That, then is us for tonight. Thanks all for your company and comments, and please do join us again tomorrow. We’ll be live from 12pm GMT, when we’re either going to see Shaun Murphy win a second world title, 21 years after claiming his first, or Wu Yize win the first of what looks certain to be several world titles. He’s kept it wonderfully simply today, going at more or less everything, and it’ll take something amazing to stop him tomorrow. I can’t wait to see how it pans out.

Shaun Murphy 7-10 Wu Yize Wu clears the table and closes the session needing eight more to win; Shaun needs 11. His deadliness from distance is the difference so far, but as the line hives into sight, his entire life might catch up with him.

Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (39-51) Wu works his way on to the final red, plotting a route to the yellow – it’s blocked on one side by the pink. He looks to go past it, close to the brown, is there a gap, there’s always a gap – thanks and farewell, JV – that’s a lovely touch-shot, and Wu is going back three in front.

Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (39-27) Shaun more or less forces Wu to take on a long one and, for what feels like the first time in the tournament, looks like he’d rather not – he missed the last, and he can feel hot breath on cold neck. It’s from near the bottom cushion, dead slow … and that’s brilliant. A nasty cut-black follows, and is he on a next ball? Just, then another taxing black, high this time, and generally speaking, you ca only chase for so long. But a red to middle drops nicely, and we’ve a new favourite for the frame. I was just chastising myself for not wondering the plant Shaun landed not long ago might be a turning point, but in just a few shots, the first of which he was forced to play by his opponent, Wu has regrooved and might just be taking control of the match. Another horrible red, needing cut to corner … and it’s there. This is beautiful work, a freestyle jam of a break.

Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (39-0) A loose positional shot means Shaun must force it with a colour or sit himself down; he plumps for the latter, playing safe off the green.

Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize (27-0) Now then. We’ve said Wu doesn’t love pressure – yet – and, offered a pretty tasty clip to corner, he tentatively overcuts. Very quickly, he’s looking at opening the reds, gets himself perfectly on to a red, presumably for the purpose … and instead goes to middle. I almost wonder if he was trying to take the maxi out of the equation to focus on winning the frame, but the split works beautifully in any event, and neither player can play well enough for long enough to pull away from the other; both players are too good to be pulled away from bv the other. This is great stuff.

Shaun Murphy 7-9 Wu Yize Shaun had to win that and did. He’d be delighted to get out of here at 7-8 and, given events at Old Trafford – he’s a United fan – consider he’d had a decent day.

Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize (52-1) The thing is, it doesn’t take much for things to turn around. Wu’s long potting is brilliant, but he only has to be fractionally off, once a frame, and Shau can punish him.

Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize 52-1) Shaun doesn’t commit to a pot, reckons Uncle Joe, so makes the next one, across the table to middle, harder. Ach, and Shaun can’t send it down, leaving Wu a longun, the kind he’s been gobbling up … but though he gets close, it shoots away from the pocket, and it’s an immediate reprieve for El Mago. From here, he should close the gap, and perhaps play himself into form – he’s not really scored this evening.

Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize (10-1) Shaun spots a plant to left corner, thrashes at glorious pace, and that’s a brilliant pot. Again, though, it’s only good for one – this game! – so it’s up to the yellow, no snooker achieved. Gosh, and I think Wu can see enough of a red to pot it … he does … but it doesn’t quite take, a felicitous kiss meaning he leaves nothing easy. Will Shaun take on something harder? He can’t afford to lose this frame and if he misses he might … but look at that, a lovely one sent long to the green bag. He’s in, and there are points available.

Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize (0-1) Already, there’ve been some big switches of momentum, but there’s a chance we’re now watching the decisive move. I can’t see a way Wu doesn’t tighten if he gets close to winning, but a five-frame advantage, with only six needed, would be a lot to surmount. Shaun, though, is capable of hitting a strea … er, Wu steers in a screamer, taking a ball from mid-table to right corner. It’s a statement-pot, and it doesn’t even get him on a colour; all that risk for one point tells us how comfy he’s feeling, after which it’s back to baulk and a problem for Shaun.

Shaun Murphy 6-9 Wu Yize We’ve two frames to come this evening; really, Shaun needs both.

Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (29-90) Not for long, Wu fluking it to left corner. He’s now guaranteed to lead overnight and he clears the table to celebrate, leaving himself a long pot just to keep his action in nick. This is very impressive gear.

Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (29-66) Wu has played with such confidence this evening, and if were to win this frame and the next two, he’d be extremely hard to beat. But he’s now got a pressure-pot from right side, high, to the yellow bag, Uncle Joe noting he missed his most important shots this afternoon. But this is a different player and he caresses it home but after he adds the blue, the next ball refuses to stay in right corner, popping out as if for kicks. Shaun, though, can’t capitalise, so we’re now chasing the final red.

Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (29-11) But he soon runs out of position, much to his chagrin – I blame the aircon – so it’s in behind the green, the escape swerved to land on a ball on the side, which too heavy a connection will send over left-middle. It’s perfect though, and when Shaun misses, he’s a chance to corner … which he can’t take. Oh, but nor can The Magician deal with the opportunity left for him, so Wu gets away and, given the state of the table, this could soon be 9-6.

“I have never understood why Mervyn King’s nickname isn’t just ‘The,’ writes Gregory Phillips. “In that vein, Wu’s could be ‘Meringue’.”

Agreed on King. And tangentially, why isn’t Peter Wright “Spy Catcher” and Martin Adams “Gerry”.

Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize (21-0) A mistake from Wu, leaving the white too far from the green, dangles a tempter, and Shaun cuts home confidently. But as Shaun settles for his colour, another phone goes – it’s an epidemic – and we have our first out-kicking. The brown then facilitates a move up the table, and if the pack splits helpfully, this is a frame-winning opportunity … here we go … balls fan out nicely … but is he on one? Just.

Shaun Murphy 6-8 Wu Yize A missed black means no century but Shaun needed that badly and took the chance well.

Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (83-0) Shaun secures the frame.

Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (41-0) This is a crucial visit and Shaun is navigating it well. There’s still a bit of work to do, nit nothing too difficult.

Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (17-0) Shaun espies a plant, black into red, and goes at it, potting the ball he sends into them; he’ll not mind. This is a chance to score heavily.

Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize (13-0) Again, Wu goes at a longun, clipping it nicely, and it wobbles in the jaws … then drops, but a cannon of the black sends the white into left-centre and Shaun quickly snaps home a fine starter of his own. A black, powered into corner, takes white into pack, and already, the frame has opened out for him. And immediately, he closes it off for himself, playing a cannon harder than necessary, losing position, and returning to baulk.

Shaun Murphy 5-8 Wu Yize An undercut red to corner means no ton, but a run of 80 is more than enough for a second three-frame lead. With four more to play tonight, there’s scope for a very significant move to be made.

Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (8-69) Shaun hasn’t played badly tonight, it’s just that Wu has been excellent. He’s nearly there in the frame but a mid-range red, lying over the table like one of your French girls, will test him … and it’s there. This is superb work.

Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (8-32) dead skinny one on the black … drops into right corner, dead weight, and Wu has come out buzzing this evening. If he takes this frame, he can’t be behind overnight, but from here, he’ll want to take command of the match, while punishing Shaun’s carelessness. Can he kick his opponent when he’s down?

Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (8-7) A good shot from Shaun forces Wu to pick a lonely red to land on; he misses then hits, leaving nowt. And the retort it short, offering an opener to middle, the yellow follows, and Wu is back in business. If he can take this frame, the pressure on The Magician will be intense.

Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize (4-0) There’s a noise that’s bothering Shaun; perhaps it’s his internal monologue? The ref reckons it’s the aircon, how very disrespectful of it; strangely, Wu is serene, splattering in a brilliant starter, despite the viciously disrespectful cooling system … only for the white to go in-off. I blame the whirr of fans, and we’re back playing safety.

Before we resume, the crowd are told that should a phone go off and its owner be identified, it’s home time.

“‘The WUmerang’” returns Andrew Goudie on a nickname for our leader. “He keeps coming back.”

I’m not sure this one works syntactically: Wu “The Wumerang” Yize is a bit like Mervyn “The King” King.

