Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It's slugfest time. You've got the heart of a lion against the heart of a tiger. Pick your winner!

Image source, BBC Sport

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

This is an unbelievable standard. You couldn't get three better frames to start a session. It's brilliant.

Get the biscuits out and put the kettle on, this could go on all night. It's very hard to predict.

Different class. Higgins needs the blue and rattles through the colours sinking a long doubled pink before heading off to his corner.

He's back in front.

Standing ovation time from living rooms up and down the land.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

We have seen John make frame-winning contributions many times in his career but this is one he needs. He has just looked a little edgy.

This is better from John Higgins. He's already had to negotiate several tricky pots to reach 25. And he rolls on to 40.

The big question is can he hold it together?

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

That was wonderfully executed by John Higgins.

Hello. The Wizard of Wishaw is in the building after all. What a pot.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

It's very risky this. If he misses it he is bound to leave a red.

He's human after all. Yan cuts across a pot into the bottom left corner.

He's not left much though and has a 51-point advantage.

Higgins has a long, tough red to the top corner as a starter. Close but no cigar.

A couple of shots down the line the Scot is eyeing up a four-ball plant. With the rest!

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

You have to admire him. He is here on his own. He has nobody with him at the venue.

It has been fantastic to watch him this week.

Yan was fearless bordering reckless at times this afternoon.

This evening he is just potting ball after ball. He's up to 35 and heading for his third straight frame.

Oh my Yan is in again. This time his contribution is limited to four but he gets a huge stroke of luck to get safe with a wayward attempted red into the bottom right corner.

Talk about a run of the balls...

Higgins gets the fishing tackle out but can't swipe a difficult red into the bottom right corner.

Is this a plant? Yan thinks so. And it's there. That was one straight off a pool table.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Higgins has not clinched his chances when he needed to tonight because his opponent is playing fantastic counter-attacking snooker. Higgins changed his mind on the yellow that he missed but a great contribution from Yan.

It is about how Yan is winning the frames.

If you are talking about a match that is a springboard in your career, making the clearance and then following up with a bog standard break, he might be going up a level in his career.

I remember coming through the ranks and tipped to do well, when I won my first event at some stage during it I actually felt I could win it. It dawned on me I was able to, and maybe this is what is happening to Yan now.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

When it comes down to the tactical game Yan has got that as well.

He is very adept in that department, which most 20-year-old's who can pot balls like he does, do not have a clue about.

James: What a start to the evening session from Yan Bingtao. Showing maturity beyond his years.

Nick: Does this chap miss?

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

I knew Yan was good but not this good. I have seen him play lots of times and he's really impressing me with his attitude and temperament. Another wonderful contribution there and he looks very comfortable in the heat of battle.

That's frame ball. Yan rolls in the black to go 37 ahead with 35 on the table.

The red up the left cushion straight after is ridiculous. A super break of 76 comes to a conclusion with a miss on the green.

All square.

Yan's in cruise control here. The balls aren't even this kind in practice.

He gets up to 41 and then has to get the equipment out after coming up a bit short on the black. Not that it makes a difference. This frame and Higgins' lead looks likely to disappear very quickly.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

I don't know why but John looked at the brown and it did not help his concentration.

He has opened up all the reds and now he will have to sit and watch his opponent pot them all.

Higgins is up to 25 and here comes the big moment. Has he got a good enough angle on the blue to open up the pack? Yes.

That's worked to perfection. But then he unbelievably misses an easy yellow.

The balls are sitting lovely for Yan. Big chance to level things here.