Shaun Murphy’s 2005 World Championship triumph: 20 Years On | Part Four
Murphy celebrates his fairy-tale Crucible triumph (Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo)
Qualifier Shaun Murphy stood on the brink of history as he prepared to contest the 2005 World Championship final.
Just weeks earlier, the 22-year-old had made strides towards stepping away from the sport he loved, lining up a job at the local Mercedes dealership in Sheffield.
Not only that, but Murphy had never previously won a match at The Crucible prior to that year’s tournament.
Yet, here he was in snooker’s biggest match, aiming to become only the second qualifier to lift the famous trophy after Terry Griffiths in 1979.
Standing in his way was former UK and Masters champion Matthew Stevens – a World finalist five years earlier, and looking to become the eighth player to complete snooker’s Triple Crown.
“Matthew was heavy favourite to win, he’d been there before,” Murphy told Live Snooker. “He was a constant in the top 16.
“He was supposed to bury me, that was the pressure he was under. Meanwhile, I’m so clueless that I just keep going for my shots!”
Despite hitting breaks of 125 and 84, the occasion understandably crept up on Murphy – though he was not exactly aided by external factors.
“We arrived ready for the afternoon session,” he remembers. “The Sheffield half-marathon was on, and we very nearly didn’t get in to practise! The route took the runners past the Stage Door entrance, we couldn’t cross the road!
“I remember walking out for the final. I was introduced and saw the trophy and thought: ‘This has just got real!’ and it totally threw me. You win this match; you are the World champion. I hadn’t thought about it in that context until that point. We’d only been talking about what it meant for rankings because nobody on my side of the fence believed I was going to win it!
“I think we were both caught in the headlights a little bit. It meant so much to us both for different reasons.
“Before the second session, we were at a little hotel about half a mile away just to freshen up and have a shower. Whilst we were in that hotel, the road and network back to the Crucible closed.
“When they sent the courtesy car to collect us, I remember the driver saying: ‘We’re actually going to struggle to get there on time’. We jumped in this car and drove like the wind and got to the Crucible, walked out of the car putting my waistcoat on. [My coach] Steve [Prest] got my cue out of its case, handed it to me. I was putting my dickie bow on 30 seconds before I was introduced into the area.
“All of that going together didn’t make for a great first day. I remember going to bed that night at 10-6 down thinking I’d blown it. I wouldn’t have been great company.”
But despite his deficit and a difficult first day, Murphy emerged for Bank Holiday Monday with a completely different mindset, as he eventually closed the gap to only trail 12-11.
“I woke up the following morning with a totally renewed sense of purpose,” he said. “Nobody said anything to me, I just remember thinking: ‘This is my day today, and Matthew’s going to have to scrape me off the table. I will get to 18 frames before he does’. That was my mantra.
“I was absolutely resolute; I was winning that match, there was no way I was going to be runner-up.
“There was quite a big turning point in that third session. In the penultimate frame, Matthew had a chance to steal. He missed the blue after switching hands, rather than playing the shot with the rest. He left me a long blue, which I potted.
“He won the final frame of that session to go 12-11 up, but it didn’t feel like he had the momentum at all. I remember thinking, from 10-6 down to be just one frame behind, I felt like I’d climbed Mount Everest, and was within touching distance.”
Murphy’s nerves were to be tested again when the two players emerged for the final session.
Applauding them into the arena was a plethora of former World champions to commemorate the final year of the tournament’s Embassy sponsorship.
“For a totally clueless kid, walking out and being introduced to play in front of all these greats of the game, it was almost too much for me,” Murphy recalls. “Then, I knew they were in the Green Room with a glass of wine watching me and Matthew.”
Thankfully for the Magician, he managed to maintain his composure to lead 15-13 and 16-14. Though Stevens responded with breaks of 124 and 52, Murphy moved to the brink of victory with 97.
“At 17-16, I remember getting out of my chair and thinking to myself: ‘You need to win this frame now’. Had it gone to 17-17, I’m not sure I’d have been able to handle that,” said Murphy, who has become a leading celebrity influencer through his social media platforms.
“As a 22-year-old, I don’t think I’d have been able to hold myself together. I think my nerves might have unravelled in front of the world!”
Stevens had an opportunity to force a decider, but could not capitalise and in stepped Murphy with what seemed like a nerveless contribution of 83 to complete a remarkable victory.
To say this was unfamiliar territory to him would be an understatement. Not only was this his first World Championship final or first Triple Crown final, but his first ranking final – full stop.
“Watching it back now – as I clear up, I don’t know what to do,” he joked. “It was totally unexpected. I didn’t know whether to punch the air, punch the table, cry, laugh, smile; I think in the end, I did nothing! I was totally out of my depth.
“It was a case of just holding myself together. Looking back, I had no right to do that. I’d never won a match at the Crucible, I was just 22, I was totally inexperienced at that end of tournaments of that echelon. I didn’t know what I was doing.
“Maybe, that was the secret – maybe, the ignorance of youth, not knowing the pitfalls, not really understanding what was happening. As somebody who’s only won the World Championship once, that could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
“When you look at the multiple World champions, who have recreated that magic, it makes what they’ve done all the more impressive.”
Suddenly, the reality of the magnitude of Murphy’s achievement began to sink in as he lifted the trophy, while receiving a cheque for £250,000.
He then received warm words from a three-time World champion – the last of which came when the tournament was first held at The Crucible in 1977.
“I left the chaos of the Crucible floor and walked back to my dressing room,” he said. “I sat there on my own for about 30 seconds and put my cue in my case, and thought: ‘right, what do we do now?!’
“Before I knew what was happening, there was a knock at the door and John Spencer was stood there. I think that was the only time I ever met him. He said: ‘I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you, and welcome you to the World Championship club’.
“Shortly after that, you’re thrown into the big after party. I didn’t have a suit at the time; I had to borrow one off somebody!”
The celebrations continued at the post-tournament after party – a popular tradition after 17 gruelling days of competition.
It was there that Murphy experienced a humorous encounter with another legend of the sport, who had been invited to Sheffield for a guest appearance in the commentary box.
And having delivered many lines from behind the microphone that have gone down in snooker folklore, he produced yet another to the newly crowned World Champion.
“I’m sat on my table with my family and the trophy,” Murphy reflects. “Ted Lowe came over and he was very, very drunk. I’d never met him before this.
“He put his hand on my shoulder and said: ‘Young man, I just want to come over and commiserate with you because I thought you conducted yourself marvellously during this tournament. I thought you were so unlucky in the final. If you keep practising and keep trying, I’m sure you’re going to get there one day!’ He then turned on the spot and walked over to Matthew Stevens, and congratulated him on winning the World title! To be fair, Matthew took it in good grace.”
Murphy has gone on to reach a further three Crucible finals, losing out to John Higgins in 2009, Stuart Bingham in 2015 and Mark Selby in 2021.
His latest quest to join an exclusive list of multiple World champions was ended by an inspired Judd Trump at this year’s tournament.
Nevertheless, two decades on from that fairy-tale triumph, he has added another four major titles – most recently his second Masters success back in January.
That gives Murphy hope he can one day add another World title to his collection, but having already achieved his dream and being on the roll of honour, he has no complaints if not.
“My belief and self-belief goes up and goes down on the daily, as everyone’s does,” he concluded.
“The win at the Masters has given me a renewed sense of confidence and belief. At least I know I can still do it in the biggest events when it matters the most.
“If the stars align and everything’s in the right place – with a bit of luck on your side – you could be the last man standing come that Bank Holiday Monday night.
“If I’m to live out my life as a one-time World champion, I’ll take that and no-one can ever take my name off that trophy.”