2024 Masters - Jan 7th to Jan 14th - BBC/Eurosport

But the gas thing is Murphy does not have a 'posh' background at all. I think the real reason he gets so wound up by O'Sullivan is that Ronnie had a multi-millionaire upbringing and is yet seen as the man of the people. Yet Murphy is seen as the 'posh boy'.

I had to laugh that Murphy had to throw that fact in this Eurosport interview 13th January - hidden under the "We are different people line". It obviously gets to him.

From the article above -

Murphy conceded he and O’Sullivan do not see eye to eye on many subjects.

“We are very different, we have different opinions on almost everything,” Murphy said. “We come from a completely different world, I don’t come from the same world as Ronnie.

“Ronnie comes from a very privileged, very wealthy background. I come from a very working class, had-nothing-growing-up, background.

“We have differing views on most things because of that, but what we have is a deep passion for this game.”

--

I'd actually prefer Murphy to O'Sullivan and he's right in that sense. O'Sullivan's father throwing money at Ken Doherty to come and practice with him etc. Ye as you say, he has this man of the people reputation, when he's anything but.

And on top of what you say, what makes the resentment more, is Murphy makes no bones about how much he wants to win. And O'Sullivan wants to win as bad as anyone, but pretends he doesn't care. It would be infuriating watching this gifted player win all the time, then with this attitude of "didn't care anyway", taking the good from anyone else's victory when they beat him.

For me with Murphy it's stuff like when someone smashed the balls from the break (was it Hann) and he keeps going on about sportsmanship and etiquette, does himself no favours.

He's actually a great ambassador for the sport as he generally cares about it's history, former champions, legacy of the game beyond himself, that things are done right and that the sport is respected. But he can over do it at times. He's pretentious but I actually don't mind him

I just cannot stand him commentating, No doubt he will be doing one of the sessions tomorrow and I will be switching over to Eurosports when that happens

On this like at 12.15 am the night before he plays o Sullivan he’s sitting in the studio commentating on the end of Selby Allen match . Surely he should be away from the scene to give himself the best chance of giving Ronnie a real test . There will be plenty time for punditry down the road ya would have thought .

He's fascinated by the game

I reckon carter will get steamrolled today

He's not at Ronnie's level generally as a player anyhow

Possibly turning into one of Ronnie's off days where he quits

Hard to say at this stage

Murphy is so annoying with this disrespect angle

Ronnie can take on whatever shots he likes within the rules

Mid session and it's only 2pm. Ronnie on a 12 second shot time. He didn't play this fast when he was 17.

I've forgot his exact words now but that was the jist of it a few frames back

It makes no sense to me cos you play the table and a player is entitled to play loose if he wishes

Fair play to Carter so far playing fantastic, I didn't think he had that focus in him. Only problem is he has to keep those levels up, because of who he is playing.

I always think a good final is important as well, it can draw in youngsters to the sport that wouldn't have the interest otherwise.