Final Part 2 - Barry Hawkins v Ronnie O'Sullivan Masters Snooker

COMMENTATOR: It's been a fabulous match. Ronnie O'Sullivan, well he is

back. My first Masters' final. My date with destiny.

Taught Tait unbelievable match. That's what it means to Barry

Hawkins. Very - COMMENTATOR:. Very proud. Fan twastic venue to

play in, especially when it is full up. COMMENTATOR: You cannot get your

breath. What a pot that was. The Ally Pally, snooker's theatre of

dreams. Only the greats have won the Masters. I would rather play well

and lose than play bad and win. COMMENTATOR: It's been sensational.

One of the greatest matches you have ever seen. O'Sullivan may have won

the title five times. He has also lost five finals. I'm not one for

wanting to grind out. It has to come easy to me.

Hazel Irvine: Good evening. Great view here of the main Palm Court

entrance as the crowds stream into the main auditorium. This place was

built in the 1860s to commemorate a royal birth of Princess Alexandra

but in Victorian Britain it became known as the People's Palace and

140-years on it is the people's champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan who

appears to be on cruise control for his sixth Master. The rocket needs

only three more frames against world number 8, Barry Hawkins, to complete

a remarkable return to the top of his sport.

It was nice for the crowd favourite to be back on home turf. Ronnie was

expected to steam roll his way towards the sixth Masters' title.

But the rocket never had it his own way, setting up Barry to take the

first frame. COMMENTATOR: Plenty of tension out there in this opening

frame. However, Ronnie soon found his feet, making a wonderful 70

break in frame two. And in the And in the very next

frame, made the first century of the final. COMMENTATOR: He only needed

one chance. What did he do? He clears the table with that

magnificent break of 136. Barry had the the opportunity to bounce back.

Two great reds. Ultimately, he couldn't take the

frame. Ronnie, 3-1 up at the break. It was much the same after the

interval. Ronnie taking full advantage of Barry Hawkins' errors

to take the next two frames. COMMENTATOR: Oh my word. What a pot

that was. A break of 77 in the seventh, including this fantastic

pot on the black and Ronnie goes five year.

And a 72 break in the final frame of the session for the Rocket to lead

7-1 and it looks like he is running away with it.

Now he is well on his way to equalling my record of six Masters'

titles. The walk from the dressing room to

the table is always a surreal affair especially in a two-session match

like the Masters' final. You have done it once but this is the final

session, you know the crowd will really be up for it. In this match

it depends where you are up to in the game. If you are in front by a

wrong way, you are worried you might throw it away, don't dare do that.

On the other hand, if you are a long way behind, you need that first

frame on the board. Whichever way, you are nervous. And what an

atmosphere we have with 2,000 people. An atmosphere I'm sure both

players would love to have been feeding on but so far in the final

it's been the Ronnie O'Sullivan show. As for Barry Hawkins what is

it about this evening? He is playing for pride. Trying to change that

score board into an air of respectability and if he can have

one of those miracle sessions and play no-miss snooker, I might make

the Rocket wobble a bit before he gets his hands on this trophy for

the sixth time. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

the two-time ranking event winner, Barry Hawkins.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And now, the five time Champion of the World, the Rocket, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE So are we heading for the most

one-sided Masters' final, since last year or can Barry Hawkins produce a

career-defining comeback. Let's year or can Barry Hawkins produce a

out as we join Ken Doherty and John Virgo.

JOHN VIRGO: Fair play to him. He has a mountain to climb but he is not

apologising. KEN DOHERTY: Not at all.

What a reception he got. The referee finding it hard to control the

crowd. What an atmosphere. This is what it is all about, John.

Yes, the final night of any of our major tournaments, if you have never

been to one, buy a ticket, you are going to love the atmosphere, there

is nothing like it. REFEREE: Not with the players on the

table, thank you. It's going to be such a tall order

for Barry Hawkins. He has Terry Griffiths in his corner. Of course,

he will be feeding him words of encouragement. Trying to keep the

positive thoughts in the mind but it is very difficult, isn't it, when

you are playing against someone who is playing at the highest standard,

John, you know, it is difficult to stop. Yes, as John Parrot said at

the beginning, Barry willk coming out and he will be just playing for

pride. Take one shot at a time. I know it is an old cliche but it

applies here. First chance. He played it that pacy because he

thought he was going to run into other reds. He thought - if I play

it with pace I will be able to run through them. He didn't hit much,

and that's why he has finished near the balk cushion. Just the safety

shot to play. He has tried to cover part-way down

the left-hand side but I think he has just left a gap for Ronnie at

the outside of this red. Um, we have seen that happen a few

times this week and particularly down that side of the table. It is

almost like the ball has drifted slightly.

