Murphy Demolishes Xiao to Reach Crucible Last Eight — Back Him to Go All the Way
The Pick
Back Shaun Murphy to win the World Snooker Championship at available prices around 10/1 (11.0) before his quarter-final gets under way on Tuesday. The Magician is hitting top form at exactly the right moment, and the draw has opened up sufficiently to make him a genuinely compelling each-way proposition at the very least.
The Analysis
Shaun Murphy was simply devastating on Friday at the Crucible, wrapping up a 13-3 second-round demolition of Xiao Guodong with an entire session to spare. Four centuries, seven further breaks above 60 — this was a potting masterclass from a man who clearly arrived in Sheffield with a point to prove. Murphy had led 6-2 overnight, and when Xiao managed just one further frame on the resumption before his game disintegrated entirely, it told you everything about the gap in form between the two players across this match.
The scoring run that finished it off was particularly ominous for anyone Murphy faces next. After Xiao clawed one back with a break of 74, Murphy responded with an utterly ruthless sequence — 103, 69, 115 and 103 — to close out proceedings and book his place in the last eight for the tenth time in his Crucible career. That is not a statistic to gloss over. Ten quarter-final appearances at the World Championship speaks to remarkable consistency from a player who first walked through those famous doors as a 22-year-old qualifier back in 2004, going on to lift the trophy the following year.
Speaking to the BBC after his victory, Murphy made no attempt to disguise his hunger. "I don't know if I'd use the word desperate [to win it] but it's very close," he said, punctuating the comment with a fist pump to the Sheffield crowd. He went on to acknowledge that it has been 21 years since that famous maiden title — 21 years of returning each spring and falling short despite, as he puts it himself, giving it everything he has. That kind of accumulated motivation can be a powerful thing when a player is also striking the ball as cleanly as Murphy currently is.
The Quarter-Final Opponent
Murphy will face either reigning world champion Zhao Xintong or former finalist Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals — and crucially, he already knows it, having given himself the luxury of heading home to watch that second-round clash from his sofa. The Zhao versus Ding match was locked at 4-4 after the first session, with both players trading errors and moments of brilliance in equal measure. Zhao led 4-3 only to miss a straightforward pot in the final frame, allowing Ding to produce a brilliant 62 clearance and level proceedings.
Murphy was refreshingly pragmatic about the situation: "I'll enjoy watching Ding and Xintong battling it out from the safety of my house and see who comes through." He plans to return to his home practice table rather than scramble for time at the Crucible — a sensible approach that should keep him sharp and fresh heading into Tuesday's last-eight clash.
In betting terms, both potential opponents carry significant threat. Zhao is the defending champion and a formidable front-runner when he gets going, while Ding's Crucible pedigree is well established. Neither, however, is facing a Murphy who looks anywhere close to his best — and right now, Murphy is playing to his best. That distinction matters when it comes to tournament betting.
The Wider Picture
Elsewhere in the draw, Barry Hawkins leads Mark Williams 10-6 and Mark Allen holds a 9-7 advantage over Kyren Wilson, with both matches yet to conclude. The bottom half of the draw is shaping up to be competitive, but Murphy's route — assuming he comes through Tuesday — could feasibly pitch him against opponents who've had to work considerably harder to reach the same stage.
The Odds
| Selection | Bet365 | William Hill | Betfair SP (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy — World Championship Winner | 10/1 | 9/1 | 11.0 |
| Murphy — To reach Semi-Final | 4/5 | Evens | 1.9 |
| Murphy — Quarter-Final Handicap -3.5 | 5/6 | 4/5 | 1.85 |
Odds correct at time of writing. Always check current prices before placing.
The Verdict
Murphy at 10/1 for the title represents genuine value for a player in this kind of form, with this level of experience and motivation behind him. He is striking the ball like a man transformed, the draw has offered him a manageable path, and he is managing his preparation intelligently. Back him each-way for the title and keep a stake on him reaching the semi-finals at around evens. This has the feel of a deep run.
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