Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker as it happened: Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Luca Brecel and Mark Allen win

Updated 06/03/2024 at 00:18 GMT

Welcome back to our live text coverage of the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker 2024 from Saudi Arabia. Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Luca Brecel were all in action and won their quarter-finals. Mark Allen edged Mark Selby in a titanic tussle, then Brecel beat Ali Carter, before Trump edged past Shaun Murphy and Ronnie O'Sullivan whitewashed another legend of the sport in John Higgins.

Higgins misses out on 167 in dramatic fashion!

That's the end of a very long day...

Tomorrow will not be so long, but we have two cracking semi-finals with Luca Brecel taking on Mark Allen and Ronnie O'Sullivan playing Judd Trump.

World Championship

O'Sullivan wraps up win over Day to reach quarter-finals

00:02:25

5 hours ago

O'Sullivan: Two years of filth and I'm feeling alright again

"I felt really comfortable over the shot," O'Sullivan said on Eurosport.

"The first time in a while. I've felt okay the last few weeks in practise. Two years of absolute filth and I'm starting to feel alright again. Been a long time.

"That's the worst part about my job having to play. Getting away, going to the gym, eating good food, chilling out, watching Netflix. When you're playing okay it's alright, when you're playing absolute filth you're like, 'oh no' - it's embarrassing sometimes.

"I don't drink, I don't go out partying so this is a great place for me, this kind of place - in the UK its all pubs and drinking."

All the games ran late on Tuesday due to the lengthy opener between Marks Selby and Allen, which O'Sullivan quipped about.

"I call him Midnight Selby now because all his games go past midnight," O'Sullivan added.

"He's a nightmare. You don't want to be following Mark because you go into the next day.

"It's the top players playing against each other, so you're always going to get good games, unless its Mark and Mark today.

"It was a bit of a drag wasn't it. Even Mark Allen said after: 'That was tough'"

Higgins: "It was incredible"

"I didn't really get much of a chance, a couple of half chances," Higgins said.

"His cue ball control was amazing. It's just the way snooker is sometimes."

O'Sullivan beats Higgins 4-0

He could only manage 82 in the end, after his three prior hundreds. He just failed to nudge a red off the cushion, leaving himself out of position. Higgins loses the match without potting a red - just the white twice. Incredible.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Higgins (76-0)

The match is won. Can he get his fourth straight hundred?

O'Sullivan 3-0 Higgins (2-0)

A remarkable plant with the red having to travel three-quarters of the table to pot a ball over the green pocket could be the beginning of the end.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Higgins (1-0)

Higgins leaves O'Sullivan a difficult pot to the left middle, but not for him in this mood. He has no position though so has to play safe.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Higgins

A third straight hundred from O'Sullivan. This one is 102. A performance for the ages here.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins (77-4)

The frame is now secured. The match could be over soon. An incredible display here.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins (41-4)

Higgins has put the cue ball in the yellow pocket once more. And O'Sullivan just needs four reds and colours to go three-up.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins (36-4)

Just a break of 32 as O'Sullivan misses a red with the rest, but doesn't leave anything on.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins (5-4)

Higgins has a touching ball and is close to a perfect safety but the white flicks the yellow and goes into the pocket. Now O'Sullivan is away once more.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins (0-4)

Higgins' first points of the match comes from a decent safety, where O'Sullivan opted to go off the cushion and into the pack - and in the first instance he played it too short.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins (0-0)

O'Sullivan misses his first ball, but he played it so to leave the white on the baulk and Higgins has a difficult shot now.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins (0-0)

264 points without reply so far.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Higgins

A second total clearance. This one of 129.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Higgins (*101-0)

There's the hundred...

O'Sullivan 1-0 Higgins (67-0)

A plant secures the frame for O'Sullivan. Can he emulate Murphy with a second straight hundred?

O'Sullivan 1-0 Higgins (1-0)

Sullivan leaves a red over the bottom right pocket, but is fortunate to have covered it with another red. Higgins tries to pot it off the cushion but it wobbles in the jaw and stays out. Now the Rocket may fly again.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Higgins

A total clearance of 135. Cueing clean as a whistle. You fear for Higgins here.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins (*100-0)

A double kept the break going at 75 and now O'Sullivan has a ton...

