World Snooker Championship recap - Robert Milkins edges Pang Junxu in a decider after Si Jianui beats Mark Williams

ByPaul Hassall|Andrew Wright

Updated 23/04/2024 at 22:07 GMT

Welcome to our live text coverage of day 4 of the World Snooker Championship from the Crucible, Sheffield. The shock news on day 3 was the exit of Mark Selby, who afterwards didn't rule out an impending retirement from the sport. Also in action on Tuesday were Mark Allen, Mark Williams and Robert Milkins.

'Surely this is not on, is it?!' - It is! Lisowski finds pocket with four-ball plant against Ding

GOOD NIGHT

That it for our updates from a nail-biting Day 4 at the 2024 World Championship.

World Championship

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

00:00:40

5 hours ago

Join us again from 09.45 BST on Wednesday as Kyren Wilson resumes 8-1 up on Dominic Dale while Ding Junhui trails 4-5 against Jack Lisowski. There’s also the small matter of Ronnie O’Sullivan in action against Jackson Page in the afternoon session.

It’s not to be missed, so we’ll see you again then!

RESULT! - MILKINS 10-9 PANG

More drama as Milkins sizes up a long red to the yellow pocket and misses by a whisker. He watches anxiously as that very red rolls towards the middle left pocket, but just stops short of being potable.

Pang then attempts a double and pays the price as Robert slips the red to the middle with the finest of cuts.

He slides the yellow to its home pocket and then finds another corker of a cut on the final red to nudge it to middle left.

It’s high stakes snooker right here as Milkins nicks in the green and bounces off the rear cushion to land on the yellow again. He rattles it down to leave Pang needing snookers.

The Milkman downs the green and can’t help but bellow out a big ‘Come on!’

The blue won’t go, but he doesn’t care – The Milkman delivers when it matters to survive and reach round two.

MILKINS 9-9 PANG (49-31)

Pang lays a trap with a perfectly placed safety that denies Milkins a look at any of the three reds.

The Milkman blinks trying to escape and leaves a red to middle right.

The Chinese underdog pops it down and knocks in the pink to gain position on one of the reds near the baulk cushion. He overthinks the attempt with his next shot in mind and inevitably jiggles the jaws with what was always going to be a tricky pot.

Milkins tries to punish him by knocking that penultimate to the green pocket but he follows suit and the tension in the air hits new heights!

MILKINS 9-9 PANG (49-24)

Pang’s hopes rest on another Milkins wobble but the Englishman was pretty sharp in the last frame and seems to have got it together just in time to avert a first-round disaster.

There’s nothing flashy about his run as he slowly mops up routine reds to erode Pang’s lead and stay on course for the turnaround.

The World No.16 was staring down the barrel a couple of frames ago and for much of the night he’s had his head in his hands – but he’s where he wants to be right now.

There are three reds remaining – all up in baulk – as he closes on the half century, but he loses position off a pot on blue to middle right as he tries to navigate up to them.

He has no choice but to play safe and slips the cue ball down beneath the black. On we go!

MILKINS 9-9 PANG (0-24)

Milkins is ultra cautious as he plays a delicate safety into the bottom of the pack. There’s a brief impasse but Pang breaks it with a rifled red up to the green pocket.

It feels like he has the match in his hands, but he catches the near jaw with a green down to middle right and the balls are so well spread that it’s surely Milkins’ to lose now! Such drama with twists right until the end!

MILKINS 9-9 PANG (0-23)

We are seeing some fine snooker now. It took a while, but when it matters most they are delivering.

It’s Pang who gets off to a flyer with a beauty of a long red to the left corner and he follows with a tidy pink to play off the stray reds and the black.

He opts to be bold by screwing back into the pack off a pot on the black to the right corner and gets his reward with a decent split.

Milkins shifts uncomfortably in his seat when he sees that, but it’s been one of those nights, so he’ll be hopeful he will get an opening at some point.

Indeed, Junxu can’t keep The Milkman out of it and a brave long attempt up to the yellow pocket sees the red pop out and a run of 23 abruptly comes to an end.

MILKINS 9-9 PANG

Pang begins mission improbable with a routine black sandwiched between two clinical reds.

The final three reds are in the upper half of the table which makes playing off black a tough ask. In the end he goes for a strange sort of double towards the yellow pocket. It doesn’t go in and although he doesn’t leave anything on for Milkins, the Chinese blows his next chance and decides that’s enough.

Into a one-frame shoot-out we go!

MILKINS 8-9 PANG (76-0)

Robert drills a delightful red down the right rail from deep in the green corner of baulk and ends up perfectly on the black.

It’s now or never for The Milkman. He needs steely focus here and there’s a puff of the cheeks when he lands high on the black. He produces the goods though and after mopping up the stray reds he thunders into the pack off a ferocious pot on the black.

It works out very nicely and this is already some of the best snooker he has played in this match.

It suddenly looks so easy after so much toil and frustration. A pink to middle right was tricky just moments ago, but he slips it in seamlessly here and the half century is quickly achieved.

For once there appears to be no twist as Milkins moves out of sight with a series of clinical red-pink combos. The miss does come on a run of 76 and there’s a bit of surprise in the audience that Pang returns as he needs three snookers.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 4-5 DAY

The first session of this showdown ends with a late revival from The Hawk as he cuts Day's lead down to one overnight.

MILKINS 8-9 PANG

Robert slams his cue into the floor in annoyance as he blows a make-able pink along the bottom cushion to come up way short of cranking up some heat on his opponent with a timid run of nine.

Pang takes care of the last couple of reds and it’s the Chinese underdog who moves to within a frame of victory as he clears up to the pink.

MILKINS 8-8 PANG (0-50)

Are these two saving their best until last?

Pang seems to have got some flow going as he bullets a long red to the yellow pocket to land perfectly on the black along the bottom rail. He teases it down and then gets lucky with a cannon off a red in mid-table that allows him to guide it to the left corner.

