Murphy powers past Higgins to reach Crucible final

Shaun Murphy powered to a 17-15 victory over John Higgins to reach his fifth World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The Englishman will face either Wu Yize or Mark Allen in his bid to collect a second title, 21 years on from his first – having finished as the runner-up on his three previous appearances in the showpiece match.

The first of those was in 2009 at the hands of the four-time champion, Higgins, who ran out a comfortable 18-9 winner.

There was considerably more tension this time around and, more importantly for Murphy, no repeat of the outcome as he roared back from a 13-11 overnight deficit.

He opened with sensational breaks of 132 and 127 and looked to be in his element as he stomped around the auditorium.

But his fast start was initially made to count for nothing as Higgins, who was barely afforded any table time in those frames, exhibited the resolve and superb fighting qualities that have underscored his glittering career.

Higgins, who turns 51 later this month and was hoping to become the oldest ever finalist, took a scrappy 27th frame and then crafted an 88 break.

While those contributions lacked the sparkle of Murphy’s earlier efforts they briefly restored his two-frame advantage.

Murphy’s third century break of the session reduced his arrears and, when the Scot missed a black to the right corner and also played a loose safety shot in the next frame, he was clinically punished as his opponent compiled a 78.

Higgins failed to cut a red into the left corner pocket and Murphy missed a blue into the top-right corner in the 31st frame that eventually went the way of the 2005 winner.

In nerve-shredding 32nd frame, Higgins broke down on 50 and Murphy missed a red with the rest before he secured his place in snooker’s most prestigious match.

Wu and Allen produced a session of spellbinding snooker and finished locked at 11-11 to perfectly set up the final session of their last-four meeting.

Resuming at 7-7 on Saturday, the third session of the match was a complete contrast to their epic slugfest on Friday, that produced the longest frame ever played at the famous venue.

China’s Wu set the tone, opening with a sublime 142 and also constructing breaks of 76 and 121 to lead 10-8 at the mid-session interval.

However, Allen, who is attempting to become the first player from Northern Ireland to reach the final since Dennis Taylor in 1985, showed he had also thrown off the shackles of negativity.

The 40-year-old enjoyed a run of 56, and well-crafted breaks of 85 and 99 enabled him to draw level at 10-10.

Wu, 22, who defeated Lei Peifan, Mark Selby and Hossein Vafaei to reach the last four, responded with 140, his third century of the day.

But as the tension increased, in what felt like an important concluding frame to the session, Wu was unable to capitalise after getting the first opportunity.

That allowed Allen, who could become the oldest first-time winner at the Crucible, to make a couple of useful contributions and ensure there was nothing to divide the pair.

They return to play the final session of their best-of-33 encounter at 19:00 BST on Saturday, with a possible 11 frames still to get through, as they attempt to set up a title match against Murphy.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, speaking on BBC Two:

Mark Allen has had everything thrown at him from Wu Yize. The interval maybe halted Wu’s momentum, but 4-4 [for the session] is perfect.

Mark’s going to win the majority of the tactical frames, no doubt about it, but if Wu can just keep attacking, the balls are going to have to go in for him to win the match.

I think Mark can win in many different ways; Wu’s got to pot them off the lampshades.

As soon as a player gets in, you think the frame’s over. Especially with Wu, because the breaks he’s knocking in are phenomenal. You expect the players to peak at this part of the tournament. Getting through the early rounds is important but nobody really plays their best in the early rounds.

The longer you’re in this, you’ve got more sessions to settle in and for players to find their very best form. It’s who blinks first or last wins or loses, and that’s what you want to watch.

John Parrott, 1991 world champion on BBC Two:

With what Wu Yize’s thrown at him this morning, Mark Allen will be delighted.

He’s played well himself, don’t get me wrong, but his opponent’s been magnificent. What a final session this is going to be. They’ll come back for what will be an enthralling evening session.