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins (69-0)

O'Sullivan has sealed the opener. Can he make it a century?

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins (1-0)

Finally O'Sullivan has a chance and he is on the black. Not the easiest table to navigate, but enough reds free to build a score.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins (0-0)

A cagey opening. Both showing their superb safety game.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Higgins

The Rocket gets the match underway.

The players are in the arena for the final game...

A LOT later than planned, but we have the main event about to start now.

Murphy: I'll take quite a lot of positives from that match

"If I play like that for the rest of my season, I think good things will come," Murphy said.

Trump: I was wondering when next flight was!

"It was one of the best performances anyone's ever played against me," Trump said on Eurosport.

"I was a bit nervous. I was a bit scrappy. What time's the next flight?

"He was playing unbelievable. Even when I got back to 2-2 he [was] played great.

"I think everything's up for this tournament. I was thrilled to play in front of such a good crowd."

Trump beats Murphy 4-3 to reach semi-final

Trump plays a few exhibition shots after Murphy leaves the last red on.

Trump 3-3 Murphy (77-34)

Murphy has one snooker but the black, which he needs off the last red is on the cushion.

Trump 3-3 Murphy (77-22)

Trump pots a magnificent red down the cushion and now Murphy needs three snookers to tie.

Trump 3-3 Murphy (56-22)

Trump pots a magnificent red into the middle pocket. He is on another red but it will be difficult to pot the two further he needs to get over the line.

Trump 3-3 Murphy (49-22)

He has narrowed the gap Murphy, but now it is end of break. He plays a good safety to baulk.

Trump 3-3 Murphy (49-9)

A poor safety leaves Murphy with an opportunity and he pots a good red, but with the black he pushes a third red to a difficult position.

Trump 3-3 Murphy (49-0)

Trump misses a fairly straightforward shot with the rest, but he is fortunate not to leave anything on.

Trump 3-3 Murphy (1-0)

Faced with an incredible table with 11 of the reds on the left hand side of the table. Murphy had no easy option and he has let Trump in first.

Trump 3-3 Murphy

It feels fitting that this match goes to a final frame. A break of 69 ensures it does.

'Absolutely lived up to the billing!' - Trump forces decider with expert clearance

Trump 2-3 Murphy (26-58)

After a foul, Murphy left Trump on and surely now he clears.

Trump 2-3 Murphy (7-58)

An audacious plant kept the break going but he had no luck with position so left the ball tight behind the brown.

Trump 2-3 Murphy (1-58)

It was a narrow gap but no one expected Murphy to clip another red en route to the pocket. Now Trump is at the table and could clear to level.

Trump 2-3 Murphy (0-44)

He has negotiated the tricky situation, both pink and black are now in play. Yet another fine break from Murphy today.

Trump 2-3 Murphy (0-3)

Again a cagey start, but Trump has gifted Murphy the firs red. The black is not in an easy position and the pink will only go into middle at this stage, but you don't want to give Murphy a chance in this form.

Here is Murphy's first century in this match

‘A reminder of the class!’ – Murphy opens up against Trump with stylish century

Trump 2-3 Murphy

Unlike Mark Williams last night, he shunned a risky pot to stay on the black to go for the mega maximum on offer and he goes onto make 82 to go a frame away from victory.

Trump 2-2 Murphy (0-16)

Murphy inadvertently left a red over the pocket which Trump was snookered from and Trump's swerve hitting the ball allowed Murphy in and now he is break building.

Trump 2-2 Murphy (0-0)

The fifth frame begins with a long safety battle. Neither wants to let the other in.

Trump 2-2 Murphy

The break ends on 75, but Trump has levelled the score here. A fascinating ending is to come.

Trump 1-2 Murphy (68-0)

Trump has secured the frame now. And he can make a century here.

Trump 1-2 Murphy (16-0)

Trump leaves a black in the jaws, Murphy misses two reds, before trump pots another to begin another break.

