Shaun Murphy wants 'terrible' snooker rule scrapped after awkward BBC moment

star had called on the World Snooker Tour (WST) to scrap the "terrible" earpieces they sell to fans for the . Organisers charge £12 for the item at the Crucible, which allows fans to listen to live BBC commentary as they sit and watch the action.

It meant that the crowd present for the penultimate session of the final were subjected to . The 1985 champion claimed that many snooker fans outside of Britain would have been "amazed" by Zhao Xintong's form, having had little chance to watch him play following his 20-month ban for his part in a match-fixing probe. Murphy hit back, quipping: "You must be fairly new to the game then, Dennis, because we are watching a former UK Champion (2021) here..."

That comment clearly irked Taylor, who snapped back: "They don't live in the UK, Shaun. That's what I was saying." A long and awkward silence followed, and the incident soon went viral on social media.

On his , 2005 world champion Murphy blamed the earpieces on the reaction, claiming the exchange was blown out of proportion. He told co-host Phil Seymour: "I don't understand how that blew up as big as it did.

"A little ruffle of laughter went around the Crucible, which is why I stayed quiet. And that's because of these earpieces. I think the earpieces are the worst thing to happen in snooker in my lifetime."

'The Magician' ranted that the items were plaguing pundits and players, adding: "I think the way that the commentators have to tailor their narrative to guard against audience members bursting out laughing, not having the presence of mind to not laugh, when players are trying to compete, is bonkers.

"So I think they need to do away with the earpieces. I think they're a terrible affliction across snooker. I don't think they help anyone with anything. They make the commentary a lot more difficult. They make playing more difficult."

Earlier this week, Murphy when the semi-final match between Zhao and finished with a session to spare. He took aim at the authorities then, saying: "Other than they make the World Snooker Tour £12 quid every time they sell one, I don't know who they serve."