Day 7 Masters Snooker

Blink and you'll miss him, The Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

Good evening. Ronnie O'Sullivan's quarterfinal was over in the blink

of an eye. The Rocket powering 3-way 6-0 victory in under 58 minutes and

rattling in a record 556 points without reply on the way. Pretty

impressive stuff. Enough, you would imagine, to frighten the life out of

most players. However, his semifinal opponent this evening, Stephen

Maguire, is a Glaswegian who is not easily intimidated. We will see the

whole match here on BBC Two this evening. This pact Ali Pali crowd is

all set for Saturday night at the Masters. The winner will go through

to meet the defending champion Mark Selby tomorrow. The world number two

was in blistering form as he dismantled former world champion

Sean Murphy 6-1. He threw a century into the mix along the way. This was

the most positive stuff from Jester for quite some time. Through to his

fifth Masters final, now set on retaining his title and winning it

for a fourth time in total. Ken Doherty commentated on that match

this afternoon. At last, the aggressive Selby turned up. I think

it's the best performance I've seen from him for some time. Fantastic

snooker. He won the frame, went on to make a nice century and it

snowballed from there. Brilliant stuff. Tonight, the crowd is raring

to go. Many of them have come to see Ronnie, who was virtually unplayable

yesterday. What might Stephen Maguire's best Plan B this evening?

How can you hold back a thoroughbred? It's going to be very

difficult. He has to concentrate on his own game, play good snooker like

he did against Robertson. He has to impose itself, it's going to be

difficult because the way that Ronnie played against Ricky Walden

was awesome. McGuire was impressive last night, beating the world number

one, all the more impressive because he is on antibiotics for

tonsillitis. What was most impressive about his performance

last night? Just his matchplay. He's playing the best player in the

world, Neil Robertson. He good, solid snigger. He has to of his game

even more if he's going to play Ronnie O'Sullivan. When he gets his

chance he has to score. Let's hear from the players themselves.

When he first came on the scene, I've never seen anybody play like

that apart from Hendry and Higgins. I was probably the best one coming

through, I think I have a better game than most of the players right

now. But, for whatever reasons, they have overtaken me and some of them

have won World Championships. They've won more tournaments than

me. I can't put my finger on it. Just to see how good he was, playing

for a living. When Ronnie plays well, he's

probably head and shoulders above anyone. You can play good matches or

not so good matches, the most important thing is that you get a

result. When you play well, it's nice, you have to enjoy it when you

can. But all of the guys left in this tournament, I am sure they

fancy winning this event. I'll just be as aggressive as I can, any

shots, take them. If they go in, I fancy the job. If they don't go in,

I'll get beat. Simple as that. Their head to head series does not make

pretty reading for the Scot. and won the most recent match in

2012. That doesn't cut anything with the bookies, though. But what about

the views of ten men with three Masters titles between them? I am

here with our experts in the commentary box, Dennis Taylor, the

men charged with drawing lines on your television series. Commentating

on Ronnie O'Sullivan, difficult to get a word in? He goes around the

table and his play speaks for himself. He was so fast, that is one

of the best sessions I have ever seen played in the Masters. He has

done it before, but it's the best session I've seen for many years.

It's not easy to keep repeating the same standard, but I think we have

come to expect and we expect it tonight? I think he will be a little

bit nervous. That record against Steve McGuire, I remember him saying

that he thought he could dominate a game, he was a bully around the

table. You'll still have that in his mind. Stephen has to get off to a

good start. One of your old practice partners, you know what he is

capable of? It will annoy him, the attention that Ronnie is getting.

You'll want to disappoint this huge crowd, no doubt. If you are going to

explain Stephen Maguire to somebody that has never seen him play, make a

case for him winning this evening, what would you say? A fantastic,

fierce hatch player. He can look an angry player, he's not afraid of

showing his emotions. He likes to be a bully. Both of these players are

top bullies around the table. Rob Walker is ready. Over to him.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Saturday night at Ali

Pali. We cannot wait for the last session of snooker before

tomorrow's final in this year's Dafabet Masters. It is a electric

here, and with good reason. We have two of the very best in the world.

It is anyone's game for a place in the final with Mark Selby.

Please welcome a player through to his first Masters semifinal in four

years. He knocked out world number one Neil Robertson in the

quarterfinals last night, with a superb performance. He has battled

through tonsillitis after his mum sent his medicine down from

Glasgow. The reigning Welsh open champion, the pride of Scotland,

when he's good, he's on fire. Stephen Maguire.

MUSIC: "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake.

And his opponent, a player whose performance yesterday was simply

sublime. Six frames in 57 minutes. It was so good that Ricky Walden

said he was unplayable. Bidding for a 10th appearance in a Masters

final, the reigning champion of the world, blink and you'll miss him,

The Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan. MUSIC: "A Man Should Better Himself"

by George Lam. In case you were wondering, that was

a motivational song in Chinese. A man should better himself, say the

lyrics. It's the best of 11 again. Everybody but for this. The first

frame, Ronnie O'Sullivan to break. Thank you very much, Hazel. What an

atmosphere in the Alexander Palace this evening. Great reception for

both players. Everybody will be wanting to see if

Ronnie O'Sullivan can continue where he left off, playing that amazing

session against Ricky Walden. Under an hour to win 6-0. Quite

incredible. It doesn't get any better than

this, Scotland against England in London.

