Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two

Zhao has had two chances to put this frame to bed, missing two long reds by some distance.

It's worth saying the importance of these frames when you're so far behind - both players are going to win frames in one visit, but these are key.

Shaun Murphy gives away four points by failing to escape from a snooker and also leaves Zhao Xintong with a glorious chance to wrap up the frame.

But Zhao can't take advantage, missing a long red to the yellow pocket.

Murphy 45 behind with 51 left.

Barry Hawkins takes the first frame after the mid-session interval to move 3-2 ahead.

A break of 69 is more than enough for the 2013 World Championship runner-up.

Shaun Murphy floats in a superb red along the top cushion to begin a counter-attack, but the split of the reds off the black does not go well.

Safety shot back to the baulk end - end of break.

In what feels like no time at all, Zhao Xintong moves 41 points up in frame five.

But his attempt to open a couple of reds from the bunch goes awry and his break ends on 56.

Still 67 points remaining so plenty available for Shaun Murphy to launch a comeback in this frame.

BBC Two

The players are back in action on both sides of the curtain and Shaun Murphy, having won the fourth frame, gets in first after the mid-session interval.

He can only contribute 15 points on this occasion, however, before needing to play safe to the side cushion.

Head to the "Watch and listen" tab to choose your coverage options, with the Zhao-Murphy match live on BBC Two.

You can watch every shot of the 2026 World Snooker Championship live on the BBC.

Defending champion Zhao Xintong, who became the first champion from China after overcoming Mark Williams in last year's final, is among the eight players to have reached the quarter-finals this time around.

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

The final starts on Sunday and finishes on Monday, 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.

Both matches are at their respective mid-session intervals, which should last about 15 minutes.

Once they return, there will be a maximum of four more frames to be played.

And both of these quarter-finals will resume at 19:00 BST this evening for the second of three sessions.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

This match is a commentator's dream. I'm lucky enough to be on it tonight for the second session and I'm looking forward to it.

It's easy on the eye and lovely to watch.

Those people who have got their tickets, who didn't know when they booked them last year who they would be seeing, they've got a treat.

On the other side of the curtain, a break of 72 from Barry Hawkins makes it 2-2 in his quarter-final against Mark Allen.

Shaun Murphy will feel a little happier about things now, knocking in the penultimate red to get his first frame on the scoreboard.

Zhao Xintong leads 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

Just two reds left on the table now and Zhao Xintong still needs a snooker to have a chance of winning the fourth frame.

Both remaining reds are up at the baulk end of the table and on the cushion, which doesn't help Zhao's cause either.

Shaun Murphy moves 69 ahead with 67 remaining but then misses a tough red to the middle.

Zhao Xintong requires a snooker.

Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two

It's good to see Shaun stay positive with his shot selection. It's clear that he's got a gameplan too - he's trying to play to his strengths.

It's a high-risk, high-reward approach but when they're going in, he can be very hard to stop.

I just think this game will be an absolute cracker.

Shaun Murphy opens the pack of reds off the black but is not on anything easy.

The Englishman keeps the visit going with an excellent pot to the right middle and his break is now 46 and counting.

A big frame ahead for Shaun Murphy before the mid-session interval.

When Zhao Xintong misses a long red, he gets the first meaningful chance to score in frame four.

Mark Allen was 58 points behind in frame three but, after laying a tricky snooker behind the black, gets an opportunity to pinch it.

He doesn't make it easy for himself, running slightly out of position on the final pink, but gets it to seal the frame and a 2-1 lead.

Indeed it is 3-0 to Zhao Xintong of China.

The reigning world champion could not have asked for a better start this morning.

A few shouts from the crowd of "come on Shaun" as Zhao Xintong misses a red to the middle.

Murphy knocks in a red and a pink, and is left with a double on the final red... it hits the far jaw and comes to rest right over the bottom right corner.

A 3-0 lead for Zhao incoming.

Zhao Xintong has to play safe with two reds left on the table, but he's into a 33-point lead with 43 remaining.