Mark Williams will be thinking just how does he find himself 3-1 down at the mid-session interval?

He lost one frame on the black and then was in a golden position to win the fourth frame, only to miss the brown and John Higgins did the rest.

Chris Wakelin took the opening frame of the morning on table one against Zhao Xintong, but has not seen much action since.

Zhao has won three in a row to hold a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval with a break of 69 in frame two and 92 in frame three, while Wakelin has only collected 52 points since frame one.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, Michael Emons

As expected, both Mark Williams and John Higgins received a fantastic ovation from a packed Crucible crowd.

Williams, a three-time world champion, walked in first, quickly followed by four-time winner Higgins.

Those on the table two side of the arena have been treated to some high-quality snooker so far and it is already looks like it will be an epic, just as we hoped.

Image source, Michael Emons

Mark Williams let the second frame slip through his fingers, losing it on the black, but he gets over the line in frame three with a break of 72.

All square on table one as Zhao Xintong's break of 69 makes it 1-1.

This is a great steal from John Higgins. Mark Williams is on course to make it 1-1 and has a 61-0 lead after Higgins went in-off after crashing into a travelling red on the break, before the Welshman fired in a break of 57.

But he can't finish the job off and Higgins swoops in with a break of 65, ending it on the black, to snatch the second frame and leap into a 2-0 advantage.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, Michael Emons

Whatever happens over the next few days, it has already been a great tournament for Zhao Xintong and Chris Wakelin.

The Englishman, 20th in the world, entered qualifying in the third round and gained a 10-5 win over Xing Zihao and then hammered Martin O'Donnell 10-2 to get to the Crucible.

Wakelin, 33, then held off a fightback to eliminate 2010 world champion Neil Robertson 10-8 in the first round of the main tournament and then defeated former world number one Mark Allen 13-6 in the last 16.

For Zhao, this is his SEVENTH match of the 2025 World Championship.

As he's classed as an amateur at the moment (although will be on the tour full-time again next season) that meant he had to go through four rounds of qualifying.

He gained a 10-3 win over Cheung Ka Wei in round one, a 10-8 victory against Long Zehuang in round two and a 10-4 success in his match with Lyu Haotian before a hard-fought 10-8 win over England's Elliot Slessor on Judgement Day.

At the Crucible, he beat 2024 runner-up Jak Jones 10-4 and then compatriot Lei Peifan 13-10 in the last 16.

Image source, Michael Emons

Image source, Getty Images

While the other quarter-final this morning features two players tasting the Crucible's last eight for the first time, these two snooker legends have reached this stage on a combined 32 occasions now.

For John Higgins it's a 19th Crucible quarter-final and for Mark Williams a 13th as two of the members of the famed 'Class of 92' continue to astound snooker fans and confound Father Time.

Welshman Williams - who won the 2018 final between the pair - is chasing a fourth world title, which would move him level with the Scot in the Crucible annals.

But Higgins is in the better nick of the two recently, winning both the World Open and Tour Championship this year to end a lengthy ranking-title drought, although Williams has made the last eight despite ongoing eyesight issues.

Both men had chances in a hard-fought opening frame, but the frame went John Higgins' way 83-35, with a break of 69 from the Scot.

Chris Wakelin has already taken out 2010 world champions Neil Robertson and former world number one Mark Allen after battling through two qualifying rounds to get to the Crucible.

His fifth match in this year's tournament, against Zhao Xintong, has started well as he has taken the opening frame thanks to a break of 93.

Image source, PA Media

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Luca Brecel both took under 17 minutes to secure the one frame they required to clinch spots in the World Championship quarter-finals on Monday evening.

The pair started the evening session 12-4 ahead against Chinese pair Pang Junxu and Ding Junhui respectively.

Brecel, the 2023 winner, was first through with a break of 71 and shortly afterwards, O'Sullivan, 49, on course for a record-breaking eighth Crucible success, won by the same 13-4 scoreline.

Earlier on Monday, world number one Trump - who will face Brecel in the last eight - held off Shaun Murphy's fightback to win an epic last-16 tie 13-10.

China's Si Jiahui, who meets O'Sullivan in the last eight, advanced thanks to a 13-10 win over England's Ben Woollaston, who eliminated fourth seed Mark Selby in the first round.

Image source, Getty Images

The qualifiers' quarter-final.

For 2021 UK champion Zhao Xintong, he only returned from a 20-month suspension earlier this season after that ban cost him his place on the World Snooker Tour.

He arrived at the Crucible as a nominal 'amateur' after coming through four qualifying matches but that moniker is misleading - he's already clinched a return to the professional ranks next season.

Chris Wakelin, meanwhile, is one of the game's rising English stars, who has been in and around the top 16 all season - and he's earned the tag of Crucible giant-killer, impressively ousting former Triple Crown champions Neil Robertson and Mark Allen.

John Higgins has the edge in terms of world championship titles, although Mark Williams has won four of their five matches at the Crucible.

10:00

Zhao Xintong v Chris Wakelin

John Higgins v Mark Williams

14:30

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Si Jiahui

Luca Brecel v Judd Trump

19:00

Zhao Xintong v Chris Wakelin - second session

John Higgins v Mark Williams - second session

BBC Sport

The 2025 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

BBC Sport has comprehensive live coverage of the championship on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and Red Button, while every match will be shown in full on iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app.

The final takes place over two days starting on Sunday 4 May.

To read the full guide for draws, results and coverage, click here.

Image source, Getty Images

Get Inspired
#GetInspired

Why get into snooker, billiards and pool?

They are non-contact, indoor sports which can be played competitively or socially.

Who is it for?

Snooker, billiards & pool are skilful games that can be played by anyone, regardless of age, gender or ability.

Is there a cheap option?

Many clubs allow you to borrow equipment and membership fees can be inexpensive.

Is it good for my health and wellbeing?

Cue sports provide a fun and sociable way to stay active, improve your concentration and increase your strength and muscle control.

Can I take it to another level?

Once you've mastered the skills, you could enter local league matches and amateur level competitions across the country.

Is there a disability option?

Cue sports are very inclusive as the rules and equipment are the same for able-bodied and disabled players.

Is there a family option?

Many clubs welcome junior members. You can also play in teams and use a handicap scoring system.

Snooker, billiards and pool all offer different challenges, but from pubs to clubs to competition, they offer an accessible option for anyone hoping to pick up a cue.

It shouldn't be hard to find somewhere to hone your skills. What's more, an official snooker club finder, external was launched in 2018 to help you find the perfect place to play.