A rare miss on a long pot from Wu Yize and Mark Allen caresses one into the middle pocket before sliding in the yellow.

Still work to do here, though.

Kyren Wilson
2024 World Championship winner on BBC Two

The way Mark Allen handled that clearance - he's just so gritty and determined.

He's always been renowned for having great bottle.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Once again Wu Yize showing a weakness - a 58 break but couldn't convert there and then.

He paid the price.

A superb clearance from Mark Allen as he pots all of the colours - bar the black - with top-class control of the cue ball to win the frame.

The Northern Irishman is now within touching distance of the World Snooker Championship final.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Allen has a snooker resume most players would envy: Masters champion, UK Championship winner, former world number one, and a player who has compiled 147 breaks at all three Triple Crown events.

What’s missing is a world title - and even just a Crucible final appearance.

The 40-year-old Northern Irishman reached the semi-finals in 2009 and 2023, losing to John Higgins and Mark Selby respectively.

Could this finally be his year?

With four reds left, Mark Allen plays a deft long pot into the corner pocket.

There's enough left on the table for him to steal this frame.

Allen thumps in the final red to keep his break of 22 going. All of the colours are on their spots.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

I think Mark Allen is in the best form of his career, certainly at the World Championship.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say I have a sense that he's going to be the mentally stronger by the end of the night.

Mark Allen manages a break of 21 but is stopped in his tracks and has to back his safety game against his younger opponent.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

That's the first lapse in concentration from Wu.

He just cued across that one slightly - nobody in the Crucible saw that coming.

Could that be a turning point in this semi-final?

A break of 58 from Wu Yize but he taps his fingers on the table nervously as a red slowly makes his way to the middle pocket... only to strike the cushion.

Mark Allen clambers up from his seat.

Kyren Wilson
2024 World Championship winner on BBC Two

It's just got decider written all over it, hasn't it.

Neither player can pull away, it's been a really good standard so far.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

Wu Yize had a glimmer of hope there but Mark Allen was having none of it. That earlier break of 65 puts the man from County Antrim in the lead again.

Take a bow Mark Allen.

The Northern Irishman takes on a pressure long red into the corner pocket and it slides into the pocket. He follows up with the green and a red before a miss.

But Allen has enough points - 70 - in the bag for Wu to concede the frame.

Mark Allen looks to the heavens in frustration.

With four reds remaining he attempts to break them up with his pot on the blue, but cannot make strong enough contact.

He's 65 in front with 67 remaining but has to play safe up the table.

The exchange of frames looks set to continue as Mark Allen brushes aside any concerns over a lengthy wait for a pot by rattling off a fluent break of 51 and counting.

A tricky red into the middle pocket is safely negotiated but the pack is not yet broken open.

Kyren Wilson
2024 World Championship winner on BBC Two

After the re-rack Mark Allen's last pot was 25 minutes ago which is something you are going to have to deal with in a four-session match.

Mark has got his claws into the match but Wu Yize keeps going for his long pots and knocking them. Wu being so young doesn't have the scars of other players so he's just enjoying his journey.

At the moment it's tough to separate them.