Ronnie is wasting no time here. The break is up to 33, the lead to 38 after Ding gave away five foul points with that failed escape.

Is that the mistake Dennis alluded to?

Ding makes a mess of an escape from a snooker and leaves Ronnie a mid-range red that he gobbles up.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

Ding knows if he makes one more mistake, it could be his last.

Image source, Getty Images

It's tantalisingly within his grasp, can the Rocket finish the job?

The 17th frame is under way. Ronnie needs one - Ding needs all of the remaining three.

Ashley Butterfield: Ronnie is the greatest that there will ever be.

Nicholas Walker: This kind of Ronnie is frightening. He can just go up so many gears in a blink of an eye.

He's not leaving his chair this frame, unless he goes to the loo after it.

A 74 break seals a 9-7 lead for the Rocket.

One frame needed for an eighth UK title and a 22nd Triple Crown triumph.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Ding must have felt great after making that century break [to make it 7-7] and he's not really left his chair since. A tough school.

Image source, PA Media

Another belter of a long red from Ronnie O'Sullivan - goodness me, both players have knocked in some crackers in this final.

The Rocket, as is his wont, takes a chance to break into the pack of reds but now faces a testing pink to middle - it just drops, off the jaw. Wow, that was close.

"Wouldn't have gone in at my club, that," shout all the local league players.

Stoney: VAR controversy comes to snooker! Did the cue ball touch the red?

Ronnie O'Sullivan is forced into a containing safety after failing to get on a colour off a red.

Ding pots a very tough red along the bottom cushion and a black to follow but then undercuts a red to middle and leaves the Rocket a long straight one that he deposits beautifully.

The Chinese potter cannot afford any slip-ups, no matter how slight, with O'Sullivan needing just two frames to clinch victory.

A slight delay in play as the referee calls a foul against Ronnie O'Sullivan, who believes his safety attempt flicked a red before heading back to baulk.

A quick check of the replay on the nearby monitor shows the slightest (and I mean the slightest) of grazes and it remains scoreless in the 16th frame.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Image source, Getty Images

It feels like Ronnie senses danger and moves up a gear - he's a great competitor, Ronnie.

Forget the quality, he's got the heart of a lion and when he's out there in these big events, it's like he doesn't feel the pressure that every other player feels.

Rocket back ahead with a tonpublished at 21:12 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2023

21:12 GMT 3 December 2023

Ding 7-8 O'Sullivan

It's 100 exactly from the Rocket as he can't quite get on the final red. But no matter, he's nosed ahead again.

Two frames required for an eighth UK title.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

These last two frames have been a masterclass in break-building from these two. A clinic in cue ball control.

And he's certainly in full flow right now, what a break this is. Century there for the taking, he's done all the hard work.

Snorky: Not much better in sport than Ronnie in full flow. Absolute genius on the slate.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

This is such a tough game but they are both making it look so easy at the moment.

Ronnie rapidly building this break like only he can. A couple of clever flicks and cannons have freed plenty of reds, the black and blue are fully available. Every chance he goes back ahead here.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

You get the feeling that the rest of this final will be like a boxing match, blow for blow, because it seems like they're bringing the best out of each other now.

Image source, Getty Images

Sean Facer: I love Ronnie, he’s the GOAT of this sport, no question, but there’s always been a soft spot for Ding - crying shame he has never won a world title but carry this form into 2024, all that could change.