Couple of brilliant pots from Shaun Murphy raise his hopes - but he misses a tough red along the bottom cushion.

And that's the end of that. Kyren Wilson will mop up and reduce his deficit to 6-3.

Shaun Murphy escapes the snooker at the second attempt.

But Kyren Wilson pots another red and sticks him back behind the yellow, albeit nowhere near as tight this time.

Wilson 55 ahead with 59 on, so Murphy cannot afford a single slip-up.

Pre-match, the numbers did not make great reading for Kyren Wilson in terms of his head-to-head record against Shaun Murphy - and that's the way it's turned out so far.

Not only has the Magician won eight of their 11 previous meetings, he's also triumphed on the big stages when the two have met.

Those wins include the 2023 Tour Championship final, the 2023 Players Championship semis and the 2020 Welsh Open final - when Murphy thrashed Wilson 9-1.

And, of course, Murphy also memorably overturned a 10-4 deficit to beat the Warrior 17-12 in the 2021 World Championship semi-finals. So Wilson has history - as well as a four-frame deficit - against him tonight.

Given we are eight frames in, there haven't been many snookers in this final.

But, after running out of position in potting a red, Kyren Wilson lands a good one behind the yellow.

He's 50-odd points ahead and Shaun Murphy is in trouble here.

An insect on the cloth provides a momentary but perhaps crucial distraction for Kyren Wilson.

Fly in the ointment?

Anyway, he misses his next red on a break of 48 - it wasn't easy, with the cue ball on the cushion - to give Shaun Murphy a sniff of hope in this opening frame of the night.

Ben Gosling: From his first match, I think it was fairly obvious Shaun Murphy would go on to lift the trophy. It's meant to be. No disrespect to Kyren of course 'cos he's been great too, but it's Shaun's time.

Or is it...?

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

There's a nice crisp sound, everything's going into the heart of the pocket, hitting the leather. That instils confidence.

A great start so far by the world champion.

Kyren Wilson couldn't have wanted much of a better start this evening.

Couple of nervy shots from rival Shaun Murphy, who was so imperious in the first session.

And now the Warrior is picking off the balls nicely, a lovely long red right into the heart of the pocket to keep his break going. 37 and counting.

Jamie Broughton
BBC Radio 5 Live

Now if you're wondering what it's like in the media area...

Well there are multiple television screens for the press who are here covering the Masters, and this helpful data screen makes life a lot easier.

A red wobbles one, two, three, four times in the jaw for Kyren Wilson.

But, with its last act, it drops into the pocket.

Much to the relief of the world champion, who gets the first chance in the balls this evening. And, four frames down, he needs it.

A massive bang somewhere behind the scenes - door closing, perhaps - just as Shaun Murphy gets down to contemplate a long red.

He had time to compose himself after it but is a fair way away with the attempted pot and maybe the noise shook him.

Big ovation for both players as they are re-introduced into the arena at the Alexandra Palace.

Particularly loud cheers for Kyren Wilson - the crowd, of course, want to see him make a game of this 2025 Masters final.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

It's Murphy's focus that's been impressive.

A lot of the times when I've watched Shaun in recent years, he's looking around the place and he doesn't look like he's on the job.

But you watch him in his chair now and he's totally focused, while around the table he's in the zone and he looks really determined.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Shaun has been working with Peter Ebdon and a change of coach can sometimes make the difference but we don't really know what's been going on between the two of them.

But, visibly, I've noticed Shaun has been staying down on the shot just that little bit longer, making sure he is solid on the shot and that seems to be paying dividends.

From Kyren's perspective it would be handy if Shaun stopped potting balls all over the place - but also cutting out the unforced errors. If that dosn't happen, it's going to be tough for him.

A reminder of how both players reached the final.

It's been a fairly serene path to the final for Shaun Murphy, who has been in blistering form this week.

The world number seven has dropped just eight frames in his three matches, including a hugely impressive demolition job on Neil Robertson and, of course, that 147 in his semi-final.

Kyren Wilson, the reigning world champion and world number two, has been pushed a bit harder but, like Murphy, has won all three of his matches with something to spare.

Image source, Getty Images

Some breaking news now...

And great news for you fans who love to tune in to watch the world's top snooker superstars battle it out on the baize on terrestrial television.

BBC Sport and World Snooker Tour have agreed an extension to their broadcast agreement to 2032.

The new deal is a five-year extension to the current agreement, ensuring the Triple Crown events - the World Championship, UK Championship and the Masters - remain free-to-air for many millions of snooker fans across the UK.

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: "Snooker has been a cornerstone of BBC Sport programming since 1969, and extending our partnership with World Snooker until 2032 is fantastic news for the audience.

"It ensures the drama, intensity and excitement of the Triple Crown events remains free-to-air and we look forward to many more years of iconic sporting moments."

Read the full story here.

Here are a few of your views after today's first session...

Carl: Murphy has been fantastic all tournament. I hope he wins it. He certainly deserves to.

Eli: Give it to Murphy already! Best player this tournament by miles!

Ian: Thisis one way traffic with only one winner. Shaun’s average shot time was 14-16 seconds. He’s a machine.

Jamie Broughton
BBC Radio 5 Live

Shaun Murphy wrapped up the opening session of play in this final against Kyren Wilson with back-to-back centuries - breaks of 134 and 116 - to lead 6-2 and it was no more than he deserved.

Murphy played wonderfully well and enjoyed a 92% pot success ratio, while the world champion couldn't get going.

However, Wilson can't be written off given his fighting qualities and determination to win a second Triple Crown title.

It has very much been the quiet before the storm the past hour or so, albeit the area around the table looks like a fusion of snooker and the science fiction film Tron.

The players will resume shortly, with 10 the target to be crowned Masters champion, lift the glittering Paul Hunter Trophy, and earn £350,000.

BBC Two

The entirety of tonight's final session will be screened on BBC Two. Coverage is about to get under way at 19:00 GMT.

Of course, you can also tune in on the BBC iPlayer - and right here on the BBC Sport website and app by clicking 'Watch live' at the top of this page.

Image source, PA Media

We've had 15 wonderful sessions of snooker over the past eight days at Alexandra Palace and just one more remains.

By the end of it, we'll find out whether Kyren Wilson or Shaun Murphy will be crowned the winner of the 2025 Masters.

Murphy is comfortably in the driving seat with a four-frame advantage - but matches have been won from far further behind than that.

And, after a spot of showmanship from the Magician concluded the afternoon session, will the handshakes be as warm tonight as they were earlier?