Day 1 Masters Snooker Extra

We're heading back to London's ally paly and the Master's Snooker.

Hello, the masters is the second longest running snooker event in the

calendar and always provides plenty of drammia. Now, this year, arguably

we have the highest quality field ever because every single one of the

players involved is the owner of at least one major world ranking title.

Never happened in the past. But none of them has mastered this event more

often than Ronnie O'Sullivan, a six-times champion and the defending

champion here at Alexandra Palace here in North London. Today he's

taking on Liang Wenbo who's in a breakthrough season with the first

big tite in the English Open in Manchester last October. Matches

between them, albeit Ronnie wins five-to-one, have generally be close

of late. This one promised much. We're going to join the commentary

from Dennis Taylor and a man who graced three finals, it's John

Parrott. APPLAUSE

Don't think he's covered the outside red here, this is a chance for

Ronnie. Not easy, of course, first shot.

It's very important to get a good start in any match, but particularly

against Ronnie O'Sullivan. It's effectively his own back yard, he's

got to score today, Liang, and heavily.

I love watching Liang Wenbo play. He really is very exciting. A bit of a

character as well. He's one of those players, John,

that just loves the stage like here, packed house at Alexandra Palace. He

plays his best snooker under these conditions. What conditions they

are, look at this wonderful venue. 1500 in a couple of years ago, now

it's 2,000 capacity. Very popular event here in London. Why not!

Should be in for a real treat this week.

The tournament that first started in 1974/75 season, won by the late

great John Spencer. 9-8 in the final then, and kept going ever since. '79

to 2006, it was in the conference centre, the next five years it went

to the arena and for the last - this is has seaminglessly taken over of

this wonderful event. And, of course, we mustn't forget the new

London theatre in Drury Lane, it was played there, that was a terrific

venue. Well-established now, as you say, John, always packed out here. I

used to love playing in this event. There's a real buzz about it. It's

your reward of being a top player for playing well through the year.

You know full well you have got to be at it right from the get-go. No

way to hide here. One table, and you got to bring your stuff with you, no

good trying to find it because you won't win this event by doing that.

You got to come here with your A-game, too many good players.

That could be the end of break. He was just a little bit unlucky.

Didn't quite get enough right side in potting that brown to go into the

bunch. A little bit more side to hit the pink and red. He's be

disappointed he had a big target there. It's his first proper visit

on the table, but that was a big target for him to hit.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Decided to have a go at the double

and the only red he had to leave was the double and he left the chance

for Ronnie to have that red. Can you put that camera away, please. He did

mention no cameras please, but the referee just emphasising that.

Lovely touch that. APPLAUSE

I don't know whether he's - you see the red go in, whether he's got the

angle to get into the pack like Liang did. Wow. His angle on that

wasn't the same as Liang's. It was a bit more difficult shot that one,

but couldn't quite get the side on. Yeah, so easy to go in off that last

shot that Ronnie attempted. APPLAUSE

That's the angle you have and you need to hit it on the right-hand

side, avoid the middle pocket and he didn't quite manage that.

Even though it's the best of 11, always nice to get off to a good

start. He's had plenty of good starts in the Masters. Six times the

Masters champion. I think some of Ronnie's best snooker ever has been

played in this event. The demolition of Wi was astounding. He's played

some great stuff here. Not particularly appetising for

Liang, he's just got to be careful here. Probably try to drop in the

back of the pack here. All this talk about Ronnie being the

greatest break builder of all time but he's got a fabulous tactical and

safety game. Which you have to have. You have to be able to mix it.

Not the best safety this time from Ronnie. Liang Wenbo can have a g at

this red and get himself on to the black and it's a bit of a free shot

because once again the only ball he could leave would be the red he's

having a go at but if he misses it, he could quite easily send it into

the pack, but it's a half-chance this. He's pretty good at this type

of pot. APPLAUSE

Concentrated so hard on getting the pot which was difficult in itself.

As you see, straight in the centre of the pocket but just lost the

white. Stop there is. Now would have been perfect, but not much he can do

here really. Just going back to the venues, John,

the Wembley Conference Centre, he was so far away from the table. Here

you're closer to the table. It used to be there was players and all

sorts between you and the table, it was quite a long walk to get back to

your seat, took a lot of getting used-to in that venue. But then

you'd have 2,700 people there in the final. A long walk when you were

getting... I know that. Players were tripping other over the plants in

that place -- tripping over the plants in that place.

