:00:49. > :00:55.# Thinking back on my younger years # When it was fairy tales and
:00:56. > :01:01.childhood schemes # I remember watching my father
:01:02. > :01:05.play, he was the hero of all of my dreams
:01:06. > :01:10.# I said, daddy, I want to be a working man
:01:11. > :01:15.# Daddy, I want to be the best I can.
:01:16. > :01:24.# He said, keep your eye on the prize
:01:25. > :01:25.# Keep your eye on the prize # You find there's a light, and it
:01:26. > :01:39.shines for you... # Good evening, since 1975, the
:01:40. > :01:43.Dafabet Masters has seen London calling the greatest snooker players
:01:44. > :01:46.in the world. 1500 people have crammed into Alexandra Palace this
:01:47. > :01:51.evening to watch the final session of the final match of 2014. They
:01:52. > :01:55.will watch the defending champion, Mark Selby, take on the reigning
:01:56. > :02:01.world champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan. The Rocket has, at times, looked
:02:02. > :02:05.unplayable in a mesmerising journey to this point. But Selby's nerve has
:02:06. > :02:16.been tested from the start and it sure will be again tonight.
:02:17. > :02:24.He had to work his socks off, and Mark Selby goes through to the
:02:25. > :02:27.quarterfinal, winning six -. What a reception for the reigning world
:02:28. > :02:43.champion. Absolutely amazing. He was 5-3
:02:44. > :02:52.down. He has battled his way back. He beats John Higgins 6-5.
:02:53. > :03:05.This really is snigger from -- snooker from the gods. He seems to
:03:06. > :03:14.be questioning the score. They reduced Mark's score!
:03:15. > :03:23.You have got the perfect picture. He runs out a comfortable win aimed in
:03:24. > :03:34.the end, gets into his 10th final at the Masters, 6-2.
:03:35. > :03:41.Well, they don't come much better than that.
:03:42. > :03:52.Ronnie O'Sullivan, absolutely brilliant. 4-0.
:03:53. > :04:00.He has got one on the board, but he still trails 5-1.
:04:01. > :04:18.Well, that is a terrific pot. He now leads 6-1.
:04:19. > :04:22.It has been vintage Ronnie O'Sullivan. One more time, he takes
:04:23. > :04:32.the session 7-1. For Mark Selby, the loss of a frame
:04:33. > :04:37.on a respotted black on a frame he should have one could have ended all
:04:38. > :04:45.hope of his fourth Masters title. Ronnie O'Sullivan made difficult
:04:46. > :04:50.work of a -- easy were quite difficult opponent. He has looked
:04:51. > :04:54.relaxed and confident, a dangerous concoction for his opponents. But if
:04:55. > :04:58.there is one person that can show the grit, determination and tenacity
:04:59. > :05:04.to put that behind them, it is Mark Selby. Ronnie O'Sullivan has earned
:05:05. > :05:07.the luxury of coasting to victory, even sharing the frames would be
:05:08. > :05:09.more than enough. Mission impossible? Or is there a sting in
:05:10. > :05:15.the tail? Please welcome The Rocket, Ronnie
:05:16. > :05:21.O'Sullivan. MUSIC: "A Man Should Better Himself"
:05:22. > :05:52.by George Lam. His opponent, ladies and gentlemen,
:05:53. > :06:34.Mark Selby! His walk on music is The Underdog,
:06:35. > :06:40.and never has it been more appropriate. Hold on, we have
:06:41. > :06:46.enjoyed many a comeback on these occasions. Is the Brinkman up for
:06:47. > :06:52.the fight tonight? Let's find out with Ken Doherty and John Virgo.
:06:53. > :06:55.No need to tell you what the atmosphere is like here. It is
:06:56. > :07:12.absolutely electric. Is there any way back? Well, he has
:07:13. > :07:16.got a huge mountain to climb, no doubt about that. I'll tell you one
:07:17. > :07:20.thing, he is never going to give up, that's for sure. That is one quality
:07:21. > :07:26.Mark Selby does not have, he will give it everything, 100 cents. He
:07:27. > :07:32.will never throw in the town. -- 100%. But he is up against a man who
:07:33. > :07:34.is probably playing some of the best snooker we have ever seen at the
:07:35. > :07:40.Masters. He has been absolutely awesome.
:07:41. > :07:48.He played an aggressive safety shot. That is OK, but once you catch a
:07:49. > :07:54.baulk colour in the face, you are going to need a pot one. He has left
:07:55. > :07:55.Ronnie with a choice of rents. He may play the red to the right
:07:56. > :08:17.corner. -- red is. That cue ball has got to stop short
:08:18. > :08:20.of the baulk line, otherwise nothing. Good pot, or just settle
:08:21. > :08:40.for the snooker. A few people have been asking, if
:08:41. > :08:45.this is for the top 16 players in the world, why is Ronnie, ranked 24,
:08:46. > :08:51.in the tournament? Because he is the world champion, and every other
:08:52. > :08:55.tournament the world champion is seeded two, apart from the World
:08:56. > :09:20.Championship, and that is why he is here.
:09:21. > :09:26.He's got a really tough situation here. The red he would like to
:09:27. > :09:35.nestle on is the one that is closest to the right-hand corner pocket.
:09:36. > :09:41.That was the problem, when he played that aggressive safety, he opened
:09:42. > :09:53.all of the reds. He will do well not to leave a pot on.
:09:54. > :10:02.Great escape, but he left a pot on. Just a little bit too much pace,
:10:03. > :10:27.wasn't it? A chance for Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:10:28. > :10:45.We know that the black goes into the left corner.
:10:46. > :10:52.Wouldn't play for the black unless he was certain to get on it. He's
:10:53. > :11:18.got the pink and the blue on its spot.
:11:19. > :11:29.I'm not sure after he puts this red in, will the pink go into the corner
:11:30. > :11:40.pocket? That shot tells us that it does.
:11:41. > :11:46.Some of the snooker he has played this week has been absolutely
:11:47. > :11:51.incredible. His cue action, everything seems to be totally in
:11:52. > :12:01.sync. He seems very composed. Very, very focused.
:12:02. > :12:06.There have been times during the tournament when he has been
:12:07. > :12:15.practically unplayable. Nobody could have tested him. It is not just his
:12:16. > :12:23.potting and breaking, he's got an all-round game.
:12:24. > :12:48.That little rub off the blue just helped slightly.
:12:49. > :12:52.He would love to pot the blue, but he can't because the top cushion was
:12:53. > :13:35.in the way. He may play for the black. If he
:13:36. > :13:39.gets anywhere close to the red on the top cushion, he will be able to
:13:40. > :13:46.drop the black in and get it on its own spot.
:13:47. > :13:58.He has left this a little bit awkward.
:13:59. > :14:25.Just come around the bottom red from the three reds in line. The pink,
:14:26. > :14:31.that one must pot. That will release the one just above
:14:32. > :14:48.it. He knew he had a job on his hands
:14:49. > :14:51.when he came out, but it's getting harder, because you don't expect
:14:52. > :15:05.Ronnie to slip up from here. Just this red would be enough to
:15:06. > :15:09.leave Mark Selby needing a snooker. He had a kick, not perfect on the
:15:10. > :15:13.black, but 61 in front with 59 remaining.
