By World Snooker Tour

David Gilbert stormed into a 7-1 lead over Stephen Maguire in the first session of their Cazoo World Championship quarter-final, while Judd Trump stole the last frame on the black to level at 4-4 against Jak Jones.

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Gilbert - who knocked out defending champion Luca Brecel in the opening round - is aiming to reach the semi-finals here for the second time having lost 17-16 to John Higgins in 2019, and he is more than halfway there after a superb start to his battle with Maguire, who appeared in the last four in 2007 and 2012. They return for eight more frames at 7pm on Tuesday evening, with 13 the target.

Tamworth's Gilbert dominated the opening frame, then in the second he trailed 63-26 when he converted an excellent long pot on the penultimate red, setting up a fine 41 clearance for 2-0. Breaks of 83 and 110 put him 4-0 ahead at the interval. In frame five, Gilbert had a chance to clear from 54-0 down, but missed a tricky pot on the last red along the side cushion, allowing a relieved Maguire to pull one back.

A superb 130 from Gilbert extended his lead to 5-1, then in the seventh Maguire led 64-28 when he missed frame-ball penultimate red to a baulk corner, letting his opponent in for a 37 clearance. In the last of the session, Gilbert missed the black off the last red when he led by 27 points. Maguire cleared to force a respotted black and had a chance at a thin cut to a centre pocket, but it hit the jaws and Gilbert slotted it in for 7-1.

Welshman Jones is the lowest ranked player in the field at 44, and is the first player in 25 years to reach the quarter-finals on his first two Crucible appearances. He looked composed in going 3-1 up on world number two Trump but missed chances to take a lead into the second session. 

Trump, looking to double his tally of Crucible crowns having lifted the trophy in 2019, started strongly with a break of 110, and he was on 58 in frame two when he ran out of position, allowing Jones to gain momentum with a 69 clearance. The underdog added the next two frames with a top run of 94 for 3-1. 

Jones was on 51 in frame five when he missed a straight-forward red to a centre pocket. Trump fought back to take it in two scoring visits, then dominated the sixth for 3-3.

Undeterred, Jones made a 74 to regain the lead, and in the last of the session he led by 37 points with one red left when he missed the pink to centre. Trump gained the snooker he needed on the last red, and after a long safety exchange, potted the pink to a top corner then doubled the black to centre to square the match.