John Parrott
1991 world champion at the York Barbican

Fasten your seat belts. Both players look in peak form.

Steve Davis
Six-time UK champion at the York Barbican

This isn’t going to be a slow match. The crowd are going to be able to go Christmas shopping this afternoon.

It will be break after break.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion at The Barbican

What a final we could have on our hands here.

Two frames in, and this is looking like a great final already. O'Sullivan takes the second, with a break of 62 to level it up.

We have seen some great shocks in this tournament and you can watch what happened to defending champion Mark Selby again as he got knocked out of the UK Championship following a shock 6-3 defeat by world number 66 Scott Donaldson in the second round.

READ MORE: Selby knocked out of UK Championship

Available to UK users only.

World number one Mark Selby would rather be in York, but an early exit has left him playing with his family in the snow this morning.

This is his great snowman, complete with coat-hangers for arms.

BBC Sport app users may need to click on the link to see the tweet.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at The York Barbican

There were issues earlier in the tournament with getting the crowd into the arena. It caused some congestion outside the Barbican but everyone looks to have got themselves inside in good time for the final.

Unlike other parts of the UK, York has seen no snow at all. There was a little sleet earlier but nothing for the travelling supporters to worry about.

Shaun Murphy has a chance to do some real damage, but a missed pot on a black brings O'Sullivan back to the table. 32-21 Murphy leads in the second.

Perry Nicholls: That’s a real statement for a major final - a century in the first frame!

Ian Moore: Run of the balls for Murphy in that frame but a great clearance none the less.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion at The Barbican

O'Sullivan needed to hit that red full-ball. As soon as you hit it half-ball, you run the risk of going into either pocket. Still, that's unlucky.

No, is the answer. O'Sullivan, unluckily, goes in-off and the break comes to an abrupt end after making 21. Murphy looks to punish that slip-up.

Frame two. And O'Sullivan downs a fine long red, and is already up to 21. Murphy only needed one chance in the opener, can O'Sullivan respond in the same fashion in the second?

John Parrott
1991 world champion at The Barbican

Murphy got a big fluke to get going but his ball striking was fantastic. He knows the importance of stamping his authority on a match like this.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion at The Barbican

What a start for Shaun Murphy. He's probably cueing as well as we've seen him for a long, long time.

Shaun Murphy got in with a fluke, but he then capitalised on that with a stunning, flawless clearance of 123. If that is the sign of things to come then we are going to be in for a great afternoon. Top class so far.

100 - Murphypublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2017

13:21 GMT 10 December 2017

Frame one in the bag, and Murphy then makes a century, what a start to the final. Great stuff.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion at The Barbican

Shaun Murphy has carried on where he left off last night against Ryan Day.

Last night, he was winning the frame with one visit. Can he start the final in the same way?

The finish line is in sight for Murphy in the opening frame. The break is up to 60.

As always, we want your thoughts and comments on all the action.

Tweet us using the hashtag #bbcsnooker and we will put your words of wisdom into this page throughout the afternoon.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at The York Barbican

The 1997 world champion Ken Doherty is in the commentary box this afternoon alongside 1985 champion Dennis Taylor.

Doherty told BBC Sport: "Murphy has been scoring a lot heavier than O'Sullivan in this tournament, but Ronnie has a better record against him. He is more experienced, his seventh final, but it will be a classic.

"It will be very close and the only difference is that O'Sullivan's concentration is better when he smells blood to kill frames off, Murphy does not do that.

"O'Sullivan's safety play is also better and he will have to hide that white well because Murphy's long-ball game is so good at the moment. He is the best in the game at knocking them in.

"Murphy does not fear O'Sullivan, he is one of the few players in the game who will look forward to playing against him."