Shaun Murphy 5-7 Wu Yize Another red to Wu, making things even harder for Shaun, and he really needs the next frame to stick with the accelerating young genius. That’ll be easier said than done, and we’ll see if the interval affects momentum; see you in 15.

Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize (0-63) With 67 remaining, Wu plays for the black, just above the top cushion, and it’s frame-ball, so he goes at it softly, giving it every chance to drop, then plays safe with Shaun needing a snooker to tie.

Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize (0-33) Running out of position, Wu plays safe but playing without side, clips a stray ball, leaving a taxing mid-ranger … that Shaun wobbles into the jaws of left corner and out. So Wu sees it away, deliberately bumping a nearby red to stay in the middle of the table. From here, though pink and black are out of commission, he’’s a really good chance of winning the frame with blues.

Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize (0-13) A third-red break and a red left to left corner, perhaps for the first time in the tournament. The ball, though, still needs potting, and Wu steers home nicely, then sets about the table.

Shaun Murphy 5-6 Wu Yize Increasingly, it looks like we’re in for an arse-nipper. Let’s hope so.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (73-35) Wu closes the gap, then puts the red near the blue and white behind the black; it’s not the hardest escape and Shaun deals with it easily enough. Soo n after, he nails a starter and this match is now of a standard.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (72-0) Shaun secures the frame, and Ru will be wuing Wu will be ruing his poor break-off. Oh, but Shaun misses to middle so, with two snookers required, Wu returns to the table.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (46-0) Very quickly, Shaun accumulates, both players now in flow. Consequently, neither dare miss.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize (15-0) A poor break from Wu leaves a starter to middle, Shaun quickly opens the pack, and this is a chance for him to establish his presence in the session.

Shaun Murphy 4-6 Wu Yize The pink stays out of both yellow and green pockets, leaving the break high and dry on 97 … then zooms around the angles and drops into right-centre! It’s all coming up Wu!

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-73) In comms, Uncle Joe rhapsodises Wu’s creativity in dealing with the last three reds, and rightly so. He’s started the session beautifully.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-58) This is really good from Wu, the situation now assimilated into his sense of self, thus allowing his talent to take over. The last three reds aren’t as easy to access as the others, but he should find a way.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-24) A fine blue to the yellow pocket is followed by an oblique red to the centre, then a cut-back black just about drops after thinking long and hard about stopping out. But still, Wu isn’t in prime position, slumping over the table to get at the next ball, and now he’s set.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (16-9) Looking to dig into the pack, Shaun misses everything, so it’s back to baulk with a safety … but not for long, the white left short for Wu to punch in an opener. This time, the reds are nicely spread, so if he can keep a hold of the white, the frame is there for him.

Shaun Murphy 4-5 Wu Yize (8-3) Wu rattles a starter into left corner, and if he’s now over last evening, he’s in a great spot. Of course, as I type, adrenaline kicks in and he gives the white a little too much off the yellow, coming down the table with a safety … that allows Shaun to unload, a terrific opener earning him a chance to score. The pack will need attention, but there are some loose reds there to be going on with.

Shaun Murphy 5-4 Wu Yize No ton, but Wu is into the session.

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize (1-67) Wu secures the frame and is now in search of a century. This has been a better break than any he made in racking up a 3-0 lead.

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize (1-54) Back to the break, Angles noted before we started that Shaun’s gone third red 27 times, and on not one occasion has his opponent potted first go – though I guess it’d also help to know how many times they’ve taken a shot on, because they might just be cueing poorly. Anyroad up, Wu gets the pack open, the runs out of position; will he really attempt an oblique cut-back to middle? You betcha, and from here, the frame should be his.

Shaun Murphy 4-4 Wu Yize (1-9) The crowd are warned about phones – there was all sorts of noise during the first session – and breaking off, Wu shows why Shaun now targets the third red, hitting the bottom one and leaving a starter. Still, they’ve got to be dispatched and El Mago nails his pot, then … misses brown to middle, huffing about something. Wu, though, isn’t bothered and quickly gets to work.

Our players are ready to emerge, so here we go.

Evening all; we go again!

