Ding Junhu loses 5-4 to Murphy at Snooker Haikou Open

China's Ding Junhui plays against Shaun Murphy of England during the third round of the Snooker Haikou World Open 2014 in Haikou, Hainan province, March 13, 2014. Ding lost to Murphy 4-5. [Photo/Xinhua]

Local favorite Ding Junhui lost to Shaun Murphy 5-4 in the third round of Snooker Haikou World Open 2014 on Thursday.

Murphy will meet Graeme Dott in the quarter-finals.

Ding did not find his touch in the early match when he lost the first frame after a break of 53. Ding quickly came back to win the second frame in one seesaw battle. But Murphy, used to be called as Ding's biggest nemesis in the past years, took a 3-1 lead on Ding's mistake.

Ding fired 92 and 76 in the following frames to equalize for 4- 4 before he missed a blue in the decisive frame to let the game loose.

In Thursday's other matches, John Higgins lost 5-4 to Judd Trump, while defending champion Mark Allen beat Ricky Walden 5-2.