A fine long pot from Selby sees the players share the four frames of the mini-session. A missed pink off its spot may well be playing on Higgins' mind throughout the interval.

Current score, Mark Selby 4-8 John Higgins. Six frames difference, it could have been, four frames difference it is.

Image source, Getty Images

Darren Shepherd: Hope Selby wins a few frames soon to keep things nice and tense; Higgins is running away at the minute. Love Crucible finals!

Selby is 42 ahead, with 43 on the table. He runs out of position though, leading 64-22 in the 12th, and has to go for the safety route.

We will have a mini-break after this frame. Will the scoreboard show 9-3 or 8-4 then?

This was the moment of frame 11. The underhit safety attempt to leave the cueball behind the green.

So, what's happening in frame 12?

Selby moved 26-0 in front but this red, rolled along the top cushion, stayed out to give Higgins a chance. But a missed pink sees Higgins' stumble at 22.

Image source, Getty Images

The phrase "snooker from the gods" was coined by BBC commentator Clive Everton during Hendry's 1999 semi-final win over O'Sullivan, which contained 22 breaks over 50, including four centuries apiece.

Hendry had lost the 1997 final to Ken Doherty and gone out in the first round the following year, with question marks raised about his ability to win another world crown.

He silenced the doubters by beating Welshman Mark Williams 18-11 in the final for his seventh and last title, surpassing six-time winner Davis in the process.

Is this your top moment? Click here to vote

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion at The Crucible

It's like the teacher is giving the pupil a lesson here. Mark Selby has probably grown up watching John Higgins winning all these world titles, he's been beaten by him in a final himself.

He knows the kind of match player Higgins is and Mark Selby has been taken apart.

Image source, Getty Images

Scott: Damage limitation here tonight for Selby, get a good nights sleep and go again tomorrow, still a long way to go.

Ben: This could be close to being over today if Selby doesn't up his game massively. Come on Selby.

Image source, PA

This is the in-off at the end of the 10th frame, one of many unhappy moments for Mark Selby today.

And that underhit shot on the green is decisive. The following mistake from Selby leaves a red on and Higgins does the rest to move five clear.

Can Selby come back from 8-3 down? He did three years ago, so this match is not one for the record books just yet.

An absolute gift for John Higgins. Selby looks to wrap up Higgins in some trouble by playing the cue-ball in behind the green. The only problem is that Selby under-cooks it, falling short of the green to present Higgins with four points.

The Scot then says Selby has to play again, and he leaves a red on. That could be the vital point of this frame.

Anton Maertens: Masterclass in chess & snooker tonight at the Crucible.

Selby makes a break of 43. Higgins comes to the table with three reds close to the left cushion and another one close to the right cushion. 43-27 to Selby.

Selby, 27-0 down in frame 11, has a chance to do some damage from this position...

Sookie Houseboat‏: Me and John Higgins are incredibly similar. He's known as the "Wizard of Wishaw" and I once bought a used car from Wishaw.

Spooky, Sookie.

And into the next one we go. Higgins is 27-0 ahead, but prepare for some tense safety work.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion at The Crucible

Strangely, Mark Selby keeps looking up to his friends and family in the box after missing a bad shot...

"It's definitely insecurity of some form. We were talking about Ronnie O'Sullivan having Steve Peters here, who was in the first row and he doesn't look at Steve for approval.

"It's a strange thing for the best player in the world, the most dominant player in snooker to need that security, when it is he who is playing the shot."

Paul Brown‏: Have to admit I'm surprised to see John Higgins in the final this year but he is playing so well.

Ashley Parker‏: Selby don't look right, he looks tired and is missing some easy balls. 

It would take Ronnie O'Sullivan another four years to claim his first world title, but 20 years ago, 'The Rocket' whizzed round the table to stroke in the quickest 147 in history in the first round against Mick Price.

Timed at a staggering five minutes and 20 seconds, the Englishman averaged nine seconds a shot, earning him £147,000 for the maximum and £18,000 for the highest break.

Click to choose your moment

Hands up who expected this at the start of the day? Anyone?

Hope is not lost for Selby yet. Remember, he was 8-3 down to Ronnie O'Sullivan back in the 2014 final before winning it 18-14 for his maiden world title.