Mark Allen missed a simple black off its spot to win his first World Snooker Championship final berth, allowing Wu Yize to snatch a 17-16 victory in one of the most dramatic semi-finals in Crucible history. The 40-year-old Northern Irishman had the match at his mercy at 16-15, needing only the black to wrap up the 32nd frame, but rattled the pocket and handed the 22-year-old Chinese player a lifeline.
Wu capitalised with a nerveless 71 clearance in the decider to book his place in the final against Shaun Murphy, who earlier defeated John Higgins 17-11. A shell-shocked Allen told BBC Sport: 'You don’t deserve to be in a world final if you’re missing balls like that. It was just pure pressure. Even though I’m devastated, I think the right person’s in the final. He’s going to win many world titles.'
Murphy twice overturned two-frame deficits in the final session against Higgins, reeling off the last four frames to seal a 17-11 win. The 43-year-old Englishman told the BBC: 'I just came out today knowing if I got my chances I could score. But John Higgins – what a player and what a man. If I’m half the player when I’m in my 50s, I’ll be very proud.'
Higgins, 50, paid tribute: 'The way Shaun hit the ball in that session was incredible. He just hits it like God. As you get older your action starts to go a little bit, but take nothing away, Shaun was awesome and he’s got a great chance of winning it for a second time.'
The final between Murphy and Wu Yize will be played over two days, Sunday and Monday, at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
