Shaun Murphy took his deciding frame defeat to Si Jiahui at the Crucible on the chin, predicting that the debutant will be the first Chinese player to win the World Championship.
The 2005 champion came to the Crucible as one of the favourites to lift the trophy again but his campaign has ended at the first hurdle, with Si going on to take on Robert Milkins in the last 16.
Murphy, though, was dignified in defeat, saying he still enjoyed the entertaining contest and predicting very big things for Si in the future.
‘I really enjoyed it, it was cracking,’ Murphy told a press conference. ‘It was exciting and I just came out the wrong end of it. I’ve had many great nights out there on the floor of the Crucible Theatre and I’ll have more.
‘Tonight was Si Jiahui’s night and I can only heap praise on him, I thought he was fabulous from start to finish.
‘I think he’s going to be the first Chinese world champion. It might not be this week but I think he’ll be the first.
‘I see things in him that other players simply don’t have. He’s got a bit of that swagger, he’s very raw and talented, plays right and left-handed, always likes to attack.
I threw everything at him, I’m very proud of how I played, I’ve had a great season, never give up, tried my absolute best, I just lost.’
Murphy admitted that it would be a stretch for Si to land the big one this year, but can see a huge amount of success for him in the future.
‘Don’t get me wrong, he probably won’t win the tournament [this year] but I do think he will [in the future]. He’s got everything in his game, you can see the green shoots of everything he will need to become a champion,’ said the Magician.
‘If he goes on to win this tournament this week, it will go down as one of the best performances of all time, from anybody, but I just love the way he plays.
‘He played completely care-free, no fear, he’s got every shot in the book and I enjoyed how he got on with it. You could see that he hasn’t had that raw talent coached out of him yet, I hope he continues on the path he is on.
‘He’s beaten me and I’ve been one of, if not the player of the season. If he’s beaten me he can beat everyone else.’
MORE : Shaun Murphy stunned by debutant Si Jiahui in World Championship opening round
MORE : ‘I was in constant pain and hating myself’ – Shaun Murphy recalls dark time that led to Si Jiahui outburst
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