Shaun Murphy stormed into the semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Masters with a 6-2 victory over Neil Robertson, but passed up the chance to make his first 147 in a Triple Crown event.
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Murphy came so close to the perfect finish to a tremendous match, as in the eighth and final frame he potted 15 reds with blacks, chasing the ninth maximum of his career and first in a major. But in potting the 15th black he left himself behind the blue, snookered on the yellow, and the chance was gone.
"It was just a terrible mistake to leave the cue ball behind the blue," he said. "Almost anywhere on the table except there would have been fine. It was such a good chance. At the start of the season, making a 147 in a Triple Crown event was one of my goals. To get so close, I'm gutted."
Still, that was the only blemish on an outstanding performance from the 2005 World and 2015 Masters champion as he booked a semi-final with Mark Allen or Mark Selby on Saturday afternoon.
World number seven Murphy hasn't won a title since the 2023 Championship League but has come close this season, notably reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters and semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. The 42-year-old is now into a seventh Masters semi-final with his sights set on the £350,000 top prize.
Robertson had first chance in the opening frame but ran out of position on 35 and Murphy punished him with a superb 90 clearance. A break of 79 helped Robertson level but Murphy dominated the next two with 49 and 67 for 3-1.
In frame five, Robertson was on 66 with five reds left when he was unlucky to lose position when splitting the cluster, and he later mid-cued attempting safety, which handed Murphy the chance to clear with 66 for 4-1. World number 20 Robertson hit back with 108, but a missed pink to centre early in frame seven proved costly as Murphy took advantage with 82 for 5-2. And his 147 attempt ended on 120 but still Murphy received a huge ovation from the Alexandra Palace crowd.
Murphy added: "I was very strong in all departments today. I must give Neil credit because when you play someone of his class, you have to play really well to stand a chance, so I was in the right frame of mind. I remember as an 11-year-old going to the Masters at Wembley Conference Centre, I said to my friend "do you think I'll ever get to play here?" Ally Pally is better, it's a dream come true to walk down those stairs.
"My game has been going in the right direction, something good is coming for me, whether it's this week or next week or next month. As long as I am here I am dangerous."
Australia's Robertson, a late replacement in the field when Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled out, said: "Both of us played fantastic out there. When two of us are playing that well, small margins can make the difference. I missed the pink to middle at 4-2, that's all I can think of in terms of unforced errors. I just take my hat off to Shaun for how good he was. I felt as if I could go all the way and win the event. It was a real shame for everyone watching that Shaun didn't make the 147. Even if he had left himself a shot with the rest on the yellow, he is so good with the rest you would fancy him potting it."