Postpublished at 22:40 British Summer Time 2 May 2021
Frame 17: Selby 9-7 Murphy
It's a re-rack... we go again.
Mark Selby leads Shaun Murphy 10-7 after day one of final
Three-time champion trailed Murphy 5-3 after first session
First to 18 wins final held over two days in Sheffield
Crucible Theatre nearly at full capacity for evening session - part of UK government pilot scheme
Michael Beardmore
Frame 17: Selby 9-7 Murphy
It's a re-rack... we go again.
Frame 17: Selby 9-7 Murphy
It's an almost an hour since Shaun Murphy last potted a ball.
That's what Stephen Hendry is referring to. Mark Selby can just freeze players out for long spells.
We have another safety exchange with reds split open in this frame. Murphy is being extra careful - and he has to be.
A vital frame, this final one of the night then before Mark heads back to his coffin.... sorry, bed.
Frame 17: Selby 9-7 Murphy
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two
The claws are in and they are in deep, he’s like a snooker vampire. He sucks all the life and adrenaline out of you.
He’s just the most unbelievable competitor I’ve ever seen – I would have hated to play against him.
I don’t know how he does it – all of a sudden he can just make it the kind of game he wants to play.
Shaun doesn’t know what’s happened to him.
Frame 16: Selby 9-7 Murphy
Alan McManus
Former Masters champion on BBC Two
That will hurt Shaun, I mean OK, he was a huge second favourite for the frame but that fluke solidified Mark’s cast-iron grip on the frame.
After working his socks off all evening, he’s got himself two in front. A big frame coming up.
Frame 16: Selby 9-7 Murphy
Fluke alert.
Mark Selby was already well ahead in this frame but a slice of fortune has just sealed it.
He goes for a long red with safety in mind and it goes nowhere near the corner pocket but bounces around off two cushions into the middle.
Selby completes the formalities and all of a sudden he leads by two.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two
That is typical of Mark Selby, we’ve just had a terrific bout of tactical play but he gets half a chance and he’s able to knock in a pot like that.
That is key when you get to this level, being able to do that.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Selby, though, escapes, and a couple of shots later knocks in a belting long red. He only needs three of the four reds out in the open to make this frame safe.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Shaun Murphy just left Mark Selby a tempter of a long red.
But with a healthy lead, Selby plays another red safe instead.
A lot of players would have gone for that red.
But Murphy, showing his own tactical acumen, plays a lovely return and Selby is in a spot of bother behind the yellow, only able to see one red.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Alan McManus
Former Masters champion on BBC Two
Mark's depth of understanding of what to play and when to play it is simply superb.
Shaun is staying with him, it’s a wonderful little passage of play.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
A few of the reds have run awkward - or, more accurately, Mark Selby, with a 47-point lead to protect, has pushed them that way.
The black is also tight on the bottom cushion.
Shaun Murphy is going to have work hard to get back into this frame.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Thus far, 12 of the 15 frames played in this final have featured breaks of 50 or higher - but still no century.
And there won't be one in this frame either as Mark Selby runs out of position on a colour after making 39.
They're both playing well, but not really well.
The 2021 World Seniors Snooker Championship takes place between 6-9 May, with coverage of the action broadcast live on the BBC.
Read MoreBy the way, I should mention this isn't the only World Championship snooker final you can watch on the BBC in May...
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Selby fails to take that chance and leaves Shaun Murphy a tough red but just as he is about to strike the cue ball, there's a slight noise in the crowd.
Did it put him off? Tough to tell. But he missed. And it's handed Selby a golden opportunity in this penultimate frame of the night.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Murphy has not been on the ball this frame.
He missed an early long pot and was lucky to get away with it.
Now he misses a red completely on two straight occasions, receiving the scary warning that he will lose the frame if he does so again.
Instead he plays a different red and leaves Selby a chance.
Frame 16: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two
If the roles had been reversed – and we are nitpicking here because they are very small margins – Shaun would not have had a look at that red because Mark Selby would have glued him to the baulk cushion or behind the yellow.
Shaun is a little bit more carefree in that regard and not as pinpoint with his accuracy.
That’s only a small criticism but sometimes these small things matter because at this level, these guys, their long games are so good – if you leave them a sniff, nine times out of 10 they are going to get it.
He has to be on the ball all the time. You can’t let up. You have to be very, very careful. Even when you break down you still have to keep your concentration.
Frame 15: Selby 8-7 Murphy
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two
That was a stunning long red and Mark deserved to win the frame from that.
Frame 15: Selby 8-7 Murphy
He's trailed 2-0, 5-3 and 6-4 but Mark Selby has hit the front for the first time.
That's a wonderful clearance of 90, capped with an exhibition positional shot from pink to final black.
Frame 15: Selby 7-7 Murphy
Mark Selby has pounced on the opportunity he created all by himself, firing in a stunning long red down the left-hand side of the table as we see it.
He's up to 48 with two reds remaining - a lead of 14. Can he go ahead in this final for the first time?