Thank you so much for joining our live text coverage of today's UK Championship final.

And what a final it proved to be as Mark Allen came from 6-1 down to beat three-time champion Ding Junhui and claim his maiden UK title.

We'll back with the Masters in January of course - it'll be here before you know it.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a fine night for snooker - and an unforgettable night for Mark Allen.

Read Michael Emons' report of his triumph over Ding Junhui here.

Jon Mac: I remember not long ago Mark Allen said ‘if he could get his head sorted and lose weight he would win Majors’… couldn’t have been more right well played sir; on all fronts!!

Jay: Brilliant snooker by Mark Allen. What character in that final session. Congratulations to him.

Max Banner: Mark Allen been steely all week, a vastly improved player of late, a genuine contender at the Worlds next year.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It's horrible to lose like that but there's always another snooker tournament around the corner and Ding will be encouraged by the fact he's got back to some kind of standard.

He will be despondent tonight but give it a week and he should be okay.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

I'm delighted for him - he's decided to try to do something about his career.

He probably had loads of people over a number of years telling him that if you want to be a serious pro, you've got to lose some weight, you've got to pay the price.

And finally he decided to do it. You can't guarantee you will get the results but what a wonderful thing - to becoming a winning machine immediately, that gives you great encouragement.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Everything's different - there's improvement in every department.

His determination and persistence is going to keep him in games. There was a little bit of Mark Selby in that today.

And then Allen found his game. He's a tremendous competitor.

Mark Allen is all smiles as he lifts the trophy and no wonder - what a performance that was from the Northern Irishman tonight.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

He's turned into a very special player and to do that today makes a statement.

It's okay being a flying machine and winning a final from in front but to do it from behind shows great character and it will stand him in good stead for the World Championship and, of course, the Masters.

More from Mark Allen to BBC Two:

"I was struggling and I was trying to stay as positive as possible in my seat. No matter what the score was, I said to myself 'Can I win the next frame?'. And ultimately the answer is always yes.

"I was never getting ahead of myself - I was just waiting for that chance. It was a long drawn-out frame but I potted some good balls at the end to clear up.

"I've won two ranking tournaments in the last three and lost in the final of the other one so I'm doing something right."

UK champion Mark Allen to BBC Two:

"I didn't play very well most of the week.

"I didn't start well today and Ding punished me heavily, he score ridiculously well. I just hung on and scraped the last frame and I don't know what happened tonight.

"All of a sudden I felt good - my safety was good, I forced some errors and I started to score. And at 6-6 I felt so good in the dressing room, I thought 'I'm not going to lose from here' and I don't wan that to sound disrespectful. I felt so confident in my game.

"To beat Ding from 6-1 down in a best of 19 is one of my best wins ever because he's an absolute legend."

"It's absolutely amazing and I don't really know how I've done it, if I'm honest," emotional champion Mark Allen tells Hazel Irvine.

Ding Junhui to BBC Two presenter Hazel Irvine:

"Mark played very good safety, put me under pressure. I had a lot of bad safety shots, always leaving long shots. After 6-2 I didn't take care of my lead and he punished me to come back to 6-6.

"He got confidence again and I lost my feeling.

"I am proud of myself to get here after three years of doing nothing but bitterly disappointed I lost in the final as everybody wishes to win.

"I will just keep practising hard."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

Mark Allen has done it! One of the most incredible finals in the 45-year history of the UK Championship.

As he sinks the decisive pot, he screams out in delight and, for the first time, wins the competition.

What a match, what a performance.

Goodness me, what a way to win it.

That 17th frame took almost an hour. But Mark Allen will not care.

He's the UK champion for the first time in his career - from 6-2 down, he wins eight of the next nine frames.

It was just two balls he needed! Excuse the tiredness! He's not perfect on the pink... but it's IN!

Allen drills it in. Brown in the middle with the white on the cushion.

It's in - three balls away form the title, all on their spots.

The final red deposited, then black, up for yellow in the middle.

A tricky green with the rest now, it's near the pocket but near the cushion too.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

Is this it? Huge chance for Mark Allen.

They were a plant!

A nice pink to follow and Allen closes to 43-32 behind with one red left. The title within reach - just a handful of shots away.

Mark Allen plays a red along the cushion far too hard, it jaws and leaves Ding Junhui a gimme.

But he misses the black off the spot - and are the final two reds locked together in a plant? Mark Allen is having a real close look.