:15:14. > :15:17.I suppose the only thing that has been lacking is he has not made a
:15:18. > :15:28.century break yet in this match. Well, he has a greater chance here.
:15:29. > :15:33.It really is a sublime snooker. There is no doubt about it. It is
:15:34. > :15:34.the way he goes around, to build the break, it looks so ridiculously
:15:35. > :16:07.easy. If this red goes in, it would be
:16:08. > :16:22.nice to see the century. That was impressive. Mark Selby, he
:16:23. > :16:25.will be sat there admiring this, believe it or not. Ronnie O'Sullivan
:16:26. > :16:34.stretches further clear. 8-1. Any fleeting hopes of eight comeback
:16:35. > :16:40.look rather fanciful now, do they not? I think the writing has been
:16:41. > :16:43.there, arguably, since the start of the tournament. From the moment that
:16:44. > :16:48.Mark Selby played some pretty wayward opening pots in the first
:16:49. > :16:53.frame, he has been on the back foot ever since. Ronnie O'Sullivan is in
:16:54. > :16:57.imperious form. Can you describe the standard of what we are seeing in
:16:58. > :17:02.career terms? We haven't seen this terribly often. Probably as good as
:17:03. > :17:09.ever, it has been constant throughout the tournament, not just
:17:10. > :17:13.fits and starts. The 6-0 against Walden is the best snooker I've seen
:17:14. > :17:17.in a long time. This today is just magnificent. There has obviously
:17:18. > :17:20.been a message he wants to send to Mark Selby today. I think he has
:17:21. > :17:26.been tuned in from ball one. I know you have me a few times in final
:17:27. > :17:31.frame deciders, but this is what the score should be. The most emphatic
:17:32. > :17:36.victory in Masters history was this man, Steve Davis, in 1988. Can you
:17:37. > :17:41.describe what that feeling was like, it didn't seen anything was
:17:42. > :17:45.going to go wrong? Quite amazing. You do feel on top of the world. You
:17:46. > :17:51.feel like the centre of attention, like the other guy does not exist.
:17:52. > :17:55.It is all about you. We are all bullies. Snooker players become
:17:56. > :17:58.bullies, even if they are not to start with. When it goes your way,
:17:59. > :18:02.it's a great feeling. Ronnie O'Sullivan is in the right frame of
:18:03. > :18:07.mind to say that. There I say it, he is maturing, as a player. Mentally,
:18:08. > :18:11.I think he is stronger. At the World Championship last year, he was, I
:18:12. > :18:16.think he is stronger as a player than he has ever been. He said that
:18:17. > :18:19.since working with sports psychiatrist Steve Peters, he feels
:18:20. > :18:24.better equipped to cope with whatever Selby could throw at him?
:18:25. > :18:28.The two or three frames that went awkward, more tactical, he won those
:18:29. > :18:34.as well. Apart from the fact he is the most talented, pots the balls
:18:35. > :18:36.and makes it look easy, he is putting it all in as well, a little
:18:37. > :18:49.accommodation. If Ronnie can get past the yellow
:18:50. > :19:14.and play it into the right middle, and I know he can, and easy starter.
:19:15. > :19:55.Played on the blue, just a little bit too hard.
:19:56. > :20:03.We will soon find out if the black pots into the left-hand corner
:20:04. > :20:08.pocket. He would love to get rid of the red. Maybe try and get onto the
:20:09. > :21:13.top cushion. He certainly brings people out, does
:21:14. > :21:16.Ronnie. Just the way he plays, as you said, the way he does it, the
:21:17. > :21:28.style and panache. He is box office, snooker's
:21:29. > :21:37.talisman, without a shadow of a doubt.
:21:38. > :21:46.Just getting the cue ball cleaned, probably a bit of chalk on it. He
:21:47. > :21:48.may screw back for the blue, here. It looks a little bit straight, this
:21:49. > :22:02.red, to get back on the black. He has got a lovely angle on the
:22:03. > :22:19.black. That was an excellent shot. Perfect to go into the pack, now.
:22:20. > :22:23.The action he got on the cue ball, he has not left himself an easy
:22:24. > :22:30.point. He needed a good pot. Mark Selby get a chance. He's got to
:22:31. > :23:03.take it. He is going to have to dig a very,
:23:04. > :23:07.very deep here. He has not had a lot of table time, he has been a bit
:23:08. > :23:09.part player in this match. That makes it that little bit more
:23:10. > :23:34.difficult. He has just about got the angle on
:23:35. > :24:18.the blue that he requires. He missed the cannon on the two
:24:19. > :24:24.reds. He tried to bring them into play.
:24:25. > :24:31.Unfortunately for Mark, he has knocked a red closer to the
:24:32. > :24:32.left-hand side cushion. That is going to be a little bit of a
:24:33. > :24:50.problem, down the line. When he tries to pot this red, he
:24:51. > :24:56.may try to take that red off the side cushion, if he wishes, because
:24:57. > :24:57.he will be off the pink into the centre. It depends what angle he has
:24:58. > :25:12.here. Good pot. Obviously didn't feel he
:25:13. > :25:31.has the right angle to bring that red back into play.
:25:32. > :25:37.Once again, he was trying to get the cannon. He played it at such a pace
:25:38. > :25:38.that he knew that if he didn't get the cannon, he would still be on for
:25:39. > :25:51.this one. They are always tricky, particularly
:25:52. > :25:55.when you are playing with a bit of pace. But it is safe and he is back
:25:56. > :26:37.in the frame, just five points behind.
:26:38. > :26:47.They misjudged shot. What is worse for Mark Selby is that he has
:26:48. > :26:58.wrought the safe red into play. -- brought.
:26:59. > :27:07.As we see, a wonderful crowd tonight. And, of course, all week,
:27:08. > :27:12.in the Alexander Palace. Fantastic atmosphere. I am sure John Day would
:27:13. > :27:16.like to see a few more frames. I know that Ronnie is the big
:27:17. > :27:20.favourite among the crowd, but they would like to see Mark Selby get a
:27:21. > :27:25.view frames on the board, they want to see some more snooker tonight. I
:27:26. > :27:41.am sure that they do. Great turnout this week.
:27:42. > :27:59.I think the most awkward red is the one near the right-hand cushion.
:28:00. > :28:27.He is nicely on this red. The pink will go on the blue spot.
:28:28. > :28:48.Anything above the yellow and this will be snookers required.
:28:49. > :28:57.Would you believe it? Would you believe it? Just took his eye off
:28:58. > :29:10.the ball. He will be kicking himself.
:29:11. > :29:16.I can't believe that, as you said, just took his eye off the ball. Look
:29:17. > :29:23.where the brown has ended up, over the middle pocket. One good
:29:24. > :29:33.positional shot and Ronnie will be absolutely kicking itself.
:29:34. > :29:40.A lot of right-hand side to check it. He finished absolutely perfect.
:29:41. > :29:45.When you are behind like this, you always say you need a bit of help
:29:46. > :29:47.from your opponent. Boy, did he get some help. What a gift. Just needs
:29:48. > :29:57.to get the right side of the pink. Couldn't do it. He's going to have
:29:58. > :30:09.to judge it now. In and out of baulk.
