Home-favorite Ding Junhui progressed into the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters by coming through with a victory in an exciting battle with Shaun Murphy.
Among the eighteen encounters in the last eight years between Ding and Murphy, the Chinese star had a record of eight wins but nine losses. And Murphy had won the last three encounters in China and he came from behind to win the first frame with a break of 86. But he missed a black in the second frame. This would give Ding the chance to take the frame with a break of 74. He took frame three to take a 2-1 lead. But Ding made a few mistakes in the fourth frame, allowing Murphy to win it 71-15 and tie the score at 2 frames all.
They exchanged the next two frames, to stay tied at 3-3. Frame seven and I think it is a bit of luck here for Ding I think he was tryign to play safe but the blue goes in and he takes a four three lead.
But Murphy again fought back to level it 4-4.
In the deciding frame, Ding roared to a 61-0 lead and was ahead by 39 when he played perfect snooker as the cue ball stopped right behind the yellow. Murphy does everything he can to try to hit a red but he missed by the slimmest margin and Ding went onto sealed a place in final eight.
Ding Junhui, Advances into Quarters, said, "Today, I felt less pressure than before, except for a few shots. Most of the time I felt relaxed and calm."
Other notable showdowns on Thursday, another Chinese player Xiao Guodong continued his stunning performance and beat Peter Lines to move into the quarters. Marco Fu from Hong Kong was defeated by Kyren Wilson. Ding Junhui will play Neil Robertson in the quarters, who beat Mark King 5-3. Mark Davis stunned John Higgins 5-1, and Mark Selby edged Robert Milkins 5-4.