World Championship 2025: Shaun Murphy plays on needing five snookers against Judd Trump at The Crucible - 'I thought he was going to concede'

Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy are locked in battle in the second round of the World Championship, and judging by what happened in frame six on Sunday, there will be no quarter given by the world No. 1 and the winner of the event in 2005. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

Shaun Murphy has been an advocate of ending frames when a player requires snookers, so he was likely extremely disappointed with himself when he played on needing five snookers against Judd Trump.

Trump and Murphy entered The Crucible on Sunday morning for the first session of their second-round clash.

Murphy took the first two frames, but Trump powered back and ended the session with a 5-3 advantage.

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But back in the sixth, there was some controversy as Trump built a big lead - 71 points - and seemingly had the frame in the bag.

Trump returned to his seat possibly looking ahead to the seventh frame, but Murphy emerged from his chair to play on.

In a 2023 social media post, Murphy said: "Unpopular opinion time... I think we should remove playing for snookers from the game. Once the frame is over mathematically, it’s over. What do you think?"

He seemingly forgot about that on Sunday, as he elected to continue.

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Murphy’s decision raised eyebrows in the TNT Sports commentary box, as David Hendon said: "Murphy is coming back, 71 behind with 51 on."

Hendon’s co-commentator Neal Foulds added: "I thought he was going to concede, he was sat in his seat for what felt like an eternity. I’m not sure if he fooled [referee] Rob Spencer."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

In response, Hendon said: "I think Rob was about to get the balls off and start setting up again."

It is not clear what Trump thought of Murphy’s actions, but he returned to the table one shot later and took an almighty lash at a red, which he fluked to right middle.

"The frame is over now and maybe Judd thought he should have conceded, Murphy, and decided to whack the balls as hard as he could," Foulds said.

Trump and Murphy will return for session two on Sunday evening, with the action live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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