Shaun Murphy
trounced world number one Neil Robertson 10-2 in the final of the Masters to
become only the 10th player to complete snooker's 'triple crown'.
Murphy, 32, adds to his 2005 World Championship victory and his triumph in the 2008 UK Championship.
In a repeat of the 2012 final, Murphy made two centuries to avenge the defeat he suffered in that match.
Robertson failed to get going, and Murphy completed the biggest winning margin in the final for 27 years.
It was the first time since Steve Davis's 9-0 whitewash of Mike Hallett in 1988 that the final was decided by such a wide deficit.
The 10 'triple crown' winners |
|---|
| Steve Davis, Terry Griffiths, Alex Higgins, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy |
"I can't believe it," said Murphy, who nearly quit the sport a year ago. "To finally get the win and the crown is unbelievable.
"I remember in the past Neil nicking a few tight frames against me and they really hurt. I just decided to stick in there and be patient and in the end I got a chance to steal the frame.
"In all, I have played pretty well this week and I am blown away."
Englishman Murphy's preparations for the tournament were hampered by a severe chest infection.
After stating he wanted to win the Masters within the next decade, he put together devastating performances full of confidence and style - much like his World Championship triumph at the Crucible 10 years previously.
He won six frames in a row to beat Mark Allen in the last four and started the final in similar fashion, claiming the first five frames to open up a healthy advantage.
But Australian Robertson - who crushed defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the previous round - battled back by taking two of the next three frames to go 6-2 behind.
Six-time world champion Steve Davis |
|---|
| "It is never nice to get a drubbing in the final but it was just one match. |
| "If you look at Neil Robertson's standard in the tournament as a whole it was very high. |
| "However, you judge yourself on winning and losing and you beat yourself up on the last defeat." |
"Shaun played very well today," said 32-year-old Robertson.
"I just could not produce the sort of snooker that got me to the final. I'd just like to say welcome to the triple crown club. He is a worthy champion."
Murphy restored the five-frame lead by taking the ninth, before a superb 127 and the following frame put him one away from victory.
And he quickly finished the match by making a composed break of 60 in the 13th frame for the £200,000 top prize and the trophy.
No comments:
Post a Comment