The Higgins Murphy moment

John Higgins opens up a slender 13-11 advantage over Shaun Murphy heading into the final session of their World Championship semi-final. Higgins Murphy has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in United Kingdom.

Key facts

• John Higgins opens up a slender 13-11 advantage over Shaun Murphy heading into the final session of their World Championship semi-final.
• John Higgins opened up a slender 13-11 advantage over Shaun Murphy heading into the final session of their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre.
• Higgins, who started the day strongly but was repeatedly pegged back by 2005 winner Murphy, ended it in the same fashion as he compiled his first century of the contest to hold sway.
• Higgins constructed a 63 and Murphy then knocked in a superb century from the Scot's break-off shot.
• John Higgins ended Friday with a two-frame lead over Shaun Murphy ahead of their Saturday showdown at the Crucible.

What we know

Going deeper, John Higgins opened up a slender 13-11 advantage over Shaun Murphy heading into the final session of their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre.

On the substance, Higgins, who started the day strongly but was repeatedly pegged back by 2005 winner Murphy, ended it in the same fashion as he compiled his first century of the contest to hold sway.

Beyond the headlines, Higgins constructed a 63 and Murphy then knocked in a superb century from the Scot's break-off shot.

More precisely, John Higgins ended Friday with a two-frame lead over Shaun Murphy ahead of their Saturday showdown at the Crucible.

It is worth noting that John Higgins will take a two-frame lead over Shaun Murphy into Saturday, with the winner set to take on the victor of the second semi-final between Wu Yize and Mark Allen.

By the numbers

At this stage, World Championship LIVE - Higgins 12-11 Murphy (70-0).

On a related note, Four-time champion Higgins, who turns 51 later this month, had not led at the end of a session throughout the tournament but picked the ideal time to change that as he bids to reach a record-equalling ninth final in Sheffield.

Going deeper, Having resumed at 8-8, England's Murphy struck the first blow on Friday evening with a break of 60 to move into the lead for the first time since the end of the seventh frame.

On the substance, However, in keeping with what had gone before, Higgins immediately responded with runs of 44 and 55 and then pinched the following frame after laying a snooker on the brown.

The wider context

On a related note, a wonderful break of 82 from Murphy ensured the players could not be separated at the mid-session interval.

Going deeper, However, Higgins found an extra gear when it mattered, crafting a run of 70 and then signing off for the evening with a superb 101.

On the substance, World Snooker Championship 2026 live comments and streaming details.

Beyond the headlines, Absolute granite' - Brilliant Higgins snooker helps secure 19th frame.

More precisely, when he was a boy he dreamed of making one' - Murphy joins elite club with 100th Crucible century.

The bottom line

• A wonderful break of 82 from Murphy ensured the players could not be separated at the mid-session interval.
• When he was a boy he dreamed of making one' - Murphy joins elite club with 100th Crucible century.
• It's what John Higgins has done in every match this championship - he's got better as each match has gone on and played his best snooker near the end of the match.