Luca Brecel is sat in his chair arms folded. Another chance to wrap up victory is drifting away here as David Gilber heads past the half century mark.

The Englishman eventually breaks down on 81 but it feels very much like game on now.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC iPlayer

David Gilbert has picked up the pace a little bit. There is a bit of belief in his body language.

Shocking luck. Luca Brecel smashes a yellow into the middle but can't get position on his next red.

A tough red to the middle cracks the knuckle. David Gilbert with a chance and seemingly some momentum.

This live text is starting to feel like a slog now. Quite fitting really given it's the weekend of the London Marathon.

The thing is, with Luca Brecel, he could wrap this up in 10 minutes or we could be here another hour.

And we go on. David Gilbert keeps the match alive with a run of 65.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC iPlayer

This game and this venue does not forgive you. Luca has not done the easy stuff well tonight, it is like he's wanted the victory to come to him instead of grabbing it.

David Gilbert negotiates a couple of tricky pots, including a delicate red to the middle. If he can hold himself together here he should be able to prolong this match.

That's so close for David Gilbert who concedes four points. The Englishman is put back in another couple of times and misjudges his next effort leave Luca Brecel plum in the balls.

The Belgian can only make 15 after once again getting himself out of position.

Gilbert is in last chance saloon.

Nope. Luca Brecel will have to be content with a break of 27 despite knocking in a sumptuous long red.

This might be though. David Gilbert leaves a long red after getting himself out of a snooker behind the yellow, but the Belgian can't knock that in, although he gets a decent consolation prize in the form of another snooker, this time tucked behind the pink.

Snooker is an amazing game and frustrating at the same time. David Gilbert gets a stroke of fortune one minute by not cannoning a black in with a red and the next he's missing said black with the rest to leave Luca Brecel in.

Will that be his last shot at this year's World Championship?

A touch short from Luca Brecel with his safety but the brown comes to the rescue, covering a red down the left of the table.

David Gilbert wafts a red over the bottom left corner with his response and Luca is able to drop it in, albeit he's in no man's land positionally.

There's no century for Luca Brecel but a run of 85 takes him one frame from victory.

Luca Brecel may have need some good fortune to get going but once he is in full flow he is a totally different proposition. He brings up his half century with ease and a ton could be on the cards here.

A shot bout of safety ends with Luca Brecel opting to blast himself out of trouble from behind the green.

He smashes into the reds at full pelt off a couple of cushions and sees a red fly into the middle bag. What a stroke of luck.

David Gilbert gives off a bemused smile and watches as the reigning champ starts to cash in.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, BBC Sport

Jason Crow (centre) who is here with his mates Craig and Julian, has been coming to the Crucible since 2007 and loves the place.

He said: "It's such a great atmosphere, just fantastic and it feels unique and extremely personable. You see the players when we're wondering around and it's just a brilliant vibe. We've seen Ronnie play numerous times, we saw Steve Davis' last game."

With talk of the championship moving when its current deal expires in 2027 and China or Saudi Arabia being touted as potential option, he added: "I would be gutted if it moved.

"I realise the game is evolving and getter bigger with Asia, but this is the home of snooker. I watch every single tournament on TV, so I'm a proper snooker nerd. I think if it goes from here, it will go overseas but this is where the game's roots are."

Image source, BBC Sport

Whoever gets through this match, will almost certainly have to get some of those numbers up in the next round, notably the pot and safety success percentages.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Red Button

The big breaks of this morning's session have dried up tonight. Every frame has been littered with mistakes and David Gilbert is hanging in there as Luca struggles to put this match away.

Finally. David Gilbert shows a touch of composure and class to sink a long red and get position. That really should be that for this frame.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Red Button

That was ridiculous, he didn't need to hit it anywhere near that hard to get on the pink.

Was that a bad contact? It looked a straightforward red to the corner. David Gilbert hangs his head in disappointment as his break ends on 48.

With the frame in the balance, Luca Brecel smashes a red along the rail and guess what? It doesn't drop.

Can't believe he played it at that pace.