Shaun Murphy produced a superb comeback to defeat John Higgins in a classic World Snooker Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre and emerge as a 17-15 winner.
Higgins built a 15-13 lead going into the mid-session interval of the last session but Murphy came back from the break firing and reeled off four frames on the spin to reach the Crucible final for a fifth time. He won the world title in 2005 but has lost each of his three final appearances since so will have ghosts to lay to rest when the best-of-35 showpiece begins on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Higgins’ attempt to become the oldest world finalist at the age of 50 fell just short.
History was made in the other semi-final on Friday afternoon as Mark Allen and Wu Yize played out the longest frame in Crucible history. The epic encounter lasted for more than 100 minutes and saw some of the bizarrest scenes ever witnessed on the baize. A logjam was created when eight reds and the black were stuck over the right corner pocket, leading to a stalemate that lasted for around 55 minutes before Wu somehow prevailed.
Their third session on Saturday morning was much more fluent as Wu made breaks of 142, 140 and 121 but Allen managed to hang with the 22-year-old rising talent to end the session level at 11-11. They will play to a finish in the race to 17 frames from 7pm this evening with Murphy awaiting the winner.
Follow all the latest scores and action from the World Championship at the Crucible below.
Read MoreGhosts of the past await Shaun Murphy after epic World Championship semi-final win
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy - live updates
- World Snooker Championship semi-finals conclude at the Crucible
- Shaun Murphy produces superb comeback from 15-13 down to beat John Higgins and reach his fifth final
- Mark Allen and Wu Yize play the longest frame in Crucible history, labelled an embarrassment by pundits
- Allen leads Wu at 15-14 in the last session of their semi-final
Mark Allen 15-14 Wu Yize
22:06 , Luke BakerFour reds left and this feels like a pivotal safety battle. And it’s Allen who wins it.
What a chance for the Northern Irishman to clear up and move within a frame of victory...
Mark Allen 15-14 Wu Yize
22:00 , Luke BakerI may have put the mockers on Wu... He breaks down of 58 and that could be a bad mistake.
Mark Allen is back in the balls with a golden opportunity to counter-attack here. The points are there for him and this would be a devastating steal if he wins this frame...
But NO! Allen runs slightly out of position, leaving himself on the left cushion with a tricky red to right middle and it lips out. Just the 21 points and Allen still trails 58-21 as a bout of safety ensues.
Mark Allen 15-14 Wu Yize
21:55 , Luke BakerAs is the way of this match, Wu falls a frame behind and immediately gets back in, looking likely to level the match once more.
He’s around the black spot and there look like few obstacles to a quickfire, frame-winning break. He quickly races into a 40-point lead and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Mark Allen 15-14 Wu Yize - ALLEN WINS FRAME 29
21:50 , Luke BakerThat lifeline for Wu doesn’t last long though. A shoddy safety and, with the very next shot, Allen pots the red he needs to get over the line. Two more frames needed for victory...
Mark Allen wins frame 29 to edge 15-14 ahead.
Mark Allen 14-14 Wu Yize
21:47 , Luke BakerAllen gently caresses the pack of reds open off a pot ton the blue when he’s on 43 and that gives him a couple more to go for. There hasn’t been one big pack-spreading smash in this frame but he’s coaxing balls free to keep the break alive. He’s a sublime display of break-building.
Finally, one of his attempted canons goes wrong though. Allen is 65 points up, with five reds remaining which means there are 67 points left, when he’s forced to play safe. He’s a hot, hot favourite for this frame but Wu is still alive.
Mark Allen 14-14 Wu Yize
21:43 , Luke BakerAllen picks off all the loose reds, although a clever canon frees one more, up towards the middle pocket. He then comes round the angles off the blue to knock a couple more loose! Good shot.
Another cut into the right middle takes the break beyond 30. The Northern Irishman looking good here.
Mark Allen 14-14 Wu Yize
21:41 , Luke BakerWe’re destined for a decider here, aren’t we? Neither man can currently pull more than one frame clear.
Allen gets in first in frame 29 with a glorious thin cut to right middle! So precise. He lands nicely on the black and with the reds all down the business end of the table, this is a decent chance. He’ll need to split the pack at some point though.
