Zhao Xintong pots an excellent long red and finds position on a colour.

Some safe reds on the right cushion to negotiate if he is to win the frame at this visit, but you wouldn't put it past him on the form he's shown so far this morning.

Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two

The most difficult thing for players playing against Zhao is even when you do send him a message and land a body blow, it seems to have no bearing whatsoever on him.

He looks that comfortable, he could be strolling around in his slippers and dressing gown.

It's important that Shaun does send a message.

Murphy has to play safe off the pack of reds and Zhao is back at the table 24 points behind.

Shaun Murphy's long-potting has been on point early on today. He's got in first in the opening two frames and lost both of them.

His first red of the third frame yields only one point but he knocks in another long red and sets about trying to get a frame on the scoreboard.

An excellent break of 114 brings Barry Hawkins level with Mark Allen.

A reminder that you can choose which match you'd like to watch via the "Watch and listen" tab on this page.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

You've got to accept that Zhao will win lots of frames of his own volition, but when he wins the frames he shouldn't win on top of that, it's an absolute stinker.

Once he potted the last red and was on the colours, you knew it was a formality.

Zhao Xintong superbly pots the last red and just has to clear the colours off their spots for a 2-0 lead... and he does.

That one will hurt Shaun Murphy, who had the frame at his mercy with a 60-point lead but then played a poor positional shot off the black, leaving him a tough red that he missed to the middle.

Zhao Xintong is quickly eroding Shaun Murphy's advantage but there's one safe red on the side cushion.

Unable to develop it, he goes for the double and just misses - but gets second prize of a snooker behind the blue.

Murphy is 26 ahead with 35 left.

Speaking of the draw - here's the bracket for the final stages of the tournament...

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

This has been an excellent reply from Shaun.

Everyone's expecting this match to be like a boxing match - punch for punch. A basketball game is probably a better analogy - just end-to-end stuff and scoring.

Murphy's break ends on 60 with a miss of a tricky red to the middle. 75 left on the table.

Barry Hawkins couldn't find a way back from needing a snooker and he trails Mark Allen 1-0.

It's the first to 13 though so still a heck of a long way to go!

There will be a maximum of eight frames played in each of these first sessions.

Shaun Murphy starts frame two by knocking in a tremendous long red and he has a good chance to respond quickly to Zhao Xintong's century break in the opener.

Barry Hawkins reduces his deficit to 22 points with 35 remaining, but the last red is awkward down the cushion... and it stays in the jaws.

A couple more pots by Mark Allen and Hawkins needs a snooker.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It looked in the last round, in the last session against Ding Junhui, that Zhao Xintong was just starting to come to the boil.

He's come back as defending champion, so heavy wears the crown sometimes.

Liam Highfield had chances in the opening match against him and didn't take them. Ding was a horrible match for him, playing against the godfather of Chinese snooker and a good friend, he got over that.

He just looked like he was coming to the boil and that was very worrying [for everyone else] in the opening frame.

An accomplished start from the defending champion.

Zhao Xintong knocks in a brilliant 122 break to take the opening frame against Shaun Murphy.

This morning's fun fact - Zhao was eight years old when Murphy won his only world title to date in 2005.

Mark Allen can't quite polish off the first frame against Barry Hawkins in one visit, missing a mid-distance red to the yellow pocket to end a break of 58.

Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC Two

It's often said that the form book goes out of the window at the World Championship because this is a completely different challenge for everyone.

But there's no getting away from the fact that Zhao Xintong is the form player.

The defending champion floats in a long red and is currently on a break of 39.

Shaun Murphy gets in first in the opening frame but then runs out of position after potting the black and his break ends on 16.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Zhao is an outstanding player. He plays the game so confidently and with such ease.

He's gliding through every tournament he plays and he's simmering underneath at this tournament so far.

He had an awkward draw against Ding Junhui, but he's come through that comfortably and I think we'll see him fly now.

BBC Two

MC Rob Walker is currently introducing the players and we will soon be under way.

Click the "Watch and listen" tab at the top of this page to choose which match you would like to watch, with both tables also available on the BBC iPlayer.

You can also watch the match between Zhao Xintong and Shaun Murphy live on BBC Two.