Mark Allen and Wu Yize played the longest frame in the Crucible era of the World Snooker Championship, clocking in at just over 100 minutes, leaving their semi-final poised at 7-7 after the afternoon session.
The frame was marked by a cluster of eight reds jammed around the black ball on the edge of a corner pocket, resulting in a 55-minute stalemate without a ball being potted. Allen led 47-13 and resisted a re-rack. Referee Marcel Eckardt struggled to control the crowd as slow clapping began, but he only acted after being prompted by tournament director Rob Spencer, who instructed the players to resolve the situation in three shots or face a re-rack.
Allen eventually fouled by knocking the black into the pocket, allowing Wu to take the frame 88-66 after a lengthy safety exchange and an escape to hit the pink from behind the black. The frame lasted 1 hour, 40 minutes, and 21 seconds, just eight minutes shorter than the Crucible's quickest match.
Steve Davis called the frame "an embarrassment to snooker," while Stephen Hendry said the referee should have intervened earlier. Kyren Wilson praised Allen's fight but agreed the referee should have acted sooner.
Allen had fought back from 6-2 down, winning five frames in a row with breaks of 145 and 121 to lead 7-6 before the marathon frame.
In the other semi-final, John Higgins leads Shaun Murphy 13-11 after an entertaining session. Murphy started with a 60 break, but Higgins replied with 55. Murphy leveled at 10-10 with an 82 break, but Higgins took control with a 63 break and later a 101 break to secure a two-frame lead.
