The 2024 UK Championship – Day 5

Yesterday was the first day of the round of 16 at the Barbican in York and it truly delivered!

Afternoon session (WST report)

MAGICIAN SLAYS THE DRAGON IN THRILLER

Shaun Murphy held off a Ding Junhui fightback to win 6-5 and make the quarter-finals of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship in York.

Victory for Murphy sees him through to his ninth quarter-final in this event, 16 years after his first. That came in the year he captured the UK crown for the first time in his career, defeating Marco Fu in a 10-9 thriller back in 2008.

The result enhances 12-time ranking event winner Murphy’s already impressive head-to-head record over Ding to 14-7. Despite today’s loss, Ding can console himself with the knowledge he captured his 15th piece of ranking silverware at the recent International Championship.

Murphy has threatened to claim titles this season without quite getting over the line. He was runner-up at the Shanghai Masters to Judd Trump and has appeared in a further two quarter-finals and a semi-final. He’s recently started working with 2002 World Champion Peter Ebdon in a coaching capacity, in a bid to add a killer edge to his game.

Defeat for Ding ends his run of consecutive finals here in York. The Chinese legend was runner-up in 2022 and 2023, losing out to Mark Allen and Ronnie O’Sullivan respectively.

The match started off at a tremendous pace, with a 129 from Ding to take the opener. Murphy responded immediately with two on the bounce to make it 2-1, before runs of 53 and 46 moved Ding 3-2 in front.

A crucial turning point came in the sixth, where Ding spurned a black off the spot with the frame at his mercy. Murphy clawed his way back into the frame and eventually potted a mid range pink to restore parity at 3-3. He punched the table and clenched his fist after securing a frame which switched the momentum.

The 2005 Crucible king hit the front after taking the seventh and then surged to the verge of victory with 135 to move 5-3 ahead. With potential defeat looming, Ding summoned his best snooker to stay in contention. The three-time UK Champion fired in breaks of 107 and 126 to restore parity at 5-5 and set up a grandstand finish.

With the pressure at its highest, it was Murphy who stepped up on centre stage with an audacious 147 attempt. His run ended on 65, but that was eventually enough to cross the line and book a quarter-final clash with Barry Hawkins, who defeated defending champion O’Sullivan in round one.

“I’m delighted to get through. It was always going to be a tough match against Ding Junhui. I think he is one of the most important characters of the last 20 years, in terms of the global recognition of snooker. Aside from that he is also one of the best players we’ve ever seen. To go up against him in a big match out there, when it mattered, and win is a thrill.“

Shaun Murphy

2005 World Champion

Murphy added: “I think I’ve increased my potential best. I’ve been becoming a better thinker and player. I haven’t shown it yet but I think I’ve got potentially better. That word is important. I’ve stretched myself and I think I can go further. Whether that is this week or not, I don’t know. It is coming though. In moments and flashes, my game is in good shape.

“Myself and Barry have been playing each other since we’ve been boys. I think anyone who beats Ronnie almost goes favourite to win the tournament. There is a bit of a track record of people beating him having a very good week. There may be a bit of pressure on Barry. I hope he feels as much of that as possible, I hope it piles onto his shoulders! I’m just going to do my thing, try my best and see how we go.”

On the other table, Barry Hawkins booked his slot in the quarters with a fiercely contested 6-5 win over David Gilbert.

The Hawk soared in the opening round with his momentous win over O’Sullivan, who he has traditionally fared poorly against. It was a first win over the Rocket since the 2016 World Championship.

Hawkins took that momentum into today with a stunning 144 to take the opener. However, he eventually found himself facing the exit when he trailed 5-4. Gilbert looked like he was set for victory before he missed a green with the rest. Hawkins held his nerve to force the decider, which he won to book his place in the last eight against Murphy. The win enhances his hopes of qualification for the Johnstone’s Paint Masters and knocks Neil Robertson out of contention for a place.

“I thought I was going home. It was all over. He pots the green and it is a natural angle to come round for the brown. I was thinking whether I was driving home tonight or staying here to go to the pub! It is amazing,” said four-time ranking event winner Hawkins.

