01/10/08
Shaun Murphy’s consolation for losing his opening match in the Northern Ireland Trophy was that it gave him time to compete in – and win – the Paul Hunter Classic in Furth, Germany.

The world no.3 beat Masters Champion, Mark Selby 4-0 in the final and also made the highest break of the event, with a 146.

Murphy took control form the outset, taking the first two frames with breaks of 65 and 56 and adding the next two 80-1, 85-17.

Selby made breaks of 71, 53 and 101 in beating Jimmy White 3-0 in one semi final, but the other, in which Murphy and Ricky Walden traded breaks, was much closer. In the opening frame, Murphy’s 45 had to yield to Walden’s 58. Murphy equalised with a run of 70, only for Walden to take the lead again with breaks of 84 and 50 in the third frame, before the 2005 World Champion took the remaining two frames with breaks of 80 and 65.

A total of 28 WPBSA main tour players took part, as well as many players form the PIOS.

Quarter finals
Shaun Murphy (Eng) beat Stuart Bingham (Eng) 3-1
Mark Selby (Eng) beat Nigel Bond (Eng) 3-2
Jimmy White (Eng) beat Lasse Munstermann (Germany 3-0
Ricky Walden (Eng) beat Michael Judge (Rep of Ireland) 3-1

Semi finals
Selby beat White 3-0 124(71,53)-4, 92(63)-8, 108(101)-12
Murphy beat Walden 3-2; 45(45)-76(58), 96(70)-5, 0-134(84,50)k 80(80)-4, 72(65)-33

Final
Murphy beat Selby 4-0; 79(65)-29, 66(56)-0, 80-1, 85-17

Highest break
Murphy 146