MATCH NOTES:

Well what a final we could have in store today. O'Sullivan produced an imperious performance last year, reducing John Higgins virtually to the role of appreciative spectator. But Higgins turned the tables in style at the Grand Prix with an unprecedented burst of scoring against O'Sullivan.

There's a wonderful atmosphere as the match gets underway, the last ever match that will be played at this famous venue before it is redeveloped. And it's first blood to O'Sullivan as he fires in the first red of the match. O'Sullivan's positional has gone astray so only 23 at his first visit and his safety wasn't the best either. A stunning red from Higgins and the following snooker has yielded him a nice opening. But a red has rattled so it'll be a bit of safety now. A couple of errors from both players and it's still very close. Only one red left and O'Sullivan had an 8 point lead. O'Sullivan has potted pink and black after a very close frame. A much quicker second as O'Sullivan whistles through the balls. A great 139 total clearance and that set the new high break target for the £10,000 prize. He's off again in the third. A fabulous pot and position after a great safety and he's got the balls scattered already. And another one visit win and back to back centuries. It's fabulous snooker. A rare  miss by Ronnie so a chance for Higgins and he needs this frame, but he's cold at the moment, so it's not going to be easy for him. This is a superb effort by Higgins, snooker of the highest quality and he's won the frame as they go off for a break. John Higgins is right amongst the balls on the resumption and the fabulous standard continues and it's another frame winner. The break ends at 80 and that was ten reds and blacks. It's closer in the sixth, but Higgins is at the table with the chance to level the match. A forty break leaves O'Sullivan needing a snooker. Higgins can make it four on the bounce now. He's won a wonderful safety battle and just needs one more red and colour. It's looking likely now that Higgins will lead 5-3 at the break. When he was 3-0 behind that score line looked nearly impossible. He's 46 ahead but he's lost good position, so only a safety and plenty to play for. Higgins has slotted a great red and he's set now to clinch a 5-3 lead. A fabulous afternoon's snooker and more promised when the match resumes at 8pm.

The gladiators are back and Higgins raced into a 44 point lead before leaving O'Sullivan a chance. Now he looks set to win the frame in a single visit. And of course he has, what a great start to the final session. We're all square again and now the match is set for a thrilling conclusion. The momentum is with O'Sullivan at the moment, but he knows, after this afternoon just what Higgins is capable of, given a chance. We've had a re-rack in the eleventh frame so it's back to opening skirmishes. Higgins is going to regain the lead again. It's taken a couple of visits but he's dominated the frame. Ronnie went for a rash shot and has been punished by John Higgins who's opened a 2-0 gap again at the final interval.

Here we go on the final run to the line and O'Sullivan is straight into a break. He's missed a red on 48 and left Higgins an easy starter. He's missed on 46 so it's all to play for on the last red. Ronnie's got it and pulled a frame back. A couple of pots have gone astray in frame fourteen, still nothing potted and no chance here for either player. The safety exchange is spreading the reds far and wide. O'Sullivan has rifled in a long red and has the chance to make serious inroads into this frame as he looks to level the match again. And in no time at all he's cleared up with another great century. But he's sitting down again in the next as an error has given Higgins a chance. He's 54 ahead with 67 left, just a couple of balls away from clinching the frame. Terrible luck for O'Sullivan in the next as he splits the reds off the blue but knocks a red in. That's the second frame on the trot that he's had bad luck, in the last it was a thundering kick on a red to centre. The points are level, Higgins has lost position and there are four reds left. What a vital frame this is now, either level or a two frame gap. Higgins has found another red after he missed a double and O'Sullivan over cut his attempt to centre. Higgins has a 14 point lead with two reds left and they're still trying to cut one into the centre and this time O'Sullivan does, but he's not on a colour. He's failed to roll up and left a free ball. Now he has to escape from the snooker on the last red and he has, but he's 17 points behind now. Ronnie potted a great yellow but played a terrible safety on the black and has thrown the frame away - or has he. Higgins has missed an easy black with the rest. A fabulous break from O'Sullivan using lower value colours and he's 53 ahead with only 51 left on. He should go one up with two to play.

