Mark Selby delivers a vintage display to come from behind to open up a three-frame lead against Shaun Murphy in the World Championship final

Well, that was an eventful evening.

Mark Selby once again showed all the qualities that have led him to three Crucible titles.

He fought back from 6-4 down to lead 10-7, freezing 2005 champion Shaun Murphy out for much of the final two hours of play.

Will the Jester have the last laugh or can the Magician conjure up another comeback to rival his revival against Kyren Wilson in the semi-finals?

Join us here just before 13:00 BST on Monday to find out.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Selby speaking to BBC Sport: "I felt a bit edgy at the start, it's a world final and I was trying that extra bit harder and Shaun started off a lot better than me.

"Every final I have been to I have always felt really tired going into it but I have dug in today, grafted when I needed to and manged to get myself a lead.

"To get back to a one-table set-up this year and have a crowd is amazing."

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Shaun Murphy has got to try to do something to get in early in the frames – because the longer the frames go on, he’s going to lose them.

Shaun Murphy speaking to BBC Sport: "I thought he was fabulous tonight.

"From good safety shots I thought I had played and put it to him he always seemed to have the answer and potted some outrageous long balls.

"It's a frame easier than in 2005, but in all seriousness I think I have showed in the semi-final I can win when I am down. This match is a long way from being over."

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport reporter at the Crucible Theatre

It's not been a good evening for Shaun Murphy

But he can take heart that his only previous world title arrived after he overcame an even bigger deficit when trailing 10-6 to Matthew Stevens at the same stage in 2005.

After beating world number one Judd Trump in the quarter-finals, Murphy said he'd had to go into his memory banks. It looks as though he may have to delve into them again.

Mark Selby trailed 6-4 and 7-6 tonight but has won all of the four final frames to put himself in the driving seat in the 2021 World Championship final against Shaun Murphy.

He's rattled in some big breaks - 67, 86, 57 and 90 - but, unsurprisingly, it's been his safety play that has unnerved the Magician.

Murphy is playing on now but requires three snookers.

Stranger things have happened - but not many.

A long red for Selby to clinch the frame but the white is on the baulk cushion.

He gets close but has second prize, virtually snookering Shaun Murphy on both reds as the cue ball returns back up the table.

Murphy hits one but leaves it up and that should be frame and evening over.

This frame would be hard enough for Shaun Murphy to win against anybody.

But Mark Selby does not give an inch in these type of situations.

Brown and blue are safe too. It looks an impossible ask even for a Magician.

Murphy escapes at the third time of asking and gets the red safe!

Why didn't you just do that the first time, Shaun??

We've passed 11pm but none of the Crucible crowd are showing any signs of leaving.

They have waited long enough to watch snooker again in the flesh in fairness - they want to lap up every second of this.

The seconds might be running out though as Mark Selby has Shaun Murphy trapped in a horrible snooker behind the brown.

He's already fouled twice - one more and Murphy needs snookers of his own.

Image source, Getty Images

A really tense safety exchange now.

Both players recognise the importance of this final frame of the night - goes without saying but I'm being paid to write this so I'll say it anyway... there's a big difference between 10-7 and 9-8.

Mark Selby keeps me up later at night than eating cheese while watching a Freddy Krueger movie.

Talk about pinpoint accuracy.

Shaun Murphy plays a slow shot on the red to leave the cue ball in the jaws of the middle pocket.

Mark Selby will have to swerve it or develop the safe red off the cushion. He chooses the latter but puts it near another cushion. Classic Selby.

Image source, Getty Images

Shaun Murphy pots a couple of reds with colours but the ball are all awkward.

He runs out of position with two reds remaining and a Mark Selby safety has forced an error.

But the Jester can't snick the red into the middle. Still a chance for Murphy, if he could pinch this one what a boost that would be for him.

A big moment in the frame and, potentially, the match as Mark Selby runs out of position slightly and has a tough red with the rest...

He pots it - and that could be all she wrote for tonight.

But, no, he misses a blue off the spot! Frame ball!

Worryingly for Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby is showing signs of really growing into this final now.

He capitalises on another Murphy miss and most of the reds are out in the open.

What an end to the evening it would be for the Jester if he can open up a three-frame lead overnight.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Selby plays a very un-Selby like shot.

With the black hanging over the pocket, he plays into the pack of reds for a safety but hits it too hard, one red strikes another and knocks the black in!

A chance for Shaun Murphy then as he pots his first ball in almost an hour but then misses the black off the spot.

Oh dear. The crowd are rallying behind him but he's been frozen out.

Mark Selby is in first in the second instalment of this final frame.

But he misses a black off the spot, not an easy one, but one you would have fancied him to get.

"Come on Shaun," cries a member of the audience but there's no pot on.

Image source, Getty Images