:00:00. > :00:52.Hello again stop -- hello again. We have another match between Mark
:00:53. > :00:57.Selby and Donnie Sullivan. They squared up no fewer than three times
:00:58. > :00:58.in the final. It is always a special occasion when these to meet. The
:00:59. > :01:07.last time they did, it was none occasion when these to meet. The
:01:08. > :01:25.other than the 2014 Crucible final, which Mark Selby won. He is going to
:01:26. > :01:28.get this opening frame under way. That is a much better break off
:01:29. > :01:57.shot. Of course it was Mark Williams when
:01:58. > :02:07.he caught the blue on a couple of occasions. This is a tough half
:02:08. > :02:22.chance, it has to be said. The key, of course, has Ronnie shaken off the
:02:23. > :02:29.cobwebs since that match against Mark Williams. He refused to pocket
:02:30. > :02:47.the red which is a surprise in itself. He played a good shot
:02:48. > :02:57.there. And now a chance for Selby. It looks like it is tied up but
:02:58. > :03:01.there is a shot for Mark. I am not sure that he can get up to that red
:03:02. > :03:11.from the brown. He might be able to just miss the yellow. In fact, he
:03:12. > :03:16.has changed his mind and he has got the angle and he has dropped on that
:03:17. > :03:21.perfectly. He can now drop the red and free the black with a little
:03:22. > :03:31.cannon. So the yellow was not in the way. It will be tricky to execute
:03:32. > :03:44.this shot. He does not want the rate to cover the black. The pink will
:03:45. > :03:58.come to his rescue. Is the pink spots it will block the red to the
:03:59. > :04:15.left corner pocket. The crowd react. A little bit concerned.
:04:16. > :04:27.Sometimes it does get in the way of the cue. We used to use them all the
:04:28. > :04:56.time, and now we changed to wearing bowties. I am not sure when they
:04:57. > :04:59.changed back to this. He started slow against Mark Williams but in
:05:00. > :05:04.the middle of the game he found his form. Let us see how he will get to
:05:05. > :05:33.his form. Just came back a little bit further
:05:34. > :05:50.than he wanted. A good pot and a good cannon needed. He can just get
:05:51. > :05:57.to that one. He will be brushing off the pack. He just lost the cue ball
:05:58. > :06:05.again. Nothing goes into the pack. He just lost the cue ball
:06:06. > :06:14.left-centre and he is coming around to have a look. Only the black and
:06:15. > :06:22.the red. That is pretty good. Excellent, in fact. That'll go into
:06:23. > :07:13.the left centre. He could not have played that much better. APPLAUSE.
:07:14. > :07:22.APPLAUSE. That is a lovely shot. He has just kissed off the red and
:07:23. > :07:30.brought the number fall into play as well -- four. This is the key shot
:07:31. > :07:41.coming up here. He has to cannon the red. That red may block the blue. Is
:07:42. > :08:09.the yellow is past the green he is OK. I think the blue may pass that
:08:10. > :08:13.red. -- if. APPLAUSE. If he can get that pink into the middle pocket it
:08:14. > :08:29.looks like it will cost in this opening frame. That was the one he
:08:30. > :08:32.was unlucky not to be on the black. There is a gentleman who knows a
:08:33. > :08:48.little bit about the game of snooker. He is great pals with
:08:49. > :09:02.Ronnie. He has just come short of the blue with 52 points ahead. He is
:09:03. > :09:13.going to need one more red here. So red to secure the first frame. There
:09:14. > :09:26.is a bit of pressure on this. A bit of pressure on this but where is the
:09:27. > :09:42.red going to finish. 'S. Just a little bit more pressure than he
:09:43. > :09:52.wanted -- APPLAUSE. Heating cut the red in but he needs a pink or higher
:09:53. > :09:57.that wreck he can -- he can cut the rate in but he needs a pink or
:09:58. > :10:11.higher. He may try to get into that yellow pocket. He is on it nicely.
:10:12. > :10:20.He is going to need this pink and three reds and three blacks. Ronnie
:10:21. > :10:41.was just one pot away from securing it. This looks pretty good I would
:10:42. > :10:51.have liked to have been a bit straight on this red. If he can get
:10:52. > :11:01.on to the black... I think you can pop the red and hit it off the
:11:02. > :11:10.cushion. He needs three reds and three blacks. He has a tricky little
:11:11. > :11:20.short but he can get to the two reds that are available. If he can get
:11:21. > :11:26.the black and dropping behind them. Just a change of plan. Maybe he
:11:27. > :11:47.would need a little bit too much hyped the night shot would suggest
:11:48. > :11:56.-- height that the. He was a little bit tentative, wasn't he? He did not
:11:57. > :12:20.hit it well enough to get the site is -- get the side spin. Buries his
:12:21. > :12:41.wife, always supporting him -- there is. He could just play away from
:12:42. > :12:48.it. APPLAUSE. That was an excellent shot. A lot of club players would
:12:49. > :12:52.have liked to put that in the baulk area but he knew anywhere around
:12:53. > :13:05.that yellow pocket the blue was a cover for those two reds. A very
:13:06. > :13:12.clever shot from Selby. He has the advantage and does not want to give
:13:13. > :13:22.the four points away. It will be interesting to see what pacey places
:13:23. > :13:31.that. He chose the right shot to hit it hard and disturb something but
:13:32. > :13:36.that makes quite a difference. He will need to take two reds and to
:13:37. > :13:43.blacks now. All of a sudden it is anyone's frame now. I think it was
:13:44. > :14:09.to knock a red up the table, something a little bit safer. But it
:14:10. > :14:16.just escaped him. It could leave a free ball. The yellow is not
:14:17. > :14:26.straightforward into the right centre. These points are adding up
:14:27. > :14:40.and it is going to make Selby's job a bit easier if he gets a shot at
:14:41. > :14:55.the red. You can see what he is trying to do. It is a tough shot. He
:14:56. > :15:01.just needs to glands of the red -- glance. All of a sudden you would
:15:02. > :15:09.have two things that Selby is the best for this frame. Even further
:15:10. > :15:18.away this time. This could play an important point. If he knocks that
:15:19. > :15:28.one red in halfway through the second frame. Selby is quite happy
:15:29. > :15:45.to see this being put back. He just needs to clip the reds on the back.
:15:46. > :15:51.It is getting close. He almost needs to swerve around the blue and get
:15:52. > :16:03.close to that bottom hand pocket. If he hits his full ball, he is handing
:16:04. > :16:22.the frame to Selby. He could swerve around the blue but let us see if he
:16:23. > :16:37.can get it this time. APPLAUSE. He just got it, that side required. It
:16:38. > :16:58.has left Selby a half chance. I am just seeing if he has an angle.
:16:59. > :17:18.APPLAUSE. Not straightforward with a little bit of angle to work with. He
:17:19. > :17:39.has got a cutback. That looks as if it will cut. No, it is not there.
:17:40. > :17:55.That was not straightforward. One good long pot as we show you the
:17:56. > :18:05.missed again. What a shot that was! Have a look at the control of this.
:18:06. > :18:10.That is top draw. When he played Mark Williams, Mark said, doesn't
:18:11. > :18:22.That is top draw. When he played hit the ball so well? He has missed
:18:23. > :18:30.a trick there. It would've been quite a frame to pinch. And that was
:18:31. > :18:39.a frame that would have really hurt him. He gave all of those points
:18:40. > :18:51.away in the fowls but he has got out of that -- fouls. It is worth
:18:52. > :19:01.another look. The screw and control he had on that was magnificent. We
:19:02. > :19:24.would like a lot more of this. APPLAUSE. In the end, he would be
:19:25. > :19:40.delighted. You never want to catch the blue from the break of shot. But
:19:41. > :19:51.he has not let that Matt left -- but he has not left anything. Mark Selby
:19:52. > :19:57.was in his seat and this was his gesture to say that was a great
:19:58. > :20:05.shot. That was nice to see. A lot of ways would've played with topspin. A
:20:06. > :20:16.bigshot remark back into the red to try to stay on the black. He is very
:20:17. > :20:27.unlucky there and did not get the topspin to stay on the black. Does
:20:28. > :20:33.look with a red has come. It has blocked the opportunity for any
:20:34. > :20:39.blue, green or brown. Just a safety shot now. Going back to the red that
:20:40. > :20:56.Ronnie plays, a lot of plays with his topspin, but the control was
:20:57. > :21:00.superb. You can see it then now, he could play that shot and made it a
:21:01. > :21:23.lot easier using some topspin with any of the other colours but going
:21:24. > :21:35.for the black was magnificent. He does not want this to bounce to high
:21:36. > :21:56.office black cushion. It does pot even though it is quite tight. A bit
:21:57. > :22:03.unlucky and you are never sure where it is going to go when you can into
:22:04. > :22:08.the reds like that. It might have headed a bit further up the table.
