News
False Start For Shaun

Northern Ireland Trophy - 2008
 Round One - Tuesday, 26th August

Shaun, so consistent last season, fell at the first hurdle today with a 5-2 defeat to Mark Williams in the Northern Ireland Trophy.

The first two frames were shared before Williams then opened a gap with breaks of 50 and 85. The Cwm potter looked to be on his way to a 4-1 lead after opening with a 50 in frame five but Shaun finished with a 37, his highest break of the match, to take the frame on the black and reduce his arrears.

This turned out to be Shaun’s last opportunity as two-times World Champion Williams sealed his win and a place in the last 16 with runs of 48 and 44. So a disappointing start to the season for Shaun who will be looking to bounce back straight away in the Shanghai Masters, the next tournament on the calendar.

For all the dates of this seasons tournaments please view the CALENDAR section of the website.



888.com 2008 WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP - 19th April - 5th May, The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

SHAUN DEFEATS DAVE

23 April 15:53:00

Shaun sailed through his first round match, this afternoon, with a comfortable 10-3 victory over Dave Harold. Shaun was near to his fluent best as he outclassed his opponent to go into the second round against Ali Carter, a match which starts Friday afternoon at 2.30pm.

The 2005 Crucible champion did most of the damage in Tuesday night’s session, by building a 7-2 lead. He was sporting a flashy pair of trousers, adorned with a gold strip on each leg, but today his skill on the table was the main attraction. Harold won the opening frame before Shaun reeled off the three he needed within 32 minutes, making breaks of 102, 72 and 73.

Shaun, 25, has shown an exceptional level of consistency this season, reaching at least the semi-finals of the last five ranking events. He leads the provisional world rankings and his first round win here has kept him in the driving seat for the official top spot.

Though he has yet to win a ranking event this season - the invitational Malta Cup is his only silverware this term - Shaun has been made second favourite for the title by 888sport.com and, on current form, will take some stopping.






Honghe Industrial 2008 World Snooker CHINA OPEN - 24th - 30th March, Beijing Students University Stadium

SHAUN SITS TOP OF THE WORLD

31 Mar 2008 10:00:02

Shaun, this morning, sits at the top of the provisional world rankings despite a final frame defeat in the final of the China Open. Shaun’s consistent, season long form, that has seen him reach four ranking tournament semi-finals and one final, means he has replaced Ronnie O’Sullivan at the top of the provisional ranking list with one more tournament left on the seasons calendar, the World Championship in Sheffield.

Shaun will head to the Crucible full of confidence after his strong showing last week in China and will be looking to regain the title he won in 2005 and become official world number one. It is the second time this season Shaun has gone provisionally top of the ranking list, the first time coming after the Northern Ireland Trophy in November. Since then, Shaun has continued to monopolise the final stages of tournaments, with a further semi final appearance in the UK Championship, winning the Malta Cup and now his final appearance in China.

Shaun said of his performance this last week, "I'm disappointed to lose after playing well all week, but I've really enjoyed my time here and I've no regrets. It's been great preparation for me for the world”.

It is sure to be an exciting climax to the season to see who can lift the greatest prize in snooker and who will finish on top of the world. The tournament starts on Saturday 19th April until Monday 5th of May. Stay with shaunmurphy.net for all the latest news from the Crucible and to see if Shaun can finish the campaign off in the same, classy style he has shown all season.

SEE YOU ALL IN SHEFFIELD!


SEMI SUCCESS

29 Mar 2008 16:29:00

Shaun reached his first ranking final of the season with a 6-3 defeat of Mark Selby in the Honghe Industrial 2008 World Snooker China Open.

Shaun brought to an end Selby's winning streak as he set up a final meeting with Stephen Maguire in Beijing. Shaun had lost at the semi-final stage of the past four ranking events but overcame that hurdle with a composed performance.

