Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It is a fair reflection on the standard of play. Zhao Xintong may have shaded it but Luca has played a good rearguard action.

If you locked these lads in a room for a week you'd have a chance of it being a different outcome everyday. It is who will be the mentally stronger tonight. It will be who has the killer instinct.

A lovely round of applause for the players as they head off for the mid-session interval.

The crowd in York (and watching on TV) have been served up a Sunday treat so far.

Luca Brecel maes a break of 47 to draw level again.

A collectors item. Zhao Xintong misses a pot to the bottom right corner.

Luca Brecel has a chance he probably thought was not going to come

Luca Brecel is plotting his way around the table nicely but then gets to 33 and catches a black to the left corner a little thick.

Zhao Xintong has a choice of four reds to get going.

Seems an age since the last pot.

But Luca Brecel gets on the board after a decent bout of safety.

All the reds are pretty much packed over to the left of the table but this still represents a decent chance.

Zhao Xintong knocks in an cracking long red and then drops in behind the brown.

An early fire for Luca Brecel to fight after a pretty decent safety.

With the reds partially scattered he is now going to have to be so precise trying to drop the white in somewhere safe.

His first attempt hits the pink. And so does his second. It's a case of third time lucky.

Great escape.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

There were a few bits of tactics there. Both players are looking calm and collected and not rushing their safety shots.

We are definitely in a golden period of snooker. The standard is amazing and worldwide it is so popular.

Shaun Murphy
2005 World champion

I played him [Zhao Xintong] a few years ago in Riga and he was very raw.

He played two break-off shots in the match and they were two of maybe six defensive shots he played in the game and I took care of him.

He reminds me of a very young Jimmy White with the way he glides round the table and the spin he puts on the ball, it is so effortless in play and he is great to watch.

This frame is already longer than the opening two combined.

But it looks like it'll soon be over as Zhao Xintong knocks in the remaining red after Luca Brecel could not get a snooker behind the brown.

Meanwhile, back on the baize Luca Brecel is up to 21 and looking for snookers with 35 left on the table.

He sticks Zhao Xintong in behind the blue and gets the first of three required.

Talking of future events....

We have of course got the draw for the Masters coming up a little later.

And it should feature one of these two players. Whoever wins here will climb into the elite top 16 and qualify for next month's invitational event in London.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at the York Barbican

One thing that went under the radar from earlier this week...

The tickets for next year's UK Championship went on sale but the dates have been changed to start on 8 November with the final taking place on 20 November.

The schedule tweak is so that the Triple Crown event doesn't clash with the Fifa World Cup, which kicks-off the following day.

What did I write a minute or so back?

A red into the top left corner rattles in the jaws, albeit there's a big slice of luck for Zhao Xintong as it is covered and there is no obvious starter for Luca Brecel.

The Belgian decides to take on a long red but is an inch or two out. Easy starter for Zhao, who knocks in the reed he left over the top bag a minute or two back.

He can't get on the black but he's back in business when Brecel leaves him another long red.

Zhao is 67 ahead with 59 on the table.

Oh hello. What's this Zhao Xintong has lined up a plant after Luca Brecel had appeared to get himself out of a spot of bother by rolling up to a red on the right cushion.

It doesn't look the easiest but in it drops. He's up and running again. He just doesn't look like missing at the moment and is up to 39 in no time at all.

Shaun Murphy
2005 World champion

We are in a great period for snooker right now. All the top players are putting on shows week in week out but it is great to see these guys are coming through for when we put our cues away.

I need to get a few more trophies in the locker before they take them off us. This is a ridiculous start.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Wow. What a start. We were hoping for this.

Brecel levels with a break of 133published at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2021

13:35 GMT 5 December 2021

Frame two: Brecel 0-1 Zhao

M.A.G.N.I.F.I.C.E.N.T.

Luca Brecel is back on terms with a break of 133.

Luca Brecel has not put a foot wrong yet. He's up to 63 and now needs a red and a black to clinch the frame (barring snookers).

In they go but the 'Belgian Bullet' is not done yet. Is there a ton on the cards?

Steady stuff this from Luca Brecel, taking his time and picking off the reds at his leisure to reach 29.

He'll want to hit back right away, and at one visit, if possible.