• China Open

Murphy to meet Selby in semi-finals

Shaun Murphy had to dig extremely deep to stay in the tournament © Getty Images

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• News: Selby eases past Murphy into China final
  

Shaun Murphy will face Mark Selby in the semi-finals of the China Open after both players endured contrasting wins in their last eight encounters.

Murphy had to come from 4-2 behind to get the better of Jack Lisowski, while Selby brushed Mark Williams aside 5-1 to continue his fine form in the tournament.

Former world champion Murphy needed to dig deep to overcome Lisowski - playing in his first ranking quarter-final and on a high after stunning Judd Trump earlier in the week - to avoid being another established name to fall to the youngster.

Lisowski drew first blood by taking the opening frame with a run of 62. Murphy levelled by rattling in a 137, and pinched the third frame on the final black thanks to an outrageous fluke.

Lisowski was looking calm and composed in new territory and his 71 squared the tie at the mid-session interval. The following two frames went the way of the 21-year-old as well, and Murphy was in deep trouble at this point.

Like he did against Ali Carter in the semi-finals of the UK Championship - where he trailed 8-4 and won 9-8 - Murphy with his back against the wall produced his best snooker, and fired in breaks of 40, 48 and 41 to win three frames in a row and end the dream run of Lisowski.

Murphy's semi-final opponent will be Selby, after the world No. 1 took care of Williams in a one-sided contest.

Selby moved in front after a tight first frame, and Williams' 54 made it 1-1. However, the two-time world champion was unable to capitalise on his opportunities, enabling the UK and Masters champion to march towards the finishing line, knocking in a 64 and a 72 en route to completing the victory and setting up a repeat of the UK Championship final from December.

Stephen Maguire was too strong for Premier League champion Stuart Bingham as the Scot romped to a 5-1 victory, while Neil Robertson beat Marcus Campbell 5-2 to complete the semi-final line-up.

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