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Snooker champ's family heartache
WORLD snooker champion Shaun Murphy today revealed he was playing on despite a hidden family drama.
His dad, Tony, is seriously ill having had a double heart bypass operation.
And with mounting expectation as the rising star of world snooker, Murphy has had a lot of pressure thrust upon his young shoulders.
"It's been a really tough time. My dad's been really ill and I've been spending a lot of time at the hospital with him," said Murphy.
"He has his good and bad days, but he's been very ill and that's been upsetting.
"It really puts life into perspective. The success of winning the world title has been amazing, but this has really made me stop and think about what's important in life - and my family is. We're all very close."
The Rotherham young gun rose to fame with his World Championship win at the Crucible Theatre at the end of last season. But the right-hander has quickly found that celebrity status makes sure life is never dull.
As well as his father's illness, Murphy himself has been in wars of late.
The 23-year-old was forced to have major dental surgery before the Travis Perkins UK Championship, in which he has now reached the televised last 32 stage.
Murphy had four teeth removed two days before his opening round clash with best mate Nigel Bond.
The pain was so intense that Murphy had to take painkillers before and during his best-of-17 tussle with the Derbyshire player.
His personal life has also been very hectic - and nothing short of stressful.
"Me and Clare (whom he married this summer) have moved house in Rotherham, and that's been very stressful," added Murphy.
"We've also bought another house which we are going to rent out, and then of course we are trying to sell our current house.
"Then, of course, I've been in agony before this tournament. On Thursday I was at the dentists and I had major dental surgery.
"I was given painkillers, but I felt they were wearing off during match with Nigel (Bond] and it started to affect my vision. I wasn't able to see properly."
Murphy was not at his vintage best against Bond, but felt his victory was a "real test" on his York Barbican Centre debut.
"Nigel is probably the best placed person to make an attack on me," confirmed Murphy.
"I've practised with him since I was 15, so it was always going to be hard. But that's what I needed at this early stage in the season."
"*Murphy's remarkable achievement in winning the World Championship has been recognised by a hat-trick of awards from BBC regional stations.
The 23-year-old beat Welshman Matthew Stevens 18-16 in a classic final at the Crucible Theatre in May.
He became the second youngest winner of snooker's blue ribbon event and the first qualifier to lift the trophy since Terry Griffiths in 1979.
Murphy was born in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, but moved to Rotherham in Yorkshire last year.
He was voted Sportsman of the Year by BBC Look East and BBC East Midlands and also won the BBC Yorkshire 'Look North' Award.
On Saturday he opened his Travis Perkins UK Championship campaign with a 9-7 defeat of Nigel Bond.
Murphy and wife Clare travelled to London to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Show last night
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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