Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

It's been a bit of a slog for both players.

Not what you'd expect - you would expect a lot of big breaks between the two of them because they are great break-builders when they get going, and wonderful cueists.

But it's been nip and tuck, and scrappy. If it goes 4-4 in the end, they will probably both be happy.

Not been more than a frame in this battle of the Crucible veterans.

And Shaun Murphy ensures that pattern continues, battling back from behind in the sixth frame to level this first session up once again.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

Pride does come into it and he's showed a lot of character with that wonderful break in the last frame.

It gives him a sliver of hope for tomorrow and matches have been turned around from 11-5 before.

Neil Robertson did it against Martin Gould - but it's a different animal against Judd Trump, of course.

Well done, Tom Ford.

It's been a testing afternoon for the world number 14 - who is in the last 16 at the Crucible for the first time, having lost in round one on his four previous visits.

But he compiles a fine 83, missing the penultimate black when a century was in his sights.

But Judd Trump wins the session 5-3 and will need just two more frames when the pair resume on Saturday morning.

A chance for Tom Ford to salvage a bit of pride and add some respectability to the scoreline in what will be the final frame of this afternoon session.

A pink to the bottom left corner struggles in. Opportunity to pull back to 11-5 and at least provide himself a crumb of comfort and glimmer of hope overnight.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

It's just an exhibition. His cue power is just phenomenal.

Some trademark 'naughty snooker' here from Judd Trump.

Slams a pink in the middle, leaves the cue ball on baulk cushion and has to swerve to pot a long red.

"I'll buy you a drink later if he pots this, Stephen," Dennis Taylor says to co-commentator Hendry.

So, of course, Trump blitzes it in, unreal shot. Dennis then promises to buy everyone a drink before quickly qualifying it with "everyone in the studio".

Tom Ford perhaps the only man in the arena unamused - he's fallen seven frames behind after all.

Two absolutely outrageous doubles on reds from Stephen Maguire who has hit the adventurous mode button.

Real chance to move two frames ahead if he can break up the pack of reds nicely.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, Getty Images

Former World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn was at the Crucible earlier this week, saying the event could move from Sheffield in 2027, unless the building was improved or a larger venue was built nearby in the city.

He also spoke to the media for half an hour and felt the sport was in a great shape, saying a new ranking event was scheduled to take place in 2025 in Qatar "sometime after January and before June".

"I'm very happy with the game when I look at snooker," he added. "Next season we're going to hit £20m in prize money and that has been a goal of mine for ages and ages. In 2010 when we took over with £3.5m [prize money] and we promised the players £4m to 5m the next season."

On the rise of the game in the Middle East, Hearn added: "We've spent a lot of our lives saying China is a massive market and it's true but it's not alone. The players are getting more freedom in their contract, they can enter and do what they like as long as it does not clash with WST events.

"For snooker as a whole, this is the best it has been in my lifetime and this is the strongest the sport has ever been."

Judd Trump is motoring now.

An attempt to break into the pack narrowly misses - so no bother, he just rolls a superb long red into the yellow pocket instead.

A 50 break puts him well in command of frame 15.

Yep, a break of 67 is enough for Shaun Murphy to nod to the referee in an acknowledgement of concession.

They've been back out on Table 1 for a few minutes now, following the mid-session interval.

Stephen Maguire smashed in a worldie of a red with the cue ball tight on the cushion to get in - and he's closing in on taking the frame with a break moving past the 60 mark.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

Judd is such a devastating potter but he has other assets - he's not taking liberties and his safety has been top-quality as well.

Judd Trump absolutely crunches a long red right into the middle of the corner pocket to put Tom Ford 51 points behind with 51 left on.

Oh, and he's in a snooker tight behind the yellow too. Goes for the old 'hit and hope' - he does hit a red but leaves a chance for Trump, who pots it to seal the frame and go six in front.

Glimmer of hope for Tom Ford as Judd Trump runs out of position from red to black.

But the gap is 50 points with only 59 on.

Trademark attacking Judd Trump shot.

Plays a red with the rest with deep screw to split the remainder of the pack open.

It's all on a plate for him now.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

That's three blacks off the spot Ford has missed.

You're just not going to win against this level of opponent.

It's one step forward, one step back for Tom Ford this afternoon.

Wins that previous frame but misses a tricky-ish black, bridging over a red, by quite a distance.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

These two have history - a long time ago, the 'Chalkgate' thing (see 14:24 entry).

I think for a little while Stephen Maguire resented Shaun a bit. I think that's so far in the past that Stephen hasn't got a problem.

You don't want to have a situation where you actively dislike your opponent because that can influence you.

No Saturday off for Judd Trump.

The 'Ace in the Pack' threatened to get the snooker he needed but Tom Ford had a couple of bits of good fortune, including a lucky second kiss on the yellow to knock it in.