Day 5 Masters Snooker Extra

Hello again stop -- hello again. We have another match between Mark

Selby and Donnie Sullivan. They squared up no fewer than three times

in the final. It is always a special occasion when these to meet. The

last time they did, it was none occasion when these to meet. The

other than the 2014 Crucible final, which Mark Selby won. He is going to

get this opening frame under way. That is a much better break off

shot. Of course it was Mark Williams when

he caught the blue on a couple of occasions. This is a tough half

chance, it has to be said. The key, of course, has Ronnie shaken off the

cobwebs since that match against Mark Williams. He refused to pocket

the red which is a surprise in itself. He played a good shot

there. And now a chance for Selby. It looks like it is tied up but

there is a shot for Mark. I am not sure that he can get up to that red

from the brown. He might be able to just miss the yellow. In fact, he

has changed his mind and he has got the angle and he has dropped on that

perfectly. He can now drop the red and free the black with a little

cannon. So the yellow was not in the way. It will be tricky to execute

this shot. He does not want the rate to cover the black. The pink will

come to his rescue. Is the pink spots it will block the red to the

left corner pocket. The crowd react. A little bit concerned.

Sometimes it does get in the way of the cue. We used to use them all the

time, and now we changed to wearing bowties. I am not sure when they

changed back to this. He started slow against Mark Williams but in

the middle of the game he found his form. Let us see how he will get to

his form. Just came back a little bit further

than he wanted. A good pot and a good cannon needed. He can just get

to that one. He will be brushing off the pack. He just lost the cue ball

again. Nothing goes into the pack. He just lost the cue ball

left-centre and he is coming around to have a look. Only the black and

the red. That is pretty good. Excellent, in fact. That'll go into

the left centre. He could not have played that much better. APPLAUSE.

APPLAUSE. That is a lovely shot. He has just kissed off the red and

brought the number fall into play as well -- four. This is the key shot

coming up here. He has to cannon the red. That red may block the blue. Is

the yellow is past the green he is OK. I think the blue may pass that

red. -- if. APPLAUSE. If he can get that pink into the middle pocket it

looks like it will cost in this opening frame. That was the one he

was unlucky not to be on the black. There is a gentleman who knows a

little bit about the game of snooker. He is great pals with

Ronnie. He has just come short of the blue with 52 points ahead. He is

going to need one more red here. So red to secure the first frame. There

is a bit of pressure on this. A bit of pressure on this but where is the

red going to finish. 'S. Just a little bit more pressure than he

wanted -- APPLAUSE. Heating cut the red in but he needs a pink or higher

that wreck he can -- he can cut the rate in but he needs a pink or

higher. He may try to get into that yellow pocket. He is on it nicely.

He is going to need this pink and three reds and three blacks. Ronnie

was just one pot away from securing it. This looks pretty good I would

have liked to have been a bit straight on this red. If he can get

on to the black... I think you can pop the red and hit it off the

cushion. He needs three reds and three blacks. He has a tricky little

short but he can get to the two reds that are available. If he can get

the black and dropping behind them. Just a change of plan. Maybe he

would need a little bit too much hyped the night shot would suggest

-- height that the. He was a little bit tentative, wasn't he? He did not

hit it well enough to get the site is -- get the side spin. Buries his

wife, always supporting him -- there is. He could just play away from

it. APPLAUSE. That was an excellent shot. A lot of club players would

have liked to put that in the baulk area but he knew anywhere around

that yellow pocket the blue was a cover for those two reds. A very

clever shot from Selby. He has the advantage and does not want to give

the four points away. It will be interesting to see what pacey places

that. He chose the right shot to hit it hard and disturb something but

that makes quite a difference. He will need to take two reds and to

blacks now. All of a sudden it is anyone's frame now. I think it was

to knock a red up the table, something a little bit safer. But it

just escaped him. It could leave a free ball. The yellow is not

straightforward into the right centre. These points are adding up

and it is going to make Selby's job a bit easier if he gets a shot at

the red. You can see what he is trying to do. It is a tough shot. He

just needs to glands of the red -- glance. All of a sudden you would

have two things that Selby is the best for this frame. Even further

away this time. This could play an important point. If he knocks that

one red in halfway through the second frame. Selby is quite happy

to see this being put back. He just needs to clip the reds on the back.

It is getting close. He almost needs to swerve around the blue and get

close to that bottom hand pocket. If he hits his full ball, he is handing

the frame to Selby. He could swerve around the blue but let us see if he

can get it this time. APPLAUSE. He just got it, that side required. It

has left Selby a half chance. I am just seeing if he has an angle.

APPLAUSE. Not straightforward with a little bit of angle to work with. He

has got a cutback. That looks as if it will cut. No, it is not there.

That was not straightforward. One good long pot as we show you the

missed again. What a shot that was! Have a look at the control of this.

That is top draw. When he played Mark Williams, Mark said, doesn't

That is top draw. When he played hit the ball so well? He has missed

a trick there. It would've been quite a frame to pinch. And that was

a frame that would have really hurt him. He gave all of those points

away in the fowls but he has got out of that -- fouls. It is worth

another look. The screw and control he had on that was magnificent. We

would like a lot more of this. APPLAUSE. In the end, he would be

delighted. You never want to catch the blue from the break of shot. But

he has not let that Matt left -- but he has not left anything. Mark Selby

was in his seat and this was his gesture to say that was a great

shot. That was nice to see. A lot of ways would've played with topspin. A

bigshot remark back into the red to try to stay on the black. He is very

unlucky there and did not get the topspin to stay on the black. Does

look with a red has come. It has blocked the opportunity for any

blue, green or brown. Just a safety shot now. Going back to the red that

Ronnie plays, a lot of plays with his topspin, but the control was

superb. You can see it then now, he could play that shot and made it a

lot easier using some topspin with any of the other colours but going

for the black was magnificent. He does not want this to bounce to high

office black cushion. It does pot even though it is quite tight. A bit

unlucky and you are never sure where it is going to go when you can into

the reds like that. It might have headed a bit further up the table.

