John Higgins moved into a narrow 13-11 lead over Shaun Murphy after their latest session in the World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre.
The four-time champion, approaching his 51st birthday, had not been ahead at the close of any previous session in this tournament but chose a crucial moment to break that pattern as he targets a ninth final in Sheffield. Higgins started strongly but was repeatedly pulled back by 2005 champion Murphy before finishing the session in style, compiling his first century of the match to take control.
With the scores level at 8-8 earlier, Murphy edged in front with a 60 break, only for Higgins to respond immediately with contributions of 44 and 55, then steal another frame with a well-placed snooker on the brown. Murphy answered with an excellent 82 to leave things tied at the mid-session interval.
The contest remained tight as both players exchanged frames, with Higgins making 63 before Murphy produced a superb century from Higgins’ break-off. At 12-12, the session looked set to end all square, but Higgins found another gear, crafting a 70 and then a decisive 101 to secure a two-frame overnight advantage.
The final session of the best-of-33 encounter is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, with the winner set to face either Wu Yize or Mark Allen in the final.
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry noted that Higgins has consistently improved as matches progress throughout the tournament, raising his level at the decisive stages. Former semi-finalist Joe Perry added that Higgins’ late-session breaks of 63, 70 and a century reflected clinical, high-quality play at a crucial point in the match.
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