World Snooker Championship: Murphy Fights Back to Tie Higgins After Session Two

Crucible semi-final deadlocked as Murphy erases Higgins lead

Murphy came from behind to tie John Higgins 8-8 in their World Snooker Championship semi-final after winning four of the last five frames Friday.

In the other semi-final, China’s Wu Yize leads Mark Allen 6-2 heading into Friday’s second session...

Shaun Murphy fought back to tie his World Snooker Championship semi-final with John Higgins at 8-8, leveling Friday’s second session at the Crucible.

Play resumed at 4-4, and four-time champion Higgins, who turns 51 on May 18, opened the session with a 72 break to take the first frame.

Murphy, chasing a second world title 21 years after his first, responded with an 88 and won two of the next three frames to make it 6-6.

A mistake from Murphy in the following frame allowed Higgins in for a 57, and the Scot extended his lead with an 86 break to go two frames up.

Shaun Murphy lands a fluke when he needed it most 🍀 pic.twitter.com/qQXVIebsmc

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 1, 2026

Murphy claimed a scrappy 15th frame, and then leveled again after Higgins missed a difficult red off the rest along the left cushion.

The best-of-33 semi-final between Murphy and Higgins resumes at 20:00 CET on Friday, with eight frames set for the third of four sessions.

In the other semi-final, China’s Wu Yize leads Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen 6-2 heading into Friday’s second session.