Another poorly judged safety by Neil Robertson allows John Higgins a chance at a long red, which he pots.

Three reds and three blacks to start for the Wizard of Wishaw.

But that'll be all - the cue ball runs an inch or so too far and Higgins has to play safe off the next red.

A tactical start to frame four with reds in baulk meaning both players have to try to trickle into the pack of reds in a safety exchange.

Wu Yize makes a big misjudgement by coming up well short with one of those slow shots. It hands Hossein Vafaei a half-chance but he misses a mid-distance red and leaves it for Wu.

The Chinese youngster will get the first real chance - lots of reds in the open but plenty of positional work to do.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

John Higgins is currently at 32 seconds per shot in this match so far. Neil Robertson doesn't want to get into the 30 seconds per shot route himself and that's where he's trying to play his own game.

It's an interesting pattern that can develop if a player like Neil falls into the pattern of his opponent and I think that's what Neil is trying to stop.

Image source, Getty Images

Hossein Vafaei knocked world number one Judd Trump out of the World Championship on Monday to reach the quarter-finals at the Crucible for the first time in his career.

2022 was a landmark year for Vafaei - his only ranking event victory came during that year at the Shoot Out, while it was also the year in which he became the first player from Iran to appear at the Crucible.

At this year's World Championship, he was the only qualifier to get through the first round, beating Si Jiahui, before a final-frame win over 2019 world champion Trump.

A poor safety by Neil Robertson gifts John Higgins a chance to win the frame.

Higgins clears up to the blue but then misses the pink, which was at the baulk end of the table.

Robertson pots it at the first attempt and goes into the lead for the first time.

Hossein Vafaei punishes the aforementioned Wu error with a tidily-compiled 66 break to clinch frame number three.

There was a potential century on but in stretching for one of the four remaining reds, he is slightly errant and it rattles the jaws of the corner pocket.

Highest break of this quarter-final so far though.

Ooof, John Higgins misses a red down the side cushion with the rest and he still trails by 21 with three reds left on the table.

Just a little glimpse of Wu Yize's youthful naivety as he tries to play a containing safety by leaving the cue ball on the bottom cushion but misjudges it slightly - and leaves Hossein Vafaei a cut-able red.

The world number 32 clips it in and is in prime position to take this third frame, building a 51-point lead thus far.

Both players have had chances in frame three.

Five reds are left on the table, with Neil Robertson leading 47-15.

Wu Yize does indeed pinch the frame as Hossein Vafaei sits in his chair with a frustrated look on his face.

Both players missed a boat-load of opportunities in that frame but it's the Chinese number 10 seed who takes it with a decent - given what had come before it - mini-clearance from green to black.

The black especially was a nerve-settler, stretching slightly but he knocks it in.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC iPlayer

That must be four or five chances Hossein Vafaei has had on the yellow and green.

I know it's early days but this frame will hurt Vafaei if he loses it.

Just pink and black needed for Wu - but the black isn't easy...

A reminder of how the draw looks.

Four former Crucible champions in the top half, as Grant (15:23) points out.

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

Hossein Vafaei fails to escape that snooker the first two attempts - but third time lucky, and gets the yellow relatively safe too.

The Iranian's lead is cut to 13 points by those two fouls. Tension-filled stuff.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

You can make the case that this match is going to be decided by whoever wins the most amount of frames when they get in first.

Both of these players are very capable of counter-clearances.

Image source, PA Media

Very similar frame to the first - both players having plenty of chances.

And they're both missing plenty too. Wu Yize misses a simple black, Hossein Vafaei off target with a fairly routine yellow in the middle, Wu misses the yellow into the same bag.

Error-strewn but engrossing. Wu trails by 21 points with just colours remaining - but gets Vafaei in a cracking snooker behind the black.

Trouble is, the way Wu has looked nervy thus far, you don't fancy he'd complete the clearance even if he gets the chance.

Joe Perry
Former World Championship semi-finalist on BBC Two

Neil has taken these well - it looked like a good chance when he came to the table, but you've still got to get them and he's worked it out well.

A 77 clearance by Neil Robertson levels the match.

The Neil Robertson counter-attack is on.

He's 23 points behind but all three remaining reds are in the open and all the colours on their spots.

He'd been devastated if he doesn't level the match from this position.

John Higgins tries to split the cluster of reds again off the black, but his only option afterwards is a long red to the green pocket.

The red stays up so Neil Robertson comes back to the table 54 points behind, with more than enough still available.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

John Higgins is not doing anything wrong at the moment - everything has been absolutely spot on.

Higgins pots a red with the rest and is on a break of 47, leading 47-0.