:22:09. > :22:19.It has made it a difficult table now. We might have a little bit of
:22:20. > :22:24.tipping and tapping here at the other end of the table. I think a
:22:25. > :22:34.re- rack is in order. Both players will not like this tipping about. We
:22:35. > :22:39.might see a little nod to the referee in a couple of shots time if
:22:40. > :22:50.they continue to play like this. I think that sold it now. He could
:22:51. > :23:08.probably get behind the black and put the money in a spot of bother --
:23:09. > :23:34.put Ronnie. Has he left the red to the left of centre? Just having a
:23:35. > :23:41.look. Can he swerve it? A good pot! That is a very uncharacteristic
:23:42. > :23:54.mistake from Mark Selby. A big mistake and what will it cost him? I
:23:55. > :23:58.think the fact that Mark had the butt of the cue up in the air and
:23:59. > :24:07.striking down on it, it is difficult to control that shot he tried to get
:24:08. > :24:14.behind the black. It is so easy to just hit it a little bit harder and
:24:15. > :25:40.on the cloth, that can happen. Now there is a great chance for a
:25:41. > :25:42.Ronnie. And there is another player with an earpiece in. He is always at
:25:43. > :26:19.the matches. He was doing a bit of coaching with Jimmy a few seasons
:26:20. > :26:29.ago. He played that can in very nicely. As you can see those reds
:26:30. > :26:35.now around the pink are all open. So far he is taking these very nicely.
:26:36. > :26:43.Looks to be in better form and a lot sharper already than he was against
:26:44. > :26:49.Mark Williams. He found a bit of form in the middle of the match
:26:50. > :26:57.being 4-2 down. He scored a couple of centuries and is looking pretty
:26:58. > :27:06.good. He was not happy with his performance of course, he never is.
:27:07. > :27:15.He looks a lot better this time though, Dennis. I didn't think he
:27:16. > :27:19.did a lot wrong against Mark but Mark played a lot better in the end.
:27:20. > :27:39.I thought he played great. You have to be cueing well.
:27:40. > :27:59.Wiped its feet! Looked like he was going to hit the --
:28:00. > :28:09.Just this red. Oh! Well, he hit the edge on the last one. He certainly
:28:10. > :28:15.hit the near jaw but this time stayed out. Isn't it amazing? He
:28:16. > :28:18.looked around at the scoreboard. LAUGHTER
:28:19. > :28:18.I think it took his concentration away.
:28:19. > :28:25.APPLAUSE What a miss! Similar to the opening
:28:26. > :28:29.frame. Mark Selby a chance to - well, he's given himself a good
:28:30. > :28:33.telling off there, is Ronnie. Yeah. That will really annoy him.
:28:34. > :28:39.Particularly frame ball. He nearly missed the previous red into the
:28:40. > :28:44.opposite middle pocket. Looked like he just cued it a little bit quick.
:28:45. > :28:50.Again, has in the last frame, missed the frame ball as well.
:28:51. > :28:54.APPLAUSE This could work out just nice. What
:28:55. > :28:59.a shot that is! APPLAUSE
:29:00. > :29:19.Well,... Yeah, there is one red that isn't
:29:20. > :29:21.going to be straightforward, the one that is closest to the cue ball. So,
:29:22. > :29:32.he has quite a lot to do here. But just a minute or so ago he would
:29:33. > :29:38.have been in his seat, getting himself reddy for the third frame.
:29:39. > :29:43.He didn't expect Ronnie to miss the sitter into the middle pocket, but,
:29:44. > :29:51.as I say, it isn't a straightforward clearance by any means here. Yeah.
:29:52. > :29:56.Go for the red near the green now. The problem ball, as you said, is
:29:57. > :30:01.the one closest to the left-hand side cushion. But if he gets a nice
:30:02. > :30:05.angle on green or brown here, he can - on potting this red, and get right
:30:06. > :30:15.up close to that red. So important that he doesn't come
:30:16. > :30:21.too straight on the brown here, or the green. Well, it looks
:30:22. > :30:22.too straight on the brown here, or going back for pink. I thought it
:30:23. > :30:25.might have been better to go for a ball colour. The only problem with
:30:26. > :30:30.that shot is he can come too straight on the pink. That is
:30:31. > :30:35.exactly what's happened. Yeah. In an ideal world he would love to get the
:30:36. > :30:38.white somewhere near where I put the other little white there. He might
:30:39. > :30:43.be able to do that from the pink, off the back cushion here, and go
:30:44. > :30:50.past the red. Anywhere over that side of the table, anywhere near the
:30:51. > :30:55.other little white there, and I think he's not sure if he can do it
:30:56. > :31:04.from the pink but I think he can just about do this.
:31:05. > :31:09.That's still OK. As long as he got over that side. I mean, it is a
:31:10. > :31:13.little more difficult now. He is over that side. I mean, it is a
:31:14. > :31:14.going to need the extension on the over that side. I mean, it is a
:31:15. > :31:22.red. The extension on the cue. This could be a big moment in the
:31:23. > :31:26.match already, Dennis. He doesn't have to deal much with the cue ball,
:31:27. > :31:31.just drop the red in. He knows he is going to be on the black, so give
:31:32. > :31:41.the red a chance to get into the pocket. Just play it dead weight.
:31:42. > :31:53.APPLAUSE Yep. Now has the angle on the black.
:31:54. > :32:00.ANNOUNCER: 22. Not the best angle in the world, is it? Jury yeah, that's
:32:01. > :32:03.why he had a quick glance at the pink. But it isn't the correct angle
:32:04. > :32:10.either. He has tremendous cue power. Watch this with top spin and side to
:32:11. > :32:17.try and get around for the yellow. That's a terrific shot. It really
:32:18. > :32:29.is. From that angle, it's terrific! APPLAUSE
:32:30. > :32:35.Didn't play that too well. Wanted to come out and get it away from the
:32:36. > :32:54.cushion with the cue ball. APPLAUSE
:32:55. > :33:00.Now, cue shot. Brown. Swing it around the angles, and - anywhere
:33:01. > :33:04.close to the blue, he will have it into the corner pocket. A big shot,
:33:05. > :33:26.this. APPLAUSE
:33:27. > :33:30.Needs to pull up a little bit. It's gone a little bit too far for the
:33:31. > :33:34.middle part. He can still pot it, but had he been straight on the
:33:35. > :33:45.blue, it would have been no problem. Now he has to go in and out of the
:33:46. > :33:52.baulk area. Well, that... APPLAUSE
:33:53. > :33:57.This could be, as you said, quite the turning point in this match.
:33:58. > :34:07.Yeah. Had a chance in the first round to steal it. Oh! He's got... I
:34:08. > :34:12.thought the cue ball was going to travel and get closer to this side
:34:13. > :34:17.cushion. So black for a brilliant steal! What a clearance from Mark
:34:18. > :34:20.Selby! APPLAUSE
:34:21. > :34:26.56 break, when Ronnie looked like he was going to win the frame. Mark
:34:27. > :34:40.Selby pounces! Wins the frame. And now it's one frame all.
:34:41. > :34:44.Oh! Beautiful! APPLAUSE
:34:45. > :35:06.Beautifully cued! He makes it look so easy. And the
:35:07. > :35:12.best thing he can do here, to put that last frame out of his mind and
:35:13. > :35:17.that east pot, is -- easy pot is to knock in a sizable contribution
:35:18. > :35:22.here. And then he will quickly forget about that last frame. Yes.
:35:23. > :35:29.He wants to get down around the forget about that last frame. Yes.
:35:30. > :35:32.black, and open the black up. And particular willy those two reds
:35:33. > :35:36.above the black as well. That is where all the scoring is done.
:35:37. > :35:40.That's a beautiful little shot! APPLAUSE
:35:41. > :35:45.What a wonderful little shot that was! He had to hit the left-hand
:35:46. > :36:41.side of that red on the way up. Just a little short of pace there.
:36:42. > :37:05.Wanted to be a bit straighter on the red to stay on the black.
