China Championship snooker: Shaun Murphy wins four frames on the bounce to reach final


Shaun Murphy came from behind to book his place in the final of the China Championship on Monday.

Murphy, the 25/1 each-way pick of our Simon Crawford, trailed Ali Carter 4-2 in the best of 11 frame semi-final, but bounced back winning four frames in a row to make Tuesday's final in Guangzhou.

Murphy, Sky Bet's favourite heading into the last four, quickly found himself staring down the barrel as Carter moved to within a frame of victory.

But a highest break of 69 by former the former world champion in the seventh frame reduced the deficit to 4-3 and then the Manchester potter levelled things up winning a dour eighth frame 54-18.

Murphy went ahead for the first time in the match by winning the ninth 68-56 and wrapped up a 6-4 win 80-32.

The Englishman will now meet Belgium's Luca Brecel, who came through a final-frame decider with a break of 75 to defeat Li Hang 6-5.

Brecel shocked Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sunday's quarter-finals but despite making the only century break of the match (107), he looked like it was his turn to up on the wrong end of an upset when a run of 86 from Li Hang saw him fall 5-4 down.

However, he held his nerve in a tight 10th frame before his break of 75 booked his place in the final.

Monday's snooker results

Semi-finals
Shaun Murphy 6-4 Ali Carter
Luca Brecel 6-5 Li Hang

Click here for the full tournament schedule & results

Related links

World Snooker schedule 2017/18
Sky Bet snooker odds

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