News
Prediction
Fixtures
ROCK CRUSH LOOMS: SHAUN MURPHY USES RONNIE O’SULLIVAN AS A TEMPLATE FOR A MORE “AGGRESSIVE” APPROACH
Shaun Murphy is set to face Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2024 Masters semifinal, with Murphy revealing a new playing style inspired by O’Sullivan himself. Murphy secured his spot in the semifinals by defeating Jack Lisowski 6-3, while O’Sullivan advanced with a victory over Barry Hawkins.
The 41-year-old Murphy, a former Masters champion in 2015, confessed to recently letting his game slow down. However, he has drawn inspiration from the seven-time World Champion O’Sullivan to address this issue.
Despite winning three tournaments last year, Murphy acknowledged slipping into a slower pace and overthinking shots. He emphasized the importance of not dwelling on shots excessively, highlighting O’Sullivan’s approach of getting on with the game without overanalyzing. Murphy pointed out that the hours of practice throughout his career have equipped him with the knowledge of what shots to play, and he doesn’t need to scrutinize the table multiple times.
Watching O’Sullivan, Murphy appreciates the efficiency and decisiveness with which O’Sullivan plays. He believes that the desire for perfection and anxiety can slow a player down, and he has finally learned that it doesn’t benefit his game.
The upcoming match between Murphy and O’Sullivan promises to be an intriguing clash with both players bringing their distinct styles to the table.
Shaun Murphy dominated his quarter-final meeting with Jack Lisowski, leading 5-1 at one point. Murphy made an impressive start to the contest, including an eight-minute break of 75 to claim the opening frame. Within just 51 minutes, he secured a break of 131, establishing a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.
Despite Lisowski narrowing the deficit to 5-3, Murphy didn’t appear to be under significant pressure. He attributed his success to a “newfound desire” to play with greater speed and aggression.
In the early stages of the match, Murphy noticed that Lisowski didn’t clear up in one hit in the first frame, suggesting that his opponent might not be at his peak performance that day. Murphy acknowledged Lisowski’s ability to quickly turn the tide in previous encounters but felt that his decision to play more aggressively and in a manner reminiscent of his past style shifted the momentum in his favor.
Murphy reflected on his past tendency to be aggressive but acknowledged that he’s now more strategic in his approach. While he won’t hesitate to rein it in when necessary, he emphasized that everyone prefers a more aggressive style of play.
This change in approach, combined with a careful balance of aggression, has contributed to Murphy’s success in the match against Lisowski.
Murphy is confident in his ability to defeat the seven-time Masters champion. “I can’t wait,” he expressed. “We haven’t played here before, but we’ve faced off in many other places, engaging in some great matches over the years.
Although it’s been a while since our last encounter, this is undoubtedly a significant challenge—the toughest and most demanding one, for sure. If I maintain the level of play I showcased today, I might prove to be quite a formidable opponent.”