APPLAUSE That's a terrific shot. I think he

can take the brown because there is a red just to the right of the pink

and the bunch that's available. Oh! He didn't see that coming. He

was perfectly on the red. Well, second chance really for Liang here.

Just caught the near jaw. Now, perfect position on the blue. And

this is a lovely pack to go into. That red next to the pink is making

it better. If he can hit that one full or red and pink together, this

should open up lovely. Just got to be careful that the pink doesn't

head towards left corner pocket when he counters into them.

I thought he would have hit them a little harder than that. He had to

go into them harder than that. He got a little bit lucky to finish

there. They were begging to be hit hard. But he's on one.

Tell you what, John, this table looks beautiful. I thought he was

going to come up short on the blue, but it's very, very quick and the

players like it that way. He's got a nice shot here. He pot this is blue

and leaves himself low on the red, he can pop the red and splits the

pack up if he wants to play it that way. This is the cue ball to go a

bit more. If it does, that's what he's looking for - pot the red and

counters into the reds, guaranteed to be on the pink and a few into

play. Loved to have another couple of inches of row on that cue ball,

it could have been perfect. 34-point advantage, he could win the frame if

he could play the shot John suggested. Not a lot there.

So change of plan and this time is he going to go far enough? He's

going to have to take the pink if he's going to split the reds and

straightaway, gets the rest out. It's a natural angle to pop the pink

and split those Fyfe reds. When you think of this shot - both players

are had a go on the brown and didn't get enough side on the cue ball to

split the pack early in the frame. Sometimes on these new cloth and the

cushions, they throw a little bit different. So got to judge this

correctly. Missed the pack. And this is all

come from that one shot off the blue. If he got the right angle on

that bottom red, it was frame over. Not thrown as wide as he thought and

missed the pack. He might have a 41-point lead here,

this is a dangerous board, it really is. He opens the reds up here, only

the brown in an awkward position, so got to be very careful.

This require good cueing, you can only to see enough of this red. He

had a couple of looks at that, but he's looking at an alternate.

Just the safety shot. He needs a good cue ball here.

Not bad, but there is a half-chance for Liang. He's a devastatingly long

potter, Ronnie knows that. He practises enough for this, the

Chinese player. This is not straightforward and he's got to find

the gap back around the table. Much too thick. Now what damage has he

done here? Mis-hit that completely. What a chance for Ronnie to get

right back in this opening frame. Yes, not only the damage of missing

it, you flip the red. Double whammy it. Misses it by a mile and brings

that red into play. A good chance for a counter play or it should have

been. And just nicked past the yellow enough to pop it in.

Just a bit of a noise. A late-comer getting into a seat, but someone is

making a bit of noise there. See if Paul has spotted. See if you can get

the blue and the other one turned off, thank you. Just a couple of

lights, I think, maybe in the line of sight which is a little

off-putting. Just reflecting on to the railings

there that are catching Ronnie's eye.

He's going to wait until they get the light off. It is putting him off

and he know this is is quite a good chance here to get himself right

back into the frame. So we're going to find the switch that will get rid

of that blue light. Two lights. Just one red that's safe here that could

come to Liang Wenbo's rescue. The one near the cushion, as John

mentioned, if he knocked the other red out into the open...

APPLAUSE Frank Baker heading off there. The

light is switched off. You mentioned that red on the top cushion, ideally

Ronnie would like to get the black into place at least you only need to

drop that red in. In a perfect world that's what he'd like to do. There

we go, if we can get on the black now, pot it, stay on the red next to

the pic, or just gone a bit too far? Change of plan. He did play on the

black there. This is a lively cloth. This is a tricky little cutback now.

Can he avoid the contact on the brown here, Dennis? He'll have to

put a bit of juice on it, just a little bit to avoid that. Only just.

Yep. APPLAUSE

Haven't used that term before - little bit of juice. Another word

for "a little bit of side." Mentioned earlier, looked like a

dangerous position for Liang, even though he was a few points in front.

All the balls in possible positions with maybe the exception of the

brown. You can see Ronnie trying to work out the best way. Ideally, as I

say, he'd like to drop the black in and play on the loose red. This has

got counter-clearance written all over it. And Liang could kick

himself with the chances he's had in this frame. Doing exactly as you

predicted, John, getting the black back on the spot. And he doesn't

want to be dead straight, though. APPLAUSE

And that looks as if it's almost straight. So - well, not much of an

angle. Yep, that could always happen. His

alternate would be to make sure the pot and play the snooker in behind

the black, but very little angle to work with there. In fact, the red

jumped a few times. Not the best safety Liang Wenbo's

ever played, but on the other hand, this is far from easy. Oh, what a

pot! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What a cracking pot that is! A Ronnie O'Sullivan special there! All

about brown to blue now. That's going to be the key factor.