There’s still an element of reaction rather than perfect planning to this run but a pearl of a pot on a red to the lower left of the pack moves him beyond the 40-mark.

It would be a jinx to suggest he can see the finish line, and so it proves as he overcooks a blue to middle right, sees it pop out and gives Milkins a chance to steal.

'Can you believe it?' - Milkins misses a blue off its spot

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 3-5 DAY

MILKINS 8-8 PANG (0-4)

That’s seriously unlucky. Milkins hammers a long red to the right corner and looks bemused when the red jumps out of the pocket and off the table! Not the start he would have wanted in this crucial frame, but at least it wasn't so much of a conventional miss.

MILKINS 8-8 PANG

Pang’s decision-making isn’t doing him any favours and it’s perhaps no surprise that there’s another plot twist with Milkins suddenly being handed another opening when he seemed destined to trail 7-9.

This time The Milkman Takes charge with a superb red along the bottom rail and it’s down to the colours.

There’s been nothing routine in this match so it’s not a given but he keeps it together to give himself a very timely boost and square the contest. It’s down to a best of three now!

MILKINS 7-8 PANG (37-49)

The Chinese Rookie of the Year from 2021 seizes a rare chance, clearing up to the final two reds close to the bottom rail to nudge ahead on the board.

It’s a slender lead and he again decides to play safe by retreating to baulk.

When the phrase 'hard-fought victory' was coined, it was as a result of this sort of battle.

MILKINS 7-8 PANG (37-30)

Robert does make the most of the cheap balls on offer but continues to wrestle with himself over some basic errors with his positional play. He manages to navigate himself back on course a couple of times but a red to middle right catches the near jaw and bounces free. That all came about from losing the cue ball and leaving himself with tougher pots than necessary.

He knows it too as he re-takes his seat and adopts the now familiar pose of head in hands.

MILKINS 7-8 PANG (0-30)

Pang goes for a Hollywood pot on a long red and misses by some distance. The cannon leaves the cue ball amidst a lovely spread of reds and the door is wide open for Milkins. Can he walk through it and activate survival mode?

MILKINS 7-8 PANG (0-30)

This is more like it from Pang. He starts steadily and if he can keep ticking over the lay of balls is rather inviting.

Still, that’s been the big ask in this session with both players guilty of wasting gilt-edged chances to put together much better runs than they have actually delivered.

The positive is that they are still searching for form and taking on their shots. Neither have shied away.

Indeed, Pang motors to a decent score of 30 before deciding to cut his losses and retreat to baulk.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 2-5 DAY

'Thundered that one in' - Milkins pots superb red

MILKINS 7-8 PANG

Milkins can’t complete the turnaround and Pang eventually drags himself over the line to nudge in front.

It’s still so tough to call with both players fluffing their liens time and time again.

These are key stages now too with each ball taking on greater significance making the pots that much harder...

MILKINS 7-7 PANG (25-62)

Milkins offer Pang yet another chance - and again the Chinese can’t get over the line. Wow, this is heavy going for both players.

Robert needs a snooker but looks like he’ll keep battling despite regularly sitting in his chair holding his head in his hands between the short shifts at the table.

It’s not a friendly lay of balls with one red remaining high in baulk territory - and that would be the case if you were playing near your optimum level.

Pang is still in the driving seat but then misses the red and gifts his opponent the free ball. That is so poor from his point of view.

MILKINS 7-7 PANG (9-48)

Junxu has been struggling to hit double figures of late, but he finally puts something together. It’s just the 22 before the inevitable lapse but Milkins wastes the reprieve and gives the Chinese hopeful another nibble.

He gets down to five reds that are tight to the bottom rail and can’t find the middle right with the pink, It’s another run above 20 but it’s hardly the type of scoring you expect on this stage.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 2-4 DAY

MILKINS 7-7 PANG (9-3)

In contrast, Pang remains poker-faced as he continues to wobble, catching the near jaw with a make-able red to middle left.

MILKINS 7-7 PANG (9-0)

There’s a big round of applause and you sense the crowd need it as much as the players after Milkins rasps a scorching long red to the right corner.

He rolls the black to middle right but then needs to pull off a well-paced long red up to the yellow pocket.

Everyone considers that he’s found some semblance of form here, but then there’s an audible gasp of despair from the audience as he follows up those pieces of brilliance with a basic miss on the blue.

Milkins takes his seat and puts his head in his hands. No words necessary for how he's feeling then...

MILKINS 7-7 PANG

The Milkman does deliver and hammers a blistering blue to the corner but then fouls trying another exhibition shot. The crowd don’t really know how to react there, but Milkins won’t care as he does just enough to pull level.

MILKINS 6-7 PANG (45-12)

It’s déjà vu as Pang unleashes an explosive pot for the show reel before missing the proverbial sitter and leaving the red over the right corner for his opponent.

Surely Milkins will get the job done from here?

MILKINS 6-7 PANG (43-5)

Pang cuts a sublime red up to the green pocket, but then turns and knows what’s coming as the cue ball makes a beeline for the middle left bag. Talk about summing up the match is one shot!

MILKINS 6-7 PANG (38-5)

That Pang miss has opened the door for Milkins but not much has changed since the interval as he undoes some great work to reach 30 with a miss on a routine red down to the left corner.

MILKINS 6-7 PANG (8-5)

That’s a corker from Pang as he controls a red all the way from upper mid-table down to the left corner.

It’s perhaps fitting that he follows up soon after with a sitter of a miss on the colour, such is his mixed fortunes today.

MILKINS 6-7 PANG (8-4)

Milkins plays a slow-paced safety from baulk off the lower left rail but nicks the red and goes in-off. There’s nothing routine on for Pang so The Milkman will probably take that ahead of leaving his opponent with an inviting opening.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 2-3 DAY

Day chalks up a break of 110 to nudge in front.

MILKINS 6-7 PANG (8-0)

We are back underway and Milkins hopes for better form as he manages to nick a long red to the left corner via a succession of wobbles with the jaws.

