Tour Championship 2023 recap - Shaun Murphy beats Mark Selby in blockbuster semi-final

Updated 01/04/2023 at 22:26 GMT

Welcome back to Eurosport's live coverage of the 2023 Tour Championship where the second semi-final of the event gets underway and what a match it promises to be. Two former world champions in Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy face off in what is a titanic clash of two of the best in the game. The winner will advance to the final on Sunday where Kyren Wilson awaits.

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Until tomorrow, then

What a treat tomorrow then. Kyren Wilson against Shaun Murphy - two form players in a tournament specifically designed for form players - will square off in the Tour Championship final. It should be a belter.

Join us from 12.45pm BST to see how it all pans out. Until then, nighty night!

Tour Championship

Murphy warns he can be a 'handful for anyone' at World Championship

03/04/2023 at 07:49

Shaun Murphy edges Mark Selby in thriller

There was no splitting these two for most of the day. It was 4-4 at the end of the afternoon, 6-6 at the interval and 9-9 as closing time bells rang out across the land. If Mark lost it anywhere it was in slipping to 9-6 behind; he did what he does to force the decider but in a match where it comes down to one chance Shaun, marginally the better player throughout, took his chance in the decider where Mark could not.

Selby 9-10 Murphy

A swift 13 puts it to bed and, after an absorbing, day-long struggle, Shaun Murphy is in the final!

Selby 9-9 Murphy (17-60)

Shaun almost flukes a red to left middle, leaving the ball on the lip and Mark with no option but to pot it. He takes two reds and blacks in total, and he's diligently going about this task but the snooker just won't come. It's over now though - Shaun's drained the final red into the bottom right!

Selby 9-9 Murphy (1-59)

It's been a half-ton hailstorm today, but none have been more important than this one. A pink to bottom right takes him to 59, and with a safety to follow Mark now needs two snookers. He'll keep going - he's Mark Selby, of course he will - but Shaun will be exhaling deeply after what's happened since going 9-6 in front.

Selby 9-9 Murphy (1-45)

It's a big if under this pressure, but if Shaun can hold it together and calmly go after the reds that are in the open, he could and should walk it in from here. All the colours are on bar the blue and there's not a load to do with the cue ball unless he starts chasing position from loose shots. The break is up to 45, and two more reds will need Mark leaving a snooker.

Selby 9-9 Murphy (1-15)

After some up-table safety it's Mark that gambles first on a pot, missing a red to the green pocket and then hitting the knuckle of the left middle on his way back down the table. That's gifted Shaun a comfortable starter, and the first chance to score properly. After missing the pack off the yellow, Shaun wallops in a three ball plant and almost pots three reds as the balls go everywhere! He gambled the lot there, and if he can drain a tough pink to right middle he's away...and it's there! Huge chance now for Shaun.

Selby 9-9 Murphy (1-0)

After a short break while the layers compose themselves, we're back at it. One frame then, for the right to face Kyren Wilson for £150,000 and the title. Mark has the momentum, but anything is possible here; Shaun gets the first look at a long red, but makes such a hash of it that he leaves it on to the green pocket. MArk drops it in, but just fail to bounce off three cushions for a good angle on the black and is forced to play safe.

Selby 9-9 Murphy

What did you expect? We've not been able to split them all day, but frame 19 will do that once and for all and it's incoming. Mark clears the winning line with his third one-hit frame on the spin, emptying the table for a break of 106. What a comeback by Mark - again - and we got us a decider folks!

Selby 8-9 Murphy (55-20)

A deft cut on the black with the rest keeps this break chugging, and a later blue rings in yet another half-century. There are four reds left out there, all in the open, and this looks for all the world like we're going to a decider in Hull.

Selby 8-9 Murphy (34-20)

A superb safety from Mark forces an error from Shaun, who can't get the white back to baulk and leaves Mark a tap in to the bottom left. What a chance this is for Mark, who quickly clears a route for the black to both corners and takes the lead in the frame.

