’’ ’ …

 

Shaun Murphy Nearly Breaks Ronnie O’Sullivan’s World Record in Extraordinary Xi’an Whitewash Win

In what has been described as “snooker from the gods,” Shaun Murphy delivered a blistering display at the 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix, nearly eclipsing a long-standing record held by snooker icon Ronnie O’Sullivan. His 5–0 demolition of Kyren Wilson was emphatic—but what caught the attention across the snooker world was the staggering tally of 533 unanswered points, coming agonizingly close to O’Sullivan’s benchmark of 556.

A Match of Dominance, Nearly History

From the first frame, Murphy took total command. He constructed breaks of 74, 141, 133, 84, and 84 in consecutive frames, leaving Wilson utterly no room to respond. By the time the fifth frame concluded, Murphy had amassed 533 points without reply. Wilson did not pot a ball during the entire match; his only six points came via a foul by Murphy on the pink in the dying moments of the final frame.

The target Murphy was chasing was formidable. Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record of 556 consecutive points was set in 2014 during his 6–0 win over Ricky Walden at the Masters. And in the ranking-event category, the record is held by Stuart Bingham with 547 unanswered points against Sam Baird in the 2016 China Open.

Murphy wound up just 23 points shy of O’Sullivan’s all-time mark, and 14 points behind Bingham’s ranking event best. The margin was narrow—and heartbreakingly so—because Murphy ended up snookering himself on the final red in the last frame and opted to snick the pink, thereby conceding Wilson his only points.

Why This Performance Resonated

While a 5–0 scoreline already signals dominance, what Murphy did goes beyond ordinary whitewash territory. He effectively locked Wilson out of the table for the duration of the match, leaving him with zero scoring opportunities. Such an utter blanking is rare at this level. Commentators and insiders were quick to laud the performance: TNT Sports’ David Hendon called it “an extraordinary display,” noting how Wilson “didn’t get a look-in until that final foul.”

Murphy himself was in awe, describing the match as “pretty much as good as I’ve ever played.” He reflected on how, over many years of matches, moments like this sometimes coalesce.

Given his recent form (he is currently riding high after winning the British Open), this effort adds further credence to the notion that Murphy is hitting a golden stretch in his career.

What This Means for the Record Books

While Shaun Murphy didn’t quite overthrow Ronnie’s record, his performance will be remembered among the most dominant in modern snooker. To reach 533 unanswered points is an exceedingly rare feat—only a handful of players have ever threatened the marks set by O’Sullivan or Bingham.

Records, of course, are meant to be challenged. And today, Murphy made a compelling case that he belongs in the conversation—even if the ultimate benchmark remains just out of reach. His showing puts pressure on the sport’s elite to push harder, raise standards, and recontextualize what “impossible” means.

But for Murphy and snooker fans alike, the takeaway is this: sometimes greatness doesn’t need to cross the finish line to be celebrated. The performance itself, in its sheer audacity and precision, stands as a testament to what’s possible when a player is in total control of mind, cue, and table.