Shaun Murphy scrapes through second-round Northern Ireland Open test against Marco Fu and says he ‘went full Selby mode’

Shaun Murphy thought he was heading out of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast before he scraped through with a 4-3 win over Marco Fu.

Murphy hit back from losing the opening frame to take a 3-1 lead, but Fu worked his way back into the tie and pulled level at three frames each.

“I think that’s what they call playing your free escape card!” Murphy told Eurosport after the match.

“I was just fully prepared that I’d lost the game; I’d had chances to win at 3-2 and 3-3.

“The last frame was horrible. We both lost our technique a little bit; it was as if the game didn’t want either of us to win.

“I’ve found myself 27 points behind with just the colours on. In my mind, I just went full [Mark] Selby mode, full granite – ‘I am potting the next ball, I don’t care if we have to stand here all day!’

“There was a lot of good snooker played by us both, there was nice sportsmanship from both sides.”

Fu produced a frame-winning clearance of 78 to take the opening frame.

Murphy hit back with a brilliant clearance of 122 to square things up as he converted with some brilliant shots to shift the momentum in his favour.

That helped him to go a frame clear when he won the next, clearing to the pink with 80.

In scintillating form, Murphy earned a two-frame cushion when he produced another superb break of 117 to come within a frame of victory.

However, it would not be that simple, as Fu showed grit and determination to win two frames back.

Fu took the fifth frame when Murphy uncharacteristically undercut a black to the corner and then edged a tactical sixth.

Murphy showed good sportsmanship to own up to a push shot, which gave Fu the chance to wrap up the sixth and force a decider.

Both players saw early opportunities go begging in a tense safety battle, which saw Murphy leave the white in the jaws of a pocket after potting the yellow.

He managed to expertly escape and then eventually was able to clear from the green to win on the final black.

Elsewhere, 129th-ranked Stan Moody continued his great form to beat English compatriot Rod Lawler and reach the second round in Belfast.

He’ll play either Lukas Kleckers or Gary Wilson in the next round.

Reigning champion and home favourite Mark Allen is in action against Andres Petrov on Monday night.