Semi-Final - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Stuart Bingham Masters Snooker

hello, the bright lights of London. Since 1975, the home to the Dafabet

Masters, the richest and most prestigious invitational event in

snooker. Tonight we find out who will face Barry Hawkins in the final

tomorrow. Will it be Ronnie O'Sullivan, five-time winner and ten

time finalist in this event? This evening he breaks Jimmy White's

record for the number of matches and indeed appearances. 62, this

evening. Don't forget he has made 60 centuries in the previous 61. He has

ruled this event. This evening he's up against the current ruler of the

snooker world, the Crucible champion, Stuart Bingham, who has

exceptionally positive memories of their last meeting in Sheffield.

Coming out in front of a packed crowd, I'd been playing a lot of

exhibitions and the pressure is slightly different. The occasion is

going to be great. Something I can tell my grandkids, I played the best

pro in the world in the semifinal at the Masters. Please come along way

in the last four or five years. Always had the game but I think he

was lacking confidence -- he has come a long way. Getting to the

World Championship is last year, he's one of the top players now. He

has a chance of winning the tournament.

I actually find it easier playing people like Ronnie where you know

you have to be on top of your game to have a chance of winning. You're

not guaranteed of beating him when you are at your best. It is 50-50.

Obviously I'm the underdog. I have to be on my game and find something

a bit extra from what I've had already in this tournament. I love

people that doubt me, I've had it all through my career. It keeps me

on it. He's going to have 99% of the crowd. Hopefully my lot can give it

a shout out, they will get drowned by the Ronnie fans but I have to go

out and enjoy it. So, the's rocket's return to the big-time is going well

so far but up against the world champion. It's interesting, to coin

a phrase! Not often is the world champion such an outsider in a

match. It shows you what esteemed the bookmakers hold Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Stuart Bingham hasn't had to be at his brilliant best but

surely those matches will have helped his confidence. A good

performance against John Higgins and all of a sudden, Stuart Binny has

turned the corner of having the weight of responsibility of world

champion around his neck -- Stuart Bingham. As the underdog coming into

this match, it helps him. I was the underdog in the quarterfinal of the

World Championship much but he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan -- he was. Ronnie

saying that he owes him one a little bit. I don't think Ronnie, he never

would like a player to get the evil eye on him, so he will have a lot of

resolve to beat Stuart Binny for a Ms -- Stuart Bingham for a variety

of reasons. An emphatic record, 11th wins against three but it is their

most recent meeting in the Crucible quarterfinal in April last year.

O'Sullivan wasn't seen on the circuit after that event since he

resurfaced late last year and he is trying to match Stephen Hendry in

terms of six Masters titles. Stephen is in the commentary box with John

Virgo. Can anybody stop him equalling your record? To be honest,

no, he is the overwhelming favourite out of the three players left in the

tournament. Simple and straightforward as ever! John, the

weight of straightforward as ever! John, the

pretty heavy on Stuart's head, but is this the first time he has got

past the 16th stage in the Masters and how dangerous can he be? He has

two things in his favour, as he said in the interview. He is the

underdog, most of the crowd are going to support Ronnie. The

expectation of being world champion isn't going to be that strong. He

knows Ronnie's game so well, he knows his best will be good enough.

The bearing of that match, the quarterfinal at the Crucible, it

wasn't just the defeat, it was the manner of the win. He was 8-9 down

and he won five frames in a row, painful for Ronnie. I am sick of

tipping Stuart to lose, he keeps proving me wrong and he has done it

again in this tournament. I have tipped him to lose tonight so I'll

probably be run again! For you, what is going to swinging one way or the

other? -- be wrong. It depends on Ronnie. We know he is a juniors

Dunne genius. Stuart knows that only his best will be good enough. It is

a lively crowd. -- we know he is a genius. The MC Rob Walker is going

to get them revved up even more. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

What a night in prospect at Alexandra Palace. This is the last

session of snooker before tomorrow's Dafabet Masters final. Two players

going toe to toe for a place in the big Sunday showdown. I can assure

you that is going to be absolutely rocking here tonight! CHEERING

Please welcome a player who first won this title 21 years ago, and

here he is bidding for an amazing 11th appearance in a Masters final.

