Shaun Murphy storms into final of Players Championship with impressive win over Kyren Wilson

Shaun Murphy powered into the final of the Players Championship after getting the better of a high-quality clash with Kyren Wilson.

Murphy has hit form in recent weeks following a couple of years in the doldrums, and he is now one win away from his first ranking title since lifting the Welsh Open in 2020.

Murphy carried the momentum through the early rounds of the Players Championship, and rode the wave to beat Wilson 6-3 to set up a final with Ali Carter.

Wilson fashioned a superb response to Murphy’s first-frame blitz with a run of 87 to draw level.

After two frames of sparkling snooker, there were surprise misses in the third. Wilson left a red in the jaws of the bottom right when on a break of 28, and Murphy’s reply was stopped at 59 when he missed a pink to right middle.

Wilson’s counter was halted when he failed to get on the final red, and Murphy won the safety battle to edge in front for the second time.

The fourth followed the same pattern as the third, with both players making surprise misses. Wilson’s error on 54 looked costly, but he won the safety battle on the final red and knocked in a superb long pot to the bottom right to draw level going into the interval.

The weight of scoring continued to come from Murphy and he followed up his 135 in frame one by wrestling the high break from himself by crafting a total clearance of 137 to move into the lead at 3-2.

Despite having to sit and watch Murphy compile a big break showreel, Wilson was not cowed and he drew level once again by taking the sixth with a break of 75 which contained a host of tough pots.

Front-foot snooker was Murphy’s modus operandi, and he was rewarded for his bold play with a 94 to restore his lead in the seventh. Some breaks are remembered for a series of excellent pots but there was only one of note – a tough red to the green pocket – and that was simply down to Murphy having the cue ball on a string and finding optimal position time after time.

Murphy’s 135, 137 and 94 breaks were sensational. The 41 he made to help secure the eighth was as good in its own right, as he solved a difficult table with supreme ease to move two clear for the first time in the match.

Wilson had an opportunity in the ninth, but missed a red to right middle and slammed his cue down in frustration – fearing it was his last chance.

His worst fears were not realised as Murphy surprisingly missed, but he got a second bite moments later and wrapped up the win to book his place in a ranking final for the 23rd time in his career.

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