Snooker news: Mark Allen vs Wu Yize as BBC coverage interrupted

Thanks for following along. Check out our new live blog for Friday's action here.

Shaun Murphy has beaten Fan Zhengyi, Xiao Guodong and defending champion Zhao Xintong on course to the £100,000 semi-final prize pot.

In booking his place in the final, he will guarantee himself £200,000 while playing for £500,000.

After securing his spot in the final four, he said: "I think when you are playing great player - which Zhao unquestionably is - it makes it straightforward for you.

"I just knew I had to play properly and knew I had to be somewhere near my best and I think I was.

"I'm so in awe of Zhao Xintong and how he plays the game. When he is in full flow, he is mesmerising to watch. It is one of the best wins of my career."

Alan McManus has heaped praise on Wu after a scintillating semi-final start.

McManus likened the 22-year-old to Judd Trump as he raved over the snooker starlet.

He said:

”Everything that has been put in front of him he has dealt with,”

"He is able to keep recycling the cue ball. You think he is out of position and he might miss, [but] no he doesn’t.

”He is a bit of a cross between Judd Trump of 15 years ago and Luca Brecel, the way he plays. He has got the cue ball going all around the houses, no problem. He has get-out-of-trouble pots, he has the touch. He has got it all.”

Coverage returns at 10am on BBC Two with the showdown between Higgins and Murphy beginning the day's play.

Wu Yize will then reconvene with Mark Allen at 2.30pm before the Scot takes on the Englishman in the final session of the evening at 7.30pm.

Coverage of TNT Sports begins at 2.15pm.

Wu is in the driving seat as he looks to book his place in the final at the Crucible.

Mark Allen faces an uphill task in pegging the Chinese back in frames.

But Wu has enjoyed some tips from famous potter Ronnie O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan said via Sports Boom: "I said, I think you need to improve in this area. I'm convinced of that, if you don’t I’m convinced you’re just going to keep getting what you got.

“Do you want to be a champion? And he [Wu] was like, 'Yeah, yeah', you might not want to do this, but if you want to be a champion, you're going to have to do this no matter how good you are because he's the phenomenal talent.

“It's been nice to see him take that on board and whether it's helped him or not, I don't know, but when he wins and does well, it makes me happy.”

Hello and welcome to our dedicated snooker blog.

The business end of the World Snooker Championships is here.

Boy, do we have an enthralling prospect in both semi-finals.

It is best-of-33 and as it stands, Shaun Murphy is tied with John Higgins at four apiece while Mark Allen trails to world number 10 Wu Yize.

The first session of both semi-finals are in the books and certainly went very differently.

From the afternoon session, John Higgins and Shaun Murphy are level at 4-4 with both players making mistakes and failing to win frames with high breakes.

In the evening session, Wu Yize was in sensational form as he leads Mark Allen 6-2!

That is all from the BBC on one of the final days of the World Snooker Championships!

We have been treated to some superb snooker today and plenty more will undoubtedly follow over the next three days...

Mark Allen at least got on the board in that frame but he just cannot stop Wu Yize with the 22-year-old winning the first session 6-2

This is special from Wu Yize.

A break of 64 and with some superb spots, he is not giving Mark Allen a chance, and he leads 5-2 in frames!

Sensational stuff from Wu Yize with a break of 82. 

He now leads Mark Allen 4-2 in frames and the 22-year-old is really starting to show just how good he is!

While BBC's coverage was temporarily halted due to technical issues, Mark Allen levelled this semi-final at 2-2.

However, Wu Yize struck back and went in front again following the halfway point of this clash!

A break of 75 from Wu Yize sees him take the second frame, despite Mark Allen being in a great position to level up this semi-final...

What a first frame from Wu Yize!

A break of 77 sees him go into a 1-0 lead with Mark Allen only at the table a few times...

Wu Yize has the opening break of this semi-final against Mark Allen and we are underway!

BBC's coverage of the Snooker World Championship is now underway!

