Shaun Murphy dispatches Hawkins to reach World Championship final

Shaun Murphy powered through to the Betfred World Championship final and will vie for a second title after seeing off Barry Hawkins.

Armed with an overnight lead of 16-8, putting him one away from victory, Murphy had a short wait for a match-winning chance but it came in the second frame after Hawkins missed an early black.

Murphy fired in 83, clearing the table to seal a 17-9 win, to earn a shot at Stuart Bingham or Judd Trump in the title match.

Hawkins had started the afternoon with a break of 103, the eighth century of the match and his third of those, but his hopes had been effectively extinguished on Friday as Murphy established his vast lead, going as far clear as 14-3 at one stage.

The eight centuries match a Crucible record, with that figure having been reached in five matches, three of them featuring Hawkins.

Hawkins said of his loss to the 2005 world champion: “I started off too slow in that match.

“But I won’t take anything away from Shaun — he was phenomenal in the first few sessions.

“He was clearing up from not easy positions. Definitely the better player won in that match.

“It’s going take a special performance to beat Shaun.

“He’s cueing so well and there’s not a safe place on the table.”