Final, Part 1 Masters Snooker

How does it feel to win a Masters? It is proof that you are the best of

the best. The World Championship is your first game in every season, but

the Masters is the second, because it proves you are the best player in

the world. To have the Masters new CV is just incredible. It takes

great, determination... A bit. Ronnie O'Sullivan has four Masters,

Mark Selby has three Masters, it would be a fascinating battle. This

has all the hallmarks of a clash of the titans.

It certainly does, good afternoon, Alexandra Palace is packed for one

of the great days in snooker in any year. Stand-by for the 40th playing

of the final, featuring two specialists of this event, who

between them, have won this title seven times. This is the third

occasion that there are parts of crossed in a truly matters in the

final. -- when there are parts of crossed. The Rocket against the man

that he calls the torturer. He is the defending champion and I am

current world champion, so I suppose it is good for the spectators, good

for everyone that likes to watch snooker. Playing Ronnie O'Sullivan

in the final will be a great atmosphere. I played him a few years

ago in the Masters final, and it was probably the best atmosphere I have

ever played in, and I'm sure it will be brilliant. The crowd get very

excited, they love the snooker in London, it is a great atmosphere, I

am just really pleased to be part of it. My record speaks for itself.

Five out of seven finals is a great achievement, and I will give it my

all until the last ball is potted. He is a tough competitor and match

player, he has the ability to win matches even when he's not at his

best. I call him the torturer, he has tortured a few opponents. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has got his opinion, obviously he is a fantastic player,

not everyone is as naturally gifted as Ronnie O'Sullivan, but this is my

style, and I will do my best. This is a special tournament for me and

for all of the players, really, so to get my hands on the trophy would

be fantastic, but I have a long way to go. I just have to soak it all

up. To join the elite group who have done it four times or more would be

a fantastic feeling. Ronnie O'Sullivan has enjoyed a brilliant

freewheeling journey to O'Sullivan has enjoyed a brilliant

freewheeling journey what is a record 10th Masters final in 20

years, and he is only last three frames along the way, Ferres Mark

Selby's nerve was tested with the start difficult frames. This is a

match that had no real edge, sharpened by previous contests.

Sullivan has prevailed in ten of their previous 17 matches, but Mark

Selby has inflicted pain on the way and beaten Ronnie in dramatic last

cap styles in the Welsh final of 2008 and in this final in 2010 when

he won the last four frames in a row to pick the Rocket to the title in a

decided. -- decider. Very few players that can get under

Ronnie O'Sullivan skin, Mark Selby is one of them, why is this? Mark

Selby stands up to him, he is probably one of two players that can

stand up to him on the table. He does not try to frustrate Ronnie

O'Sullivan on purpose, but there were signs that some of that defence

of this and negativity has been replaced for the time being, with a

really fluent, aggressive attacking style. I think it was probably the

best performance I have seen from Mark Selby all season. Every time he

was getting income he was doing it in one visit, whereas before he was

breaking down and was not as consistent and making those big

breaks. He has got to stick to his own as Stephen said, Ronnie

O'Sullivan can bully you, and you can get into a groove with Ronnie,

but if he plays his own game, he will be OK. How equipped is Ronnie

O'Sullivan to cope with what Mark Selby will throw at him, I'm talking

specifically about his work with Steve Peters? He knows that Mark

Selby is up for the challenge and he knows that he can be better. There

will be fireworks. It is a fantastic contrast, different styles, they do

not really get on that well, there is a bit of needle, and we love a

bit of needle, so it would be a great final, I'm looking forward to

it. We have waited four years for another head-to-head like this,

let's go to Rob Walker, it is all yours.

It is the big on! Welcome to the final of the 2014 Masters! This is

the matchup that many people wanted to see! It could be absolutely epic!

Please welcome, a player who at times this week has been simply

sublime, conceding only three frames on routes to this, his record 10th

Masters final, he is one of the favoured sons he first won the title

in 1995, here he is, ready to turn back the clock in style, is the

reigning champion of the world, link and you will miss him! The Rocket!

Ronnie O'Sullivan! CHEERING RONNIE O'SULLIVAN - MUSIC: "A Man

Should Better Himself" by George Lam.

And his opponent, here for his fifth Masters final in seven years, and an

amazing records who never knows when he's beaten in this tournament,

coming through 265 deciders alone, three times the winner of this

crown, he is the defending champion, here comes the just from last, Mark

Selby! -- the Jester from last! CHEERING

This is the match they have wanted to see all week, and if it is

anything like their previous matchups, it will keep us glued all

evening! Eight frames to be played this afternoon, the formalities

being observed before we get underway, and we say good afternoon

to Steve Davis and John Virgo, gentlemen, take it away!

Good afternoon, you do not get an atmosphere like this very often, it

is absolutely electric, you have been here, Steve, and you have

played in these atmospheres, people wonder how you play your hands

steady when you play these shots? You are excited as everybody else,

but you know that you are there to do a job. Everybody, all of the

cameras and the phones away, please. We have been discussing various

people, Ronnie's mindset coming into this, and a good yardstick is his

attitude off the table as much as on the table, but something I noticed

at the start as he walked in, many times when he walked into an

auditorium, you does not acknowledge the crowd on little bit, as if he

doesn't re-want to be there. But Ronnie O'Sullivan but a hand up to

the fans, a sign that he is possibly a tease to himself. -- possibly at

ease with himself. Purposely played to skew back to baulk, maybe if it

had been a bit further back. It was interesting, what you say, he has

embraced the crowd this week, Steve. He has created this tremendous

atmosphere that we have got, and for the final should be like that.

This leaves safety shot gives Mark Selby a chance for the red into the

corner. Very little chance of leaving a red.

I thought he would have played the one nearest to the cushion and run

around the outside cushions. He could cut along the thin side and

click the red. -- flick the red. He has had on pot and not taken

advantage. We Ronnie O'Sullivan has playing this week, the standard he

has been setting is a re-soak Mark Selby needs to take these half

chances. -- the standard he has been setting is very high, so Mark Selby

needs to take his chances. This is a nervy start from Mark

Selby. Played it perfectly, a perfect angle

on the blue. This week, Ronnie O'Sullivan has

been very quickly out of the starting blocks.

It is always a joy to watch Ronnie O'Sullivan and how he goes building

a break. I do not think the two reds by the

black spot will part, so therefore, he is working around the pink ball

here. -- will pot. He just has got to be careful with this one if he

decides to screw back. Nicely held. Close control around the top of the

table does bigger difference, positionally. You can close in on

the balls. That cue ball bounced off the

cushion a bit further. As I say, you do not want to be stretching like

this. He has tried to play it a left-handed, but he cannot get in

the line, so trying to play it on the rest. Interesting if he goes for

the black year. -- here. He did play for the black, so I can

only assume that when the black is re-spotted, it will be in the open.

