Snooker news - Shaun Murphy thrashes Kyren Wilson to win Welsh Open in style

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 16/02/2020 at 23:26 GMT

Shaun Murphy was in simply irresistable form as he thrashed Kyren Wilson 9-1 to win the Welsh Open inside just two frames of the evening session in Cardiff.

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The 37-year-old kicked off the final with a dominant century to set the tone for what was to follow and it did not take long for him to double his head with a stunning break of 84.

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'The Magician' slipped behind in the third frame as Wilson racked up a swift half-century, but 'The Warrior' stuttered at the crucial moment and Murphy pounced to establish a 3-0 lead.

A mid-session interval did little to slow Murphy down. Wilson looked certain to get on the board in the fifth frame as his opponent required snookers to get back in it, but still the 28-year-old managed to squander his advantage.

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A break of 76 saw Murphy cement a six-frame lead before Wilson eventually prevented the whitewash as he won the seventh frame in gritty fashion.

The fans with tickets for the evening session were left with little to excite them as Murphy wrapped up the afternoon's proceedings with a 7-1 lead with yet another brilliant century break.

In a bizarre situation, it seemed temporarily that hailstones would be the only thing that could halt Murphy's incredible progress.

Hailstones (!) nearly stop play in Welsh Open final

Indeed, it took the 37-year-old just two frames of the evening session to close out victory in emphatic fashion, leaving Wilson to apologise to the fans for being so comprehensively outplayed.

'Amazing' - Watch Murphy close out Welsh Open drubbing

"I just have to say sorry I couldn't give the fans more for their money's worth," Wilson said.

"I want to give people their money's worth but Shaun is a class act and he outplayed me."

In response with a smile, Murphy said in his victory speech: "I'd love to say that I'm sorry, but I'm not!"

'I'd love to say sorry but I'm not!' - Murphy reacts to quickfire title

The 2005 world champion has now won nine ranking events with his first Welsh Open title, having finished as the runner-up in Cardiff to Stephen Lee back in 2006.

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