Mark Allen and Wu Yize played out the longest frame in Crucible history during their World Championship semi-final, ending the afternoon session tied at 7-7. The bizarre 14th frame lasted one hour and 40 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 85 minutes and 22 seconds set by Mark Selby and Yan Bingtao in 2022.
Record-Breaking Frame
The frame featured a cluster of eight reds jammed around a black on the edge of the pocket, leading to a lengthy stalemate. Referee Marcel Eckardt had to ask the Crucible crowd to settle before Allen eventually fouled the black. Six-time world champion Steve Davis expressed his displeasure, calling the frame "an embarrassment to snooker" and urging officials to prevent such situations in the future.
Allen's Comeback
Allen trailed 6-2 overnight but mounted an impressive recovery, including a tournament-best 145 break in the 11th frame. The Northern Irishman's fightback ensured the match remains finely poised heading into the final session.
Higgins Leads Murphy
In the other semi-final, John Higgins holds a 13-11 lead over Shaun Murphy after a tight evening session. Higgins started with an 8-6 advantage, but Murphy levelled at 8-8 with a break of 60. The evening session saw both players trade frames, with Higgins winning back-to-back frames, including a 101 break, to take the lead overnight.
Murphy became the fifth player to reach 100 century breaks at the Crucible with a 105 in the 22nd frame. Higgins responded with a 63 break to win the 21st frame and sealed the 23rd with a 101 break, leaving him two frames ahead with one session remaining.
