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Latest scores – Quagmire

On table one, Zhao has stemmed the early Jak Jones salvo to take his first frame of the session and leave himself two away from reaching the second round.

Zhao put together a smart break of 70 to take that one and just halt the momentum that last year’s beaten finalist had been building.

The Chinese star is also building a nice break in this frame and could make it 9-4 imminently.

Across the room, we remain in the third frame between Higgins and O’Connor, which seems no closer to a resolution just yet.

The reds had been scattered around the table but Higgins has a chance at a clearance now in what had been a hugely scrappy frame at the start.

Higgins is 41-7 down and had a chance to clear but we are back into snookers with both players missing big chances.

Just check the picture below of how this one looked earlier, you don’t see the reds looking like that often…

• Jak Jones 4-8 Zhao Xintong
• John Higgins 1-1 Joe O’Connor

Latest scores – Jones Firing

Zhao made him work for that one – and he needed snookers at the end to secure the frame – but Jak Jones has pulled back yet another frame to go 2-0 up in the session.

Zhao is looking a bit nervy out there in what is his biggest match in years.

Jones put in another great break of 79 but Zhao scored 49 points of his own to pile some pressure on.

On table two Joe O’Connor has pulled a frame back against John Higgins.

• Jak Jones 4-7 Zhao Xintong
• John Higgins 1-0 Joe O’Connor

Latest scores – Jones and Higgins start strong

We’re underway here and Jak Jones is not looking to take any time as he attempts to close in on that big Zhao lead.

The Welshman has just cued brilliantly in that frame to get one back on the controversial Chinese star.

He racked up a brilliant century which included a couple of tricky reds.

He finished on 100 and was unlucky not to get more when the white ball dropped in once he got onto the colours.

On the other table Higgins has also started well and gets a frame-winning break of 68.

• Jak Jones 3-7 Zhao Xintong
• John Higgins 1-0 Joe O’Connor

Not long now!

The time has come for yet another thrilling day’s work at the Crucible.

We have John Higgins – fresh off his brilliant Tour Championship win – facing Joe O’Connor on table one.

On table two, Zhao Xintong has a commanding 7-2 lead over last year’s finalist Jak Jones.

Rob Walker is at the table with the action due to start any minute now.

Ronnie’s thoughts

Ronnie O’Sullivan is yet to start his campaign for an eighth snooker world title but has been seen in the TNT Sports studio.

The Rocket was mightily impressed with Chris Wakelin and lamented a tough draw for Robertson.

O’Sullivan said: “I know coming out for the final session that Wakelin will play better and he did.

“Neil didn’t play bad but it’s just the way it is at the Crucible, when it gets a bit nervy you’re going to miss a few balls.

“But I thought Chris held himself together well, giving up that big lead and he’s done very good there at the end.”

Robertson added: “He [Wakelin] should have been a seed really. He’s played well all season, got to the final and he’s had a lot of good results.

“I think it’s only a matter of time before he wins a tournament, so for someone like Neil Robertson, that would have been one of the most difficult first-round draws.

“You know Chris Wakelin is going to come in, he’s going to fancy a job against anybody and that’s probably 70 per cent of the battle of doing well with anything in any sport.

“Tough match with Neil Robertson but he’s played well, Chris.”

‘Cruel’

Neil Robertson reflected on his defeat and said: “[Saturday] was a really cruel session. I don’t think I’ve ever played so well to be 7-2 down.

“I only missed one ball and Chris played really well. He was aggressive and rode his luck and I was the opposite.

“I’ve been really consistent throughout the season and won a couple of titles to fly up the rankings.

“I came into this with a positive mindset. It isn’t the end to the season that I wanted, but I would have taken this overall.”