We are done for the day. A quick reminder of the state of play in today's matches:

• Zhao Xintong 10-7 Liam Highfield
• Barry Hawkins 7-2 Matthew Stevens
• Mark Williams 6-3 Antoni Kowalsk
• Xiao Guodong 5-4 Zhou Yuelong

Be sure to read a report on everything that happened on day one at the Crucible from our man Michael Emons in Sheffield.

We will back bright and early on Sunday with more from the World Snooker Championship but if you want some reading between now and then check out these stories:

• O'Sullivan chasing eighth Crucible title aged 50
• 'I'd run the M4 naked' - Williams targets snooker history
• How many nationalities have played at the World Snooker Championship?
• What is the Crucible curse?

10:00

Ding Junhui (16) v David Gilbert

Mark Allen (14) v Zhang Anda *

14:30

John Higgins (5) v Ali Carter

Barry Hawkins (11) v Matthew Stevens *

19:00

Xiao Guodong (9) v Zhou Yuelong *

Mark Williams (6) v Antoni Kowalski *

Barry Hawkins has just wrapped up the final frame of the night from the Crucible to put himself in a commanding position against Matthew Stevens.

If Mark Williams sees out his match tomorrow then he will be one step closer to running down the M4 motorway naked.

That's the promise he made this week if he goes all the way and wins a fourth world crown.

Williams last triumphed at the Crucible in 2018, and fulfilled a similar pre-tournament pledge to strip off in front of the world's media after he beat John Higgins 18-16 in the final.

"I'd run down the M4 from London to Cardiff naked," Williams said earlier this week.

"I'd do anything to get another title, but the years go by and you're less likely to win it."

Victory in Sheffield would see 51-year-old Williams become the oldest world champion in history, something he came close to achieving last year before his 18-12 final defeat to Zhao Xintong.

He reached that final despite his deteriorating eyesight for which he is awaiting lens replacement surgery.

The winner of the 2026 Snooker World Championship will receive £500,000, while there is a total prize fund of almost £2.4m.

Winner: £500,000

Runner-up: £200,000

Semi-finalists: £100,000

Quarter-finalists: £50,000

Last 16: £30,000

Last 32: £20,000

Highest break (qualifying stage included): £15,000

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Some quotes now from the news conference from Liam Highfield, who has now lost in the first round on four occasions. He said: "Zhao played great in the first half of the second session and that took a bit of wind out of my sails.

"You don't play at the Crucible every day, I've only ever played four matches here in my life and the pressure gets on you and there's a big crowd. It's always great to be here, it is an amazing place to play and every time you play here you cherish it.

"But I'm proud of myself to be here from where I was a year ago when I was trying to get back on the tour.

"At times I thought he looked edgy and I got him on the ropes and I let him off and he will punish you because he is that good."

Barry Hawkins and Matthew Stevens are still battling it out on table as the clock ticks towards 11pm in the evening at the Crucible.

Hawkins has the upper hand in this one with more frame left to play tonight.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

I think the world champion is the man to beat - the last three or four months he has been imperious.

He's playing some of the most incredible snooker I have seen in a long time.

It's going to be fascinating to see if he can carry that on in this Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

Zhao Xintong, speaking to BBC Two: "Tonight there was pressure and it was difficult for me. I just tried to control myself and try to enjoy the table but I didn't play well at times but hopefully next round I can do well.

"Have I heard of the Crucible Curse? I know everything about that! I feel confident but the pressure made me make some easy misses. At the end of the day it makes me tougher."

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Zhao Xintong was probably at 50% of what he is capable of. But the exercise today is to just get through round one and get that banana skin out the way. He does not play until Friday so he'll have a nice rest.

Image source, Getty Images

Liam Highfield speaking to BBC Two: "There were two or three frames throughout the match I could have won but I didn't. I just missed some simple balls, but he played well in the first half of the second session. Hopefully I can take some positives."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

China's reigning world champion Zhao Xintong defeated England's Liam Highfield on an emotional opening day of the tournament at the Crucible.

Zhao was 5-4 up against Highfield, 92nd in the world rankings, after the first session, but then won five of the next eight frames of the second session to seal a 10-7 victory.

Last year, Zhao became the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship and he will face either compatriot Ding Junhui or England's David Gilbert in the last 16.

Northern Ireland's former world number one Mark Allen is 3-5 behind against China's Zhang Anda, with their second session to come on Sunday morning.

Three-time champion Mark Williams secured a 6-3 lead over 22-year-old Antoni Kowalski, the world number 69 and the first player from Poland to play at the venue.

Before play started on Saturday a host of the sport's biggest names, including the BBC television team, paid tribute to former player and commentator John Virgo, who died in February aged 79, with a minute's applause.

Zhao through to second roundpublished at 22:24 BST 18 April

22:24 BST 18 April

Zhao 10-7 Highfield

A brave mini fightback from Liam Highfield in the previous two frames, but the class of Zhao Xintong has ultimately shone through at the Crucible.

The world champion breezes into the second round with a wonderful century break to secure the frame he needed to wrap up a 10-7 victory.

Zhao fell short of the clearance after the green missed the middle pocket but he will not worry about that a jot.

He was far from his best but Zhao has negotiated a slightly tricky opponent.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

When you think you're going out you play with a bit of fluency, but then all of sudden you can find yourself back in the match.

But the problem is it can flip the pressure right back on you. It will be interesting to see how Liam Highfield plays this next frame now.

Now then. The previous frame has given Liam Highfield a massive injection of confidence.

He compiles a stylish break of 53 before being forced to retreat into a bit of safety play.

Zhao Xintong sets about his work and plays a superb screwback on the brown to dislodge a red on the bottom cushion.

But the world champion cannot finish the job and Highfield returns to clinch the frame 70-34.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Barry Hawkins and Matthew Stevens have played five frames and it is the start of frame six, so therefore they are a bit surprised when it flashes up frame seven on the electronic boards around table two.

But the pair see the funny side of things during the brief halt while the boards are changed.

Four frames more to go on table two.

The two players' seats are right next to each other in the opening two rounds and sometimes both competitors do everything possible to not engage with their opponent. But these two are happy to have a joke and a laugh about the situation. It may have been a bit more tense if a delay had come at 9-9.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

If I'd have been in Liam Highfield's camp today I would have been saying to him after the first four frames 'just loosen up a bit'. His shot time there has gone from 31 seconds to 17 and how much better and fluent did he look?

He's taken the shackles off and if he had played like this a little bit earlier this match would have been a lot closer. The way Zhao Xintong played earlier he could even have been in front.

Liam Highfield takes John Parrott's advice on board and throws a counter punch with a sizzling century break.

He missed the last black on the final red so the opportunity to complete a clearance was beyond him but that will have put him in a markedly better mood even if he does bow out in the next frame.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Zhao Xintong gave himself a little bit of trouble by missing a black that would have killed the frame early on. But when the balls come up which are necessary to get over he does enough.

There's little spells where he is losing concentration, but he has done enough.

Liam Highfield is in last-chance saloon so his arm might loosen up a bit now. He's expecting to go out so just got out and play and see where it takes you.

Zhao Xintong looked to be cruising home at 60-14 ahead in the 14th frame only to rattle the jaws of the pocket with a straightforward black.

The world champion looked to the heavens and then smirked to himself. He could not quite believe he had missed it.

Liam Highfield had a glimmer of a chance but an unfortunate kiss on the blue after he potted yellow left him with an uphill struggle.

Given a reprieve Zhao closed out the frame.