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize (32-67) Shaun lays his snooker, the escape is good enough., and though he’d rather keep a red on the table, hoping for a free ball, he opts to pot it then, seeking a snooker on the yellow, instead leaves a tickle to middle … which Wu sorts competently. We’re going to end a terrific session level.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize (24-65) Our players chase the final red, the situation compounded by the black, still over right corner. Shaun needs two snookers.

“I don’t know about The Surgeon,” writes David Wall, “but if he’s involved in any more frames where no balls are potted for almost an hour then The Anaesthetist might be more appropriate. Though perhaps Ebdon has already taken that.”

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize (24-65) Wu goes at a long one, it doesn’t go in, and Shaun tidies, also from range, but again, doesn’t quite get his cannon. No matter: he goes again with a green across the table, and this time it not only moves but stops over left corner. The final red is on the right side, but he’s not got the angle to drop on it off the black, and when he leaves it on the lip, he needs two snookers.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize (19-65) Shaun has a go at the red off a black, the other two left stuck under the pink … and he gets close, but it remains where it is, so it’s a safety, seeking to develop balls … and has he left a plant? It’s frame-ball and Wu tries for it, but it’s not dead set and won’t drop, so on we go.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize (1-65) Not necessarily. A poor positional shot means he must jab over the black to send a red to which he’s dead close all the way down the table to the green bag … oh that’s very nice. But dare he take on a black to middle, keeping the mxi bid going, from the top rail? You know the answer to that, problem being he’s not that close, hitting the near jaw, and having offered an opener in the process, he’ll be concerned – though the red marooned on the side will be giving him life.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize (0-41) Lovely from Wu, sending a message to Shaun and the rest of us too: he’s here to win and he can handle the pressure …. but can he see out the frame? He’s still on a maxi, by the way.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize (0-17) It’s worth noting that, despite his scoring, Shaun hasn’t played no-miss snooker these last few frames – he’s needed a few chances and Wu’s had a few too. And immediately in this frame, a tester: will he attempt a long red knowing what might happen if he misses? You know the answer to that, and he flows it home beautifully, soon keeps the run going with a delicate black, and this is good work, a 147 still on.

Shaun Murphy 4-3 Wu Yize An 85, a 98, a 77 and a 109. Lovely behaviour from Shaun, who has now taken four frames on the spin.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize (103-1) An oblique yellow, punched from mid-range into its own pocket, raises the ton, Shaun’s tenth of the competition, and underlines just how nicely he’s playing now.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize (65-1) Before long, Wu needs snookers, and though he’d love the next frame, he’ll be delighted there’s only one to come in the knowledge that even if he loses it, he’s in an acceptable position from which to regroup and come again this evening.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize (44-1) Seeking a thin contact, Wu tries a roll-up, but he leaves an opener, and he’ll be a way behind when he next gets a go, I shouldn’t wonder.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize (9-1) Wu will be hearing John Williams’ legendary score as Shaun clips in another opener, adding the green, but, confident enough to go at a long red, he doesn’t get that close, not playing the kind of snooker that occasionally sees him eviscerate top players – as he did to Kyrizzle Wilson in Xian, for example. So Wu caresses home a cut-back, shot, snicks blue to middle … and runs off it into right corner. He doesn’t though, leave anything, so here comes a rare safety exchange.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Wu Yize An 85, a 98 and a 77. Shaun’s momentum is building and when he’s feeling himself, there are few better – ever to have played the game.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize (63-24) To those asking, yes it is David Seaman in the photo at the top, and he’s presumably enjoying Shaun trotting through the balls once more. He’s not at his best yet, but he’s near enough to make himself a problem. Wu would, I imagine, be very happy to take one the two frames remaining this afternoon.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize (20-24) Ach, a pretty straightforward cut-back black – off its spot – stays on the lip, but then Wu misses the same ball to the same bag. Surely Shaun won’t let him away with that?

“It’s a pleasure to fire up the MBM (FBF?) for what is invariably one of the great sporting events in the calendar, writes Jim Crane. Nostalgia-driven? Perhaps - but what is professional sports-watching if not the most reliable of friends, always there when we turn to it, together through life (any excuse to continue the Dylan riff).

