Debutant Si edges ahead of Brecel in semi-final

Si Jiahui is the youngest Crucible semi-finalist since 1996

Si Jiahui opened up a 5-3 lead over Luca Brecel in an enthralling start to their World Championship semi-final.

Belgium's Brecel countered with runs of 72 and 69 but saw China's Si pinch the final frame on the black.

Four-time world champion Mark Selby gets his last-four meeting with Mark Allen under way at 19:00 BST.

Debutant Si, who won three qualifying matches to reach the Crucible, came into the contest having already played 113 frames to Brecel's 66 on his way to becoming the youngest semi-finalist since 1996.

The world number 80 is the lowest ranked player to reach this stage of the tournament since Welshman Terry Griffiths won it as an unranked qualifier at the first attempt in 1979.

And the 20-year-old made a formidable start, showing no trace of nerves or fatigue despite only clinching his last-four berth in a tense final-frame decider against Scotland's Anthony McGill late on Wednesday evening.

More to follow.

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