Katie Taylor has won her first title of her pro career (Picture: Getty)
Katie Taylor won her first title in front of a Wembley crowd by stopping Nina Meinke in the seventh round.
Anthony Joshua reveals what he told Wladimir Klitschko just before incredible stoppage
The Olympic gold medalist can now add the WBA Intercontinental lightweight title to her amateur trophy collections.
It was a classy performance from the unbeaten Taylor, who never relinquished her grip on proceedings.
Taylor began throwing off some quick combinations in round one and two as she circled Meinke.
Taylor was in control against Nina Meinke (Picture: Getty)
The third began with some punishing body shots before a left hook to the temple of Meinke, but the German escaped the initial flurry.
Taylor continued to wear the German down in the fifth and Meinke’s defensive work just dropped a level or two as a result.
The Irishwoman worked the body and moved up the head quickly before a clash of heads in the fifth seemed to open up a cut above Meinke’s eye.
Meinke’s face was swollen after a clash of heads (Picture: Getty)
Taylor was now landing left hooks and body shots almost at will and when she unleashed a lengthy hook combination on Meinke’s face in the seventh, the referee stepped in.
Meinke’s vision was impaired if only slightly and Taylor peeled off in celebration with the seventh round stoppage.
Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn said after the fight that America was the next stop for the rising star.
‘I’m always a bit critical and I thought it was a bit scrappy at times,’ said Taylor.
Taylor celebrates winning the WBA title (Picture: Getty)
More: Boxing
One incredible picture prompts boxing fans to proclaim Joshua the new Muhammad Ali
Tyson Fury immediately responds to Anthony Joshua's post-fight call out
Anthony Joshua becomes instant legend by stopping Wladimir Klitschko in war at Wembley
‘I was expecting a tough fight, but I’m absolutely delighted. These are the moments I dream of.
‘This weight is perfect for me, I feel very strong and good at this weight.
‘I think I’m ready right now to box for a world title, but we leave that to the likes of Eddie and I’ll just keep focusing on my job. The best is yet to come – I didn’t perform to my best tonight but the most important thing is I won.’
Van Dijk has been out of action since January with a foot injury (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal are at the head of the queue along with Manchester City to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, according to the Star on Sunday.
Arsenal star pictured back in training in possible North London Derby boost
The Netherlands international has been a revelation on the south coast since his move from Celtic in August 2015.
Despite having been out of action since January with a foot injury, the 25-year-old is one of the most coveted players in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola is searching for a long-term Vincent Kompany successor (Picture: Getty)
Arsene Wenger has recently switched to a three-man defence (Picture: Getty)
Van Dijk signed a five-year contract when he moved to Southampton for £13 million, and the Saints are hoping to make nearly three times that amount should they end up selling one of their prize assets in the summer.
The Gunners, who recently switched formations and are utilising a three-man defence, are said to be leading therace but Manchester City are also strong contenders.
More: Football
Antonio Valencia appears to confirm Man Utd star's early return from injury
Bayern Munich win fifth Bundesliga in a row after thrashing Wolfsburg 6-0
Liverpool urged to beat Chelsea to £70m star in controversial deal
Pep Guardiola is eyeing up a long-term replacement for skipper Vincent Kompany and views Van Dijk as the perfect man to partner John Stones.
Feliz cumpleaños hermano y felicidades en tu regreso. @juanmatagarcia Happy birthday brother and congratulations on your return.
A post shared by antoniovalencia2525 (@antoniovalencia2525) on
Manchester United attacking midfielder Juan Mata could be back in action for the club’s game against Swansea City this weekend after missing eight games.
The Spain international has been out of action after undergoing groin surgery, and initially looked likely to miss the rest of the 2016/17 campaign.
Arsenal star pictured back in training in possible North London Derby boost
However, Antonio Valencia’s latest post on Instagram seems to confirm what Jose Mourinho said earlier this week, that Mata could be back sooner than expected.
United __have a long list of injury problems at the moment, but now look to __have been handed a significant boost with the return of this key attacking player for the visit of Swansea on Sunday.
Juan Mata has been one of United’s best players this term (Picture: Getty)
More: Football
Bayern Munich win fifth Bundesliga in a row after thrashing Wolfsburg 6-0
Liverpool urged to beat Chelsea to £70m star in controversial deal
Today's Premier League games were so boring it actually made history
Uploading a picture of himself and Mata on Instagram, Valencia said: ‘Happy birthday brother and congratulations on your return.’
It remains to be seen if the 29-year-old will be fit enough to start the game at Old Trafford, but United fans will at least hope to see him emerge from the bench at some point.
Having drawn 0-0 with Manchester City in midweek, the Red Devils are in urgent need of a win to keep up their fight for a top four finish this May.
None of the top six were in action in the Premier League today, and the rest of the pack didn’t exactly do their bit to live up to the billing that this is in fact the best league in the world.
Arsenal star pictured back in training in possible North London Derby boost
There were five matches on Saturday, and by half time in the four 3pm kick-offs it seemed pretty clear what we were heading for as they managed just one goal between them.
Things livened up in the second half as a goal by Bournemouth’s Josh King condemned Sunderland to relegation, while the late kick off between Crystal Palace and Burnley was the only game of the day to feature more than one goal.
It was a good day for the goalkeepers (Picture: Getty)
Today's Premier League results
Southampton 0-0 Hull City
Stoke City 0-0 West Ham
Sunderland 0-1 Bournemouth
West Brom 0-1 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 0-2 Burnley
Incredibly, stats from Opta __have revealed that this is the first time a Premier League matchday with four games or more has resulted in NONE of the home teams finding the back of the net.
0 – This is the first time in @premierleague history no home side has scored on a single day with at least four games. Blanks.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 29, 2017
Southampton, Stoke, Sunderland, West Brom and Palace were all playing in front of their own fans this afternoon, and certainly didn’t provide great value for money.
What a week it's been in the Best League In The World™ pic.twitter.com/S90n5301FS
— Metro Sport (@Metro_Sport) April 29, 2017
Sunday’s line ups could be more interesting as both Manchester United and City are in action before the highlight of the weekend: Tottenham hosting Arsenal in the North London Derby.
For now, however, you can probably give Match of the Day a miss tonight, despite Gary Lineker’s best efforts!
Historical MOTD running order: first time in modern era we start with a nil nil. Sou/Hull, Sun/Bou, CP/Bur, WBA/Lei, Sto/WHU. BBC1 10.20 😬
Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Wladimir Klitschko (Picture: Getty)
Tyson Fury has told Anthony Joshau he is ready to fight after watching his British rival become the WBA and IBF champion.