Steve Davis and John Parrott are the pundits currently discussing Shaun Murphy's clash against John Higgins earlier in the day.

Focus has now switched onto Mark Allen and Wu Yize with their semi-final to start very soon...

The second semi-final of the 2026 Snooker World Championships between Mark Allen and Wu Yize is set to get underway in the next half an hour.

The latter got to this stage after beating Hossein Vafaei while Allen won a thriller against Barry Hawkins.

Updates on that clash will come throughout the evening!

Shaun Murphy has spoken out on the new tactic he has been deploying at the 2026 Snooker World Championships.

The 43-year-old has changed how he breaks and reveals it came from a conversation with his coach Peter Ebdon earlier this year.

He said: "We both just were in the snooker room at the house a few weeks ago, before the Tour Championships, and we said let’s go and do a few hours practice.

"And I just said as we went in: ‘I’m convinced there’s a better shot than the one we’ve been playing for 100 years.’

“It’s 100 years of professional snooker this year, and the break off hasn’t changed. 

“You always leave either the standard shot to nothing or a long red, or you drag one up over the middle. One of those three things usually happens.

“I just said to Peter: ‘I’m convinced that there’s a better shot in there.’ 

“Now, I’m not sure if my shot is better and it’s certainly not new. Steve Davis was doing that throughout the 80s.

“The most famous frame of all, the ‘85 last frame, that’s how he broke off. So I haven’t created anything new.

“It’s a bit embarrassing when you get it wrong and you go in off, or hit the blue or whatever. 

“But since I’ve been doing it, I’ve lost one frame from the break off. So that’s a massive improvement.”

John Parrott offered his verdict on why Shaun Murphy and John Higgins were far from their best during the first session of their World Snooker Championship semi-final.

He said on the BBC: "Do you know the best thing for this match? A good night's sleep. I am telling you now, this will be the best thing - they will come back tomorrow far better. They are both having hangovers from the last match.

"Some of the balls they were missing at the start of the frame were just inexplicable. Tomorrow it will be miles better, you will see a better match."

Hendry argued: "I don't understand it. How can you not come out and be buzzing? I understand John was (playing) at 11pm last night.

"John would never say that, I certainly don't subscribe to Shaun Murphy having a hangover, not at all."

Click here to read Parrott and Hendry's disagreement in full .

Nothing could separate John Higgins and Shaun Murphy with both players taking another frame to end the first session at 4-4.

The pair will return to the Crucible tomorrow for the second session with attention swiftly turning onto Mark Allen vs Wu Yize!

And just like that, we're level again!

John Higgins wins the sixth frame and it's now 3-3 in the semi-final against Shaun Murphy.

John Higgins wins the safety battle to secure the fifth frame of the match, and now trails 3-2 to Shaun Murphy.

The first frame after the mid-session interval is still ongoing with both players locked in a safety battle.

John Higgins currently has a 32-18 lead over Shaun Murphy in the frame.

Shaun Murphy restores his lead to go 2-1 iin front against John Higgins.

And a few minutes later, Murphy wins another frame in one visit to go 3-1 in front in the semi-final.

And just like that, John Higgins wins his first frame of the semi-final to draw level with Shaun Murphy.

Shaun Murphy has won the first frame of the semi-final and has taken an early 1-0 lead against John Higgins.

Higgins, though, is in the lead in the second frame and could draw level in the next few minutes.

The World Championship semi-finals will get underway shortly, with John Higgins and Shaun Murphy taking centre stage in the one-table set-up.

Make sure you stay tuned for LIVE updates. 

John Higgins has explained why he is delighted to reach the semi-final of the World Championship, where he will face SHaun Murphy later today.

Higgins told BBC Sport:

Shaun Murphy has explained why he ranks his quarter-final victory over Zhao Xintong as "one of the best" in his career.

Murphy told BBC Sport:

It's semi-final time at the Crucible Theatre, with the business end of the 2026 World Snooker Championship upon us.

