World Snooker Championship 2023 LIVE – Jack Lisowski struggles before Ronnie O’Sullivan resumes against Hossein Vafaei

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Has been a fascinating few hours with Mark Allen joining Luca Brecel as the second man through to the quarter-finals with a 13-4 win against Stuart Bingham before Anthony McGill surged 7-1 clear of Jack Lisowski. We will be back in just over an hour when world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan continues his Crucible joust with Hossein Vafaei while Jak Jones and Neil Robertson play to a finish with the Welshman 10-6 clear of the 2010 winner. He needs three more frames to secure a meeting with Allen in the last eight. See you for more live updates at the back of 2pm.

Here is how the quarter-final draw is shaping up:

• O’Sullivan/Vafaei v Brecel
• McGill/Lisowski v Milkins/Si
• Allen v Robertson/Jones
• Selby/Gary Wilson v Higgins/Kyren Wilson

Saturday’s schedule – World Championship second round

10:00

• Anthony McGill 7-1 Jack Lisowski
• Mark Allen 13-4 Stuart Bingham

14:30

• Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-2 Hossein Vafaei
• Jak Jones 10-6 Neil Robertson

19:00

• Robert Milkins v Si Jiahui
• Gary Wilson v Mark Selby

Lisowski 1-7 McGill

Just too good really from McGill, the 2020 semi-finalist. He enjoyed breaks of 61, 124, 63, 54, 112 and 110. A marvellous performance of Crucible snooker despite Lisowski’s struggles. Was really frozen out for much of that session.

Lisowski 1-6 McGill (1-114)

Another 110 from McGill and that is a sixth straight frame for a 7-1 lead. They resume at 2:30pm on Sunday afternoon with McGill chasing six more frames to reach the last eight and an encounter with Robert Milkins or Si Jiahui.

Lisowski 1-6 McGill (1-94)

Just the colours to follow for the certainty of another century..

Lisowski 1-6 McGill (1-68)

Is he going to finish with a third century of the session? Every chance here with three reds sitting in the open, waiting to be snaffled up.

Lisowski 1-6 McGill (1-53)

McGill completely dialled in on the job at hand. Lisowski just wants out of the nightmare on Norfolk Street in Sheffield. Not much left for McGill to finish off this session 7-1 clear in the race to 13.

Lisowski 1-6 McGill (1-20)

If this finishes 7-1, there is every chance this match won’t live to see a third session on Monday evening. The demands of the Crucible are immense, but McGill seems ripe for these long tests of concentration and cue action. Jack with another fine long red, but pushes the boat out using rest as he fails to slot a tough cut on black. Not sure that was the right shot and it could cost him.

Lisowski 1-6 McGill (0-0)

Going to be a re-rack in the eighth frame with white stuck in the pack of reds.

Lisowski 1-6 McGill (1-0)

Can Jackpot come up with the final frame of the first session? Long way back from this juncture, but 6-2 is a lot better than 7-1 as they say.

Lisowski 1-5 McGill (1-67)

In goes another pulsating long red and Jackpot has seen enough. Nods to the referee and that is a 6-1 lead for Ant. One more frame of the session. Imperative surely that Lisowski doesn’t lose it.

Lisowski 1-5 McGill (1-66)

Not hanging about as he despatches a tough red down a side rail only to miss a pink to left centre on 43. Didn’t really see that coming, but Lisowski butchers a long red attempt with frustration mounting. McGill rolls in the pink to leave Jack needing a snooker in this frame. Looks for all the world like 6-1 coming up.

Lisowski 1-5 McGill (1-44)

McGill with a thumping shot to make a three-ball plant. And the pink is out in the open too as the Scotsman bids to surge five ahead in this opening session. Jack forced to sit and suffer here. Loneliest seat in the house.

Lisowski 1-5 McGill (1-16)

A fine long red by Jack, but follows it up by missing blue to left middle. Wasn’t easy, but has been the story of the session as Ant crunches home a long red of his own. Must be feeling very good about the situation as he goes to work. Again.

Lisowski 1-4 McGill (8-128)

Every chance of another century for McGill on the cards here. Going through these balls like a hot knife through butter. Well in stroke and the problems are mounting for Lisowski. They are due back out tomorrow afternoon. McGill with 112 this time to go with earlier knocks of 61, 124, 63 and 54. Jack yet to reach 50.

Lisowski 1-4 McGill (8-67)

Just looks like a practice session at the moment as McGill tidies up what was left for him. Moving four to the good in the first session with Jackpot all at sea at the moment.

