Murphy Marches Into Winner’s Group
Shaun Murphy marched into the Championship League Winner’s Group producing the kind of century break blitz that took him to the world title in 2005 beating Mark King in the final of Group Three at Crondon Park in Essex.
The world number five trailed local favourite, King by two-frames-to-nil in the shortened format matches but produced stunning breaks of 137, 139 and 80 to lock out his opponent and join Mark Selby and Mark Williams who had previously won groups one and two.
In the semi-finals, Murphy also needed to produce his best to edge past another former wiorld champion, Peter Ebdon. A break of 97 gave the Murphy the early initiative but Ebdon, in his twentieth year as a professional moved to within one frame of the final at 2-1.
Murphy responded by taking the fourth and following with another century (122) to set up the meeting with King who had to overcome practice partner and fellow Essex-man, Allister Carter.
Carter topped Group stages with five wins from his six matches with only Ebdon getting the better of him. He twice held the advantage over King leading 1-0 and 2-1 but couldn’t close out the match losing two close frames and missing out for third group in succession.
He now goes into Group Four where he will be joined by King and Ebdon. Marco Fu, who finished in fifth place will also retain his place but Stuart Bingham (6th) and world number one, John Higgins (7th) are relegated and will play no further part in this year’s Championship League.
They will be replaced by Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen and Welshman, Matthew Stevens, while seven-times world champion, Stephen Hendry takes Murphy’s place to complete the line up.
