Wales’ Jak Jones, the lowest-ranked player left in the tournament at 44th in the world, enjoyed a fine opening session to lead 6-2 against 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui of China.

Si made breaks of 50 and 64 in the opening two frames, only to lose both frames on the black, although Si made it 2-2 following breaks of 62 and 84.

However, Jones, himself a quarter-finalist last year, won the last four frames of the session, aided by breaks of 66 and 71 to gain a four-frame advantage, before that match resumes at 19:00.

Elsewhere on Friday, world number three Judd Trump leads 6-2 against Tom Ford and could win his match with a session to spare – if he takes seven of the eight frames in the afternoon session.

Meanwhile England’s Shaun Murphy, the 2005 champion, begins his match with Scotland’s Stephen Maguire, a two-time Crucible semi-finalist.