Charlie Manby shrugs off any wrongdoing after UK Open altercation with James Hurrell
Charlie Manby insists there are “no friends on the oche” after his heated post-match altercation with James Hurrell at the UK Open on Friday.
Manby and Hurrell came to blows following their Fourth Round meeting in Minehead on Friday afternoon, which saw Manby clinch a 6-4 victory with a 99.3 average.
Manby was typically vocal with his celebrations throughout the contest, which appeared to upset Hurrell as he gestured with his fingers inside his ears at the end of the match.
Hurrell then confronted the 20-year-old at the drinks table before the referee was forced to intervene and separate the pair.
Manby, however, insists he did not break any rules with his conduct on stage, admitting to ITV: “I just don’t think he was happy with me giving it the big one.
“I am mates with James, I sit with him at ProTours, I got on really well with him, I just don’t think he liked me giving it the big one when there’s a lot riding on it.
“He was giving it back, I think that was it really.
“There’s no friends on the oche. Yes you can sit with whoever you want but there’s no friends on the oche at all.
“If I want to give it the big one, I’ll give it the big one, there’s no restrictions to that – especially here.
“We’ve got loads of people out there giving it the big one as well. My fans, his fans, we were just as good as each other so I don’t see any problem with it.”
Manby, who reached the Last 16 of the World Championship on his debut at Alexandra Palace in December, started the day with a 6-3 win over Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont on the Main Stage.
He then overcame fellow new Tour Card holder Tyler Thorpe 6-2 on the outer boards, notably receiving a polite warning from referee Scott Gibling for his vocal celebrations during the match.
Maby led Hurrell 3-1 before ‘The Hillbilly’ drew level at three apiece, but the youngster then claimed three of the next four legs to book his place in the evening’s Last 64 – where Ryan Joyce awaits.