Can he close in on a sixth Masters crown? Blink and you'll miss him,

The And his opponent, a player who has

worked so hard to earn his place amongst the game's elite. His first

appearance in a Masters semifinal, and he can't wait. What a run he

produced at the Crucible to seal his first global title. Though here he

comes, the reigning champion of the world, Stuart Bingham!

I hope you are feeling this through the telly. It's great stuff here, it

really is. What an atmosphere. It's an all SX race to 11 for a place in

the final alongside Barry Hawkins. Stuart and John, I think we'll enjoy

this one. COMMENTATOR: What an atmosphere, I hope that has come

through at home, through your television set. It's absolutely

electric. Sometimes you wonder how people can play the first couple of

shots. You'd been there, you have to try and concentrate on your game?

Yeah, this is what being a top snooker player is all about, playing

in the atmosphere like this. A few years ago, Stuart Bingham never

thought he years ago, Stuart Bingham never

this. His career started so late, his winning career, as it were.

There are so many tournaments now, I suppose you get a lot more match

practice if you like and you used to. What an opportunity for Stuart

Bingham. That's what I'd be thinking if I

were him. The crowd expecting O'Sullivan, for it to be the

O'Sullivan Show tonight. What a stage to prove you are the world

champion. A terrific opening Reid but he ran past the baulk line, so

he'll have to settle for the snooker. -- red. Not a

straightforward escape. Not certain not to leave on the pot, coming

around four cushions. Short of pace. It's a good try and I think it will

be replaced because I can't see a pot on. It was a decent line from

Ronnie. But even that line, not guaranteed to it safe.

A bit harder this time. Then it will slide off the fourth question. Once

again, no hesitation from Stuart in having it replaced. Ronnie may look

for an alternative here. He underhit the first attempt and the overhit

that one, squaring it off the first cushion. He's trying to nestle into

the cluster just below the pink here. Yellow is in the way and the

jaw of the middle pocket. It's always going to slide off the fourth

question. But this time he may not take it because I think there is a

possible red to the left middle. Well, members of the audience saying

"Shot" and to be honest I thought it was in.

Yeah, that will please Ronnie, right in the heart of the pocket.

A couple of loose reds to play for. He doesn't have the angle to go into

the cluster, so you think he'll play for one of the reds.

By think he's just about come far enough. He wants to pot this, and

not money into the red. I think now he'll have eyes on the cannon, if he

has the angle. A little bit straighter than he would have liked,

so he's going to play for one of the loose reds. Looks like he's too low

to be on the black. He'll have to go for the blue here. The red to the

left I think goes to the right corner. That's what he'll play for

here. Cued that well, to play it with

pace. The first opportunity to go into

them now. He had a good angle on the black. You always need a little bit

of luck. He might just be OK. That red has gone to the far left corner.

I think he'll be able to cue past the red. If you can get to the

middle of the cue ball, shouldn't be a problem.

Hasn't he just this to perfection! -- judged this.

A choice now. -- judged this.

A choice now. last of the loose reds. Do you play

for the black, or last of the loose reds. Do you play

his tracks there. Has he got the perfect angle?

his tracks there. Has he got the get the correct angle on the black.

So he get the correct angle on the black.

a wonderful finish. Good get the correct angle on the black.

that's stopping him coming off get the correct angle on the black.

overhit it and leave a red on. A good length. Puts a bit of

the brown is A good length. Puts a bit of

pressure now on this safety shot from Stuart. He knows that one more

mistake and it's the end of the frame, so he has to catch it just

right. When the player is playing a snooker

shot to land on the ball cushion, it's a bonus when he gets here. --

the ball cushion. Not bad. Stuart is taking the black cushion. He was

trying to find the baulk cushion, not behind the yellow. If you get a

bit of luck, can you take advantage? He has the shots to the middle. You

wouldn't think he would be tempted by the angle on the tub cushion --

top cushion. It looks like he's looking at it. This one looks

tougher than the one to the middle, to me. Oh, tremendous pot.

