Semi-finals are best of 33 frames and will finish on Saturday
John Higgins 13-11 Shaun Murphy after third session - report
Match to be played to finish from 14:30 BST
Wu Yize 7-7 Mark Allen, match to continue at 10:00
Only six frames played in second session because of longest frame in Crucible history
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
John Higgins has gone from playing aggressively to playing far more cautiously.
He attempts a safety shot on the red rather than going for it and allows Shaun Murphy a chance but Murphy misses!
It's now a snooker-fest.
Who blinks first?
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
Well, well, well...
John Higgins gets the snooker he requires as Shaun Murphy, with the cue ball behind the black, misses the red by millimetres with a swerve shot.
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two
You'd really expect a player of John Higgins' capability to be able to leave a cue ball in such a place to be able to guarantee a snooker behind yellow, green, blue, brown even.
Higgins is 45 behind with 43 remaining...
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John Higgins has had the run of the ball in every match so far, it’s written he will be world champion!
Neil, Wales
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two
This is a frame where Shaun Murphy may just allow himself to think he cannot possibly lose this frame with the position of the balls but of course, the man in the opposite corner has made a career in having something to say in that department.
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
The story of Shaun Murphy's last few frames.
He reaches 48 on the scoreboard and it all becomes a bit messy. He knocks a brilliant red in on the angle but in doing so leaves him without another shot to take on other than attempt a safety.
Fortunately for him, his safety shots are paying off and giving John Higgins nothing to play with.
As I type that, he makes another mistake to allow Higgins in.
Surely not...
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre
On Wednesday evening, Neil Robertson outlined clearly just how tough facing John Higgins is and the problems he causes with his shot selection.
The four-time world champion's performance thus far today has only served to underline those sentiments - although these past few shots appear to be a mini wobble.
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two
Image source, PA MediaOne of Shaun Murphy's greatest attributes is his cue action and even though he wouldn't have been feeling that great out there when he started this break, very quickly, his cue action has got him back on an even keel.
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At last we're seeing great snooker because of multi-sessions. These are real matches once again. Let us see more of the real matches when titles are involved!
Liz, Chester
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
A big chance now for Shaun Murphy to get that '7' on the board.
He gets the first real break of the frame, potting a lovely long red into the bottom right.
The table could look much worse, too.
"He needs to get this frame," says Steve Davis on commentary.
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two
Shaun Murphy is not cueing as well at the moment. He is going through a tough part.
I would suggest he would be delighted to get out [of the session] 9-7.
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There’s a lot of granite in Scotland, but most of it is now at the Crucible playing Shaun Murphy!
Keith, Swansea
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two
John Higgins keeps on doing it and he's done it for the whole of his career.
It's the first time he's opened up a two-frame advantage, he's going to take a bit of stopping and Shaun is going to have to step up a gear.
Higgins 8-6 Murphy
A break of 86 from John Higgins gives him a two-frame lead and it's the biggest margin that 'The Wizard of Wishaw' has led by so far in this semi-final.
Both players have made mistakes but it's Higgins who is capitalising on them.
The Scot is turning it on when it matters to close out frames.
Higgins 7-6 Murphy
Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two
John Higgins looks like he is getting stronger. That freak screwback from Shaun Murphy has cost him the frame.
Higgins 7-6 Murphy
Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two
It's amazing how big of an impact these frames have over this course and distance.
You could make a case for Shaun Murphy being something like 10-3 up at the moment but he has now got to pray for an unlikely mistake to avoid being 8-6 down.
Image source, PA MediaHiggins 7-6 Murphy
John Higgins breaks the pack up with a brilliant cannon off the blue and this now looks a formality.
The Scot does still need all of the remaining reds but they are positioned brilliantly.
Higgins 7-6 Murphy
Tough start to this frame with both players on the hunt for snookers until John Higgins decides he has had enough of all that and pots a delicious long red.
From 30-0 down in the frame, could the Scot once again nick this one to extend his lead?
He's certainly well positioned to now.
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It’s difficult to remember a semi-final of a lower quality in recent years. So many elementary mistakes, one would be surprised if the winner of this year’s championship does not come from the other semi-final.
Shane, Cornwall
Higgins 7-6 Murphy
Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre
Both John Higgins and Shaun Murphy are aiming to make it fourth time lucky this year, so to speak, having lost the past three world finals they have appeared in.
Higgins was beaten by Mark Selby, Mark Williams and Judd Trump in successive years between 2017-2019, while Murphy has lost to Higgins (2009), Stuart Bingham (2015) and Selby (2021) since collecting his only title to date back in 2005.
Should the Englishman triumph it would be the biggest gap (21 years) between titles at the Crucible, albeit it would also be 15 years for the Scot, who picked up his fourth Crucible crown in 2011.