Higgins battles to level semi-final with Murphy

John Higgins produced a battling display to fight back from 3-1 down to draw level at 4-4 against Shaun Murphy in the opening session of their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

It was far from fluent from the four-time world champion, whose highest break of 50 gave him the eighth frame of the contest.

Indeed, for most of Thursday afternoon he appeared to still be feeling the effects of his late-night quarter-final victory over Neil Robertson.

Higgins, who turns 51 in May and is the oldest semi-finalist since Ray Reardon back in 1985, was still at the Crucible after midnight on Wednesday and it told as failed to make a number of easy pots in an error-strewn showing.

However, not for the first time in the tournament, he exhibited all his resolve and granite matchplay qualities that makes him such a dangerous opponent.

Their best-of-33 encounter resumes on Friday at 10:00 BST, with the remaining last-four match, between China’s Wu Yize and Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, starting at 19:00 on Thursday.

England’s Murphy, who won the world title in 2005, looked in total control when he enjoyed runs of 68, 69 and 100 to move 3-1 ahead at the mid-session interval.

At that stage the world number eight appeared to be on the way to constructing a significant overnight advantage, but he too was guilty of several loose shots that allowed Higgins a route back in his 100th match at snooker’s most prestigious venue.

The Scot took two scrappy frames to get back to 3-3 and then responded again, with a 40 and a half-century in the final frame, to ensure he was not behind at the end of an opening session for the first time in this year’s tournament.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry on BBC Two

In a funny way, Shaun will be not too disappointed, because he’s not played well and he’s still not behind.

John might have played better, and then Shaun might have been punished for his mistakes, but he’s not been punished severely and it’s honours even.

It has to get better than it was today, it wasn’t a great session. John’s cue ball was pretty loose for him and Shaun missed too many easy balls.

Both players will definitely improve. We have seen throughout the championship John Higgins gets better as the match goes on, and it is something he has done his whole career.

Shaun Murphy will be disappointed after the heights he hit against Zhao Xintong.