O'Sullivan did get one of those snookers but then left the red on and Judd Trump wins two frames on the spin for the first time since he was 5-1 down yesterday afternoon.

Judd is picking these reds off very nicely. A shot with the rest leaving Ronnie O'Sullivan requiring snookers.

Might we have a match on our hands?

He misses the final red - Ronnie needs three snookers but is coming back to the table.

Jonny Twiss: Taking this lead for granted. Trump can reduce it in no time at all when he’s on form. Ronnie needs to focus.

He's not been at the races today, Ronnie.

If Trump can string two or three frames together, it will be very interesting to see how the 'Rocket' responds.

Well, then.

A wonderful shot-to-nothing long red gets Ronnie O'Sullivan back in.

But a few balls later he misses a relatively straightforward red to the corner pocket - he knew he'd missed it as soon as he hit, was back in his chair before the balls had stopped moving.

Can Judd Trump capitalise? Plenty easy balls to start with and he's already moved three points ahead with seven reds remaining.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport reporter at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, BBC Sport

Aidan, Brian and Jay are over from Dublin for the final.

Their general view is that “Ronnie is the greatest player to pick up a snooker cue.”

“He is so far ahead it went a little bit muted. Nobody has pushed him and Trump is not playing well. He has not been challenged for two weeks,” Aidan says.

“Next year is the year to be here, if he is going for eight,” Brian adds.

"We’ll have to try and keep that date free in the diary!"

A long red, with the cue ball just off the baulk cushion, gets Trump off the mark in frame 19 and he lands perfectly on the pink - but quickly runs out of position.

Tries a tough black and misses it - leaving Ronnie a red which he pots, but there's no position possible for a colour so another safety.

While Ronnie O'Sullivan has the edge over Judd Trump in the majority of accomplishments, that's, in part, due to his longevity at the top level - he's simply been around for a lot longer than his rival today.

Intriguingly, though, Trump is one of very few players to hold a winning head-to-head record over the 'Rocket' - even if that superiority is by the narrowest of margins, 15 to 14.

Trump, however, holds a huge advantage in past final meetings between the two players - they have met 11 times with trophies on the line and the Bristolian has won eight of those to O'Sullivan's three including a 10-4 thrashing in the 2019 Masters.

O'Sullivan did beat Trump 10-9 in the 2014 UK Championship final, however, and also won their only previous Crucible meeting - triumphing 17-11 in the 2013 semi-final on the way to his fifth world crown.

Image source, Getty Images

While there's a bit of a safety impasse, let's remind ourselves how these finalists match up...

Trump escapes the snooker at the second attempt by going a different route.

Slow start to this 19th frame.

Referee Olivier Marteel currently replacing the balls after a miss called on Judd Trump.

He'll be happy it's Trump playing the shot rather than O'Sullivan after yesterday's lengthy debate over a ball replacement.

Scott Pugh: I know he’s a bit behind but still fancy Trump to win this.

Mick Doherty: I think even diehard Judd Trump supporters, if they truly love snooker, must have a part of them that would want Ronnie to win this, just to be part of that moment in history, equalling Hendry.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport reporter at the Crucible Theatre

That was just what Judd Trump needed but before anyone starts scripting a comeback it is probably worth pointing out that he won the opening frames in both of Sunday's sessions before watching Ronnie O'Sullivan cut loose.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

I was desperate for Judd to take on the opening black of that break. It was very difficult but potting it would give him such a boost. He won't get anywhere trying to play safety.

He's an inspirational player and he can get that feeling by making incredible pots to get the crowd going. He may as well have a go in this position.

This crowd want to see Ronnie win but they also want to see a good match.

Century for Trumppublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 2 May 2022

13:34 BST 2 May 2022

Frame 18: O'Sullivan 12-6 Trump

He can indeed.

A wonderful 107 break earns Judd Trump the opening frame of Monday's play.

Judd is cleaning things up nicely - frame won, can he record his first century of the final?

James Gulleford: Have to disagree with Yousaf - Hendry didn’t have the same levels of competition that Ronnie has had. Hendry wouldn’t have won seven if Higgins, Williams and Trump had all been at their prime as well!

Paul: In terms of who’s the best ever I think it’s telling that despite having most world titles currently Hendry himself says Ronnie is the best ever! We can all have opinions but I’d say Hendry's opinion carries more weight than anyone else’s when it comes to that.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

You have to say this is a wonderful chance to take the opening frame.

He struggled a bit early in the frame but the pink and black were exceptional and he'll be disappointed if he doesn't win this frame from here.

This is exactly what Judd needed - a couple of good pots to get the confidence going.

Glorious and gutsy black from Judd Trump, along the bottom cushion, very thin cut.

He's going all out attack it seems.

Follows it up with a lovely cut pink to the middle a couple of shots later after running out of position. The reds are mostly open - just needs to control his positional play here.

Well, Ronnie will be disappointed with that one.

It seemed harder to fail to finish on a red after he potted the blue over the top corner pocket but somehow he's on nothing. Safety again.

Judd Trump breathes an inward sigh of relief.