TRIPLE crown winner Shaun Murphy believes York potter Ashley Hugill could have a bright future in the game - despite his 6-1 loss to the Magician in the first round of the Betway UK Championship.

The former world champion was in ruthless form as he ended the hopes of the 21-year-old Melbourne-based amateur.

Murphy opened with a break of 102 and also fashioned efforts of 69, 52, 65, 58, 92 and 70 in a largely clinical display.

But the 33-year-old was impressed with his opponent's potting, and particularly his tactical play, and thinks Hugill, who looked up to the world number four and modelled his game on him growing up, could make an impact on the professional circuit.

Asked if he felt his opponent could progress, Murphy said: "Yes. I thought some of his potting was very good. My friend and I were commenting on it at the interval and his safety game is pretty good as well.

"That seems to be a feature of all lads from Leeds and York and Yorkshire in general. Their tactical and safety game is very, very strong - going back to the likes of Peter Lines and Steve Prest.

"Even when you look at Oli Lines, Sanderson Lam and people like that, they are very strong in those areas and it is good to see another young player from this neck of the woods trying his hand. I hope he goes from strength to strength."

Reflecting on his own display, Murphy added: "I played well. I thought I was pretty tight, I didn't really give Ashley much chance to get going because, with the new kids, you never know what you are going to get. I remember seeing him when he was a young boy. He spent a bit of time with my old coach, who is no longer with us, and he can definitely play.

"It was a good start with a century, which settled me and let him know I was playing well. I was very chuffed with that - to get through."

Hugill said he had been taught a lesson in the need to take his chances but added that he had enjoyed playing in front of a home crowd at a big tournament and wanted more.

"It was tough. I feel Shaun played pretty well there," he explained. "I had a couple of chances in the first few frames - missed a black off the spot and a tricky red to the middle.

"I don't feel like I played that badly, really. I played worse after the interval. I don't know how I won that frame."

Hugill had previously had a good chance to take a frame in the fourth and he added: "I missed frame ball - a tough red with the rest - and then he made a really good clearance. There were three reds safe and somehow he cleared up. That's the level he plays at, I suppose.

"(Overall) I went into the pack twice and didn't land on one either time and, if you give Shaun a chance with the balls open, he wins the frame every time.

"But it was really good. I really enjoyed it and it was good to have home support. I would love to play again, and play in front of big crowds again. I really do like it.

"It was a lesson in how to win frames in one visit. I need to be more clinical, that's what I have learned. I think that's the best anyone has played against me. I played Stuart (Bingham) and John (Higgins) and neither of them played near their level.

"But that's what top players do. If you don't take your chances, they take theirs when they play well."