Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson were the biggest names to fall on the opening day of the Dafabet Northern Ireland Open. World number seven Murphy, who earlier this month defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Champions of Champions, was comprehensively beaten 4-1 by tour rookie Chen Zifan. Chen, who has only twice previously made it beyond the opening round of a ranking event, showed no signs of nerves as he raced into a 3-0 lead in the best of seven frames contest, rattling off breaks of 95 and 92 as he outscored his more experienced opponent 279-13.
Murphy did rally in frame four with his own break of 68, but that was not the start of a comeback for the 2005 World Champion, as Chen took the next frame to set up a second-round clash with Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. Former Shanghai Masters champion Wilson was also a surprise first-round casualty in Belfast, as he lost 4-1 to the impressive Sam Craigie. Both men exchanged century breaks in the opening two frames, but it was Craigie’s knock of 110 that turned the match in his favour, as he also rattled off the next two frames to seal his place in round two at Waterfront Hall for the second successive season.
Wilson, however, will not be able to repeat his run to the semi-finals of the event and the first-round exit continues what has been an erratic season for the 25-year-old, as he has reached two-ranking event finals, but suffered early exits in numerous other competitions. Both Murphy and Wilson will now have to dust themselves down for next week’s UK Championship, an event both players will be looking to win, with Murphy priced at 20/1 and Wilson 33/1.
Dafabet Northern Ireland Open odds available at Dafabet.