Mark Allen 14-14 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME 28
21:34 , Lawrence OstlereYet another fabulous long red that barely seemed on, and this time Wu follows it with a frame-winning break of 81. Superb scoring by the 22-year-old.
Mark Allen 14-13 Wu Yize
21:24 , Lawrence OstlereA very tactical frame, this, as the pair exchange safeties. Wu leads 7-0 after nine minutes and a re-rack.
Mark Allen 14-13 Wu Yize
21:17 , Lawrence OstlereAnother absolutely screaming long red by Wu! Goodness me, what a potter he is. But he follows it with another mistake, getting his angles wrong after potting the blue, and he is forced to play safe into baulk.
Mark Allen 14-13 Wu Yize
21:14 , Lawrence OstlereWu begins the restarted frame with yet another sensational long red across the table, but follows it with a missed thin cut on the black.
Somehow, Allen isn’t on a red and so can only play safe.
Mark Allen 14-13 Wu Yize
21:12 , Lawrence OstlereAllen and Wu get into an awkward safety battle, tapping away at the pack of reds, and quickly they decide on a re-rack – to cheers from the Crucible crowd after yesterday’s debacle.
Allen will break again.
Mark Allen 14-13 Wu Yize - ALLEN WINS FRAME 27
21:05 , Lawrence OstlereAllen almost throws it away with a missed red along the top cushion, but Wu can’t take advantage and Allen returns to the table to clinch the frame.
Mark Allen 13-13 Wu Yize
20:57 , Lawrence OstlereWu’s break ends after only 22 points due to an unfortunate positional shot which left him on nothing. They begin another safety exchange, and this time Allen pots a long red to set up a scoring opportunity.
Mark Allen 13-13 Wu Yize
20:50 , Lawrence OstlereAllen does win the safety battle, in the sense that he puts Wu in such an awkward position that the Chinese player has no option but to take on a horribly difficult long red, with no chance of getting the cue ball safe.
But Wu pulls off yet another brilliant long pot! And now he’s got a chance to build something here...
Mark Allen 13-13 Wu Yize
20:46 , Lawrence OstlereFrame 27 is underway, and the pair are straight into a tactical exchange. Allen has generally had the better of Wu in this department, so let’s see how this plays out.
Ghosts of the past await Shaun Murphy after epic semi-final win
20:36 , Lawrence OstlereIn case you missed it, Shaun Murphy knocked out John Higgins in the other semi-final to reach his fifth World Championship final.
Here’s Luke Baker on how Murphy must overcome the spectre of three final defeats in order to finally lift a second title:
Ghosts of the past await Shaun Murphy’s after epic World Championship semi-final win
Mark Allen 13-13 Wu Yize
20:29 , Lawrence OstlereThat’s the mid-session interval, although ‘mid-session’ might not be quite accurate. That 100-minute frame yesterday means there are still seven to get through this evening.
Mark Allen 13-13 Wu Yize
20:24 , Lawrence Ostlere“Wuuuuuuu,” goes the crowd as he passes the century mark. He clears the colours, bar a silly effort on the black, to complete a joyous 126 break. So fun to watch.
Mark Allen 13-13 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME 26
20:21 , Lawrence OstlereWu is flying around the table and he makes it a rapid frame-winning visit. The level here this evening is extremely high. Mark Allen played a lovely break off and hasn’t returned to the table since. Will it be a century?
Mark Allen 13-12 Wu Yize
20:15 , Lawrence OstlereAllen’s break-off is excellent, pinning the white on the baulk cushion, but Wu responds with a fantastic pot all the way across the table into the left corner. Magical.
Mark Allen 13-12 Wu Yize - ALLEN WINS FRAME 25
20:12 , Lawrence OstlereAllen appears to have run out of position playing to move the aforementioned red, but he pulls off a wonderful double of his own to effectively clinch the frame!
Mark Allen leads again.
Mark Allen 12-12 Wu Yize
20:07 , Lawrence OstlereWu errs, sending the cue ball crashing against the jaws of the left middle pocket on his attempt to bring it back to baulk. Allen has a big chance now to come back into the frame, although there is an awkward red on the side cushion which he will need to pot.
Mark Allen 12-12 Wu Yize
20:00 , Lawrence OstlereWow, Wu pulls off a brilliant double! He knocks a red across the table into the right middle from near the left cushion, and that is so clever. He scores a break of 32 and rolls the cue ball up behind the brown to leave Allen in a snooker.
