Shaun Murphy Sets World Snooker Record with 607 Unanswered Points at China Open
Former world champion Shaun Murphy established a new professional snooker record by scoring 607 consecutive points without reply during a 6-0 victory over Matthew Selt. The performance occurred at the China Open in Taiyuan, surpassing a 12-year-old milestone previously held by Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Key takeaways
- Shaun Murphy broke the 12-year-old record for most unanswered points in a professional snooker match with 607 points.
- The 6-0 victory over Matthew Selt included four consecutive century breaks, equaling a tour record.
- World number one Judd Trump was knocked out of the China Open by Noppon Saengkham, risking his top ranking.
What Happened
Shaun Murphy secured a place in snooker history during the opening round of the China Open in Taiyuan. In a dominant 6-0 performance against Matthew Selt, Murphy accumulated 607 points before his opponent could pot a single ball. This feat broke the long-standing record of 556 unanswered points set by Ronnie O'Sullivan against Ricky Walden during the 2014 Masters.
Murphy's scoring run was built on a series of significant breaks, including 18, 61, 132, 103, 139, and 113. While a missed black on 113 in the fifth frame ended a potential maximum 147 break, Murphy followed it with a 41 in the sixth frame to solidify the new scoring record. In addition to the total points record, Murphy equaled the mark for four consecutive century breaks, a feat he has now achieved twice, joining Mark Allen and Neil Robertson as the only players to do so.
Why It Matters
The record-breaking performance marks a significant return for the China Open, which has reappeared on the World Snooker Tour calendar for the first time since 2019. Now hosted in Taiyuan rather than Beijing, the tournament represents the first main ranking event of the 2026-27 season. Murphy’s form follows a narrow 18-17 loss in the May World Championship final to Wu Yize, suggesting a strong start to the new campaign as he approaches his 44th birthday.
Background
The China Open field saw further major developments on the second day of competition. While Ronnie O'Sullivan progressed to the second round after recovering from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Jackson Page 6-2, world number one Judd Trump was eliminated. Trump’s 6-3 loss to Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham, ranked 45th, ended his undefeated start to the season and placed his top ranking under threat. Saengkham’s victory, bolstered by a match-high break of 120, sets up a second-round meeting with O'Sullivan.
Key Facts
- Shaun Murphy set a new record of 607 unanswered points, surpassing Ronnie O'Sullivan's 2014 record of 556.
- Murphy equaled the record of four consecutive centuries during his 6-0 win over Matthew Selt.
- Judd Trump, the current world number one, was eliminated 6-3 by Noppon Saengkham.
- The China Open winner will receive a top prize of £250,000.
- The tournament is being held in Taiyuan, marking its first appearance on the tour since 2019.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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