World Snooker Championship 2022 LIVE - Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on Mark Allen after pigeon drama at Crucible
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ByEurosport
Updated 22/04/2022 at 20:32 GMT
Welcome back to Eurosport's live coverage of the World Snooker Championships 2022. And my word what an absolute treat we have for you today, We have not one, not two, but THREE current or former world champions in action. First up Ronnie O'Sullivan faces against Mark Allen with Mark Williams also in action. Then in the afternoon session we have Mark Selby against Yan Bingtao. Cancel your plans!
'Good luck sorting that one out!' - Allen takes pity on ref and opts for re-rack
We're back in the morning
The action continues from the Crucible from 10am, which is when that Maguire and Xintong match will conclude - the former leads 11-5, while Mark Selby continues against Yan Bingtao. Those two are locked at 4-4. We'll see you then!
Tomorrow...
Allen and O'Sullivan will finish off at 2.30pm tomorrow afternoon - and based on what we've seen, you can't imagine it will take very long. The winner will face Stephen Maguire or Zhao Xintong in the next round
Record breaker Ronnie
Ronnie O'Sullivan has now won 71 matches at the Crucible - surpassing Stephen Hendry to go top of the list. Another record ticked off. What a player.
O'Sullivan 12-4 Allen (100-30)
And, of course, as sure as night follows day, Ronnie bags that century. What a player he is. He opens up an eight frame advantage and is just one away from reaching the third round. He is playing some sublime snooker, he really is, but then Mark Allen has missed some real chances
O'Sullivan 11-4 Allen (*73-30)
O'Sullivan moves past the snookers required stage by taking a black off the penultimate red. The final red is just off the side cushion and is anything but easy, but he strokes it into the green pocket, and he can now make another century
O'Sullivan 11-4 Allen (*54-30)
Ronnie just isn't missing. He goes into the pack for a second time and is so unlucky not to leave anything easy. He has a delicate cut to the right middle and plays it perfectly, holding position in the process. The frame is now at his mercy
O'Sullivan 11-4 Allen (*32-30)
And once more, Ronnie can profit from an Allen mistake, as he pots a red on his return to the table. The Rocket picks off two loose reds before going into the pack off the black, but it's a delicate kiss, not making the contact he wants, brushing off them and heading back up to baulk. The recovery shot though is a perfect long red
O'Sullivan 11-4 Allen (0-30)
Maybe Allen's luck is changing? He squeezes a red home that goes all around the houses and does everything possible to stay up before going into the pocket. A grin follows, as do several more pots. He needs to go into the pack at some point - rejects it and then misses the next red. Chance blown
O'Sullivan 11-4 Allen (0-5*)
So can Allen salvage anything from tonight? The odds are stacked against him, given what we've seen so far. Ronnie has amassed over 1000 points in the 15 frames we've seen, Mark nearly half that amount. But he's just sunk a lovely long red with the rest and can build something here
O'Sullivan 11-4 Allen (81-49)
The Rocket needs up to and including the blue to win the frame, but with all the colours on their spots, he could probably do this with his eyes closed. He clears up with 44. One frame to go tonight, two for Ronnie to win
O'Sullivan 10-4 Allen (*54-49)
We are in for some safety play, but Allen blinks first with a poor shot that sees the cue ball clip the yellow, leaving a long red to the right corner. Ronnie hits it as clean as a whistle, before sinking the rest of the reds, including a brilliant shot with the rest
O'Sullivan 10-4 Allen (37-49)
A kiss on a red for Ronnie goes wrong and leaves him having to play a tough pot down the cushion, which he misses. We might be in for a rare safety battle here
O'Sullivan 10-4 Allen (*22-49)
After all that promise for Allen, it isn't looking so good now. He leaves a red off the final shot of that break, and Ronnie soon opens the pack off the black. Ronnie has already stolen a couple of frames tonight - and another might be on the way
O'Sullivan 10-4 Allen (0-49)
The balls are starting to run in Allen's favour. A cannon that may have gone wrong leaves him nicely on a red. The next shot doesn't work in his favour though, trying to go into the pack off the yellow and missing.
O'Sullivan 10-4 Allen (0-16*)
So two frames to go tonight, and Allen has clearly taken confidence from that century as he strokes home a lovely long pot and holds for the black. A gentle kiss on the pack develops the reds as well. Excellent snooker
Hard as nails stuff
Given his lack of table time, this was some pot by Allen on his way to that century
O'Sullivan 10-4 Allen (0-110)
What character shown by Allen. He hits a marvellous 110, his 50th century at the Crucible, to ensure there will be a third session in the match.