Mark Allen 12-12 Wu Yize - WU WINS FRAME 24
19:50 , Lawrence OstlereWu wins the safety battle with an excellent mid-range red down the left side of the table, and he polishes off the frame to draw level once more.
Mark Allen 12-11 Wu Yize
19:45 , Lawrence OstlereFirst blood to Wu in this frame, totting up 32 points, and now they are embroiled in a safety exchange.
Mark Allen 12-11 Wu Yize - ALLEN WINS FRAME 23
19:39 , Luke BakerThat feels like a big moment in this match. Wu had plenty of chances to win the frame but Allen wins the safety battle on the blue, clears up and nicks the frame on the black.
First blood to the Northern Irishman in this evening session
Mark Allen wins frame 23 to lead 12-11.
Mark Allen 11-11 Wu Yize
19:35 , Luke BakerGreat pot by Wu on the final brown and he’s left with a long, straight blue to win the frame... NO! He lashed at that and misses by a fair distance as the blue and pink career round the table.
He’s nearly there but not quite. He’s 14 points ahead with 18 remaining as a safety battle ensues on the blue.
Mark Allen 11-11 Wu Yize
19:32 , Luke BakerAllen getting closer - he pulls within 10 points, at 58-48 and there are just the final four colours remaining.
This feels like a crucial battle early in the last session of this semi-final
Mark Allen 11-11 Wu Yize
19:26 , Luke BakerA decent contribution of 28 from Allen before he breaks down but he’s soon back in among the balls as he wins a safety battle with Wu.
He still trails bu Wu’s advantage in this frame is starting to look precarious.
Mark Allen 11-11 Wu Yize
19:20 , Luke BakerSolid opening break of 50 from Wu and he leads this frame 54-0. There’s still enough points on for an Allen counter-attack though.
And that’s a missed pot for Wu, leaving Allen in and with a real chance to close the gap.
Mark Allen 11-11 Wu Yize
19:17 , Luke BakerWu is straight in among the balls in this opening frame. His best chance is to win frames quickly and blow Allen off the table.
No trouble as the break moves beyond 30 and the reds look nicely spread for a really telling contribution
Mark Allen 11-11 Wu Yize
19:13 , Luke BakerUnderway in the final session of this second semi-final. We could have a long evening ahead but it could be epic.
Mark Allen 11-11 Wu Yize
19:07 , Luke BakerAttention now turns to the other semi-final and finding out who will face Shaun Murphy in the final.
Mark Allen and Wu Yize played out a brilliant third session this morning, with Wu making three centuries but the Northern Irishman doggedly hanging with him to keep it level at 11-11.
17 is the target for victory this evening.
Shaun Murphy celebrates victory
18:55 , Luke BakerWhat a result for Shaun Murphy - reaching his fifth world final. And he was understandably a happy man.
Shaun Murphy reflects on difference from 2005
18:45 , Luke BakerShaun Murphy won his only world title back in 2005 and has lost three finals since. He’s reflected on how he’s changed as a player since that victory as a 22-year-old.
“I think I am a better player [than the one who won it in 2005] and a more rounded mature player,” he told the BBC.
“I was 22 and that's 21 years ago and I'm a totally different prospect. A different package. I feel my scoring is still there as it ever was but feel I have become a more mature player.
“But there's no getting away from it, I'll say that I want to go out an play like it means nothing but it will mean everything.”
Shaun Murphy pays tribute to John Higgins
18:34 , Luke BakerShaun Murphy was typically gracious in victory and paid tribute to his defeated opponent, John Higgins.
“I came out today knowing if I got my chances I could score,” Murphy told the BBC. “When I got back to level pegging after the first two frames I thought ‘here we go’ and then at two frames down at the interval I knew I could do it again if I got the chances.
“But John Higgins... What a player and what a man. The harder it gets on the table the tougher he gets. The better he plays. It is just like 'will you ever give me a break?'. He's such a competitor. If I'm half the player when I'm in fifties as he is I’ll be very proud.”
John Higgins left to rue missed black in final frame
18:24 , Luke BakerJohn Higgins was understandably gutted after that defeat to Shaun Murphy and was left to rue a missed black in the final frame.
