Bingham turns the tide to lead Selby as Wilson remains clear of Murphy in World Championship Semi-Finals

Jamie Shaw in World Snooker Championship 1 May 2021

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Bingham turns on the style to see off Selby (credit:World Snooker)

Mark Selby v Stuart Bingham live stream: World Snooker Championship Semi-Final 2021 preview

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Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby set up 2021 World Championship final clash

Selby and Bingham touch elbows (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Wire/PA Images)

Stuart Bingham overturned a two-frame deficit to move 13-11 up on Mark Selby heading into the closing session of their World Championship Semi-Final, while Kyren Wilson maintained a four-frame lead over Shaun Murphy.

Bingham and Selby had shared the opening eight frames of their encounter on Thursday, but after ‘The Jester’ have moved two clear on Friday morning, Bingham won six of the next eight frames to take command.

Bingham overturned a 52-point deficit with a break of 62 to clinch the opening frame of the day, and after Selby dominated frame ten by 84 points to nil, ‘Ball Run’ responded with a break of 83 to lead 6-5.

Selby ensured the pair headed to the interval all-square but came out firing after the restart with sensational back-to-back clearances of 134 to move 8-6 in front.

Bingham responded magnificently with a break of 127, but a 51 proved insufficient in the final frame of the session as Selby stepped in to make it 9-7.

It was Bingham who began the evening session brightly with a sublime 131 clearance and soon had the Crucible crowd on the edge of their seats again with 12 reds and 12 blacks before missing a red to the right middle on 96 to end any hopes of a maximum.

A stark contrast then saw the pair slug out an hour-long 19th frame, which was eventually won by Bingham with the aid of an outrageous fluke on the final pink as he moved ahead at 10-9.

Bingham helped himself to a fourth consecutive frame with a break of 78 and added a 68 to stretch his lead to 12-9.

Selby finally stopped the rot with a break of 62 before making a 52 in the following frame to get back to within one, but another marathon frame went the way of the 2015 champion as he ended the session two clear.

Meanwhile, last year’s beaten finalist Wilson holds a commanding four-frame advantage over 2005 World Champion Murphy at 10-6.

Wilson had made three centuries on his way to a 6-2 overnight lead and clinched two of the opening three frames in the second session to extend his lead.

A fine break of 88 saw Murphy reduce the deficit to 8-4, but successive breaks of 60 and 131 moved Wilson into double figures.

Murphy, though, dug deep to seal the 15th frame with the aid of a 59 break and ensured the pair would end the session how they started as he followed in with a contribution of 86 to trail by four once again.

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