Shaun Murphy admits facing Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Players Championship final in Llandudno is his latest chance to square off against the ‘best ever’. Murphy and the Rocket have been this season’s two in-form players and they are meeting in their third major final in Wales. The Magician beat O’Sullivan in the final of the Champion of Champions in November before the 42-year-old took revenge at the UK Championship in December.
It will be Murphy’s fifth final of the season and fourth in a ranking event, as he was runner-up at the China Championship, Paul Hunter Classic and that UK Championship in York alongside the win in Coventry. O’Sullivan meanwhile is enjoying the best season of his career and is now chasing a record-equalling fifth ranking event win in one season, a feat previously achieved by Stephen Hendry, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui. Murphy had to be at his best to see off Mark Williams on home soil in the last four and the 2005 world champion certainly was that, firing breaks of 133,70, 117 and 88 en route to leading 4-1. Williams battled back but it was Murphy that edged a scrappy ninth frame with a break of 29 to win 6-3.
Facing O’Sullivan in another final is a challenge he’s relishing. “It is a fabulous opportunity to play against the best ever,” Murphy said. “Let’s see what I’ve got in the locker. I have been consistent this season but I would swap that for another trophy because that’s what we are remembered for.” Murphy is 2/1 to win the Players Championship final, while O’Sullivan is 7/1 to repeat his 10-5 success from the UK decider.