The simmering tension between snooker stars Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson, which baffled fans for months, has finally been explained. The root of their 'beef' was a simple misunderstanding over the use of a practice table during the high-pressure climax of last year's Masters tournament.
The Mysterious Fallout from a Classic Final
Shaun Murphy triumphed over Kyren Wilson 10-7 in a compelling Masters final at Alexandra Palace in January 2025. 'The Magician' was in sublime form, having also knocked in a maximum 147 break during the semi-finals, and lifted the Paul Hunter Trophy for a second time. However, Wilson's post-match speech contained cryptic barbs, labelling Murphy an 'old man' and suggesting he 'needed the win more'.
While it initially seemed like gamesmanship, Wilson confirmed his irritation was real in an interview with TNT Sports just before the World Championship in April 2025. He claimed that if people knew the full story, they would 'applaud' him, accusing Murphy of behaviour that was 'uncalled for and quite unprofessional' before the evening session of their final.
The Truth Behind the Tension
Murphy, who was initially 'totally baffled' by the public accusation, has now clarified the incident. Speaking to Metro, the former world champion revealed the dispute was purely about practice facilities. 'He was upset that I used a table that I think he wanted to use,' Murphy explained. 'Tables are next to each other, I think one was slightly higher than the other. But listen, it was something over nothing.'
The confusion stemmed from a breakdown in pre-match arrangements. 'I think prior to the final, you would always book your practice table,' Murphy said. 'Then with the final, I don’t think you either can or I don’t think either of us had reserved one specifically. It was just a miscommunication. That was all. It was just a mix up.'
Clearing the Air and Moving On
The pair held a lengthy phone call during the World Championship to resolve the issue. Wilson described the outcome, stating they both apologised and agreed to 'hold our hands up a little bit'. He emphasised their desire to move on, saying 'we’re on tour too long nowadays and just let bygones be bygones.'
Wilson also apologised for the unfortunate timing of his initial comments, which emerged on the eve of snooker's biggest tournament. He attributed it to a preview interview with TNT Sports where a segment was highlighted, causing the story to 'blow up' unexpectedly.
Murphy expressed sympathy for the situation, acknowledging his own history of regrettable comments made under pressure. 'Nobody knows better than me…the amount of things I’ve said that I regret in high pressure situations,' he admitted. The 2005 world champion confirmed the matter is now firmly in the past: 'We chatted about it at the World Championship. We both said what we needed to say to each other and we put it to bed.'
Both players are now focused on the current Masters tournament at Alexandra Palace, where they will compete in separate first-round matches.
