Shaun Murphy believes the rise of Chinese language 8-ball poses a risk to the long-term reputation of snooker within the Far East.
Final week’s Worldwide Championship was the fourth event in China this season following earlier outings for the Shanghai Masters, the Xi’an Grand Prix, and the Wuhan Open.
Ding Junhui beat Chris Wakelin 10-7 to assert the title in entrance of an enormous crowd in Nanjing as the house hero returned to profitable methods in a rating occasion for the primary time in 5 years.
Ding’s success adopted Xiao Guodong’s triumph in Wuhan final month with Chinese language illustration on the enterprise finish of tournaments turning into more and more commonplace in current instances.
Following final 12 months’s match-fixing scandal that resulted in ten gamers receiving various lengths of bans, many queried whether or not the probe would have a damaging have an effect on on the recognition of snooker in China.
Whereas that doesn’t seem to have been the case – with crowd numbers in Chinese language occasions improved in comparison with the pre-pandemic period – Murphy does suppose there’s one other potential risk to the game.
“There’s completely no proof that I can see,” Shaun Murphy stated on this week’s episode of the OneFourSeven Snooker Podcast.
“That the betting scandal led by the ten gamers who have been banned for match-fixing offences and related offences has had any influence of the recognition of the game on the market in any respect.”
“Each time we do a gap ceremony, a PR occasion, or a red-carpet occasion, it’s full of followers.
“They needed to delay a few matches out in Nanjing as a result of the group was so huge and it took so lengthy to get the group within the door.
“Once you’re having to delay the beginning of matches as a result of the group is simply too huge to get by means of the door, I don’t suppose we have to fear about whether or not snooker is doing okay.
“I’ll inform you what I’m involved about a bit of bit. I’m a bit of bit involved in regards to the reputation of Chinese language 8-ball.
“A sport that will get known as Heyball, it will get known as Chinese language 8-ball, or Chinese language pool. There’s fairly a number of totally different titles for it.
“The explanation I’m involved about it’s as a result of there are a variety of snooker gamers who’re – understandably – getting supplied some huge cash to go and play in these occasions.
“And once more, fully understandably, they’re taking that cash. I’ve acquired no drawback with that in any respect.
“Besides to say that they’re doubtlessly contributing to the rise [of Chinese 8-ball] and the following demise of snooker out within the Far East.
“As a result of Chinese language 8-ball is certainly on the rise and doubtlessly could have already overtaken snooker in China by way of participation, tables, and it’s shifting out around the globe.
“I do know a variety of gamers who now have Chinese language 8-ball tables within the UK, as a result of they’re training it. It’s beginning to develop into a factor.
“Now pay attention, I’m all for competitors. I’m all for extra eyes on getting extra folks enjoying cue sports activities – that’s what we would like.
“If we’re making an attempt to drive in the direction of an Olympic bid at some stage, participation is vital.
“Nevertheless, I simply fear that a few of these gamers – maybe naively – are nearly sleepwalking themselves and the remainder of us in the direction of the demise of snooker.
“Or definitely snooker’s fall down the recognition rankings in that a part of the world. I’m not making an attempt to be tremendous damaging.
“And I’m not making an attempt to be overcritical of gamers taking incomes alternatives, as a result of we’re all making an attempt to earn cash.
“I believe we’d want to only watch out that by making an attempt to maximise all of our business alternatives, we don’t by accident make one thing extra well-liked or make snooker much less well-liked, and by extension harm what we’ve acquired.”
Mark Williams, Stuart Bingham, and Gary Wilson are a number of of the high-profile snooker gamers who’ve began to take part extra recurrently on the Heyball circuit.
Murphy, in the meantime, has revealed that rumours surrounding his involvement in unsanctioned 900 Sequence occasions later within the marketing campaign are true.
Current modifications to the WPBSA gamers’ contract, which have been required following the controversy surrounding the Macau exhibition occasions late final 12 months, have relaxed the principles on the potential of enjoying in tournaments outdoors the World Snooker Tour.
The 900 Sequence, created by Jason Francis, has already been a preferred addition to the World Seniors Tour however 4 tournaments for established primary tour gamers are set to happen within the new 12 months.
“It’s true. I’m delighted to be requested, however I don’t know very a lot about it,” Shaun Murphy stated.
“I do know that Jason was planning to placed on 4 two-day occasions. I had no thought till I noticed the listing on social media myself who else was requested to play in it.”
“I’m simply pleased to play and searching ahead to those alternatives. As luck would have it, two of these dates do conflict with potential occasions within the 2025/26 calendar, so I believe solely two of them to this point have been granted permission.
“[I’m] enthusiastic about it, you understand I believe competitors is nice. I believe gamers being allowed to play and ply their commerce [is good].
“For what it’s price, my very own private view is that as an expert snooker participant, as a self-employed trades particular person, I needs to be allowed to play snooker each time and wherever I need.
“That’s my very own private view, so I see this as an actual optimistic step that these occasions are going to be placed on.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan, Kyren Wilson, John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Mark Williams, Luca Brecel, and Reanne Evans are reported to be signed up for the sequence of occasions as effectively.
Featured photograph credit score: WST