The Crucible Theatre is set to host the semi-final clashes of the World Snooker Championship 2026, with Shaun Murphy and John Higgins slated to compete in one half of the draw, while Mark Allen faces Wu Yize in the other. These matches, played over best of 33 frames, commence on Thursday, April 30th, and will span across several sessions. The tournament, held in Sheffield, England, runs until May 4th.
== The final will be contested over a grueling best of 35 frames. ==
Quarter-Finals Conclude
Recent results saw Shaun Murphy defeat Zhao Xintong with a score of 13-10, a victory that also saw Murphy advance and contribute to ending Zhao's Crucible hopes. Simultaneously, John Higgins secured his semi-final spot by overcoming Neil Robertson with a 13-10 win. Mark Allen edged past Barry Hawkins 13-11, and Wu Yize triumphed over Hossein Vafaei, 13-8. These quarter-final matches were played as best of 25 frames.
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Path to the Semi-Finals
The journey through the tournament has seen various encounters:
Shaun Murphy had previously defeated Xiao Guodong 13-3 in the Last 16 and Zhao Xintong 13-10 in the quarter-finals. He also recorded a 10-9 victory against Fan Zhengyi in the first round.
John Higgins, seeking a potential fifth Crucible crown, beat Neil Robertson 13-10 in the quarter-finals. His earlier Last 16 match saw a close contest against Ronnie O'Sullivan, which Higgins won 13-12. He also progressed past Ali Carter 10-7 in the first round.
Mark Allen secured his place by defeating Barry Hawkins 13-11 in the quarter-finals. In the Last 16, he overcame Kyren Wilson 13-9, and started his campaign with a 10-6 win against Zhang Anda.
Wu Yize earned his semi-final berth with a 13-8 victory over Hossein Vafaei in the quarter-finals. Vafaei himself had a notable Last 16 match, narrowly beating Judd Trump 13-12. Wu Yize also had a commanding 10-6 win against Liam Pullen earlier in the tournament.
Notable Early Exits and Previous Rounds
The earlier stages of the championship saw notable players eliminated. Ronnie O'Sullivan was defeated 13-12 by John Higgins in the Last 16. Judd Trump exited the tournament after a 13-12 loss to Hossein Vafaei. Neil Robertson, after his quarter-final defeat to Higgins, had secured a 10-6 win against Chris Wakelin in the Last 16.
The tournament is being broadcast live, with daily updates and coverage available across various sports news platforms. This year's event continues to draw significant attention to the ongoing narrative within professional snooker.
