Session 1: 1300 - Ali Carter (Eng) 5-3 Shaun Murphy (Eng) end of session
Ali Carter leads Shaun Murphy 5-3 after the first session of the UK Championship semi-final in York.
The Essex man capitalised on fortunes that fell his way during the session and took a 2-0 lead before Murphy restored parity.
Carter went 4-2 in front which included a century break, Murphy pulled a frame back but Carter won the last frame to take the advantage.
The pair play their final session on Friday evening at 19:00 GMT.
Carter played some tough, competitive snooker, the sort that saw him reach the final of the World Championship earlier this year.
His exemplary safety play had Murphy in trouble time and again, allowing him to gain the upper hand.
Murphy had vowed to go back to his attacking style of play which gave him his 2005 World title and showed signs of this with some stunning long-range potting.
But he broke down too many times when in amongst the reds and was unfortunate to not have the run of the ball go his way.
The opening frame was a tense one, with both players starting nervously. Murphy missed a regulatory blue into the middle pocket and it was Carter who managed to clinch the first.
Murphy knocked in a superb long red in the next, but failed to build on it and 'The Captain' duly punished him with a clinical break of 77.
The 2008 champion Murphy was in again but could only compile 42 before running out of position. Carter made 51 in response and after a poor safety shot 'The Magician' pocketed a long red and was able to take the frame, much to his relief.
For the first time in the match, he was able to win a frame with one visit - an excellent red allowed him to make an 89 to square the contest.
Carter ground out the next frame, and made the most of a fluke by knocking in the first century, a 101, ensuring he would not be behind going into the final session.
Murphy pulled one back and with both players knowing the importance of what was at stake, the last frame turned out to be an anxious battle, one that Carter took after another stroke of luck.
Session 2: 1900 - Ali Carter (Eng) (3) 8-9 (6) Shaun Murphy (Eng) - brackets show session score.
Frame 9: Good start for Shaun Murphy 46, 48 from Carter tight frame this thanks to a wonderful black in the left middle, Ali wins it with a 79.
Frame 10: 51 for Ali, Shaun attempting to clear up and he does to the black 59 from Shaun.
Frame 11: Ali in the balls sublime break of 80 Ali now needs 2 frames to go through to the final.
Frame 12: Ali in the balls only 16 made, Shaun went in off, so Carter back at the baize, made 40 leads by 60 points, the Magician leaves Ali with a red & black to clinch the frame which he takes, snookers needed for Shaun. A 29 from Shaun only delaying the inevitable mid distance red potted by Ali to seal the frame.
Frame 13: A few nice safety shots from both players Shaun now on a break of 46 a lovely red along the cushion to keep the break going, 76 wins the frame.
Frame 14: 49 for the Magician is as far as he goes, mid distance red missed, Shaun has a 34 point lead 3 reds & the colours left, 35 the lead for Shaun 35 remaining, he pots the remaining red and Ali concedes.
Frame 15: Another fabulous long pot from Shaun to open, splits the pack chance to really make this semi final interesting, a century from Shaun 105 GAME ON!
Frame 16: The Magician working his magic I think his is casting a spell on the table, he is playing marvellous snooker 29 break at the moment, was in trouble but then pots a superb red and black TO A DECIDER LADIES AND GENTLEMAN! 4 frames in a row amazing! 78 to take us there.
Frame 17: 32 for the Captain, 39 for Murphy. Shaun Murphy has done it! A quite stunning turn around since the mid session interval 8-4 down to a 9-8 win HE IS IN THE FINAL!
Shaun Murphy staged a stunning comeback to defeat Ali Carter 9-8 in the semi-final of the UK Championship.
Murphy had been 5-3 behind after the first session in which Carter made his only century of the match.
And at 8-4 up, it looked as though Carter was cruising to victory, but for an amazing performance from Murphy who won five frames in a row.
He will face either Mark Selby or Mark Davis in his second appearance in the final of the tournament.
Murphy returns to the final of the event, four years after winning it for the first time against Ding Junhui.
Murphy stated after the narrow 6-5 quarter-final victory over Belgian sensation Luca Brecel that he felt he was "out of the tournament" and at 8-4 down against Carter, he would have been thinking the same thing.
But the mid-session interval proved to be the turning point as Murphy came out a rejuvenated man, taking five frames in a row to clinch the most dramatic of wins.
In fact, you had to go back to 2001 when a player came back from such a deficit in a 17 frame encounter at the UK Championship; Ronnie O'Sullivan against Peter Ebdon and Mark Williams over Stephen Hendry.
Carter's tough, competitive style and superb safety play left 'The Magician' frustrated early on, however, his high scoring game ultimately materialised.
Essex man Carter capitalised on fortunes that fell his way during the first session and took a 2-0 lead before Murphy restored parity.
Carter went 4-2 in front which included a 101 break, Murphy pulled a frame back but Carter won the last frame of the session with another stroke of luck to take a 5-3 advantage.
Murphy was on the table first again in the final session but could only accumulate 46, and Carter delivered an early blow with a knock of 79.
Carter made 50 in the next, but saw Murphy come to the baize and hit back with a 59 to take the frame.
'The Captain' was in control, and good safety play, coupled with high scoring - this time an 80 - edged him closer to the winning line.
And he notched another to go within one of victory, but a 76 from Murphy helped him to within three, yet it would need a colossal effort to turn the match around.
A break of 49 reduced the arrears to 8-6 and the comeback was well and truly on when Murphy pulled another frame back with an excellent 105 break.
The remarkable turnaround was complete as Murphy made 78 to force a decider.
Carter had the first chance and made 32, before missing a red with the rest. Murphy replied with 39 before eventually running out of position.
But Carter's poor safety allowed his opponent to pocket a red into the middle and seal an incredible victory.
Match Stats below in table
| Murphy | Carter | |
|---|---|---|
863
|
Total points
|
818
|
260
|
Balls potted
|
228
|
92%
|
Pot success
|
93%
|
72%
|
Long pot success
|
63%
|
79%
|
Safety success
|
79%
|
105
|
Highest break
|
101
|
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