Brilliant. To play it at that pace off two cushions, this is a

fantastic shot. So, what a chance he's given himself now. 38 points

behind. This visit is so important in the

context of the match. If Stuart doesn't take this

opportunity and if he lets Ronnie take it, it gives him a boost. He

thinks his opponent can't take his chances. That's a poor shot. That's

why he's looking at the blue. That's a mistake because those three reds

are only available to the left corner. He is playing the blue. No

He potted the pocket.

He potted the look at it. It was thick which

He potted the cue ball. Shouldn't be a problem,

Going for the pink to the right-hand can go for the paint

Going for the pink to the right-hand corner. May

Going for the pink to the right-hand one will put him

Going for the pink to the right-hand short of being perfect.

Is this the first psychological blow in this match?

Perfect. Inch per feblingt. -- inch perfect. Well, what an opening frame

that was! Ronnie O'Sullivan, to be fair, did nothing wrong. He made a

break of 59 and then, all of a sudden, Stuart's got back in. A bit

fortuitous but he got the snooker on the yellow, paving the way for a 63,

frame-winning break. The world champion's just re-entered

the building. It's been a while since we saw Stuart come up with

something like that. Playing this with pace around the two cushions is

a fabulous bit of play. It has set the tone, as Stephen was saying,

letting Ronnie know that he is in good enough form to lay down the

gauntlet and give him a run for his money. Yes, it isn't that often that

Ronnie O'Sullivan failed to make a frame-winning break when he has

reached 50 points. He came out of position on the black, he had to go

into the pack off the site cushion. It was an error of judgment, but

find margins -- site cushion. Ronnie knows that he is in a match. He got

a little bit lucky with the snooker, didn't he? Playing in an area where

you try and get it as tight as possible to the cushion, but when it

went behind the yellow, that's a bonus. When Ronnie O'Sullivan played

out of the snooker I think he would have been pleased with the outcome,

he played it cleverly leaving Stuart Bingham with a difficult shot. All

things considered, a good safety shot from Stuart Bingham. As John

said, you can't expect it to go behind the yellow. There are always

ifs and buts but if that's the standard for the match, it's a

corker. We'll take it. Stuart Bingham was saying the right things

in the build-up to the match, saying he can tell his grandkids that he

played against the best ever player, he's going to enjoy it, taking the

pressure off himself. He was the second favourite against John

Higgins and he came through, he is the same today, so who knows? Over

to frame two. COMMENTATOR: He has left Ronnie the

long red here, it made pot to the corner. Ronnie is pausing because if

you late comers are taking their seats. Oh, wonderful. Wonderful,

never touched the side. Similar, of course, to the opening red. We keep

saying about the break-off shot, it's becoming like a poisoned

chalice. If you don't get it right you could be sitting down for the

rest of the frame. It's a tough school.

Yes, it was a cold or long pot that Stewart left Ronnie, a shop that

professionals expect to get seven, eight times out of ten -- a

comfortable long putt that Stuart left.

He wanted to get, as we see, plenty of cue ball behind the yellow. Just

didn't get to the cue ball enough. A little bit thick, but if it rolled

on another six inches, finishing tight to the cushion and it makes

the pot so much more difficult. Tremendous opening red from Ronnie.

That was a big misjudgement. He obviously played to get the angle on

the baulk of colour to go into the bunch. I thought he was going to

screw back for the blue. Me too. The blue is off its spot. He must have

been playing for a baulk colour. Played it nicely. Once again,

whenever your opponent rolls into the balls, you open to the referee

to say touching ball. It wasn't, so Ronnie had to play the containing

safety. He couldn't get back to the baulk end, but Stuart can.

Once again, he'll be disappointed with the length of the cue ball

there. Didn't think he was guaranteed

position. If you get a tough pot and you are not guaranteed to be on a

Much too thick. Much too thick. I you are not

Much too thick. Much too thick. I think

A lot of players just brush the cloth with their hand, it's usually

when you have a few screw shots and you get a little bit of chalk dust

around. A feature of Stuart's run to winning

the World Championship is his high-scoring scoring. He scores

heavily and at pace as well. Good to see him looking confident and

looking like he's going to score heavily again.

Doesn't waste much time on the table.

