Neil Robertson has defended Shaun Murphy after the Magician received criticism for applauding his opponent’s good play.
Murphy was sat on the opposite chair when Xiao Guodong produced a blistering standard at the beginning of their Wuhan Open quarter-final tie a week ago.
Xiao, who went on to lift the trophy to secure a maiden ranking title, compiled a hat-trick of century breaks on the trot in a dizzying spell of scoring.
Murphy first showed his appreciation by tapping his lap at the end of the second frame, but the former world champion then stepped it up with a brief round of applause following the third ton.
It was an act that divided opinion online, with Stephen Hendry even getting in on the act and criticising Murphy’s actions.
“What is Shaun doing?” Hendry said on the 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 responded by joking that he must be a “horrible person” for appreciating someone else’s level of play.
“Some of the criticism and abuse I got for that and what that means for my psychology,” the 2005 world champion additionally said to the Metro.
“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.”
But not everyone has been critical of his kind gesture, with Neil Robertson representing one big name to back Murphy up.
“I think applauding three centuries in a row is a classy touch,” Robertson wrote on social media platform X.
“Not many have done it, especially on a main TV table. Long have the days gone where you give an edge to your opponent.”
“I remember Steve Davis clapping when Andy Hicks made three centuries in a row against him on TV in the ’90s.
“Nothing to see here apart from classy sportsmanship from Shaun as always.”
Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy will be back competing on the snooker table next week when they participate in the 2024 Northern Ireland Open.
It represents the second Home Nations series event of the 2024/25 campaign, with Robertson having won the first with his success at the English Open.
In the opening round of the venue stages in Belfast, Robertson takes on fellow former world champion Graeme Dott.
The Melbourne man could become the first player to win all four Home Nations titles if he can be the last player standing at the Waterfront Hall.
Murphy, meanwhile, plays his first match of the tournament on Sunday evening against Jiang Jun.
The world number eight needs to win the Northern Ireland Open to gain an invitation to the upcoming Champion of Champions in Bolton.
Featured photo credit: WST
