Mark Allen blasts Shaun Murphy's 'baffling behaviour' as spat intensifies between snooker pair

The latest flashpoint comes after Murphy sent a pointed message to Kyren Wilson, who recently complained about his treatment on tour

Mark Allen has blasted Shaun Murphy's 'baffling behaviour' in as the snooker pair have continued their war of words.

The latest flashpoint comes after Murphy sent a pointed message to Kyren Wilson, who recently complained about his treatment on tour. The world champion was frustrated about playing on table two at the British Open while Mark Selby and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh played on the main TV table.

In reply, Murphy said on his podcast: "It’s about time the players understood that it’s about which match is the most attractive, the most exciting, which is going to pull more viewers in and that’s the one that will go first. It’s no more complicated than that.

"Kyren asks what are the rewards for being world champion. You’ve got half a million pounds, that was your reward for winning the World Championship. And you’ll forever be known as a world champion, that’s your reward. It doesn’t entitle you to be on table one every match."

Allen was less than impressed with Murphy's response and accused his rival of 'attention seeking', writing on X: "Actually getting a bit boring reading [Wilson's] recent views. This is someone who is 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?"

Earlier this week, Murphy hit out at Allen over his stinging criticism of the playing conditions at the British Open. Murphy said the criticism from 'fellow professionals' was nothing short of 'rude and amateurish'.

Allen hit back at Murphy’s stance, posting on X: "Anyone taking [his] opinions seriously, I seriously question their judgement or quite possibly their sanity, not gonna lie. Anyway, maybe I’ll take three cues to my next match."

When a fan suggested that Murphy’s opinions were 'perfectly valid' given that he has reached four World Championship finals, Allen replied: "You misspelled irrelevant."

Allen has withdrawn from next week's Wuhan Open in China because of what he describes as a 'family illness'. The Antrim man reached the semi-finals of the British Open last week before falling to eventual winner Mark Selby and faces a hectic schedule with the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast running from October 20-27.

His decision not to go to China means that his first round opponent in Wuhan, Jamie Clarke, now advances straight into the last 32. Allen has twice won the Alex Higgins trophy at the NI Open and fans have snapped up tickets for the 2024 installment at the Waterford Hall.

There are fears Allen, 38, may not now make the event, but the world No.3 insisted that he 'hopes' to make it.

"I’d like to pass on my apologies to world snooker, the Chinese promoter, my sponsors and the Chinese fans but I have had to withdraw from the upcoming Wuhan open due to a family illness," allen stated on X.

"I hope to be back playing come Belfast but at this time I have to prioritise my family."

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