Shaun Murphy makes stunning 147 minutes after being branded a ‘confirmed wimp’ for running away from Ally Pally wasp
SHAUN MURPHY hit an incredible 147 - despite being interrupted by the Ally Pally wasp during his frame.
The former world champion is in brilliant form at The Masters and showed his best form in the semi-final.
He produced an emphatic response to going 2-0 down by winning four consecutive frames, hitting a 147 to lead 4-2.
Murphy, 42, was forced to regain his composure midway through the frame however as the Ally Pally wasp became a nuisance.
It buzzed around Murphy and caused him to run around the table before he shouted: "It's been happening all week!"
It may not have distracted the star but he did draw criticism from fans watching on.
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One reacted saying: "Shaun Murphy - confirmed wimp."
Another added: "That insect really said 'time to steal the spotlight."
A third wrote: "Lol, that insect really knows how to steal the spotlight hope it didn't mess up his game too much!"
And another commented: "The Ally Pally wasp never fails."
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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
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan
- 6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 - Alex Higgins
Murphy, 42, scored just the sixth 147 in Masters history - days after he branded himself an "idiot" after missing a chance at the maximum break.
He was on course to achieve the feat but inexplicably snookered himself behind the blue.
The Ally Pally wasp has been a pain for several stars in the last few years - making an appearance at the snooker and the darts.
At the World Darts Championship a few weeks ago it managed to land on Callan Rydz's hair as he took on Robert Owen.
Luke Littler even appeared to be stung by the wasp at the Worlds last year.