AS well as proving his sporting ability last Friday at the Saltaire Bar in Shipley, with a century break and six half-centuries, Shaun Murphy showed himself to be quite the raconteur.

The delivery of his many stories from around the snooker world meant he had the crowd in the palm of his hand, while he also fascinated those in attendance with his keen eye for analysis.

It is little surprise then that the 41-year-old has already moved into the commentary box for some of the top snooker events on the circuit.

But given he is still very much active as a player, and is the current world number seven, that decision has had its critics.

Speaking to the T&A at last Friday’s event in Shipley, Murphy hit back, saying: “I always hoped that offer would come from the BBC and it did many times.

“I’ve taken quite a lot of criticism for making that move so early in my career, but anyone who’s offered a job would understand that you can only say no for so long.

“I’d been saying no to them for the best part of 10 years, but eventually they’ll just go and ask some else.

“Commentary is something I’d want to move into as a potential second life after I’ve finished being competitive on the tour.

“If I wait 10 years, it’ll be too late.

“I’ve said this to Stephen Hendry, who’s a good friend of mine and a colleague at the BBC.

“He’s been very critical of the move, saying he could never have done it this early, but I don’t have seven world titles in my locker like him.

“It’s okay for him to walk into any job he wants, but the rest of us have to go to work for a living.”

Murphy told the T&A that, since winning his only world title in 2005, he feels the main changes in snooker have been the gap in standard closing between the elite and lower-ranked players, and the huge amount of extra tournaments.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Rarely a week goes by when Shaun Murphy is not competing on the professional snooker tour.Rarely a week goes by when Shaun Murphy is not competing on the professional snooker tour. (Image: PA.)

He is glad of those additional events, but with Murphy having a wife and children, does he find it hard to strike a balance?

He said: “It’s very, very difficult.

“I’ve got my two young children in Dublin, and I like to get back there as often as I possibly can.

“But I’ve been a touring professional snooker player since I was 15, it’s all I know.

“The lockdown nearly destroyed me because you were forced to stay in, not be on the tour or on the road.

“I’m very thankful we managed to get back into normal life and I’m very thankful for the opportunities I have in snooker.

“While it’s hard to mix having a young family with being a touring pro, it’s a mixture I think I’m doing okay with.”

It certainly seems that way given Murphy’s performances in 2023 so far.

He has won three ranking titles this year, including the Players Championship, taking his career total to 12, while he was also narrowly beaten in the Welsh Open final.

Murphy said: “This last season has been the best of mine on record.

“I’ve won bigger tournaments before, but I’ve done it consistently this year.

“To perform to a high level all the time, like the best players in the world should do, is the challenge.

“I’m constantly tinkering, messing around with changing cues, trying different things, this that and the other.

“That’s all just looking for that little half a percentage point improvement, as we look to make the difference to our game.”