Ding was in impressive form on Sunday to open up a 7-2 lead over David Gilbert, leaving himself needing just three frames to hit the magic number of 10.

While the Englishman took the opening frame this morning, Ding responded with a break of 66 to restore his five-frame advantage.

Gilbert is ticking along nicely in frame 12 and a 78 allows him to put a fourth frame on the board.

Kyren Wilson gets a frame on the board. His cup of tea will taste a lot nicer at the mid-session interval and that could prove to be a nice settler.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

While Stan Moody is making a superb opening impression on his Crucible debut in one half of the arena, one of the game's trailblazers is doing the business on the other side of the divide.

Ding Junhui became the first Chinese player to win a ranking event and then the first from China to win a Triple Crown competition with his success at the UK Championship later on in 2005.

His success inspired and opened the door for many Chinese players, with 11 from China appearing at the Crucible in 2026 - a new record.

Ding, who lost in 2016 Crucible final, is currently 8-3 up against England David Gilbert and if he wins it would set up a mouthwatering last-16 tie against compatriot Zhao Xintong, the reigning world champion.

Kyren Wilson has a difficult table in front of him so puts his opponent in trouble after fluking a red to the bottom right corner.

Stan Moody gets out of that but then plays a cross double as a shot to nothing that stays in the jaws of the bottom left corner. Big chance for 'The Warrior' to get some points on the board.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It is like he is playing down the club. This will be a shock to Kyren Wilson - he won't have expected a young rookie to come out so strong, it is top-four stuff, no-miss snooker.

I don't remember it being this easy. Sometimes you felt at home at the Crucible and you won the place, but the cue action and confidence around the table - he has Kyren Wilson in all sorts of trouble.

Kyren Wilson has nine points on the board but it's a messy table and when he leaves a red over the bottom left corner Stan Moody knocks it in.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It's open, it's attacking and it's very dangerous. He is improving and you can see him getting better.

I didn't think he was this good. What he is showing here is as good as it gets.

He could not ask for a better start. They way he has struck the ball, created his breaks and his touch...everything about him has been top drawer.

This boy might be a bit special.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

So far this has been as impressive a performance from anyone we've seen in this tournament. It's great to play this way, without thinking of the consequences if you miss.

He is playing with a freedom of he doesn't care what he leaves if he misses a pot.

Do you remember when the game was this easy, it seems a long time for me?

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

I know it is early days but it looks like a star is already being born.

Stan Moody is knocking in ball after ball at present. He is playing with confidence and absolutely flying and takes the third frame with a break of 91.

The 2026 World Snooker Championship got under way at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday, 18 April - and you can watch every shot of the tournament live on the BBC.

This year is the 50th championship to be held at the Crucible since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977.

The final starts on 3 May and finishes on 4 May, with the winner taking home £500,000.

To watch live on BBC TV and follow uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, click here.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

It was one of the most remarkable stories from qualifying.

British teenager Stan Moody secured his place at the World Snooker Championship for the first time, a day after discharging himself from hospital.

Moody, 19, had been struggling with tonsillitis but managed to beat China's Jiang Jun 10-9 on Tuesday, with a break of 104 in the deciding frame to qualify for the Crucible.

"I was in hospital yesterday," said Moody afterwards. "They said 'we know you're going to say no, but we want you to stay in', but I said 'no, I have a match to play tomorrow', so it was never really in question.

"I've been given a load of antibiotics so I'm on the mend. I couldn't talk yesterday or eat or drink, so I've come a long way. They said if it gets worse, come back.

"I'm normally good under pressure but in that last frame I've never felt pressure so much in my life, I'm so happy."

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Kyren would like to be 2-2 at the interval. The next frame is pretty big.

Stan Moody takes full advantage after Kyren Wilson misses a red to the middle. The perfect opening two frames for him.

Still a long way to go in this best-of-19 encounter but Kyren Wilson can not afford to let this drift out too much further.

Kyren Wilson breaks down on 41 in frame two. He has won the Shanghai Masters and Masters this season but he has not really delivered when it has come to the ranking events.

Stan Moody, 19, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the game's rising stars and is ranked 44th in the world.

He is also the first teenager since Judd Trump in 2007 to make a debut at the Crucible.

In qualifying, Moody recorded wins over fellow Englishman Robbie Williams and China's Jiang Jun to set up a Crucible clash with 2024 world champion Wilson.

So he is already battle hardened and you can read more about him here.

Stan Moody is not hanging around as he compiles a break of 84 to take the opening frame of his match against the 2024 world champion Kyren Wilson.

A statement start on his Crucible bow from the 19-year-old.

Wilson looks stunned.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

What a reception for 19-year-old Stan Moody. He comes from Halifax, less than 50 miles away from Sheffield and is the first British teenager to make his debut at the Crucible since Judd Trump in 2007.

And what a start for the youngster, as he rattles in a break of 84, with former world champion Kyren Wilson not getting a point on the board.

It's day three of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and we've got three cracking sessions of play coming up involving five matches:

10:00

Ding Junhui (16) 7-2 David Gilbert *

Kyren Wilson (3) v Stan Moody

14:30

John Higgins (5) 4-5 Ali Carter *

Wu Yize (10) v Lei Peifan

19:00

Shaun Murphy (8) v Fan Zhengyi

Kyren Wilson (3) v Stan Moody *