What a beauty, for the first shot. Ten out of ten for that one. The

reds are sitting nicely. Straightaway, getting to the one

that is to the right of the black, which will clear the black into both

corners. There is no way McGuire will be

intimidated by this tonight. He loves this.

I just love watching Stephen Maguire's eyes when he's down on the

shot. His focus is something else, it really is.

Ricky Walden, against Ronnie O'Sullivan, he had an early chance

to break in the 30 break. And that was it, he never got another chance.

Stephen Maguire knows that if he can get quite a few points here, it will

put a little bit of pressure on Ronnie. That is why he is giving

every shot due care and attention. He is back at number five in the

world, Stephen Maguire. Winning the Welsh open, his first ranking title

for a few years. He has found a bit of form.

It is fair to say he is one of the game's underachievers. When he first

came onto the scene, his potential was amazing. He won the UK

Championship and two or three tournaments. But then he has not won

anywhere near what I thought he was going to do.

He has the right side of the blue. Sometimes when you are playing a

plant, you lose a bit of concentration with your position,

but that is perfect. I tell you what, you could hear a

pin drop in the Ali Pali at the moment. This packed audience.

Very deliberate, positive cue action, Stephen Maguire. You don't

see him drop many balls in dead weight.

It wasn't a good pack to go into, with the paint behind the reds. --

pink. He would like a better angle on the blue. He has finished a

little awkward. He's looking to see if he could

possibly put the pink and then bring something into play. It looks a bit

tight. He might be able to pot the pink, but wouldn't be able to move

the reds. Paint would be better. -- pink. If

he hits the red and the pink at the same time, it would be a foul. That

is what we call a split ball. This time I think you can get

himself onto the blue. If he gets the split correctly, he could win

this opening frame with one visit. That is what he needed, Stephen.

He's more than capable of winning lots of friends in one visit.

He hadn't quite got the angle to screw back for the blue. He would

probably put the cue ball close to the middle pocket. As you mentioned,

he still got that one red. He's looking at the pink again. He

doesn't know if he can pot the pink, but it would open up another red. If

it's the one closest to the pink and it can pot. It doesn't look like it

can from here. He could screw back for the blue and open the reds.

He has looked long and hard at this pink.

It looks tight from that picture, doesn't it? He was right behind it,

so still needs good judgement. From that picture, it looks as if it will

not pot. What a start from the Scot.

Especially the way he opened the long red that he knocked in to start

this, fabulous. This was the opening pot. Superb.

Just come up a little bit short. He'd cast to pollinate horrific pot

out to give himself a chance of a century in the opening frame. The

one at the back of the three will cut into the left corner.

Smiles all round. Didn't spot that one, Stephen.

Just like a boxing match, isn't it? Stephen has got the first blow in.

He's going to have to do this for the whole match.

tell you what, after that initial opening red, what a superb break

that was from Stephen Maguire. He makes a 98 break and Leeds 1-0. This

is McGuire's fourth time in the Masters semifinal, but he waited

four years to get back here. That opening red, what a statement of

intent? A fantastic pot in itself, but to

screw it back, he could not have asked to have struck a ball so well

early in the match. But the blue, and element of safety as well? It

shows how well he is cueing. He has to impress himself on the match very

early. When he gets chances like that, you've got to take them. He's

got to put Ronnie under pressure. He can't be intimidated, and I don't

think he will be. He loves this kind of atmosphere. Only the second frame

of the week that Ronnie has conceded in this tournament so far. Is he up

for the fight? It certainly looks like it.

Well, the crowd shouting, come on, Ronnie. But I don't think he will be

potting anything here. REFEREE: Can you put your phone

down, please? It will be interesting to see who wins the safety battles

as well. There is so much that can happen in

this match. You've got to pot the long balls, or the higher percentage

of long balls. I mean, Ronnie is one of the best tactical players in the

game, when he wants to be. He didn't have to play many safety

shots in his quarterfinal, that is for sure.

That red is not really in the way, the one on the right side question.

He can find that gap to get back to the safety zone. But he is back

looking at that red that I just mentioned.

I'll tell you what, that was a brave shot to take on, but that is the

type of player he is. You can't hit it much better than this. Obviously

it has not gone in, but he hit it superbly.

Let's see if Ronnie can knock a long red in.

It just shows you the importance of Stephen, the way he won that first

frame. It just puts a little bit of doubt in your opponent's mind.

An early chance again for Stephen, four reds available.

At the moment, the one at the back of the bunch of reds will be

available. This one is removed, in fact I am just wondering if he has

finished... No, fine, good angle. That one at the back isn't quite on

for the left corner pocket? It's just the power. It sort of

arced the cue ball. It is what we call like a banana type shot.