:30:10. > :30:31.He didn't want to catch the bumper. OK, played it well.
:30:32. > :30:40.Would you believe it? This shows you the pressure.
:30:41. > :30:58.Would you believe it? The Jester has thrown his arms in the air. Another
:30:59. > :31:12.gift. The crowd enjoyed that one, Ronnie
:31:13. > :31:15.O'Sullivan will not. Mark Selby gratefully accepted that gift from
:31:16. > :31:20.Ronnie O'Sullivan but he still trails by six frames.
:31:21. > :31:30.Macro Hazel there is tension in the air tonight.
:31:31. > :31:37.Who would ever know Ronnie O'Sullivan would Mr brown. Daschle
:31:38. > :31:52.would miss the brown. We always say if you hit the front
:31:53. > :31:55.jaw there is a good chance it will not go in. He will be kicking
:31:56. > :32:04.himself. He just wants to get this over with. When he played the
:32:05. > :32:14.brown, he struck it, he played positively, correctly, he struck it
:32:15. > :32:17.well, he knows he didn't strike it that well because he missed the line
:32:18. > :32:21.but struck it positively. He just missed it. The look of shock on his
:32:22. > :32:31.face. He has failed to clear up. From Mark
:32:32. > :32:34.Selby's position he will not be happy with himself he has taken
:32:35. > :32:40.another couple of shots to get the Blackdown.
:32:41. > :32:45.Selby is going to receive a fair bit of crowd support. They really want
:32:46. > :32:50.to see some snooker tonight. They don't want Ronnie to run away with
:32:51. > :32:55.this, they want to see a comeback. Miles to early to be saying there is
:32:56. > :33:08.a comeback but funnier things have happened. For those who are fans of
:33:09. > :33:13.the big comeback, looking through the records, Stephen Hendry was 8-2
:33:14. > :33:20.down, and came back and it has been done. You fancy against a man like
:33:21. > :33:27.on it is an open in this kind of form it is just too tough a task.
:33:28. > :33:30.Bash like Ronnie O'Sullivan. The best Mark Selby will be able to do
:33:31. > :33:36.is share frames, which is not good enough.
:33:37. > :33:49.Enough. What will he feel went wrong initially in the early stages? The
:33:50. > :33:54.very first few chances he got he didn't quite make anything of them.
:33:55. > :34:05.He put himself right behind. Ever since then it has been a struggle.
:34:06. > :34:17.I would suggest a slightly annoyed Ronnie O'Sullivan walking off there.
:34:18. > :34:21.How he missed the brown, I don't know. Mark Selby missing the black
:34:22. > :34:45.of the spot. When you think about comebacks you
:34:46. > :34:50.have got to look at the guy behind to see if he is playing well enough.
:34:51. > :35:15.He has got to go on a run. Maybe he thought there was a chance
:35:16. > :35:26.of it going in, did you spot a plan? Dash did he spot a plant?
:35:27. > :35:37.I know he did come around to look at the pack before he played that shot.
:35:38. > :35:44.Going back to your point, we have seen great comebacks in the past.
:35:45. > :35:50.Talking about Mark Selby, can he get a string of frames. He has to rely
:35:51. > :36:03.on Ronnie and his form to date. It will be hard to see that.
:36:04. > :36:15.You never know with comebacks, you take each frame at a time. Every
:36:16. > :36:25.great journey began with a single step.
:36:26. > :36:48.He gifted that last frame to Mark Selby.
:36:49. > :37:13.The brown is covering the path to the red on the right-hand side.
:37:14. > :37:34.He may be forced into having a go at the long red.
:37:35. > :37:40.He missed quite a few of these in the earlier session today. Wasn't a
:37:41. > :37:57.great margin of error. Amazing how much you see them bounce
:37:58. > :38:10.about on the table. Right in the middle of the pocket,
:38:11. > :38:32.great shot. If you can get cue ball on the top
:38:33. > :39:02.cushion there are a couple of rats to go for. -- reds.
:39:03. > :39:18.That is a wonderful shot. The green is not on the spot. Ronnie will be
:39:19. > :39:21.hoping it doesn't go on the green spot.
:39:22. > :39:26.When he played the cannon on the two reds he was hoping to leave the
:39:27. > :39:38.black spot clear. The black is completely out of
:39:39. > :40:24.commission. He would have loved it to come down
:40:25. > :40:30.the table just another couple of inches.
:40:31. > :41:03.If he is straight on that red to the left corner, he needs some shot
:41:04. > :41:16.here. It was always going to be a
:41:17. > :41:58.difficult table to make any sizeable break, even for the great man.
:41:59. > :42:15.Knocking the red over the right centre certainly helped his cause.
:42:16. > :42:43.He has got the same problem Ronnie had when he was at the table.
:42:44. > :43:05.That is not great, I am not sure he can make that cannon now.
:43:06. > :43:12.He forced it down, that is an excellent result. He used all the
:43:13. > :43:44.power there. He is straight on the blue. He
:43:45. > :44:03.cannot get close to his next red. Normally you would expect him to
:44:04. > :44:16.knock this in but he missed a black off the spot.
:44:17. > :44:19.He would have liked to be closer to this red, then it would have been
:44:20. > :44:45.unmissable. When he puts this pink it will still
:44:46. > :44:59.be tied up, unless he can pop the pink and screw into those two reds.
:45:00. > :45:07.He is on the red into the right centre, if he wishes.
:45:08. > :45:13.That pink has put him for points in front. These remaining reds will be
:45:14. > :45:21.enough to win the frame. He may have to play that pink in the
:45:22. > :45:55.far left corner. This is great stuff from Mark Selby.
:45:56. > :46:09.This is his highest break of the match. His previous was 37.
:46:10. > :46:18.He is on his way to winning this one.
:46:19. > :47:06.If he wins this frame he will take us past the mid-session interval.
:47:07. > :47:17.This red now to go 32 points in front, with 27 remaining. No
:47:18. > :47:32.heroics, make certain of the red. Well played.
:47:33. > :47:35.Excellence, he has shown a lot of courage for stop the crowd are
:47:36. > :48:06.delighted. Ronnie gifted Mark Selby the last
:48:07. > :48:12.frame, he didn't gift him that one. An excellent break. Highest of the
:48:13. > :48:18.match, just at the right time, and now he is within five frames. We
:48:19. > :48:19.talk about comebacks and the way one it was playing it was highly
:48:20. > :48:36.unlikely. Ash Ronnie. Here is the brown. He just took his
:48:37. > :48:40.eye off. He could have run through of the side cushion, decided to
:48:41. > :48:46.screw back, make the short a little bit more difficult. Lost a bit of
:48:47. > :48:53.focus. It was understandable at times.
:48:54. > :48:57.The way he was going about the match, he looked as though he really
:48:58. > :49:14.wanted to win as easy as he could and give Mark Selby a good beating,
:49:15. > :49:27.if you like. He has given Mark Selby a bit of a boost.
:49:28. > :49:44.Mark Selby breaks off. Five frames behind.
