O’Sullivan and Trump No-Show Leaves Fans Disappointed in Rain

Shaun Murphy has criticised Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump for missing the media day ahead of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, saying their absence could damage their reputations and reflects a broader issue of top players not doing enough to promote the sport.

The two former world champions failed to attend the green-carpet ceremony outside the Crucible Theatre on Friday, April 17, 2026, the eve of the tournament, leaving hundreds of fans waiting in the rain. Their absence was confirmed by the World Snooker Tour, which stated that unless they provide a valid reason such as a medical issue, they could face sanctions.

Murphy, the 2005 world champion, said he believes it has become normal for O’Sullivan and Trump to skip such promotional events. “I think it’s a real shame and they probably could both have done a little bit more to help promote the game over the years,” he told assembled press at the venue.

He added that the public perception of the sport’s biggest stars could suffer when fans realise two of the most recognisable names in snooker were absent for the opening day. “It might give those two an image problem when the public tag onto that and realise that two of the biggest stars of the game weren’t here for the opening day,” Murphy said.

O’Sullivan, who is chasing a record eighth world title, has recently indicated his intention to travel into the tournament from a base in Ireland and has rejected all media requests in the build-up. Trump, the 2019 world champion and one of the favourites for this year’s title, also did not attend, with both players living outside the UK and managing their time in Britain for tax reasons.

The tournament began on Saturday morning, with Trump set to begin his campaign against Gary Wilson, who qualified for the event. O’Sullivan is scheduled to play his first match on Tuesday.

Murphy was one of 14 players who attended the launch event in Tudor Square, where players gathered to celebrate the relationship between snooker and Sheffield before media commitments inside the venue. He expressed disappointment that the opportunity to engage with fans and promote the sport was missed by two of its highest-profile figures.