O'Sullivan 10-3 Allen (0-72*)
Mark still needs one more red as he tries to screw through a gap off the black. He sticks tightly on a red, leaving a horrible bridge and cut, but he plays it superbly. Frame won. Century?
O'Sullivan 10-3 Allen (0-57*)
A shake of the head from Allen as he doesn't quite get the kiss he wants to develop a couple of reds, but it's not a great issue. He reaches 50 for the first time since frame two
O'Sullivan 10-3 Allen (0-19*)
Three frames left tonight, and if Ronnie takes them all, he takes the match with a session to spare. Allen is first at the table in this one, as he has been several times tonight, but he needs to somehow open the pack up. How's your luck? Much better this time
O'Sullivan 10-3 Allen (66-49)
Well what a break that is from Ronnie and what a steal it is as well. He opens up a seven frame advantage with a fourth successive frame
O'Sullivan 9-3 Allen (*39-49)
This would be some clearance from here, given there's a red on the top cushion, one past the blue spot and another on the right cushion, but if anybody can do it, it's Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's already potted two of them - one to go, and down it goes.
O'Sullivan 9-3 Allen (13-49)
A pink from Allen somehow squeezes in despite taking a good chunk of the jaw. He then leaves a tricky black having over run slightly, and he under hits the shot, leaving it hanging over the pocket. Another opportunity goes begging - and another break under 50
O'Sullivan 9-3 Allen (13-27*)
Allen hasn't made a half century break in this match since frame two. The way the reds are place, he should break that barrier with this break, but the pink is a little tied up and the black miles off its spot. He eventually gets that back at the right end of the table off his third red though. Can he keep going?
O'Sullivan 9-3 Allen (13-1)
And in missing that black, Allen leaves Ronnie a straightforward red, which is followed by a very hard pink and an even tough red. He seems to be potting them from everywhere, but the positional shot off the blue isn't great as he kisses the yellow. He takes on another long red, misses and here's another chance for Allen
O'Sullivan 9-3 Allen (0-1)
Well here's a chance for Allen. O'Sullivan attempts an incredibly tough red to the right middle and not only misses it, but leaves it as well. Allen though misses a black off the spot, as easy as it comes, and is back in his chair
And here we go again
After a 15 minute interlude, the boys are back on the baize and Ronnie gets frame 13 underway. Allen has a mountain to climb - and he's surely got to win at least three of the remaining frames this evening
While the players take a breather
We've had some extraordinary moments today at the Crucible, including the pigeon invader and Mark Allen sparing the referee some seriously hard work by agreeing to a re-rack after a foul from O'Sullivan. Watch what happened here
O'Sullivan 9-3 Allen (88-0)
Ah no. It's not to be. 11 reds and 11 blacks before running out of position. He attempts a double, but fails. The frame is won though, and he's now six ahead as we head into the mid-session interval
O'Sullivan 8-3 Allen (80-0)
The whole audience is thinking exactly the same thing; you can tell it from the way they roar home the sixth red. He gets a kick on the ninth red to take the pace out of the cue ball, but he can still pot the black. Don't go anywhere
O'Sullivan 8-3 Allen (*40-0)
This is Ronnie O'Sullivan we're talking about, so who knows what's possible. He gets to the table first in frame 12, with Allen leaving him a tempting red. A few shots later and the Rocket has breezed onto 40; five reds and five blacks. Could he?
O'Sullivan 8-3 Allen
So here's the final frame before the mid-session interval, and this really is huge for Mark Allen, who surely cannot afford to lose it. Mathematically, Ronnie can win the match tonight, but surely he won't reel off five in a row from here?
O'Sullivan 8-3 Allen (71-0)
This is such clever break building from Ronnie. There are six reds left on the table, including three clustered around the pink spot. He has the chance to move them, but has worked out he doesn't need to before making the frame safe. Eventually he goes into them off a black that is more than enough to take the frame. He misses a red with the next shot, but the damage is already done. 8-3.