:49:45. > :49:52.He is going to have to do it over and over again. He is a tough
:49:53. > :50:46.competitor, he will not be giving in.
:50:47. > :50:55.Just a little bit pacey. If you get it tight to the cushion you limit
:50:56. > :51:12.your opponent's options. There is a chance of a pot here for
:51:13. > :51:31.Mark Selby. He has got to start knocking these in.
:51:32. > :51:38.Just not consistent enough for those long pots in the match.
:51:39. > :52:22.Only thought if he dropped the black in he could get to the red closest.
:52:23. > :53:27.He can screw up for the blue. He has a couple of reds to go at.
:53:28. > :53:33.If the Black had been available into both corner pockets, it would have
:53:34. > :53:58.had value in Canning into the cluster. Dash
:53:59. > :54:15.little bit more angle on this black would have been better.
:54:16. > :54:41.Good line, terrific shot. Has he been unlucky? He may have been. That
:54:42. > :54:50.red doesn't pass the pink to the right middle. What else is left? If
:54:51. > :55:18.it had gone in-off the blue there would have been a lot more pace.
:55:19. > :55:28.The path is much more difficult on the right-hand side fought the
:55:29. > :55:32.opponent to safety. He wants to block the reds on the left-hand side
:55:33. > :55:57.of the pink. That is what he has done.
:55:58. > :56:18.He has got to be careful, this is tricky.
:56:19. > :56:39.That was a good line. I think he will settle for that.
:56:40. > :56:46.There was always a chance he would run into something else. That is
:56:47. > :56:53.what he was aware of, rather than go all out for the pot. Just a little
:56:54. > :57:23.grimace from Roddy as he went back to his chair. -- Ronnie.
:57:24. > :57:31.Just playing across double safety. Looks like a decent length for the
:57:32. > :58:09.cue ball. That looks pretty close, it looks
:58:10. > :58:21.like he has covered it. He is looking at the three-ball
:58:22. > :58:35.plant and maybe play it as a shot. During the week he would look at
:58:36. > :58:38.this red in open play and play it as a long pots, but today his long pots
:58:39. > :59:04.has been very poor. Well played, excellent shot. He has
:59:05. > :59:17.missed the case on the green. It just didn't look on, went off the
:59:18. > :59:18.right jaw. This is a decent chance. He came to the table 30 points
:59:19. > :59:35.behind. OK, the black is tied up, the red
:59:36. > :59:40.next to it is tied up, but he can win this frame without them.
:59:41. > :59:50.He will just have to concentrate on blue and pink. The only problem with
:59:51. > :59:52.the blue is getting on the right side of it. He just went a little
:59:53. > :00:31.bit too far. He's doing the maths in his mind. He
:00:32. > :01:13.knows it is two reds, two pinks. He will possibly need that red next
:01:14. > :01:19.to the black. But the four reds to the right of the pink, the top one
:01:20. > :01:28.does pot into the right-hand pocket. That is the one he has played for.
:01:29. > :01:31.Once he pots this, it will release another one into the opposite corner
:01:32. > :01:49.pocket. The red beside the black, you would
:01:50. > :01:55.have to say that Ronnie's only saving grace is that at the moment.
:01:56. > :02:19.Well, I say that. But, again, well, you can't believe it.
:02:20. > :02:24.He was concentrating so much on position, just like Ronnie
:02:25. > :02:29.O'Sullivan a couple of frames ago, on the brown. A glance at the
:02:30. > :02:37.scoreboard. Ronnie knows that he needs that red that is tied up.
:02:38. > :02:41.It is not a straightforward run to the line. He has only just about got
:02:42. > :02:54.the angle on the blue. He cued it lovely. He doesn't want
:02:55. > :02:58.it to bounce off the cushion too much. Dutiful shot. -- a beautiful
:02:59. > :03:11.shot. These two reds and two blues will
:03:12. > :03:22.only put him 35 in front. This time, the wrong side of the blue.
:03:23. > :03:29.He will be looking to pot this red and get a nice angle on the colour,
:03:30. > :03:48.to try and bring the last red into play.
:03:49. > :03:56.Well, if you are straight on the blue, he will not be doing it on the
:03:57. > :04:09.blue, then I don't think he will be doing it.
:04:10. > :04:17.I am just wondering, if he can get the cue ball somewhere on the top
:04:18. > :04:22.cushion, just somewhere we owned the blackspot, he's going to be playing
:04:23. > :04:24.the blue left-handed. Obviously not, because that is where he wants the
:04:25. > :04:36.position of the cue ball. But he does not want to bring this
:04:37. > :04:59.black and pink into play, he has a 31.2 lead. -- a 31 point lead.
:05:00. > :05:10.So, back to his seat. 31 points is the lead, 35 remaining. But with
:05:11. > :05:14.that pink and black tied up, it is highly unlikely, the way that they
:05:15. > :05:22.are at the moment, that he can win the frame in one visit.
:05:23. > :05:33.If he got a chance at this last red, the blue would be OK. He could
:05:34. > :05:45.win with red and blue or red and brown. But he has misjudged that.
:05:46. > :06:36.Now, 32 points is believed, 27 remaining. -- is the lead.
:06:37. > :07:10.A clever little shot, made it as awkward as possible for Mark Selby.
:07:11. > :07:17.You always seem to get it when you don't need it. Surely this has
:07:18. > :07:21.finished the frame off for Mark Selby. There is a mid-session
:07:22. > :07:27.interval coming up. It was a big frame, you felt, for Mark Selby. If
:07:28. > :07:31.only he could keep Ronnie O'Sullivan within two of the ten frames
:07:32. > :07:37.required, he could hold out a bit of hope. Now Ronnie is just one frame
:07:38. > :07:59.away from victory. It's going to be very difficult.
:08:00. > :08:11.Well, that will be enough. At least Mark Selby goes to the mid-session
:08:12. > :08:13.interval. But Ronnie O'Sullivan is just one frame away from claiming
:08:14. > :08:22.the Dafabet Masters title. Tell of the unexpected at Alexander
:08:23. > :08:25.Palace. I think many people in the audience did not think we would get
:08:26. > :08:29.an interval, but we do have one. It could have been a little bit closer
:08:30. > :08:36.had Mark Selby not missed that pink, that was the key all? He looked like
:08:37. > :08:40.he was in amongst the balls. He called it a fraction thick. You are
:08:41. > :08:48.so used to seeing those balls never missed at this level, when you do
:08:49. > :08:53.see them, it is a shock. Effectively, chance missed to get a
:08:54. > :08:55.sizeable lead. It looked as though he had finally found a bit of
:08:56. > :09:00.fluency in the last couple of frames? I was thinking he might have
:09:01. > :09:05.had a chance, 8-4, you are still very much in the game. I agree with
:09:06. > :09:09.what they said in a commentary. Well you have two frames to win, and not
:09:10. > :09:12.the one, there is that little bit of doubt. You know what Selby is like
:09:13. > :09:17.for fighting back, but I think this is too far now. Stranger things have
:09:18. > :09:23.happened. Is it about respectability from here on in from Selby's
:09:24. > :09:28.perspective? No, not now. When you go in and there is that much of a
:09:29. > :09:32.lead that the other guys have got, he knows that he just goes out and
:09:33. > :09:35.plays the balls. I think you will be disappointed enough in the day so
:09:36. > :09:40.far that it's not going to make much difference one way or another. He
:09:41. > :09:45.will not lose hope, he will go out, frame at a time, see what happens.
