Higgins levels World Championship semi-final with resilient recovery against Murphy

John Higgins has drawn level at 4-4 against Shaun Murphy in the opening session of their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The contest, a best-of-33 match, saw the four-time world champion fight back from a 3-1 deficit to ensure the pair share the session scoreline.

Higgins appeared to be recovering from fatigue following his late-night quarter-final victory over Neil Robertson, a factor that initially impacted his fluency and led to several missed easy pots. Despite these early struggles, the Scot secured the final frame of the session with a break of 50, a crucial moment that halted Murphy's momentum.

Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion, had moved 3-1 ahead with breaks of 68, 69 and 100 before conceding three frames. At the mid-session interval, the Englishman seemed poised to construct a significant overnight advantage, but loose shots allowed Higgins a route back into contention.

This match marks Higgins' 100th appearance at the Crucible Theatre, a milestone that coincides with him becoming the oldest semi-finalist in the tournament's history since Ray Reardon in 1985. Turning 51 in May, the veteran demonstrated the resolve and granite matchplay qualities that define his career.

Commentator Stephen Hendry noted that while both players made mistakes, the session should improve as the match progresses. Hendry highlighted Higgins' tendency to get better as a contest goes on, suggesting that Murphy was not punished severely enough for his errors to gain a lasting lead.

The best-of-33 match resumes on Friday, with the remaining semi-final between China's Wu Yize and Northern Ireland's Mark Allen scheduled to start earlier on Thursday.