I tell you what - it is lively this cloth, isn't it? Hardly touched

that. Straight back. Perfect angle and what a red that was.

Now, has he left himself a decent angle or is he a little bit

straight? APPLAUSE

He had that little bit of angle that John mentioned.

Is that going to come up a little bit short? He only needs the pink,

so no problem. Doesn't matter about getting on the black.

APPLAUSE He's going to pot the black.

APPLAUSE It has to be said, Liang Wenbo had a

few chances there to take that opening frame, but he didn't and

Ronnie O'Sullivan, with that cracking long red to get in there,

takes the frame and he leads one frame to nil.

That red covered the one that's near the pocket? I don't think so. Liang

Wenbo can get through to cut this in and I think he'll avoid countering

into the bunch of reds and the pink. If he did do it, it wouldn't be the

worst thing in the world but it's all about making sure the pot and

let the white take care of itself here. I was going to say, one of

these shots to say the red is over the pocket, but it's difficult to

get position, isn't it? APPLAUSE

Except for that, it's gone through a gap which I didn't see. He's

perfect. LAUGHS

That's what he was looking at there - you can see. Wasn't absolutely

certain about the cue ball but to find the gap was a bonus as we show

you the shot again. Not the gap he played for but he'll take that. Just

giving himself a little bit of extra time here to make sure that he gets

this next shot correct because if he can get good position, he could give

himself an early chance here in this third frame.

I think the pink is out of commission, the black is a little

bit awkward, a little bit like it was in the earlier frame. This is a

much more difficult chance than the one he had in the second frame. The

black is really awkward. I don't blame him taking his time a little

bit. He is 2-0 down after all. If it's 3-0 down, I don't fancy him at

all. And somehow he's got to get himself on the blue. He's just

checking the pink if it could possibly go into the right middle

pocket. Looks a bit tight - that. Find out shortly the way he plays

this shot. But that's overhit by quite a way

there. That's just a little bit of tension there.

We mentioned how quick the cloth is. That's such a difficult shot to play

on a really quick cloth. -- cloth - the side cushion. The yellow as

well. May have left Ronnie a long red on the right-hand side, but have

a look at the black. It's very, very tight if he was to leave it where he

was cueing there. Well, maybe he can. He can get on that if he stuns

it right through. A few inches. Oh, he had an angle to come on and off

the cushion again on the black. Unexpected miss there from Ronnie

and a chance for Liang Wenbo to -- Wenbo. To show you the miss again.

Wenbo can believe that black after potting this red because we know

it's available. Little bit straight, but looks as if he's going to miss

it to the right of the pocket as we watch him cueing there, but safely

and this will open the black up. Well played there. Just a little run

through to land on this loose red. We keep harping on about it, but if

you're going to have a future in this match, Liang, you got to score

now. Need to keep going, that, because he

wanted to have an angle on the blue to play for the red that's just to

the left to have black. Looks a bit straight now. He'll have to power

this through with lots of side. He's going to be a bit close to the

cushion, but he's got the red that's near the right corner. It was quite

cleverly played that shot, wasn't it, the way he did that? I don't

often to say to people, "How do you make a break", we try to leave

yourself in a position with a couple of options. He played well. If he

didn't get the red on the black, he had this one.

APPLAUSE Very controlled. A lot better shot.

He's done that right across the face of the black. That was really well

controlled. And you can sense already, Dennis, can't you, Liang

knows how important this frame is. He knows how important the next shot

is going to be when he leaves himself on the black to split the

bunch of reds up. That's going to be key.

This is the one that could pave the way. Pave the way to taking his

first frame of the match. It's not the best pack of reds to go into. He

needs to get plenty of action on this.

Yep. That red is available to him and he'll just run through and leave

himself on the pink or the black. Once again, he finds himself with a

near 40-point lead and really there's no excuse from here.

