Shaun Murphy rates his World Snooker Championship chances after ‘intimidating’ opening win

Shaun Murphy feels his game is the best it has ever been and expects to be a ‘handful for anybody’ after an ‘intimidating’ 10-4 win over Daniel Wells in his Crucible opener.

The Magician was in fabulous form against the debutant as he made three centuries and seven more breaks over 50, while Wells managed efforts of 131, 115, 109 and 68 in the four frames he claimed.

The 42-year-old arrives in Sheffield as Masters champion after a great season so far and is feeling very positive about his game.

Work with former world champion Peter Ebdon appears to be paying dividends and he expects to be very hard to beat over the rounds to come.

‘Working with Peter has helped me refocus on the things that make the difference,’ he said. ‘Champions don’t think like everyone else and for a little while I’d started thinking like everyone else.

‘I’d forgotten what it felt like to win the big ones. Winning the Masters and the work I’ve done with Peter has totally changed that, I’ve had a complete 180. Whether it works this week or not, I don’t know, but I now believe again and I think that makes me dangerous.’

He added: ‘I’ve come here this year in the best shape I’ve ever been in. My game is the best it’s ever been, I’m sharp, I’m ready.

‘If I’m allowed to play, which often is the problem these days, you can get blown away, but if I get my chances I think I could be a handful for anybody.’

Wells can be proud of how he played when chances arose, but left almost in awe of Murphy’s display.

‘He’s played flawlessly against me the last five times, just played like a machine,’ said the Welshman. ‘At the [2023] Welsh Open he made 145 and 147 back-to-back against me.

‘He seems to bring out his best against me and that type of snooker is winning snooker.

‘I’d be hard pressed to see anybody better than that over a best of 19 match. Just watching him up close, the way he strikes the cue ball is just fantastic I’m going to hopefully see if I can have a practice session with him next season and pick his brains on a few technical things.

‘His cue action, for me, is the best in the game. It’s like watching an exceptional golfer, the back swing and delivery is just special. He makes the balls move around so easily, he bullies the balls. It’s intimidating to play against.’

Murphy is delighted with how he is playing but is not getting too carried away just yet, with a long way to go before the trophy is handed out in Sheffield and the prospect of world number one Judd Trump in the next round.

‘It’s difficult to say, you can feel great one day and play crap the next day,’ he said. ‘I’ll do the same things in the next few days as I did in the weeks leading up to the event, I’m going to practice, prepare well and look forward to the event. That doesn’t mean I’m going to play well or win.

‘I’m too experienced now to get over giddy and think I played there so I’m going to win, it doesn’t work like that.’

Murphy came into the tournament amid an unexpected spat with Kyren Wilson over something that occurred during their Masters final in January.

The Magician says he is still unsure over what is going on and what Wilson was upset about, but revealed that they are planning to meet and hopefully get over the mini feud.

‘It’s still a baffling situation,’ he said. ‘Kyren and I have been texting each other a little bit and we’ve agreed to meet for a coffee to try and find a way forward on it.

‘He still hasn’t told me what it is I’ve done to upset him. I have heard a few rumours through some other people on what it might be, but I’m still yet to hear it from the horse’s mouth.

‘We were supposed to meet a few days ago, but obviously his plans changed. I think he is back now for a few days. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to meet and shake hands.’

Murphy plays Judd Trump of Zhou Yuelong in the last 16.