After 15 days of intense competition featuring 32 of the world's best players, it all comes down to this - Ronnie O'Sullivan against Ali Carter for the right to be crowned 2012 World Snooker Champion.
The duo have proved to be revelations in this event, proving wrong the critics who wrote them off before a ball was potted.
Carter's appearance in snooker's most prestigious final comes as somewhat of a surprise on the back of a disappointing season which has seen him slip out of the world's top 16.
The Captain suffers from Crohn's disease and stated on Twitter following the first televised event of the season: "I'm going to retire at the end of the season! And I can't wait!"
He has banished those rumours on the biggest stage of all this year and is now appearing in his fifth major ranking final and looks to earn a maiden world title after a series of superb displays.
Hard earned victories over Mark Davis, tournament favourite Judd Trump, Jamie Jones and Stephen Maguire sealed the 32-year-old's destiny as he bids to pull off the biggest victory of his career.
O'Sullivan came into the tournament as an enigma following an uncertain few months in the game, but has taken the event by storm and displayed a refreshing attitude towards the game.
The Rocket's temperament and ability has been put to the test in this event and he has entertained Crucible crowds with some spectacular snooker, returning to his best form with victory over three world champions en route.
Peter Ebdon Mark Williams, Neil Robertson and Matthew Stevens have all felt the wrath of the Rocket, who has fired in nine centuries and produced exhibition style 'one visit snooker'.
The crowd favourite has been huge favourite to go all the way since the early departure of many seeded players last week and has showed no signs of pressure, letting his unrivalled natural ability flow.
The match sees a re-run of the 2008 final which was dominated by O'Sullivan who picked up his third world title following a crushing 18-8 victory.
The pair have met ten times in previous major competition and O'Sullivan has wiped the floor with his fellow Essex cueist, boasting a 100% record dating back to 2001.
The bookmakers believe the The Rocket will make it a glorious fourth world title and make him the huge odds-on 1/5 favourite, with Carter priced at 100/30 for a landmark victory with title sponsors
Betfred.
The match will be played over four sessions across two days, with the first starting on Sunday afternoon, the second at 7pm that evening and the climax on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon and evening.
It will be streamed live over the best of 35 frames from the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, with the winner taking home a cheque for £250,000 .