The average shot, identical. Looks very composed out there.

Of course, he's no stranger to playing Ronnie. Talking about when

he beat him in the quarter-final, but they've had many a practise

session together in the early days. You wouldn't think he'd play a

cannon here. It would be a bit risky because there are three reds

available. Oh! Well!. Took his eye off the pot!

You cannot afford any unforced errors tonight. At least not many.

So Stuart first frame pinched the frame, is Ronnie going to do the

same? These reds aren't too badly situated.

Straight on the black. I think there is a middle red that would go into

the opposite corner. Decided to play from one to the right middle. Little

trickier. A little tricky, particularly at

that pace. If you look where the cue ball's finished, he's overhit that

again. That'll give Stuart Bingham

confidence, seeing Ronnie miss an easy shot like that. He probably

feared going back to his chair there.

Well, it was tight, John, wasn't it? Yes, I was looking behind it. When

they are tight like that, you see it so many times, he's hit the wrong

red, but because he only hit it very thin, it didn't stop him getting to

the potting angle. The bottom line is, it's end of break, so a great

chance has gone. Asking for the extended spider, I

can only assume he can't afford to go back to the ball because of that

red that's adjacent to the left middle so he's just going to drop on

the black. I wouldn't use the spider for this, to be honest with you, but

there you go. Look at the distance between the spider and the cue ball

anyway. Made a good job of it. That's what he was playing at,

trying to leave Ronnie hampered by the black. He's done just that.

I'm not certain whether Stuart will the black. He's done just that.

I'm not certain whether Stuart will attempt

I'm not certain whether Stuart will that pots. Decided not to take

I'm not certain whether Stuart will now because it's blocked

I'm not certain whether Stuart will can't play the one below the

I'm not certain whether Stuart will Oh! That's a bonus!

Little shake play that. We were saying in the

first frame, play that. We were saying in the

sometimes hardly noticeable can make all the difference

sometimes hardly noticeable can make pot. Ronnie is going to leave the

awkward brown. Got to hit this in the middle. Super

shot! APPLAUSE.

He doesn't want to be too straight on the green. Still needs green,

brown and blue. Beautiful, what a yellow this was

though. Well played.

And in goes the pink. Stuart Bingham had his chance then. I thought he'd

got away with it, then he turned down a pot that looked like a shot

for nothing for some reason. Ronnie got a fortuitous plant, it's one

apiece. A little bit of, well, some dishing

up from Ronnie there to level out that that was meted out to him in

the first frame. Yesterday you might have been watching when we ran this

photograph. It was Steve Davis in a Coventry City kit. Not sure who his

friend is there, but the gentleman on the horse back was the father of

one of the fellas who'd come to watch the snooker yesterday and John

Virgo gave you a lot of stick about that, didn't he? Yes, I felt very

aggrieved that John took the Mickey out of me with my alternative sports

kits so I got one out of the archive. That was at the Queen's

Club, yes. I played there with Virginia Wade. She didn't have a

clue who I was but I looked good in the outfit. Tit-for-tat and that's

what was happening in this match. Ronnie is up for stealing one back

as well. Speculative plant. Plenty of distance between them. Can't

guarantee you are going to get this, an element of safety in it but

couldn't have hit it any better. It hurts you, sat in the chair and

thinking, can't believe you got that one. The black off the spot, Stuart

Bingham will be ruing that one? Yes, as Steve said, you don't get those

chances too often, so even though the game wasn't won in that

particular moment, he could have won it himself there.

When the players have won a frame, they just seem like they are going

to settle in now and this could be an absolute classic. That double

kiss for once has helped Stuart Bingham.

You wouldn't think that would cause Stuart any problem, just come off

the left hand side cushion, nestled into the reds below the pink. He'll

be hoping he doesn't leave a touching ball.

Always the key if you are going to get a good safety, you've got to

miss the balk colour. Invariably you can give your opponent a chance.

That's a little bit concerning I would think for Stuart.

Ronnie's knocked it in or over. It's in!

