The judges, however, have plumped for Ronnie O'Sullivan's unbelievable acute red to the middle with the white ball in the jaws of the corner pocket in round two.

Even when he's knocked out, Ronnie tends to win something at the Crucible.

We've seen some sensational shots over the past 17 days.

But were any better than Mark Selby's stunning long red this afternoon?

Take a look and decide for yourselves.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

The objective is to get close enough to make Mark Selby wobble. At 16-15 it would be really interesting and that's when there might be a wobble but he has to get there.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Shaun has been playing great but he hasn’t had that much table time at times in this match – it’s very difficult to get your ‘A’ game going and keep your cue action going if that’s the case.

But he’s still fighting. What a hero. That’s the way he plays, he’s very brave.

He's got to show absolutely no weakness or Mark will feed off that and maybe comfortably get over the line.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Shaun just keeps nearly getting there. And when he does Mark Selby wins the next frame. If he can win the next frame after the break he can make it interesting.

He has played some brilliant shots.

A brilliant frame from Shaun Murphy to keep Mark Selby still needing two.

It's not over, this, by a long chalk.

Plenty for both players to chew on over the mid-session interval but Selby still retains the three-frame advantage he began the evening with.

Murphy misses what was virtually frame-ball red with the rest. It was tough and he got close.

But Mark Selby fails with his reply and Murphy pots a long red. That should do it for this frame.

Shaun Murphy is solving the pieces of this puzzle beautifully, picking off open reds, developing other reds, potting good colours.

He's not safe in this frame yet but this is a break of high, high quality.

Mark Selby takes more than two minutes to work out how to escape that tricky safety.

But it's time well spent as he comes off the bottom cushion, flicks a red on the side rail and the cue ball heads back to baulk.

The Jester's next shot goes awry though as he leaves a red right over the corner pocket for Shaun Murphy. Chance. But the balls are not greatly positioned generally.

Image source, Getty Images

Crikey what's this...? A foul and a miss from Mark Selby, who leaves Shaun Murphy with an easy-ish cut into the middle bag.

In it goes but he gets an unfortunate cannon so doesn't have decent position on a colour. A safety it is.

Mark Selby leaves Shaun Murphy a mid-range red that he would pot nine times out of 10.

But this is the other one occasion.

The Jester then plays a cracking safety. Standard Selby.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

There is no doubt [Mark Selby is one of the greats]. He is a tremendous match-player who deserves all the accolades he gets.

Mark Selby is already among some esteemed company but he will climb up a notch even further on that ladder with victory tonight.

And, as Stephen Hendry - the man who heads the list of Crucible crowns - pointed out yesterday, he's still only 37. Plenty of time to add to his tally.

One frame before the mid-session interval then.

And a must-win frame for Shaun Murphy's world title hopes.

Mark Selby takes on a gutsy red that could have left plenty on for Shaun Murphy had he missed.

But miss he didn't.

The Jester adds a 68 to his earlier 40 in the frame and he's two frames away from his fourth Crucible title.

I was getting excited for a moment as Mark Selby took five reds and five blacks.

There's never been a 147 in a Crucible final. And that record is safe for the time being as the Jester failed to land on a sixth red.

In fact there have only been two maximums in the past decade here in Sheffield - John Higgins last year and Stephen Hendry in 2012.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

What a series of ball striking from Shaun Murphy. His cueing is brilliant, when he is walking around with his chest puffed out he is a real handful to play.

Yes, lads.

I want this shirt. Where can I get this?

I vary between a medium and a large, though - so annoying never knowing if something will fit right. Especially now you can't try anything on anywhere.

Image source, Getty Images

It was only a 43 break.

But you won't see many better 43 breaks.

What a visit that was. The top-spin he played on the yellow to develop the green off the rail was something that had to be seen to be believed.

Magic.

Shaun Murphy, of course, has shown a few times this tournament he can be pumped up by the crowd, though, and he's on the comeback charge here.

A fantastic few pots and positional shots have given him a golden chance now.