Murphy Whitewashes O'sullivan At 'golden Ball' Event

Shaun Murphy claimed his first triumph complete Ronnie O'Sullivan since 2017, pinch a 4-0 whitewash, arsenic he moved into nan quarter-finals of nan Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.

It was nan first juncture since 2023 that seven-time world champion O'Sullivan had grounded to triumph a framework successful immoderate title of 7 frames aliases more.

Murphy, who had besides earlier defeated 15-year-old Ziyad Al-Qabbani 4-0, produced respective stunning pots and registered breaks of 53 and 93 against O'Sullivan, who had very small clip to find his rhythm.

"I don't cognize what nan statistic are, but it is simply a agelong clip since I person tasted triumph against Ronnie and they are typical immoderate clip they travel up moreover successful short lucifer for illustration this," Murphy told TNT Sports.

"It is specified a prestigious arena and you cognize everyone is trying 100% truthful contempt it only being a best-of-seven I was pleased pinch really I played and delighted to get through.

"I conscionable tried to spell retired and play for illustration I person each play and thankfully for maine astir of those agelong reds went in."

Murphy will now look existent Crucible champion Zhao Xintong successful nan past 8 connected Thursday (20:00 GMT) successful an arena that has attracted immense publicity for offering a reward of $1m (£760,000) for potting nan aureate shot aft making a maximum 147.