A long red has given Higgins a chance to get amongst the reds and accumulate enough points to level the match; but before that he'll need to split the pack. The tension is visible now. Higgins has missed a routine black off its spot having made 31 and Ronnie's found a red to get started, but he's over cut a difficult pink, so a let off for Higgins, but he won't get many more chances. He's taken his chance and we're heading into the final frame of the final match to be played at the Wembley Conference Centre. What a fitting climax to the great history of this wonderful tournament.

Well here we go, the final frame and Ronnie starts with a long red to the green pocket to get underway. He's split the reds off the blue and it's a match winning chance. He's up to 54 and more reds await. He's missed on 60 and there's 75 still on. But no easy opener for Higgins and he's missed a long one but left nothing. Higgins has tickled a red into the centre at dead weight and here is his last chance. Higgins has doubled the last red and now he needs all the colours to pinch the match. This would be one of the most remarkable clearances of all time if he can pull it off. He's on the yellow. It's all about nerve. He's done it and that is one of the best breaks in the history of the game.

John Higgins 6-2 Alan McManus 65-23 , 86(78)-21, 72(64)-15, 69(68)-14, 82(63)-0, 16-84(68), 89(79)-24

It's close in the opener, just one point in it on the green and they've already been playing 45 minutes. Lee has broken the deadlock and cleared the colours. It's pretty cagey in frame two, not a red potted yet and some very good safety play. And it's 2-0 to Lee as he pounces on an O'Sullivan error. Things aren't working out for O'Sullivan at the moment. Lee missed a mid range red but O'Sullivan has done the same and he hasn't got any fluency yet in the match. Well it's an unexpected score line as Lee opens a 3-0 lead. Maybe because of the safety exchanges, Ronnie hasn't settled into any sort of rhythm. Well it's taken a few chances but Ronnie's got his name on the board as they go to the interval. What a dramatic fifth frame. Lee led by 48 with a 40 break and O'Sullivan stepped in with a sublime 75 clearance to the black. It's game on now. Ronnie's done it again, coming from 42 behind with a 50 to draw level. Now he's moved into overdrive, a peerless 88 to take the lead. Lee has weathered the storm. A vital 54 break has brought him level and now it's a best of three to decide who goes into the final. It's advantage Ronnie again, another superb break, 82 to the blue. There are two reds left in frame ten and Lee has a 10 point lead, but he's left a red on and Ronnie could race to the winning line, although the brown is safe at the moment. He's left the brown hanging in the jaws of the pocket so Lee needs up to black to force a decider. And he has, what a thriller this match is. The defending champion is into the final. He pounced on a Lee miss to produce a match winning break, predominantly made off the blue

John Higgins 6-4 Shaun Murphy 15-86(38), 56(36)-45(45), 61(49)-63, 79(79)-0, 91(55)-35, 0-130(115), 90(77)-0, 91(46,45)-0, 48(48)-87(87), 74(74)-0

Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Peter Ebdon 101(97)-36, 83(77)-38, 92(43)-7, 71(54)-17, 39(32)-88(61), 52-54, 92(61)-8, 83(38)-11

Stephen Lee 6-5 Graeme Dott 72(52)-1, 82(37)-13, 95-68(50), 113(101)-22, 72-74, 64(34)-7, 39-59, 9-53, 0-116(65,43), 81(81)-39

Ken Doherty 5-6 Shaun Murphy 35-101(101), 69-10, 1-103(59), 76-52, 52-53, 93(77)-37, 70-0, 71-44, 9-80(80), 35-66, 0-86(86)

