World Snooker Championship 2023: Si Jiahui beats Shaun Murphy in final-frame thriller in first round

Si Jiahui won a thrilling final-frame decider against Shaun Murphy to reach the second round of the World Championship. The momentum looked to be with Murphy as he roared back from 9-6 down to force a deciding frame. Ad But Crucible debutant Si, 20, showed composure beyond his years as he held his nerve and booked his place in the next round against Robert Milkins, who came back from 7-2 down to beat Joe Perry.

World ChampionshipWorld Championship LIVE — Murphy out after losing decider to Si14 HOURS AGO Si's win over Murphy completes the second-round line-up at the World Championship. Murphy was one of the form players coming into the tournament and said he was playing some of the best snooker of his career. But having won four of the last five frames in the previous session, Si came out firing again.

The 20-year-old knocked in a composed break of 121 to extend his advantage to 6-4. Murphy saw a break stall in the next frame at 30-0 as he missed a pink to the middle. Si punished the error with a break of 93 to move further clear.

But Murphy hit back impressively as he showed some of the form that has seen him return to the top of the game this season. Selby wows Selt with 'shot of the championship' Bingham calls for referee to be honoured for tackling protester The 2005 world champion made back-to-back breaks of 102 and 66 without Si potting a ball, to close to a frame behind at the mid-session interval. But if Murphy had hopes of Si fading they were quickly dashed after the break as his opponent continued to show his quality by taking the frame and moving 8-6 ahead.