2026 World Snooker Championship Semi-Finals: Murphy vs Higgins Betting Preview & Predictions

The Semi-Finals Are Set — Here's What to Back at the Crucible

Four players remain standing at the Crucible Theatre, and the 2026 World Snooker Championship semi-finals promise to deliver everything we love about the sport's grandest stage. Stretched across Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the best-of-33 format, these are contests that will test nerve, stamina, and tactical nous in equal measure. The single-table setup strips away every distraction — there's nowhere to hide at this stage, and the bookmakers know it.

We're focusing here on the match that has the most intriguing betting angles: Shaun Murphy vs John Higgins. Two seasoned campaigners, decades of Crucible history between them, and enough subplots to fill a sporting documentary.

Murphy vs Higgins — The Pick

The Pick: John Higgins to win the match — recommended at around 8/11 (1.73)

This isn't a straightforward call, and we'll be honest about that from the outset. But when you strip back the noise and look at what Higgins has produced over the past fortnight, the value is firmly on the Wizard of Wishaw finishing the job.

The Analysis

Shaun Murphy has been genuinely brilliant in getting to this stage. The Magician dispatched Zhao Xintong with a brand of ruthless, front-foot snooker that felt like a throwback to his 2005 title run — aggressive, confident, and utterly uncompromising. It's fair to say Murphy has looked like a genuine champion in the making once again, and at 42, that's no small achievement. He hasn't reached a World Championship semi-final since 2021, and three lost finals since his only title win will be gnawing at him.

But here's the thing about John Higgins: the man simply does not know when he's beaten. His quarter-final win over Neil Robertson was nothing short of extraordinary — trailing 9-6 and then reeling off seven of the next eight frames to win 13-10. Before that, he'd already mounted a comeback to see off Ronnie O'Sullivan in the previous round. Higgins hasn't been at his scoring peak this fortnight, and anyone expecting the crisp, flowing snooker of his prime years may be disappointed. What you get instead is something arguably more valuable at this stage of a World Championship: battle-hardened resilience, ice-cold temperament, and the experience of four world titles to draw upon.

The head-to-head record sits at 16-13 in Higgins' favour across all competitions, and their two meetings this season have produced one win apiece — a split that tells you this is a genuinely close rivalry. Their most recent encounter was a 6-5 victory for Murphy at the 2025 UK Championship, so the Magician clearly still has the tools to trouble the Scot. Higgins last reached the single-table semi-final stage at the Worlds in 2022, and just shy of his 51st birthday, he stands on the verge of becoming the oldest-ever finalist in the history of the World Snooker Championship. That narrative alone tells you the motivation is enormous.

The key variable in this match is whether Murphy can sustain the intensity he showed against Zhao across 33 frames over multiple sessions. Short bursts of brilliant form are one thing — maintaining that level against a player of Higgins' calibre, who will probe and grind and wait for openings across four gruelling sessions, is quite another. Higgins thrives when matches go long and deep. Murphy will need to land the first significant punches and keep the pressure on throughout.

The Odds

If you fancy the match going the distance — and given both players' track records at the Crucible this year, that's a very reasonable expectation — the Over 26.5 frames market at 4/6 with Sky Bet is well worth a look as a secondary bet to complement your match winner selection.

The Verdict

Back John Higgins at 8/11 to reach the World Championship final for the first time since 2022. Murphy's form has been superb, and this is far from a certainty — factor in a 1–2 point stake depending on your risk appetite. But Higgins' refusal to buckle, his extraordinary comeback record this tournament, and the weight of four world titles in his corner make him the right call here. At potentially one frame away from history, expect the Wizard of Wishaw to dig deeper than anyone.

Odds correct at time of writing. Please shop around for the best available prices. 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly — visit BeGambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.