World champion out of China Open

Bemused and bewildered by his 3,000-mile trek east, infrequent flyer Shaun Murphy was grounded by a first round defeat in the Star Group China Open this morning.

Murphy was beaten 5-2 by Nottingham’s Michael Holt in Beijing as he suffered his first opening match reverse in a ranking event since winning the World Championship 11 months ago as a 150/1 outsider.