Anthony Joshua reveals what he told Wladimir Klitschko just before incredible stoppage
Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko in an epic battle at Wembley that saw both heavyweights hit the canvas.
A remarkable comeback from Joshua crowned the 27-year-old a unified champion and he now owns two of the belts Fury use to hold.
Joshua said after his fight: ‘Tyson Fury, where you at baby?
Wellldone @anthonyfjoshua good fight, you had life & death with @klitschko & I played with the guy, let's dance 💃 pic.twitter.com/alLRHPb513
— TYSON2FASTFURY (@Tyson_Fury) April 29, 2017
‘Come on, is that what you want to see? I enjoy fighting. I love fighting. Tyson Fury I know he has been talking a lot and wants to come back and compete.
‘I want to give 90,000 people another chance to come back and watch some boxing here.’
And Fury was quick to reply using his favourite form of communication, Twitter.
Tyson Fury says he will return to boxing later this year (Picture: Getty)
The former unified king had already called Joshua out before the fight and was quick to respond the new king.
‘Well done Anthony Joshua, good fight, you had life and death with Klitschko and I played with the guy,’ he said.
Watch on BBC Two, online and the BBC Sport app from 21:00 BST on Sunday, 23 April.
What is the most memorable moment in the World Snooker Championship's 40-year history at the Crucible Theatre?
The sport's showpiece event was first held at the iconic Sheffield venue in 1977, and to mark the 40th anniversary of the move, the BBC is broadcasting a special documentary on Sunday.
Host Steve Davis chats to snooker greats Dennis Taylor, who beat him in the famous black-ball final of 1985, Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White as well as Crucible superfans Stephen Fry, Gary Lineker, Johnny Vegas and Richard Osman - plus Lauren Higgins, daughter of two-time world champion Alex Higgins.
To tie in with the programme we __have selected 10 famous moments from the past 40 years and want you to pick your top three from the shortlist below.
Top three Crucible moments
To celebrate 40 years of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, we want you to pick your top three most memorable moments.
First
1
Second
2
Third
3
1980: Thorburn wins final during political drama
1982: Higgins’s daughter steals the show
1983: The first maximum
1985: The black-ball final
1986: 150-1 outsider shocks snooker
1994: Hendry beats White…again
1997: Rocket’s rapid 147
1999: King Hendry the seventh
2013: Ronnie’s remarkable return
2015: Bingham hits the jackpot
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Thorburn wins final during political drama (1980)
Cliff Thorburn's first world title win against Alex Higgins saw drama taking place both on and off the table. The Canadian had fallen 5-1 and 9-5 behind, before producing a fightback to eventually triumph 18-16.
However, the BBC were inundated with complaints after switching their coverage to broadcast live footage of the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy in London to end a six-day siege.
Higgins's daughter steals the show (1982)
Alex Higgins defeated Willie Thorne and Jimmy White en route to another final, coming up against six-time winner Ray Reardon. A superb 135 break gave him an 18-15 victory over the Welshman, but what followed was pure emotion.
As the Northern Irishman was handed the trophy and winners' cheque, the tears flowed, but the rest of the nation soon followed as Higgins mouthed "my baby, my baby" with 18-month old blonde-haired daughter Lauren and wife Lynn delivering a loving embrace in the arena.
The first maximum (1983)
Only one previous televised 147 break had been made in the sport's history before Thorburn - helped by a fluked opening red - pocketed all the balls up until the pink. "Good luck, mate," whispered Jack Karnehm in the BBC commentary box, before Thorburn sunk the final black. He dropped to his knees and held the cue aloft in the air as the crowd erupted.
The black-ball final (1985)
Widely regarded as the best match in the championship's history, the 1985 final attracted 18.5 million viewers. Overwhelming favourite Steve Davis - aiming to become the first player in the modern game to win three consecutive world titles - looked to be on his way to a comfortable win after taking an 8-0 lead, before Taylor began an astonishing comeback.
In the deciding 35th frame, which lasted 68 minutes, Northern Irishman Taylor potted brown, blue and pink, taking the final frame to the final black, which Davis overcut from a blind pot. Taylor knocked it in and produced his famous, finger-wagging, cue waving celebration.
150-1 outsider shocks snooker (1986)
The following year Davis reached another final, coming up against Yorkshireman Joe Johnson, who had never won a tournament in seven years as a professional. A 150-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, Johnson's nerveless showing allowed him to complete a comfortable 18-12 victory - one of the sport's most unexpected triumphs.
Hendry beats White… again (1994)
Scot Stephen Hendry went into the final with a fractured left arm, which gave Jimmy White hope, having lost in the previous four finals and five times in total. At 37-24 up in the decider, White inexplicably missed a black off the spot, allowing Hendry to capitalise and claim his fourth world title… all against the same opponent.
"He's beginning to annoy me," White said afterwards. 'The Whirlwind' failed to reach another final.
Rocket's rapid 147 (1997)
It would take Ronnie O'Sullivan another four years to claim his first world title, but 20 years ago, 'The Rocket' whizzed round the table to stroke in the quickest 147 in history in the first round against Mick Price.
Timed at a staggering five minutes and 20 seconds, the Englishman averaged nine seconds a shot, earning him £147,000 for the maximum and £18,000 for the highest break.
King Hendry the seventh (1999)
The phrase "snooker from the gods" was coined by BBC commentator Clive Everton during Hendry's 1999 semi-final win over O'Sullivan, which contained 22 breaks over 50, including four centuries apiece. Hendry had lost the 1997 final to Ken Doherty and gone out in the first round the following year, with question marks raised about his ability to win another world crown.
He silenced the doubters by beating Welshman Mark Williams 18-11 in the final for his seventh and last title, surpassing six-time winner Davis in the process.
Ronnie's remarkable return (2013)
O'Sullivan had played just one match - in September - when he appeared at the tournament in April, but despite the lack of competitive action, produced some glorious snooker to collect his fifth world title by beating Barry Hawkins 18-12 in May's final.
O'Sullivan compiled a record six centuries in the contest, as well as beating Hendry's record of 127 Crucible tons.
Bingham hits the jackpot (2015)
Stuart 'Ballrun' Bingham's name seemed to be on the trophy when the underdog beat former champions Graeme Dott and Ronnie O'Sullivan, before edging past Judd Trump in the semi-finals.