The 25-year-old will face Glasgow's Maguire over 19 frames tomorrow with the winner to take home a cheque for £48,000. Shaun will be seeking his third ranking title and his first since the Malta Cup two years ago - though he did win the same tournament when it took place as an invitational last month. It's well documented that he and Maguire are not friends away from table, but neither will need any extra motivation when they battle for the title.

Former World Champion Shaun, went 2-0 up tonight with a top break of 64. Leicester's Selby, whose purple patch has yielded the SAGA Insurance Masters and Welsh Open titles, took the next three in a row with 54, 95 and 132.

Shaun hit back with 73 and 77 to go 4-3 up then he came from 44-0 down to win frame eight on the brown. He built an early 41-3 lead in the next, then Selby battled back to within four points before missing a tough final yellow. Shaun laid a snooker and capitalised on the chance that followed by clearing to the blue for victory.

"The Magician" said, "I'm very pleased to win and to be in the final," who is accompanied this week by wife Clare and her parents. "It's been a bit frustrating losing in semi-finals, but I've been pleased with the consistency I've shown this season and now I've got the chance to win a trophy.

"I showed a lot of patience tonight. Mark is a fantastic player and he always makes the game difficult for his opponent. He wanted me to attack and go for my shots. but I decided to hang back and wait for him to make the mistakes."

Selby said: "I struggled throughout the match, apart from the one frame where I made a century. Shaun wasn't brilliant either but he deserved to win. I had chances in the balls but I didn't score well enough.


SHAUN IN THE SEMI'S....AGAIN!

28 Mar 2008 14:07:00

Shaun secured another semi-final appearance today, after dispensing with Irishman Mark Allen in a confident 5-3 victory at the Beijing Sports Gymnasium.

"I'm very pleased to get through to another semi and continue my consistent form," said a delighted Shaun.

"The four players left have been the best this week, and with the exception of Ronnie O'Sullivan they are probably the best four in the world at the moment.

"Mark Selby and I are good friends and we've had some good matches in the past. We're both playing well so it should be a quality game of snooker, and I think it will be quite close."

Allen had breaks of 56, 54 and 62, and led early on having won the opener.

But Shaun was in determined mood and, with breaks of 43, 53, 52, 59, 46, 82 and 64, he powered into a fifth ranking-event semi-final in a row.


SHAUN OUST'S DING

27 Mar 2008 15:45:00

Shaun triumphed at the end of a dramatic deciding frame to end the hopes of Ding and his millions of fans at the Honghe Industrial 2008 World Snooker China Open with a 5-4 win.

The exciting contest came down to the last few balls. Ding, trailing 42-61, had a chance to clear from the final green, but failed to gain perfect position on the brown then missed a tough pot to a centre pocket.

As the brown rebounded and rolled towards a baulk corner, Ding must have had a flash-back to his match against Stuart Bingham at the same stage of this tournament three years ago, when he fluked the brown and went on to win the tournament.

But this time, the brown finished hanging over the jaws, giving Shaun an easy chance to clear to the pink for victory and a quarter-final place against Mark Allen.

Earlier, Malta Cup champion Murphy started strongly with breaks of 71 and 111 to go 2-0 up. Ding came back to win four of the next six frames with a top run of 72.

But the 20-year-old and his legions of supporters were left disappointed. "I played ok but I had some bad luck in the last frame," said Ding, who has never beaten Shaun. "The pressure on me was huge. I will go back to the UK to prepare for the Crucible, because there is less attention on me there.

"I had chances and we both made mistakes. I'm satisfied with winning my first match here, so losing tonight doesn't matter too much."

Shaun, the world number 3 said: "I'm delighted. I made some nice breaks and played some good safety. I'm sure the match was great entertainment for anyone watching.

"We both had some good and bad luck throughout the match, but Ding was unlucky in the last frame to leave the brown over the pocket. It couldn't have finished in a better place for me.