O'Sullivan 7-3 Allen (*42-0)
The pink is on the yellow spot at the moment due to a cluster of reds hanging over its normal place on the table, and the black is a little tied up, so Ronnie has to work really hard to get to 38 before finally freeing it up. This frame might be over quite quickly now
O'Sullivan 7-3 Allen (*9-0)
How's your luck, Mark Allen? Not great. He pots a lovely long red, but flicks another on his way back to baulk and the white goes into the yellow pocket. Huge frustration, added to when O'Sullivan sinks an even better red - and he's on a colour
O'Sullivan 7-3 Allen (97-31)
Ronnie can't finish with a century as there aren't enough points left on the table, but he gets retribution for that frame he threw away last time. He restores his four frame advantage
O'Sullivan 6-3 Allen (*64-31)
Some of Ronnie's positional play in this break has been excellent. He has a couple of the remaining three reds in tricky positions, one tight on the top cushion and another just off the right. He takes the latter first, adding a black. Now for the one on the top cushion. Pot it and the frame is his - but he missed a similar one in the last frame. The time though there's no mistake
O'Sullivan 6-3 Allen (*18-31)
But that golden chance goes missing as Allen misses a pink to the left corner, and it was a simple pot. O'Sullivan is left in among the reds and it quickly working his way around the table
O'Sullivan 6-3 Allen (4-17*)
Ronnie hasn't brought his A-Game so far this evening. A poor safety gifts Allen another simple red. He manages to free the black up and with the pack well spread, this is a glorious opening to win a third frame on the spin
O'Sullivan 6-3 Allen (4-1)
An amusing moment at the start of frame 10 as Allen pots a red to a cry of "come on Mark!" from the crowd. The problem is he goes into the pack and snookers himself on all six colours! His attempted escape misses the intended yellow, so he hands Ronnie four points, but the Rocket doesn't pot anything when choosing to return to the table
O'Sullivan 6-3 Allen (41-70)
Well, whoever won that frame, it would have been a steal from the other. Allen will be breathing a big sigh of relief that it went his way
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen (41-52*)
Well, well, well. Commentary describe the final red as "virtually unmissable", but Ronnie clips the far jaw and it hovers of the pocket for Allen to sink. He takes the green as the final colour, meaning he needs up to the blue to win the frame
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen (*34-46)
Allen's safety shot at the end of that break wasn't the best. Ronnie plays an aggressive response that opens the table, from which Mark leaves a red. The Rocket comes back to the table and he's starting to clean up
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen (14-46)
This has been good from Mark. He's moved around the table confidently, although he keeps finishing just a couple of inches short with the cue ball. One such short leaves him out of position on the black, from which he needs to develop a cluster of three reds. He still manages to open them up, but there's no pot on. A break of 37 puts him in the lead
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen (14-24*)
And Ronnie's escape sees him leave a pot for Allen into the right corner after hitting the wrong red. The ball rattles the jaws but just about squeezes home. He soon splits up a cluster of reds three shots later and now has a big chance to claim the frame
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen (14-9)
O'Sullivan pots the cue-ball for a second time, this time off a safety as the white comes back up to the baulk end and drops into the green pocket. It looks like he hasn't left anything easy, but Allen pots a lovely plant from some distance before rolling up behind the green. Ronnie's in big trouble here
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen (14-4)
Unfortunately for Ronnie, the pack is clustered up awkwardly. After taking two reds, he has to go into the pack off the pink and can't open anything up, so plays safe. Allen responds with a safety that leaves a long red to the left corner - O'Sullivan pots it but goes in-off
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen (*14-0)
Allen shows his intentions early on with an attacking long red, but he misses that and leaves Ronnie among the pack. The Rocket duly sends a delightful pot into the right middle and he's underway again
Here we go...
Allen and O'Sullivan join us and we are underway in frame nine. The Northern Irishman certainly needs a good evening, probably a session win by at least a two frame margin, if he's to harbour hopes of reaching the third round
The arena to themselves
A reminder that there's only action on one table tonight after Mark Williams completed a 13-3 hammering over Jackson Page. You can catch up on the action from that one here
Catch up on this afternoon's action
We've seen some sights at the snooker over the years, from streakers to sneezes at inopportune moments. But have we ever had the table invaded by a confidently strutting pigeon before?
Welcome back
Well, that was a short break, with all the drama of the afternoon session - and Selby and Yan taking nearly four hours to get through their eight frames. We've got a corker coming up this evening as Ronnie O'Sullivan resumes against Mark Allen. The Rocket leads 6-2
O'Sullivan up next against Allen
We'll resume at 6.45pm BST with the second session of Ronnie O'Sullivan versus Mark Allen.
In the meantime, make sure you are fully up to speed on all the pigeon drama at the Crucible from this afternoon!
A pigeon caused a bizarre and amusing delay in Selby's second-round match against Yan in scenes no one could remember having seen before at the famous old venue in Sheffield.
