Shaun Murphy finds form to end Zhao’s title defence and set up Higgins clash
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Murphy wins 13-10, Higgins fightback sinks Robertson
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Mark Allen to face China’s Wu Yize in other semi-final
Shaun Murphy stormed into the world championship semi‑finals in Sheffield as the defending champion, Zhao Xintong, became the 21st player to fall victim to the so-called “Crucible curse”.
Murphy’s 13-10 triumph means Zhao joins the list of first-time winners who have failed to return the following year and successfully defend their crown.