Shaun Murphy comments on Ronnie O'Sullivan behaviour and unfair Judd Trump treatment

 Judd Trump booked his place in the World Snooker Championship quarter-final with a comprehensive victory over Shaun Murphy, who couldn't help but wax lyrical about his opponent after the match

Shaun Murphy has made some eye-opening comments about Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan

Shaun Murphy has lauded Judd Trump as the "champion elect" and "the most underrated player in the world" following his commanding victory at the 2025 World Snooker Championship.

Trump steamrolled into the quarter-finals with an impressive 13-10 win over Murphy on Monday, leaving The Magician in awe.

"It's a strange world we live in, but in terms of snooker ability, he [Trump] is the most underappreciated player in the world," Murphy, 42, told Sports Boom.

"I think so far Judd has managed to keep getting headlines based on his ability, but in the world we live in, that's not enough to be famous."

Murphy's comments highlight a perceived disparity in how the media and public have treated Trump and the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan. Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan, 49, was a tabloid favourite in the 1990s, often making headlines for both his brilliance on the table and his off-table antics.

Murphy believes that The Rocket's early career was marked by behaviour that, while generating significant media attention, may not be something the now-mature star looks back on with pride - and he doesn't think 2019 world champion Trump, 35, would want to go down that road.

"I think [Ronnie] O'Sullivan did a lot of things he probably wouldn't be proud of in his early career to gather headlines. And I don't think Judd would want to go down that road," Murphy said.

"You see O'Sullivan talks about a lot of things that he wishes he could change now that he's an older man. I'm not sure, the days of tabloid media, they feel like they're on the way out. I think Ronnie courted that for many years through the nineties.

"I think [Ronnie] O'Sullivan did a lot of things he probably wouldn't be proud of in his early career to gather headlines. And I don't think Judd would want to go down that road," Murphy said.

"You see O'Sullivan talks about a lot of things that he wishes he could change now that he's an older man. I'm not sure, the days of tabloid media, they feel like they're on the way out. I think Ronnie courted that for many years through the nineties.

Shaun Murphy thinks Judd Trump will go onto to win the tournament 

"He played the media game better than anyone else, and that's a world that's changing. We're in the TikTok generation now. I don't know if Judd has a TikTok account, but if he doesn't, he should have one."

Murphy's comments underscore the evolving nature of fame in snooker and the challenges modern players face in capturing public attention.

While O'Sullivan's larger-than-life persona made him a household name, Trump's quieter approach means he's often left unappreciated, at least in Murphy's mind.

Murphy said Ronnie O'Sullivan won't be proud of some of things he did to get attention during the 1990s

But that could change if he goes on to clinch a second Crucible crown in the coming days. He's facing 2023 world champion Luca Brecel in the quarters, and victory there would book him a semi-final clash with either John Higgins or Mark Williams.

O'Sullivan, who advanced to the last eight after beating Pang Junxu, could end up facing Trump in a blockbuster final in what would be a fascinating battle of superstar power vs understated brilliance.