Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Yan started so well but not the most convincing of frames from Higgins, but he has a frame on the board and will feel he is now in the final.

Higgins will get better so Yan will need to stay with him this session.

This is better from John Higgins.

He's not found the level from his win over Ronnie O'Sullivan yet but he's on the board with a break of 42.

Another mistake from Yan as an attempted pot goes awry. Surely John Higgins won't be as charitable this time around?

Looks like he'll need to get the rest out but this looks a routine red to the bottom left corner.

John Higgins' response amounts to 11 before he slides off the green and loses position.

Looks like the Scot is scratching his head over that one. Still he gets straight back in with Yan absolutely smashing an attempt down to the bottom left corner and seeing the red crash into what was left of the pack.

Easy starter for Higgins into the left middle...which he misses.

What is going on here?

John Virgo
1979 UK Championship winner on BBC Two

That'll be a shock to the system. It was a little careless.

Scratch that last post. Yan misses a sitter into the bottom right corner. Awkward angle for a right hander but you don't expect one of these boys to miss that sort of shot.

John Higgins tidies several loose balls away but breaks down on 20, leaving Yan in among the balls in the process.

This looks half a chance to put a few points on the board, if not win the frame.

That's nice from John Higgins who snicks a long red into the bottom left and then gets a lovely kiss on the green to leave himself with that ball into the top right corner.

How many can he make here?

Is Yan in again here? He's got a long red down to the bottom right which is almost a carbon copy of two pots that he knocked in during the first frame.

This time the red doesn't drop and it looks like we could be in for a bout of safety.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

There are times where you see a player come of age. It could be today for Yan Bingtao.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

John Higgins will want to stamp his authority on the match and the last thing he wants is a player who has never been in a final before and enjoying himself. He does not want to see a confident Yan Bingtao.

The worst possible start for Higgins.

What a great start for Yan, who makes 33 to clinch the first frame.

We've got eight frames scheduled for this afternoon session, with an interval of 15 minutes after the first four. We could whizz through them if that's anything to go by.

John Virgo
1979 UK Championship winner on BBC Two

It's a dream start from Yan Bingtao. He is cueing so beautifully.

Hello. What's this? Yan is up to 66 and looks to be coasting to the first frame before running out of position.

John Higgins is a well off a long red to the bottom left and up steps Yan to smash another red into the bottom left bin. The cue ball just stays out of the left middle. He's looking good to win the frame now.

Incredible stat.

John Higgins misses a long red and to leave Yan Bingtao with a tempter down to the bottom right corner pocket.

In it goes. Yan is up and running and within a few shots he looks on the way to developing a frame-winning chance.

Nerveless stuff.

Looks like the younger man has a slight edge across their meetings so far.

Image source, BBC Sport

Right here we go.

Yan Bingtao gets us under way.

Watch the best shots from Chinese debutant Yan Bingtao as he recovers to stun defending champion Stuart Bingham 6-5 and reach the final of the Masters in Milton Keynes.

It's almost time.

The players are on their way out to pose for the pre-match photograph next to the Paul Hunter Trophy.