An unexpected turnaround from Rory McLeod has given him a slender overnight lead against one of the big favourites to win this year’s World Championship.

McLeod, competing at the Crucible for just a third time, won five frames on the bounce from 4-0 adrift to lead world number two Judd Trump 5-4 going into Wednesday morning’s final session.

Rory McLeod. Picture by Monique Limbos

The comeback was more shocking than the Prime Minister’s decision to call a General Election which was announced less than two hours before the pair began their Crucible campaigns.

And things looked plain sailing for Trump, runner-up at the Crucible six years ago, when he cruised into a four frame lead with breaks of 55 and 54.

But runs of 72 and 77 helped McLeod – the oldest player this year to compete in the World Championship aged 46 to a slender lead and five frames away from causing a huge upset.

Judd Trump. Picture by Monique Limbos

Meanwhile, four-times world champion John Higgins booked his place in the second round after beating Martin Gould 10-6.

And last year’s finalist Ding Junhui made comfortable work of beating fellow Chinese star Zhou Yuelong, winning 10-5.