John Higgins has given himself a fantastic platform to secure a third World Championship after the first two sessions of the final with Shaun Murphy.

The 1998 and 2007 champion won the final six games of the second session to lead 11-5 at The Crucible.

The final was evenly poised at 4-4 after the first session and on the resumption the first two frames were shared before the 'Wizard of Wishaw' hit top form.

A break of 95 allowed him to grab the third frame of the session before a brilliant 128 took the next.

A scrappy 51 allowed him to stretch his lead and he rounded a stunning session with a another break of 128 to go within seven frames of joining an elite group to win three titles or more.

And history isn't on Murphy's side either as no player has recovered from an 11-5 deficit to take the title.