Both matches begin today, with action getting underway this afternoon. Here's a look at the order of play on Thursday:

Afternoon session - 1pm

Shaun Murphy vs John Higgins

Evening session - 7pm

Mark Allen vs Wu Yize

Wu Yize was similarly delighted to make it through to the semi-final. It's the first time he's reached the one-table setup at the Crucible.

John Higgins spoke of his delight after reaching the semi-final by beating Neil Robertson.

The 31-time ranking event winner said:

Hello and welcome to our live snooker coverage on Thursday.

We're now at the final four stage at the Crucible, with players knowing they are just one win away from booking their place in the final.

We'll have all the latest covered, so stay tuned for another epic day of action in Sheffield.

That is it for our coverage of the World Snooker Championship tonight - and the two semi-final matches have been set.

John Higgins is into the last four and goes up against Shaun Murphy with a 1pm start tomorrow at the Crucible. 

Meanwhile, Mark Allen and Yu Wize lock horns in the second semi-final with that match beginning at 7pm.  

Stephen Hendry has hailed John Higgins after the Scot booked his place in the World Snooker Championship semi-final with a 13-10 win against Neil Robertson. 

"What a win for John Higgins," Hendry told the BBC. 

"OK not the same style of win as it was against Ronnie when it was all big breaks, frames won in one visit.

"But he's come through a struggle of a match - he can play any type of snooker. He's just an unbelievable competitor."

John Higgins vs Shaun Murphy

Yu Wize vs Mark Allen

That is it for the quarter-finals here at the Crucible, as John Higgins has secured his spot in the last four with a 13-10 win against Neil Robertson.

It proved to be a corker of a match in the end, with Higgins winning the final three frames to edge Robertson and set up a semi-final meeting with Shaun Murphy.

A frame lasting more than ONE hour has gone John Higgins' way and he can now see the semi-final in his sights. 

The Scot edges a tight frame 59-58 to take a 12-10 lead and move to within one frame of a place in the last four. 

John Higgins has edged in front in his quarter-final against Neil Robertson and is now just TWO frames from victory. 

Higgins is ahead for the first time since the opening frame of the match and is in the ascendancy to secure a semi-final spot. 

That was sensational from Wu Yize, who is into the World Snooker Championship semi-final following a 13-8 win against Hossein Vafaei. 

Vafaei had hit a fine 70 to give him a fighting shot but a mistake allowed Wu back on to the table and he punished him, hitting a 59 clearance to win the frame and book a spot against Mark Allen in the last four. 

Hossein Vafaei isn't giving up here against Yu Wize and has pulled it back to four with a frame-clinching 50 break.

He takes this match into its final mini-session as the players depart for their 15-minute interval. 

John Higgins is back level in this tight quarter-final against Neil Robertson and it was a nervy frame that went the Scot's way. 

Mistakes were aplenty between the pair but Higgins ended up squeezing through with a 67-41 win in the 20th frame. 

Wu Yize is now ONE frame away from reaching the World Snooker Championship semi-final with the Chinese star putting together a faultless 135 clearance in the 19th frame. 

He is back to five in front and is on the verge of sealing a place against Mark Allen in tomorrow's last four. 

Neil Robertson is back in front against John Higgins following a patient 73 visit which featured two shots that took more than ONE minute to take. 

It was important for Robertson to halt Higgins' momentum, however, and he does just that to make it 10-9. 

Hossen Vafaei has his seventh frame on the board against Yu Wize with the Iranian showing excellent composure to hit a frame-winning 71. 

It's now 11-7 but can Vafaei get back into this one and complete a stunning comeback? It'll be some turnaround if so. 

John Higgins is level against Neil Robertson with the Scot hitting a classy 77 to win the 18th frame and make it 9-9.

Robertson still hasn't potted a ball in this session so far and is danger of going behind against a rampant looking Higgins. 

Wu Yize has moved one step closer to sealing his place in the World Snooker Championship final. The Chinese star is now FIVE frames ahead against Iran's Hossein Vafaei. 

