Shaun Murphy has hit out at fellow snooker players for what he sees as rampant "gamesmanship", and something he dubs an "epidemic" within the sport. The recent Masters winner is convinced several stars are intentionally disrupting matches, seeking to stifle their opponents by stepping away from the table for prolonged periods. Murphy suggests that rivals are strategically timing toilet breaks to disrupt momentum, using them as a tactical ploy to regain an edge, particularly when behind in games.
"Toilet breaks. We have to talk about the epidemic of toilet breaks that are spoiling snooker action," Murphy voiced on his onefourseven podcast. "It is now getting ridiculous, guys. It is getting totally out of hand. It is ridiculous how many times players are leaving the arena to go to the loo. "And here's where it gets spicy, because most of these exits from the arena have got nothing to do with players needing to go for a wee, it's good old-fashioned gamesmanship. My opponent last week went to the toilet after the first frame of the match, then after the fifth frame after the interval. You've had 20-odd minutes to be ready to play. What's going on? It's getting ridiculous. It's a joke.".
Murphy isn't the only one hitting out at the interruptions. Back in 2019, multiple snooker players lodged complaints to World Snooker regarding the strategic abuse of toilet breaks to break the game's rhythm. Neil Robertson took to X to respond to Murphy's gripes, suggesting a trial of a new rule to curb excessive toilet breaks. He posted: "In the 2012 Masters, we the players were told before the event started to limit toilet or 'I'm bottling it and need to leave the arena' breaks to two per match.
"Which leaves you whatever you do before the match, two breaks during and another during the interval after four frames. Players stuck to it and there were no issues whatsoever with players needing to go mid-frame or anything like that. 90 per cent of players I see are standing there like a constipated person trying to squeeze out a drop put a rule in place and trial it.". With snooker matches and sessions stretching over several hours, players naturally have the need for bathroom breaks, yet Matchroom founder Barry Hearn has acknowledged that new regulations might be on the cards. Indeed, from the 2013 season onwards, the snooker boss implemented a policy limiting players to a maximum of two breaks per session.
The issue has also resonated with Mark Selby and Luca Brecel, who both agree with Murphy that some reform is necessary. Selby, speaking in 2023, said: "Yes, it can get too much," advocating for a rule change. "I think they should bring a rule in that, if you desperately need to go, they should cap it at a certain amount of time. "There should be a limit on the number of times you can go, unless you are desperate. That is the thing, it comes down to the person and you have got to trust. It is tough, I suppose.".
Brecel added: "Yes, because even today, I was like, 'how many times will I need to go to the toilet?' If you need to go, you need to go.". Ronnie O'Sullivan, however, has spoken out in support of unlimited restroom breaks, as long as they don't disrupt the flow of the game. "I think the player should be allowed to go for as many toilet breaks as they can after the game as long as once the balls are set up you're back," he said.
