World Grand Prix snooker: Shaun Murphy reaches last-16 with John Higgins whitewash, Ali Carter edges past Wu Yize

ByAramide Oladipo

Updated 18/01/2024 at 15:55 GMT

Shaun Murphy put the disappointment of missing out on the Masters final behind him at the World Grand Prix on Tuesday. Murphy delivered a fine display to claim a 4-0 victory over John Higgins to reach the last 16 of the competition. He needed only 41 minutes to come away with the win. The Englishman reached the semi-final stage last year and will be looking to do one better this time around.

Shaun Murphy put on an emphatic display and secured a 4-0 victory over John Higgins to reach the last 16 of the World Grand Prix.

Murphy came into the tournament after missing out on making the Masters final following his 6-3 defeat to eventual winner Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-final, but quickly put that result behind him.

The Englishman only needed 41 minutes to came away victorious to secure his first win over Higgins in 11 years at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.

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Murphy enjoyed 99% positional success as Higgins barely had any time on the table to find any rhythm.

'The Magician' started off the match with a break of 145 - the joint highest break in the history of the World Grand Prix.

"It's such a stupid game isn't it," he told ITV after the match. "I haven't tried any harder because it's John Higgins, just all the things connected.

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"My long game was good, my safety was good and when I got in, I was clinical. Against one of the Class of '92, particularly John who I regard so highly as a player, the equation is simple: 'You either play like that or you lose."'

After Murphy quickly cruised into a 2-0 lead, Higgins decided to come onto the table to find some rhythm and made a break of 52.

The Englishman then wrapped up the remaining two frames in quick succession to complete the whitewash victory over Higgins.

When asked if he knew he had matched Judd Trump's record of the highest break at the tournament, Murphy replied: "I didn't know that, it was nice. I'm in good company."

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He added: "I think in snooker you're so dependent on what your opponent does, it's unlike any sport in that regard.

"A couple of those long pots that John missed threw me straight in the balls, if they go in it's a different matter. If a couple of the long pots I go for don't go in, it's a different matter. Everyone's capable of scoring once they get in, it's just who gets in first and today it was me."

Murphy's last World Grand Prix title came in 2016 and he reached the semi-finals last year but came up short against eventual winner Trump.

Carter wins final frame thriller

Elsewhere, Ali Carter came through a tough clash against Wu Yize in his first match since losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Masters final.

The 2019 World Grand Prix runner-up made a slow start, perhaps as a hangover from defeat at Alexandra Palace, as he lost the first frame, before responding with a break of 57 to make it 1-1.

His opponent soon found himself with a 2-1 and 3-2 lead, but Carter came roaring back in the sixth, levelling the match thanks to a visit of 58, his highest break of the match.

Wu appeared to be heading into the last-16 when he narrowly led the final frame, only to miss a tricky brown with the rest.

And that allowed Carter the chance to return to the table and pot the balls he required to set up a clash with Mark Selby.

Elsewhere, Zhou Yuelong also sealed his place in the last 16 of the competition with a 4-1 win over Stephen Maguire.

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