A break of 87 for Zhao Xintong. Luca Brecel got one shot, the break off, in that frame.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

This has been a pristine start from Zhao Xintong. He has looked very calm.

A red and blue needed to put this frame beyond Luca Brecel.

Zhao Xintong is on 72 and looks like he has a century in his sights.

Shaun Murphy
2005 World champion

Will someone tell Zhao Xintong that this is the UK Championship final.

Zhao Xintong = scorchio.

'What a shot' murmurs a fan just within earshot of our microphone, as he powers a black into the corner and then runs through off the cushion with top spin to split the reds.

Up to 38 and counting.

Luca Brecel gets us under way and Zhao Xintong larrups in a long red.

Not even a chance that for your average club player.

Image source, Getty Images

Aside from a lovely bit of silverware plus the winner's cheque and a place in next month's Masters, there's also quite a few other things at stake this evening for Luca Brecel and Zhao Xintong.

Right the players are out. Here we go again.

Zhao Xintong had the edge earlier on today opening up a 5-3 lead over Luca Brecel but just how do these two players compare.

Image source, BBC Sport

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It looked like we were going to see a barrage of big breaks and one-visit snooker for the whole final. But the tension of the final took its grip.

There were a few mistakes and the only real difference was that Zhao Xintong had a couple of timely flukes and when he did miss he got away with it and did not leave Luca Bresel a shot.

Excitement is building at the York Barbican.

But before we welcome the players back into the arena here is a little look at just how they both reached the final of the UK Championship.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Two

Just a reminder that you can watch all of this match over on BBC Two.

I know it's normally the preserve of antique lovers at this time of the evening but I promise this will be worth a watch.

Alternatively just click the play button in the top left of this screen.

Image source, PA Media

Both players are competing in their first Triple Crown event final, guaranteeing a new name will be etched on the trophy.

Luca Brecel was ranked 40th in the world coming into the UK Championship, while Zhao Xintong was number 26 in the world.

Both of those rankings will change dramatically after this. If Zhao wins he will enter the top 16 for the first time, while Brecel will jump up to 18th even if he loses.

Image source, PA Media

Here we go.

There are still up to 11 frames to left in this year's UK Championship final. Thanks for joining us for the finale.

Will it be a epic late-night final, like the one that saw Neil Robertson edge to a 10-9 win over Judd Trump in 2020?

Or are Zhao Xintong and Luca Brecel going to rattle through the remainder of this contest at a rate of knots.

Not long until we find out.

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks for joining me this afternoon.

Zhao Xintong was in superb form there wasn't he? You can read our report, external on how he took a two-frame lead over Luca Brecel in the final of the UK Championship on the BBC Sport website.

Take care and I'll see you later this evening at around 18:55 GMT.

Remember you can also tune in on BBC Two from 19:00 GMT.

Before I head off for a brew and lie down, the Masters draw did not disappoint earlier on.

Defending champion Yan Bingtao faces Mark Williams, while Ronnie O'Sullivan plays Jack Lisowski, Judd Trump takes on Mark Allen and Mark Selby is up against Stephen Maguire.

The winner of Sunday's UK Championship final between Luca Brecel and Zhao Xintong will climb into the world's top 16 and play at the invitational event.

These are all absolute crackers.

Image source, BBC Sport

Shaun Murphy
2005 World champion

It is often very hard to play as well as he [Luca Brecel] did so far and carry it on.

Zhao Xintong was definitely the better player in that session but it is all to play for tonight.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Zhao steadied the ship there. It was an excellent last frame. He was a little but lucky with a couple of flukes that may have been the difference in the mentality of the players.

Luca got a bit flat after that but he has to forget about that and regroup for tonight.

Luca Brecel's hopes end with 17 points on the board.

A missed black sees him call time on trying to get anything out of this. It was always a lost cause anyway.

Zhao Xintong's time at the table (for now) sees him record a break of 78.

There's only 59 left but Luca Brecel is going to battle on...