He engineers a decent split via a pot on the black to the opposite corner but he’s unfortunate with where the cue ball lands and has to play safe.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 2-2 DAY

MILKINS 6-7 PANG

Pang clips in the simple red but the next one is far trickier. He backs himself despite the patchy form and produces a superb pot to the right corner.

Milkins clearly feels the frame is edging out of his grasp now and begins to tinker with the tip of his cue, showing little interest in what Pang is doing in the spotlight.

The Chinese doesn’t clear up, but he doesn’t need to and there’s a sense of relief from both players as the head for the interval.

MILKINS 6-6 PANG (20-43)

Pang chips in with another six and doesn’t leave anything on for Milkins with five reds remaining.

We aren’t far off the interval now and let’s hope both players can come back refreshed and find another layer of better form.

In the meantime, Milkins sends a trio of balls flying around the table to leave another sitter on for his opponent.

MILKINS 6-6 PANG (20-37)

Both players show superb weight of shot deploying safety which is out of character with how the rest of this session has gone.

Milkins appears to have sorted out that tip (for now) as he methodically begins to eat into Pang’s advantage.

It’s a solid as he’s played for quite some time but he again runs out of position despite a decent spread of the reds. He shakes his head and there’s no poker face here, he can’t believe how poorly it’s going.

MILKINS 6-6 PANG (0-37)

Milkins offers a puzzled glance at the tip of his cue after another howler of a miscue. He looks a little shell-shocked out there, but the audience probably don’t have much faith in Pang being able to make him pay at this stage.

The Chinese World No.27 sets about trying to build upon that positive end to the previous frame and he at least develops some solid rhythm. He doesn’t get the fortune he’s seeking when he tries to cannon into the pack and ends on a break of 37.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 2-1 DAY

MILKINS 6-6 PANG

The Milkman hangs his head as Pang finally puts together a break that ends his misery.

It could have gone either way but in the end it’s the Chinese who manages to rustle up a run over 30, bulleting away a belter of a brown along the way to level matters overall.

MILKINS 6-5 PANG (25-32)

Pang gulps down some water from a bottle after another miss ends a break that could and should have been more.

Can the Chinese player get his head together mid-frame or even at the interval? If not, Milkins could run away here, although he’s not exactly firing on all cylinders either and catches the far jaw of the left corner pocket to end on a timid run of six.

It's hard to call and becoming a difficult spectacle to get into given the struggles both players are enduring, a fact further exemplified by an in-off by Pang that again sees him hand over the initiative.

MILKINS 6-5 PANG (12-17)

Well, this is becoming a bizarre watch!

Milkins has his first look at the table and chalks up 12 before looping the cue ball over the black for a foul. It’s a proper what happened next moment and all the more strange given that it was a pretty straight-forward black to the bottom right pocket.

‘Who knows?’ - Williams coy on World Championship future after loss to Si

MILKINS 6-5 PANG (0-12)

Pang is first to show with a delicious cut on a long red that floats unerringly to the left corner. He clips in a brown, but it all goes wrong again far too early following the next red and he has to play safe.

Milkins leaves a slither of a chance on and the Chinese makes it count with another long red. However, another run ends shy of double figures when he slaps the yellow against its home pocket’s jaws via the rest.

‘What a player’ - White and McManus praise for Si Jiahui

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 1-1 DAY

MILKINS 6-5 PANG

It’s Milkins who hits a patch resembling some sort of form but has a slice of luck when a ropey pot on a red to the corner needs a nick off another nearby red to find its home. He offers a cheeky half smile and passes the half century before stretching into a tricky red near the bottom rail to nail frame ball.

He continues his run up to 58 but then blows a make-able black. It’s enough to nudge him ahead on the board, but he’d have loved to have continued that to try and play his way into a bit more consistency.

MILKINS 5-5 PANG (7-24)

Pang remains expressionless but he must be worried by his form so far. He knocks in a red and pink but then somehow contrives to miss a routine red to the left corner. It sums up the session so far.

It’s not been much better for Milkins but he’s got a chance again here; can he take it?

MILKINS 5-5 PANG (7-17)

It’s not one for the handbook right now. It’s all rather scrappy as Pang loses his way on seven and plays a pretty wobbly safety. Milkins doesn’t take advantage and is fortunate the cue ball doesn’t go in-off in the green pocket.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

HAWKINS 0-1 DAY

MILKINS 5-5 PANG (7-10)

Pang leaves it on for Milkins who initially takes advantage but then he fluffs his lines on six to leave a red hanging over the right corner bag.

Neither player able to garner any rhythm as of yet.

MILKINS 5-5 PANG (1-10)

That is quite magnificent from Junxu as he shows a wonderful cue-action to guide a long red to the right corner despite being right against that baulk cushion.

Green, red and blue all flow easily to the middle but it goes wrong on a tough red from mid-table down to the bottom left pocket.

MILKINS 5-5 PANG (1-0)

Milkins slaps down a long red close to the left corner pocket but can’t see a gap for the black to follow and plays safe to baulk.

MILKINS 5-5 PANG

Ouch. Milkins attempts a long diagonal pot on the yellow to the left corner, but misses by a distance and then watches on in horror as the cue ball arrows back the way it came and in-off the green into its pocket.

Pang is a tad wild with his strike on the yellow down the right rail and it leaves the door open for Milkins to guide it down to the right corner. He turns and despatches the green to its home bag and then tickles the brown in along the baulk rail.

The cueing is exemplary and allows him to drop down for the blue to middle left. The pink follows and that’ll do it – all square!

MILKINS 4-5 PANG (50-47)

Milkins attempts a plant down the table from right to left but it doesn’t come off. He thinks he’s safe but Pang drills a beauty of a long red to the bottom right and puts himself in a position to steal.

A kiss off a pot on the pink to the right corner means the yellow is far from easy shooting down from baulk and he refuses the risk and ends his run on 13.

Only the pink and blue are on their spots, so there could still be a bit of life left in the frame.

MILKINS 4-5 PANG (50-34)

Pang cuts a tidy red up to middle right and lands nicely on the yellow. It’s routine stuff but he somehow messes up position, allowing the cue ball to float surprisingly into the middle pocket for a foul.

Milkins knocks in a solid red and then plays safe off the green high up in baulk with two reds remaining and not really on.

MILKINS 4-5 PANG (45-33)

Boom! Milkins produces a quality long-range pot on a red that arrows to the right corner and results in a deserved eruption of applause.

Pang did the hard work in freeing up the pack and will no doubt be feeling he’s let his opponent off the hook from a very strong position. Indeed, he can only watch on as the World No.16 quickly hits the front on the board.

However, Robert blows a diagonal mid-range red to the bottom right and this time it’s Pang who gets the reprieve.

MILKINS 4-5 PANG (0-33)

The Milkman bashes the blue off the break-off and Eurosport Comms suggest it’s a nervous start.

In contrast, Pang looks ice-cool and ultra composed and makes him pay with a clinical red down the right rail. The black does indeed go to the opposite bag and there are enough stray reds around it for him to clock up some quick and rather easy points.

However, he doesn’t get the desired impact attempting a semi split off a pot on a red to the left corner and the Chinese star plays safe off the black to the bottom rail.

Show time

It's a lively crowd that greet the four players as they enter the arena.

Let battle commence!

Welcome back!

It's been a short break but it's almost time for more snooks.

Earlier, Mark Allen completed a dominant session against Robbie Williams to take a 7-2 lead in their contest.

Right now, we are heading towards seeing Robert Milkins resume against Junxu Pang trailing by a 5-4 scoreline. Barry Hawkins is also in action against Ryan Day.

That’s it for the mid-session on this fine Tuesday

But never fear, we’ve got more action from The Crucible coming up very soon!

Barry Hawkins kicks off versus Ryan Day while Robert Milkins resumes against Junxu Pang trailing by a 5-4 scoreline. See you shortly with the action set to get underway from 19.00 BST!

RESULT! - WILLIAMS 9-10 SI

It’s not surprising that we have a cagey, safety-focused opening to this decider.

Williams is the first to be brave but he can’t steer a red up to middle right and leaves it on for Si.

A blue to middle left and a super cut on a red down to the left corner help settle him into a rhythm but when he screws back on a straight black he begins to chase position.

He puffs his cheeks assessing a blue to middle right and manages to get the perfect weight on the cue ball to sit on a red up to the green pocket via the rest. A yellow across to its home pocket gets him back into prime position around a splintered pack.

A kiss off a red while despatching the black to the right corner suddenly adds great tension, but the Chinese youngster manages to clip a tricky red up to middle right before producing a sublime cut under pressure to take care of a miss-able black.

A red down the left flank is downed neatly but he completely loses the cue ball and can’t hide his dismay in his expression. He has to take on a HUGE pink up to the green pocket and … delivers!

That was brave and quite brilliant. It means he’s on the brink of a famous win and he nicks in a red and black to leave Williams needing snookers.

Indeed, it’s over for the three-time champion as a break of 77 is enough to send last year’s semi finalist – and a qualifier in 2024 - into round two.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 6-2 WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS 9-9 SI

We are heading into a decider!

Williams lean upon all of that experience, producing some top-drawer snooker when it matters most to level the match with a break of 51.

'Danger money' - Williams knocks black off table, nearly hits camera operator

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 6-1 WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS 8-9 SI (38-0)

A trademark long red puts Mark in the box seat and he ticks along nicely around the black before cannoning into the pack. It doesn’t pay off the way he was hoping and he can’t stay on track as his break of 38 ends with a tricky red to middle left just catching the jaw.

Si looks like his mind is still on that missed pink in the previous frame and he’s sloppy with cue ball, allowing it to catch the middle pocket jaw and tee up Mark to have a real go at what is now a very open table.

WILLIAMS 8-9 SI

Williams doesn’t have to wait long to confirm the frame though as Si clips the blue and sends the cue ball into the middle right pocket.

Can the Welshman force a one-frame shoot-out or will Si keep his nerve and get over the line if the chance presents this time around?

WILLIAMS 7-9 SI (63-39)

Si shakes his head as his attempt at the snooker in-behind the black just fails.

Williams lines it up from the bottom cushion and cannons it up to the green pocket.

The Welshman jabs a tight green across to the yellow pocket and should be routine with the colours off the spots, but he fluffs the blue.

Si is 24 behind with 18 remaining and will carry on for now.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 5-1 WILLIAMS

“If you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go' - Si asks for mid-frame comfort break

WILLIAMS 7-9 SI (50-39)

Si closes his eyes in his seat and rubs his brow. He knows that was a HUGE opportunity to seal victory.

Instead, he watches on as Williams clears up to the final red tight to the lower left cushion.

The Welshman sizes up the double but sees it dance with both jaws before darting free. The crowd thought it was in – but it wasn’t. Break over on 36 and Si remains in contention with everything seemingly on this final red.

WILLIAMS 7-9 SI (14-39)

Williams goes for a long red to the left corner, but it goes awry and leaves the cue ball near the loosened pack. Si sizes up a red up to middle right but he adds extra zip to his attempt and it flies away from its intended target. There’s a lot at stake now and it’s showing in both players.

Si continues to go for his shots, however, and scorches down a long red to the left corner. A blue to middle left and a simple red to the opposite pocket takes him down to the black along the bottom rail and suddenly he’s in charge.

There’s a line of reds invitingly placed for him to prey upon around the black and if he can keep his nerve this could be the big moment for him….

But wait!

There’s the plot twist as he overcooks a pink up to middle left and hangs his head in dismay. Lifeline for Mark!

WILLIAMS 7-9 SI (14-0)

There’s no margin for error now from Mark’s perspective. He gets in first with a trademark long red and guides down a brown to the middle left, but then catches the far jaw of the left corner pocket. He shakes his head, but there’s nothing on for Si and the Chinese coughs up another half chance down the right rail.

