Shaun Murphy has publicly criticised promoters Matchroom after being scheduled to play the opening match at the Champion of Champions, calling the decision "despicable". The world number nine, 43, had returned from the International Championship in China — where he reached the quarter-finals — and said he was sent straight into the first match despite a "marathon 36-hour journey" back to the UK.
Murphy lost 4-1 to China's Lei Peifan in the 16-player invitational at Leicester's Mattioli Arena and expressed anger at what he described as being unfairly targeted in the draw. He accused the organisers of effectively selecting match-ups and said being asked to play first, with other players having not travelled from China, was a disrespectful handling of competitors who arrive having just completed long trips.
Matchroom said it had spoken to Murphy after the match and acknowledged his frustrations. In a statement, the promoter stressed that player priorities and the prestige of the event are important, and that groupings for the draw are based on seeding. It added that scheduling is a perennial challenge but that organisers will consider feedback to improve future events.
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