 In the Masters , Murphy lost 4 – 6 to Higgins in the quarter @-@ finals , but reached his second ranking final in the Welsh Open , losing 4 – 9 to Stephen Lee . In the World Championship , he reached the quarter @-@ finals , but fell victim to the so @-@ called " Crucible Curse " – no first @-@ time champion has successfully defended the title at the Crucible Theatre — when he was defeated 7 – 13 by Ebdon . 