Trump 1-2 Murphy (6-0)

Murphy leaves a red into the right centre and Trump is away once more.

Trump 1-2 Murphy

Trump clears up to win the frame.

Trump 0-2 Murphy (42-39)

Murphy leaves an easy red for Trump into the right middle and surely the frame is done now.

Trump 0-2 Murphy (41-39)

Murphy just fails to get the last red off the cushion and has to play safe.

Trump 0-2 Murphy (41-2)

Trump loses position and a safety battle goes on, which Murphy ends with another fine long cut.

Trump 0-2 Murphy (9-1)

Finally Trump is amongst the balls and he breaks the pack up in typical style to give himself a chance of a match-winning score.

Trump 0-2 Murphy (0-1)

Another frame and Murphy is the first to pot a red once more, a brilliant red, but this time he has no position so just plays safe. Trump has yet to pot a ball, except the white.

Trump 0-2 Murphy

Once more he goes for a round the table black at the end. A break of 121, backing up his 126. Amazing start!

Trump 0-1 Murphy (0-105*)

Two frames. Two centuries. What a start from Murphy.

Trump 0-1 Murphy (0-5)

Murphy again has first chance after an in-off from Trump. You can't afford these errors in a short game.

Trump 0-1 Murphy

He misses the black but a break of 126 is not to be sniffed at.

Trump 0-0 Murphy (0-70*)

The crucial red wiped its feet but Murphy has won the first frame. Can he make it a ton?

Trump 0-0 Murphy (0-1)

Trump makes the first safety error, but he doesn't leave the easiest opportunity with Murphy needing the extended rest, but he sinks the opening red.

Murphy and Trump are in the arena.

Looking forward to this clash...

Carter explains frustration with scoreboard and delayed start

"I'm clearing up, I want to get on with it and the scorer's got the score wrong," Carter said on Eurosport. "I've stunned up the table, thinking I can play anything I want. I look at the scoreboard and now all of a sudden I'm thinking have I miscalculated and it's just completely put me out my rhythm.

"I thought I've got to pot the brown to be able to draw. I dont know how it worked out but I'm looking at the blue and then all of a sudden the ref said I'm on 41 and I'm 22 behind or something, I dont know.

"It just completely threw me. I wasnt on the yellow right, I wasn't on the green right. The brown...It was just so frustrating. Poor, very poor."

Carter also expressed his frustration with the lengthy match between Mark Selby and Mark Allen meaning his match began over two hours behind schedule.

"I got here and I'm four hours waiting to play," Carter added.

"Coming a long way and you have to deal with that. Its a great event and its very raw at the minute. It's such a big opportunity for someone to win such a great event. For everthing to go wrong today, right from the off is very frustrating."

Brecel: 'I was nervous'

"It's always difficult to settle in a new location," Brecel said on Eurosport. "I'm just happy to be in the last round."

Brecel beats Carter 4-1 to reach the semi-final

He played well until the last frame, but will just be happy to get through to the last four. Carter will be relieved the torture is over. Brecel plays Mark Allen in the last four.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (58-24)

The black leaves Carter leaving a snooker and potting the yellow and green means the match is effectively over.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (45-24)

Brecel won't put Carter out of his misery. He falls out of possiiton and plays a snooker on the last red.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (36-24)

Carter smiles as he leaves an easy red on for Brecel. If he doesn't do that he will cry, judging from his mood.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (36-24)

Brecel misses a red into the right middle. This is as poor a standard as you could get from these guys.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (24-24)

Carter with a fine long pot of a red into the yellow pocket, leaving himself on the black, but then he leaves the next red in the jaws. This could be curtains. Now Brecel is perfectly placed to win the match.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (23-16)

A messy frame. Carter made 16, then missed a red. Brecel made another 21 and also failed to put down one he would usually have no problem with.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (2-0)

Error after error. Brecel fires a shot spreading the reds, but is fortunate to only leave on a shot into the green pocket and Carter misses it. Brecel then pots another red, but leaves the black in the jaws.