That was an interesting choice of shot, there was a long red he could

have gone for. He knew he wasn't going to leave anything. He's going

to do his best to not leave Ronnie and easy opening.

Can he see enough of this? It must be very tight. Might just be able to

take that on. Once again, he will play it in such a way that he will

screw the white back. He was on his way around the table,

he thought he had got that. I think the whole audience thought that was

in. A superbly cued shot. Another very

clever shot. He was on the blue if he had knocked that in. But it was

perfectly safe. you mentioned it was going to be

interesting to see who wins the safety battle. They are both playing

superb safety shots. It needs to pull up. That is OK. The

road to read is, I don't know if they are a plant, in the right

corner. -- there are two reds. The brown is a good target now to

try and get in behind. This looks good, pretty good effort.

He wanted to make sure he covered the right side of the table.

You can see the side he put on to avoid the blue, another good safety.

Top safety, neither player giving an inch.

This might bring the black into play.

He is very focused. He is well up for this.

He is fine, he is on the red to the left corner.

He will be annoyed, he had the upper hand in that safety, more or less

all the way through. That is a beautiful shot, had to

plate reverse side, made it look easy.

Left-hand side spins the white of this table.

He will need the extension on the rest. Those three reds may be in the

way. This will free the pink. This is

tougher than the other two. He might be able to get the extension, place

it in between the three reds. Straightaway it looked as if he'd

overcome that. If you ever so slightly decelerate, the side takes

more effect. Any time you put any side on it make

the pot a little bit more difficult. The players that have the most

success can middle the cue ball. Surely he hasn't covered the black

with the green? He has, believe it or not. He is looking at the yellow.

He might swerve around the green. There will be so much side on it it

might spin into the gap and missed the gap and Mr reds altogether. --

miss the reds. Terrific shot, only just caught the

black. In matches as big as this these are

the frames that make all the difference.

A lot of cue between the bridge hand. Didn't get enough stuff on it.

If he had have been on the red he could have gone on and pinched the

frame will stop --. You could tell he didn't really

fancy that one. It has left a long red for Stephen Maguire.

If you place for a colour he has got to get it.

That red seemed to jump a little bit.

It looks as if he can make these two reds into a plant.

He never looked at the possibility of making that plant.

He has taken this second frame but I suppose that Luke helped. -- fluke.

He has done more than enough. It is 1-1.

HAZEL IRVINE: It looked as though Stephen Maguire might be in line to

steal that but this calculation on pink in the middle. Just got into

the cue ball little too much. So much room for error. He could have

won the frame from that position. Those are the positions Stephen

Maguire cannot let go. Did he miss a trick with that

planned? I think the plant was an easier

option. Ronnie O'Sullivan made it look easy. Perhaps it was over

distance, he thought it would be hard. I would be tempted to have a

look. He didn't give it a second glance. Where are you going to miss

a trick against one it a solvent? When he gets amongst the balls very

rarely does he breakdown, positionally.

Some great safety in that frame. It has to be really good. Ronnie has

been on top form this week. A huge frame, I know it is very early, but

a great opportunity for Stephen Maguire to go 2-0 up. That would

really put more pressure on Ronnie O'Sullivan. We are back all square.

He might be if seen enough of this red.

Look at the amount of site he had on that right-hand side.

He was using the pack to come back here. Got to be a bit careful.

You are never guaranteed what might happen from that position.

I think you got a fast bounce off the cushion.

He was a bit unlucky when he potted that red. It looked like it might

have flicked one of those two reds. A little bit of side on the

left-hand side of the cue ball. They always tend to put a little bit of

side on the cue ball. He has just knocked the greenback

onto its spots, I have never seen that before.

You always see something different on a snooker table.

What are the odds against that happening?

These days on the tight pockets it doesn't happen that often that you

wobble a ball and it bounces into the opposite pocket, but it

certainly did there. Ronnie had a fluke, plant, in the

second frame. How many will Stephen make from his fluke?

I am not sure if they put a new cloth on for the semifinal. When you

have got a brand-new cloth, it will tend to slide them off the angle.

You might just be able to get the one at the back of the three reds to

cut into the right corner. He has parted the red but not played

too much in a positive fashion. All of a sudden he is not hitting

them as cleanly as he was in the first frame.

He is doing a lot of smiling this evening.

I don't know what he's looking at. They are all covering each other.

What has he sported? Nothing will pot there, so...

It is as if he is wanting to take... Well, what could you take

on, there? It seems a pretty straightforward

escape back down the table as long as he gets over.

Well, that is totally the wrong shot. I think he was so annoyed that

he didn't get onto that red on the right, he could have played an easy

safety shot off this one. I think he was expecting the cue ball to go the

other side of the blue and possibly back to baulk.

Excellent in the first frame, but the standard has slipped a little

bit. He can't afford to do that. He's got a choice of reds, but

potting this one clears the path for two more into the right corner.

