The live text updates will pause here and will resume just before 19:00 BST, when the second semi-final between Wu Yize and Mark Allen is scheduled to get under way.

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John Higgins and Shaun Murphy will play two sessions on Friday (10:00 BST and 19:00 BST) and their semi-final is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, with the final session from 14:30 BST.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

In a funny way, Shaun will be not too disappointed because he's not played well and he's still not behind.

John might have played better and then Shaun might have been punished for his mistakes, but he's not been punished severely and it's honours even.

It has to get better than it was today, it wasn't a great session. John's cue ball was pretty loose for him and Shaun missed too many easy balls.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It won't go down in the annals of history as one of the greatest sessions we've ever seen.

You can buy me a hat and I guarantee I'll eat it on air if it's not a better session tomorrow.

Shaun Murphy has missed a trick there.

John Higgins gets over the line in the final frame of the session to make it 4-4.

Higgins' break of 50 is his highest of a session in which neither player was at their best.

Shaun Murphy made a century in frame four but, like Higgins, has been guilty of missing some easy balls.

They'll be back at 10:00 BST for the second of four scheduled sessions.

Joe Perry
Former World Championship semi-finalist on BBC Two

John is playing his best snooker as the session is coming to an end.

I can't help but feel that Shaun has missed a trick here today.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

John is such a competitor. He's missed so many easy balls but when the pressure's really on, he knocks them in. He's incredible.

A long red is powered into the corner and Higgins is on the brink of clinching the frame.

Image source, Getty Images

John Higgins registers his highest break so far - 40 - but he runs out of position on the next red and has to play safe with a 40-8 lead.

Joe Perry
Former World Championship semi-finalist on BBC Two

This chance for John is far from straightforward. There are two or three reds that are easy to play on.

We're so used to seeing John being in perfect position shot after shot, the game looks very easy when it's like that, but he's struggling today with his cue ball control and it's forced a couple of misses.

But... a poor positional shot proves costly for Shaun Murphy and his attempt to cut the black in is unsuccessful.

I think both players will be glad to see the back of this session and start afresh tomorrow with no major harm done in terms of the scoreline.

Having earlier missed an attempt at a long red, Shaun Murphy goes for a very attacking safety - smashing a red into the rest of the bunch and screwing back into baulk.

The reds are spread and John Higgins leaves Murphy one to the corner, which he gets and lands nicely on the pink.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It's unusual for John Higgins to start so slowly.

It's a bit worrying - Shaun Murphy will be absolutely delighted to be 4-3 up, as he's also played nowhere near his best.

For John Higgins to play a session and have a 39 break and a 36 break tells you how under the weather he's been today.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Very similar to his first sessions against Ronnie O'Sullivan and Neil Robertson, John's cue ball is not good and elementary positional shots are going off.

You could see his frustration when he went for the plant, missed it and went back to his seat.

He's not starting matches well in this championship. First sessions have not been his best.

John Higgins concedes the frame and Shaun Murphy ensures he won't be behind overnight.

One more frame to be played in this session.

Frame ball drops for Shaun Murphy and he's about to go 4-3 in front.

John Higgins runs out of position and decides to take on a risky plant, which doesn't drop.

Will Shaun Murphy take advantage this time?

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

There are currently nine young snooker players aged 12-19 being put through a mock media interview with MC Rob Walker in the press room.

The likes of Adam Abbas, who won the English Under-14 Championship final and Kaylan Patel, who won the Under-21 event, are among those present and have already been put through their paces at Ding Junhui's academy this morning by former world number 10 Anthony Hamilton.

They are all part of an English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards (EPSB) elite junior development programme.

Image source, PA Media

Goodness me - another black off the spot missed.

Shaun Murphy has a 37-point lead but John Higgins could eat into that here.

Joe Perry
Former World Championship semi-finalist on BBC Two

You feel the onus is on Shaun to get going more.

The way the match has been played, Shaun has done all the scoring. He's had three breaks over 50, John has just chipped in with a couple of 30 breaks.