Wu stormed into a 78-0 lead, and despite Vafaei reducing the deficit to around 50 and getting his opponent in three tough snookers, Wu escaped to make it 11-6. 

John Higgins has reduced the deficit to ONE in his tie against Neil Robertson following a safety error from the Aussie. 

Higgins is able to pounce and puts together a 63 break and then holds his nerve with an impressive 66 break to win the 17th frame and make it 9-8. 

We are back for this evening's session here at the World Snooker Championship.

Neil Robertson is 9-7 in front in his quarter-final against John Higgins, with the Aussie needing four frames to progress.

Meanwhile, a sensational morning session from Yu Wize has him 10-6 ahead against Hossein Vafaei.

Who will progress into the last four, alongside Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy, at the Crucible?

It's been an action-packed day of snooker so far and there is still more to come in the evening session. 

Who will join Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy in the last four of the World Championship? It'll be either Neil Robertson or John Higgins and Wu Yize or Hossein Vafaei. 

The action is back underway at the Crucible at 7pm... 

On the other table, Wu Yize has taken a 10-6 lead over Hossein Vafaei going into the evening session tonight.

Shaun Murphy wins another frame and has claimed a 13-10 victory over Zhao Xintong to reach the semi-final.

Murphy will face either Neil Robertson or John Higgins in the semi-final of the competition.

Zhao Xintong keeps the match alive by winning the 22nd frame and now trails 12-10 to Shaun Murphy.

Xintong still has to win the remaining three frames to be able to reach the semi-final.

Another frame on the board for Shaun Murphy, who takes a 12-9 lead over Zhao Xintong and is just one frame away from victory.

We're at the mid-session interval and Shaun Murphy has taken an 11-9 lead over reigning champion Zhao Xintong.

On the other table, Wu Yize has a 7-5 lead over Hossein Vafaei.

Zhao Xintong wastes no time with his response by winning the next frame to draw level at 9-9 with Shaun Murphy.

Shaun Murphy wins the opening frame of the session to take a 9-8 elead against Zhao Xintong.

The afternoon session is about to get underway, with Hossein Vafaei and Wu Yize going head-to-head in one quarter-final.

On the other table, Shaun Murphy and Zhao Xintong will finish their quarter-final match in this session.

Here's how the scores stand going into the afternoon session: 

Speaking to the BBC, Allen said: "It's a feeling of relief more than anything.

"When Barry got that fluke on the last red, I was like 'here we go again' because over 24 frames I don't think I had to say sorry once.

"It's probably the worst run of the balls I've ever had, on top of Barry playing very well.

"To win that match - I'm absolutely over the moon. I was really proud of myself that I hung in there and gave myself a chance.

"I played some good stuff in spells and battled it out this morning."

We now head to a break ahead of this afternoon’s session, and Neil Robertson leads John Higgins 9-6.

Neil Robertson is now just four frames away from booking his place in the semi-finals. He now leads John Higgins 9-6. 

Big praise from Steve Davis, who has just said: "The best match of the tournament so far. That second session was a bombardment of breaks.

"Coming out this morning, it's a different story because you're a bit more bleary-eyed. What a match that was."

Mark Allen moves into the semi-finals as he beats Barry Hawkins 13-11. But what a match that was. You could cut the tension in those last couple of frames.

Neil Robertson has just taken another frame and now leads John Higgins 8-6, while Mark Allen has moved one frame away from winning. He now leads 12-11.

Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins trade blows, as it is now 11-11. While on the other table, Neil Robertson has gone 7-6 ahead.

John Higgins makes the first century break of his match – a 126 – to level his quarter-final tie with Neil Robertson. 6-6 is now the score.

Over on the other table, John Higgins has just won another frame. It is now 6-5 to Roberrson.

Barry Hawkins wins successive frames to fight back from 10-8 behind. It is all square at 10-10 heading into the mid-session interval.

