Shaun Murphy denies John Higgins in epic World Snooker Championship semi-final

Shaun Murphy is into a fifth World Championship final (Picture: Getty Images)

Shaun Murphy is into the World Snooker Championship final for a fifth time after beating John Higgins 17-15 in an epic at the Crucible.

The Magician has not won the world title since his only Crucible glory in 2005, but will have the chance to reclaim snooker’s greatest prize over the next two days.

He has earned his spot in the showpiece after beating Fan Zhengyi, Xiao Guodong and defending champion Zhao Xintong, before surviving a battle with Higgins.

There was never more than a two-frame gap between the players in a hard-fought scrap over three days in Sheffie...