It has made it a difficult table now. We might have a little bit of

tipping and tapping here at the other end of the table. I think a

re- rack is in order. Both players will not like this tipping about. We

might see a little nod to the referee in a couple of shots time if

they continue to play like this. I think that sold it now. He could

probably get behind the black and put the money in a spot of bother --

put Ronnie. Has he left the red to the left of centre? Just having a

look. Can he swerve it? A good pot! That is a very uncharacteristic

mistake from Mark Selby. A big mistake and what will it cost him? I

think the fact that Mark had the butt of the cue up in the air and

striking down on it, it is difficult to control that shot he tried to get

behind the black. It is so easy to just hit it a little bit harder and

on the cloth, that can happen. Now there is a great chance for a

Ronnie. And there is another player with an earpiece in. He is always at

the matches. He was doing a bit of coaching with Jimmy a few seasons

ago. He played that can in very nicely. As you can see those reds

now around the pink are all open. So far he is taking these very nicely.

Looks to be in better form and a lot sharper already than he was against

Mark Williams. He found a bit of form in the middle of the match

being 4-2 down. He scored a couple of centuries and is looking pretty

good. He was not happy with his performance of course, he never is.

He looks a lot better this time though, Dennis. I didn't think he

did a lot wrong against Mark but Mark played a lot better in the end.

I thought he played great. You have to be cueing well.

Wiped its feet! Looked like he was going to hit the --

Just this red. Oh! Well, he hit the edge on the last one. He certainly

hit the near jaw but this time stayed out. Isn't it amazing? He

looked around at the scoreboard. LAUGHTER

I think it took his concentration away.

APPLAUSE What a miss! Similar to the opening

frame. Mark Selby a chance to - well, he's given himself a good

telling off there, is Ronnie. Yeah. That will really annoy him.

Particularly frame ball. He nearly missed the previous red into the

opposite middle pocket. Looked like he just cued it a little bit quick.

Again, has in the last frame, missed the frame ball as well.

APPLAUSE This could work out just nice. What

a shot that is! APPLAUSE

Well,... Yeah, there is one red that isn't

going to be straightforward, the one that is closest to the cue ball. So,

he has quite a lot to do here. But just a minute or so ago he would

have been in his seat, getting himself reddy for the third frame.

He didn't expect Ronnie to miss the sitter into the middle pocket, but,

as I say, it isn't a straightforward clearance by any means here. Yeah.

Go for the red near the green now. The problem ball, as you said, is

the one closest to the left-hand side cushion. But if he gets a nice

angle on green or brown here, he can - on potting this red, and get right

up close to that red. So important that he doesn't come

too straight on the brown here, or the green. Well, it looks

too straight on the brown here, or going back for pink. I thought it

might have been better to go for a ball colour. The only problem with

that shot is he can come too straight on the pink. That is

exactly what's happened. Yeah. In an ideal world he would love to get the

white somewhere near where I put the other little white there. He might

be able to do that from the pink, off the back cushion here, and go

past the red. Anywhere over that side of the table, anywhere near the

other little white there, and I think he's not sure if he can do it

from the pink but I think he can just about do this.

That's still OK. As long as he got over that side. I mean, it is a

little more difficult now. He is over that side. I mean, it is a

going to need the extension on the over that side. I mean, it is a

red. The extension on the cue. This could be a big moment in the

match already, Dennis. He doesn't have to deal much with the cue ball,

just drop the red in. He knows he is going to be on the black, so give

the red a chance to get into the pocket. Just play it dead weight.

APPLAUSE Yep. Now has the angle on the black.

ANNOUNCER: 22. Not the best angle in the world, is it? Jury yeah, that's

why he had a quick glance at the pink. But it isn't the correct angle

either. He has tremendous cue power. Watch this with top spin and side to

try and get around for the yellow. That's a terrific shot. It really

is. From that angle, it's terrific! APPLAUSE

Didn't play that too well. Wanted to come out and get it away from the

cushion with the cue ball. APPLAUSE

Now, cue shot. Brown. Swing it around the angles, and - anywhere

close to the blue, he will have it into the corner pocket. A big shot,

this. APPLAUSE

Needs to pull up a little bit. It's gone a little bit too far for the

middle part. He can still pot it, but had he been straight on the

blue, it would have been no problem. Now he has to go in and out of the

baulk area. Well, that... APPLAUSE

This could be, as you said, quite the turning point in this match.

Yeah. Had a chance in the first round to steal it. Oh! He's got... I

thought the cue ball was going to travel and get closer to this side

cushion. So black for a brilliant steal! What a clearance from Mark

Selby! APPLAUSE

56 break, when Ronnie looked like he was going to win the frame. Mark

Selby pounces! Wins the frame. And now it's one frame all.

Oh! Beautiful! APPLAUSE

Beautifully cued! He makes it look so easy. And the

best thing he can do here, to put that last frame out of his mind and

that east pot, is -- easy pot is to knock in a sizable contribution

here. And then he will quickly forget about that last frame. Yes.

He wants to get down around the forget about that last frame. Yes.

black, and open the black up. And particular willy those two reds

above the black as well. That is where all the scoring is done.

That's a beautiful little shot! APPLAUSE

What a wonderful little shot that was! He had to hit the left-hand

side of that red on the way up. Just a little short of pace there.