Somebody of his quality, this is an excellent chance. -- chance to take

the frame. See Liang there taking a nice deep

breath and he's walking around there. He knows this is the one

chance. The referee respoted the ball. Deep breath and go again. And

then that concentration level. This is what he's very good at -

Liang - close cue ball control around the pink and black area. He

scored very heavily and very quickly. A little of stun and screw

shots. It racks up the points very quickly.

Yeah, he knocked in 30 last season, 18 this season, he let the white run

a little further than he intended. So... Safely in.

APPLAUSE You can see 67 ahead with 59

remaining. He can relax a little bit.

This is an excellent response. We said, Dennis, at the start of this

frame, this is what he had to do to score. He had a little bit of help

from Ronnie in this frame. It has to be said, I didn't expect Ronnie to

miss, but nevertheless, he's taken these very well. With Ronnie's shot,

we thought we'd drag that one in, but come up for the black, but that

wasn't meant to be. Shows really good character here - Liang.

He's got a lovely swagger with him around the table - a very confident

swagger. He's a lovely lad, this Liang Wenbo - but he's got this way

around the table and when he's playing well, you know, it's as if,

"I'm the boss, the big boss." You remember that, John - Bruce Lee, the

big boss? No reason why he shouldn't go to

make a century break, first one of this year's Masters, and his cue

ball control has been exemplary. Funny feeling won't be the only one

this week, Dennis. There'll be a few of them, John.

APPLAUSE A magnificent century break from

Liang Wenbo who's 185th century break of his career. Coming just at

the right time for him and his supporters.

That really sets this first round match-up. I mentioned after the two

frames, in fireworks. Well, we had a few in this frame all coming from

the Chinese player. Doesn't matter about the pink. He only had one

chance and didn't he take it well. He made a century break, but he

still trails 2-1. Liang Wenbo will be helping to

continue where he left off. A decent break off shot.

APPLAUSE I had a good chat with Ronnie at the

interval. Had a cup of coffee with him. He's saying he's enjoying being

out there. He seemed level-headed about it all. Did he mention

anything about the tip because as I passed in the corridor, it was a bit

of sand paper or something... He did give a bit of a surgery at the end

of it, but it seems fine now, no great issues about that. He was in

good spirits. Position play is difficult off this.

You'll think he'll go for the blue. Can't really get on pink or black.

Just have a look at which way the cue ball will go. Someone say no

problem with the opening red, but what is he going to get on? Well, he

thinks he can pop this. Go past the blue, come off the side cushion and

try to get somewhere near that red he was looking at. To get on the

black, this will be some shot. Seemed to have a little bit of

movement on that shot. He just seemed to - he didn't cue that one

as smoothly as he has been cueing the ones before the interval. I

think they were shots that have a bit more pressure on them. You tend

to see a malfunction in the cue action, don't you, with Liang

occasionally. Seen a couple of times this afternoon already. What a

chance he's left Ronnie O'Sullivan now.

APPLAUSE He did have a 55 break in the second

frame but the look at where the reds are situated here - all the colours

are in open play. You're in the going to mention the M

word earlier on, are you, Dennis? It's too soon for me, but as you can

see, they're sitting nicely. Even though we're not mentioning it,

I'm going to talk about it. You know all three of them, do you, Dennis? I

know Stevens with the white suit had the first one. Jimmy White had one.

I don't think it might be that, it's Ding. I thought Jimmy did. No, and

the other one was Marco Fu. Jimmy was playing against the Canadian

Kurt Stevens when he made his. John, we were obviously chatting

away there, there's no chance of a maximum in this range, so. Highest

break in itself is well worth winning, ?10,000 for the highest

break here. Not to be sniffed at. Ronnie will be trying to put a

marker down for that one. Taking these very well so far,

Ronnie, but obviously the break was helped by Liang to get the start of

it. Poor shot on the red here. Shouldn't really be missing those.

Got himself with a foothold in this match certainly from 2 behind. Just

thinking if he can get a good start and goes and misses a red like that!

Looks like his concentration is back in order, Dennis? I think it came in

at the right time, get himself a cup of tea, relax. But this is him

showing all his experience. Frame safe. Concentrate on the

possible century. 856 centuries he's made in his career.

There is a strong possibility he'd go on to be a player that made 1,000

century breaks in a career! APPLAUSE

Just hit the wrong red there. That might have spoiled the century. Just

countered the wrong red otherwise he may have cleared the table. Can he

see that? No, it just had to try and fluke a red there. But well played.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE He's come out after the mid-session

interval firing with all cylinders. That's enough to take the frame.

