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Murphy fighting to qualify
ROTHERHAM's Shaun Murphy made a stuttering start in his bid to qualify for next season's Premier League snooker finals.
The former world champion and current Maplin UK champion lost one and drew two of his opening group matches at the Championship League qualifying tournament at the Crondon Park Golf Club, Essex yesterday.
And having managed to pick up just two points he faces a battle to make sure he qualifies for today's qualifying semi-finals.
The top four players from a group of seven advance to the play-off stage, with the eventual winner guaranteed a place in the Winners' Group to be contested between 23-26 March.
In his opening two matches world No 3 Murphy drew 2-2 with Stephen Hendry, the seven-time world champion, and also Ali Carter, last season's World Championship runner-up.
Later in the day the adopted Yorkshireman slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield-based Chinese cueman Ding Junhui.
Murphy must pick up points today against Welshman Ryan Day, Cambridgeshire cueman Joe Perry and last season's Masters and Welsh Open champion Mark Selby to keep his qualifying hopes alive.
If Murphy does fail to qualify first time around, then he must at least finish fifth out of the seven players to try and qualify in one of five more qualifying groups over the next few weeks.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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