World Snooker Championship 2024 recap - Stephen Maguire beats Ali Carter after Judd Trump’s win over Hossein Vafaei

ByMike Gibbons|Desmond Kane

Updated 21/04/2024 at 21:44 GMT

It's back. The 48th World Snooker Championship got underway on Saturday as defending champion Luca Brecel was knocked out by David Gilbert. On Sunday, Mark Selby plays Joe O’Connor at 10:00 and 14:30. Judd Trump resumes his match against Hossein Vafaei at 14:30 while Shaun Murphy, Lyu Haotian, Ali Carter, Stephen Maguire, Tom Ford, Ricky Walden Zhang Anda & Jak Jones are all in action.

‘Exceptionally good’ O’Connor pots stupendous double to take overnight lead against Selby

That'll do us

We're done for the evening, join us from 9.45am BST tomorrow for more action from the Crucible.

World Championship

‘Top class’ - O’Sullivan and Evans heap praise on ‘best ref in the world’ Woollaston

00:00:40

4 hours ago

Stephen Maguire stuns Ali Carter

That's what he can do, folks. Stephen Maguire might have had to fight his way through the ruthless school of qualifying to be here, but everyone in the game knows that he possesses a top class talent that is out of sync with his world ranking. Ali Carter led at the start of the evening but couldn't shake Stephen off, and when Stephen started coming back from 7-6 behind Ali had no answer.

Carter 7-10 Maguire

We're done now, as Stephen drains a long red and lands on the blue. He's got a fair few in here backing him tonight, and they let their joy be known. A quick 12 points later and its handshakes, with Stephen leaving the arena pumping his fist in delight.

Carter 7-9 Maguire (1-61)

It's no miss territory for Ali now but he duly does so, sending a long red to bottom left askew and seeing it sit up and on to the green pocket. Stephen sweeps it in and makes sure of the brown, leaving Ali needing a snooker.

Carter 7-9 Maguire (1-56)

Stephen gets a shocker of a contact when potting a red, and he's out of position on the pink as a result. He'll have to go in and out of baulk and what about this; given the circumstances, he plays the shot of the match to swing the white all the way around the table in a figure 8 and leave himself on a red to bottom right. He can't get on a colour of that though, and with the winning line agonisingly close he's forced into a safety.

Carter 7-9 Maguire (1-35)

There's a reprieve for Ali as Stephen fails to take the white in and out of baulk when potting the green, leaving him stranded at the top end of the table. Stephen puts a red on one rail from his safety, and with good reason; Ali soon drives in a long red and can attempt a fightback here. Immediately though, it goes wrong; Ali misses the brown to follow, and he's left Stephen right in. Ali slumps in his seat, shaking his head in the resigned manner.

Carter 7-9 Maguire (0-25)

This is trouble for Ali. He goes all out for a long-ish red to bottom right at the start of frame 17, and it rattles out of the jaws. Stephen has choice of reds to start, and with the black on to both corners it's a real chance to put this away. A stunned red into the bottom right keeps him on the pink to keep the break ticking, and all Ali can do here is watch and hope.

Carter 7-9 Maguire

With the frame secure Stephen glides through a breezy break of 45 to put the frame away. He's now only one frame away from victory.

Carter 7-8 Maguire (6-70)

All of a sudden, Ali's on the brink of defeat. A red takes Stephen to 29 and leaves Ali needing snookers; the blue follows, and you can stick a fork in this one.

Carter 7-8 Maguire (6-36)

The break ends on 36 when Stephen sticks on the pack after going into it off the black. Some up table safety follows, and Ali has first look at a red to right middle. He goes all out for it, playing it deadweight, but it catches the low knuckle and shoots off. What a chance now for Stephen to win a third frame in a row. All remaining reds are wide open, as are the colours.

Carter 7-8 Maguire (6-29)

In frame 16 Stephen gets a look at a straight red to the bottom left. He plays it slow, rattling it out of the jaws and almost double-kissing it in with the white. In response Ali can only pick off said red followed by a blue, before running out of position. You get the sense one of these two is going to fall over the line in a decider in a few hours. Here's a chance for Stephen though, as Ali leaves a red on to the green pocket. If he can clear the route for the black to both corners this could become a frame-winning chance. It takes a bit of travel, but he's now done just that; a good split on the remaining bunch is now the key.

Carter 7-8 Maguire

Stephen drains a red to get to 67, with 67 left on. The blue is dispatched into the right middle and he's straight on a red to bottom left. Stephen's in the groove now alright, and Ali will need to find something to counteract this. Stephen makes 80 before missing a red with the rest, and takes the lead in the match.

Carter 7-7 Maguire (0-50)

Another trip into the cluster leaves Stephen plum on a red to bottom left, and there's a sizeable score on now. He needs to concentrate though, as he almost misses a black off its spot to reach a half ton. It looks routine to put the frame to bed here, but the balls can be unforgiving of any lapses in concentration.