Funny you should mention the commentary conundrum. Who wouldn’t want to listen to Stephen Hendry’s thoughts on snooker? But – sacrilege as it may be – some of the Beeb lads could do with a bit of a refresh. And yes, Joe Johnson on TNT is simply a wonderful and unintrusive soundtrack to the main event – knows his onions, but never confuses himself for a lead protagonist (take note Mr Walker). Anyway, positive thoughts, this has the makings of an epic. Avanti!”

Oh, I love Uncle Joe, and how much he loves the game. But Dominc Dale is also excellent, so too Steven Hallworth and the currently-on Nealf.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize (5-23) Oh, but he soon runs out of position, a loose shot frustrating him so much he tries a double … and misses. Knowing when to call it quits, and feeling no ill will, is a crucial skill for a snooker player – Wu would do well to watch a bit of Mark J Williams, the most equanimous man ever invented – doing well to leave nowt. For all the good it does him, Shaun creaming a beauty from right side to left corner, and though he’ll need to deal with the pack sometime soon, he’s in for what is a serious smack-laying opportunity.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize (0-17) The Surgeon is so good from range, and he scythes a longun straight into left corner, then just about wobbles another down right-centre. He could do with a decent run to help him settle – despite the three frames won, he’s not really at it yet – and the hope is we’re on the cusp of that elusive peak: both players playing well simultaneously.

Shaun Murphy 2-3 Wu Yize An 85 and now a 98, a missed red to middle meaning no landmark. But Shaun is the better player now, and that’ll be enough for him.

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize (84-0) A blue takes Shaun on to a red in what remains of the cluster, good shot, and, frame secure, he’ll want to convert this into a ton and that ton into a TC.

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize (59-0) A fine black opens more balls, and this is the best either player has played so far today.

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize (31-0) The only person who loves potting balls as much as Shaun is Neil Robertson, our man taking these with careful zealotry. He knows Wu didn’t play all that well for the 3-0 lead, and that if he gets on a roll, a lead is not beyond him.

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize (1-0) Left on the bottom rail, Wu seems to think the ball runs off, his safety offering a cut-back that’ll necessarily take Shaun into the pack. Now confident, he barrels at it, sending balls all over, and already, the frame is there for him.

We go again…

Shaun Murphy 1-3 Wu Yize A missed red means no ton, but Shaun is on the board; we’ll see you again in 15 for the resumption.

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize (72-0) After a protracted previous frame, a quick kill in this one, Shaun now fully into the match – as we cut to Wu rubbing his eyes, Perhaps they’re itchy, but he looks tired and with good reason. Still, he leads handily, and would, no doubt, happily split the four frames remaining this afternoon.

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize (43-0) Shaun picks off loose balls, a blue punched into the yellow pocket keeping the run going. A few minutes ago, he needed the interval; now he’s potting his way into groove, I bet he’d do without it.

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize (11-0) I thought Wu may start slowly given the physical and emotional energy he’ll have dumped playing till late last evening, and he’s not at maximum power yet. But he’s built a handy lead, and now Shaun must break-off knowing his last effort went very wrong. This time, though, he catches it nicely and, when Wu fouls seeking to escape a snooker, he leaves absolutely loads.

“I remember not so long ago Shaun Murphy suggested we bin off the option of playing for snookers,” writes Darrien Bold, “yet here he is going at it for the best part of half an hour. The Peter Ebdon influence perhaps?”

Possibly; let’s hope he doesn’t move from snooker-seeking to 9/11 conspiracies, though I’d love to see him with a ponytail.

Shaun Murphy 0-3 Wu Yize Shaun’s been chasing a snooker for half an hour now but then Wu gets one, and that’s the frame; Il Mago could really use the next, the last of the mini-sesh. I doubt we see many more like this one was.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (48-67) Shaun’s running out of balls, sinking brown and still seeking a snooker. He’s going to pour everything into this match.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (44-67) Shaun feels the green runs off the straight, spreading arms wide in exculpation and aggravation, then he pots it and the chase for the brown – and a snooker – begins.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (41-67) It’s Shaun in next and he tries for a snooker on the green, not quite getting it, but Wu is struggling to force this frame over the line.

“Got to be the The YZA,” says Chris Boyle, “and his fans the Wu Yize Clan?...”