:37:06. > :37:10.He has this eedz red, but there might be another red
:37:11. > :37:12.He has this eedz red, but there the back of the bunch. We know he
:37:13. > :37:16.has the two. He's looked at that a few times to see if it would go, the
:37:17. > :37:22.other red there. I don't think the two reds are a plant, but we know of
:37:23. > :37:56.this red pots - yeah, you can see it clearly. There is enough room there.
:37:57. > :38:02.APPLAUSE Well, he's looked a few times at the
:38:03. > :38:06.red here. It is fairly tight but looks as if it pots. The plant isn't
:38:07. > :38:10.quite on, but he's definitely had two or three looks at this. He
:38:11. > :38:12.doesn't - he's back looking at it again. He's not quite sure, but from
:38:13. > :38:16.this side it looks as if it pots, again. He's not quite sure, but from
:38:17. > :38:19.but from the other side you can see much better. Yeah. It is one of
:38:20. > :38:29.those, isn't it, that you really need to be on dead straight behind
:38:30. > :38:33.it? The problem with this is - sort of looking away from the pocket,
:38:34. > :38:38.it's tight enough, this red. He's looking at the plant now as well. I
:38:39. > :38:46.don't think the plant goes. He could squeeze the plant into the pocket if
:38:47. > :38:46.he hits the first red correctly. And he did!
:38:47. > :39:03.APPLAUSE Played it lovely! Didn't look on
:39:04. > :39:09.from that angle. As you said, Dennis, sort of squeezed. It is
:39:10. > :39:09.from that angle. As you said, almost like a reverse plant, wasn't
:39:10. > :39:20.it? There, you see. Well, that was, again...
:39:21. > :39:31.APPLAUSE .. Cued beautifully! As you said,
:39:32. > :39:45.Dennis, no better way to eradicate the bad memories of the last frame.
:39:46. > :39:50.If he can win it with one visit... This has been good stuff. A great
:39:51. > :39:57.response so far. APPLAUSE
:39:58. > :40:06.You just sense that this is going to go very close, this match. Because
:40:07. > :40:10.they are both cuing well, both made couple of little mistakes, but not
:40:11. > :40:19.that many. APPLAUSE
:40:20. > :40:28.Look at the pot success. 97%. Mark Selby, 93. Doesn't matter about the
:40:29. > :40:36.blue. He's made more than enough. APPLAUSE
:40:37. > :40:38.Mark playing for the table. He's gone into the lead again, has
:40:39. > :40:58.Ronnie. At the moment he needs three
:40:59. > :41:04.four-point snookers. I tell you one thing - Mark Selby's won a few
:41:05. > :41:09.frames needing three snookers. But it is a tall order.
:41:10. > :41:18.Yeah. I suppose when you come to the table in this sort of situation, one
:41:19. > :41:23.snooker and possibly, if you can leave the red on the table, it may
:41:24. > :41:26.be a free ball. That would count as a possible eight points. So one
:41:27. > :41:31.snooker and a free ball would be enough. That red next to the pink,
:41:32. > :41:35.if he can pot the black along with the red and black, he can get in
:41:36. > :41:44.behind that red and just roll tight in behind the pink. And he could
:41:45. > :41:47.make the first snooker very, very difficult indeed, because he could
:41:48. > :41:50.hide that red and get tight in behind the pink in couple of shots'
:41:51. > :41:55.time. Can't do that now. He's not on the
:41:56. > :42:14.black to be able to leave that shot. APPLAUSE
:42:15. > :42:17.He's played that very well, hasn't he? Now, he will try and knock the
:42:18. > :42:22.red off the side caution, try he? Now, he will try and knock the
:42:23. > :42:25.it close to the blue and trade and get that cue ball in behind the
:42:26. > :42:30.pink. He has to not only get the snooker but put that red in a very
:42:31. > :42:36.difficult position, and try and get it somewhere behind - near the blue.
:42:37. > :42:41.Just decelerated on the back swing there! Didn't get anywhere near it,
:42:42. > :42:45.what he wanted to do with the cue ball. That cue ball was supposed to
:42:46. > :42:56.go behind the pink. He is having a little smile to himself! He's trying
:42:57. > :43:04.to get the snooker behind the brown, which is the last thing he thought
:43:05. > :43:12.would happen! Oh! APPLAUSE
:43:13. > :43:26.Just took the paint off it. Yeah, played it that way. Didn't want to
:43:27. > :43:34.miss the red, and then leave a free ball.
:43:35. > :43:40.There is Ronnie's good friend, Damien Hurst who was here for his
:43:41. > :43:47.first match against Mark Williams. Loves his snooker.
:43:48. > :43:55.APPLAUSE One artist enjoying another at work,
:43:56. > :44:17.Dennis! LAUGHTER
:44:18. > :44:24.Maybe not a bad ploy from Mark here. You know, Ronnie was in terrific
:44:25. > :44:29.form in this frame and rather than just concede it, he thought, "I will
:44:30. > :44:34.try to get the snookers but I will maybe get him out of his rhythm a
:44:35. > :44:36.little bit." Yeah. It is energy that Ronnie didn't want to be
:44:37. > :44:41.extenuating, that's for sure. He would have loved to have just potted
:44:42. > :44:43.the blue and won the frame from it and get on with it.
:44:44. > :45:00.APPLAUSE Won't be enjoying this.
:45:01. > :45:06.Got the situation now where both players will be trying to get
:45:07. > :45:12.snookers. Ronnie will be trying to get one here.
:45:13. > :45:19.Now, that's put the pink in a better position now, next to the black, for
:45:20. > :45:23.the snookers that Mark needs. But I don't think he can see enough of the
:45:24. > :45:30.red to screw across off the cushion and back in behind the pink and
:45:31. > :45:30.black. He would have to avoid the pink with the red. He might just be
:45:31. > :45:47.able to do that. That's just played the delicate one.
:45:48. > :45:50.He's still got the snooker, though. Oh, is there a little gap? There is
:45:51. > :46:38.always a gap! For some reason! And that's knocked the green into a
:46:39. > :46:41.better position for the snookers that Mark needs. Three four-point
:46:42. > :46:44.snookers he needs at the moment. Yeah. Bit surprised from Ronnie
:46:45. > :46:48.there. I thought he might have played the red into the black and
:46:49. > :46:54.try and split that pink and black away from each other. And because
:46:55. > :46:56.there is a big target. But now a chance for him to, knock the red
:46:57. > :47:27.into the left centre. One more frame before the
:47:28. > :47:34.mid-session interval, and it's an Greiging encount -- intriguing
:47:35. > :47:38.encounter already. Both players cuing very well. Both making just
:47:39. > :47:57.the odd mistake. A little bit of power needed here if
:47:58. > :48:03.he wants to get on the pink. Doesn't matter about missing the blue. So,
:48:04. > :48:07.it was that earlier break. APPLAUSE
:48:08. > :48:12.Ronnie O'Sullivan took this third frame. And he now leads two frames
:48:13. > :48:25.to one. That's the wonderful Waterford
:48:26. > :48:31.Crystal trophy they are playing for this week. Beautiful, isn't it?
:48:32. > :48:37.ANNOUNCER: Quickly as you can, please. . I tell you what - that's
:48:38. > :48:43.the second time Mark's hit the blue from the break-off. That could be
:48:44. > :48:49.costly! APPLAUSE
:48:50. > :49:01.See the break-off. Whatever you do... Don't hit the blue, as John
:49:02. > :49:14.Vergo would always say . Maybe in the past Ronnie
:49:15. > :49:20.O'Sullivan's long game sometimes let him down, but at first glance in
:49:21. > :49:30.this match it's been top quality. He's knocked in couple of corkers
:49:31. > :49:42.already in this match. Very, very sharp indeed now.
:49:43. > :49:49.A few question marks posed at the beginning of this match about his
:49:50. > :49:57.rustiness and not playing for almost eight months. Coming back and, into
:49:58. > :50:02.the cauldron here against the best players in the world, but - there
:50:03. > :50:06.you see the beautiful Alexandra Palace arena here. Great setting and
:50:07. > :50:10.great crowd and great atmosphere! Well, the thing is, he's been
:50:11. > :50:14.practising on match tables, hasn't he? If you were just playing
:50:15. > :50:19.ex-businesses Yan playing on club tables it would be more difficult to
:50:20. > :50:27.come back, but he put the time in on the tight-pocketed tables.
