World Championship Day 9 Round up.

Middle Sunday at the championship and in theory a day with no match playing to a finish,but others had different ideas.

After the elimination of the hot favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan here yesterday at the hands of Ali Carter ,it was perhaps time for someone to step to fill the void at the top of the market and today we saw two real contenders stake that claim.

John Higgins has of course been here many times before and showed himself to be in fine form here yesterday as he opened up an 8-0 lead over Jack Lisowki. The four time former champ was in no mood to hang around today either, as he extended that lead to 10-0 when they resumed. Lisowski did at least manage to avoid the whitewash, taking the next with a fine run of 81, but a 100 from Higgins in the next was followed by a tournament high break of 146  to make it 12-1.He could only manage 73 in frame 14 but it was enough to see him through with a 13-1.

So last years runner up is into another quarter final here and who can say, the way he played today that a fifth world title isn't in his sights.

It did look for a long time like we would have two matches today would be  finishing with a session to spare ,but Ding  Junhui fell one short of this against Anthony McGill, albeit all but over with the Chinese star holding a 12-4 advantage

Ding was simply superb in the first session here as he stormed to an 8-0 lead and although he took his foot off the pedal tonight,make no mistake, Ding is here with the full intention of claiming that elusive first world title.

In the other round two matches playing to a finish tomorrow a real slog looks on the cards as Judd Trump & Ricky Walden head into their last session locked together at 8-8.

This one has been a nervy affair all day with both player producing moments of brilliance,but also throwing in some shockers.It would certainly be no surprise to see this one go all the way to a decider.

Things look a little more comfortable for two time champion Mark Williams who holds a 10-6 overnight lead against Robert Milkins. Williams has not been at his best in this one,but as so often with him he is still doing enough and surely a last eight encounter with Ali Carter awaits.

Of course with only two session tomorrow we can all have a bit of a lie in before it all kicks off at 1pm