MATCH SCORE Shaun Muprhy 15-18 Stuart Bingham
Third Session Shaun Murphy 2-6 Stuart Bingham
Stuart Bingham's brilliant comeback opened up a 14-11 lead over Shaun Murphy in the World Championship final at the Crucible in Sheffield.
Bingham, 38, won six out of eight frames - missing the final red on a maximum 147 effort along the way - to leave him four frames from victory.
He is appearing in his first final and had fought back from 3-0 and 8-4 down to end the first day 9-8 behind.
The final session will get under way at 19:00 BST.
A thrilling first day on Sunday had seen Murphy edge one frame ahead as the pair produced four centuries and 13 half-centuries.
The high standard of play continued on Monday with Bingham starting the third session in superb fashion.
The 32-year-old won the first four frames, which included an agonising miss while closing in on a 147 break, and he moved into a 12-9 lead.
Stephen Hendry, seven-time world champion
"It's a dangerous time for Stuart; you don't want to start getting ahead of yourself. There's a long way to go and I'm sure Shaun will come out tonight all guns blazing. It's important that the people around Stuart keep him on an even keel."
The next two frames were shared, guaranteeing Bingham a lead going into the final session, before Murphy cut the deficit with a much-needed break of 84.
Bingham had the final word, however, hitting back in the last to go three frames clear and complete a stunning session for the man from Basildon.
Parrott's verdict
"The way Stuart Bingham has played to win the session 6-2 is phenomenal. It is one of the most watchable and enjoyable finals I can remember and he has played a huge part in that.
"But you don't want to be working on your victory speech out just yet. There is a long way to go.
"Where Shaun Murphy can be dangerous is that some of the pressure can come off him a bit. The way he pots long balls, he can still have a big say in this final."
Fourth Session Shaun Murphy 4-4 Stuart Bingham
Stuart Bingham beat Shaun Murphy 18-15 in a gripping final to win his first World Championship at the Crucible.
Bingham began the final session with a 14-11 lead and won an epic 64-minute frame at 15-15 to close in on victory.
The 38-year-old made a break of 65 to go 17-15 in front and clinched the title with a brilliant 88.
Bingham, from Basildon, becomes the oldest snooker world champion since Welshman Ray Reardon won the title aged 45 in 1978.
He collects a winner's cheque for £300,000 and will rise from 10th to second in the world rankings.
"At one stage at 15-15 I thought I was going to do Shaun's [runner-up] speech," Bingham told BBC Sport. "It was a 64-minute frame to go 16-15 and that really calmed me down.
"To beat Shaun in the final tops everything off. Twenty years as professional, blood sweat and tears on the road. Qualifying in places like Prestatyn and Malvern.
"So many family and friends have backed me. It is unbelievable."
The all-English final pitted 2005 champion Murphy against outsider Bingham, who surprised favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan as well as in-form Judd Trump and former champion Graeme Dott in previous rounds.
And Bingham, a 50-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, held his nerve to become the oldest first-time winner at the Crucible.
Thirty years on from Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis's iconic final, which was won on the last black, both Bingham and Murphy played their part in another memorable title decider.
A breathtaking first day saw Murphy, from Nottingham, edge one frame ahead as the pair produced four centuries and 13 half-centuries.
Bingham did the damage in the third session on Monday, winning six of the eight frames to go in front at 14-11 and missing the last red when on for a maximum 147 break in the 20th frame.
He had the upper hand going into the final session but Murphy pulled a frame back, before Bingham's brilliant 102 under pressure put him three away from victory at 15-12.
Murphy, nicknamed 'The Magician', made breaks of 75 and 64 to level the contest at 15-15, but a missed the yellow proved crucial in a tense 31st frame.
Bingham crucially edged in front again after an hour-long battle and the confidence spurred him on to make 55 in the next, before a missed red from Murphy opened up the table for Bingham to seal a famous victory.
Monday 4 May 2015
Sunday 3 May 2015
2015 World Snooker Championship Final Day 1
MATCH SCORE: Shaun Murphy 9-8 Stuart Bingham
First Session Shaun Murphy 4-4 Stuart Bingham
Stuart Bingham recovered from 3-0 down to level at 4-4 against Shaun Murphy in the opening session of the World Championship final in Sheffield.
Murphy, the 2005 champion, looked in command after the opening three frames but Bingham hit back with a century.
Bingham, playing in his first world final, grew in confidence and won two of the next three to go 4-3 behind, before taking the eighth to level.
The best-of-35 final resumes at 19:00 BST, with nine frames to be played.
Following his late semi-final victory over Judd Trump on Saturday - winning in a final-frame decider - Bingham fell behind in the biggest match of his career.
Murphy, who eased past Barry Hawkins in the last four, looked confident as he made breaks of 68, 59 and 65 to go 3-0 in front, but a 105 got Bingham on the scoreboard.
Bingham settled down from then on, stroking in breaks of 56 and 65 as he ended the first session all square.
Hendry's verdict
"That's a great result for Stuart Bingham," said seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
"At 3-0 down he made a great century in the fourth frame. But at 3-0 behind he was looking nervous and that the occasion was getting to him.
"After the way Shaun Murphy steamrollered Barry Hawkins in the semi-final, you thought it might happen again. Every session is important and you can stamp your authority on a match early on so that is a chance missed for Shaun.
"The way the session ended will have put some doubts in his mind and it will be a worry for him."
