Seeking his first title in 15 months, Shaun Murphy came from 2-0 behind to beat Zhou Yuelong 4-2 to reach the last 16 of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open.
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Murphy has enjoyed deep runs this season, reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters, the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open, but is still hunting a first trophy since the 2023 Championship League. The 42-year-old was in danger of an early exit tonight when he lost the opening two frames, but took the third then crucially recovered from 60-0 down to snatch the fourth, laying a snooker on the final brown then clearing for 2-2. That proved the turning point as he rattled in breaks of 77 and 103 in the last two frames.
"It was test of patience because the first two frames were two of the worst I have played in my life," said Murphy, who now meets Stuart Bingham, a repeat of the 2015 world final. "I knew it would turn. The third frame was huge, and then in the fourth I had a slice of luck when I missed a red but didn't leave him anything. I hope a title is coming. I'm not in the Champion of Champions yet, I've got two opportunities to win something and get into that by right. I'm enjoying my snooker and tonight was a good challenge to see if I could handle a few things going wrong."
Earlier in the day, Murphy generously lent his cue to Noppon Saengkham, whose cue has gone missing. "I ran into Noppon last night in the hotel and he looked distraught," added the 2005 World Champion. "I can't think of a player on tour who wouldn't offer to help out another player in need. At breakfast he told me his cue still hadn't turned up so I was happy to let him use mine. If he needs it again, he's welcome to it. Unless we meet in the final...then he's in trouble!"
Judd Trump took his earnings for 2024 past the £1.5 million mark by beating Matthew Selt 4-2. A break of 81 put Selt 2-1 ahead before world number one Trump levelled with a 74, then enjoyed a slice of good fortune in frame five as he fluked a snooker on the final brown, which set up the chance to go 3-2 ahead. And the Bristol cueman converted the advantage by making a superb 141 total clearance in the sixth.
Trump remains on target for a fifth title in this tournament since 2018 and has only ever lost to three players in Belfast: Stuart Carrington, Mark Allen and Aaron Hill. His next opponent will be John Higgins or Barry Hawkins.
World number 71 Louis Heathcote capitalised on his first round win over Mark Selby as he followed up with a 4-1 success against Jimmy Robertson, compiling breaks of 50, 69 and 65. He will now meet Tian Pengfei, who beat Robert Milkins 4-1 with a top break of 91. Bingham cruised to a 4-0 win over Mark Davis with a top run of 62.