Action from Day 15 of the 2017 Betfred World Snooker Championships

It's the third Saturday and the end of the snooker semi-finals at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield.  With a 10-6 lead after the first two sessions, John Higgins lined up aginast Barry Hawkins.  Paul Collier was the referee.  Action here from frame 17 - first of the morning - that John Higgins would eventually run out 16-8, leaving the probability of only a short session in the evening in the best of 33 frame match.

2016 World Snooker Championships - the last evening

A few pictures from the evening of the last day of the 2016 World Snooker Championships.

 Mark Holmshaw, Barry Hearn and Richard Caborn

Kell Brook and Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Talib Hussain

 Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman, and Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council

 Referee Paul Collier

 Ding Junhui makes his entrance

 Closely followed by Mark Selby

 A few frames later, and Leicester have two reasons to celebrate

2016 World Snooker Championship final - Mark Selby leads Ding Junhui in first session

Snooker's world number one Mark Selby raced ahead of China's Ding Junhui to open up a 6-2 lead in the first session of the World Championship final.

The 2014 winner, has not often been at his best in the tournament so far, but carried on his good form from late last night to go 6-0 ahead with breaks of 120, 91 and 76.

Ding, who had to qualify to even appear in the World Championships, made his first final but managed to win the last two frames to keep in touch.

 Hazel Irvine, introducing the final.

The trophy ready for the winner.

 Referee Paul Collier.

 Ding Junhui walks out.

 Mark Selby walks out.

 Referee Paul Collier places the trophy on the table.

First session at the 2016 World Snooker Championships

The tradition is for the defending champion to have the honour of opening the next Championships by playing the first match.

Today, Stuart Bingham was drawn against Ali Carter and, on the other side of the barrier, Marco Fu took on Peter Ebdon.

 Stuart Bingham walks out to start his match on Table 2.

 Stuart Bingham and referee Paul Collier who will also referee the final.

 In the match on Table 1, 2002 Champion Peter Ebdon was playing Marco Fu.

 14th seed, Marco Fu.

 Stuart Bingham rues an early miss that let Ali Carter take a 4-1 lead.

 Ali Carter lines up a long shot to get out of a snooker.