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'Oh, goodness me!' - Pigeon causes uproar at Crucible and delays Selby match
Mark Selby and Yan Bingtao level
Yan will be a little peeved to leave that session without the lead. He just could not shake off Mark there, who hung in well across several protracted frames in a taxing session for both players. It's shaping up to be some arm wrestle between these two, and they'll resume their contest in the morning.
Selby 4-4 Yan
There's no ton, but a decisive 83 from Mark makes it all square.
Selby 3-4 Yan (55-0)
A black takes Mark to 55, his best break of the day, and these are set to go. He's been two behind twice and pulled it back; while he might not quite have his A game working, his ability to hang in and make it hard for Yan has been crucial. You can't play well all the time, and it's this kind of resolve that not only splits sessions when you're under par, it wins you world titles.
Selby 3-4 Yan (21-0)
Mark launches in a long red, catching it so clean that he screws all the way back to the top cushion. His snooker thereafter forces an error from Yan, who escapes but leaves a red on as a cut to the bottom right. That goes, and this time Mark's on the yellow. Pretty soon he's at the business end of the table, and a nice split on the reds has opened this right up for him. He hasn't taken a frame out in one visit all day, can he do that here and get out of the session level?
Selby 3-4 Yan
Yan throws everything at a long, straight red to the bottom right. It's close, so close in fact that it rattles and stays there for Mark. Yan really gave that a wallop, and a swift couple of reds and black from Mark secure frame seven.
Selby 2-4 Yan (51-9)
The flip side of fearless is reckless, and Yan takes on a wafer thin cut to the bottom right. It's close but it doesn't go, and he's left it there; that should be the frame, but in potting it Mark loses the cue ball and he's not on the black. Yan gets a red down too but no more, and we're locked into a safety exchange on the final three reds.
Selby 2-4 Yan (50-8)
Yan catches a double kiss from a safety, and leaves a red on to the bottom left. Mark drains it, followed by a nerveless pink to the right middle, and he's back in control. It's looking like he might need to fall over the line in this frame though as he misses a canon on two reds which necessitates a mid-range black with the rest, and he's missed it. There's still 75 on, of which Yan can take only eight before having to play safe.
Selby 2-4 Yan (35-0)
It's another long safety exchange, loaded with tension as the reds are spread very nicely for whoever can get in next. Yan gambles the lot on a long red to hold for the black; he misses, but by such a distance that he leaves Mark on nothing. That's such a slice at such a crucial moment. Mark does get a long red down a few shots later, but can't find a route to pink or black and plays safe. A further four goes his way when Yan shorts a deadweight containing safety, with another long red following soon after. He's not conveniently on a colour though, and plays safe again.
Selby 2-4 Yan (29-0)
Mark is not for lying down. He wallops in a long red to the bottom right, from a difficult angle, and finds position on the blue. That's a beauty, and a trip into the pack opens up a few more reds. He then plugs an awkward red when cueing over another, and he's ticking along nicely here. Another trip into the pack goes awry though; he's split the reds beautifully, but isn't on any of them.
Selby 2-4 Yan
...and he duly does! That's a magnificent clearance from Yan, who moves two ahead again.
Selby 2-3 Yan (54-42)
Yan plugs a red as a shot to nothing, and he's on the brown. He makes a quick 12, and leaves the final red as a difficult cut along the bottom cushion with the rest. The safety looks the more sensible shot, but he takes the pot on and makes it! He's on the green, and if he dishes to the pink he'll win the frame...
Selby 2-3 Yan (54-29)
It's a barrage of reds and pinks for Mark, who makes 54 before failing to locate position on the three remaining reds near cushions and it's end of break. We could be a while sorting this one out.
Selby 2-3 Yan (6-29)
The deadlock is finally broken when a poor safety from Mark leaves a short red on to the bottom right. Two shots later, Yan has developed this into a frame-winning chance, but misses an absolute shocker of a red to the yellow pocket! Oh my, that could cost him. There are so many reds in the open here and Mark starts setting about them.
Stephen Maguire has won the final frame of the session next door, and holds a commanding 11-5 lead over Zhao Xintong.
Selby 2-3 Yan (0-22)
We are mired in a protracted safety exchange here, and the table is a bit of a mess. There is no sign yet how this might be resolved and it's been a long time since we had a pot.
On the other table Stephen Maguire has now moved 10-5 ahead of Zhao Xintong.
