Shaun Murphy shows true colours with five-word comment to Kyren Wilson after Masters win
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Shaun Murphy lavished praise on his defeated Masters finalist Kyren Wilson after a nail-biting 10-7 victory at Alexandra Palace. The 42-year-old demonstrated immense sportsmanship and respect for Wilson, saying: "He's a great world champion". His gracious comments were made in the aftermath of the match as he basked in the glory of his fourth Triple Crown win and his first since his 2015 Masters success.
Murphy also admitted that he had doubted whether he would ever experience such highs again. "I must pay tribute to Kyren - he is a great world champion. He really took it to me and there was a stage a few frames ago when it was panic stations," Murphy told the BBC post-match on Sunday."I know how he feels to lose in this match. He conducts himself so brilliantly, so professionally. I can't believe it, I am in shock. If I'm totally honest I thought these days were gone when I lost to Mark Selby in the 2021 final at the Crucible. I thought these days at the business end of events were gone.
"Peter Ebdon (former world champion and current coach) has helped me rediscover that self belief. He has helped remind me that I am actually quite good at this... there is still a bit of life in the old dog yet.". After securing a 6-2 lead on Sunday afternoon, Wilson intensified the pressure as the match dynamics shifted significantly. 'The Warrior' notched up breaks of 95, 78, and 65 to claim five of the next seven frames, narrowing the gap to just one frame at 8-7.
But fortune favoured Murphy when Wilson missed a pivotal long red to the right corner in the 16th frame. 'The Magician' then composed a crucial 55 break to position himself a frame away from victory before officially ending his decade-long wait for the win at the revered event.
