Snooker:World number one John Higgins was knocked out of the China Open at the quarter-final stage today, falling to former world champion Shaun Murphy.
The Scot, the current UK and Welsh Open champion, was unconvincing in beating Ricky Walden in the previous round and finally ran out of form against Murphy.
He only managed one contribution over 50, while his opponent passed the half-century in every one of the frames he won in a 5-2 victory.
Higgins took a scrappy opener, before Murphy posted a 53 and a 78 to move 2-1 ahead. A contribution of 61 got Higgins back level, before a break of 108 - his first century of the competition - and scores of 54 and 81 saw Murphy over the line in some style.
In the afternoon's other quarter-final, Judd Trump thrashed Peter Ebdon 5-1. Ebdon, who knocked out reigning world champion Neil Robertson earlier in the tournament, has little answer to the Bristol man's onslaught as he racked up a century and four other scores over 50.
An opening 130 set the tone for Trump, who went 4-0 up thanks to breaks of 52, 60 and 61. Typically, Ebdon dug in and two 54 breaks got him on the board, before a 50 from Trump wrapped things up.
The day's other last-eight ties will be played out between Ali Carter and Mark Selby and Stephen Lee and home favourite Ding Junhui.