Shaun Murphy is feeling back to his old self after making Crucible history with a first-round World Championship hammering of Luo Honghao.

Murphy beat the Chinese potter 10-0 to record the second Sheffield whitewash – 27 years after Eddie Charlton was the victim of the first.

But the records tumbled even more as Luo registered just 89 points in the match – the fewest in a Crucible contest – with a high break of just 25.

While Luo was unfortunate Murphy was simply clinical, breaks of 138, 102, 101 and 123 helping him on his way to a dominant 9-0 first-session lead before closing out the match.

And in a season that has been simply wretched for the 2005 world champion, a strong first outing in Sheffield was exactly what the Magician ordered.

“I felt like Shaun Murphy again,” he said. “I’ve been in a bit of a daze all season, it’s the worst one I’ve had in my life and in some ways I’m looking forward to this event being over and moving on.

“But while I’m here I may as well give it the best I’ve got – I’m already doing better than I did here last year and the last-16 is a highlight of my season.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d win my first round 10-0 after the season I’ve had. I treat him with the upmost respect at just getting here through qualifying and a great rookie season he’s had.

“Even going out at 9-0, I just wanted to win the match whatever the scoreline, and it was hard to put that thought of 10-0 behind me.

“But in the end I think I did a good job.

“Luo has shown he can play but the Crucible does funny things to the best of us – you can have nightmare matches, nightmare sessions, and I hope he shrugs that off and moves on to bigger and better things.”

  • Watch the World Championship LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds