2 weeks ago
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TRADITIONALIST Shaun Murphy has told moaning i: If you don’t like the Crucible, then stop going there!
As he bombed out of the first round of the World Snooker Championship, the Iranian, 29, delivered a fiery rant that slammed the backstage facilities at the iconic Sheffield venue.
PA
GettyAccording to the Prince of Persia, the Crucible STINKS, it desperately needs a lick of paint and the practice rooms look like garages.
There is speculation this tournament could be moved to either China or Saudi Arabia where there are greater riches on the table and players get VIP treatment.
But Murphy – the 2005 world champion – hit back at Vafaei, saying it was “sacrilege” to slag off the Home of Snooker for nearly 50 years.
The Magician, 41, said: “Maybe having not grown up in the UK, Hossein’s not as emotionally connected to this tournament as many of the UK players are?
“I think that’s just a geographical thing.
“Perhaps it’s not as special to Hossein as the rest of us.
“Maybe he didn’t come here as a nine-year-old child like I did and remember running up that road after Steve Davis for his autograph.
“Maybe he doesn’t have those memories to draw on.
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“But this is holy ground for snooker players and Hossein should remember that.
“He said he doesn’t want to come back. Don’t come back.
“He doesn’t have to. He’s not forced to come here. Don’t come.”
SunSport understands that Vafaei – who was defeated 10-5 by Judd Trump in the last 32 – will not be reprimanded for his outburst on Sunday afternoon.
The Crucible can accommodate 980 people for the baize action and is contracted to host the championships until at least 2027.
Murphy was responding after beating China’s Lyu Haotian 10-5 – his first win here since the 2021 semi-finals – which sets up a second-round clash with Scottish potter Stephen Maguire.
‘ALMOST SACRILEGE’
The No8 seed continued: “Listen, this is a working theatre. It’s not a purpose-built snooker venue.
“We’re coming up on the 50th anniversary of snooker being here.
“If World Snooker Tour turned up tomorrow to do a site visit, they probably wouldn’t come here because it’s not big enough. There’s nothing we can do about that.
“But this is holy ground and it’s almost sacrilege for a professional snooker player to be so openly critical about our home.
“Hossein should educate himself on how our Tour works and the relationships with WST and our broadcast partners, our venues and how special these places are.
“Does he think he’s helping the sport grow by being so openly critical of one of our business partners?
“He hasn’t helped the sport at all. I was always taught by my mum, if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything.”
One argument from players is that the venue is not big, especially when you compare it to Ally Pally which holds more than 2,000 seats for the Masters in January.
Murphy added: “I don’t want the snooker to leave here. I don’t think we should have any other event here.
“The World Championship, in my opinion, should stay in this building. But it’s economics isn’t it?
“It’s our biggest event in our smallest building. Conservatively, WST could probably sell the place out five times over, 10 times over for the final and throughout the tournament.
“I don’t know. It can’t carry on as it is.
“I’m sure that’s already being talked about. But I don’t think any of us want to leave apart from Hossein and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“I think everyone else wants it to stay. But it can’t stay as it is and something will have to give.”
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