He has gone a little bit straight on it, so that is why he has decided to

have a change of plan and play for the pink. This is another reason why

I think that Ronnie O'Sullivan is mentally sharp and you to do a job

this week. -- and here. He needs a good angle now, because

this is the last of the easy reds to get on. Decided to leave an angle on

the pink and now he will part the pink and stunned into these four

reds. You always need a little bit of luck. What is he on now?

He was able to see an offer that, and he brought a red into play.

Fancy winning this frame now at this visit.

There is no better feeling than making a century break in the first

frame, it sets you up for the day. It stands her authority on the

match. -- its stamps your authority. This pink will put in 68 finds in

front with just 67 remaining. -- 68 points.

And how easily has he made this break look?

Now, he is going to make the century, he has got to bring that

red away from the black, so he can do it off the pink. Tremendous. He

can just about cut this red in. I'm lucky! Just overcut it, but what a

start! The last one that he missed cost him the frame, that was Ronnie

O'Sullivan at his absolute best. He wins the first frame.

That is the way to start a final, Ronnie O'Sullivan moves past Stephen

Hendry with the record for appearances at Masters final. As for

Mark Selby, he has won three of the last six titles in this event, and

this is his best final in seven years, quite an amazing return for

effort in this event, and this has been the event at which he has fared

best by a country mile, and I think it undermined his love of the

limelight and the one table prestige of the occasion. But it was a good

start. Yes, Ronnie O'Sullivan has laid down the marker, a nervous

start for Mark Selby, but Ronnie O'Sullivan, straightaway, straight

off the mark, scoring very, very heavily and looks really good. In

terms of his experience, you would expect one or two jangling nerves,

but he seems to relish this occasion, was it strange to have a

twitchy start from him? I think that Mark Selby realises the occasion and

how big this matches for him, he wants to win well, he does not want

to be run over by Ronnie O'Sullivan, was to prove he is as good as him,

so it is like a boxing match, Ronnie O'Sullivan has the first punch in.

Yes, and it was quite a blow, and we're off and running again.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, looking to see if there is any value in going for a

pot? They do not come much better than

that, absolutely right in the heart of the pocket, beautiful shot.

He does appear to be playing snooker on another level at the moment.

Perhaps the key to this Masters final is the word relentlessness.

Whichever one of these players can get into this mode the quickest

could break the other. Ronnie O'Sullivan has got the first chance,

a great first frame. Can he keep the pressure on?

Maybe he wants a little bit more angle, but I think he can force down

here. I do not think the black is available just yet, so he will have

to go back up for the blue. He would like to have been a little

bit shorter on that, the lights have had an angle on it so he can can the

red to the left the black. Trying to get to the potting angle of the

pink. This is the last of the open reds. Imparting the Pinky would

bring the other reds into play, and he feels that he can pot the pink.

-- in potting the pink. You never actually know where the

red will end up a new career into it like that, but Ronnie O'Sullivan had

every chance of being on a red. A great screw back as well as smashing

into the pack, disturbed as many reds as possible. That is all you

can hope for with that shot. He had a decision to make, he could

have played a drop cannon, but that was risky playing for the blue. He

knew there wasn't much risk. Nicely on the colour and perfect on the

blue. He hit them really well, only one red moved, but there are enough

reds in the open now. That is violent stuff from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. If it was the analogy with a boxing match, round one here

has pummelled him, second round, he is on the ropes.

Has he ran too far? The pink just went in the wrong side of the

pocket, that is why the cue ball ran a little bit too far, but it seems

as if he is OK. Could not get a good angle on the blue. There is Jimmy

White in the audience, and he doesn't come and watch too much

snooker, but like us all, he loves watching Ronnie O'Sullivan play.

He is nicely on this red. Just seeing if he can get through to the

pink here. He would like to play for the pink if he could.

A quick glance at the scoreboard, he is still looking for three reds,

three colours. So, this could be the key to this

second frame. It bounced off the cushion a

fraction. Could have been straight on this pink, you could have rolled

it in quite quick way. -- quickly. During this week, around that part

of the cushion, the top two side cushions have played very fast,

playing straight on them and back off again.

Has he lost position? His body language looks like it. No, it is

OK. We have all run out of superlatives

for Ronnie O'Sullivan, but have you ever seen anybody make such a

difficult game look so easy in any sport? No. And we know how difficult

the game is. And that is a fact. Oh, he has missed the pink, just trying

to squeeze it in, but 70 points in front, and just 51 remaining, I

think Mark Selby will just be having a bit of practice time here. No

thoughts of winning the frame. Just wanted to get his hand on the table

and pot a few balls. I would be astonished if Mark Selby

was going to be playing for snooker is here. -- snookers here. He is

just playing for a bit of fact time. Did he get a kick there? -- playing

for a bit of practice time. He not thinking about winning this frame, I

think he is conceding it. Ronnie O'Sullivan, well, in top gear very

early and looking very, very special out there, 2-0 in front. We have

often talked about the ability of Ronnie to bully players. Worrying

signs for Mark. He needs to get ten in one of the next couple of frames,

because if he is four behind at the interval, he could be in big

trouble. A wonderful long red at the start of the second frame. Yes, if

Ronnie does have an Achilles heel, it is possibly his long potting. But

this week, he has been commended. Everything seems to be totally in

sync. He makes a very difficult game like so easy.

He just have those lovely touches and when he is in full flow like

that, it is so good to watch. He is 38 years of age, he should be in

decline with regard to his snooker ability. But he is still the PM and

clear in the spot. Yes, I think the restructuring of snooker will help

him. He is not going to play every week and I think it will make his

career last longer. STEVE DAVIS: yes, it does seem that

in the past, at the age of about 40, players have gone off the boil.

But I think he has the potential to set the record book straight and set

the barriers back to players being well in their 40s at the top of the

game. If that is the kiss, he would be capable of winning world

Championships in a lot more than just the next couple of years to

come. There are records in danger of being broken.

JOHN VIRGO: he will not be very happy with that safety shot, he

would have wanted it right on the baulk cushion. Brewer.

At the moment, Mark Selby has not got his cue arm going at all.

At this level, not making the baulk line is the sign that you have not

hit the ball at all correctly. It was made more difficult because

he was playing it with kiss. So, people or safety shot from Mark did

not cost him, which will be a really.

That was missable, but the ball is well not in an ideal situation

either. The pink and black very much tied up at the moment. It would take

some sort of break building to get this all into open play. If anyone

can, Ronnie O'Sullivan can. On the wrong side of the blue, so

this will need a good shot to get on the next red.

I think before he even played this shortcoming he that was probably the

likely line that the cue ball would take.

Missed this in contact. He has left an easy starter, but as Steve said,

with the pink and black tied up, this is not easy.

