Xi’an Grand Prix: Kyren Wilson whitewashed by Shaun Murphy as Ronnie O’Sullivan reaches last eight

Shaun Murphy whitewashed defending champion Kyren Wilson to reach the Xi’an Grand Prix quarter-finals – and said it was “as good as I’ve ever played”.

The 43-year-old hit a high of 141 in three centuries for a crushing 5-0 win over the world number two.

Wilson, the 2024 world champion, didn’t pot a ball and scored just six points – thanks to a foul when Murphy hit the pink after being snookered – in the whole match against his relentless fellow Englishman, who made 533 in a row without reply.

“That’s pretty much as good as I’ve ever played,” said Murphy. “That’s one of the best best-of-nine matches that I’ve ever been part of.

“It’s mad. You play so many matches around the world throughout your life and every now and then it comes together.”

A Crucible champion himself in 2005, Murphy will now face Ding Junhui in the last eight.