A loose safety from Neil Robertson puts Barry Hawkins back in, with a thinnish cut to the top left corner. In the red drops.

He gets a few more points on the board and then breaks down. Really scrappy so far and now the Hawk is back in again.

This time he is left with a tricky red to the green pocket but in it goes. He gets through the yellow green and brown no bother but then misses a long blue. It matter not. It is enough to take the frame.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport

This is the 15th and final match of a classic Masters tournament that will undoubtedly be remembered for the atmosphere generated by a crowd at Alexandra Palace, after the event was held behind closed doors in Milton Keynes last year.

On the baize, there have been five final-frame deciders this week so it would be fitting if we had a close finish tonight.

Barry Hawkins, though, will need to improve markedly from his previous Masters final appearance in 2016, when he was crushed 10-1 by a certain Ronnie O'Sullivan.

What a let-off. Neil Robertson loses position so Barry Hawkins gets back to the table.

The Australian is back at the table now though with another chance.

Barry Hawkins knocks in a decent red but has no real position so plays safe.

Neil Robertson puts him in a bit of bother with his reply, but what a shot that is. Hawkins nails a long red into the bottom right corner and gets position on the pink.

The reds are open and this is a decent chance to score. Or would have been. A couple of shots on he misses an easy black. He looks pretty annoyed with himself, as Robertson's eyes light up.

Couple of nervy attempted pots to begin with.

Barry Hawkins won the opening frame in his only previous Masters final in 2016 but then lost the next 10 to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

He'll want to get a few frames on the board in this session.

The handshakes and pleasantries are over. Neil Robertson breaks to get us under way.

Image source, PA Media

Here come the players.

The Alexandra Palace is absolutely rocking. Again.

Barry Hawkins is out first to a huge ovation. Now here comes the 'Thunder from Down Under', Neil Robertson is in the arena to an equally generous reception.

MC Rob Walker is running through his repertoire to whip the crowd up for the entrance of the players.

Very much a master of his trade.

Mark Williams almost deserved better after this shot didn't he.

But then again how good was Neil Robertson's semi-final fight back? And who gets two snookers to win in the final frame against one of the very best ever.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

I've never known an atmosphere like this. The electricity coming from the crowd inspires the players. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up when the players entered the arena to a standing ovation. The crowd has definitely lifted the players. It's been a wonderful week with packed capacity crowds every day.

BBC Two

Remember you can watch this match by clicking play at the top of this page or by simply tuning into BBC Two.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It's been an exciting tournament and hopefully the final will be the icing on the cake. It will be tough to replicate the drama of the semi-finals we had yesterday but the crowd will inspire them. This is the most electric atmosphere we have on the tour.

Image source, PA Media

Don't write off Barry Hawkins mind.

The 42-year-old may well begin the Masters final in the role of underdog but he has beaten both Mark Selby and Judd Trump, the top two ranked players in the world in his last two matches.

Given Neil Robertson is number four in the rankings, this should be a much easier assignment. Ahem.

Joking apart, the Englishman must be able to take a fair bit of confidence from those victories.

Eleven professional players in snooker's modern era have won a career Triple Crown, with Neil Robertson joint seventh on that list with five.

A victory today would not only see him bank the £250,000 winners cheque, it would lift him above Irish great Alex Higgins and leave only this lot in front of him for Triple Crown titles.

• 20 - Ronnie O'Sullivan
• 18 - Stephen Hendry
• 15 - Steve Davis
• Nine - John Higgins
• Nine - Mark Selby
• Seven - Mark Williams

Image source, PA Media

Welcome to our coverage of the final of the Masters, one of snooker's most prestigious events.

Will Neil Robertson claim another Triple Crown title or can Barry Hawkins win his first after 24 seasons as a professional?

Both players have been in superb form so far and both came through dramatic final-frame deciders but who will win the battle of the left-handed players?

This should be a cracker. Stick with us to find out.