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (31-67) A woman tries to invade the arena, shouting something about not paying for a TV licence – she’s quickly apprehended – then Wu cues a cross a red that would’ve settled the frame. This is intensifying.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (31-67) The snooker comes and Wu’s escape misses; one down, one to go, with the balls nicely arranged for sneaking behind. While Shaun tries, how about Wu “The Scalpel” Yize?

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (27-67) Running out of position, Shaun plays safe, and when Wu misses a pot … he luckily gets cover. The young man is enjoying the run of the balls at the moment and he’s cashing in, offered a starter next go, then sorting a horrible mid-range blue to the yellow bag. He can’t get at the final red, but El Mago now needs two snookers.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (21-61) Wu builds a lead, and I think he may be able to finish this frame without going into the pack; the outermost balls are available. Oh, but as I type, he’s forced to address a cut-back black will necessarily take him into the bunch … and he misses the pot. Chance for Shaun to steal…

“As I read your preamble, begins Craig Murphy, “I was reminded of a wonderful Canadian writer and novelist, who loved snooker so much he travelled to the Crucible for many years, culminating in a wonderful book called ‘On Snooker’. I met Mordecai Richler, whose name you must have already guessed, in Toronto when I lived there more than two decades ago, and had signed copies of On Snooker and Barney’s Version until my ex-wife destroyed my 1,200+ book collection in a fit of pique in the mistaken belief that I had a mistress in Hong Kong.”

In fairness, we’ve all been there. Can I option the film rights please?

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yize (13-20) Rob Spencer, the ref, admonishes The Knowledgeable Crucible Audience^TM, telling them to make sure all noise-makers are shut off; of course, rapturous applause follows. Shaun played brilliantly in the final session of his match against Zhao and pretty well against John Higgins yesterday, but he’s not got going yet this afternoon. However, when Wu gets close but not close enough to an opener, he has an opportunity to assert, quickly screwing into the pack … landing on nothing easy. Once asked who the best rest-player is, he began by offering the obvious answer, Kyren Wilson, before, in typical style. saying everyone thinks that, but they’re wrong: it’s me. Here, though, he can’t force to right corner, and that, I’m afraid, might cost him.

Shaun Murphy 0-2 Wu Yiz Shaun leaves the pink not far below the brown spot, Wu will attempt the cut from above … and that’s very nicely done, floated into the green pocket.

“Good to have text comms to follow while digging the plot this afternoon, says Dan. Great match up these two. Wu’s surgical strikes don’t always come off - how could they? – but there’s an argument that The Doctor should go in the hat of possible awful nicknames for him.”

I like where you’re going with this so, in similar vein, how about The Surgeon?

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize (50-54) Taking the rest to go for a green, seeking to bring the white across the table for that last red, Shaun gets up off the shot when disturbed by a bleep. Then he gets down a second time, position is lovely .. but he misses the pot! Banging the rest down in frustration, not behaviour you generally see from him, which tells us how much he needs this, he stalks back to his seat as Wu gets going. But will he be able to get at the pink, not far off the side? He leaves the white stuck to the jaw of middle, and I don’t think he’s angled, but I also don’t think he’ll take on a pot this difficult, and indeed he does not.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize (43-36) Shaun has his focused phizog on at he mooches about the table, quickly taking the lead. But he’ll need a red down in baulk, not far off the left-side rail, so there’s work yet to do.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize (6-36) Digging too deeply into the white, Wu loses it down the table … so promptly rams to left-centre … only to undercut another minger to corner. He didn’t like that, at all, and no wonder: if Shaun can see away a dead-set plant, he’s in … and he does, so he is.

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize (0-15) Shaun’s break-off has been a topic of conjecture this last fortnight – to avoid leaving a shot to nothing at a long ball, he’s been hitting the third red down the side of the triangle, not the bottom or second-bottom one – John Higgins admitted he couldn’t get to grips with it in their semi. This time, though, he absolutely butchers it, claret sprayed all over and a simple ball available to start with. My sense is that, if Wu’s to win, he must do so from the front, making this a really important visit (to the table).

