John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

John Higgins did have a late finish last night.

I think this a really important session for Shaun Murphy because, to be honest, John is a little bit under the weather.

Kick on now and try to go ahead and force the issue.

There's no doubt out of the two players Shaun seems to be hitting the ball better so, while you're in the ascendancy, make the most of it.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

John has not got control of the cue ball at the moment and that comes when you're totally settled and confident.

He hasn't really settled into the match.

Shaun Murphy quickly gets the points he needs to seal the frame and clears the table with a 69 break.

The Englishman leads 2-1.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

You'd have to say neither player has settled in this semi-final.

John Higgins trails by four points when he misses a red to the corner.

There will be eight frames in this first session, with an interval of about 15 minutes after four frames.

Leading 28-6, Shaun Murphy misjudges a tough safety and leaves the white in among the reds.

John Higgins pots one to middle, but the black is up the other end of the table and the pink is tied up.

Some things to work out if the Scot is going to make a decent break here.

Oh, John. Higgins tries to disturb some reds when potting the red that Shaun Murphy missed a moment earlier.

Instead, he knocks the black up the table and leaves himself snookered for the next shot.

He nominates brown and misses, so there's a bit of delay while referee Tatiana Woollaston makes sure the cue ball is back in the correct position.

The second go is much better, but he's left a long straight red for Murphy... who pots it and follows through with top spin into the same pocket.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

He was a bit unlucky when he played the cannon to leave it awkward. He was only a fraction away from perfect position.

Three reds and three blacks for Shaun Murphy, including an impressive pot with the spider, but a missed red to right middle ends his break on 24.

A bit of a careless safety shot by John Higgins leaves a red over the corner for Shaun Murphy.

This time, the Englishman pots the black after the opening red.

Back on its spot, it is blocked to both corners so Murphy will be desperate to change that soon - and frees it in one shot.

Good chance now.

Here are a couple of the records that could be broken if either of these two players go all the way and lift the trophy on Monday:

• Shaun Murphy became world champion in 2005 and if he were to win for a second time, the 21-year gap would be the longest between a player's first and second world title victories in the Crucible era.
• John Higgins, meanwhile, could become the sport's oldest world champion at 50 years old. That record is currently held by Ronnie O'Sullivan, who was 46 when he won his seventh title in 2022.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

The thing with these tables, if you hit the near jaw, the balls have not been dropping in - which is a good thing they've made them tight.

But Shaun Murphy's miss on the black was a very bad miss.

He had two very good chances on the black and missed both, so he'll be very annoyed with himself for not making the most of those.

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry have each won seven world titles, with Ray Reardon and Steve Davis closely behind on six.

John Higgins and Mark Selby are next on the list on four.

As he closes in on his 51st birthday, you wonder how many more chances Higgins will have to add the world titles he won in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

I think John needed to win that frame because both players were missing easy shots.

Shaun will be disappointed with that frame because he played so well in the opening frame and seeing John missing, even though it's so early in a three-day match, you can really do damage in this first session.

Shaun let John off the hook, but John will be delighted to get it.

John Higgins misses the yellow but a break of 36 is enough to secure the second frame and level the match.

John Higgins judges a cannon from brown to red to perfection and, with the remaining reds out all in the open, this should soon be 1-1.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

It is a glorious day in Sheffield today.

And for those who do not have the ticket to get inside the Crucible, sitting outside with an ice cream and a drink is arguably the next best option.

There's even a band who were playing Gerry Rafferty's hit 'Baker Street' when I passed by.

I'd have loved to have stopped and asked if there was any chance of a bit of the Stone Roses, but needed to take my seat. Still, at least John Higgins obliged with his walk-on music.

John Higgins is into a two-point lead but after trying to disturb the cluster of reds off the black and missing, an attempted plant leaves a red over the pocket.

Shaun Murphy can't get to it directly so tries to glance off another red and knock it in - but he's just off target. That would have been some shot!

So Higgins gets another chance to make a frame-winning contribution.

John Higgins breaks down on 21 with a missed red to the corner and Shaun Murphy is back at the table.

There's cluster of reds in the middle of the table but they're positioned in such a way that if he keeps picking off the loose one, it should free up others to be potted later in the break.

That chance may now fall Higgins' way as Murphy misses a routine black off the spot - some signs of nerves from both players early on.

Murphy leads by six points.