Shaun Murphy holds off Kyren Wilson fightback to win second Masters title

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Shaun Murphy holds off Kyren Wilson fightback to win second Masters title
Author: Pa Sport Staff
Published: Jan, 19 2025 23:08

Shaun Murphy claimed Masters success for a second time after a superb 10-7 victory over Kyren Wilson in Sunday’s thrilling final at Alexandra Palace. Murphy had been irresistible all week and produced only the sixth maximum break in the tournament’s history in his semi-final win over Mark Allen.

A day later it was followed by four more centuries in a high-quality and tense final, in which Wilson fought back from a four-frame deficit to trail 8-7 before Murphy held his nerve as he deservedly triumphed 10 years after his maiden Masters crown. The start of the final was disrupted by a wasp inside the north London venue, with Murphy again the target as he had been earlier this week.

It failed to put off the 2015 champion as he demonstrated his confidence with a break of 94 to take the opening frame. The second frame was more cagey, but Murphy moved 2-0 up before Wilson got off the mark with his own half-century break. Crucially, Murphy edged the next two frames to open up a healthy lead before Wilson reduced the deficit with a 53 break.

The afternoon session belonged to Murphy, though, who produced a superb 134 clearance for the first century of the final. It was followed by another as an excellent break of 116 allowed Murphy to dream with a 6-2 lead at the halfway point. Wilson, a runner-up at Alexandra Palace in 2018, needed a strong start to the evening session and edged a snooker-filled ninth frame, but Murphy responded in style.

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