Always the optimist eh Shamoon.

Just look at Ali Carter go now...

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace

One frame was played in the first hour this evening and it bodes for a late night finish.

It's all been very scrappy, with neither able to finish off a frame in one attempt, until Ali Carter remedied that in the 11th frame.

Ali Carter has judged the temperature just right this evening.

He can't make the most of a chance among the balls but guess what, there's no easy starter on offer for Stuart Bingham who has been tucked up on the top cushion.

Cue another mistake and a better chance for Carter. And I know yeah excuse the pun.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Stuart Bingham is missing shots he wouldn't miss normally and he had his eyes shut in the chair at the end of the frame. If I was Ali Carter I would be very happy to see that.

Bingham is giving off vibes that he is struggling. This is a two horse race but only one is running at the moment.

Image source, Getty Images

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Alexandra Palace

A YouTube prank channel called Trollstation have claimed responsibility for the noises emitted from the whoopee cushion device in the first session of this final.

The group places a box under a seat in the arena and activated it via a remote control. They also conducted the prank during the first round match between Ding Junhui and Joe Perry, before security made their way over and confiscated the device.

A spokesman said: "The energy in the crowd was fantastic they were laughing so much.

"This was the third time we did it at the snooker first time was years ago before we made Trollstation.

"Our subscribers said we had not done it in the finals and we should do it then too so we thought may as well go for that and we did."

Stuart Bingham looks as though he'd happily be swallowed up into the ground at the Ally Pally at the minute.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Snooker is a rhythm game and you have to reassert yourself every session but Stuart Bingham hasn't looked like doing that.

Ali Carter is feeding off the mistakes and senses a bit of blood right now.

I've been very impressed by Ali. He's coped really well having been 5-3 down in the first session when luck went against him.

Ali Carter has regained some fluency, he's up to 70 and set to clear up and go ahead for this first time since the fifth frame.

On he goes before finishing the frame off with a 95. Did someone suggest these players were incapable of winning at one visit?

James: Ali Carter doing a Denmark in Euro ‘92

Noel: Stuart Bingham is throwing this game away.

AR: Ali Carter shouldn’t be here, Ronnie withdrew to give him a spot. Won practically first frame of every session in this tournament. This is just pure destiny for the bloke. He will be Masters champioN.

Right what can 'The Captain' do?

He can reach 19 and then leave himself with the toughest of shots on the blue to the top corner. Surely that's break over?

No. What a sensational, gutsy pot. That could be a frame-winner.

Stuart Bingham zips long nicely to 37 and then comes unstuck on a rest shot into the bottom right bin. Not only that he leaves his intended red right over the bag.

The ultimate unwanted act of generosity.

A penny for his thoughts.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

Ali Carter has come out positively and been the more assured. It feels like Stuart Bingham is looking over his shoulder and waiting for Carter to catch up.

It doesn't bode well for anyone who wanted an early night. They look like they might be locked together until the end.

Much better from Stuart Bingham who sinks a red over the left middle to get going in this frame.

Not the sort of chance you'd want to leave if you were Ali Carter mind.

Stuart Bingham made his way straight out of the auditorium after that last frame.

He clearly needed to press reset.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Ali Carter has been the outsider in every match he has played. He's played world champions in every round. He beat Mark Selby who gives him headaches, and then John Higgins in the quarter-finals and Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals.

If I was in Stuart Bingham's camp I would have encouraged him to go out and take a break because he has played the first two frames this evening and hasn't got going at all.

I am worried about the way Bingham is playing. It's so different from what he has shown in the tournament. He has been asleep for the first two frames and needs something to kick-start his game.

That's the first snooker back but Stuart Bingham's task was a pretty forlorn one wan't it?

Ali Carter is back at the table to snick the yellow into the top corner. That should be that. And it is.

Looks like this one has gone for Stuart Bingham now. He reaches 18 and then gets his attempted snooker all wrong.

Ali Carter mops up the final red and goes 43 points up with 27 remaining before missing but on we go...

Looks like we are going to have one of those scenario's that Stephen Hendry was bemoaning earlier. Ali Carter gets 58 ahead with 51 on the table but then leaves Stuart Bingham in.

The 43-year-old will need a couple of snookers mind.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

Without playing at his best Ali Carter is completely dominating proceedings tonight.

And he gets his reward as Stuart Bingham leaves his a red into the top left corner.

A couple of reds and colours could take this out of Bingham's reach.