The look on Ronnie's face, he can't believe how that red went into the

pocket. He was worried about knocking one towards the right

corner. Just look how it went off two balls and dropped in and perfect

on the green. Of course, that is the thing that

happens. The run of the ball sometimes can make all the

difference. Pretty slack safety shot you would have to say.

Looking at the red, it was going to go near that corner pocket. He's

nuked it so he has a chance in this frame to go into the bunch here.

Can't avoid them so trusting it to a bit of luck.

APPLAUSE This red to the left, it's very hard

to inject the type of pace required to run through the other reds, so

you have got one to the right and one to the left middle.

Just deaccelerated on that one. Just didn't get the cue through as he

would have liked. So a few misses from both players.

Stuart's got to pounce on these mistakes from Ronnie. He really has.

I agree. I just don't think Ronnie is on it at the moment. We saw him

screw a ball in. Sometimes you get a bit of tension in the arm, you've

just got to settle down, relax and push the cue through nicely. So

Stuart's got to take advantage of these opportunities.

APPLAUSE I don't know if he's come far enough for this red to the right

corner. You have to look at the body language. Awkward cueing there.

Missed by a long way. He knows the right hand side is going to throw

the cue ball into the red. That's why he's hit it too thick. Shouldn't

be missing those. I can assure you as a snooker

player, there's no better feeling when you've just missed one like

that and you've left an opponent in and the opponent doesn't take

advantage, you can forget the bad shot you played on your last visit.

Trying to stretch over so obviously he's not that confident with the

rest but couldn't get to it. A little bit of work to do with the

cue ball here. Played it nicely. Looks as though

he's recovered the situation somewhat. Well, not perfect on this

red to the left middle. Looks like he's going to have to go

in and out of balk here. Little shake of the head there from

Stuart as Ronnie taps his cue. I think the problem that Stuart's

seeing here, he'd like to stun this red in but the red on the right,

he's got to avoid the kiss on that. Played it plain ball, now that red

on the right hand side of the table, is he going to ruin the position?

Can he get through to the blue? I think he can. Just. If he's going

play for the red and black cushion, play for the red and black cushion,

doesn't want to be straight on this. The worst kind of straight, just off

straight. The worst kind of straight, just off

careful with this. Looks like The worst kind of straight, just off

going to have to play this The worst kind of straight, just off

play for the ball in the same pocket. Got to be accurate.

To say he used all the pocket there would be an understatement. The red

did jump a little bit. But he didn't have a good angle on that. But this

is the modern game. Look at this black he's taking on. And getting! .

Tremendous pot. APPLAUSE Excellent.

You have to think if he missed that, it was going to cost him the frame.

It's the only way to play these days.

You can't wait for chances, you've got to take them yourself.

He's got the red to the left corner. He's just concerned that he could

run into a second red and lose position but just concentrate on the

pot. Did run into the second pot. Blue goes to the right middle, if

not the green. While the blue does pass the red.

Just can't get absolute perfect position. Always landing that little

bit awkward. Just needs to drop this in. He's got

another red close to the right middle pocket. Doesn't matter if he

leaves himself low on the blue here. So no problem, you would feel, in

taking this third frame from here. That looks to be absolutely perfect.

Got That looks to be absolutely perfect.

and bounce off the side cushion. He would have liked to have got that

cue ball a little further away from the cushion. Ran into the red.

Although he's on the red to the left of the pink, using the rest, it's

missable. Yes, that was the problem. Just

couldn't get a good position. He's missed the red with the rest.

Just needs to slow up and he has done. And Stuart shaking his head

there. He knew that was a great chance. He just never got pinpoint

position at any time during that visit and it caught him out in the

end. When you're not getting a perfect

position, it's ruining your natural rhythm and pace that you play the

game at all the time. Stop, look at things.

I expected Stuart to win the frame on his visit, now I expect it to

cost him the frame. Black puts Ronnie eight points

behind. You wouldn't think he'd want to play for the black here. For the

blue, it would make it easier to get on the yellow. Just about OK. I

think he can just hold for the yellow. Cued it nicely. So two

points behind. He needs up to and including the pink. To win this

frame that Stuart Bingham will be sat there seething that he's let

slip. Some of the scoring we've seen in

the matches this week, this has been, you would have to say, scrappy

stuff so far tonight. APPLAUSE Terrific shot on the blue

so just the pink required. To be honest with you, it's another

frame that could have gone either way. But Stuart Bingham had a few

chances. He didn't take them and Ronnie O'Sullivan now leads by 2-1.