Carter 7-7 Maguire (0-28)

Up goes the divider in the Crucible so the whole audience can zone in on this one; it's finished on the other table, and Tom Ford has beaten Ricky Walden 10-6. Stephen gets away first in frame 15 with a nice, slow red into the yellow pocket, and he's on the blue. He let his cue arm go a bit in the last frame, can he put something together here? the break gets to 20 and then Stephen chances the lot on potting a red to bottom right and opening the pack. It goes, and he's got a useful enough split although he's low on the black. This is another big shot...and he's glided it into the bottom left. What a chance now to take the lead in the match.

Carter 7-7 Maguire

Sure enough, Stephen sorts it. The final red is frame ball, which he drills in followed by the black, and we're going to a best of five. A 55 in total gives Stephen the frame.

Carter 7-6 Maguire (26-45)

After a bout of safety Ali gets back in with a long, straight red to bottom right. A good green follows, but he can only cobble together 10 points before losing the battle with position. It's another scrappy frame, and there are still six reds out there. Can Stephen get something going? He drills in a mid-range red and then clips in the black to green pocket to get it back to its natural home. A red along the bottom rail drops into the bottom right, and he then splits two conjoined reds after potting the black. He's got a great chance to pull level again.

'What a shot' - Maguire makes amazing escape from a snooker against Carter

Carter 7-6 Maguire (16-21)

Some amount of fortune here for Stephen, as he misses a bash at a long red to bottom right, but crashes the white into another and flukes it into the right middle. That's outrageous! It serves up a chance though, and he soon moves ahead in the frame. His break abruptly ends on 21 though when he sloppily runs out of position, but and excellent safety thereafter puts Ali in trouble.

Carter 7-6 Maguire (16-0)

We're back, and there's maybe six frames left in this nip and tuck battle. Stephen goes all out for a red with the rest early in the frame, but he's left it hanging over the bottom right. Ali sweeps it up, and he's got the first chance in the frame. Only 16 comes from it, as he loses control of the white and it rests on the pack, with no available pot on.

Carter 7-6 Maguire

It's close to done now as Ali tags in a red to the yellow pocket, and the easy black to finish means Stephen needs a couple of snookers with two reds left out there. Within a few shots, it is done; Ali wriggles a red into the bottom right, and a quick 16 puts the frame to bed. We're at the interval, and we'll be back in 15 minutes.

On the other table, Tom Ford now leads Ricky Walden 9-5.

Carter 6-6 Maguire (49-9)

This is a gritty break from Ali. He drains a superb recovery red to bottom left, followed by the blue, and then picks off another red from a bunch of three near the bottom cushion. It's done now though, as he misses a black down the right rail to the bottom right. He's left it in the jaws, and with 51 still out there this is still a live frame.

Carter 6-6 Maguire (27-9)

Here's a chance for Ali, as Stephen badly misses a long red and sends others flying around the table. When it settles, Ali has a gimme to get going with, but the rest of the table is a little awkward. He's cobbled 26 together so far, but it's getting trickier with each shot as a number of reds are blocking each other.

Carter 6-6 Maguire (1-9)

Stephen whomps in a long red to start frame 13, but can't land on a baulk colour. In the ensuing safety exchange Ali gives away four after missing a thin contact safety, and then later goes in-off into the bottom left. It's a scratchy start to the frame, and Ali ups the ante by lashing in a long red and then trapping Stephen in a brutal snooker behind the green. Stephen opts for the shot named after him - the Maguire - an tries to bash his way out of trouble. Amazingly, it succeeds, as he clips a red and the white drifts off to near the yellow pocket. What larks!

Carter 6-6 Maguire

The break reaches 69 and ends when Stephen misses a red to right middle. With only 59 left Ali waves it off, and we're all square again.

Carter 6-5 Maguire (0-53)

After a bad contact in reaching 38, Stephen is forced into taking a red long to the yellow pocket. He absolutely nails it, and is up and walking to his next shot before it drops. A later red uses all of the bottom right before it drops, and this edgy but exceptional break is now a half-ton with a blue into the left middle.

On the other table they've reached the interval, where Tom Ford leads Ricky Walden 8-5.

Carter 6-5 Maguire (0-30)

Stephen flukes a red to start frame 12. The brown follows, as does a mid-range red, and this has turned into a chance. Within a few shots he's around the black spot, with the black on to both corners, and he's picking off reds for fun.

‘Unbelievable, brilliant’ - Maguire pulls off stunning clearance of colours against Carter

Carter 6-5 Maguire

The final two reds go with colours, but Stephen then misses the yellow with the rest, and of course it runs safe. Here's a chance for Ali though as Stephen escapes a snooker and leave the yellow on. With everything in the open surely he puts the frame away...and yep there it goes as he clears up to the pink to regain the lead.

