The Masters 2023 snooker recap - Mark Williams beats Ronnie O'Sullivan, Jack Lisowski overcomes Hossein Vafaei

But we'll be back tomorrow! Join us at 12.45pm GMT!

He thought it was an entertaining game to be involved in, he had fun and tried not to get too excited - he's quite an excitable person. His heart-rate wasn't as up as it is usually because he's maturing - usually he's like Hossein, always looking to attack, but he played a few telling safety shots. "It's a dream," he says of reaching the last four. "I'm so happy". ah, that's nice - he seems like such a nice bloke, and I'd love it if he won the thing.

This time we don't get the decider we deserve, but Jack's clearance of 78 was excellent and he's absolutely buzzing, shaking hands with the fans in the front row. He meets Mark J in the semis, and that should be great.

Jack took a black with his first red and it went on the blue spot because there was a red in its place. But he's now going up for it, and needs one more red to leave Hossein needing snookers ... and it's there!

Cueing towards left-middle, Jack guides a red to right-middle - that's very nice - but the snooker he lays behind the yellow is less than fiendish. No matter: Hossein misses the reds playing off two cushions, Jack pounces to spank home along the top rail, and this might be it.

Have an absolute look! Jack cues beautifully to cream a red to the yellow pocket - his long-game has been excellent tonight - but he's made some crazy errors, and as I type that here's another, missing a thin cut on his second red. Welcome to Shredsville. Population: you.

Jack leaves one to left-middle and Hossein misses, then Jack strokes it into the yellow pocket, just. He's got such a nice cue-action .. but dearie me, he misses a simple glance to right corner and this is so tense.

A poor safety from Hossein - he hates it while it's still rolling - gives Jack the chance to gobble up a long blue, and though Hossein returns to the table needing a snooker, a lovely cut sends the pink to the green pocket and Jack's one up with two to play! His safety play was key there.

Hossein clears to the blue, then plays safe, and this frame has matured into an epic; as I type that, Jack cleverly puts pink between white and blue; Hossein hits well, and gets it safe too.

A poor shot fro Jack allows Hossein to stick red into yellow pocket, and from here, the frame could be his. He taps in the brown, still over the green bag, tickles in behind the yellow to send it down there too, and the problem ball now is the blue, not far off the side rail.

Nope, not happening, though when he sticks the red on the side with the green blocking it off, Jack, having inadvertently pushed the brown over the bag, misses the thin contact he goes for - that didn't seem necessary - then clips the green next go. This is getting very odd now, both players not really with it, but Jack hits third try, the thinnest of nicks, and we're back playing safety.

Oh! Jack misses frame-ball, a cut to left corner, but Hossein needs everything and red, yellow and brown are on the bottom cushion. however, as Neil says, he'd love to see it done because what a clearance it'd be.

Hossein misses a long red to right corner, by a way, and Jacks gets involved again. He absolutely clouts a black to left corner, breaks what's left of the pack, and he should clinch the frame at this visit.

Again, Hossein plays a slightly wild shot, so Jack takes one and snookers him; this time the response is better. Oh, and apologies for not noting this sooner, but the Prince is wearing a bow-tie with his top button undone; kudos for that. But, well, he gets in again and undercuts a red to left corner; at the moment, Jack looks the more composed player, willing to be sensible if that's what the situation demands, and that why it's him at the table potting balls.

Might that missed brown be a turning point? Had Jack cleared up there, he'd've looked a very likely winner, and Hossein was seriously relieved to get a chance at the clear-up. He's in first in frame nine too, tucking in behind the black then using the rest to get away again when Jack's riposte gives him the opportunity. He can't get position though, so plays a wild shot, and that's the thing with him: his potting is fantastic, but his cue-ball control needs work. Anyhow, he doesn't hand Jack anything, but it is Jack who drains the next red, before playing safe off the brown.

Level again and this is another terrific match, both players at it like their life depends on it.

