Snooker star reveals he almost died from being spiked with KETAMINE on a night out as he thanks manager for saving his life
A snooker star has revealed the alarming incident that saw him almost die after consuming ketamine after his drink was spiked on a night out.
Shaun Murphy, who is the current Masters champion, shared the circumstances that saw his former tour manager being required to save his life.
He recounted the ordeal, which occurred at a pro-am darts competition in Antwerp, Belgium, back in 2008.
While the event itself went by without a problem, Murphy said he felt extremely ill by the end of the evening.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: ‘There were a number of players on this particular night out. The promoter had thrown a big party in this bar.
‘I don’t think I was the only player who was attacked that night. I was in a real bad way.
A snooker star has revealed the alarming incident that saw him almost die after consuming ketamine after his drink was spiked
The player in question shared the circumstances that saw his former tour manager being required to save his life
He recounted the ordeal, which he said occurred without his knowledge of what ketamine was
‘I have never taken drugs in my life. Didn’t know what ketamine was. But that’s what it was. It was awful. I have no doubt that that could have been the end of me.
‘Had it not been for my dear friend Brandon Parker, who I was with that night and sharing a room with, who pretty much nursed me through the night.’
Murphy is one of only 11 players to have earned a Triple Crown in the history of the sport by winning the World Championship, the Masters and the UK Championship.
However, he also admitted that his performances at tournaments could have been improved if he had spent less time socialising in pubs.
The 42-year-old said he often gravitated towards food and drink as it was an easy cause for celebration if he had performed well at an event.
And if he had not played to the expectations he had set himself, Murphy said he would use both as a crutch to attempt to boost him in difficult moments.
‘The Magician’ also noted how it was easy for him to gravitate towards alcohol given that many of his family members were, in his words, ‘either alcoholics or very heavy drinkers’.
Speaking to The Daily Mail in 2022, Murphy shared his experience of undergoing gastric sleeve surgery.
Speaking to The Daily Mail in 2022, Murphy shared his experience of undergoing gastric sleeve surgery
Speaking in August of that year, the star stated: ‘It’s been incredibly tough and one thing I’ve always struggled with is my weight’
The 2005 world champion said he made the decision after a combination of being ‘fat-shamed’ on social media, the breakdown of his marriage and prolonged injury problems took its toll.
Speaking in August of that year, the star stated: ‘It’s been incredibly tough and one thing I’ve always struggled with is my weight.
‘It was a big decision to go under the knife, but I accepted that I was unable to sort my weight out. I had surgery in May and so far I’ve lost about four stone.
‘My weight has always fluctuated, but it comes down to discipline and I needed to do something about it to give me the best possible chance of being successful in the final third of my career.’
While he and his wife Elaine separated in 2023, Murphy added to his list of majors by defeating Kyren Wilson in the final of the Masters earlier this year and will be hoping he can add to his list of Triple Crown titles with victory at the World Championship.
Snooker’s showpiece event takes place at the Crucible in Sheffield, with the first round proper commencing on Saturday April 19.
