Wu Yize and Mark Allen's World Snooker Championship semi-final stands at 7-7 after an extraordinary afternoon session at the Crucible, which included the longest frame in the venue's history, lasting 100 minutes and 21 seconds. Allen had trailed 6-2 overnight but fought back to win five frames in a row, taking a 7-6 lead before the marathon 14th frame.
The frame featured a cluster of eight reds around the black ball on a corner pocket, leading to a 55-minute period without a pot. Allen, leading 47-13, resisted a re-rack, and referee Marcel Eckardt struggled to control slow-clapping spectators. After intervention from tournament director Rob Spencer, Eckardt warned players they had three shots to resolve the situation or face a re-rack. Allen eventually fouled by knocking the black into a pocket, allowing Wu to win the frame 88-66.
Six-time world champion Steve Davis described the frame as 'an embarrassment to snooker', while Stephen Hendry called for earlier referee intervention. Kyren Wilson, the 2024 champion, said Eckardt should have acted sooner, praising Allen's 'incredible' fight and determination. Allen had earlier compiled a tournament-best 145 break and his ninth century of the event, moving clear of Zhao Xintong as the top break-builder.
In the other semi-final, John Higgins leads Shaun Murphy 13-11 after a tight evening session. Murphy hit a 105 break to become the fifth player to reach 100 Crucible centuries, but Higgins responded with a 101 break in the final frame to hold a slender overnight advantage.
