Snooker news - Shaun Murphy whitewashes Baird to reach last four in Glasgow

The world number 11 has struggled for fluency this season, this is the first time he has made it past the third round at a ranking event.

However, there were no signs of any rust as he booked his place in the semi-finals, compiling runs of 63 and 122 on his way to setting up a clash with Judd Trump.

He needed a couple of attempts to win the opening frame but quickly doubled up in the second with a break of 63.

Murphy kept his composure to open up a 4-0 lead before the mini-interval.

And after the break a brilliant century of 122 sealed Murphy's place in the next round.

Speaking to Eurosport, Murphy said: "I feel like with each match this week I've got progressively better. And I thought were it not for a few poor positional shots in the first four frames that would have been a real good shot. I mean any win's a good win for me the way my season's been going, so I'm thrilled to still be here.

"To be fair to him the last two times we've played he beat me 6-0 in the International Champions qualifiers and he beat me 4-2 at Belfast, and he beat me well and the difference were the chances he had he took."

UK Championship winner Ronnie O'Sullivan is a Eurosport pundit for the event as he is not participating and he was full of praise for Murphy.

"I thought he played brilliantly today," said O'Sullivan.

"No player's every played anyone who's given them no chances but he kept it so tight, putting him behind the brown and after a while you sense your opponent start to lose his rhythm and a bit of fire and if it was a boxing match they would have stopped it after two or three frames because it was only going one way.

"And those matches are sometimes better for Shaun than when he hits five centuries and pots everything off the lamp shade because we all know he can do it but when he plays like he did today and last night he's dangerous and he can beat anyone."

Elsewhere, Mark Allen is also through to the semi-finals after the Masters champion swept to a comfortable 5-0 win over Alfie Burden later on Friday.

Allen has recovered from losing in the final of the UK Championship just five days ago to reach the final four in Glasgow, conceding just six frames in the process.

The world number six will face the winner of Ryan Day against Daniel Wells in the evening session, and he told Eurosport: "I sensed that Alfie wasn't at his best, and it's sometimes hard to focus when you're not getting much in return, but I've been in that position too. I'm just happy to win.

"He's a good scorer when he gets going, but he wasn't quite at it today. We get on really well, and I know it's not nice to fall flat on your face out there, so I told him sooner or later he'll settle."