He doesn't have too play any canons, they will all just clear each other.

Just about OK. Just over -screwed that slightly. Just wondering if the

ball is coming off that right side question a little quicker than

normal. Well, Ronnie hasn't hit the heights

of his previous round yet, but he still looks odds-on to go 2-1 ahead.

It's amazing, we are in the third frame. The previous round, the

quarterfinal, the match was nearly over at this stage.

He's going to do this, Ronnie, make a mistake and he's going to punish

it, because you don't lose your form overnight. Stephen Maguire, I think

that is why he was a bit angry with himself, not getting on the red when

he covered it with the blue. He's not even going to bother with

the black. Stephen Maguire made an error on the positional side of

things, that was his last shot. Ronnie cleaned up with a 73 break

and he now leads 2-1. Normal service resumed. He has been

in front for all of his matches so far, Ronnie O'Sullivan. You thought

that Stephen Maguire was not in control of the cue ball to any

extent that we saw in the first frame? A few wobbles in the jaws of

the pocket. His positional play has let him down. This frame as well,

another great chance to win it. Positional play, he is losing the

cue ball, he has to get a tighter with it and punish him at every

opportunity. I did get the feeling that he has gone out with a game

plan to be attacking. The 50-50 shots that you sometimes decide to

play, sometimes you decide to play them safe, it looks like he's going

for every one of those, even to the stage when he decided to play,

instead of an easy safety shot, a speculative shot to nothing. A bit

unlucky to catch the blue, but he's going for everything, saying, I'm

going to go for it before I get punished for not going for it.

That's the way he can make you play. You can play great safety and still

get punished, so why not go for the shot? That is probably the way he is

approaching it, a risky way to play, but it could work. And he shouldn't

panic, he should not think this early that he needs to go for those

shots. Ronnie O'Sullivan probably would not have taken that shot on

with the rest. He shouldn't panic and think he has to go for the

speculative 50-50s, because if he does, that is exactly what is going

to happen. You can see from the opening frames,

Ronnie O'Sullivan's natural ability is putting pressure on every shot

that Stephen Maguire plays. Terrific cueing, there. But this is

a tricky black that will cut back into a blind pocket.

That is all about judgement, because you cannot see the pop it in your

eye line. -- pocket. I think we know when Ronnie is in

first, two blacks, he will be playing for the blacks every time.

Leaving himself an angle on the black this time, to try to stun into

these reds. He's gone too far. It will be a deep

screw, with a right-hand side, read to the corner. -- red.

Looking to see if he can get on the pink there, so maybe he's going to

forget about All Blacks. That's a bit unlucky. Look where the

pink has gone, right next to the blue. An awkward red into the middle

pocket. The one he potted at the start, into the middle pocket, was

superb. That was coming back across, but not

hard enough. Five reds, five blacks. Two players with 11 maximum breaks,

one is out on the table. The other one is sitting right next to me.

The mid-session interval is coming up after this frame.

Is that going to reach? I don't think it is, is it? No. REFEREE:

Foul and a miss. He did look at the possibility of

cutting the red into the left middle pocket, but it was too tough a shot.

Slight adjustment here and he should be OK.

Has he got a slight bit of angle with this red? That would be some

shot to knock that in and get on the black. It mustn't be absolutely dead

straight. It's almost straight, so there is no real value in attempting

that. It is just the red next to the Brown

that is causing the slight problem. The fact he has can end the yellow

means that Ronnie could cut this red back in that is next to the brown.

The only thing is, he would have to finish on the black, because the

pink and blue are awkward. But there is every chance that he could pot

this, come across the table and drop on the black.

He needed to slip past the red and he has.

There is a bit of pressure on this black.

I know Ronnie made the fluke in the second, on top of the safety, but

the look he had in his eye in the first frame, he has not have that

back since. The black that we showed you that

wobbled on the pocket, on the older cloth it may not have dropped in.

With the new cloth, it just makes it slide in.

A couple of pots and he will have this fourth frame in the bag.

Just over the hour. It's amazing when you think that he beat Ricky

Walden in under an hour, 6-0. That's quite incredible. That one doesn't

drop. But he's had enough, there is 84, no

chance of getting the snookers from that position. So, Stephen Maguire,

set off like a house on fire with a break of 78, but he's lost the last

three. It was all in the blink of an eye.

Stephen Hendry made an interesting point about intensity. When you

think back to the opening frame, McGuire was brimming with that, a

sense of purpose and real look about him? The thing that altered him was

not so much missing pots, it was missing position play. If a guy is

stopped in his tracks, the bubble can burst. Is it burst? Maybe this

interval is coming at the right time, but I would be worried if I

was in his corner. From Ronnie's perspective, do you think that he is

now shifting through those gears? Considering the start of the match

was not the way that he started the previous two matches and he did not

have it his own way, by the end of the session he was back at the

office, he looks like he's totally dominating. So quickly, things can

change, they came very quickly in a snigger frame. It looks like

business as usual. We were discussing it could be another

runaway victory, if he's not careful, and Ronnie O'Sullivan looks

like he's in the groove. We are going to rewind to avenge this

afternoon, three times Masters winner Mark Selby and Sean Murphy,

the man that reached the final couple of weeks back. Didn't start

very well for Sean Murphy. He lost the first frame. Selby was very

good, with 86. Sean Murphy did not pot a ball. Murphy is in trouble, as

he was all of the way through frame two as well.

