Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham reach World Snooker Championship final at The Crucible

Shaun Murphy will face Stuart Bingham in the final of the 2015 World Snooker Championship at The Crucible on 3 May.

2005 champion Murphy secured his place in the last two for the third time with a comfortable 17-9 win over Barry Hawkins during which 'The Magician' further demonstrated his excellent cue control with a succession of marvellous long pots.

Resuming the day with a 16-8 advantage, the 32-year-old, who won the UK Masters at Alexandra Palace in January, needed just two frames to finish the tie against the spirited Hawkins.

"It's unbelievable, something I never thought I'd do again," he told the BBC following confirmation of his victory.

"It's not that long ago since I was considering going off and doing something else. To have got back to the World final and won the Masters a few months ago is more than a dream come true. I'm blown away.

"At 22, you think you know everything on and off the table. I was a bit of a know all. I was wrong big time. It's taken me 10 years to go through that process, learn about life and come back a better person."

While Murphy will be contesting his third world final, opponent Bingham has never appeared in a Crucible showpiece in his 20-year professional career to date but fully merits his place this time around following a truly gripping triumph over Judd Trump.

13-9 in the lead before the evening session on 2 May, Bingham, who beat both Graeme Dott and Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach the semi-finals, looked as if he may have blown the opportunity to progress after the irrepressible Trump took the match to a 33rd and deciding frame.

He eventually held his nerve, however, and appeared to be fighting back the tears in subsequent interviews as the magnitude of his achievement set in.

The first afternoon session of the final between Murphy and Bingham is scheduled to begin at 14:00 BST, with play then resuming later at 19:00. There is also likely to be two separate sessions on Bank Holiday Monday.