On table two, only eight of a scheduled nine frames could take place in the morning session, with Zhang, 22nd in the world, two frames ahead as he searches for a first win at the Crucible after losing in the opening round on his five previous appearances.
Allen, a Crucible semi-finalist in 2009 and 2023, made a 147 break at this venue last year during his loss to Chris Wakelin in the last 16.
But Allen failed to register a single half-century break against Zhang, who made two centuries – 129 in frame two and 109 in frame five – as well as three breaks of at least 58.
Kowalski, who is the same age as 51-year-old Williams’ oldest child, did not show any signs of Crucible nerves. He made a break of 82 in the first frame, although that would be the only time he led.
Helped by five successive Kowalski fouls, Williams took the second frame on the black and a break of 85 put him ahead.
Williams won the final three frames of the session, including fighting back from 41-0 behind in the ninth frame, in a match that will be played to a finish on Sunday evening.
Xiao Guodong leads 5-4 against Zhou Yuelong in an all-Chinese match.
In the evening session former World Championship runners-up Barry Hawkins and Matthew Stevens go head-to-head.
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