There is a possibility, the bread that is in the right corner pocket,

he probably wouldn't leave a lot. He's trying to nestle into these

reds. He has left the red to the left middle.

The black is tied up, but I'm sure pink pots Winterbottom. -- in to

bottom. The angle he left himself on the

pink, she had to play for this red to the corner. I wonder if he could

simply pot this. Just getting his extension, because

he's having to reach over a few balls. It means, with the extension,

you can use a longer bridge. This will be handy. He'll pop this

red to the corner pocket and that will release another one and

possibly two reds in two the corner pocket.

He'll be a little bit is appointed there. -- disappointed. He shouldn't

have been so strange the other side of the pink. -- so straight on the

other side of the pen. No problem, as it turned out, he played the

cannon. He will be thinking this is a frame

winning chance. Doesn't this just some up snooker?

He came in, tremendous atmosphere, the Superman theme, and he's not had

a chance to get his hand on the table, really. He played a thick

safety, we suggested that would be his game plan. But a good pot from

Mark laid the snooker, and he did not escape from it. It's a tough

game, you get the big intro, you end up just sitting there and can't

perform. A couple of reds, a couple of

colours, that is all he is from taking this second frame. Sean

Murphy, still to score a point. He's just having a look, not sure if

he can get around the back of the black.

He needs to get high on this blue, just about.

This blue will put him 62 points in front with 67 remaining.

Realistically, this blue and one more red will do.

Fantastic start for Mark Selby. Just what he would have hoped for. When

he gets in, he seems to have that cue ball on a string, doesn't he?

Frame ball. Well acknowledged from this wonderful crowd here.

Missed out on a century in the first frame, which would have disappointed

him slightly. He'd like to make amends for that. Can he get enough

of this red? To the left of the black? It doesn't appear so.

So, it doesn't look as though Sean Murphy will have a chance to put his

first ball of the match. This frame is long gone.

Now he may be able to pot this red. Has he run far enough? Now you see

it, 159 points to zero. Nicely on the blue. A chance for the

century increasing. You couldn't think of a more perfect

start, could you? No, fantastic. He has made 318th centuries, would you

believe? I was looking at that stat. Sean Murphy turned

professional year before Mark, but Mark has made 30 more centuries than

Sean. It is OK, he stamped his foot. Is that allowed?

He's going to have to be a little bit careful, screwing around off two

cushions. The green is not on its spot. You've got to try and avoid

the green. Not bad. Could have done with a bit more pace in the cue

ball. It deserves a century. It's been flawless, this contribution.

Well, I think we are going to see one now.

Nicely on the brown. The brown would put him on 99.

Absolutely wonderful. From his first pot in the first frame, he has

looked majestic. Well, he didn't get the pink, but he

got the century and that was more than enough. Sean Murphy, still to

pot a ball. HAZEL IRVINE: He did eventually put

a ball in the third frame. It was downhill from Murphy's perspective.

He was beaten by his great friend, Mark Selby. It put him three to his

fifth Masters final in seven years. Some interesting observations

afterwards. I played well, probably best I have

all week. I managed to start off well and put him under pressure. I

went in feeling confident I would pull out a good performance but it

wasn't to be, I have to face the music that perhaps my time of

winning big events is over. I was preparing myself for 6-5 but great

to get over the line, there's no fracking number passed. Have played

some good matches in this tournament. There are positives to

take forward to the next tournament, I will go home and keep practising.

I will keep trying. Maybe the time is the time for me to start looking

at things and do something else. That really is a very shocking

couple of statements. Is that heat of the moment stuff? Is he serious?

He could be serious about that. When you went to see him in his home

everything was uplifting, trying new things, putting the work in on the

practice table. I think it is a gut wrenching reaction, off the

disappointment. He was totally outplayed. He got off to a bad

start. I hope it is just one of those reactions after the match.

He showed a lot of courage in the opening two matches. He said he felt

he had been through a life test in the last six months and had come

through with flying colours. This is completely at odds with what he was

saying. It shows the bug ability of people

in sport. The difference between winning and losing. --

vulnerability. We have been trying so hard to find form, you try

everything you can on the practice table, you have got a coach on your

side, look at your diet, fitness. You think by doing these things you

deserve the right to win. Because you have tried so hard it will fall

into place. It does, for some of the top players. But it doesn't when the

other guys are very good as well. That frustration can build up. I am

not absolutely sure about finding something else. What else can we do?

Probably wakes up tomorrow, different story. But in a way,

sometimes your best form comes when you least expect it, when you are

not trying. I know when you won the World Championships it was very

similar. I wasn't expected to win, less pressure, sometimes it helps.

