Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

It was a little bit tense because they knew the importance of that last frame.

You'd have to feel that Shaun is the much happier of the two, having won those last two frames. He'll come back this evening full of beans.

You can't separate the two and it's turning into a fascinating semi-final.

That final mistake from John Higgins did indeed prove costly and Shaun Murphy clears the table to ensure the two will go into the evening session level.

It was a match that started off hot but really cooled down towards the end, with nerves perhaps playing their part.

You'd be brave to call the outcome of this one, though. Absolutely nothing to separate the two as we bring the morning session to a close.

They'll play another eight frames from 19:00 BST, with the conclusion of the match to come on Saturday afternoon.

"Massive, massive red," says Steve Davis.

It was positioned awkwardly but once again John Higgins sees a ball rattle the jaws of that bottom left pocket. I've lost count of how many times that pocket has cost him today.

Mistake after mistake at the moment. I think both players are desperate for the end of the session.

All eyes on the action at the Crucible Theatre.

Image source, PA Media

Shaun Murphy misses what looked a fairly simple pink to the middle pocket and slumps back into his seat with a face like thunder. That could be extremely costly.

It's evident how important this frame is to both players.

Now John Higgins gets himself into a pickle and leaves himself with a difficult red that he can only rattle into the jaws of the bottom left pocket.

Awkward is a good way to describe a lot of this match. A lot of awkward moments for both players.

Every time you think one has the perfect opportunity to get a comfortable break, they seem to get themselves in an unnecessary pickle.

Back to risk-taking for John Higgins in the last frame of the session, so it seems.

He drops a shot right into the pack of reds but they are awkwardly positioned and not set up for Shaun Murphy to clear up.

Murphy gets a red but misses the pink and leaves Higgins with a perfectly positioned plant to get going.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

Shaun should have had that frame put away earlier. He missed a straightforward yellow and it went on for 20 minutes after that. He could have done without all of that.

But the most important thing is he's got the frame, he's just one behind and he could draw level.

John Higgins certainly didn't give up but that snooker towards the end was asking a bit too much.

Shaun Murphy pots the pink and cuts the Scot's lead to one once more.

The longest frame of the session that one, just under 37 minutes.

Both players have left the arena prior to the final frame. Both know just how important it is.

Huge, huge frame of snooker coming up.

Now John Higgins attempts a snooker on the green but gets it wrong and allows Shaun Murphy in to pot a wonderful long green.

Higgins is again behind, this time by 23 with 18 remaining.

Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two

He was waiting, John. He played the patient game. He had the chance to take the red on earlier but was waiting for the opportunity to take on a high value colour.

John Higgins has gone from playing aggressively to playing far more cautiously.

He attempts a safety shot on the red rather than going for it and allows Shaun Murphy a chance but Murphy misses!

It's now a snooker-fest.

Who blinks first?

Well, well, well...

John Higgins gets the snooker he requires as Shaun Murphy, with the cue ball behind the black, misses the red by millimetres with a swerve shot.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

You'd really expect a player of John Higgins' capability to be able to leave a cue ball in such a place to be able to guarantee a snooker behind yellow, green, blue, brown even.

Higgins is 45 behind with 43 remaining...

Image source, PA Media

Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two

This is a frame where Shaun Murphy may just allow himself to think he cannot possibly lose this frame with the position of the balls but of course, the man in the opposite corner has made a career in having something to say in that department.

The story of Shaun Murphy's last few frames.

He reaches 48 on the scoreboard and it all becomes a bit messy. He knocks a brilliant red in on the angle but in doing so leaves him without another shot to take on other than attempt a safety.

Fortunately for him, his safety shots are paying off and giving John Higgins nothing to play with.

As I type that, he makes another mistake to allow Higgins in.

Surely not...

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

On Wednesday evening, Neil Robertson outlined clearly just how tough facing John Higgins is and the problems he causes with his shot selection.

The four-time world champion's performance thus far today has only served to underline those sentiments - although these past few shots appear to be a mini wobble.