Shaun Murphy got his season underway in style on Wednesday by turning by winning all three matches in his opening Championship League group, dropping just two frames along the way.
The Magician made two centuries as he beat Andrew Pagett, Lukas Kleckers and Tian Pengfei to stroll into the second group stage.
The 40-year-old has not played competitively since his shock first round defeat to Si Jiahui at the World Championship in April, so he was not sure where his game stood, but was delighted to produce some great form and get his campaign going.
‘That’s day one of the new season over and done with and quietly I’m quite pleased with that,’ Murphy said on Instagram. ‘Came into it not really knowing, I’ve been doing lots of shows, keeping busy, you never really know what you’re going to get
‘To play three matches against three good player sand get three wins, top the group and get through to the next stage, I’m really chuffed with that. Pleased.
‘I’m looking forward to the next stage now. Nice to carry on a bit of form from last season into this season and good to know my game’s there.
‘I did run out of steam a bit towards the end of the day, I was getting a bit frayed and my concentration wandered a little bit. But it’s not easy playing three matches in a day, so with all of that going on I was pleased to get through.’
In the other group played on Wednesday Sanderson Lam upset the odds to top the table ahead of top seed Barry Hawkins.
The 29-year-old from Leeds beat Zhang Anda, drew with Hawkins and then beat Jamie O’Neill to take his tally to seven points for the day.
The Hawk could have still topped the table but could only draw with Zhang in his final game, leaving him second as the Yorkshireman progressed impressively.
The first group stage of the Championship League is nearly at an end, with four more groups played on Thursday and Friday featuring the likes of Dave Gilbert, Ricky Walden and Gary Wilson.
Then comes eight groups in Stage Two from 17-10 July before finals day on 21 July when a champion, and first ranking event winner of the season, will be crowned.
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