He still had a job to do against another former champion Shaun Murphy, but the 50-1 shot emerged victorious 18-15 to become the oldest first-time winner at the Crucible, claim the £300,000 prize money and move up to second in the world rankings.
Mary Keitany of Kenya broke Paula Radcliffe's women's-only world record to win the London Marathon.
Keitany, 35, crossed the finish line on The Mall in two hours 17 minutes one second, the second-fastest time in history.
That was 41 seconds quicker than four-time British Olympian Radcliffe ran in winning the event in 2005.
Kenyan Daniel Wanjiru, 24, won the men's race in 2:05:56, with Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia second.
Bekele - the 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder - looked to be mounting a challenge in the final stages, but Wanjiru found enough pace to finish strongly and eventually win by nine seconds.
Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia was the runner-up in the women's race, clocking a time of 2:17:56.
Speaking to the BBC after the race, Keitany said: "It was a great day for me. It was really amazing, to run the best time.
"The weather was good at the beginning, it was nice for me and my pace. I've run my best."
Wanjiru said he felt comfortable running at world-record pace for sections of the race and is still aiming to break Dennis Kimetto's time of 2:02:57, set in Berlin in 2014.
"In the beginning the race was very fast and we were inside world record pace. It was the pace I was preparing for," he told BBC TV.
"We tried to maintain that pace for half of the race. From there it was becoming tougher and tougher. The sun was coming and the day was beautiful - but we don't need too much sun!"
In the women's race, Britain's Alyson Dixon finished 12th in a personal best of 2:29:06 to secure her place at this summer's World Championships.
However, Jo Pavey, who needed to finish as one of the top two British women to qualify for August's championships in London, was forced to retire after about 17 miles.
Radcliffe still holds the women's world record of 2:15:25, set at the London Marathon in 2003 when she ran against men and women.
Robbie Simpson was the fastest of the elite British men, finishing in 2:15:04, followed by Andrew Davies seven seconds later.
Speaking before the race, Simpson said he needed to go under 2:15.30 to put himself in the frame to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
Both men __have run the required time to secure their places in the British squad for the World Championships.
London Marathon: Live video, radio & text
Weir wins men's wheelchair race for record seventh title
The way Chelsea beat Tottenham in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final showed why they are going to win the Premier League title too.
As usual, Antonio Conte's side were dogged and resilient - and the manager's gameplan worked perfectly.
They were content to soak up Spurs' pressure and possession and, when they went up the other end, they took their chances brilliantly.
The Blues scored four goals against the team with the best defensive record in the top flight, so you cannot say they did not deserve their victory.
And anyone who doubted Chelsea after their defeats by Manchester United and Crystal Palace just had to watch them at Wembley to see how good they are.
This was a superb display that won a brilliant cup tie and, psychologically, could and probably should pull them across the line in the title race too.
They know they beat their closest rivals despite not having three key players for the majority of the game - centre-back Gary Cahill, who was out injured, and winger Eden Hazard and striker Diego Costa, who came off the bench with less than half an hour to play.
Conte's big gamble pays off
Conte's decision to leave Costa and, in particular, Hazard out of his starting line-up was a huge call - but it worked.
The guy he brought in for Hazard - Willian - scored twice. Then, when he brought Hazard on in the second half, the Belgium international changed the game.
Hazard scored Chelsea's vital third goal and he also rolled the ball into Nemanja Matic for his fantastic strike to make it 4-2.
When you make big decisions, you want them to work in your favour, and things could not really __have worked out any better for Conte on Saturday.
The Italian has not got very much wrong in his first season in the Premier League, especially since switching to his favoured formation of three at the back at the end of September.
The double is definitely on, which would be an incredible achievement.
Kenny Dalglish (with Liverpool in 1986) and Carlo Ancelotti (with Chelsea in 2010) are the only other managers to __have done it in their first season in England, and now Conte has a fantastic chance of doing the same.
Chelsea 4-2 Tottenham - match report
Spurs boss Pochettino 'not worried' after defeat
Listen to 5 live's Football Daily podcast
Tottenham did not make their possession count
The benches illustrated the difference in depth between the two teams, because Chelsea's substitutes made a huge difference, and Tottenham's didn't.
It obviously helps when you have got big hitters like Hazard, Costa and Fabregas to come on - but I still think Spurs wasted a great opportunity to beat a weakened Chelsea side.
Tottenham dominated possession - they had 63% of the ball and played 544 passes to 323 by Chelsea - but I don't think they did enough with it.
They only had four shots on target, and one of them was in the 93rd minute.
Kane took his goal very well and Dele Alli's finish to make it 2-2 was superb after a brilliant ball by Christian Eriksen.
The way Alli found the space inside the area was very similar to the headers he scored when Spurs beat Chelsea in the league in January but, other than that, they did not open Conte's side up often enough.
No trophy for Tottenham this time
As much as victory will lift Chelsea, this defeat will damage Tottenham - who have now lost seven straight FA Cup semi-finals.
I don't think it affects Spurs' title hopes, because I never thought Chelsea would chuck the league away whatever happened at Wembley.
But, trophy-wise, it now looks like Mauricio Pochettino's team will not have anything to show for their season - and I think the next 12 months will be a crucial time for the club.
If you go through the Tottenham team, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League - if not the best - in Hugo Lloris, and they certainly have the best defender in Toby Alderweireld.
Alli is one of the most sought-after young players in the world and Kane is one of the best strikers in the Premier League, and with Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele in midfield they have one hell of a spine.
But all that talent needs to get over the line in something - and soon.
They need to win a trophy next season, otherwise I fear their top players will look to go elsewhere to get some silverware.
Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Great Britain __have lost their Fed Cup World Cup Group II play-off in Romania, consigning them back to the Europe/Africa Zone.
It was 1-1 after Saturday when host captain Ilie Nastase was banned for swearing at the umpire, Johanna Konta and her GB skipper Anne Keothavong.
On Sunday, Simon Halep won 6-1 6-3 against Konta to put Romania in front.
Irina-Camelia Begu then beat Heather Watson 6-4 7-5 as Romania took an unassailable lead before the doubles.
Konta was left in tears after Nastase's conduct and, even though the world number seven still beat Sorana Cirstea on Saturday, she found Halep, ranked five in the world, a tougher test.
Halep raced into a 4-0 lead as she made the most of her clay-court knowhow and broke to love in taking the first set in 27 minutes.
Konta gave signs of a comeback by breaking Halep and taking a 3-1 lead in the second set but Halep responded by taking five games in a row to impressively win the match.
