In a gripping first session of their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre, John Higgins showcased his trademark resilience to battle back from 3-1 down and level the match at 4-4 against Shaun Murphy. The four-time world champion, appearing in his 12th semi-final in Sheffield, delivered a gritty performance that reminded fans why he's one of snooker's most formidable competitors.

The afternoon session was far from vintage Higgins. His highest break of 50 came in the eighth frame, and for much of the contest, he seemed to be feeling the lingering effects of his late-night quarter-final victory over Neil Robertson. Missed pots and uncharacteristic errors marked his play, but as he has done throughout the tournament, Higgins relied on his steely resolve and matchplay savvy to stay in the hunt.

Murphy, the 2005 world champion, looked in complete control early on. The Englishman compiled breaks of 68, 69, and 100 to surge into a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval. At that point, the world number eight appeared poised to build a commanding advantage. However, a series of loose shots from Murphy opened the door for Higgins, who pounced on the opportunity in his 100th match at snooker's most iconic venue.

The Scot clawed back two scrappy frames to level at 3-3, then added a 40 and a half-century in the final frame to ensure he wasn't trailing at the end of the opening session—a first for him in this year's tournament. The best-of-33 contest resumes on Friday at 10:00 BST, with the other semi-final between China's Wu Yize and Northern Ireland's Mark Allen set to begin Thursday at 19:00.