February 17, 2012, 9:19 pm
SHAUN Murphy was delighted after today battling through to once again reach the last four of another tournament.
The Magician, who made the final of the Masters and then the semi-finals of the German Masters in his previous two tournaments, saw off Mark Allen 5-4 in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open this afternoon.
Having led 3-1 at the mid-session interval, Murphy had to sit and watch as his Irish opponent stormed into a 4-3 advantage.
But Shaun kept his cool and played two superb pressure frames to edge out Allen 5-4.
He said: "I didn't feel I did much wrong from 3-1 - Mark was just very clinical. It was one of those matches, a bit like my first-round one with Mark Joyce in that I would have lost it a year or so ago. I would have lost my patience.
"But the things I have been working hard on are really coming through now. I stuck at it. It just proves the old adage, you only get out what you put in. It's very rewarding and long may it continue - this is another good week."
Shaun's semi-final gets underway at 1pm in Newport.
February 17, 2012, 6:54 pm
SHAUN Murphy is through to the last four of the Welsh Open after pipping Mark Allen 5-4 this afternoon.
In a classic see-saw battle, Shaun twice came from behind to book a spot in tomorrow's semi-final line-up at Newport.
Allen took the first, but Shaun roared back in reeling off three frames to take control by the mid-session interval.
Allen compiled a century on the resumption and won the next two to leave the Magician needing both of the remaining frames to make it through.
A quality run of 68 in the next ensured a decider in which Shaun made an early 40-plus break to take control.
Allen wasn't about to go down without a fight and laid no less than three successful snookers as he pursued Shaun right to the death.
But in the end Murphy kept his cool to get the job done and earn a match-up tomorrow afternoon with either Ding Junhui or Stephen Lee, who meet tonight.
February 15, 2012, 8:31 pm
SHAUN Murphy powered through to the last eight of the Welsh Open with an emphatic 4-0 win over Steve Davis tonight.
After winning an opening frame in which both players had their chances, Shaun never looked back. The Nugget made life hard for Murphy in the third frame, forcing him to escape from several canny snookers.
But once the Magician had eventually made it 3-0, the overall outcome seemed just about certain. Davis came close to putting one on the board in frame four after Shaun suffered an almighty kick on the yellow.
Steve, though, jawed the final black and Shaun stepped in to pocket the clincher from distance.
He will now play either Mark Allen or Stephen Hendry on Friday at 1.30pm.
February 14, 2012, 7:38 pm
How's everyone doing? Hope you're all good. Just thought I'd jot down a few notes as I've got a date with a legend tomorrow night. My next match at the Welsh Open is against none other than Steve Davis.
When I was growing up, he was who I wanted to be and somebody I looked up to - still do, for that matter. In fact, on my first ever visit to the Crucible as a young fan, I remember chasing up him up the road for his autograph! And I may just end up running after him again in Sheffield this May when we both tackle a half-marathon there together, on behalf of the Paul Hunter Foundation.
I've got to know Steve well over the years - he is a great guy on and off the table. He is still a really good snooker player as well. Yesterday, as I was playing, he was on the other table knocking in centuries in beating an established top-16 player in Ali Carter.
If it wasn't for the fact that the hair colour has changed, folk could have been forgiven for thinking it was the 1980s all over again - that's how well he was playing.
As for my own match with Mark Joyce, through a combination of me initially not getting going and also suffering a couple of bad kicks, I found myself 2-0 behind. So, in the third frame I had to effectively stifle things, playing safe. With that frame won, I felt the tide had turned in my favour and I was able to go on and take the match 4-2.
Eighteen months or so ago I feel I'd have lost the match through a lack of composure and frustration. But I've worked hard on that side of things - not beating myself - and it was rewarding to win through.
I've enjoyed a day off today, going for a five-mile run. Hopefully, I'll have a good night's rest and be ready for Mr Davis tomorrow night!