English snooker star Shaun Murphy delivered a masterclass performance Wednesday, defeating China’s Ding Junhui 5-2 at the WST World Open in Jiangxi Province. 🏆 The match had fans on the edge of their seats as Murphy, nicknamed 'The Magician', pulled off a series of jaw-dropping shots to secure his quarterfinal spot.
Frame-by-Frame Drama
Murphy raced to a 3-1 lead early, but Ding fought back in the fifth frame, narrowly missing a maximum break. A costly mistake with the bumper in the sixth frame dashed Ding’s comeback hopes, letting Murphy seal victory with a stylish 93-point break. 🇨🇳 fans groaned as their top-ranked player exited the tournament.
Underdogs Rise, Home Crowd Sighs
China’s sole survivor, Pang Junxu, advanced after defeating Xu Si 5-2, keeping local hopes alive. Meanwhile, Scotland’s John Higgins staged a comeback to beat Zhou Yuelong 5-4. 🌍 Other standouts include England’s Zak Surety, who toppled fan favorite Liu Hongyu, and Ali Carter, cruising into the quarterfinals.
Murphy now faces Joe O’Connor in Thursday’s showdown. Will the magic continue? 🎱 Stay tuned!
