SHAUN MURPHY reckons the electric atmosphere of the Ally Pally bearpit is sport’s equivalent of what Roman Gladiators faced at the Colosseum 2,000 years ago.
The Masters crowd in North London – which is more than 2,000 – is the biggest for snooker in the UK each year.
In Murphy’s eyes, there is no sterner test in the sport and the unique surroundings really examine your mettle to pot balls under pressure.
Though nobody dies or is eaten alive by lions like they were millennia ago in the Italy capital, Murphy feels the competition, which consists of 16 players, is tougher than what people face at the World Championship at the Crucible.
Channelling his inner Russell Crowe, the world no7 said: “You’d be hard pressed to find a more imposing or intimidating arena to play snooker in than Alexandra Palace.
“There is a buzz in there and every match could be the final of a tournament.
“There is hardly ever a spare seat in the place and the atmosphere from day one is electric.
“It must be, to some degree, what walking out into the Colosseum was like.
“Even more so than the Crucible. That is an intimate and different type of arena.
“Ally Pally is packed to the rafters.
“It is a fabulous venue to play snooker in and a real test of your mettle as a human being. It tests things that other parts of snooker don’t.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan, 50, is not involved in this first major event of 2026, having pulled out of the draw on Friday evening due to medical reasons.
The Rocket’s absence is a big blow to the £1million event but he has not felt physically well enough to play in front of the biggest crowd in the UK.
Murphy, 43, won the title 12 months ago following a 10-7 final win over Kyren Wilson – it was his fourth Triple Crown success.
In his runners-up speech, Wilson, 34, said on live TV that fellow Northamptonshire potter Murphy – who is nine years older – “has turned into an old man and needs it more than me”.
The Warrior later branded Murphy as “unprofessional” and said he was “disappointed” over an incident that occurred backstage in a practice room before the finale in North London.
It transpired that Murphy – who had ended the afternoon frames with some trick shots – started potting balls on Wilson’s table when he had momentarily left the practice area.
The 2005 world champion thought this would be funny ahead of the evening session but Wilson was not impressed and complained to officials.
Murphy later called out the world no2 and said: “Be a proper bloke and have the bottle to tell the world why you are moaning.”
But Murphy – who plays on Sunday against Wu Yize in round one – claims there is “no bad blood” between the Northamptonshire cueists.
He said: “We were both desperate to win and we ended up having a little fallout.
“Because I used the practice table he wanted to use. That was it.
“There was a blow up over nothing. In the heat of battle, when emotions run wild, small things become massive things.
“We sorted it out very quickly and there is no bad blood between myself and Kyren.
“At your core, you are a competitor. I don’t care if I play terribly and win.
“All I’m interested in is winning. Kyren is the same and emotions just got the better of us both.”
