Shaun Murphy using reality TV show as surprise secret to World Championship success

Shaun Murphy has the hit reality show ‘Below Deck’ to thank for keeping his mind clear at the World Snooker Championship.

Murphy progressed to the semi-finals thanks to a 13-10 win over defending world champion Zhao Xintong.

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After he fell into a three-frame deficit from the start, Murphy rebounded and reeled off five-straight frames to take the lead.

The pair largely went back-and-forth with frames won until Murphy pulled clear when he won the 19th, 20th and 21st frames.

Murphy’s win means he has booked himself a spot in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship for just the second time since 2016.

How watching ‘Below Deck’ helped Murphy’s mindset

Speaking after the victory, which has also guaranteed him a cool £100,000 in prize money, Murphy explained how keeping a strong and positive headspace has been crucial to his success this tournament and revealed what he had done to cultivate that.

“I put my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ because all of your friends want to get involved, and they’ve all got their own advice, and you can get a bit lost,” Murphy said.

“I didn’t interact with anyone and just stayed in our little bubble and did the things that have got us to this point.

“One of the other things I’ve done this week is not watch as much snooker. Jo (his wife) and I have been plowing through Below Deck – we are absolutely addicted to Below Deck.

“I’ve tried to stay away, which is hard for me because I absolutely love it, I am still that kid at heart.

“But for what is best for performance, I have to try and keep away from it.”

Murphy lifts lid on new shot

It’s not just in his pre-match preparation where Murphy has made the most of marginal gains.

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The 43-year-old added he has worked on a new break off shot that has reduced the number of frames lost whenever he starts one.

“When you are looking for improvement, you are looking at minor percentage points and fine margins,” Murphy said.

“One of the things that stuck out for me was how many frames I lose from the break, and I was just sick of it, so we practiced something different, and we (coach Peter Ebdon) stumbled upon one that works.”

Thankfully Murphy will get another opportunity to show off his new break off shot, with the former world champion due to face either John Higgins or Neil Robertson in the semi-final.

Murphy: ‘I had to be somewhere near my best’

However, Murphy acknowledged his quarter-final clash was far from easy, especially after the disastrous 0-3 start.

“When you are playing great players, which Xintong unquestionably is, it makes it straightforward for you,” Murphy said.

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“At 3-0 down in the match, if you had said we would be level going into the last session, I’d have snapped your hand off, so I was able to get myself into a good headspace for today, and I just knew I had to be somewhere near my best, and I think I was – I am delighted with how I played.

“I am so in awe of Xingong and how he plays the game, and when he’s in full flow, he’s mesmerising to watch.

“In the first session, I was guilty of being on edge, and it was all a bit too important because we were both gone in the last couple of frames of that first session because you know how important it is.

“Going into today, I knew he was going to play well, so I knew if I didn’t, I’d lose.”

Murphy’s semi-final, which will be a best of 33 frames match, is due to begin on April 30.