The Riyadh Season Snooker Championship witnessed a stunning upset as Shaun Murphy delivered a ruthless 4-0 defeat to Ronnie O’Sullivan, halting the Rocket’s campaign in its tracks.
Murphy, already demonstrating exceptional form this season, showcased a masterclass in long-potting, dismantling O’Sullivan’s challenge with clinical precision. This victory wasn’t a fluke; it followed an earlier, equally decisive whitewash against Saudi wildcard Ziyad Alqabbani.
Facing the seven-time world champion presented a significantly tougher test, yet Murphy remained unflappable. He consistently applied pressure, building substantial breaks of 93 and 53 to secure a commanding win against a visibly frustrated O’Sullivan.
For O’Sullivan, the loss extends his wait for a trophy, his last victory coming at this very event – then known as the World Masters of Snooker – back in March. The defeat casts a shadow over his ambitions for further silverware this year.
Shaun Murphy’s stellar 2025 continues to gather momentum. Having already claimed victories at the Masters and the British Open, he now sets his sights on a quarter-final showdown with current world champion Zhao Xintong.
The quarter-final clash promises a thrilling encounter, pitting Murphy’s current dominance against Xintong’s championship pedigree. The Saudi event is rapidly becoming a proving ground for snooker’s elite.