This time the Welshman guides it to the corner bag but once again he runs out of steam early and opts for a safety behind the yellow.

WILLIAMS 7-9 SI

Mark takes on a tough, long red and ends up leaving it over the right corner bag.

Si smashes it down and then has to focus on a tricky pink up to middle left with the black up in baulk. The Chinese star nails it, but then makes a hash of his position and needs another belter of a pot on the stretch to send the green to its home pocket.

There’s still work to be done but the World No.23 gives himself a major boost by sinking the black to the green bag to get it back to its orthodox position.

Another red-pink combo tees up frame ball on a red to the right corner. He lands perfectly on the black to the opposite corner and he’s home and hosed. A break of 48 is enough despite a miss on a red along the bottom rail and he’s one away from downing the three-time champion!

'What a shot' - Williams pots superb long red

WILLIAMS 7-8 SI (4-33)

Si escapes a Williams snooker and the Welshman gets lucky seconds later when his attempt at a cut on a red to middle right sees the cue ball bounce back up the table and somehow evade landing in the green pocket.

There’s some fine safety on show at this juncture until Si clips a red from baulk and fires the cue ball straight into the mouth of the left corner pocket.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 4-1 WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS 7-8 SI (0-33)

Si gets another nibble and needs a bullet red to the bottom right to recover after landing short of the blue once again.

It’s just not quite clicking for the Chinese starlet right now though, and a routine red to the bottom right bag rattles the jaws and stays out.

WILLIAMS 7-8 SI (0-13)

Si offers a sheepish smile as he defends Mark’s opening safety and ends up pulling off a three-ball plant into the right corner that he never intended.

Still, opportunity knocks and he slides the green up to its home pocket, but he soon starts to chase position and can only manage a measly 13.

He’s not got his Mojo flowing since the interval and will need to find it ASAP if he’s to fend off Williams’ comeback bid.

WILLIAMS 7-8 SI

Si can’t make anything count after returning from his toilet break and despite producing an excellent escape from a Williams snooker in-behind the brown, he leaves a red on to the yellow pocket.

Mark nudges it down with ease and follows with a middle blue and a red close to the right corner. A black to the same bag leaves Si needing a snooker and a red along the bottom rail is followed by an explosive long blue to the yellow pocket.

It's party-piece time, but it ends abruptly when he almost takes the camera man out when he jumps the black off the table! It matters not as the frame is his and he is now just the one behind.

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI (52-21)

The safety pays dividends as Si leaves a red on and Mark gobbles it up. A blue to middle suggests this could be it, but he blows a mid-range red to the left corner.

It’s been a strange old contest since the interval and it happens again here as Si asks for mid-frame toilet break. The referee gives him the nod and Williams decides to go too!

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI (40-21)

Williams attempts to nick a red tight to the lower left rail but misses by a distance. Si puts him back in and he takes it on one-handed. It’s a bizarre sight, but it’s a pearl of a safety as comes off a couple of cushions to finish up in the yellow corner of baulk.

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI (40-17)

What is going on here? Williams looks in total control but somehow misses a black off its spot to the bottom right bag. Consistency is out of the window making this a great watch but tough to call! It’s a key frame in the context of the match too!

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI (17-17)

If Si blows this frame he may well look back on a miss on a red to the bottom right that he decided to take on left-handed. It was unnecessary and it may cost him.

Williams punches his cue after missed red

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI (17-5)

The Welshman trips and has a giggle with the crowd before a frown replaces it. The reason? His big miss on a long red sees him catch another red on the return and leave the cue ball mid-table.

Chance for Si.

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI (17-5)

There’s been a huge swing in the pendulum since the interval.

It’s cagey and Williams has certainly found a higher level. He surveys a canopy of reds from way up in baulk and somehow eyes a mid-placed red that he despatches to the right corner.

It’s audacious and worthy of setting a decent break in motion, but it doesn’t transpire as he catches the jaws with a more routine attempt soon after.

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI (5-5)

Wow, that’s a shocker from Mark. He attempts to clip a red from baulk but misses by some way.

The referee declares a free ball and has himself Si and Mark all squinting down table. Mark disagrees with the decision but the ref insists and Si is able to drop the yellow along the baulk cushion to its home pocket.

The Chinese hammers the blue to middle left to crash into the pack and is unfortunate to see a red fly nomadically into the left corner.

A crazy couple of minutes early on in Frame 15.

WILLIAMS 6-8 SI

Si leaves a red over the corner right pocket and Williams clips it in before refusing the chance to clear up. He wants to save energy for what he hopes will be a big battle ahead!

WILLIAMS 5-8 SI (61-0)

For the first time in quite a while, it’s a test of patience as the players exchange safety.

Williams is the one to seize the moment as he spots a red south of the pack and absolutely corks it to the bottom left from way up in baulk.

It’s a pot worthy of laying the foundation for him to take the frame but he eclipses that as he edges ever closer with an absolute scorcher of a red from the bottom cushion right into the centre of the green pocket. It’s not quite enough to get him over the line, but given the lay of the brown, yellow and black close to cushions, it’s hard to see Si putting the run needed to pull off an unlikely steal.

‘Unbelievable’ - Si pots red but sees white go in-off

WILLIAMS 5-8 SI (39-0)

Si offers Mark an early boost when his attempt on a long red to bottom right misses by a mile and the cue ball carries on and disappears for a foul.

Williams tucks the one stray red above the equator down to middle right and then cannons into the pack via a blistering pot on the blue. He doesn’t get the fortune with the spread, but Si is visibly disappointed when his loose safety leaves a long red down the left rail on for the World No.6.

The Welsh Potting Machine lives up to his name with a clinical long-range attempt and soon after, a tough cut on a red to the right corner gives him the angle to take on the green to its home pocket and come back down for a red near the right rail.

A tidy pot on a red up to middle right looks great, but he doesn’t get the pace on his screw back and the angle on black is too much. He pulls a few disgruntled faces before pushing the black to the bottom cushion and retreating with a break of 29 under his belt.