Ronnie O'Sullivan back in front at 3-2 frames.

Not quite on the cushion with the cue ball. One of the shots that the

players do practice a lot these days - this type of shot.

APPLAUSE Cue ball needs to pull up. It just

keeps rolling, all he can do is just nestle in behind the brown. Good

opening pot, though. Had he dropped on a ball colour, it may have been

an early chance. APPLAUSE

Yeah, nice pot, but that fast cloth prevented him from stopping nicely

on a ball colour. With lots of side to make the angle and he's failed

that. He touched the brown there. He was trying to get a bit of swerve on

it, but took it straight into the brown.

I think Liang Wenbo had put the white so close to the brown, it made

it quite difficult to get the angle to just nestle into those reds.

Once again, the swerve shot. Loads of side.

In the end, just a little bit too much on it, but wants the middle

pocket. If he rolls this red into the left

middle pocket, he won't be perfect on the black. He'd like to stun it

in, but it make it is shot slightly more difficult. He's hampered

slightly, I think. Not too bad. If he gets a bit of screw on it, it

will get closer to the black. No. It's been interesting today with

Liang Wenbo. There's been a bit extra pressure on the shot. His cue

action isn't always as been reliable as when there isn't. Doesn't quite

seem to cue as well when there's that little bit of added pressure.

APPLAUSE The trouble is - when you got this

fellow following you, you tend the pay for your mistakes.

This is quite a good chance already with that loose red at the back of

the pack. Ideally Ronnie would like to play

this, leave the cue ball slightly low on the red, he would pot it and

leave a few more into play and leave himself on the black. That's what

he's played for. Just have to play the run through

there, but once again promoted a red.

Got a choice of shots here, where he could either move the pack out or

screw and move the loose red away. That's the one he played on.

APPLAUSE Ideally like to stun up into the

pack here. Nice and firm. Oh, played the screw shot. Couldn't

have come out any better. APPLAUSE

Looks like he's going through the... He's one of the best in the business

of that particular type of shot there where he gets so much action

on the cue ball, it stops in the pack and then keeps on spinning.

Last frame lasted under 10 minutes. A break of 89. This frame is not

going to last very long by the look of things. No, not while he looks as

focused as he does. I agree with you, Dennis - I think the interval

has been very good. Simple little shot on to the loose

red on the outside. Of course once he pots this, the red that's on the

left of the three will be available. And the bottom one on the right is

also available. So perfect position for him.

He's taken these supremely well. Once again, Dennis, I think he's

done well. Potting that red leaves the past for the other two in the

right corner. You see the difference - 61. Once again, just a matter of

whether he can make a century. Not going to be easy with the red tight

on the side cushion. Almost got the century in the previous frame, just

misjudged a little. All about winning frames, the centuries are

nice, but... APPLAUSE

Have to be a spectacular red down the cushion to keep this effort

going. Long way, away, but he won't be too

concerned about that. He just got the one chance and what did he do?

He won the frame with that chance! And now Ronnie O'Sullivan opens up a

two frame advantage. It's now 4-2 to the Rocket.

Oh, there might be a gap through to that one. It's tight, but maybe the

brown - no, he can't pot that. See, the red into the right corner

is not very inviting because he can't get on a colour.

Not often you see a player play a safety shot at this end of the

table. That was the case there. Just looking to see where he can

leave the cue ball off the side cushion when he plays off the side

of the pack here. He's playing off the loose red at the back of the

pack, but obviously wants to cover the red on the left-hand side so

it's not easy for Liang to get back down to the baulk area off that

loose red. But has he hit it just a little bit too hard? He may have

left that red just to clip off past the yellow.

That's just helped the situation, brought the pink into play.

APPLAUSE Black is tied up at the moment. I

think the black is tied up, I don't think it goes into the left corner.

Yeah, Liang can play off the face of this up and down but he's got to be

careful with the red itself going across and hitting the pack of reds,

and maybe knocking something towards other corner. So even with a shot

like this, you have to be a little bit of careful. Trans -- little bit

careful. APPLAUSE

Nicely shufflely hit that so the red didn't counter into anything else.