:09:46. > :09:48.But it is just see what happens. This is not panning out the way many
:09:49. > :09:54.of us had expected, I think many people expected a much closer match.
:09:55. > :09:59.Ronnie O'Sullivan, so far, has been in imperious style. This is the 40th
:10:00. > :10:02.playing of the Masters and this event has been illuminating our
:10:03. > :10:09.cold, dark, January nights since 1975.
:10:10. > :10:17.The Masters is part of the Triple Crown and is celebrating its 40th
:10:18. > :10:19.year this year. As always, it is an exclusive London party that is by
:10:20. > :10:23.invitation only. Can I come in? Sorry, if your name
:10:24. > :10:41.isn't down, you are not coming in. Who is going to pull this out of the
:10:42. > :10:47.bag? John Spencer was our first master, defeating Ray Reardon in a
:10:48. > :10:50.black ball finish in 1975. Setting a precedent for nail-biting drama and
:10:51. > :10:56.tension that has been repeated time and time again. The following year,
:10:57. > :11:01.it moved to the relaying, before transferring, in 1979, to the
:11:02. > :11:08.Wembley conference Centre, a venue we can all agree was one of the
:11:09. > :11:11.finest we have ever played in. A wonderful setting for a wonderful
:11:12. > :11:18.tournament. It was fabulous, incredible. Brilliant. Absolutely
:11:19. > :11:24.magic. Lots of flowers on the side, always made it look pretty. One day,
:11:25. > :11:30.a giant wasp came out, I thought, please don't show me on ITV running
:11:31. > :11:39.away from this wasp. A complete circle. The one table setup. The
:11:40. > :11:44.atmosphere, especially at a final, a semifinal or if you played Jimmy, it
:11:45. > :11:48.was just crazy. I got a lot of huge support from the audience. Like
:11:49. > :11:54.Ronnie O'Sullivan does. I think it is because of the way we played
:11:55. > :12:00.again, you know? The Conference Centre was one of the best venues
:12:01. > :12:03.ever. Those early years were memorable for the colourful
:12:04. > :12:08.characters and costumes as, each year, a new master was crowned. Nine
:12:09. > :12:16.different champions in the first ten years. The only man to win it twice
:12:17. > :12:24.was Alex Higgins. In 84, a semifinal for the ages. This is where he wants
:12:25. > :12:35.a little bounce off the cushion. And a maximum. Get in! Lovely! Super!
:12:36. > :12:47.That was a very special match. His brilliant 147, I potting way few
:12:48. > :12:52.flair shots that went in. Jimmy eventually won the match and, the
:12:53. > :12:57.next day, claimed his only Masters title, playing a brand of snooker
:12:58. > :13:14.that had never been seen before. What a statement. Just fantabulous.
:13:15. > :13:20.Until Ding Junhui, he remained in the 147 maximum, although others
:13:21. > :13:34.have come agonisingly close. Oh, the disappointment! It is
:13:35. > :13:37.probably one of the only times in snooker you are thinking about the
:13:38. > :13:42.prize, at the start of the break, you are thinking about a maximum.
:13:43. > :13:48.The yellow sports car is always out in the foyer. It is always in the
:13:49. > :13:51.back of your mind, the prize. It's the only time in snooker that you
:13:52. > :14:15.think of material things. It still gives me nightmares. I
:14:16. > :14:23.think it's almost enough to drive a man to drink. In 1986, we had the
:14:24. > :14:34.first man to win back-to-back titles. In 1987, the first of what
:14:35. > :14:41.was to become a masterstroke. Dennis Taylor, like a Phoenix rising from
:14:42. > :14:49.the ashes. I was 8-5 down. I just heard his manager ordering champagne
:14:50. > :14:54.to celebrate Alex winning his first title for two years. He probably
:14:55. > :14:57.would have won that, if I hadn't heard that. I came back into the
:14:58. > :14:59.arena and it just put that bit of fire in your belly, that killer
:15:00. > :15:13.instinct. There must be a little leprechaun in
:15:14. > :15:18.that pocket, to keep the cue ball out. The atmosphere in the last
:15:19. > :15:21.frame was incredible, I managed to beat Alex in the deciding frame and
:15:22. > :15:29.it is one of the greatest wins of my career. When the players still posed
:15:30. > :15:32.for the cameras, the first and still only whitewash in a final, Steve
:15:33. > :15:56.Davis defeated Mike Hallett. We will look at the Hendry dynasty
:15:57. > :16:01.now, as surely never to be repeated of success. Stephen Hendry, the new
:16:02. > :16:03.Masters champion, the youngest champion ever. 21-year-old Stephen
:16:04. > :16:19.Hendry. I keep thinking, on the law of
:16:20. > :16:25.averages, I'm going to get beat. He gets to keep the trophy. I've been
:16:26. > :16:30.given a major trophy to keep, so that's great times. With the Masters
:16:31. > :16:34.being the top players in the world, I always felt I had to prove I was
:16:35. > :16:39.the best player in the world. The World Championship was your first in
:16:40. > :16:42.every season, but the Masters was always the second for me, even above
:16:43. > :16:47.the UK, because it was a chance to prove I was the best player in the
:16:48. > :16:50.world against the other 15 guys. I was the red-hot favourite, the world
:16:51. > :16:55.number one, so it was a shock to the system to be 7-0 down. You just
:16:56. > :17:00.sensed a bit of agitation and desperation about him, I just
:17:01. > :17:06.thought, one frame at a time. I must admit, it looks as if he is fated to
:17:07. > :17:07.lose this final. When I won it, I showed a bit more emotion than I
:17:08. > :17:26.usually do. That's a great comeback. 7-0, 8-2,
:17:27. > :17:31.he was within two pots of winning 9-2, but Stephen Hendry, world
:17:32. > :17:37.champion that he is, hung on and has won 9-8. I was the number one player
:17:38. > :17:43.in the world and those were the tournaments that I felt belonged to
:17:44. > :17:47.be. Yeah, I just went down expecting to win every year, it was a nice
:17:48. > :17:51.feeling. 1995, for the first time in seven years there was not somebody
:17:52. > :17:55.call Stephen Hendry in the final. Instead, two young man embarking on
:17:56. > :17:59.a rivalry that has lasted for the best part of 20 years. Personally, I
:18:00. > :18:04.thought John was the best all-round player, and I still do. But I just
:18:05. > :18:08.thought he was going to go and do a Stephen Hendry. This was the first
:18:09. > :18:13.of three and secular finals for The Rocket, although he would be beaten
:18:14. > :18:17.the following year by Hendry, and then in a final that is always
:18:18. > :18:31.remembered for this. The streaker? Yes, I remember that. Crazy. Yeah,
:18:32. > :18:35.interesting. 8-4 up, didn't miss a ball for four frames, I thought,
:18:36. > :18:39.lovely, I thought I had won it. Then I came out and he played brilliant.
