Defending Champion Shaun Murphy Stunned in First Round at The Masters by Rising Star Wu Yize
“Disappointed” feels like the obvious word to use, yet it barely scratches the surface of how crestfallen I felt walking away from the table yesterday. Every sportsperson accepts that bad days are part of the game, but you never expect one to arrive on the biggest stage, in the first round of a major tournament, especially as the defending champion.
Coming into The Masters, everything felt right. The preparation had been solid, the practice encouraging, and my confidence in my game was high. Sometimes, though, snooker has a way of humbling you, regardless of how ready you believe you are. Credit where it’s due — I was outplayed on the day. That happens at the very highest level, and the margins are unforgiving.
As pointed out by Myles Msugh, moments early in a match can shape everything that follows. My very first shot of frame one — a long pot into the right corner — rattled in the jaws and left Wu Yize right among the balls. It wasn’t a spectacular chance, but it was crucial. Wu compiled a steady 40-plus break, and more importantly, it allowed him to settle immediately. On debut at the Ally Pally Masters, that early opportunity was exactly what he needed.
From my side, it took until around frame four to truly feel settled, but by then the match had its own momentum. I didn’t get many clear chances early on, and at this level, that’s often all it takes for a match to slip away from you. Wu showed maturity beyond his years and underlined why so many believe he’s a future world champion.
It simply wasn’t my day. I’ll head back to the drawing board, reflect, learn, and reset. Thank you to everyone for the continued support — I’ll be back, and ready to go again at the next tournament.
