BBC World Snooker Championship commentator brutally shut down live on air by Shaun Murphy in ‘very awkward’ exchange
COMMENTATORS Shaun Murphy and Dennis Taylor engaged in an awkward war of words during today’s World Snooker Championship final.
Murphy and Taylor were calling the contest between Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams for the BBC.
With Chinese star Zhao racing into a commanding lead before eventually holding off a brave Williams fightback to lift the trophy, the commentary duo discussed how good the 28-year-old is.
When Taylor, 76, pointed out that many viewers may not previously have been aware of Zhao, or his brilliance, Murphy took a dim view.
The Northern Irishman, however, insisted: “A lot of friends from different parts of the world have been watching these World Championships Shaun and they have never seen this player play and they are absolutely amazed at how good he is.”
Murphy, 42, snapped back: “You must be fairly new to the game then Dennis, because we are watching a former UK Champion here.”
Not letting the matter rest, Taylor added: “They don’t live in the UK Shaun, that’s what I was saying.”
An awkward silence followed, with nothing said for the next 34 seconds.
Zhao was previously banned following a match fixing scandal.
The Cyclone was out of action for 20 months due to his involvement in a snooker corruption probe – although he did not directly fix a match.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
As a result, Zhao was stripped of his place on the professional circuit and made to compete as an amateur.
The Xi’an star earned his place at the Crucible by winning four qualifying matches.
On the Cyclone’s much-anticipated return to the sport, Murphy said: “The problem with Zhao Xintong is he’s really bloody good.
“It might be fair to say he’s done nothing in these 18 months but practice. He looks very, very sharp to me.
“There’s been quite a lot of fanfare about his return, which I’ve not been 100 per cent sure about, but he was caught, he took his punishment on the chin and since then has done everything right.
“There’s an element of rehabilitation, he’s done the crime and served his time and he’s back.”
World Snooker Championship 2025
THE World Snooker Championship has concluded after a thrilling final!
Zhao Xintong beat Mark Williams 18-12 to become the first Chinese player to win the Crucible crown.
- Follow all the reaction with SunSport’s live blog of the World Snooker Championship
Latest News
- O’Sullivan set to quit UK and move abroad
- How Zhao Xintong went from corruption ban to cusp of World Championship glory in 28 months thanks to early guilty plea
- Zhao spent 2024 World Championship pushing fluffy Pomeranian around in a PRAM during ban
- World Snooker Championship commentator brutally shut down live on air by Shaun Murphy
Snooker Explained