Selby 2-3 Yan (0-22)
Huge LOLs around the Crucible - we've got a pigeon in! There's plumage on the baize and puns in commentary, as everyone has a good giggle about it. When the feathered one departs we crack on with frame six, and Yan gets straight in with a red to the bottom right. He's soon into the pack off the blue, but they don't split well and his break is nixed at 22 when he can't make a plant to the bottom right.
Selby 2-3 Yan
An additional 21 puts frame five to bed.
Selby 1-3 Yan (72-7)
It's 46 for Mark, and Yan returns to the table needing two snookers. He won't be getting them however, as MArk bags a red into the right middle.
On the other table Stephen Maguire leads Zhao Xintong 9-5.
Selby 1-3 Yan (55-7)
Here's a better swing of fortune for Mark, as he flukes a plant when playing safe and he's back in. His break quickly reaches 30 and he uses all of the pocket to get the black in, but he's got this under control here and is zoning in on the frame.
Selby 1-3 Yan (25-7)
We're back, and Mark picks off a long red to get us going in the fifth and is just about on the black. He knuckles down to his break but on 25 he pots the black and tries to open the pack, only to watch the white career around the target and go in-off in the green pocket. That's extraordinary.
Selby 1-3 Yan
Blue and pink go, and Yan has pinched the final frame before the interval.
We'll be back with you in 15 minutes,
Selby 1-2 Yan (50-62)
This is a real show of resolve from Mark, as he brings said red into play and soon reaches a half-century. In taking the red on to the left middle though it's an acute cut, and he rolls it out off the knuckles to hand a chance to Yan. Both players will need the blue which is near the upper left rail, but it's a chance for Yan, who clears up to it and plays a lovely screw shot off the brown to leave the blue on to the left middle! That's a wonderful shot.
Selby 1-2 Yan (34-49)
Yan goes into the pack again after potting the black, but again slides off the side of it and ends in baulk. He then misses the long, straight red that follows by a mile, and Mark gets in with a red to the bottom left. It needs a couple of recovery pots on reds to keep going early on but he's lassoed position now. One stray red near the left cushion is Yan's potential saviour here.
Selby 1-2 Yan (0-25)
It's the final frame before the mid-session interval. Mark has a go at a long one across the table to the bottom right, but it jaws out and lands over the bottom left as an easy starter for Yan. It's a good chance, but on 16 Yan misses a slightly off-straight red to the bottom left and he hands the initiative straight to Mark. In a bizarre sequence, Mark then leaves a straightforward red in the jaws of the bottom right; Yan booms it in and tries to open the pack in the same shot, glances the side of it and ends up wedged in the jaws of the green pocket. Crikey! You sense Mark's gone off the boil a little here though, as he then leaves Yan another easy starter after a poor safety.
Selby 1-2 Yan
With the frame secure, all aboard the showboat! Yan doubles the final red and plays a brilliant positional shot from yellow to green, on his way to emptying the table for a superb 104. Selby, on his way out for a quick break, taps the table in acknowledgement as he goes past.
Selby 1-1 Yan (6-68)
Yan has added 45 and counting so far, which leaves Mark needing a snooker. He won't be coming to the table for it though as Yan jabs a red into the bottom right with the rest, and he's on the black. It's good stuff from Yan, who has stood up to Mark in the safety exchanges in the third and won the battle.
On the other table they're at the interval, with Maguire now leading Zhao 8-4.
Selby 1-1 Yan (6-36)
Mark is in all sorts here, as Yan picks off a red and lays a brutal snooker behind the yellow. Given the position of the reds, this is so hard to get safe. Mark ships eight from two misses, and then leaves the world on when he does escape. Yan is in, and starts making hay.
Selby 1-1 Yan (6-15)
Yan fouls again at the start of the third, clipping the pink from a one-cushion escape to concede six. Another long safety exchange follows and this time it's Mark that makes the error, leaving a red on to the bottom right. Yan sweeps it in, finds position on the blue and he's away but not for long. He makes a plant to open the pack in the same shot, trusting to luck on position and getting precisely none.
On the other table, Stephen Maguire now leads Zhao Xintong 7-4.
Selby 1-1 Yan
That's a big clearance, as a 38 from Yan takes the frame on the black.
Selby 1-0 Yan (67-50)
What a shot from Yan! With the white on the bottom cushion he caresses a red into the left middle, the most delicate of cuts, and he's on the brown. These are all set to go, and he's on the colours. If he can dish the lot, Yan will take the frame...
Selby 1-0 Yan (67-36)
It's only 28 for Yan, who plays safe after failing to get on any of the three remaining awkward reds. He gets in again, and this time pots red and black but manages to snooker himself on the final two reds. From there Yan escapes, and on we go.
