What are the semi-finals at the 2026 World Snooker Championship: Preview, stats, schedule

A total of 144 entrants began the 2026 World Snooker Championship, only 32 featured at the Crucible for the main draw, and now we’re down to just four players who remain on course for the sport’s ultimate prize.

The hallowed Crucible arena has been transformed into a one-table set-up, with one semi-final featuring two former world champions with 12 final appearances between them, and the other consisting of cueists both aiming to reach their maiden title match in Sheffield.

Both matches are the best of 33 frames played across a scheduled four sessions between Thursday to Sunday.

Shaun Murphy v John Higgins (Thursday 13:00/Friday 10:00 & 19:00/Saturday 14:30)

Two all-time behemoths of the green baize clash in semi-final number one as a ‘Magician’ faces a ‘Wizard’.

It could have been a very different story for Murphy, though, who was within a few pots of losing to qualifier Fan Zhengyi in round one before compiling a gutsy 50 clearance to pink in the deciding frame.

He then brushed aside number nine seed Xiao Guodong 13-3 with a session to spare, and inflicted the ‘Crucible Curse’ on reigning champion Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals with an engrossing 13-10 win.

Murphy lifted the famous trophy in 2005 as a 22-year-old qualifier. He has been to final three times since (2009, 2015, 2021) but has had to settle for silver on each occasion. His overall Crucible record is a chequered one, though; before this year, he’d been past the last 16 stage only once (when he made the ‘21 final) from his previous 10 attempts.

The 43-year-old Englishman has been one of this season’s standout performers, winning the British Open and being runner-up at the Xi’an Grand Prix and German Masters. It represents a turnaround in fortunes for Murphy who earlier this season briefly fell outside of the world’s top 16 for the first time in over 19 years.

Four-time world champion Higgins is inevitable. The 50-year-old trailed after the opening session of his round one match against Ali Carter before winning, came back from 9-4 down to oust seven-times title holder Ronnie O’Sullivan 13-12 in the last 16, and twice recovered from three frames adrift to deny 2010 champion Neil Robertson 13-10 in the quarter-finals.

On his 32nd Crucible excursion, Higgins is through to his 12th world championship semi-final; his first since 2022. The last of his four world crowns came 15 years ago.

Last season, the Scot ended a four-year wait for a ranking title before claiming another only a few weeks later. He hasn’t picked up silverware this campaign, although has been to three finals, including the Masters in January.

Analysing their head-to-head story, there is little to choose between them, with Higgins shading it. They have met twice this season with one win each - the last of those was a 6-5 last 16 victory for Murphy at the UK Championship.

They have shared the table twice before at the Crucible. Murphy won 13-8 in the 2005 quarter-finals - the year he went all the way - and Higgins won 18-9 in the 2009 final.

Mark Allen v Wu Yize (Thursday 19:00/Friday 14:30/Saturday 10:00 & 19:00)

One of these players will experience snooker’s biggest fixture for the first time.

Former world number one Allen was in trouble in his opening match against qualifier Zhang Anda at 5-2 down. But having claimed the final frame of the first session, he returned the next day a different player, crafting a trio of tons in a 10-6 comeback win.

The number 14 seed then saw off 2024 champion Kyren Wilson 13-9 before recovering from three frames down earlier in the tie to oust Barry Hawkins 13-11 in the quarter-finals.

Northern Irishman Allen has registered seven century breaks in the tournament, so far, including two 140s.

For a player of such class and a bulging career CV, former Masters and UK Champion Allen’s Crucible record is a little underwhelming, although he is into his third semi-final there after previous visits in 2009 and 2023.

From being top of the global standings for a short spell in 2024, the 40-year-old has slipped down the rankings since, but he steadied the ship earlier this season with his 12th career ranking event triumph at the English Open. It has actually been a quietly consistent term for ‘The Pistol’ with his latest assignment representing his sixth ranked semi-final.

By some considerable distance, 22-year-old Wu is the youngest cueist left in the field.

This is only Wu’s third Crucible appearance, and his first as a seed. Having lost first round to Neil Robertson on debut in 2023 and to Mark Williams at the same stage last year, the youngster recorded his maiden win at the venue this time around with a crushing 10-2 opening round success over compatriot Lei Peifan before showing maturity in dismissing four-time winner Mark Selby 13-11 in the last 16.

Against Hossein Vafaei - the last remaining qualifier in the draw - Wu was in brilliant scoring form as he took nine of the last 12 frames for a 13-8 victory.

It has been a big breakthrough season for Wu who in November defeated Higgins in the final of the International Championship on home soil to claim his first ranking event title. Several weeks later on his Masters debut at the Alexandra Palace he was within a few pots of making the final.

In terms of their head-to-head record, Allen leads 3-2. They have met twice on the professional circuit in recent weeks with Allen winning 6-3 in the last 16 of the Players Championship, and Wu getting a 5-1 verdict in the quarter-finals of the World Open.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.