Lisowski 1-4 McGill (8-32)

The one-way traffic continues early in the sixth frame as Jack leaves another easy starter for his opponent. McGill goes for a double on red, but nothing doing there. Leaves Jack with a red to right centre. Which he drops in. Vital that he comes up with a meaningful break here, but he breaks down almost immediately as a tough red fails to drop. A golden chance for the Scot to weigh in with a heavy break.

Lisowski 1-3 McGill (35-67)

Lisowski escapes from a snooker, but leaves the green over the yellow bag. McGill responds by canning the longish green. Quickly adds brown and blue. And that is 4-1. Three more frames of this session to play and Jackpot would dearly love at least two of them. Doesn’t really wanting to be falling four adrift.

Lisowski 1-3 McGill (35-55)

Lisowski plays yellow to release green from baulk cushion, but can’t get the angle right and that isn’t what he wanted. Just a safety shot to follow.

Lisowski 1-3 McGill (33-55)

Well, frame not quite over as McGill hits the pink first before potting red. Jack with a fabulous pot on a red to right centre and he rolls home the yellow before springing red from a side cush. What a counter punch this could be. Didn’t look like winning this frame, but every chance of the steal heading for the colours.

Lisowski 1-3 McGill (17-44)

This all looks very ominous for Lisowski at the moment. McGill with every chance to win his third straight frame of the match at this visit. Again, just a question of keeping tight control of the white ball. Which of course is easier said than done. The packed Crucible crowd enjoying every second of this Saturday morning session.

Lisowski 1-3 McGill (17-10)

But he misses a black off the spot. That is a dreadful blunder. What is McGill going to come up with here after not being punished for missing the black?

Lisowski 1-3 McGill (9-1)

Another fine long red by Anthony at the outset of the fifth frame, but he can’t drop in the black to follow up. Bad miss and a chance for Jack to get some much-needed forward momentum. Lisowski on the practice table during the mid-session break.

Lisowski 1-2 McGill (13-72)

McGill with the red he needs to finally put the frame to bed. Work to be done by Jack out there on the tactical side. A 3-1 lead for the Scotsman at the mid-session break. McGill is cashing in on the mistakes of his opponent.

Lisowski 1-2 McGill (13-64)

Another superb shot by McGill to use the yellow and knock black out of commission. Long way back for Jackpot with black welded to the right cushion. Intelligent shot by Lisowski to get the black back off the cush via a red seconds later. Frame not yet dead despite McGill’s advantage.

Lisowski 1-2 McGill (6-64)

McGill slots another solid red to left middle and he continues his surge in this third frame. Not far from closing out the frame, but he is short of pace in attempting to land on blue. Wrong side of blue at the wrong time. Lands on the red to yellow pocket off blue with a terrific positional shot, but can’t convert long red down the table. So still life in frame yet.

Lisowski 1-2 McGill (0-21)

The former Shoot Out winner smashes open the pack off the blue and opens up several reds in the process. What a chance then for the Scot to enjoy another one-visit kill. Just about maintaining concentration and he can enjoy his half-time cuppa in good spirits.

Lisowski 1-2 McGill (0-16)

Another sloppy shot by Jackpot leaves McGill with another obvious starter and the ‘Glasgow Gladiator’ is on the move again out there at the business end. Unforced safety errors proving a concern for Lisowski in this match so far.

Lisowski 1-1 McGill (0-124)

A brilliant cut on a pink to right centre to bring up the ton. Really starting to motor. And polishes off the colours before attempting an exhibition shot on the black that doesn’t drop. A 2-1 lead with a 124 is just what the doctor ordered. One poor safety shot by Jackpot cost him the frame.

Lisowski 1-1 McGill (0-78)

This is superb from McGill to restore his early lead. Looks completely comfortable with the surroundings in Sheffield. Could be the first century of the match on the cards.

Lisowski 1-1 McGill (0-44)

McGill off to a flying start in the third frame of the day. Delightful red to right centre and he keeps the break going with a brilliant cut on a red to left middle. Both men getting into stroke after that early bout of sparring. McGill obviously comfortable at the Crucible having reached the semi-finals in 2020. Another terrific cut on a red and suddenly on cusp of a 2-1 lead with a one-visit contribution.

Lisowski 0-1 McGill (86-15)

A weird old end to that frame as Lisowski unearths a tremendous miscue jumping white over black, but no damage done to the scoreline. Well over the winning line and he disappears for a comfort break. All square then. Two more frames before the mid-session interval.

