It might just be me but the shots these top players play to nudge reds off a cushion and make them pottable are just dreamy.

I'd be using a heart-eyed emoji for the one Mark Selby just played.

He's now ahead in this frame with one red remaining. But it's a tough one, with the rest, down the cushion.

Mark Selby's duty, meanwhile, is just to line up every shot.

He does that with a long red over the pocket after Shaun Murphy catches the yellow with a safety to leave the Jester the chance, albeit with the white on the baulk cushion.

Selby floats it in and now has a real opportunity to get back into this important opening frame of the evening.

Alan McManus
Former Masters champion on BBC Two

Sit back in your favourite armchair and enjoy the second chapter of this four-part saga!

No other drama on tonight, is there??

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

“It’s incredible for everyone involved to be able to welcome a capacity crowd back. Even being here just commentating and getting the atmosphere in the arena.

“The tension that is thrown in by the crowd is something we’ve all missed. Every sport has missed it but here at the Crucible it is just special.

"It’s about being back to normal, we’ve been looking forward to this. There’s nothing like walking down those stairs to this wall of noise."

Of course, one of the less savoury aspects of having fans back is the odd one who forgets to turn their mobile phone off...

Shaun Murphy does not let the brief interruption bother him but his opening break of 49 comes to an end with a safety shot a few minutes later.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport reporter at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, BBC Sport

We have a big evening in front of us at the Crucible. And the roar that has just reverberated around the Crucible has just underlined that very point.

Mark Selby has emerged as the winner from each of his last four finals in Sheffield and will be looking for a response after losing the final two frames of the afternoon session.

Shaun Murphy is aiming to win his second world crown after a gap of 16 years - which would become the largest ever period between titles.

Expect excitement, nerves and plenty of high-quality snooker.

We touched on it earlier this afternoon but if Murphy were to win the Crucible title for a second time, 16 years after his first triumph, what an achievement it would be.

Early days still, of course.

It's amazing a player of his talent has only won one title here in Sheffield but that just shows the calibre and depth of class there has been in the game over the past two decades.

Image source, Getty Images

Shaun Murphy carries on where he left off, belting in a long red to give himself the first chance of the night.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

It's been a while since Mark Selby has won Triple Crown events and I think he wants to get back to winning these events, the biggest events in the game.

I think he’s driven to do that, he was world number one for six or seven years.

Only five players in history have four or more world titles to their name in the modern era - and Mark Selby will be hoping to increase that elite list to six come Monday evening.

It would be his fourth title in eight years after triumphs in 2014, 2016 and 2017 - not quite the levels of domination Ray Reardon, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry achieved in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s respectively but not far off.

Much is made of Ronnie O'Sullivan's chances of equalling Hendry's record tally of seven world titles but Selby is eight years younger than the Rocket.

Surely he has to be in that conversation should he lift a fourth title and draw level with John Higgins on the list?

Image source, BBC Sport

Before we start, a reminder about Mark Selby's motivations for this final...

Interesting montage to start tonight's TV coverage.

Highlighting the multiple Crucible champions - Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry - in contrast to one-time winners Dennis Taylor, John Parrott and Ken Doherty.

That's what we have here. A multiple champion in Mark Selby against a man bidding to become one in Shaun Murphy.

BBC Two

Sunday evening's session is being televised live on BBC Two - and the coverage is beginning right now as we speak.

So you can either settle in front of the TV or click the play icon at the top of this page to enjoy tonight's action.

Either is fine, we won't judge.

Just in case you missed this afternoon's session, you can check out a recap of the opening exchanges from our man at the Crucible, Steve Sutcliffe...

Welcome back to our live text coverage of the World Championship final between Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy.

We enjoyed a compelling afternoon session as Murphy forged ahead, then Selby twice clawed him back before the 'Magician' edged the final frame to lead by two at 5-3.

A long way to go yet, of course - one player must reach the winning line of 18 frames to be crowned champion.

Let's hope this evening's session is as entertaining as the one earlier.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, the players and pundits are off for a break - and it's time for us to do the same.

We'll return at 18:55 for the evening session as the man below attempts to protect - and even increase - his two-frame advantage over Mark Selby.

See you in a few hours.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

These early sessions in a World Championship final - you think there's a long way to go and they are not important. But they are.

It could have been 7-1 to Shaun Murphy so I think Mark Selby can be pleased in one way that he got out quite lightly.

But he will be quite disappointed how it ended in that final frame after having that golden chance.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Shaun Murphy will be absolutely over the moon to win that last frame - he nearly threw it away and he got away with one.

And that's a very rare thing to happen against Mark Selby.

Some reaction to that opening session coming up but first why not tackle our latest snooker quiz while you're in the mood?

One of these players today will unfortunately end up as the bridesmaid and we have a tester for you - can you name all of the Crucible runners-up going back to 1977?

Click here to give it a go.

He does exactly that, clearing the colours with a minimum of fuss to lead 5-3 going into Sunday evening's second session.

That's a hammer blow for Mark Selby who had fought tooth and nail to stay in touch this afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images