:18:40. > :18:48.I thought, what is going on here? It just throws me out. 1998 was the
:18:49. > :18:58.year of the famous respotted black. Have you got over it yet, Stephen?
:18:59. > :19:05.That is in. Is it? No! It didn't feel like a violent twitch, when it
:19:06. > :19:09.left the tip of my cue. It felt all right comedy action. But obviously I
:19:10. > :19:13.managed to sneak a little bit of side on it, I polled the white
:19:14. > :19:18.across and it. I think the less we talk about that the better. We will
:19:19. > :19:23.draw a veil over the next few years, that is me sat in my chair, and that
:19:24. > :19:32.is John after beating me 10-8. That is Matthew Stevens winning in 2000,
:19:33. > :19:43.after my 147. 2001, the arrival of the comeback kid, Paul Hunter. That
:19:44. > :19:48.was the year of planned B. He returned after the break
:19:49. > :19:55.rejuvenated. Two successive centuries. That has put the audience
:19:56. > :19:57.on its feet and to life. Four centuries in six frames to
:19:58. > :20:15.eventually win 10-9. The following year in the final, he
:20:16. > :20:21.took the Welshman to a 5-0 lead, before coming back to win. Two years
:20:22. > :20:26.later, he trailed Ronnie by 7-2 before winning that one in the
:20:27. > :20:31.decider. What a remarkable, brave, courageous performance, as he wins
:20:32. > :20:40.his third Masters title, once again, by 10-9. I think he was inspired by
:20:41. > :20:49.the crowd, the prestige of the event. You know, he beat me fair and
:20:50. > :20:56.square. For him, the scoreline is irrelevant, really. He kept playing
:20:57. > :21:01.the same way, 5-0 up, 5-0 down, a great way to play. There followed
:21:02. > :21:09.two consecutive finals between them, the first was a romp for The Rocket.
:21:10. > :21:16.In position for the pink. And now just the black to put the seal on a
:21:17. > :21:22.superb performance. Well played, Ronnie O'Sullivan. The second was a
:21:23. > :21:23.massacre. The adrenaline is running, the matches on a knife
:21:24. > :21:33.edge. If you ask me, I don't know how it
:21:34. > :21:37.went in. I remember one ball was on the edge, it dropped and I thought,
:21:38. > :21:43.well... John is the kind of player that would clear up under that
:21:44. > :21:47.extreme pressure. And he did. I had a tricky double. The double was not
:21:48. > :21:52.the shot, it was not like a straight double. I decided, with a red
:21:53. > :22:02.falling in like that, maybe it was fate, and I took the double on. In
:22:03. > :22:05.2007, the walls of the conference centre came tumbling down and the
:22:06. > :22:13.masses moved next door into the vast arena. There was nowhere to hide for
:22:14. > :22:19.a young Ding Junhui, demolished in the final by Ronnie. Ireland are
:22:20. > :22:24.feeling for him, a young boy, from another country, it can be a lonely
:22:25. > :22:34.place. Human nature, instant comes out that you want to care for him.
:22:35. > :22:38.-- instinct comes out. I really like Ding a lot, I've met his family and
:22:39. > :22:44.stuff like that. It was more important for me that he was OK and
:22:45. > :22:49.winning that title. Snooker doesn't mean nothing when I see that
:22:50. > :22:53.happening to him. But if Ronnie became a little bit sympathetic
:22:54. > :22:56.towards him, he was about to be embroiled in another classic rivalry
:22:57. > :23:04.that had a little bit more spice. McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, O'Sullivan
:23:05. > :23:09.and Selby. Mark Selby was already a Masters champion when they met in
:23:10. > :23:16.the 2009 final. Ronnie emerged victorious, but the following year
:23:17. > :23:20.The Jester would get his revenge. The double to clinch this year's
:23:21. > :23:30.Masters. Right in the middle of the pocket. I call him The Torturer. He
:23:31. > :23:34.has tortured a few opponents. It has been nice watching him go through it
:23:35. > :23:38.as well, because a lot of people will be critical, think, Ronnie has
:23:39. > :23:42.been cracked up, until you play somebody like Mark and go through
:23:43. > :23:48.it, you don't really realise what is going on out there sometimes. Ronnie
:23:49. > :23:52.has got his opinion. Obviously he is a fantastic player but not everybody
:23:53. > :23:56.is as naturally gifted as him. Everybody has his own style, this
:23:57. > :24:01.seems to be my style. It is still working, but I'm not going to change
:24:02. > :24:05.it. This is a tournament that has had it all. Is it any surprise it is
:24:06. > :24:09.loved by fans and players alike? Year is to the next 40. -- here is
:24:10. > :24:31.to the next 40. # How long will I need you?
:24:32. > :24:38.# As long as the seasons need to # Follow that plan
:24:39. > :24:52.# How long will I be with you? # As long as the sea is bound to.
:24:53. > :25:03.# How long will I love you? # As long as stars are above you. #
:25:04. > :25:12.Paul Hunter will always be synonymous with the Masters. This
:25:13. > :25:16.event has such a cachet. Our exclusive is it and how much of a
:25:17. > :25:22.thrill must it be to win it? I ask that of you who has been in three
:25:23. > :25:26.losing finals. When we were watching that of ET, you kept seeing Stephen
:25:27. > :25:34.up, I was in the other chair. It's an unbelievable event. You want to
:25:35. > :25:39.be in the top 15 to play here. Only the cream playing this event. If you
:25:40. > :25:42.win it, you are the best player in the world. A fantastic tournament.
:25:43. > :25:48.After watching that, the great matches, the one we have seen, my
:25:49. > :25:54.one abiding memory is my pal, Ken Doherty, missing that black off the
:25:55. > :25:58.spot. I am still sick for him now. We used to walk in the foyer and see
:25:59. > :26:03.that wonderful sports car sitting there, thinking, wouldn't it be
:26:04. > :26:08.great for somebody to get into that and drive away? I still feel sorry
:26:09. > :26:12.for him. He still takes it with such great humour. What would be your
:26:13. > :26:18.abiding memory of this tournament? Not my own memories, of matches,
:26:19. > :26:25.obviously the streaker, Ronnie O'Sullivan, my last win, the memory
:26:26. > :26:30.would be the guy we last saw the trophy holding up. Paul Hunter. He
:26:31. > :26:39.summed up the best of the Masters, the best players putting their wits.
:26:40. > :26:43.For him to win three times, amazing. On a lighter note, to see Mark
:26:44. > :26:46.Williams in tears, I didn't know he had tears in Heaven. There were
:26:47. > :26:54.specialists of the event, and here are another two. It could be title
:26:55. > :26:58.number 54 Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is just one frame away. Selby is
:26:59. > :27:03.hanging on by his fingertips. We have a change in the commentary
:27:04. > :27:06.box, we welcome Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor, who might not have
:27:07. > :27:22.thought they were going to get on air tonight. All yours.
:27:23. > :27:25.At one stage it didn't look like we were going to get to the mid-session
:27:26. > :27:52.interval. REFEREE: Can we get security,
:27:53. > :27:58.please? Back row. The crowds have been terrific so far. There is just
:27:59. > :28:05.one that could do with stopping shouting. He will have to go out. We
:28:06. > :28:11.don't mind them getting involved. REFEREE: The guy with the cap.
