Shaun Murphy in stunning form as three centuries sees him take control of Players Championship final with Ali Carter

Shaun Murphy will take a commanding 6-2 lead into the evening session of the Players Championship final against Ali Carter after dominating proceedings in the afternoon. The contest pitted two of snooker's most in-form players against one another, with Murphy reaching the final of the recent Welsh Open and Carter going one better to take the title at the German Masters.

Ad And the play was of a high level right from the off, with Murphy firing in a long red that gave him the first look at the table. Players ChampionshipFrustrated Wilson could face disciplinary probe for outburst after defeat to Murphy9 HOURS AGO But some nerves took over thereafter with both players missing makeable shots, only for Murphy to get far enough ahead and then lay a tricky snooker, which led to Carter conceding the frame.

So 1-0 for Murphy, and the Magician doubled his lead in the next with a sensational break of 145. It was a clearance that contained some superb positional shots, as Murphy — with his seventh century of the week — demonstrated how well he was cueing.

Frustrated Wilson could face disciplinary probe for outburst after defeat to Murphy 'Biggest ever' – O'Sullivan set to take trip down memory lane at 6 Red World Championship Carter badly needed a foothold in the match, and he played some lovely stuff in frame three as he threatened to halve his arrears. The pair were locked in a battle over the blue at 57-54 to Murphy, but when the Magician finally sunk it beautifully to the top corner pocket, it was instead 3-0 — and a very one-sided final, at least by scoreline.