Shaun Murphy reached the quarter-finals of the Masters with a 6-2 victory over Zhang Anda on Sunday in London.
Murphy compiled breaks of 89, 86, 71, 65, and 51 because the fiftieth version of the distinguished invitational acquired below manner on the Alexandra Palace.
Zhang, the one debutant within the Masters draw this 12 months, had been the shape participant among the many pair in the course of the second half of 2023.
However the Worldwide Championship winner was left to rue a few missed alternatives to win frames three and 4 of the competition.
“Clearly I’m on the BBC workforce, and we did the draw on the UK Championships,” Shaun Murphy informed the World Snooker Tour.
“When his title got here out, lots of people had been saying that’s draw – a debutant, this, that, and the opposite.”
“And I used to be pondering, he’s one of many gamers of the season. Sure, he’s not performed on this match earlier than.
“However he’s simply off the again of profitable a large occasion in China, he’s been among the finest gamers of all season.
“I believed I’ve acquired my work lower out right here. If I don’t play correctly, he’ll flip me over.
“With that in thoughts, I’ve labored very, very exhausting since York within the background. I’ve not informed anybody about it, and I used to be delighted to see it come on the market.”
After the opening two frames had been shared, a protracted and shut third body noticed the balls go scrappy with Murphy finally edging in entrance for a second time.
The important thing exchanges of the encounter materialised within the fourth body, nevertheless, when the Magician countered Zhang’s break of 60 with a 65 clearance of his personal.
Murphy then managed the affair after the mid-session interval, comfortably advancing to the final eight of the competitors.
“It was extra vital the truth that he had to consider it for 20 minutes,” the 2015 Masters champion mentioned of the essential fourth body.
“If we had rolled straight into body 5, racked the balls up and go once more, it maybe doesn’t depart the identical sort of mark.”
“These varieties of body losses depart marks and scars. To then have to take a seat within the dressing room afterwards desirous about it’s powerful and one thing you must study to take care of.
“It’s the highest 16, invitation solely, for a cause. It’s nice to be on the market.
“The primary time I got here to the Masters as a 12 year-old boy, I used to be dreaming of in the future taking part in and strolling on the market in that competitors.
“To have been right here for a few years, to be fairly skilled at it, to find it irresistible, to take pleasure in it, and to have gained the match is one thing I’m very pleased with.
“It’s an excellent enviornment to play in. The Convention Centre was nice, the sector was good. However I feel the house right here we discovered with the Ally Pally is second to none.”
Murphy’s subsequent opponent will probably be Jack Lisowski, who earlier on day one defeated world champion Luca Brecel by the identical four-frame margin.
Lisowski raced right into a 4-0 lead with breaks of 100 – his three hundredth profession century break – 96, 70, and 69.
Brecel briefly rallied to chop the deficit in half, however Lisowski powered previous the profitable publish with contributions of 63 and 68.
“I feel the women and gentleman who have gotten a ticket for that match are in for a deal with,” Murphy teased about his upcoming battle towards Lisowski.
“Neither of us pull our punches. I don’t assume it’ll take very lengthy, whoever wins, and Jack is displaying the expertise that he’s acquired.
“He’s able to win massive. This could possibly be his week – I hope not – however I’m going to present it all the pieces I’ve acquired.”
On Monday, the 2024 Masters continues with two extra fixtures from the spherical of 16.
Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan – many individuals’s pre-tournament favorite – takes on Ding Junhui in a repeat of their UK Championship ultimate from a month in the past.
The night encounter sees final 12 months’s runner-up Mark Williams in motion towards Ali Carter, who will make his first look within the occasion since 2020.
2024 Masters
– draw, dwell scores, outcomes –
Final 16 (bo11)
Matches to be performed from Sunday, Jan 7 to Wednesday, Jan 10. Occasions in UTC.
Judd Trump vs Kyren Wilson
(Tues, 1pm)
Mark Williams 4-6 Ali Carter
Mark Selby vs Robert Milkins
(Wed, 7pm)
Mark Allen vs John Higgins
(Wed, 1pm)
—
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson vs Barry Hawkins
(Tues, 7pm)
Shaun Murphy 6-2 Zhang Anda
Luca Brecel 2-6 Jack Lisowski
Quarter-Finals (bo11)
Matches to be performed on Jan 11 and Jan 12
Trump/Wilson vs Ali Carter
(Fri, 1pm)
Selby/Milkins vs Allen/Higgins
(Fri, 7pm)
—
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Robertson/Hawkins
(Thurs, 1pm)
Shaun Murphy vs Jack Lisowski
(Thurs, 7pm)
Semi-Finals (bo11)
Matches to be performed on Jan 13
Closing (bo19)
Match to be performed on Jan 14
Featured picture credit score: WST