Daniel Rourke: The single most Sunday thing you can do is watch the Masters final. Absolute truth. I don't make the rules.

I went with Pizza Jason. Crisps are on the way soon. Feel free to let me know what'll keep you going watching this match.

A collectors item. Neil Robertson fluffs a safety, with the white disappearing into the bottom right corner pocket after flicking off another red.

He's not left anything easy though. Barry Hawkins is in two minds. Try and get snooker off a red up near the top cushion or go for a pot.

He elects for the latter but makes a mess of that but gets put straight back in with Robertson playing a curious shot. Hampered slightly by the yellow Hawkins' attempt to knock a red into the corner is poor.

Out comes the rest and Robertson is back in business - slotting a red into the bottom left corner.

Barry Hawkins is in a touch of difficulty so elects to dump the cue ball on the bottom cushion but that gives Neil Robertson an easy route back to baulk.

Not for the first time this week a phone goes off in the crowd. It prompts the referee, Desislava Bozhilova, to issue a rebuke.

Come on folks get them on silent or switch them off.

Neil Robertson reaches 25 and is then faced with a tough red to the middle with the black and pink awkwardly placed.

He clips that in but loses the cue ball. A safety shot incoming.

Simon: Would love Hawkins to win this one, played some unreal stuff in this tournament to get to the final.

Murat: Was that Ray Parlour in the crowd?

I know who you mean Murat, but not sure if that was the former Arsenal and England midfielder. He may well be there, I really don't know.

Neil Robertson breaks off and Barry Hawkins goes straight on the attack.

He's an inch or two out though with a pot to the bottom right corner and the red swings round the angles.

It comes to a rest close to that same corner pocket to leave Robertson with a snick in.

Barry Hawkins enters the arena and the Ally Pally roar cranks right up. Neil Robertson out now to a warm welcome. I think Barry's reception just about edged it mind.

Wonder what treats Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins will serve up for us this evening?

Talking of which...

Image source, @MrMJN77

BBC Two

Just a reminder that you can watch the rest of this best-of-19 encounter on BBC Two or by clicking play at the top of this page.

The winner will receive a top prize of £250,000 and the Paul Hunter Trophy, while the loser will get £100,000.

As it stands Stuart Bingham, will be keeping his fingers crossed that his first-round break of 139 remains the highest of the tournament and secures him an additional £15,000 on top of the £15,000 he picked up for being in the last 16.

The Masters has once again thrown up some some superb matches, explosive potting and excellent safety.

And before we get going how about something to whet the appetite.

The one thing about the Masters in recent years is that bar 2019, when Judd Trump took a 7-1 lead into the evening session, it has been difficult to predict a winner.

John Higgins led 5-3 last year and lost 10-8 to Yan Bingtao, while in 2020 Stuart Bingham beat Ali Carter by the same score having established a 5-3 lead.

Basically anything can happen.

Image source, PA Media

Australia’s Neil Robertson is in command of the final after opening up a 5-3 lead in the opening session.

The 39-year-old is looking for his second Masters title after winning it for the first time 10 years ago, when he beat Shaun Murphy 10-6.

World number 10 Hawkins is participating in his second Masters final, having been runner-up to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2016.

If you fancy a quick recap, our report on the first session of play should do the job.

Image source, PA Media

We go again.

Image source, PA Media

That's it from me for now. Thanks for joining me. Like Barry Hawkins and Neil Robertson I am off to recharge before this evening's session (well grab a brew).

Robertson holds a two-frame advantage into the interval after making breaks of 50, 105, 54, 54 and 73, while Hawkins' highest break was 60.

You can read our report from the first session here.

I'll see you around 18:55 this evening for the finale to the 2022 Masters final

Image source, Getty Images

This match has not exactly hit the heights so far but there have been some memorable Masters moments down the years.

Try our quiz and see how many of them you can remember.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It was impressive the way Neil Robertson finished of that session and gives himself an all important advantage.

Nobody hit top form and it was mistake ridden. You just want to get a lead and manoeuvre for position heading into the final session.

The concern for Barry Hawkins is that won't produce the goods in the final that he did earlier in the event, nobody wants to falter in the final.

Jordan: Robertson takes the first session then. Hope Hawkins can muster up a bit of a comeback!

Noel: I want Barry Hawkins to win this but he's so inconsistent.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

The snooker and standard will improve tonight. Neil Robertson will be happy at 5-3 and Barry Hawkins too. He has played nowhere near the way he can play and it could have been worse for him. He needs to win three of the first four tonight.

Neil has got the lead but Barry might have bit of a hangover from the semi-final against Judd Trump. He has time to regroup now.