Reignited Shaun Murphy Sets Sights on Crucible After Second Masters Title

Shaun Murphy has finally broken his 10-year drought at Triple Crown events, securing his second Masters title with a 10-7 victory over reigning world champion Kyren Wilson. 

The final, held yesterday at Alexandra Palace, saw Murphy produce a commanding performance to claim one of the most significant wins of his career.

"The Magician," raced to a 6-2 lead during the afternoon session, leaving Wilson, "The Warrior," with an uphill battle. Although Wilson mounted a spirited comeback in the evening, Murphy’s form proved unshakable. 

Dominating the table throughout the week, he delivered four century breaks in the final, capping off a remarkable tournament that included a perfect 147 break in his semi-final victory against Mark Allen.

This triumph brought with it a career-high payday of £350,000, eclipsing the £250,000 he earned when he won the World Snooker Championship back in 2005.

Rediscovering Glory

After such a long absence from the winner’s circle in Triple Crown events, Murphy reflected on how much this victory meant to him.

“I'm in complete shock. I genuinely thought that my days of competing for these Triple Crown events, these massive majors of ours, I thought those days had gone,” he admitted.

The win has also spotlighted Murphy's partnership with former world champion Peter Ebdon, who recently took on a coaching role in his career. Despite their short time working together, Murphy credited Ebdon with sparking a dramatic turnaround.

“The partnership with Peter Ebdon, the first thing that he has helped me rediscover was my self-belief and that I can actually do this. And geez, three events in and we're winners. Unbelievable,” Murphy said.

A New Perspective

Murphy’s success in London has reignited his belief in his ability to compete at the highest level. With the World Championships at The Crucible looming, he shared how this victory has transformed his outlook for the rest of the season.

“Well, it just completely reignites. It changes the perspective for me,” he explained.

“As I say, I am not trying to use it as a line. I genuinely thought my days of winning these tournaments were gone. And I've managed to prove that wrong to myself more than anyone else.”

“So, I will go to The Crucible knowing that I can do it. And that's something I haven't felt for a long time.”

Best with the Rest

The conversation also took a lighter turn as Murphy addressed the ongoing debate over who is the best rest player in the game—a playful rivalry between him and Wilson that has often amused snooker fans.

This week, Murphy was flawless when using the rest, achieving a 100% success rate with 51 successful shots out of 51. However, when asked if this remarkable statistic settles the debate, Murphy remained humble.

“Wow. If I'm totally honest, it is a bit niche, but isn't that what we're here for,” Murphy joked.

Despite his performance, Murphy graciously praised Wilson’s skill with the rest.

“I would actually say Kyren is better with the rest than I am. I think he's a better rest player than me. I think he has a much wider range, a much fuller range of shots that he can play,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

“I might be a bit more accurate as the stats this week show, but he has a much bigger range of shots he can play, and I'm surprised he ever misses with it. He's incredible.”

With his fourth Triple Crown title now in hand, Murphy’s win serves as a reminder that age and setbacks need not define a player’s career. His performance at the Masters has firmly re-established him as a contender for the sport’s biggest prizes, with plenty of snooker yet to be played this season.