Good touch. I think the brown is going to come

to the rescue here, is it? APPLAUSE

He's just covered it, or has he? I think he has. Can't see the potting

angle of it. So it's imperative that he got a good cue ball there. I

think Liang is just looking to see if he can move the cue ball near the

top cushion, just hit that red maybe halfball and leave the cue ball at

the top end because I don't think he can pot that, can he, Dennis? No, if

he was away from the cushion he can play writ a little bit of a curve,

but if it's away from the cushion it's not a shot that's available to

him. If he come off the side cushion and play on to that red, but either

way it looks like that's what he's going to do, a containment shot

here. Unless he's got better eyesight than the both of us.

Yeah, that was a better shot than the one I was looking at. He played

the other red on the other side, he could have left that red he's just

played off as a cutback. So much better choice of choice than mine.

Boy, is that a test of your cueing. Well, here goes!

He's been very measured, Ronnie O'Sullivan. He hasn't taken any

undue risks. APPLAUSE

He's what they call pnls at the moment. It's another good safety. He

knows if he can get this frame under his belt, he'll only need one, Liang

Wenbo would have to win three. Both played some excellent safety

shots but that one is coming up a little bit shorter. Though at first

glance it looks like everything is covering each other. Win

He played that as a shot forking in, but this is pretty difficult to do,

just to roll up that way to this. Seen plenty of players coming up

Little shots like that that can get happens quite a lot that, Dennis,

Little shots like that that can get Ronnie annoyed. He's 39 in front.

Most of the time he'd go on and make enough toll secure the frame.

-- to secure the frame. Not an easy chance by any means, but it's a

chance that Liang Wenbo wasn't expecting. Yep, good for him to

knock the black in and get that back up on its spot as well, that will

help. Pink is out of commission. Once again, played that quite

cleverly. Got a choice of shots, red next to the yellow or the one near

the corner. That's the one he'll take. In the context of the level of

snooker that we're playing at, this constitutes a chance. And a pretty

big one at that. One or two cannons away here from making this a

brilliant opportunity. Can he hold himself together?

Just want to be straight on this. And he's not, so nice angle, come

around for the loose red at the bottom. Played that nicely.

Have to take the cue ball up the table now. A little bit more

positional play. Those two reds that are both are red, he's going to pot,

I don't think either of them pot in any pocket, so they'll have to be

moved at some point through the break.

It's an excellent chance, it's not totally straightforward.

Play that cue ball into a position where he was going to have a choice

of green, brown or blue, believe it or not!

Interesting to see how he goes about this. As I say, no problem with the

loose red that's there near the pink spot, but those other two, how is he

going to open them up? Is he going to play on the red and on to the

black and take a chance with the cannon? Or is he going to pot the

blue and get the blue on the spot and play one? Interesting. The

beauty of this game is all players see it differently, don't they,

Dennis? Yeah, no problem getting on the red

that's to the left of the pink spot. I thought he might have able to keep

the blue and potted the blue and cannoned the two reds that would

have left himself a few options. I mean, there's another way he could

play it as well if he wants - he can drop the blue in and pot the red and

flick the other one out off it F he wants to do that. But now it looks

like he's just going to get good position off this and play the

cannon off the black but this is the big part of the match here. Can he

negotiate the cannon off the black, just put the two reds up? Pretty

sure they don't pot. Has he gone just a little further

than he wanted? He's got to play the cannon. He did have a look - I think

he's just about OK. But you need plenty of screw on this to get the

cannon. Yeah, not stick on it either. Mmm! That's a poor shot. I

think that was just down to a little bit of tension there. He knew the

importance of that one shot, he knew if he got that cannon right he could

win the frame. The pink is certainly to Liang

Wenbo's advantage being safe on the side cushion.

This is not the best safety shot he's ever played. It's a nice 50

break, though. APPLAUSE

A good 50, but there's two poor shots on the end of it. Shouldn't

have missed the cannon, but you don't do that, play a good safety,

and that wasn't. He hasn't been punished for it.

Where is this red going to finish? It was a tough one that he took on

there. Certainly at this stage of proceedings, a lot of pressure on

that attempt. Yeah, Liang is just looking to see

whether he can avoid the cannon on the green if he pots this red. At

this stage of the frame, is priority is to make sure you knock the object

ball in, which is the red, of course. Make sure you get the pots,

sometimes you have to just stand for position. He could avoid it. Good

pot. APPLAUSE

And now, if he's got the angle, has a little bit of pressure on this

black to say the least. Oh!

APPLAUSE Just the pace. Any harder that would

have wobbled and stayed out. If he pots a red and black, he's going to

need the yellow. Decided he was going the need the

yellow even if he played the black. Much easier to get position when

you're closer to the ball colours, so good thinking there from Liang

Wenbo. Just means he's got to pot a few more balls.

