Fortune plays part in big Murphy win

Former world champion Shaun Murphy thrashed Kyren Wilson 9-1 to win the Manbetx Welsh Open for the first time in Cardiff.

Murphy raced into a 7-1 lead in the afternoon session and wrapped up a one-sided victory with breaks of 102 and 73 when play resumed to secure the Ray Reardon Trophy and the top prize of £70,000.

“I knew from the outset I had to be on my game and the other thing I have to say is that I thought I had every little bit of run today,” Murphy said at the presentation ceremony broadcast on Eurosport.

“I had all the luck – it was just embarrassing. I’d love to say sorry but I’m not!”

Breaks of 108 and 84 gave Murphy a 2-0 lead and, although Wilson made breaks of 52, 45 and 64 in the next three frames, he broke down at crucial times and a ruthless Murphy took full advantage before a break of 76 put him 6-0 ahead.

Wilson finally got his first frame on the board in the next, but Murphy ended the session with a run of 134 and wasted no time in wrapping up his second title of the season in the brief evening session.

“I owe a lot of thank-yous to some very important people, including my wife, my coach Chris (Henry),” Murphy added. “I had a lot of stern conversations in the summer about whether I still had it and whether I could still face it out there.

“They and a couple of others sort of nursed me back because I was almost gone. This is the first time I’ve won two ranking events in a season so that’s special.”

Wilson, who had won a finalframe decider against fivetime world champion Ronnie O’sullivan in the semi-finals, was quick to praise Murphy’s performance.

“I’m gutted I couldn’t put on more of a fight than that but Shaun was absolutely fantastic all day long,” Wilson said. “He’s outplayed me in the long potting, break building and safety so I hold my hands up, the better player won.”

Welsh Open champion Shaun Murphy.