Wu Yize beats Shaun Murphy in another Shenzhen decider

By Omar Rahman • 3 October 2026, 02:44 • 2 mins read

Murphy missed an early chance in the deciding frame, and Wu answered with a 117 clearance for a 5-4 win. Wu will face Judd Trump in the semi-finals, after beating Murphy in another major decider.

Murphy opened the deciding frame with a red and a blue. He overcut an awkward red, and Wu made him pay with a 117 clearance. The frame was over.

It was another deciding-frame loss for Murphy against Wu. Wu had also beaten him in the 2026 World Championship final and in the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals in July. BBC Sport noted that Wu beat Murphy in a decider at the Crucible final, too.

Both their 2026 World Championship final and the Shenzhen Open quarter-final were settled in a deciding frame, with Wu beating Murphy on each occasion.

BBC Sport

Murphy's lead gave way to a late escape

Murphy moved 3-2 ahead with breaks of 104, 98 and 68. Wu answered with runs of 94 and 121 to win the next two frames and go 4-3 ahead. BBC Sport also recorded those figures.

Wu then missed the match-ball brown in the eighth frame. Murphy cleared the table and forced a decider. His reprieve did not last.

Wu's finish set up a semi-final against Judd Trump on Saturday. The winner will play either Yuan Sijun or Jimmy Robertson in the final.

Judd Trump reached the last four by beating Mark Selby 5-0 in the quarter-finals. The Shenzhen Open semi-finals were scheduled for Saturday, 3 October 2026.

RTE Sport and BBC Sport

The pair have now had another close match. Wu said the rivalry had raised the pressure on both players. Eurosport Nederland reported that he felt huge pressure in every match against Murphy because they both wanted to beat each other.

Topics: Cue Sports Competitions Cue Rankings & Results #Judd Trump #Shaun Murphy #Wu Yize

UAE CUE Sports Desk

Omar Rahman

Omar Rahman is a UAE-based cue sports editor covering snooker, pool and billiards, with a focus on tournaments, rankings, rules, coaching, equipment and playing opportunities. His reporting is practical and detail-focused, helping readers understand both competitive pathways and the everyday realities of playing cue sports in the Emirates.