Murphy Sets Up World Open Tie With O'sullivan

"Some group mightiness opportunity he isn't arsenic sharp, others mightiness opportunity he is fresh. All this talk astir an eighth World Championship. What a position to beryllium in, immoderate mightiness opportunity he has done it nan correct measurement and kept himself fresh.

"I've been playing good for a play aliases two. I've been moving into superheroes playing unbelievable snooker.

"It is simply a trial of perseverance, it is astir intelligence toughness - tin you support going? With this event, nan Tour Championship and World Championship to come. It is simply a awesome clip to beryllium hitting form."

Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan, who has said a return to tournament-winning shape would beryllium nan top accomplishment of his career, has a 14-4 profession winning grounds complete Murphy.

"I ever hole well. I cognize group mobility if I practise enough. Everyone has done that since I was a kid. They look to deliberation I conscionable move up," said O'Sullivan, who mislaid 4-0 successful his past gathering pinch Murphy, astatine nan Riyadh Season Championship successful November.

"I hole harder than astir apt immoderate different subordinate and I activity harder. I deliberation group conscionable presume I only request to get retired of furniture and cookware balls. That isn't nan case."

World number 1 Judd Trump besides moved into nan past 16 pinch a 5-2 triumph complete Jackson Page, while reigning world champion Zhao Xintong hit Sam Craigie 5-1.

Stuart Bingham and Jack Lisowski missed retired connected chances to move successful nan world's apical 16 and suffice automatically for nan World Championship, losing 5-4 and 5-1 to Wu Yize and Mark Allen respectively.

Masters champion Kyren Wilson defeated Allan Taylor 5-1, while Hossein Vafaei came backmost from 2-0 down to hit Mark Williams 5-2 and group up a gathering pinch Zhang Anda, who triumphed 5-2 against Xiao Guodong.