Selby 8-9 Murphy (1-20)

Fearless of Leicester is at it again in frame 18, crunching in a long red but just overshooting the baulk colours and playing safe thereafter. Shaun hasn't really had a shot since going 9-6 up but he'll get one now, as a poor safety from Mark leaves a mid-range red to the bottom right. It's duly boomed in, followed by the black, and then a calm red to right middle that was tough given the match situation. He's now got the break under control, and it's a chance until a loose cannon on a red nixes things on 20.

Selby 8-9 Murphy

Oh it's getting tense out there now! Mark picks off a further 13, and he's now one behind with two to play!

Selby 7-9 Murphy (78-0)

Frame ball red is guided into the right middle, followed by the black. Mark's trip into the remaining pack off the black sees him on nothing so Shaun comes back to the table, needing three snookers.

Selby 7-9 Murphy (54-0)

It's yet another half-century for Mark as he slides a black into the bottom left to land perfectly on his next red. He's completely frozen Shaun out in the last two frames, and he's only three reds away from pegging back another frame.

Selby 7-9 Murphy (25-0)

Mark's long game has been very good today, and he gets in at the start of frame 17 with a red to bottom left to hold for the black. A sizeable, frame-winning visit here would put some serious heat under the rest of this match. The break is at 25 in no time, with Mark looking laser-focused around the table; he really does rise to the occasion when he's up against it like this.

Selby 7-9 Murphy

He will not go quietly. Mark banks the frame with an 81. He'll need three more, while Shaun still needs the one to get this done.

Selby 6-9 Murphy (61-0)

It's a rapid half-century for Mark, who is calmly closing in on the winning line for the frame here. Needing to win all of the last four is a tall order, but it looks like he's going to get 25 percent of the job done at this visit.

Selby 6-9 Murphy (30-0)

Has Mark got anything left to throw at Shaun here? We know he doesn't want for moxie, and he proves it immediately by stroking in a deadweight red to land on the black with his first shot of frame 16. He can only add a black before losing position though, his game seems to have deserted him since the interval. This is better though, as he bullets in a long red to hold for the black once more. This time, the chance seems to be sticking as he moves to 22 and counting.

Selby 6-9 Murphy

Something extraordinary does not come, as Shaun eventually drains the final red and moves to within one frame of victory.

Selby 6-8 Murphy (25-72)

With the black in the jaws of the bottom left we're locked in a safety battle, and Mark almost sends the white in-off in the bottom right. He's left a red on to the green pocket, and it's frame ball; with the white in the jaws, Shaun strokes it in superbly followed by the black' with only one red remaining Mark comes back 47 in arrears and needing something extraordinary.

Selby 6-8 Murphy (25-64)

Shaun will be sick if he's chucked this one, but he's got away with it for now - Mark's missed a black off its spot just as it looked like he was set to dish up! Oh my, he cannot believe what he's done there. A few shots later, snookered by Shaun, he somehow glides the red directly between the two remaining reds, missing them both by a wafer. Mark connects at the second attempt, and leaves the reds safe; he's got very little margin for error now, but he's still in it.

Selby 6-8 Murphy (0-60)

Well now! Needing only red and black, Shaun gets the trusty rest out again but misses the red and we've still got a live one with 75 still out there. He really is getting the run though, as once again he's not left one. It's a mountain for Mark, but it's doable if he can get in next. Here's his chance; Shaun catches the knuckle of the right middle from a safety, and Mark is in.

Selby 6-8 Murphy (0-54)

Mark is officially in bother now, as Shaun stuns in the pink and opens the pack in the same shot. The reds aren't perfect, but they're probably close enough to take this in one hit with some precise positional play. Shaun knows the importance of this one, and it's a measured break; he has to cue over the blue with the rest to pot another red and land on the black, but he nails it once more and he's banked another half-century already.

Selby 6-8 Murphy (0-21)

From a containing safety by Mark at the start of frame 15, Shaun tags a superb red into the left middle and then an even better cutback on the black to bottom left thereafter. Another good, mid-range red follows, and he just about lands on another red when he goes into the pack soon after. You can sense that he's just going for it from here, with a margin for error and the winning line getting closer.

Selby 6-8 Murphy

That frame was like heads up Texas Hold 'Em poker, such were the gut-wrenching swings. Shaun pots up to the pink, and he's opened up a two-frame lead once more.