:28:12. > :28:20.I would maybe give him a warning? Well, I just got a glimpse of him.
:28:21. > :28:51.He is on a mobile phone as well. As they say, there is always warm.
:28:52. > :29:08.But the crowds have been superb all week. They really have.
:29:09. > :29:13.We have had some fabulous safety from both of these players. There is
:29:14. > :29:36.very little to separate between them.
:29:37. > :29:55.It is an awful long way back. But you just never know.
:29:56. > :30:14.There are two legends die. Ronnie Wood and Jimmy White. Still playing
:30:15. > :30:16.on the circuit. I will not mention that victory we had against Steve
:30:17. > :30:34.Davis. Just off straight. That has been one
:30:35. > :31:07.of his strengths. He will be disappointed he hasn't
:31:08. > :32:09.performed on this occasion. Not sure what that was, but Mark
:32:10. > :32:36.still smiling. Just didn't have the Angola. Dash
:32:37. > :32:59.have the angle there. There were some wonderful memories
:33:00. > :33:42.in that piece there. The black is covering the one over
:33:43. > :33:43.the right middle pocket. Just cannot afford to make a mistake, Mark
:33:44. > :33:57.Selby. Otherwise it is all over. He may be able to play one of these
:33:58. > :34:27.reds. It has got a little awkward now. The
:34:28. > :34:37.safety zone is behind the black and tight to the cushion.
:34:38. > :34:43.As long as he covers the one over the right middle pocket he is OK.
:34:44. > :35:31.Couldn't risk getting in behind the block.
:35:32. > :36:09.Ronnie might attempt some sort of a plant of the light red of the six.
:36:10. > :36:12.I am not sure if he can see enough of this to take it into the corner
:36:13. > :37:11.pocket. We have said semi-Times Mark Selby
:37:12. > :37:48.will never, ever give up. -- we have said many times.
:37:49. > :37:53.His only hope is to keep chipping away these frames. Perhaps one in
:37:54. > :38:57.might get frustrated. -- 18. He knows this frame is slipping away
:38:58. > :39:44.rapidly. That has got a quick bounce of the
:39:45. > :40:04.cushion. I don't know how the White has managed to get over there.
:40:05. > :40:48.It looked a formality until the White finished in that position.
:40:49. > :41:14.A lot of Ronnie O'Sullivan supporters in here this evening, but
:41:15. > :41:30.this man has had a great reception from this knowledgeable crowd.
:41:31. > :41:51.It is not all of it yet. Mark's lovely wife there.
:41:52. > :41:57.It is saying a lot of his character, to hang in like that, he
:41:58. > :42:07.will win the frame with this visit. Showing a lot of pride in his own
:42:08. > :42:25.performance. Doesn't really matter about that
:42:26. > :42:31.one. That break was 67, more than enough to give him the frame. He is
:42:32. > :42:38.not finished just yet but still trails.
:42:39. > :42:44.HAZEL IRVINE: How professional performance was that?
:42:45. > :42:51.He is the consummate professional, just got on with it. A mountain to
:42:52. > :42:55.climb but playing every frame as it is, added to his credit and
:42:56. > :43:00.character that is what he is doing, carrying on. It is easy to see the
:43:01. > :43:05.scoreboard and say I feel like going home but he is not doing that.
:43:06. > :43:11.Your assessment of the way he is playing now as impaired to a
:43:12. > :43:22.nervous, edgy start. To some degree he has settled down. He is a
:43:23. > :43:30.professional on the circuit. It has not been a bad festive time of the
:43:31. > :43:36.year for him. The final of the UK, this final. The bank manager will
:43:37. > :43:43.quite like him. You have got to look at it in the long term. Defending
:43:44. > :43:49.both titles, UK championship and this one, getting to the final in
:43:50. > :43:53.both is a remarkable achievement. Just play one frame at a time as if
:43:54. > :44:01.it is a final, that has all he has got to do.
:44:02. > :45:27.He had to force it around the back of the black and the red balls.
:45:28. > :45:32.He is just making sure he will not knock a red over the right corner
:45:33. > :45:50.pocket when playing a safety shot. Come up a little bit short and he
:45:51. > :46:05.has knocked a road towards that right corner pocket. Dash knocked
:46:06. > :46:39.He might as well have had a go at the pot. He will not be anxious, but
:46:40. > :46:42.he just wants to get this over and done with, he has still got to win
:46:43. > :46:52.the frame. On my way to the commentary box I
:46:53. > :47:17.saw Mark Selby practising. Shows you how much pride he has got
:47:18. > :48:02.in his performance. He doesn't want to let go of this Masters title.
:48:03. > :48:12.That is not hard enough for the red he intended. He has got a slightly
:48:13. > :48:51.more difficult positional shot to play.
:48:52. > :48:55.That is a tricky one he is faced with, he didn't catch that cannon
:48:56. > :50:22.correctly. He might have covered everything
:50:23. > :50:58.into the right corner. Warney could give himself a chance
:50:59. > :52:00.he has been patiently waiting for. He has given it every care and
:52:01. > :52:16.attention, he knows the importance of this shock. -- this shot.
:52:17. > :53:30.Some of his break-building this week has been outstanding.
:53:31. > :53:36.Thereafter his children, how proud are they going to be if he can clear
:53:37. > :54:10.up. This is now turning into a good
:54:11. > :54:27.chance to finish this match off. This packed audience thought they
:54:28. > :54:47.were in for an early night. 8-1, it was an awful way back. Mark
:54:48. > :55:14.Selby knew he couldn't make any more mistakes.
:55:15. > :55:38.If he can cannon the top read of the three he will be perfect.
:55:39. > :55:47.A quick glance to the scoreboard to see what he needs.
:55:48. > :55:56.In his match against Stephen Maguire he clinched the final frame with a
:55:57. > :56:01.century break. He will just want enough to win the match. The
:56:02. > :56:24.defending champion has put up a great defence.
:56:25. > :56:39.Seven frames he has lost this week, that is pretty impressive.
:56:40. > :56:55.Mark Selby feels this is the end. This would be five Masters titles.
:56:56. > :57:18.Mark coming to the table, an awful lot of work to do.
:57:19. > :58:52.47 behind. Just one snooker to tie at the moment.
:58:53. > :58:59.This time, a bit too hard. This red might go close to the opposite
:59:00. > :59:08.pocket as he doubles it across, playing a safety shot.
:59:09. > :59:14.I thought for a moment it was going to go over the right corner, but
:59:15. > :59:16.that's fine. Got to be a little bit careful, Ronnie, because just one
:59:17. > :59:49.snooker to tie needed. Well, Mark Selby, you put up a
:59:50. > :59:56.fantastic defence of your Masters title. But this crowd, at the
:59:57. > :00:04.Alexander Palace, they think that their favourite son is about to lift
:00:05. > :00:07.his fifth title. Mark Selby comes forwards and congratulate Ronnie
:00:08. > :00:10.O'Sullivan. He has been absolutely awesome all week. He gets a standing
:00:11. > :00:17.ovation from this fantastic crowd at the Ally Pally. Ronnie O'Sullivan is
:00:18. > :00:28.the Dafabet Masters champion 2014. He wins 10-4.
