Behind-the-scenes shot shows Cruicble being transformed for World Snooker Championship semi-finals

The World Snooker Championship semi-finals start today, which means The Crucible has to be changed.

Up until the last four, there are two tables in the arena at all times due to the number of games and length of contests as well.

However, with the semi-finals and final, it is one game at a time.

The semi-finals are scheduled to take place over three days with the final session starting at 7pm on Saturday, May 2.

So, the whole focus is on two players at at time, and a picture from journalist Phil Haigh showed the late night work taking place to ensure the table is ready.

In the image, the base table can be seen set to the side with a grid laid out near it.

And it is now all ready for the first session of the first semi-final.

Murphy vs Higgins

Both semi-finals are set to be crackers, but this one promises to be a true classic.

Shaun Murphy is arguably in the form of his career, having dispatched defending champion Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals 13-10.

The Englishman has won the World Snooker Championship once in 2005 and was the 2025 Masters champion.

And he is taking one of the greatest of all time in John Higgins.

The Scotsman has won this tournament four times across an illustrious career and has made the semi-finals after a classic against Ronnie O’Sullivan, nicking the win in a final frame decider and also coming back to beat Neil Robertson.

It’s hard to know which way it’s going to go, but Murphy has a secret to his form.

Speaking after his win over Xintong, he said: “I put my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ because all of your friends want to get involved, and they’ve all got their own advice, and you can get a bit lost.

“I didn’t interact with anyone and just stayed in our little bubble and did the things that have got us to this point.

“One of the other things I’ve done this week is not watch as much snooker. Jo (his wife) and I have been plowing through Below Deck – we are absolutely addicted to Below Deck.

“I’ve tried to stay away, which is hard for me because I absolutely love it, I am still that kid at heart.

“But for what is best for performance, I have to try and keep away from it.”

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Allen vs Yize

This contest is also special because neither man has won the World Snooker Championship.

This will be Allen’s third semi-final, so he has never reached The Crucible showpiece.

He’s produced a very solid week so far, beating Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals.

Standing in his way is one of the most talented young players on the circuit in Wu Yize.

The Chinese 22-year-old is into the World Snooker Championship semi-finals for the first time, following his inaugural Masters semi-final appearance in January.

He is now established in the top 16 and could make it back-to-back Chinese champions.

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Yize has also secured the services of O’Sullivan who will be in his corner.

Speaking about Yize, The Rocket said: “I’d help any player. I help players I like. If I think they’ve got potential and I think I could guide him in the right way. A bit like what Ray [Reardon] done for me.

“With Wu Yize. I said: ‘I think you need to improve in this area. I’m convinced of that, if you don’t, I’m convinced you’re just going to keep getting what you got.’

“It’s been nice to see him take that on board and whether it’s helped him or not, I don’t know, but when he wins and does well, it makes me happy.

“If I felt like I could add that to a player, I would. Zhao Xintong is a great talent. I didn’t spend a lot of time with him, but I think the time I did spend with him, I think I showed him what I thought he needed to work on.

“Whether he’s done it or not, whether it’s made him a better, I don’t know, but you can just show people.”