Shaun Murphy produced a scintillating session of snooker to dispatch reigning world champion Zhao Xintong, but admitted he was 'faking it until he makes it' on the Crucible floor—a tactic that could propel him to a second world title.
Murphy Overcomes Zhao in Style
Murphy and Zhao were deadlocked at 8-8 heading into the final session of their World Snooker Championship quarter-final on Wednesday afternoon. However, the Englishman pulled away in emphatic fashion, crafting breaks of 96, 80, 70, and 69 to secure a 13-10 victory.
The world number eight appeared brimming with confidence as he brushed aside the defending champion, who entered the tournament as the bookmakers' favourite after an impressive season featuring three ranking event triumphs in the past three months. Zhao became the 21st victim of the famed Crucible Curse, as no first-time winner has successfully defended their title since the World Championship moved to Sheffield in 1977.
Murphy's Honest Confession
Yet Murphy demurred when it was suggested in his post-match press conference that he looked relaxed and confident on the floor, strolling around as if he owned the place.
'I should have been an actor, maybe... Because I certainly didn't feel that way. But you've got to sort of fake it till you make it. You've got to try and convince yourself that you're feeling confident and bang up for it, even though inside you're very nervous and you're shaking and all the rest of it,' he said.
'I've been coming here since I was nine years of age and it still gets you every time you walk down those steps. Every time you shake hands and go to battle in the Crucible, it's still as nerve-wracking as the first time. Every time feels like a debut and whilst it still gives me that buzz, I'll keep coming.'
Building Momentum
Murphy is now building a head of steam in this year's championship, with the victory over Zhao setting up a semi-final against either Neil Robertson or John Higgins—the first time he has reached the one-table set-up at the Crucible in five years.
'I knew going into it nothing but my best would do. Thankfully, I found it in the third session, and I'm delighted. It's one of the best wins of my career,' Murphy added.
Murphy's only world title came at the age of 22, way back in 2005, although he also reached the final in 2009, 2015, and 2021. The road to a potential second world title has been long and winding for 'the Magician', but something special might be brewing in Sheffield.
He looked set to crash out in the very first round when locked in a decider with Fan Zhengyi at 9-9, trailing 53-17 in the frame, with a snooker required and the remaining balls in awkward positions. But he produced an astounding clearance of 50 to snatch the win—a break he described as the best he has ever made—before thrashing Xiao Guodong with a session to spare in the last 16.
Change of Perspective
Following that by handily dismissing the reigning world champion in the last eight means Murphy is flying, and he credits that nail-biting victory in round one with a change of perspective.
'It would have been very, very easy after the win in the first round with that clearance that somehow I conjured from somewhere to look at it as a free crack. But I haven't seen it as a free crack. I've seen it as there could be something in this and rather than seeing it as a total free go, I've seen it as an opportunity. I almost owe it to Fan Zhengyi, having nicked that frame off him at the end, at the death, I felt almost like I owed it to him to try my nuts off on every single ball, which is what I've done,' he admitted.
'I would say I'm in the best shape I've been since winning the championship [in 2005]. I think I'm a better player than I was 21 years ago. I'm a more astute player than I was 21 years ago, I've been to the final three times since then, tried to recreate that magic, not quite made it. But once you get to the one-table set-up, you're not too far away. So, whatever I've got left in the tank after a really good season, I'm going to give it all over the next few days.'