As we speak, Mark Selby has lost all confidence. He could get it back

with one or two pots, to get his cue arm going, but he is called at the

moment, in more ways than one. A couple of players earlier in the

week where complaining about the air conditioning blowing, but at other

times, it has seemed too hot. Now that the pink is in open play,

things begin to look a lot easier. Although we said it was a tricky

situation, you would not put it past him to make the frame winning

contribution, the way he is striking the ball.

This final, the best of 19 frames, the first to win ten. The first

prize of ?200,000. ?90,000 to the runner-up, so they are effectively

playing for ?110,000. If a likelihood that the moment that

Ronnie O'Sullivan will be listing that trophy.

Perhaps I am reading things because he is making the game too easy, but

he seems much more in June this week, much more alert and around the

table. It may be a funny thing to say, but he seems very focused, even

more so than normal. There is a bit more of a spring in

his step, a bit more enthusiasm from him around the table.

One thing is for certain, in any thing you do, if you enjoy it, , you

get on better, even when the pressure is on, you enjoy it. He

played sensationally against Ricky Walden the other day and people

wonder that he could repeat that and at times during the game with

Stephen Maguire, he did exactly that. Stunning stuff. He has just

about on the pink. This pink and he will go 68 points in front, with

just 67 remaining. for Mark Selby at the moment. He is

currently unplayable and that would be with equal table team, but

unfortunately for Mark Selby, he has had none.

Not the best positional shot, but he deserves a century. He nearly got

one in the opening frame. Mark Selby will be sitting there, thinking, I

have got to somehow try and get in, because at the moment, he is been

steam-rollered. I suppose smashing him over the head

with the but of the cue might work, but that is not in the rule book.

He was trying to bring the year low into the, but just missed it. --

yellow. He will need a good shot here, because he requires the yellow

and the green for the century. Unlucky. He has done everything but

make a century so far. Mark Selby is not getting a sniff of a chance so

far. It is the third frame in a row for Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Steve, words can't really describe what we are seen. It is absolutely

superb. OK, no century, but he is winning frames like that, frilly

pink and black wear out of commission, sensational stuff. Yes,

I went back to the relentlessness of Ronnie O'Sullivan and also, Mark

Selby can be similar if he gets going. But it is a big blow so far

for Ronnie O'Sullivan to give him. Because snooker is a game of

occupying the table, you do not get equal play. Whereas in the likes of

golf, darts, you get an equal amount of shots. In the likes of snooker,

when you are sitting in the chair, it simply gets lonelier and lonely.

At the moment, he really needs to get to the practice table, to get

his cue arm going. Yes, it is all happening. Rob

Walker, when he introduced Ronnie O'Sullivan said, blink and you will

miss him and that has been the kiss. Before you hardly know it, we could

be at the mid-session interval. And that would be before Mark Selby

is even really had a chance to play. You can see the points scored at the

moment 269-14 in favour of Ronnie. And there is the cable time, 84%

compared to 16%. -- table. Cracker. Good shot.

That will make him feel better. But he knows he has to make the most of

these opportunities. The reason why you put in countless

hours of practice are for moments like this.

Got into that too much. A bit unlucky. Brewer positional play in

one respect, but he did not quite on the shot, he got really hold of the

cue ball and perhaps Egypt a big bounce off the side cushion, as

well. -- he got. After the initial red, he will be

disappointed that he only got seven points from a visit.

Mark Selby can go for this long red, knowing that the only red he could

leave here will be the one he is going for. But how long we wrote

again and he has stuck it up. If we want have fallen for Mark Selby at

the moment in this tournament. He would have wanted to get a lot

closer to that. If this makes the baulk line, he may

have a go pretty easy at the green. Ronnie just grimaced slightly, he

was looking for more of an angle on that red. He has an angle here to go

into the cluster, but the black is missable.

This is a bit of pressure on trying to go for frames ahead by the

interval. He does not want to miss this, open them up and let Mark

Selby in for a counter attack. I think he will have to play for the

red up by the left middle pocket. I do not think he has the angle on the

black to go Kerry using into the cluster.

So, he will play for this one, he would have liked to have been the

other side so he could of returned down for the black. But he will be

looking for a good angle off the screen. Once he has potted this

green and red sitting above the pack, he will have run out of

portable red is. Things are made harder they the fact that the blue

is not on its spot. Much easier to run back into ball by

playing this with topspin, as he was lining up.

Ideally, would like to catch this pretty thick.

Well, he needed to hit this ball fool, but he only caught at quarter

ball. Can he actually get through the gap. Maybe just.

Nope, he is not going for it, we thought it was on, but he will know

better than us. He also knows the importance of this frame. There is a

huge difference going into the mid-session interval only two frames

behind, compared to four. Good safety.

Another turn of the ball and Mark Selby would have been in a lot of

trouble there. A bit fortunate to get down the

table and also to hamper Ronnie. He has needed a bit of luck and he has

certainly had it there. We see this game is all about

fractions. Ronnie did not want to bounce off the baulk cushion like

that, but the way things have been going, you expected it almost to

keep up eating the green. That was a much better strike on the

safety shot. If he can do that, he is much more likely to force an

error from Ronnie. Apart from anything else, it will

help him get into the rhythm of the match.

He does not normally give this so much thought, but that gives you an

idea of the difficulty. He knew that there could be a red coming back up

the table with them. Yes, he was willing to make that sacrifice, but

he did very well to get the cue ball back into ball. -- into the baulk

area. At least he is making Ronnie think

this frame. There are places on the top cushion

which are safe, but you do not want the cue ball coming back out to fire

from the top cushion, which has happened. So, this could be as good

a chance as Mark Selby is going to get from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It is

very missable. This is a chance to get the first

frame on the scoreboard and he certainly knows it. He certainly

seemed to cue that a hell of a lot better.

He let it affect him. He lost his competitive competitive edge there.

I am not aware of the person who was clapping. Every now and then, people

come to you snooker event and maybe do not know the etiquette and maybe

get a bit over excited. Even so, as a professional, you have to deal

with everything. But he was very disappointed to miss that one

afterwards. In practice, I do not think he would miss that once in

1,000 teams. But he does have a 36 point lead, but that could quickly

disappear if he does not get this safe.

This doesn't look like a bad line at all, could not have played it

better. If Ronnie O'Sullivan was to get out

of this and leave Mark Selby a chance at a red, that is the one he

would be aiming for. If the person that is clapping

really loudly and you have an earpiece and, perhaps ease up on the

clapping a bit, and it might help your chosen player.

There is Patsy Fagan in the audience, 1977 UK champion. There is

only one Patsy Fagan! There were a few imposters around

last year. Just thinking when he can leave his cue ball in the most

awkward position. He is frightened of leaving a long pot on for Ronnie,

because he would be thinking that will cost him the frame, but to not

overthink it. Trying to use the green as a block.