“My shot on the black on the frame at the end there was very weak,” he told BBC Sport.
“I know the pressure was on but when you look at the final session Shaun was punching and really going for it. I got lost a little bit towards the end there.
"I shouldn't have been below that black. It was criminal the way I played the shot. But the way Shaun hit the ball in that last session - you cannot hit it better than that. It was incredible, it really was. He just hits it like God. I am disappointed, but what can you do?”
Shaun Murphy reaches World Championship final
18:05 , Luke BakerAn incredible win for Shaun Murphy, who dug deep to fight back from 15-13 down and triumph 17-15.
Murphy has reached the Crucible final for a fifth time. He won the world title in 2005 but has lost each of his three final appearances since so will have ghosts to lay to rest when the best-of-35 showpiece begins on Sunday afternoon against either Mark Allen or Wu Yize
John Higgins 15-17 Shaun Murphy - MURPHY WINS AND REACHES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
17:47 , Luke BakerHE’S DONE IT! Shaun Murphy holds his nerve, clears the colours and is into a fifth World Championship final with a 17-15 win over John Higgins.
A respectful handshake and a few words between the men. Then a fist pump, hand raise, hand to the chest and clearly mouthing ‘thank you’ to the crowd. A sublime comeback from Shaun Murphy!
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:44 , Luke BakerThe yellow is probably the toughest ball left. Murphy leaves himself a mid-range pot, fairly straight. Stroked in and Murphy holds the pose through the shot!
Surely it’s all over now? Rest of the colours on their spots.
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:43 , Luke BakerMistake from Higgins! Gets his safety shot all wrong and Murphy has a potting chance to the green pocket. It will require the rest again... IT’S THERE!
Shaun Murphy just needs to clear up the colours to book his place in the final.
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:42 , Luke BakerMurphy is the self-proclaimed best player in the world with the rest but it let him down there. Higgins sticks him in a snooker and he does well to escape.
The safety battle on this last red will be pivotal. Higgins leads by 15 points but that will be nothing if Murphy gets back in. All the colours are on, or near, their spots so there will be nowhere to hide.
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:40 , Luke BakerMurphy nicely on the red along the top cushion, well taken and on the brown to middle. John Higgins looks worriedly at the scoreboard.
The brown goes into the heart of the pocket, the cue ball comes between yellow and blue and he’s on the last red! The score is now 50-35.
AND A MISS! With the rest of all things! Rattles the red out of the pocket and John Higgins still has life in this semi-final!
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:38 , Luke BakerA little nudge on the two reds below the pink for Murphy is handy and he sets about closing the gap in this frame. There are still two reds up in baulk, one on the top cushion, that will need some attention.
Higgins looks concerned in his chair. Murphy moves beyond 30 with just those two reds up the table remaining.
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:35 , Luke BakerThe concentration from Higgins, under the hugest of pressure, is remarkable.
He goes up for the green and then brings the cue ball back down the table for a red that moves him to 50. A few more pots and the frame will be his - and we’ll be heading for a decider...
BUT NO! Where has that come from?! He’s cruising along but misses a black off the spot. Leaves it high and it rattles the top jaw! WOW! Higgins has a 50-point lead but there’s plenty left on for Murphy to counter-attack and he’s plum in the balls...
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:32 , Luke BakerHiggins is fast running out of free reds. There’s a couple left up in baulk but the remainder are in a cluster below the pink. On 34, he decides to go into them.
Pots the blue, smashes the pack and IT’S GOOD! They’ve split relatively nicely and he’s on a red to the right corner.
The break moves to 40 and he’s still going. It’s all about holding his nerve now.
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:30 , Luke BakerEvery shot is tricky now with this level of pressure. Higgins leaves himself a very unappetising pink to the right corner, across the table. Steels himself... Great pot! Heart of the pocket. Good cueing that will make him feel better.
The Scot is taking his time over each shot but he moves beyond 30 for the break. This is granite from the 50-year-old
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:26 , Luke BakerThose three century breaks from Murphy earlier in the session suddenly feel like a long time ago... With the finish line in sight, the tension has ratcheted up.
The reds are spread all over the table here and it’s Higgins who gets in first - a thin cut to left middle on a red, followed by a green on the stretch gives him the opportunity to build a lead. How many can he make here? Can he shake off the disappointment of losing three straight frames?
