Murphy was 2-0 up before Dunn even potted a ball

Shaun Murphy was one of three former world champions to exit the Bahrain Championship as he lost in an opening-round match 5-4 to outsider Mike Dunn.

World number 47 Dunn won the match with a couple of flukes in the last frame.

"I am very disappointed but that is the way the game goes," said Murphy. "I can't do anything about him fluking a red in the last frame."

Ken Doherty and Graeme Dott were also dumped out on a day that did not see a

seeded player advance.

Murphy began by hitting three breaks in the 60s to take a 3-1 interval lead.

But Dunn won the next three frames, sealing it in the ninth with a run of 67 after Murphy took it to a decider.

"Shaun completely froze me out after the first two frames and I was thinking that I was going to get done 5-0," said Dunn.

The 37-year-old Dunn now faces Barry Hawkins, who beat Doherty 5-3, in the next round with the chance to reach a ranking quarter-final for the first time.

"I would say this last 18 months or so has been the best period of my career," added Dunn.

Norwich potter Barry Pinches shocked Dott 5-3 with the Scot blaming a broken wrist sustained nearly a month ago for his defeat.

Earlier Michael Holt earned a place in the Bahrain Championship second round after beating Jamie Cope 5-3.

Holt compiled breaks of 79 and 56 on the way to a 3-0 lead but Cope won three of the next four before Holt took the crucial frame in dogged fashion.

"I've had good moments in my career, but as an all-round package this season has been the best," said Holt.

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