:50:28. > :50:31.APPLAUSE No matter how long you have been
:50:32. > :50:35.out, it is the match play, the match competition you miss, no matter how
:50:36. > :50:39.much practice you do. There is just so substitute for playing matches
:50:40. > :50:46.against top quality opposition and they were the questions that
:50:47. > :50:54.everybody wanted answers to. He's certainly answering them so far.
:50:55. > :51:01.LAUGHTER APPLAUSE
:51:02. > :51:02.Want the way he played it, that's for sure! But another result there!
:51:03. > :51:19.Turned out nicely. Jury yarks Steve Davis, he sort of
:51:20. > :51:25.does get a little bit bored at times, and the fact he hasn't been
:51:26. > :51:30.playing - he relishes this. It was difficult to split the red there.
:51:31. > :51:35.There weren't a good bunch to go into, as we show you again. Very,
:51:36. > :51:41.very difficult to develop them when they are like that. So, once again,
:51:42. > :51:47.he's got to 50-plus in front. It happened in the two opening frames.
:51:48. > :51:55.So they are following a similar pattern. That's put a red save with
:51:56. > :52:25.a little bit of insurance! APPLAUSE
:52:26. > :52:35.They have had some great battles in the Masters, three two players --
:52:36. > :52:43.three two players. He leads 2-1 in their encounters at the Masters.
:52:44. > :52:50.Mark's win back in 2010 on the deciding frame was very, very
:52:51. > :52:59.special. And then Ronnie's two wins were also special. Quite comfortable
:53:00. > :53:07.in 2014, 10-4. But the other one was 18-8 in 2009. All the matches have
:53:08. > :53:18.come in the final, haven't they? Quite incredible. Eight Masters
:53:19. > :53:26.titles between the two of them. And another test for a long pot for
:53:27. > :53:37.Ronnie. Haven't missed a long pot yet. But... Something on the tip
:53:38. > :53:43.there just distracted him. Beautiful!
:53:44. > :53:47.APPLAUSE He's hit a few like that, and... He
:53:48. > :53:52.makes it look so easy! I have He's hit a few like that, and... He
:53:53. > :53:59.seen his long ball so good, Dennis, not for a long, long time. A hundred
:54:00. > :54:05.percent so far. Every one hit so sweetly.
:54:06. > :54:13.Just cued them in absolutely beautifully. He needs one more red
:54:14. > :54:18.after the black. And that red next to the pink looks as if it goes into
:54:19. > :54:22.the corner. Or just the one at the back. It must be one of the reds
:54:23. > :54:28.goes - yeah, the one next to the pink. This will give him a 3 minus
:54:29. > :54:54.one lead, if it goes in. APPLAUSE
:54:55. > :55:01.I thought when Mark Selby won that second frame that might have
:55:02. > :55:09.unnerved Ronnie O'Sullivan but, in fact, he's actually gone up a gear.
:55:10. > :55:14.As all great champions do. He's responded superbly well in his
:55:15. > :55:21.couple of frames. Yeah. Winning the third frame virtually with one visit
:55:22. > :55:32.eradicated that frame before from his mind. And he does look very
:55:33. > :55:37.focused now. Best of 11, though. To 3-1 is a nice lead to have, but, you
:55:38. > :55:42.know, there is enough long way to 3-1 is a nice lead to have, but, you
:55:43. > :55:46.go. And you know what Mark Selby is like. He never, ever gives up. He
:55:47. > :55:49.proved that in the world championship when he was behind
:55:50. > :55:55.against Ronnie, he came storming back against him to win it 18-14.
:55:56. > :56:04.But it is good all round snooker we are watching here from both players.
:56:05. > :56:13.There is an all-round positional shot!
:56:14. > :56:23.APPLAUSE Now, this is great stuff!
:56:24. > :56:28.And a packed crowd here, Ken, absolutely loving this match. Yeah.
:56:29. > :56:42.A great atmosphere. Well, he won't be bothered about
:56:43. > :56:48.missing the yellow. Mark Selby says, "That's inform for me." That go for
:56:49. > :56:50.their mid-session interval. Ronnie O'Sullivan leads by three frames to
:56:51. > :56:54.one. APPLAUSE
:56:55. > :56:58.ANNOUNCER: Ronnie O'Sullivan to break APPLAUSE
:56:59. > :57:05.It is Ronnie who will get the first frame after the mid-session
:57:06. > :57:05.interval. It has to be said his break-off shot has been much better
:57:06. > :57:20.than Mark Selby's. Mark's caught the blue on two
:57:21. > :57:31.occasions, which is unlike him. This is a massive frame, isn't it, for
:57:32. > :57:35.Mark Selby, and his fans! Really 4-1 down to O'Sullivan should he lose
:57:36. > :57:40.this frame. That would be a big deficit to claw back. But it hasn't
:57:41. > :57:45.been his potting, Dennis that's left him down. If anything, normally what
:57:46. > :57:50.he's been very, very good at has been the safety and the safety has
:57:51. > :57:54.been a bit loose. A couple of break-offs, couple of safety shots
:57:55. > :57:56.that he's left O'Sullivan get his hand on the table and pot those
:57:57. > :58:12.wonderful long balls. When the pot success is 94% Ronnie
:58:13. > :58:19.O'Sullivan's is 95%. It's not like he's missed a lot of balls. But it
:58:20. > :58:23.is just Ronnie - particularly Ronnie's long ball game
:58:24. > :58:23.is just Ronnie - particularly - there you see 99 for Ronnie
:58:24. > :58:37.O'Sullivan. Just 31 for Mark Selby. Straightaway here with a red up to
:58:38. > :58:47.the right of the green there. It's made a little bit of an awkward
:58:48. > :58:51.frame. Mark is just looking to see - he has to be a wee bit careful here.
:58:52. > :58:55.If he goes up into the corner with the safety shot, Ronnie can knock
:58:56. > :58:58.that red to the right of the green. Back up the table. So let see where
:58:59. > :59:08.he does put this cue ball. . A chance to get the frame back to
:59:09. > :59:42.normal here. Well, not sure if he attempted the
:59:43. > :59:47.double there, or just the safety. Because there was very little chance
:59:48. > :59:52.of finishing on a colour when he did get the double. So, that tells me
:59:53. > :59:57.maybe he was just playing the safety shot. But, anyway, we are back to
:59:58. > :00:03.normal with the frame. All the reds are up this end of the table. These
:00:04. > :00:08.have to be hit correctly. Tight on the cushion. So easy to hit them too
:00:09. > :00:13.thin or too thick. But that one was just right!
:00:14. > :00:22.APPLAUSE Couldn't hit that much better! It is
:00:23. > :00:34.a bit more like it from Mark Selby. And the safety... Blocked everything
:00:35. > :00:42.down the left-hand side. Can have a go at this red into the right-hand
:00:43. > :00:47.corner pocket but very difficult and dangerous. Trying to lay on the red
:00:48. > :00:52.that is closest to this black cushion.
:00:53. > :01:00.APPLAUSE Well... It's not very good. Mark
:01:01. > :01:20.Selby a chance now. APPLAUSE
:01:21. > :01:25.He has a nice angle. He will be running into those three reds around
:01:26. > :01:26.the black spot, hopefully try to clear the black spot when potting it
:01:27. > :01:37.here. May have to - is there enough room?
:01:38. > :01:46.Yeah. Oh! Not - is there? Just about. Otherwise the black would
:01:47. > :02:09.have gone up on to the green. Just OK here.
:02:10. > :02:12.It's been a while since Mark's had a chance in amongst the balls like
:02:13. > :02:19.this. You are always half a chance in and around the black spot area.
:02:20. > :02:23.Well, he tried to - he is quite a tall lad Mark, about six two, six
:02:24. > :02:28.three. He will try and sit on the table there. But the extension would
:02:29. > :02:33.be a bit more comfortable. Well, he is still going to sit on the table!
:02:34. > :02:41.I tell you what - that's... LAUGHTER
:02:42. > :02:42.That is something you or myself wouldn't be able to do with our
:02:43. > :02:45.short Irish legs, Ken! LAUGHTER
:02:46. > :03:02.I would probably need a ladder to be able to do that!
:03:03. > :03:13.Those balls are very nicely situated for him. You see, the one he's
:03:14. > :03:16.potling -- potting, but the one above it pots as well. He has four
:03:17. > :03:24.or five reds before he even contemplates maybe disturbing a few.
