 Despite the four consecutive first @-@ round losses — which had been attributed to the split from his wife — Murphy claimed his third ranking title at the UK Championship , defeating Fu 10 – 9 in a low @-@ quality final , in which he fluked a pink in the deciding frame that was effectively match ball . The victory meant he joined Davis , Alex Higgins , Griffiths , John Parrott , Hendry , O 'Sullivan , Williams , John Higgins and Ebdon as the tenth player to have won both the World title and the UK title , cementing his place as one of the elite top players in the world . 