He is tied on the baulk cushion. That is a bit dangerous, but is the

green blocking the path to the red? Obviously, it is, because Ronnie has

to play safe. He didn't play it, you played it

across the other side of the table, played the cue ball into the jaws

around the yellow pocket. That click on the green, if he had kissed the

green full ball, Mark Selby would have had a good chance to the left

corner. It has helped Mark Selby a fraction in as much as it would be

difficult for Ronnie O'Sullivan to clear up in one visit. So, he would

have been delighted to see the green goal next to that lieu. -- blue. A

bit of an insurance policy. He just wanted to leave it in the

jaws of the pocket, felt like that was the safest place, but Ronnie

O'Sullivan can get this cue ball and not a good red in and get right back

into this frame, but with the green being near the blue... A great shot,

difficult for Ronnie to win in one visit, but look at that. Beautifully

struck. If he can win this frame in one

visit, then, I think that is end of story for the day! Of course, he

doesn't have to even attempt to. Just two points behind now. Just

checking the green. There is no way to get past the blue.

Let's see how he goes about trying to bring that green into play.

If he doesn't get the potting angle, he will run into the brown, so he

needs to play this inch perfect. He's tried to get something

happening there, and now, all of a sudden, he has lost control of the

tactical part of the frame, but it was never going to be easy.

So, even Ronnie O'Sullivan couldn't win that frame in one visit, but an

excellent contribution. The chants of snooker in behind the

brown for Ronnie O'Sullivan here with the cue ball. It would be hard

to force a frame-winning mistake from your opponent with the green

mayor. -- green fair. Doesn't want to leave it with a pocket, but that

has probably gone far enough. Far enough that Mark Selby cannot play a

positional shot off the green. Policy could screw it in with a bit

of side. Do you think off to cushions, John? -- two cautions? If

he can, there is a possibility. It is difficult to say. Not a bad line,

he needs to kiss the green. A great effort. Just could not find the

ankle. He needed a fraction of right-hand side to widen it off the

second cushion. He needs to be very careful with this safety.

Hitting the right-hand side of the green is fraught with danger.

Hitting beautiful in the face centre to the corner pocket. That was well

struck to keep the green in the bottom half of the table.

He played the shot with side spin, it could have all gone wrong.

Of course, that is the thing with Ronnie O'Sullivan, you will not

outdo him with the safety game. His safety is as good as anybody. I

think thin on the green on the right, and use the blue as a

stopper. He has caught it from behind. He

needs the pink to come to his rescue. He were to be disappointed

not to hit the blue with the green. As it is, the cue ball was good.

The pink came to his rescue, but a very controlled swerve by Ronnie. I

disclose the green and has a chance to the brown. -- in goes the green.

In it goes, and now he is 18 points in front with just 80 remaining. You

would just roll the blue end. -- 18 remaining. That is 4-0, now, for

sure, as they go to the mid-session interval. A frame that Mark Selby

should have won, but Markey O'Sullivan, he is not giving him an

inch. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan. Mark Selby with an awful lot to think

about so early on. 4-0, Ronnie O'Sullivan, absolutely brilliant.

I'm sure Mark Selby is delighted with that interval coming there, but

that would be very painful for him, especially losing concentration when

the frame was at his mercy. Do not lose your concentration what ever

you do. Patti got that frame, 3-1 at the interval is not too bad. -- had

he got that frame. We have seen a lot of missed long parts, and not

only missing them, but how far he is missing them. He is giving Ronnie

easy opportunities and he is under pressure. He has been under pressure

from the start, you get the feeling, 4-0 behind against Ronnie

O'Sullivan, when do you start to fear the worst in this situation? It

starts to get almost embarrassment as a feeling, and you do not want to

be thinking... You're thinking all sorts. All sorts of things come out

of your mind, none of them positive. That chants that he missed, I think,

this is good, he will get into the final, but 4-0, I always think in

finals, in long frame, you win in the first session and Ronnie looks

like doing that. Does panic started to write a new at this point? No, I

would not say panic. You do not panic at any time, he has come back

before against Ronnie O'Sullivan when he was 4-0 down. I would not

panic just yet, but he needs to get a couple of frames before they break

for the session tonight, and just get his arm going. Every mistake

that he is making, Ronnie O'Sullivan is pushing him, it is the Ronnie

O'Sullivan show at the moment. He loves to humiliate his opponents, I

used to love it as well, it is a perverse feeling to run them into

the ground, and that is what he is doing, he is loving it out there. It

is all Ronnie, what a start for him. There have been some great rivalries

in snooker over the years, I am sure you remember Alex Higgins against

Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry against Jimmy White, some great

matches, but this Selby and O'Sullivan rivalry is the most

compelling in the sport at the moment, and whilst Selby has said in

the past that he really enjoys playing Ronnie, Ronnie has admitted

freely that he does not like playing against Mark Selby, he said so in

his biography. He called him the torturer, and that is something we

have spoken about with both men. I call him the torturer, he has

tortured a few opponents, and it has been nice sitting back watching them

go through it as well, because a lot of people can be critical and think,

Ronnie has cracked up this and that, but until you play somebody like

Mark and go through it, you do not really realise what is going on out

there sometimes, and Ebdon was like that also. They can stop you from

playing, stop you from getting any momentum, just everything is like

long, drawn-out frames. It is hard to keep concentration for that

amount of time, and especially in a final, the best-of-7, the best of

nine, the best of 19, the best of 25, a world final, it is a long,

long game. How would you characterise the nature of the

rivalry between you both? My record against Ronnie is pretty good,

probably the best out of those that are played him, but I think it is

great for an outsider, there is Ronnie who is quite talented and

then me that has two really work at the game, but it is too different

strategies, two different games. I can be really defensive at times,

can be attacking at times, and he is obviously always attacking, so it is

very strange, but every time you play Ronnie, you know it will be a

tough game and you have to play your best to win. Is there any good

between you both, because he has a lot of things to say about your

play? Obviously, I never ignore anyone, I always say hello to him at

things like that, but in the press, he might have said things about me

which I do not know if he regrets it, but at the end of the day, I got

respect for him as a player, he is one of the greatest players to ever

play our game and I am sure he has got respect for me. This rivalry has

grown legs a bit. You talk about philosophy, Ronnie sees the

philosophy differently to you as well, because he said about your

game, eBay is a very negative, long bouts of safety am never takes on a

ball unless he will leave it safe and stop is that true? Is that in

some respects accurate? Well, sometimes when I play, I work out

the percentages and I think, is it worthwhile going for it? The same as

everyone else does. But if I'm struggling, I revert to that, and if

you are struggling, there is no point in playing long balls if you

know you're not good at saying them, because the percentages not there.