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy
17:20 , Lawrence OstlereHiggins breaks off and leaves a couple of reds on, but they are not tempting pots to Murphy and he plays safe.
Higgins knocks a red down the table into baulk, and now they are both keeping the cue ball pinned to the top cushion for safety. The reds are a little scattered and this could be another scrap...
John Higgins 15-16 Shaun Murphy - MURPHY WINS FRAME 31
17:15 , Lawrence OstlereNowhere near his fluent best, but it doesn’t matter, as Murphy scores a frame-clinching 38 to take the lead! He needs just one of these last two frames to earn a place in the final...
John Higgins 15-15 Shaun Murphy
17:12 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy ends a brief impasse after Higgins left a gimme red over the green pocket to tap in. Another chance to win the frame, and this is a good one...
John Higgins 15-15 Shaun Murphy
17:06 , Lawrence OstlereYet another error, this time by Murphy, missing a very pottable red he sent up to the green pocket. But Higgins can’t take advantage and Murphy is back moments later to put away an excellent red to the left middle.
Murphy leads 26-8 in what is a very messy frame.
John Higgins 15-15 Shaun Murphy
17:02 , Lawrence OstlereThey are trading mistakes right now, and it can only be down to nerves! There is a visceral tension inside the Crucible and it is throwing both players’ games as the finish line nears.
Murphy is currently at the table, and he pots a wonderful red down the left rail to get on the black. Can he convert this chance?
John Higgins 15-15 Shaun Murphy
16:57 , Lawrence Ostlere...but Higgins misses a tough cut. Can Murphy capitalise? No, he pots a red but misses a mid-length blue to the green pocket.
It’s Higgins’ turn to try and build something, and he starts off with a simple red to the right middle.
John Higgins 15-15 Shaun Murphy
16:55 , Lawrence OstlereAnother good break-off by Murphy – but Higgins flukes a red into the right corner! He’s back in baulk and goes for the green to the left middle, which he drains. This is an early chance...
John Higgins 15-15 Shaun Murphy - MURPHY WINS FRAME 30
16:51 , Lawrence OstlereA break of 78, and they’re all square with three frames to play!
John Higgins 15-14 Shaun Murphy
16:42 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy wins the safety battle, or rather Higgins loses it with a poor attempt to get the cue ball back to the top cushion, and now Murphy has a great chance to level the scores once more. The reds are well spread.
John Higgins 15-14 Shaun Murphy
16:38 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy takes on a long red after Higgins’ break-off, but doesn’t get particularly close with it and leaves his opponent a simple red.
Higgins pots red and yellow, but can’t find another red and he’s back in his seat. Murphy takes on a tricky, acute red to the left middle and it clips the near jaw!
Higgins plays safe to the top cushion.
John Higgins 15-14 Shaun Murphy - MURPHY WINS FRAME 29
16:33 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy records his third century of the session to reduce the deficit once again! What a semi-final this has turned into.
John Higgins 15-13 Shaun Murphy
16:27 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy’s break-offs have been relentlessly accurate over the past two weeks and he profits from another here, earning himself the first chance to gather some points. He is working through the reds nicely, passing 50...
John Higgins 15-13 Shaun Murphy
16:21 , Lawrence OstlereThe players are back out in the arena, and Murphy makes a good break-off.
John Higgins 15-13 Shaun Murphy
16:09 , Lawrence OstlereThe mid-session interval comes at a good moment for Murphy, who needs to gather his thoughts and come back firing in a few minutes. It feels like he must win the next frame...
John Higgins 15-13 Shaun Murphy - HIGGINS WINS FRAME 28
16:02 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy came flying out of the blocks this afternoon, winning the first two frames in style, but Higgins has taken the next two and now he’s only two more from his ninth Crucible final.
John Higgins 14-13 Shaun Murphy
15:57 , Lawrence OstlereHiggins puts 46 points on the board before going into the remaining reds off the black. It works out well, leaving him a red to the left middle which he buries, but he’s left facing a tricky black with the cue ball against the side cushion and no easy next red...
John Higgins 14-13 Shaun Murphy
15:48 , Lawrence OstlereBut Murphy’s problem in this tournament has been missing relatively easy balls and he does it again here, missing a simple red into the right corner! Wow.