WILLIAMS 5-8 SI

The boys are back at the baulk and after an early impasse nudging into the pack, they agree for a re-rack.

As you were!

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 3-1 WILLIAMS

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 3-0 WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS 5-8 SI

A double kiss on a safety plasters a look of frustration on Si’s face and Williams is able to jab in a red close to the left corner as he commences with his bid to pull off a steal.

He’s had chances this afternoon, but keeps failing to take them and it happens again here as he catches the jaw with a red to middle left. He punches his cue before offering it to a member in the audience.

It doesn’t get better from there as his next nibble sees him leave a red over the yellow pocket. Si doesn’t miss and clears up to the blue to become the heavy favourite to progress. Williams has plenty to ponder heading into the mid-session interval.

WILLIAMS 5-7 SI (9-67)

Mark did plenty of heavy lifting for Si by blasting into the pack and the 21-year-old takes advantage by rattling through a series of routine pots in the shape of red-black combos to surge ahead once more.

A delightful cannon off the black nudges the remainder of the pack into perfect position and Mark shuffles uncomfortably in his seat.

Si can see the finish line on his horizon but it’s déjà vu as he fluffs frame ball once again with a red that slams against the bottom jaw and flies free.

WILLIAMS 5-7 SI (9-0)

That’s lovely pace and control from Mark as he slides a red at the south-east of the pack up to middle right.

It’s in stark contrast to his attempt on the black that clips the jaws of the left corner and stays out.

Si makes a mess of a double on one of the very few stray reds and Williams seizes upon a half chance, cutting the finest of reds to the middle right.

He uses the rest to poke in the hovering black and screw back into the pack. He gets a decent spread but then chucks in another one of those surprising misses that have cost him dearly so far today.

WILLIAMS 5-7 SI

Si gets his reward with a controlled red to the middle to open and then generates delicious power with a screw back on a black to the left corner to ricochet and shake a few reds free of the pack.

He’s motoring along nicely but can’t find the opening to get a more substantial split of the pack and has to retreat to baulk on 28.

Mark steps in but an aggressive, attacking play goes VERY wrong and leaves an open table for Si to return.

The Chinese young gun slams in a red close to the corner left bag and gets the power on the cue ball to bounce of baulk and land nicely above the blue. It allows him to continue down to prey upon what is now an open field of red-black opportunities.

There’s no danger of another lapse this time as he moves beyond frame ball with five reds remaining.

Williams watches on in the knowledge he won’t return this time around and needing a response to this impressive three-frame blast from Si, who ends on a run of 61, at the start of this defining session.

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 2-0 WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS 5-6 SI

This frame has had more twists than an Agatha Christie mystery! Williams seems in charge but blows a pink and this time Si is able to get the breathing space he wants by popping down the final red. He can’t clear up, missing on the brown, but Mark won’t be coming back and it’s the Chinese hopeful who snares the lead in this topsy-turvy affair.

WILLIAMS 5-5 SI (7-67)

Argh. More frustration with some slack positional play sees Mark come up way shy on seven.

Si gets back in to lay a trap and Williams falls into it as he completely miscalculates his attempt to clip the red furthest east. He gets it right second time around but Si is in the box seat… but wait… where’s that cue ball going? Ouch. That’s rotten luck for Si as the white unexpectedly drops into the green pocket.

He glances hopefully at the board, but knows Williams still has a chance to steal.

WILLIAMS 5-5 SI (0-63)

Si clouts a superb long red to the left corner after Mark’s half shot for nothing/half safety on a similar red failed to come off.

The Chinese World No.23 quickly builds a lead as he preys upon some quick-fire red-black combos before splitting the pack via a thumping pot on a black to the left bag.

After five reds and five blacks, he shows maturity in realising it’s more about staying in charge than chasing the dream 147 and slams a yellow up to its home pocket to find the prime position back down with the black and plenty of free reds.

He does it again when he loses position above a red to the left pocket and is happy enough to take the pink. However, on frame ball he blows a red to the left corner and a run of 63 leaves the jaw slightly ajar for Williams…

TABLE 2 UPDATE

ALLEN 1-0 R.WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS 5-5 SI

Si pops in that final red but leaves himself with a tougher brown that it could have been. He trusts his potting ability and rifles it diagonally to the green pocket and from there he takes the remaining colours up to the black to level the match!

WILLIAMS 5-4 SI (34-52)

The three-time champion nicks a red down to middle right to once again suggest he can pull off the steal and he follows a belting blue to the left corner with a far from simple red down to the opposite pocket.

Again, he’s fighting himself with position at times but keeps pulling off some fine pots to get down to the final red, which is just shy of the upper right rail.

He clips a pink to the middle right and ends nicely just above that pocket to take on the final red up to the green pocket.

He paces it well but it refuses the pocket’s invitation as it jiggles with the jaws and Si has a lifeline.

WILLIAMS 5-4 SI (9-52)

Williams looks to take advantage of the nice spread but immediately makes a misjudgement on position. He’s forced to take on a long green with plenty of pressure on it to its home pocket but delivers a beauty.

This time it’s luck being out rather than any lapse and he can’t really find a pathway to a frame-winning run. He opts to be cautious and plays safe with the frame still in Si’s hands at present.

WILLIAMS 5-4 SI (5-52)

Mark spies a glimmer of an opening from Si’s attempted safety but misses a tight red to middle right. It leaves a tough red up the rail to the green pocket that Si absolutely nails to deserved applause.

He looks in control with a red at the foot of the remainder of the pack to the right corner. It spreads those reds, but he then blows a makeable black to the same pocket.

WILLIAMS 5-4 SI (5-43)

The Chinese starlet seizes the opportunity, cutting a routine red to the left corner and sinking the brown to the yellow pocket to return to the foot of the table. He’s faced by a red similar to the one Williams missed, but there’s no such drama for the 21-year-old as he lands it flush in the bag.

An excellent show of power and judgement helps him return to the reds south of black after ending up topside of blue, but eventually he comes unstuck when he can’t split the pack and has to retreat with a safety.