While on the other table, John Higgins is also fighting back against Neil Robertson. He's just taken the 10th frame and is now 6-4 behind.

Perhaps the match isn't slipping away from Barry Hawkins as he has just taken the 19th frame. It is now 10-9 to Mark Allen, and it is very much game on.

Mark Allen takes another frame, and he is now two frames ahead with the score at 10-8. This match feels like it is slipping away from Barry Hawkins.

Neil Robertson moves 6-3 ahead after clearing the remaining balls for a break of 48. 

Mark Allen goes ahead. He pots the pink to clinch the 17th frame and move within four frames of victory.

It is also the first time he's led in this match since he was 2-1 up on Tuesday morning. The score is currently 9-8.

Today's action is underway. What will today have in store for us?

Judd Trump believes he doesn’t deserve to be world No.1 - and being toppled from the top of the rankings might just deliver the kick up the backside he needs.

Trump crashed out of the Crucible at the last 16 stage to Hossein Vafaei and pulled no punches on his current rating.

He said: “With the World No.1 thing, I don’t feel like I’ve played good enough to hold it. 

“It’s something I love being, I’m still No.1 at the moment, but I think maybe I need someone to overtake me to give myself a bit of a kick at the backside to produce the goods again. I’ve been consistent, but not good enough.”

10:00

John Higgins v Neil Robertson

Mark Allen v Barry Hawkins

14:30

Zhao Xintong v Shaun Murphy

Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei

19:00

John Higgins v Neil Robertson

Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei

Ronnie O’Sullivan vowed to follow the money next season following his World Snooker Championship defeat to John Higgins.

O’Sullivan gave his searing assessment in response to the brutal cancellation of the lucrative Saudi Arabia Masters, worth a staggering £2.3 million, just two years into a 10-year deal.

He said: “Any tournament I go to, they all know they have to get the cheque book out, so where ever I go that’s standard. If that stops then I stop.

“Wherever it is, Saudi, Qatar, China, here, whatever it is, I always make sure I’ve got some sort of fee coming because otherwise people know that I won’t turn up.”

Pressed on whether his Academy in Riyadh would be affected, O’Sullivan added: “I have other options, so I’m not really worried.

“Hopefully Saudi still want to do some stuff, but we’ll have to wait and see, then I’ll make my decisions based on whatever happens there.”

O’Sullivan has been selective with events in the past couple of years and that is set to continue into next season.

He said: “It depends, if my sponsors are on board, then I’ll play, but I’m not two-feet in like pretty much most of the guys. I’m just grateful to be playing, and enjoying my playing and that’s it. And if I don’t enjoy it, I’ll take time out. We’ll see. It’s too hard to start speculating about next year.

“I’m just enjoying myself I’m having good fun, I’m just enjoying life and whatever I’m doing, so win, lose, draw, there’s always a safety net below. I’m not two feet in.

“I try my nuts off when I’m out there, but I also appreciate that I’m not a slave to the game.”

Zhao Xintong fought back against Shaun Murphy to leave their quarter-final delicately poised at 8-8 heading into Wednesday's concluding session.

Zhao demonstrated his ruthless streak by concluding the session with a flourish, leaving the rivals deadlocked at 8-8, the same scoreline as the night’s other last-eight showdown between Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins.

Neil Robertson established a narrow 5-3 lead over John Higgins in the fiercely contested opening of their quarter-final. And Hossein Vafaei and Wu Yize are level at 4-4 after an entertaining start to their best-of-25 encounter.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the World Snooker Championship. We have hit the business end of the competition, and we have some delicately poised matches to come today.

The evening session has come to an end and it's all to play for in the quarter-final.

Zhao Xintong has drawn level with Shaun Murphy to finish the day 8-8 heading into Wednesday.

Barry Hawkins and Mark Allen are also level at 8-8 after the opening day of the quarter-final.

Both players get another frame on the board each as the end of the evening session fast approaches.

On the other table, Barry Hawkins has an 8-7 lead over Mark Allen going into the final frame of the night.

