Stephen Murphy (born 23 September 1969) is an Irish former professional

snooker Snooker (pronounced , ) is a cue sport played on a rectangular Billiard table#Snooker and English billiards tables, billiards table covered with a green cloth called baize, with six Billiard table#Pockets 2, pockets: one at each corner and ...

player. He was part of the Irish team that were runners-up at the 1996 World Cup of snooker.

Biography

Stephen Murphy was born on 23 September 1969. After he first moved to England to pursue a snooker career he lived with his compatriot and fellow-snooker player Eugene Hughes, who was described as his friend and mentor. They practised together at the Ilford Snooker Club. He became a professional player having finished fourth in the pro-ticket series and defeating Derek Mienie 9–4 in the 1989 professional play-offs. He played on the professional circuit from 1989 to 1999, achieving a highest ranking of 50. He defeated

Dennis Taylor Dennis Taylor (born 19 January 1949) is a Northern Irish retired professional snooker player and current commentator. He turned professional in 1972 and won the 1985 World Snooker Championship, in which he lost the first eight frames of 1985 W ...

in a run to the last-32 of the 1990 Dubai Classic and defeated

John Virgo John Trevor Virgo (born 4 March 1946) is an English snooker commentator and former professional snooker player. After turning professional in 1976, Virgo won four professional titles, including the 1979 UK Championship, the 1980 Bombay Int ...

on his way to the last-32 of the 1991 British Open, before his run was ended by

James Wattana James Wattana (; born January 17, 1970, as วัฒนา ภู่โอบอ้อม ''Wattana Pu-Ob-Orm'', then renamed รัชพล ภู่โอบอ้อม ''Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm'' in 2003) is a Thai former professional snooker pl ...

. He reached the last-32 of the 1992 World Snooker Championship, where he lost 3–10 to

Stephen Hendry Stephen Gordon Hendry (born 13 January 1969) is a Scottish retired professional snooker player and a current Sports commentator, commentator and pundit. One of the most successful players in snooker history, he turned professional in 1985, ag ...

. Murphy represented Ireland at the 1996 World Cup of snooker. Three-man teams with one sub from all over the globe took part at the Armari Watergate Hotel in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

. The Irish team consisted of Murphy along with

Ken Doherty Kenneth Joseph Doherty (born 17 September 1969) is an Irish professional snooker player who also works as a commentator and pundit on televised snooker broadcasts. From Ranelagh in Dublin, he is the sport's only World Snooker Championship, wor ...

Fergal O'Brien Fergal O'Brien (born 8 March 1972) is an Irish retired professional snooker player who competed on the World Snooker Tour from 1991 to 2024. He won one ranking title during his career, defeating Anthony Hamilton 9–7 in the final of the 1999 ...

and

Michael Judge Michael Judge (born 12 June 1975 in Dublin) is a former professional snooker player from Ireland. His best performance in a ranking event came in the 2004 Grand Prix, where he reached the semi-finals, and he reached his highest ranking, 24th, f ...

as sub. Ireland beat Canada to earn a semi-final with England. The England team was made up of

Peter Ebdon Peter David Ebdon (born 27 August 1970) is an English retired professional snooker player who is a former world champion and current coach. Ebdon won nine ranking titles during his career, placing him in joint 14th position (with John Parrott ...

Nigel Bond Nigel Bond (born 15 November 1965) is an English retired professional snooker player. Bond competed on the main tour from 1989 to 2022, and was ranked within the world's top 16 players between 1992 and 1999, peaking at 5th for the 1996–97 ...

and

Ronnie O'Sullivan Ronald Antonio O'Sullivan (born 5 December 1975) is an English professional snooker player. Widely recognised as one of the most talented and accomplished players in snooker history, he has won the World Snooker Championship seven times, a m ...

but lost 10–9. Ireland faced a Scotland team of Hendry,

John Higgins John Higgins (born 18 May 1975) is a Scottish professional snooker player from Wishaw in North Lanarkshire. Since turning professional in 1992, he has won 33 ranking titles, placing him in third position on the List of snooker players by num ...

and

Alan McManus Alan McManus (born 21 January 1971) is a Scottish retired professional snooker player, and a current commentator and pundit for ITV and Eurosport on snooker coverage. A mainstay of the world's top sixteen during the 1990s and 2000s, he has wo ...

in the final and lost 10–7. Despite returning to Dublin upon retirement, Murphy would visit to watch his friend Doherty play at future World Championships.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Stephen Irish snooker players Living people 1969 births