Higgins builds slender semi-final lead over Murphy

Having resumed at 8-8, England's Murphy struck the first blow on Friday evening with a break of 60 to move into the lead for the first time since the end of the seventh frame. However, in keeping with what had gone before, Higgins immediately responded with runs of 44 and 55 and then pinched the following frame after laying a snooker on the brown. A wonderful break of 82 from Murphy ensured the players could not be separated at the mid-session interval. …