John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It's just remarkable that Ronnie was 17 when he won his first [UK Championship], here he is nearly 48 trying to win his eighth. It shows what a talent he's been over those years and it shows you how much he loves the sport.

We hear him in interviews saying he's not bothered, but he practises diligently, he works hard at the game. He puts up with a lot of periphery, I don't think he's the biggest fan of what happens away from it, but when he's on the table he's an animal.

Image source, Getty Images

The players, as the saying goes, are back on the baize.

Ding Junhui breaks off to get the final session of this year's UK Championship under way.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Ronnie is usually very reliable in putting his opponent away but Ding got off the hook this afternoon.

What we do know about Ronnie's game is that even when he's not at his unrelenting best, he's still produced fantastic stuff to get himself out of trouble.

William Callaghan: Really enjoyed that first session, Ding did well to get it level after he could have been 4-0 down, should be a thrilling final session.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at York Barbican

The York Barbican is filling up nicely here as we get ready to welcome the players back for the conclusion to this year's UK Championship.

A 1,247 sell-out crowd is expected once we get to showtime, with the winner collecting a £250,000 top prize this evening.

BBC Two

Image source, PA Media

Live coverage of the evening session of the 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).

In case you missed it, the draw for the Masters - January's prestigious annual tournament for the world's top 16 - was made this afternoon during the mid-session interval of the UK Championship final.

Some mouth-watering matches await.

Ding Junhui's opponent will depend on his fortunes tonight. If he wins the UK title, he will be seeded for the Masters and face Ali Carter. If not, he will be unseeded and meet the man he's playing today, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Image source, BBC Sport

Thanks for sending us your thoughts on today's final this afternoon - and please keep sending them in tonight.

Who do you reckon will claim the crown? Will Ding continue his fightback and complete the turnaround or will the Rocket find an extra gear as he so often does?

Get in touch via the methods above and we'll publish as many as we're able to.

Image source, Getty Images

Eight frames down - a possible 11 to go.

And after the spoils were shared during this afternoon's opening session of the 2023 UK Championship final, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if we were to go all the way, would it?

Ronnie O'Sullivan looked in firm command at certain points earlier today but Ding Junhui fought back admirably to mean we have a real final on our hands at the York Barbican.

Stick with us to find out who lifts the trophy - Ding for a fourth time or the Rocket for a record-extending eighth?

Image source, Getty Images

Eight frames gone and we're no closer to finding out which name will replace the question mark on the UK Championship honours board at York Barbican.

I'll be back just before 19:00 GMT for the conclusion of the final, with another 11 frames possible before a champion is crowned.

Image source, Getty Images

Missed any of the opening session?

Catch up with the details of the opening eight frames from our reporter Steve Sutcliffe in York.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Since the third frame and that blistering opening to the final, Ronnie has only had a 31 break, which is incredible really.

When Ding missed those shots in the second and third frames, we expected Ronnie to maybe run away with it.

But in his film, he was talking about whether he can keep his concentration going at his age now - and maybe that has something to do it, that he can't keep that focus full-on for a whole day.

It seems his concentration disappeared.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Ding has produced a bit of a Houdini act there.

He certainly looked more comfortable towards the end of the session.

There was that weird point where Ronnie had the problem with the red and the spider [and fouled] - and that seems to have been a bit of a turning point.

DS: Whether Ronnie wins today or not does not matter to me. To be almost 48 and be still dominating snooker 30 years after his first UK title is crazy. The longevity of his career is truly remarkable. Hopefully another title but I’d never begrudge Ding winning.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

What a wonderful response this has been from Ding Junhui.

From 4-1 down, there's everything to play for tonight.

Ding plays a clever shot to leave O'Sullivan behind a cluster of reds - with another red over the pocket but not directly pot-able.

The Rocket tries an ambitious plant, gets nowhere near - and that's that.

Image source, Getty Images

Ding looks to the heavens in disbelief.

With the break on 70 and only one red needed, he finishes right on top of one - and can't pot any. It's a touching ball so he plays away and puts the black safe.

There's still 75 points on... but O'Sullivan plays a very strange shot, either a safety that went wrong or a very speculative double.

Ding can't sink the long red though.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

An excellent display of courage from Ding here. He dragged himself up from the floor at 4-1 behind and it looks like he'll be coming out of this session at 4-4. It didn't look likely an hour ago.

Big moment for Ding as he rolls in a tricky black with the rest.

Prime position regained and a huge chance, 46 up and counting, to end this opening session of the final all-square, having been 3-0 and 4-1 adrift.

Image source, PA Media

So the final frame of this afternoon session is under way - and Ronnie O'Sullivan has left Ding Junhui a gift of a red over the middle pocket.

Early Christmas present stuff.