Zhao Xintong reduces the deficit once again and now trails 7-6 to Shaun Murphy.

On the other table, Mark Allen scores a century break to also trail by one frame, 7-6, against Barry Hawkins.

We've reached the mid-session interval and Shaun Murphy restores his two-frame advantage again to take a 7-5 lead over Zhao Xintong.

On the other table, Barry Hawkins has taken a 7-4 lead over Mark Allen.

Zhao Xintong responds with a century break to reduce the deficit to one frame and now trails 6-5 to Shaun Murphy.

A fast start for both players as Zhao Xintong gets the first frame of the session on the board against Shaun Murphy.

Murphy then responds by winning the next frame and restores his two-frame advantage.

The evening session is about to get underway, and here is a reminder of the current scores:

Neil Robertson wins a tense final frame of the afternoon session to take a 5-3 lead over John Higgins.

Up next, the evening session...

There's an unscheduled break in play as both players head to the bathroom while a re-spot takes place.

John Higgins hits the yellow as he attempts to escape a snooker, leading to Neil Robertson asking for a re-spot.

While this is happening, Higgins and Robertson head to the bathroon for a break.

A lengthy delay for a re-spot after John Higgins strikes the yellow attempting to escape from a snooker.

After a few minutes, play resumes and Higgins eventually gets out of trouble and hits the red.

However, Neil Robertson was able to pot a red following the effort.

The frame remains ongoing...

An incredibly close frame which Robertson takes 70-62 to gain a 4-3 lead overall.

Over on the other table, Yize and Vafaei are all square at 4-4 after eight frames. An incredible performance from both men.

It's an instant response from Higgins, who takes the sixth frame 89-9. This one could go down to the wire.

A solid start back from the interval as Robertson secures the fifth frame 78-26.

Sensational stuff from the 44-year-old, including a break of 70.

The Aussie had to mess around with a wobbly chair at the start of the fifth frame, with camera's showing him tinkering with his seat as the commentary team explained they had never seen anything quite like it at the Crucible.

Shaun Murphy, back in action from 7pm, has already spoken this week about a desire for the Big Break to return to television.

The former world champion would jump at the chance to host it too!

He said:

John Higgins claims the final frame before the break to level the scores at 2-2 against Neil Robertson.

A break of 56 did the job.

Wu Yize has also drawn level after building a break of 90 with some calculated positional play.

Stephen Hendry couldn’t resist the opportunity to brag about his achievements at the snooker table during Tuesday’s coverage of the World Championship.

Rish Persad asked Hendry for his insight given Zhao Xintong's success since winning the tournament last year. Persad remarked: “There’s certainly been no hangover for Zhao Xintong since winning the World Championship last year.

“Stephen, I was looking at your record after you won the world title in 1990, the following season you won five ranking titles and the Masters. Is that an easy thing to do after winning the world title for the first time, to produce that sort of performance the season after?”

Not one to be too humble, Hendry replied: “Not if you’re good enough. It’s quite easy,” to which the Crucible crowd responded with laughter, while Persad struggled to formulate an adequate response.

Neil Robertson and Hossein Vafaei have each taken a 2-1 lead this afternoon. The Iranian compiled a break of 66 to earn the third break, while Robertson took advantage of a miss on the pink from Higgins to edge ahead for the first time.

It's looking a good battle already and Steve Davis has given his say on the match.

The third frame is already looking tight but Robertson is at the table and can build a break from here. He currently leads by seven.

It's a strong start for the Crucible veteran who claims the first frame with a break of 61.

Hossein Vafaei has also went one up against Wu Yize.

14:30

19:00

And then we'll be back in action with some entertaining matches on the cards. Can Hossein Vafaei back up his upset win over Judd Trump with a positive start today?

Who saw that coming after Zhao Xintong's fantastic start earlier today. There has been no shortage of tension in the last couple of frames and Murphy has battled to earn an advantage.