Carter 5-5 Maguire (51-28)

Stephen forces an opening as Ali connects with a two cushion escape from behind the brown, but leaves a red to left middle. He can only make seven from the chance, but gets another after Ali misses a red near the bottom left and leaves it. This time, Stephen only makes 12 as he rattles a red out of the jaws of the bottom right, which runs safe. This frame is an absolute mess. Ali then makes a hash of a shot with the rest, leaving a red over the bottom right. There's 43 still out there, can Stephen close this out?

Carter 5-5 Maguire (51-9)

It's gone wrong for Ali as he misses another red to middle off the high knuckle, and we're back to safety play. These are long frames so far. Ali resumes control when he drains a long red to the bottom right, but again he can't get a break going as he misses the next red after the black. Once again, he missed it high off the knuckle; he hasn't found his rhythm yet.

Carter 5-5 Maguire (36-9)

Carter now picks out a three ball plant, and after screwing back down the table from the green he's in decent position with plenty to go at. He's added 28 already and with a few compliant nudges of the cluster that's left, this could be a frame-winning visit. Losing the last frame in that fashion should focus his mind here.

Carter 5-5 Maguire (8-9)

Ali's poor start continues as he goes in-off from a safety. Maguire fancies making a three ball plant from the D, and nails it. Green to left middle follows and he lands nicely on a red above the black. Just as he looks loike going through the gears, Stephen then rattles a black in the jaws of the bottom right, and it stays up. Carter can only pot red-black in response, as he tries to open the pack off the latter and flies the white through the only gap in the bunch.

Carter 5-5 Maguire

We are in a long, long safety exchange here. Stephen booms in the yellow to bottom right, a stunning shot, followed by an even better green to right middle. The brown goes in to the opposite pocket, and Stephen is right on the brink here. He clubs the pink into the green pocket and screws off one cushion to land perfectly on the black. That's a formality, and he's nicked the frame by a point! What drama there, Ali missed frame ball three times!

Carter 5-4 Maguire (64-38)

Ali gambles the lot on a long red to bottom left. It spits out of the pocket and shoots across the table and back, landing on the left rail near the bottom left. Stephen can't convert it though, and he's left a red on to right middle. Ali needs red and then colour to leave Stephen needing a snooker but hello - he pots the red but misses a virtually straight yellow! Crikey. Maguire takes red-black, but fails to pot the yellow and watches it run safe. It's twitchy out there alright. If Stephen can dish the colours, he'll nick the frame by a point.

Carter 5-4 Maguire (63-30)

Well, well, Ali misses from ball red to the left middle, crashing it back out off the high knuckle! That's a staggering miss, and Stephen immediately hits back with a long red to the green pocket. Can he mount a comeback? A lovely shot early in his break pots the black and brings out a red off the bottom cushion, which he pots. There are two touching reds near the left rail, but he can't get on them off the black. Stephen's back in the frame, and both players will be kicking themselves about a chance missed.

Carter 5-4 Maguire (56-0)

Ali goes into the pack off the black, and the split is near perfect; he really should seal the frame at this visit now. Another black a few shots later brings up his half-century, and this is an electric start from him.

Carter 5-4 Maguire (20-0)

It's a very cagey start here, with a long safety exchange finally ended when Ali sweeps in a shot to nothing and lands conveniently on the brown. Within a few shots he's down at the business end of the table, and he's scoring quickly.

Here we go

Rob Walker does the intros, and FYI, it's Ricky Walden against Tom Ford to a finish on the other table. We'll keep you updated on that one.

On Fire

Maguire was truly blazing in 2004, when he won the European Masters and then battered David Gray 10-1 to win the UK Championship. It looked, briefly, like Scotland had another player in the Stephen Hendry and John Higgins mould who could dominate and win multiple big titles. Life hasn’t worked out like that, and certainly not at the worlds; Maguire has been a semi-finalist twice but hasn’t won a match here since 2019.

The Captain

Ali’s been in the final of the big one twice already, so he knows his way around the Crucible. In total he’s won five ranking events in his career, but his bete noir in Grand Slam finals is Ronnie O’Sullivan. Snooker’s greatest ever player not only beat him in both world finals, he also turned Ali over in a very tetchy final of the Masters in January. If they both make it through, they'll meet in another Crucible final.

We're Back

Right then, let’s get about this evening session. We’ve got The Captain Ali Carter against Stephen ‘On Fire’ Maguire, and it’s beautifully poised at 5-4 to Carter. There could be a long one in prospect here, and we’ll track it right through to the denouement.