Wanted to be a bit straighter on the red to stay on the black.

He has this eedz red, but there might be another red

He has this eedz red, but there the back of the bunch. We know he

has the two. He's looked at that a few times to see if it would go, the

other red there. I don't think the two reds are a plant, but we know of

this red pots - yeah, you can see it clearly. There is enough room there.

APPLAUSE Well, he's looked a few times at the

red here. It is fairly tight but looks as if it pots. The plant isn't

quite on, but he's definitely had two or three looks at this. He

doesn't - he's back looking at it again. He's not quite sure, but from

this side it looks as if it pots, again. He's not quite sure, but from

but from the other side you can see much better. Yeah. It is one of

those, isn't it, that you really need to be on dead straight behind

it? The problem with this is - sort of looking away from the pocket,

it's tight enough, this red. He's looking at the plant now as well. I

don't think the plant goes. He could squeeze the plant into the pocket if

he hits the first red correctly. And he did!

APPLAUSE Played it lovely! Didn't look on

from that angle. As you said, Dennis, sort of squeezed. It is

from that angle. As you said, almost like a reverse plant, wasn't

it? There, you see. Well, that was, again...

APPLAUSE .. Cued beautifully! As you said,

Dennis, no better way to eradicate the bad memories of the last frame.

If he can win it with one visit... This has been good stuff. A great

response so far. APPLAUSE

You just sense that this is going to go very close, this match. Because

they are both cuing well, both made couple of little mistakes, but not

that many. APPLAUSE

Look at the pot success. 97%. Mark Selby, 93. Doesn't matter about the

blue. He's made more than enough. APPLAUSE

Mark playing for the table. He's gone into the lead again, has

Ronnie. At the moment he needs three

four-point snookers. I tell you one thing - Mark Selby's won a few

frames needing three snookers. But it is a tall order.

Yeah. I suppose when you come to the table in this sort of situation, one

snooker and possibly, if you can leave the red on the table, it may

be a free ball. That would count as a possible eight points. So one

snooker and a free ball would be enough. That red next to the pink,

if he can pot the black along with the red and black, he can get in

behind that red and just roll tight in behind the pink. And he could

make the first snooker very, very difficult indeed, because he could

hide that red and get tight in behind the pink in couple of shots'

time. Can't do that now. He's not on the

black to be able to leave that shot. APPLAUSE

He's played that very well, hasn't he? Now, he will try and knock the

red off the side caution, try he? Now, he will try and knock the

it close to the blue and trade and get that cue ball in behind the

pink. He has to not only get the snooker but put that red in a very

difficult position, and try and get it somewhere behind - near the blue.

Just decelerated on the back swing there! Didn't get anywhere near it,

what he wanted to do with the cue ball. That cue ball was supposed to

go behind the pink. He is having a little smile to himself! He's trying

to get the snooker behind the brown, which is the last thing he thought

would happen! Oh! APPLAUSE

Just took the paint off it. Yeah, played it that way. Didn't want to

miss the red, and then leave a free ball.

There is Ronnie's good friend, Damien Hurst who was here for his

first match against Mark Williams. Loves his snooker.

APPLAUSE One artist enjoying another at work,

Dennis! LAUGHTER

Maybe not a bad ploy from Mark here. You know, Ronnie was in terrific

form in this frame and rather than just concede it, he thought, "I will

try to get the snookers but I will maybe get him out of his rhythm a

little bit." Yeah. It is energy that Ronnie didn't want to be

extenuating, that's for sure. He would have loved to have just potted

the blue and won the frame from it and get on with it.

APPLAUSE Won't be enjoying this.

Got the situation now where both players will be trying to get

snookers. Ronnie will be trying to get one here.

Now, that's put the pink in a better position now, next to the black, for

the snookers that Mark needs. But I don't think he can see enough of the

red to screw across off the cushion and back in behind the pink and

black. He would have to avoid the pink with the red. He might just be

able to do that. That's just played the delicate one.

He's still got the snooker, though. Oh, is there a little gap? There is

always a gap! For some reason! And that's knocked the green into a

better position for the snookers that Mark needs. Three four-point

snookers he needs at the moment. Yeah. Bit surprised from Ronnie

there. I thought he might have played the red into the black and

try and split that pink and black away from each other. And because

there is a big target. But now a chance for him to, knock the red

into the left centre. One more frame before the

mid-session interval, and it's an Greiging encount -- intriguing

encounter already. Both players cuing very well. Both making just

the odd mistake. A little bit of power needed here if

he wants to get on the pink. Doesn't matter about missing the blue. So,

it was that earlier break. APPLAUSE

Ronnie O'Sullivan took this third frame. And he now leads two frames

to one. That's the wonderful Waterford

Crystal trophy they are playing for this week. Beautiful, isn't it?

ANNOUNCER: Quickly as you can, please. . I tell you what - that's

the second time Mark's hit the blue from the break-off. That could be

costly! APPLAUSE

See the break-off. Whatever you do... Don't hit the blue, as John

Vergo would always say . Maybe in the past Ronnie

O'Sullivan's long game sometimes let him down, but at first glance in

this match it's been top quality. He's knocked in couple of corkers

already in this match. Very, very sharp indeed now.

A few question marks posed at the beginning of this match about his

rustiness and not playing for almost eight months. Coming back and, into

the cauldron here against the best players in the world, but - there

you see the beautiful Alexandra Palace arena here. Great setting and

great crowd and great atmosphere! Well, the thing is, he's been

practising on match tables, hasn't he? If you were just playing

ex-businesses Yan playing on club tables it would be more difficult to

come back, but he put the time in on the tight-pocketed tables.