By Ronnie coming out with that comment, I know that is what he is

thinking, so I would be wrong if I wasn't playing that game against him

because I know it is getting into his head. Secretly, does everybody

wants to play like him when he is really on song and can practically

do everything? Do you all wish, in some respects, that you had that

level of natural talent? I am sure everybody does, because I think he

makes it look so easy, when he is switched on, nobody can touch him,

and he is unplayable at times, and everybody wants to play the standard

he plays, but it will not always happen, and sometimes he plays in

tournaments and he loses to people you would not think he would lose

too. Everyone has a different technique in strategy and that is

why it is so interesting. It is fascinating when we compare all of

the styles of the players, and Ronnie has written a book and he

describes you as the torturer will stop he says that you have different

mentalities, philosophies, he said that you tortured Graham Dodd, Neil

Robertson in the Masters, Shaun Murphy also, but he says I have got

a lot of respect for the way he gets results. He says that the best name

for you is stick ability Selby, because he was stick to the best

that you play. I never give in, I've seen players in the past to play

Ronnie O'Sullivan and when they get on -- when he gets on top of them,

then they sit in the chair to Jack did, but that is not me. I will

always be digging in. Is it pretty? We July kid to be prettier? -- would

you like it to be prettier? It doesn't bother me, I have done well,

so I must be doing something right. Well, the torturer is being tortured

this afternoon, if you were described as the torturer, would you

use it? Yes, absolutely, if somebody is annoyed by that, then you use it

against them. Mark is very right in what he says, I think he has got a

really good attitude. He never gives up. He has seen players collapse

against Ronnie O'Sullivan when Ronnie O'Sullivan have gone ahead,

but he knows, and O'Sullivan knows, which is reported for Mark Selby,

that he will not give up and he will try for every ball. It is nice to

play like Ronnie O'Sullivan, but not everybody can play like that. This

is all about winning, sometimes you cannot always win pretty, even

though we would love to, but when you are not winning pretty, if

you're winning ugly, your name is still going on the trophy. Ronnie

will expect him to regroup, you would imagine? Yes, Mark has created

this impression, this reputation, he is so hard to beat. Mark Selby can

play the same game that Ronnie plays, he can play all the shots,

and that is the way he wants to win, but he has got this fantastic

attitude that he never gives up and it has served him so well. This has

the makings of a classic, it might still turn into a classic, you never

know, with Mark Selby around! But we have had some fantastic matches in

the Masters over the years since 1975, and this man, Mr Hendry, he

has six wins from nine finals, but we do not like to remind him about

his success all the time, so how about a classic from 1998 against

his old sparring partner, Mr Williams?

The number one ranked player in the world, Stephen Hendry. CHEERING

Stephen had dominated the 90s in a fashion that we had never seen

before. This was Masters final eight for him and he was the heavy

favourite. Mark Williams was very much a rising star at this time.

This was going to be a major breakthrough for him. Stephen Hendry

compensating the pink that would give him the opening frame.

This effort has shown what a classy and fluid player Williams can be.

A typical Stephen comeback. Not touched in the last frame. His

concentration comes together. Magnificent, complete clearance by

the world number one to go back to macro frames in front. -- to macro

frames. He is left-handed, but he cannot

stretch over that far. This has now become a difficult pot. He needs to

commit himself to drop it in dead weight and he should be OK. He is. A

great roar from this conference Centre crowd, and Mark Williams has

a big smile on his face delighted that he's going to the mid-session

interval trailing by two frames at 5-3 to Stephen Hendry.

There is the 100. And with that break of 100, Mark Williams levelled

the match at 5-5. He has taken these other two onto the right of the

pink, and this is another shot. A tough shot.

The reds have opened nicely, and he is writing again. -- right in again.

He would have loved to have made another century. It has not

happened. The crowd wanted one, but very, very impressive. Increases his

lead. He just wants one man for victory. 9-6 to the world number

one. Surely he had it in his crafts to win his seventh national title.

He has gone a little bit too far, and he has to go all away round the

angles to come back. It was a difficult shot. He was a

fraction away from being perfect. A mighty roar from the Wembley

conference Centre. Mark Williams is still in this match, still two

behind at 9-7. A does roar here at Wembley. They

always wanted this, never have got it. It is 9-9 here. Two more spots

for a re-spotted black. Rapturous applause, but this young

man, on the re-spotted black. Very difficult to play the conventional

break up and down here, so it would probably be black to the middle of

the left-hand side and white to this one, and now the temptation is

whether to go for a double or not. Does he have the angle and will he

take it on? Quiet! But that camera away, please,

quiet, please. -- put that camera. It cannot get any closer! This is

incredible again. Mark thought he had the black. The one that Stephen

is left with, closest to the side cushion, he is dead straight on the

black, this is not an easy shot. I believe that Masters title has

gone away from Stephen Hendry. Nothing is easy now. You have to

roll it. And a does cheer. Really deserved

for young Mark Williams from Wales. He has never been in front in this

final against world number one. That slow roll cost Stephen dear, it was

a bitter blow and think ruled the end of an era. -- and it signals the

end of an era. A fantastic to victory for Mark. The

number world status in the world would soon be his. -- number one

status. And it was painful, but we enjoyed putting him through that!

Talk about torture! Nice hairstyle! A bad hair day! We're waiting for

the text message from Mr Williams! That was painful to watch, 9-6 up.

The same situation that we had with Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby in

2010, 9-6, he came back and won it. The next frame for Mark Selby, he

needs to get a bit of confidence, he is not out of this final by any

stretch of the imagination. He will be trying. You will have to scrape

off the table, but he will have to do something very quickly. If you've

offered it to him now, he would probably take 9-6 down. We have got

a change in the commentary box now, Dennis Taylor and John Parrott.

DENNIS TAYLOR good afternoon everyone. Potty session we have in

prospect. Mark did have a chance in the final

frame there, but he did not get a look in in the opening three frames.

The rear Ronnie was playing was a bit like in his quarterfinal with

Ricky Walden. We have said so many times that Mark

Selby produces his best when his back is against the wall and it

certainly is here. There is a chance here, but the cue ball is going to

go into the pack of Fred 's. How did he find the gap? I think he was

hoping to finish on the black. JOHN PARROTT: as one of the

commentators said earlier, his long game has been exceptional this

week. Yes, Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones is here. He keeps

disappearing, doesn't he. Ronnie is a big snooker fan and a big friend

of Jimmy White and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Jimmy is looking

terrific. He is still playing well, also. He played any allegiance to

ornament the week before, Jimmy and myself beat Steve Davis and Stephen

Hendry. There has been an incredible focus

about Ronnie O'Sullivan 's play this week.

