World Snooker Championship final as it happened

Summary

Stuart Bingham beats Shaun Murphy 18-15
Bingham was playing in his first World final
Murphy won in 2005, runner-up in 2009
Watch the best clips of 2015 in Highlights

Live Reporting

Michael Emons

Postpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
We saw some amazing snooker yesterday and it has continued already today. A cracking long red gets Stuart Bingham started and Murphy is stuck to his seat for the rest of the frame. One chance, but only one needed. A break of 87 brings us level again. It is 9-9.
Postpublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion and BBC Sport expert
"What a start for Stuart Bingham. He has that cue ball on a string at the moment, placing it wherever he wants."
Get involved via #bbcsnookerpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Chris Clay: This is what bank holidays are all about. Hoping for a thrilling final good luck to two great smiling players.
Chris Pye: Routing for Shaun Murphy here, never been a Bingham fan but both players are on fine form from what I've seen.
Postpublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
A first chance of the day for Stuart Bingham to score heavily. He is 30-4 up and well placed among the reds.
Postpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Some, er, fetching red trousers from Shaun Murphy today, but disappointingly the black and white shoes, which so many of you enjoyed yesterday, are nowhere to be seen.
Postpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Ken Doherty
1997 world champion and BBC Sport expert
"What a wonderful atmosphere when both players entered this theatre. What a session of snooker to finish last night with both playing at the top of their game. This will be such an important session in how it is going to pan out."
Postpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
A great reception as both players are introduced to the crowd.
Postpublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Steve Davis
Six-time world champion and BBC Sport expert
"If you can play like you're in the final of the club handicap like Stuart Bingham has, you've absolutely nailed it.
"When you're the favourite like Shaun Murphy, there's an added layer of expectation that can sometimes weigh heavy on you."
Get involved via #bbcsnookerpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Image source, Jake Cooke
Jake Cooke: It's my brother's 21st today and we made this cake for him. He is called Jamie Cooke from Barrow in Furness.
Postpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
So Shaun Murphy leads Stuart Bingham 9-8, but holding an overnight lead after the first day doesn't necessarily guarantee victory.
Image source, Getty Images
Judd Trump was 10-7 up against John Higgins at the end of the first day's play in 2011, but then lost six frames in the third session before going on to lose 18-15.
It was the same situation last year when Ronnie O'Sullivan held a 10-7 lead over Mark Selby, before the Jester From Leicester (yes, I know, a shocking nickname) fought back to win 18-14.
Live nowpublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
We are live on BBC Two so press the play button at the top of the page to watch all the live coverage (UK only).
Who will the force be with?published at 14:00 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Image source, World Snooker
There are clearly some Star Wars fans in the World Snooker office if these pictures are anything to go by.
On May the fourth, the World Snooker Twitter page, along with some use of Photoshop, has Stuart Bingham as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Shaun Murphy as Luke Skywalker.
Image source, World Snooker
Get involved via #bbcsnookerpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
So as always we want your thoughts, comments, jokes and observations. Get in touch with us by leaving a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page or tweet us using the hashtag #bbcsnooker.
Make us laugh or make a wise comment and your words will appear on this page. So what are you waiting for?
A fairytale finish?published at 13:58 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre
Image source, Shamoon Hafez
"This was the scene at the Crucible Theatre on Monday morning as fans queued to try and get their hands on the golden ticket; a seat for the conclusion of the World Championship final.
"On the baize, it was a spectacular first day, as Stuart Bingham came back from 3-0 and 8-4 down to end the second session just one frame behind 2005 champion Shaun Murphy.
"Nobody expected him to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump, so can he actually complete a fairytale finish and become the oldest first time champion since the 1940s?"
Hellopublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Good afternoon. Hope you are well. Well, here we go again. Welcome to BBC Sport's live text commentary from the final day of the 2015 World Snooker Championship.
Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham were both in great form yesterday in a high-quality, thrilling day of snooker. But who will be celebrating this evening?
Are we set for a classic final?published at 13:49 British Summer Time 4 May 2015
Thirty years ago Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis on the final ball of the last frame to win the 1985 World Championship in what is widely-regarded as the best snooker match of all time.
Image source, PA
Since then, the world final has only gone into a deciding frame on two occasions - 1994 and 2002.
Image source, Getty Images
But after a thrilling first day there is only one frame between Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham and we may well be in for an absolute classic.
Image source, PA
There can only be one winner. There can only be one champion.
Image source, World Snooker