Shaun Murphy edges out David Gilbert to reach Championship League snooker final day – ‘Absolutely delighted’

Shaun Murphy kept his cool superbly to compile a closing break of 71 in the final frame of the day against a heavy-scoring David Gilbert that saw him book his spot in the Championship League final day in Leicester.

Murphy trailed 2-1 to 2021 winner Gilbert knowing he needed a draw to progress with his opponent chasing a victory to top Group D, but it was the 2005 world champion who showed his class to claim the point he needed.

Murphy earlier compiled breaks of 79, 64, and 51 in a 3-1 win over James Cahill before adding 84 and 65 in a 3-0 triumph against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

Gilbert opened with a 2-2 draw against Un-Nooh before completing a 3-0 win over Cahill on his way to setting up a one-frame winner-take-all duel with Murphy that saw him hit back-to-back centuries after dropping the first frame.

“I’ve had a busy few days, including a few shows of my own and been to Portugal to visit a famlly friend who isn’t well.

“I didn’t know what to expect and quietly, I was quite pleased with today’s work.

“My friend Robbie and I went out for a coffee and we came back to the news there were four centuries on the bounce then David’s had two against me.

“I thought to myself: ‘I’ve played well here, but I’m going to come second’.

“But I just managed to hold it together in the last frame. I’m really pleased and looking forward to Friday.

“It’s too early to say how the season is going to go, but I’ve reached three of the four finals at the last competitions I’ve been in.

“I’m playing well and my game is in really good shape. I’m happy as long as that carries on.”

Xiao Guodong finshed alongside Michael Holt at the top of Group A on five points, but emerged as section winner courtesy of a 109 knock, the highest break of the day in the group.

Xiao earlier drew 2-2 with Ben Woollaston and Holt before finishing with a 3-0 win over Zhou Yuelong to deny Holt after his 3-0 victory against Woollaston appeared to leave him on course for the last eight.

Xiao and Murphy joins Chris Wakelin and Robert Milkins in Group A on Friday. Mark Williams and Noppon Saengkham are in Group B.

Judd Trump, Jak Jones and Joe Perry take to the table on Thursday for the final day of the second phase at the Morningside Arnea.

The winners of the final group contest the Championship League final, the season’s first ranking event, on Friday evening.

The tournament carries total prize money of £328,000, with the winner also guaranteed a spot in the elite 16-player Champion of Champions event in Bolton in November.

• Group E: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
• Group F: Mark Williams (Wal)
• Group H: Robert Milkins (Eng)
• Group C: Noppon Saengkham (Tha)
• Group D: Shaun Murphy (Eng)
• Group A: Xiao Guodong (Chn)

• Cao Yupeng (Chn)
• Joe Perry (Eng)
• Matthew Stevens (Wal)
• Judd Trump (Eng)

• MIchael White (Wal)
• Sam Craigie (Eng)
• Long Zehuang (Chn)
• Jak Jones (Wal)

• Group 3: Ashley Carty (Eng)
• Group 30: Daniel Wells (Wal)
• Group 11: Martin O’Donnell (Eng)
• Group 21: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
• Group 10: Michael White (Wal)
• Group 22: Robbie Williams (Eng)
• Group 5: Kyren Wilson (Eng)
• Group 29: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
• Group 6: Mark Williams (Wal)
• Group 27: Barry Pinches (Eng)
• Group 32: Xiao Guodong (Chn)
• Group 16: Ben Woollaston (Eng)
• Group 15: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
• Group 28: Anthony Hamilton (Eng)
• Group 17: Zhou Yuelong (Chn)
• Group 26: Jak Jones (Wal)
• Group 7: Long Zehuang (Chn)
• Group 24: Pang Junxu (Chn)
• Group 8: Robert Milkins (Eng)
• Group 23: Sam Craigie (Eng)
• Group 20: James Cahill (Eng)
• Group 25: Si Jiahui (Chn)
• Group 1: Michael Holt (Eng)
• Group 19: Noppon Saengkham (Tha)
• Group 2: Judd Trump (Eng)
• Group 18: Joe Perry (Eng)
• Group 4: Shaun Murphy (Eng)
• Group 12: Sanderson Lam (Eng)
• Group 13: David Gilbert (Eng)
• Group 31: Cao Yupeng (Chn)
• Group 9: John Astley (Eng)
• Group 14: Liu Hongyu (Chn)

Championship League Stage 1

• June 26-30
• July 3-8
• July 10-14

Championship League Stage 2