Murphy wants to be crowd favoruite

Shaun Murphy revealed the Alexandra Palace crowd could go some way to deciding the outcome of his BGC Masters final against Neil Robertson on Sunday.

The Sale cue man needed to be at his best to see off a determined John Higgins, who came back from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits to threaten a final-frame decider on Saturday night, and will now take on former world champion Robertson in a meeting of the old enemy.

England’s Murphy and Australia’s Robertson have never previously been beyond the quarter-finals of the Masters, so both are entering potentially choppy waters. Those looking at the favourite in the snooker odds need to remember this.

The final will be contested over 19 frames and at stake is the trophy and a prize of £150,000, with world number six Murphy confident he will have the majority home support.

“I thought I played very well, I scored very well. Obviously I came second in the tactical department as you always do against John, but I was pleased when I did get my chances I scored heavily,” Murphy said, after beating Higgins.

“John’s absolute granite, hard as nails. He never gives up and that’s why he’s the champion he is. He never knows when he is beaten, and just keeps going for your throat. He is a tough man to play.”

Murphy, who will be playing in his first BBC final since the 2009 World Championship, has already seen off the likes of home fancy Martin Gould and current world number one Mark Selby, as well as Higgins, in north London.

He said he and Robertson would set off on a level playing field but that he was determined to make home advantage count.

He added: “For both of us it’s new venue, new start. I can’t wait for the action tomorrow and can’t wait to get stuck in.

“I will be looking for the 12th man as I’m in London, I’m English and I’m playing an Aussie, so I hope they will be on my side.”