Shaun Murphy calls out fellow players amidst fears World Snooker Champions' Dinner will be scrapped

The 2005 World Champion has been preparing for his 24th Crucible campaign where he has been drawn to face Chinese qualifier Fan Zhengyi in the opening round.

Before the main event at the Crucible Theatre in front of the television cameras, though, Murphy - and several other top players - were engaged for various off-table duties, including Friday's media day that featured a 'green carpet parade' outside the grand venue in Tudor Square.

'The Magician' also accepted his invite to this year's 'Crucible Champions' Dinner' which took place on Thursday evening at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sheffield

Only in its second edition, the Dinner - which mimics the annual Masters golf tradition at Augusta National each year - is by invite-only for the previous winners of snooker's blue riband event at the Crucible.

Zhao Xintong - who created history last year in becoming Asia's first world professional snooker champion - accepted his invite to this year's dinner festivities during which he was presented with his Champions' Jacket.

Speaking exclusively to Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe, Murphy was delighted to see the Crucible's newest triumphant support the Dinner and enjoy himself.

"From what I could see, he was interacting with everyone last night; I think he enjoyed it as well.

"He seemed to take part in everything; following the stories and stuff from years gone by and I think he's somebody who strikes me as a young man who acknowledges and appreciates the history of the sport and the traditions.”

“A lot of them could have come if they wanted to”

Murphy hopes that the annual Crucible Champions Dinner will grow, but has revealed fears that the concept will be ditched due to poor turnout from the previous title winners.

Following pictures that were released online of the most recent Dinner, several former, living world champions were not present, including Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump.

O'Sullivan and Trump - who don't start their latest world championship challenges until Tuesday - were not present for the media presentation the following day either; the only members of the top 16 who weren't.

Discussing the absence of several cueists who didn't attend the meal, former governing body board member Murphy said: “I don't see how that event can flourish and grow and continue at the current level of support.

“If some of the other champions don't get behind it and support it, I'm sure they'll find other things to spend their money on as a governing body.

“I think it's a real shame that a lot of the champions who had the opportunity to come - who had that special invite - chose not to come. I don't know why a lot of them don't attend it. You know, a lot of the players who didn't come to the first one didn't come last night either.”

“I don't know what filters those choices, or what makes those choices for them, but I know a lot of them were in Sheffield last night because we had the JV Memorial, so a lot of them could have come if they wanted to.

“You would have to ask them as to why they've chosen not to; I don't know, but I think it's a shame.”