Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson booked their spots within the quarter-finals because the 2025 Masters launched with a bang on Sunday.
Robertson first produced a compelling comeback from 5-1 behind to crush the hopes of John Higgins in a deciding body within the event’s opening encounter.
The Australian solely realized of his involvement on this yr’s Masters draw a number of days in the past, having been referred to as up as a late substitute for Ronnie O’Sullivan who withdrew.
It appeared like the dearth of preparation time was going to show expensive, however the 42 year-old launched the shackles when on the brink of defeat.
He dumped a shocked Higgins out of the competitors by making breaks of 118, 80, 63, and 57 to win the concluding 5 frames of the affair.
“I don’t assume Stephen Hendry goes to offer me an excessive amount of stick about that one,” two-time former Masters champion Neil Robertson quipped afterwards.
“It was an unbelievable match, I didn’t do quite a bit improper actually. John was enjoying extremely properly for 5-1, and he didn’t actually do something improper.”
“I performed at my best possible. I don’t know if he tried to carry for the black off the crimson within the center, however aside from that, he actually did nothing improper.
“I’m simply so completely satisfied I may take my probability with Ronnie [O’Sullivan] dropping out and provides the gang one thing to cheer about as we speak.
“I had time to mirror on the primary half of the season. It has been a very good season to date, however my goal for the second half of the season is to carry my observe recreation and my expertise.
“I don’t assume many individuals have seen precisely what I can do, and I feel that match there exhibits how properly I can really play.”
Neil Robertson will face Shaun Murphy within the quarter-finals later this week after the latter prevailed over Gary Wilson with a 6-3 scoreline.
A couple of unforced errors from Wilson – making his second Masters look however his first on the Alexandra Palace – helped an environment friendly Murphy set up a 4-0 interval lead.
Wilson put stress on the 2015 champion after the break by successful three frames on the spin, however a century contribution from the Magician stopped the rot.
The 42 year-old then took the ninth body as properly to securely progress to the subsequent spherical of the distinguished invitational.
“I’ve acquired to be sincere. After the interval, I didn’t really feel very protected,” Shaun Murphy stated in his post-match interview with Rob Walker.
“However Gary got here out and possibly performed like he’d acquired nothing to lose after the primary 4 frames. He performed magnificently properly.”
“At 4-3, I used to be very, very frightened. However I really feel actually proud the way in which I stood up and gained that penultimate body with a century. These are massive matches, I’m delighted to win.
“It’s a type of powerful matches, as a result of I’m anticipated to win I feel. I’ve acquired the expertise, however Gary Wilson is a a number of rating occasion winner.
“What a troublesome match for a primary spherical, I believed he performed himself brilliantly out right here. His first time in Alexandra Palace.
“The group have been unbelievable, it was simply incredible. I’m delighted to get by, and I can watch everybody else twitch from the studio now.
“We’ve been coming right here now since 2012 – it’s a really, very particular place. This yr means a lot, we’ve misplaced so many greats within the final six months.
“Fifty years of the Masters, in most likely one of the best venue within the nation. It’s been good, you’ve been good, and I’ve been six out of ten.”
On Monday, the 2025 Masters continues with two extra first-round fixtures to stay up for in London.
The afternoon recreation sees Mark Williams and Ding Junhui conflict in arguably the tie of the spherical, whereas Mark Selby encounters Ali Carter within the night match.
The gamers this week are competing for the Paul Hunter Trophy and a file prime prize of £350,000.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