There's a red up in baulk and on the cushion, which Jack saves till last; he develops it off the green, but cutting it to left-middle won't be easy ... er yes it will! Jack slides it right into the heart of the pocket, but now needs to stick the brown in the same bag ... and this time he misses! Hossein's up while it's still travelling, needs only the yellow to secure the frame ... and down it goes!

Hossein's chasing position, so he doubles a red then crashes home a black, and this is a brilliant break - the recovery potting is trumpesque, and there's no higher accolade than that. But in the end, the snooker gods catch up with him and he misses a black to left corner with plenty of points still on the table; Jack caresses a gorgeous tight red to left-middle, and can he steal?

Hossein gets away with a good red, clobbers home the black and digs into the pack ... but playing the shot that hard makes the next red taxing, but he luzzes it home anyway. He's so much fun to watch, and such a fantastic potter.

Jack won two, lost two, and has now won two again. If he can take the next, Hossein is in allsorts.

Jack takes these well enough, and will soon be back in front.

Unreplete with options, Jack goes hard at a red to the green pocket, misses, and Hossein gets away. But potting brown and coming off the side, he can't break the cluster of four ... then from high up the table, Hossein guides a frankly incredible ball into the yellow pocket, the tucks in behind the yellow. So Jack plays a hit and hope - I'm not sure why - leaves one, and he shouldn't get back to the table in this frame. But he does, because Hossein misses yellow with rest! Now it's Jack with the chance to forge ahead!

Hossein's refusing almost nothing here, so of course he takes on a plant to middle. But he wasn't right behind it, meaning the angle wasn't as it was, and he misses then Jack gets his hand on the table. The reds, though, aren't easy, one on the side, two in baulk and four stuck together; on seven he lays a snooker against the yellow.

Hossein's break brings a red down the table, so Jack cuts it to left-middle, but he finds himself having to try blue to yellow pocket, misses, and now the Prince is away! This is snooker's version of basketball.

On 67, Jack misses a red to right corner so no ton, but he's back level and back feeling himself.

Jack takes these as nicely as we expect him to, and he'll be feeling much better about life now. In a sense, it's good for him that it's tight, because we know that on a good day he can blow almost anyone away, but he could do with winning a big-stage arse-nipper,

Jack misses a red to left-middle but gets lucky, covering Hossein's route to it with the brown. So instead, he creams a fine pot from centre to right corner, then taps in behind the black. And that, incredibly enough, precipitates a longish safety bout, not something we've seen until this point, and it ends when Hossein leaves one; Jack sees it away, and the balls are spread nicely for him.

And here's an opportunity: he leaves one after breaking and Hossein misses it, so Jack gets rid and break the pack off the black. Neither of these is for hanging around; I wonder, what's the shortest-ever best-of-11 that's gone the distance?

Three on the spin for Hossein; Jack needs to rediscover himself.

This is good from Hossein who, as I said earlier, is really enjoying himself now, amusing the crowd by lying across the table, before fetching the rest. He misses the black to left corner, though, but it makes no material difference; he's in front.

Just as the players came out again, when pushed to name a winner, Angles said he felt Jack had one more mistake in him than Hossein, and he's a great judge. I thought he'd side with the better player, but it's interesting how often the pros go with mentality. And it's Hossein in first in frame five, then again, but he can't parlay either visit into a serious contribution and when a poor safety leaves Jack a nice starter, the way the balls are, he should do something significant. Instead, though, he misses a close-range black to right corner - I didn't see that coming - and Hossein could easily make it 3-2 from here.

Hossein Vafaei is some player, and what a fun mini-sesh that was. Following this afternoon is no easy task, but I never doubted these were up to it and what we've just seen is the reason why. See you in 15...

Now, then, Hossein is after the 143 that's on the table which would give him a share of the highest break so far - Mark J made the same earlier. And this is excellent stuff, the thinnest of cuts eliminating the final red, then a lovely pot on the yellow makes that 143 almost certain!

But now he has to take on another nasty one, knocking in behind it so it skids along the top rail; he plays it well, then shortly afterwards breaks the pack, and though it's been a bit harem-scarem, he's looking good for 2-2 having absolutely rinsed the pressure pots.