He has been in his own little Corcoran of concentration. I think

you could probably during the Ricky Walden match have played the

firework 's exhibition behind him and he would not have heard a thing.

Yes, he has played some great sessions of this, but that one was

right up there with the best. But this one has looked as if it would

be a closing counter. Every time they have played, there has only

been a couple of frames in it. Absolute perfection again and the

full ball cannon on the pink is what he wants. But there's a surprise,

missing the blue. Took his try of the pot and did not catch the pink

is intended, either. Slight chance here for more. -- for Mark Selby. It

is not easy because the pink is caught, the Black is back from its

spot and the blue is on the side cushion, safe.

As you say, he is keen to get on the black as soon as possible. He has

not come far enough. He was deliberately trying that

cannon, but that is the problem with that, if you do not get it right.

There is just so much more pressure on every shot, because he is so far

behind. Yes, when things are going well and you are maybe if you frames

ahead, the things tend to work out, the cannon would be perfect, but

when you are feeling, that is the type of thing that happens.

Another good safety shop. Mark Warren, you may have seen him in a

number of top programmes. He follows the snooker. I remember talking to

him at the conference centre in a few years ago. Yes, there are a

couple of footballers in the audience as well. There are a couple

of Aston Villa players here, that was a good result for them at

Liverpool yesterday. Just having a little think about

this, he does not want to push a red over the corner pocket. He phoned

the gap, but he has brought the red back up the table, but I think the

green has come to his rescue. As I see, when you are playing well,

you tend to get these little bit is of good fortune. A bit of a problem

though, because every time the cue ball comes back down into the baulk

area, you have two protect against leaving that red into the left-hand

middle. It will be interesting to see if

Ronnie takes that on. He did not even look at it. That was a decent

shot. It is interesting, it does not look as if it is far off. It is

going slightly to the left, but if you hit the first ball correctly,

you could make it. Not a bad thing, from Mark 's point

of view, to have a bit of the safety exchange.

No, he needed to hit the other side of the red. He needed to hit that in

the centre. 31 points behind and not the easiest of starts. I think he is

going to take the other one up into the top left.

He is looking at the year low, it is slightly easier than the pink. --

the yellow ball. He will probably try and pot this

and get on the red which is currently covering the ink spot. --

pink. The student to be a bit of a bonus

of that. I expected the cue ball to come further down the table. He has

got to find the gap and he did not. He may just have got away with it.

At first glance, I do not think he has left anything. He hit that all

wrong. Is there one which will pot? Yes, the letters. -- the it is.

Beautifully cued. Absolutely beautiful. He could not have played

that any better. As you said, you cannot hit them any

better than that. This is no age earns. 29 in front and there are

enough easy red is available. In fact all of them are no available.

That was a bit of a double wire me for Mark, by not only missing the

pot, but also opening up all of the reds.

He was trying to find a gap and he had one eye on that. But it was a

very good opening red from Ronnie. Once again, beautifully struck. That

was absolutely superb. He is a tremendous player and, as

Stephen Hendry says, he is the best front runner in the game. Get behind

this man and you have big problems. Yes, Mark has got to find something.

But we as a going to come from, that we Ronnie is playing? As I

mentioned, the long matches they have played have always been very

close, but at the moment, it is all one way traffic.

Those pockets must look like buckets at the moment, to Ronnie. Another

great display from Ronnie or Sullivan and you know Leeds by five

frames to nil. He looks as if he isn't exhibition

mode. Alarm bells must be ringing very loud now for Mark Selby. As I

said, everything seems very awkward when Mark comes to the table and

everything seems a lot simpler when Ronnie comes to the table.

Everything he looks at is going in and he is making a quick sort easy.

He has been helped by Mark Selby. But as Stephen said, every time he

comes to the table, he will be feeling very cold. That frame before

the interval could have been very crucial. He may even still be

thinking about that easy red. He knows that 3-1 could have been the

score. Will he still feel he is in a chance. Yes, he will definitely not

give up. But he knows he cannot foul any further behind. He has certainly

made his superiority count so far. Yes, I think today is all about "I

am the governor and I am going to show you that. " So far, he has been

totally focused. There you see it, the first player

to ten frames lifts the title. I mentioned earlier, it is 10-7 to

Ronnie O'Sullivan in the meetings, but in the longer matches, Mark

Selby has a 3-2 lead over Ronnie O'Sullivan. Ronnie O'Sullivan 's

victories have been close, but so far, there is nothing close about

this one. Yes, this is where true champions

have two have total belief in themselves. He have to believe that

when the chance comes, the still playing well enough to get back into

it. It is easier said than done. But Mark Selby is blessed with a

tremendous temperament. But he just cannot get going. Once again, he did

not only must the red, but it has come back across.

That red being on the right-hand side is perfect to leave a good

angle on the blue and go into the pack of that.

No, the angle was to wade, but that was what he was looking to do. He

will do that here. Just watch how he plays that. That is beautiful.

Superb. Unbelievable. Unbelievable at the moment.

Look at the shot he has played. The next one after this is just so good.

How many times do you do that and you get glued onto the side cushion.

He has played that to perfection, he could not have played that any

better. You could hear the pin drop in the

Alexander Palace at the moment. We are witnessing something very

special. This has come slightly tricky.

Always much more difficult when they are close together. Yes, he was so

close to it. To pick the angle out is quite tough. Now, what can Mark

Selby pledges here? -- produce. No, he does have the angle to crash

into the two reds that are out of commission at the moment.

This would be some performance if he could pinch this frame and he really

needs to do it, doesn't he, John? Yes, you have to think that a

threefold another frame behind, this is factually all over. -- virtually

all over. He has got to do it in this frame. He has got a wonderful

temperament. He has been in plenty of two elements where his back has

been against a wall, but this is a very stern examination.

His only problem are the two or court reds on the right-hand side.

-- or court. He had a chance to move one of them, but decided against it.

It looks as if he has finished dead straight on the blue.

He may try and move the one on the side cushion when he pops this one.

That is what he has done and made a pretty good job of it. Well played.

That was probably more difficult than when he had the chance to move

it when he potted the black a couple of shots ago.

It looks as if that red in the ball area behind the brown ball is going

to be the problem. You would expect them to get the other ones.

Interesting to see what colour he will try and play on. He probably

would like to get up onto the ball colours. -- the ball area colours.

I think he is thinking of leaving the angle so that he pops this

thread and then moves the other one. That was the problem. That was the

only problem with moving it from that position. That can happen if

you just get in behind it too much, there is nowhere for the cue ball to

go. Still, he has got himself back in

the frame, only 17 points behind. Just needs a good safety here.

He has not only found the gap, I think this is a fairly

straightforward up and down shot on the red for Ronnie, so he could be

snookered. He would have been, and that not flicked the brown ball.

A little bit of noise in the code. I am not sure what that was.

