Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

It's frames like this that can really turn a match.

He hit the white, hoped. But missed the red.

Got it second time though after Mark Allen had the balls replaced.

But the 'Pistol' lays another snooker, behind the brown.

John Virgo
1979 UK Championship winner on BBC Two

It's hit and hope time this for Ding, with the red in the middle of the table.

Another cannon attempt to get the final red off the bottom cushion goes slightly awry but he's reduced the deficit to 49-28 and got Ding in a snooker behind the black.

With the pink in baulk and black tied up next to a red, Ding Junhui has had to solely utilise the blue and lower-value colours for a break of 42.

With four reds on the table, Mark Allen still has a chance and he knocks in a brilliant long red that almost defies description. Jaw-dropping shot. But he needs to string them together.

A lovely cannon to free the red and black by potting a blue in the middle is equally good. What a frame this would be to pinch for the Northern Irishman.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

That was a bit rash.

Talk about pushing the boat out, Mark Allen has just launched a cruise liner - and it's sunk.

He goes for a very risky plant that was always destined to smash the balls wide open if it missed.

It's potentially handed Ding Junhui this sixth frame on a plate.

Image source, Getty Images

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

He just didn't strike it with any conviction or authority.

He had a tough match last night, it went right to the wire - I'm not sure if he's feeling a little bit jaded, a little bit tired.

The adrenaline keeps you going but he's closing his eyes in his chair and there might be some slight effect from last night.

Disgrace might be a tad harsh, but I like the idea of rewarding the player with the most big breaks.

Mark Allen, meanwhile, is yet to register a 50+ break in this final.

He gets in first in frame six but misses a mid-distance blue to the green pocket. Just can't get anything going, the 'Pistol'.

Cue Ball Control: I find it a disgrace and a place where snooker is lacking that there's no prize for most centuries made in a tournament or across a season. Think that would be far better than just a high break prize.

Ding Junhui is aiming to become only the fourth player to win a fourth UK Championship title.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Ding is one of the most savage scorers we've ever had in the game in terms of making centuries.

In practice, people talk about him never missing, just taking frame after frame after frame.

I love this type of snooker, I love to see someone really dominate a final, come out and take it by the scruff of the neck, stamp their authority on it - and that's what he's doing at the moment.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

After dropping so far down the ranking list, what a way to get back into the top part of the game.

He's knocking on the top 16 all of a sudden and making a charge in the right events can help your ranking.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

Ding carries on where he left off before the mid-session interval with another brilliant break - a wonderful 135 clearance for successive centuries.

Allen, for the first time in this tournament, now finds himself three frames behind and Ding is threatening to run away with this one. He leads 4-1 and no matter what happens will not be losing at the end of the first session.

There are three frames left in this session so can Allen slow down the Ding momentum?

135 break puts Ding three aheadpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2022

15:26 GMT 20 November 2022

Allen 1-4 Ding

Of course he can. Never once looked in doubt, a simply supreme visit from Ding Junhui.

A 135 total clearance follows the 126 break before the interval. Stunning snooker.

Mark Allen's doing a lot of watching too.

Frame in the bag for Ding Junhui - can he make it back-to-back century breaks?

Mathew Hulbert: I am watching sport...but, no, not that. I'm watching the UK Snooker Championship final.

Looking ropey for Mark Allen already.

Ding Junhui breaks open the pack in potting a red at the bottom if it, he's on the blue and the points are there to be gobbled up.

50 break already.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

The danger for Mark Allen is that if Ding Junhui gets a bit of confidence he's a brilliant front-runner.

He has to put a stop to that and stop giving him easy opportunities.

It seems as if Ding Junhui has got in first in every frame thus far - and that's the same in the opening frame after the interval.

A lovely mid-distance red played with screw after Mark Allen missed a long chance of his own.