Oct 25,2024
Shaun Murphy rallied from 3-1 down to beat Stuart Bingham and reach the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.
Both players had made centuries in the opening two frames, Murphy making 13 reds before missing a tricky cut to the middle and Bingham then drew level after his 121 break.
Bingham further extended his lead, producing a run of 101 in the fourth frame, before Murphy started his fightback to set up a deciding seventh frame, which he edged 69-60.
Elsewhere during Thursday's afternoon session at Waterfront Hall, world champion Kyren Wilson saw off 18-year-old Stan Moody 4-1 and will go on to meet Mark Williams in the last eight after the veteran Welshman beat China's Ma Hailong 4-2.
Pang Junxu, who had knocked out 2023 world champion Luca Brecel in the last round, also progressed after a comfortable 4-0 win over England's Martin O'Donnell.
In the evening, world number one Judd Trump continued his quest for a fifth Nothern Ireland Open title with a 4-1 victory over Barry Hawkins, who had his chances. But the defending champion was ruthless, setting up a meeting with Murphy tomorrow.
Louis Heathcote continued his great run with a 4-2 triumph over Tian Pengfei, and will now meet Elliot Slessor, who overcame Lei Peifan 4-1.
While Neil Robertson, who has never been to the final of a WST event in Ireland, is now just two wins away from the final after beating Mark Allen's conqueror Oliver Lines 4-1.
