Ding Junhui gets us under way - and his break-off has left Ronnie O'Sullivan a tempting long red.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

He likes this venue, that does happen with players.

He's in form and we don't know whether that is because he's been working on something, perhaps technical or maybe on the mental side - or maybe he's just hit some form.

The change is he seems to be enjoying himself around the table. He looks relaxed.

I think there are battle scars for Ding from the past against Ronnie but nothing stays the same in sport and I think he comes into this game with nothing to lose. And if you come into the final with nothing to lose you can be dangerous.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

It shows how well Ronnie has managed his career and his life in the past 30 years.

Arguably the second half of his career, he has become a better winner/competitor than he was in the first 15 years.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at York Barbican

Ronnie O’Sullivan is competing in his ninth UK Championship final today looking for a record-extending eighth title 30 years on from his maiden triumph.

As well as in 1993, he’s lifted the famous trophy in 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017 and 2018, with Mark Selby the only player to get the better of him in a UK final in 2016.

But Ding Junhui has got plenty of form when it comes to this event as well - triumphing on three occasions (2005, 2009 and 2019).

And while 'The Rocket' has a far superior head-to-head record, Ding thrashed O'Sullivan 6-0 in the 2022 quarter-final and won 6-4 in their last-16 meeting in 2019.

On paper, Ronnie O'Sullivan has had a less laborious route to the final than his opponent today - such are the potential perks of being the world number one, I guess.

While Ding Junhui has had to negotiate three of the world's top 10, O'Sullivan has only faced one top-16 player, Robert Milkins.

Not that the Rocket has had it easy, mind.

He had to come through final-frame deciders against both Milkins and Zhou Yuelong. The quarter-final against the Chinese was a real thriller as O'Sullivan led 4-1 but then trailed 5-4 before prevailing.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ding Junhui has reached the final the hard way - in more ways than one.

Firstly, having dropped out of the world's top 16, he had to come through two qualifying matches just to reach the venue stages at the York Barbican.

Having done so, he's then had to beat three former Triple Crown champions in the shape of Mark Allen - getting revenge on the man who beat Ding in last year's UK final - then Mark Williams and Judd Trump.

The good news for the Chinese standard bearer is his run to the final has lifted him back into the top 16.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Two

Image source, PA Media

Live coverage of today's UK Championship final is now under way on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer.

Click on the play button at the top of this page to watch online (available to UK users only).

Ding Junhui, meanwhile, is seeking to win his first ranking title for four years when he faces Ronnie O'Sullivan in this year's best-of-19-frame final.

The 36-year-old fought back from 2-1 and 3-2 down to beat Judd Trump, this season's form player with three titles, in Saturday night's thrilling semi-final.

"I'm really happy to be back in a final, it means a lot," said Ding, who lost to Mark Allen in last year's UK final.

"I needed to play my best because he's [Judd] had a great start to the season, but I have a feeling I can play well in York because I've had success before here."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Ronnie O'Sullivan is not afraid to ruffle a few feathers.

After his semi-final win over Hossein Vafaei, he made a few eyebrow-raising comments about what's driving him currently.

"I just want to do myself justice in matches and play well. Playing well under pressure is important, but I'm just motivated by cash," he said.

"I'm just hanging around so people don't get as good as a career as me.

"If I could stop [Mark] Selby winning a few, and Judd [Trump] winning a few, and Ding and [Neil] Robertson winning a few - just ruin their careers a little bit - that would be great. Sometimes that's just a nice motivation to play."

All the numbers point to an uphill battle for Ding Junhui today as his opponent Ronnie O'Sullivan bids to lift a record-extending eighth UK Championship title.

The Rocket has comfortably enjoyed the better of their previous meetings in major ranking or invitational tournaments, coming out on top on 17 of those 21 occasions.

There are glimmers of light for Ding, however - the UK Championship seems very much his favourite Triple Crown event. This is his fifth final and he's lifted the title three times.

And he thrashed O'Sullivan 6-0 in the last eight at this very venue in this very event last year, on his way to the final.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful, so since there's no place to go...

Watch the snooker with us, ho, ho, ho.

It really is a day for indoor pursuits - and fortunately we've got two of snooker's cream of the crop battling it out for the UK Championship title in York as old friends and foes Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui collide.

Whatever the weather, we'll be here over the next few hours with live text and TV coverage of the best-of-19 final until the 2023 champion is crowned.