World number 113 Watson knew she had to win against 33rd-ranked Begu and she was involved in a tight match with plenty of quality and drama.
There were five breaks of serve in the first set, which Begu took, but none in the second until Watson lost her serve in the seventh game.
Begu also broke the Briton at 5-5 and served out for the match to secure victory for Romania.
Kicking a ball around the schoolyard has been a right of passage for children all over the world, but for former Afghanistan women's captain Khalida Popal, playing football nearly cost her her life.
"It was really dangerous, I can't forget that time or that moment, where I felt I may no longer be alive. It was the moment I became the leader of women's football in Afghanistan. My voice was stronger and stronger and I changed the nation, from just playing football to talking about women's rights and issues women are facing in the country.
"There were people who were really against my activities and against women's development. They didn't like me to be there, they didn't like to hear or to see women developing a strong voice. Women not obeying men's rules or women who want to be leaders and stand in front and encourage others. When men begin to lose their power to women, it gets very dangerous because men don't want to lose their power."
Popal began playing football as a teenager in Kabul behind closed doors after school. In order to not get caught she and her friends would play in silence so the Taliban guards on the other side of the school wall would not hear them.
Despite the danger and difficulties, the 29-year-old still fondly remembers the first time she kicked a ball.
"It was a great day, it was raining and almost autumn. I remember one of my classmates and I had an old ball, a very old one and we took it and were kicking the ball with normal shoes. At that time there were no special football shoes.
"It was fantastic, we were laughing a lot and really enjoying the time playing football. We were wearing our school uniforms with scarves on and we were running like crazy and got so tired."
Read more women's football features from BBC World Service
Laura Harvey: Why an Englishwoman abroad is NWSL's sole survivor
Meet Jill Ellis - the World Cup-winning US women's coach from Hampshire
It was not too long before those post-school kickabouts were replaced by something that was going to take over Popal's life. "Very quickly the idea changed from just having fun to really taking the game seriously; when I began to face problems and ignorance, and some of the men started against me and against our game that we were playing.
"The community didn't want to accept us, we were playing what has always been thought of as a man's game in our country. The view was that women should always be at home, just be a machine that washes and were used by men, that is the culture of women in Afghanistan.
"It was just after Taliban had left the country, it was a really tough time for women, especially those who played football, studied or went to work."
The women who played football were accused of flouting Islam and called prostitutes by their detractors.
Popal continued: "Of course there is nothing in the Koran which says you shouldn't play football. The religion is apart from sports. Playing football is good for the women's health and is not against religion. Women against women playing sport is not sexual and is not against any kind of religion, let alone Islam."
Despite the difficulties that Popal and her team-mates faced, they were determined to try to inspire the next generation - and in 2007 the Afghanistan women's football team were formed. Their first game was against an International Security Assistance Forces team at the Ghazi Stadium in Kabul in the same year. Afghanistan won 5-0, but the match was about so much more than that, considering what had happened in the Ghazi Stadium in previous years.
Citing Sharia law, Taliban officials carried out lashings, stonings, amputations and executions in public places such as squares, schools or sports grounds.
The sports stadiums in Kabul and Kandahar were notorious for such spectacles with thousands of people attending.
"I remember the time that we played in the same stadium in Kabul where women were shot. It was kind of a revolution, a huge change. I remember thinking that it was a huge change because before, women were shot in that penalty area and now I was kicking a football there," said Popal.
"It was emotional, but I was feeling the power, the power to change something, I was fighting for that woman who was killed and not to __have to go back to a that situation when innocent women were shot."
In December 2010, Afghanistan's women played their first international, a 13-0 defeat by Nepal at the South Asian Women's Football Championship in Bangladesh.
"I remember we went to an international tournament and we stood under our flag," said Popal. "I remember the first time we heard the national anthem, it was emotional, we were all crying because it was such a great achievement for us.
"The first time I wore the national team shirt I was very proud, I felt like I won the fight I was battling for a long time. We fought for that jersey and for that uniform and finally we got permission to earn that moment."
In April 2011 Popal decided that she needed to leave Afghanistan for her own safety. With the help of a friend she fled to India, where she lived underground.
"At the time I needed the most protection, my country closed the door. I went to the government and I asked them to help me, but they didn't. It is my land, it is my country, it is my identity and when the time came when I, and others needed their help, they closed the door. You feel broken and it hurts really bad. When you are fighting you don't want to lose, but you __have to accept you lost and the feeling that you left that battle, that nation."
Popal now lives as a refugee in Denmark, but remains very involved in Afghan women's football. She also worked very closely with the sportswear company Hummel to design a lightweight hijab, to make it easier for the players who choose to wear it.
"It will change the mentality of some of the families, who say it is against the culture for them to play. Wearing a hijab will open the door for them to play. Those who wear the new hijab have found that it makes playing easier, it is more comfortable and so much better than wearing a big scarf which slows you down."
Afghanistan have climbed to 108 in the Fifa world rankings and Popal remains very proud of what they have been able to achieve.
"It was worth it to take that step or that fight. It doesn't matter where I end up or where I am in the world. I will continue to participate and co-ordinate the programmes and help my country from far away. That is the thing that has kept me alive and happy and it motivates me to work hard for my country, because I love my country."
Khalida Popal was speaking to the BBC World Service as part of the coverage of Women's Footballer of the Year.
The BBC's Women's Footballer of the Year award 2017 is being launched on Sunday, 30 April with five nominees up for the public vote. You will be able to vote for your winner at bbc.com/women's football. Voting closes on Monday 15th May at 09:00 BST
BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.
Lawro's opponents for this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals and Premier League fixtures are former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas and Radio 1Xtra DJ Trevor Nelson, who is a Chelsea fan.
Jenas and Nelson made their predictions live on Radio 1Xtra's Charlie Sloth show on Thursday.
"From a neutral point of view, this is the game everyone wants to see right now with the two top teams in the Premier League going at it," Jenas said.
"I don't think there has been a bigger game in the FA Cup for a few years now.
"Everyone was expecting Chelsea to run away and win the league - now we get the opportunity to see them go head to head to get to the final."
Nelson, who has been a Chelsea season ticket holder for more than 20 years, will be at the game as a fan and thinks his side are underdogs.
"Tottenham are the favourites," Nelson explained. "They are playing some fluid football.
"I __have to be honest with you, when they come on the TV now I don't like watching.
"But what I do is go out of the room for half an hour and when I come back in they are always 2-0 up, and the game is over. They are destroying everybody."
