Shaun Murphy believes Barry Hawkins is one of the best snooker players to have not won a Triple Crown event.

Hawkins lost for the 13th time in a final at the German Open, as world champion Kyren Wilson got the better of him 10-9 in a final frame showdown. That led to Scots hero Stephen Hendry saying that there had to be more to his final falls, with Murphy now claiming that the Hawk is one of the sport's finest stars not to have tasted victory at either the World Championship, Masters or UK Championship.

Speaking on The Onefourseven podcast, 2025 Masters winner Murphy said: "Kyren is now a double winner of the German Masters and I thought that he deserved it. He played very, very strongly. When you get to the deciding frame, a 9-9 in a final, against someone like Barry Hawkins - a multiple event winner himself.

READ MORE: Barry Hawkins told 'it can't just be bad luck' as snooker veteran loses a final for the 13th time

READ MORE: What channel is Motherwell vs Celtic? Live stream, TV, ref, VAR and team news for Fir Park clash

"We could be talking about Barry Hawkins the multiple Triple Crown winner, couldn't we? He's featured in multiple finals, is possibly the best player now to have never won one of them. He's such a wonderful player, it literally is just a toss of a coin as to who wins that deciding frame."

Murphy was then asked if he backed Wilson, as world champion, in the final frame purely because of the crown he holds - but replied: "I could get on board with that way of thinking from the start of the match. I just think in the final frame, in a decider, it's like the shootout. Your next shot could, literally, be your last.

"That takes away the form book, the favourites, who is higher ranked, who has won more tournaments. I think that pales into insignificance come the final frame of a match. At the start of a match or a tournament I think you can look to form, but not in final frame deciders. And I'm not saying this because I lost a final frame decider."

Hawkins admitted that the better player had won in Berlin, but Stephen Hendry added: "Unfortunately, it’s been the story of Barry’s career. He’s so consistent, he’s always been one of the best players in the world even if he’s dropped out of the top 16. He’s a top quality player, but for some reason he doesn’t get the job done in the finals. It’s happened so many times that it can’t be just bad luck. There is something missing."