That intro sequence was something else.

BBC Two

Our live coverage on BBC Two has just started.

So grab the remote and get over there asap or just click the play button at the top of this screen.

By the way if Ali Carter recovers to win this evening, he would become the first player since Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2014 to win the Masters without being ranked in the elite tier of players.

If you're wondering what I am on about...well back then defending champion Mark Selby was the number one seed with world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan seeded second.

The remaining places were allocated to players based on the latest world rankings. With O'Sullivan having a ranking of 24, Graeme Dott, ranked 16, missed out.

To think Ali Carter wasn't originally down to play in this event until seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan decided not to take part.

Watch some of the best shots as Stuart Bingham beats debutant David Gilbert 6-2 to reach the Masters final at Alexandra Palace where he will take on Ali Carter.

Who fancies a quick reminder of how these boys got to the final...

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Hendry seemed a tad nonplussed by the number of chances it took for either Stuart Bingham or Ali Carter to win a frame earlier and you can sort of understand why.

The bare statistics of his astonishing career justify the sort of swagger that was a feature of his utter dominance in the 1990s.

A record-breaking seven-time world champion and the youngest ever Crucible winner, Hendry's relentless quest for perfection and attacking style saw opponents cowed and crushed with relentless regularity.

Just have a read of this.

Now this may have been a source of amusement for those in the crowd but I'm not sure it thrilled the players or referee.

Still it wasn't quite Steve David v Ronnie O'Sullivan streaker territory.

Talking of drama, there was a fair bit this afternoon. It's fair to say one or two errors helped that along as did a whoopee cushion....

Image source, Getty Images

Good evening and welcome back to our live coverage of The Masters final between Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter.

Very much a final made in Essex, with Bingham from Basildon and Ali Carter from Tiptree.

And while Bingham holds a 5-3 lead after the first session, you wouldn't put your mortgage on this being drama free.

Thanks for joining me this afternoon.

You can read our report on the first session of the Masters final here., external

We will be back later at around 18:45 GMT and live coverage on BBC Two will start at 19:00 GMT.

See you all then.

BBC Two

Before I get going just a reminder that Sunday evening's final session will be live on BBC Two from 19:00 GMT.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

You need a bit of luck at snooker but Stuart Bingham got that bonus. Ali Carter shook his head quite rightly.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Since I have been working on snooker as a pundit I think that is the most extraordinary shot I have ever seen.

It's always nice to take a lead into the final session of a final it make you that little bit more settled.

Stuart Bingham is going to take a two frame cushion into Sunday night's final session.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

That was just preposterous.

Wow Stuart Bingham has just had the mother of all flukes to knock in the yellow. That could see him wrap up the frame.

Richard: What is Dennis on about here? I know it’s the last frame of the session but these professional players should be able to put some of these pots away. Pressure can be an overused word.

What's Stuart Bingham's nickname again? He gets an outrageous rub of the green after a double kiss and then knocks in a double.

It's not decisive though as Ali Carter gets out of a snooker on the yellow. Bingham 47-45 Carter. Delicately poised.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

This crowd is loving these tactical frames.There's a lot of tension out there but it is just as exciting as watching the big breaks go in.