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  1. Postpublished at 17:35 BST

    What a day we've had so far and there's still more to come...

    Who will join Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy in the last four of the World Championship?

    Come back to this page from 19:00 BST to see the concluding sessions of Neil Robertson v John Higgins and Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei.

  2. Postpublished at 17:32 BST

    Result: Zhao 10-13 Murphy

    Shaun Murphy celebratesImage source, PA Media

    More from Shaun Murphy, speaking on BBC Two after reaching the semi-finals:

    "I was guilty in the first session of being a bit on edge, it was all a bit too important. Even though I shaded it 5-3, we were both gone in the last two frames of that first session because we knew how important it was.

    "Going into today's session, I knew that if I didn't play well, I'd lose."

    On the impact of working with former world champion Peter Ebdon:

    "It's certainly helped me tap into that reservoir of toughness. I've always been quite tough mentally, but having been out there and done it himself, he's able to give you that little word that gets you in that zone.

    "Sometimes I've been a bit soft and I'm not saying I've gone nasty, but I've certainly gone harder and I'm not willing to buckle perhaps as easily as I was."

    On facing either Neil Robertson or John Higgins in the semi-finals:

    "I've played them both here in some great matches. You're splitting hairs between two legends and whoever comes through, it's going to be very difficult."

  3. 'What a star, what a session'published at 17:30 BST

    Wu 10-6 Vafaei

    Rob Walker
    Snooker commentator for BBC TV

    Wu has gone through the gears and he's been potting balls off the lampshades.

    This 22-year-old has delivered a masterclass of snooker this afternoon.

    What a star, what a session.

  4. Wu goes four ahead with 90 clearancepublished at 17:26 BST

    Wu 10-6 Vafaei

    Media caption,

    'What a star, what a session!' - Wu wins final frame of session to lead 10-6

    "Wow," says a member of the Crucible crowd, fairly audibly.

    Rightly so. Wu Yize absolutely smashes in an incredibly tough blue along the top cushion as he goes exhibition style on the colours.

    An amazing 90 break in an afternoon full of stunning snooker from the Chinese 10th seed, who has won six of the eight frames on offer.

    As the commentators have repeatedly said, Hossein Vafaei has not done much wrong - Wu has just been irrepressible.

    These two will be back to play to a finish tonight, with Wu needing just three frames to book a first-ever Crucible semi-final, against Mark Allen.

  5. Postpublished at 17:19 BST

    Wu 9-6 Vafaei

    There are attacking snooker players and then there is Wu Yize.

    Unbelievable long red down the side cushion followed by crunching in the brown to career into the pack of reds off three rails.

    He came to the table 35 points behind - after Hossein Vafaei, perhaps costly so, missed a blue to middle - but has crafted a chance out of absolutely nothing.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:18 BST

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    So many amazing frames and matches. I can't recall seeing a tournament like this in 70 years of watching. So many players are so skilful and it's not finished yet!

    Keith, Hastings

    I do think Zhao Xintong lost this match in the first session, he should have been 6-2 up! He also made it quite easy for Shaun Murphy in the first two frames this afternoon - two badly played dump shots - I would love to see Wu Yize win the title.

    Pat, Dublin

  7. 'I had to be somewhere near my best'published at 17:15 BST

    Result: Zhao 10-13 Murphy

    Media caption,

    Murphy seals 13-10 victory against Zhao

    Shaun Murphy, speaking on BBC Two after his victory against defending world champion Zhao Xintong:

    "I think when you're playing great players, which Zhao Xintong unquestionably is, it makes it straightforward for you.

    "At 3-0 down, if you'd said I would have been level going into the last session, I'd have snapped your hand off.

    "Even though I lost the second session, I was able to get myself in a good headspace for today and I just knew that I had to come out, be somewhere near my best and I think I was. I'm delighted with how I played."

  8. 'Shaun potted everything today'published at 17:09 BST

    Result: Zhao 10-13 Murphy

    Defending champion Zhao Xintong, speaking on BBC Two after his quarter-final exit from this year's World Championship:

    "Shaun played really well, he gave me big pressure and played perfect snooker today. He deserved to win.

    "I felt some pressure [as defending champion] but I still felt alright. I tried to get better, but Shaun is a good player and he played very well so congratulations to him.

