In this evening's other first-round match Tom Ford currently leads Ricky Walden 6-2. You can stay across that match on the BBC iPlayer.

Having led 6-3 and 9-6, who would have thought that defending champion Luca Brecel would go out?

As for David Gilbert, the Englishman will now face Robert Milkins or Pang Junxu in the next round.

What a dramatic opening day. We'll see you again on Sunday afternoon when Judd Trump's match against Hossein Vafaei concludes. The world number two leads 6-3 after Saturday's opening session.

Image source, Getty Images

Luca Brecel needs one snooker but he is not going to hang around and even attempt to get it. David Gilbert looks delighted and almost surprised by that decision.

The Englishman is through at the expense of the defending champion.

The Crucible curse continues....

No first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship has retained the title since the tournament moved to the venue in 1977.

Luca Brecel can't make his mind up over what to do here and in the end tries to get the white in tight behind the black.

But he's well short of pace and David Gilbert will get another chance to win the match with a red to the right middle.

The Englishman stands over this almost two minutes but then finds the heart to the pocket. That should be that.

He rattles the jaws. But the Englishman has left next to nowt.

David Gilbert has a long red to the right corner to win the frame and match...

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC iPlayer

This would be the escape of all escapes.

David Gilbert gets to frame and match ball. He's got a smile on his face but he misses the red into the bottom left corner. Unbelievable.

David Gilbert is edging ever closer to the finish line. He's on a run of 59, so is 63 ahead with 83 left on the table.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC iPlayer

David Gilbert has shown great character because he was not playing well at the start of the night either but he is playing at a better pace now.

David Gilbert gets to 24 but then needs the spider. Not what you want at this stage, well any stage really.

This is a delicate shot but he'll be on the black next without really having to do very much. In it drops...

What a chance this is now.

Luca Brecel is as expected has problems here. Big problems, so he tries to blast his way out of trouble and slings the white off the cushion straight into the left middle.

Easy starter for the Englishman.

Luca Brecel takes on a red to the left middle but that's never going to drop.

The ball hovers over the pocket but he's got cover in the form of the brown albeit is likely to be in big trouble tight behind the green with his next shot.

Luca Brecel dumps the white on the bottom cushion to begin a safety exchange in the decider.

Who is going to blink first?

Luca Brecel has been here before, namely on his way to winning the trophy last year but what has he got left here?

Dare I type it but Luca Brecel looks like a player searching for his best form after an underwhelming season.

David Gilbert has a great chance to pinch this frame now and reaches 28 rapido. He fancies this big time.

Colours off their spots to the pink to win the frame.This should be a formality and it is.

What drama on the opening night at the Crucible.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC iPlayer

That missed green was incredible. Luca is not playing the correct shots and handing Dave Gilbert another lifeline.

This is a far from straight forward clearance particularly given neither players positional play has been at their usual standard but Luca Brecel is trying to get this done.

The Belgian is at 46 and counting surely...no he's rattled the jaws of the top right corner pocket with the green. What a reprieve for David Gilbert.

How typical. David Gilbert pots the blue and looks to run down and disturb the pack but knocks a red into the corner.

Luca Brecel is back in business.

Well, well. David Gilbert picks out a long red as a shot to nothing and strokes it home. He thumps the brown into the middle to get position on the next red.

This time last year Luca Brecel let a 9-6 lead slip against Ricky Walden before winning the final frame.

Are we set for a decider this evening?