The victory means the 2005 world champion from England remains on course to win back-to-back ranking titles for the first time in his career.
Murphy, who won the World Grand Prix in Llandudno a fortnight ago, now plays Ben Woollaston in the Manchester event.
Ali Carter defeated fellow Englishman Judd Trump 4-1 to set up a meeting with Ricky Walden, who beat Marco Fu 4-2.
Northern Ireland's Mark Allen set up a quarter-final against Mike Dunn by beating Mark King 4-2.
Allen, who hit a top break of 119, will be facing a player who will be competing in only his second ranking quarter-final.
Redcar man Dunn progressed to the last eight with a 4-2 win over Welshman Ryan Day.
Quarter-finals (best of seven frames)
Semi-finals (best of 11 frames)
NB: Clocks go forward one hour on Sunday, 27 March at 01:00 (1am) to mark the start of British Summer Time (BST).
Final (best of 19 frames)
Second round (best of seven frames)
Ben Woollaston (Eng) 4-2 Matthew Selt (Eng)
Shaun Murphy (Eng) 4-1 Dominic Dale (Wal)
Mark Allen (NI) 4-2 Mark King (Eng)
Mike Dunn (Eng) 4-2 Ryan Day (Wal)
Ricky Walden (Eng) 4-2 Marco Fu (HK)
Ali Carter (Eng) 4-1 Judd Trump (Eng)
Ding Junhui (Chn) 4-0 Michael White (Wal)
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 4-3 Robert Milkins (Eng)
First round
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 4-2 Michael Holt (Eng)
Matthew Selt (Eng) 4-1 Andrew Higginson (Eng)
Mark Allen (NI) 4-1 Mark Davis (Eng)
Mark King (Eng) 4-2 Sam Baird (Eng)
Ryan Day (Wal) 4-1 Kyren Wilson (Eng)
Tian Pengfei (Chn) 1-4 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Mark Williams (Wal) 3-4 Dominic Dale (Wal)
Tom Ford (Eng) 1-4 Ricky Walden (Eng)
First round
Ding Junhui (Chn) 4-1 David Gilbert (Eng)
Marco Fu (HK) 4-3 Alan McManus (Sco)
Shaun Murphy (Eng) 4-1 Liang Wenbo (Chn)
Ben Woollaston (Eng) 4-3 Jimmy Robertson (Eng)
Michael White (Wal) 4-2 Luca Brecel (Bel)
Allister Carter (Eng) 4-1 Graeme Dott (Sco)
Martin Gould (Eng) 1-4 Judd Trump (Eng)
Rory McLeod (Eng) 1-4 Mike Dunn (Eng)
Shaun Murphy moved into the quarter-finals of the Players Championship with a 4-1 win over Welshman Dominic Dale.