Joe Swail's interest in the World Championships at the Crucible looks close to an end.
Swail now trails 15-9 to bookies' favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan, who needs only two frames today for a place in the final.
The 16th seed was forced to sit out the first 20 minutes as O'Sullivan rattled off two century breaks, of 108 and119, for an 8-2 advantage.
Twice coming back from six-frame deficits, Swail probably missed too many routine opportunities to pressurise O'Sullivan but did show a glimpse of his `A' game with a 92 clearance before falling 10-6 down.
That left O'Sullivan with the possibility of winning a place in the final last night. Needing seven frames from the eight available, he opened by taking four of the first five.
But O'Sullivan missed adifficult black lined up for a 140 break in the 18th frame that would have equalled Swail's and the tournament's highest so far.
From 13-7, O'Sullivan hit a 79 break for 14-7 before Swail pulled two back - including a 138 break - in frame 23. But O'Sullivan ended with an 84 to go 15-9 ahead overnight.
John Higgins ended his second session level 8-8 against Wales's Matthew Stevens in what is becoming a gruelling duel.
The match resumes this morning.