No separating Higgins and Maguire

John Higgins and Stephen Maguire remain deadlocked at 8-8 after the second session of their gripping 888.com World Championship semi-final in Sheffield.

The Scottish duo resumed at 4-4 and shared the next eight frames in the best-of-33 showdown, and there is every likelihood of a close finish being in prospect on Saturday afternoon.

Maguire is aiming to become the fifth Scot to win snooker's most coveted prize after Walter Donaldson, Stephen Hendry, Higgins and Graeme Dott.

The initial session had been high on quality with two centuries and four other 50-plus breaks, but it was a more nervy affair with several unforced errors when the duo returned to the table.

Maguire won the 32-minute opener with the aid of a 31 after Higgins played a poor safety shot on the final yellow and left it hanging over the middle pocket.

Higgins, the 1998 champion, was quickly back on level terms with a 90 break in frame 10 but his opponent again nosed ahead, with a run of 63 proving decisive.

Higgins responded and, although breaking down on 45, Maguire was unable to capitalise after going in-off with the cue ball after potting a red.

The Wizard of Wishaw went ahead in the match for the first time with the help of a 52 which left Maguire needing snookers, but his opponent soon levelled proceedings.

A ding-dong encounter swayed back into Maguire's favour when a superb long red into the green pocket set him on his way to a 62 break in the penultimate frame of the session.

However, Higgins ensured parity by closing out frame 16 with a 34.