Shaun Murphy flouts rules with cheeky hand-assisted black during Masters final against Kyren Wilson

Shaun Murphy was in a playful mood at the end of the afternoon session of Sunday's Masters final. The Magician took a 6-2 lead into the interval and struck back-to-back centuries to give world champion Kyren Wilson a mountain to climb at Alexandra Palace. Murphy finished off the pair of frames with trick shots, one legal and one less so, as Wilson failed to see the funny side of the stunts.

Shaun Murphy was in a cheeky mood as the afternoon session of the Masters final concluded.

The 42-year-old took a 6-2 lead into Sunday's inter-session interval, knocking home back-to-back centuries against world champion Kyren Wilson.

After becoming the first Englishman to hit a 147 in Masters history in his semi-final on Saturday, Murphy was back in full flow to record a sublime 134 to go 5-2 up.

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That was the fourth-highest break of the competition by Sunday afternoon, and was finished off in some style by the man they call The Magician.

Murphy, ever the showman, doubled the final black with expert timing, walking back to his seat as the ball dropped gently into the corner pocket.

"He can do no wrong, an immaculate 134 total clearance, and that was magic from Murphy as he tightens the screw in the Masters final," enthused Philip Studd on Eurosport commentary.

Murphy raises the roof with 'magic' double on final black for 'immaculate' 134

Video credit: TNT Sports

And Murphy was up to his old tricks at the end of the following frame, producing a spellbinding 116 to grab a four-frame advantage.

It could easily have been a 123 for Murphy, but the 2015 Masters champion elected not to take on the relatively straightforward shot into the corner pocket.

Instead, he aimed to send the cue ball on a three-cushion odyssey, before cheekily moving the black with his hand and placing it in the white's path.

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The ball duly dropped and Belgian referee Olivier Marteel immediately called a foul, with Wilson awarded an inconsequential seven points.

The world champion did not look pleased after the stunt, shaking Murphy's hand before swiftly exiting the arena.

Should Murphy clinch the Paul Hunter Trophy and £350,000, he will become the 12th multiple winner of the tournament.

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