Every year, prior to all of the drama at the Crucible, there is a tough qualification process to determine which 16 players from the lower ranks will join the world’s top 16 on snooker’s most famous stage.
While some may argue that they have earned it by having the snooker results on their sides, Murphy believes that the top 16, of whom he is one, have too much of an edge.
Its not against the snooker rules of course, but maybe a bit unfair!
Players towards the bottom of the rankings must win four matches merely to qualify for the Crucible, and Murphy compares the advantage granted to the best players to Usain Bolt starting races 15 metres ahead of his competitors.
The 2005 world champ says it is almost scandalous and would have a flat draw for the sport’s biggest tournament.
‘If it were up to me the entire format of the World Championship would change,’ Murphy said on The onefourseven podcast. ‘The top 16 would NEVER start three or four rounds ahead of everyone else on tour.
‘I think it’s absolutely ridiculous, scandalous almost that the best players in the world start three rounds ahead of everyone else. I think it’s ridiculous and one of those very strange nuances in sport.
‘Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, the equivalent is saying: “Usain, we know you’re the quickest so you can start 15 metres ahead of everyone else.” Doesn’t make any sense to me at all.’
While he was looking to shake things up on the World Snooker Tour, the Magician also believes the Masters should be a ranking tournament.
While the top 16 compete in London, his argument is that it is not invitational, that anyone on tour may earn their way into the top 16, and that prize money should go toward global rankings, which it presently does not.
‘The one thing I would change to the Masters tomorrow, because it’s done on the rankings and in my opinion, certainly over the two-year ranking list people have the same opportunities to be in it,’ said the 40-year-old.
‘If it were up to me all events would count on the money list. That would be the only think I would change about the Masters.
‘I think it’s very, very strange that what has widely become acknowledged as our second biggest tournament in the game doesn’t count. I think that’s a weird one and I don’t subscribe to the arguments against that.’
