Shaun Murphy Survives Scare Against Teen Sensation
Shaun Murphy, the former world champion and Masters and British Open winner, narrowly avoided a major upset in the second round of the International Championship in Nanjing, China. He defeated 14-year-old qualifier Wang Xinzhong in a final frame decider.
Wang Xinzhong's Impressive Run
The teenage prodigy had already made waves by beating women's world champions Bai Yulu and the seasoned Robbie Williams to reach this stage of the tournament. Notably, his win against Yulu came despite her registering the highest ever break by a woman in a ranking event, a 145.
In the first round, Wang convincingly defeated Williams 6-1, signaling his strong form going into the match against Murphy.
Close Match Drama
Murphy was the favorite and started strong, taking the first three frames. However, Wang responded brilliantly, winning five of the following six frames to lead 5-4, putting Murphy on the brink of a shock defeat.
Ultimately, Murphy secured his place in the last 32 with crucial breaks of 72 and 89. He will next face Elliot Slessor.
Murphy's Praise for Wang
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Murphy said after the match. “Ronnie [O’Sullivan] was good at 14, as were many others.”
Murphy’s remarks highlight his respect for Wang’s talent and suggest a promising future for the young player.
Shaun Murphy narrowly escaped a huge upset against 14-year-old Wang Xinzhong, whose talent impressed even the seasoned champion and hinted at big things ahead.