Luca Brecel makes 51 but misses a tough blue and, having not potted a ball in just over 38 minutes, Judd Trump finally gets a chance when the balls are well placed.

With Zhao wrapping up his win over Chris Wakelin, the dividing barrier in the middle of the Crucible has been raised, so the whole arena can watch and enjoy Judd Trump v Luca Brecel.

The only one not enjoying it at the moment is Trump.

Judd Trump is number one in the world, but there's nothing he can do when he's stuck in his seat.

Luca Brecel rattled off nine frames in a row against Ding Junhui, winning 13-4, and he's again in sensational form with five on the bounce to take the lead.

In three frames today, Trump has scored 15 points, Brecel 246.

Image source, PA Media

Zhao Xintong has duly picked up the one frame he required to turn a 12-4 overnight advantage over Chris Wakelin into a 13-5 victory that seals his place in the semi-finals for the first time.

The Chinese player looks most likely to face Ronnie O'Sullivan, who leads Si Jiahui. That match comes to a conclusion this evening.

Luca Brecel goes safe and Judd Trump, aiming for the thinnest of contacts when he can see a red down the other end of the table, twice misses and gets a warning that he will lose the frame if he does it again on the three-miss rule (as he could see both sides of the target ball on each occasion).

He makes contact the third time, but then, as he feared, leaves it on for Brecel.

Luca with a massive slice of luck. He misses a red but that clatters into two others and one vanishes into left middle.

Can he build on that and win another frame in a row?

He gained nine successive frames in his 13-4 triumph over Ding Junhui earlier this week.

"It used to be a tough game, but Luca Brecel is making it look so easy at the moment," says 1985 world champion Dennis Taylor.

A great quote and it comes from just another great frame from Luca Brecel with a break of 114 after Trump had no luck when going into the pack of reds.

"It's like an exhibition," adds Ken Doherty.

Five-five. World number one Judd Trump led 5-1, it's four on the bounce for Brecel, potting from the gods.

Image source, EPA

There's an awful long way to go, but at least Chris Wakelin has extended his participation in this quarter-final.

The Englishman now trails 12-5 but knows he has to win all the remaining frames.

This was always going to be a great watch between two of the most attacking players in the game.

And this is just a breathtaking, beautiful break of 73 and, if you include yesterday too, that's three frames in a row for Luca Brecel.

Any chance he's getting this tournament he's just all-out attack and it's truly brilliant to watch.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Zhao Xintong could become the first ever amateur to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

But of course there is a slight anomaly in that, given he won the UK Championship in 2021, has already competed in Sheffield before but was then one of 10 players banned in 2023 following an investigation into match-fixing.

He did not directly throw a match, but accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches, and betting on matches himself.

He returned earlier this term to the Q Tour and is technically still prohibited from playing in mainland China under the suspension given to him by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association.

However, that is set to end in July so it will not cause him any problems when he returns to the professional tour next season.

The CBSA had also signalled to authorities in the UK that they had no issues with him competing at both the UK Championship and World Championship.

Can world number one Judd Trump keep Luca Brecel stuck in his seat? We have seen some sensational snooker from Luca Brecel in this tournament, none more so than when he won seven in a row in the evening session of his last-16 match against Ding Junhui.

Image source, PA Media

After all that drama, we are onto the afternoon session.

Judd Trump resumes 5-3 up on Luca Brecel, while Zhao Xintong just needs one frame to beat Chris Wakelin and reach the quarter-finals.

Afternoon session:

• Chris Wakelin 4-12 Zhao Xintong - Table One
• Judd Trump 5-3 Luca Brecel - Table Two

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

In his post-match news conference Mark Williams has been telling journalists that he got pumped for that concluding session against John Higgins by listening to and belting out 'Delilah' by Tom Jones.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

An incredible snooker match. Everyone in there has been treated to an absolute feast. Two of the all-time greats locking horns and going right at it. It was brilliant.

Mark Williams has been speaking to BBC Two and spoke of the vital blue ball he potted in the decider and said: "It was such a tough shot, I could've gone in-off, I could've overcut it. I just went for it, full-board and was straight on the pink and black and I thought I had to go for it.

"There was not one bit of nerves. I don't really get it. I've only had nerves a handful of times in my career. When I watch Jackson [Page] and he's at 4-4 my hand is shaking and I'm sweating.

"I wasn't thinking he [Higgins] would miss it. From 12-8 to 12 all I had not done much wrong and I'm thinking 'what can I do?'

"I was drained this morning. Two tough sessions, I didn't finish until half 10. It's top out there, especially the older you get. You play all day, the next day you play in the morning.

"It's just a pleasure playing now. We got the standing ovation walking in and everyone was cheering. You have to enjoy it because you don't know how many times I'll be coming back here."

Simon Mahon: Brilliant match and mesmerising final frame Just hope this isn't the final time we see Higgins v Williams at the Crucible

John Higgins has just spoken to the BBC and said: "I had the chance on the blue. It was difficult and you're struggling to see the pockets at the end of the game.

"He potted a great blue, pink, black so every credit to him. He's a great champion.

"I still felt good going into the last frame. Mark had a great pot and I thought he would do what he always does, then I had a chance but I could only make 30.

"It's tough, then I made a bad safety when I was in control of the frame. I got my chance but I couldn't take it.

"I've had a good season, the atmosphere out there was incredible, a standing ovation walking in. There's no better place to play, win or lose."

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC iPlayer

The blue that Mark Williams potted was absolutely incredible under such pressure. Only Mark Williams could play that shot. He fully committed to it and landed perfectly on the pink.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It was a frame that had absolutely everything. John was cruising in it. Then they've got chances each. He was left with a bit of dilemma on the blue and ends up missing it but what a response from Mark.