FA Cup semi-final predictions
Result
Lawro
Jermaine
Trevor
SATURDAY
Chelsea v Tottenham
4-2
1-1*
1-2
2-1
SUNDAY
Arsenal v Man City
x-x
0-2
1-3
2-4
* Chelsea to win AET and pens
Premier League predictions - week 33
Result
Lawro
Jermaine
Trevor
SATURDAY
Bournemouth v Middlesbrough
4-0
2-0
2-1
2-1
Hull City v Watford
2-0
2-1
1-0
2-2
Swansea City v Stoke City
2-0
1-1
1-1
1-2
West Ham v Everton
0-0
1-1
1-2
1-3
SUNDAY
Burnley v Man Utd
x-x
1-1
1-1
1-3
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
x-x
2-0
1-2
2-1
A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
You can make your Premier League predictions now and compare them with those of Lawro and other fans by playing the BBC Sport Predictor game.
LAWRO'S PREDICTIONS
All kick-offs 15:00 BST unless otherwise stated.
SATURDAY
Bournemouth 4-0 Middlesbrough
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Jermaine's prediction: 2-1
Trevor's prediction: 2-1
Read the match report.
Hull City 2-0 Watford
Lawro's prediction: 2-1
Jermaine's prediction: 1-0
Trevor's prediction: 2-2
Read the match report.
Swansea City 2-0 Stoke City
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Jermaine's prediction: 1-1
Trevor's prediction: 1-2
Read the match report.
West Ham 0-0 Everton
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Jermaine's prediction: 1-2
Trevor's prediction: 1-3
Read the match report.
Chelsea 4-2 Tottenham
Lawro's prediction: 1-1* Chelsea to win after extra-time and penalties
Jermaine's prediction: 1-2
Trevor's prediction: 2-1
Read the match report.
SUNDAY
Burnley v Man Utd (Premier League, 14:15 BST)
We all know about Burnley's home record, and this is a tough one for Manchester United straight after their Europa League tie against Anderlecht.
Burnley did pretty well for an hour against Everton last week but then things went wrong in the last 20 minutes.
United boss Jose Mourinho got everything right against Chelsea and I always feel he finds it easier to get a positive result when he has to work out how to stop another top team.
He can come up with a plan to stop that sort of opposition from winning a game but he cannot necessarily come up with a plan to win a game when the opposition are trying to stop him.
I am going to go for another draw here - hopefully I will get one of them right.
Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Jermaine's prediction: 1-1
Trevor's prediction: 1-3
Read the match report.
Arsenal v Man City (FA Cup, 15:00 BST)
I think this semi-final will be close as well, even though neither side is great defensively.
If Vincent Kompany is back for Manchester City, he makes a massive difference to everyone around him - a bit like when John Terry was at his peak for Chelsea.
Arsenal's switch to play with three at the back in their win at Middlesbrough on Monday felt like a last throw of the dice by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
Wenger's side __have been so ordinary for so long, and I just think City will have too much for them.
Even if Arsenal get through this tie and win the final, then as much of an achievement that would be it should not change the decision over Wenger's future, because I think it is time for a change.
In fact, winning the FA Cup would be the perfect way for him to bow out. I don't see it happening, though.
Lawro's prediction: 0-2
Jermaine's prediction: I think it will be wide open, even if the fact it is a semi-final will calm it down a little bit.
In my head I am thinking 3-3 but Arsenal are just not free-flowing or playing well at the moment and City will have Kompany back too. 1-3
Trevor's prediction: I don't care for either team at all so it will be a great watch, because both teams only have one way of playing - going on the attack.
City are overwhelming favourites because of their frontline, but neither team can defend. If Kompany is fit for this game, City win - it is simple as that as far as I am concerned, because Arsenal don't have a Vincent Kompany. 2-4
Read the match report.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (Premier League, 16:30 BST)
I have to say that Liverpool's last two results - wins at Stoke and West Brom - were as good as any result they have had all season.
The Reds were all over the place for the first 45 minutes against Stoke but still found a way to win that game and, in all honesty, they could have scored two or three against the Baggies.
Philippe Coutinho is playing extremely well and when that happens, so does Roberto Firmino.
It means that, even without Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson, Liverpool look dangerous.
I know Crystal Palace have been going well, and it will be interesting to see how Christian Benteke gets on back at Anfield,
But if Liverpool can cut off Benteke's supply, I would expect them to win this one.
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Jermaine's prediction: 1-2
Trevor's prediction: 2-1
Read the match report.
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
Lawro v Guests
P33
W23
D0
L10
SCORE
GUEST LEADERBOARD
150
Elis James
130
Boris Becker, James McAvoy, Tim Vine
120
Robbie Williams
110
Michael van Gerwen
100
Joe Clarke, Osi Umenyiora
92
Lawro (average after 33 weeks*)
90
Josh Franceschi, Goldie, Amy Macdonald, Colin Murray
80
David Gower, Loyle Carner, Nicole Scherzinger
70
Dave Bautista, Sam Burgess, Anthony Crolla, Athletico Mince
60
Rick Astley, Sting & son
50
Martin Kemp*, Charlie Sloth, Laura Kenny
40
Ed Balls
30
Michael Bisping, Blossoms, Full Time DEVILS*, American hip-hop duo Run The Jewels
20
Moeen Ali, Lloyd Griffith
10
Omid Djalili, CFC Fan TV*
*Does not include scores from postponed games.
Lawro's best score: 140 points (week 22 v James McAvoy)
Lawro's worst score: 20 points (week 28, but only five games played so far) or 30 points (week four v Dave Bautista)
+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION
POS
TEAM
P
W
D
L
PTS
+/-
1
Liverpool
33
23
10
0
79
+2
2
Chelsea
32
23
5
4
74
-1
3
Man City
32
22
8
2
74
+1
4
Man Utd
31
21
8
2
71
+1
5
Arsenal
31
20
9
2
69
+1
6
Tottenham
32
20
9
3
69
-4
7
Leicester
32
20
6
6
66
+5
8
Everton
33
9
17
7
44
-1
9
Crystal Palace
32
10
12
10
42
+6
10
West Brom
33
10
10
13
40
-2
11
Stoke
33
9
10
14
37
0
12
West Ham
33
9
8
16
35
+2
13
Sunderland
32
8
7
17
31
+7
14
Bournemouth
33
7
8
18
29
+2
15
Watford
32
7
6
19
27
-5
16
Burnley
33
5
11
17
26
-2
17
Middlesbrough
32
4
8
20
20
+2
18
Southampton
31
4
8
19
20
-9
19
Swansea
33
4
7
22
19
-1
20
Hull
33
2
4
27
10
-3
How did Lawro do last time?