:03:25. > :03:28.There is plenty in the open. This was created by that terrific safety
:03:29. > :03:33.shot that Mark played, and then Ronnie just tried to nestle on the
:03:34. > :03:37.red and didn't, as he intended. And this has been the result. This was
:03:38. > :03:46.the skip from Mark's good safety shot. He wanted to hit this full
:03:47. > :03:51.ball and hit it half ball. And we would always going to expect this
:03:52. > :03:54.from Mark Selby because sometimes he's produced his best snooker when
:03:55. > :05:22.he's behind. What a camera angle that was,
:05:23. > :05:37.watching the cue action of Mark Selby! I liked that shot.
:05:38. > :05:42.Well, you could hear a pin drop at the moment in Alexandra
:05:43. > :05:48.Well, you could hear a pin drop at Packed house here. It looks as if
:05:49. > :05:56.they are going to have a classic here in the way of Mark set off
:05:57. > :06:00.after the mid-session interval. Oh! What's he done here? He needs to
:06:01. > :06:05.keep going. If the green doesn't got... -- doesn't go... Can he just
:06:06. > :06:39.get past the red? Just! Oh! Was that a kick? I am not quite
:06:40. > :06:42.sure but you wouldn't think Mark was flying along there. He wouldn't miss
:06:43. > :06:49.a shot surely that easy? He must have got a kick there. Yeah. It
:06:50. > :06:56.straightened up the red. OK. He didn't stick it on the up there, but
:06:57. > :07:00.he was only a few more pots away from taking this fifth frame. Yeah.
:07:01. > :07:09.He only needed just red and black. Shaking his head. He's very
:07:10. > :07:25.disappointed. Just that it went straight, didn't it?
:07:26. > :07:30.He's reluctant to play a safety shot after the pack of four reds below
:07:31. > :07:34.the pink. But the only other alternative is to try and clip the
:07:35. > :07:45.red that's close to the bottom right-hand corner pocket, but that
:07:46. > :07:49.is dangerous and could go wrong. He's cut it qaurl ball and not the
:07:50. > :07:54.best safety shot in the world. He's left. OK. This is difficult red into
:07:55. > :08:01.the bottom left-hand corner pocket. But... He's been playing, you would
:08:02. > :08:05.have fancy he was going to get this. APPLAUSE
:08:06. > :08:08.And the red goes at the bottom of those four reds into the bottom
:08:09. > :08:18.right-hand corner pocket. He's perfect on the blue. Well, this
:08:19. > :08:23.could be a huge turning point in this match! Because Mark Selby,
:08:24. > :08:28.without that heavy contact, would certainly have taken the frame. Now
:08:29. > :08:33.he has to sit and wait and see what this man can do. And one good cannon
:08:34. > :08:48.here can open everything up. Hasn't worked out, unless there is a
:08:49. > :08:52.plant there. You could play that nine times out of 10 and they would
:08:53. > :08:56.split better than that. It was only the green that seemed to move. He is
:08:57. > :08:56.trying to force the plant. And he's got it!
:08:57. > :09:09.APPLAUSE Puff of the cheeks after pulling off
:09:10. > :09:16.that difficult plant. But there is - the red and green are awkward. .
:09:17. > :09:23.CROWD: Oh! That wasn't a kick. That was a lapse
:09:24. > :09:29.in concentration. I think he was way ahead of himself. Just took his
:09:30. > :09:42.concentration off that shot. Yeah. Up until that shot Ronnie's
:09:43. > :09:46.focus has been superb. He just took his eye off the pot there.
:09:47. > :10:00.APPLAUSE Yeah, you didn't see that one
:10:01. > :10:13.coming, did you? Yeah, I think Ronnie was way ahead
:10:14. > :10:18.of himself, thinking about the red and green and how he was going to
:10:19. > :10:20.bring about them into play and then missed a sitter.
:10:21. > :10:27.APPLAUSE That's one way of bringing the red
:10:28. > :10:36.and green into play! Yellow only available into one
:10:37. > :10:55.corner, because of the pink. Doesn't matter the yellow.
:10:56. > :11:01.APPLAUSE A bit of a chance. What a sitter he
:11:02. > :11:06.missed. Mark Selby he will be relieved that Ronnie didn't pinch
:11:07. > :11:13.that frame and he is only one behind now at 3-2 to Ronnie. That's a
:11:14. > :11:17.better break-off from Mark this time. But that was a good point
:11:18. > :11:20.because Ronnie - do you remember he jumped over the black against Mark
:11:21. > :11:24.Williams? He was in two minds there and carried on and played the shot
:11:25. > :11:28.instead of doing what John in the studio said - get up and get back
:11:29. > :11:32.down again. It is a bit like a golf shot. If you are not right, step
:11:33. > :11:36.away and come back. Absolutely. Another test her for Ronnie -- here
:11:37. > :11:41.for Ronnie. He hasn't missed one of these yet. Hasn't missed that!
:11:42. > :11:50.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE The long ball game has been superb!
:11:51. > :11:55.100%. A hundred percent from both players. That is unusual after five
:11:56. > :11:59.frames. Yeah. I just said it was a bureaucrater break-off shot from
:12:00. > :12:04.Mark Selby because he didn't hit the blue, and the way Ronnie is going it
:12:05. > :12:04.Mark Selby because he didn't hit the might be the only shot he plays in
:12:05. > :12:29.his frame. Both the blue... Nicely positioned
:12:30. > :13:12.to get down on this red. Easily get around by the black.
:13:13. > :13:20.Might be an idea to try and get the pink off this red, because that will
:13:21. > :13:25.clear the path to the red to the left of the black. The left of the
:13:26. > :13:36.pack of reds, he's gone down for the black. A nice angle now. He's played
:13:37. > :13:36.a lovely cannon there! APPLAUSE
:13:37. > :13:48.A beautiful angle there, just to play that. A tell call little
:13:49. > :13:51.cannon. -- delicate little cannon. Again, a wonderful little shot.
:13:52. > :13:55.Nicely controlled. Just brushing off the pack of reds, getting the right
:13:56. > :14:03.side of the blue. And bringing another red into play. He is going
:14:04. > :14:06.to need one more good split on the red if he is to win the frame from
:14:07. > :14:31.this position. He lost the second frame after
:14:32. > :14:36.making a 50-odd break but he bounced back with a 69. In the game after he
:14:37. > :14:44.missed a fairly easy shot. You see him just practising his back arm.
:14:45. > :14:47.So... I think he would prefer to go into this - he's obviously
:14:48. > :14:55.contemplating potting the red. But I think better to go them after blue
:14:56. > :15:00.really here than the black. He's absolutely perfect! That was a
:15:01. > :15:08.lovely shot. . Got to be careful he doesn't hit them too hard and send
:15:09. > :15:12.the red in. Oh. That could have finished a little better than that.
:15:13. > :15:21.I'm not sure if one of the two reds goes - he's OK. Yep. Just about.
:15:22. > :15:27.APPLAUSE That pink was on, you know. He just
:15:28. > :15:33.got a little - the red just slid off the pink and may have just knocked
:15:34. > :15:36.it into a pottable position. He still has the black.
:15:37. > :15:37.APPLAUSE Oh!
:15:38. > :15:44.LAUGHTER Just about! Gravity took over there,
:15:45. > :15:50.Dennis! Yeah. We will show you that one again. Just over four minutes to
:15:51. > :15:55.get to this stage. We Australia give it a mention when he made that
:15:56. > :16:01.maximum -- we always give it a mention when he made that maximum
:16:02. > :16:05.break way back in 5 minutes and 20 seconds. The wrong side of the blue
:16:06. > :16:07.line there, as you can see. He's already got a substantial lead.
:16:08. > :16:14.APPLAUSE didn't really matter all that much.
:16:15. > :16:19.He is 69 ahead. 67. It looks like... From the break-off shot, as I said.
:16:20. > :16:38.He's sat on his chair. APPLAUSE
:16:39. > :16:41.He's made a 70 break in over five minutes. He someone slowing down,
:16:42. > :16:45.Dennis! LAUGHTER
:16:46. > :16:51.He's been superb. When you think about that maximum, how did he do it
:16:52. > :17:00.in five minutes and 20 seconds? That was just out of this world! It may
:17:01. > :17:05.never be beaten, that record. It used to take Terry Griffiths that
:17:06. > :17:06.amount of time just to break off, didn't it?
:17:07. > :17:26.LAUGHTER ANNOUNCER: Quiet.
:17:27. > :17:31.APPLAUSE Nice little kiss on the red there!
:17:32. > :17:34.The only thing that's been missing here is a century break. Black for
:17:35. > :17:47.this first century! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:17:48. > :17:50.Fantastic! 100! 805th century break in his career!