:00:29. > :00:32.Ladies and gentlemen, what a fantastic final. A wonderful
:00:33. > :00:34.performance from Ronnie O'Sullivan. First, let me grab a word with our
:00:35. > :00:42.gallant runner-up. You slowed him down a little bit
:00:43. > :00:47.tonight, but left yourself with too much to do? He started off great in
:00:48. > :00:52.the first three frames. I had a couple shots at long balls, didn't
:00:53. > :00:56.really get them. Ronnie is fantastic at taking his chances. I had a good
:00:57. > :01:00.chance in the fourth round. If I cannot at the interval 3-1, I am
:01:01. > :01:06.still half in the match. When he's in front to to steam roller you. How
:01:07. > :01:10.would you rate the performance? First session he was very good,
:01:11. > :01:15.whenever he got a chance he won the frame in one visit or made a good 50
:01:16. > :01:18.or 60 to put me under pressure. The damage was done in the first
:01:19. > :01:23.session. You need to be on top of your game from the word go, and I
:01:24. > :01:27.wasn't. A fifth Masters final in seven years, that is some going.
:01:28. > :01:43.Congratulations and commiserations to Mark Selby. Their a family
:01:44. > :01:47.reunion, now. A fifth title in the Masters, you waited five years for
:01:48. > :01:53.this one, how special is it to have these two lovely people here to
:01:54. > :01:57.watch you do it? I just wanted to congratulate Mark on a brilliant
:01:58. > :01:59.tournament. He is the most consistent player on the tournament.
:02:00. > :02:05.He's had a great tournament, I'm just pleased to have won, these two
:02:06. > :02:11.being here, my friends being here, it is just a miracle, I don't know
:02:12. > :02:17.how I have won it this week. One of the most for the performances we
:02:18. > :02:21.have seen at the Masters, how would you rate your performance? All winds
:02:22. > :02:24.are good, coming into this week I was not sure how I was going to
:02:25. > :02:29.perform. Played well, didn't drop many frames, playing Mark, it
:02:30. > :02:34.doesn't matter how well you play, you always expect he will take you
:02:35. > :02:38.all of the way. The scary thing is, sometimes the worst thing you can do
:02:39. > :02:48.is build a lead against him, because he loves coming from a fine. I am
:02:49. > :02:51.like, oh, no. I know it was 7-1, but you never feel you are anywhere near
:02:52. > :02:57.the winning line. Other players give up. But he is made of metal. When
:02:58. > :03:01.you think back 12 months ago, you were not here. I wonder how
:03:02. > :03:04.important this Masters event... I enjoyed it better last year,
:03:05. > :03:10.watching it on the telly, this is hard work. You didn't make it look
:03:11. > :03:15.hard work. Was this tournament the catalyst in the decision to come
:03:16. > :03:19.back for the World Championships? It is their fault why I am playing. I
:03:20. > :03:26.hadn't been to no tournaments, I was quite enjoying not playing and
:03:27. > :03:31.computing, my friends, I had to come and pick him up, CD tournament
:03:32. > :03:36.staff, the players, I thought, I do miss it, you know? I don't miss the
:03:37. > :03:40.stress, but I miss being amongst the lads and onto. You always get
:03:41. > :03:44.fantastic support in London. There is always one, happily he had to go.
:03:45. > :03:50.How much have you thrived on that support this week? They are
:03:51. > :03:55.brilliant here. They are very loud, they get involved. You know, so,
:03:56. > :03:59.they support all of the players well, really. Every player loves
:04:00. > :04:05.playing in London. It's a fantastic atmosphere. We should have a view
:04:06. > :04:09.more, it is easy for me to say, I don't have to drive as far. It is a
:04:10. > :04:12.school night, not too late for these guys to get back home. Your
:04:13. > :04:29.champion, The Rocket, the master. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
:04:30. > :04:43.Barry Hearn, chairman of world snooker. And from marketing, John
:04:44. > :04:49.Croesus. First, your runner-up. What a run to the final. Receiving the
:04:50. > :05:07.medal and a cheque for ?90,000, give it up for Mark Selby.
:05:08. > :05:17.And the winner, receiving a cheque for ?200,000, the trophy and the
:05:18. > :05:31.title Dafabet Masters Champion 2014, The Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan!
:05:32. > :05:53.A fifth Masters title for O'Sullivan in a record 10th final. From what we
:05:54. > :05:58.have seen, in the studio, what more can we expect from him this year if
:05:59. > :06:03.that is the kind of form he is going to be able to produce constantly? I
:06:04. > :06:06.think we can expect he will be a force to be reckoned with at the
:06:07. > :06:09.World Championship. There is still a gap between him and the other
:06:10. > :06:13.players in the game, even though there are some brilliant players
:06:14. > :06:16.around. It does make you think, he is 30 years of age, still the
:06:17. > :06:22.pre-eminent player in this particular sport. It is all the more
:06:23. > :06:26.remarkable. At that age, one would expect him to be declining in his
:06:27. > :06:30.powers at that point? There is no doubt that his running and fitness
:06:31. > :06:34.regime is a massive help. But the boy is a genius. He is a cut above
:06:35. > :06:38.everybody else. At his best, he is a long way clear of everybody else at
:06:39. > :06:43.his best. That is not to say he is beatable. But when he produces his
:06:44. > :06:55.best, he is a cut above everyone else. It is great to see Lily. When
:06:56. > :07:01.we last saw her she was just a little tot. How would you rate this
:07:02. > :07:07.Masters compared to some of the years we have sat and enjoy this?
:07:08. > :07:13.Considering we expect brilliance from all players these days, I think
:07:14. > :07:20.it's good for comebacks, entertainment. I talked about Mark
:07:21. > :07:25.Selby taking it on the chin. What will he take out of this defence of
:07:26. > :07:28.his title? He will be more determined because he knows he will
:07:29. > :07:31.be playing Ronnie O'Sullivan along the line and he will be determined
:07:32. > :07:36.to get a better start than he got today. He was very professional,
:07:37. > :07:41.very honest, he will go and work on things. He was 9-3 down and still
:07:42. > :07:44.practising. I can remember him getting beaten in Canada and he was
:07:45. > :07:50.practising the next morning before the flight home. They come back for
:07:51. > :07:58.more and he will do that. O'Sullivan makes an early bid for Sports
:07:59. > :08:01.Personality Of The Year, let's be honest, he's in the running every
:08:02. > :08:05.year. He is going to make a bid for three world titles in a row in
:08:06. > :08:09.April. That is when we will be back. He won it back-to-back last year. He
:08:10. > :08:13.goes to the Crucible as the double defending champion and starts his
:08:14. > :08:23.opening match on Saturday the 19th of April. BBC Sport will cover his
:08:24. > :08:32.every move. A big event for BBC Sport next weekend.
:08:33. > :08:40.My thanks, as ever, for the frame winning contributions in analytical
:08:41. > :08:47.terms from the team. We will leave you with the news that running is
:08:48. > :08:51.the master again. Goodbye for now. -- Ronnie.