Shaun Murphy produced a scintillating session of snooker to send reigning world champion Zhao Xintong home but insists he was “faking it until he makes it” out on the Crucible floor – something that might just lead him all the way to a second world title.
Murphy and Zhao were locked at 8-8 heading into the last session of their World Snooker Championship quarter-final on Wednesday afternoon, only for the Englishman to pull away in style, making breaks of 96, 80, 70 and 69 to secure a 13-10 triumph.
The world No 8 appeared to be brimming with confidence as he brushed aside the defending champion, who entered the tournament as the bookies’ favourite after an impressive season that included three ranking event triumphs in the past three months but became the 21st man to succumb to the famed Crucible Curse, with no first-time winner successfully defending their title since the World Championship moved to the Sheffield venue in 1977.
Yet Murphy demurred when it was suggested in his post-match press conference that he looked relaxed and confident out on the floor, strolling around as if he owns the place.
“I should have been an actor, maybe…,” he said. “Because I certainly didn’t feel that way. But you’ve got to sort of fake it till you make it. You’ve got to try and convince yourself that you’re feeling confident and bang up for it, even though inside you’re very nervous and you’re shaking and all the rest of it.
“I’ve been coming here since I was nine years of age and it still gets you every time you walk down those steps. Every time you shake hands and go to battle in the Crucible, it’s still as nerve-wracking as the first time. Every time feels like a debut and whilst it still gives me that buzz, I’ll keep coming.”
Murphy is now building up a head of steam in this year’s championship, with the victory over Zhao setting up a semi-final against either Neil Robertson or John Higgins – the first time he has reached the one-table set-up at the Crucible in five years.
“I knew going into it nothing but my best would do,” added Murphy. “Thankfully, I found it in the third session, and I’m delighted. It’s one of the best wins of my career.”
Murphy’s only world title came at the age of 22, way back in 2005, although he also reached the final in 2009, 2015 and 2021. The road to a potential second world title has been long and winding for ‘the Magician’ but something special might just be brewing in Sheffield.
He looked set to crash out of the tournament in the very first round when locked in a decider with Fan Zhengyi at 9-9, trailing 53-17 in the frame, in a snooker and with the remaining balls in awkward positions. But he produced an astounding clearance of 50 to snatch the win – a break he described as the best he’s ever made – before thrashing Xiao Guodong with a session to spare in the last 16.
Following that by handily dismissing the reigning world champion in the last eight, means Murphy is flying and credits that nail-biting victory in round one with a change of perspective.
“It would have been very, very easy after the win in the first round with that clearance that somehow I conjured from somewhere to look at it as a free crack,” he admitted.
“But I haven’t seen it as a free crack. I’ve seen it as there could be something in this and rather than seeing it as a total free go, I’ve seen it as an opportunity. I almost owe it to Fan Zhengyi, having nicked that frame off him at the end, at the death, I felt almost like I owed it to him to try my nuts off on every single ball, which is what I’ve done.
“I would say I’m in the best shape I’ve been since winning the championship [in 2005]. I think I’m a better player than I was 21 years ago. I’m a more astute player than I was 21 years ago, I’ve been to the final three times since then, tried to recreate that magic, not quite made it.
“But once you get to the one-table set-up, you’re not too far away. So, whatever I’ve got left in the tank after a really good season, I’m going to give it all over the next few days.”