Brecel 3-1 Carter (1-0)

Fantastic long pot with a cannon from Brecel, leaving himself perfectly on the golden ball, but he can't use it of course and plays a snooker instead.

Brecel 3-1 Carter

Brecel pots brown, the crucial blue (though it wiped its feet) and pink to go a frame away from victory.

Brecel 2-1 Carter (63-49)

Carter seemed riled by the slow-moving scoreboard in the arena and kept on looking up at it, which appeared to make him lose concentration as he missed a straightforward brown.

Brecel 2-1 Carter (63-0)

Brecel misses a straight red, but breaks the pack of reds, leaving a good chance for Carter with 75 still on the target.

Brecel 2-1 Carter (1-0)

Brecel start the frame with another long pot from baulk. It just looks so easy for him.

Brecel 2-1 Carter

Just the 89 in the end but more than enough to take the frame.

Brecel 1-1 Carter (*66-3)

A long red clinches the frame for Brecel. Can he make it a century break?

Brecel 1-1 Carter (4-3)

Carter the first at the table but he tries to play safe, leacving a long red for Brecel who now looks set to build a break of note.

Brecel 1-1 Carter

Impressive break of 71 from Carter is enough for him to level the ledger.

Brecel 1-0 Carter (14-4)

Brecel with his hand on the table first but he goes in-off into the right middle pocket after potting a red.

Brecel 1-0 Carter

Brecel pots the yellow, then green and brown at the same visit and Carter concedes.

Brecel 0-0 Carter (50-34)

Brecel pots the last red and a blue, but misses the yellow.

Brecel 0-0 Carter (44-34)

After that loooooong opening match, this frame is taking similar shape. Brecel has fluked a snooker after missing a red which may lead to a breakthrough.

Brecel 0-0 Carter (*39-27)

And we pick this one up with Luca at the table. He's just potted a red to start a new break, and extend his lead in this frame over Carter.

Brecel 0-0 Carter

Okay; after all that drama, it's time for the currently world champion! Luca Brecel takes on two-time Crucible finalist Ali Carter.

Mark Allen beats Mark Selby 4-3!

THIS GAME!

‘This might top it all!’ - Allen seals deciding frame winner over Selby in ‘mind-blowing’ fashion

Allen 3-3 Selby (59-57)

He hits it nicely, here it comes ... and it's there! But is the white going to follow it down? ... .... .... almost! I can barely believe what I'm seeing here, we're down to the last black and will Allen play safe or, from inside the jaws of right corner, try the double to right middle?

Allen 3-3 Selby (53-57)

The black remains over right corner, the pink being sent pendulously from side to side just above it. Allen leaves it almost stuck to the near rail, and ... can Selbz send it in off the black?! He ponders. He's got to take it on, surely? And expletive! He misses ... but gets the snooker, black between white and pink but very little distance between them. Can Allen double it off the baulk rail? I think he can you know! He's going to try!

Allen 3-3 Selby (53-57)

This is one of the most absurd frames (of snooker) I've ever seen - and believe me, I've seen a few. And shut up! A ludicrous fluke sees Allen bag the green ... but he knocks the pink on to the side rail and the black over right corner, so really who knows? Not me. He leaves a double on the former, misses ... and sends the pink on to the black, both balls now near the pocket. I don't know anymore, really I don't. Snooker is a wild animal.

‘It’s all happening!’ – Allen lands crazy fluke in deciding frame against Selby

Allen 3-3 Selby (41-57)

Selbz has struggled when it's got tight and with the black blocking his route to the green he misses. This is so intense, and as I type Allen this time stations green behind black - that's a fine shot, and though the Jester hits, he sends it into mid-table. Another chance for the Pistol, the fluctuations here outrageous. And he overcuts! Then Selbz misses his pot! Fluking a snooker! Allen, though, swerves out of it well and there are still three matches to come today! We don't get this that often: two of the very best competing over a best-of-seven.

Allen 3-3 Selby (37-57)

He cannot! The yellow can only be rolled down and Jan Verhaas is so engrossed in what he's seeing that he replaces it; Allen advises him to the contrary and a chuckle is enjoyed by one and all.