Let's hope we don't lose Shaun Murphy from snooker because he is a

great personality. Mark Selby marches past him into the

final tomorrow. This is the 40th playing of this brilliant

tournament, the top Invitational event for Smith. When we talk about

anniversaries what about the 30th anniversary of the classic much dash

of this classic match? From 1984. The best semifinal, Jimmy White,

Stevens, 84. Kurt Stevens had a reputation for being an attacking

player. When he put on that suit his place in history was made.

What a lovely shot. A tremendous cheer there. 113, highest break of

the tournament so far. That is a new way of putting the

pink. -- potting. Very difficult bridging indeed. Jimmy White

declares a fowl and instantly the referee agreed.

That is it. Jimmy White makes it 5-3. This was one to savour, even

the commentator would get carried away.

Watch the white, this is where he wants a little bounce of the

cushion. Get in! Lovely! Super! And just look at the stuff on that

ball. That is wizardry. Words escape me. Just fantastic.

If ever there was the justification for champagne, this is the night.

You can have the BBC water glass. On behalf of everybody, thank you for

one of the greatest sessions of snooker in the history of the game.

It is the night none of us here will ever forget. Surely a daft question,

you can never have been involved in a session like that ever, could you?

He is great, he pots from anywhere, once gets in you might as well

forget about it. You can rarely have played better. I played

brilliantly, I was 3-0 up, I didn't feel as if I lost the games, I feel

Kirk won them. When did you realise the big one was

on? After I putted the last open red --

partied. I thought I could make the game

secure. You don't get a lot of opportunities, I had to go for it.

1984 was his year. He lost again in another semifinal. Sadly he never

won the majors that would match his talent. He went on to win his only

Masters title, and a new People's Champion was born.

HAZEL IRVINE: You might get a cup of TV stays, you certainly don't get

champagne. You were in that particular tournament, did you

witness that? No, as the great soul, I would have been, I would have

refused BBC television existed until the tournament finished. It was one

of the great nights. This event produces them year in, year out.

Some classic matches down through the years. The 147s. And those that

never were. It is a great tournament, great history, I grew up

watching those images. That is what made me want to become a snooker

player. The first ever maximum in the

Masters. There has only been to. Back to business, three decades on.

That was 30 years ago. Back to Ali Parry. -- Ally Pally.

Let's see if the mid-session interval can swing things back in

Stephen Maguire's favour. He started losing control of the cue ball, got

himself out of position a few times. That is all it took. Ronnie jumped

on the mistakes and one those three frames. -- and he won.

You heard the grown from Stephen. Not a good shot there.

You can see his temper, not happy with that shot at all.

Not much available, just this easy read.

A good angle to develop a funeral. Dashed to develop a fume all.

Stephen Maguire groaned there, he knew he hadn't hit it hard enough.

Stephen Maguire is back at the table a lot sooner than he would have

expected. Let's see if Stephen can play a

better cannon. Where is that cue ball? That is

unlucky. He had to really catch the cue ball, he was quite low.

He had to take that read on but look what he has left. What a chance for

Stephen Maguire. In the context of the match, he has

to win the frame at this visit. Two of the main ingredients for

getting to the top in the snooker world our dedication and

determination. And when you watch Stephen Maguire taking a shot,

certainly plenty of determination in those eyes.

That was very poor cueing. You can see his backhand there. That is

worrying. That was a very poor shot. In the

context of the match. All it does is give O'Sullivan more

confidence. He has not been great tonight, but

he has just done enough. It is going to be very difficult to

reproduce the form he showed in the quarterfinal. The crowd here

witnessed one of those sessions that was out of this world.

That little expression tells you it will not BBC to clinch this frame.

-- it will not be the. It is Ronnie's turn to push the cue

through. He has got to drop this in dead

weight, will automatically finish on the black. If it is tight on the

cushion it makes it slightly easier. He just flicked it away from the

cushion. You have got to hit the ball and the cushion at the same

time. He just caught the red. He needed three chances, he took the

third one and extends his lead, he leads 4-1.

HAZEL IRVINE: O'Sullivan easing into a 4-1 lead there. He had a couple of

chances. He just begin to detect real signs of frustration in Stephen

you wonder about the balance between composure and determination.

He started off in this match really composed.

All of a sudden he looks like a different player. He is getting

chances. Ronnie O'Sullivan is not on form, by any stretch of the

imagination, he is vulnerable. In that frame he missed the red, he

left it in the jaws of the pocket. It should be closer. This is the

Stephen Maguire we have seen in recent years coming out. The head

drops a bit. It is understandable. We have all been in the situation

way to start to feel the inevitable, another day it is all

going to go wrong. The optimism evaporates immediately.

There is Ronnie Jr, and of his glasses. -- I love his glasses.

Make no mistake, Ronnie O'Sullivan will be trying to get this match

over as quickly as he can. It will be a long day tomorrow. He would not

want a long, tough match here. Stephen Maguire will be hoping to do

that. This is the frame, you feel Stephen

has got to win this. 5-1, it wouldn't have much of a chance.

