British Open star hits out at Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson as he tells pair to 'grow up'

Chris Wakelin has slammed snooker stars Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson, branding their ongoing rivalry over who is the best player with the rest as "pathetic" and a "sausage competition." The 33-year-old, who was knocked out of the British Open by Wilson earlier this week, urged the pair to "grow up" and move on from what he considers a trivial debate.

In the niche world of snooker, the topic of who excels with the rest - a piece of equipment used to support the cue for difficult shots - has sparked heated discussions. Wilson, 33, and Murphy, 43, are widely regarded as the top two in this specific skill, with Barry Hawkins and Jimmy White also receiving praise for their prowess. However, the debate, frequently fuelled by the players themselves, has grown tiresome for Wakelin, who questions its relevance.

Speaking ahead of his opening round match at The Centaur, Wakelin didn't hold back. "There's no easy games," he said. "You have to play difficult players in every single round. Obviously, you don't get much tougher than the world No. 2 [Wilson], the self-proclaimed best rest player in the world."

When pressed on whether he agreed with Wilson's claim, Wakelin dismissed the entire argument. "I don't get involved in all that," he said. "I think it's quite pathetic, to be honest: 'I want to be the best at something that probably doesn't make any difference to your game.' I want to be the best all-rounder."

Wakelin went further, calling the rivalry a "sausage competition" and urging both players to find more meaningful topics to discuss. "Every time they get the rest out, they're like, I'm the best because I've potted one with it,'" he added. "There's a life to be lived, guys. Get over it."

The debate reached a peak earlier this year when Murphy won the Masters in January, beating Wilson in the final. He also boasted a flawless 100 per cent pot success rate with the rest at Alexandra Palace, potting all 51 of his attempts.

However, he kept the rivalry alive by graciously conceding that Wilson might have the edge. "If I'm totally honest, it is a bit niche, but isn't that what we're here for?" Murphy said. "I would actually say Kyren is better with the rest than I am. I think he has a much wider range, a much fuller range of shots that he can play. I might be a bit more accurate, but he's incredible."

As the British Open kicks into gear, the focus returns to the table. Murphy beat Ross Muir in the first round to set up a second round clash with Scott Donaldson on Wednesday. Wilson, meanwhile, failed to capitalise on his victory over Wakelin by getting knocked out by Stan Moody on Tuesday.