---

Thanks for joining us

We will be back just before 7pm when Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire play to a finish with Carter 5-4 clear. Tom Ford is 6-3 ahead of Ricky Walden before they play to a finish this evening with the winner securing a second-round meeting with Judd Trump.

REPORT: TRUMP RACES INTO LAST 16 WITH DOMINANT WIN

Vafaei pulls off superb cannon against Trump at World Championship

Judd Trump began the second session of his clash with Hossein Vafaei in the first round of the World Snooker Championship with a three-frame lead after taking the first session 6-3. Vafaei fought hard and took the opening frame, but he had little to go at from then as Trump raced into the last 16. Read more here

Murphy 4-3 Lyu

Not a vintage frame, but Murphy has been the likelier figure in this match as he regains a narrow advantage to lead 4-3 with a closing break of 48. Two move frames scheduled for this Sunday afternoon session.

World Snooker Championship schedule - Sunday, April 21

Round one

10:00

Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

14:30

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Lyu Haotian
Judd Trump 10-5 Hossein Vafaei

19:00

Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
Tom Ford 6-3 Ricky Walden

Murphy 3-3 Lyu

Lyu with a break of 82 to win the sixth frame in levelling up this match at 3-3 Won a black-ball frame to edge the fifth frame and suddenly Lyu is back on terms.

Result: Trump 10-5 Vafaei

"I knew I had to play well, and solid. But it's been a good season, and I feel confident," said Trump. "I reached the final after beating him two years ago so I wanted a good test. I'm very happy to get through against him. I fancy my chances in this tournament, and hopefully I can improve as the tournament progresses."

Trump 9-5 Vafaei (85-4)

Trump puts the finishing touches to the match as he eases through to the last 16. A 10-5 win for Judd, who will meet Tom Ford or RIcky Walden for a quarter-final spot.

Trump 9-5 Vafaei (57-4)

Vafaei throws his cue at a long red and leaves the red over left middle pocket. In goes the red as Judd moves 53 points clear with 51 remaining. Almost game over.

Trump 9-5 Vafaei (44-4)

Is Vafaei coming back to the table in this match? And the answer is yes as a red to the top right hand pocket rattles the jaws. Still, a very decent lead with remaining five reds all tied up.

Trump 9-5 Vafaei (24-4)

Suspect Judd Trump will be a bit frustrated at failing to get this match secured in the previous frame, but every chance to make some progress here. Black tied up, so will have to do his work with reds and pinks.

Trump 9-5 Vafaei (1-3)

Looked like this match was finished, but on we go. Judd with a fine cut on a red to the right centre, but no yellow to follow. And an early chance for Vafaei, who adds red and yellow.

Trump 9-4 Vafaei (61-65)

Onto the final two balls as Trump refuses the pink. Vafaei then somehow doubles the pink down the table with a mishit before slotting a tough black off the spot to pinch it by four points. Not sure he even played the double. A swashbuckling finale to the frame. Back to 9-5.

Trump 9-4 Vafaei (47-52)

Chance for Hossein to extend this match as he manages to plant a red to right centre pocket. Looks very good reaching 35, but he then misses the final red to right centre. A poor, poor miss. Judd returns to the table heading for the colours.

Trump 9-4 Vafaei (33-12)

Judd tries to inject a bit of pace in potting black, but he ends up rattling the jaws with the object ball refusing to drop.

Trump 9-4 Vafaei (26-5)

Brilliant long red by Judd and he also gets a nice nudge on the black. Which he is on. Somehow. Would dearly love to put this match to bed ASAP. Tom Ford or Ricky Walden awaits in the last 16.

Trump 9-4 Vafaei (6-4)

Players back out for another possible six frames. With Hossein needing them all. Dave Gilbert reeled off four last night against Luca Brecel, but difficult to see how this happens today with Judd looking very sharp. Still, you never know in snooker as Vafaei drops in a stunning long red to the green bag.

Murphy 3-1 Lyu

Shaun Murphy adds a run of 90 in the fourth to move 3-1 clear of Lyu.

Trump 9-4 Vafaei (0-0)

'Gets worse the more you see it' - Trump’s poor miss against Vafaei shocks Crucible crowd

Trump 8-4 Vafaei (89-49)

Trump finishes off the frame to move 9-4 clear. He defeated Vafaei 10-4 two years ago in the first round, and looks like we may be heading for a repeat result here. A 15-minute break for a cuppa before they return to the action.

Trump 8-4 Vafaei (58-49)

Making easy work of these balls so far. Until he misses a straight red left-handed. Was the penultimate red too. What a chance he has spurned there. And it is going to cost him the frame.

Trump 8-4 Vafaei (57-11)

All going on out there as Vafaei twice misses a red attempting to escape from a snooker, but is then warned he can hit a red straight on by referee Rob Spencer, who is willing to implement the three-miss rule. He doesn't really agree before finally hitting the red off top cush. Judd misses a tricky red, but his opponent can only add 11 points. Judd then knocks a red over a top bag which Hossein wallops in. And lands nicely on black. Chance to produce a winning counter attack.