Yes, I was just going to say exactly the same thing. We saw Shaun Murphy,

the defending champion in his opening match, concede a frame by

three misses but Barry not having it replaced at the moment because he

thinks there is a possible pot on. But now he has decided to have it

put back and then down that same side, Mark Allen, in the waterer

final, he did exactly the same, missed it twice, got a warning but

then made certain he hit it on the third occasion. -- in the

quarter-final. Neil Robertson as well on that same

side. Let's get a birds bird's eye view.

Well, perfect there. The good thing about that, as far as the frame

goes, it brings the black into play. Yes, whoever can win the safety

exchange now, as you say, Ken, with the black in the open, it'll be a

good chance. He'd better catch that thin to the

left-hand side of the table. The right-hand side of the table is a

bit contested. I don't see that? It'll have to be very precise.

Well, just playing the containing safety.

A little short of pace but that yellow is going to be hampering

Barry somewhat. Oh and that considered, what a

superb shot this is. Very well-played.

APPLAUSE Oh, the chance of a red but very do

I have find a path back to balk area. There is a gap. Well, he might

miss the reds with a lot of right-hand side. He tried to find a

gap. But it was very difficult. That's the name of the game -

REFEREE: Foul and a better than that.

REFEREE: Foul and a of the reds

REFEREE: Foul and a wishes to pot the yellow

REFEREE: Foul and a to bring

That was unlucky. He was unfortunate not to leave a pot on but that won't

do Barry's confidence any good, missing that yellow. He needs to be

at the top of his game this evening, if he is going to get anything out

of Where is the cue ball going?

REFEREE: Foul, Ronnie O'Sullivan 4. Nice pot. I was hoping for a little

cannon on the green so he would be on the blue, right-centre but a

tricky pot to the left-centre, with the cue ball going up towards the

redses. He couldn't have cued that green

much better. Looking at, that the pink is out of commission. So is the

black. So, doing well, Ronnie here it make this a sizeable

contribution. The way they are at the moment. He would love to get the

blue back on its own spot. A little bit straight on it.

The three reds to the right of the pink, the bottom one spots into the

bottom right-hand pocket. He could use that at some stage to dislodge

the other two but obviously not on this occasion.

Perfect for the blue now. A lovely shot.

Very difficult to generate the amount of topspin required to get

back up for the blue. So I think that will be end of break. It was

always going to be a very difficult ask to make any sizeable

contribution, as I said at the time. Where is the cueball going? Well,

now it is safe. If it had gone in, it would have been a lot easier for

Barry. This game, as we always say, is all

about fractions. He needs the blue to husband rescue.

I think it has but there is a red in the middle of the table that's

possible. Lovely, right in the heart of the

pocket. His potting this week has been as good as it has been for

quite a while. I have not seen it better. Sometimes this afternoon...

Over the years it has been his Achilles heel but this week he has

been on top form with his long pot success.

I think that's right, 65%. A lot of the time for long pots, they are

shots for nothing. Any other part of the game I'm looking for 90% or

above, pot success and likewise. Can he get that safe? He judged it

well. Well there in the audience there is Hayley Turner. Retired. I

can't believe it. And with LesBarton, great follower of

snooker, goes to all the tournaments. A great friend of

Ronnie's and all the snooker players. Why did you do it?

One of the great jockeys, belief me, you have ever seen, lady jockey. --

believe me. Oh, that was very thick. He will be

lucky not to leave anything here. That was a long, long way away from

the pot there. Well, I'm certain Ronnie was

convinced he was going to hit that red. He misjudged it. Even Ronnie

can see the funny side of that one. It looked like he was playing hard

match snooker but he expected that red to career into another one. Once

it didn't, it was back up the table and it is a nice easy starter.

Didn't want that little kiss on the red. It has just knocked it into a

safer position. He still has this red with the rest.

Can he - well, it will be difficult to get on his next red.

