Murphy Shines in World Snooker Championship Opener

SHEFFIELD: At the Crucible Theatre, Shaun Murphy showcased exceptional skill, defeating Daniel Wells 10-4 in his opening match and advancing to the next round of the World Snooker Championship on Wednesday.

Murphy exhibited top form right from the start, establishing a significant 7-2 advantage by the end of Tuesday’s session. The highlight was a remarkable no-look trick shot where he potted the black after maneuvering it off four cushions without looking. This play drew a huge reaction from the audience.

The champion of 2005 is now preparing for a potential showdown with Judd Trump, the current world number one, hoping to secure his second World Championship title after his initial victory two decades ago.

The Sheffield crowd enjoyed an exciting display of snooker talent against Wells, a Welsh qualifier ranked 49th globally. Every frame included a break of at least 50, with both players achieving three century breaks each.

Murphy, who previously won the Masters in January, aspires to be the first player to win both the Masters and the World Championship in the same season since Judd Trump achieved this feat in 2018–19.

After concluding the first session with a solid 7-2 lead, Murphy increased his advantage with a break of 53.

Wells briefly rallied with breaks of 115 and 68, but Murphy countered with a superb 133, bringing him within one frame of winning. He ultimately secured the victory with a score of 71 in the final frame.

Meanwhile, Trump is ahead of China’s Zhou Yuelong with a score of 6-3 in their first-round match, which is set to conclude on Wednesday evening.