Another chance for Mark Allen as Ding Junhui misses a thin safety completely and then hits it too thick at the second attempt.

Easy first red and black but the remaining three reds are not positioned nicely at all.

I love snooker, perhaps more than any other sport. But this frame is testing that a bit.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

When I wrote we might be having a late night just after 7pm, it was more in the hope that the match would not finish rapidly, rather than any true expectation.

But we could well still be playing on Monday the way it is going. Five reds, as they have been for quite some time, are very close to the top cushion so this is going to take some sorting out.

We're past the 40-minute mark in this frame and deadlines are coming and going for some stressed journalists in the media room.

That just about sums this frame up.

Ding Junhui's attempted safety leaves a red over the bag. Mark Allen pots it but lands nowhere positionally.

Another safety.

The five reds are now back where they were 10 minutes ago as if someone just tipped the table up at one end.

Ding Junhui goes in off after clipping one, that makes it 42-12 to the Chinese player.

Mark Allen puts him back in but Ding produces a fine safety. Stalemate recommences.

Colin the caretaker: Unfortunately Ding has not played well enough this evening to win this. It's a shame, as he played so well this afternoon.

But Allen cannot capitalise on the error that safety forced from Ding as he misses a long red to bottom right corner.

Ding misses a decent chance too and the reds have all gone fairly safe again. It's going to be a late one folks.

This is the sort of situation that could often end in a re-rack but with Ding holding a 34-point lead, that's unlikely.

Mark Allen breaks the stalemate with a lovely safety that moves most of the reds and gets the cue ball safe on the baulk cushion.

The five reds are lined up in a row along the cushion.

Ding Junhui just jokingly suggested to Mark Allen he try a five-ball plant.

Lolz.

Called it - Ding builds a lead of 34 but that group of five reds below the black spot are the problem.

He's not been able to get on one and has to retreat.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

The shot times from both players are creeping up.

Every shot it seems like they are walking around the table looking at them from every angle - and it's the pressure that's doing that.

They know what shots they are going to play but sometimes you end up looking for problems that are not there.

A several-minute tactical exchange ends with a Mark Allen mistake.

It's a scrappy table with several reds near the top cushion so a frame-winning break might be unlikely but a great chance for Ding Junhui to build a decent lead.

Well, a couple of wonderful shots from Ding Junhui put an end to the mediocrity.

A very tough long red down the left side of the table is tucked away then a black along the cushion.

But then a poor positional shot leaves a snooker behind the brown as the only option.

Cue Ball Control: One thing that's been top class from both in this match is the safety. They've had some good battles.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

It's a packed crowd in the 1,100-seat arena and what a match they have been treated to. Every miss from Ding could well be his last shot of the tournament.

Some finals are quickly forgotten, but this one will be talked about for years to come. But there's plenty of time for more twists and turns so you don't want to go to bed just yet.

More misses than a Roger Hargreaves compendium this frame.

Eight points to six after about 15 minutes.

And back out. He pots the red but it's a nothing shot positionally.

It's 8-6 and a bit like a frame in the club.

Ding Junhui risks it for a biscuit with a tough red to middle. Misses and it's another chance for Allen now. And he misses. The tension is palpable.

Allen runs out of position!

With a red hanging over the pocket he lands a three-ball plant to nudge it in but goes too far back into baulk and has to lay a snooker behind the brown.

Trouble for Ding who must find a route to safety with a red near the corner pocket. He hits it but just nudges it closer to the bag. Allen back in.

I said a mistake could be decisive - instead it's a flash of genius from Ding Junhui who picks out a long red to the green pocket.

But oh my goodness - he jaws a simple red after the blue. Just six points after that superb opening red, he'll be kicking himself.

Big chance for Mark Allen to claim his maiden UK crown.

The 17th frame has been going a few minutes now but is still scoreless.

The reds have opened up a bit so the first mistake could be key although the black and pink are both tied up.