Murphy misses maximum but still claims first victory - 22/10/2009

Shaun Murphy 5-1 Marco Fu (best of 6 frames)
Murphy's scores first
1-117 (Fu 91), 63-14 (Murphy 50), 88-5 (Murphy 62), 105-0 (Murphy 105), 134-0 (Murphy 134), 92-7 (Murphy 62, 30)

SHAUN Murphy missed out on a maximum 147 break but still managed to claim his first victory of the 2009 PartyCasino.com Premier League Snooker season.

His opponent Marco Fu claimed the opening frame but then only scored another 26 points in the last five frames. However, Murphy was in sensational form as breaks of 50, 62, 105, 134 and 62 saw him win 5-1 to move off the bottom of the league table.

The night could have been even better for Murphy as he closed in on a maximum 147 break before he faultered on the 14th black having scored 105. But Murphy still managed to win £7,000 for his evening's work and keep his hopes of making the top four alive.

"For once in the league I managed to produce a good performance," said Murphy. "The motivation for me before the match was seeing my name at the bottom of the table. I really enjoyed the attempt at the maximum. I didn't get it but I loved every minute of it."

The second match from the sixth round of games featured Shaun Murphy against Hong Kong's Marco Fu.

It was a must-win encounter for both players as neither had secured a victory yet in this season's PartyCasino.com Premier League Snooker. Murphy had lost his opening two matches and sat bottom of the table, one position below Fu, who had only gained one point from his first three ties.

Another defeat from Fu would end his chances of claiming a top four spot and advancing to the semi-finals so there was a great deal to play for in front of a packed crowd at the Grimsby Auditorium.

The Asian player made a good start as a break of 91 in the opener helped him to an early lead. However, Murphy then won the next three frames to take a stangehold on the match and earn his first point of the competition.

Scores of 50 and 62 saw him claim the second and third frames. Murphy nearly created some Premier League Snooker history in the fourth.

There had never been a maximum 147 break since the introduction of the shot clock and Murphy looked on course to become the first man to achieve this.

However, after potting 14 reds and 13 blacks, he failed to pot the 14th black as he closed in on the £25,000 bonus for the maximum. His break of 105 still saw him earn an extra £1,000 for the century but Murphy will be disappointed it was not much more.

Murphy was proving to be the star of the night and breaks of 134 in the fifth and 62 in the sixth saw him complete a sensational 5-1 triumph. It was a night to forget for Fu and with only one point from four matches needs a miracle if he is to make the play-offs.