Super Carter breezes past Murphy

Ali Carter booked a quarter-final tie against Peter Ebdon following a surprise 13-4 win over 2005 champion Shaun Murphy at The Crucible.

The Essex player, 28, held a 12-4 lead going into the final session and took less than 30 minutes to win the 17th frame and secure victory.

In Saturday's early session, Carter won the first two frames to make it 8-2 before Murphy made 60 to win the 11th.

Three 50-plus breaks helped Carter to 12-3, while Murphy clinched the 16th.

Murphy, who was one of the favourites for this year's title, has reached the semi-finals or better in six of his last seven events, but that consistency was nowhere to be seen in a dismal display.

However, the champion of two years ago joined John Higgins in criticising the state of the snooker tables.

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Frame scores (Murphy first): 4-98 (97) 37-56 82-48 13-69 6-60 64-36 (53) 1-87 0-100 (100) 44-64 0-68 (67) 83-21 (60) 53-76 (64) 7-95 (94) 13-75 57-69 68-30 1-60