“It’s going to be a massive match against Shaun. I’m glad I’ve got the day off tomorrow. I can go away, regroup and chill to go again on Friday. Shaun has been there and done it. He’s a Triple crown winner and a very dangerous player when he’s on his game. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing.”

Evening session (WST report)

LISOWSKI FLOORS THE CAPTAIN

Jack Lisowski halted an Ali Carter fightback to prevail 6-4 and make the quarter-finals of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship in York.

World number 21 Lisowski now progresses to the last eight here in York for the fourth time in his career. His most notable UK Championship run came two years ago, when he reached the semis. Lisowski had look set for the title match, having led eventual champion Mark Allen 5-3, before succumbing to a 6-5 loss. He now has his chance for revenge, when he faces Allen in this year’s quarters.

The 33-year-old requires three more match wins to step into the tournament winner’s circle for the first time in his career. He’s made six ranking finals so far, but has ended as runner-up on each occasion. However, the fiercely attacking Lisowski has produced some sublime snooker so far this week, having also won an epic 6-4 win over Mark Selby in the last 32.

The loss for Carter ends his hopes of forcing a way into the top ten of the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, meaning he will miss out on the lucrative Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.

The opening frame this evening went the way of Lisowski, before the second came down to a safety battle on the pink. A fine long range pot eventually gave Carter a shot at the black, which he duly deposited to left middle to restore parity at 1-1.

Lisowski leapt into action in the third and from there he composed contributions of 85, 63 and 106 to move into a commanding 4-1 lead. Carter replied with 68 in the sixth, but a break of 97 in the seventh moved Lisowski 5-2 ahead.

The Captain refused to buckle and took two on the bounce to crank up the heat at 5-4. However, Lisowski showed his mettle with a match winning 55 in the tenth to secure a significant 6-4 victory.

Lisowski said: “I didn’t play as well as the other day but I was kind of expecting that. I felt a bit inexperienced at the end. I just push the boat out at the wrong times and he could have been coming back at me. It could definitely have been 5-5, so I got away with that.

“The fans here are amazing. I think they maybe watched the game against Selby the other day and appreciated it, because he had 94% pot success. I was looking back on it and to beat him is really tough. I felt a lot of support tonight and sometimes that can put me under pressure. My concentration is getting better though and that definitely helped. The crowd in York is my favourite bunch.“

On the other table, world number three Allen earned his quarter-final spot with a hard fought 6-4 win over talented Chinese star Wu Yize.

The Pistol’s victory here in 2022 came courtesy of a stunning 10-7 defeat of Ding Junhui in the final, which he had trailed 6-1.

Dangerous 22-year-old Wu had already showcased his credentials earlier this season with a brilliant run to his second ranking final at the English Open, where he was narrowly beaten 9-7 by Neil Robertson.

It was Wu who looked the strongest in the early stages this evening, as he moved into a 4-2 lead. However, Allen made breaks of 110, 73, 100 and 80 to take four on the bounce and emerge with a 6-4 victory.

Allen said: “Jack looks to be playing well. I think snooker is better whenever Jack is playing well. He plays how everyone wants to play and that is the biggest compliment I can give him. Hopefully I can stop him in his tracks. That was good there from me tonight. If I play like that I give myself a good chance of beating Jack. He’s riding the crest of a wave at the minute. It is up to me to go out there and stop him.“

Wu isn’t 22, he’s only turned 21 six weeks ago¹. Wu won the first frame after the MSI and that frame was an absolute epic. It lasted for over an hour, more than the previous four put together, and it was extremely tactical and hard fought. It was fascinating to watch. It probably took a lot out of Wu though. He still won the next as well but I suspect that he ran a bit out of steam after that and Allen’s experience did the rest. The way Wu managed to win frame 5 attracted a lot of (totally deserved) praise from Ronnie and Reanne in the studio, as well as from Alan McManus in commentary. He’s a beautiful player to watch and quite clever too.