Selby 6-7 Murphy (45-57)

The reds are dispatched, and with only the yellow off its spot he needs up to and including the pink off the colours. Mark's short on the yellow, so it's a tough cut along the top rail...and he's missed it and left it there! Oh my, he overcut that badly. Here comes Shaun then, needing the baulk colours.

Selby 6-7 Murphy (22-57)

What a shot here from Mark, deep-screwing the black into the bottom right and sending the white zig-zagging to drop on a red to left middle. That goes, and in potting the blue to follow he splits the final three reds and the pink perfectly! This clearance is on now alright.

Selby 6-7 Murphy (0-57)

Mark takes on a tough red, narrow down the left rail, but it rattles out of the jaws and he's left it. Shaun's back in, and keeps his break going early with another brilliant cut on a red with the spider and the full sets of extensions. Hats off to him for bottle, for that is some shot to take on at this stage. That looks like it might be curtains, but ahoy hoy - Shaun's missed a black off its spot to the bottom left! Oh my, what a chance for Mark to steal here.

Selby 6-7 Murphy (0-35)

Shaun picks out a good recover pot, red to yellow pocket, and holds for the brown. He then attacks the pack off the brown and off one cushion, but misses them completely. There's a tough red to left middle still on, which Shaun catches wafer thin and misses the pot. He hasn't left anything though, and can consider himself a bit fortunate in that.

Selby 6-7 Murphy (0-22)

Both players miss a succession of long reds at the start of frame 14, but Mark's second is more costly as he leaves Shaun on easy starter to the yellow pocket. This is a decent chance, and he's quickly opened a path for the black to each corner.

Selby 6-7 Murphy

We've had a half-ton in every frame today, can we get another? No, Shaun misses the yellow on 44, but he's back in the lead and needs three more frames to reach the final.

Selby 6-6 Murphy (8-63)

A superb shot from Shaun sinks the green and flowers open the cluster of reds beneath the pink. You couldn't split them any better by hand, and that should be the frame. Sure enough, a quick 23 and counting has done the necessary and he's going back in front.

Selby 6-6 Murphy (8-40)

A loose shot from Shaun leaves a nasty cut back on black to bottom left that will send the white into the pack. He takes it on but misses it, and it's a chance for Mark to punish. Only seven comes from it though, and then a disaster - Mark tries to touch the white in gently behind the black, and it's short of pace! Crikey. That's seven away, plus a free ball. Shaun puts Mark back in, and he's snookered on the lot; he escapes, but he's left Shaun a chance.

Selby 6-6 Murphy (1-24)

We're back, and the jeopardy will be right up for this mini-session. Mark launches in another long red to get things moving, but can't then drop in a straight brown to right middle to capitalise. Mark shoots a glare into the crowd, because someone had coughed when he initially got down into the shot and he had to reset. Can Shaun take advantage? He drills in a mid-ranger, followed by the black, but ends up buried in the pack as a result. No matter - he pulls out an outstanding pot with the spider to stay on the black and keep going! What a stunning shot.

Selby 6-6 Murphy

It's a 75 for Mark, and at the interval these two still can't be separated.

We'll be back in 15 minutes, where it'll be a best of seven.

Selby 5-6 Murphy (62-5)

It's a half-ton for Mark, who accidentally catches the pink on one positional shot and almost sends it in. A brilliant recovery red retrieves the situation, and a few shots later he opens the cluster of three on the right rail. That leaves frame ball red to the bottom right with the rest...and he rolls it in with aplomb! What a break this has been and we're going to be level again shortly.

Selby 5-6 Murphy (45-5)

Shaun might come to rue several of his shot selections if he's on his way home tomorrow morning. Mark steps in and fills his boots, with the break up to 44 and counting. There are a cluster of three reds on the left rail and two that are close to the right; it's getting harder, so he'll have to start shifting things or locating perfect position for a jab down the rail to go much further.

Selby 5-6 Murphy (1-5)

It's a cagey start to frame 12, and Mark breaks the deadlock by doubling a red into the right middle, leaving the white tight on the bottom cushion and no option other than a containing safety thereafter. A long and tense safety exchange follows, before Mark gets a look at a red to left middle. He has to drive it to get on the black, and the red launches out like a rejected three-pointer in basketball and it's a chance for Shaun instead. He loses position almost immediately, and takes on a brutally tough cut on a red with the rest to keep going. He's leaving the world on if he misses it, and duly does.