Trump 8-4 Vafaei (57-0)

A 49 break from Judd this time. No one-visit hit, but another solid safety shot to finish off the contribution. Vafaei on cusp of falling five frames behind as he fails to escape from a snooker off the top cush.

Trump 8-4 Vafaei (26-0)

Poor shot by Vafaei trying to roll down the table into the reds and he has left Judd right bang in among them again for an easy starter. Lovely shot to open up some reds via two cushions off the blue. That really is excellent. Judd beginning to motor here.

Trump 7-4 Vafaei (74-0)

Surprise to refuse a pink to left middle, but Judd's caution pays off in style as he moves 8-4 ahead. Hossein has seen enough. Trump closing in on victory.

Trump 7-4 Vafaei (50-0)

Well, there we go. Judd holding a 50-0 advantage. But refuses to even attempt pink to left centre. Opts to knock the brown safe. But normal service is resumed when he drills in a long red seconds later. Chance to get frame won here surely.

Trump 7-4 Vafaei (49-0)

Vafaei tries a cute escape from a snooker in baulk, but ends up hitting pink to leave his opponent a golden chance to seal this 12th frame. Enough reds in open to seal the deal here and now. Pink and black in the open too. Just a case of minding his business.

Trump 7-4 Vafaei (17-0)

Judd suddenly seeing the long pots with real menace as in goes a red with some ease. Can't get a kind nudge on reds off the black seconds later. So just the safety to follow.

Murphy 2-0 Lyu

The 2005 world champion Murphy off to a strong start with breaks of 53 and 71 on the other main table.

Trump 6-4 Vafaei (95-0)

Stunning piece of long potting by Trump to fire in a red before finalising the 11th frame in his favour to restore the three-frame lead. A dominant frame by the Juddernaut.

Trump 6-4 Vafaei (59-0)

Vafaei escapes from the snooker, but leaves a red over a left centre pocket. Chance for Judd to extend his lead in this frame, but he can't land on a red after catching brown going in and out of baulk via the blue.

Trump 6-4 Vafaei (35-0)

A very decent visit to the table from Judd in rolling in 34 before running safe. Tries to play a magical positional shot by bringing white in and out of baulk via blue, but just fails to land on the right red. Then bangs home a stunning red seconds later. Snooker behind pink on yellow spot to follow.

Trump 6-4 Vafaei (24-0)

Trump first to the punch in the 11th frame as he tries to steady the ship somewhat. Bangs home an excellent cut on a red down a side rail. Super piece of cueing. Really is.

Trump 6-4 Vafaei (0-0)

Hossein well in the ball game then with three more frames to come before the mid-session interval.

Trump 6-3 Vafaei (13-70)

Stunning snooker by Vafaei to leave Trump behind the brown, but great escape from Judd at the second attempt to hit red. Hossein refuses red and it pays off as Trump then goes for a long red, misses it and ends up sticking up the game for his opponent. So eight more points from Vafaei, and Judd concedes. It is back to 6-4.

Trump 6-3 Vafaei (13-58)

Down to the final three reds with Hossein holding a lead of 46 points. Vafaei needing one more red to leave Trump needing a snooker. Very aggressive tactics so far from the 'Prince of Persia'. Vital frame for his future health in this match, you would suggest.

Trump 6-3 Vafaei (12-45)

A huge fluke from Judd as he goes for a long red and misses it, but sends white crashing into the reds before fluking a red. Lands nicely on blue, but then misses a straight red seconds later. That is a remarkable miss. No damage done for Hossein as he returns to table. Looked a nervy miss from Trump.

Trump 6-3 Vafaei (0-30)

A 30 break from Hossein before a shot to nothing on red doesn't drop. Decent cameo break, but plenty of scope to recover. Black is tied up and pink is awkward too on a side cushion. So 30 points perhaps better than it sounds.

Trump 6-3 Vafaei (0-12)

Vafaei breaks off for the 10th frame of this contest. A cry of 'C'mon Ronnie' is heard from the packed Crucible crowd. Ah well. You pay your money, you take your choice. Vital first frame of the day coming up. Great long red with deep screw from Hossein to get the party started. In goes blue and another fine recovery pot on a red to left centre.

Trump 6-3 Vafaei (0-0)

Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre as Super Sunday in Sheffield continues. 2019 winner Judd Trump holding a 6-3 lead over Iran's 'Prince of Persia' Hossein Vafaei as they play to a finish at the back of 2:30pm while Shaun Murphy gets his campaign up and running against Lyu Haotian with the first of their nine frames being played on the other main showpiece table. Boys on Baize imminently.

