‘The tide is starting to turn' – Snooker chiefs contemplating major rule change after Shaun Murphy pleas ‘for 20 years'
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson has opened the door to a conversation about implementing them in sport for the first time.
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The concept of a snooker shot clock has been championed by Shaun Murphy, who claims the the idea is growing in popularity.
Murphy - a former world champion - notably pushed for the introduction of a shot clock during a tiff with snooker pro Mark Allen at the end of last year.
While on commentary duties, Murphy noted Allen's slow pace of play and suggested it was a tactic to throw opponent Barry Hawkins off his game.
After Allen's rebuttal on X, Murphy was questioned as to what the sport could do to improve the situation.
He said: 'I'd bring in a shot clock. And I've been saying this for 20 years, so I'm super-consistent on this.
'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."
Speaking on the changing attitudes towards the suggestion in the snooker world, Murphy added: "Years ago, I got widely criticised for wanting a shot clock - now the tide is starting to turn.
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"I think, in years to come, we will see it become a thing.'
Now WPBSA chief Ferguson has opened the door to a conversation on the topic.
Shaun Murphy reveals one of darkest moments of his career before bouncing back to win Masters
Speaking on Stephen Hendry's show Cue Tips earlier this week he said: "I think we've always got to be open-minded about change.
"One thing I'd like to see is perhaps a more open look at shot times."
While Murphy might view the admission as a step in the right direction, the statement had an air of compromise to it, as Ferguson would go on to caveat his opinion.
He said: "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.
"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.'
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 - John Spencer
1970 - Ray Reardon
1971 - John Spencer
1972 - Alex Higgins
1973 - Ray Reardon (2)
1974 - Ray Reardon (3)
1975 - Ray Reardon (4)
1976 - Ray Reardon (5)
1977 - John Spencer (2)
1978 - Ray Reardon (6)
1979 - Terry Griffiths
1980 - Cliff Thorburn
1981 - Steve Davis
1982 - Alex Higgins (2)
1983 - Steve Davis (2)
1984 - Steve Davis (3)
1985 - Dennis Taylor
1986 - Joe Johnson
1987 - Steve Davis (4)
1988 - Steve Davis (5)
1989 - Steve Davis (6)
1990 - Stephen Hendry
1991 - John Parrott
1992 - Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 - Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 - Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 - Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 - Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 - Ken Doherty
1998 - John Higgins
1999 - Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 - Mark Williams
2001 - Ronnie O'Sullivan
2002 - Peter Ebdon
2003 - Mark Williams (2)
2004 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (2)
2005 - Shaun Murphy
2006 - Graeme Dott
2007 - John Higgins (2)
2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)
2009 - John Higgins (3)
2010 - Neil Robertson
2011 - John Higgins (4)
2012 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)
2013 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)
2014 - Mark Selby
2015 - Stuart Bingham
2016 - Mark Selby (2)
2017 - Mark Selby (3)
2018 - Mark Williams (3)
2019 - Judd Trump
2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (6)
2021 - Mark Selby (4)
2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (7)
2023 - Luca Brecel
2024 - Kyren Wilson
2025 - Zhao Xintong
7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan
6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 - Alex Higgins
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