From last week's Premier League games, Lawro got seven correct results, with no perfect scores, from 10 matches for a total of 70 points.
He beat Sting and his son Joe Sumner, who got six correct results with no perfect scores, for a tally of 60 points.
Live text coverage and report on the BBC Sport website - kick-off 19:45 BST
He might __have been a boyhood Barcelona fan, own a pet dog named Messi and __have been linked with a summer move to the Nou Camp a few weeks ago, but now Isco could play a key role in giving Real Madrid a major advantage in La Liga's title race at Barca's expense in Sunday night's Clasico at the Bernabeu.
Real head into the game three points ahead of their deadly rivals, and with a game in hand. Victory would therefore leave them six points clear with Barca, having just five games to make up the difference - and the gap would effectively be seven points because Real would also have head-to-head advantage, which is used to separate teams level on points in La Liga.
The home team could be without Gareth Bale, who was substituted in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich with a calf injury and has not played since.
The most likely replacement for the Welsh star, if he is not fit to start after returning to training on Thursday, is Isco. The gifted and versatile attacking midfielder's outstanding recent form has suggested he is poised to finally achieve something he has never quite managed during his four seasons at the Bernabeu: becoming a firm fixture in the starting line-up.
That, of course, could have other significant ramifications because it would mean somebody else - perhaps even Bale - losing their place in the team.
Is Isco ready to shift the balance of power among the galaxy of stars at the Bernabeu? Let's find out more about a player who was once Spain's boy wonder but is still waiting to fulfil his enormous talent.
Star in the making
Having started his career with Valencia, making his debut in 2010 at the age of 18, Francisco Roman Alarcon Suarez - generally known simply as Isco - rose to prominence after moving to his hometown team Malaga in the summer of 2011.
Alongside ageing stars such as Javier Saviola, Joaquin and Roque Santa Cruz, he played a key role as Malaga, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, marched to the 2012-13 Champions League quarter-finals, where they were unlucky to be knocked out after conceding two injury-time goals to Borussia Dortmund.
Isco's performances in that campaign saw him win the Golden Boy award for the best young player in Europe, and he also shone at international level by winning the 2013 European Championship with an outstanding Spain Under-21 team also containing Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Atletico Madrid's Koke and current Real team-mate Alvaro Morata.
He was clearly too good to stay at Malaga, and in the summer of 2013 Real Madrid beat Manchester City, who had just recruited Pellegrini, in the race for his signature, splashing out 30m euros (£23m at the time) to secure his services on a five-year contract and make him the first signing for newly appointed manager Carlo Ancelotti.
At first Isco settled into life at the Bernabeu superbly, scoring the winner on his debut against Real Betis and quickly following up with a brace in another home win against Athletic Bilbao. The world seemed to be at his feet… but not for long.
Bale in, Isco out
Soon after Isco's arrival at the Bernabeu, a problem emerged - and that problem was called Gareth Bale, who was signed a few weeks later for a world record fee of 100m euros (£85m at the time) and needed to be accommodated in the team.
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema also guaranteed starters, Ancelotti had a serious selection issue on his hands. How could he field the Galacticos, whose status was untouchable without leaving his team unsustainably imbalanced?
The answer he eventually settled on, reluctantly, was omitting attacking midfielder Isco, who found himself gradually transformed from being Spain's brightest young talent into a peripheral presence whose only real hope of starting big games was somebody else being injured.
That led to a long and frustrating parade of endless ups and downs for Isco, whose silky ball skills made him hugely popular with fans both at the Bernabeu and around Spain, with the admiration he inspired most clearly evident in February 2015 when he played so well at Elche that even the home fans gave him a standing ovation.
Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, Isco was never quite able to permanently supplant any of the Galacticos from the starting line-up, and his frustration was encapsulated in Barcelona's last trip to the Bernabeu in November 2015: having been introduced from the bench by Rafael Benitez and with his team losing 4-0, he took a violent swipe at Neymar, deservedly earning a straight red card.
Barcelona-bound or Real revival?
For much of the current campaign, it appeared Isco's inability to fulfil his immense potential at the Bernabeu would force him out. Indeed, in February he revealed he was considering leaving Real in the summer because of his failure to gain more starts, admitting: "My future is at stake."
Controversially, one of the clubs heavily linked to his signature after that announcement was Barcelona, with a flurry of stories in the Spanish media speculating that Isco could follow Luis Figo, Samuel Eto'o and current Barca boss Luis Enrique by representing both clubs - a move which would make a fair amount of sense because he is perhaps the most natural heir to Barca's slowly fading captain Andres Iniesta.
But since then, Isco has been superb, especially last weekend at Sporting Gijon where he scored two brilliant goals, including a last-minute winner, to secure a 3-2 victory and keep his team top going into Sunday's Clasico.
That performance was rapturously received. Writing in Marca, Roberto Palomar was sufficiently moved to claim: "It's been a long time since we have seen such a recital from a player who wasn't Messi." Presumably he meant Messi the Barcelona player, rather than Messi, Isco's pet dog.
Tellingly, Palomar also argued that Bale's latest calf injury is "a solution, not a problem," because it means Isco can play - something many Real fans would love to see happen on a more regular basis.
Whether manager Zinedine Zidane feels the same way remains to be seen, but there's a growing sense that the long-standing policy of the 'BBC' front line (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano) automatically starting big games whenever they are available is facing a serious challenge.
And Isco, whose nine league goals this season put him level with Benzema and two ahead of Bale, could finally be ready to come of age.
Zidane's strength in depth
Despite last weekend's heroics, Isco is by no means guaranteed to start this weekend's Clasico because Zidane has several outstanding options.
They include hard-working winger Lucas Vazquez, Colombian ace James Rodriguez and fast-rising 21 year-old Marco Asensio, whose brilliant solo goal in Tuesday's Champions League victory over Bayern Munich underlined the impression that he is a major star in the making.
Indeed, the luxury of riches at Zidane's disposal reveals one of the key factors behind Real's edge over Barca in this season's title race: the gulf in squad depth at the two clubs.
Whereas Zidane can call upon two top-class performers in nearly every position, Barca coach Luis Enrique suffers from a serious drop-off in quality whenever one of his first team is injured or in need of a rest.