WILLIAMS 5-4 SI (5-0)

The Welsh Potting Machine is the first to find the bag with a quite sublime long-range plant to the right corner from baulk.

It’s a classy way to bring an end to a high-level safety exchange and he follows it with a cut on the brown up to the green pocket.

He bends down and squints away at a red furthest south of the black with plenty of traffic in and around it. He doesn’t look too convinced and ends up wobbling the jaws of the right corner bag. It’s break over prematurely and an opening for Si.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Intros done, time for some snooks with Mark Williams breaking off in Frame 10.

GOOD AFTERNOON

Welcome back to our live updates from Day 4 at the 2024 Snooker World Championship.

Mark ‘The Pistol’ Allen begins his quest for a maiden Crucible title against Robbie Williams shortly while three-time champion Mark Williams reconvenes his battle with 21-year-old Si Jiahui, who made such a big impact in reaching the semis last year.

That’s finely poised with the Welsh Potting Machine 5-4 ahead.

The boys are at the baulk from 14.30 BST.

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THANKS FOR JOINING US

We’ll be back to guide you through those two enticing contests from 14:20 BST but until then, it’s goodbye!

WILSON 8-1 DALE

Wilson heaps one final slice of misery on his opponent, taking the final frame to extend his lead to 8-1.

Dale will be hoping he can restore some respectability to the scoreline when the pair return tomorrow, but his ambitions of reaching the second round are all but over.

DING 4-5 LISOWSKI

What a break and session. Lisowski makes a 67 without the black to move ahead for the first time.

Having trailed 2-0, the Englishman recovered superbly and will take a lead into the final session tomorrow.

DING 4-4 LISOWSKI (1-47)

Ding gets on the board first but misses the black, allowing Lisowski a half chance. The balls are not sitting nicely, with both pink and black tied up, but he is picking the reds off well and developing the situation.

WILSON 7-1 DALE

On the other side of the wall, Wilson is now 7-1 ahead thanks to a break of 77 in the eighth frame.

Not the Crucible return Dale would have been dreaming of so far...

DING 4-4 LISOWSKI

It is 4-4 after Ding goes in-off trying to get out of a snooker. Having never been ahead, it feels set up for Lisowski to finish on a high.

We'll find out imminently.

DING 4-3 LISOWSKI (26-69)

A brilliant knock of 69 puts Lisowski in control as he looks to level once again. It wasn’t inch perfect but some timely recovery pots got him out of trouble when required.

Ding is playing on but barring snookers, it’ll be 4-4 heading into the final frame of the session.

DING 4-3 LISOWSKI (26-10)

Straight from the break, Ding is ominously back among the balls. He races to 26 before missing a red as he attempts to develop the pack.

Lisowski pots a good long red to begin his response and then splits the pack superbly off the blue.

WATCH: LISOWSKI NAILS RARE FOUR-BALL PLANT

'Surely this is not on, is it?!' - It is! Lisowski finds pocket with four-ball plant against Ding

WILSON 6-1 DALE

It’s more bad news for Dominic Dale. The Spaceman had the seventh frame in his grasp until a bad miss with the rest allowed Wilson in to pinch it on the final black. Ouch!

DING 4-3 LISOWSKI

Ding takes the frame to lead again but falls just short of making another century, missing a red on 90.

Two crucial frames left here at the end of what has been a compelling session.

DING 3-3 LISOWSKI (47-0)

Ding takes command of the seventh frame and shows all his touch with some pinpoint positional shots.

His reward is that the balls eventually open up for him, meaning he now has the frame at his mercy.

WATCH DING'S BIZARRE BOUNCE-OUT

You don't see this very often...

'That should not fall out!' - Ding Junhui left stunned as black bounces back out from pocket

DING 3-3 LISOWSKI

Ding gets out of a brilliant snooker laid by Lisowski but Jackpot nails a double to put himself 22 ahead in the frame with just 18 points remaining.

Ding carries on but eventually concedes when he inadvertently pots the white.

DING 3-2 LISOWSKI (39-57)

Ding jaws a thin cut to the middle and leaves Lisowski an opening. The Englishman does well to get to the final brown with the balls sitting awkwardly but misses to keep the frame alive.

WILSON 5-1 DALE

This match could be as good as over after just one session. Wilson continues his dominance with a fine break of 96 and looks to be cueing magnificently.

A huge three frames coming up for Dale and you’d think he needs to win at least two of them.

DING 3-2 LISOWSKI (39-41)

Ding misses a red down the side cushion when he looked set to take command of the frame. It wasn’t easy but he would have expected to get it.

With a reprieve, Lisowski gets the opening red but cannons the black full ball, leaving him with no option other than to play safe.

We could have our first scrappy frame.

DING 3-2 LISOWSKI (2-40)

A misjudged safety gives Lisowski a brilliant chance to make a sizeable contribution and he quickly sets about clearing the path for the black to both bottom corners.

He’s still struggling a little with his cue ball control, though, and he breaks down on 28 after missing a red along the bottom rail.

WILSON 4-1 DALE

On the other table, Wilson responds to Dale’s century before the break with one of his own, a 123 re-establishing his three-frame lead at 4-1.

DING 3-2 LISOWSKI (0-12)

Lisowski has the first chance after Ding leaves a red over the pocket. Jackpot opts to play a plant to aid his hopes of getting position on a colour but it doesn’t go exactly to plan and he’s left with a tough blue to middle.

He gets it to wriggle in before taking on and getting a four-ball plant to drop. He’s back up for the blue but misses the next red. That was hard work for just 12 points.

DING'S EARLY FLUKE

This was a crucial moment in the second frame...

DING 3-2 LISOWSKI

After laying a good snooker, Ding forges an opportunity to move ahead once again. He takes the balls well after being frozen out for the best part of the previous two frames.

After potting a couple of stunning reds, the only disappointment will be that he couldn’t make the century, missing the yellow on 98.