"It was a massive advantage for me that I've never lost to Ding, though he's a great player and I'm sure he'll beat me one day. His biggest disadvantage is the expectation. He's got the weight of a nation on him and it must be difficult."


MURPHY HOLDS "IT" IN, TO TAKE THE WIN!

26 Mar 2008 11:26:00

After winning a frame that lasted longer than a football match, Shaun Murphy scored a 5-3 win over Dave Harold at the Honghe Industrial 2008 World Snooker China Open.

Shaun Murphy beat Dave Harold 5-3 in a match that included the longest frame in snooker history.

The eighth and final frame saw the players locked in a tactical exchange with only the colours left. As the clock ticked on the players potted the yellow and green before contesting the brown.

Murphy finally took the honours, the frame lasting 93 minutes and 12 seconds, surpassing both the records for the longest televised frame and longest in snooker.

Longest televised frame: Mark Selby v Marco Fu, Maplin UK Championship 2007 77:31

Longest ever frame: Cliff Thorburn v Stephen O'Connor Welsh Open qualifiers 1994 92:52

Harold opened his account with a 71 but Murphy responded with a 76. Harold from Stoke claimed the next and should have been 3-1 up at the interval but missed a simple blue that would have allowed him to sneak the frame.

Muprhy upped a gear after the resumption knocking in breaks of 91 and 112 but the Stoke cueman dug in deep with runs of 41 and 56 to give himself a chance.

"I'm very very pleased to have won, I'm not flying half way around the world to lose in the first round and I'm through to the second round.

"Although the last frame was the longest I was very pleased with how I played in the whole match. My safety play was good my potting was good and generally if both of those work you win the game," said Murphy

The next frame saw history created but it was Murphy who'll be the happier of the two after a hard contest.

"Dave is a very good player who plays cagey snooker and it was never going to be over in hour, it was always going to be a slow hard game. It is hard because most players play more aggressive snooker but we are all here to win and you have to respect," said Murphy

When questioned about creating history he amused the assembled throng of Chinese journalists by admitting, "It was difficult in the last frame, I needed to go the toilet throughout the frame and I wouldn't have minded if I had lost the frame."

Murphy will now play the home favourite in the next round in what should be a classic, although the 2005 World Champion has never lost to the Chinese prodigy.

WARM WELCOME

24 Mar 2008 06:45:00

Beijing rolled out the red carpet for snooker's star players on Sunday for the opening ceremony of the Honghe Industrial 2008 World Snooker China Open.

It was the first such ceremony to be staged at the spectacular Water Cube, the venue for aquatic events at the Beijing Olympics, which starts in August.

A crowd of fans and media gathered as the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Shaun Murphy , John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, home favourite Ding Junhui and defending champion Graeme Dott were introduced.

The players were then shown inside the Water Cube before taking part in a press conference.

The tournament begins today (Monday) at the Beijing Students University Stadium with eight of the 16 qualifiers in action against Chinese wild cards.




PREMIER LEAGUE QAULIFYING

MURPHY MARCHES TOWARDS PREMIER LEAGUE

14 March 2008 16:13:00

Shaun has become the fourth player to advance into the final group of Championship League Snooker.

Shaun, 25, the 2005 World Champion, clinched his place by defeating Ali Carter 3-2 in the last match of Group 4 to move closer to playing in the 2008 Premier League.

"I'm very, very pleased," said Shaun. "I've had a great season and up to second in the provisional world rankings so I have a great chance to be in the Premier League by right if I win the World Championship or am number one.

"But I'm happy to be in the last group to try and win this wildcard and I look forward to it.

"This (the Championship League) is different to anything else and you play such a lot in such a short space of time.

"Over the last few days I've played more frames than in any other tournament and it can be draining.

"But not everyone practises as much as I do and I’m used to doing six or seven hours practise a day."




