Welsh Open: Shaun Murphy felt like 'Neo from Matrix' while booking quarter-final spot with 147 break
Shaun Murphy reacts
Shaun Murphy produced a magical 147 clearance as he ended the run of amateur Daniel Wells to reach the quarter-finals of the Betvictor Welsh Open in Llandudno.
Earlier in the afternoon session, Welshman Wells - who dropped out of the professional ranks in 2021 and went to work for his mum's cleaning business - had pulled off a shock 4-2 victory over world number five Judd Trump.
Murphy, though, was in no mood to become another scalp as 'The Magician' followed a clearance of 145 in the second frame with a maximum in the next, the seventh of his career.
Although Wells regrouped to get a frame on the board, another 78 break from Murphy, who earlier had taken his personal century tally past 600, secured an impressive 4-1 win and a place in the last eight.
"I felt something good was coming for sometime, and it all came at once," Murphy told Eurosport.
"The thing that was so pleasing with the 147 was I tried to make it from the very first red.
"Very briefly I felt like Neo from the Matrix - I was just seeing green lines everywhere, but that is what the hours of practice are for, that when you get the chance (of a 147) to keep it going.
"It's just your alignment clicks, your sighting clicks, your striking clicks and all the balls go in. Sometimes it is easy, but most of the time it is really hard."
World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan had little trouble in dispatching Belgian 18-year-old Ben Mertens 4-0, scoring three half-centuries, while Welshman Jak Jones lost 4-2 against Pang Junxu of China.
Elsewhere in Thursday's evening session at Venue Cymru, world number 12 Jack Lisowski suffered an unexpected 4-1 defeat to China's Yuan Sijun.
Joe O'Connor, though, is safely through to the quarter-finals after he coasted past Robbie Williams without dropping a frame.
Thursday's late matches saw Northern Ireland's Mark Allen progress with a 4-2 win over Belgian Luca Brecel while Robert Milkins beat Hossein Vafaei 4-1 and John Higgins was defeated 4-1 by Tian Pengfei, who had earlier knocked out Ali Carter.
Recommended Offers
£30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 100 Free Spins
New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets are available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days after the new account is registered.
18+ BeGambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply #ad
Get up to £50 Welcome Bonus
New customers only. Opt-in required. 100% Match Bonus up to £50 on 1st deposit of £10+. 50x wagering & game weighting applies. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered.
18+ BeGambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply #ad
Get £10 in Free Bets
New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit.
18+ BeGambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply #ad
