Shaun Murphy’s season already includes a British Open title.
Shaun Murphy secured his first victory against Ronnie O’Sullivan since 2017 with a decisive 4-0 win, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.
This marked the first time since 2023 that O’Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, failed to win a frame in a contest of seven frames or more.
Murphy, who previously defeated 15-year-old Ziyad Al-Qabbani 4-0, showcased impressive shot-making, including breaks of 53 and 93 against O’Sullivan, who struggled to find his form.
“I’m not sure of the exact statistics, but it’s been a while since I’ve won against Ronnie, and it’s always special, even in a short match like this,” Murphy told TNT Sports.
“This is a very prestigious event, and everyone is giving it their all, so even though it was only a best-of-seven match, I was pleased with my performance and delighted to move on.”
“I just tried to play as I have been all season, and fortunately, most of those long reds went in for me.”
Murphy is now set to face Zhao Xintong, the current Crucible champion, in the quarter-finals on Thursday (20:00 GMT). The event has garnered significant attention, partly due to the $1 million (£760,000) reward for potting the golden ball after achieving a maximum 147 break.
Separately, John Higgins voiced strong criticism of the table conditions in Riyadh, despite achieving consecutive breaks of 106 to secure a 4-0 victory over Ding Junhui.
“There are so many…like beer mats underneath the table, raising it up,” said the Scottish player.
“Someone really needs to be told. I don’t know who approved this, but it’s pathetic for a million-pound tournament. It’s really bad.”
Stephen Hendry, serving as a studio analyst for TNT Sports, commented: “It’s incredible how much it’s been built up.”
“I can only assume the floor is so uneven that they had to raise the table, but as a player, you can definitely feel the difference.”
Higgins, 50, will now play against Mark Allen, the defending champion, on Thursday for a chance to reach the semi-finals.
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