Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

There have been a few mistakes from both players but Shaun seems to be enjoying it.

Mark Selby was given a great chance in the last frame but green to brown, he messed it up. He tried to be too clever with the shot.

These frames can dictate the rest of the match, Shaun getting off to a flying start can put Mark on the back foot.

We know he’s got great mental resolve in that department but when Shaun starts to play really well, the form he’s in, he really is a fantastic front-runner.

A half-fluked brown - that sort of shot where the player doubles a ball across the table, half in hope of safety, half in hope it goes in - puts Murphy on the verge of the second frame.

He pumps in a long blue to seal it. Advantage to the Magician.

Not a gimme at all and Mark Selby runs out of position after just two pots.

Another safety battle on the colours like the first frame. Another tight frame, just like the first.

A big let-off for Mark Selby as Shaun Murphy overcuts an admittedly tough mid-distance yellow.

That was a quickfire 58 break from the Magician but Selby just needs to clear the colours to pinch this one back when it appeared he'd lost it.

Colours aren't on their spots, though, so not a gimme.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

The two of them are so pumped up. They were in good spirits and having a right good go at each other in the practice room before the match.

In the midst of that walk down memory lane, Mark Selby missed a great chance to level matters.

On a break of 41, he took his eye off a straightforward blue into the middle that he would miss one time in a million. What a time to do it.

The balls are placed nicely for a Shaun Murphy counter and he has a great chance to double his lead.

Mark Selby goes into the final with a slight edge over Shaun Murphy. And while he also had the better of their last meeting at the Crucible in the 2007 semi-final, it's fair to say they go way back.

"We probably first played in a junior competition at the Willie Thorne Snooker Centre. Shaun strolled in as a 14-year-old and he even used to talk like a 30-year-old back then," said Selby.

"He has not changed. He is a fantastic player and a great long potter. He is probably back to his best and how he was when he won it in 2005.

"I get on with Shaun, I have known him too long not to. But I won't be over the next two days."

Image source, BBC Sport

Lovely bit of chat in the studio after that frame about these two players having grown up on the junior circuit together.

They won't thank us for these photos though... we were all teenagers once, lads.

A brilliant blue along the top cushion from Murphy, followed up by a punchy punk into the middle and the 2005 champion edges that tight, but very entertaining, opening frame.

As much as we love to watch these top players bang in the big breaks, there's something even more compelling about the tight frames that go to the colours.

Shaun Murphy plays safe off a tough blue that would have been a real risk along the cushion.

Three points in it with three balls left on the table - who is going to edge the first frame?

A mobile phone goes off and whether it unnerved Shaun Murphy or not, he plays a poor safety that hands Mark Selby control of the safety battle.

However, Selby narrowly misses a long red and leaves it on a plate for his opponent.

Big chance, assuming the phones stay silent. Come on, people.

The Jester manages to deal with one of those tricky reds but fails to dislodge the other one from the cushion.

But he's established a 19-point lead with just that one red remaining.

A safety battle ensues and this is classic Selby territory, of course.

That composure remains elusive, Stephen.

Shaun Murphy breaks down on 29 and leaves Mark Selby a red to open his account, which he takes.

Selby is unlucky the pack does not break more invitingly from the subsequent pink but he knocks in a nerveless red along the cushion to keep going.

Good chance this, now, although a couple of the remaining six reds are in awkward positions.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Shaun didn’t miss a ball last night but it will take these players two or three shots to settle down and gain their composure.

Talk about a nervy start.

Mark Selby has made more errors in five minutes than he often makes in entire sessions.

Shaun Murphy could not capitalise on the first, missing a fairly routine black himself, but he's now in among the balls with a good chance to strike the opening blow in this final.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

While Mark Selby has beaten two fellow former World champions in reaching the final, Shaun Murphy has accounted for just the one - but his run has been no less impressive.

He has arguably had to battle more, turning around a first-session deficit to avoid a shock opening-round defeat to veteran Mark Davis before producing that stunning turnaround from 10-4 down to beat Kyren Wilson 17-12 in the semis, winning 13 of the final 15 frames.

In between, he produced polished performances to down Masters champion Yan Bingtao and, perhaps most impressively of all, 2019 Crucible champ Judd Trump.

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Selby barely broke sweat as he absolutely stormed into the semi-finals in Sheffield.

Well, snooker players rarely break sweat - although it can be stiflingly hot at the Crucible - but you get the gist.

He demolished Kurt Maflin and Mark Williams on the way to the last four before showing that trademark Selby steel to reel Stuart Bingham in from 12-9 down to win 17-15 late on Saturday night.

Shaun Murphy comes out first to 'Disco Inferno' while Mark Selby enters to Kasabian, who hail from his home town of Leicester.

Elbows are touched, the obligatory photo with the trophy taken, all smiles, and we're under way...

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It's Harry Potter vs the Dementor.

But neither one is the villain.

They are both lovely guys and great sports.

Classic analysis from the Nugget who gets a big laugh from the Crucible crowd. Lovely to see the arena so busy.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport reporter at the Crucible

The final of the World Championship sees the possibility of a full crowd at a major UK sporting event for the first time in over a year.

However, I understand that we are probably going to have to wait until Monday before the sold-out signs are dusted off and the auditorium is filled to its 980-capacity.

Around 600 fans will be present this afternoon and this evening, having met extensive guidelines, external - the largest number the tournament has seen so far but still only just over 60% full.

Organisers say the hesitation of some to return to an indoor event, plus limitations in terms of travel and accommodation options over the weekend, have had an impact.

But with more than 900 tickets sold for both sessions on Monday, there is confidence it will provide the first glimpse of something like sporting normality for a long time.