APPLAUSE No matter how long you have been

out, it is the match play, the match competition you miss, no matter how

much practice you do. There is just so substitute for playing matches

against top quality opposition and they were the questions that

everybody wanted answers to. He's certainly answering them so far.

LAUGHTER APPLAUSE

Want the way he played it, that's for sure! But another result there!

Turned out nicely. Jury yarks Steve Davis, he sort of

does get a little bit bored at times, and the fact he hasn't been

playing - he relishes this. It was difficult to split the red there.

There weren't a good bunch to go into, as we show you again. Very,

very difficult to develop them when they are like that. So, once again,

he's got to 50-plus in front. It happened in the two opening frames.

So they are following a similar pattern. That's put a red save with

a little bit of insurance! APPLAUSE

They have had some great battles in the Masters, three two players --

three two players. He leads 2-1 in their encounters at the Masters.

Mark's win back in 2010 on the deciding frame was very, very

special. And then Ronnie's two wins were also special. Quite comfortable

in 2014, 10-4. But the other one was 18-8 in 2009. All the matches have

come in the final, haven't they? Quite incredible. Eight Masters

titles between the two of them. And another test for a long pot for

Ronnie. Haven't missed a long pot yet. But... Something on the tip

there just distracted him. Beautiful!

APPLAUSE He's hit a few like that, and... He

makes it look so easy! I have He's hit a few like that, and... He

seen his long ball so good, Dennis, not for a long, long time. A hundred

percent so far. Every one hit so sweetly.

Just cued them in absolutely beautifully. He needs one more red

after the black. And that red next to the pink looks as if it goes into

the corner. Or just the one at the back. It must be one of the reds

goes - yeah, the one next to the pink. This will give him a 3 minus

one lead, if it goes in. APPLAUSE

I thought when Mark Selby won that second frame that might have

unnerved Ronnie O'Sullivan but, in fact, he's actually gone up a gear.

As all great champions do. He's responded superbly well in his

couple of frames. Yeah. Winning the third frame virtually with one visit

eradicated that frame before from his mind. And he does look very

focused now. Best of 11, though. To 3-1 is a nice lead to have, but, you

know, there is enough long way to 3-1 is a nice lead to have, but, you

go. And you know what Mark Selby is like. He never, ever gives up. He

proved that in the world championship when he was behind

against Ronnie, he came storming back against him to win it 18-14.

But it is good all round snooker we are watching here from both players.

There is an all-round positional shot!

APPLAUSE Now, this is great stuff!

And a packed crowd here, Ken, absolutely loving this match. Yeah.

A great atmosphere. Well, he won't be bothered about

missing the yellow. Mark Selby says, "That's inform for me." That go for

their mid-session interval. Ronnie O'Sullivan leads by three frames to

one. APPLAUSE

ANNOUNCER: Ronnie O'Sullivan to break APPLAUSE

It is Ronnie who will get the first frame after the mid-session

interval. It has to be said his break-off shot has been much better

than Mark Selby's. Mark's caught the blue on two

occasions, which is unlike him. This is a massive frame, isn't it, for

Mark Selby, and his fans! Really 4-1 down to O'Sullivan should he lose

this frame. That would be a big deficit to claw back. But it hasn't

been his potting, Dennis that's left him down. If anything, normally what

he's been very, very good at has been the safety and the safety has

been a bit loose. A couple of break-offs, couple of safety shots

that he's left O'Sullivan get his hand on the table and pot those

wonderful long balls. When the pot success is 94% Ronnie

O'Sullivan's is 95%. It's not like he's missed a lot of balls. But it

is just Ronnie - particularly Ronnie's long ball game

is just Ronnie - particularly - there you see 99 for Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Just 31 for Mark Selby. Straightaway here with a red up to

the right of the green there. It's made a little bit of an awkward

frame. Mark is just looking to see - he has to be a wee bit careful here.

If he goes up into the corner with the safety shot, Ronnie can knock

that red to the right of the green. Back up the table. So let see where

he does put this cue ball. . A chance to get the frame back to

normal here. Well, not sure if he attempted the

double there, or just the safety. Because there was very little chance

of finishing on a colour when he did get the double. So, that tells me

maybe he was just playing the safety shot. But, anyway, we are back to

normal with the frame. All the reds are up this end of the table. These

have to be hit correctly. Tight on the cushion. So easy to hit them too

thin or too thick. But that one was just right!

APPLAUSE Couldn't hit that much better! It is

a bit more like it from Mark Selby. And the safety... Blocked everything

down the left-hand side. Can have a go at this red into the right-hand

corner pocket but very difficult and dangerous. Trying to lay on the red

that is closest to this black cushion.

APPLAUSE Well... It's not very good. Mark

Selby a chance now. APPLAUSE

He has a nice angle. He will be running into those three reds around

the black spot, hopefully try to clear the black spot when potting it

here. May have to - is there enough room?

Yeah. Oh! Not - is there? Just about. Otherwise the black would

have gone up on to the green. Just OK here.

It's been a while since Mark's had a chance in amongst the balls like

this. You are always half a chance in and around the black spot area.

Well, he tried to - he is quite a tall lad Mark, about six two, six

three. He will try and sit on the table there. But the extension would

be a bit more comfortable. Well, he is still going to sit on the table!

I tell you what - that's... LAUGHTER

That is something you or myself wouldn't be able to do with our

short Irish legs, Ken! LAUGHTER

I would probably need a ladder to be able to do that!

Those balls are very nicely situated for him. You see, the one he's

potling -- potting, but the one above it pots as well. He has four

or five reds before he even contemplates maybe disturbing a few.