WELSH OPEN - 11th - 17th February, Newport Centre, Newport, Wales

SEMI FINAL FRUSTRATION

16 Feb 2008 22:13:00

Ronnie O'Sullivan blasted a tournament high break of 143 to seal a 6-3 win over Shaun in the Welsh Open semi-finals.

The Rocket will now face Mark Selby over 17 frames tomorrow at the Newport Centre, a repeat of their semi-final at the Maplin UK Championship when O'Sullivan won 9-8 with a 147 in the deciding frame.

The Chigwell cueman played his best snooker of the week tonight, making three centuries and three more breaks over 50. Having won the UK in December, he is aiming for back-to-back ranking titles, having previously not won a ranking event for 33 months.

Shaun won last week's invitational Malta Cup but has now lost in the semi-finals of four consecutive ranking tournaments.

O'Sullivan was first among the balls in the opening frame but missed an easy pink on 51 and Shaun took advantage with a fine 70.

The two traded 76 breaks to leave the score at 2-1 to Shaun, then O'Sullivan hit top gear with back-to-back centuries of 113 and 101 to take the lead.

Shaun got the better of a scrappy sixth frame, only for O'Sullivan to regain the lead at 4-3 with a 75. The Rocket opened up a two frame lead with a 62 then finished the contest in style with his 143, putting him in line for the £2,000 high break bonus.

"I'm not sure if that performance was my best of the week, I also played well against Judd Trump," said 32-year-old O'Sullivan, who is now sure to stretch his lead at the top of the provisional world rankings. "I missed a few balls tonight and those are always the ones you remember. I had to raise my game because Shaun has been playing well.

Shaun, who lost 6-5 to O'Sullivan in the Royal London Watches Grand Prix semi-finals, said: "The only real difference was that he got the better chances. I might have done the same if I'd had those chances. He was hunting the difficult parts of the table with his safeties and that shows the respect he has for me.

"I don't think that the semi-finals have become a stumbling block for me, if you offered four consecutive semis to any of the others players I think they would take it. I'm well in the top four of the rankings and I'm pleased with that.

"I'm looking forward to China, but it's mainly Sheffield that we're now preparing for. The things I've been working on seem to be paying off so I'll be looking to go at least one better."

BLINK AND YOU'D MISSED IT

15 Feb 2008 21:15:00

Shaun made it four ranking event semi-finals in succession when he reached the last four of the Welsh Open with a 5-0 demolition of Joe Perry.

The two had never met before and the Rotherham potter who has been in terrific form this season turned in a clinical performance to book a second last four meeting with Ronnie O'Sullivan. The two met in Aberdeen in one of the matches of the season and fans will be hoping for a repeat of that match.

Shaun led 5-2 with two century breaks before the Rocket replied with four runs of 50 plus to take the last four frames and the match. Since then Shaun has gone from strength to strength, reaching the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Trophy, the Maplin UK Championship and now the Welsh.

Shaun took the opening frame with a break of 60 and followed that up with breaks of 66, 108 and 84 to lead 4-0 at the interval. Perry by contrast had few opportunities and could only manage 24 points in the opening four frames.

"We do all these hours of practise and it's great for it all to come together. If I was being ultra critical I missed an easy blue in the last frame, but I'm not going to be.

"This is match play snooker and it's about getting to the winning score first," he said.

Having won last week in Malta, the 25-year-old former World Champion is in top form, "I'm in a good frame of mind. I'm happy to be playing well and enjoying it. Everything from here is about preparation for the World Championship," admitted Shaun who lost out to Mark Selby in another epic semi-final.

The showdown starts at 7pm. Don't miss it

SHAUN POLISHES OFF THE POTTING MACHINE

14 Feb 2008 21:58:00

Shaun remained on course for back-to-back titles by beating Mark Williams at the Welsh Open.

The Malta Cup champion, scored a 5-2 win over Williams in Newport to end Welsh hopes of a home winner and set up a quarter-final meeting with Joe Perry tomorrow.