Yeah, good stuff from Liang. A couple of mistakes at the end of

that 50 break, but didn't get punished by Ronnie and he's holding

himself together very well here. And the tournament favour, he's going to

do it the hard way, he's going to have to win the last two frames of

the opening So the pattern has been broke. It

was two for one player, two for another player, this will be three

in a row for Liang Wenbo. It doesn't matter the fact that he's

finished... It's not far away. It's not far away!

What a gritty performance from this Chinese player. He has won the last

three frames and he gets himself one ahead. He needs one for a famous

victory, it has to be said. We have seen him on many occasions

and sometimes that's when he produces his best. He is going to

need it now against Liang Wenbo who is growing in confidence. We always

say, the hardest frame to win is the one that gets you over the line, not

so much for the players right at the top. Liang Wenbo is claiming a world

ranking ladder -- climbing. Ronnie has had five wins. Had a

close match in the Shanghai Masters not long ago. Ronnie one bat on a

deciding frame 5-4. -- won that. That is a cracking shot if he has

held that for the black. Pinpoint accuracy there.

He can cut the scene, can't he? Not like that, he can't. -- he can cut

this in. The blue may have come to his rescue. And it has. Not the

worst for Ronnie. That is a poor shot from Liang Wenbo. Not

straightforward to get good position.

He has knocked the read write over the pocket. -- he has knocked them

red right over the pocket. Not the best outcome. Liang Wenbo is having

a look if the red will go over the left-hand pocket. The fact he

couldn't see the one over the right, he couldn't fancy it either. Even if

Ronnie hits this yellow, it might not be safe.

Going back again because the blue has covered the one over the pocket.

And nice situation for Liang Wenbo at the moment. It's just that red he

had over the pocket, he wasn't sure what was going to happen to the cue

balls. Third time lucky. APPLAUSE

. Similar scenario for Liang Wenbo

now. He has tried to drop it in. What a

bit of a sharp on this blue. He needs one more frame. --A bit of

pressure. He has just got to make sure he finishes his cue action, no

movement. Big pressure. Nice and clean, right in the centre

of the pocket. Not out of the woods yet as far as position is concerned.

This is a great performance from the Chinese player when you think he has

only played once before in the Masters. He lost 6-4 at this age

last year. -- at this stage. Every match in the Masters is like a world

final. Absolutely. It wasn't any doubt about Liang Wenbo's ability

but his ability to handle the situation and the occasion. It is

very intimidating playing Ronnie. There are 2000 people and 90% of

them are probably supporting him. You have to have a certain mentality

to be able to cope with all of that. That is pretty poor. A bit of

tension in the arms and no man's land with the cue ball. To give

yourself less of a chance of being on the pink... It could be tension.

That was a very easy shot for him to make a mess.

What about this for a shot he is taking on?

Accent he was so disappointed with his previous positional shot. Surely

that was the wrong choice under the circumstances. --I think he was so

disappointed. A classic example of not happy with the position he

played before. A better expression, he pushed the boat out. Will it be

costly, though? Ronnie didn't play the right shot. He got the wrong

side of the blue. APPLAUSE

A pretty good recovery --! He wanted a full ball not half ball

contact on that Canon. I think he might have been snookered

on the black. Maybe it's one of the reasons the red didn't go in. Have a

couple of shots he can play here. He could play off the one that is near

the pink and go up behind the yellow or bring it back near the black.

It's not going to be an attacking shot, that is for sure.

He just needs to make sure he is covering that red that is near the

green pocket. I don't think he has. There is an awful lot of distance

between the cue ball and the object ball that there is a situation that

faces Liang Wenbo, it's not dead straight. One would think you would

come up for the blue. Test the cue. Well done.

What a chance now for the Chinese player. I mean... Required terrific

cueing. He couldn't have hit it any better.

Wow... This is getting pretty tense. A big smile from Liang Wenbo. That

is a stinker. He has got such an area that to hit to do that.

Honestly, that chance was as close a frame in a match as you could have

got. Wow. What a mistake. He could be on the ones in the

middle. That was a really tough shot to take

on. The red next to the brown is no

problem. The four cannon next to the pink a not perfectly placed by any

means. -- the four reds. The two reds that Liang tried to cannon. He

can pot this and flick the other two a way from the pink. He is just

thinking, maybe. Don't want to take the chants in case it goes slightly

wrong. -- chance. Straightforward in the end but I

think he was thinking he didn't want to risk any little cannons in the

end but he played it well. Every chance now that we are going

to have a deciding frame in our opening match.

