World Snooker Championship: Judd Trump and Gary Wilson share session

Wilson and Trump share opening session

Qualifier Gary Wilson showed few signs of nerves as he shared the opening eight frames of the second semi-final with former finalist Judd Trump.

Wilson fired a break of 140 - just one behind the existing championship best held by his opponent - as he nudged into a 2-1 lead in the match.

Trump won the first and last frames of a high-speed mini-session but mistakes played into Wilson's hands as there was little to choose between the pair in the early stages.

Trump surged out after the mid-session interval with a brilliant 39 break to nudge himself back into a one-frame lead.

But carelessness continued to cost him dear and an early mistake in the next allowed the seemingly nerveless Wilson to haul level again at 3-3.

The Newcastle player took advantage of a fluke to grab the initiative in a scrappy seventh frame, then was first in the balls to try to fashion an overnight lead.

After Wilson ran out of position on 25, Trump responded with a break of 54 which would ultimately prove enough to level the overnight score at 4-4.

Gilbert misses 147 but makes strong start

David Gilbert recovered from a few early jitters to lead John Higgins 5-3 at the conclusion of the first session of their Betfred World Championship semi-final at the Crucible.

Following a serene run to the last-four stage, Gilbert is making his first Crucible semi-final appearance and was noticeably edgy when play got under way, a string of unforced errors handing Higgins enough opportunities to finally kill off the opening frame.

Higgins would go onto steal the second frame despite missing the green when hampered by the blue, Gilbert missing a simple pot on the same ball with the very next shot to allow his opponent to clear to the pink and go 2-0 in front.

An edgy third frame saw Gilbert finally get a foothold in the match and he immediately looked more relaxed, striding purposefully around the table in making a break of 94 in the following frame to ensure he went to the mid-session interval all square at 2-2.

Higgins stopped the rot upon the resumption, a run of 66 allowing him to regain the lead but Gilbert responded with a superb maximum break attempt, drawing level despite coming up short.

Gilbert negotiated the opening 14 reds with blacks and managed to find a terrific double on the final red, only to land awkwardly on the black.

Another attempted double this time went astray, to the disappointment of a packed Crucible Theatre, but Gilbert wasn't perturbed, dominating frame seven to inch into the lead for the first time in the match at 4-3.

Gilbert was in first in the final frame of the afternoon and despite breaking down on 51, Higgins wasn't able to produce one of his trademark counter attacks meaning he will trail 5-3 when play resumes at 10am on Friday morning.

Thursday's World Championship scores

• John Higgins 3-5 David Gilbert
• Gary Wilson 4-4 Judd Trump
• Best of 33 frames

Semi-Final Schedule

FRIDAY MAY 3
Morning Session (10am)
TV Coverage: Eurosport & BBC

• David Gilbert v John Higgins

Afternoon Session (2.30pm)
TV Coverage: Eurosport & BBC

• Gary Wilson v Judd Trump

Evening Session (7pm)
TV Coverage: Eurosport & BBC

• David Gilbert v John Higgins

SATURDAY MAY 4
Morning Session (10am)
TV Coverage: Eurosport & BBC

• Gary Wilson v Judd Trump

Afternoon Session (2.30pm)
TV Coverage: Eurosport & BBC

• David Gilbert v John Higgins

Evening Session (7.30pm)
TV Coverage: Eurosport & BBC

• Gary Wilson v Judd Trump

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