Murphy’s path to the final was a "giant-killing" spree, as he defeated three former world champions: (13–8) in the second round. Steve Davis (13–4) in the quarter-finals.
(17–12) in the semi-finals, coming back from a 6–2 deficit. The Grand Final: Murphy vs. Stevens World Snooker Championship 2005
However, Murphy's "laser-straight" cue action and aggressive long-potting eventually wore Stevens down. The match reached a tense tie before Murphy pulled away with breaks of 97 and 83 to win 18–16 . Key Records and Legacy Murphy’s path to the final was a "giant-killing"