Wu meets Murphy in World Snooker Championship final
Mark Allen was left devastated after missing a simple black ball that would have secured his place in the World Snooker Championship final. Wu Yize capitalised on the error to win the match 17-16 in one of the most dramatic semi-final finishes in Crucible history. This result means Wu meets Murphy in the final.
Allen’s missed opportunity and Wu’s comeback
Allen, 40, was on the verge of victory in the 32nd frame and needed only to pot the black ball to win 17-15. However, he rattled the pocket and missed, allowing Wu to level the match at 16-16. In the deciding frame, Allen initially took a 47-point lead but a difficult split on the reds left him out of position. Wu then produced a brilliant 71 clearance to clinch the match 17-16.
After the match, Allen said, “You don’t deserve to be in a world final if you’re missing balls like that. It was just pure pressure, to be honest.” He also praised Wu’s style of play, predicting he would win many world titles.
Murphy’s comeback against Higgins
Earlier, Shaun Murphy staged a comeback from 15-13 down to defeat John Higgins 17-15. Murphy overcame a two-frame deficit in the final session and took advantage of a missed black by Higgins on a 50 break to secure victory.
Murphy commented on his performance, saying he believed in his ability to score and praised Higgins as a tough competitor. Higgins acknowledged Murphy’s excellent play and expressed disappointment but respect for his opponent’s performance.
Summary of the semi-finals
- Mark Allen missed a crucial black ball in the 32nd frame against Wu Yize.
- Wu won the deciding frame 17-16 to reach his first World Championship final.
- Shaun Murphy rallied from 15-13 down to beat John Higgins 17-15.
- The final will be contested between Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy.