Shaun Murphy ended a three-year trophy drought with a record-breaking performance at the Players Championship, defeating Ali Carter 10-4 in Wolverhampton. The 40-year-old, ranked 11th in the world, produced a stunning display of scoring, smashing the previous record of eight centuries in the event with 11, and making the five highest breaks of the tournament: 145, 141, 137, 135 and 133.
The victory, which earned Murphy £125,000, was his 10th ranking title and first since the 2020 Welsh Open. He bounced back from a shock defeat in last week's Welsh Open final to Rob Milkins, where he failed to get the job done. Murphy said: 'I played really well all week. But to play that well as I did tonight when I needed it most will go right up there with my best achievements.'
Murphy's run of 145, one of five centuries in the final, earned him an additional £10,000 for the highest break of the week. The title moved him clear of Mark Allen, Peter Ebdon and John Parrott in the all-time list, level with Jimmy White in joint-10th spot. Despite the defeat, Carter, who won the German Masters recently, looks set for a place in the top-eight Tour Championship and a top-16 Crucible seeding.
Carter said: 'Shaun played great, and he has played the best all week. It is unbelievable he hasn't won for three years. But it has been a great month for me winning the German Masters and getting to the final of this.' Murphy, now desperate to reclaim the world title, added: 'You have to persevere through the difficult times in your career. Through Covid and lockdown I think we all struggled, but some great family and friends have got me through.'
