Stephen Maguire’s Rivalry with Shaun Murphy: The Chalk-Gate Incident and Beyond

The long-standing feud between Scots snooker ace Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy shows no signs of abating as they gear up to face each other in the last 16 of the World Championship. The rivalry between the two players dates back to their junior days, with tensions reaching boiling point during the infamous chalk-gate incident 20 years ago.

Maguire, now 42, was docked a frame at the Grand Prix for forgetting his chalk, causing the match to be delayed. There has always been speculation that Murphy played a role in the decision, a claim that Maguire vehemently denies. Despite the passage of time, Maguire has made it clear that he will never be friends with Murphy, stating, “We can’t resolve it because he always says he never said to the referee. The poor referee isn’t with us any longer, but he did…He knows he did.”

The upcoming match between the two players promises to be a fiery encounter, with Maguire in fine form after a couple of years in the doldrums. The top half of the draw has opened up for the Glaswegian, with last year’s winner Luca Brecel and four-time champion Mark Selby already out of the competition.

Reflecting on his long-standing rivalry with Murphy, Maguire acknowledged their stark personality differences but praised Murphy’s skills on the table. Despite their differences, Maguire recognizes Murphy as a great snooker player and looks forward to the challenge of facing him once again.

As the two players prepare to go head-to-head on the sport’s biggest stage, fans can expect a thrilling match filled with drama and intensity as the rivalry between Maguire and Murphy continues to captivate audiences.