Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Snooker Star Shaun Murphy Recounts Ketamine Spiking Ordeal
Shaun Murphy, a prominent figure in professional snooker and reigning Masters champion, has revealed a terrifying incident during which he believes he was spiked with ketamine. The unsettling episode occurred during a night out following a tournament, leaving Murphy fearful for his safety. He expressed gratitude to his former manager, Brandon Parker, for his crucial assistance during the distressing experience.
Recollection of the Antwerp Incident
The incident unfolded in Antwerp in 2008, where Murphy and fellow snooker players were celebrating after a pro-am competition held in the Belgian city. A late-night gathering was organized for the players, but the 2005 world champion had to excuse himself early, later discovering he had been administered the Class B drug without his knowledge.
Details of the Night Out
Speaking to The Sun, Murphy recounted the events of the evening: “There were several players out that particular night. The promoter had organized a large party at this bar. I suspect I wasn’t the only player targeted that night. I became extremely unwell.”
Consequences and Rescue
Murphy, who asserts he has never used drugs, was unfamiliar with ketamine. “I had never taken drugs in my life and was unaware of what ketamine even was,” he stated. “It was a truly horrendous experience, and I believe it could have had fatal consequences if not for my dear friend Brandon Parker, who was with me that night and sharing my room. He essentially cared for me throughout the night and ensured I got on a plane home the next day. Adding to the difficulty, we had a very tight turnaround before traveling to China for the Shanghai Masters. It was an utterly awful experience.”
Tribute to Brandon Parker
Brandon Parker, a respected promoter and talent manager within the snooker world, passed away in 2020 at the age of 55 after battling kidney cancer. Murphy credits Parker’s actions on that night in Antwerp with preventing the situation from escalating to an even more serious outcome.
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Past Lifestyle and Present Focus
While Murphy is now leading a more settled life, he acknowledges a period where he may have “dedicated several years of my career to pubs” as nights out with the snooker elite were a regular occurrence in his younger years.
Coping Mechanisms
“From a young age,” Murphy reflected, “food and, once I was old enough, drink became my coping mechanisms. Celebrations and commiserations alike were often marked with food and drink.”
He elaborated on the demanding nature of professional snooker: “In snooker, constantly traveling and competing in a high-pressure environment, one is frequently either celebrating a win or dealing with a loss. Food and drink became my immediate response in either situation, regardless of who was in my support team at the time, be it friends, drivers, coaches, or managers. The routine was always the same: after a significant victory, the question was, ‘Where are we going to eat?’, or after a defeat, ‘Where’s the nearest Irish bar?’. This became a pattern.”
Moving Forward to the World Championship
However, those habits are now behind him. As Murphy prepares for the 2025 World Snooker Championship, he recognizes that elite athletes cannot sustain peak performance while engaging in frequent drinking.
“I no longer live the lifestyle I did in Manchester in the years following 2008,” he confirmed. “My friends and I would go out at least four nights a week, and I mean really go out. It’s simply incompatible with being a professional sportsperson at the highest level.”