Shaun Murphy’s Lucky Underpants and the Unlikely Hero
Shaun Murphy, one of snooker’s most iconic players, has shared a fascinating story about the role of his nephew in his first World Snooker Championship victory. While many might expect the hero of such a tale to be the player himself, Murphy revealed that it was actually his nephew, Joshua, who played an unexpected but significant part in his 2005 triumph.
Murphy’s journey to the title began when he was just 22 years old, an unknown player at the time. He had managed to qualify for the Crucible Theatre, where he went on to dominate the tournament. His path to the final included defeating some of the sport’s biggest names, including Chris Small, John Higgins, Steve Davis, and Peter Ebdon. In the final, he narrowly beat Matthew Stevens with a score of 18-16, marking his first world championship win.
Now 43, Murphy has reflected on how his nephew, Joshua, may have contributed to this historic victory. At the time, Joshua was just a child, but he believed that the underpants he wore during the tournament were his uncle’s lucky charm. The story is both heartwarming and humorous, as it highlights the innocent belief of a young fan in the power of good luck.
“I don’t think that’s what’s got me to this stage this week… I hope not,” Murphy said with a smile. “He’s a different man these days – I think he changes his pants at least once a week.”
The story took a funny turn when Murphy revealed that Joshua wasn’t even his favorite player back then. Instead, his idol was none other than John Higgins. This fact became evident during the semi-final match against Higgins, which Murphy won 17-15 in a thrilling display of skill and determination.
Joshua, now an adult, was in the crowd for that match and still maintains a deep admiration for Higgins. Murphy recalled a memorable moment from the after-party dinner, where Joshua spent the entire night fixated on Higgins rather than his uncle, who had just claimed the world title.
“He was eight or nine years old at the time,” Murphy added. “I have a lovely picture of him sat in my seat in the Crucible and he’s got these three-quarter length cargos on. The funny thing was that John Higgins was and is his absolute idol. At the after-party dinner, Joshua sat there all night not bothered about me, his uncle who just won the World Championship, and not bothered about the trophy but bothered about John Higgins, who was sat two tables away. He just stared at John all night.”
Despite this, the semi-final victory over Higgins was a crucial step in Murphy’s journey to a fifth world final. He is now aiming to overcome the disappointments of his last three finals and secure a second world title.
In addition to his personal ambitions, Murphy paid tribute to Higgins, acknowledging the legendary player’s incredible performance. At 50 years old, Higgins was just a fortnight away from turning 51 when he reached the semi-final, making it a remarkable achievement.
“John Higgins… What a player and what a man,” said Murphy. “The harder it gets on the table, the tougher he gets and the better he plays. He’s such a competitor. If I’m half the player he is when I’m in my 50s, I’ll be very proud.”
This story of Murphy’s lucky underpants and the influence of his nephew adds a unique and endearing chapter to the history of the World Snooker Championship. It reminds us that sometimes, the smallest things can have the biggest impact.