That is a good shot under the circumstances, but he did not drop

nicely on a colour. But he can just play the snooker.

He is back in the frame. I would not expect Ronnie O'Sullivan to miss

this, but he needs to try and get it safe.

And he's the enough of the yellow to take the pot on? -- can he see

enough? That is a thick shaft. That is a

superb shot. -- that is a thick shaft.

This has been a superb effort. Well played, Mark Selby. A little smile

there from his wife. Mark Selby held himself together,

that was a great clearance and a little smile from him as well. He

has got one frame on the board, but he is still trailing 5-1.

Huge relief for Mark Selby in the circumstances, and great character

to get into that frame, a lot of work to do. Ronnie O'Sullivan looked

like he would go 6-0, it shows a lot of character. He's not going give

in, and he produced a good yellow. A lot of pressure. He never gives up.

He has got the heart of a line, Mark Selby, even though he is up against

a man at the top of his game that makes it look so easy, the best

thing to do is to try and make it as tough as possible for Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Can you describe the relief he will have at this time? It

would be a lovely feeling, you can relax now and get back to work,

because there are two macro frames to go, and he can win these two

frames. He will always stick to his task, Mark Selby. Even if he wins

one of these frames, 6-2 behind, you will be a bit relieved. Ronnie

O'Sullivan was looking like he might win the final in this session alone,

so there is plenty of heart for Mark Selby and his supporters, and

another with a smile from Mark Selby as he potted that black, but he will

be very relieved. His highest break was 36, the previous break was 20 in

this, it is all about feeling that you're making some points just to

loosen up a little bit, it must be massive for him. It is hard to pot

the long ball today, he struck that yellow beautifully. That gives you

confidence, the fact you have hit a ball properly, probably for the

first time in the match, so that was given tremendous belief, so a of

belief in himself will stop it is easy for the heads to go down at

5-1, and think it is becoming the Ronnie O'Sullivan show, everyone is

here to see Ronnie, and you get swallowed up in it. It sends out a

message to Ronnie O'Sullivan to say, look, I am not going to go away, and

if you take your foot off the pedal for one moment or if you take any

liberties, he sends out that message to Ronnie O'Sullivan that I'm going

to counterattack and I will still be in the final. Ronnie O'Sullivan must

have expected something good to happen for Mark Selby at some point

in this match? I do not think that Mark Selby thought he would win

10-0, and he probably expected a tough final so far. Two more frames,

what, if any inroads can Mark Selby make into Sullivan's lead?

That was interesting when both players came into the arena, and he

came in first, he got a round of applause, but Mark Selby got a

terrific round of applause. They have been fabulous all week, the

crowd, they have been so fair. We appreciate some good snooker, a lot

of them will be supporting Ronnie, but they have been very, very fair

indeed. Mark Selby did not have any chance

at the beginning of the match to get any rhythm going. At the moment, his

pot success, way below what he usually is.

I do not aware that some kind of an insect, something is falling down.

-- do not know if is some kind of insect. Did you just open your

wallet, John Parrott? ! That is rich coming from you!

He has caught the bum bandit has put him out of position, a bit unlucky.

-- he has caught the bump and it has put him out of position.

He just flicked the yellow. And is he OK? Yes.

That needs to keep running. Just a slight angle. He might be able to

power this in. He could maybe get to the beds, if not, maybe get a cannon

on the pink and black. It was a tough angle to play that shot. It

has not quite worked out. Has he got it? Well done! He courted

with his cue! That was some cueing! A good pot. That was an awkward

spot. Better signs for fans of Mark Selby.

I wonder will you try to split the reds here? He did. He was unlucky

with the cue ball. Try to open up the red with the yellow. That was

quite an attacking shot even though he is 5-1 down. He's still thinking

very positively certainly. A very unusual table at the moment,

pink and black tied up. The yellow down that far, not something you see

every day. That is an extra bonus of three

points, hitting the black there. He's having it put back stop. The

yellow would have come in handy, he could have potted that, got on the

yellow, had a chance. He is having to swerve that shot. It

is difficult to judge the pace of it. But he has two swerve it to make

the angle, as you can see. That is a better place. A much better place.

There might be one available to the middle pocket. He was walking around

the table as soon as he made contact with that.

This is another chance for Ronnie, but not straightforward.

He has not played that many shots left-handed. This is one of them.

The reason he has not played many shots left-handed is because he has

not been out of position. Still not straightforward, because

of the two reds, you cannot go mashing into the reds in front of

the pink and black. He has done, but those two read in the way, it was

never beyond that. -- were in the way.

Ronnie is as good a tactical player as anybody in the game, but he is up

against Mark Selby who is one of the best. There is frayed between them.

But I think Mark Selby is slightly ahead in the safety Department.

That red is safe now, it is in the pocket! It was a very good pot. That

is two in this frame already, very cleanly shot. Straight into the bag.

He did not get the spot that you suggested, John. He needed the

inside red, he got the outside one. Unless Eclipse this red in, down the

rail, it looks like the end of Drake. -- break.

Under the circumstances, that was a terrific pot. That was far from

easy. I might go as far as brilliant.

Absolutely wonderful shot. Just slightly overscrewed that of the

green. Does not need to go into those red yet. He can play pink and

black, go for the blue, there are at least three red Sea can get on the

blue, so no need for a cannon. -- at least three red Sea can get on the

blue. This really is a wonderful set from

Mark Selby, showing true determination. He has been a

passenger for most of the afternoon, certainly the first five frames.

This is a potential stumbling block, but he is pretty good with

the rest. Could have hit that little bit

harder. He needs to swing around to take the green. He will get a

terrific round of applause if he pulls this off. That looks pretty

good, as long as it keeps on coming. It has come up little bit short. The

black may be pottable. That is for you would like to be. -- where you

would like. 28 in front, so he will need the red

to leave Ronnie needing a snooker. It is not guaranteed.

There is a bit more to this than meets the eye. Pot the black, keep

your ion the black and flicked the red, then he would be OK. That is

what he is thinking about. He has missed the red, but at least

he is 35 in front with a 30 I've on the table. -- with 35 on the table.

That is amazing. When you hit it at that pace, it is so difficult to

judge the angle from the cushion, and he finished up hitting it twice.

He has got an easy safety shot, but he pulled off a double on the blue

in one of his early matches, which was incredible, but in different

circumstances here. He has said that too hard. Ronnie has got a chance of

potting this and getting on the black.

What a pot that was! Absolutely stunning! If he clears up here, Mark

Selby will be absolutely kicking himself. He almost had the frame in

the bag, then on news safety. -- on loose safety.

He needs to leave the correct angle on the blue to run up to the pink

and screw back. We have had everything in this

match, and now we're going to have a re-spotted black.

