World Snooker Championship 2024 LIVE – Luca Brecel begins title defence against David Gilbert before Judd Trump opener

Looks like Gilbert is going to steady the ship with a winning counter punch in this frame. Brecel had his chances, didn’t take them and Dave is going to register in this match. A break of 70 from Gilbert, who closes to 2-1 behind.

Dave being handed a few chances to make his presence felt after Luca is miles off a long red. But just failing to really settle down as Brecel quickly returns to the table. 16 this time as Luca misses a red to left centre. So a third chance of the frame for the man dubbed ‘The Angry Farmer’. Can he secure his first frame of the day?

91 and 134 from Brecel in the first two frames and he is on the move again in the third frame. Dave yet to really settle out there. Hasn’t had a chance. And leaves Luca an easy starter. But he can only make 24 before he butchers a safety shot. Hit a middle jaw running back down the table to baulk, and Dave has his first real chance of this match.

And in goes the century from Luca, who is right on it out there. Brilliant double on yellow to keep the break going. And a 134 total clearance from Brecel is impeccable. Dave yet to pot a ball in this match.

Brecel continuing his march towards another quick kill in the second frame. Early chance of a maximum, but forced to take a pink to right centre to quell those prospects. Still, this is very, very bright indeed from Luca. Drops in a wonderful red to left middle. Into a blind pocket. Very impressive. Should be a 2-0 lead on the cards.

Looks like Brecel has never been away from this venue. First to the punch in the second frame, and picking up from where he left off last year. Just striking the cue ball with real sense of authority.

This has been a blistering start by Brecel. Could be a century straight off the bat here. 91 break, but a tough blue doesn’t drop. No matter. Exceptional level of play from Luca, who leads 1-0.

Dave very unfortunate to see the green fly in potting a red, but Brecel is not hanging about as he opens up the reds via the green seconds later. Brilliant shot by the Belgian player, who then smashes open more reds off a red with the rest. What a shot that is. Nothing difficult on this table now.

Out comes the leading four men for this morning’s action. Luca bouncing down the old stairs. Gilbert with an early error to leave a red over a left hand middle bag. Chance then for Luca to get hand on table. But only makes six before a tough red to centre stays out. A settling in period. Nine frames to be play in this first session.

A reminder of the moment Luca Brecel became Belgium’s first world champion a year ago.

A huge day ahead as the 48th World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield gets moving at 10am with world champion Luca Brecel taking on David Gilbert, a semi-finalist at the fabled venue back in 2019. International champion Zhang Anda faces 2023 quarter-finalist Jak Jones on the other main table this morning. Boys on baize imminently.

• Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
• Zhang Anda v Jak Jones

• Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
• Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei

• Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
• Luca Brecel v David Gilbert