DING 2-2 LISOWSKI (0-2)

Lisowski finds himself in a spot of bother. After nailing a long red, he ends up stuck in the pack and snookered on the colours.

The best he can do is leave a chance to the middle bag, but Ding can’t get it to drop.

Lisowski slams in the resultant red but it’s another break of one.

DING 2-2 LISOWSKI (0-0)

Ding and Lisowski have returned from the break for the final five frames of their opening session. If they are anything like the first four, they’ll be over before you know it.

WILSON 3-1 DALE

Ten years after his last Crucible appearance, Dale opens his account in 2024 with a century. The balls ran awkwardly on a couple of occasions, but he recovered superbly each time to compile a superb 120.

That will settle him down going to the interval.

WILSON 3-0 DALE

Wilson has dealt Dale another blow to move 3-0 clear. Dale was in first but broke down on 30, with Wilson punishing his opponent by clearing the table.

DING 2-2 LISOWSKI

We’re level going to the interval in what has been a superb encounter. It has definitely lived up to the billing so far.

After navigating a tricky table, a break of 91 sees Lisowski recover from 2-0 down to make it 2-2.

That’s just over 40 minutes for four frames. Lightning stuff.

DING 2-1 LISOWSKI (4-38)

Lisowski pots a lovely opening red with a trace of side but doesn’t land on a colour. He returns to the table and is going about his business nicely again.

This has been a great response to the early Ding onslaught.

IN ANOTHER LIFE...

Imagine if Ronnie O'Sullivan, who plays Jackson Page tomorrow, had never found snooker...

WILSON 2-0 DALE

Another update from the other table and it isn’t good news for Dale. ‘The Spaceman’ has lost the second frame to fall 2-0 behind to Wilson.

DING 2-1 LISOWSKI

He really is an exquisite potter of the ball. Another sublime blue from Lisowski keeps him at the table and gets him back into prime position.

With frame ball safely dispatched, he has a chance to get more acclimatised with the conditions and completes a nice break of 71 to halve his deficit.

DING 2-0 LISOWSKI (0-47)

Lisowski pots a superb long blue to keep the break going but can’t repeat the feat on the next red.

He doesn’t seem to have the pace of the table yet but is presented with another gift of a chance when Ding leaves a red over the bag.

No excuses from here...

DING 2-0 LISOWSKI (0-21)

Finally, some sign of life from Lisowski. ‘Jackpot’ rips a trademark long red into the heart of the pocket, which draws a cheer from the Crucible crowd.

He lays a snooker after failing to land on a colour and then cuts in a nice red left for him after Ding’s recovery shot.

His positional play isn’t yet where it needs to be but he’s taking these nicely so far.

DING 2-0 LISOWSKI

Ding doubles his advantage in quick fashion with a break of 60. He’s looking incredibly sharp.

But for that bounce-out on the black, it would have almost certainly been back-to-back centuries for the 37-year-old.

Not quite panic stations for Lisowski, but it won’t be far away.

DING 1-0 LISOWSKI (51-1)

It’s Lisowski’s turn to get a slice of luck. Ding pots a black but the pace at which he hits it at causes it to bounce out the pocket.

The Englishman pots the first red but misses a simple green. He’s yet to get going and Ding is back at the table.

DING 1-0 LISOWSKI (23-0)

Lisowski misses a tricky red from distance down the rail, allowing Ding the first proper chance in frame two.

The balls are a little awkward so this will take some finessing.

As I say that, Ding looks to have missed a red into the bottom-left corner, only for it to end up in the left-middle pocket. That will be a sickener for Lisowski in the chair.

WILSON 1-0 DALE

On the other table, Kyren Wilson has taken the first frame against Dominic Dale. ‘The Warrior’ made a break of 52 which was eventually good enough to get him over the line.

DING 1-0 LISOWSKI

Ding pots a sublime red on 87 to keep the break going and goes on to make his 74th Crucible century, clearing the table for an ominous 127.

That was slick.

DING 0-0 LISOWSKI (76-0)

What a start this is for Ding. He is taking these balls really nicely and his cue ball control looks on point. The frame is over and the century is on.

If Lisowski is able to get going, this could be an absolute cracker.

DING 0-0 LISOWSKI (37-0)

Ding opens the scoring with a fluke before tying Lisowski up in a snooker. The Englishman can’t escape and leaves his opponent a sitter.

It’s a perfect start for the Chinese player and he races into a 37-point lead with the balls spread nicely.

CAN DING END CRUCIBLE DROUGHT?

For one of the biggest talents in the game, Ding’s record in Sheffield, certainly in recent years, makes for grim reading.

The 2015/16 finalist hasn’t been past the first round since 2020, so he’s long overdue a big performance in the sport’s home. Will it arrive today? We'll find out soon.

The players are ready, here we go!

WELCOME TO DAY FOUR FROM THE CRUCIBLE

Hello and welcome to coverage from day four of this year’s World Snooker Championship and what an action-packed morning session we have in store from the Crucible.

Kyren Wilson gets going against Dominic Dale, which should be an intriguing contest, but we’ll be focusing on what is one of the most highly anticipated first-round match-ups as Ding Junhui takes on Jack Lisowski.

'YOU MAY SEE ME NEXT YEAR, YOU MAY NOT' - SELBY

Mark Selby has again cast doubt on his snooker future after losing in the World Championship first round, saying "you may see me next year, you may not".

Asked by Eurosport reporter Rachel Casey if he had reached a decision about his future, Selby said: "Not yet. I definitely will sit down with Vikki over the summer and decide what I want to do going forward.

"Most of this season I've not really enjoyed it at all and that's not me. I'm enjoying the practice side but then when I come to the competitive side, I'm just stopping myself from playing and not taking the shackles off.

"Every time I get beat, I feel as though I've got to beat myself and the opponent – and the game is hard enough just trying to beat the opponent.

"If I decide to carry on, then I'll probably need to seek help somewhere to try and overcome that hurdle. And if I don't, then obviously I'll choose to do something else."

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