Ronnie O'Sullivan looking good in this frame. Not just yet.

Oh. That's an interesting shot he played there. Why did he just drop

the pink in and secure the frame? I think his head went because of the

previous shot he played. Yes, he is not thinking straight at the moment.

If Liang hits this one in, it could be frame and match.

APPLAUSE It wobbled its way into the pocket.

Look at that. Very strange from Ronnie. He could pinch the match by

just one point here. Wants to get absolutely plumb on the

black to make its straightforward. Needs to bounce off the cushion.

APPLAUSE A little bit of pressure on it, as

you can imagine. No! Can you believe it? All he had to do was drop the

black in. Ronnie O'Sullivan! Liang Wenbo, how did he miss just running

the black in. It is five frames all. Look at the black again. He hit it a

little bit harder than he needed, I think. It is all square, five frames

each. ANNOUNCER: OK, thank you. Liang

Wenbo to break. Not the best of break shots. It has covered that one

but there is one for the right corner. A nice little touch, Liang

just smiled and patted Robbie at the start of the frame.

Oh, the cannon and the Black has come to his rescue there.

Where -- we're in frame decider. Just drop it in the Jaws, gravity

would have taken that one in. He will need to put that behind him to

win the final frame. Should have been all over.

this cuts into the little pocket. Wouldn't it be ironic if Liang Wenbo

were to knock this in? If this goes in, he could open things up. What a

big shot. He is very, very unlucky. He played

a very positive shot. He opened the pink and reds up. That was a great

opening red. You know what it is like when you miss your

opportunities in this game. The snooker got don't forgive you, do

they? He got one they're, that was an excellent pot.

-- there. Bello that is probably the best pot of this match so far.

I think the red a second closest to the black on the right-hand side is

available. The cue ball was always going close to the pocket. This is

not an easy pot. You saw the black that Liang Wenbo missed in the last

frame, it is not easy. APPLAUSE

It's all about experience and he has done it so many times. It's hard to

believe this is his 23rd Masters. He has been runner-up in three

occasions and champion. He has seen everything there is to

see in the game of snooker. Giving us a little bit of tension, slightly

awkward here. Just decided to hold for the black.

He didn't fancy playing through the gap for the blue. Whoever wins this

deciding frame won't play again until Thursday. You say whoever wins

this game, I think it's all over. He has been given a lifeline and a

massive one at that. Like all the great champions, if you ever get a

second bite of the cherry, you are never going to let it go begging.

How many times did we see them do it, start with a match-winning

break. Just taking a bit of time here to make sure he doesn't play an

unnecessary cannon to get out of position. Try to do it without

having to play a cannon and get the risk out of it. He was worried about

snookering himself. Like all great champions, he can smell blood. A

match he should have lost. This will be a very sore one for Liang Wenbo.

He will be thinking about that black for a long, long time. Yeah, a black

that would have knocked out the defending champion. Just a few more

pots away from keeping himself in this Masters.

I think you can get used to the idea there will be many more of them in

this year's event. APPLAUSE

You have got to feel a bit sorry for Liang Wenbo. He played so well, lost

the two opening frames, came back and then won three frames in a row

and it was just that one pot. How well has he taken these, Dennis?

He has waltzed around the table like he in the club.

This is him at his best in the final frame, when it matters most.

Top-class performance in the final frame. Tricky.

Might just finish with that. What a time to make your highest break of

the match. In a frame that takes you into the next round.

APPLAUSE .

There will be quite a few players that will be gutted he has made it

through. APPLAUSE

. I think he is just going to be

tapping all the way through, they might as well keep clapping.

APPLAUSE . You can't take it away from the

defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Liang Wenbo was just one

pot away from knocking out the favourite, the defending champion,

but in the end, he did it, as great champions always do, he did it in

style with that magnificent break of 121 and he is through to the next

round, beating Liang Wenbo six frames to five. That missed black

will go down. It will take Liang Wenbo a while to get over that. The

defending champion marches on to the second round but he will play Andy

Carter or Neil Robinson. We're back on air at one o'clock on BBC Two. I

hope you can spend your Monday afternoon with us because we have a

cracking match in store. It is John Higgins. Get some sleep before it

all kicks off again. Good night.