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Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

It wasn't a great session [yesterday] and I think we're going to get a very special session today.

They were both struggling a little bit and John Higgins would have been delighted to have won four frames, because up until the last frame when he made a 40 and a 50 break, his highest break was 39.

Shaun Murphy missed a trick - he could quite easily have won that session 7-1 but he missed too many easy balls.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion, speaking after the first session

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 [Thursday], 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.

BBC Two

BBC Two coverage from Sheffield is now under way - you can also watch it live on the BBC iPlayer and via the link at the top of this page.

John Higgins and Shaun Murphy were both unable to find their best form in a scrappy opening session of their semi-final on Thursday.

Murphy knocked in two half-centuries and a break of exactly 100 to lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval, but was guilty of some bad misses.

Higgins, despite struggling himself, was able to capitalise by winning three of the remaining four frames to ensure the score would be level overnight.

They will play another eight frames this morning and eight more in the evening session from 19:00 BST.

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.

10:00

• John Higgins 4-4 Shaun Murphy (frames 9-16)

14:30

• Wu Yize 6-2 Mark Allen (frames 9-16)

19:00

• John Higgins v Shaun Murphy (frames 17-24)

It's Friday, the sun is shining and things are heating up at the Crucible.

Today marks the beginning of session two in both of the World Championship semi-finals, starting with John Higgins and Shaun Murphy this morning before Wu Yize and Mark Allen take to the table this afternoon.

Let's hope for more of what we saw on Thursday - minus the power cuts.

Settle in because it's going to be a good day on the baize.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images