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'I'm snooker star in second round of World Championship but won't stop doing punditry'

Shaun Murphy isn't just shining on the table at the Crucible with the snooker star also a regular in the BBC studio alongside the likes of Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis

[Shaun Murphy]

Shaun Murphy is into the second round of the World Championship

Shaun Murphy insists his role as a BBC pundit isn't having a detrimental impact on his snooker.

Murphy has teamed up with the likes of Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry again at the Crucible while trying to win the World Championships for the second time. There are plenty who believe Murphy and other current pros should focus on the playing side rather than being in the studio with Mark Allen, Joe Perry, and Jack Lisowski also regulars in the commentary box.

But Murphy, 41, is adamant the BBC gig is not derailing his chances, ahead of his second round clash with Stephen Maguire. "It's one of those things that seems to get talked about so much," he said. "Opinions are like a***holes, everyone's got one.

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"I wouldn't do anything that I felt was damaging to my own snooker career. I love working with the guys at BBC. They're a great team. It's wonderful to be part of the event and to just watch how these great broadcasters go about their business and just be involved in the event.

"The way explain it to people who don't really understand it is if I wasn't doing the punditry, I'd be just be sat in my hotel watching it. I may as well be stuck there having a coffee with Steve Davis, talking rubbish about snooker."

Murphy's punditry role will inevitably see the former UK Championship winner come off his long run to criticise shots from his fellow pros. Though Murphy believes snooker is currently in a good place.

[Shaun Murphy on BBC with Stephen Hendry and John Parrott]

Shaun Murphy combines his playing with a role as a BBC pundit(Image: BBC)

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"I joined the players board in December, so I'm one of four or five members of that board whose job it is to represent players issues," Murphy said. "There are player issues all the time. There are things happening all the time that could be better. But I have to say the game's in a great state.

"And it's only positive for snooker that since the pandemic has gone, the Chinese market has come back. We've got new events being announced there next season. And we've had an almost full calendar out in China this season.

"Events like the Saudi Masters, which has led to a 10-year deal for a ranking event out in the Middle East, can only be great for snooker. I'd love to sit here and tell you that snooker is in a terrible position, but it's not, it's doing really well - and I'm feeling quite zen about it all."

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