Selby 1-0 Yan (67-0)
Mark moves to a half-century with the black, but his canon on three adjacent reds only leaves a plant to bottom right. It needs to be made, and Mark can't make it so; he's left the red in the jaws, and it's a chance for Yan to counter.
Selby 1-0 Yan (30-0)
Mark has got Yan in knots with his safety play in this frame. He picks up another four from a miss by Yan, who is then forced into taking a long red that misses and hands Mark an easy starter. It's early, but Mark has bullied Yan in these tactical exchanges so far.
Selby 1-0 Yan (9-0)
We have a re-rack early in the second frame, and another long safety exchange when it restarts. Mark picks up eight points in fouls, from a miss and an in-off, and then pots a long red from the D but can't land on the black.
Selby 1-0 Yan
It's a break of 54 in total for Mark, who moves into the lead.
Selby 0-0 Yan (65-12)
It's a poor positional shot from Yan this time, whose break clangs to a halt on 12 when he can't force a red into half of the bottom right. Even worse, he's left a simple chance to the left middle and Mark should tidy up the frame here. He duly does; there goes frame ball red, followed by the pink.
Selby 0-0 Yan (47-0)
Mark undercooks position on a red to bottom right, forcing him into using the rest. He recovers superbly though, forcing it in and moving other reds into position while landing on the black. Just as it's looking good though, he has to bridge awkwardly over a red to pot pink to left middle, and he's missed it on the high knuckle. This is a big chance for Yan to counter.
Selby 0-0 Yan (26-0)
Yan has the first Yahoo at a pot, long to the bottom right, but misses by a huge margin and the white traverses the table before landing on a red to the bottom right. Mark is in, and starts developing the first chance of the match.
Selby 0-0 Yan (4-0)
Mark gets the first points of the day, four of them, as Yan shorts a one-cushion drop onto the pack. It's a very, very cagey start to the frame, with both players bogged down in a lengthy safety exchange.
Let's get about it
Our MC Rob Walker has baized those boys, it's time to go. We'll have eight frames this afternoon, with an interval after four.
Previously on Selby versus Bingtao
These two have met seven times before, with Yan having the edge 4-3 and having won the last three, all in this season. The winner of this will go on to face the in-form Mark Williams in the quarterfinals.
Good afternoon!
Day seven at the Crucible got off to a flier this morning. Mark Williams is the first player through to the quarterfinals after beating Jackson Page 13-3 with a session to spare, while Ronnie O’Sullivan established a commanding lead over Mark Allen.
This afternoon Zhao Xintong and Stephen Maguire resume their second round match, with the former trailing the latter 5-3. Our featured game though is a doozy – it’s defending champion Mark Selby against the 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao.
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That'll do us
We'll be back from 2.15pm for Mark Selby versus Yan Bingtao.
Ronnie O'Sullivan in command
That was an impressive session from Ronnie, who in one stretch rattled in 343 points without reply as he threatened to blow Mark Allen away. The end of the session was closer, and Mark will not want to see the green that cost him the seventh frame for a long time. Had he converted that the deficit could have been far narrower; instead, Ronnie has the upper hand ahead of the resumption of this match tonight.
On our other table Mark Williams now leads Jackson Page 12-3.
O'Sullivan 6-2 Allen
And that's that. Mark bullets in a long red and Ronnie offers his hand.
O'Sullivan 6-1 Allen (22-68)
Mark will be happier now, as he glides in a red long to the bottom right and makes a quick 10. That leaves Ronnie needing a snooker with two reds remaining.
O'Sullivan 6-1 Allen (22-58)
Ronnie's safety has gone awry here, as he gives away four from a one-cushion escape and then position a few shots later. Mark is right in here, and can clinch the frame. It goes wrong quickly though, and he thumps the table as he drifts off the line of his intended red and lands on nothing.
O'Sullivan 6-1 Allen (22-40)
A good safety from Mark forces a miss from Ronnie, who leaves a red on to the bottom right to boot. This is a huge visit for Allen; if he can shake that green from the last frame and score something significant here, he can still get out of this at 6-2. Position is difficult to obtain though, and he can make just 36 before playing safe to baulk. There are still seven reds left, so this is anyone's.
O'Sullivan 6-1 Allen (22-0)
Mark looks gone here, as he tries a deadweight red to bottom left that misses by a huge margin and sits up straight to the left middle. Ronnie makes a swift 22 but can't force position on his next red, and has to send the cue ball back to baulk.
