Murphy advances to last four

Shaun Murphy shattered Neil Robertson's hopes of adding the 12Bet.com UK Championship to the world title he already owns with a high-quality 9-7 quarter-final win over the Australian in Telford.

Murphy kept his nerve in a 16th frame which was delayed due to a scoreboard malfunction, seizing his third chance with a brilliant long red to set him up to secure his place in the last four, where he will face Mark Williams.

Resuming at 4-4 after the afternoon session, the pair traded blows with Robertson up first with a break of 90 and Murphy - UK champion in 2008 - immediately responding with an 88.

A break of 120 by Murphy put the Englishman in front but once again Robertson would not allow his opponent a match-winning lead and responded to level. Murphy replied with a 72 to move him closer to victory.

Robertson won a marathon 14th frame by potting blue and pink to level matters again at 7-7 before Murphy's 49 put him back in front. After two missed opportunities he took his third chance to secure frame and match.

Murphy will meet two-time former UK winner Williams in the semi-finals after the Welshman finally ended the glory run of qualifier Mark Joyce, also with a 9-7 victory.

Williams was never at his best against the world number 60 who set a new high break mark of 143 but could not quite punish his opponent, who wrapped up victory with a fine clearance to pink of 82.

The 2000 and 2003 world champion had looked set to be in for an easy ride when he took the first four frames of the match but Joyce hit back with four frames in a row to level the match at 4-4 heading into the decisive evening session.

Williams took three of the first four frames of the evening with three half-century breaks to establish a 7-5 lead - only for 27-year-old Joyce to respond with his stunning 143 total clearance.

Williams, still struggling for form, fashioned a 45 in a scrappy 14th frame to re-establish his two-frame lead, and finally edged over the winning line after Joyce had temporarily reduced the deficit again.