When Shaun Murphy trudged off the Crucible floor for the last interval of his World Snooker Championship semi-final, trailing 15-13, his dreams of a second world title were on the brink of collapse. Just two frames away from defeat, against the grittiest of opponents in 50-year-old, four-time world champion John Higgins, Murphy required something special.

And that’s exactly what he delivered. A sublime break of 105, his third century of the session, narrowed the gap to one before an equally clinical break of 78 levelled the match once more. From 13-11 down overnight, he had already fought back to 13-13 with back-to-back tons in the blink of an eye and now he had eradicated a 15-13 deficit to turn a four-session match into a best-of-three shootout for a place in the world final.

Both men had chances in frame 31 but it was Murphy who took the last of them to move within one of victory before a nervy final frame saw Higgins miss a black off the spot when poised to force a decider and, although it took the younger man two attempts, he got over the line 17-15. In the biggest moment, he stood up tall.

“The way Shaun hit the ball in that last session – you cannot hit it better than that,” said a gracious, but shell-shocked, Higgins afterwards. “It was incredible, it really was. He just hits it like God.”

When the comparison to a deity was put to Murphy in his post-match press conference, the 43-year-old was understandably chuffed. “I’ll take that,” he chuckled. “I don’t like to give myself too much praise, but I’m gonna have that one.”

Now Murphy turns his attention to an even greater hurdle – finally lifting a second world title. When he won his first, as a fresh-faced 22-year-old way back in 2005, he freely admits he expected plenty more to follow. Twenty-one years later, the closest he has come is three defeats in finals – to Higgins in 2009, to Stuart Bingham in 2015 and to Mark Selby in 2021.

There are ghosts to be laid to rest. Has he forgotten how to win snooker’s biggest match? We’ll find out over the next two days as he faces Wu Yize, who came through an incredible semi-final with Mark Allen to reach his first world final at just 22 – the same age Murphy was when he won the title in 2005.

Wu looked out of the running as Allen left 16-14, just one frame away from victory but he closed the gap to 16-15 and then watched as his Northern Irish opponent incredibly missed a simple final black off the spot to win, allowing the Chinese cueman a simple tap in to force a decider.

Allen got in first but when he broke down on 47, Wu capitalised and a brilliant final break of 73 sent him into the final where he will aim to match last year’s winner Zhao Xintong by becoming just the second Chinese world champion. But Murphy is desperate to join an elite club his own, hunting a second world crown.

“There is a totally different reverence given to multi-world champions throughout the tour, amongst the players,” he explained. “They’re seen in a totally different light.

“I saw on a stat recently that there’s actually not as many of them as I thought there were [only six men have won multiple titles at the Crucible], so it’s quite a small club within a club.

“There is a slightly different nod given to the guys that have won it twice or more. So, it would be great to join the club.”

With defeat in the semi-finals, Higgins was denied history. A ninth world final appearance would have matched Scottish icon Stephen Hendry for the most in Crucible history and, at barely more than a fortnight short of his 51st birthday, he would have become the oldest man to play in snooker’s showpiece.

Going a step further, a fifth world title would have moved him one clear of Mark Selby for lone fourth place in the all-time list, and just one behind king of the 1980s Steve Davis. It would have been fitting reward for a consensus all-time top five and probable all-time top three snooker player. You can’t help but wonder how many more chances there will be.

“John Higgins… What a player and what a man,” effused Murphy. “The harder it gets on the table, the tougher he gets and the better he plays.

“He’s such a competitor. If I’m half the player he is when I’m in my 50s, I’ll be very proud.”

Higgins may have been the more popular choice to reach the final but sport is rarely decided on emotion. Murphy outscored his opponent – making five centuries to Higgins’ one – and will now have a shot at his own slice of history instead.

“There’s no point me pretending that being in the final isn’t going to mean absolutely everything,” added Murphy. “When I walk out there tomorrow, there’s no point pretending that I’m not going to be very nervous over the next two days.

“It’s going to be very very difficult to get that second win and it would mean so much more now, than it meant 21 years ago. I was so clueless as a 22-year-old. I think that was in my favour, I didn’t really understand it but now I do understand it, it would mean even more.”

The ghosts of final defeats past might finally be exorcised.

Manchester United host rivals Liverpool as both teams look to secure a top-four Premier League finish and rubber-stamp their place in next season’s Champions League.