On our other table Mark Williams his fired in his sixth century of the match and now leads Jackson Page 12-2.
O'Sullivan 6-1 Allen
If you come at the king and all that. Ronnie calmly dispatches the remaining five balls, and has now won five frames in a row.
O'Sullivan 5-1 Allen (57-53)
Mark almost makes a hash of blue to yellow, but just about has enough angle to cut in the yellow. That looks to have retrieved it but he misses a shocker of a green to its own pocket, and he's served this up for Ronnie. That could be a huge point in the match.
O'Sullivan 5-1 Allen (57-24)
Once again it's a half-century for Ronnie, who splits a cluster of three reds below the pink to leave the frame at his mercy. On 57 though he rolls a red out off the knuckles of the right middle, and what a touch that is for Mark. If he can hold his nerve and dish here this could be a crucial steal.
O'Sullivan 5-1 Allen (30-24)
Ronnie fires the cue ball into the pack to reach 30, and they've split very compliantly indeed. Mark is in serious bother here, as Ronnie's focus looks set to laser again.
O'Sullivan 5-1 Allen (0-24)
Moxie from Mark here, who drains a bullet straight long red and then, despite the white being on the side rail, drops the black into the bottom left. It's a decent chance, but after three reds and blacks he misses a short red to the bottom left. It rebounds out and lands over the bottom right. That could be a costly error.
O'Sullivan 5-1 Allen
Ronnie gets the mop out and fires in a quick 38 that banks him another frame. Mark is in serious danger of being out of this after one session, and badly needs one or ideally both of the remaining couple of frames.
On our other table Mark Williams is flying again, firing in his fifth century of the day to lead Jackson Page 11-2.
O'Sullivan 4-1 Allen (47-23)
Mark ends a run of 343 points against him, and pots his first ball for 49 minutes. Can he counter here? The reds are a little awkward, but two good canons on separate clusters of reds have now given him a shot at taking the frame. Mark is forced into taking a red long to the green pocket though, and he's missed it and left Ronnie in.
O'Sullivan 4-1 Allen (47-0)
He's riding his luck a little in this break, as his cue ball control is not as tight as before the interval, but Ronnie regains it with a brilliant cut on a pink to right middle. Eventually though Ronnie misses his first ball in live play, as he fails to pot a red to bottom right with the rest. He hasn't left anything though, as Allen returns to the table.
O'Sullivan 4-1 Allen (20-0)
Ronnie drains a long red to start frame six, but lands awkward on the black. He pots it but can't get on another red, and that's something of a reprieve for Mark. Not for long though, as he makes a hash of a containing safety and leaves a red on to the bottom left. It takes Ronnie a few shots to locate position but he's got it now, and just about avoids sending a red in-off when splitting the pack off the blue.
O'Sullivan 4-1 Allen
If he can hit this standard over the next ten days it's going to take something Herculean to beat him. There's no century as he loses position on the final red, but a 96 extends Ronnie's lead.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Allen (50-0)
It's another half-century for Ronnie and with enough reds in the open and barely anything to do with the cue ball, he's set to bank another frame here.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Allen (21-0)
We're back, and it's trouble immediately for Mark as he takes on a deadweight long red to the bottom left, misses it and leaves it there. Ronnie's in again, and looking as sharp as he did prior to the interval.
Speaking of intervals, Mark Williams and Jackson Page are at theirs and it's 10-2 to Williams.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Allen
It's a break of 69 for Ronnie, and with 59 remaining Mark folds it. That's the interval, after a sumptuous hour of baize.