Selby 5-6 Murphy

Mark's not done either - he makes 99, but we're denied the ton as he misses a tough cut on the pink to green pocket. Bah!

Selby 4-6 Murphy (67-0)

This is more like it from Mark, as he loosens up and starts to purr around the table. In reaching 44 he plays a cannon into the pack off the blue, but slides off the side of it and only leaves a tough red to the right middle. It's a big shot but he strokes it imperiously into the centre of the pocket, and one pink and red later he's home and dry. This is a superb response.

Selby 4-6 Murphy (30-0)

Mark gets back in, but again loses position after potting the green and smacking the blue full ball as he tried to go around the angles and land on his next red. He's struggling a little tonight. The long game is still there though, as he clatters in a long red a few shots later, and now he's developing a chance that looks like it might stick.

Selby 4-6 Murphy (11-0)

Shaun comes perilously close to going in off in frame 11, catching the jaws of the bottom right with the white from the safety. That leaves a cut on for Mark to the same pocket, which he makes, but he can't quite lasso perfect position and misses an ambitious long red to the yellow pocket.

Selby 4-6 Murphy

Another black takes the break to 45 and the frame beyond the reach of Mark. If Shaun can slip into one of his concussive scoring grooves tonight then what has been a close semi-final could get away from Mark very quickly. A brown after the final red gives us the prospect of a round ton, and the first century of the day; they're all on their spots, and Shaun autopilots his way around the table to dispatch the lot. Ton up!

Selby 4-5 Murphy (6-45)

Shaun makes a plant on two reds, at least six inches apart, and holds for the pink. What a shot that is! He looks in the mood to force the issue out there tonight, and has already piled on another 21 and counting. When potting the blue he plays a controlled canon into the remaining pack of reds, and it's worked out perfectly; the frame is at his mercy now.

Selby 4-5 Murphy (6-24)

Some early wobbles here for Mark, as he misses a long red by a long way and leaves Shaun another mid-range starter. It's gun barrel straight and Shaun thumps it in, and he looks the far more settled of the two so far tonight. Yet on 24 he takes his eye off a pot on the black, thinking more about the canon into the pack, and he's missed it! That's a let off for Mark, but his struggles continue as he counters with red-blue and then misses a tough red to the bottom left.

Selby 4-5 Murphy

A deadweight red into the left middle by Shaun ends the argument in this one. A few pots later it's officially done, and Shaun takes the lead for the first time since frame one.

Selby 4-4 Murphy (0-71)

Frame ball black takes Shaun to 71. He opens four reds below the pink in the same shot, but he doesn't land on any of them so can only play safe back to baulk. Mark needs five reds, five blacks, the colours and a four point snooker just to get this to a re-spot, and he'll give it a crack.

Selby 4-4 Murphy (0-55)

This is lovely stuff from Shaun, as two nudges on the pack free up more reds as he glides to a half-century in no time. Two more reds with blacks will put this frame to bed and the two reds he needs are in the wide open.

Selby 4-4 Murphy (0-18)

Mark's long potting was sensational earlier today, but he misses a red to the bottom left at the start of frame nine and he's left a mid-range tempter for Shaun to the bottom right. Shaun strokes it in, and he's quickly in rhythm around the black spot with the black soon available to both corners.

Let's get it moving

There's a lively old crowd in tonight, and here come the players. Shaun enters first, Mark follows; first to ten then, eyes down.

Good evening

We start the evening in Hull as we started the afternoon - with Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy at parity in the match. The stakes go north tonight, as we've got us a best of 11 for a place in tomorrow's Tour Championship final against Kyren Wilson. Grab your popcorn, this could be something special.

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That'll do us for now

You'd be well advised to tune back in at 6.45pm BST tonight, as this could be an epic battle to reach the final.

Tight battle locked at 4-4

We've not had a ton yet, but my word that was absorbing; two matchplay masters going at it hammer and tongs. They both won a mini-session 3-1; Mark hit breaks of 67, 63, 50 and 69 while Shaun fired back with 96, 69, 52 and 60. There's nothing on this, and it would not be a shock to see this go all the way tonight.

