Shaun Murphy scored one of his biggest wins for 18 months over an ailing Neil Robertson to end the Australian’s Masters title defence at the first hurdle.
Murphy, 40, and the 2015 winner at Alexandra Palace, survived a comeback from the flu-stricken world No3 to clinch a 6-4 win and move into the quarter-finals.
The Magician’s last big title came at the Welsh Open pre-Covid back in 2020 – and wins in the major events have been rare for much of that time.
Murphy, who almost saw a 5-1 lead disappear, said: “Neil was coughing every 10 seconds and looked very ill. If he had been any worse, or if it hadn’t been this event, he might not have played.
READ MORE:
-
Mark Selby On Snooker's Match-Fixing Scandal: ''It's A Sad Time For The Sport''
-
Zhao Xintong Suspended As Total Sidelined In Match-Fixing Probe Rises To Ten
- Betfred's 2023 Masters Outright Betting*
“But they say beware the injured man, and all I can do is focus on my game. He looked okay when he was coming back at me and on the 147 attempt!
“I could tell he wasn’t 100 per cent but he deemed himself fit enough to compete, and so all is fair in love and war – we are both out there trying to kill each other.
“Without question that is one of my best wins in the last couple of years. I was surprised as anyone to be 5-1 ahead. I played well, but against Neil, you don’t expect that.
“Then I was just sat in my chair for 45 minutes while he played snooker from the gods.
“So it rates very high. I would have been much happier to win 6-1 or 6-2, but it is just about getting the win. And wins in these big gala events have been thin on the ground for me recently.
“My game has been trending in the right direction, I have played well this season despite not getting any silverware. And if I can get a run going, it could be my week.
“My little girl gave me some great advice this morning – ‘Daddy, remember to pot some balls’. So thanks to her.”
Robertson, who won the title for the second time 12 months ago, insisted his slow start was down to a severe case of flu picked up in Norway on holiday with his family.
He said: “I had a horrendous bout of flu over the Christmas and New Year period, and I didn’t recover in time. I have been in bed for a week and a half.
“My wife Mille has done amazingly with the kids because she had it as well. But I was really struggling physically out there, my knees were shaking at times.
“At least I made some kind of match of it and it was only during the 147 attempt some adrenaline kicked in. That is two big events this season, along with the UK, ruined by flu.”
Meanwhile legend Steve Davis has described snooker’s biggest investigation into match-fixing as “embarrassing” for the sport.
And that comes as WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson revealed charges stemming from the probe could be brought as soon as next week.
There are currently ten Chinese players suspended over a corruption investigation – including Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao, who had to be replaced in he draw at the Masters.
The issue has left a big cloud hanging over one of the season’s biggest tournaments.
Six-time world champion Davis, 65, now a popular BBC pundit, said: “If the allegations are proven to be true, it shows a breath-taking level of stupidity by these players - but that is yet to be confirmed.
“It’s embarrassing. The players are aware of the situation and fortunately the WPBSA is on top of it. What effect it has on the game, it’s hard to evaluate at the moment.”
Davis also expressed fears that the issue could jeopardise snooker’s return to China. The game has been without a lucrative series of events in the Far East since Covid, but travel rules are now being relaxed.
He added: “What effect it has in China is even harder to say. It may have a detrimental effect on events over there – let’s hope not.”
Ferguson said: “We are probably only a week or two away from kind of understanding whether charges will be pressed or not.”
Meanwhile Hossein Vafaei made the most of an unexpected Masters debut with a shock victory over three-time winner Mark Selby.
The 28-year-old is the first Iranian to play in the event – but owed his place as second reserve to Chinese players Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao being suspended over a match-fixing probe.
And Vafaei, ranked No18 at the cut-off for this event for the top 16 only, took full advantage by reaching the quarter-finals with a 6-2 win at Alexandra Palace.
After a third successive win over four-time world champion Selby, Vafaei said: “I can’t believe it – am I asleep or awake? Mark is such a tough opponent and a legend, it is a pleasure to share the table.
“He is an animal, so I am very proud of myself and so happy to beat him again and make it a hat-trick. The fans have been great with me – I’m not sure they know what it is about me they like.”
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
