Shaun Murphy exits Masters in shock defeat to Wu Yize
Defending champion Shaun Murphy suffered a stunning first-round exit at the 2026 Masters this afternoon, falling 6-2 to China’s Wu Yize at Alexandra Palace, reports BritPanorama.
The 43-year-old Englishman, who lifted the Triple Crown trophy just 12 months ago, saw his title defence crumble on the opening day of the prestigious tournament. Wu, making his debut at the iconic north London venue, produced a commanding performance to dispatch the two-time Masters winner.
This result marks a remarkable upset at Ally Pally, with Murphy unable to mount any sustained challenge against the 22-year-old Chinese player, who controlled proceedings from the outset. Murphy managed to claim just two frames during the match but failed to produce a single century break.
Murphy delivered a laboured display, marred by a string of errors, while Wu capitalised ruthlessly on these mistakes. The Chinese youngster demonstrated quality well beyond his years, showcasing a stunning 137 clearance during the second frame and adding a break of 56 in the seventh as he continued to dominate.
Although Murphy appeared poised to extend the contest in the closing stages, a missed red handed Wu the opportunity to seal victory. The world number 13 raced into a commanding 3-0 advantage before Murphy could find his rhythm, only briefly responding to claim a single frame.
This exit underlines Wu’s emergence as a genuine threat at snooker’s elite events, especially following his recent triumph at the International Championship in Yanjing last November, where he defeated a trio of world champions. His victory over Murphy sets up a quarter-final clash on Thursday against either current UK champion Mark Selby or fellow Chinese player Xiao Guodong.
In this match, Murphy’s inability to match his opponent’s consistency reveals how quickly fortunes can turn in the world of snooker, reminding us of the unpredictable nature of the sport where past achievements don’t guarantee future success.
