Liang Leaves it Late
Liang Wenbo became the latest Chinese snooker hero today as he beat world number three, Shaun Murphy by six-frames-to-five to reach his first major ranking final in front of his home crowd in Shanghai.
Wenbo extended his unbeaten run in Shanghai to five matches with a nail-biting deciding frame victory over the 2005 world champion.
Murphy had started the match as favourite and dropped only one frame from sixteen in reaching the semi-final stage.
He never really took control though as Wenbo lead throughout the match despite not being able to shake off the Englishman until the eleventh and final frame.
The Shanghai Masters has a history of providing ‘surprise’ winners. Dominic Dale lifted the title in 2007 and Ricky Walden won his maiden ranking title here eleven months ago.
Although, for any readers who have fllowed the Cuefacts performance stats over the past couple of seasons, will not be at all surprised by Wenbo’s progress.
On his route to the final, he has beaten David Gilbert, Peter Ebdon, Allister Carter, Walden, and Murphy, with either Ronnie O'Sullivan or John Higgins to come.
In July, Global Snooker reported on Liang’s first major title, after beating Stephen Maguire in the invitational Beijing Challenge.
He now looks ready to make the next step and join the exclusive club of World Snooker Ranking tournament winners. Only world champion, Higgins or world number one, O’Sullivan can keep him out!
