recent winner of arguably golf’s top competition, Rory McIlroy, who earlier this month successfully defended his US Masters title at the Augusta National.

“I'm a big golf fan. I love golf, play a lot of golf, watch a lot of golf, as my fiancé will attest” said Murphy.

“Rory McIlroy said something during the Masters just before the final round. Obviously he went on to win. He played a bit under pressure in the third round and he said, I'm going to go out tomorrow and play like somebody who's already won my green jacket, already got one, and I'm going to come out this year and play like someone who's already won the World Championship. I've already done my job so I've got no pressure, I'm going to go out and go for my shots.”

Murphy and Zhao break off their three-session, best of 25 frames encounter on Tuesday morning at 10:00BST.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.

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