Selby 4-4 Murphy

And we're done! Shaun thrashes in the final red to the bottom right from distance, and we'll be all square tonight. A swift 23 does the necessary.

Selby 4-3 Murphy (25-60)

You know how he does; Mark traps Shaun behind the yellow, and from his swerved escape Shaun gets too much on it and misses the red. The frame is back on! A canny shot from Shaun a few minutes later gets the black safe so it's still leaning in his favour, but this is the position no one in the game wants to be in with Mark.

Selby 4-3 Murphy (21-60)

Mark gets a look at a red, pots it, and then wriggles in the brown with the rest. That puts him 39 behind with 35 on, so it's one four-point snooker needed and everything left to force a respotted black.

Selby 4-3 Murphy (16-60)

It's another half-ton for Shaun, and frame ball brown should end the argument with two reds left. In it goes but he's left himself a tough cut on one to bottom left though, and turns it down. Mark does come back, needing one snooker, and he'll fancy it with all colours currently on their spots.

Selby 4-3 Murphy (16-42)

This is a practice table, but one loose shot could nix everything so Shaun isn't rushing through this break. He methodically moves to 42 and counting with a black to bottom left; with five reds left and all in the open, the prospect of Mark returning to the table in this frame is remote.

Selby 4-3 Murphy (16-2)

Here we go then with the final frame of the afternoon. Shaun breaks, and yet again Mark crunches in a long red to take charge of the frame. That side of his game has been so impressive today, and it could ensure him a lead ahead of tonight. The chance disappears though as he undercuts a red to the bottom right, and he's left it in the jaws. Shaun can't see it, but cuts a red onto it; that opens the pack, pots another red, and he's perfect on the green with a load now at his mercy!

Selby 4-3 Murphy

Just like that, we're done; Mark doubles a red followed by the brown, and he's going back in front. With the frame safe, he lets his arm go for a further 41.

Selby 3-3 Murphy (69-0)

Mark finishes on the wrong side of the blue, so can't open the pack of five remaining reds. No matter; the blue puts him 69 up with 67 left out there, and he's played a useful safety back to baulk. Mark will be a bit annoyed that he didn't take it out in one hit again, but he's in total control here.

Selby 3-3 Murphy (55-0)

Mark has got the cue ball on rope now. His fourth half-century of the day quickly arrives, and a couple of red and high value colour combos off the remaining reds in the open will leave Shaun needing a snooker. He's taking these very nicely indeed.

Selby 3-3 Murphy (25-0)

It's another long range rocket from Mark, who slices a red thin into the bottom right and just about lands on the green. He's soon back around the pack and just about lands on a red after opening the pack off the black. It takes a few shots to compose this break but it's under control now after a stunning blue to yellow pocket on the stretch lands him perfectly on his next red.

Selby 3-3 Murphy

It's another half-century for Shaun, as a 52 puts frame six in the books.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (5-61)

This is a gritty effort from Shaun, who reaches 39 with frame ball red to the bottom right. The pink soon follows for insurance, and he's on another red; we're done here, and we'll be all square shortly.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (5-40)

Shaun's effort judders to a halt on 21 as he misses a red long to the yellow pocket. Mark gets a red and brown in, but sticks to the pack when going into it off the latter and has no option other than to play safe. It's scrappy stuff, but Shaun picks off a long red followed by a superb green to its own pocket and he's carved out a chance. The balls aren't great, but extending his lead in a frame this bitty won't do any harm.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (0-15)

Mark plays a poor figure 8 safety, catching a red way too thin but landing fortuitously right behind the blue. Shaun can just about see a red to bottom right and pots it with the rest, but he loses the white and he's not on the black. His containing safety thereafter is poor, leaving a red to left middle, on which Mark gambles the lot. It doesn't drop, Shaun picks it off instead, and he's off.

Selby 3-2 Murphy

Shaun won the first frame of the day, now he's won the first after the interval with a timely break of 69.

Selby 3-1 Murphy (23-52)

With the four remaining reds all blocking each other, Shaun goes into them off the black and they've split very compliantly indeed. A black takes him to his half-ton, and the frame looks a formality from here.

