'Embarrassment to snooker' - Legend Steve Davis hits out as Mark Allen makes history in world semi-final fightback against Wu Yize

​Allen and Wu clocked 100 minutes 21 seconds at the table in Sheffield during what proved the final frame of a memorable Friday session which featured numerous talking points.

It marked the longest frame ever recorded in the history of the World Championship, after 85 mins 22 secs in 2022.

Officials had to intervene following a lengthy period of play in which the black ball was left over a pocket with a mounting number of reds resulting in an exchange of safety shots between the two players which had fans ironically cheering at one point with the cue ball approaching each stalemate situation – with Allen looking to avoid a re-rack given his frame lead.

Six-time world champion Steve Davis, speaking on BBC Two, said when asked for his post-session verdict: “In a nutshell that frame is an embarrassment to snooker, and the referees' and the players' association need to try to work out a way so that never happens again.”

Antrim’s Allen returned to the table on Friday morning having suffered a 6-2 deficit across the Thursday opener against 22-year-old Wu.

However, his pursuit of the biggest prize in the game featured a stunning fightback by Allen as he won five successive frames to blow Wu’s advantage and keep alive his pursuit of that elusive honour.

It ultimately finished with Wu – following another period of safety play by Allen in search of snookers – potting the pink to seal the frame and leave it level at 7-7.

The players will return to the green baize this morning at 10 o’clock, with the final session from Saturday at 7pm expected to include the two frames not played on Friday.

Kyren Wilson, the 2024 world winner, said on BBC Two: “I think Marcel Eckardt (the referee) should've called that a lot earlier...that game was going nowhere, quite painful.

"But the fight and determination from Mark Allen is still incredible.”