On our other table, Mark Williams has extended his lead over Jackson Page to 9-1.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Allen (56-0)
There aren't many better sights in sport, now or ever, than watching this man when he's in rhythm. Another effortless half-ton goes into the books, and he is looking awesome here.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Allen (28-0)
A safety from Mark at the start of frame four sends a red right to the lip of the bottom right. Ronnie doesn't have a direct route but plays another red onto it to secure the pot, and he's on the blue. The black is tied up for the moment so he's utilising the blue and baulk colours for now.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Allen
It's Crucible ton number 188 for Ronnie, 1158 for the career. Many learned and wise people have said this already, but he's a bit good. A mesmerising total clearance of 131 restores his lead.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Allen (70-0)
There goes the frame with the blue, and with all five remaining reds in the open it's a good chance for a heavy ton. This match is like a highlights reel so far.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Allen (50-0)
Ronnie rings in a half-century bys stunning in the black and affecting a near perfect split on the reds near the pink. He's coasting here, what a start from these two.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Allen (27-0)
Larks all round here, as Allen catches the blue first when trying to play safe, sends balls all over and goes in-off. It's a foul and a miss, and both players have the giggles at the thought of referee Olivier Marteel replacing the balls. Eventually they agree a re-rack, even though there's no stalemate; in co-comms Dominic Dale isn't sure that's in the rule book, but we're going again. Ronnie gets in first with a mid-range red to the bottom left, and he's off again.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Allen
It's a 68 from Allen, and we're all square.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Allen (0-84)
Frame ball red and the brown go, but Mark's not for stopping here. This is a seriously impressive start from both players.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Allen (0-63)
Well that was expensive; Ronnie has five cracks at a four-cushion escape, missing every time and catching the black on one occasion. That's 23 points away, and eventually position for Mark on a red to right middle. He's in, and one decent split on the cluster should sort this frame for him.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Allen (0-25)
Ronnie catches the blue when playing safe at the start of frame two, and leaves Allen a cut back on a red to the bottom right. He picks off 25, but lands stranded in baulk after losing position on his next colour and tucks up tight behind the blue.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Allen
Gah, he's finished on the wrong side of a red and has to go up for the pink! It's a brilliant start from him though, as a rapid 87 secures the first frame.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Allen (56-0)
Surely he's not going to treat us to an anniversary maxi in the opening frame? Well it's on folks, because it's seven reds and blacks so far! There's one red that's slipped up beyond the right middle that's making it awkward, but everyone's sensed what's going on here already. Come on Ronnie!
O'Sullivan 0-0 Allen (32-0)
Mark gets a look at a red down the right of the table, can't convert it and Ronnie's in immediately with a red to the left middle. He looks in nice touch already, and it's four reds and blacks to get us going. Two trips into the pack have already set the reds up nicely, and there's an absolute load on here.
Here we go
Our MC Rob Walker has baized the boys. On the other table today Mark Williams and Jackson Page resume their second round match, and we'll keep you up to speed with what happens there.
Pistol
Mark’s had something of a turbulent season. A series of poor performances and a slide down the rankings was punctuated by an emotional home victory at the Northern Ireland Open in November, inclusive of an excellent maxi of his own. There’s been a touch of needle between these two in recent years, so we could have a lively one over the next few days.
Rocket
Ronnie’s quest for his seventh world title continues today, a feat that would put him on a par with the great Stephen Hendry in the modern era. Yesterday rang in the 25th anniversary of something that may never be equalled or bettered – that preposterous 147 by Ronnie against Mick Price at the Crucible in 1997.
Good morning!
Welcome to live coverage of day seven of the World Snooker Championship. We’re now into the second round, and the jeopardy’s gone up; it’s best of 25 over three sessions, with a smorgasbord of mouth-watering ties to look forward to.
Case in point: this morning, our featured match sees Ronnie O’Sullivan take on Mark Allen.
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'Why the hell can't I wear it?' - Lisowski prevented from having Ukraine flag on waistcoat
Jack Lisowski has said he was denied permission to have a Ukraine flag on his waistcoat at the World Championship.
Lisowski has Ukrainian heritage - his grandfather is from the country - and he wore a Ukraine badge at the Gibraltar Open in support of the country following the invasion by Russia.
The 30-year-old wanted to continue showing support for the country at the Crucible, but World Snooker refused to grant permission for Lisowski to wear the flag.
Speaking to the BBC, Lisowski said: "Everyone in this room would agree you're supporting Ukraine so why the hell can't I wear it?
"It's something that is close to my heart. My grandad is Ukrainian, my dad has been out there. It is very sad with what is going on over there.
"I tried to wear it [in Sheffield] and they told me I couldn't unless I was Ukrainian.
"I've got some Ukrainian in me, but it wasn't enough so I got the badge taken off my waistcoat.”
Read the full story here.
Editor's Picks
Schedule
Friday, 22 April
10:00
- Mark Allen v Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Jackson Page 1-7 Mark Williams
14:30
- Mark Selby v Yan Bingtao
- Zhao Xintong v Stephen Maguire
19:00
- Jackson Page v Mark Williams
- Mark Allen v Ronnie O’Sullivan
Full schedule here.
How to watch the event
The World Snooker Championship 2022 will be available on Eurosport and discovery+, with all the latest news, reaction and highlights on Eurosport.com.
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Stream the 2022 World Championship and much more top snooker action live and on demand on discovery+
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