That, then is us for tonight,Thanks all for your company and comments, and please do join us again tomorrow,We’ll be live from 12pm GMT, when we’re either going to see Shaun Murphy win a second world title, 21 years after claiming his first, or Wu Yize win the first of what looks certain to be several world titles,He’s kept it wonderfully simply today, going at more or less everything, and it’ll take something amazing to stop him tomorrow,I can’t wait to see how it pans out.

Shaun Murphy 7-10 Wu Yize Wu clears the table and closes the session needing eight more to win; Shaun needs 11.His deadliness from distance is the difference so far, but as the line hives into sight, his entire life might catch up with him.Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (39-51) Wu works his way on to the final red, plotting a route to the yellow – it’s blocked on one side by the pink.He looks to go past it, close to the brown, is there a gap, there’s always a gap – thanks and farewell, JV – that’s a lovely touch-shot, and Wu is going back three in front.Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (39-27) Shaun more or less forces Wu to take on a long one and, for what feels like the first time in the tournament, looks like he’d rather not – he missed the last, and he can feel hot breath on cold neck.

It’s from near the bottom cushion, dead slow … and that’s brilliant.A nasty cut-black follows, and is he on a next ball? Just, then another taxing black, high this time, and generally speaking, you ca only chase for so long.But a red to middle drops nicely, and we’ve a new favourite for the frame.I was just chastising myself for not wondering the plant Shaun landed not long ago might be a turning point, but in just a few shots, the first of which he was forced to play by his opponent, Wu has regrooved and might just be taking control of the match.Another horrible red, needing cut to corner … and it’s there.

This is beautiful work, a freestyle jam of a break.Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (39-0) A loose positional shot means Shaun must force it with a colour or sit himself down; he plumps for the latter, playing safe off the green.Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (27-0) Now then.We’ve said Wu doesn’t love pressure – yet – and, offered a pretty tasty clip to corner, he tentatively overcuts.Very quickly, he’s looking at opening the reds, gets himself perfectly on to a red, presumably for the purpose … and instead goes to middle.

I almost wonder if he was trying to take the maxi out of the equation to focus on winning the frame, but the split works beautifully in any event, and neither player can play well enough for long enough to pull away from the other; both players are too good to be pulled away from bv the other.This is great stuff.Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize Shaun had to win that and did.He’d be delighted to get out of here at 7-8 and, given events at Old Trafford – he’s a United fan – consider he’d had a decent day.Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize (52-1) The thing is, it doesn’t take much for things to turn around.

Wu’s long potting is brilliant, but he only has to be fractionally off, once a frame, and Shau can punish him.Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize 52-1) Shaun doesn’t commit to a pot, reckons Uncle Joe, so makes the next one, across the table to middle, harder.Ach, and Shaun can’t send it down, leaving Wu a longun, the kind he’s been gobbling up … but though he gets close, it shoots away from the pocket, and it’s an immediate reprieve for El Mago.From here, he should close the gap, and perhaps play himself into form – he’s not really scored this evening.Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize (10-1) Shaun spots a plant to left corner, thrashes at glorious pace, and that’s a brilliant pot.

Again, though, it’s only good for one – this game! – so it’s up to the yellow, no snooker achieved,Gosh, and I think Wu can see enough of a red to pot it … he does … but it doesn’t quite take, a felicitous kiss meaning he leaves nothing easy,Will Shaun take on something harder? He can’t afford to lose this frame and if he misses he might … but look at that, a lovely one sent long to the green bag,He’s in, and there are points available,Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize (0-1) Already, there’ve been some big switches of momentum, but there’s a chance we’re now watching the decisive move.

I can’t see a way Wu doesn’t tighten if he gets close to winning, but a five-frame advantage, with only six needed, would be a lot to surmount.Shaun, though, is capable of hitting a strea … er, Wu steers in a screamer, taking a ball from mid-table to right corner.It’s a statement-pot, and it doesn’t even get him on a colour; all that risk for one point tells us how comfy he’s feeling, after which it’s back to baulk and a problem for Shaun.Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize We’ve two frames to come this evening; really, Shaun needs both.Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (29-90) Not for long, Wu fluking it to left corner.