There is plenty in the open. This was created by that terrific safety

shot that Mark played, and then Ronnie just tried to nestle on the

red and didn't, as he intended. And this has been the result. This was

the skip from Mark's good safety shot. He wanted to hit this full

ball and hit it half ball. And we would always going to expect this

from Mark Selby because sometimes he's produced his best snooker when

he's behind. What a camera angle that was,

watching the cue action of Mark Selby! I liked that shot.

Well, you could hear a pin drop at the moment in Alexandra

Well, you could hear a pin drop at Packed house here. It looks as if

they are going to have a classic here in the way of Mark set off

after the mid-session interval. Oh! What's he done here? He needs to

keep going. If the green doesn't got... -- doesn't go... Can he just

get past the red? Just! Oh! Was that a kick? I am not quite

sure but you wouldn't think Mark was flying along there. He wouldn't miss

a shot surely that easy? He must have got a kick there. Yeah. It

straightened up the red. OK. He didn't stick it on the up there, but

he was only a few more pots away from taking this fifth frame. Yeah.

He only needed just red and black. Shaking his head. He's very

disappointed. Just that it went straight, didn't it?

He's reluctant to play a safety shot after the pack of four reds below

the pink. But the only other alternative is to try and clip the

red that's close to the bottom right-hand corner pocket, but that

is dangerous and could go wrong. He's cut it qaurl ball and not the

best safety shot in the world. He's left. OK. This is difficult red into

the bottom left-hand corner pocket. But... He's been playing, you would

have fancy he was going to get this. APPLAUSE

And the red goes at the bottom of those four reds into the bottom

right-hand corner pocket. He's perfect on the blue. Well, this

could be a huge turning point in this match! Because Mark Selby,

without that heavy contact, would certainly have taken the frame. Now

he has to sit and wait and see what this man can do. And one good cannon

here can open everything up. Hasn't worked out, unless there is a

plant there. You could play that nine times out of 10 and they would

split better than that. It was only the green that seemed to move. He is

trying to force the plant. And he's got it!

APPLAUSE Puff of the cheeks after pulling off

that difficult plant. But there is - the red and green are awkward. .

CROWD: Oh! That wasn't a kick. That was a lapse

in concentration. I think he was way ahead of himself. Just took his

concentration off that shot. Yeah. Up until that shot Ronnie's

focus has been superb. He just took his eye off the pot there.

APPLAUSE Yeah, you didn't see that one

coming, did you? Yeah, I think Ronnie was way ahead

of himself, thinking about the red and green and how he was going to

bring about them into play and then missed a sitter.

APPLAUSE That's one way of bringing the red

and green into play! Yellow only available into one

corner, because of the pink. Doesn't matter the yellow.

APPLAUSE A bit of a chance. What a sitter he

missed. Mark Selby he will be relieved that Ronnie didn't pinch

that frame and he is only one behind now at 3-2 to Ronnie. That's a

better break-off from Mark this time. But that was a good point

because Ronnie - do you remember he jumped over the black against Mark

Williams? He was in two minds there and carried on and played the shot

instead of doing what John in the studio said - get up and get back

down again. It is a bit like a golf shot. If you are not right, step

away and come back. Absolutely. Another test her for Ronnie -- here

for Ronnie. He hasn't missed one of these yet. Hasn't missed that!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE The long ball game has been superb!

100%. A hundred percent from both players. That is unusual after five

frames. Yeah. I just said it was a bureaucrater break-off shot from

Mark Selby because he didn't hit the blue, and the way Ronnie is going it

Mark Selby because he didn't hit the might be the only shot he plays in

his frame. Both the blue... Nicely positioned

to get down on this red. Easily get around by the black.

Might be an idea to try and get the pink off this red, because that will

clear the path to the red to the left of the black. The left of the

pack of reds, he's gone down for the black. A nice angle now. He's played

a lovely cannon there! APPLAUSE

A beautiful angle there, just to play that. A tell call little

cannon. -- delicate little cannon. Again, a wonderful little shot.

Nicely controlled. Just brushing off the pack of reds, getting the right

side of the blue. And bringing another red into play. He is going

to need one more good split on the red if he is to win the frame from

this position. He lost the second frame after

making a 50-odd break but he bounced back with a 69. In the game after he

missed a fairly easy shot. You see him just practising his back arm.

So... I think he would prefer to go into this - he's obviously

contemplating potting the red. But I think better to go them after blue

really here than the black. He's absolutely perfect! That was a

lovely shot. . Got to be careful he doesn't hit them too hard and send

the red in. Oh. That could have finished a little better than that.

I'm not sure if one of the two reds goes - he's OK. Yep. Just about.

APPLAUSE That pink was on, you know. He just

got a little - the red just slid off the pink and may have just knocked

it into a pottable position. He still has the black.

APPLAUSE Oh!

LAUGHTER Just about! Gravity took over there,

Dennis! Yeah. We will show you that one again. Just over four minutes to

get to this stage. We Australia give it a mention when he made that

maximum -- we always give it a mention when he made that maximum

break way back in 5 minutes and 20 seconds. The wrong side of the blue

line there, as you can see. He's already got a substantial lead.

APPLAUSE didn't really matter all that much.

He is 69 ahead. 67. It looks like... From the break-off shot, as I said.

He's sat on his chair. APPLAUSE

He's made a 70 break in over five minutes. He someone slowing down,

Dennis! LAUGHTER

He's been superb. When you think about that maximum, how did he do it

in five minutes and 20 seconds? That was just out of this world! It may

never be beaten, that record. It used to take Terry Griffiths that

amount of time just to break off, didn't it?

LAUGHTER ANNOUNCER: Quiet.

