Si Jiahui returns to haunt Shaun Murphy in Crucible final-frame upset

Shaun Murphy was knocked out by Si Jiahui, the world No 80, in a late-night thriller at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. Si held his nerve superbly to win a tense deciding frame to produce the biggest upset of the tournament in the most exciting match so far.

Murphy, the world No 4 after winning the Players Championship and Tour Championship in the run-up to the Crucible, trailed the 20-year-old Chinese 5-4 after their first session on Wednesday. Si continued his fine form on Thursday evening to extend his lead to 7-5 and then 9-7. But Murphy produced his best form in adversity, making a 120 break to take the match to a deciding frame.

Si kept his composure to make a 56 in the final frame, only breaking down when splitting the pack after potting a blue and seeing a red run safe when it looked as if it might stay over the corner pocket. Si took on a risky pink to the middle after potting a long red to let Murphy in but he could not take advantage.

After a tense safety exchange, Si came out on top after Murphy missed a red three times in a row when trying to escape from a snooker. The Crucible debutant completed a dramatic victory in style, and will face Robert Milkins in the last 16.

Si has become something of a nemesis for Murphy, who had to apologise to his opponent after his first-round exit to the Chinese at the 2021 UK Championship. Murphy had suggested amateurs should not be taking part and had complained that Si “shouldn’t even be in the building”.

The rant caused an outcry and Murphy later said he regretted the timing of his outburst but said he stood by his point of view. Si is now a professional and Murphy was full of praise for his opponent after Thursday’s epic first-round battle.

“Nothing but