Murphy glides into Malta Cup final

Shaun Murphy has taken another giant stride towards his first title since shocking the snooker world by winning the 2005 World Championship as a 125-1 outsider after reaching the final of the Malta Cup.

The 24-year-old completed a top-quality 6-3 victory over Ali Carter at the Portomaso Hilton and will now tackle either Peter Ebdon or Ryan Day in tomorrow’s best of 17 frames final to the world-ranking tournament.

Murphy, based in Rotherham, is convinced he can again lift one of the sport’s most sought-after trophies.

“It’s really pleasing to see all my hard practise beginning to pay off. I feel as though I’ve come full circle and that I can actually play the game again,” said Murphy.

“I was happy with how heavily I scored but even more pleased that I stood at the table, thought about it, refused some pots and put Ali in trouble instead. That’s how I got most of my chances.”

Murphy, who has deliberately tempered his policy of all out attack in favour of a more sensible, cautious approach, insists that he is now far better equipped than when he was drubbed 9-4 by Stephen Lee in the Welsh Open final last year.

“Against Stephen I didn’t have a Plan B when my potting failed me. I was a lot more one-dimensional but now I’m mentally fitter and I’ve got another side of my game to fall back on. That’s the big difference.”

Murphy, beaten by Carter in the round robin phase of this season’s Grand Prix, could not have wished for a more confidence inducing start.

He smoothly secured the opening frame with a run of 111 before producing an 80 clearance in the second after Carter had overcut a short-range black.

It was 3-1 at the mid-session interval and on the restart Murphy picked up where he left off with a 115 break in frame five – his sixth century of the tournament after firing in three en route to beating Stephen Lee 5-4 in the last 16.

At that stage Carter looked to be heading for a heavy defeat but the trainee pilot then began to clip Murphy’s wings.

Runs of 69 and 61 brought Carter back into the reckoning at 4-3 but his recovery was to be stopped in his tracks.

From the type of raking long red that was such a trademark of his surprise success at the Crucible, Murphy regained the initiative by making a 76 and also applied the finishing touch in a single scoring visit with an 80 break in the ninth frame.

Carter, who had been attempting to book his debut in a world ranking final, was full of compliments for Murphy.

“I don’t think Shaun can play much better than that. He hardly missed a ball and he cued really sweetly. I can’t see anyone stopping him being the champion,” declared Carter, who has the consolation of climbing from 31st to 19th on the provisional world list.