APPLAUSE Nice little kiss on the red there!

The only thing that's been missing here is a century break. Black for

this first century! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Fantastic! 100! 805th century break in his career!

CROWD: Oh! Well, the red has not gone in but a wonderful, magnificent

century from O'Sullivan! APPLAUSE

Secures the sixth frame. Still now leads by four frames to two.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE This man's long ball game has been

top quality this afternoon as well! If you leave the ball short from

that end, you will be in trouble. Yeah, the fact there was so much

safety played - you know, when he got a chance... He knocked the long

one in. So - that's a key, being able to do that sometimes, have long

parts of safety, and then when you get a chance, knock a long one in.

Now... There is one red that might just go here. And that's why he's

playing the pink and left-handed again. I mean...

LAUGHTER APPLAUSE

This will open things up, but what a key shot coming up now! Not an easy

pot, but he is going to automatically cannon the red and

could free a few more here. APPLAUSE

What a shot he's played there! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That is an absolute gem! A great shot. Have a look at the position.

Well, he's potted most of these balls with his opposite hand in this

effort. Another left-handed shot coming up. And that's not where it

intended. It was tough to get into the black and reds from the blue. He

decided to try to leave a nice brown. But there is still enough for

him to pot the blue and just come up past the pink but he decided if he

could get a good angle on the brown he could get to the red. But he

can't now. Has he screwed in off? A free ball.

What a careless mistake that is! I mean... He was just taking the four

points and then just going to play a safety shot. And... To screw into

the middle pocket and leave a free ball...

That was amazing! Because he wasn't doing anything with the white, he

was just going to play a safety shot. So he could have put the white

anywhere. Every chance for Mark Selby in

couple of shots' time. He can get those reds into play. Yeah, he has

an angle on the brown to come off the side cushion, and straight into

the reds. . Yeah. Anywhere past that middle pocket... Yeah, that's the

sort of line he would be looking at, if he can pot the brown and a little

bit of right-hand side. He could bring the two reds and the black

into play here. Did he try to screw directly into

them? Didn't seem... Looked like it, didn't it? He tried to almost arc

around the blue there, and didn't it? He tried to almost arc

get enough on it. Just have a look at the cue ball here. Tried to arc

it around the blue. And... The screw just didn't take... He left himself

- I mean, bridging over the blue here. He has to use the spider.

He has to be very careful here. Try and keep that red beside the black.

Always difficult. Doesn't want to leave a free ball here now as well.

And I think that's what he's done. ANNOUNCER: Free ball. Wow.

Quite an incredible frame and what an important frame! Just one point

the difference. ANNOUNCER: Green ball. We mentioned

a few times, auge frame. -- a huge frame. I think both players know

that and that's why we are having a few mistakes here. They know the

importance of this frame. And, well, Vicki certainly knows the

importance. She knows the game as well as Mark does. Great pool

player, is Vicki. The pink is going to come to Mark's

rescue there. Ronnie has to bring the red that's tied to the black

cushion into play. He has to be careful with the safety shot.

I think he's left Mark not the first red on the way down, but certainly

the second one. It is a bit of a guide to get to the potting angle

here. I think he definitely can just see

about enough of it and you would think if he misses the blue and the

red he would go very close to cutting this in.

APPLAUSE He has second prize! Just about see

the edge of this red here. APPLAUSE

That's a beauty! APPLAUSE

Mmm. Excellent shot! Ice gesture from Mark Selby, tapping the table

in appreciation. That was a great safety shot. A gesture from...

Gesture from the Jess tor! Laughter --

gesture LAUGHTER Easy for you to say that!

It really is such a tense affair, this frame.

Well played! APPLAUSE

Well played! But... Good escape, but we have seen Ronnie knock quite a

few long balls in. Can he get another one?

Wobbled a few times, but had another cracking long pot! By far the

longest frame of the match, over 27 minutes. Oh, this is not easy! But

he made it look easy! APPLAUSE

Well, that was actually a much better shot than his previous one.

The long pot was good but that was better. A lot more pressure on that

shot. He cued it in. Needs to slow up this cue ball. Got to play that

better. Now, will he drop the green into the centre and take on the

mid-range yellow? That puts the green back on its spot, of course,

makes life a bit easier, but this is virtual, he would say, shot for the

frame. And that one wobbled a little bit as

well. But we're watching one artist on the table and there's another,

Damien Hurst. He will be delighted to see his good friend...

APPLAUSE An intriguing seventh frame.

APPLAUSE CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Ronnie O'Sullivan takes it! He is now just one frame away from

victory. He leads Mark Selby 5-2. Another possible long red to get on

the black here. Similar red to the previous frame. Oh!

APPLAUSE OK. Not on the black. That is

another great pot. When you're -- your opponent is knocking these long

balls in, it puts so much pressure on you safety-wise. Very unnerving.

He was looking to see who - if he could get the potting angle, but

because it is touching he can't. But twice across the table and close to

the ball cushion as possible. APPLAUSE

There isn't anyone in the game who can come back against Ronnie

O'Sullivan when you are 5-2 behind, but if there is it is this man here,

O'Sullivan when you are 5-2 behind, Mark Selby because he will never e

ever give up. And he's done it so many times. Yeah. He's done it so

many times to his opponent. And Ronnie will be aware of that, and

that's why he's trying to keep the pressure on. Yeah, but you are dead

right - if anybody could muster a comeback from this position, it is

certainly Mark Selby. There is no doubt about that.

APPLAUSE He certainly go back to memories of

the great matches he's had with O'Sullivan where he's been in

similar positions. He would try and do that, sometimes draw matches, you

will remember other matches you might have played and you try to

give yourself a bit of confidence by saying, "I did it before. No reason

give yourself a bit of confidence by why I can't do it again." It is a

tall order, particularly the way his opponent is playing this afternoon.

