Day 12: Semi-Finals Set as Murphy, Allen, Higgins and Wu Fight for Crucible Glory

The quarter-finals are done and dusted. Shaun Murphy edged past Zhao Xintong 13-10 in a cliffhanger two days ago, Mark Allen ground past Barry Hawkins 13-11, Wu Yize dispatched Hossein Vafaei 13-8, and John Higgins took down Neil Robertson 13-10 to set up a mouth-watering semi-final lineup. Today we find out who reaches the final.

Results

Two Days Ago (Quarter-Finals): Shaun Murphy 13-10 Zhao Xintong. A nervy finish saw Murphy edge the Chinese teenager in a match that could have gone either way down the stretch.

Mark Allen 13-11 Barry Hawkins. Allen’s experience told in a tight affair that took real craft to navigate.

Wu Yize 13-8 Hossein Vafaei. Wu looked the sharper player and posted a convincing scoreline to advance to the last four.

John Higgins 13-10 Neil Robertson. Higgins proved too consistent for Robertson and booked his place in the semis with a composed display.

Today’s Sessions

13:00 — Shaun Murphy vs John Higgins

Murphy comes in as the slight favourite at 1.73, but Higgins at 2.1 looks like genuine value here. Murphy has looked vulnerable in the knockouts, scraping past Zhao in a match he could easily have lost. Higgins, by contrast, has dispatched Robertson with authority and looks to be playing the cleaner snooker of the two. The Scot’s consistency is a real threat on a stage where one bad session can cost you a spot in the final.

19:00 — Mark Allen vs Wu Yize

Wu Yize is the pick of the odds here at 1.62, and for good reason. The young gun has steamrolled through the quarter-finals and looks hungry for the final. Allen at 2.3 is battle-hardened but has needed tight matches to progress. Wu’s form suggests he can handle Allen’s experience, and the shorter odds reflect a player in ascendancy right now.

Title Race: Where the Money Is

Outright odds have not yet been updated by the market, so we can’t track movement on the four semi-finalists just yet. That said, all four of these players can legitimately claim they belong in a final, and each brings different strengths to the table. The Crucible Curse, which has held firm since 1977, will be on the minds of any first-time finalist among this group as they chase the biggest prize in snooker. Once the semis are done, expect the outright market to sharpen significantly around whoever makes the final.

Today’s Tip