After beating Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season under Ruben Amorim, Michael Carrick’s United have the chance to complete a Premier League double over the Reds for the first time in 10 years.

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Carrick would do his chances of becoming United’s head coach on a permanent basis no harm at all by beating Liverpool at Old Trafford, a result that would also wrap up third place.

Liverpool have won three of their last five visits to Old Trafford and Arne Slot could also boost his chances of being in charge next season with three points, which would see the Reds move above United.

Here’s everything you need to know

Is Manchester United v Liverpool on TV?

It will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Sky customers can stream the match on Now TV or Sky Go. Kick-off at Old Trafford will be at 3:30pm.

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What is the Manchester United team news?

Matheus Cunha missed out on Monday’s win against Brentford could could return to the squad. Michael Carrick said he was hopeful Luke Shaw could feature after he was forced off but Matthijs de Ligt is not ready yet and Lisandro Martinez is suspended.

What is the Liverpool team news?

Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah due to injury, which means the Egyptian will miss out on a final trip to Old Trafford as a Liverpool player. A late call will be made on goalkeeper Alisson Becker, with Freddie Woodman set to continue if the Brazilian remains unavailable due to injury.

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Possible line-ups

Manchester United XI: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Liverpool XI: Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

What have the managers said?

Michael Carrick: “It’s certainly one of my favourite games, without doubt. It’s a standout game. I think there’s obviously big games and big rivalries that we have with other teams but certainly this one is right up there. The history, the ups and downs that past has produced in these type of game, and the excitement, entertainment and emotion, which is a huge part of it, makes it a really special game.”

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Arne Slot: “Every game you play has influence on your league position. So that’s not only when you play Man United, it’s every week in every game. But we are aware of the fact that it’s a very big game, not only because we play Man United, but definitely also to qualify for the Champions League and to get the highest possible position in the league table, which of course is something we want. We wanted to, of course, win the league. That’s not possible. And then you have to try to end up as high as possible, and that’s what we are trying week in, week out, and that’s what we’re going to try Sunday again as well.”

The match will be Bath’s first Champions Cup semi-final in 20 years. Arundell too has taken a longer-than-expected route to this point.

As a rugby-mad schoolboy at Beechen Cliff in Bath, the club were the obvious career choice.

Arundell’s team-mates Miles Reid (four years above), Tom de Glanville (three years above), Ethan Staddon (a year above) and Vilikesa ‘Billy’ Sela (two years below) were all tied to Bath’s academy from the state school’s rugby programme.

But, aged 14, Henry’s talents, and his father’s career, took him elsewhere. His father Ralph got a job with Harrow School in north-west London. Henry got a scholarship.

In London Irish’s catchment area, he made his Exiles debut in November 2021, shortly after his 19th birthday. Several scorching scores followed, most notably a jaw-dropping 98m virtuoso run against Toulon,, external before he was named in England’s squad to tour Australia.

However, London Irish went into administration in June 2023 and Arundell opted for a move to French club Racing 92.

It didn’t turn out as he had hoped.

Injury and iffy performances checked his progress. Former England coach Stuart Lancaster, who had brought Arundell to the club, was sacked in February 2025 amid some miserable results.

“There were moments where your form is not great or you have injuries – and that can have an effect,” he says.

“You find the most growth in adversity and there were definitely things I gained – a lot of skill stuff and understanding from working with [All Black legend] Joe Rokocoko as a back-three coach and attack stuff from [former France fly-half] Freddie Michalak.

“You learn a lot from the players around you, the likes of Siya Kolisi, Gael Fickou, Josua Tuisova. You’re playing with huge names.

“When Owen [Farrell] came for my second year that was someone English that I could chat to and really learn from.

“At the end of the day though, I was a 20-year-old kid out in France living on my own and sometimes you do need family around you.

“I’m seeing my family every week now, rather than every few months. Having that support system is very special and I probably didn’t appreciate that enough when I was a bit younger.”

The auto racing world is mourning the loss of Alex Zanardi. The Italian Formula 1 driver, who later became a Paralympic champion after two life-altering accidents, has died, his family announced Saturday. He was 59.

The family confirmed that loved ones were with Zanardi when he died. “Alex died peacefully, surrounded by the affection of those closest to him,” the family said in a statement. A cause of death was not provided.

