The Masters 2023: Stuart Bingham blitzes Shaun Murphy to set up Alexandra Palace semi-final with Judd Trump

Stuart Bingham produced a sizzling display to crush Shaun Murphy 6-0 and reach the semi-finals of the Masters.

That may still be the case, as he did little wrong. Bingham totally dominated the match as he set up a clash with Judd Trump in the semi-finals at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday evening.

It was an eventful opener, and arguably pivotal. Both got in and made breaks, Bingham 38, Murphy 43, but both broke down. It boiled down to a battle on the colours and turned Bingham’s way when he fluked a green when attempting to play safe and he knocked in the brown to clinch the frame.

From that moment, it was one-way traffic. Bingham got in in the second and picked off an excellent break of 78. His hopes of challenging the high break of 143 were dashed when he went in-off when attempting to go round the table to get back on the black.

Bingham sat in his chair as the balls were being set up for the third with his eyes closed, seemingly utterly focused on the task at hand. He came out in the third and carried on the momentum with a 128 total clearance.

Bingham’s potting was exemplary in frames two and three. His safety in the fourth was top drawer, and it earned him an opening which he grasped with a superb 107 to sweep the session.

The interval was the one thing for Murphy to grasp on to, and he got a chance in the fifth. But having been kept ice cold for four frames, he could not take it and Bingham stepped in to take the frame and move within one of victory.

Bingham found himself in an identical position against Wilson in round one. There was no fightback on this occasion, as he wrapped up the whitewash in the sixth.

A fiendish snooker earned Bingham 24 points in fouls, and he extended it to 48 when getting in the balls. The only surprise came when he did not complete the job at the first time of asking, as he broke down when seemingly well set.

It was only a short reprieve for Murphy, as Bingham got in again to close out the contest and put himself firmly in the mix for a second Masters title.

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