2024 Shanghai Masters snooker: Shaun Murphy conjures comeback to reach final

Murphy - who was the runner-up here in 2019 - will face either defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump in the title match where the winner collects £210,000.

• 2024 Shanghai Masters snooker: Results, format, schedule, prize money, how to watch

In a contest between two 41-year-olds who grew up on the junior scene together, Selby (breaks of 68 and 138) led twice early on, but Murphy (62) levelled both times as they went into the first mid-session interval locked at 2-2.

However, on resumption, Selby took control as he produced efforts of 53, 72 and 73 during a four-frame burst to move 6-2 up.

In the final frame of the first session, it looked like the four-time world champion was going to extend his advantage further, although an unexpected missed pink whilst in the balls allowed Murphy back to the table to craft a 72 - his highest run of the afternoon - to narrow the gap at 6-3.

Returning later for the concluding session, Murphy continued his comeback as he made breaks of 140 and 61 in taking frames 10 and 11 to make the score 6-5.

However, momentum swung again in frame 12. Murphy was poised to square the match at 6-6, but missed a mid-range red on a break of 57. Despite having lost the last three frames, Selby duly punished as he constructed a counter attack clearance of 69 to win on the final black and go 7-5 up before a 59 in the next aided him to re-establish the three frame profit he held at the start of the evening’s play.

After the break, though, Murphy conjured up one of his most remarkable spells of snooker in recent times as he went on a memorable five-frame winning streak.

The career Triple Crown winner hit breaks of 134 and 67 to once again reduce the gap to only one frame, and he finally levelled the scores when he crucially deposited a long, tense frame 16 on the colours.

Now with his scoring boots on and the driving force on his side, Murphy went in front for the first time with a 104 break and then finished with a flourish as a 116 - his fourth century of the night at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium and his first tons of the tournament - sealed the deal.