Murphy was in only his second final since collecting snooker's blue riband at the Crucible Theatre two years ago, having lost to Stephen Lee in the Welsh Open 12 months ago.

In what had been a low key final, Murphy recorded breaks of 79, 66, 62, 54 and 51 on his way to an 8-2 lead while Day, ruing a host of missed chances, compiled a 51 before snatching a bizarre fifth frame on the pink.

Murphy had opened up a 51-2 lead only to let Day in and a break of 51 looked a winning one until he missed the final pink. Seventeen safety shots followed before the Welshman was able to claim the frame. The fact Day at least had a frame to his name was not the springboard to a second, though it should have been as he replied to Murphy's opening break of 31 in the seventh, with a run of 45.

But a poor positional shot ruined everything and Murphy returned to the table to lead by five with a meticulous clearance of 51. Later, Day upped his highest break to 102 in frame 11.

World No 5 Murphy was watched by his wife, Claire, but coach Steve Prest was once again conspicuous by his absence.

Prest, who was in Murphy's corner on the road to world championship glory, has been absent from all of his games so far this season with the 24-year-old explaining after a 6-3 semi-final victory over Peter Ebdon: "I haven't seen Steve for a while. We were a very successful partnership but have now gone our separate ways by mutual agreement.

"I am thankful for all the help he gave me. Steve was a big part of my success in winning the world championship in 2005. But he has done as much as he can for me and now I'm on my own though I do ask for and receive help from other people like former world champions John Higgins and Dennis Taylor and Willie Thorne." 

John Dee

The Nation