Hossein gets in but finds himself struggling when a tight slide to left corner forces him to take on one to the yellow pocket; he slams home, then finds another goodun to that same left corner, and he's starting to enjoy himself.

Yup, a swift 68 and Hossein is into the match.

Jack has a go at one, misses, and Hossein eases to right corner. Surely he'll see the frame away from here?

Ach, it's not quite happening for Hossein out there. He runs out of position again - playing a poor positional shot - so again has to play safe, anf that will be stinging him hard. He does, have a handy lead, but the way the balls are, if Jack gets in next, it could disappear very quickly.

And have a look! Jack slams home a long, diagonal starter - keeping him out is going to be a problem for Hossein - before playing safe onto the bottom cushion. Then, when he finds himself in and around the pack, he takes one on to right-middle, misses, and this is now another chance for the Prince of Persia.

Hossein misses what looked like a simple starter to left-middle - he's still potless - but Jack can only manage five before running out of position, and Hossein then sinks his first ball to the pleasure of the crowd. But when he misses, Jack fouls, so Hossein gets away again and punishes a blue into the green pocket, breaking the pack thereafter. But he's not on much so has to try a sending a red long to the yellow pocket ... and it's there! But he plays safe off the next red, and has now had to hacks at making a substantial contribution.

A 96 is followed by a 76 and Jack is irrepressible.

This has been another fine run, and Jack's playing beautifully. He hammered Shaun Murphy in the UK and Murphy, not a man to praise someone else unless it's their due, couldn't speak highly enough of what he'd seen. He's back in that groove here, and this is now 2-0.

Jack runs out of position on 32 so rather than force something, plays safe; Hossein is still to pot a ball, and after his safety he limbers up, stretching with cue above head. Meantime, Jack flows a glorious starter to right corner, sticks the pink in the opposite bag, and he is happening!

Hossein is only in this competition because of the suspensions, but I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty more of him. We know he beat Mark Selby in round one - the third time he's sorted him - and I've just learnt from Dave Hendon that on the previous two occasions, he was then knocked out of the competition by Jack. And here's Jack now, clopping in a long red, and he's quickly onto the black. Hossein isn't smiling anymore.

Jack misses a red down the side rail that denies him a ton, but he'll take 96 and 1-0. He's carried on where he left off against Higgins the other night.

Jack rattles the pack nicely, and the frame was in doubt before, it isn't now. Jack is so natural and smooth.

Hossein is smiling all over his coupon when comes out, but he leaves one early doors that Jack cuts to left corner, and I must say I fancy him strongly for this because I think he does most of what Hossein does but a bit better. He's quickly into stride.

Jimmy's glad Jack isn't talking to his mate, reckoning that P.E. - pre-Ebdon he might've done, but now he knows he's not there to make his opponent feel comfy, he's there "to annihilate him".

He says that's the venue you think "I really want to feel the atmosphere" and says that as player before he appeared there, he looked at it and though "Oh my God". So playing the Palace is one of his dreams come true. Jack, he tells us, is "such a nice guy" with "a nice heart" - they're mates, but he wants to beat him.

He says that beating Higgins felt like winning a tournament - my guess is he'll revise that when, eventually he does - and he will. Otherwise, he's learning a lot from Peter Ebdon, who was good at the things he's less good at and vicve-versa, so it's not hard to see why that works. Ebdon doesn't rag him when he loses, but he doesn't want to let his new coach down, and he's getting better and better.

And welcome back - I hope you've recovered well from one of the best games of anything we'll see this year. But now it's time to go again and we've another belter in store: Jack Lisowski v Hossein Vafaei!

That's us done for the afternoon - join me again at 6.45pm GMT for Jack Lisowski v Hossein Vafaei!

He says that in the first three frames, Ronnie "tied him in knots, making breaks galore", but felt that towards the end of the mini-sesh, the crowd were on his side. He's pleased to have finally beaten the greatest of all-time, and we'll see him again on what Rob Walker calls "Semi-final Saturday".