Making Stuart have a little think about that missed shot again. A

litany of them over the last three frames. The thing is, when you play

O'Sullivan, you don't expect him to miss as many shots as he has tonight

and sometimes that comes with pressure because you are thinking

you are getting chances and you should be making more than you are.

Sometimes it is reverse psychology, you get a bit nervous about it. How

do you see it from Stuart's perspective? He'll be delighted to

have got the first frame going, he's in the match. You expect to Ronnie

O'Sullivan to be a force. I think Stuart Bingham has been more relaxed

than he has been over the last couple of matches. That's his best

way, how he won the World Championship. Practice is hard,

entering every tournament and he loves the game. At the age of 39, I

believe, that's the way for him to play, make that most of the time

he's got. Interesting you mentioned 39, Ronnie has just turned 40 in

December. Barry Hawkins, 36. Judd Trump was the last man standing in

terms of 20-year-olds, he is 26. We've talked about it before, living

proof that it seems to be the mature players's game at the moment.

Amazing, experience counts for a lot. The matches you get, you get

battle hardened. If you make a mistake sometimes in a situation you

shouldn't do, it teaches you not to do it again and the old players are

doing all right. Different match to what we have seen yesterday,

Robertson against Trump, thumping century after century. This has a

gripping effect, doesn't it? When the players are missing, it

galvanises the crowd. There's nothing like a capacity crowd here

at Alexandra Palace. This place is producing excellent snooker in the

few years it's been here. Matches like this, fans love them. They sure

do. This is the last one before the interval.

COMMENTATOR: A good length with the cue ball. Go on, Ronnie. Quiet,

please! That's too thick. I was thinking of

the shouting out, Ronnie has said that he would like more of that in

the games. You would think it would put him off.

Interesting, going out of the arena after that visit. You allowed three

exits now. Yes, the interesting thing was coloured by the time the

referee Colin Humphreys had set up the balls and was ready to call

Stuart to the table to break off, Ronnie was back in the arena. I

think he isn't taking a toilet break, he just wants to get out of

the arena in between frames. Surely there can't be any law against that,

as long as you are not keeping your opponent waiting.

Always trust a little bit to luck. I don't think he's had any.

Obviously there is no pot on. Looking at the red in the baulk end.

The only way he can play this, he cannot get too full, he wants to

come off the baulk cushion first. Can't guarantee he's going to get it

safe, so he's playing safe to this area, stunning the red up the table.

The only way you are going to get any real advantage playing that shot

is to get the cue ball tight to the top cushion. Stuart can raise the

top of the cue and he can dig in. He has to be careful, he needs to get

the cue ball to the top cushion. And he hasn't quite got it there.

There's a possible red to the right middle.

Hmm. Maybe not. It looks like he didn't even look at the red to the

right middle. It is fraught with danger. Surprised he didn't take it

on. Yeah and he may have forced Stuart Bingham into a corner here.

If Stuart thinks he doesn't have a good safety he may play the thin cut

to the middle. Ooh the overcut it. In the pocket. He was forced into

that because he didn't see a good safety. You can only say that Ronnie

O'Sullivan's choice of shot has worked in his favour.

Great chance now. To take a 3-1 lead into the mid-session interval.

None of these four reds close to the pink spot will go, so he may play

the cannon here. At first glance it looks like it hasn't worked out. You

would think he was guaranteed to be on something. He's OK, he has the

red to the red centre. The fraction is just favouring, although you'd

have to say that if he wasn't on the red he would be unlucky. Couldn't

That red makes the points all square. You have to say, John, the

black off the spot that Stuart missed in the second frame when he

had the chance of 2-0, when I mentioned about he couldn't afford

many unforced errors, now he has the 3-1 deficit. There it is, you just

can't afford those at this level. Well, that's worked out OK. The only

thing is, as Stuart looks on, he has the red close to the cushion, which

wasn't part of the plan.