Shaun Murphy on the conflict with Ronnie O'Sullivan: He bullied me when I was 12 years old.

According to The Sun: Shaun Murphy accused Ronnie O'Sullivan of verbally bullying him when he was just 12 years old.

Both athletes have been competing on the same stage for many years, forming one of the most vibrant rivalries in snooker.

O'Sullivan and Murphy have repeatedly competed against each other during tournaments.

This has not been without controversies and verbal disputes, although there is some respect between them.

However, Murphy claims that the conflict started back in their childhood.

“We had a fight when I was young. Ronnie bullied me at 12 years old, and I never forgave him for that. I remember it vividly,”

“I have immense respect for his game, I watch with awe at what he can do because I know how hard it is.”

O'Sullivan has yet to respond to these accusations.

Murphy, who is 43, has played only one match against Ronnie in the last five years.

This meeting took place in the semifinals of the 2024 Masters, where O'Sullivan won 6-2.

Links as an ambassador of snooker

Murphy believes that O'Sullivan could do more to promote snooker, as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic do for tennis.

“One of the reasons I was so fascinated by Steve Davis was that I grew up in a world where being the best meant so much more than just being able to play snooker,”

“And unfortunately, despite all the good things Ronnie has done in snooker, I believe he has done just as much damage to the sport in terms of ambassadorship.”

“It would be a real shame if he didn’t use his influence to promote snooker; he could radically change the popularity of this sport.”

The rivalry between Murphy and O'Sullivan has become a significant aspect of modern snooker, attracting great attention from fans. Although they have long-standing disputes, their careers in snooker continue to captivate fans, and opinions on Ronnie O'Sullivan's role as an ambassador for the sport vary. Murphy's recent comments could ignite new discussions about how professional athletes should interact with their environment and promote their sports.