Murphy faces familiar face

Shaun Murphy tomorrow embarks on his first major challenge to prove his stunning World Championship success this year was not a flash in the pan.

The 23-year-old started off as a 150-1 outsider when he became the first qualifier since Terry Griffiths in 1979 to claim the sport’s ultimate prize, with an 18-16 victory over Matthew Stevens at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in May.

Now he opens his bid for the second most prestigious ranking title, the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York, against Nigel Bond, one of his closest friends on the circuit.

Bond certainly believes his practice partner has the quality to establish himself as one of snooker’s top stars for a lengthy period rather than be a player who is here today but gone tomorrow.

“I’ve practised with Shaun on a regular basis since he was about 15 or 16 and I always knew he had it in him to be a top player because he has a great cue action and times the ball so well,” said the world number 27, a 9-7 first-round winner over Dave Harold.

“The way he became world champion may have been a shock to the public but not so much to the other players because they all knew what he was capable of.

“Shaun’s world title win was definitely not a one-off. No way was it a fluke. I’m sure he will win many tournaments over the next 10 years – hopefully not this one though!”

Bond, who was approached by Murphy’s father to practise with the youngster, expects it to be a surreal experience sitting in the opposite corner of the Barbican Centre auditorium to a player whose game he knows so well.

“I’m looking forward to it but it will be weird because we have become such good friends,” said the Derbyshire professional, the World Championship runner-up in 1995. “I’m sure there will be a few glances between us.

“We only live 35 minutes away from each other now since Shaun moved to Rotherham so it’s much easier to practise together than when he lived in Northamptonshire. But this will be our first competitive match against each other.”

And for all that Bond rates his opponent’s talent so highly, he is definitely not ruling out the prospect of causing an upset as the televised stages get under way.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been on the box,” added Bond. “I think the last time was when I reached the quarter-finals here three years ago.

“But I’m getting close to hitting the ball really nicely again, I’m trusting my cue action and I’ve got back in the top 32 after a couple of years outside. The results are coming steadily and I’ve taken the odd scalp here and there. I’m desperate to win a few more matches.”

The world’s three highest-ranked players also get their campaigns under way tomorrow with Ronnie O’Sullivan taking on 2004 semi-finalist Mark King, Stephen Hendry facing Thailand’s James