Allen seals place in semis

Day looked in ominous form from the outset, with a break of 106 immediately narrowing the deficit to 9-8 after the opening frame of the third session.

But Allen hit straight back undeterred in what was a high-quality start to the session, making a composed 108, with his opponent not getting a look in.

Two edgy frames ensued, with Day taking the first with 65 a sufficient score, then Allen made 73 to take the following frame.

Day refused to be dominated and took the next tense frame 60-53 as Allen looked hesitant, before making amends with a round 100 to secure the following frame.

The 24th frame was won by Day, but Northern Irishman Allen finally reached the semi-finals with an imperious century break to clinch victory.

The 23-year-old clinched the win with a break of 103, and said: "I've always been confident in my own ability but looking at my results on papers you'd probably question why.

"I'm starting to perform a little bit more consistently.

"I'm very glad I've won that match because I read all the newspaper articles (after beating O'Sullivan) like I always do and a lot of people were quick to shoot me down after beating Ronnie, as being a one-hit wonder.

"So there was more pressure on me but I enjoy that, because I like to prove people wrong."

Allen will relish his first Crucible semi-final.

"My dream was to one day play at the Crucible and I've done that," he said.

"Another dream was to play in the one-table set-up with a chance of winning the World Championship and I'm going to have that in the next match.

"Any big occasions that have been thrown at me so far I seem to have handled pretty well, so hopefully it's another one I'll be able to handle."

Mark Allen holds a two-frame lead over Ryan Day in their World Championship quarter-final at the Crucible.

The Northern Irishman is now 9-7 in front despite a patchy spell where he lost four frames in a row.

Allen won the first and final three frames of the second session in between a spell from Day that saw the Welshman turn a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead.

Day had looked like he was going to win the opening frame of the session as he went 50-0 in front but he was then punished for a missed red as Allen got back in for a 69 that pinched the frame.

Allen couldn't get anything going for a spell after that though and Day won four frames on the spin with breaks of 68, 69 and 70 helping him win three of those with one scrappy frame in the mix too.

Allen then stopped the rot in fine style with a 119 to make it 7-7 and then Day threw another frame away from a 54-0 advantage as he kept handing chances to Allen until the young Irishman finally took one.

A 64 then proved key for Allen in the final frame and all that good work that had seen Day take the lead had been undone.

The match will be played to its conclusion on Wednesday afternoon.

Mark Allen holds a two-frame lead over Ryan Day in their World Championship quarter-final at the Crucible.

The Northern Ireland player won the final three frames to end the first session 5-3 ahead of his Welsh opponent.

Allen, who eliminated defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the previous round, needed snookers in the opening frame, but Day quickly dispatched the yellow to avoid a safety battle.

Allen got his first chance to exhibit his impressive potting skills in the second frame, and did so with a break of 84 in the second.

Day was chasing in the third frame, but Allen won it to take a 2-1 lead after a long safety battle with the pink on the brown spot.

The 29-year-old man from Bridgend had to come from behind again in the fourth, but this time did so successfully to take it 70-12 after Allen failed to get the snooker he needed.

Day picked that form once more following the mid-session interval with a break of 71, again Allen conceding after not finding snookers.

However, the Ulsterman then hit back in style with two centuries and an 80 to win three consecutive frames and will resume play with a two-frame lead.