Movim • Shaun Murphy hits top form to end Zhao Xintong’s Crucible title defence

Th chevron_right

Shaun Murphy hits top form to end Zhao Xintong’s Crucible title defence

news.movim.eu / TheGuardian • 29 April 2026

‘Curse of the Crucible’ strikes as Murphy prevails 13-10
Mark Allen into semis after ‘unforgivable’ Hawkins error

Shaun Murphy stormed into the World Snooker Championship semi-finals as the defending champion, Zhao Xintong, became the 21st player to fall victim to the so-called “Crucible curse”.

Murphy’s 13-10 triumph means that Zhao joins the list of first-time winners who have failed to return the following year and successfully defend their crown.