David Gilbert having a good run of the balls here with a safety that lands in the jaws of the corner pocket (you can almost hear JV saying, 'where's the cue ball going?' and then almost gets a snooker with his next one.

With the snooker gods smiling, the Englishman thumps in a long red but heads back to his chair after trying to force a difficult pink in while using the rest.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Four

Both players are struggling with the cue ball tonight.

David Gilbert comes a cropper on a long blue again to leave Luca Brecel amongst the balls.How many can the Belgian make here?

He has what looks a rather tight red to the bottom corner early doors but rolls that in...acres for a player of his calibre obviously.

But just as it looks like we're getting ready for another frame ticked off, the reigning champion misses a black off its spot.

Over on the other table Ricky Walden looked nailed on to take the opening frame but a nice break of 52 wasn't enough with Tom Ford coming back to nick it on the colours.

David Gilbert looks like he is fighting for position with virtually every pot but he's nearly at the snookers-required stage...

And he finishes off the frame with a 57 clearance. A scrappy but welcome frame for the former semi-finalist.

Is that carefree of careless? Luca Brecel plays a pretty loose long pot on a red that didn't even look like going and hands David Gilbert another chance to get a frame on the board this evening.

Talk about error strewn. Does either player want to win this.

Luca Brecel's stay at the table is short and swift and just as it looks as though David Gilbert can really capitalise, he screws back while potting a red and sees the white disappear in the middle bag.

A loose shot from Brecel gives him another go but he's not exactly piling on the points and ends up playing safe after running out of position.

That safety has put the world champion in a bit of bother mind.

David Gilbert with the first opportunity in frame 11 after dropping a red dead weight into the bottom corner to hold for the black.

But two or three balls down the line, he plays across a long blue to the top left corner and misses by a country mile.

Luca back at the table with a red available.

David Gilbert sinks the pink but can't get position on the black, rolling up too close to the deciding ball.

He will be looking at a push shot if he tries to nudge this so it is just a safety.

However, a couple of shots later he leaves the black in snicking range of the top left pocket and Luca Brecel pinches the frame.

Almost a copy and paste. Luca Brecel launches a counter, with a 50 of his own but then can't knock in the pink.

This is going to be a black-ball frame.

David Gilbert gets his half century but then runs into problems and breaks down There is life in this frame yet.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Four

As defending champion you want to win with the least stress possible. Luca Brecel does not want to give Dave Gilbert any momentum in this match. If he loses the first frame it puts him on the back foot event though he has a lead.

Luca Brecel gets in first but knocks a red in the corner...the only problem being he was trying to split the pack off the blue.

Dave Gilbert has a fairly gentle starter with the balls scattered.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, Michael Emons

You don't have to look too hard around the Crucible before you see references to Luca Brecel's stunning win at the 2023 World Championship.

He did it the hard way too. He hadn't won a match at the venue before last year, then won five in just over two weeks, including victories over former world champions Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan, an incredible recovery from 14-5 down to beat Si Jiahui in the semi-final and then an 18-15 success over four-time champion Mark Selby in the final.

“I thought it was going to change my life, but still the same boring life," said Brecel on Friday. "The trophy is lovely and to have your name on it is incredible but apart from that it’s the same life.

"I’m not sure if more people started playing because of me but I think there are more people watching it and now I’m more famous in Belgium. Snooker is going to keep growing and hopefully it will be like the darts a bit and be really popular.”

He won six of the first nine frames in the morning session.

Image source, Michael Emons

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Knowing Luca, and his mantra he'll probably head back to Belgium [if he wins]. You enjoy getting through and watching all the other players struggling over the next three or four days, when you are through.

The players are ready back stage.

David Gilbert looks like he is doing a quad stretch as part of his pre-match routine. Not seen that one before. Well in this sport.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC One

Luca Brecel will be happy with his morning's work. It was a good performance by the defending champion against a classy opponent. There is always the possibility that the first round could be the worst one.

He came out and played very fluently.

Reigning champion Luca Brecel has apparently been battling a mystery illness in the build-up to his return to the World Snooker Championship.

But he looked in fine nick earlier establishing a 6-3 lead.

Given he arrived at Crucible having reached a solitary ranking event quarter-final this season, could he fly under the radar once again?

Image source, Getty Images

Here we go again. Defending champion Luca Brecel is looking to become the first player through to the last 16 of the World Championship.

The Belgian requires just four more frames in his match against David Gilbert this evening.

Right we'll be back later around 19:00 BST for the conclusion of Luca Brecel's match with David Gilbert.

The defending champion Brecel currently leads 6-3 and you can read all about that match in our report.

On the other table Tom Ford and Ricky Walden get their first-round contest under way.