A good start for Wembley favourite Jimmy White. A fluke and a fluked snooker helped him on the way to a 1-0 lead. Higgins is well on the way to levelling the scores, already 57 ahead in the second. Jimmy trails by 40 points on the last red and he's left it on. Jimmy is motoring in the third, on a break of 53 so far. He's missed a tricky red to centre on 58. The Higgins revival ends at 45 and he's left the yellow on, so could be an escape for White. A huge roar greets White's frame win, there's a wonderful atmosphere from the huge crowd in Wembley today. A masterful break from Higgins leaves the match level at the interval. It's taken Higgins a couple of chances but he's taken a 3-2 lead. White should level again, he's got a healthy 60 point lead. A safety battle has spread the reds in frame seven and Higgins is cashing in, on a run of 45 so far. And he doubled that to lead 4-3. The next is full of drama. Safety play has pushed the reds over to a side cushion, the colours are all over the place. Higgins leads 18-9 with 7 reds left! Both players have missed chances but now there's a chance for White to make something happen. He needs this frame because 5-3 adrift would be a big hill to climb. It's gone to John Higgins and he's one away from victory. It's all over for White and his fans, Higgins has raced through the next to complete a solid victory and he'll face the winner of tonight's match between Shaun Murphy and Ken Doherty.

Matthew Stevens 3-6 Graeme Dott 63(41)-41(39), 34-73, 0-96(96), 56-47, 105(89)-1, 0-89(89), 17-75(53), 18-111(102), 0-121(116)

A great start by McManus in this all Scottish battle. He's taken the opening two frames without Hendry potting a ball, and a break of 37 in the third gives him a narrow 38-31 lead with two reds left. Hendry's won the tactical exchanges and cleared from last red to pink to win a very important frame and gain a toehold in the match. Hendry has drawn level at the interval and will be delighted after McManus made a storming start to the match. A 47 break proved crucial in frame 4. Hendry has turned the match on its head now, winning the first two frames on the resumption and that's four on the spin. Hendry leads 54-27 in the 7th with three reds left but McManus has a chance now to get back into the frame. It's now 54-43 and McManus has snookered Hendry on the last red. McManus has levelled the scores and the safety battle continues on the yellow. McManus has earned two fouls on the yellow and has the yellow on now, so could stop the Hendry charge. A fabulous break by McManus brings the scores level and this is turning into some match now. Some wily tactical play from McManus has given him the edge in frame nine. But he's been unlucky, leading 40-13 he's got a kick on a red and lost position. Well it's all turned round again. Hendry is out of sorts and McManus has won three on the spin to lead 5-4. But no one would like to call the result just yet! It's all down to McManus now. Hendry has made an error, and McManus has the balls and the match at his mercy. He's lost position on 52, but he's 52 up with 67 on. Hendry has got a snooker off his first safety shot so there's still hope for him. Disaster for Hendry, not only did he miss a pot red but went in off as well, so he's 56 behind, a red and colour will virtually see McManus over the line. But no pot on for McManus so it's all about who wins the safety battle. It's all over now, Hendry has left the red on.

Peter Ebdon 6-4 Stuart Bingham 68-31, 69-15, 43(42)-66(58), 14-83, (100)146-0, 87(87)-0, 138(138)-0, 70-83, 52-69, 72-0

A solid start by Ebdon, with some good safety and potting and a couple of errors from Bingham have given the former World Champion a 2-0 lead. Ebdon will be kicking himself. He was nicely on a break of 42 but under hit a blue to the middle and Bingham's countered with 58 to take the frame. Bingham's taken a 30 point lead in the fourth, but lost position, so there's a bit of tip tapping into the reds going on now. Ebdon has spurned chances in the fourth but Bingham has taken his and has levelled at the interval. A fabulous break by Ebdon has regained him the lead, a 100 clearance. And a purple patch from Ebdon as he follows up with 87 and a superb 138 total clearance. He stood on the brink of victory in the next, 70 ahead but Bingham clawed his way back into it to clinch a thrilling frame on the black. Bingham's pulled another one back to trail 5-4. That's the end of Bingham's brave challenge as Ebdon has dominated frame ten for a 6-4 victory and a thoroughly convincing performance.

Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-0 Ian McCulloch 73(69)-46(46), 89-16, 66-33, 63-0, 137(50,87)-0, 69(54)-19

Stephen Maguire 0-6 Stephen Lee 0-102(95), 37-68, 28-54, 7-63(51), 40-87(87)

The first chance has fallen to Stephen Lee who's got a good chance to make a decent break if he can split the reds open. That's a great start by Lee, he looks to be cueing sweetly and compiled a masterful 95 opening break. Maguire has missed the black off its spot early in frame two so another chance falls to Lee. He's made 24 but missed a tricky red to the middle, so that's a let off for Maguire. Misses from both players but Lee's done enough to lead 2-0 with a couple of twenty odd breaks. Frame three has got bogged down, three reds left, all in baulk and the score is 28-29. Lee has picked off the bits and pieces, nothing is going right for Maguire. Lee is well on the way to a 4-0 lead, onto 51 now, all made off the pink but he's missed a pink now so a glimmer of hope for Maguire. The Scot can't do anything so far today, Lee leads 4-0 at the interval and Maguire has a lot to think about as he's managed a high break of only 17 so far in the match. Maguire missed when 40 ahead in frame five and Lee pounced with an 87 clearance and he's just one frame from victory now. Lee looks supremely confident now, he's stroked in a long red to get underway in frame six. Both players seem determined to throw the frame away. Maguire broke down on 28 and Lee on 32, now they're on the yellow and Maguire holds a 4 point lead, but he's snookered. The misery is over for Maguire, Lee has cleared to the pink to secure victory.

A solid start by Joe Perry. McCulloch played on for snookers but didn't get them. Both players had chances in the second. McCulloch got a kick in the balls but got back in, then he missed the pink and Perry potted it for 2-0. McCulloch's dominated the third to win his first frame at Wembley. McCulloch's edged the fourth on the black, so it's level at the interval. From 2-0 down McCulloch now leads 3-2, a run of 62 giving him the fifth frame. The sixth is low-scoring and Perry has a narrow 37-28 lead on the brown. McCulloch's secured the frame with the last red and regains the lead. McCulloch is well on course to go 5-3 ahead. He leads by two points on the brown after another low-scoring dogged frame. He's cleared to the pink and now needs only one frame for victory and a meeting with defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. McCulloch is nearly over the line, he's got a 62 point lead and just needs one more red and colour and he's clinched victory in style with an 84 break.

Mark Williams 6-3 Paul Hunter 64(38)-13, 66(57)-19, 13-84(34,38), 0-79(59), 1-69(63), 39-64, 38-77, 25-68

Paul Hunter has knocked a great long red in to get the match underway, no position, but a nice confidence booster. Williams has made 38 and it's enough to win the frame, as he's returned to the table to add more points. Williams is in the driving seat again in the second with a frame clinching 57. A great chance for Hunter in the third to reduce the deficit. He's opened with 34. Williams has spread the reds but missed the black and Hunter's back to the table again. Hunter's levelled at 2-2 at the interval, a break of 59 proving decisive. Williams holds a 51 point lead in frame five, thanks to a run of 37, but a cracking long red to the green pocket has given Hunter a chance to counter. A run of 30 has brought Hunter back into the frame, and a rare safety exchange, on the last red. Hunter's got the upper hand now. A nasty snooker forced 14 penalty points and he's only 7 behind on the red now. It's swung round again. Hunter got the last red, but not the yellow and now he's snookered. That's three on the spin for Hunter and he takes the lead, having cleared to the pink to clinch the frame. Williams has levelled with a break of 63 and the twice Masters Champion against the three times winner is building up to an exciting finish. The Welshman has edged ahead taking a scrappy seventh frame. And now he's just one frame from victory, taking a frame that could have gone either way. Williams is edging ahead in the next, 41-25 ahead but still 4 reds left. Williams has done enough to book himself a quarter final match against either McManus or his old foe Hendry. Not vintage Williams, but he got the job done.

Steve Davis 4-6 Stuart Bingham 65(59)-20, 45-69, 62-53, 42-57, 0-77(61), 77-58, 52-59, 81-51

CENTURY BREAKS

139 Ronnie O'Sullivan

138 Ronnie O'Sullivan

138 Peter Ebdon

116 Graeme Dott

115 Shaun Murphy

110 John Higgins

102 Graeme Dott

101 Shaun Murphy

101 Stephen Lee

100 Peter Ebdon

100 Ronnie O'Sullivan

WILDCARDS: Ian McCulloch & Stuart Bingham - Winner of QUALIFYING EVENT