European Masters 2023: Shaun Murphy breezes past Daniel Wells, John Higgins through to last 16 with 5-2 win
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Updated 24/08/2023 at 10:12 GMT
Shaun Murphy joined Judd Trump and Luca Brecel in the last 32 of the 2023 European Masters in Nuremberg with a 5-2 win over Daniel Wells. Murphy fell 2-1 behind but reeled off four frames in a row to progress. Earlier, Trump whitewashed Jordan Brown 5-0, while Brecel held off Ishpreet Singh to win 5-3. John Higgins booked his place in the last 16 with a 5-2 victory over Yuelong Zhou.
'Superb break' - Brecel makes century to extend lead against Ishpreet
Shaun Murphy recovered from falling 2-1 behind against Daniel Wells to reel off four frames in a row and book his spot in the last 32 of the 2023 European Masters.
The Englishman shot out of the blocks with a century in Nuremberg's KIA Arena before Wells hit back to take the next two and threaten an upset.
But Murphy, who won the Championship League in July, responded with a half century to level going into the mid-session interval and moved ahead after a break of 85 in the fifth frame.
From there he never looked back and clinched a comfortable 5-2 win. Murphy will take on Ross Muir next.
John Higgins also won by the same scoreline in his last-32 match against Yuelong Zhou in the evening session.
The Scotsman took three of the first four frames to establish an early lead and cruised to the victory to progress into the last 16.
Judd Trump made it back-to-back whitewashes as he sailed through to the third round with a 5-0 win over Jordan Brown. Trump beat Mohamed Ibrahim by the same scoreline in round one and picked up right where he left off, making a half-century break to take the opener and sealing the second when Brown missed a straightforward black.
Brown’s misery was compounded in the next when he left a red over the pocket, allowing Trump to pounce with a century to move within two of victory.
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Murphy 'nullifies the safety' with brilliant long red against Wells
The fourth frame featured a back-and-forth safety exchange that Trump eventually came through to take a 4-0 cushion into the interval, before he completed the clean sweep with another half century in the fifth frame.
Trump will now face 28th seed Chris Wakelin in the last 32.
Luca Brecel’s progress was less straightforward. The world champion made hard work of Jackson Page in the first round and was forced to dig deep once again to hold off Ishpreet Singh Chadha.
Brecel raced into a 4-1 lead but saw his advantage trimmed to a single frame as Singh threatened a stunning comeback upset win.
But the Belgian wouldn’t be denied, making a match-clinching break in the eighth frame to complete a 5-3 victory and book his place in the last 32 where he will face Robbie Williams.
Elsewhere, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh also dished out a 5-0 whitewash, getting the better of Mark Allen.
Allen described Un-Nooh's performance as a "ridiculous display" and was able to see the funny side.
Also through to the last 32 is Mark Williams, who beat Matthew Stevens 5-3 in the battle of the Welshman.
Williams is joined by Anthony Hamilton, Ben Mertens and Kyren Wilson, who ended the hopes of Alfie Burden.
Barry Hawkins beat James Cahill 5-3 to set up a last-32 clash against Zak Surety, while Jimmy Robertson whitewashed Scott Donaldson.
Duane Jones joined Higgins in the last 16 after recovering from being a frame behind to beat Allan Taylor 5-3.
In the morning session, Mark Selby overcame Adam Duffy 5-1 and Dave Gilbert breezed past Reanne Evans by the same scoreline.
Mark Davis fell 5-2 to Noppon Saengkhahaklm but former world champion Stuart Bingham was the biggest-name casualty as he lost 5-3 to Xiao Guodong.
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