A chance comes and a chance goes for Kyren Wilson who gets his angles wrong and fails to sink a red into a middle pocket. It leaves a long red on, which Allen dispatches. 23-8

Don't want to worry anyone, but we have had one completed frame in the evening session in an hour. We could have another nine frames, after our current one, still to come.

Careless from Kyren Wilson as he goes in off to gift Mark Allen four points. He now leads 22-8.

Time for the second take of frame 10, and the sequel is instantly better than the original as Mark Allen gets in a good position. But wait just a minute, he fails with an attempt on the black on its spot and he comes to a juddering halt at 18.

So that ninth frame was full of safety shots and here is one of the best from Mark Allen, who of course went on to take it.

Paul Cafe: 2010 Masters final Mark Selby 10-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan, match finished just after midnight, can see the same happening tonight.

Gary Clayton: This match could go on so long,the winner could well be crowned Masters champion 2018 & 2019.

Time for another in our dubious snooker lookalikes section...

Andy Vines: When Michael Stipe gave up on REM, I didn't expect him to turn up as a snooker referee....

Image source, .

I hadn't written anything down for frame 10, and it was a good job too as it would have all been a waste. The dreaded re-rack. Start again.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

A heck of a lot went on in that frame. But ultimately the shot on the brown from Mark was different class. It was very brave the way he played it. This has the look of 10-8 or 10-9. This is massive for both players.

Steve Davis
Six-time UK champion on BBC Two

It took a lot of bottle for Mark to take that brown on, especially in a long frame like that. If Allen wins this game, it will be due to his precise shots around the black. If Kyren wins it will be due to his long potting. I expect the standard to get higher quickly tonight and they will settle down.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

From a psychological point of view it is always nice to win the long frames. It has been the second longest frame of the tournament. Mark Allen will be very pleasantly pleased with winning that.

A dogged, hard-fought, top-class safety encounter ends when Kyren Wilson fails to get the brown ball safe. Mark Allen shows his courage as he steps up, sinks it.

The frame took 39 minutes, and Allen, for only the second time this match is in the lead.

Wilson produces a stunning long pot to dispose of the green, but plays safe on the brown. But he has left it on.

Image source, Getty Images

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

This is such a tough opening frame for both players. I do enjoy these types of frames. For all the century breaks we have had, I do enjoy this cat and mouse.

Tight and dramatic, and some incredible safety, escape and trap-setting snooker from both men. Top class.

Image source, Getty Images

The clock ticks past the half hour mark for the first of a potential 11 frames tonight. Still 50-40 to Allen. As a lot of you have said, this is not going to finish anytime soon, so get comfortable, get the supplies in, we're all in for a long night.

We have five balls left on the table, Mark Allen is 50-40 ahead but wrapped up in safety / escape woe as we speak.

Syd Floyd: Had my pyjamas on since 4, watching #masterssnooker, external on this foul January day. Absolutely riveting viewing. I think we're in for a late night with this one. Bring it on!

Christopher Pittard: Lots of tweets about man watching #bbcsnooker, external with goggles on (see 19:19). Turns out that if you watch an already 3D event wearing 3D glasses, you see it in 9D, and consequently he is watching all possible #snooker, external finals simultaneously.

LoveDartsLove: Snooker is such a gentlemanly game. Great to see two young players keeping the tradition going. Gonna be a great finale. May the best man win.

Mark Allen rattles a red around the jaws of the pocket but it stays on the baize. Still a lot for Wilson to do in a lengthy opening frame as he comes to the table 50-11 behind.

Alan Bett‏: Is there anything more beautiful than good snooker safety play? It is art, sport and science brought together into a single miraculous moment.

Matt O'Brien‏: Do yourself a favour and watch the rest of the #masters, external snooker final on BBC. Compelling viewing.

Daniel Skyver: If Kyren Wilson was blonde he’d look a bit like Harry Kane in my opinion.

Hmm. Maybe. Feel a snooker lookalikes section coming up. Can you do better than Daniel's suggestion? We would be keen for any suggestions. Tweet us using #bbcsnooker.

Image source, .

Allen makes 40, then runs out of steam. He leads 40-9, then Wilson makes 10 before sneaking the cue ball behind the brown. 40-19