Higgins is back to the table, trailing by 11 points.
John Higgins 14-13 Shaun Murphy
15:46 , Lawrence OstlereShaun Murphy gets the first look at a pot in frame 28 and drills a brilliant straight-ish long red into the left corner. “It doesn’t get any better than that in terms of ball striking,” says an admiring Stephen Hendry.
John Higgins 14-13 Shaun Murphy - HIGGINS WINS FRAME 27
15:44 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy wins the safety battle but leaves a red in the jaws and that is that – Higgins pots a few more balls and the frame is his.
John Higgins 13-13 Shaun Murphy
15:37 , Lawrence OstlereMurphy makes a huge error! He tries to pot the yellow but clips a red on his way through, when there was really no need to cut it so close.
Higgins can return to the table to finish off the frame... but he misses a long red and Murphy is back. He plays a good safety and Higgins is snookered...
John Higgins 13-13 Shaun Murphy
15:32 , Lawrence OstlereHiggins puts on 53 points before playing safe, with four reds left on the table.
John Higgins 13-13 Shaun Murphy
15:20 , Lawrence OstlereHiggins wins the safety battle with a masterful thin cut, and then powers in the blue to go crashing into the bunch. It works out OK, and this is a good chance to score...
John Higgins 13-13 Shaun Murphy
15:11 , Luke BakerJohn Higgins needs to find a way get a foothold in the final session of this semi-final.
Murphy breaks off in frame 27 and has the first half-chance with a red along the bottom cushion but it’s never in. He hides the cue ball behind the black though to ensure Higgins doesn’t have a pot himself.
There’s a red over the left corner (the one Murphy missed) and he swerves round two reds to knock it in! Stunning pot. Although there’s no colour to follow, so plays safe off the green with his one-point lead.
John Higgins 13-13 Shaun Murphy - MURPHY WINS FRAME 26
15:04 , Luke BakerShaun Murphy wins frame 26 to level the match at 13-13.
In the blink of an eye, Murphy has eradicated his overnight deficit! It’s as you were with the score now at 13-13. This match has basically turned into a best of 7 for a place in the world final!
Murphy is blasting Higgins away here and it’s a second straight century and he clears the table for a break of 127 to follow that 132. Superb!
John Higgins 13-12 Shaun Murphy
15:02 , Luke BakerMurphy moves tot a break of 60 and a lead of 66 but needs to split the final cluster of reds to win this frame. He makes contact but the white goes towards the side cushion and this is a tough pot down the rail, with the rest...
Needs it to get over the line in this frame AND IT’S THERE. Heart of the pocket. He’s absolutely flying out there.
Pots the green and now leads by 70 points with 67 remaining. Five reds still on the table but a couple more pots and Higgins won’t return even if he misses. Could this be back-to-back centuries.
John Higgins 13-12 Shaun Murphy
14:56 , Luke BakerOoh, Shaun Murphy is feeling this! A glorious long pot on the red up to the green pocket and he holds for the black.
Another chance for a big Murphy contribution and he’ll level the match if he can win this frame.
He’s a great rest player and, with the break on 16, pots a tricky red to the right corner with the rest to keep it going.
WATCH: Shaun Murphy's plant to begin century break
14:54 , Luke BakerHere’s the shot that got Shaun Murphy in, in that opening frame of the session.
A really well picked-out plant to the right middle and he turned it into a frame-winning century break. Classy stuff from ‘the Magician’.
Great spot, even better execution! #WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/ecZxXOsFcF
— WST (@WeAreWST) May 2, 2026
John Higgins 13-12 Shaun Murphy - MURPHY WINS FRAME 25
14:50 , Luke BakerNo mistakes from Murphy. A clean kill in this frame as he moves to snookers needed for Higgins with five reds left and can now just focus on making the century.
The penultimate red down the left cushion with the rest is far from easy but it’s there and he then slow-rolls the final red in along the bottom cushion. Class stuff.
He makes the century and then completes the clearance for a 132, even playing a trick shot on the brown into the middle pocket! Sublime. Nods of thanks as the crowd roar their approval. A perfect start for the 2005 world champion.
Shaun Murphy wins frame 25 to narrow the deficit to 13-12.
