5 hours Ago By [email protected] (Steve Wollaston)
Stephen Murphy and Shaun Murphy have clashed over a disagreement as to whether players should applaud their opponents during matches. Murphy was thrashed 5-1 by Xiao Guodong in the Wuhan Open in China and was seen enthusiastically clapping his opponent as the century breaks rolled in. It didn't go unnoticed by snooker legend and seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry who likened the antics to 'applauding in a theatre'.
Speaking on the Snooker Club podcast, the Scot, 55, said: "What is Shaun doing? "Shaun was staying at the same hotel as me in Wuhan. We had a drink one night and I love Shaun but sitting there applauding your opponent? That cannot be the way forward." "Listen, he's different and he's great for the game.
"He's an unbelievable ambassador. He's doing all his stuff on Instagram, he's giving people debriefs when he wins or loses. It's all good.
"I've tapped my knee when someone's made a great break before sat in the chair. "But to actually applaud like you're in the theatre or something? "It will always be a gripe with me. The game's changed.
" The criticism was seen by Murphy who simply responded: "Appreciating my opponent's play. What a horrible person I am .".
