It was Shaun Murphy today that ended his 3 year drought for a ranking title, by seeing off the battling challenge of Mark Selby who finished runner-up once more this season as he has done many times since his 2012 UK Championship win. It was a very good performance from Murphy and one that was well deserved.
Let's have a look at how Shaun got a magical win:
Shaun Murphy 10-6 Mark Selby - The final started off very well for Shaun after he gained the first chance of the match and made 64, before missing a tricky black with the rest with still 67 on, but after Selby missed an easier black the frame was Murphy's. The second frame was big in the context of the first mini session as Selby got in first and was on 46 with the reds open before he covered the red he wanted to play and had to play a red up to the baulk corner which he missed. Without a tough ball on the table Murphy made a superb clearance of 80 to punish Selby brilliantly and make it 2-0. Both players had chances in the third frame, and the frame eventually came down to a battle on the last red. Murphy won the battle though and a clearance of 32 from Murphy made it 3-0 with one frame left before the interval of the first session. It was an early break of 52 in the fourth that was eventually enough for Murphy after Selby battled for a long period for snookers on the last red, and The Magician led 4-0 at the first mid-session break.
Selby looked like he might start to dictate the pace of things after the break, breaking Murphy's rhythm by controlling a very scrappy fifth frame, where Mark controlled the safety exchange, needing several chances to score, but eventually he got his first frame on the board at 1-4. It did seem to upset Shaun's rhythm after he missed an awkward red on 13 in the sixth cueing over the black, and the man from Leicester was able to capitalise to close to just 2 frames behind at 2-4 with a run of 91. After that frame you thought that Mark was right back into it and he'd put Murphy right back under pressure again in this final. Shaun though had other ideas as he dominated an early safety exchange to put Selby consistently in a lot of trouble, and when he did get his opportunity he made the most of it as a break of 98 restored some of the 2005 World Champions comfort at 5-2. Shaun Murphy really teed off after that and didn't really miss a ball of any importance making consecutive centuries of 105 and 112 (missing the last black there for a possible 146) showing the great confidence and form which he has showed all week in taking a 7-2 lead after the first session, needing just 3 more frames to become the Haikou World Open champion.
The second session began with both players having early chances but missing early balls as the session started off in a very tense manner, but after a Murphy miss it was Selby that took the first frame of the evening session with a run of 77. Again both players had chances in the next frame, and it was Murphy that really should have won it, but a good clearance of 33 from Mark Selby closed the gap once more to 4-7 with Shaun feeling the pressure. The next frame again saw chances for Shaun Murphy, but he kept handing chances for Selby and he hadn't settled as quickly as he did in the opening session as contributions of 43 and 34 from Mark put the pressure on "The Magician" as his lead was cut to 5-7. The last frame before the interval was key for both players, with 7-6 being a big collapse from 7-2 for Murphy, while 8-5 would still be a very good lead. After a couple of early chances, Shaun soon had a very good opportunity and with a good run of 60 he'd secured an 8-5 interval advantage. Selby continued fighting though and he won the first frame after the interval, after Murphy went on a lengthy hunt for a snooker. The 15th frame was key though with Selby making an early 49 break, but a great pot from Murphy got him in for a big steal and a fantastic clearance of 78 not only punished Selby but put Shaun a frame from victory at 9-6. Murphy had a few early chances in the next frame but he kept breaking down after unsuccessful attempts to split the pack, but some uncharacteristically poor safety shots from Selby kept giving Murphy chances an eventually Selby needed 3 snookers on the last red. He got 2 of them, but a long battle soon began on the colours as Selby searched for the last snooker and Murphy tried to get the pot he needed to put the match beyond doubt. Eventually it came down to the pink, and Selby left Shaun a chance too many to pot it as Shaun Murphy secured a 10-6 win over Mark Selby to take the Haikou World Open title, and his first ranking win for 3 years.
Brilliant stuff from Shaun Murphy who was by far the best player of the week, scoring well looking confident and being positive throughout the week. His win shows that not only does hard work on and off the table, working hard at his game and his fitness, but also that the change to go back to his naturally attacking style has worked and that players should always try and play their natural game. It also is reward for a player that is an incredible ambassador for the game of snooker on and off of the table, and the perfect role model for the younger generations. Credit also needs to go to Mark Selby, who was an exemplary professional again this week, giving it his all once again however tough times got throughout the week, and if he can find his best form soon he will win another ranking event before you know it.
It's been a brilliant week of snooker in Haikou this week with a lot of exciting and tense matches with good quality snooker played throughout the week. My only complaint would be that the crowd numbers don't really support what is otherwise a very good event. Next up it's the PTC Grand Finals after an upcoming 8 days that are free from any snooker.
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