Rob Walker
Snooker commentator for BBC TV

Image source, PA Media

Stephen Hendry will hate it if I say this but this match has been so good it's a shame there has to be a winner.

Because one them will be going home having played fabulous snooker.

This is so good it's ridiculous - from both of them. The crowd are in raptures. A 138 from Allen, then Barry follows it up with 140 - it's a privilege to witness snooker like this on the biggest stage of all.

This is just blow-for-blow snooker.

We've had 14 frames in this match - and 14 50+ breaks.

Nine of them have come from Barry Hawkins and that's why the former Crucible runner-up is two frames ahead.

Completes a fantastic 140 with an exhibition round-the-table positional shot from pink to black.

That equals the highest break - set by Allen and Shaun Murphy - at the venue so far, although Chang Bingyu did hit a 147 maximum during the qualifiers.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It's been a game of no-blink snooker and they both fancy potting as many balls as they can out there.

It's 7-6 on the other table too!

Shaun Murphy gets out of a snooker on the last red at the second attempt - but leaves a pot for Zhao Xintong.

He still needs to clear the lot - but this is the world champion, remember. Of course he clears!

Zhao makes it slightly hard for himself by finishing the wrong side of the blue but leaves a mid-distance red that he punches in brilliantly and swings the cue ball round the angles to make the black straightforward.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Brilliant from Mark Allen.

That is his 700th career century and he is currently ninth on the all time list for century breaks with Ding Junhui the player immediately above him on 725.

Image source, PA Media

We said it was a big chance for Mark Allen and boy did he take it.

Superb century - the 700th of the Pistol's career.

Finishes in style too, it's a total clearance of 138.

Allen has already recorded two 140s in the tournament. Let him in at your peril.

One red remaining and Shaun Murphy has battled back to lead this 13th frame by 15 points.

Make that 22 after Zhao misjudges a swerve to get out of a snooker and hit the final red, instead clipping the black.

Joe Perry
Former World Championship semi-finalist on BBC Two

That was a wonderful piece of cueing. He played it to perfection.

Get the black back on its spot and within four shots this is a wonderful chance in this frame.

Action back under way on the other table too - where Mark Allen is first in after crashing in a brilliant long red with the cue ball near the side cushion.

The reds are spread - massive opportunity here for the Northern Irishman.

These two former Crucible champs are back out on the baize.

And Zhao Xintong is on the attack. Picks out a very ambitious plant in the pack to keep his break going but eventually has to play safe on 27 after running out of position on the black.

Important frame for Mark Allen to win before the mid-session interval.

72-0, he wins it in dominant fashion thanks to a couple of solid scoring visits and some smart safety in between.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Unlike what went before, Zhao Xintong and Shaun Murphy are not hanging around so far this evening.

With four frames played in a shade under an hour they are certainly making up time after the delayed start to this session.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC TV

I think Shaun fancies the job.

He's not frightened of Xintong's scoring power because he rates his own scoring power.

Shaun is a threat to anybody.

There is some sensational snooker being played tonight.

Shaun Murphy and Zhao Xintong are going absolutely toe to toe.

Murphy responds to being shut out in the previous frame with a fabulous 90 break to restore his two-frame advantage going into the mid-session interval.

Image source, PA Media

The 'Hawk', as per his nickname, is flying.

He follows up that 89 in the prior frame with a 96 break to move three ahead of Mark Allen.

Those of you voters who discounted him in our poll may want to think again!

We've been running a poll all day to see who you think will lift the Crucible crown in six days' time.

And the winner (in your minds anyway) is.... drum roll please.... Zhao Xintong with 30% of the ballot.

Yep, he's your pick to retain the title and beat the Crucible curse. Course, he has to beat Shaun Murphy first - and he's a frame behind.

John Higgins came second with 20% of the vote and Murphy third with 15%.

Barry Hawkins (5%) is your outsider - but he's doing pretty well against Mark Allen, 6-4 up.

It takes a couple of visits but Zhao Xintong scores 129 points without reply - yep 129-0 - to quickly reduce his deficit to a single frame once again.

Not taking their time, these boys. Rapid stuff.

It's 6-4 on the other table too.

A fantastic break of 89 from Barry Hawkins as he quickly shakes off the disappointment of losing that tight opening frame of the night.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC TV

It's probably been a while since the world champion has been under the cosh.

He's had such an unbelievable end to his season, romping past all the best players and dishing out demolitions to all the best players.

It might be a bit of a shock when somebody is putting up some resistance.