Champ Murphy backs Telford venue

UK champion Shaun Murphy shares his thoughts with BBC Radio Shropshire (OTMP)

Shaun Murphy has hit out at former world champion Ken Doherty's criticism of the Telford snooker venue where he won his UK title in December.

"The atmosphere was fantastic, and all the matches were very well supported," Murphy told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"The semis and the final were packed, and the powers-that-be should keep big time snooker at Telford."

Doherty, who also played in the same event, had suggested some games were watched by "half a dozen spectators."

Doherty made his comments to back world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan's claim that snooker was in decline and needed jazzing up.

Doherty told the BBC: "The atmosphere at Telford wasn't what it used to be in the sport. The game's gone stale."

O'Sullivan launched his startling attack on the state of professional snooker this week, suggesting the sport was "on a downward spiral" and criticising its administrators.

He insisted that only someone with the business vision of X Factor supremo Simon Cowell could rescue it.

Murphy, who beat Marco Fu 10-9 to become only the 10th player to win the UK and World titles, countered: "I've always had good memories of Telford, from back when it used to host the World qualifiers, and I still like the place.

"I played there in the UKs in 2007 and fancied I could win it, but got beaten in the semis.

"I went back this time, and although I was in bad run of form all season I thought that at Telford I had a good chance of turning it around - and lo and behold I did."

Murphy jumped to third in the world rankings thanks to his Telford victory just before Christmas.