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Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

Next Ronnie O'Sullivan snooker icon revealed as vanquished foe insists 'swaggering' prodigy WILL be next King

Impressed Shaun Murphy has been left utterly convinced emerging force Si Jiahui will be China's first snooker world kingpin.

The 20-year-old triumphed in a Crucible classic with a 10-9 win after weathering a late storm from Murphy. He kept his cool in the decider in front a Sheffield audience left on tenterhooks during a breathless encounter. And now the Englishman has predicted the "swaggering" rising star is destined to become the first player from his snooker-obsessed nation to lift the most prestigious prize in the sport. Murphy is certain Si possesses the Ronnie O'Sullivan X-factor which is needed to become the a legendary talent.

Speaking after the agonising first round defeat, the 2005 world champion said: "He was fabulous from start to finish. I think he will be the first Chinese World Champion – maybe not this time, but I believe he will be the first.

"I see things in him that some of the other players don’t have. He’s got a bit of swagger, he’s very talented, plays right and left handed, gets on with it and always tries to attack. I threw everything at him, I tried my absolute best and I still lost."

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