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Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy meet in the semi-finals of the Masters on Saturday after a ‘difference of opinion’ has left the former good mates ‘not as close as we once were.’
Both players have looked good at Alexandra Palace this week, with Murphy beating Gary Wilson and Neil Robertson and Allen downing Si Jiahui and Mark Selby.
Their semi-final meeting comes after something of a spat between the two players who had been known as close friends on the tour.
Allen has posted pointed messages directed at Murphy on social media and been critical of the Magician over some of his comments, although what their disagreement is over has been unclear.
The two players are keen to keep what they have disagreed on to themselves, but there is no question that their relationship has been damaged by it.
‘I haven’t fell out with Shaun, not in any way,’ Allen said. ‘Some of the things he’s said I wouldn’t agree with and I’ve spoke to him about it.
‘We’re both quite opinionated people and that’s clashed a little bit in recent times. I still have the utmost respect for him as a snooker player, but we’re not as close as we once were.’
Asked if anything in particular caused the rift, Allen said: ‘There’s been a few things, but he’s aware of that, I’ve spoke to him about it, it’s not like I’m saying stuff behind his back.
‘We’ve spoken openly about this, I’ve aired my things, he’s given his responses and I just have to accept that.’
Allen seemed to be playing down the issue, when asked if the pair get on well enough, he said: ‘Yeah.’
However, when asked if he would still class Murphy as a friend, he said: ‘No.’
Murphy was also keen to keep the specific issue private but said the two don’t see eye-to-eye on some things, with the Magician suggesting it was down to him taking on multiple responsibilities, not just as a player, but as a pundit and the chairman of the WPBSA Players board.
‘We have had a difference of opinions over a few issues and that’s fine,’ Murphy told Metro. ‘It’s difficult for me because I wear several hats at events because I’m a player, I’m a broadcaster and I’m chairman of the Players Association.
‘Mark wears one hat. I wear at least three when I’m at tournaments so it’s difficult to keep everybody happy.
‘We have had a difference of opinion, I don’t really want to bring them out publicly, I’d rather keep them between us, we have spoke about things, but we move on.
‘Difference of opinions is how progress is made. Exchanging different views, airing of views, getting frustrations out there and educating each other is how the sport grows and becomes better.’
On the experience of Murphy filling various roles in the game, he said: ‘It is difficult, it’s challenging, certainly more challenging than I thought it would be when I got myself involved in the political side of the game. But it’s work that I love and enjoy.’
The simmering spat between Allen and Murphy
The pair had often exchanged banter in the past, which may have seemed like abuse but was just ribbing between pals.
Allen posted on X on 30 September: ‘Anyone taking @Magician147 opinions seriously I seriously question their judgement or quite possibly their sanity, not gonna lie. Anyway, maybe I’ll take 3 cues to my next match 😂😂.’
That looked harmless enough, given their background, but it took a turn the following month when the Pistol posted: ‘Actually getting a bit bored of reading Shaun Murphy’s recent views.
‘This is someone who’s meant to represent the players at board level but openly criticising the current world champ and others.
‘Baffling behaviour or is it just attention seeking from the yes man?’
Speaking to Metro in October, Murphy said: ‘I’m not aware that we’ve fallen out. I think it’s okay to disagree with your friends, you can have a difference of opinion.
‘We’ve crossed paths dozens of times, disagreed with things in the game for many years. This is just the next instalment and it won’t be the last.’
Allen then told The Mirror in November: ‘I think he’s changed a bit in my view if I’m honest.
‘Some of the things he said just made no sense to me to the extent that some of the things he said recently are completely the opposite of what he’s said in the past. At least if you’re going to speak rubbish, speak rubbish consistently… don’t change your tune.’
The beef continued to stew at the UK Championship, with Murphy on commentary for Allen’s 6-5 semi-final defeat to Barry Hawkins and questioning the Pistol’s tactics.
‘It’s completely within the rules, he’s not doing anything wrong. But at what stage do we question whether the amount of time Mark Allen is taking over simple decisions is a tactic to annoy his opponent?’ Murphy said during the match.
‘I think we are witnessing an extremely clever, well thought out match from Mark Allen to try and beat the man.
‘It’s an old school tactic. It’s from a playbook my generation and Mark’s generation are from and it’s perfectly within the rules. But I can’t see any reason, other than that for why he’s taking so long. As you look at Barry in his chair, you might say it was working.’
Allen posted on social media after his narrow defeat, saying he was simply trying his best to win the match and suggesting that Murphy’s comments were a response to criticism he made of the Magician recently.
‘Not to be in this years UK Championships. The better player on the day won,’ wrote Allen. ‘Good luck to both Judd and Barry in the final…. For those criticising…. I always give 100%, it might not be pretty at times but I’m trying my best. Some other players could learn from it.
‘And as for Shaun in comms. He’s absolutely entitled to his opinion on things but perhaps best to leave personal feelings out of the commentary box in future. All because I called out some of his recent BS 😂.’
The two meet on the table at Alexandra Palace in the Masters semi-final at 1pm on Saturday.
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