Shaun Murphy’s cue had a busy day at the Northern Ireland Open on Tuesday as not only the Magician wielded his wand, but he lent it to a rival as well.
Noppon Saengkham arrived in Belfast for the event but his cue did not, leaving the Thai star stranded ahead of his opening game against compatriot Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
Luckily for him he bumped into Murphy the night before his game and the former world champion offered up his cue if required.
Noppon had a total of 10 minutes practice with the new stick and managed to beat Thepchaiya 5-4 in a dramatic contest.
Murphy then retrieved his cue and came from behind to defeat Zhou Yuelong 4-2 on Tuesday evening.
Explaining the situation to WST, Murphy said: ‘I just ran into him last night in the hotel and he looked distraught, he looked in trouble and I asked if everything was ok and he said his cue hadn’t arrived.
‘Listen, this week it was me but that type of thing is certainly offered any time a player is in trouble like that. I can’t think of a player on tour who wouldn’t offer to help out another player if they were in need like that.
‘I said if it doesn’t turn up, let me know. He let me know at breakfast this morning. He said, “it hasn’t turned up, can I use your cue?” I said, “yeah no problem, there it is.” I think he might have used it better than I did today, to be honest!
‘My tip is pretty much on its last legs so an extra best of seven wasn’t really what it needed but thankfully it’s seen us both home today.’
With Noppon wielding Murphy’s blade it meant the Englishman couldn’t practice ahead of his own game, but he said it was not vital.
‘Yeah I didn’t get to hit any balls, but I’ve been hitting balls since I was eight so an afternoon off isn’t going to kill me,’ he said. ‘I was delighted I was able to help him, as I say, this week it was my turn but that type of offer is happening all the time.’
Murphy is already into the last 16 where he meets Stuart Bingham on the top half of the draw, while Noppon meets Mark Williams in the bottom half, so the pair would have to play each other in the final for the cue sharing to become a real issue.
‘Then he’s in trouble,’ Murphy said of a final meeting with Noppon. ‘Let’s hope for all concerned that wherever his cue is coming from, that it arrives by then, but if he needs it again when I’m not playing he’s welcome to use it.’
The Magician has actually been experimenting with taking multiple cues to events in recent times, but hadn’t brought his spares to Belfast.
‘Ironically I only brought one with me this week,’ he posted on X.
Williams awaits Noppon in the next round on Wednesday evening after the three-time world champion beat Jamie Clarke 4-0 on Tuesday.
The Welshman is getting used to a new cue and has been playing more Chinese 8-Ball pool than snooker in recent weeks, so is not sharp but is never far away from a brilliant performance.
‘It’s getting better slowly,’ he told Eurosport. ‘New cue, so it takes a bit of time to get used to it. Like in that great film Roadhouse, Dalton says, it gets worse before it gets better.
‘I’ve been playing more pool than snooker in the last few months. I know my snooker’s going to suffer but it doesn’t matter. I got to the final of Saudi Arabia, which is probably a bad thing really because I’ve gone off the boil, I haven’t touched my cue, I’m just playing more pool.
‘I’m not practicing once a week, that’s the truth. But if I didn’t get to the final of Saudi I’d be playing every day.’
On Noppon edging Thepchaiya, he said: ‘I was watching that game, it was a good game to watch. He potted an unbelievable last red, 50 behind, dished up. All tough players. Really they’re favourite to beat me but you never know.’
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