Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

John Higgins is a great doubler of a snooker ball but when it doesn't go right he's going to get dug out for it. That is the problem with that type of risky shot.

Hazel Irvine
Presenter on BBC Two

Kyren Wilson was mopping up the tears of John Higgins there. We normally see Higgins keeping it so tight. Why did he go for that double?

Kyren Wilson punishes John Higgins as he goes on to complete an efficient clearance of the colours - bar the black - to seal the frame and restore his two-frame cushion.

A break of 36 from John Higgins, but a botched double attempt in the middle pocket leaves Kyren Wilson with a simple red. He pots it and then follows it up by sinking the pink. This frame is the Englishman's for the taking now.

Higgins purses his lips.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

John Higgins will hope to use that last frame as a springboard to better rhythm. In order to win this final John needs to up his game from this afternoon and leave Kyren Wilson in his chair. John is capable and needs to show it.

Image source, PA Media

John Higgins misses the red and it becomes a bit of scrappy frame. Kyren Wilson nudges his total along to 48 but a miscued safety shot allows Higgins another visit.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

I would like to see John Higgins maybe pick up the pace a bit tonight, try to get a bit more fluency in his game.

He plays better when he's a bit more fluent and I think he's going to have to score heavier - win a few more frames in one visit.

John Higgins chunters to himself. He misses a long pot into a corner, the cue ball hits the cushion and then slides down into the middle bag.

Kyren Wilson heads back to the table, but a careless safety leaves a red on for Higgins.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Kyren Wilson's played a bit of a shocker putting the cue ball into the middle pocket, it has to be said.

For somebody of his standard it's a very poor shot and he was punished.

John Higgins has done exactly what we said he needed to do which is score in one visit.

Image source, PA Media

John Higgins starts the evening with his highest break - 71 - of the final thus far as he wraps up the opening frame. Some solid potting including an eye-catching yellow up the table.

Kyren Wilson looks stone faced in his seat.

Kyren Wilson can only increase his haul to 22 which allows John Higgins a decent run at the table.

The Wizard of Wishaw starts to work his magic and a break of 49 has him within striking distance of winning the opening frame in the evening session.

Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two

It was a sticky afternoon for both players. Kyren Wilson was struggling to get among the balls but his two centuries got him a scoreline he probably deserved.

Snooker is not a physical game but try to cope with the pressures and it is tough for a 50-year-old. Every win at this stage of your career is sweet and John Higgins will relish the challenge.

A slick cut using the rest and Kyren Wilson gets himself up and running. However, an overzealous pot on the blue leaves him a difficult long pot and he misses. A break of 18.

John Higgins has nothing on and decides safety is the way.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

If you could buy a John Higgins dictionary and you looked up the word 'quit' it would say 'see someone else', because he just doesn't know what that word means.

I think scoring's got to go up, you always know he's going to compete, you know his matchplay is wonderful, but he just needs to win a frame in one visit, a break of 75+ just to get him go in the scoring stakes, and he'll have a massive chance.

Image source, PA Media

John Higgins comes out to a rapturous applause from the crowd at the Ally Pally with I am the Resurrection by the Stone Roses belting out.

Kryen Wilson looks like he means business. He will break first in the evening session.

Strap yourselves in.

John Higgins has got plenty to do this evening if he is to jump into double figures albeit those above him are hardly bad company to be keeping.

Image source, BBC Sport

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport snooker reporter

This feels very much like familiar territory for John Higgins who was behind against Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump.

He has more frames to play with this evening of course but his big worry will be that Kyren Wilson, could accelerate towards the finishing line very quickly if he gets his tail up when play resumes.

The 2024 world champion spent large chunks of his two previous Masters finals, which ended in defeats to Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy, chasing but he is very accomplished frontrunner.