A cracking, table-thumping, evening of action from the World Snooker Championship.

John Higgins once again showed his never-say-die attitude to wrestle back some of the initiative in his match with Ronnie O'Sullivan, who let his frustration out by bashing the table with his knuckles.

Be sure to read Michael Emons' report from the Crucible which has neatly encapsulated all of the major talking points from today.

We will back on Monday afternoon at 13:00 BST with live coverage on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer. However, if you're still looking for some snooker stories to catch up on in the meantime check these out:

• Crucible pressure '50 times worse than driving test'
• 'Odds-on' - Hearn tips 2029 Worlds to stay in UK
• How many 147s have there been at the Crucible?
• Memorable O'Sullivan moments as snooker great turns 50
• 'Paul was fun': Remembering snooker's lost great 20 years on

13:00

John Higgins (5) 7-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) *

Mark Selby (7) 7-9 Wu Yize (10) *

19:00

Chris Wakelin (13) 10-6 Neil Robertson (4) *

Hossein Vafaei 9-7 Judd Trump (2) *

It's looking like SOME quarter-final line-up.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Image source, Getty Images

The World Championship last-16 tie between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins is set for a thrilling finish on Monday after the Scot won the last three frames of the second session to close the deficit to only two frames.

Seven-time Crucible winner O'Sullivan led 6-2 following Saturday's first session and the match looked over when he stretched that advantage to 9-4 in the first-to-13 clash.

But fellow 'Class of 92' member Higgins, with four world titles himself, fought back on a night of high drama, to leave O'Sullivan 9-7 ahead, needing four more to claim the victory.

The 50-year-olds play the final session of an enthralling last-16 tie from 13:00 BST on Monday, with the match live on BBC Two.

"John has been incredible and it is incredible he is in this match," said seven-time world champion and BBC pundit Stephen Hendry. "Last night [in Saturday's first session] he really struggled for whatever reason.

"Ronnie's play was outstanding but John seemed really un-Higgins like. Maybe it was a little bit of nerves, a bit of intimidation, but he has just battled to stay in this match. Ronnie did not look the same player."

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Four

Anybody who can outplay Mark Selby at the World Snooker Championship is a player so alarm bells will be ringing a bit for Mark because Wu Yize is not playing to come second. He looks dangerous.

Mark Selby battles back in the final frame to cut Wu Yize's lead to two frames. A break of 74 helps him clock up 126 points which will give the Englishman confidence heading into tomorrow's final session.

A long way to go in this one.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile, earlier today...

World number one Judd Trump took a 9-7 lead over Iran's Hossein Vafael with one session to go.

It was level at 4-4 after Saturday's opening session and Vafaei, 32nd in the rankings and the only qualifier to make it past round one, won the first frame on Sunday, only for Trump to take the next two.

Breaks of 82 and 65 restored Vafaei's lead, but 2019 winner Trump won the final three frames, making runs of 100, 74 and 94, to hold a two-frame advantage before it is played to a finish on Monday evening (19:00 BST).

Another former champion, Australian Neil Robertson, the 2010 winner, also has a lead going into Monday's final session.

That was another match that was at 4-4 at the beginning of Sunday, with world number three Robertson winning six of the eight frames, including a 101 break in the final frame, to lead 10-6.

The winning target in the last-16 matches is 13.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Four

Mark Selby has been a bit off the pace and Wu Yize has responded very well. Wu is playing more of his natural game and Selby is maybe feeling the pressure of being favourite.

This match was characterised by both players building big breaks earlier but it's been much more of a close-fought battle this evening.

Wu Yize is the one on top at the moment having just nabbed the 16th frame to take a three-frame lead.

Mark Selby needs to try to get the last one on the board to stay in touch.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Four

The drama in that final frame was incredible. The amount of titles these two guys of won, the amount of times they have played each other, but the pressure on any given night can still be absolutely huge.

John Higgins has battled tonight. He might struggle sleep tonight because the adrenaline will be pumping. It's incredible that he's in this match.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Four

We saw Ronnie O'Sullivan bash the table in frustration. What a boost that was for John Higgins to know the other guys is feeling it as well.

Phew, that was a gripping session of snooker from the Crucible.

The match is deliciously poised for tomorrow when it resumes at 13:00 BST. It will be unmissable.

Here's the match statistics so far.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Four

The standard dropped tonight, but isn't it amazing that when it gets worse sometimes it can be more exciting because of the unexpected misses.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Four

A brilliant final frame and what a session of snooker that was - full of tension. Both players had chances but John Higgins just refused to go away.

Ronnie O'Sullivan rattles off a break of 45 but the last red into the top-left corner rattles and a safety battle with John Higgins ensues.

Higgins gets his chance on the yellow, though, and goes on to pot the remaining colours off the spots - bar the black - to seal the frame.

Remarkably, Higgins is within two frames of O'Sullivan.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Four

A big last frame for both players. It is worth double!

Where's the cue ball going, where's the cue ball going!

You can still hear one of the late great John Virgo's infamous catch phrases in your ears when John Higgins plays a shot like that.

The Scot pots the red into the bottom-right corner but the cue ball rebounds off the cushion and goes into the left-middle pocket.

A break of 39 over and Ronnie O'Sullivan is back on his feet.

Here's that moment of frustration taken out on the table by Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Mark Selby misses the chance to get parity and instead it's a composed Wu Yize who clinches the 14th frame to restore his two-frame cushion.

How vital will that frame be?

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Four

That is exactly what it means to Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's getting frustrated. He had a great chance in the previous frame and didn't convert. Those knuckles will be sore, let me tell you.