Shaun has been snooker's most consistent performer this season - victory over Perry would give him his fourth consecutive ranking semi-final.

The first four frames were shared, Williams making a 100 in the fourth. But Shaun played superbly after the interval, blasting in 105, 129 and 68 to reel off the last three.

"That's probably the best I've played in a match of snooker for a very long time," said Rotherham's Murphy. "I enjoyed it, I hit the ball very well. That's how I've been playing in practice.

"After the interval I stopped him playing and when I did get my chances, I hit him hard. I'm really enjoyed my snooker at the moment. I've been training hard, I'm getting fitter and losing weight all the time.

"I'm working on every part of my game and at the moment it's showing. Joe is having a good patch, so I'll have to play well and keep him out of the balls."

Williams said: "There's not much anyone could have done about the way he played after the interval. I was pleased to win my first match but tonight I came up against someone playing really well."


LATE START, EARLY FINISH, JOB DONE!

14 Feb 2008 01:10:00

Shaun saw off Ian McCulloch 5-3 in a match which finished in the early hours of Thursday morning. Due to the late finish of the previous match and some poor scheduling, the match didn't commence untill after 9pm. After sharing the first two frames, McCulloch took a one frame advantage to lead 2-1. Shaun however made a vital 57 clearance in the fourth frame to get to 2-2 at the interval and pulled away from 3-3 to win the last two and take the match.

Shaun now faces two time World Champion Mark Williams in the next round after his final frame victory over Marco Fu. Shaun commented, "Mark's playing well, he's a double World Champion and I look up to him," said the Malta Cup champion. "I'm doing well and it's nice to see the work I'm doing on the practice table paying off."


SHAUN HEADS TO THE VALLEY'S

13 Feb 2008 09:30:00

Shaun and the rest of the worlds elite will be heading to Wales this week, for the Welsh Open.
Originally a prestigious amateur event for Welsh players, the Welsh Open became a ranking tournament for the first time in 1992.

Televised extensively by BBC Wales, the tournament has produced some classic matches in recent years, with five finals since 1999 being decided in a final frame:-
1992 Stephen Hendry bt Darren Morgan 9-3
1993 Ken Doherty bt Alan McManus 9-7
1994 Steve Davis bt Alan McManus 9-6
1995 Steve Davis bt John Higgins 9-3
1996 Mark Williams bt John Parrott 9-3
1997 Stephen Hendry bt Mark King 9-2
1998 Paul Hunter bt John Higgins 9-5
1999 Mark Williams bt Stephen Hendry 9-8
2000 John Higgins bt Stephen Lee 9-8
2001 Ken Doherty bt Paul Hunter 9-2
2002 Paul Hunter bt Ken Doherty 9-7
2003 Stephen Hendry bt Mark Williams 9-5
2004 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt Steve Davis 9-8
2005 Ronnie O’Sullivan bt Stephen Hendry 9-8
2006 Stephen Lee bt Shaun Murphy 9-4
2007 Neil Robertson bt Andrew Higginson 9-8

Shaun will be looking to go one better than he did in 2006 and capture his second tournament in as many weeks. Stay with SM.net for all the latest, up to date news!



MALTA CUP - 4th - 10th February, Hilton Conference Centre, Malta

DEJA'VU AS MURPHY MAKES IT TWO! - Shaun retains Malta Cup

10 Feb 2008 21:00:00

Shaun collected the third title of his career with a 9-3 victory over Ken Doherty in Malta.

After near misses this season in Pot Black, the Royal London Watches Grand Prix, The Northern Ireland Trophy and the Maplin UK championship, Shaun finally got his hands on some silverware.

Three previous semi-finals had left the 25-year-old frustrated at his lack of success in converting these chances, but he took his opportunity on Sunday.

The winner of the ranking event held here in Malta last season will be taking home the trophy again after his 9-3 victory.

