England's Shaun Murphy clinched the year ending UK Snooker Championship title with a 10-9 victory over Chinese Hong Kong's Marco Fu during Sunday's final in Telford, England.

It's the first time either player had reached the UK Championship final. Fu overcame challenges from England's Joe Perry in the quarterfinal and Allister Carter in the semifinal. Murphy defeated a pair of Stephens - Stephen Lee of England and Stephen Maguire of Scotland - to set up the final with Fu. Murphy took a 5-3 advantage after the first half.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily December 23, 2008)