Joe Perry
Former World Championship semi-finalist on BBC Two

This is a long four-session match over three days, but I feel this is important for John to set his stall out early here.

We've seen what sort of mood and form Shaun Murphy is in and we know how good a front-runner he is. It's important for John to hit back immediately.

For the second time in the second frame, Shaun Murphy knocks in a red but can't deposit a tricky black straight afterwards.

John Higgins has an easy starter and will hope for a decent contribution to feel a part of this semi-final.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Neil Robertson is not here in a playing capacity today, but he said he intends to keep a keen eye on how Shaun Murphy's third-red break-off shot goes against John Higgins.

The Australian was downbeat in his post-match press conference late on Wednesday night but it did not prevent him from taking the time to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans as midnight approached.

And although he went out of the competition last night, he left us with a shot of the tournament contender in his defeat by John Higgins, which you can watch below.

Shaun Murphy floats in a long red to get the scoring going in frame two, but the following black - a thinner cut than he would have liked - wobbles in the jaws.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Shaun Murphy didn't win it in one visit, but then John Higgins missed the black off its spot, which is very unusual for him.

Even though it's the first frame, and a long way to go in this semi-final, it's not great to miss one of those starting off.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

I think this match will help John Higgins because it'll be quickfire stuff. But, if you do have a bit of tiredness, you don't want to be sitting in your seat.

You find that when you're at the table potting balls, you don't feel it.

Image source, Getty Images

Now we're down to the final four, we can possibly have a slightly more educated guess at who will be lifting the trophy come Monday.

Use the poll at the top of the page to tell us who you think will become world champion and, if you want to give a reason, use the yellow Get Involved button to get in touch.

Shaun Murphy moves 64 up with 59 remaining - how he'd love to knock in a red with the rest to put the first frame to bed.

He does so and clears up to the pink for a 68 break.

One down, 16 to go...

Joe Perry
Former World Championship semi-finalist on BBC Two

A couple of pots have wriggled and gone in, but as long as they go in...

The new cloth and cushions sometimes makes the pockets play a fraction easier at the beginning.

Sorry, Shaun, hope I didn't jinx you there.

Murphy goes for a red to the middle but it hits the far jaw and stays up.

John Higgins shows him how it's done and is nicely on the black - a chance for the counter-attack - but Higgins misses the black off the spot.

Shaun Murphy is already up to a break of 42 and a long red stroked confidently up into the yellow pocket shows he's dialled in at the start of this semi-final.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

The one-table setup at the Crucible is the stuff of dreams for most snooker players.

That was underlined on Wednesday evening when John Higgins appeared almost emotional when talking about what it meant to return to the semi-final for the first time since 2022.

"It's a great achievement getting back to that one table," he told BBC Sport. "Being so close last year with Mark [Williams] and just missing out, it was heartbreaking in a way.

"It will be an amazing feeling to step out there in the Crucible with just me and Shaun."

After three rounds with two tables and a partition, the feel of the Crucible changes at this stage of the tournament. The semi-finals and final have an almost gladatorial feel about them, with one table packed away.

As I was leaving the famous venue at 23:50 last night, work was already well under way to reconfigure the auditorium and place the entire gaze of the 980 capacity crowd on just two men on the baize.

While this is Higgins' 12th semi-final, Wu Yize will be appearing in the last four for the first time later and there is always some uncertainty over how any player will cope with the new mental challenge it presents over four sessions of snooker.

John Higgins catches a red on the way back to baulk with a safety shot and that gives Shaun Murphy the first chance at a pot.

He clips the red in nicely and sets about trying to build a lead in the opening frame.

The two semi-finals will be played over four sessions across the next three days.

Last-four matches are the best of 33 frames, so 17 is the target for victory.

The first sessions of both semi-finals will be played today, with three sessions of play to follow on both Friday and Saturday.

The best-of-35-frames final will begin on Sunday, with the champion to be decided on Monday.

Magnificent welcomes from the Crucible crowd for both players as they make their way down the steps to their respective seats. A lengthy ovation.

John Higgins leads the head-to-head with Shaun Murphy 14-11.

Whoever wins the 26th meeting will be playing in the 2026 World Championship final.

Murphy breaks off to get their semi-final under way.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

John Higgins has had a hard draw all the way through - he got the best qualifier, in Ali Carter, and then he's had to come from 9-4 behind to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan, and then he had Neil Robertson last night.

You don't get anything easy at the Crucible but he's certainly had it tough.

Shaun Murphy has been playing very good - I think having Peter Ebdon in his corner has been a big help.

He's got to play an open and attacking game - if it gets tactical with John, there'll only be one winner.

John Higgins and Shaun Murphy have a combined five world titles between them but neither has lifted the famous trophy since Higgins' fourth win in 2011.

Despite their vast experience, there are sure to be a few butterflies in the stomach when MC Rob Walker introduces them and they walk out into the transformed Crucible Theatre.

And despite the match being played over a possible 33 frames, they will both know that a solid start is imperative.

They have also met in a world final before - Higgins won 18-9 on that occasion in 2009.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

It's so exciting because I can't pick a winner out of the four players. You can make a case for all of them winning this, which makes it so fascinating.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It's a totally different venue with the single-table setup.

Before you've been sitting over there and you can hear people's breaths on the front row, and all of a sudden you come out and there's masses of room.