\n<\/p>\n
“It was very difficult for me and there’s a lot of pressure, but it’s good for me and this is a big moment in this season,” said Zhao.<\/p>\n
“I just tried to control myself but I didn’t do it very well and hopefully in the next round I can do a lot better.”<\/p>\n
Highfield, who has lost in the first round on four occasions, said: “He played great in the first half of the second session and that took a bit of wind out of my sails.<\/p>\n
“You don’t play at the Crucible every day. I’ve only ever played four matches here in my life and the pressure gets on you and there’s a big crowd.<\/p>\n
“It’s always great to be here. It is an amazing place to play and every time you play here you cherish it.<\/p>\n
“But I’m proud of myself to be here from where I was a year ago when I was trying to get back on the tour.<\/p>\n
“At times I thought he looked edgy and I got him on the ropes, and I let him off and he will punish you because he is that good.”<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland’s former world number one Mark Allen is 3-5 behind against China’s Zhang Anda, with their second session to come on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
Three-time champion Mark Williams secured a 6-3 lead over 22-year-old Antoni Kowalski, the world number 69 and the first player from Poland to play at the venue.<\/p>\n
Before play started BBC presenter Hazel Irvine said Virgo was “universally loved by everyone in this sport and beyond – he really was the voice of snooker”.<\/p>\n