Shaun Murphy delivered a commanding display to thrash Xiao Guodong 13-3 and become the first player to reach the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship.
The 2005 champion took full control at the Crucible Theatre, winning the match with a session to spare after dominating Friday’s play.
Clinical display seals one-sided win
Murphy resumed with a 6-2 overnight lead and surged ahead by winning seven of the next eight frames in the morning session.
Breaks of 93, 66, 103, 69, 115 and another 103 underlined his authority, leaving Xiao with little chance to respond.
The emphatic victory meant the scheduled evening session was no longer needed, highlighting just how one-sided the contest was.
Quarter-final clash awaits
Murphy will now face the winner of the all-Chinese tie between Zhao Xintong and Ding Junhui in the last eight.
The quarter-final is set to begin on Tuesday, with Murphy aiming to push deeper into a tournament where he has previously enjoyed significant success.
Chasing another Crucible crown
The 43-year-old, who lifted the title in 2005 and has finished runner-up three times, admitted he remains hungry for another triumph.
Murphy said he is enjoying his game and still believes his best performances are ahead, underlining his ambition to add a second world title more than two decades after his first.
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