Shaun Murphy 0-1 Wu Yize Wu slides in a long pink, and that’s the lead.

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize (50- 66) Shaun removes brown and blue, but must now find a snooker on the pink. aIt does not look likely.

“Is this final an opportunity to establish a nickname for Wu Yize?” wonders my colleague Luke McLaughlin. “I nominate ‘The Hammer’ due to his punishing long potting.”

I can’t believe Rob Walker doesn’t welcome him into the arena with “Enter the Wu”, and I also like that one of the bacronyms for Wu-Tang Clan is “Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game”. Otherwise, though, I’m thinking about it – and please feel free to send in other suggestions.

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize (41-66) Wu sinks the yellow, leaving Shaun needing a snooker, and the opportunity soon arises … but it’s missed. We’re now chasing the brown, with blue and pink in decent positions for hiding behind.

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize (38-64) Gorgeous longun from Shaun, sent almost the full diag of the table and into the green bag. A black follows, taking him down the table and leaving a cut-back he hopes will restore him to that black … nicely done. A mid-ranger on the final red … stops out, but earns second prize of a snooker, and this is a banger of an opening frame, both men still in it. Wu then escapes, and will Shaun go at a brutal opener? His cue-action has been so good lately, even for him, that I’m sure he will, and he steers home a beauty. We’ve a new favourite for the frame … but a difficult yellow … is missed! Relief for Wu!

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize (6-64) Wu does the necessary and the lead will shortly be hi … oh! He overcuts frame-ball to corner, but should still be OK as Shaun needs red-blacks and there are two of the former below the blue spot, one way down in baulk.

“Wu should definitely bring back the mullet he had a few years ago,” recommends Andrew Goudie, and I couldn’t agree more – but he’s had it far more recently.

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize (6-24) Running slightly out of position, Wu opts not to take on a hopeful ball – as Fouldsy notes in comms, earlier in the tournament he might have gone after that, but during it, he’s matured into an even better player than previously. And he’s soon back at the table, snicking a right skinny one into left corner after Shaun gets close floating towards it from centre. A nasty mid-ranger is dispatched like it’s nothing and, though the chance requires work, if he removes reds in the correct order, I don’t think he’ll need to go into the pack.

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Wu Yize (6-5) So who had this as their predicted final, then? Well, not me. Off Wu’s break, Shaun punishes a starter into the right corner, then snuggles up to the green; the first roll-up, into the pack, falls short, but the second hits. Shortly afterwards, he flows him a second delightful opener and this time, overcuts a simple blue to middle; he’ll not be happy with that, and also leaves an opportunity for Wu.

Wu to break…

Also going on:

Now that you don’t ask: I’m picking Shaun and I’ll be delighted for him if he wins, but I’d love it to be Wu.

Rob Walker puts on that voice and words tumble out; we notice him. The arena goes mad welcoming our two pilgrims, Murphy posing on a plinth and waving to the crowd; but of course he does.

Oh man, it’s time. Two afternoons and two evenings oF pure, uncut, unadulterated pleasure and joy. Here we go!

Big decision: which channel to watch on? The analysis on TNT is, for my money, significantly more sophisticated than what we get on BBC – though Stephen Hendry is brilliant – but the BBC is the BBC. I think I’ll start trying both and see how we go.

On which point, a thought for Mark Allen. If he never wins this competition, the events last evening will haunt the nightmares of his unborn grandchildren, but make no mistake: he is a champion, and he’ll be back.

As for Wu, I’d be staggered if he ends his career without winning this event more than once. I’d be lying if I said he isn’t my favourite – the way he plays, it’s impossible to take your eyes off him. He attacks the game in the way we should all attack life, however trepidatious we feel, and if it doesn’t work out, he quickly gets over himself, heals, then has at it again. Mates: if ever you’re stuck, think Wu.

Shaun, of course, won this title unseeded, aged just 22, in 2005. Since then, he’s lost four finals, but he’ll fancy himself – ok, he almost always fancies himself – this time around. Already a triple crown champion, he knows that if he can add a second one of these, he’ll ascend another level in the annals of the game, not quite up there on tier two with your Selbzeseses, Williamseseseses and Hingginses of this world, but above pretty much everyone else.