John Higgins takes on Neil Robertson, and Wu Yize and Hossein Vafaei face off after the break.

The former finalist has taken advantage at the end of the session. Barry Hawkins wins the final frame of the afternoon with a clearance of 63 to win a two-frame lead.

They will resume their match at 7pm this evening.

It's 3-3 between Xintong and Murphy after a frame of 42 minutes. Both players had chances to win on the colours and the latter eventually takes advantage to level the scores.

That frame was all grit and some some flukes too.

Barry Hawkins moved into the lead for the first time after the mid-session interval thanks to a break of 69. Mark Allen has hit straight back to claim the sixth frame.

Nip and tuck in the quarter-final clash.

Murphy claims the longest frame of the session so far to bring himself another step closer to the World Champion.

A fine finish to the frame with a fine snooker when on the green, providing a good opportunity.

An exchange of safety shots until Murphy gives his opponent a chance once again. The Englishman looked annoyed with the bounce from the cushion just there.

But Xintong cannot capitalise and some clumsy play brings Murphy back to the table with the score 68-23 to the defending champion.

Zhao missed after going 56-15 ahead, but Murphy has now made a smart pot to give himself a chance to pinch a frame.

He pots the black and looks to crash the reds, but he's hit the first one full and put himself in a difficult position.

He's desperately searching for someone to hide the cue ball now.

Barry Hawkins has levelled it up in his quarter-final tie against Mark Allen. A 72 break from Hawkins ensures he comes back in the fourth frame to make it 2-2. 

Shaun Murphy has finally got a frame on the board to make it 3-1 and give him some hope in this quarter-final. 

He started with a 69 break, and although there was a little fightback from Zhao Xintong, it wasn't enough on this occasion and Murphy has a frame on the board. 

Mark Allen has edged his second frame against Barry Hawkins to make it 2-1 in his quarter-final tie. 

Hawkins had stormed in front in the third but Allen bounced back to hit a 61 break and nick the frame. 

Oh, that is another hammer blow for Shaun Murphy, who burst into a 24-point lead in the third frame but loses it after making another mistake which is pounced upon. 

Zhao Xintong knocked home a long red pot to get him going and he didn't look back. A 57 break was followed by 35 from the defending champion as he won the frame 92-31 and secured a 3-0 lead. It does feel a long road back for Murphy now. 

A superb response from Barry Hawkins as he hits a tremendous 114 break to level his quarter-final tie against Mark Allen. 

It's the second century break of the morning session, after Zhao Xintong's in the opening frame against Shaun Murphy. 

That is a huge blow for Shaun Murphy, who loses the second frame despite starting with a 60 break. 

The 2005 world champion had stormed in front and looked all-but there to make it 1-1 with a half-century break. 

But a mistake allowed Zhao Xintong to return to the table and he fought back to win the frame 66-60. 

Work to do for Murphy now as he is 2-0 down. 

Mark Allen has edged past Barry Hawkins to take the first frame of the session and quarter-final on table two. 

Hawkins had reduced the deficit to 22 with 35 remaining, but Allen returned to the table to pot the yellow and green to ensure there was no route back as he made it 1-0. 

That is a superb opening frame from Zhao Xintong, who pounces on an error from Shaun Murphy to make it 1-0.  

The reigning world champion made it look so simple with a stunning 122 break to take the first frame of the morning session and stamp his mark on this quarter-final tie. 

We are less than five minutes from the action getting started on day 11 of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible. There are two quarter-final ties getting underway this morning with Mark Allen taking on Barry Hawkins and Zhao Xintong going up against Shaun Murphy. 

The World Snooker Tour have responded after Mark Selby criticised the 'horrific' state of the Crucible table following his defeat to Wu Yize. Four-time champion Selby drew on his years of experience to push the 22-year-old rising star all the way, but he ultimately fell to a 13-11 defeat.

But following the match, Selby took aim at the Crucible baize, saying: "I felt like I let the table get to me a little bit. The conditions were probably as bad as I’ve experienced here at the World Championships, for sure.