Allen 3-3 Selby (31-57)

Goodness gracious me! Left match ball yet again, Selbz misses a long red - the kind we've enjoyed him sinking for well over a decade - by absolute timezones! Chance for Allen, who snaps in a starter, and if he can get from yellow to green to brown, the green being on the baulk rail, he should win.

Allen 3-3 Selby (12-57)

Now then! Allen catches the jaws of middle playing safe ... and the white sneaks in behind the yellow! That is an outrage! Selbz will be feeling queasy now - sorry, queasier still - and OH MY DAYS! Selbz goes thorugh a tiny gap around the back of the red missing everything, he leaves a free ball, and goodness me this game! This beautiful, insane game. Allen rolls a brown in ... but then misses the green into left-middle! Can Selbz finally deal with this? He cannot, missing his opener, the green goes safe, and on we roll! This is quite something, people. Doesn't anyone want to win?

Allen 3-3 Selby (12-57)

And he can't send it down! This match will not die!

Allen 3-3 Selby (12-57)

A black leaves Allen needing a snooker, and if he can bin this next red with the rest, that'll surely be enough. Here he goes....

Allen 3-3 Selby (12-51)

Of the five reds now remaining, four are stuck together in groups of two. So Mark cannons one pair while potting the loose one, and the match is at his mercy. Finally, can he see it out?

Allen 3-3 Selby (12-27)

No way! A loosish positional shot makes a black to left-middle harder than it needs to be, but it's stoll not difficult ... yet allen misses it! Pressure! Selbz won't have expected the chance he now has, and perhaps that'll liberate him from fretting over the past misses that've dogged him.

Selby lands ‘important blow’ on Allen with comeback to take opening frame

Allen 3-3 Selby (5-12)

Snookered, Selbz escapes pretty well ... but still leaves a cut to right corner and Allen isn't passing that one up. The reds, though not clustered, aren't well-spread, so working out the best route through them and sending balls through gaps and into pockets won't be easy. But Allen is seriously tough, so should at least put a dent in the frame.

Allen 3-3 Selby (2-12)

Nope, a red and no more ... then again, next time he pots. a frame Selbzo might've taken handsomely now looks set for more length. And the nerves are out there, a poor safety shot landing safe, so Allen has to respond in kind.

Allen 3-3 Selby (0-12)

Selbz is playing poorly now, but look at that! Left a diagonal starter, dead straight, he strokes it down - between them, these two have moxie for months. But I said at the start that the Jester's issue at the moment is consistency, and he's now under the pressure of knowing he's already twitched when up match-point, twice. And there it is, a red to left corner missed thin. Chance for Allen!

Allen 3-3 Selby

Down it goes, and Allen is making Selbz pay. He's had so many chances to end this, and now you'd not back him. Vive le decider.

Allen 2-3 Selby (56-52)

Selbz refuses a potential pot - perhaps it's not on - then he leaves a tempter for Allen...

Allen 2-3 Selby (56-52)

Left a long blue, Allen is up quickly - he knows he's overcut it and the tension here is decent. Such is the power of moonay.

Allen 2-3 Selby (56-52)

Selbz lays a snooker that erarns him eight but left with little but a shy at cutting a blue to the yellow bag, he doesn't get all that close ... but Allen can't capitalise.

Allen 2-3 Selby (56-42)

Selbz will still be thinking about the two missed blacks which, had he potted them, would've brought him victory, and a poor shot leaves allen the brown ... he drains it. But Can he sort a long blue? Oh my days he gets close, the pace at which he played it to get on to the pink stymying him. Off we go again.

Allen 2-3 Selby (52-42)

He cannons the brown, but it's not as good a shot and he must now contemplate a cut-back feart that if he misses, it's goodnight. Is he going to take it on? He is not

Allen 2-3 Selby (41-42)

The easy balls go and there's still a red near the side bag and another stuck on top of the pink ... is Allen going to to cannon the latter off the black? I think he is you know, and what a shot that is! The brown is in the middle of the top rail, though, and from there he'll need position on the blue. But he's looking good!

