Higgins and Wu complete semi-final line-up at the World Snooker Championship 2026

Four-time world champion Higgins twice recovered from three frames down to defeat Neil Robertson 13-10 and reach the last four of the World Championship for an incredible twelfth time in his illustrious career.

After a prolonged first session went the way of Robertson, the Australian extended his advantage to 6-3 before Higgins strung together three consecutive frames - highlighted by a break of 126 - to restore parity at six each.

World number three Robertson followed suit with three-in-a-row to once again put daylight between the pair but Higgins crucially took the final frame of the morning act to keep in touch at 9-7 down.

Come the evening session and the final proceedings, 50-year-old Higgins got back level at 9-9, although Robertson nudged ahead with frame 19.

However, 'The Wizard of Wishaw' - who recovered from five frames adrift to deny Ronnie O'Sullivan in the previous round - pieced a four-frame sequence to reach the semi-finals of snooker's flagship event for the first time since 2022.

On Thursday afternoon (13:00BST) he will meet fellow former world champion Shaun Murphy, who earlier in the day inflicted the ‘Crucible Curse’ on title holder Zhao Xintong. That will be the first of four scheduled sessions between Thursday to Saturday.

Young star Wu flying the flag for China

Chinese youngster Wu is through to the one-table set-up on snooker's grandest stage for the first time after defeating the last remaining qualifier in this year's main draw, Hossein Vafaei.

This year is only Wu's third Crucible outing, and his first as a seed player. He'd previously never won a match here but crushed compatriot Lei Peifan in the first round before showing fine maturity in getting past four-time world champion Mark Selby.

After the opening session was shared 4-4, Wu took control during their second act on Wednesday afternoon, winning the session 6-2 for a four-frame advantage before a quick turnaround into the concluding passage that evening.

And the reigning International Champion kept his opponent at arm's length for a 13-8 win during which he rattled in two centuries (102, 135), three breaks in the 90s, and seven further half-centuries.

In the last four Wu will face Mark Allen, with both cueists aiming to reach their maiden world final. Former world number one Allen was the first player into the semis after a 13-11 success against Barry Hawkins. Their four-session encounter begins on Thursday evening from 19:00BST.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.