Shaun Murphy has won the Malta Cup after thumping Ken Doherty 9-3 in Portomaso.

The ex-world champion retains his trophy having taken a 5-2 lead after the afternoon session at the Hilton Conference Centre.

Doherty, who defeated John Higgins in the semi-finals yesterday, made a blistering start after firing 91 to take the opening frame. But Murphy hit back by winning the next four frames in a row.

The big breaks continued to evade both players as Irishman Doherty took frame six 75-44. Murphy, ranked three in the world, continued to dominate the scrappy frames and won the next two to take a 6-2 lead.

The Rotherham-based potter, who defeated Ding Jinhui in the semi-final, fired his first meaningful break of the final with 75 in frame nine to move close to victory.

Ex-world champion Doherty, who won the Malta Cup in 2006, kept himself in the match by edging the next frame 34-66 to trail by five frames.

Murphy, 25, then sealed victory in style with a break of 76 in frame 12.

The next tournament is the Welsh Open which starts tomorrow at the Newport Centre, ahead of the qualifying stages for the World Championships next month.
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