Allen 2-3 Selby (6-42)

Oh Selbzo! After a few loose shots he undercuts a black to right corner made harder by what preceded it, and that's a second chance to see this away spurned. Allen should at least get himself back into the frame here.

Allen 2-3 Selby (0-29)

I say not at all beyond the reals, but what I really mean is he really really should sort things from here. As Philip Studd notes, he's lost four final-frame deciders this season, includig one to Allen ar the Masters, so he won't want another.

Allen 2-3 Selby (0-8)

Safety to start and again Selbz wins the battle, getting away tomiddle with reds scattered. There's a lot of work to do, but finishing the match here and now is not at all beyond the realms.

Allen 2-3 Selby

It's a show of moxie from Allen now, as he empties the table for the frame. The break almost took on the pear design - he was millimetres from falling out of position on the final pink - but he guided it home and the match goes on.

Allen 1-3 Selby (54-38)

All remaining reds are gone and we're on to the colours, which are all on spots bar the pink. If Allen tidies them all up, he nicks it...

Allen 1-3 Selby (54-21)

Lorks a lordy, what a miss from Selbz! He's undercut the black to the bottom left, and it rattles out of the jaws. The frame was at his mercy there, and Allen is still in the tournament! Can Allen counter with a steal of his own? It's on certainly after he splits the remaining cluster of reds, and there's nothing safe out there.

Allen 1-3 Selby (46-0)

It's another chance for Selbz, and he's earned it; Allen leaves the white stapled to the bottom cushion from where Selbz deeadweights in a blue to right middle, and he's on the blue. A few shots later he goes into the pack off the brown and the side cushion, and the split is just delicious. Allen is in all kinds of bother now.

Allen 1-3 Selby (35-0)

A poor break from Allen leaves a red on to the left middle, which Selbz rolls in from the D to drop nicely on the black. There are a few stray reds but the pack is tightly bunched; Selbz goes into them twice but only lands glancing blows, and another attenpt to go in and out of baulk to open them after potting the blew goes awry too, and it's end of break.

Allen 1-3 Selby

It's another stunning steal from Selbz! We saw so many facets off his game there. There was the imagination to cut in the opening red, the snooker brain to open up the table for the dish and then the moxie to hold his nerve and see it through. That was a superb 63 from the Jester, and he's one frame away from the semi-finals.

Allen 1-2 Selby (62-36)

Allen glies a red into the right middle to resume control of the frame, and follows it up with the blue. He can't land on frame ball red however, and sends the white back to baulk. Selbz is still in it, and how about this - he's slashed in a sensational cut on a red to bottom right, followed by booming in th black over the bottom left. A nervleless red along the cushion to bottom right follows, and he's soon cleared all the remaining reds and taken the brown off the final one; if he dishes up the colours here, he'll nick the frame by a point!

Allen 1-2 Selby (56-0)

Oh my stars, what a miss. Just as Allen looked ready to coast to the winning line, he overcuts a red to bottom left on the stretch and he's missed it by a long way. Amazingly, he leaves Selbz nothing; safety ensues, and with 75 left on the table this is far from done.

Allen 1-2 Selby (50-0)

Allen's break moves to 43 as he drills the black into the bottom right, and clangs the white into the pack. He's on one to the right middle, and these look set to go. The half-century is soon in the bank, and he's turned this match around in no time.

Allen 1-2 Selby (27-0)

It's another chance for Allen in frame four, as he guides a red into the bottom right and figure eights the white around the book off the black and into baulk. A nice nudge on the brown leaves it on to the yellow pocket, and he's off. One pesky red near the black is soon cleared to leave the black to both corners, and there's a fair few on now.

Allen 1-2 Selby

Allen pots one more black to take his break to 73, and Selbz declines the chance to return to the table.

Allen 0-2 Selby (68-0)

Well, check out Paul Newman here! Allen runs out of position needing only one red for the frame. None of the last five reds go, so his creative solution? Play a red in off the black of course! He cannons said red off said black and into the bottom right, and that should be curtains.

