Snooker rule change could yet come into effect with boss open to it after Shaun Murphy demand

Daily Record

10-07-2025

World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson has admitted he'd be open to looking at shot times in snooker after Shaun Murphy's call for the introduction of shot clocks
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson has revealed he's willing to examine shot times in snooker following Shaun Murphy 's call for shot clocks to be introduced.
The former world champion made his proposal last December after criticising Mark Allen for what he claimed was intentional slow play during the UK Championship semi-final against Barry Hawkins whilst working as a BBC commentator.
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Following Allen's social media response to Murphy's commentary, the 42-year-old addressed his fellow professional on his Onefourseven Podcast, proposing that shot clocks would help officials sidestep issuing slow play warnings to players.
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"I'd bring in a shot clock," Murphy declared last year. "And I've been saying this for 20 years, so I'm super-consistent on this."
When co-host Phil Seymour enquired about the time limit per shot, Murphy replied: "30 seconds. I think a shock clock that is unemotive, unemotional – it can't be swayed, it's not open to opinion – takes all of the pressure off the referees.
"This section of the rules puts our referees in a terrible position where some of them get involved and warn a player who's fighting. If we had shot clock, and you can negotiate on 30 seconds... years ago, I got widely criticised for wanting a shot clock.
"Now the tide is starting to turn, not in totality, but it is starting to turn and I think, in years to come, we'll see it become a thing."
Ferguson recently featured on Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips, where he discussed potential changes to the professional snooker tour. "I think we've always got to be open-minded about change," Ferguson responded when asked by the Scottish snooker legend.
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He then shared his willingness to consider an in-depth examination of shot times, adding: "Dress code is something you can tamper with a little bit but I'd still like to see the big events protected. One thing I'd like to see is perhaps a more open look at shot times."
The Express reports how Hendry was more conservative regarding alterations to major tournaments, saying: "The major events I don't think you need to muck around with. The World Championship should always be the hardest test. Stamina, skill, bottle, everything."
Reflecting on last year's disagreement between Murphy and Allen, where the former accused the latter of slow play, it was 'The Magician' who expressed "admiration" for Allen's tactics.
"I'm employed by the BBC to call the game as I see it, and that's what I did. I don't remember ever saying that there was anything wrong with what he did," he mentioned on the podcast.
"I said he was perfectly within his rights, perfectly within the rules. And if I'm totally honest, I was watching in admiration because he was breaking down a player who the day before had slaughtered me."