TAKING THE MIC
Michael van Gerwen’s reaction to Shaun Murphy miss speaks volumes after feisty row during Paddy Power challenge
Van Gerwen mocked Murphy for comments he made in the past
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN was spotted laughing in shock at Shaun Murphy after the snooker star narrowly missed out on a 147 following a row with Luke Humphries.
Darts stars Van Gerwen and Humphries took part in the "Paddy Power Challenge" on Wednesday afternoon.
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It saw two darts players, two snooker players and two golfers attempt the pinnacle of their respective sports - a nine-darter, 147 and hole-in-one - over a two-hour period.
World champions Van Gerwen and Humphries were competing on an oche just metres away from Murphy and Mark Williams - who were potting balls on a snooker table in the same room.
Golfers Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher were elsewhere attempting a hole-in-one.
Murphy came out on top as the only player to successfully achieve their feat, making a 147 with less than 15 minutes remaining.
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But before that he became embroiled in a row - and then went on to miss the brown towards the end of a 147 attempt.
Tempers flared between Murphy and Humphries when debating which was harder out of a 147 and a nine-darter.
Reigning world champion Humphries said: "I think if you’re an amateur person who hasn’t played snooker, hasn’t played golf, hasn’t played darts, you give them a set of darts, a snooker cue and a golf club, I think they would do a hole-in-one first, the nine-darter second and 147 last.
"I think that would be harder. But to a professional, I think a nine-darter is harder than a 147. You have seen them [Murphy and Williams], they know all the angles."
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Murphy, who won his snooker world title in 2005, then burst out laughing before he shouted: "I didn’t know you were a comedian!"
Humphries, seemingly confused by the reaction, replied: "What’s funny about that? Did you hear what I said though?
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"When you know all the angles, in my opinion and you have your own one, when you know all the angles [a 147 is easier]. You can see, Mark has come close already twice.
"That’s what I mean. I think when you are a professional and you are really good at the game of snooker, you make it look easy, a 147."
Van Gerwen then added to Humphries' point, jokingly poking fun at Murphy - who has claimed in the past to have managed a 147, nine-darter and hole-in-one.
Dutchman Van Gerwen said: "Hey Murph, to you everything is easy, isn’t it? Hitting nine-darters everywhere."
Later in the challenge, following the row, Murphy was closing in on a 147 as he cleared up the reds and was left with the relatively simple task of potting the colours.
But he squandered a routine brown and slumped his head down over the table after realising the missed opportunity.
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The camera then cut to Van Gerwen who was seen stunned and laughing.
Yet it was Murphy who had the last laugh as he completed the 147 to win the event.
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