He had to put a lot of pace into it. Tried to screw it in-off the side

cushion and that was quite a difficult shot. It's only that red

that he knocked safe, John. If he hadn't knocked it safe he could have

stunned that red and got on the pink. And that pink there, when you

are 7-1 behind, all the more difficult. But Ronnie has not made

the best job of that shot. Just a fraction too hard, the bounce

off the side cushion. A little bit like the first frame of

the match. Very scrappy. Barry Hawkins in the end won it. Of

course, that was the only frame he has put on the score board so far.

But he won't mind if it is a scrappy frame.

A good safety but there is a possible pot on here.

Well, he didn't attempt it. You can see the reason why. Excellent

safety. Just coming off the side cushion,

trying it lay on the red on the top cushion. But he has to be careful.

He is going to be leaving a pot on, up to the green pocket, if Ronnie

wishes to take it on. The red just below the pink to the left pots but

Ronnie again, looks like he is refusing

It is certainly a sign, John, with some of the shots that he has

refused, that he has certainly kept his focus. OK he is 7-1 ahead. He

has certainly kept his focus. He is trying to keep the pressure on his

opponent, without pushing the boat out. Yes, absolutely. Taking nothing

for granted. This red goes. Once again, much too thick. If you

are going to miss those, you have to hit them thin. That cue ball will

not go past the blue area, then you leave a chance.

Snr well, not the best positional shot. He didn't want that cue ball

so close to the side cushion. He made it look easy. The scores are

now level. Still not a straightforward run to

the winning line, though. Well, he can play the pink here off

a couple of cushions and try to get close to the yellow. Although it is

on the left-hand side, it is not a problem for Ronnie being able to use

the left hand. But he has come a bit wide off the mark where he wanted to

be. It is such a big target, that brown

and blue Ian indeed the green, for a snooker. -- and indeed.

So it is the age-old problem. No problem hitting the yellow. Got to

get it safe. Is that safe or will he take it on?

It doesn't look like. You always look at this type of

shot. Is the safety easier than the pot? That's what he is considering.

Well, decided he didn't want it take the pot on, but that's not the best

safety. Chance for Barry if he can knock this yellow in.

Oh, another couple of inches off that side cushion and it would have

been perfect for Barry. Yes, so much tougher. He has opened up the brown

and the blue. As you said, John, talk about

fractions of the game. Another inch or two off the side cushion and he

would have been perfect. But it wasn't straightforward for Ronnie.

Played it as a shot to nothing and has got the snooker.

Where is this green going? The only hope for Barry that it is dead

straight. If it isn't, at a slight angle, he just has to put it, to be

on the brown. -- pot it. This brown, to go 18 points in

front, with 18 remaining. Well, the chances are coming thick

and fast for Barry Hawkins. Can he take this last one? He needs the

four remaining colours. He needs a bit of help from the blue

or the pink, and he has had none. I don't think he will get another

chance this frame now. Not perfect on the blue. No, don't

even think he can attempt a double, either. An attempt at the right

corner. He doesn't want to knock the blue

off the side cushion and lunch to the top cushion near the black,

because Barry will bring the black interplay.

APPLAUSE Well, it's been an amazing frame,

this. The quality of snooker we have seen so far in this tournament and

And that's a very good shot by in this match, chances are not being

And that's a very good shot by Barry. Remember, if he pots the

three remaining balls he will take it will be spotted black and Ronnie

can only just get to the edge of this. He has looked to see if he can

get to the top cushion first, but I'm not certain he can get enough

behind the here. -- the blue here. He did manage to leave distance

between cue Borland object ball. Looks very straight, doesn't it? So

difficult to try and get macro want it and get the cue ball close to

this pink. I'm surprised you didn't say, where

is the cue ball going there, John. Trying the stun off the side

cushion. He needs the pink to slow up. He has left a pot on, but

whether Ronnie would take it on or not, it's risky.

For all the barrage of breaks we've seen during the match these are so

exciting, these types of frames. They are, and it goes without saying

how important this is for Barry Hawkins.

Well, it's a good safety shot but the only problem is has he left a

double? I'm not quite sure if it is on. The longest frame of the match,

this one. The second longest frame was the

first frame of the match. This looks a good length.

