Defending champion Shaun Murphy handed Masters warning as Mark Selby prediction made - The Mirror

Shaun Murphy will begin the defence of his title against Wu Yize in the first round of the 2026 Masters at Alexandra Palace on Sunday afternoon

Defending Masters champion Shaun Murphy has been handed a stinker of a first-round draw. That’s the view of former world champion John Parrott, who believes Wu Yize is more than capable of causing an upset at Alexandra Palace this afternoon.

Murphy, who beat Kyren Wilson 10-7 in last year's final, is bidding to win the tournament for a third time. Victory last year ended a decade-long wait for the 43-year-old to land a first Masters title since his maiden triumph in 2015.

But as Murphy prepares to get the defence of his title under way, Parrott has warned him: “I think it is very difficult to retain the trophy, and he has got a real stinker as well in his opening match.

“Wu Yize is a proper player, and they have had a match before, and Wu is one of the most improved players on the circuit. It is a fabulous match to open the tournament.

“Murphy was brilliant last year, and he has carried on his form, but he has definitely got a tough match in the opening round; this kid Wu can play.”

As defending champion, world number seven Murphy is the top seed, but Mark Selby is the favourite to win the competition in many people’s eyes. Selby, who faces Xiao Guodong tonight, looked back to his formidable best when he won the UK Championship at the York Barbican last month.

And Parrott believes a break over Christmas will have done the 42-year-old the world of good. He said: “I think the fact he has had a little hiatus over the Christmas period is a good thing as well because I think it is difficult to win tournaments back-to-back.

“Selby has been one of the best players on the circuit for a long time, and what he did in the UK Championship was brilliant. He must be fancying his chances of having a good run in this competition.

“His opponent, though, is a really good quality match player, but you would think Selby would have too much for him, and because of the break since Christmas, Mark will be fancying his chances of going all the way.”

The Masters is the second Triple Crown competition of the season, and Parrott believes: “There is nothing like the Masters. There are now 2,000 in the auditorium.

"It is a great tournament to go and watch. It is definitely a bucket list place because if you can get a ticket, it is like nothing else.

“The best players in the world are playing straight away, and when you get matches that go 5-5 and deciders, it is a pretty special atmosphere.

“Some of the older players like myself, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, we never got to play there, and we get quite jealous about this one because this is the one you would have loved to play in.”