Murphy cruises into UK final with win over Maguire
Murphy is getting back to form following a below-par season
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Sunday, 21, Dec 2008 10:01
Shaun Murphy made light work of his semi-final with Stephen Maguire to reach the showpiece of the UK Championship in Telford.
The former world champion beat the Scot 9-4 to set up a match against Hong Kong's Marco Fu.
Murphy dominated the opening session of the match and took a 6-2 lead into the evening's play.
Although Maguire responded to his adverse situation with an excellent 112, Murphy's lead was too big and the Englishman eventually wrapped up the win.
The opening three frames of the match were scrappy affairs with both players missing shots they should have done better with.
Murphy managed to fight his way into a 2-1 lead before making a break of 61 to clinch the fourth frame.
That seemed to give him some confidence and he took the next two frames with breaks of 85 and 59.
The final two frames of the session were also cagey affairs with each player managing to notch a frame each from those exchanges.
Maguire made his 106 to start the evening session but Murphy responded immediately with a break of 136 that restored his momentum.
The man from Rotherham took another scrappy frame to move to the brink of victory but a defiant Maguire notched a break of 115 to stay in the match.
However, it only delayed the inevitable and Murphy won the 13th fame on his third visit to the table to move into the final.