What a game of snooker we've enjoyed this acrylic afternoon! Mark finishes it with a ton, rightly so, beats Ronnie for the first time in nine years, and meets Lisowski or Vafaei next. Good luck to whichever of them that is.

Ronnie will be sick at giving up his lead, and at the black he missed in this frame, but he respects the hell out of Mark, and knows there's no shame in losing to him, never mind when he's playing like this.

Mark sinks pink to left corner, and that, barring snookers, is the match! He bins another red to make sure, and what a player, what a competitor, what a man Mark J Williams is!

Mark takes his time, then gently rolls a long one into right corner, finishes on the black, and this looks a lot like curtains for Ronnie - all the more so when the pack breaks nicely. Mark is, though, wrong side of the blue, so his next red will be nasty; P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E. But this is Mark J Williams we're talking about, so he cuts it home to right corner like it's nothing and this now feel over.

...and he sends it into the jaws and out! Then Ronnie plays a poor safety that looks like it might angle Mark inside the jaws of the yellow pocket ... instead, though, it drops into the hole and Mark now has to decide which of two mingingly difficult reds to take on next.

Mark's first black is a very fine tickle; he plays it well. I'm not sure I can think of a calmer competitor in all sport, and this is a really good chance to take f&m. There are a few loose reds, so most likely, the key shot will be the one that breaks the pack. If that goes well, it'll probably mean the match ... and as I type that, he almost pots a red off the blue ... but can't now get at it because the black is in the road! He feigns the swerve and the crowd laugh, but will he dare come off the top rail to nudge it in? He goes one-handed ... seriously, he does!

Eeesh, a poor shot from Mark leaves a red over right corner; can Ronnie hold for the black? Er, just; but he misses it off its spot - pressure! - and Mark is in!

What a roar as these ludicrous champions emerge for the final frame - we're privileged to be living in their time. I've not a clue what's going to happen next, but i can't wait to find out.

A run of 78, and these two geniuses have served us a jazzer. It's Thursday afternoon in deepest January, but just look at us!

Ronnie looks more serene now than at any point during the last few frames, sending a red along the top rail to right corner that isn't dissimilar to one he missed earlier. But off the black, Ronnie cannons a red harder than intended ... and is he going to send the next ball fine to the green pocket? I think he is you know! And what a shot that is, right in the heart of the pocket! The frame is his, and the decider is ours!

Oh man, this is suuuuch a match. Mark hits the wrong red, leaves one for Ronnie, he thrashes it home, sends the white in and out of baulk ... and has he cannoned a red blocking his route to the black? Yes he has, but no it hasn't, and this is now a decent chance to force a decider. On behalf of the world and for the benefit of the cosmos: come on Ronnie, we deserve it.

Mark takes on a long red to right corner and misses, so Ronnie plays a decent safety; Mark responds well. But two shots later he catches his chosen red thin, leaves the white near right-middle, and offers a starter to left corner. Ronnie drains it, just, then looks up at the heavens when the follow-through means he's not on the pink. It's not going his way, at all - though, as I type that and after Mark misses the thinnest of cuts to left corner, he plays a decent safety.

So how on earth did we get to here? When Ronnie won three straight, it looked for all the world that however much Mark improved, he'd not be able to win enough frames to win the match before Ronnie did. But he's been brilliant since the interval while Ronnie's level has dropped, and TMNTPETPUAC now knows that one mistake could mean curtains.

Both Masters matches these two have played have gone to a decider, and let's be real, we deserve another. This is so so good.

A loose brown means a tricky blue - it goes down, of course - but a massive shot is now required to get the pink into the yellow pocket while getting on the black ... and Mark has done it! What a clearance this is!

The pink is blocking the path to the yellow, but other than that, there are no obvious impediments to the clearance which will put mark one up with two to play, and no reasons at all to think he won't find a way. He plays for the brown off the final red; has he stopped the white in time to get past the pink to drain the yellow? YES HE HAS!

Shonuff, he breaks the cluster and the only pot on is a nasty one to the green or right-middle pockets; Ronnie tries for the latter, hits the far jaw, and leaves everything!

