Ex-champ’s backing Gunnell
Thursday 26th November 2009, 12:37PM GMT.
Shropshire Star sports reporter James Garrison, right, interviews former world snooker champion Shaun Murphy at Minnesota Fats in Oakengates
A former world snooker champion has backed Shropshire’s Adrian Gunnell to break back into the big time on the small screen.
Shaun Murphy – who won the world title in 2005 – believes Gunnell can make an impression on ranking tournaments, despite not reaching the televised final stages since the Grand Prix in October last year.
The Telford cueman ironically beat Murphy in reaching the last 16 of that competition in Glasgow before losing to six-times world champion Steve Davis.
But Gunnell has another chance to earn a place amongst the big boys this weekend in qualifying for the UK Championship in Prestatyn.
Should Gunnell win two matches, he will be part of the 32-strong field in action at his home town when the sport’s second biggest tournament begins on Saturday, December 5 at the International Centre.
“Adrian’s a very good player and a great fella,” said Murphy. “He has had a good career and I’m sure he will be back on television playing in big games again.
“I was disappointed he didn’t go on after beating me in the Grand Prix last year to have a really good run in the tournament – but he is certainly very capable.”
Murphy returned to Telford earlier this week to begin his preparations for the defence of the UK title he won for the first time last year.
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