Players Championship 2023: Shaun Murphy dominates Ali Carter to take first title in three years

Shaun Murphy was in mesmerising form as he claimed the Players Championship and the £125,000 prize with a 10-4 victory over Ali Carter. The 2005 World Champion produced a remarkable five centuries on the day to land the 10th title of his career at this level and his first since 2020.

Ad A delighted Murphy beamed afterwards: «I mean, I played really good all week, but that performance today, you know when it mattered… I lost in the final last week against Robert Milkins in the Welsh [Open], couldn't get the job done. So to not just win, but to play like that, you know, I'm going to put it down as one of my biggest ever achievements in my career.

Going up against somebody like Ali with the class he's got, the month he's had, his career. Players ChampionshipMurphy in scintillating form as three centuries sees him take control of final with Carter7 HOURS AGO »To play like that when I needed it the most, I'm really going to take that as a feather in the cap." The platform was built in the afternoon session when Murphy swept into a 6-2 lead with some particularly impressive cue-action including runs of 145, 141 and 112.

The pattern continued in the opening frame of the evening when there was an early suggestion Murphy had a 147 maximum in mind but it all went awry as he blew a simple black to the bottom right pocket with just three reds remaining. The break of 89 sealed the frame but he looked rather rueful and he evidently did have the eighth maximum break of his career in mind.

Not that he allowed it to upset his game, as he clocked up a fourth century of the final — and a record-extending 10th of the tournament — with a solid 103 to move 8-2 in front. Carter was clearly lacking in confidence, but he was determined to extend