Zhao Xintong potted three red balls in one shot at the start of that previous frame...

But all you get for that is three points. And they didn't help him in the end thanks to that Murphy clearance.

While that was happening, Shaun Murphy was busy compiling a killer counter-clearance we suggested was on.

A fabulous 59 break from the 'Magician' - capped with a cool, decisive, black ball near the bottom cushion - restores his two-frame advantage.

Mark Allen wins an absolute edge-of-your-seat opener.

That went to and fro - Barry Hawkins had a chance to force a re-spot with a tricky black but missed it and left a presentable opening for the 'Pistol' and he took it to the green pocket.

A long first frame still ongoing on the other table - 59-58 to Mark Allen with just pink and black left...

Gosh both players have missed huge chances on the colours to win this edgy opener.

Zhao begins frame 10 like he ended frame nine - confidently.

An effortless half-century break puts him in great position to level this match - but a missed red with the rest on 55 hands Shaun Murphy a chance to really get back into this frame.

A chance to pinch it, actually.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

Image source, PA Media

That will settle Zhao down.

Maybe the weight of the Crucible curse is hanging on his shoulders a bit. He's looked a bit nervous all tournament.

Yep, there we go, Zhao Xintong punishes that Murphy mistake with a solid 47 break to take the opening frame of the evening and reduce his arrears to just one.

Misses from both players early doors.

Lot of nerves out there.

At the minute it's Shaun Murphy's poor miss on a red that is looking to prove costly. Zhao Xintong has his second chance of the opening frame of the night and he's 30-odd ahead.

First proper chance of the evening on either table goes to the reigning champion Zhao Xintong.

Shaun Murphy leaves a cut-able red from a safety down near the black spot and Zhao doesn't need inviting twice.

A reminder of how the draw looks.

Four former Crucible champions in the top half.

Four players awaiting their first World title in the bottom half.

Here we go then, half an hour later than advertised after that late finish to the afternoon session.

Back on the baize.

Anyone who had tickets for both afternoon and evening tickets tonight has had zero chance for any food!

Barry Hawkins had his scoring boots on in Sheffield this morning, contributing six 50-plus breaks - including a 114 - as he came from 2-1 down to establish a 5-3 lead against Mark Allen.

Neither of these players has ever won the World Championship - Hawkins is a former runner-up while Allen, amazingly for a player of his talent and longevity, has never even reached the final in Sheffield.

Looking at the stats, the 'Hawk' might feel aggrieved not to be holding a larger advantage in this quarter-final - he's been on top in virtually every department.

The stats don't really tell the story of this morning's session.

Reigning champion Zhao Xintong flew out of the blocks to amass a 3-0 - helped by the 122 break you see mentioned below.

But the Cyclone's early storm blew itself out - he became increasingly error-prone as the session went on, as illustrated by the low long pot success and safety success percentages below.

The wily Shaun Murphy managed to pick off some of those errors, in particular when pinching three close frames on the colours to turn a three-frame deficit into a 5-3 end-of-session advantage.

Image source, PA Media

Reigning world champion Zhao Xintong let a 3-0 lead slip as Shaun Murphy fought back to claim a 5-3 lead in the opening session of their World Championship quarter-final.

Zhao, 29, has openly talked about the pressure of defending his crown and lifting the 'Crucible curse' that has followed first-time winners at the famous Sheffield venue, but began in scintillating fashion.

A break of 122 suggested Zhao had picked up from where he left off against Ding Junhui in the second round, and when he pinched the second frame and made a half century in the third, he had established a healthy advantage.

But Murphy, who won the title in 2005, crafted a 69 then reeled off the next four frames to turn the match on its head.

Over on the other side of the auditorium, Barry Hawkins shared the opening six frames of a high-quality contest with Northern Ireland's Mark Allen.

However, Hawkins, who had already compiled a century break and three other half centuries, knocked in breaks of 75 and 63 to open up a deserved 5-3 scoreline in his favour.

Both matches resume at 19:00 BST.

We're back! Well, we were never really away, were we? After that marathon afternoon session.

Anyway, here's what we've got in store for you tonight from Sheffield.

Two intriguing quarter-finals in which Shaun Murphy and Barry Hawkins have both turned over early deficits to establish narrow advantages against reigning champion Zhao Xintong and Mark Allen respectively.

These second sessions in best-of-25 encounters can often be key - if any player can reach double figures tonight in terms of frame count, they'll fancy they've got one foot in the semi-finals.

We shall take a quick break and then be back for coverage of the evening session, with Shaun Murphy and Barry Hawkins resuming their respective matches with 5-3 leads over Zhao Xintong and Mark Allen.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC iPlayer

It's been a very difficult afternoon for both players but Neil Robertson will be delighted.

Neil Robertson clears up to the green, plays safe, and then pots the brown to bring the session to a close.

The Australian will take a 5-3 lead into tomorrow's second session, when both players will be desperate to improve the level of their play.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC iPlayer

You couldn't foresee that happening, amazing.

Never ceases to amaze me, what happens on a snooker table.

John Higgins somehow goes in-off after hitting the yellow off one cushion.

Just yellow and green required - surely this is the chance for Neil Robertson?