"Even the [first-round] game against Jak Jones, I felt like the table was absolutely horrific. Jak said the same to me. Last night they re-covered it and I still felt it was really heavy and pingy as well.

"That’s not the reason why I’ve lost, but it’s just disappointing to come to a tournament which is the pinnacle of our sport and you think like the conditions are going to play really good and I’ve played anything but."

Read the story here. 

A gracious Judd Trump described his World Snooker Championship defeat as "cruel" but admitted he did not do enough to deserve victory over Hossein Vafaei. The world No. 1 was stunned in a final-frame decider and went on to lament the nature of the sport.

Trump had his chances late on, but Vafaei put together a match-winning break and was good value for the win, as he set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Wu Yize, who similarly upset Mark Selby on the same day. They joined Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, Mark Allen, Barry Hawkins, John Higgins and Neil Robertson in the final eight.

But speaking just minutes after his defeat, Trump reflected on being millimetres away from victory, only to be eliminated, and said: "It's [snooker] cruel but I think the screw shot back on the black, I should have been better on that and it would have taken the cannon out of play.

"I was not good enough tonight really. I had my chances. I played well to get back to 12-11 up then he made a good break to go 12-12. I had a good chance in the last frame but just ran out of position, really.

"It follows the pattern of the season. I've had chances in deciders but just not been clinical. Under pressure it's just not been good enough. My positional play has been quite lapse and maybe overthinking things a little bit.

"There was probably a bit of a lack of confidence when I've not won as much or been as clinical in the utmost pressure. This season follows a pattern. Overall, nothing to complain about. There's no excuses. I gave it my all and Hossein made two amazing breaks in the last two frames. Hopefully he goes on to win it."

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John Higgins says he felt like a rabbit caught in the headlights before remarkably gatecrashing the champions' celebration.

The Scottish legend discovered fresh inspiration on a magical Monday to spectacularly fight back and overcome Ronnie O'Sullivan in an epic World Snooker Championship encounter.

Higgins was behind 6-2 and 9-4, but after claiming Sunday's final three frames to resume at 9-7 down, the five-time champion responded by firing three centuries before clinching victory 13-12 in a nail-biting climax.

The 50-year-old acknowledged it was dramatic and smiled, showing his class to praise his opponent, and said: "I'm just delighted I came to the party in the third session.

"Just not giving up. At 6-2 behind, I said to the family: I've got to win the next two sessions. Simple.

"I wasn't having any negative thoughts. I wasn't despondent. It's a great win, especially from 9-4 down.

"Let me tell you, Ronnie played amazing in that game, his cue-ball control, if he tells you any differently, I've played him for years and I thought he was striking it great. That was the best I've ever seen him hit the ball."

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Neil Robertson has demanded Ronnie O'Sullivan's 'c**p' chalk be banned and removed from the face of the earth. 

Robertson, who faces John Higgins in the World Snooker Championship quarter-final, is adamant that O'Sullivan isn't using it to wind up fellow players, but he wants it kicked out of the sport.

O'Sullivan uses chalk made by manufacturer Triangle, while virtually everyone else on the World Snooker Tour uses the brand Taom. 

Robertson, the 2010 World Champion, said: "Oh Jesus, ban that c**p, please. All the players hate it, it just destroys the game.

"You get kicks, you get bounces, not only that, it makes an absolute mess of the table. I know he's good friends with Damien Hirst, but it's like he's doing artwork with the chalk all over the cloth. I don't think he does it to kind of put off anyone, he's not that way inclined at all, but it's not great.

"It's hard enough to play Ronnie O'Sullivan and also when he's the only player just about on Tour left who uses that chalk, so, hopefully, they bring in a ban, but there's only a couple of players that use it."

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Hello and welcome to our live snooker coverage on this fine Tuesday morning. 

Stay tuned for updates from the Crucible as two of the four quarter-finals get underway from 10am...