Higgins Falls Short in Nail-Biting Semi-Final Against Murphy
John Higgins was unable to prevent Shaun Murphy from securing a chance at a second World Snooker Championship title after a gripping 17-15 defeat at the Crucible Theatre.
The 43-year-old English player overcame a two-frame deficit twice during the final session, demonstrating exceptional skill to overcome the 50-year-old four-time world champion.
The match appeared destined for a deciding frame until Higgins missed a crucial black ball on a break of 50, providing Murphy with an opportunity to clinch victory on his second attempt.
"The way Shaun hit the ball in that session was incredible," Higgins told . "He just hits it like God."
Higgins Reflects on the Match
Despite his disappointment, Higgins acknowledged Murphy's outstanding performance and the challenges posed by age on his own game.
"I'm disappointed, but what can you do. As you get older, your action starts to go a little bit at the most extreme points of the match.
"But, take nothing away, Shaun was awesome and he's got a great chance of going on to win it for a second time."
Session Dynamics and Key Moments
Resuming the final session trailing 13-11, Murphy began strongly with two total clearances to level the match. Higgins responded by winning the next two frames, reestablishing a two-frame lead.
Murphy's fourth century break of the match ignited another surge after the interval. As Higgins began to miss several straightforward shots, Murphy capitalized by winning the last four frames consecutively to secure the win.
Upcoming Final and Other Tournament Highlights
China's Wu Yize will face Murphy in Sunday's final after Northern Ireland's Mark Allen missed a simple black ball to win, ultimately losing 17-16.
Murphy Praises Higgins
Murphy expressed admiration for Higgins' resilience and skill throughout the match.
"I just came out today knowing, if I got my chances, I could score," Murphy said. "At the interval, I was just saying to myself, 'you've done it before, now you can do it again'.
"But John Higgins – what a player and what a man. The harder it gets out there, the tougher he gets and the better he plays.
"If I'm half the player when I'm in my 50s, I'll be very proud."