:17:51. > :17:54.CROWD: Oh! Well, the red has not gone in but a wonderful, magnificent
:17:55. > :17:58.century from O'Sullivan! APPLAUSE
:17:59. > :18:17.Secures the sixth frame. Still now leads by four frames to two.
:18:18. > :18:25.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE This man's long ball game has been
:18:26. > :18:28.top quality this afternoon as well! If you leave the ball short from
:18:29. > :18:46.that end, you will be in trouble. Yeah, the fact there was so much
:18:47. > :18:50.safety played - you know, when he got a chance... He knocked the long
:18:51. > :18:54.one in. So - that's a key, being able to do that sometimes, have long
:18:55. > :19:02.parts of safety, and then when you get a chance, knock a long one in.
:19:03. > :19:08.Now... There is one red that might just go here. And that's why he's
:19:09. > :19:14.playing the pink and left-handed again. I mean...
:19:15. > :19:19.LAUGHTER APPLAUSE
:19:20. > :19:24.This will open things up, but what a key shot coming up now! Not an easy
:19:25. > :19:28.pot, but he is going to automatically cannon the red and
:19:29. > :19:46.could free a few more here. APPLAUSE
:19:47. > :19:52.What a shot he's played there! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:19:53. > :20:03.That is an absolute gem! A great shot. Have a look at the position.
:20:04. > :20:08.Well, he's potted most of these balls with his opposite hand in this
:20:09. > :20:16.effort. Another left-handed shot coming up. And that's not where it
:20:17. > :20:19.intended. It was tough to get into the black and reds from the blue. He
:20:20. > :20:24.decided to try to leave a nice brown. But there is still enough for
:20:25. > :20:28.him to pot the blue and just come up past the pink but he decided if he
:20:29. > :20:30.could get a good angle on the brown he could get to the red. But he
:20:31. > :20:51.can't now. Has he screwed in off? A free ball.
:20:52. > :20:55.What a careless mistake that is! I mean... He was just taking the four
:20:56. > :21:02.points and then just going to play a safety shot. And... To screw into
:21:03. > :21:10.the middle pocket and leave a free ball...
:21:11. > :21:17.That was amazing! Because he wasn't doing anything with the white, he
:21:18. > :21:20.was just going to play a safety shot. So he could have put the white
:21:21. > :21:45.anywhere. Every chance for Mark Selby in
:21:46. > :21:53.couple of shots' time. He can get those reds into play. Yeah, he has
:21:54. > :22:00.an angle on the brown to come off the side cushion, and straight into
:22:01. > :22:03.the reds. . Yeah. Anywhere past that middle pocket... Yeah, that's the
:22:04. > :22:08.sort of line he would be looking at, if he can pot the brown and a little
:22:09. > :22:11.bit of right-hand side. He could bring the two reds and the black
:22:12. > :22:22.into play here. Did he try to screw directly into
:22:23. > :22:27.them? Didn't seem... Looked like it, didn't it? He tried to almost arc
:22:28. > :22:28.around the blue there, and didn't it? He tried to almost arc
:22:29. > :22:34.get enough on it. Just have a look at the cue ball here. Tried to arc
:22:35. > :22:38.it around the blue. And... The screw just didn't take... He left himself
:22:39. > :22:46.- I mean, bridging over the blue here. He has to use the spider.
:22:47. > :22:58.He has to be very careful here. Try and keep that red beside the black.
:22:59. > :23:06.Always difficult. Doesn't want to leave a free ball here now as well.
:23:07. > :23:16.And I think that's what he's done. ANNOUNCER: Free ball. Wow.
:23:17. > :23:25.Quite an incredible frame and what an important frame! Just one point
:23:26. > :23:29.the difference. ANNOUNCER: Green ball. We mentioned
:23:30. > :23:36.a few times, auge frame. -- a huge frame. I think both players know
:23:37. > :23:43.that and that's why we are having a few mistakes here. They know the
:23:44. > :23:46.importance of this frame. And, well, Vicki certainly knows the
:23:47. > :23:50.importance. She knows the game as well as Mark does. Great pool
:23:51. > :24:03.player, is Vicki. The pink is going to come to Mark's
:24:04. > :24:08.rescue there. Ronnie has to bring the red that's tied to the black
:24:09. > :24:13.cushion into play. He has to be careful with the safety shot.
:24:14. > :24:28.I think he's left Mark not the first red on the way down, but certainly
:24:29. > :24:31.the second one. It is a bit of a guide to get to the potting angle
:24:32. > :24:40.here. I think he definitely can just see
:24:41. > :24:44.about enough of it and you would think if he misses the blue and the
:24:45. > :24:56.red he would go very close to cutting this in.
:24:57. > :25:08.APPLAUSE He has second prize! Just about see
:25:09. > :25:12.the edge of this red here. APPLAUSE
:25:13. > :25:20.That's a beauty! APPLAUSE
:25:21. > :25:25.Mmm. Excellent shot! Ice gesture from Mark Selby, tapping the table
:25:26. > :25:30.in appreciation. That was a great safety shot. A gesture from...
:25:31. > :25:32.Gesture from the Jess tor! Laughter --
:25:33. > :25:41.gesture LAUGHTER Easy for you to say that!
:25:42. > :25:53.It really is such a tense affair, this frame.
:25:54. > :26:01.Well played! APPLAUSE
:26:02. > :26:06.Well played! But... Good escape, but we have seen Ronnie knock quite a
:26:07. > :26:12.few long balls in. Can he get another one?
:26:13. > :26:27.Wobbled a few times, but had another cracking long pot! By far the
:26:28. > :26:34.longest frame of the match, over 27 minutes. Oh, this is not easy! But
:26:35. > :26:39.he made it look easy! APPLAUSE
:26:40. > :26:43.Well, that was actually a much better shot than his previous one.
:26:44. > :26:53.The long pot was good but that was better. A lot more pressure on that
:26:54. > :26:58.shot. He cued it in. Needs to slow up this cue ball. Got to play that
:26:59. > :27:04.better. Now, will he drop the green into the centre and take on the
:27:05. > :27:11.mid-range yellow? That puts the green back on its spot, of course,
:27:12. > :27:13.makes life a bit easier, but this is virtual, he would say, shot for the
:27:14. > :27:34.frame. And that one wobbled a little bit as
:27:35. > :27:39.well. But we're watching one artist on the table and there's another,
:27:40. > :27:50.Damien Hurst. He will be delighted to see his good friend...
:27:51. > :28:00.APPLAUSE An intriguing seventh frame.
:28:01. > :28:04.APPLAUSE CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:28:05. > :28:05.Ronnie O'Sullivan takes it! He is now just one frame away from
:28:06. > :28:35.victory. He leads Mark Selby 5-2. Another possible long red to get on
:28:36. > :28:40.the black here. Similar red to the previous frame. Oh!
:28:41. > :28:52.APPLAUSE OK. Not on the black. That is
:28:53. > :28:57.another great pot. When you're -- your opponent is knocking these long
:28:58. > :29:20.balls in, it puts so much pressure on you safety-wise. Very unnerving.
:29:21. > :29:35.He was looking to see who - if he could get the potting angle, but
:29:36. > :29:37.because it is touching he can't. But twice across the table and close to
:29:38. > :29:52.the ball cushion as possible. APPLAUSE
:29:53. > :29:58.There isn't anyone in the game who can come back against Ronnie
:29:59. > :29:59.O'Sullivan when you are 5-2 behind, but if there is it is this man here,
:30:00. > :30:03.O'Sullivan when you are 5-2 behind, Mark Selby because he will never e
:30:04. > :30:06.ever give up. And he's done it so many times. Yeah. He's done it so
:30:07. > :30:12.many times to his opponent. And Ronnie will be aware of that, and
:30:13. > :30:16.that's why he's trying to keep the pressure on. Yeah, but you are dead
:30:17. > :30:20.right - if anybody could muster a comeback from this position, it is
:30:21. > :30:25.certainly Mark Selby. There is no doubt about that.
:30:26. > :30:39.APPLAUSE He certainly go back to memories of
:30:40. > :30:43.the great matches he's had with O'Sullivan where he's been in
:30:44. > :30:46.similar positions. He would try and do that, sometimes draw matches, you
:30:47. > :30:50.will remember other matches you might have played and you try to
:30:51. > :30:56.give yourself a bit of confidence by saying, "I did it before. No reason
:30:57. > :30:57.give yourself a bit of confidence by why I can't do it again." It is a
:30:58. > :31:24.tall order, particularly the way his opponent is playing this afternoon.
