BBC Four

Play is under way in Sheffield.

We will bring you frame by frame updates from both matches and you can watch the live action on both tables, as well as the coverage on BBC Four, by clicking on the "Watch and listen" tab at the top of this page.

The players are now being announced into the arena at the Crucible.

Ben Woollaston is introduced as the "flame-haired assassin of Leicester". Quite a title.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport

Prior to the World Championship I sat down with Mark Selby and asked him what he made of the draw and it was clear to see he had mixed emotions about facing Ben Woollaston.

Woollaston, whose wife Tatiana is officiating at the tournament, has only appeared at the Crucible once before and that was back in 2013.

And the prospect of Selby facing a practice partner and friend was not something he wanted for the second year running after losing to Joe O'Connor at the same stage in 2024.

"It is a horrible draw really for both of us. I have known Ben since he was 14 or 15 and we have practised together many times over the years," said Selby.

"I was chuffed to bits for him to qualify because it's been 12 years since he last qualified and he was one of three or four players I did not want to draw for the simple fact that we are friends and both from Leicester. Joe O’Connor was another one, and David Gilbert and Chris Wakelin.

"I am playing some decent stuff so I am confident but I feel in a good place away from the table which is the biggest thing for me irrelevant of the form. If I am OK off the table then more chance than not I am going to enjoy the game again and there’s more chance you are going to play well.

"Last year going into it I wasn’t playing great snooker and wasn’t in the right headspace and looking back I probably shouldn’t have played. I did and you live and learn. All I can ask for is that I’m in a better place and better frame of mind."

Image source, PA Media

World number one Judd Trump began his campaign on Tuesday and instantly looked in fine form.

Breaks of 93, 61, 117 and 62 helped Trump to a 5-1 lead before Zhou, 32nd in the world, edged a scrappy seventh frame, which lasted more than 40 minutes.

The pair shared the last two frames to leave Trump needing four more frames.

Earlier, seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was in sublime form as he beat Ali Carter 10-4 to reach the last 16.

O'Sullivan, playing his first competitive match since January, made three century breaks in a run of five successive frames to wrap up his first-round match.

We are about to get under way with the evening session on day five of the 2025 World Snooker Championship.

Two world champions are in action tonight, as four-time winner Mark Selby becomes the last seeded player to get his campaign under way against Ben Woollaston.

And on the other table, 2019 winner Judd Trump needs four frames to beat China's Zhou Yuelong and reach round two.

That'll do for now, we will return with this live text coverage for the start of the evening session.

We'll bring you the start of the final round one match as former champion Mark Selby takes on Ben Woollaston, and the rest of world number one Judd Trump versus Zhou Yuelong - Trump leads 6-3 heading into the session.

For now, here's Michael Emons' report on a sensational afternoon of snooker starring the Rocket.

Snooker is a funny game.

For the first few frames of this match in this afternoon session, Luca Brecel was all at sea and Ryan Day was coasting.

Then for the final three frames, Brecel has been playing sublime snooker and Day can only watch.

A break of 86 pulls Brecel back to 5-4, and ensures there is all to play for when this match concludes tomorrow.

The end of this round one encounter starts at 13.00 BST on Thursday.

Before his first-round match, seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live's snooker reporter Jamie Broughton about how he has been struggling on and off with nerves and technical issues for the past two years.

After watching Ronnie O'Sullivan's sublime snooker earlier, this match has been like slow motion.

Another error by Ryan Day, who seemed to be cruising but has missed simple pinks in back to back frames to allow his opponent back into the match.

Day threw up his hand after his latest miss, before returning to his chair and watching Brecel pull it back to 5-3.

You may be aware that today's match was the first that Ronnie O'Sullivan has played in a competitive match since January's Championship League.

After four losses in five matches there, O'Sullivan snapped his cue and threw it away.

However in the intervening time he has got used to his new cue, practising with it for three months before his first-round match.

O'Sullivan did mention in his BBC Two interview that he isn't sure whether the tip of the cue will last all tournament and he may need to find a replacement.

Century break by Brecelpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 23 April

16:55 BST 23 April

Brecel 2-5 Day

Much, much better from Luca Brecel.

After Ryan Day misses a simple pink, the Belgian puts together a fine break of 104 including a sensational red into the right middle, cannoned off the opposite cushion.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

O'Sullivan seems in a very good place with the way he was talking there, he was very measured.

His place for release is in that pit, out there in front of all those fans, making that cue ball talk. That's when he's at his best and comfortable. All the rest of it is periphery.

What he was born to do is play snooker and when he's out there, he's at peace with it.

Meanwhile at the Crucible, 2023 world champion Luca Brecel is in quite a bit of bother.

The eighth seed looks bang out of form here and is 5-1 down to Ryan Day.

A reminder that Brecel lost five successive first-round matches before 2023, and was beaten in round one last year too.

Mark Allen
Former Masters and UK champion on BBC Two

He [O'Sullivan] spoke very well there. He's his own worst critic, clearly, and he's always trying to get better. That's a sign of the genius of the man. It's so good to see him back, regardless of how he's playing, because snooker is better for it.

Image source, PA Media

Ronnie O'Sullivan will play China's Pang Junxu in the second round, following his upset win over 12th seed Zhang Anda earlier.

That match will begin on Saturday, 26 April.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

There should be a sign in the foyer which should say: "Quiet please, genius at work".

We use the word "genius" in sport with people like Lionel Messi and players like Tiger Woods in his pomp. This boy is in that [bracket]. It's been over an extended period as well and when he plays, the cue ball sings.

Mark Allen
Former Masters and UK champion on BBC Two

Ronnie wouldn't have turned up here if he didn't feel like he was ready to win the tournament. He doesn't need snooker, he clearly wants to be here.

BBC Two

Image source, PA Media

Ronnie O'Sullivan, speaking to BBC Two: "I had no expectations so there were no nerves, I didn't expect to perform well based on the past three or four years. I just wanted to make a game of it.

"Ali had his chances yesterday, on another day he would been 6-3 up [after the first session], and again today he had a couple of chances. I cued a lot better than I did yesterday."

On his mental state: "I have some mental tools to work with to keep things tight, I will always tinker, but it's about when to let your instinct take over, I suppose.

"It ground me down, this game has a way of humbling you. I lost the buzz for the game, when you are not able to play the shots, I was having to bail out on a lot, I didn't have any range. I'm just trying to work my way back, rediscover some touch and feel."