Barca's problems in that respect were first identified early in the season, when Enrique rested several players at home to newly promoted Alaves and his team lost 2-1, and the same pattern has re-emerged throughout the season.
The case of Andre Gomes is striking, with three of Barca's four league losses coming when the Portugal international was named in the starting line-up, while frontman Paco Alcacer has only scored five goals all season compared to 17 from Real's back-up striker Morata.
Zidane doesn't have such problems, and Sunday's Clasico could give the best of the Frenchman's 'reserves', Isco, the chance to shine. If he does, this time he might stay in the team for good.
Pick the best Barca-Real Madrid XI
Imagine you could pick from the combined squads of Barcelona and Real Madrid - tasty but testing. Who would you choose?
Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal's British players to take responsibility for the club's future.
The French manager has yet to say whether he will sign a new contract to stay beyond this season, but believes the spirit he has created in 20 years at the club can live on without him.
"It's more natural for local players because they __have been educated in Arsenal - players like Ramsey, Chamberlain," Wenger said.
He added: "They should lead and take responsibility to say 'yes, that is how we want to behave, this is how we want to play, let's go together'.
"If they didn't want it, that would be a huge disappointment."
Arsenal v Man City - match stats, team news and Lawro's prediction
Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City (kick-off 15:00 BST), which could be Wenger's last trip to Wembley Stadium, is also his 11th semi-final as Arsenal manager. It is the Gunners' last chance of a trophy this season.
Wenger could field as many as five British players - Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Rob Holding - but he says a player's nationality is less important to him than "players who integrate the values of the club" and are "ready to defend these values".
"A lot is said about my future but my future is more important in the value and spirit of what we have built in 20 years than my own person," added the 67-year-old Frenchman.
Wembley memories for Guardiola
In the opposite dugout, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has happy memories of Wembley as both a player and a manager with Barcelona.
The Spaniard was a member of the Barca side who won the European Cup at the ground in 1992 and he was manager when the side beat Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League final in 2011.
Guardiola said: "Wembley in my life has been so important in terms of football. We were able to win the first Champions League when Ronald Koeman made a fantastic goal against the Sampdoria of Roberto Mancini.
"The second one, we beat one of the best teams in the world in Manchester United at Wembley and, especially the way we played, always I will remember in my heart.
"Wembley is an important part of my life. Going back there will always be special."
Tony Bellew has "agreed to fight on" and targeted becoming a champion in the heavyweight division.
Bellew, 34, moved up from cruiserweight to beat fellow Briton David Haye in a heavyweight contest in March and considered retiring after the bout.
However, he says he has "more left in the tank" and talks __have taken place about fighting WBC champion Deontay Wilder or WBO holder Joseph Parker.
"I love the sound of heavyweight champion of the world," said Bellew.
"It's a big goal, it's a big ask."
Liverpudlian Bellew made the decision to continue following talks with promoter Eddie Hearn and a fight with former WBA, IBF and WBO champion Tyson Fury or a rematch with Haye are possible.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Bellew added: "Eddie has had talks regarding Deontay Wilder. We __have spoken with Joseph Parker's people and Tyson Fury's representatives have been in touch with my people.
"It seems like I am the most hunted man on the planet at the moment."
Bellew, who has 29 wins and a draw from 32 fights, broke his hand in the fight against Haye.
"I haven't punched with the right hand yet. I can clench a fist, shake hands and I am ready to get back to work," he said.
Venue: The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 15 April - 1 May
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs, online and app.
The World Championship is already into its second week and there has been plenty of excitement so far at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary of hosting the event.
BBC Sport pundits and former champions Stephen Hendry and Peter Ebdon reflect on the action so far and assess the business end of the event.
First week shock, or was it?
Pre-tournament favourite Judd Trump was beaten in the first round by 1000-1 title shot Rory McLeod in one of the biggest shocks in World Championship history. In his second-round match against Stephen Maguire, McLeod is 6-2 down after the first session.
Ebdon: "McLeod's victory was not so much of a shock or a surprise to me. I knew he would make it difficult for Trump and let us not underestimate what an incredible achievement it was for him, one that was fully deserved.
"There is only one player in that game that works harder than McLeod and that is Mark Selby, who is world number one. Rory has been my friend for over 30 years so I was absolutely delighted for him."
Hendry: "It has been an interesting tournament. All the main contenders except for Trump came through the first round so it is building up nicely.
"Everyone who should make the quarter-finals will be there so I am looking forward to the second week."
Tournament schedule
BBC coverage times
O'Sullivan the man to beat
Five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has produced some of his best snooker to beat Gary Wilson and then Shaun Murphy. He faces China's number one player Ding Junhui in the next round.
Hendry: "Ronnie has looked great on the table. I questioned in my interviews before the tournament whether he could win it or not and the way he was playing then, I did not think he could.
"He has not played well since the Masters but since he has been here he has looked really focussed, his game is very strong and he will be hard to stop. Ronnie is definitely one to beat.
"There is a difference between winning a match and winning the whole tournament. Ding edged through by beating Liang Wenbo but now has a huge match against O'Sullivan. You __have to question whether he has it inside him to go all the way. That is debatable but his game is good enough. He has every aspect to do it."
Ebdon: "One of the things often overlooked is the pressure O'Sullivan is under, with the levels of expectation - the crowd, the commentators, millions of adoring fans watching at home.
"To carry that much pressure on your shoulders must be incredibly difficult and I cannot think of many other players in the game that could carry the mantle and the responsibility to the extent he does.
"He does a brilliant job, is a very gifted player and it was an excellent win against Shaun Murphy."
Any other contenders?
Four-time champion John Higgins came through a tough match against Mark Allen, while 25-year-old Kyren Wilson beat 2015 winner Stuart Bingham.
Ebdon: "Wilson did not hit top gear, he was feeling the pressure but that is what everyone goes through at the Crucible. Once he starts hitting the top gears, we will see something very special from him.
"Whether he has the experience to win this year, I am not certain. But he is good enough. He is a phenomenal talent, a great lad and his all-round game is very impressive.
"He is one of the best players I __have played against. But we have not seen on the match table what I see in practice. He could go very close to winning it this year."
Hendry: "John Higgins is going to be very difficult to stop getting to the final. If they both go through, I can see a Higgins against Barry Hawkins semi-final."
What does it take to win from here?
The tournament is described as the "marathon of the mind" by former BBC commentator Clive Everton. Those players who have reached the quarter-finals have won 23 frames but still need to claim another 48 to lift the famous trophy.