    "I gave him some difficult long pots and he potted everything today.

    "I'm looking forward to the new season, I can have a rest now and I'm happy. Hopefully next season I will have a strong comeback."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:07 BST

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    Hugely impressive win for Shaun, surely favourite to win the title now - just 21 years after his first!

    Ben, York

  10. Postpublished at 17:04 BST

    Result: Zhao 10-13 Murphy

    Ken Doherty
    1997 world champion on BBC Two

    Shaun is known as the Magician and it was a magical performance, there's no doubt about it. He's playing as well as he's ever played.

    He has that super confidence, every facet of his game is top-quality and he's playing as good as anyone in the tournament.

    But he won't get carried away, I'm sure.

  11. Vafaei stops the rotpublished at 17:03 BST

    Wu 9-6 Vafaei

    Key frame for Hossein Vafaei on the other side of the divider, which will soon be raised with the other match finished.

    He floats in an incredibly nerveless long red, given he'd lost five frames on the spin, to give himself a chance of sealing a frame he had mostly controlled. And he takes full advantage.

    Massive final frame of the session coming up in front of the entire Crucible arena - mammoth difference between 10-6 and 9-7.

  12. Postpublished at 17:00 BST

    Result: Zhao 10-13 Murphy

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    It was nigh on the perfect session. I don't think Shaun will have ever played as good a session, it was a super-human performance and it needed that to take out Zhao Xintong, because he wasn't playing badly.

    Shaun is playing World Championship-winning standard at the moment and if he continues it, he's going to be so tough to beat.

  13. Murphy beats defending champion Zhaopublished at 16:56 BST
    Breaking

    Result: Zhao 10-13 Murphy

    Media caption,

    Murphy seals 13-10 victory against Zhao

    The Crucible curse strikes again!

    A magnificent performance from Shaun Murphy, who ends the title reign of defending champion and pre-tournament favourite Zhao Xintong.

    The Englishman is into the semi-finals again and, 21 years after his first world title, is two wins away from achieving a second.

  14. Postpublished at 16:53 BST

    Zhao 10-12 Murphy

    It's not over yet - Zhao Xintong flukes a red to start a break of 30, before playing safe off the last red.

    He's 39 behind with 35 remaining.

  15. Postpublished at 16:50 BST

    Zhao 10-12 Murphy

    Shaun Murphy is 69 ahead with 67 remaining. Zhao Xintong returns to the table needing a snooker to extend his title defence at least one more frame.

  16. Postpublished at 16:48 BST

    Zhao 10-12 Murphy

    Stephen Hendry
    Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

    This has been as confident a run to the line as you could wish to see.

  17. Postpublished at 16:47 BST

    Zhao 10-12 Murphy

    Shaun Murphy's break is up to 45 now. He'll probably need to disturb some reds to get over the winning line in this frame, though.

  18. 'Floating around without a care in world'published at 16:45 BST

    Wu 9-5 Vafaei

    Rob Walker
    Snooker commentator for BBC TV

    It's hard not to feel sympathy for Hossein Vafaei - he really hasn't done much wrong. His opponent has been fantastic.

    Wu is guaranteed a lead going into tonight - the only question is by how much.

    One of the biggest sessions of snooker of his entire career, in front of a huge audience - in the arena and television - and he's floating around the table without a care in the world.

    Media caption,

    Wu moves into 9-5 lead againt Vafaei

  19. Postpublished at 16:44 BST

    Zhao 10-12 Murphy

    Shaun Murphy pots a couple of tremendous reds into middle pockets to set up a first real chance to clinch the match and, with it, a place in the semi-finals at the Crucible.

  20. Wu goes four in frontpublished at 16:42 BST

    Wu 9-5 Vafaei

    Bit of bad luck for Hossein Vafaei as the Iranian pots a brilliant long red but doesn't quite land on a colour.

    And once Wu Yize gets his chance, well he pounces. Another simply effortless break - well effortless for him. Just makes it look so easy (it's not).

    The only blot on the copybook is the green staying over the pocket in an attempted clearance - means the break finishes on 92, rather than consecutive centuries.

    Five frames on the spin for the 22-year-old Chinese potter.