World Snooker Championship 2018: Barry Hawkins and John Higgins cling to tight semi-final leads

John Higgins maintained his two-frame advantage over Kyren Wilson at 13-11 heading into the final session of their World Championship semi-final.

Scotland's Higgins led 5-3 overnight and ground out a 7-4 advantage but Wilson hit back by winning three of the next five frames to trail 9-7.

While Wilson made two centuries, the third session was shared, with Higgins needing four frames to reach the final.

Mark Williams trails Barry Hawkins 9-7 in the other semi-final.

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Hawkins led 5-3 overnight but two-time champion Williams opened the second session with a break of 80 as he won three of the first four frames to draw level at 6-6.

England's Hawkins claimed three in a row, but the Welshman's 62 kept him in touch for when they resume their best-of-33 match at 10:00 BST on Saturday.

Higgins in command

Higgins, who won the last of his four titles at the Crucible in 2011, reached the final last year but was beaten by world number one Mark Selby.

In this match, he has been at his solid, match-play best leaving Masters finalist Wilson ruing missed opportunities.

The 14th frame could prove to be pivotal in the context of the match, as Wilson could have levelled at 7-7 but missed a tricky blue, instead seeing Higgins pinch it on the black as he kept hold of his two-frame cushion.

Wilson started the third session in superb fashion, stroking in a 124 break and made a further 106 and he punished Higgins for a missed blue in the 23rd frame with 93.

But Higgins took the last with a knock off 91 to keep his cushion heading into the final session.

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