World number nine Ricky Walden has it all to do on Monday night if he is to avoid a first-round exit at the World Snooker Championship for the fourth time in six appearances.

Chester-based Walden trailed Robbie Williams 5-4 overnight but did produce the shot of the match so far with a stunning escape from a snooker.

When the on-screen shot guide was compared to the iconic Superman logo, commentator John Virgo replied: "I don't even think Superman could get out of this without leaving a red on."

But not only did Walden escape without giving Williams a shot at a red, he tucked the white ball in behind the black, leaving his opponent with a difficult shot of his own.

Walden, 33, arrived at the Crucible in top form, having reached the finals of both the China Open and Players Championship Grand Final already this year.

But in an affair low on entertainment with Williams, Walden trails 5-4 after Sunday's morning session in the best-of-19 frames match.

Williams struck first, but frame two was a laboured affair.

After a well-constructed 33, Walden left a green over the pocket and Williams gobbled it up.

But he inexplicably missed a brown along the top rail and Walden capitalised to level at 1-1.

Frame three took 40 minutes for 33-year-old Walden to wrap up and they had been on table one for more than two hours by the time Williams sunk a 41 to level the overall score.

Ricky Walden trails Robbie Williams during their first round match at the 2016 Betfred World Snooker Championship
Ricky Walden trails Robbie Williams during their first round match at the 2016 Betfred World Snooker Championship

A chance to regroup brought the best out of the two players following the interval.

Williams immediately made a 67 to set his stall out, but when Walden finally got his hand on the table in the sixth frame he positively raced around the Crucible carpet to make 63.

He looked to be in control of frame seven but after potting the yellow to build a 12-point lead a loose safety allowed Williams to dish up and move 4-3 ahead.

Walden's safety success at the end of the session stood at a lowly 74 per cent and when he fell 5-3 behind he knew he would trail overnight.

But breaks of 52 and 37 in the last leave him within one. They resume play at 7pm on Monday.