Mark Allen jaws a long red to the green pocket on 93. He'd have loved the century but it's another frame back.

The 'Pistol' has fired out of the blocks this evening.

Amazing how a couple hours' break can make someone look a completely different player.

Mark Allen struggled so much this afternoon but he looks a man revitalised this evening.

He's cruised through these reds and Ding already needs a snooker.

Image source, Getty Images

It's relaxed him all right, Steve.

Mark Allen sends a cracking long red into the centre of the pocket and he's on the yellow.

A couple of excellent shots later and this is a great chance to pull another frame back.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

The way a player plays in a session can often, as we've seen so many times, rely on how the first frame goes.

Your tail is up if you've won the first frame of the evening - if you haven't you're digging out of a hole.

It might relax Mark Allen a bit because that's something he didn't really do in the first session.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

The red Allen fluked in that frame was a monster piece of form and sometimes matches can turn things on things like this.

A reminder of the head-to-head between these two players.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

Two frames in a row.

Maybe, just maybe, that will put a bit of extra pressure on his opponent, and maybe a bit of doubt in Ding's mind.

He was first in, played a plant, over-hit it, ran out of position.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

The evening session could not have started any worse for Mark Allen as he missed his first shot of it, one of four failed attempts on long reds but it only cost him 33 points before he was given a chance.

That saw him knock in a break of 60 before leaving the last red rattling in the jaws of the pocket. But it didn’t matter as a brilliant red along the top cushion helped him wrap up the frame.

“Game on,” shouted someone from the crowd. They may well be right.

Ding Junhui escapes a snooker on the yellow but leaves it on and Mark Allen pots it.

Important frame for the Northern Irishman.

Forget that frame-ball-itis comment.

Mark Allen takes on a frankly ridiculous red along the bottom cushion. And gets it.

Snookers required for Ding. Game on?

Frame-ball-itis.

Mark Allen tries to develop the final red off the cushion when he could have played just to roll it in.

He tries to pot it with an element of safety but misses. It's safe though.

Allen 28 ahead with 35 on.`

There are still a couple of reds in safe positions but Allen has moved 37-33 ahead now.

A tickly red down the cushion and a black rolled in with the white right on the side rail.

Allen showing some bottle here.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

How lucky is that going to prove to be come the end of the night?

Ooosh. Mark Allen would have missed a routine red but it takes a nick off another and goes in. Big fluke that.

Ding attempts a long red that he'd expect to get. So close but it wobbles in the jaw and leaves Mark Allen a fairly easy starter.

Lovely shot to nothing from Mark Allen as he cuts a long red across the table into the left corner.

Then tucks Ding Junhui in behind the green.

Oh but what an escape from Ding, off two cushions, skims off a red and back into baulk. Class. Absolute class.

A reminder of both players' route to the final as a safety battle goes on, with Ding leading this ninth frame 33-0.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Allen narrowly misses a long red. Very unfortunate - but he only leaves Ding a safety shot.

There was a possible red to the middle but Ding has no need to push the boat out, four frames up.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

Opportunities to score like that are so hard to come by.

A reprieve for Mark Allen.

Ding Junhui overscrews a plant to the middle pocket and leaves himself low on the black.

He pots it but no position on the next red so the break ends at 33.