Another nervy shot leaves Ronnie with a thin cut-back red to keep the break going; he plays it well, and is now in decent control, taking red-blacks. He'll still have to break the cluster, but the way they're set, it seems almost impossible that he'll be on nothing when he does.

Yes he can! Brown follows, played nicely to get him up the business end, but he has to cover a lot of table real estate at the start of this break and, off the green, winds up on nowt. That's two goes he's had at his frame, and here come another because Mark's hit a red far too hard and thick. You can cut the atmosphere with an atmosphere cutter, and that's just in my box room.

Mark leaves Ronnie in a right old two-an, without a shot to keep himself safe. So he plays a poor one and gets lucky, leaving nothing but a tempter to the yellow pocket that Mark, going at almost everything now, misses by a way. Ronnie duly nudges in a starter, but he's not had much table-time this last hour, and now needs to find his best self. He takes the yellow, but overruns a little, and though he looks sanguine about a red he has to guide into right corner, parallel with the top rail, he misses it; can Mark punish him? No! He rifles the green towards that same yellow pocket, misses again, and that's a massive let-off for Ronald. This is very tense now, and rightly so; can Ronnie cut home a starter?

Ronnie goes at one to left corner knowing he won't leave it if he misses, but Mark does then take control of the safety exchange ... until the white lands inside the cluster, and a re-rack is swiftly agreed.

What a match this has been; what a finish this is going to be; what a pair of absolute champions these are. And Ronnie begins frame nine with a poor break that offers Mark a free starter to left-middle that he drains. But he can't get on a red off the yellow, so we're playing safety.

Just as it's hard to dominate Ronnie, it's hard to batter Mark, and he's kept his cool brilliantly to force his way back into the match - and what a match!

Mark is so smooth and unhurried at the table; he's made this run look so easy - until, to keep it going, he cleanses in a long green to the green pocket. We've got a best of three to settle things!

Oh I say! After sitting on his seat while his opponent racks up the highest break of the week, Ronnie gets up to spank home a lovely opener ... then misses the black. He won't mind too much as he wasn't on the next red ... but Mark cuts one home and is cueing very confidently now. He rinses into the pack off the blue, sends reds all over the show, and this is a great chance for 4-3!

And there it is! A 143 for Williams, putting him in pole position for the £15,000 highest break prize, and he's now taken three frames from four.

I've remembered: it was John Higgins, though he was thrashed by Jack Lisowski.

Mark's on for a potential 143 here, which I think would be the highest break of the tournament so far - someone, I forget who, made a 142 earlier in the week.

Mark's played well since the interval and he's looked so composed making his breaks. It's still hard to see him winning three before Ronnie wins two, but he's giving himself a chance.

Trying to land on a lonely red, Mark hits second go, then a good safety, nudging the same ball, incites Ronnie to err, white staying up the business end. Mark nicks home a tight starter to left-middle then does similar with one to right corner, and he's looking good in the frame.

Here's the thing: if you lose three straight to Ronnie in a best-of-11, you need to dominate him to win, and that is just extremely unlikely.

Ronnie runs out of position and considers chancing a difficult red before playing safe; Mark needs four reds and blacks, or snookers. Or nothing whatsoever, because as I type that, Ronnie floats a red to left-middle and that's all he needed to secure the frame.

This match is on a rolling boil now, and Ronnie plays a poor escape but somehow leaves nothing, then another error leaves one to right-middle. Mark has to take it on it from close to the bottom cushion too, but he sinks it well then, after deliberation, guide a pink to the opposite bag. He can't get position off it though, so takes on another nasty one to left corner, on the stretch ... and this time he misses, leaving it too. The remaining balls, though, aren't easy, one on the side and the others in clusters of three; naturally, Ronnie gets himself on one and nudges another when potting it that brings it into play and gets him on the black.

Ronnie's not playing quite as well as he was before the interval and when he overruns the white, it's end of break. Next visit, he tries for one to right-middle from the top cushion and gets close, but instead leaves a thin cut to the same pocket which Mark takes well before nuzzling up to the yellow.

