Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Shaun Murphy missed out on a 147 break in his final frame
ByMike PeterBBC Sport journalist- Published51 minutes ago
Shaun Murphy set up a last-16 tie against Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Open in Yushan with a 5-1 win over China's Xu Si.
Murphy lost the first frame but then won the next five with two century breaks, including an 120 to win the match.
O'Sullivan moved into the last 16 thanks to a 5-0 win over Matthew Selt, with a break of 138 in the second frame.
"Any time Ronnie is in the event it adds a certain buzz to it. He looks in good touch to me," said Murphy.
"Some people might say he isn't as sharp, others might say he is fresh. All this talk about an eighth World Championship. What a position to be in, some might say he has done it the right way and kept himself fresh.
"I've been playing well for a season or two. I've been running into superheroes playing unbelievable snooker.
"It is a test of perseverance, it is about mental toughness - can you keep going? With this event, the Tour Championship and World Championship to come. It is a great time to be hitting form."
Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan, who has said a return to tournament-winning form would be the greatest achievement of his career, has a 14-4 career winning record over Murphy.
"I always prepare well. I know people question if I practise enough. Everyone has done that since I was a kid. They seem to think I just turn up," said O'Sullivan, who lost 4-0 in his last meeting with Murphy, at the Riyadh Season Championship in November.
"I prepare harder than probably any other player and I work harder. I think people just assume I only need to get out of bed and pot balls. That isn't the case."
World number one Judd Trump also moved into the last 16 with a 5-2 victory over Jackson Page, while reigning world champion Zhao Xintong beat Sam Craigie 5-1.
Stuart Bingham and Jack Lisowski missed out on chances to move in the world's top 16 and qualify automatically for the World Championship, losing 5-4 and 5-1 to Wu Yize and Mark Allen respectively.
Masters champion Kyren Wilson defeated Allan Taylor 5-1, while Hossein Vafaei came back from 2-0 down to beat Mark Williams 5-2 and set up a meeting with Zhang Anda, who triumphed 5-2 against Xiao Guodong.
