Phew. What an enthralling day of snooker in Sheffield.

Michael Emons has tried to make sense of it all in his report from the Crucible...

We will, of course, be back on Sunday with live coverage across the BBC of the day's action - including the next session of Ronnie O'Sullivan's match with Pang Junxu.

Here are some snooker stories worth reading between now and then:

• 'National hero' - China's pursuit of an elusive world title
• Keeping up with the Woollastons - snooker's family affair
• 'O'Sullivan definitely a contender'
• Why is snooker played in silence?

10:00

• Lei Peifan 6-10 Zhao Xintong
• Shaun Murphy v Judd Trump

14:30

• Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu
• Luca Brecel 7-1 Ding Junhui

19:00

• Si Jiahui 5-3 Ben Woollaston
• Shaun Murphy v Judd Trump

Image source, Getty Images

Brilliant from Si Jiahui, who refuses what was probably a 50-50 pot on a mid-distance pink to lay a fine snooker behind the black.

Advantage, Si.

Ben Woollaston makes a great escape but leaves a pot on along the cushion for Si - who gets it.

He leads by two frames overnight.

Ben Woollaston leaves the yellow over the corner and Si Jiahui pots that, green, brown and blue to seal the frame.

Or does he?!

He misses the pink, so Ben Woollaston needs two snookers with just pink and black left on the table - and he has them!

Woollaston can win if he pots both remaining colours.

What a way to finish...

How has that gone in?

Ben Woollaston is snookered on the final red and in trouble. First go - missed. Second go - off one cushion and potted into the middle pocket.

Woollaston's attempt to pot the yellow fails, though, and we've got another frame that will be settled by the colours.

Only one break above 50 in these first eight frames.

Si Jiahui's break ends on 41 with a wild attempt at a long red, which leaves an easy starter for Ben Woollaston.

Not straightforward to win the frame at this visit, though.

Ben Woollaston gets 23 points in front in the final frame of the session, but fails with a pink to the top corner, leaving Si Jiahui a chance to build a break.

Five or six reds out in the open and plenty of others on cushions.

Image source, Getty Images

A beaming John Higgins, speaking on BBC Four after his 13-12 win over Xiao Guodong: "It was a weird feeling just coming back for one or two frames. When I missed a black earlier this afternoon, I thought the snooker gods would not forgive me.

"The three sessions - I really enjoyed them because it's an unbelievable venue to play in. You play some good minutes, the pressure is on you and the crowd are all getting involved. You can't replicate playing here."

On facing Mark Williams next: "It was different maybe 20-odd years ago when we were really big rivals. Now we walk into the practice room and give each other a nod as if to say: 'How are we still here? How are we still here competing?'

"It's incredible [that we are still going], and you throw Ronnie [O'Sullivan] into the mix as well. Three special players, you have got to say that. I don't care if I'm calling myself that a little bit."

On his recent confidence: "Winning some of the big events has given me an inner belief I can get over the line. Even going into that last frame there. Am I a believer again? Yes."

Lee Walker
Former World Seniors champion on BBC Four

If Ben Woollaston can get out of this at 4-4, he'll be absolutely delighted.

Si Jiahui's safety shot leaves a pink along the top cushion for Ben Woollaston, who knocks it in to trail by only one frame going into the last frame of the session.

Frame seven is another one that goes down to the colours.

Ben Woollaston knocks in a wonderful long brown and only needs the pink with the rest - but it rattles the jaws and pops free!

Only pink and black left on the table, and Si Jiahui trails by eight points.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Four

Xiao Guodong has played fantastic in this tournament but that was a pretty flawless final frame from John Higgins. It's the sternest examination you can have - against John Higgins at the Crucible.

John Virgo
1979 UK Championship winner on BBC Four

Xiao Guodong pushed him all the way but well done John Higgins, who got his act together and produced it when it matters.

Image source, PA Media

John Higgins mops up all the colours, apart from the black, to book his place in the quarter-final and a meeting with Mark Williams.

The Scot kept his composure and used his nous when it mattered in the deciding frame.

John Virgo
1979 UK Championship winner on BBC Four

It's been hard fought and after the first session you always felt this was the type of match that could go all the way. It's been quality snooker.

Image source, Getty Images

John Higgins goes red and then green to leave Xiao Guodong needing snookers. Higgins has one foot in the quarter-finals.

Xiao Guodong slightly bungles a safety shot, and opens the door for John Higgins. The Scot manages to pot a red, convert the black, then opens up the pack.

Higgins is well placed here at 60-0.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Four

It's a shot of someone with battle scars and experience who knows that sometimes it's the best shot. He's saying to Xiao Guodong: "You're going to have break the pack of reds up."

John Higgins opens up in the deciding frame with a break of 44, but rather than attempt to break the reds up off the black he opts for a safety shot up the table on the green.

Again, it's another close frame between Si Jiahui and Ben Woollaston. It's the number 13 seed from China who gets the better of this one and has a two-frame lead.

It comes down to the colours, but Woollaston misses an awkward pink to the corner and Si takes advantage.

There are two more frames to be played tonight, so at the very least Si will be level when this match resumes on Sunday.