Masters champion Shaun Murphy has been knocked out of the Welsh Open after losing 4-3 to China’s Ma Hailong in the first round.
Murphy made breaks of 127, 100 and 82 to lead 3-2 but 21-year-old Ma – ranked number 75 in the World – responded with a break of 77 to make it 3-3 before winning the decider.
“It was a really good match, Ma was excellent and I can only praise him. I had two centuries and an 80, I tried my best and I lost,” Murphy said.
Murphy’s fellow Englishman Barry Hawkins is also out after losing 4-1 to compatriot Sanderson Lam.
