Mark Allen is trailing Mark Selby 7-6 in the World Snooker Championship semi-finals after a gruelling afternoon session.
## What happened in the semi-finals?
The Northern Irishman had won the final three frames to lead 5-3 overnight, but Selby battled back to establish a 7-6 overnight advantage.
Mark Allen's chances of reaching the final are still alive, but he needs to overcome Selby's strong safety play.
## Why is the match important for Mark Allen?
A win for Mark Allen would see him reach the World Championship final for the first time, where he would face either Luca Brecel or Si Jiahui.
The young Chinese star Si Jiahui has been impressive in the tournament, winning six of the eight frames on offer in his semi-final against Luca Brecel.
## What comes next for Mark Allen?
Mark Allen will need to regroup and come out strong in the next session to overcome the deficit and reach the final.
The match has been criticised for the slow pace of play, with seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry saying "it was not pretty" and that the players were "trying to be too precise".
Mark Selby's experience and tactical play have given him the edge so far, but Mark Allen is known for his fighting spirit and ability to come back from behind.
The winner of the semi-final will face either Luca Brecel or Si Jiahui in the World Championship final, which promises to be an exciting match.
As of Friday, the scores are: Mark Allen 6-7 Mark Selby and Luca Brecel 10-14 Si Jiahui.
Mark Allen will be looking to draw on his past experiences and use his skills to overcome the deficit and reach the final.
The crowd has been entertained by the tense match, with the final frame of the session ending in comical circumstances as Mark Allen conceded the frame to Mark Selby.
The World Snooker Championship has seen many exciting matches so far, and the semi-finals have been no exception.
Mark Allen's fans will be hoping he can turn the match around and reach the final, where he would face a tough challenge from either Luca Brecel or Si Jiahui.