World Snooker Championship schedule - Sunday, April 21

Round one

10:00

Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

14:30

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Lyu Haotian
Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei

19:00

Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
Tom Ford v Ricky Walden

That's us for now

We'll be back at 14.15 GMT for the resumption of the match between Judd Trump and Hossein Vafaei.

Joe O'Connor leads in the Leicester derby

I'd be surprised if Joe O'Connor has played a better mini-session of snooker than that before. It was tit for tat to reach 2-2 at the interval, but in the five frames that came after it Joe blasted an out of sorts Mark Selby off the table. Breaks of 122, 67, 101, 74, and 61 saw Joe win five on the spin, and the four-time world champion is now in a world of bother. The match will resume tomorrow morning, and Mark has it all to do just to make a fight of this.

‘There hasn’t been many better’ - O’Connor seals century on Crucible debut

Selby 2-7 O’Connor

Frame ball red is a short clip along the rail and into the bottom right. It's a stretch for Joe, with awkward bridging over the black and two other reds, but he converts it. The pink follows, as does a showboat double on his next red; it's 61 in total, and Joe has dominated Mark in this mini-session to establish a commanding lead.

On our other table the match has just finished, with Jak Jones beating Zhang Anda 10-4.

Selby 2-6 O’Connor (5-52)

Joe is well aware that 7-2 is a very different kettle of kippers to 6-3 overnight, and is taking his time on this break. He reaches 40 in this break with a blue to right middle. A testing red to green pocket is next but he calmly strokes it in deadweight, and he's inching closer to winning a fifth frame on the spin.

Selby 2-6 O’Connor (5-12)

Mark gets first look in our final frame of the day, but can't convert a tricky cut back to the bottom right. He's left it hanging over the pocket, and Joe is soon in the balls again. On 11 it all goes wrong though, as he not only misses a simple yellow and accidentally pots the blue. It's a chance for Mark but he can't take it, with another attempt at a cut to bottom right that misses by a big margin. Joe picks out a plant in the bunch, and lands on he pink; Mark could be in even more trouble now.

Selby 2-6 O’Connor

Joe makes his half-century with frame ball black, and the red that follows puts this one to bed. He can't pot the final red with the rest, but that 74 now puts Joe four in front. What a huge frame this is coming up; we saw the number one seed go out yesterday, and our fifth seed is in real bother this morning.

On our other table, Jak Jones now leads Zhang Anda 9-4. Meanwhile, here's Angles on Brecel's exit yesterday.

'Maybe he was burdened by it' - McManus explains Brecel's shock World Championship exit

Selby 2-5 O’Connor (5-55)

After landing straight on the blue Joe picks out a good recovery red from mid-range to keep going, and he's back on the black. With what's left in the open here he should comfortably take the frame out, and this is looking worrying for Mark.

Selby 2-5 O’Connor (5-32)

Mark plays a good safety with the white behind the green, cutting off the right side of the table. Joe can't connect to a thin red down the other side, and it's a miss and four away. It's really not happening for Mark though; he pots a red and goes into a cluster by the pink, landing on said ball, but he can't drop it into the left middle. That's left Joe with a golden chance to win a fourth frame in a row.

Selby 2-5 O’Connor (0-19)

What a shot this is to start frame eight, as Joe makes a double to the bottom left, and lands on the pink. Reds moved around on that shot, and although the black is currently tied up there are some points on here again for Joe. He gets to 19, swinging the white around the angles off the blue, but fails to land on a red so it's end of break.

Selby 2-5 O’Connor

Joe takes frame ball red to the bottom right, and the black follows to make it certain. Mark is in a bit of bother here, and needs to get a frame on the board before this session concludes. Back at the table, Joe is having some fun. He's in a lovely rhythm here, and empties the table once more for a break of 101. This is some debut so far.

Selby 2-4 O’Connor (4-51)

Just like that, things change; Joe misses an awkward cut to the right middle, and the white goes in off in the opposite pocket. Can Mark take advantage? No he can't; he misses a long red from the D by a mile and he's left Joe right in again. Mark looks very cold at the table right now, as Joe takes his score to over 50 in the frame with a blue to left middle; the ensuing cannon into the reds near the pink leaves one to the left middle, and he's looking good again.

Selby 2-4 O’Connor (0-31)

A poor safety from Joe leaves Mark a mid-range red to bottom left, but he can't convert it. Joe tags the red in instead, but only just; the red uses all of the bottom left pocket before dropping, but he's on the pink and soon motoring again. If he can win another one here he'll be assured of a lead when the match resumes tomorrow. The break reaches 30 as he goes into the pack off the black, but it leaves only a long red to the green pocket. It's a tough shot but Joe creams it in to hold for the yellow, a superb shot and a sign of a player in great touch.

