One word for the opening few minutes of the first frame - cagey. Safety exchanges are the order of the day, while Neil Robertson displays some early jitters as he fails to sink a long red. Nothing down yet.

A few shouts of encouragement from the crowd before quietness descends in the Alexandra Palace. A shake of the hands, a smile for the cameras and the two players take their positions.

Best of 19 frames - Shaun Murphy to break. The 2015 Masters final is under way.

Image source, Getty Images

Disco inferno!

That's the walk on music of choice for Shaun Murphy at this year's Masters. Good choice? Got to admit, can never help but tap my toes whenever I hear it, it is definitely the sort of tune that settles nerves.

From dramatic to daft, you hear all sorts of things when snooker players emerge these days, but what would be your walk-on music and why? Combine Harvester by The Wurzels for me. Don't ask why...

MC Rob Walker, drama etched all over his face, is speaking now. The crowd is ready, the players are ready. Are you?

BBC Sport's Frank Keogh: "Masters finalist Shaun Murphy tells me he still listens to 'Shoot To Thrill' by AC/DC before matches, but he enjoys an old favourite for his walk-on music.

"'It's all about Disco Inferno. I love it,' he says. Last year, Murphy arrived in the Alexandra Palace arena to Stevie Wonder's Superstition.

"His opponent Neil Robertson prefers Heart Of Courage by Two Steps from Hell, which is used in the video game Mass Effect 2."

BBC Sport's Shamoon Hafez: "Destiny awaits Shaun Murphy as he looks to become only the 10th player in snooker history to complete the 'triple crown' of World, UK and Masters titles.

"I spoke to Murphy ahead of the tournament and it seemed as though he wasn't expecting too much from this tournament.

"A chest infection over Christmas put his preparations back by a week and it certainly felt he was looking to future Masters tournaments when he mentioned wanting to win the crown within the next 10 years.

"But three superb performances this week leaves him on the verge of a memorable triumph."

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC TV

"John Virgo said he thought Shaun Murphy was in a very good place in his head and he played in the semi-final like he has a force field around him, but he is coming up against another player who seems to have a force field around them, whose is going to weaken?"

Shaun Murphy roared back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Northern Irishman Mark Allen in their semi-final.

Allen led after breaks of 83 and 62, before Murphy won six straight frames to win the match and give himself the chance of claiming a first Masters title as well as career 'triple crown'.

'The Magician' can join an elite group of nine players who have won all three of snooker's majors, having won the 2005 World title and 2008 UK crown.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, who was the defending champion, saw his 15-match winning streak ended in emphatic fashion by Neil Robertson on Saturday.

Robertson won 6-1 to reach his third final in four years and leave O'Sullivan to reflect on his own game.

"I am not the player I was 18 months ago," said O'Sullivan. "If I can get it back by playing more, I think I can."

These two last met at the 2014 Wuxi Classic quarter-final with Neil Robertson triumphing 5-4, improving his head-to-head record to 11-7.

The stats are very much in Neil Robertson's favour but right now they don't count for much, it is all about who handles this final better.

We've got live coverage on BBC Two and online at the top of this page now, direct from the Alexandra Palace. First up, some emotive VT to get us all in the mood. Get on it.

John Parrott
Former world champion on BBC TV

"Neil Robertson was tactically very adept in the 2012 final but Shaun Murphy was absolutely outstanding yesterday and produced some heavy duty scoring and I think he is a better player."

Image source, Getty Images

This final is of course a repeat of the 2012 Masters final - the first to be held at the Alexandra Palace.

After a tense first session, Neil Robertson triumphed 10-6 on the back of a dominant display in the second session.

Robertson brought his son Alexander out to enjoy the celebrations on that occasion, but the youngster was more interested in playing on the snooker table than his dad's victory.

Three years on, he'll probably understand more about what it all means, if Robertson wins.

As has been the case throughout the tournament, the Masters final is live on the BBC on television and online. BBC Two coverage begins at 12:50 GMT and runs until 17:15 before resuming against at 19:00.

You can also have a look back through the highlights of the tournament by clicking the highlights tab at the top of this page.

Mike Pegler:, external The way Robertson dismantled Ronnie yesterday he will take some stopping me thinks.

Matt Andrews:, external Actually going to go for Murphy many people opting for Neil but perhaps Murphy will make it more of a thinking game.

The Alexandra Palace doors have been open for just over one hour and the seats are filling up nicely as MC Rob Walker warms up the crowd.

An extra 200 seats were brought in this year, taking the total capacity to 1700. In demand, this.

Image source, Getty Images

World number one Neil Robertson is into his third Masters final and he has been in scintillating form so far. This is how he got here:

Round 1 - beat Robert Milkins 6-4

Quarter-final - beat Ali Carter 6-1

Semi-final - beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-1

Shaun Murphy on Twitter last night:, external I'm so rock and roll. Back to the apartment after a mammoth game tonight and it's pyjamas and a coffee in bed. Thanks for the support guys.

Nothing wrong with that Shaun, consummate professional.

Image source, Getty Images

Shaun Murphy roared back from two-frames down to beat Mark Allen on Saturday and cruise into today's final. Here is how he got here:

Round 1 - beat Mark Selby 6-5

Quarter-final - beat Stephen Maguire 6-4

Semi-final - beat Mark Allen 6-2