Selby 3-1 Murphy (23-30)

Well now, could this be a turning point? Mark badly misses a red to bottom left, and he's left a chance for Shaun. The first red goes, and Shaun regains position with a nerveless brown to yellow pocket despite the white being nailed to the upper right rail. It's a chance now alright, as Shaun moves into the lead in the frame.

Selby 3-1 Murphy (17-1)

We're back, and we'll have four more frames in this afternoon session. Shaun comes flying out of the traps in frame five, booming a long red into the bottom right, but he can't hold perfectly for the black and misses it as a tough cut to bottom right. He opened the reds with that shot too, and Mark gets away with a thin red into the right middle. It's a good chance if he can relocate the black to its spot, which he duly does to reach 17 and counting.

Selby 3-1 Murphy

Mark, as is his MO, lays a superb snooker and forces a miss and a free ball from Shaun. A swift dish up to the brown and that's us at the interval, Mark has now won three on the bike. We'll be back with you in 15 minutes.

Selby 2-1 Murphy (59-20)

There's enough in the open for Mark to get this pegged without needing the red welded to the upper left rail. Sure enough, Mark picks off the penultimate red to left middle and then clips the blue into the opposite bag to move 39 ahead with 35 left out there. That's a round 50, and he then plays the final red safe. Shaun will play on, but has much to do.

Selby 2-1 Murphy (31-20)

This could drag. Mark opts for a safety over a tough red to right middle, and with the black blocking the bottom right a bout of safety ensues. It's a long one, but Mark eventually breaks the deadlock with another superb long red. The black follows, but he can't land on a red thereafter. Following Mark's containing safety, Shaun tries an audacious plant on two reds far apart and off line. It misses by a mile; that was so high risk, I can't really believe he took that on. From it, Mark is on an easy starter and there's a load to go at. He's quickly into the lead, and Shaun is in bother here.

Selby 2-1 Murphy (1-20)

Mark is in range from baulk today alright, as he launches in another long red to the bottom right. He's got a tight pink to bottom left to keep going though, and in playing it the pink catches another red and it's end of break. Shaun's left with a long red to the yellow pocket, and drains it to land on the yellow. A few shots later he opens up a path for the black to both bottom corners, and he's away. Shaun then survives a shocker of a positional shot by calmly rolling a red long into the green pocket, after making a mess of landing on two reds below the black spot. Hello though, what's this? In trying to snick in the black with the rest, he underhits it completely and it doesn't reach the jaws!

Selby 2-1 Murphy

He's needing a few bites but he's getting these frames done; a further 33 gives Mark the lead in the match.

Selby 1-1 Murphy (63-0)

Mark sails serenely to another half-century, inclusive of one lovely cut on the blue using check side to hold the white in place for his next red. After all the bother of getting the last frame won, a quick hit here will make him feel pretty good about things in this one. And yet, needing only one more red and a black to follow, he overcuts the red to bottom left and leaves it in the jaws! Crikey. Shaun can't take advantage though; forced into taking another red long to the yellow pocket, he misses it and that'll be end of frame.

Selby 1-1 Murphy (20-0)

Mark drains another long one, right across the table to the bottom right, and he's in again. That's a glorious shot, and after dragging himself over the line in the last frame he's got a chance to let his arm go here. A super shot on a black to bottom right, forcing other reds into play via stunning the white on with force, has opened up the chance to do just that.

Selby 1-1 Murphy

It's a tense battle on the yellow, and Mark gets an extraordinary touch after escaping a snooker and fluking one of his own. Shaun escapes too, but he's left the yellow on to left middle. Mark drains it, followed by green and brown, and we're level.

Selby 0-1 Murphy (67-41)

What a pot from Shaun! He thunders a long red into the yellow pocket, and comes off two cushions to land just about on the pink. He tags that in using the rest, and he can nick the frame by a point now. He's not quite on the yellow though and plays a useful safety instead; what a huge frame this is turning into.

