Higgins and Murphy deadlocked as Wu takes control in World Championship semi-finals

John Higgins produced a battling performance to end the opening session level at 4-4 with Shaun Murphy, while Wu Yize held the upper hand against Mark Allen in the other World Snooker Championship semi-final.

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Higgins, a four-time World Championship winner, demonstrated his resilience against Murphy in their best-of-33 frames encounter at the Crucible. The veteran Scot recovered from a shaky start to restore parity before the interval, ensuring the tie remains finely balanced heading into the later sessions.

Meanwhile, Wu Yize emerged in a promising position in his semi-final against Mark Allen. The Chinese player built a lead during his opening session, leaving the Northern Irishman with work to do if he is to extend his run at the theatre where he lifted the trophy in 2022.

Both matches continue over the coming days, with the winners advancing to the final. The semi-finals represent the penultimate stage of snooker's most prestigious event, now firmly in its business end with high stakes for all four remaining competitors.