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.
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