He’s now guaranteed to lead overnight and he clears the table to celebrate, leaving himself a long pot just to keep his action in nick.This is very impressive gear.Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (29-66) Wu has played with such confidence this evening, and if were to win this frame and the next two, he’d be extremely hard to beat.But he’s now got a pressure-pot from right side, high, to the yellow bag, Uncle Joe noting he missed his most important shots this afternoon.But this is a different player and he caresses it home but after he adds the blue, the next ball refuses to stay in right corner, popping out as if for kicks.

Shaun, though, can’t capitalise, so we’re now chasing the final red.Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (29-11) But he soon runs out of position, much to his chagrin – I blame the aircon – so it’s in behind the green, the escape swerved to land on a ball on the side, which too heavy a connection will send over left-middle.It’s perfect though, and when Shaun misses, he’s a chance to corner … which he can’t take.Oh, but nor can The Magician deal with the opportunity left for him, so Wu gets away and, given the state of the table, this could soon be 9-6.“I have never understood why Mervyn King’s nickname isn’t just ‘The,’ writes Gregory Phillips.

“In that vein, Wu’s could be ‘Meringue’.”Agreed on King.And tangentially, why isn’t Peter Wright “Spy Catcher” and Martin Adams “Gerry”.Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (21-0) A mistake from Wu, leaving the white too far from the green, dangles a tempter, and Shaun cuts home confidently.But as Shaun settles for his colour, another phone goes – it’s an epidemic – and we have our first out-kicking.

The brown then facilitates a move up the table, and if the pack splits helpfully, this is a frame-winning opportunity … here we go … balls fan out nicely … but is he on one? Just,Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize A missed black means no century but Shaun needed that badly and took the chance well,Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (83-0) Shaun secures the frame,Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (41-0) This is a crucial visit and Shaun is navigating it well,There’s still a bit of work to do, nit nothing too difficult.

Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (17-0) Shaun espies a plant, black into red, and goes at it, potting the ball he sends into them; he’ll not mind.This is a chance to score heavily.Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (13-0) Again, Wu goes at a longun, clipping it nicely, and it wobbles in the jaws … then drops, but a cannon of the black sends the white into left-centre and Shaun quickly snaps home a fine starter of his own.A black, powered into corner, takes white into pack, and already, the frame has opened out for him.And immediately, he closes it off for himself, playing a cannon harder than necessary, losing position, and returning to baulk.

Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize An undercut red to corner means no ton, but a run of 80 is more than enough for a second three-frame lead.With four more to play tonight, there’s scope for a very significant move to be made.Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (8-69) Shaun hasn’t played badly tonight, it’s just that Wu has been excellent.He’s nearly there in the frame but a mid-range red, lying over the table like one of your French girls, will test him … and it’s there.This is superb work.

Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (8-32) dead skinny one on the black … drops into right corner, dead weight, and Wu has come out buzzing this evening.If he takes this frame, he can’t be behind overnight, but from here, he’ll want to take command of the match, while punishing Shaun’s carelessness.Can he kick his opponent when he’s down?Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (8-7) A good shot from Shaun forces Wu to pick a lonely red to land on; he misses then hits, leaving nowt.And the retort it short, offering an opener to middle, the yellow follows, and Wu is back in business.If he can take this frame, the pressure on The Magician will be intense.

Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (4-0) There’s a noise that’s bothering Shaun; perhaps it’s his internal monologue? The ref reckons it’s the aircon, how very disrespectful of it; strangely, Wu is serene, splattering in a brilliant starter, despite the viciously disrespectful cooling system … only for the white to go in-off.I blame the whirr of fans, and we’re back playing safety.Before we resume, the crowd are told that should a phone go off and its owner be identified, it’s home time.“‘The WUmerang’” returns Andrew Goudie on a nickname for our leader.“He keeps coming back.

