Shaun Murphy’s Masters coup makes Magician Crucible contender

Shaun ‘the Magician’ Murphy will be aiming to clinch a second World Championship title after becoming the 10th man ever to win snooker’s Triple Crown, thrashing Neil Robertson 10-2 in the Masters final at Alexandra Palace.

Murphy, 16/1 with Coral for a Crucible win, comprehensively overwhelmed the world number one with his magical performances at the invitational event held in London, inflicting the highest winning margin in a Masters final since Steve Davis’ 9-0 whitewash of Mike Hallett in 1988.

Victory completed a famous Triple Crown for the 32-year-old, having already claimed the World Championship in 2005 and the 2008 UK Championship, ending a seven-year wait for his historic moment.

Harlow-born Murphy was jubilant after his latest exploits on the baize but admitted it was a difficult journey between major titles.

“When I won the World Championship 10 years ago I thought I was going to blitz through these events but I’ve had to wait a long time and go through some ups and downs,” Murphy said.

‘The Magician’ joins his Australian Masters opponent Robertson, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Terry Griffiths, Alex and John Higgins, Mark Williams and Mark Selby in having won the World, UK and Masters titles.

After sweeping Robertson aside, the world number 11 will now be turning attentions to claiming his second world title on the 10th anniversary of his maiden victory at Sheffield’s showcase event.

His magnificent Masters triumph has propelled the prolific potter to sixth-favourite for a successful Crucible campaign, with ‘the Rocket’ O’Sullivan still the 7/4 front runner for a sixth world crown.

Murphy, from Sale, Greater Manchester, has catapulted himself into a great position ahead of this year’s World Championship in May, as he searches for a sixth ranking event title of his 17-year professional career.