The match didn't produce the free flowing, high scoring standard of the semi-finals but it was absorbing tactical play. There were few examples of the fluency both players produced previously, there were three fifty plus breaks in the 12 frames but the crowd appreciated the contest.

The tournament has no ranking points on offer due to it's Invitational status but most of the players have enjoyed the match practice and hospitality on offer this week.

For now Shaun will enjoy the third title of his career if not the manner in which he won.

"I feel like I've played Ken perhaps in the style that he would probably have liked the match to have gone. He's a very crafty player, very good in the safety and tactical department the match was quite stagnated in places but that's match play snooker.

"That's what you have when you have two players trying not give the other anything and trying win a tournament that's the way it goes," he said.

Another milestone reached is he joins Stephen Hendry in becoming the second player to win back to back tournaments in Malta. "Very very chuffed, to get my name up there with someone like his in the record stakes is very pleasing and hopefully it won't be the first record of his that I either break or equal.

"I'm very pleased that it's only twelve months since my last victory. I could have Pot Black, the World Championship, the UK, could have won the Grand Prix and in Northern Ireland," Shaun said.

"We always get really good support here, the Maltese are always respectful of people who are good at what they do and I think if we're respectful to them they always treat us very well, as long as we're invited we'll keep coming back," Murphy reveals the reason for his success on the Mediterranean island over the last two season.

For Doherty it wasn't the result he wanted but the manner of his success in getting to the final. "I have to take the good things, its been a good week, alot of good matches and good snooker and alot of positive things, so hopefully the rest of the season will be good to me.

"It is a little bit, in the first frame great then I started to struggle for position. I got lots of chances but both of us did, it wasn't the best final in the world. A complete contrast to yesterday. Sometimes you get days like that, it's just disappointing to play like that after the way I played against John (Higgins)," admitted Doherty.

"It was scrappy, it didn't really blaze at all. He did what he had to do, that's sometimes what you have to so in finals, if you win that's the most important thing," Doherty said.

The players will now turn their attention to the Welsh Open which begins on Monday 11 February, Doherty will be no exception.

"For me I'll just forget about the final and just think about how well I played yesterday (Saturday) and during the tournament and take that to Wales next week," said Doherty who stands at No.16 in the provisional rankings and in need of a good run as the season enters the final phase.

Resuming at 5-2 it was a battle royale in the first frame of the evening session. Struggling for any fluency the chances came and went and after a top run of 20 it was Murphy who extended his lead. The frame lasting just under 36 minutes.

His four frame lead soon became five, he opened with a run of 35 before getting a second chance and this time he compiled his first 50+ break of the match, a 75 to move within two of victory.

Doherty has produced many stirring comebacks in his career. With a five frame deficit he reduced it by taking the tenth but the 2005 888.com World Champion claimed the last before the interval to leave him requiring one more for victory.

It duly arrived after the resumption. Shaun was first in the balls and made no mistake, a top break of 76 ensuring the Malta Cup will reside in the Murphy household for another 12 months.

MALTA MAGICIAN IN FINAL

09 Feb 2008 23:46:00

Shaun Murphy ensured the final of the Malta Cup will be contested by two former World Champions after he launched a superb comeback to beat Ding Junhui in a final frame decider.

This was a titanic tussle between two players in form. Murphy has reached four semi-finals this season and was determined not see another opportunity slide away.

The additional incentive for the 25-year-old was the silverware that has been sat on his mantle piece for the past 12 months and he wants to keep the trophy.

Ding started impressively taking the opening three frames with runs of 72, 48, 54 and a 44 and only allowing Murphy six points in the opener.

"I wasn't actually that bothered to tell you the truth, I hadn't really played badly myself and the first chance I got to score any points I made a 137. I came in at the interval and was fine, I had the belief that I could go on and win the match.

I had a chance at 5-4 but went for it too early and he snookered me and put me in a load of trouble. It was one of those that if I'd got the red I'd have won 6-4," said Murphy.

