Ronnie O’Sullivan v Ryan Day LIVE: World Snooker Championship scores and latest updates

The Northern Irishman is searching for a first world title and says that enjoying himself away from snooker does not mean he isn’t dedicated to performing at his best in the sport.

“Just because you’re going out partying doesn’t mean you’re not dedicated and applying yourself to the sport,” Allen told the PA news agency.

“I think in the past I probably didn’t get the balance quite right, and it’s about doing things at the right times, because you’ve got to have a life away from snooker.

“I still enjoy a night out with my friends. I probably don’t do it as often as I did, but when I do, I make up for it. I enjoy having a few shots and going on the vodka, but I never do it too close to a tournament now, and that’s the difference.”

Mark Allen is adamant partying still has its place as he prepares to continue his quest for a maiden world snooker title at the Crucible on Saturday.

The Antrim 38-year-old launched a dramatic health drive that saw him shed over six stone in the last two years, and has been rewarded by a handful of ranking titles and a surge to third in the current world rankings.

But ahead of his second-round clash with John Higgins, night owl Allen stressed the need to continue striking a balance as he aims to plot a path to the final for the first time.

Ken Doherty has urged snooker chiefs to think twice about tearing the World Championship away from the Crucible after the venue’s current deal expires on its 50th anniversary in 2027.

Doherty, who won the tournament in 1997, challenged Barry Hearn live on the BBC earlier this week after the former World Snooker Tour chairman insisted finance would be the exclusive factor in determining its future.

And the Irishman doubled down on his criticism of Hearn, insisting that the memories generated at the famous venue, which has staged the tournament every year since 1977, matter more than the lure of Saudi Arabian or Chinese cash.

On my tombstone will not be written: ‘This is the man who took the world championship away from the Crucible’. It’s staying and it don’t matter how much [money] is involved.”

Those words were spoken by former World Snooker Tour (WST) chairman Barry Hearn in 2017, on the BBC’s documentary The Crucible: 40 Golden Snooker Years. Everyone’s entitled to change course or their mind in life. But the difference in attitudes just seven years later is stark.

Hearn, now supposedly retired but doing a very good impression of someone who isn’t, was back on the BBC this week. He was introduced as the president of Matchroom Sport – his sports promotion company is the majority shareholder in the WST – to talk about the uncertain future of the Crucible Theatre as the host of the world championship after its current contract runs out in 2027.

Both players made a number of big breaks in a high-quality first session of their last-16 clash at the Crucible.

The ‘Rocket’ got off to a flying start, hitting a 123 break in the opening frame and following up with an 84 in the second to storm ahead.

Day quickly got a foot back in the match, replying with 74 and 78 to draw level after the first four frames, but O’Sullivan recomposed himself after the mid-session interval to restore his two-frame lead with breaks of 83 and 51.

Monday 29 April – Second round

Joe O’Connor 6-10 Kyren Wilson

Ryan Day 6-10 Ronnie O’Sullivan

John Higgins 7-9 Mark Allen

Jack Lisowski 7-9 Stuart Bingham

• First round – best of 19 frames played over two sessions.
• Second round and quarter-finals – best of 25 frames played over three sessions.
• Semi-finals – best of 33 frames over four sessions.
• Final – best of 35 frames over four sessions.

The World Championship is the richest prize in snooker with players sharing a total prize fund of £2,395,000. The winner will receive £500,000, with the runner-up pocketing £200,000 and the losing semi-finalists netting £100,000 each.

An additional £15,000 is available to the player who compiles the highest break (including the qualifying stage), while two maximums made across any of the three triple crown events this season will be rewarded with a £147,000 bonus.

The entire championship will be live on the BBC, with BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website showing every match across the 17 days. The tournament is also broadcast on Eurosport in the UK. Subscribers can also stream the match online via the Discovery+ app.

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The World Snooker Championship begins at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday 20 April and finishes on Monday 6 May.