APPLAUSE He has got to hit it, got to get it

safe. Well, you would think Ronnie would take this on. This, for the

frame. Oh! Whether it going? Oh, no! You

can not believe it! It never ceases to amaze you, this game. When you

don't need the luck, you get it. What a fluke! All the effort that

was put in that frame by both players and it ends like that. Mani

O'Sullivan hangs his head in shame, but when he looks at the scoreboard

he won't mind. He is seven clear, 8-1.

HAZEL IRVINE: The longest frame of the match so

far, when it's not your day at appears to be not, he scored a

horrible day of trying to keep control of the cue ball and then

that, John. It's incredible what can happen on there. Ronnie caught the

jaw, comes across, it happens to go over there at the perfect base to

come off and get the cannon and going and if you start knocking

those in its time for everyone to wrap up. Your impression of what has

been an interesting match, but it's been very one-sided. For those

joining us, having missed the opening exchanges this afternoon,

7-1 obviously anti-rocketed, if you'll pardon the pun, to that

immediately after Hawkins had won the first frame. It's been one-way

traffic since then, hasn't it? It has on this afternoon's session, it

wasn't much that Barry Hawkins had totally bad luck, but he didn't have

anything going his way. All the shots he had left were difficult

ones and the chasm opened up. Ronnie didn't play unbelievably well but he

did enough and did his job. In that frame there, Ronnie O'Sullivan was

very patient for his chance to try to win the frame. I know he got the

fluke in the end, but there were a lot of shots he turned down. He

decided to make Barry Hawkins work as hard as possible for it and it

shows great maturity, to know your opponent is the one that is

desperate to win the frame and you can pick your moments. As it was,

it's not Barry Hawkins' Day at all. It doesn't seem like it. Compared to

yesterday, when he beat Judd Trump, his scoring so far in this match, 48

and 46 have been his top breaks. Going back to Ronnie, the word to

use is businesslike. That's exactly what he has been all day. He has

played to play winning snooker. He's two frames away from victory.

REFEREE: Mani O'Sullivan the break. COMMENTATOR:

That's what they're playing for, a beautiful Waterford Crystal trophy.

And of course should Mani O'Sullivan winter night, John, emulates what

the great Stephen Hendry did, six Masters titles.

Yes, we all accept the weight Ronnie plays, the ability he has, all the

records are there for the taking authority is concerned, if he is

prepared to it. -- the records are there for the taking as far as he's

concerned, if he is prepared to dedicate himself to it.

A couple of other interesting spectators in the front row. The

guitarist from Oasis, and Andy Goldstein, former presenter of Talk

Sport, only joking, Andy. A very keen, avid snooker fans, always

making an appearance down here. At the Alexandra Palace.

Well, there are worse nudges you could have.

It's always interesting to see how Ronnie O'Sullivan goes about making

the break. His priority will be thinking now, how can I get on a red

to get the black on its spot. He has spotted this one, so

obviously the black will go in the opposite corner to this red.

He will be a little bit disappointed, he overhit that

slightly. He played for the blue in the middle, played for the corner.

They are all going Ronnie's way at the moment.

If Barry can just get past this brown to play the pot on this red,

he wouldn't have to do anything, if he'd pot that it's bound to be on

the black. I don't think he can. Having to play the safety. If it

runs as it is heading, well, but for the kiss on the brown it wouldn't be

very good but he has left Ronnie here a long straight red and he has

knocked a few of these in this week. It's not only the pot, it's the

control as well, and how sweet a cue that long read. Beautiful.

Yes, and the thing is when you strike the ball that well you don't

have to hit it particularly hard and that's what he does. He gets right

through the cue ball and gets an immediate reaction.

That's what annoys him, of course, all his last visit, when he misses

That's what annoys him, of course, an easy red. He thinks he shouldn't

miss anything. Getting very close to the point of

no return in this frame for Barry Hawkins. 56 points and counting.

You made the point, John, it's Ronnie's shot time, only 15 seconds

per shot now. Earlier in this match it was down to

13. I can only think of Tony Draco, who

had that sort of average shot time. He needs a red and colour, he

doesn't need to overthink this. Bit the bullet, really, he didn't want

to knock the red safe under caution but he knew by dropping that red in

he'd be nicely on the bank. Bank is all he needs. In it goes, 67 remain.

Barry Hawkins won't be winning this frame.

