Shaun Murphy’s Crucible pedigree includes one World Championship title, three runner-up finishes, a semi-final appearance, and four quarter-final berths.
Shaun Murphy delivered a commanding performance to defeat Xiao Guodong of China 13-3, securing his place as the first quarter-finalist in the 2026 World Championship.
Murphy, who claimed the title at the Crucible in 2005 and finished as runner-up in 2009, 2015, and 2021, entered Friday’s session with a 6-2 lead over Xiao Guodong, the world number nine from China. He then proceeded to win seven of the eight frames played.
The eighth-seeded Murphy, 43, concluded the match with a session to spare.
During Friday’s session, Murphy compiled breaks of 93, 66, 103, 69, 115, and 103. He now awaits the winner of the all-Chinese match between reigning world champion Zhao Xintong and Ding Junhui, with their quarter-final clash scheduled to begin on Tuesday and conclude on Wednesday.
“I’m really pleased with how I played. I’m delighted,” said Murphy. “It does not happen often that you win with a session to spare, because everyone is so good.
“I would not say I’m desperate to win another World Championship, but it is close.
“It’s 21 years since that clueless 22-year-old came here and nicked the trophy from everyone. Since then I’ve been trying my hardest to get the trophy again. It’s not been through the lack of trying.”
Murphy’s most recent quarter-final appearance was in 2021, where he advanced to the final before losing to Mark Selby. He believes he still has room for improvement.
“I’m loving the game, loving practice and still think I can get better,” said Murphy. “The best days are still ahead of me.”
Watch: World Snooker Championship – Barry Hawkins leads Mark Williams
Will Zhao v Ding draw the biggest TV audience in snooker history?
Mark Williams, a three-time champion who reached the final last year, could become the oldest world champion at 51 should he secure a fourth title.
His last-16 opponent, Barry Hawkins, initiated their match with a break of 127 in the opening frame. The pair then alternated frame wins, with Williams contributing a 124 in frame four and a 65 in frame six.
The Welshman took the lead for the first time by claiming the seventh frame, but Hawkins responded by winning the final frame of the session, aided by a run of 73, to level the score at 4-4.
The match resumed in the evening session, where Hawkins constructed breaks of 63, 66, and 113 to establish a 7-4 lead.
A potentially crucial moment occurred in the 12th frame when Williams missed a pot on the pink into the middle, only for the ball to fortuitously travel diagonally into the yellow pocket, securing a critical frame and narrowing the score to 7-5.
Hawkins extended his lead to 9-5, but Williams managed to snatch the 15th frame on the black. However, the English player concluded the session with a break of 89 in the final frame, giving him a 10-6 advantage.
He needs only three more frames for victory when play resumes on Saturday evening (19:00 BST).
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Williams flukes the pink and pots the black
The highly anticipated match between Ding, China’s first ranking event winner, and Zhao, its first world champion, is currently tied at 4-4.
In a contest that could become the most-watched snooker match in history due to its appeal to the Chinese audience, the pair alternated the opening five frames, with Zhao’s break of 116 in frame four being a particular highlight.
Zhao secured the sixth and seventh frames, but Ding narrowly won the eighth on the black, with a score of 62-61, leveling the match before the second session on Saturday afternoon (14:30).
The tie between 2024 winner Kyren Wilson and former world number one Mark Allen is poised for a thrilling conclusion on Saturday morning (10:00).
Allen of Northern Ireland had established a 5-0 lead on Thursday before Wilson claimed the final three frames of the session.
The Englishman continued his momentum by winning three consecutive frames, compiling breaks of 71, 52, and 112 to take a 6-5 lead. However, the match swung again, with Allen winning four of the last five frames to regain a 9-7 advantage.
A highlight was a break of 140 from Allen in frame 15, marking the second time he has achieved that score in this year’s Crucible event.
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