snooker world championship

Shaun Murphy dashed Zhao Xintong's hopes of lifting the Crucible curse with a superb 13-10 win as he moved into the last four of the World Championship. Zhao, 29, had been aiming to become the only first-time winner to defend his crown since the tournament moved to the Crucible Theatre in 1977. However, he simply had no answer as the 43-year-old Englishman knocked in a barrage of pots to reach the last four for the sixth time. He will now face four-time champion John Higgins, who delivered a vintage display to defeat Australia's Neil Robertson 13-10. Higgins, who turns 51 on 18 May, becomes th