‘BAGGAGE HANDLERS NEED A SHOTCLOCK’ – SHAUN MURPHY SUFFERS SCARE AS SNOOKER CUE GOES MISSING AHEAD OF SHANGHAI MASTERS
Shaun Murphy will be hoping to be reunited with his snooker cue for his opening match at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday after his luggage went missing between the UK and China. The world No. 7 is due to meet John Higgins or Lyu Haotian in the last 16 with the tournament getting underway live on Eurosport and discovery+ on Monday morning with the best-of-21 frame final on Saturday.
Shaun Murphy’s preparations for the Shanghai Masters did not go to plan over the weekend after his snooker cue went missing in transit between the UK and China.
The 2005 world champion announced on social media that he was unsure where his cue and luggage had gone ahead of the first major invitational event of the new campaign.
Murphy is due to begin his quest for a first title victory in Shanghai against four-time Crucible winner John Higgins or local hope Lyu Haotian in the last 16 on Tuesday (12:30pm live on Eurosport and discovery+).
“Two hours and counting now waiting for luggage at Shanghai Pudong airport. The baggage handlers need a shotclock goodness me,” said Murphy on Saturday before later declaring:
“Well according to my @Apple AirTag, my cue and luggage are still sat on the plane I arrived on in Shanghai 24 hours ago. What is going on? How can it take this long to open a door?”
Murphy admits winning the trophy in Shanghai is a career objective after narrowly losing the 2019 final 11-9 to Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“It is a tournament I love and a city which I really like. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in. As you get to my age, you start looking at the things you haven’t achieved. I’ve done an awful lot in my career, but there are still things I want to tick off. Winning the Shanghai Masters is one of them,” said Murphy on World Snooker Tour.
“Every time I turn up I’m trying to win and next week will be no different.
“I have the best 16 players in the world standing in my way so it won’t be easy. Even after a disappointing season last year, I am confident and upbeat. If I play my best on any given day I know I can beat anybody.”