”I’m not sure this one works syntactically: Wu “The Wumerang” Yize is a bit like Mervyn “The King” King.Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize Another red to Wu, making things even harder for Shaun, and he really needs the next frame to stick with the accelerating young genius.That’ll be easier said than done, and we’ll see if the interval affects momentum; see you in 15.Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize (0-63) With 67 remaining, Wu plays for the black, just above the top cushion, and it’s frame-ball, so he goes at it softly, giving it every chance to drop, then plays safe with Shaun needing a snooker to tie.Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize (0-33) Running out of position, Wu plays safe but playing without side, clips a stray ball, leaving a taxing mid-ranger … that Shaun wobbles into the jaws of left corner and out.

So Wu sees it away, deliberately bumping a nearby red to stay in the middle of the table,From here, though pink and black are out of commission, he’’s a really good chance of winning the frame with blues,Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize (0-13) A third-red break and a red left to left corner, perhaps for the first time in the tournament,The ball, though, still needs potting, and Wu steers home nicely, then sets about the table,Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize Increasingly, it looks like we’re in for an arse-nipper.

Let’s hope so.Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (73-35) Wu closes the gap, then puts the red near the blue and white behind the black; it’s not the hardest escape and Shaun deals with it easily enough.Soo n after, he nails a starter and this match is now of a standard.Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (72-0) Shaun secures the frame, and Ru will be wuing Wu will be ruing his poor break-off.Oh, but Shaun misses to middle so, with two snookers required, Wu returns to the table.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (46-0) Very quickly, Shaun accumulates, both players now in flow.Consequently, neither dare miss.Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (15-0) A poor break from Wu leaves a starter to middle, Shaun quickly opens the pack, and this is a chance for him to establish his presence in the session.Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize The pink stays out of both yellow and green pockets, leaving the break high and dry on 97 … then zooms around the angles and drops into right-centre! It’s all coming up Wu!Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-73) In comms, Uncle Joe rhapsodises Wu’s creativity in dealing with the last three reds, and rightly so.He’s started the session beautifully.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-58) This is really good from Wu, the situation now assimilated into his sense of self, thus allowing his talent to take over.The last three reds aren’t as easy to access as the others, but he should find a way.Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-24) A fine blue to the yellow pocket is followed by an oblique red to the centre, then a cut-back black just about drops after thinking long and hard about stopping out.But still, Wu isn’t in prime position, slumping over the table to get at the next ball, and now he’s set.Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-9) Looking to dig into the pack, Shaun misses everything, so it’s back to baulk with a safety … but not for long, the white left short for Wu to punch in an opener.

This time, the reds are nicely spread, so if he can keep a hold of the white, the frame is there for him.Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (8-3) Wu rattles a starter into left corner, and if he’s now over last evening, he’s in a great spot.Of course, as I type, adrenaline kicks in and he gives the white a little too much off the yellow, coming down the table with a safety … that allows Shaun to unload, a terrific opener earning him a chance to score.The pack will need attention, but there are some loose reds there to be going on with.Shaun Murphy 5-4 Wu Yize No ton, but Wu is into the session.

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize (1-67) Wu secures the frame and is now in search of a century,This has been a better break than any he made in racking up a 3-0 lead,Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize (1-54) Back to the break, Angles noted before we started that Shaun’s gone third red 27 times, and on not one occasion has his opponent potted first go – though I guess it’d also help to know how many times they’ve taken a shot on, because they might just be cueing poorly,Anyroad up, Wu gets the pack open, the runs out of position; will he really attempt an oblique cut-back to middle? You betcha, and from here, the frame should be his,Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize (1-9) The crowd are warned about phones – there was all sorts of noise during the first session – and breaking off, Wu shows why Shaun now targets the third red, hitting the bottom one and leaving a starter.

Still, they’ve got to be dispatched and El Mago nails his pot, then … misses brown to middle, huffing about something.Wu, though, isn’t bothered and quickly gets to work.Our players are ready to emerge, so here we go.