Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

This is a massive frame now in the context of the match.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at York Barbican

When Ronnie O'Sullivan raced into a 4-1 lead there was some talk of the possibility of a Sunday evening exhibition if this match were to conclude early.

However, those two much-needed frames for Ding Junhui mean this match is rather more delicately poised now, even if the world number one was to take the final frame of the afternoon.

Catherine: More spiders than on I'm a Celebrity so far.

We have seen a lot of the table-side equipment in use...

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Well played, Ding Junhui. An excellent contribution. Vintage Ding. What a break that was.

Century for Dingpublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2023

15:23 GMT 3 December 2023

Ding 3-4 O'Sullivan

Image source, PA Media

We have our first century of the final as Ding Junhui closes within a frame thanks to a lovely 114.

Fine fightback this, having been 4-1 down.

Ding's heart is in his mouth as he plays a very slow blue - so slow it almost stays over the middle pocket.

But it drops with its very last roll and he breathes a sigh of relief. That should be the frame in the bag.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

It's hard to believe when you watch Ding in full flow, as he has been this week, that he had slipped out of the top 16. He had to come through the qualifiers just to be here.

Those thoughts will be far from O'Sullivan's mind at the minute though.

He's sitting in his chair, watching Ding Junhui rack up a break that has already passed 50...

Worth pointing out that Ronnie O'Sullivan is seeking to add another landmark to his vast collection this week.

He is already the youngest ever UK champion, having lifted the title at the tender age of 17 in 1993.

If he wins today, he will also achieve the remarkable accomplishment of being the tournament's oldest ever winner too, surpassing Doug Mountjoy, who was 46 when he claimed the title in 1988.

Ding grabbed a mini break after that sixth frame - and he pumps in a long red upon his return to ensure a positive start to frame seven.

After a safety shot, he replicates it with another cracking red - a nice cannon into the pack off the black follows and it's another chance for the Dragon.

Image source, PA Media

And he takes it, a break of 46 enough to clinch the frame and reduce Ding's deficit back to two.

But the Rocket lands right on top of a red after an attempted cannon.

It's so hard to bridge - he uses a rest on top of a spider but grazes the red with his cue and owns up to the foul before the referee sees.

Dilemma for Ding now - he has the same tricky shot but plays it admirably and he's back in among the balls leading 33-19. Big opportunity, this.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

One or two worrying signs. Ding's been very competitive all week, really gritty, but there are a couple of things happening in this frame [that mean] it's not looking good.

Another error from Ding Junhui as he runs out of position on a red, misses it and leaves Ronnie a mid-distance pot that he nails.

Image source, PA Media

If you missed it earlier on, click here for a recap of the draw for the Masters, which will take place in January at Alexandra Palace in London.

Hold on, though - O'Sullivan goes into the pack off the black but a red flies in. Foul - and a let-off for Ding.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

That wasn't the right shot. That was the shot of a desperate man, really trying to claw his way into the match. He's gifted an opportunity to O'Sullivan.

It's all going a bit wrong for Ding.

Nice opening red in frame six but after running out of position, he goes for a very risky cut to middle on the next red, misses it and leaves the Rocket another easy starter.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

He's having chances, Ding. But he's losing all the close frames, which is a recipe for disaster.

It's an uphill battle - the story of this match is that Ding now has to claw his way back and Ronnie never makes that easy.

Image source, PA Media

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Ding's not really putting pressure on Ronnie by always taking his chances - it's been a pretty comfortable afternoon so far for Ronnie.