The Rotherham potter then kicked into gear in impressive style, a 137 reduced his deficit before the interval. The match swayed one way then the other as Ding extended his lead but back came Murphy to sneak frame seven by dishing from blue to black to take the frame 63-52.

It soon became 4-4 with both playing good safety as they tried to get over the line. Murphy made an excellent pressure clearance in frame 10 when he made 80 including a fluked black to finish.
"I'll go into tomorrow's final full of confidence and playing well. The only downside is there are no ranking points for us, that's the only downside. I've enjoyed the week I've made some good breaks and we'll go to Newport full of confidence," said Murphy afterwards.

In the final he'll take on a resurgent Ken Doherty and is under no illusions. "He's a great player, a former World Champion and a great, great player. For the connoisseur Ken Doherty is probably one of the best players that's ever played the game. He plays the game as it should be played, he scores well he can his safety play and tactical game are second to none.

"It will be a tough game," said the 2005 World Champion but he is keen to become only the second player to win back to back tournaments in Malta.

SEMI SUCCESS FOR MURPHY

08 Feb 2008 19:43:00

Shaun Murphy is into his fourth semi-final of the season after his 5-1 victory over Stephen Hendry in Group C.

Just as in the two preceeding groups Murphy required a point to ensure his participation in the knockout phase and he secured that by taking the opening three frames.

He is the third current or former World Champion through to the last four.

The 25-year-old has a liking for the Mediterranean island and is now unbeaten in nine consecutive matches in Malta. He beat Ryan Day in the final last year and his winning run shows no sign of abating.

Murphy was not content to get a point as opening exchanges proved.

"I’ve been drilled by Hendry before and I know he was more than capable of getting four before me, so I had to really give him a lot of respect from the start, didn’t want to give each other anything and I think that showed in the way we played the first couple of frames," said Murphy.

He took the opener and had the first opportunity in the second. The frame came down to the colours, Murphy to yellow and green, then Hendry brown to pink before breaking down.

He got a second chance and he sunk the black to force a re-spot and after several shots it was Murphy who took the black and the frame after 37 minutes.

"The second frame was massive on the re-spotted black but I was pleased to win that.

"Really chuffed to get four wins out of four and great to be in the last four and maybe this time I’ll get further than the semis," joked Murphy.

AFter the second frame the momentum swung in favour of the world No.3, "After that it seemed to be my match, it’s tough when you get to three and to all intentions that match was over so it was tough then to keep going but I was determined to make it four wins out of four not three wins and a draw."

Murphy now has the chance to repeat his feat of last year and go all the way. "I’ve got great memories of Malta, enjoy coming, enjoy the people enjoy the area and I’m seem to play well here and be amongst the guys again and maybe I’ll get to take the trophy home again," said Murphy.

Stephen Maguire and Mark Selby played out a three all draw on table 2 in the other Group C match. Selby hasn’t hit the heights of Wembley where he recently collected the SAGA Insurance Masters title but he opened this match with an 88. Maguire levelled and then pulled in front with a 51.

The Jester from Leicester turned the tables with runs of 57 and 67 to lead 3-2 only for Maguire to level in the last with his highest break of the match, a 76.

MURPHY MASTERS MAGUIRE IN MALTA

06 Feb 2008 14:02:00

Shaun Murphy earned win number three after coming back from 2-1 down against Stephen Maguire.

The winner of the ranking event held on the Mediterranean island last year has given himself every chance of being in the mix come the semi-final stage on Saturday. His 4-2 victory over Maguire puts him in top spot provisionally in the group.

"I played well in patches, I missed a couple of shots which could have won the match, he missed a couple which evens it out I suppose. In reality three each would have been a fair result but I'm pleased to have come through and won.

"It's the toughest group in the tournament, but if I win my next match I'll definately be through so I'll be concentrating on that," admitted Murphy.

