Shaun Murphy hails John Higgins and 'Class of '92' ahead of British Open duel – 'It's like watching Neo in The Matrix'

Shaun Murphy has praised 'Class of '92' trio Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams for continuing to inspire him with their level of play at the summit of the sport. The 2005 world champion will lock cues with Higgins in the last 64 of the British Open on Wednesday, and is relishing the occasion. "It's like watching Neo in The Matrix," said Murphy. "He just knows what's happening."

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Shaun Murphy has paid tribute to snooker's enduring 'Class of '92' icons Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams for their ongoing level of brilliance on the old green baize.

The 2005 world champion admits the golden trio have had a huge effect on his career after being drawn against Higgins in the last 64 of the British Open on Wednesday afternoon.

Murphy is a man in form having reached the final of the Shanghai Masters and semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters this season, twice being denied by world No. 1 Judd Trump, as he chases the title and £100,000 first prize in Cheltenham on Sunday.

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But Higgins is also in a positive frame of mind after becoming only the second man in history to reach a career 1,000 centuries behind O'Sullivan at last week's English Open.

"When I jumped on tour, and reached my personal best, I seemed to run into John Higgins," said world No. 6 Murphy on WST.

"And he beat me, and beat me, and beat me. It wasn't until '05 at the Crucible on my way to winning the championship that I got the better of him.

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"We've had so many ding-dong matches over the years. You just savour these moments with any of the 'Class of '92'.

"Because they're just special. The way they go about things, the way they manouvre that cue ball, their understanding of the game.

"It's like watching Neo in The Matrix. He just knows what's happening.

"I'll try my best, and hopefully it will be a good game."

The duo first met in the last 16 of the LG Cup in 2003 with Higgins winning 5-2 before claiming the third of his four world titles with an 18-9 win over Murphy in the 2009 Crucible final.

The Scotsman is 11-7 clear on the career head-to-heads, but Murphy enjoyed a 6-3 win over the Scotsman in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters in July.