John Higgins hits back to level up Crucible semi-final clash with Shaun Murphy

Shaun Murphy was reminded that his mission of ending a 21-year wait for a second World Snooker Championship crown will not be straightforward, as he was pegged back by four-time champion John Higgins in their semi-final.

The 2005 champion has moved through the gears since squeaking out a 10-9 first-round win over Fan Zhengyi, easing past Xiao Guodong in round two before conquering reigning world champion Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals to set up a last-four showdown with Higgins and a repeat of the 2009 final.

Scotsman Higgins cruised to victory on that occasion 17 years ago, but it was Murphy who made the stronger start on Thursday afternoon, taking a 3-1 lead into the mid-session interval.

Higgins fought back, though, winning three of the final four frames of the opening session to level things up at 4-4.

Murphy started brightly, taking the opener 110-1 with breaks of 42 and 68.

Higgins – playing his 100th match at the Crucible – had a late night on Wednesday as he fought off Neil Robertson but showed few signs of fatigue as he took advantage of Murphy’s numerous missed chances to win the second frame 65-27.

But Murphy hit back, taking a cagey third frame with a 69 break before a stunning century in the next sent him into the interval with a 3-1 lead.

A lengthy safety battle developed when the action got back under way, with Higgins emerging victorious to reduce the deficit to a single frame.

The 50-year-old looked in control in the next before a missed pink left the door ajar for Murphy but the Englishman could not make the most of his opportunity and Higgins closed out a 63-41 win to square the match at 3-3.

Murphy won frame seven with a smart break of 34, but could not do anything to prevent Higgins from pulling level once more, as a 50 break proved enough