It is all about the toss of a coin, you want to win the toss, put your

opponent in. Massive frame, this. Massively spot. Ronnie did win the

toss. He has played it well. We did the

earlier when they showed Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams, he took

the double on. Ronnie is taking the double on, but you try to get a good

cue ball, and this is far from easy. He is settling himself, does he go

for the hot? It is far from easy. -- go for the pot?

Well, that is later if it pot under the circumstances! -- that is a

thick pot. Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken the frame on a re-spotted

black and he is now leading 6-1. Just when we thought the psychology

of this match was about to change, a lose safety shot just gifted and

Sullivan the opportunity. It is unlike Mark Selby to play a safety

shot like that. Ronnie O'Sullivan needed a black, but interesting when

he potted that lack, he states down on the shot, and it really shows.

Sometimes Ronnie O'Sullivan when Mark is that the table, looks order,

like he is not caring, but that reaction when he potted that black,

incredible. Very unlike Mark Selby, he is so consistent and he takes his

time and he knows his way around the table, a very, very loose safety

shot. It gave him a shot that Ronnie O'Sullivan had never should have

had. A big, big frame in the match. A different complexion on the march,

Mark Selby is back and it just showed Ronnie O'Sullivan how

determined he was, and teen you how much that frame and, because for me,

now, that is the pivotal turning point of the match. 2-5 behind, the

pressure reverts to Ronnie O'Sullivan at that point. He starts

to think, I played well, the first five frames, it would be

disappointed afternoon, now it is a chance to make it 7-1. That would be

a very, very long way back, it was done before in Masters finals, but

how will this turn had? The last of the afternoon in the opening

session? -- turnout? The worst thing that can happen to

Ronnie O'Sullivan here is that he would only have a four frame lead.

Pretty sure he will be trying to get to seven on the scoreboard. He just

cannot get comfortable on the shot, he does not know where to put his

hand on the table. A bit of a chance that the pink and

the black are tied up. There is a path to get back from the blue here.

He is looking to see if he can get on the red just to the right of the

black, in such a way that he could flick the other red away and leave

himself on the black. He may well be able to do that here. If he cannot

do it, he has got the red into the right middle pocket, if the angle is

not ideal. Yes, there is not a lot of that red

sticking out. Slightly tougher shot. We will find out after this shot.

There is one at the back of the bunch. It will be interesting to see

if he can get the black into play. Now, let us have a look at that

angle. He has put the black into the bunch,

but he has a nice angle on the blue, so if he contacts the pink, it will

bring the black back into play. That is unlucky. Look at the way

that has finished. Yes, you would certainly think at this pace it

would have moved the black into play. He is looking at playing a

plant. More importantly, he wants to get this safe and remove the red

from the bottom left. If anybody could have pooled that

shot off, it was Mark Selby, with his knowledge of pool. He would like

to play that one again. It actually looks as if the cue ball drifted

slightly. The red coming back across. A Rice

meal from Ronnie O'Sullivan. If Mark Selby could take this, he

would reduce the deficit to 6-2 and it would be came on again. Yes, if

he could win the opening session this evening, he would be right back

into the match. Just stretching a little bit there,

wasn't he? He will be looking to leave and angle on the pink, so he

can knock a few red route, or taking a baulk a colour and then coming

back into the side of the pack. The red at the back will go, so that

is good enough for him for the moment.

This is the key shot coming up here, which will open the red zone

probably bring the black into play. And the black still sticks in the

bunch. Amazing. What a pot. Totally blind pocket. /

in beautifully. He is so focused. He wants 7-1 at

the interval, that is for sure. It means he has the ultimate respect

for his opponent. He has been deposed by him a few teams, so he

will want to get as big a lead as possible.

He knows that Mark Selby will not go away.

It is very tight in and around the pink spot area.

What sort of angle does he have won the pink? If he is dead straight, he

could maybe hold the pink spot so he could then take the red to the left,

but it really depends. I think he is just OK, even if it

does go on the spot. It did not go back on the spot, but every shot

here is very delicate. Yes, you saw that he raised the end

of the cue, to ensure that he did not play a push shot.

Taking that one on left-handed. He may have covered the pocket. That

was not easy, with the opposite and. This one down the cushion, is

not easy. But I think, if that ain't happening, Ronnie O'Sullivan would

have won the frame, because he would have been perfectly on this next

one. He's witnessed only cushion are absolutely horrible. -- these ones

down the cushion. It dropped ten, when it hit the New

Year jaw, I did not think that was going to go in.

That was about the best he could do. Now, with the pink going on its

spot again, this will have to be a safety shot.

Good target. He just had to make sure he did not touch it with his

waistcoat. I am wondering if the two reds are actually a plant.

That is not bad, given the angle he is coming at. Look at the cue ball.

Tough shot, this, you cannot get this thick.

There is a chance here for Ronnie. I say that as if they are over the

pocket, but sometimes, you think that when you are watching Ronnie.

The blue ball is once again the target for the safety shot.

Ronnie just wanting to land on this red behind the black. You could not

get any closer than that without hitting it.

The referee just questioning the positioning. Ronnie was just

checking that it was exactly in the same spot.

Very well played. That was all about the pace. If you catch that too

hard, you could put the red on. He has not played that well. A bit

similar to the safety shot he played in the previous frame, but at least

he has great nearly ball cushion. He has not hit many pure safety

shots today, Ronnie, but that was one of them. But he has not been

punished. This looks really easy because the

red is over the pocket, but you have two cubic well when you are tight on

the cushion. -- cue it well. That could not have come out much

better. He played that with topspin so that it would not run down the

table too much. Another left-handed shot, beautifully played. This is a

tough one along the cushion. He does not have two Fawcett because it is

tied on the cushion. He plays those so well. He really does.

He needs the year low, the green, and the brown. -- the yellow ball.

He nearly burst the pocket with that one. Once again, fabulous cueing. He

was very impressive in the first five frames scoring wise, but he has

been equally impressive in the way he has competed in the last couple

of frames when it has been very close.

That was a big turning point. Some of the balls he has pocketed here.

He is not bothering about the black. Vintage Ronnie O'Sullivan. He

takes the session 7-1. He now needs only three more frames

for the title. How surprising is that been from both players? I

thought it would be a lot closer, similar to the previous matches, but

it has been all Ronnie O'Sullivan. Mark Selby get off to a bad start

and things have compounded from there. I would say it is essentially

all over. A re-spotted black in the penultimate frame, how big was that?

Yes, there was that and also the chance he had in the fourth frame.

Is there any way back for Mark Selby? Highly unlikely. It has been

done before. We will be back at seven o'clock. Letters give you an

indication of what is coming up on Match Of The Day. We will be back at

seven o'clock with the deciding frame. Good Mark Selby torture

slippers genius? We kill we will see. Goodbye for now.