Shaun Murphy expressed strong disapproval towards Matchroom for the way Monday’s Champion of Champions event was scheduled. Murphy, who had recently participated in the China International Championship quarter-finals, was unexpectedly placed in the opening match of the tournament against Lei Peifan. The 43-year-old was taken aback as he only found out about his Monday fixture while returning from Nanjing, learning of the tournament’s lineup on the day of the event.
Following his defeat to Lei, Murphy voiced his frustration with Matchroom’s organization of the tournament, criticizing the lack of communication and respect shown towards him. He emphasized his disappointment in how he was treated compared to other players who were not even present at the China event.
In response to Murphy’s outburst, Matchroom issued a statement acknowledging his concerns and emphasizing their commitment to prioritizing players’ needs and ensuring fairness in the event’s structure. They explained that groupings were based on seeding and acknowledged the challenges of scheduling, pledging to address feedback for future improvements.
Meanwhile, Judd Trump secured a victory on the opening day of the Champion of Champions event, advancing to face Lei later in the day. Tuesday’s matches feature Kyren Wilson vs Jack Lisowski, Mark Allen vs Ziao Xintong, Mark Williams vs Alfie Burden, Mark Selby vs Stephen Maguire, Neil Robertson vs Tom Ford, and John Higgins vs Xiao Guodong.