Murphy's barren run continues

Shaun Murphy is out of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix but veteran John Parrott is through to the last 16.

Former world champion Murphy suffered a surprise 5-3 defeat against Adrian Gunnell, a qualifier from Telford, while Parrott beat compatriot Mark King 5-3 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Murphy has now not won at a ranking event match since last season’s World Championship and this season the world number three has lost all three of his first-round matches.

But the 2005 Crucible champion still fancied his chances of a comeback at this season’s £502,100 (€644,764) tournament.

“It’s not been the best start of the season; sometimes losing can be a habit just like winning can,” said Murphy.

“But even at 4-1 down I thought I was going to win. I fancied the job.

“I think it was just one of those matches that I was destined not to win.”

Gunnell, who has never been past the last 16 stage of any ranking event, started well with breaks of 74 and 44 for a 2-0 lead.

Murphy reduced his arrears with a break of 61, but Gunnell powered 4-1 ahead thanks largely to a break of 58.

Breaks of 75 and 126 saw Murphy claw back even more, but Gunnell held his nerve in the decider, pocketed a break of 47, and deservedly progressed.

“I’ve just got to get back on the bike and keep going with it. Eventually it’s all going to click,” he said.

“If you prepare well, practice hard, you deserve to do well. There’s plenty more tournaments to play in,” added Murphy.

Gunnell will now face Steve Davis, a three-time Grand Prix winner, in the next phase.

Understandably delighted Gunnell, who had match breaks of 74, 44, 58 and 47, reflected: “I’m really chuffed to bits, especially to beat someone of Shaun’s quality.

“Steve Davis was the reason I started playing snooker, so I’m looking forward to playing him.”

In the last evening match Liverpudlian Parrott pocketed breaks of 42, 50, 41 and 49 to beat King, the world number 15.

King had breaks of 51, 53, 70 and 61, but Parrott fought back from 2-1 and 3-2 behind to go through.