John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Persistence is the most under-rated thing you can have as a snooker player.

He's played great stuff in patches throughout the tournament - but he's just refusing to lose and that's a wonderful asset to have in your snooker armoury.

Even from 6-1 behind today, who gave him a chance? And he's 9-7 in front now - and you've got to have bags of character to do that. And he's got it.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It's quite a shock, this has been one of the strangest finals we've seen.

You usually get into the situation where somebody goes ahead, somebody comes back and the other guy pushes on again straight after.

It feels like it's been the Mark Allen show tonight but with no resistance from Ding.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

Ding has to be perfect from here on in - and who could have predicted us saying that six hours ago.

Not only are his hopes of winning a fourth UK Championship on the brink, so too are his chances of playing in the Masters in January.

He will go 10th in the world if he wins the next three frames, but will only be 19th if he was to lose one of them.

Allen one frame away from completing the job on one of the most incredible evenings of snooker you could ever wish to see.

What a match. What entertainment.

Yep, there it is.

Ding comes back to the table needing four snookers but misses a black off the spot after smashing in a long red.

He concedes and Mark Allen needs just one frame for the title.

With a lead now up to 53 points, Allen only needs the three reds in the open.

To go one frame away from his first UK Championship title.

Very cagey safety battle ongoing.

But Ding catches a red too thick and has left a long straight opener.

Mark Allen hammers it in and superb cueing means the cue ball gets back up the table for an easy green.

Dave Brooks: What a 45th birthday present this final has been for me! Thanks to everyone not least of all Ding Junhui and Mark Allen. World Cup? What World Cup?

A cracking red to the middle gives Mark Allen first dibs in frame 16.

The Pistol quickly racks up a 37 contribution but now faces a tricky blue.

Made it look easy. But no red on next so a safety at 42-0 up.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

What a way to respond from Ding and that's his fourth century of the match. He was furious with himself when he ran out of position after scoring 21, punching the table in frustration.

But he managed to find some much-needed composure to produce an excellent effort of 105.

There's an awful lot of re-writing and changing copy from those in the media room. We, like everyone else, have no idea what is going to happen next but everyone agrees it's a late-night thriller.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

That's a fantastic effort.

I know it was his third chance in the frame, I know Mark Allen missed a red in the middle but to be able to produce that with what's gone on this evening, that's a very commendable effort from Ding Junhui.

Ding stops the rot in stylepublished at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2022

22:13 GMT 20 November 2022

Allen 8-7 Ding

A champion's response as Ding Junhui knocks in a 105 break to close the gap to one frame.

Off he goes for a quick loo break.

The reds were all there but Ding is taking them nicely - nothing is easy after what he's been through the past few hours, going from 6-1 up to 8-6 down.

Pressure off him a bit now?

A lovely cannon breaks up the final few reds and, 60 points to the good, that should be this frame in the bag.

Ding last won a frame more than five and a half hours ago...

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Chance number three in this frame.

Surely he's got to score from here - you think if he doesn't, his race is run.

Mark Allen's safety leaves a red near the top left corner as we look.

Ding Junhui strokes it in and what a chance this is.

Ding's not adoring it right now.

A lax positional shot on the black leads to a thump on the table.

We're not used to seeing Ding show his anger like that, remarks John Virgo. He's 21-0 up in this frame but will feel it should be much more.

The Crucible Pigeon: This is why we adore this game.

A rare miss this evening from Mark Allen as he under-cuts a red near the baulk corner bag.

But Ding Junhui can only make nine points from it, missing a blue to the corner.

Allen cannot capitalise, though, knuckling a red to middle and Ding slams in a double, wow. That will make him feel better.

Another twist yet to come?

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Nobody was expecting this.

Ding is sitting in his chair with a high break of 33 tonight and Mark Allen is getting stronger and stronger.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at York Barbican

Mark Allen has his foot firmly on the accelerator with Ding Junhui's game falling apart.

Every mistake is proving costly and Allen's run of breaks now stands at 79, 60, 93, 132, 56, 59 and 109.

Two more to go for the title in one of the most incredible UK Championship finals of all time.