Shaun Murphy Survives Scare Against Wonderkid 'Better Than Ronnie O'Sullivan'
Shaun Murphy faced a tough challenge from 14-year-old Wang Xinzhong at the International Championship in Nanjing, China. The former world champion narrowly won in a final-frame decider.
Wang Xinzhong's Rise
The young qualifier had already impressed by defeating women's world champion Bai Yulu and experienced player Robbie Williams to reach the main stage. Despite Yulu setting a record with a 145 break, the highest ever by a woman in a ranking event, Wang secured his victory. He followed this with a commanding 6-1 win over Williams, advancing to the second round.
Match Highlights
Murphy started strong, taking the first three frames quickly. However, Wang fought back, winning five of the next six, pushing the score to 5-4 and coming just one frame away from an upset. In the decisive frame, Murphy's breaks of 72 and 89 secured his place in the last 32, where he will face Elliot Slessor.
Murphy's Praise
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Murphy told World Snooker Tour. “Ronnie [O’Sullivan] was good at 14, as were many others.”
He expressed clear admiration for Wang's talent and predicted a bright future for the young player.
Author's summary: Shaun Murphy narrowly defeated 14-year-old Wang Xinzhong, a rising snooker star already compared to Ronnie O'Sullivan at the same age, showcasing the teenager's remarkable potential.