Scots end in deadlock as Murphy grabs lead

SNOOKER/World Championships:Stephen Maguire, hoping to have his name inscribed on the 80-year-old trophy alongside fellow Scots Walter Donaldson, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Graeme Dott, led Higgins 3-1 and 4-3 but will resume their best-of-33-frames tie today at 4-4.

When Maguire won his first world-ranking title, the 2004 European Open, Jimmy White, whom he defeated, remarked that he had scarcely missed. In the same manner, the then 23-year-old became UK champion later that year but went into recession after blowing a 9-7 lead to lose 10-9 to Ronnie O'Sullivan on the opening day here two years ago.

Deeply disappointed, he put on weight, could not apply himself to practice and developed problems with his cue. Not until this week has he looked fully his old self, notably in making breaks of 85, 102 and 79 in the first half-session of the semi-final and almost snatching the second frame from 55 behind before Higgins won it on the pink.

Higgins responded with runs of 113 and 68 in keeping Maguire scoreless in the next two frames to equalise at 3-3. Maguire scored first with 42 in the seventh after a duel of 15 minutes before a single red was potted but still struggled to win it and was never in contention in the eighth.

Mark Selby had the day to recover from the midnight finish of his 13-12 win over Allister Carter before start his semi-final against Shaun Murphy last night.

But the rest didn't seem to be enough as Murphy continued in the form which had seem him produce one of the greatest comebacks in the Championships as he opened up an early lead in the semi-final.

Murphy had come from 12-7 down to defeat Matthew Stevens in the previous round and he won three of the opening four frames against Selby.

Murphy had runs of 39 and 38 to open his account and a break of 70 in the next doubled the advantage of Murphy, who two years ago had become the lowest ranked player at 48 to win snooker's greatest prize.

Selby, at 23 the youngest player left in the tournament, was taking time to adjust to the one-table arena in front of a packed Crucible audience.

A break of 55 steadied the Leicester potter's nerves in the third frame and he sealed it with a run of 30 to the final pink. But Murphy made him pay for missing a brown into the right middle pocket in the next and an 84 break re-established his two-frame lead at the interval.

They returned with Murphy in excellent form, grabbing the fifth frame with a century break, 101 and then claimed the sixth 62-18, with a 55 break, to lead 5-1.

But Selby salvaged the session by winning the last two frames, 22-85 and 46-66.