Shaun Murphy vs Wu Yize: World Snooker Final - First Session Ends Level at 4-4

Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize finish the first session of the final level at 4-4.

It took both men a whole to get going, but they're there now and I'm sure both are satisfied with 4-4. I can't wait to see how things unfold this evening and happily there's not long to go – we get going again just after 7pm.

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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 0-1 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.

We go again…

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 (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.