I say one miss from Ronnie but it's only half the story: Mark played a gorgeous red to get in, then found two marvellous recovery pots to keep going. Meantime, though, Ronnie creams a starter to left corner, and is soon in and around the black spot.

A run of 83 secures the frame, and Mark is back in this! One miss from Ronnie, that red to left corner, might've changed the course of this match!

This is good work from Mark, but he'll need two of the four reds clustered beneath the pink ... no problem. He bashes into them off the black and quickly makes the frame safe.

Forced to play his one-handed under-chest shot, Mark does well to cut a red to right corner, follows it with another good cut-back black, then another red glid - is that past tense of glide? - to left-middle. He's in prime position now, and this could well be 3-2.

Aaaaaach! Mark deploys light swerve to avoid the blue while attempting a long starter to left corner and gets so close he leaves it over the bag. Immediately, Ronnie drains it and goes into the pack off the black ... then misses the next ball! It wasn't a total gimme but it wasn't a brute either, and Mark takes a moment; he knows this is a crucial visit, and when he doesn't screw back far enough following his opener, he has the thinnest of cut-backs to sink the black, then kisses the brown ... and sends it down! BUT HAVE A LOOK! Next visit, Mark caresses a long red to left corner; can he make his genius count?

A brilliant start from Ronnie which makes him a strong favourite, but Mark is still in it - just. See you in 15 for the staggering denouement.

Yup, Mark eases home a red with the rest so will go to the interval still in the match.

Mark quickly moves in front in the frame, and should bring it home from here.

A rare error from Ronnie, snookering himself on the reds and having to roll into them off the side rail. Then Mark finds the thinnest of cuts to get away, and absolutely must make this break count. But can he? He's barely got his hand on the table in over an hour, but the balls are fairly nicely spread.

It's not often you hear Mark J big himself up, but he said after beating Dave Gilbert that he was playing really well - and he was right, he is, it's just that Ronnie is a different thing. Which is why Mark surely has to find a way to win this next frame to have any chance in the match, and when Ronnie misses a red to left corner, just, he's an opening. But on 16 - his best run of the match - he can't find the green pocket, and you can see the life draining out of him. All the more so when an uncharacteristically poor safety offers a starter that is duly accepted. That's pressure: the pressure of playing the greatest ever to do anything.

Ronnie misses a black so misses out on a ton, but he's giving Mark J Williams, one of the greatest players of all-time and in great form, an absolute going-over.

56 ahead with 75 left, Ronnie find himself close to the side ... for all the difference it makes. He glides a red to left corner, sends the black down next, and this is just poetry, if poetry were good.

Wary of a shelf of reds at the bottom of the pack, Ronnie goes up for the blue to go into it from on top, it works beautifully, and it'd now be a surprise if this run doesn't end with 3-0.

Mark spanks home a trademarked starter but a big bounce of the cushion means he cannons the blue. Ach, and it means he's to play a tricky next red, using the rest at a diagonal to try and send it to right corner; he jawses it, leaves it, and with the black available to both corners, finds himself in terrible trouble.

Ronnie removes the remaining balls and looks absolutely sensational - because he is.

Ronnie goes at a red to left corner and gets close, but when it doesn't drop, Mark has a chance - of sorts. He pots the loose ball, but the remaining reds are close to the top cushion, so it's safe off the yellow and back to safety play. But not for long, a poor shot from Mark offers one to left corner, Ronnie drains it, and you expect him to make this 2-0.

Again, Ronnie wins the safety battle, but misses a starter to left-middle; no matter, next go he pots one nicely, but running up the table for the black, he kisses a red that blocks his route to it. so it's back to baulk, green knocked safe en route, and Mark, who's been struggling for air, suffocated by the precision of genius, fouls again. He's not got going yet because he's not been allowed to get going yet.

Ronnie pots a difficult red and develops another, the black too. But perhaps mindful of the fact that if he misses, he's handing over an opportunity, he misses, a pink to left corner, and Mark returns to the table. Not for long: he quickly runs out of position, and finds himself snookered on all the remaining reds, forces to play off the side to nuzzle one.

