World number eight Shaun Murphy has booked his place in the final of the Evergrande China Championship courtesy of a victory over Ali Carter. The two Englishman both failed to perform to their maximum in what proved to be a very tense match in Guangzhou. Murphy, who is priced at 20/1 to win the World Championships, put together the highest break of the first six frames with 54 in the second, however, he trailed 4-2 after a slow start. The 35-year-old showed good spirit to fight back and he moved 4-3 ahead with a break of 69 before going on to edge the next three frames.
The world number eight has struggled against Carter in the past and insists he was delighted to find a way into the final. Murphy said: “I have a terrible record against Ali, it’s a long time since I have beaten him. “At 4-2 down I was just trying to hang on to his coat tails. Some of the safety play was very high quality but we both missed chances. “We are all trying to win every week. It’s not about the money, it’s about who takes the trophy home because that’s what people remember. The opportunities to win one don’t come that often so when they do you have to take them.” Murphy will be positive of claiming the £150,000 prize when he takes on either world number 58 Li Hang or world number 27 Luca Brecel on Tuesday.