Lisowski 0-1 McGill (61-8)

Not one scoring hit in this frame from Jackpot, but he adds another 16 points to lead by 61. But overcooks the white escaping from a snooker and has left McGill with a chance to mount the counter attack. McGill remember with a 10-6 win over Judd Trump in the first round in Sheffield. But he breaks down on only eight and that will be a relief for Jack.

Lisowski 0-1 McGill (45-0)

Great shot from Lisowski to slot a red and bring more reds into the equation before he runs out of position and is forced to pick out a fabulous recovery pot on a black. But he can’t do likewise with a red to the right centre seconds later. Disappointing end to the break on 45.

Lisowski 0-1 McGill (27-0)

Always a memorable moment when the old table divider goes up inside the Crucible. Full arena now focussed on this match as ‘Jackpot’ holes a delightful long red to get the party started in the second frame. Long tactical frames is not where he wants to be in this match. Important to gain momentum and get on with the job.

Lisowski 0-0 McGill (41-66)

Lisowski battling for a snooker in the opening frame. He trails by 20 with a possible 18 left up. Which is only three balls and black is over a top pocket. Tough to win the frame from this situation. Frame been running for 35 minutes before McGill slots the blue he needs. And that will be that. A 1-0 lead for the Scotsman.

Allen 13-4 Bingham

Allen with 13 breaks between 50 and 100, but no century. Still, that is very impressive shooting from a man dubbed ‘The Pistol’. Can see why he has lifted the Northern Ireland Open, UK Championship and World Grand Prix this season. The World Championship is the biggest of the lot by a mile and he would love to carry off the old cup next week.

Allen 12-4 Bingham (89-0)

A mid-range yellow eludes him, but a closing break of 68 is more than good enough for the Northern Irishman. Classy stuff in the end from Allen, who meets Neil Robertson or Jak Jones in the last eight on Tuesday and Wednesday. “Happy with that performance,” said Allen. “As long as I’m still here, I have a chance. I’ve managed to stay in there with two comfortable wins and conserve energy.”

Allen 12-4 Bingham (73-0)

Almost over the winning line here. Just a question of whether or not he finishes the match with a century.

Allen 12-4 Bingham (38-0)

Bingham can’t tuck away a tough red along the top cushion and that might be his final shot in this year’s tournament. Would expect Allen to score enough at this visit with plenty of reds in the open. Just a matter of minding his business here for the UK champion.

Allen 12-4 Bingham (21-0)

The Antrim man taking the chance to get the black back on its spot straight off the bat here. Proficient use of the rest and he tickles the white down to the top cush for the next red. Goes for a cutback on red, but wasn’t easy. Nowhere near potting angle in the end. But crucially hasn’t left anything for his opponent.

Allen 12-4 Bingham (7-0)

Allen with a poor safety shot, but white careers straight into the reds. Leaves nothing easy for the ‘Ball-run’ but Stuart can’t find a telling safety as he leaves a red for Allen to slot to left middle. Well then. How long will this match continue as Allen analyses the state of the table?

Allen 12-4 Bingham (0-0)

Allen breaks off chasing one more frame to get the job done and a first Crucible quarter-final appearance in five years. Decent starter this morning with white close to that baulk cushion. Bingham goes for a long one, but nothing doing. Playing for a bit of professional pride, but difficult to keep the concentration when you are eight frames down with a possible nine to play.

Brecel reaches last eight

O’Sullivan’s Crucible grudge matches

Boys ready to hit the baize

Almost ready to go with ‘Super Saturday’ in Sheffield. This middle Saturday is always something special at the World Championship and today is no different. Mark Allen needs one more frame to reach the quarter-finals this morning leading Stuart ‘Ball-run’ Bingham 12-4 with Anthony McGill and Jack Lisowski starting out. Ronnie O’Sullivan aims to press home his 6-2 lead against Hossein Vafaei in their Crucible last-16 grudge match this avo with Neil Robertson aiming to complete a great escape from 10-6 behind against the in-form Jak Jones. Finally, second seed and four-time winner Mark Selby meets Scottish Open champion Gary Wilson this evening with Robert Milkins also starting out against Si Jiahui, Shaun Murphy’s conqueror. Could be a good day if you play your card rights.

Saturday’s schedule – World Championship second round

10:00

• Anthony McGill 7-1 Jack Lisowski
• Mark Allen 13-4 Stuart Bingham

14:30

• Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-2 Hossein Vafaei
• Jak Jones 10-6 Neil Robertson

19:00

• Robert Milkins v Si Jiahui
• Gary Wilson v Mark Selby

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