It is just OK. He is coming up short with some of hissiveties, leaving it

near the ball colours, rather than near the cushion. Ronnie was playing

to get on the cushion here but thought might be a bonus, coming up

behind the brown. APPLAUSE

They are always playing to leave the cue ball as tight to the cushion as

possible when you get in behind a colour like that. It's a bonus. And

the fact that there's reds either side of the bunch gives Mark

something to think about here. There is another straightforward escape,

and into the side of the reds, because he would be leaving pots on

whichever way he goes. So, that's why he's having to think of another

escape route. And if anybody can find it, it's Mark Selby. See, he is

just looking to see if he was to leave it in the reds. It would be

awkward cuing but health still leave that red on for the middle pocket.

He will do well to judge this and keep them save. Have to have another

go at that. You can't come keep them save. Have to have another

cushions and go into the back of the bunch, he will leave the red to the

black of the black. Looked as if he was trying to just land on the red

to the right of the black. He doesn't want to slip past this

red. He's played it well! APPLAUSE

He's played it well but there is still a possible pot on, that one to

the right of the pink will go. He was in quite a spot of bother there,

was Mark Selby. . CROWD: Oh! That was a wonderful shot! Purposely

going back and bringing the pic towards that right centre.

Just didn't hit that last shot as he intended, and there is a nice plant

here. There looks to be a nice plant, as we pull out. We will show

you that. It is right if line for the pocket.

APPLAUSE Amazing the number of times you play

a plants and you seem to forget about the cue ball. But he has a

long way to travel here, and he has to be very precise, in and out of

the baulk area. How is your luck, Ronnie? Not very good!

ANNOUNCER: 13. ANNOUNCER: Ronnie O'Sullivan 13.

APPLAUSE The frames have all been very open

but just the last two frame, high valued colours have been tied up.

That's the case here, pink and black. Very awkward.

CROWD GASP Ronnie said - I don't think the

referee would have seen that. We could see it!

APPLAUSE Ronnie knew he touched the brown and

he immediately declared a foul. He just brushed the brown. That is the

great thing about our sport. The players still - you know, if they

have held the ball, they will own up to it.

LAUGHTER A great bit of sportsmanship.

That one's gone astray. Will he risk this? Will he risk potting this and

cannoning into the pink and black? He might just do. Because it will

certainly open things up. What a shot this would be if he could not

only - well, he's take ten other red, coming around for the blue.

He has a lovely angle, hasn't he, on the blue. He could play that little

cannon and, as you said, bring the pink and black into play here. It

would be the two reds at left corner. Hasn't played it well. Just

wanted to nudge into that pink. Well, he will get another

opportunity. Well, the only problem, if he does it this time off this red

that's near the pocket, it's not a certainty as to whether he'd knock

the pink and black or at least one of them into play. He's back looking

at the one into the left corner. Thought about that other shot.

Leaving it alone for the time being. He's come up a long way short this

time. But there is still reds available, even though he's got to

avoid the baulk clours. . Yeah. The two reds, just above the pink spot

there, are open into the bottom left-hand side corner pock. And he's

played that very, very well. APPLAUSE

Needs a good angle on the blue. On potting this red.

That sounded like a little bit of a kick there. Not sure if he did. I

know he had to use the red. But it seemed to get a bit of a heavy

contact. Let's have a look. Yeah. I thought it - red leaving the bed of

the table. That's why he's the wrong side of the blue.

He is blessed with a lot of cue power and he's going to have to call

on it here. Pot the red and try to get back up top side of the blue.

Yeah, that's better! Lovely! Perfect on the blue now!

APPLAUSE Another chance. It is a bigger

target this time, because the red is close tore the pink and black -- to

the pink and black now. Any sort of good connection on these three balls

here bring them into play. Yeah. APPLAUSE

I said any sort of connection! Alial -- he's hit it a little bit harder.

Might just be OK. Can drop this in and get on the black and then we

have a perfect picture. It is there! He's on the black.

APPLAUSE LAUGHTER

Never any doubt! LAUGHTER

They do get involved here, this Aly Paly crowd! That's the beauty of

this venue. We used to go to the Wembley Conference Centre, hell up

to nearly 3,000 people. But they are a long way from the table, a lot of

the spectators. Here they are so close.

I tell you what - you wouldn't any he was five-2 be -- 5-2 behind. No!

APPLAUSE A nice positional shot.

OK. So the black puts him 30 points ahead. Two reds, two blacks would be

46. He is going to need one of those reds on the left-hand side cushion.

He will have a quick look at the scores. If he hasn't already done

so. I think the furthest one out - he is

looking at that now. I think that does pot, doesn't it? So, he won't

have to disturb any reds. This is typical Mark Selby, you know. Back

right against the wall and all of a sudden he produces this fantastic...

Going to need the extend rest and the extension on his cue, but he is

46 ahead. So just make sure of the red and he's got one frame back. It

is still a long way to go, but he's on the first rung of the ladder.

APPLAUSE That puts the frame beyond doubt.

Nicely developing that red out into the pottable position. He can just

drop this red in. If it is tight to the side cushion, so it makes a

little bit easier... It looks tight. CROWD GASP

Ronnie having a look at his scores. He is 54 behind with 43 remaining.

Yeah! APPLAUSE

Ronnie gives the nod to the referee. A wonderful 68 break from Mark

Selby. Cuts the deficit. It is O'Sullivan who still leads by 5-3.