Selby 2-4 O’Connor

That's a big steal from Joe, as he dishes up to the pink for a 67 to go two in front. He's warming to his task here, and visibly growing in confidence.

World Championship debutant O'Connor walks wrong way out on Crucible entrance

Selby 2-3 O’Connor (40-47)

In reaching 37 Joe loses the white a little, leaving himself a tough pink to get on the final red. It needs the cue extension and the rest, and Joe tags it in superbly. He's high again on the final red but glides it in and lands perfect on the green. That goes, and if he clears up to the blue Selby would need a snooker.

Selby 2-3 O’Connor (40-22)

Mark quickly opens the six reds below the pink. It's a frame-winning chance now, but he misses a red to left middle off the bottom knuckle and it's served Joe a gift chance to get right back in this. All eight remaining reds are in the wide open, and he starts making hay. Sensibly, Joe is taking his time with this; it's a real chance to establish the first two frame lead of the day.

World Championship debutant O'Connor walks wrong way out on Crucible entrance

Selby 2-3 O’Connor (27-0)

A careless shot from Joe here, as he rolls deadweight into the pack but leaves a red on to bottom left. Mark jabs it in, the pink follows and now this is a chance. The black is out of commission but blue and pink are available, with two loose reds also up in the baulk area. Mark goes up for them, but an awful positional shot leaves him on neither. No matter; he pulls out a superb recovery red to bottom left to hold for the pink, and he's back in control.

Selby 2-3 O’Connor (7-0)

Joe's in first in frame six, hosing a beauty of a red into the bottom right from distance. The blue follows but he can't force it around the angles enough to land on another red, so plays safe back to baulk. After some tap and nudge safety on the pack leads to a stalemate, the players agree a re-rack. When we resume it's Mark that gets in first with a red-blue, which he then follows with a tough red to bottom right despite the white being welded to the side cushion. It's gone the way of the pear now though as Mark misses the black off its spot and send reds flying; when the table settles he's so fortunate to leave nothing.

Selby 2-3 O’Connor

The break moves to 68 as Joe drops a red into the right middle, and he then plays a run through on the blue to come off one cushion and split the remaining three reds away from the pink. That's a superb shot, and the frame is one. Now able to relax, Joe lets his arm go a little to empty the table for a superb 122 that puts him back in front. 'A really outstanding break for me,' says Fouldsy in co-comms, and so say all of us.

A quick update on events on the other table, Jak Jones leads Zhang Anda 7-3.

Selby 2-2 O’Connor (16-53)

Joe plays a nice shot here, potting the black and sending the white into two reds left of the pink, which turns this into a frame-winning chance as they split perfectly. A pink brings up his half-century and he’s looking good to take the lead again here.

Selby 2-2 O'Connor (16-24)

We're back and Mark's in first in frame five, and makes a quick 16 before losing position when a cannon on a red doesn't work out. Joe then floats in a beautiful deadweight red from the D to hold for the black. He quickly takes the lead in the frame and the reds are set very nicely here if he can stay in position.

Selby 2-2 O'Connor

Joe gets a red down but can't follow it with the pink, and that should be curtains for the frame. Two reds and blues put Mark over the winning line, and a red down the rail with the rest makes sure. The green doesn't go thereafter but Joe concedes, and we're all square at the interval.

We'll be back in 15 minutes. In the meantime, here's Angles and the Wind on a player who could be a world champion very soon.

Selby 1-2 O'Connor (49-0)

After losing position slightly Mark recovers with a superbly controlled red to bottom left at pace, coming off two cushions to land perfectly on the blue. The break is done on 49 though as he loses position again, and with a healthy lead Mark opts to put the brown safe.

Selby 1-2 O'Connor (26-0)

This is crackling along at a decent lick. At the start of frame four some attacking safety opens the table up immediately, and Joe gambles the lot on a long red to bottom left that doesn't drop, and Mark gets in with a red cut fine into the left middle. It's a dangerous table; the black has drifted slightly out of play but pink and blue are on, so there's a sizeable break on for Mark here if he can keep the white on a leash. He gets to work and there's 26 on the board already.

Selby 1-2 O'Connor

There goes the frame, as Joe calmly adds 40 to retake the lead.

Selby 1-1 O'Connor (6-49)

After five reds and blacks Joe is forced to go up the table off his sixth red. It leaves a tough blue to the green pocket, and he can't convert it so his break abruptly ends on 41. Mark responds with a superb red to bottom left to land on the blue, off which he drives the white into the pack. It's an awful split though, leaving only a taxing red to bottom left which he fails to plug. Back comes Joe though, potting a testing red and black, and he's back in position to take the frame.

