Crucible finalist Shaun Murphy loses on competitive return at Snooker 900 Global Championship

Murphy was back on the baize less than a fortnight on from his epic world championship final clash with Wu Yize at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, a memorable encounter that Chinese youngster Wu won in a deciding frame to claim snooker’s blue riband title for the first time.

Following that heartbreak at the end of a 17-day marathon in South Yorkshire, fans could have forgiven Murphy for pulling out of this week’s inaugural Snooker 900 Global Championship at the Crucible Sports and Social Club in Reading. But the 43-year-old kept his engagement for the unique £100,000 event in Berkshire.

As one of the top four seeds in the six-day competition, Murphy didn’t begin his campaign until the quarter-finals on Friday. He faced former professional and current British Seniors Open champion Perry, who himself had recently lost in a Crucible final after being runner-up to Ronnie O’Sullivan last weekend at the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship.

Perry - who had already eliminated Levi Meiller and Matthew Stevens in previous rounds - went behind, but breaks of 65 and 55 helped him draw level, before a run of 52 in the third frame put him 2-1 up.

Momentum shifted again as efforts of 62 and 75 aided Murphy to a 3-2 lead, but Perry restored parity with frame six, punishing his opponent for an in-off with a crucial break of 56.

Contributions of 41 and 34 were registered by former world number eight Perry as he reached the hill at 4-3 up before runs of 31 and 32 but him on the cusp of a mini upset. But having failed to get on a red within touching distance of the semi-finals, Perry let his opponent in for a counter opportunity.

However, Murphy - who seemed to struggle with the slightly heavier spotted cueball during the match - couldn't capitalise, and Perry fluked a red which ultimately paved his way to victory and a spot in Saturday's final four.

Earlier in the afternoon session, Kyren Wilson denied Pankaj Advani in a deciding frame to progress in the 20-player tournament.

Indian cuesports superstar Advani - who had already navigated all three completed rounds to reach this stage, dropping only two frames in three matches and whitewashing Ken Doherty 5-0 in round three - went 2-0 behind early on before breaks of 90, 38 and 51 helped him level up before edging in front at 3-2.

2024 World Champion Wilson stopped that sequence by taking a close sixth frame for 3-3, but multiple-time world billiards champion and former professional snooker player Advani fashioned a 37 and 55 in a successful frame seven to go one away from the win.

And it looked like Advani was going to complete a shock result in a dramatic eighth frame, but within a few pots of the finishing line, he miscued on a black, opening the door for Wilson who gleefully accepted the invite to force a deciding frame.

Having been second fiddle to his peer during most of the contest, Wilson slotted in a long red from distance under the baulk cushion in the final frame and went on to construct a match-clinching break of 90.

In the Friday evening session in Reading, Luca Brecel meets Florian Nuessle and Ronnie O’Sullivan plays Billy Castle.

The best of 11 semi-finals take place on Saturday, with the best of 19 final on Sunday.