The table's a real mess now, two reds on the top cushion and one just above, with another three stuck together. So Mark tries sending one long to the green pocket and doesn't quite get enough angle on it, meaning it's there for Ronnie to despatch. He will need some of the difficult balls, though, so this frame isn't over yet.

But he jawses a red to left corner, allowing Mark to glide it from mid-table into the same bag. He can only add a brown though, and Ronnie drags the red he missed into the yellow pocket ... but the white goes into right-middle, so we're back playing safety. So far, Ronnie is doing better in the exchanges, meaning Mark will need to make some big breaks to win.

Mark misses once more and when he hits leaves a tempter to right corner than Ronnie will take on partly because there's nothing else he can do ... and look at that! He cracks it right into the heart of the pocket, and though the reds aren't great and the black is out of commission, there's no one better at crafting routes through balls.

Mark knows as well as anyone that if Ronnie gets on a roll, it's very difficult to stop him - the only time I can recall seeing it happen was when Mark Selby beat him in the 2-14 World Championship final. So already, this next frame is a crucial one because if it goes the same way as the first, it'll take something special to reverse momentum. It begins with safety, black close to its cushion and reds open but not spread; Ronnie again takes command, sticking white on baulk rail and watching as Mark hits black then misses altogether.

A swift 115, and TMNTPETPUAC is into the match.

This has looked like a ton in waiting for quite some time, and though a poor yellow makes the green harder than necessary, it's cut in anyway. Not bad.

To win the frame at this visit, Ronnie needs to cannon the cluster of five reds still beneath the pink; as I type, he checks whether there's a plant among them, concludes not, so bangs the pack and has everything available. This is very impressive; of course it is.

Ronnie won this competition in 1995 when he was just 19 - that's ridiculous, it really is, all the more so that he's still at it now, aged 47. He works his way up the table and reckons he can get through to the black - he can - so drains it, then snaps a delicious red to left-middle. As ever, he's turned a not especially inviting table into a proper chance, in very few shots and with little apparent difficulty.

Mark plays safe then Ronnie sends a red towards right corner which somehow fails to knock in the black that's already on its lip. That won't make for a free-flowing frame and probably appeals more to Mark than Ronnie, but it's Mark in trouble when a cunning shot leaves him with no obvious response; he goes hard at a red, brings two back to baulk, and leaves one.

A good break from Ronnie puts Mar in mither and his attempted safety catches the jaw of left corner, leaving one to left-middle ... that Ronnie misses thick and by a way, sending a red into baulk. Mark, who's not beaten Ronnie in six matches over nine years, chips it into the green pocket and gets to work.

As these two heroes stride in. Here we go!

GET YE IN THERE!

He's not done much prep work, he says. He went on holiday, did an exhibition in Ireland, and that's about it. He doesn't know how long he'll go on for, so is trying to enjoy it as much as he can, but wants to stay in the top 16 until he's 50 and then see. Asked about the ovation he and John Higgins got last term, when they played a classic, he says he'd never seen or experienced anything like it and he's right - it was a brilliant moment, two legends receiving homage for their decades of effort.

We've got young pretenders: Jack Lisowski v Hossein Vafaei. That should be a really fun, open match, and Jack, in particular, has been in serious nick recently, while Hossein binned Mark Selby in round one and is riding the crest of a wave himself.

We begin with ... Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark J Williams! I'm not exactly sure what else to say about that because what can anyone possibly add to those two names? Ronnie is, of course, the greatest player we've ever seen and still, it seems, getting better, while Mark is an all-time great in terrific form. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Welcome to the 2023 Masters, day five!

Judd Trump narrowly avoided another shock at this year's Masters as he battled past Ryan Day in an epic encounter at Alexandra Palace.

Following the exits of Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Mark Selby and John Higgins earlier in the week, Trump was the latest big name in the firing line as Day pushed him all the way.

A dramatic near-six hour marathon eventually saw Trump emerge by the skin of his teeth in a tense decider.

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Stream the 2023 Masters and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk