Shaun Murphy chops Wu Yize’s lead to set up thrilling climax to Crucible final

Shaun Murphy has reduced his deficit in the World Snooker Championship final, with Wu Yize just 13-12 ahead going into the last session of the tournament.

The Crucible looks set to see a thrilling climax to the event as the two players race to 18 frames from 7pm on Monday.

After a scintillating second session on Sunday night, Wu was 10-7 ahead and looking very strong in his first Crucible final.

That was far from the case on Monday afternoon, though, as the youngster went missing and Murphy pounced.

The Englishman reeled off the first five frames of the day, knocking in breaks of 76, 52, 59 and 60 along the way, to take the lead at 12-10.

Pressure had not seemed to be an issue for Wu over the entire tournament, but he appeared to finally be cracking with the finish line in sight.

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He filled those cracks before the session ended, though, stopping the rot with a 64 and moving level again in the penultimate frame of the afternoon.

Wu then looked superbly composed and dangerous again in the 25th, knocking in a very difficult break of 61 to help him on his way to 13-12 ahead.

The Chinese star looked like a spent force but roared back into fine form to get his nose back in front.

‘Fabulous session of snooker,’ said former world champion John Parrott on the BBC. ‘To come out and lose five frames then get himself off the canvas and win the last three frames.

‘I think that shows me more than anything in this championship, this boy has got the lot. He can give a punch and he can certainly take one.’

1997 world champion Ken Doherty said: ‘He was in big trouble, but the way he came back, the composure, the resilience, the confidence.

‘To believe in yourself, when things are going against you, you have to go back to the good memories and believe in yourself. He dug himself out of a hole and got his nose in front again.

‘When he walked out of the arena there he felt 10 foot tall.’

The players will now regroup for the last time in the event, with Murphy having been here before as this is his fifth final at the Crucible.

This is all new to Wu, who had never won a single match at the Crucible before this immense run to the final this year.

Murphy is looking to win his second World Championship 21 years after his only previous triumph, while Wu can become the second youngest world champion ever.

The tension will ramp up once more from 7pm.

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