London, Jan 17 (IANS): Shaun Murphy beat Stephen Maguire 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the 2015 snooker Masters at Alexandra Palace here.
Murphy, the 2005 world champion and bidding for his first Master trophy in three semifinals, will next take on Mark Allen, a 6-4 winner over English veteran Joe Perry in an earlier game Friday, reports Xinhua.
"For long periods of that match, it was embarrassing," Allen said.
"I just could not get anything going. I was delivering the cue so badly."
The other semi-final will be held between defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and world No.1 Neil Robertson of Australia.