Ding Junhui reaches the final of the World Snooker Championships

On a day when Mark Selby and Marco Fu played out the longest frame in Crucible history and so delayed the deciding afternoon session between Ding Junhui and Alan McManus, it was Ding who settled the best.

Resuming at 14-10 up in the best-of-33 match, Ding Junhui became the first Asian player to reach the World Championship Snooker final with a 17-11 victory. In doing so, his seven century breaks was a record for the most centuries in a Crucible match, previously held by Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry.

Coming into the tournament as ranked #17 Ding, along with Alan McManus, had to go through three qualifying matches, and becomes the first Asian player to reach the final of the World Snooker Championships.

 Alan McManus breaks off in frame #25.

 Both players stand away from the table and think about the options.

 Referee Olivier Marteel, Ding Junhui and Alan McManus contemplate the table.

Frame 26, Ding looks for the snooker on the pink but McManus comes back to win it and make it 15-11 at that point.

Action from the first frame Ding Junhui vs Alan McManus

It's the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championships and this is the first frame in the match between China's Ding Junhui, hoping to become the first Chinese player to reach the final, and Alan McManus from Scotland - who at 45 is the oldest player to reach a Crucible semi-final since Ray Reardon in 1985.

 Steve Davis ready for the warm-up.

 Ding Junhui and Alan McManus.

 Alan McManus breaks off.

 Ding Junhui plays down the table.

Sheffield Sharks hold BBL Playoff advantage after 91-80 win over Glasgow Rocks

Sheffield Sharks came home from Scotland last night with a precious 11 point lead after the first leg of their BBL semi-final playoff.  But they've left Glasgow a foothold after letting slip a 23 point lead from the start of the fourth quarter.

Jerrold Brooks was MVP with 24 points and five assists.

Jerrold Brooks, Glasgor Rocks, EIS, November 2015

End of the second round at the 2016 World Snooker Championships

A long night at the Crucible to end the second round of the 2016 World Snooker Championships as five time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan came from 12-9 down against Barry Hawkins.  He hit breaks of 124, 88 and 63 to level the match.  A drawn out game of cat-and-mouse ensured in the deciding 25th frame where a mistake to put the white ball in let Barry Hawkins who then proceeded to wrap up the frame 70-15 with a break of 56.

 Barry Hawkins breaks off.

 Ronnie O'Sullivan rolls the white down the table.

 Referee Brendan Moore.

 Barry Hawkins, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Brendan Moore checking the table.

 Ronnie O'Sullivan and Barry Hawkins check what's been left on.

 Ronnie O'Sullivan switches to his left hand to play over the reds.

Unusually for a match featuring Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins fiinshed earlier on the other table, so the central divide was lifted and the game was played to a finish in front of the whole arena.

 US Masters winner Danny Willett was in the press seats for the match.

 Barry Hawkins salutes the crowd.

 Ronnie O'Sullivan in the press conference after the match.

Barry Hawkins in the press conference after the match.

Action from Day Nine of the World Snooker Championships

Some shots of the action from Day Nine of the 2016 World Snooker Championships.

Paul Hunter is remembered on the middle Sunday of the Championships with a minute's applause.

 Referee Brendan Moore ready to oversee O'Sullivan vs Hawkins.

 Barry Hawkins breaks off in the 9th frame with the scores 5-3 in his favour.

 Ronnie O'Sullivan with a pot in the middle of the table.

 Ronnie O'Sullivan, Barry Hawkins and Brendan Moore watch the cue ball roll back to baulk.

 Ricky Walden plays down the table in his match against John Higgins.

 John Higgins making full use of the rest.