BBC Sport snooker

World Snooker Championship
Date: 18 April-4 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Coverage: Live coverage each day on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Highlights - Murphy into World semis

Shaun Murphy booked his place in the World Championship semi-finals with a 13-11 victory over seven-time winner Stephen Hendry at the Crucible.

Murphy resumed 9-7 ahead and set about extending his advantage, but he was continually pegged back by Hendry.

Hendry twice closed to within one frame of drawing level but Murphy sealed his win with a century break in frame 24.

The 2005 champion will play Neil Robertson for a place in the final after he beat Stephen Maguire 13-8.

"Stephen threw everything at me in the first session, including the kitchen sink," said Murphy. "The problem for Stephen was I picked it up and threw it back. That's what happens in top-flight sport.

"I'm feeling good, I'm playing well and I've got confidence in my game.

He's a fantastic player and could well win it Stephen Hendry

"If I keep improving I hope to be there in the mix. I've definitely got the game to win it."

It was vital for Hendry, who made a magnificent 147 on Tuesday, to start well but from 38-0 ahead in the day's opening frame he managed to lose it and fall further behind to 10-7 as Murphy made a 59 break.

Murphy admitted that Hendry's 147 may have assisted his cause.

"I think a little bit of the pressure was taken off me there. All the focus was on Stephen," he said.

Hendry concurred, saying: "Ever since I made the maximum my concentration was nowhere."

Hendry found himself stuck on 37 at the start of frame 18, missing a long blue, but although Murphy responded with a break of 40, he missed a red along the cushion and Hendry put him in trouble with a devilish snooker.

Murphy could not escape and Hendry took his chance to win the frame.

However, the Scot could not build momentum and Murphy made a run of 73 to go 11-8 ahead.

Murphy was 52-13 up in the final frame before the mid-session interval when he missed a straightforward black.

606: DEBATE Still a great performance from Stephen and he has proved he is more than capable of challenging for titles again davysteen

Hendry stalled on 15 but pounced to win the frame by a point after being handed another chance when Murphy missed the green.

A superb 80 break enabled Hendry to maintain the pressure and, after Murphy reopened a two-frame cushion with a fine 81 break, the 40-year-old dug deep with a 69, taking the match to 12-11.

Hendry looked to be in the ascendancy in frame 24 but missed a long red and allowed Murphy to storm into the last four with his century break.

Hendry was full of praise for his opponent and suggested he has the ability to win the tournament.

"He's a fantastic player and could well win it," Hendry said.

"His game has changed and he's a better player. With expectation comes more pressure and it's how you cope with that, but he seems to cope fine."

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