Kyren Wilson came under fire for his comments about Shaun Murphy (Image: Getty)
Snooker icon has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Kyren Wilson’s about Shaun Murphy after he lost the Masters final.
remarks about Murphy, 42, being an “old man” while stating “he needs this more than me” have caused quite a stir in the snooker world. Rival Judd Trump the 33-year-old “not the best loser” following the contentious post-match remarks.
Wilson defeated Trump in the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace but ultimately succumbed to a 10-7 defeat to Murphy. However, seven-time world champion Hendry has now defended his post-match speech, maintaining that he doesn’t enjoy “seeing good losers”.
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Speaking on the podcast with Mark Watson, Hendry responded to Watson’s claims that Wilson had not taken his defeat well and agreed when asked whether it was healthy for the player they dub ‘the warrior’ to have an edge to his personality.
“I don’t like seeing good losers,” Hendry said. “There’s a saying, ‘if you show me a good loser, I’ll show you a loser’. I think in sport, there’s a lot to that. I don’t mind the fact that he’s a bad loser. I think that’s the only way to be. Why would you enjoy losing?
“It was a huge match in the Masters. He came back, had a chance to get back into it and end up losing. A couple of things he said, I thought, maybe he didn’t have to, I mean, he felt the need to remind everyone that he was world champion.
“I think it was a comment about people on the circuit being jealous of his situation or something. A couple of things that maybe didn’t need to be said. But listen, when you lose and the microphone is put in your face, sometimes I’m more guilty of it than anyone in the history of the game, saying things I shouldn’t say after a loss.”
Judd Trump criticised Wilson for his comments (Image: Getty)
Hendry then talked up the rivalry between Wilson and Trump, even declaring that Trump shares some of his rival’s ‘sore loser’ qualities, adding: “I mean, there was needle in it a few years ago when they played in the Masters.
“Then there was a bit of needle back and forward. Then it sort of calmed down, they became more friendly. And now Judd has sort of stoked it up a little bit again. So Judd is probably as maybe worse as bad or worse a loser than Kyren Wilson.”
Speaking to the Metro on Wilson’s comments, Trump said: “I don’t think he particularly put himself in a good light. I don’t know if it was a private joke, but it doesn’t seem that many people took it that well, from what I’ve read. It’s happened a couple of times, he’s not the best loser, but it’s not the worst thing to be hurting like that.
“It makes you hungrier and you don’t want to let it happen again when you experience that. Everyone will get over it and it’ll be fine. I’ve done it in the past. He probably means what he says, you just can’t really say it. There’s a fine line between being honest and trying to keep everyone happy.”
Stephen Hendry has had his say on the matter (Image: Getty)
Meanwhile, Murphy himself has also reacted to Wilson’s remarks. Chatting on his , ‘the Magician’ revealed that he was slightly caught off guard by them.
“I think he’s a really good world champion and a good role model. I think he does very well,” Murphy said. “There was a couple of things he said in the post-match questions, which were either slightly unnecessary or maybe said in the wrong way.
“But before we carry on, I will just say this. You have to put yourself in his shoes for a minute – he’s gutted, and your emotions are so high.”