Maguire won two of the first three frames with runs of 73 and 80 but Murphy has been in good form this week, relaxing in the luxurious setting of the Hilton hotel and responded with a 104 and 61.

The final frame was fragmented, but Murphy finally secured the win with runs of 18 and 17.

His final match will be against Stephen Hendry on Friday.

"I always enjoyed watching him as a kid and playing against him as a pro. In my last meeting with him in Belfast I beat him so I've got memories of that.

"Whatever the permutations of the round robin format I'll be looking to get to four before he does and hopefully be here at the weekend," said Murphy.

Hendry collected his second win of the tournament with a 4-2 win over crowd favourite Tony Drago.

Hendry took a 2-1 lead before asking his opponent if the cue ball could be changed. "Every screw shot you played got a massive kick, so I said to Tony we have to change it and what a difference, the cushions stopped bouncing and every shot you played was perfect," said Hendry.

Although the next frame went the way of the Drago, Hendry won the final two frames with runs of 78 and 47.

"It's a good start, still got work to do, certainly can't win it yet but you could put yourself out of it by now," said the winner of four events here in Malta.

"It's a lovely place to come, the venue is superb and the people know their snooker. The timing of this event is fantastic, I think coming up to the Welsh, China and the world's its great match practise," said Hendry.

He plays Maguire on Friday evening as the group stages begin to unravel.

MURPHY CONTINUES SOLID START

05 Feb 2008 21:09:00

Shaun Murphy collected his second win of the tournament with a 4-2 win over Mark Selby.

Despite his four points, Murphy is leaving nothing to chance and is aware that frame difference might be a factor. "I played well and enjoyed the match, to get to four was pleasing but it was just a shame I couldn't make it five as frame difference is so important," said Murphy.

"I must be somewhere near the top of the group but I've still got two tough matches ahead of me," admitted Murphy.

The first frame was a real safety exchange that lasted just under 44 minutes, but it went in favour of Murphy and he added a 73 in the next before the recently crowned SAGA Insurance Masters Champion got on the score board, with the aid of a run of 65.

Murphy re-established his two frame advantage and secured another two points courtesy of breaks of 74 and 55. Selby made a 76 on route to taking the last frame but is facing an up hill task to progress from Group 3.


MURPHY SETS COURSE

04 Feb 2008 21:09:00

Shaun Murphy continued his fine form in Malta with a 6-0 win over local favourite Tony Drago.

Murphy who won the ranking event held in Malta last season saved his best until last, a break of a 110 ensured a grandstand finish for the large crowd at the Hilton Conference Centre.

"It’s good to get off to a win, even when you get to four it’s important and professional to try and win the remaining frames. So I was keen to push on and get to five or six," said Murphy.

The world and provisonal No.3 enjoys playing here and is relishing the chance to play the top players before the Welsh Open next week. "We always get good local support and they were respectful of my play, the standard of play will be very high this week.

"I’ve probably got the toughest group so if I do make it to the final I know I’ll have earnt my place. I love coming to Malta.

In the group’s other match Stephen Hendry came from two frames down against the in form Mark Selby to triumph 4-2.

The Jester from Leicester fresh from his victory in the SAGA Insurance Masters started in great style, breaks of 127, equalling Ken Doherty’s effort from earlier in the day and 70 put him two ahead.

Hendry who has won four titles in Malta at three different venues including the first Malta Cup responded with a 103. In the next frame he cleared up with a 64 to steal the frame after Selby had gone 51 points clear. Runs of 42 and 67 helped him turn the match around. In group 4 it was another feast of snooker on both tables. Ding Junhui reeled off three successive centuries at the start of his match with Peter Ebdon. Two breaks of a 125 sandwiched another of a 106 as Ebdon who reached the semi-finals here last year, only managed eight points.

Ebdon did win the next with a run of 70 but Ding secured the points in frame five before the Dubai based player rattled off a century of his own in the final frame, a run of 103.