Murphy keeps hopes alive but Robertson is out - 12/11/2009

SHAUN Murphy kept alive his hopes of claiming a play-off spot in the 2009 PartyCasino.com Premier League Snooker competition.

Murphy claimed his third century break of this year's event on his way to a 4-2 victory over Australian Neil Robertson, who has seen his hopes of a top four finish end.

Shaun Murphy on his way to a 4-2 victory over Neil Robertson. Picture: Lawrence Lustig

The second match at the Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston Super Mare was between Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson. Both players faced the same, simple situation that a defeat would see them eliminated from the 2009 PartyCasino.com Premier League Snooker competition.

Murphy took the opener after Robertson failed to capitalise on a missed black off the spot from the Englishman.

The second frame was one of the most remarkable in the history of the Premier League. Murphy led 59-37 before Robertson left him in a tight snooker, which Murphy failed to hit on seven occasions.

However, the tactical play was not yet finished and Murphy was then placed in another snooker and this time took five attempts to get out of it. A third tricky snooker saw another Murphy foul and Robertson, helped by 51 points gained from Murphy fouls, doubled the pink to tie the game at 1-1.

Murphy bounced back well in the third as a superbly-compiled score of 104, his third century break of this year's competition, moved him back into the lead.

He continued this fine form into the fourth frame as he compiled a break of 64, but missed out on what would have been his 150th century of his professional career, although now had a 3-1 lead.

The last two frames were shared as Robertson made 109 in the fifth before Murphy took the last to claim a 4-2 victory, although he still needs a good result against Judd Trump next week at Llandudno to seal his top four spot.

Shaun Murphy 4-2 Neil Robertson (best of 6)
Murphy's scores first
68-37 (Murphy 40, Robertson 36), 75-99 (Murphy 59, Robertson 37), 119-6 (Murphy 104), 73-8 (Murphy 64), 0-109 (Robertson 109) 94-8 (Murphy 45)