World Snooker Championship: China’s Si tipped to win it all after stunning victory over Shaun Murphy in first round
- “I think he will be the first Chinese World Champion,” says 2005 winner Murphy after stunning loss in deciding frame
- Si, who is ranked 80th in the world, will face Robert Milkins next at the Crucible on Saturday
![Si Jiahui outgunned former champion Shaun Murphy 10-9 in the first round of the World Championship. Photo: World Snooker Tour](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2023/04/21/f50d0bdc-95c1-42c7-bf17-6b1ef03e962d_7a60d047.jpg?itok=wtV6j1ra&v=1682050875)
China’s Si Jiahui has been tipped become his country’s first world champion after his stunning first round victory over Shaun Murphy in Sheffield, in a game the 20-year-old said he “didn’t really play to win”.
Si held his nerve in a back-and-forth tussle at the Crucible with the 2005 winner, eventually coming out on top in a deciding frame on Thursday to beat the world No 4, 10-9.
Ranked 76 places below his opponent, Si produced a major upset by knocking out one of the pre-tournament favourites despite managing just one century, and Murphy said he had thrown “everything at him”.
“I really enjoyed it, it was exciting. I just came out on the wrong end,” Murphy said. “He was fabulous from start to finish. I think he will be the first Chinese World Champion – maybe not this time, but I believe he will be the first.
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