Murphy into Masters semis despite maximum miss

Shaun Murphy missed out on a maximum 147 break as he secured a place in the semi-finals of the Masters with a superb 6-2 victory over Neil Robertson at Alexandra Palace.

Leading 5-2, Murphy knocked in 15 reds and 15 blacks to reach 120 with only the colours remaining but ended up snookering himself behind the blue and the chance was lost.

It would have been a magical conclusion to a near faultless display from the 42-year-old Englishman, who compiled breaks of 90, 67 and 66 to establish a 4-1 advantage.

While two-time winner Robertson made a superb century break in the next, a run of 82 carried Murphy further clear before he sealed his win.

"That was somewhere near my best. I am delighted," Murphy told BBC Sport.

"I couldn't breathe [going for the 147]. I was very nervous. One of my targets for the season was to make a max in a Triple Crown event and it was a good chance.

"It was exciting and would have been a good present because today is my mum's birthday."

Murphy will now play either Mark Allen or Mark Selby in the last four on Saturday.

Murphy impresses in high-quality contest

Murphy, whose sole triumph in the tournament came a decade ago when he defeated Robertson in the final, set the tone for a high-quality contest with break of 90 in the opening frame.

When the Australian replied with break of 79 in the next, it briefly appeared as though a classic nip-and-tuck contest was in store.

However, that did not materialise with Murphy pinching the pivotal fifth frame by a point on the black and barely missing a pot once among the balls.

When he did, a black off it's spot in the sixth frame, he was heavily punished as his opponent constructed a 108 break to get back within two frames.

Robertson, was unable though to mount the sort of recovery that enabled him to come from 5-1 down against John Higgins in the first round and was seen willing Murphy on at the end as he went agonisingly close to a ninth 147 in his career.

"I could not believe it. It was a real shame for everyone watching. I was gutted for Shaun," added Robertson.

"I played great and when two players are playing really well it is the smallest or margins that can be the difference. You have to take your hat off to Shaun for how well he played."

Shaun Murphy beat Neil Robertson in the final when he won the Masters in 2015