Ebdon: "When you are concentrating so hard, it takes an awful lot out of you, you do use up a lot of nervous energy. We only have so much nervous energy for certain periods of time.
"This is one the reasons why the World Championship at the Crucible - lasting 17 days - is such a difficult and demanding tournament to win. You are really tested in all departments - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is the ultimate test."
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Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender Marcos Rojo __have both suffered cruciate knee-ligament injuries and face lengthy spells out of action.
Ibrahimovic landed awkwardly when challenging for the ball during the Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Anderlecht.
The ex-Sweden international is United's top scorer this season, with 28 goals.
Rojo was replaced on 23 minutes after colliding with a visiting player.
Ibrahimovic, 35, joined the club on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain last summer but is yet to agree an extension to his one-year United deal.
Burnley v Man Utd - team news & stats
Rojo's injury leaves United manager Jose Mourinho short of options at centre-back with England internationals Phil Jones and Chris Smalling already on the sidelines.
Eric Bailly and Daley Blind are United's only fit senior centre-backs heading into Sunday's game at Burnley (kick-off 14:15 BST), with the Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium to follow on Thursday.
Former US Open finalist Pam Shriver claims Romania Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase - who is banned from his team's tie against Great Britain - made inappropriate comments to her as a teenage star of the women's tour.
Shriver, 54, said Nastase repeatedly asked her if she was a virgin.
"Whenever I saw him at any tournament he would ask me the same question," she told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportweek.
"This man has not been respectful of women for a long, long time."
The BBC __have contacted the Romanian Tennis Federation for a response, but are yet to receive a reply.
Former world number one Nastase, 70, was expelled from the stadium during Saturday's Fed Cup action after swearing at the umpire, British player Johanna Konta and her captain Anne Keothavong.
Shriver says that although she spoke to friends about the two-time Grand Slam winner's behaviour during the pair's playing days, she did not officially report it.
"When I got older, perhaps 20, and he asked me for about the 30th time, I said, 'would you please stop asking me that?'," added Shriver, who won 22 Grand Slam doubles titles.
"Sort of to his credit, he never asked me again. I set a firm boundary and he stopped."
The International Tennis Federation is investigating Nastase's conduct on Saturday and also derogatory comments he made about the unborn child of 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams the day before. At the same pre-match media conference, he also asked for the room number of British counterpart Keothavong.
"You want the punishment to match the crime and he behaved really badly," added Shriver.
"I think it has all gone too far. I think it is over now, I think he is done as a coach, certainly in any formal setting.
"Everybody has a couple of different sides to their personality and certainly not all of Ilie Nastase is evil and mean and sexist. But unfortunately he does not __have a filter and there is a side that is, so he can't coach women players any more."
American Shriver is a two-time Fed Cup champion, who reached the final of the 1978 US Open as a 16-year-old, losing to Chris Evert.
Britain trail Romania 2-1 in their best-of-five World Group II play-off in Constanta after Konta lost Sunday's opening singles rubber to world number five Simona Halep.
Venue: The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 15 April - 1 May
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs, online and app.
Australia's Neil Robertson and Marco Fu are all-square at 4-4 in the second round of the World Championship.
The 2010 champion Robertson looked in fine form, stroking in breaks of 105, 90 and 62 to open up a 4-1 advantage.
But Hong Kong's Fu showed his battling qualities, compiling a superb 118 break followed by 60 to take three in a row and level.
Former champion Graeme Dott trails 2013 finalist Barry Hawkins 5-3, with both matches resuming at 19:00 BST.
In an often scrappy encounter, Scotland's Dott managed high breaks of 64 and 51, but a 91 from Hawkins allowed him to open up a two-frame advantage.
Defending champion Mark Selby is 6-2 up against China's Ding Junhui, while Stephen Maguire leads Rory McLeod by the same scoreline. They resume at 14:30 BST.
Britain's David Weir won a record seventh London Marathon men's wheelchair title, beating reigning champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland in a sprint finish.
Six-time Paralympic gold medallist Weir, 37, finished in one hour 31 minutes six seconds on Sunday.
Spaniard Rafael Botello Jimenez was third, three seconds behind the winner.
Manuela Schar of Switzerland took victory in the women's wheelchair race for the first time in 1:39:57.
Weir's win meant he surpassed fellow Briton Baroness Grey-Thompson, who has six titles in the women's wheelchair race.
In January, Weir said he will never wear a Great Britain vest again after an unsuccessful Paralympic Games in Rio last year.
Asked if it will be his last race before competing in the marathon for the 18th straight year, Weir said: "It could be.
"But I __have enjoyed the training and enjoyed just concentrating on the road, not thinking about being back on the track after the marathon."
Schar, who won the Boston Marathon earlier this month, dominated the women's race and finished almost five minutes ahead of second-placed Amanda McGrory of the United States.
Fellow American Susannah Scaroni finished third in 1:47:37.
The event doubles as the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup, and is the third race in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
London Marathon: Live video, radio & text
Six inspirational stories
Get Inspired: How to get into Running
Analysis
Baroness Grey-Thompson, six-time London Marathon winner:
"That finish hasn't been there for the last few years. Everyone wanted him to __have a good race.
"For him, as much as anyone else, that's a top win - he ran a devastating race.
Antonio Conte is wanted by Inter this summer. (Getty Images)
Inter will offer Antonio Conte a contract worth £41.8m to get him to quit Chelsea this summer, according to reports in Italy.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Conte, along with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, are the two managers Inter __have on their radar to replace Stefano Pioli at the end of the season.
But while Inter believe that Simeone would be easier to acquire than Conte, that will not stop the Serie A club from trying to lure the Chelsea manager.
Inter are ready to offer Conte a five-year contract worth just over £8.3m a season.
Conte remains on course to win the Premier League with Chelsea. (Getty Images)
Conte, who remains on course to win the Premier League in his first season at Stamford Bridge, has admitted he is missing his family since his move to England.
Both his wife and his daughter __have remained in Italy, although Conte has confirmed they are both planning to relocate to England this year.
More: Football
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Sergio Ramos fires back at Gerard Pique over cryptic Real Madrid tweet
Jurgen Klopp gives Liverpool go-ahead to complete £20m transfer
Last month, reports also claimed that Conte is unhappy with Chelsea’s board over their transfer policy and wants a bigger say in this summer’s deals.
Anthony Joshua reveals what he told Wladimir Klitschko just before incredible stoppage 