John Higgins 13-11 Shaun Murphy
14:43 , Luke BakerThis is good from Murphy. Working in and around the black spot and quickly moves the break beyond 30 with limited trouble. Leaves himself a mid-range red to the right corner with the rest but that’s in the heart of the pocket to keep the break going.
The lead is up to 50 now and the reds are all there for a century, and more importantly the frame.
John Higgins 13-11 Shaun Murphy
14:40 , Luke BakerPromising start from Murphy as he crunches in a long red and then rolls up behind the brown to put Higgins under pressure.
The Scot leaves a three-ball plant to the middle for the 2005 champion and that is a great pot! Clips the lower jaw and drops.
Murphy in here with a great chance to build an advantage in this frame.
John Higgins 13-11 Shaun Murphy
14:36 , Luke BakerA great reception for both players and they’re underway in frame 25. Shaun Murphy needs a fast start to this session. He can’t really afford to fall three or four frames behind at this stage of the match
John Higgins 13-11 Shaun Murphy
14:29 , Luke BakerRight, we’re just about to get back underway at the Crucible for the concluding session of this epic semi-final between John Higgins and Shaun Murphy.
MC Rob Walker will be introducing the players shortly.
From abject farce to mesmerising beauty – snooker shows its contrasting faces
14:22 , Luke Baker at the CrucibleWhoever lifts the World Snooker Championship trophy aloft on Monday evening as the confetti streams down around them will have reached the pinnacle of their sport. If it’s John Higgins, it would be for the fifth time, for Shaun Murphy the second and for Mark Allen or Wu Yize, the very first occasion.
It will be a remarkable achievement, the highlight of a career and the fulfilment of a dream that began in childhood. But whoever emerges triumphant will inevitably, sadly, only achieve a fraction of the headlines that frame 14 of the second semi-final did.
After all, pure sporting accomplishment can never match abject farce when it comes to capturing public interest.
Read Luke Baker’s full analysis of a remarkable Friday at the Crucible:
From abject farce to mesmerising beauty – snooker shows its contrasting faces
Inside snooker’s Chinese match-fixing scandal – and how they got caught
14:13 , Luke BakerSome pre-session reading for you: Three years on from the news that rocked the snooker world, Lawrence Ostlere delves into the story of an unprecedented scandal that saw 10 Chinese players banned from the game.
Read the full story:
Threats, bets and guilty WhatsApps: Inside snooker’s Chinese match-fixing scandal
Mark Allen and Wu Yize locked at 11-11 ahead of finale
14:04 , Luke BakerYesterday’s session between Mark Allen and Wu Yize was a slog - not only was there the record 100-minute frame but another frame that lasted more than an hour. In fact, they only had time to play six of the scheduled eight frames...
However, it was a different story this morning with a glorious session playing out between the two men.
Wu made breaks of 142, 140 and 121 but Allen managed to hang with the 22-year-old rising talent thanks to runs of 56, 85 and 99 to end the session level at 11-11.
They will play to a finish in the race to 17 frames from 7pm this evening. It should be a cracker
‘An embarrassment to snooker’: Pundits fume as Mark Allen and Wu Yize play out longest frame in Crucible history
13:55 , Luke BakerHere’s a reminder of what happened yesterday, when an extraordinary frame lasted for a record 100 minutes and 21 seconds as Mark Allen and Wu Yize engaged in a bizarre stalemate during their World Snooker Championship semi-final.
But not everyone was impressed...
‘Embarrassment’: Pundits fume as Allen and Wu play longest frame in Crucible history
John Higgins builds lead over Shaun Murphy
13:47 , Luke BakerThere’s been little to separate Higgins and Murphy so far but the 50-year-old Scot - bidding to become the oldest world finalist in history - finally edged ahead on Friday evening.
He made breaks of 70 and 101 to turn an 11-11 tie into a 13-11 advantage. “He always finds another gear, it’s what he’s always done,” purred seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry on the BBC’s coverage.
Can he now get the four frames he needs to win?
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy
13:45 , Luke BakerGood afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the World Snooker Championship semi-finals.
We’re in for a fascinating afternoon of action as John Higgins leads Shaun Murphy 13-11 in the race to 17 frames, with the winner sealing a place in the final.
This has been a superb match so far. How will it play out this afternoon?