Snooker star Shaun aiming to top Trump (From Messenger Newspapers)
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Snooker star Shaun aiming to top Trump
4:16pm Friday 20th April 2012 in News By Rick Bowen
THE World Snooker Championships begin on Saturday and Trafford snooker star Shaun Murphy is quietly confident that he can repeat his 2005 triumph when he lifted the sport’s top prize.
Shaun was just 22 when he first lifted the famous trophy for the first time and said one man to look at for at this year’s event is last year’s finalist, Judd Trump.
“Big things are expected of Judd Trump, who won the UK Championships this year. Big things are expected off Judd Trump but it’s a lot of expectation on young shoulders and it’ll be a massive effort from anybody who comes through and wins,” he said.
The 29-year-old, who is currently number four in the world rankings practises at Sale Conservative Club.
He spoke to Messenger three days before the competition began at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre - a venue that is as important to snooker as Wembley is to football according to Shaun.
“With just a few days to go I’m just making sure that each part of my game is in good shape and just practising a little bit on my safety play, my potting and shot selection. Just to make sure that when the tournament kicks off, I’m in good shape,” he said.
While he sees Trump as a serious threat in this year’s World Championships, Shaun, who lives in Sale, said Scotsman John Higgins is the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.
“He is the all-round professional at the moment. He’s the best potting, safety player, tatical player mix that we’ve got. We’ve got players like Judd Trump, who are exciting and flamboyant but not so good tatically. But John and players like him, do both,” he said.
Away from snooker Shaun has just become a patron of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and he’s agreed to donate £100 for every 100 break he makes at the Crucible to the hospital.
* Shaun’s first match is on Sunday against Jamie Jones and the winner of the World Snooker Championship will walk away with £250,000.