:31:25. > :31:32.It is just OK. He is coming up short with some of hissiveties, leaving it
:31:33. > :31:40.near the ball colours, rather than near the cushion. Ronnie was playing
:31:41. > :31:44.to get on the cushion here but thought might be a bonus, coming up
:31:45. > :31:50.behind the brown. APPLAUSE
:31:51. > :31:54.They are always playing to leave the cue ball as tight to the cushion as
:31:55. > :31:59.possible when you get in behind a colour like that. It's a bonus. And
:32:00. > :32:03.the fact that there's reds either side of the bunch gives Mark
:32:04. > :32:09.something to think about here. There is another straightforward escape,
:32:10. > :32:13.and into the side of the reds, because he would be leaving pots on
:32:14. > :32:20.whichever way he goes. So, that's why he's having to think of another
:32:21. > :32:27.escape route. And if anybody can find it, it's Mark Selby. See, he is
:32:28. > :32:31.just looking to see if he was to leave it in the reds. It would be
:32:32. > :32:40.awkward cuing but health still leave that red on for the middle pocket.
:32:41. > :32:46.He will do well to judge this and keep them save. Have to have another
:32:47. > :32:55.go at that. You can't come keep them save. Have to have another
:32:56. > :32:59.cushions and go into the back of the bunch, he will leave the red to the
:33:00. > :33:01.black of the black. Looked as if he was trying to just land on the red
:33:02. > :33:24.to the right of the black. He doesn't want to slip past this
:33:25. > :33:28.red. He's played it well! APPLAUSE
:33:29. > :33:33.He's played it well but there is still a possible pot on, that one to
:33:34. > :33:36.the right of the pink will go. He was in quite a spot of bother there,
:33:37. > :34:36.was Mark Selby. . CROWD: Oh! That was a wonderful shot! Purposely
:34:37. > :34:57.going back and bringing the pic towards that right centre.
:34:58. > :35:05.Just didn't hit that last shot as he intended, and there is a nice plant
:35:06. > :35:09.here. There looks to be a nice plant, as we pull out. We will show
:35:10. > :35:14.you that. It is right if line for the pocket.
:35:15. > :35:18.APPLAUSE Amazing the number of times you play
:35:19. > :35:23.a plants and you seem to forget about the cue ball. But he has a
:35:24. > :35:29.long way to travel here, and he has to be very precise, in and out of
:35:30. > :35:38.the baulk area. How is your luck, Ronnie? Not very good!
:35:39. > :35:50.ANNOUNCER: 13. ANNOUNCER: Ronnie O'Sullivan 13.
:35:51. > :36:18.APPLAUSE The frames have all been very open
:36:19. > :36:21.but just the last two frame, high valued colours have been tied up.
:36:22. > :36:29.That's the case here, pink and black. Very awkward.
:36:30. > :36:35.CROWD GASP Ronnie said - I don't think the
:36:36. > :36:36.referee would have seen that. We could see it!
:36:37. > :36:41.APPLAUSE Ronnie knew he touched the brown and
:36:42. > :36:45.he immediately declared a foul. He just brushed the brown. That is the
:36:46. > :36:51.great thing about our sport. The players still - you know, if they
:36:52. > :36:54.have held the ball, they will own up to it.
:36:55. > :37:10.LAUGHTER A great bit of sportsmanship.
:37:11. > :37:17.That one's gone astray. Will he risk this? Will he risk potting this and
:37:18. > :37:22.cannoning into the pink and black? He might just do. Because it will
:37:23. > :37:27.certainly open things up. What a shot this would be if he could not
:37:28. > :37:33.only - well, he's take ten other red, coming around for the blue.
:37:34. > :37:45.He has a lovely angle, hasn't he, on the blue. He could play that little
:37:46. > :37:49.cannon and, as you said, bring the pink and black into play here. It
:37:50. > :37:57.would be the two reds at left corner. Hasn't played it well. Just
:37:58. > :38:03.wanted to nudge into that pink. Well, he will get another
:38:04. > :38:09.opportunity. Well, the only problem, if he does it this time off this red
:38:10. > :38:13.that's near the pocket, it's not a certainty as to whether he'd knock
:38:14. > :38:18.the pink and black or at least one of them into play. He's back looking
:38:19. > :38:21.at the one into the left corner. Thought about that other shot.
:38:22. > :38:35.Leaving it alone for the time being. He's come up a long way short this
:38:36. > :38:38.time. But there is still reds available, even though he's got to
:38:39. > :38:44.avoid the baulk clours. . Yeah. The two reds, just above the pink spot
:38:45. > :38:47.there, are open into the bottom left-hand side corner pock. And he's
:38:48. > :38:53.played that very, very well. APPLAUSE
:38:54. > :39:03.Needs a good angle on the blue. On potting this red.
:39:04. > :39:09.That sounded like a little bit of a kick there. Not sure if he did. I
:39:10. > :39:14.know he had to use the red. But it seemed to get a bit of a heavy
:39:15. > :39:21.contact. Let's have a look. Yeah. I thought it - red leaving the bed of
:39:22. > :39:28.the table. That's why he's the wrong side of the blue.
:39:29. > :39:37.He is blessed with a lot of cue power and he's going to have to call
:39:38. > :39:45.on it here. Pot the red and try to get back up top side of the blue.
:39:46. > :39:49.Yeah, that's better! Lovely! Perfect on the blue now!
:39:50. > :39:52.APPLAUSE Another chance. It is a bigger
:39:53. > :39:57.target this time, because the red is close tore the pink and black -- to
:39:58. > :40:03.the pink and black now. Any sort of good connection on these three balls
:40:04. > :40:10.here bring them into play. Yeah. APPLAUSE
:40:11. > :40:15.I said any sort of connection! Alial -- he's hit it a little bit harder.
:40:16. > :40:20.Might just be OK. Can drop this in and get on the black and then we
:40:21. > :40:21.have a perfect picture. It is there! He's on the black.
:40:22. > :40:41.APPLAUSE LAUGHTER
:40:42. > :40:50.Never any doubt! LAUGHTER
:40:51. > :40:58.They do get involved here, this Aly Paly crowd! That's the beauty of
:40:59. > :41:00.this venue. We used to go to the Wembley Conference Centre, hell up
:41:01. > :41:05.to nearly 3,000 people. But they are a long way from the table, a lot of
:41:06. > :41:14.the spectators. Here they are so close.
:41:15. > :41:23.I tell you what - you wouldn't any he was five-2 be -- 5-2 behind. No!
:41:24. > :41:43.APPLAUSE A nice positional shot.
:41:44. > :41:57.OK. So the black puts him 30 points ahead. Two reds, two blacks would be
:41:58. > :42:01.46. He is going to need one of those reds on the left-hand side cushion.
:42:02. > :42:05.He will have a quick look at the scores. If he hasn't already done
:42:06. > :42:17.so. I think the furthest one out - he is
:42:18. > :42:25.looking at that now. I think that does pot, doesn't it? So, he won't
:42:26. > :42:34.have to disturb any reds. This is typical Mark Selby, you know. Back
:42:35. > :42:41.right against the wall and all of a sudden he produces this fantastic...
:42:42. > :42:51.Going to need the extend rest and the extension on his cue, but he is
:42:52. > :42:59.46 ahead. So just make sure of the red and he's got one frame back. It
:43:00. > :43:09.is still a long way to go, but he's on the first rung of the ladder.
:43:10. > :43:40.APPLAUSE That puts the frame beyond doubt.
:43:41. > :43:44.Nicely developing that red out into the pottable position. He can just
:43:45. > :43:46.drop this red in. If it is tight to the side cushion, so it makes a
:43:47. > :44:05.little bit easier... It looks tight. CROWD GASP
:44:06. > :44:08.Ronnie having a look at his scores. He is 54 behind with 43 remaining.
:44:09. > :44:15.Yeah! APPLAUSE
:44:16. > :44:21.Ronnie gives the nod to the referee. A wonderful 68 break from Mark
:44:22. > :44:24.Selby. Cuts the deficit. It is O'Sullivan who still leads by 5-3.