Second Session Shaun Murphy 5-4 Stuart Bingham
Shaun Murphy held a narrow 9-8 lead over Stuart Bingham after a thrilling first day of the World Championship final at the Crucible.
Bingham, 38, is playing in his maiden final at the Sheffield venue, and fought back from 3-0 and 8-4 down.
Murphy, the 2005 champion, showed his class with breaks of 121 and 106, but Bingham compiled 123 to move just one frame behind overnight.
The best-of-35 frame final will resume at 14:00 BST on Monday.
Snooker's showpiece event has so far lived up to its billing, with an all-English spectacle producing four centuries plus 13 further half-centuries.
Nottingham-based Murphy, appearing in his third final, was favourite heading into the match, but has been made to work hard by a battling performance from Basildon's Bingham.
He stated after his surprise semi-final victory over Judd Trump that he was "excited" to go out and play against Murphy and it showed, as he could not stop smiling throughout the opening exchanges.
But there was little to be happy about as 32-year-old Murphy claimed the first three frames.
Bingham settled down in the fourth with a century knock, before winning three of the next four frames to end the first session 4-4.
'The Magician' came out in the second session in stunning fashion, winning four in a row, including back-to-back tons. It equalled the most century breaks (83) made at a single World Championship.
Bingham showed great character, hitting back in the next three to go 8-7 behind with runs of 76 and 89, as well as breaking the tournament centuries record.
But Murphy snatched the 16th frame to guarantee himself an advantage heading into the final day, before Bingham took the last to stay in touch.
Parrott's verdict
"That's the best session I've ever seen Stuart play," said 1991 world champion John Parrot. "It has been a fabulous match we have seen this evening.
"Judd Trump could not get rid of Stuart in the semi-final and he again shows that he just does not want to get beaten. It's a fantastic show of character from him tonight and he can be proud of what he has done.
"Both players are capable of winning three or four frames on the trot tomorrow. This match is wide open."
First Session Shaun Murphy 4-4 Stuart Bingham
Stuart Bingham recovered from 3-0 down to level at 4-4 against Shaun Murphy in the opening session of the World Championship final in Sheffield.
Murphy, the 2005 champion, looked in command after the opening three frames but Bingham hit back with a century.
Bingham, playing in his first world final, grew in confidence and won two of the next three to go 4-3 behind, before taking the eighth to level.
The best-of-35 final resumes at 19:00 BST, with nine frames to be played.
Following his late semi-final victory over Judd Trump on Saturday - winning in a final-frame decider - Bingham fell behind in the biggest match of his career.
Murphy, who eased past Barry Hawkins in the last four, looked confident as he made breaks of 68, 59 and 65 to go 3-0 in front, but a 105 got Bingham on the scoreboard.
Bingham settled down from then on, stroking in breaks of 56 and 65 as he ended the first session all square.
Hendry's verdict
"That's a great result for Stuart Bingham," said seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
"At 3-0 down he made a great century in the fourth frame. But at 3-0 behind he was looking nervous and that the occasion was getting to him.
"After the way Shaun Murphy steamrollered Barry Hawkins in the semi-final, you thought it might happen again. Every session is important and you can stamp your authority on a match early on so that is a chance missed for Shaun.
"The way the session ended will have put some doubts in his mind and it will be a worry for him."
Second Session Shaun Murphy 5-4 Stuart Bingham
Shaun Murphy held a narrow 9-8 lead over Stuart Bingham after a thrilling first day of the World Championship final at the Crucible.
Bingham, 38, is playing in his maiden final at the Sheffield venue, and fought back from 3-0 and 8-4 down.
Murphy, the 2005 champion, showed his class with breaks of 121 and 106, but Bingham compiled 123 to move just one frame behind overnight.
The best-of-35 frame final will resume at 14:00 BST on Monday.
Snooker's showpiece event has so far lived up to its billing, with an all-English spectacle producing four centuries plus 13 further half-centuries.
Nottingham-based Murphy, appearing in his third final, was favourite heading into the match, but has been made to work hard by a battling performance from Basildon's Bingham.
He stated after his surprise semi-final victory over Judd Trump that he was "excited" to go out and play against Murphy and it showed, as he could not stop smiling throughout the opening exchanges.
But there was little to be happy about as 32-year-old Murphy claimed the first three frames.
Bingham settled down in the fourth with a century knock, before winning three of the next four frames to end the first session 4-4.
'The Magician' came out in the second session in stunning fashion, winning four in a row, including back-to-back tons. It equalled the most century breaks (83) made at a single World Championship.
Bingham showed great character, hitting back in the next three to go 8-7 behind with runs of 76 and 89, as well as breaking the tournament centuries record.
But Murphy snatched the 16th frame to guarantee himself an advantage heading into the final day, before Bingham took the last to stay in touch.
Parrott's verdict
"That's the best session I've ever seen Stuart play," said 1991 world champion John Parrot. "It has been a fabulous match we have seen this evening.
"Judd Trump could not get rid of Stuart in the semi-final and he again shows that he just does not want to get beaten. It's a fantastic show of character from him tonight and he can be proud of what he has done.
"Both players are capable of winning three or four frames on the trot tomorrow. This match is wide open."
Saturday 2 May 2015
2015 World Snooker Championships Semi Finals conclude
Judd Trump (Eng) 16-17 Stuart Bingham (Eng)
Shaun Murphy 17-9 Barry Hawkins
Shaun Murphy 17-9 Barry Hawkins
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