Ronnie O'Sullivan to break. It is Ronnie's turn to make a poor

break-off shot and catch the blue. But he hasn't left anything. And now

the blue's finished up where it is there. It is a big target to get in

behind that. Less keep an eye on Mark Selby's

head. Steve Davis was talking about maybe just getting up a little bit

sooner than he normally does. He always moves around a little bit

on the shot when he's addressing the ball. It is something he's always

done. Not as much as he used to. Now, this would be a confidence

booster, if he can punch this one in.

He is quite remarkable when he's so far behind.

You can see his head just moving around slightly and his body - but

he's always done that. What an opening red! We talk about

his attitude when he is behind. He's done it so many times that it's

almost become second nature to him. He can somehow win this frame in one

visit. Well... That would certainly put a new

doubts into Ronnie's mind. Hasn't done much wrong. Yeah. He is sitting

there and just thinking, "All I want is one chance the way I'm playing,

one chance, and I am in the semifinal. But at the moment you

can't pot balls if you are sitting in that seat."

Five reds, five blacks already. But I'm sure Mark Selby will be thinking

about winning the frame from this visit. That tells you straightaway

that he is purposely playing visit. That tells you straightaway

pink at the right centre, the red below the pink will pot into the

bottom right corner pocket. The pink will go on the blue spot. And they

would be back up for the pink here with a nice angle, hopefully, to

split the reds. And what a good split of this and we may be looking

4-4. APPLAUSE

Yep. You would think he was leading 5-3 the way he's playing here at the

moment. And that could be very unlucky.

Unless that red at the back of the little bunch goes. He's very

unfortunate. You could play that same shot another 10 times and you

would finish on at least one or two reds. Very unfortunate. . Hard to

believe that he didn't bring more reds into play there.

The fact he is 54 in front. If he isn't absolutely sure he can pot

this red, he has to put a telling safety. He would like to keep the

break going, he may have to play with a little touch aside, but... I

think if he was dead strict behind the red I think he could pot it,

because you can flick right to straight unup the angle. Is he

trying a double? Can he see enough of the red! He has got the double!

APPLAUSE That is a shot! Fantastic!

APPLAUSE He's played it in a wonderful way.

Look where the cue ball landed. He sort of played it very cleverly. It

was a shot or nothing. Once again, well, he still has a pot

on, but he's been a bit unfortunate for the white to go tight on the

side cushion. Needs good cuing, this one. He is

only a couple of pots away from getting another frame back, and at

5-4 it is game on again! He has to cue this in, and he's coming across

the nap as well. This is a tough shot, very, very tough.

APPLAUSE Played it! Superbly well! That was

an excellent shot! He didn't quite get the cannon and

he is not save just yet. There is still enough there for Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He is a strong, strong favourite in this frame now, but if

that little cannon had have worked, it was end of frame.

This was the one here. He just caught it a bit thinner than he

wanted. As I mentioned, those colours with the blue there, that is

quite a good target to try and get in behind.

ANNOUNCER: Mark Selby, 70. APPLAUSE

Look how the reds are now! APPLAUSE

So, Ronnie O'Sullivan is not quite out of this frame just yet. One

mistake from Mark and there is a counterattack on. There is not a

ball save on the table at the moment -- safe on the table at the moment.

He may be able to go on the left pocket. There is a gap between red

and black down towards the table. It needs a bit of luck here. . I

tell you what... LAUGHTER

He's knock sod many long balls in. Because he is so far behind he will

take this on. If this goes in he has a bit of a chance.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What a shot that is!

Just look at the kiss he got on the red as well. Purmsly played --

purposely played. To free up the pink. That red has gone close to the

side cushion then. That won't be a problem for Ronnie O'Sullivan,

because he's so good left-handed. . Surely Mark Selby can't make a 70

break and lose a frame? Of course, not only the frame, it would be the

match. But you wouldn't put it past his opponent. Ronnie O'Sullivan

relishes this sort of situation. Oh! Didn't want the kiss on the

black but he's OK. He can drop Oh! Didn't want the kiss on the

pink in. That is a great shot! Fantastic

shot! APPLAUSE

An acute angle as well. Wow! What a climax we could have to this match!

Because the red is OK. Ronnie can switch hands if he drops in behind

this last red. He has the pacific angle to do that -- perfect angle to

do that. Well, what a finish this could be!

APPLAUSE Knows this is finished a little

awkward here. The blue, which was knocked up there

at the start of the frame... Could be a little awkward, this next shot.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE To make sure he doesn't snooker

himself with the blue. This has been absolutely sublime so far!

This could be one of the best frames ever seen. Having said that, he

hasn't got on the brown as he wanted. He has to go all the way

around the table now. Where is the cue ball? Keep your eye on the cue

ball CROWD GASP

APPLAUSE . Where does he play it? In the

middle or up in the corner? APPLAUSE

He still has a little bit to do. Another good shot needed. Mark made

a 70 break. Incredible!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Incredible!

Can you believe it?! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Ronnie O'Sullivan! He's pulled off one of the finest wins you could

ever wish to say. Ronnie O'Sullivan takes the match, 6-3. What a

pulsating match! That clearance of 73 in the final was described by

pulsating match! That clearance of Steve Davis as one of the greatest

clearances we have ever seen in the history of this event! He knows a

thing or too, does Mr Davis. Ronnie will now play either John Higgins or

the world champion Stuart Bingham in the semifinals. But next up for us:

It is live coverage of another quarterfinal and what a match-up

this will be - it is a repeat of an epic semifinal from couple of years

ago, Judd Trump taking on a former champion here, Neil Robertson. It

will be worth the wait. See you soon. Bye-bye for now.

Rollin'. When I hit the button, it sounds like this.