Snooker: Ding holds nerve to dump Murphy out of Masters
New UK champion Shaun Murphy made an early exit from the Masters at Wembley as he crashed to defeat against Ding Junhui yesterday.
Englishman Murphy produced an impressive return to form in Telford last month and beat Marco Fu 10-9 in an absorbing final.
He had not won a tournament match this season until embarking on the run which ended with him being crowned champion of the sport's second most prestigious event.
However, the world No 3 was back to losing ways yesterday as Ding secured a 6-4 victory to seal his place in the quarter-finals.
Murphy made a 93 break in the ninth frame to pile the pressure on Ding, reducing his lead to one frame.
But Chinese cueman Ding held his nerve in the next frame, and Murphy was soon left resigned to an early tournament exit.
World No 11 Ding will be bidding to reach his second Masters final, having been beaten in the 2007 title match by Ronnie O'Sullivan.
His next opponent will be either John Higgins or Fu.
