Shaun Murphy says he was 'gobby' and 'naive' as he reflects on his historic world title triumph from 2005

Murphy was in danger of having to qualify for this year’s blue riband event, but managed to get into the world’s top 16 at the right time, and went straight through to the main 32-player draw.

Against Wells, who is one of three Crucible debutants this year, Murphy leads 7-2 in terms of their career head-to-head record, and has won their four most recent encounters.

Now 42-years of age, Murphy has remained within the top echelons of professional snooker ever since winning the 2005 World Championship as a 150/1 qualifier - two decades ago.

Following in the footsteps of Terry Griffiths’ success in 1979, Murphy was only the second qualifier to lift the trophy at the Crucible. Aged just 22 years and 265 days at the time, he is the second youngest World Champion the sport has ever had.

As the world number 48 going into the tournament, Murphy had to win two qualifying round matches just to reach the televised stages in 2005. He did just that to book his third Crucible appearance, and in round one proper at the venue he defeated number 12 seed Chris Small to taste his first match victory there.

Murphy then eliminated former world champions John Higgins, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon in the last 16, eight and four, respectively, to reach the final where he played Matthew Stevens.

Stevens - in his second world final - led 10-6 overnight after the opening two sessions, but Murphy turned proceedings around on the final day for a memorable 18-16 win.

At a time where there were far fewer events on the professional circuit, Murphy performed reasonably well whilst wearing the world crown, making the final of the Welsh Open and quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Trophy and during his World Championship defence in 2006.

Looking back at around those times, though, Murphy feels he was a bit blabby with his choice of words: “I think if I could go backwards I'd probably tell myself just to rein it in a little bit.” said Murphy

“I think I was a bit gobby 20 odd years ago. I said the odd thing that I wish I hadn't said. I came out with some awful quotes a few years ago that I just think, ‘Oh, what are you talking about?’

“But I went from total anonymity and then won this championship and suddenly everyone on the street knew who he was.

“Thankfully I didn't grow up in today's age of social media, otherwise I'd have probably got myself into trouble!”

Murphy was in his early twenties when he won snooker’s ultimate prize. Since then, the ages of snooker’s World Champions haven’t really been close to that of Murphy’s. Luca Brecel was 28 when he won in 2023, Kyren Wilson was 32 in 2024.

12-time ranking event Murphy believes that as well as being loose-lipped during that time, he was also naive, although that may have worked to his advantage.

“The overriding memory is just how naive I was then. I didn’t know what I was doing and I definitely didn’t understand the enormity of what I was achieving.

“But I think that might have been the secret to the success. Once you become aware of how difficult something is, it gets harder!

“I think the overriding memory is just one of naivety, I didn't know what I was doing.

“So I think the fact that I didn't really get it as a 22-year-old, 150-1 outsider probably helped me.”

Murphy selects himself as his pick for this year's Crucible crown

Despite having appeared in four World Championship finals throughout his illustrious career, it's fair to say that Murphy has an erratic Crucible record.

From his last ten trips to the famous venue, the Englishman has only made it past the last 16 twice, although on both of those occasions he reached the title match - in 2015 and 2021.

Twenty years on from his finest moment in the sport, there are many reasons for 'The Magician' to be hopeful of another Crucible glory this time around.

Murphy has had a very fruitful season. He began his 2024/25 term very well, reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters and the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters.

A few lean months on the World Snooker Tour followed, but he came back with a bang in the new year, defeating World Champion Kyren Wilson in the final to win the 2025 Masters at the Alexandra Palace in London.

For Murphy - who compiled a maximum 147 break in the last four of that event against Mark Allen - it was the second Masters triumph of his career, ten years from his first.

A few weeks later, Murphy made another maximum break, at the World Open in China as he got to the quarter-finals. He reached the semi-finals of the subsequent World Grand Prix in Hong Kong where he was narrowly denied a spot in the title match by eventual champion Neil Robertson in a deciding frame.

His last two tournament outings did not go according to plan - losing 6-0 to Judd Trump in the last eight of the Players Championship, and 10-1 to Barry Hawkins in the first round of the Tour Championship, but Murphy is backing himself to win this year's event and join an exclusive club of multiple-time World Champions.

“I don't think there are any standout favourites this year. I think it is the most open World Championship we've ever seen. No one would be surprised if any of the 16 seeds won” Murphy said (speaking before the event began).

“There are also lots of qualifiers who've come through that you could make a case for as well. Everybody wanted to avoid Xintong in the draw. Everybody wanted to avoid Ali Carter.

“So I think it's very hard to pick a winner. I'm obviously going for myself, but after that, I've got no idea.”

Please visit our 2025 World Snooker Championship tournament information centre here for details on the draw, results, format and order of play.

Shaun Murphy was speaking with Midnite.

Midnite, the official UK Betting and Casino Partner of the World Snooker Championship 2025, have given one lucky fan the chance to make history, witnessing every frame of action throughout the tournament as part of their Midnite Marathon campaign.

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