He queued that one superbly well. -- cued.

The black is blocked up here so has to go back for the blue.

He has bought the pink and the black into play.

It's not straightforward, this chance. The blackspot is covered, so

it would have to go on to the pink spot, which would probably be a good

thing. It would free the black up, sitting on the pink spot. He is

already having a look around to see how he can get himself onto the

black in a few shot's time. Has that covered everything? It

might have. If he slips past that red, he is imperfect position. But

he is not on anything now. Well, that is a bit tight, as you

can see. He'll have to be very precise with this. You've got the

perfect picture. He kept his head so still, there.

That was the best pot of the match so far. Stephen Maguire's opening

pot was just as good, but that was a bit special, there.

It might be a little bit straight, but it looks like he might have a

slight angle. Shouldn't be a problem with the red that is over the corner

pocket. He has a slight angle. He wants this red away to open the

pocket up. He's got to be a bit careful he

doesn't catch the other red. He played back with lots of check

size, left-hand side, to hold for the black. Without the side he would

have cannoned into the reds. It's not often you see Ronnie

O'Sullivan play careless shots, the red sand blacks.

Well, he played a very aggressive shot. On the pink, he could have

quite easily pushed it safe, put it out of commission, but he decided to

go full-blooded for it. 40 points in front, I think he was a little bit

disappointed he didn't get on the black and that was the reason he

took the pink on. I don't think Maguire ever believed

he would get so many chances. He beats one more good shot. -- he

needs one more good shot. A couple of questions to the pink, for the

same pocket. I don't think he will risk a cannon on the black.

He has definitely lost his way at the moment. It's going to be

frustrating for him. If Ronnie takes full advantage here, you can't

really see a way back for Stephen Maguire.

In the end, he did play the cannon on the black.

That pink Ronnie Tucker on before, another explanation is maybe he does

not believe he's going to get punished any more.

56 ahead, a possible 51 on the table.

Another frame has slipped away. Stephen Maguire has had his chances

but he is just not taking them. Ronnie's highest break this evening

is a break of 73. It just shows you he is not at the

top of his form and he is still leading 5-1.

He had a couple of 40 breaks in the frame before the mid-session

interval to take him to a 3-1 lead. No breaks in the previous frame.

Doesn't matter about the pink. That break of 59 is enough for Ronnie

O'Sullivan to get another frame on the board. He now leads 5-1.

He is looking at his tip. I don't think much work will need to be done

on it. Stephen Maguire has gone off the boil. Some of the misses have

been amazing. He looks a beaten player now. I think he started off

the match really determined. He's getting so many chances, but these

are just two shots. He just looks completely deflated. The pink was

the one. But that one there, I think you called the correct shot. He was

going to play round for the pink, I think, but he hit it so thick. He is

smiling away at Ronnie. It just shows there is still good

camaraderie between the players. He wants to say something to him.

I'm not quite sure what that was all about.

I think they were probably having a conversation that they were

expecting it to be a much better match. It's not turning out to be

that way. He has to give it his best shot now, he is 5-1 down, back

against the wall, just let the cue do the work, push it through in a

straight line. That is better. He will be a little bit

embarrassed, the way he has played this evening, after knocking out

Neil Robertson. It's never over until it's over.

Only one player can play on the table and if Stephen can keep Ronnie

sitting in his seat, you will never know.

Stephen is well capable of wheeling of two or three frames in one

visit. It's a question of if he's in the frame of mind to do that.

He just over screw that. He hasn't got the angle he wanted to have a

pop at that red at the back of the bunch.

He had to play for that and we have seen what happened in the previous

frame. He has got to get out onto the black. Will have to pay with a

little bit of pace. He did not cue that smoothly.

He has a resigned look on his face now.

Dead straight on the green, there is a red at the bottom of the pack that

will pocket to the right corner, screw the cue ball in a straight

line. Just as you predicted, this will

open the reds. This has got to go in, the red over

the right corner. Surely he hasn't flipped it? Would

you believe it? Well, Stephen Maguire is sitting in his seat,

smiling away. Well, everybody is smiling at that one. Ronnie is still

laughing, he's a bit embarrassed about that fluke. He missed the blue

by so far. That just illustrates how tough

snooker is. The way he played yesterday and the way he is playing

tonight. The last time they played in the

Masters, it was at this stage, semifinal.

Ronnie won that 6-1. The year before, 2008, Stephen beat him in

the Masters 6-5. Has he played his last shot in this

year's Masters? It will be interesting to hear what

Ronnie says about that tip. He has been looking at it and flicking it

with his nail. I'm sure someone will ask the question.

