Former world champion Murphy crowned at Snooker Welsh Open

LONDON - The 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy smashed Kyren Wilson 9-1 to win the Snooker Welsh Open in Cardiff on Sunday.

Both players fought hard to win the semifinals in 6-5 with Murphy edging out Chinese hopeful Yan Bingtao and Wilson ousting Ronnie O'Sullivan. But the 37-year-old Murphy was unmatched in the final, playing three centuries and only losing one frame.

"It is fabulous. I'm absolutely overjoyed and over the moon," said Murphy who took his second ranking title this season and the ninth ranking event victory of his career.

Wilson beat China's top player and world No 9 Ding Junhui to reach the quarterfinals and continued his winning break by sweeping Australian Neil Robertson 5-0 on Friday.

"I am gutted to not win. I feel I am a winner and I want to win titles. It is going to hurt for a few days, but I've got to get back to work as we have some big tournaments coming up," said the current world No 8.