Zanardi’s family also said that it “Thanks everyone who is sharing their support right now and asks for respect during this time of mourning.”

Zanardi suffered serious injuries in a 2020 handbike accident, colliding with an oncoming truck during a relay event in Italy. He sustained facial and cranial trauma and was placed in a medically induced coma.

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Alessandro Zanardi of Italy celebrates holding his gold medal after winning the men’s road cycle individual time trial H4 category at the 2012 Paralympics at Brands Hatch motor racing circuit near London on Sept. 5, 2012. (Alastair Grant/AP)

Nearly two decades earlier, Zanardi lost both of his legs in an auto racing crash.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to Zanardi in a post on X, saying in part, “Italy loses a great champion and an extraordinary man, capable of turning every challenge of life into a lesson in courage, strength, and dignity. Alex Zanardi knew how to bounce back every time, facing even the toughest challenges with determination, clarity, and a strength of spirit that was truly exceptional.”

Zanardi won back-to-back championships in CART in 1997 and 1998 in the U.S. He then briefly returned to F1.

He ultimately came back stateside, racing in Germany in a CART event in 2001 when both of his legs were severed in a horrific accident the weekend after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. CART raced only because the series was already in Germany at the time of the attacks and could not return to the U.S.

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Zanardi was left in a three-day coma following the 2001 crash.

During his recovery, Zanardi designed his own prosthetics and learned to walk again. He then turned his attention to hand cycling and developed into one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes in the world.

He won four gold medals and two silvers at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, competed in the New York City Marathon and set an Ironman record.

Driver Alex Zanardi (24) of BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE, looks on before the Rolex 24 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Jan. 26, 2019. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)

Zanardi used specially adapted cars with hand controls for gas and braking to take up racing again after the 2001 accident.

Stefano Domenicali, the president and CEO of F1, said he was “deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend,” calling Zanardi “truly an inspirational person, as a human and as an athlete.”

“He faced challenges that would have stopped anyone, yet he continued to look forward, always with a smile and a stubborn determination that inspired us all,” Domenicali added. “While his loss is profoundly felt, his legacy remains strong.”

Alex Zanardi of Italy crosses the finish line at the IRONMAN 70.3 Emilia Romagna in Cervia, Italy, on Sept. 22, 2019. (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

After Zanardi’s 2020 crash, Pope Francis praised him as a symbol of strength in adversity and sent a handwritten letter offering encouragement and prayers.

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Before Saturday’s F1 sprint race in Miami Gardens, Florida, a moment of silence honored Zanardi. The Italian Olympic Committee also called for a minute of silence at sporting events across Italy.

Zanardi is survived by his wife, Daniela, and son, Niccolò.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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ONE atomweight MMA contender Itsuki Hirata of Japan plans to share her blessings in the aftermath of ONE SAMURAI 1.

‘Android 18’ submitted Ritu ‘The Indian Tigress’ Phogat of India in style with a rear-naked choke in the third round at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on April 29.

Her breakthrough win was rewarded handsomely, as she also took home a well-earned bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

In her post event-interview with ONE Championship, Hirata said she’d use the money to good use by treating her parents with something nice.

“I want to use it for my family and the people around me. First, I want to show my gratitude to my parents. My dad rides a motorcycle, so I might buy him a nice bike. It’s also Mother’s Day soon, so I want to give my mom a thank-you gift.”

The win was a hard-earned one for Hirata, who came in losing four of her last five bouts.

Phogat pressed forward throughout, forcing Hirata to work through adversity before she eventually secured the finish at 2:42 of Round 3.

Hirata moves to 8-5 with the victory, and seeks to use this momentum to make a run for 26 pounds of gold in the women’s 115-pound ranks.

Itsuki Hirata not satisfied after breakthrough victory at ONE SAMURAI 1

Itsuki Hirata knows there’s more work to be done after returning to the winning column.

The Japanese fan-favorite remained critical of her performance against Ritu Phogat and vowed to get better.

‘Android 18’ told ONE:

“Even though I got the finish, it’s difficult to execute everything we practiced once the actual fight starts. I was gunning for the neck in the first round but couldn’t finish it. I practiced that so much, even in the locker room, but I think the sweat and positioning made me rush, and it didn’t sink in.”

The replay of ONE SAMURAI 1 is available on demand for those who purchased the pay-per-view at live.onefc.com.