SI 5-3 BRECEL (64-0)

It’s Si who breaks a mini deadlock with a sumptuous long pot to take his success from range to 6/8 for the contest. That soon turns into 7/9 as he corks another red to the bottom left corner.

The 20-year-old has no qualms about making full use of the table, twice tucking away the green to its own pocket. It looks odd’s on he’ll seal the frame at this visit, but he gets an unlucky kiss off the blue on its spot and can’t hide his frustration and disappointment.

The break ends and Brecel has a slither of a lifeline as he goes in search of two snookers.

SI 5-3 BRECEL (52-0)

No early morning rust on show here. Si immediately settles into his stride, clinically despatching his first attempt on a red and preying off the black.

On Eurosport comms, Joe Johnson discusses the Chinese player’s habit of ending ‘too straight’ on the black which means his position on the ensuing red is often far from ideal.

Of course, the Chinese responds by cutting a brilliant red up to middle right, continuing a fine break and threatening to clock up the first frame of the day at his maiden visit.

It isn’t the case, however, and a knock of 52 is a decent start with eight reds still remaining.

Show time!

Intros done and the boys are at the baize. Let’s play some snooks!

Just like the Juddernaut!

O’Sullivan on Si:

“What I am impressed about is every time a player has come off the table who has played him they have said he is special.

The Rocket hails Si’s front-foot snooker

The rising Chinese star is the youngest player to reach this stage of the World Championship since O’Sullivan 27 years ago.

So who better than the seven-time champion himself to offer a view on how he’s handling the occasion.

“He looks very comfortable out there, he looks like he’s enjoying it, competing, smiling…. And playing some great snooker,” O’Sullivan told us.

“That’s such a big advantage coming in as a lot of players don’t feel like that, so straight away you feel like you are on the front foot. He’s playing like you need to play at the Crucible.”

CRUCIBLE’S LOSS IS EUROSPORT’S GAIN

The Rocket has been offering his fantastic insight as part of the Eurosport analysis team since his shock loss to Brecel. It was disappointing to see the seven-time champion bow out as he’s always box office, but listening to his thoughts in the studio is truly absorbing and often entertaining!

OPENING SESSIONS RECAP

GOOD MORNING

Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the second session of the semi-final clash between Luca Brecel and Jiahui Si.

The 20-year-old Chinese starlet leads 5-3 as he continues to make waves at this year’s tournament.

The boys will be at the baize from 10.00 BST.

‘He’s doing Selby at his own game’

Ronnie O’Sullivan has explained the edge that Mark Allen has displayed so far as he has been “doing Mark Selby at his own game” in their semi-final clash at the World Snooker Championship.

Selby, who is the overwhelming favourite for the title in Sheffield following O’Sullivan’s shock defeat, compiled the only century of a pretty dour session in the opening frame but ultimately found himself out-foxed by his opponent.

Allen impressed O’Sullivan, who was in the Eurosport studio, with his willingness to wade into the long grass with the four-time world champion and even “getting Selby out of it” in terms of his tactical play and doughty mindset.

Asked about Allen’s improvements in his mental and physical strength, O’Sullivan said: “Since he lost his weight he has made a conscious effort, and that is one of the answers.

“The other answer was to work with a psychologist. He feels that it has really helped his game. I just think he started off great early in the season and played fantastic snooker.

“Some of the tournaments he has won he has not played great, but he has played well in spells. So even if he does play badly in a session, I can’t see him losing it 6-2. I can’t see it happening.

“Selby might get in his head, but I can’t see it happening. He is used to winning really ugly. When he played Trump in a final [World Grand Prix] he shut him out and did a number on him.

“He kind of seems to have the answers and he is getting Selby out of it a bit, really. Selby is normally getting other players out of it, dictating that.

“He is actually getting Selby out of it. He is doing Selby at his own game – and he looks like he is really enjoying it as well.

“It is like he is thinking ‘I will do five days of this as well, 10 days of this, as long as you like, mate!'”

Yesterday’s scores

13:00

• Luca Brecel 3-5 Si Jiahui

19:00

• Mark Allen 5-3 Mark Selby

Today’s schedule

10:00

• Luca Brecel 3-5 Si Jiahui

14:30

• Mark Allen 5-3 Mark Selby

19:00

• Luca Brecel v Si Jiahui

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