Selby 0-1 Murphy (67-34)

Shaun gets in, but it's a tough ask with three reds in baulk and high value colours required. The reds are open though so it's on, even if the cue ball will have to do some mileage. Shaun has that effortless power in his cue though, so he's got a shy at it. He takes a blue to right middle off the penultimate red, but lands straight on the final red to the yellow pocket. In trying to force an angle, he misses it and the red runs safe. On we go, and this feels like a big moment even this early in the match.

Selby 0-1 Murphy (67-12)

Mark loses position slightly and leaves a tough cut on a red to bottom left as frame ball...and he's missed it to nix this break on 67! Two of the remaining five reds are safe, but Shaun is still in this. He can only make eight though after a howler of a positional shot leaves him welded to a red, and we're going to be bogged down in safety for a wee while.

Selby 0-1 Murphy (53-4)

Mark's break hits 50 with a blue to right middle, off which he canons into the pink to free up other reds. He slides off the pink a touch, but recovers well with a red cut back into the bottom left. The yellow follows and he's on his next red a little fortuitously; barring something freakish, we should be level shortly.

Selby 0-1 Murphy (20-4)

Shaun is cueing so well today. He chucks the lot at a red long to the bottom right, which looks for all the world to be in but rattles furiously in the jaws and then spits out. Mark then goes in-off, before Shaun rattles another one out of the jaws of the bottom left. It's a jerky start to the second frame, before Mark takes control by walloping a red into the left middle and screwing off two cushions to get on the blue. We've seen some shots already here today, my word! Mark soon frees up the black and he's manufactured a decent look here.

Selby 0-1 Murphy

There's not enough out there for a ton, but Shaun empties the table anyway for a 96 and the first frame.

Selby 0-0 Murphy (22-60)

It's a half-ton for Shaun, who then finds an angle behind one of the two aforementioned reds in order to drop it into the bottom right and hold for the pink. He sails past the winning the line as he reaches 60 and counting; both players look in good nick, we could be on for a thriller here in Hull today.

Selby 0-0 Murphy (22-27)

Shaun fires right back, hosing a red long into the green pocket to land on the yellow. That's a beautiful shot, and an even better one on a black cut back into the bottom left a few pots later sees the pack split very nicely indeed. Shaun soon takes the lead in the frame, and looks nailed on to take this out in one visit if he can apply a delicate split on two reds below the pink spot.

Selby 0-0 Murphy (22-0)

An aggressive safety from Shaun backfires, as he leaves a red to bottom left from distance which Mark drains and then pulls up nicely on the brown. It's an early chance, and Mark zones in on it. A good recovery blue with the cue extension is required to keep the break chugging early on, which Mark middles into the green pocket followed by an even tougher red to the same pocket. The shots are getting tougher though, and break clangs to a halt as he misses a yellow to its own pocket with the rest.

Let's get it happening

The boys are baized, and we're off. Best of 19 then for the right to play Kyren Wilson in the final.

Magician

Shaun has had a rare old time in the Players Series this season, having already snagged the Players Championship in Wolverhampton in February, beating Mark along the way. This match is also a repeat of the 2021 World Championship final, which Mark nicked 18-15. Don’t be surprised if we go all the way with this one.

Jester

As has been well documented it’s been a tough couple of years for Mark, but his game has returned with gusto this season. He won the English Open in December, a victory drenched in understandable catharsis, and backed that up by lifting the WST Classic the week before last. Mark is currently ranked second in the world and seems to be very much back; if he wins today, he’ll be world number one again.

Hull-o!

Welcome to one of Britain’s great university towns for the second semi-final of the 2023 Tour Championship. We’ve got a belter of a match today, between two players lining up for a shy at another world title in a few weeks’ time. First things first, though; here’s a chance to play Kyren Wilson in tomorrow’s final, and potentially bag the title and 150 large.

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Superb Wilson notches six centuries as Ding is swept aside

Kyren Wilson delivered a performance out of the top drawer to sink Ding Junhui 10-5 and power into the final of the Tour Championship.

The European Masters winner’s form has been trending in the right direction in recent weeks, and he followed his run to the semi-finals of the Players Championship last month by going at least one step further in Hull.

Ding arrived on the back of his win at the Six Red World Championship, but had no answer to the sensational play of his opponent.

Read the full report here.

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Tour Championship