Ding Junhui looked to be hitting stride as he hit 33 without reply, but a poor set-up shot left him a very tricky attempt on brown and he fouled.

No matter though - Gilbert couldn't take advantage and Ding hit the first century of this match to take the frame 133-8.

Mark Allen wins a third frame on the bounce to take the lead for the first time in this match.

Zhang tried to snooker Allen, but he doesn't get the white close enough to the green and Allen pulled away to win 70-6.

Zhang doesn't look happy at all - there's a lot of head shaking going on.

Allen has found his rhythm and looks strong.

Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC TV

A lot of the Chinese players class Sheffield as home, and have looked up to Ding Junhui for so long.

He is the reason why there are so many talented Chinese players now. He was a contributing factor to why Zhao Xintong went on to win last year, he has inspired a generation.

He's a legend of the game, we owe a lot to Ding.

Ding Junhui was in the ascendency before the mid-session interval, but David Gilbert has hit back to win a hard-fought frame.

The frame slipped out of Ding's hands when he edged a red in superbly to cut the deficit to six, but the cue ball rebounded onto the green and potted it.

Gilbert didn't take advantage immediately, but a mishit from Ding allowed him to pot a red using the rest, and from there he potted black, yellow, green and brown to win 71-44.

How do you see this enthralling encounter between Mark Allen and Zhang Anda panning out?

Will Allen surge on to victory, or will Zhang find a way to regain control of a match that at one point looked there for the taking?

Let us know by clicking the 'Get Involved' button.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Image source, Michael Emons

The first session between Mark Allen and Zhang Anda only saw eight completed frames, with time running out for the scheduled ninth one.

That meant they were already playing catch-up today, and a 46-minute frame in the opening frame on Sunday added to the time pressures they may be facing.

However, the next three frames were sealed in one main scoring visit to speed things up, firstly Zhang with a break of 74 in frame 10 and then Allen with a delightful 140 clearance, followed by another ton, this time of 109.

It is now the 15-minute mid-session interval and either player only needs four frames to win, so it could be over well before the cut-off.

But if it goes all the way, they may have to come back later on today.

The afternoon session starts at 14:30 BST, meaning they will not start any more frames in session one after 14:00 BST.

If any frames are left over, the pair would then come back after the evening session matches have been completed, going on the first table that comes available.

It's another brilliant frame for Mark Allen as he levels up the match before the mid-session interval.

Zhang Anda slipped up early on when he potted the blue but didn't get the canon as intended and the white fell in.

That afforded Allen a way back in, and he took it with both hands.

The former world number one produced a second straight century - this time a break of 109.

Allen began the day 3-5 behind, but has won three of the past four frames. How does Zhang respond to this?

Well then, there's the magic we were waiting for from Mark Allen!

The Pistol zoomed around the table as he compiled a 140 break - his first break above 50 in this match - as Zhang Anda watched on helpless.

It really was a wonderfully constructed break, the kind of snooker Allen was playing a few years ago.

12 minutes that took - rarely do we see Allen play that quickly.

What a match we have on our hands.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Image source, Michael Emons

Former world number one Mark Allen may be losing, but, as he proved last year in sensational style, he can turn on the magic at any moment.

In his last-16 tie with Chris Wakelin in 2025, Allen was trailing 10-2 and had not potted a ball for three frames. He went straight to the practice table in the mid-session interval and then produced snooker's moment of perfection with a maximum 147 in the first frame after the restart.

The match deficit was too large to turn around with Allen losing 13-6, but Allen did become only the 11th player to make a 147 at the Crucible.

That maximum was the 15th at the venue in the tournament's history and the first since Mark Selby's clearance in the 2023 final.

When walking through Tudor Square earlier on, the 147 was being played on the big screen to be enjoyed once more.

That is superb snooker from Ding Junhui.

The former world number one was 60 points ahead after just six minutes, and compiled a break of 74 before missing.

He returned to the table and takes the frame 97-0 in nine minutes. He made it look so easy with excellent cue ball control.

Ding takes a 3-1 lead into the mid-session interval.

After that long ninth frame, Zhang Anda constructs a break of 74 to take the tenth frame in 17 minutes.

Zhang appears to have brought yesterday's form with him today - that's a fourth half-century break to go with his two centuries.

Mark Allen has his work cut out.

Anything you can do...

Ding Junhhui compiles a 94 break to blow David Gilbert away after a very open start to the frame.

It's a shame Ding couldn't get a century, but he won't be too bothered.

David Gilbert responds to losing the opening frame with an excellent display of potting to take frame two 74-7.

The Englishman got a 70 break and Ding Junhui conceded with all the colours still on the table.

That frame developed into a fascinating tactical battle, and after 46 minutes, Mark Allen comes out on top and is right back in this match.

Allen potted the green under pressure to leave Zhang Anda requiring snookers, but the Northern Irishman was able to navigate everything his opponent threw at him.

Allen missed a chance to end the safety battle but missed a presentable opportunity on blue, but Zhang just couldn't nail him down.

The audience breathed a sigh of relief when Allen finally won the frame 77-50.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Image source, Michael Emons

It is not just the Crucible where the snooker fun is taking place. Outside the venue is the large plaza Tudor Square where you can watch the action on a massive screen and at the other end of that is Winter Garden, where the BBC studio is set up with Hazel and the team.

There's a huge banner on the front of the area, with the tagline 32 dreams, one champion.

After Saturday's play, the dream is over for Liam Highfield after he lost 10-7 to reigning champion Zhao Xintong.

We have four matches that will be played to a finish today, so the dreams for another quartet will be gone for another 12 months later on.

Image source, Michael Emons

David Gilbert went to pot a red with four left on the table, but missed it and brought another into play for Ding Junhui.

The Englishman returned and gambled on a safety shot that didn't pay off, which allowed Ding to compile a 45 break to take the opening frame.

Image source, Getty Images

On table one this morning we've got the first session of Ding Junhui v David Gilbert.

Former world number one Ding is the most successful Asian player in snooker history, having won 15 major ranking titles including three UK Championships.

His last triumph came in 2024 in the International Championship.

Englishman Gilbert is ranked 25th in the world, and after producing six centuries during qualifying, is looking to replicate his runs to the semi-final stage in 2019 and 2024.

The winner will face defending champion Zhao Xintong in the second round.

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland's former world number one Mark Allen is 3-5 behind against China's Zhang Anda.

Zhang, 22nd in the world, is searching for a first win at the Crucible after losing in the opening round on his five previous appearances.

In 2025 Allen, a Crucible semi-finalist in 2009 and 2023, made a 147 break during his loss to Chris Wakelin in the last 16.

But Allen failed to register a single half-century against Zhang, who made two centuries - 129 in frame two and 109 in frame five - as well as three breaks of at least 58.

Whether you're at home or out and about on this sunny Sunday, here's how you can follow all the action on day two at the Crucible.

Live coverage

10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app

10:00-12:00 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - Red Button

14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button

Highlights

00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two