Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson Advance to Quarter-Finals at Northern Ireland Open

Posted : 25 October 2024

Shaun Murphy staged a remarkable comeback from 3-1 down to defeat Stuart Bingham 4-3 in a thrilling black ball finish at the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open, securing his place in the quarter-finals of his 80th ranking event.

Murphy described the situation as "panic stations" when Bingham pulled ahead, but he managed to rally back with a brilliant final clearance to seal the victory. He will face either Judd Trump or Barry Hawkins in the last eight in Belfast, as he seeks his first title since winning the 2023 Championship League.

In the opening frame, Murphy was on track for a potential 147 break but fell short after missing a challenging penultimate red at 104. Bingham, reminiscent of their encounter in the 2015 Crucible final, made a strong comeback, winning three consecutive frames with breaks of 121 and 101.

Murphy responded with runs of 56 and 52 to level the match at 3-3, but Bingham seemed poised to win the decider until he missed a difficult red at 60. The tension heightened as it came down to the final two reds, with Murphy potting a mid-range shot to set up a decisive 40, finishing with a tricky black along the cushion.

Reflecting on the match, the 42-year-old Murphy expressed relief and satisfaction at reaching the quarter-finals. He noted that he hadn’t played poorly when trailing 3-1, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure under pressure. Murphy acknowledged his good fortune in the last frame, highlighting that the match could have ended differently had Bingham received a favorable pack split. He also shared his fondness for competing in Belfast, where he feels a strong connection.

In other matches, reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson ended the tournament run of 18-year-old Stan Moody with a 4-1 victory, securing a quarter-final spot for himself. Wilson, who posted a top break of 91, acknowledged the pressure of being favored to win and praised Moody's potential as a rising talent in the sport.

Wilson's next opponent will be Mark Williams, who defeated Ma Hailong 4-2, also crediting a recent cue change for his improved performance. Additionally, Pang Junxu advanced to his fourth ranking event quarter-final with a commanding 4-0 win over Martin O'Donnell, setting up a clash with either Oliver Lines or Neil Robertson.

Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson Advance to Quarter-Finals at Northern Ireland Open

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