John Higgins compiles a break of 80 to ensure he will only be two frames behind Neil Robertson going into tonight's final session, which will get under way at about 19:00 BST.

The two players have shared the eight frames played during the second session.

Starting 5-3 behind, Higgins had got back level at 6-6 but Robertson won three frames in a row to ensure he will take a lead into the final session.

A 10-6 deficit in a best-of-25 match wouldn't be insurmountable for John Higgins, but you don't see too many comebacks from that sort of position in the final session.

The Scot keeps a break going with a great pot into the middle and his lead in the 16th frame is 40 and counting.

While I was bringing you reaction from Mark Allen's win over Barry Hawkins, Neil Robertson won a low-scoring 15th frame to move 9-6 front.

It means he's guaranteed to have a lead going into tonight's final session.

But will the Australian's advantage be two frames or four?

Image source, PA Media

More from Mark Allen, speaking on BBC Two about his possible semi-final opponents:

"The match between Wu Yize and Hossein Vafaei could go all the way.

"Even though Hossein is not one of the established top players, he can be frightening on his day.

"Wu comes with a good reputation, has won a tournament this season and looks like he is going to be one to beat for a long time.

"Hopefully it's a 13-12 epic that finishes really late tonight! May the best man win and I'll be ready for tomorrow no matter who comes through."

Mark Allen, speaking on BBC Two after his quarter-final win over Barry Hawkins:

"It's a feeling of relief more than anything. When Barry got that fluke on the last red, I was like 'here we go again' because over 24 frames I don't think I had to say sorry once. It's probably the worst run of the balls I've ever had, on top of Barry playing very well.

"To win that match - I'm absolutely over the moon.

"I was really proud of myself that I hung in there and gave myself a chance. I played some good stuff in spells and battled it out this morning."

Barry Hawkins, speaking on BBC Two after his quarter-final defeat by Mark Allen:

"It was a great match all the way through, I just felt I threw a couple of frames away when I had the balls at my mercy and I think that was the difference at the end - Mark was a bit more clinical finishing the frames off.

"It was a great match to be involved in but I'm obviously disappointed right now.

"I can't complain, it's been a great season. I've gone up a few places in the rankings and won a tournament. I played some good stuff here, it was a few frames here and there that I let slip and that was the difference."

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

The best match of the tournament so far. That second session was a bombardment of breaks.

Coming out this morning, it's a different story because you're a bit more bleary-eyed.

What a match that was.

We'll hopefully have reaction from Mark Allen shortly as he books his place in the World Championship semi-finals.

He'll play either Wu Yize or Hossein Vafaei in the last four, starting tomorrow.

Barry Hawkins now has to swerve around the pink to hit the yellow, which he does, but he leaves Mark Allen a chance at the yellow.

He needs that and the green for victory... and Allen gets them both!

A big shout of delight from Allen as he sinks the brown too.

It's been a marvellous match and it's Mark Allen who goes through to the last four.

Well, well, well... what a fluke from Barry Hawkins! Snookered on the last red, he comes off one cushion and cuts the red into the corner.

He tries to roll behind the pink to snooker Mark Allen on the yellow - but underhits it and it doesn't reach!

Wowzers. Big tension!

That's one of the difficult reds potted down the top cushion by Mark Allen, who follows it with another black.

He's 17 ahead with 35 remaining.

A double on the last red? He's not got the best angle so refuses it and plays safe, but a break of 59 gets Allen right back in the frame.

Mark Allen pots the black for a one-point lead with three reds remaining. Two of those reds are on cushions.

It won't be the easiest run to the winning line from here.

BBC Two

You can watch the closing stages of the match between Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins on BBC Two, where coverage of the snooker has now resumed.

Oooh, Barry Hawkins is 42 points ahead but a tricky pot on the black proves beyond him.

Mark Allen knocks in a red to the middle to start what he hopes will be the break that sends him into the semi-finals.

Steven Hallworth
Snooker commentator on BBC iPlayer

It's hard to imagine the sort of pressure that both players will be under right now.

We've spoken about the external things like the bottom half of the draw opening up for all four players. So much is on the line.

Barry Hawkins is fighting for his World Championship hopes - a player who has got so close so many times.

Barry Hawkins, needing to win both of the final two frames, is in first and it's a good opportunity, with all the colours available and a few loose reds to go at.

With both tables in between frames, there's that unmistakeable murmur of quiet chatter around the Crucible Theatre.

It's broken by a few shouts of "come on Mark" as Mark Allen returns from a quick comfort break needing to win one more frame to reach the semi-finals.

Image source, PA Media

On the other side of the curtain, an excellent 95 break by Neil Robertson restores his two-frame advantage over John Higgins.

They've got two more frames to play in this session, with a possible nine in the final session from 19:00 BST.

"Absolute class," says Lee Walker in commentary about Mark Allen's superbly constructed 104 break under huge pressure at the business end of this quarter-final.

"World class... you will not see a better break from anyone," adds Steven Hallworth.

The left-hander from Northern Ireland is one frame away from a place in the last four.