Shaun Murphy was in a joyous mood after breaking a 12-year snooker record for unanswered points at the 2026 China Open on Sunday.
The Magician produced a devastating display of heavy scoring to thrash Matthew Selt 6-0 in the first round in Taiyuan.
Murphy compiled breaks of 139, 133, 113, 109, 61, and 55 as he powered past his helpless opponent to reach the last 16.
In doing so, the World Championship runner-up scored an incredible 607 points without reply to break the world record of 556 that was set by Ronnie O’Sullivan at the 2014 Masters.
It was also the second time in his career that he constructed four consecutive century breaks in a single match.
“It’s like a cricket score, isn’t it?” Murphy joked when speaking to the World Snooker Tour. “Do you know, I’ve had golf scores that have been closer to that?”
“I can’t believe it, I’m over the moon. It wasn’t until you told me when I came off the table that I knew – I knew I was close.
“At the interval, I didn’t want to go looking at any sites or anything. I didn’t want to go looking for it.
“As a sportsperson, when you do find yourself in that bubble and in that flow, you just want to stay in it.
“Ideally, I wouldn’t have had the interval. We would have just carried on. It was a delight to play for a great crowd out there – we had a good time.
“They turned out in their numbers, and we put up a good show. Yeah, I’m thrilled.
“I haven’t set many records throughout my career, and I’m sure at some stage someone will come along and beat that one.
“But to be a part of snooker history in that way is a great thrill.”
It could have been even better for Murphy, whose 113 contribution in the penultimate frame ended on the 15th black on a maximum break attempt.
However, the Englishman safely progressed to the second round where he will encounter China’s Xiao Guodong.
Xiao came from a frame behind to beat Anthony McGill 6-3, reeling off the last four frames to deny the Scot.
Elsewhere, Ronnie O’Sullivan enjoyed a routine outing to beat Jackson Page 6-2 and secure his first victory in a ranking event this season.
The Rocket showed promising form, making breaks of 100, 96, 93, 70, and 64 in overturning an early two-frame deficit to the Welshman.
There was a big shock, though, with world number one and recent Shanghai Masters champion bowing out in a 6-3 reverse to Noppon Saengkham.
With a huge amount of points coming off his rolling two-year tally this month, Trump’s position at the top of the world rankings is likely to be surrendered in the coming weeks.
Among those hoping to usurp Trump is Neil Robertson, who gets his 2026 China Open campaign under way on Monday against Chang Bingyu.
Robertson is technically the defending champion of this tournament having won the last China Open that was staged back in 2019.
Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, and Si Jiahui are also in action on day three against Aaron Hill, Pang Junxu, and Jiang Jun respectively.
Featured photo credit: WST