Sometimes you can get little fibres that stick out, it can be right in

your eye line when you take a shot. 37 ahead. There are not many pots

from securing the semifinal win. That is just a lapse in

concentration. Well, he didn't even think about that shot. He thought, I

can't miss this. It just shows you, if you don't concentrate 100%, you

can miss anything. Has Stephen got it in him? The

desire to clear up here? He would have resigned himself to

defeat when Ronnie was in there. Purposefully playing for the blue to

get it back on its spot. A straightforward clearance with the

colours all on their spots. When I say straightforward, he is 5-1

down. This is the blue that Ronnie left

over the pocket. This match should already be over.

But it's not. I'm just wondering, could that turn things around if he

clears up here? You never know what can happen in

this game. He wiped his feet, slightly. He is

not finished yet. Ronnie O'Sullivan hard a break of 57, but what an easy

blue. I have not seen an easier shot missed that will get him into the

semifinal. But we are still here, 5-2 to The Rocket. That was amazing,

that is on the blue. I think Ronnie thought, that's it, I'm in the

semifinal. All he have to do was roll it in, a choice of reds. I

don't know what happened here? Concentration? Absolutely. He played

it with a touch of drag. He has not been on it like he was yesterday.

But, like before, he has been doing enough to stay in front. He will be

really irritated by that. Absolutely. He would want to get the

match over as quickly as possible and get himself ready for the final

against Mark Selby, that will be some final, I can tell you, the way

that Mark Selby has started playing. Stephen Maguire, all he can do is

just take it frame by frame, now. Refusing the pot, it is an awkward

angle to take that red on. Taking the safety shot.

He will take this red on, because he can't get onto the black this time.

This will tell us a little story, if he has got over the easy blue that

he missed, if he knocks that in he will forget about that.

Just off straight and he judged it to perfection.

Plenty of loose reds. At least five threads that are available to

Ronnie. That is why he did not cannon into

the pink, there. Someone is determined to raise the

memories of this blue and get this much won now. No more mucking about.

If he does go on to take this frame, it will be quite amazing. That will

be his 10th final in the Masters. He has won it on four occasions.

Just a couple more's reds available to him, one to the right of the

bunch will pot. One good split here and he would

have a great chance. Stunned into them. Players that shot

so well. -- plays that shot. Some players screw into the pack, always

stick in the back of them. The way he played, he stunned into the side

and open them beautifully. This was it, just caught that and

read, half ball. Beautiful shot. -- that end red. Would it not be ironic

if he clinched the match with his highest break? Up until now, 73 has

been his highest. This man at the table has made 724

century breaks in his career. He is getting ever closer. Ever closer to

Stephen Hendry's record, around the 760 mark. I asked Stephen and he

said he couldn't remember how many he has made.

There is a gap there. Maybe we will finish with a century.

We have had 15 centuries this year. He is doing what all great champions

do. He is finishing in style. He has already made 29 centuries

this season. He has saved his best for the last

frame. Ronnie Jr will be absolutely

delighted. We know Ronnie feels pretty good. I

bet his son is feeling even better than his dad.

This crowd are loving it. There is no harm making noise at this stage,

let them enjoy themselves. Stephen Maguire, after the first frame,

wasn't at the races. Ronnie didn't play his best snooker, but what a

way to finish, that 129 break gets him into his 10th final here at the

Masters. A comfortable win in the end.

HAZEL IRVINE: He is on his way to talk to us, finishing in style.

Didn't bother with the black in the end. We did feel at 3-1 the contest

was beginning to come to an end, even at that stage. Ominous signs

for Stephen Maguire, got off to a great start but couldn't contain it.

Ronnie didn't play at his best but he was still good enough. His cue

action is totally in sync. He was cueing the ball magnificently. All

set up for a fantastic final. Congratulations. Ten out of ten. You

must feel good. I know I do all right here. You have

got a great record, finishing with a century at the end. How good did you

feel in comparison with that session where you have the Midas touch

yesterday? Yesterday, you go through spells in

your career where you can find that form quite regularly. I had a spell

for a couple of years where I was playing like that. For the last six

weeks I struggled a bit. The bit in and out. You just don't find that

touch. When it goes it is hard to get back into it. Your consistency

can be a bit up and down. Overall my mindset, if it isn't going well, it

isn't what I am used to. That is how it can get sometimes.

You talk about Mark Selby, third Masters final.

You christened him the torturer in your book. I mean that in a

complimentary way. A bit like playing Andy Murray, you

know you will have to play a lot of shots to get in sometimes and it is

about having that patients and mindset. I am a lot better dealing

with it now I am working with Steve Peters. I get a bit fed up sometimes

and want to go home, but I know I don't want to go home, it is that

part of your brain that tells you. Can you look forward to a match

against him? Of course, it is the final of the Masters, you have got

to enjoy occasions like this. You have got to beat all kinds of

players. Mark will make it tough for me, he makes it tough for everybody.

He is a tough competitor. He is made of metal. I have got to find a way

and breakthrough and stay focused and give it my best and play every

ball the way Mark plays it and give it 100%.

We are looking forward to seeing you play. Thank you very much. Tomorrow

we are back on the air with the first session in the best of 19

frames match at 1:30pm. It is one final each between these two great

players, something has got to give tomorrow.