A war of words has escalated between Kyren Wilson and Shaun Murphy on the eve of the 2025 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
The action at the Crucible Theatre is set to get under way on Saturday with Wilson entering the fray on day one against Lei Peifan.
But the Kettering cueist has caused confusion after calling out on Murphy for something that allegedly happened during the Masters final that they contested in January.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Wilson said: “I think, if people knew the story, people would understand and probably actually applaud me almost for what went on in that final.”
“Shaun knows full well what happened before the evening session of the Masters final.
“I don’t want to bad mouth anyone, but what he did before the evening session was uncalled for and quite unprofessional.
“There might have been a few [salty comments]. We live and learn. I disagree with something that Shaun did during that final, but I’m not taking anything away from him.
“He played so well during that week. He was really classy.”
Murphy went on to win that Masters final with a 10-7 victory, but he claims that he is just as much in the dark as everyone else when it comes to understanding what Wilson is talking about.
“I was minding my own business this morning in the barbers in Sheffield,” Shaun Murphy said on the latest episode of the OneFourSeven Snooker Podcast.
“You get out of the chair, you dust yourself off, you pay, and leave. You have a look at your phone, and my phone had gone ballistic.”
“Sat here recording this with you now, I’ve got absolutely no idea what Kyren Wilson is talking about. No idea at all.
“I genuinely have no idea. We regrouped in the dressing room following the first session.
“We got changed, we went off into the car park. I ended up filling my car with washer fluid, that’s how rock n’ roll we are.
“Then we jumped in the car and went and found a car wash. Then we went to Starbucks, came back to the venue, got ready, and went to play the match.
“I’ve got no idea what Kyren is talking about. I’ve obviously been asked about it all day today.
“We’ve had the media day here in Sheffield. It’s the first thing that the journalists were asking. I must admit, I’m extremely disappointed in the behaviour of Kyren Wilson.
“I think he has had a really good year as world champion – on and off the table. But I’m extremely disappointed in him as a bloke.
“If he’s got something he wanted to say to me since January, and he’s left it until this week to say it…
“And then not only hasn’t come out and said it, he’s kind of said half a story, or not even half a story.
“He hasn’t had the bottle to call me out over whatever it is, and he has left everybody guessing.
“He had the nerve to call me unprofessional and call my reputation into question. How dare he do that, and then not even be man enough to then tell everyone what he’s talking about?
“I’m very disappointed in his behaviour. When I see him face-to-face, I’ll be telling him, because that’s not how I operate.
“That’s not how real people operate. I’m very, very disappointed in his behaviour.”
Whatever happened, it perhaps goes in some way to answering why Wilson provided such a contentious post-match runner-up speech at the Ally Pally.
Murphy, who was never behind in the Masters final, was a deserving 10-7 champion and compiled an impressive tally of four century breaks.
But as the two finalists were interviewed for the trophy presentation inside the arena, Wilson came in for strong criticism after making a couple of strange comments at the expense of his opponent.
“No disrespect to Shaun, but he has turned into an old man so he needs this more than me,” 33 year-old Wilson said of 42 year-old Murphy.
The Kettering cueist also, somewhat peculiarly, expressed his belief that other players on the tour are envious of his stable family life.
“There was a couple of things he said in the post-match questions, which were either slightly unnecessary or maybe said in the wrong way,” Shaun Murphy said in January.
“But before we carry on, I will just say this. You have to put yourself in his shoes for a minute – he’s gutted, and your emotions are so high.”
“Literally seconds after a loss, it’s a big match for us both. To have a microphone shoved in your face straight away, it’s a difficult place to be to make sure that you say the right thing at all times.
“He perhaps has been unfairly picked on the last few days, but yeah, there were a couple of little strange things in there.
“But listen, it’s water off a duck’s bath. I think when you give as much out as I give, you have to be able to take a little back. I’ve got very broad shoulders.”
Now, it seems as though there is more needle to this story after all.
