{"id":7907,"date":"2026-05-02T16:52:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7907"},"modified":"2026-05-02T16:52:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:52:51","slug":"shaun-murphy-denies-john-higgins-in-epic-world-snooker-championship-semi-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7907","title":{"rendered":"Shaun Murphy denies John Higgins in epic World Snooker Championship semi-final"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"594\" height=\"403\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28209426\" alt=\"Halo World Snooker Championship - Day Fifteen\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Shaun Murphy is into a fifth World Championship final (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Shaun Murphy is into the World Snooker Championship final for a fifth time after beating John Higgins 17-15 in an epic at the Crucible.<\/p>\n<p>The Magician has not won the world title since his only Crucible glory in 2005, but will have the chance to reclaim snooker\u2019s greatest prize over the next two days.<\/p>\n<p>He has earned his spot in the showpiece after beating Fan Zhengyi, Xiao Guodong and defending champion Zhao Xintong, before surviving a battle with Higgins.<\/p>\n<p>There was never more than a two-frame gap between the players in a hard-fought scrap over three days in Sheffield, but Murphy\u2019s break-building form shone through.<\/p>\n<p>The 43-year-old made five centuries on his way to the huge victory, including three in the final session, which he started 11-13 behind.<\/p>\n<p>The second semi-final will come to a finish on Saturday night, with Wu Yize and Mark Allen locked at 11-11 with one session to come.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tAre you snooker loopy?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>You&#8217;re in the right place. I&#8217;m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for <strong>Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In my new newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week.<\/p>\n<p>The next edition will look back on what has been a great World Championship yet again, so there&#8217;s no better time to sign up.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FB-MAIN-8adc.png?w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27997408\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade, since working in World Snooker&#8217;s press office in 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The pair are a couple of frames behind schedule after their record-breaking 100-minute frame on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2273856925.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28208909\" alt=\"Halo World Snooker Championship - Day Thirteen\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>John Higgins and Shaun Murphy played out a mammoth scrap (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Murphy made a strong start to the game, knocking in breaks of 68, 69 and 100 to go in 3-1 up at the first interval, but things got a bit sticky from there.<\/p>\n<p>Thursday\u2019s opening session ended 4-4, with making a high break of 50 in the final frame, clinging on and winning some scrappy ones.<\/p>\n<p>The quality improved in the second session on Friday morning, but neither could escape the other, with the game still level at 8-8.<\/p>\n<p>It was the Magician\u2019s turn to scrape by without scoring, as Higgins made four of the five half-centuries in the eight frames.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274057144.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28208924\" alt=\"Halo World Snooker Championship - Day Fourteen\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Shaun Murphy had downed defending champion Zhao Xintong in the previous round (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The pair resumed on Friday evening and the Scot finally had a small amount of daylight by the end of the session, leading 13-11.<\/p>\n<p>Murphy made a 105 to even things up at 11-11, but the scoring power was improving for both as Higgins made 70 and 101 to end the day ahead.<\/p>\n<p>The Magician came out swinging in the final session of the game, evening things up yet again as he knocked in breaks of 132 and 127 without Higgins scoring a point.<\/p>\n<p>As he has done all tournament, though, the Wizard dug in and clung on, winning the next two, with an 88 in the 28th frame, leaving him two from victory at 15-13 in the mid-session interval on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>The 2005 world champion roared back after the interval, making 105 to go back within one frame. Higgins showed a sign of weakness in the next, playing a tepid safety shot to allow Murphy in \u2013 albeit with a tricky red to middle \u2013 but he sunk it, made 78 and it was 15-15.<\/p>\n<p>Nerves started to play a part as both spurned chances in the 31st, but Murphy looked the stronger at this stage and after a couple of efforts, a 38 was enough to win the frame and go one from the final.<\/p>\n<p>It looked set for a decider when Higgins was on 50, but missed a black to corner and allowed Murphy in to make 35 before missing the final red.<\/p>\n<p>A misjudged safety shot from Higgins cost him, with Murphy getting back to the table and getting over the line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Barry Hearn speaks out on Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s future in snooker<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Wu Yize thanks Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan for support on rapid rise to snooker elite<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Neil Robertson reveals what John Higgins does that almost nobody sees<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--snooker\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>The Table<\/h4>\n<p>Stay ahead of snooker&#8217;s next big break with Metro&#8217;s resident expert Phil Haigh in his new weekly newsletter.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Shaun Murphy denies John Higgins in epic World Snooker Championship semi-final<br \/>\n<br \/>#Shaun #Murphy #denies #John #Higgins #epic #World #Snooker #Championship #semifinal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shaun Murphy is into a fifth World Championship final (Picture: Getty Images) Shaun Murphy is&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1636,4927,2050,3409,518,2354,4653,2353,418,328],"class_list":["post-7907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-championship","tag-denies","tag-epic","tag-higgins","tag-john","tag-murphy","tag-semifinal","tag-shaun","tag-snooker","tag-world"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-1115x630.jpg",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2274155275_1777740324-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7907\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}