:44:25. > :44:37.Ronnie O'Sullivan to break. It is Ronnie's turn to make a poor
:44:38. > :44:48.break-off shot and catch the blue. But he hasn't left anything. And now
:44:49. > :44:55.the blue's finished up where it is there. It is a big target to get in
:44:56. > :45:07.behind that. Less keep an eye on Mark Selby's
:45:08. > :45:11.head. Steve Davis was talking about maybe just getting up a little bit
:45:12. > :45:21.sooner than he normally does. He always moves around a little bit
:45:22. > :45:22.on the shot when he's addressing the ball. It is something he's always
:45:23. > :45:37.done. Not as much as he used to. Now, this would be a confidence
:45:38. > :45:49.booster, if he can punch this one in.
:45:50. > :46:20.He is quite remarkable when he's so far behind.
:46:21. > :46:26.You can see his head just moving around slightly and his body - but
:46:27. > :46:51.he's always done that. What an opening red! We talk about
:46:52. > :46:58.his attitude when he is behind. He's done it so many times that it's
:46:59. > :47:01.almost become second nature to him. He can somehow win this frame in one
:47:02. > :47:19.visit. Well... That would certainly put a new
:47:20. > :47:26.doubts into Ronnie's mind. Hasn't done much wrong. Yeah. He is sitting
:47:27. > :47:30.there and just thinking, "All I want is one chance the way I'm playing,
:47:31. > :47:34.one chance, and I am in the semifinal. But at the moment you
:47:35. > :48:13.can't pot balls if you are sitting in that seat."
:48:14. > :48:22.Five reds, five blacks already. But I'm sure Mark Selby will be thinking
:48:23. > :48:33.about winning the frame from this visit. That tells you straightaway
:48:34. > :48:33.that he is purposely playing visit. That tells you straightaway
:48:34. > :48:38.pink at the right centre, the red below the pink will pot into the
:48:39. > :48:43.bottom right corner pocket. The pink will go on the blue spot. And they
:48:44. > :48:52.would be back up for the pink here with a nice angle, hopefully, to
:48:53. > :48:56.split the reds. And what a good split of this and we may be looking
:48:57. > :49:01.4-4. APPLAUSE
:49:02. > :49:03.Yep. You would think he was leading 5-3 the way he's playing here at the
:49:04. > :49:11.moment. And that could be very unlucky.
:49:12. > :49:16.Unless that red at the back of the little bunch goes. He's very
:49:17. > :49:23.unfortunate. You could play that same shot another 10 times and you
:49:24. > :49:30.would finish on at least one or two reds. Very unfortunate. . Hard to
:49:31. > :49:38.believe that he didn't bring more reds into play there.
:49:39. > :49:54.The fact he is 54 in front. If he isn't absolutely sure he can pot
:49:55. > :49:59.this red, he has to put a telling safety. He would like to keep the
:50:00. > :50:05.break going, he may have to play with a little touch aside, but... I
:50:06. > :50:10.think if he was dead strict behind the red I think he could pot it,
:50:11. > :50:14.because you can flick right to straight unup the angle. Is he
:50:15. > :50:18.trying a double? Can he see enough of the red! He has got the double!
:50:19. > :50:23.APPLAUSE That is a shot! Fantastic!
:50:24. > :50:29.APPLAUSE He's played it in a wonderful way.
:50:30. > :50:32.Look where the cue ball landed. He sort of played it very cleverly. It
:50:33. > :50:56.was a shot or nothing. Once again, well, he still has a pot
:50:57. > :50:58.on, but he's been a bit unfortunate for the white to go tight on the
:50:59. > :51:11.side cushion. Needs good cuing, this one. He is
:51:12. > :51:19.only a couple of pots away from getting another frame back, and at
:51:20. > :51:30.5-4 it is game on again! He has to cue this in, and he's coming across
:51:31. > :51:37.the nap as well. This is a tough shot, very, very tough.
:51:38. > :51:45.APPLAUSE Played it! Superbly well! That was
:51:46. > :52:13.an excellent shot! He didn't quite get the cannon and
:52:14. > :52:16.he is not save just yet. There is still enough there for Ronnie
:52:17. > :52:21.O'Sullivan. He is a strong, strong favourite in this frame now, but if
:52:22. > :52:27.that little cannon had have worked, it was end of frame.
:52:28. > :52:40.This was the one here. He just caught it a bit thinner than he
:52:41. > :52:45.wanted. As I mentioned, those colours with the blue there, that is
:52:46. > :52:57.quite a good target to try and get in behind.
:52:58. > :53:16.ANNOUNCER: Mark Selby, 70. APPLAUSE
:53:17. > :53:22.Look how the reds are now! APPLAUSE
:53:23. > :53:27.So, Ronnie O'Sullivan is not quite out of this frame just yet. One
:53:28. > :53:35.mistake from Mark and there is a counterattack on. There is not a
:53:36. > :53:39.ball save on the table at the moment -- safe on the table at the moment.
:53:40. > :53:43.He may be able to go on the left pocket. There is a gap between red
:53:44. > :53:55.and black down towards the table. It needs a bit of luck here. . I
:53:56. > :53:58.tell you what... LAUGHTER
:53:59. > :54:04.He's knock sod many long balls in. Because he is so far behind he will
:54:05. > :54:12.take this on. If this goes in he has a bit of a chance.
:54:13. > :54:21.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What a shot that is!
:54:22. > :54:30.Just look at the kiss he got on the red as well. Purmsly played --
:54:31. > :54:33.purposely played. To free up the pink. That red has gone close to the
:54:34. > :54:40.side cushion then. That won't be a problem for Ronnie O'Sullivan,
:54:41. > :54:48.because he's so good left-handed. . Surely Mark Selby can't make a 70
:54:49. > :54:54.break and lose a frame? Of course, not only the frame, it would be the
:54:55. > :54:56.match. But you wouldn't put it past his opponent. Ronnie O'Sullivan
:54:57. > :55:04.relishes this sort of situation. Oh! Didn't want the kiss on the
:55:05. > :55:15.black but he's OK. He can drop Oh! Didn't want the kiss on the
:55:16. > :55:50.pink in. That is a great shot! Fantastic
:55:51. > :55:57.shot! APPLAUSE
:55:58. > :56:03.An acute angle as well. Wow! What a climax we could have to this match!
:56:04. > :56:09.Because the red is OK. Ronnie can switch hands if he drops in behind
:56:10. > :56:14.this last red. He has the pacific angle to do that -- perfect angle to
:56:15. > :56:19.do that. Well, what a finish this could be!
:56:20. > :56:21.APPLAUSE Knows this is finished a little
:56:22. > :56:41.awkward here. The blue, which was knocked up there
:56:42. > :56:49.at the start of the frame... Could be a little awkward, this next shot.
:56:50. > :57:01.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE To make sure he doesn't snooker
:57:02. > :57:05.himself with the blue. This has been absolutely sublime so far!
:57:06. > :57:14.This could be one of the best frames ever seen. Having said that, he
:57:15. > :57:21.hasn't got on the brown as he wanted. He has to go all the way
:57:22. > :57:29.around the table now. Where is the cue ball? Keep your eye on the cue
:57:30. > :57:33.ball CROWD GASP
:57:34. > :57:36.APPLAUSE . Where does he play it? In the
:57:37. > :57:50.middle or up in the corner? APPLAUSE
:57:51. > :57:52.He still has a little bit to do. Another good shot needed. Mark made
:57:53. > :58:04.a 70 break. Incredible!
:58:05. > :58:10.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Incredible!
:58:11. > :58:17.Can you believe it?! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
:58:18. > :58:20.Ronnie O'Sullivan! He's pulled off one of the finest wins you could
:58:21. > :58:27.ever wish to say. Ronnie O'Sullivan takes the match, 6-3. What a
:58:28. > :58:32.pulsating match! That clearance of 73 in the final was described by
:58:33. > :58:33.pulsating match! That clearance of Steve Davis as one of the greatest
:58:34. > :58:38.clearances we have ever seen in the history of this event! He knows a
:58:39. > :58:42.thing or too, does Mr Davis. Ronnie will now play either John Higgins or
:58:43. > :58:45.the world champion Stuart Bingham in the semifinals. But next up for us:
:58:46. > :58:50.It is live coverage of another quarterfinal and what a match-up
:58:51. > :58:54.this will be - it is a repeat of an epic semifinal from couple of years
:58:55. > :58:57.ago, Judd Trump taking on a former champion here, Neil Robertson. It
:58:58. > :59:01.will be worth the wait. See you soon. Bye-bye for now.
:59:02. > :59:03.Rollin'. When I hit the button, it sounds like this.