Shaun Murphy came from 4-0 down to finish the first session of the Duelbits Tour Championship final tied with Kyren Wilson at 4-4.
In a high quality session, Wilson made a tremendous start with a barrage of high breaks, but Murphy counter-attacked after the interval, and crucially stole a tight final frame to leave them all square. They return to the Bonus Arena in Hull at 7pm, with first to ten frames taking home the trophy and £150,000. Both players are aiming to win this title for the first time.
Murphy is targeting his second title within five weeks and his second consecutive victory in this series, having won the Duelbits Players Championship in February. The 40-year-old Dublin-based cueman is playing in his 25th ranking final and aiming for his 11th title, which would put him one ahead of Jimmy White on the all-time list. Currently ranked sixth, Murphy will move up to fourth if he wins the title tonight.
Kettering’s 31-year-old Wilson is battling to win a second ranking title of the season having lifted the European Masters trophy in August. This is his 13th ranking final and his is hoping to win a sixth title, which would move him level with Ken Doherty, Stephen Maguire and Stuart Bingham. This would be his first televised ranking title on UK soil, as four of his previous five came overseas, while the other was the Championship League. The top prize would move Wilson up from seventh to fifth in the rankings.
Murphy has won seven of their ten previous meetings – notably including the 2020 Welsh Open final and 2021 World Championship semi-final.
Wilson made six centuries in his semi-final match against Ding Junhui on Friday, and he started the final in a similar vein as breaks of 108, 84, 62 and 11 put him 4-0 ahead. Back came Murphy with 75, 70, 75 for 4-3.
In the last frame of the session, Wilson led 63-33 when he ran out of position on the last red, and laid a tough snooker. Murphy came off four cushions to hit the red, and then capitalised on a weak safety from his opponent to clear the table.
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