Shaun Murphy produced a sparkling comeback to beat Mark Selby and reach the Shanghai Masters final on Friday in China.
The first semi-final of the prestigious invitational appeared to be heading for a one-sided scoreline when Selby orchestrated an early 6-2 advantage.
But Murphy crucially won the ninth and final frame of the first session to stay within touching distance at the Shanghai Grand Stage.
The Magician then shifted through the gears in the evening session, producing a wonderful burst of attacking snooker to stun his fellow Englishman.
Breaks of 140 and 61 saw Murphy reduce his arrears to one, and he didn’t let the disappointment of losing the next two frames that he could have won affect his positive strategy.
Trailing 8-5 at the last mid-session interval, Murphy proceeded to win the remaining five frames with contributions of 134, 116, 104, and 67.
“I think in a long match like that, we always go all the way,” a delighted Shaun Murphy told the World Snooker Tour.
“But it shows how important that last frame of the first session was. You know, I had no momentum at all.”
“Mark really should have been 7-2 up at the interval. Instead it was 6-3, and it gave me a lifeline.
“It just gave me a stepping stone. Tonight, I came out and played really, really well. I’m so proud of how I played.
“It was great to play in front of such a great audience – the crowd were brilliant, the support here is fantastic.
“The Chinese fans love their snooker, and it was just really rewarding to put on a great show for everyone.
“It’s the old cliches, isn’t it? It’s never over until it’s over. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a quitter.
“I’ve never given up in my life, and I wasn’t prepared to give up tonight. I kept pushing and had a little bit of luck at the right time.
“I rode my luck and scored well. I’m over the moon, I can’t believe it.”
In the Shanghai Masters final, the Magician awaits the winner of the second last-four contest between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.
That clash promises to be another thriller, featuring players who combined to win ten titles during the 2023/24 campaign.
“Do you know what, this is what we play for,” added Murphy, who lost to O’Sullivan in the 2019 Shanghai Masters final.
“This is what we dreamt of as boys, growing up to playing in big matches like this in big tournaments like this.”
“I’ve played them both before in big matches. I played Ronnie here a few years ago, so it would be great to go one better.
“I’m looking forward to watching them two slog it out until the wee small hours whilst I rest and look forward to what’s going to be a great match.”
The second semi-final takes place across two session on Saturday, with the final scheduled for Sunday.
2024 Shanghai Masters draw
Round 1 (bo11)
Zhang Anda 3-6 Zhou Jinhao
Ali Carter 6-0 Qiu Lei
Tom Ford 3-6 Si Jiahui
Mark Williams 6-3 Wang Xinbo
Gary Wilson 5-6 Pang Junxu
Jak Jones 2-6 Cao Jin
John Higgins 6-1 Lyu Haotian
Barry Hawkins 4-6 Zhou Yuelong
Round 2 (bo11)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-1 Zhou Jinhao
Ding Junhui 6-5 Ali Carter
Luca Brecel 2-6 Si Jiahui
Judd Trump 6-2 Mark Williams
Mark Allen 5-6 Pang Junxu
Mark Selby 6-1 Cao Jin
Shaun Murphy 6-3 John Higgins
Kyren Wilson 0-6 Zhou Yuelong
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Ding Junhui
Si Jiahui 2-6 Judd Trump
Pang Junxu 3-6 Mark Selby
Shaun Murphy 6-2 Zhou Yuelong
Semi-Finals (bo19)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-10 Judd Trump
Mark Selby 8-10 Shaun Murphy
Final (bo21)
Judd Trump 11-5 Shaun Murphy
Featured photo credit: WST