Allen 0-2 Selby (52-0)

Allen is motoring now, and with a scattering of reds just above the black the frame looks a certainty. A black to bottom right brings up his half-century, and he's perfect on his next red. A simple set of stun and screw jabs here should see him home.

Allen 0-2 Selby (14-0)

Some tense safety here at the start of frame three, with the jeopardy right up with a red hovering over the bottom left. Both players do a good job of protecting the path to it for a few shots each, until Selbz sends a red over the bottom right and Allen guides it in. No colour follows, and with no maxi now possible the golden ball departs the table. Another poor safety from Selbz then leaves Allen a mid-range red to the bottom left; he's at full stretch but guides it in, and there's a break coming together now with the black on to both corners.

Allen 0-2 Selby

This will be doing Selbz the world of good, and he's halfway to the semis.

Allen 0-1 Selby (39-75)

This is lovely work from Selbz who, off the black, liberates the final red. he quickly clears from there, and Allen is in all sorts - when he should be leading.

Allen 0-1 Selby (39-40)

A fine red sent long to the green bag takes Selbz in front, and eveything is there for him.

Allen 0-1 Selby (39-26)

Allenloses prime position and as a consequence leaves a red short of the side and, after a think, Selbz cuts home a starter to the same bag. He' picks off loose balls, opens the reds, it works well, and a second steal looks likely. The Pistol will be spewing.

Allen 0-1 Selby (15-4)

Selbz gets in only to miss a red across the table, just above black cush. Allen then knocks one in off another, slides pink to centre, and he's in.

Allen 0-1 Selby (8-4)

A gorgeous red across the table to right corner sees Allen away, but when he digs into pack off black, he's given nowt. So he tries to send one long to the yellow, missing, and we're back playing safety.

Allen 0-1 Selby

Selbz stealz!

Allen 0-0 Selby (64-40)

...which he sinks beautiully! A pink on the stretch plus the black for the frame...

Allen 0-0 Selby (64-40)

And Selbz does it well, but his angle on the blue - he's just under it and slightly to one side - means a nasty cut to the yellow bag...

Allen 0-0 Selby (64-40)

Now then! A decnet safety allows Selbz to send the white across the tabe and cut a red into left corner; yellow to green will be a problem, but this is a proper chance for a steal....

Allen 0-0 Selby (64-26)

He bins two then has to try a double on the penultimate one, misses but not leaving. One red still required.

Allen 0-0 Selby (49-26)

It's Allen in next with a fine long red, but after clearing the easy balls he's to address those left on cushions, which he'll need to secure the frame.

Allen 0-0 Selby (23-26)

A terrible shot from Allen seems him knock in brown after draining blue and wr'ee back playing safety until Selbz knocks in a red only to make a mess of his attempted snooker.

Allen 0-0 Selby (22-20)

Oooh, Selbz misses a red to left corner and Allen gets going, the balls pretty nicely spread...

Allen 0-0 Selby (8-14)

I guess with two ,en called Mark, we'll be surnames here, and Selby wins the safety exchange - words that may have been spoken before - sending a starter across the table to right corner - and a blue leads to the removal of the golden ball, almost brought into play earlier by a double-kiss.

Allen 0-0 Selby (8-0)

Left on the baulk rail, Selbz misses his chosen red twice, so is warned the frame is in jeopardy; he lands on black cush witth a shot that would've worked to begin with.

Allen 0-0 Selby

One of the swiftest re-racks I've ever seen.

And away we go

Aha, finally

Our boyz shall now baize.

Er yeah

We were told a 2pm start, but here we are, watching highlights of yesterday. More news as I get it.

Mark Selby

The Jester has looked on the cusp of his best for for quite some time, playing beautifully and miserably often in the same frame. It won't take much for him to be properly firing again.

Mark Allen

I wonder if he's found equilibrium this season. Last term was great for him in terms of return, but he went a little defensive in looking to temper his natural attacking style. Now, though, I think he might there, which is great news for his Crucible prospects.