Murphy beats Ding in decider to reach quarter-finals

Shaun Murphy beat three-time winner Ding Junhui 6-5 in a final-frame decider to move into the quarter-finals of the UK Championship in York.

While Ding constructed a sparkling break of 129 in the opening frame, both players appeared far from their best until the closing stages of the contest.

In a see-saw affair Ding trailed 2-1 and led 3-2 before Murphy reeled off three consecutive frames, with a superb run of 135 in the eighth frame his first break over 50 in the contest.

Ding responded with successive centuries to force an 11th frame but Murphy held his nerve, compiling a break of 65 on his way to victory.

He will now play world number 20 Barry Hawkins, who defeated fellow Englishman David Gilbert 6-5 in an equally hard-fought encounter.