John Higgins, who had never led at the end of a session in the tournament, opened up a slender 13-11 advantage over Shaun Murphy heading into the final session of their World Championship semi-final at the Crucible Theatre.
The match is a best-of-33 encounter, and Higgins made his first century break of the contest in the last session. The final session will begin on Saturday at 14:30 BST.
Murphy had battled back to tie the match at 8-8 ahead of their evening session after the first session ended in a 4-4 tie. This comeback highlighted his resilience throughout the tournament.
Higgins, a four-time world champion, will turn 51 later this month. His experience may play a crucial role as he seeks to secure his place in the final.
The last session promises to be intense, with both players eager to clinch victory. Observers expect a thrilling finish as they vie for a spot in the championship match.