Selby 1-1 O'Connor (0-24)

It's another safety exchange to open frame three, in which Joe forces an error from Mark and gets a good look at a mid-range red to bottom right. Joe drives it in and, despite finishing low on the black, calmly glides that into the same pocket. Control of the cue ball is eluding him in this break though and he's soon forced into using the swan rest to bridge over the pack and get to a red to bottom right. It's an awkward shot but he jabs it in to land on the black, and now he's in prime position.

Selby 1-1 O'Connor

Sure enough Mark soon puts the frame to bed, with a break of 60 bringing things level in the match.

Selby 0-1 O'Connor (60-0)

Joe could be punished here, as he misses his starter red and leaves it on for Mark. The red disappears and Mark drives through the pack off the black, leaving a cut on a red to bottom left with the full set of cue extensions. It's a delicate shot but Mark drops it in to hold for the black, making him a massive favourite for the frame. The break moves to 22 and counting, and he's only a few balls away now.

Selby 0-1 O'Connor (38-0)

A long safety exchange opens frame two, before Mark sweeps in a long red and comes off two cushions to land on the black. There's a fair bit in the open here after all that safety, and after three reds and blacks to start, Mark takes a red-blue combo to nix any hopes of a maximum. Humbug! We may well see the first big break of the day though, this frame could be taken out in one visit. As sure as night follows day, Mark then finishes high on a red and misses it to bottom left, ending his break on 38.

Selby 0-1 O'Connor

Here's a big chance for Joe. Mark misses a thin snick safety, and on his second attempt leaves the red as a thin cut to bottom right. Joe slices it in and lands on the blue, and surely he sees it home from here. Up to and including the brown will do it and Joe does indeed do that, but Mark will play on after Joe misses the blue. Not for long though; Mark puts the blue and then flukes the pink, which ends the frame in Joe's favour.

Selby 0-0 O'Connor (39-45)

On the final one of the open reds Joe misses it virtually straight to the bottom left, and he's left it on to the left middle. In steps Mark, who mops it up followed by the blue and then lands behind of the final to reds near the cushion. He takes it on with the full set of rest extensions, but it rattles out of the jaws and he's left it on. Joe takes that, then blue, but opts out of a difficult final red down the rail to play safe.

Selby 0-0 O'Connor (33-20)

Mark opens the bunch, stunning a red in to the left middle and glancing the pack as he does so. That leaves him low on the black, and he doesn't cut it enough to the bottom left and it rattles out. What a chance now for Joe; a good spread of reds, and a chance to settle in to this. He's put 20 up in reply already, but with the black and two reds out of contention it'll be tough to turn this into a frame winning visit.

Selby 0-0 O'Connor (24-0)

Joe misses a long bash at a red from the D, and he's left Mark a near straight jab at a long red to green pocket. In it goes, and Mark's on the black and away. There are a few loose reds around so Mark starts picking them off, and this is a nice, rhythmic start from him.

Here we go

Our MC Rob Walker introduces boys and baize, and we're off.

Elsewhere today

Zhang Anda and Jak Jones resume their match on the other table, with Jak 5-2 in front. We'll keep you informed.

Joe

Mark’s fellow Leicester player has been on the rise for a little while now. Joe's ranking is up to 31 in the world and he’s reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open and the final of the Scottish Open. He is the only debutant at the Crucible this year, and beat Matthew Selt to qualify.

The Jester

Even now I’m still not sure Mark Selby gets the credit he deserves. In the most competitive era of the sport, he’s been the most dominant player post the Class of 92; four worlds, nine grand slams, 22 ranking titles, 820 tons and five maximums. His narrow defeat to Luca Brecel last year was his fifth Crucible final in ten years, and he still decorated it with the first ever 147 in final history. Mark is some player and if the wider world doesn’t know just how good, the sport does.

Morning!

Feeling fresh? Good stuff. Here we go then with day two of the 2024 World Snooker Championship. We had some shift yesterday, with defending champion Luca Brecel stunned by a late comeback from David Gilbert and beaten 10-9. Let’s see what today brings, and it’s Crucible royalty in the house first up; four-time world champion Mark Selby takes on Joe O'Conner shortly, and we’ll follow every frame of this first session

---

Brecel crashes out of World Championship after stirring Gilbert recovery

Luca Brecel was sent spinning out of the World Championship 10-9 in the first round as David Gilbert won the final four frames to ensure the Crucible curse of first-time defending champions continued.

No first-time winner has ever defended the title in the Crucible era, with a host of star names such as Steve Davis and Neil Robertson crashing out at the first hurdle 12 months on.

Brecel looked well set to avoid that after taking a 6-3 lead in the first session, and moving 9-6 ahead on Saturday evening.

That lead was a flattering one for the Belgian, as his form dipped alarmingly and he enjoyed huge slices of luck.

But he was unable to close out the match and Gilbert kept chipping away before producing his best passage of play at the business end to seal a thrilling win.