So how have we got here?

Shaun Murphy has lost just 26 frames on his way to the final, with victories over Robin Hull (10-3), Joe Perry (10-6), Anthony McGill (13-8) and Barry Hawkins (17-9).

Image source, Getty Images

But Stuart Bingham has had to work a bit harder, dropping 37 frames as he beat Robbie Williams (10-7), Graeme Dott (13-5), Ronnie O'Sullivan (13-9) and then, of course, Judd Trump in that epic semi-final (17-16).

There are 35 left on the table and Stuart Bingham is 46 behind. But he is not giving up. Every frame is going to be hard-fought.

How fresh is Bingham going to be after an epic final-frame win against Judd Trump last night? After that match he said he only had four hours sleep on Friday. He needs to be at his best if he is going to save this first frame.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion and BBC Sport expert

"Who's going to win it and what score? I'm predicting an 18-14 score, Stephen Hendry says 18-10. 18-12 has been the most prominent over the years."

So who's going to win Ken?

What a start from Murphy and that should be 1-0. A break of 68 after an early error from Bingham. But the man from Essex comes to the table, needing two snookers, and we continue in the first frame.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion and BBC Sport expert

"Shaun Murphy is playing like he has done in the whole tournament. Like he has a forcefield around him and nothing can touch him."

This could soon be a perfect start for Murphy.

Ace King: I hope it's a cracking final, two really outstanding model pros and nice guys but I'm rooting for @Magician147

James Rowe: This has got to be the best World final since at least 2011, where nobody can really say who's going to win.

Lee Hudson: Would love to see bingham win it, but honestly think Murphy is unstoppable at the moment. Promises to be a great final.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, Shamoon Hafez

"Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane is in attendance at the Crucible today. Two players in action today who are a bit more serene than he was when he was on the field."

So here we go. Murphy smashes in a long red early on. If he maintains that standard it is going to be some challenge for Bingham.

So how much do you know about Stuart Bingham? Here are some things you may not know about the man from Essex.

• His World Championship debut was one that Stephen Hendry will never forget. In 2000, defending champion Hendry suffered a 10-7 first-round defeat at the hands of then world number 97 Bingham, one of the tournament's greatest upsets.

• Bingham, who hails from Basildon, first visited the Crucible as a 17-year-old in 1994, to support fellow Essex potter Brian Morgan against Martin Clark. Morgan won 10-9 in the first round.

• In 2002, Bingham would have been £167,000 better off if he had been able to complete a 147 maximum break at the World Championship. But after 15 reds and blacks, followed by yellow, green, brown and blue, he missed the pink. He failed to qualify for the World Championship for the next five years.

• Bingham and wife Michelle have a son named Shae, who was born in 2011.

• His nickname of Ballrun refers to a perception that Bingham gets the rub of the green baize more than fellow cuemen.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Walker is in position and that can only mean one thing. The players are entering the arena. It is nearly time to go.

"One of the nicest people in snooker" is how Walker describes Stuart Bingham.

Will the nice guy finish first in this one?

First-time finalist Stuart Bingham says: "It's taken 20 years of scars, getting beat up, everything.

"I lost my father-in-law in March - this is for him, this is for Terry."

Bingham, who knocked out five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals, added: "I can't believe I'm in the final. It's just unbelievable."

Shaun Murphy, the world champion of 2005, and runner-up in 2009, said: "As a child I came here to watch the championships for the first time in 1992, and dreamt of walking out here playing, so to walk out in a final for the third time is something I'm going to savour.

"Without question I'm playing the best snooker I've ever played, and I've played some good stuff over the years."

"It'll mean more than the first time if I win and I'll be putting absolutely everything I've got into this match."

So let's hear from the players. First up is the former champion Shaun Murphy.

Image source, World snooker

World Snooker post a picture on Twitter of what both Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham are playing for. Only one man can lift this trophy on Monday.

As always you can watch every ball being potted. We will have live coverage throughout the final and we are about to get going. So click on the live coverage tab at the top or the play button to follow all the action.

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Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

"And then there were two. Following 15 days of gruelling action, the World Championship culminates with the two-day final as Shaun Murphy takes on Stuart Bingham at the Crucible Theatre. Inside the arena, the finishing touches were being added.

A table fitter was making sure the cushions were bouncing as expected, and the cueball was rolling straight across the brushed green baize.

"It is not a final anyone predicted, with Basildon's Stuart Bingham, at the age of 38, reaching his first final after shock victories over Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump.

"The 2005 winner Shaun Murphy, playing in his third final, goes into the clash as favourite.

"Will Bingham be suffering after a late finish on Saturday evening against Trump? A good start against the fresh Murphy - who swatted aside Barry Hawkins - is imperative."

Good afternoon, hope you are well and welcome to BBC Sport's live text commentary from the World Championship final. I'm Michael Emons and I have the pleasure of guiding you through the events at the Crucible.

Image source, PA

Shaun Murphy aims to win the title for the first time since his only success in 2005 and he faces Stuart Bingham who is competing in his first Crucible final.

Murphy's win 10 years ago was maybe the biggest surprise in the sport's history, but the only shock is that he has not lifted the trophy again since. That may well change by Monday evening.

Every sport has their WOW moments. Those occasions where no-one could have predicted the outcome.

James 'Buster' Douglas stunned the boxing world in 1980 when he knocked out the undefeated Mike Tyson.

Image source, AFP

England were dismissed as 500-1 no-hopers before they beat Australia in the third Test in 1981 on their way to winning the Ashes.

Image source, AFP

The Crazy Gang of Wimbledon produced one of football's biggest shocks when they beat Liverpool to win the 1988 FA Cup final.

Image source, AFP

Well, snooker's WOW moment came in 2005 when Shaun Murphy, a relatively-unknown qualifier who started the competition as a 150-1 outsider, won the World Championship title at the Crucible.

Image source, Getty Images