Pot this red to leave a nice angle on the pink, so he can dislodge the

red he left safe a few shots ago. Nearly a lucky 15, but it didn't

matter for the frame. Apart from the missed red, which she didn't leave

anything, didn't do a lot wrong that frame. And now he's just one frame

away from his sixth Masters title. HAZEL IRVINE:

And we are now the record books -- scouring the record books and that

belongs to Steve Davis against Mike Hallett in 1988, 9-0. 10-2, Johne

Murphy against Neil Robertson, that was a surprise. When you're in this

position, when you are dominating a match like that, can you describe

what it feels like and how good it feels? Yes, do you know what, the

funny thing is you know full well there is a possibility it's not a

spectacle because it not going to be close but you don't care that. You

just love having it all your own way. I think probably all the top

players are pretty good bullies, so they like it that way. I don't think

Ron is necessarily the same animal but he will consider it a job well

done today. It looks like it will get over the line pretty soon. It

would be an amazing achievement were he to win met Wood here. He is eight

months out of the game. You look at it, he has beaten a double triple

Crown winner, Mark Williams, the reigning world champ, Stuart

Bingham, and he's one of the way against Barry Hawkins. It's an

amazing achievement. It certainly is, straight in against the cream of

the crop, you walk straight through the door and you know you have a

the crop, you walk straight through the door and you know you have a

touch -- tough match from ball one. I said in commentary it's the best

to 19 but you see the players, but this is right in at ball one and

this is an unbelievable performance. What can Hawkins do to hold this

one? COMMENTATOR:

We said at the start of the evening he is playing for pride. I think now

he would love to get us to the mid-session interval and to do that

he will have to win the next two frames.

Barry getting up off the shot, someone shouts in an inopportune

moment. When he came out tonight, we remarked on it, how he embraced the

reception he got. That's tough to do when you are so far behind.

Absolutely, you called it right. It's a sense of pride that you want

to get a few frames on the board. It has happened to me, I know exactly

how he feels. Ronnie beat me in the UK final one

year and it was 10-1. I was just happy to get one frame. But that is

the situation. You do get a little bit embarrassed out there. And I

hope he doesn't, because he has played magnificently all week.

But he would certainly bring the house down and if you did get his

first frame on the board tonight. Another excellent safety shot this.

An air of desperation about that one. I didn't see where the colour

was going to come from if he potted the red.

Nothing at this end of the table, so he's going to have to play the

straight ball Wood blue. Tried to force the cue ball through the reds

but good pop needed. -- pot needed. And got. Super.

APPLAUSE Cleverly playing the black and in

playing the black he notices Wood nudges the red away from the black.

Such a quick thinking snooker brain. A genius at work, John, that's all

And the magnitude of this you can say.

And the magnitude of this achievement as well is even greater,

the fact that his last tournament on the television was back in April, at

the World Championship. Eight and a half months ago. Quite incredible.

Yes, I was talking earlier on about Barry Hawkins playing for pride, but

I think that's what motivates Ronnie, his pride in performance,

that's what keeps him going, that's what enables him, if you like, the

comeback after a long lay-off. He just wants to show people how well

he can play the game. He gets very disappointed some of his interviews

afterwards a bit downbeat, but because he's trying so hard to show

people how he can play. When he is at the top of his game,

which he will tell you he hasn't been this week, he is unbelievable,

the greatest player ever. We are here

I remember a reporter coming up to me once that the World Championship

after he had been a year out and he came back and won it and he said,

what do you think about what the other players think, he can have a

year out and win it, and they will have two appreciate they are in the

era of a genius, and it's a fact. Most importantly it's great to see

him back. Just wanting one more red and

colour. You feel for Barry. Put up that great performance

against Judd Trump. He will be disappointed the way he has played.

He has had chances today. But that's the frame, surely.

APPLAUSE His six Masters trophy, what a

performance. You just have to admire it. I'm sure Barry will admire it as

well. INAUDIBLE

He likes the top and tail it with a century. -- he would like the top

and tail it with a century. Believe me, he will try to get the tonne

here, but not quite. He will say, well played. Ronnie will be

sympathetic for Barry, who has not played his best

sympathetic for Barry, who has not O'Sullivan winning a sixth title,

proves once again that when he gets his cue out of the case he is the

one to beat. Six times Masters champion, and he winced the Dafabet

Masters by 10-1. Brilliant! HAZEL IRVINE:

Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for those of our finalists

lights. Barry, if I can grab a quick word with you. Barry, you always

seem to meet this man in finals when he's coming back from a very long

sabbatical. To quote Jimmy White, you really must be beginning to

annoy you now, yes? I wish he'd retire, to be fair! No, I'm

disappointed in my performance today, to be fair. I didn't give

Ronnie a game at all. I just said to him there, if he thought he was

cueing around corners yesterday he was -- he should have felt my arm

today, it's just how it goes sometimes and it's a bit

disappointing really. How difficult was it to follow up that wonderful

pork -- performance against Judd Trump yesterday, and UK bout into

this final, a big occasion, you have a lot to reflect on. It's the first

time you've got past the first round. What are the positivity will

take away from this week? If someone said I would get to the final and

played Ronnie in the final, I would have ripped off their arm but when

you get to the final you want to perform and it's hard to take

positives at the moment because I'm a bit disappointed in how I

performed today, but I played well most of the week. I am sure back I

will look back and think I did well, it's one of those things. It is

indeed. Barry Hawkins, well played. APPLAUSE

He Ronnie O'Sullivan, champion of the Masters once again for a sixth

time. I tell you what, after eight months away and I know you are a

perfectionist, you must be chuffed with that performance. I'm over the

moon. I watched Barry playing in his semifinal over Judd Trump and I knew

I needed to raise my level and play like I did against Selby. Today I

managed to do that. I managed my emotions well, it is such a big

occasion against someone I knew was in form. I'm delighted to play as

well as I had done. You were down on yourself yesterday when you came

into the studio last night. What has made the difference today. Dr Steve

Peters arrived here this morning. Did that help you? Having him here

put pressure on me. I have to behave myself, you know. He just mentioned

a couple of things to me. He is right. I knew I had to just focus on

playing each ball and getting involved in the match. I was able to

do that today. It was just a shame Barry just never - if he had played

like he did in the semis, we could have had a brilliant match. Well

done to Barry. He had another great tournament. Eight months away. How

surprised are you to be standing here as a champion? I'm never

normally surprised I win tournaments. I'm surprised I have

won my first one after eight months. I still think, you know, if I can

produce some form, it doesn't matter how much time you take out, you

still have the talent and the game there. It is about producing it when

it matters and I was able to do it this week. You are now level with

the great Stephen Hendry in the Masters' titles. He is a couple

ahead of you in the world titles. What motivation is it to keep

chasing that? I mean this is just a week. So you are manage to keep your

form. It is easier to keep it for a week. But for 17 days, it is a

grind. I will give it a go and we'll see what happens.

What is the schedule? I know a lot of people watching will want to

know, is this you back on the circuit for it the rest of the

season? What are your plans? I'll play most of the UK and European

events and take it from there, really. And just play whatever you

fancy. There are so many tournaments these days, you have the option to

pick and chose. We used to only have six. Now you have 36. It is great to

have the choices, you know. Ladies and gentlemen, the incredible

Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

your presentation party. Barry the hen Chairman of World Snooker. The

head of sponsorship and the 1984 Masters' champion, the Whirl wind,

Jimmy White. The runner-up receiving a silver

medal and a cheque for ?90,000. What a run to the final it was for bory

Hawkins. APPLAUSE

-- Barry Hawkins. And the winner, receiving a cheque

for ?200,000, the trophy and the title. 2016, Dafabet Masters'

champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Your champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

APPLAUSE Well, eight months out. Didn't seem

to matter. Straight back in. Wins the Masters for a sixth time. Sum up

the achievement. Basically when he has had a bit of a break, he puts

himself under pressure and comes back and does it once again. Yes, I

think that it would be fair to say that other than Mark Williams,

people didn't perform against him. Still to this day, Ronnie O'Sullivan

puts people out of their strike because they know how good he is.

They put paid to a few players this week who could have given him

trouble. He looks a lot happier than after his semifinal pictures. He

sure does. At the beginning of the week we asked him what he was

expecting. He said he just wanted to win a match coming back. Obviously

there is a bit of kidology when Ronnie is concerned, but he didn't

seem to be in the most confident form when he came out. He sets

himself exacting standards and sometimes you can't win matches

playing at your best. He comes in, as John said in commentary, a bit

downbeat. He puts pressure on himself. There is psychology in

there. 'S fantastic player. We have seen this week, he is total box

office. Every time he plays, the session is sold out. It is brilliant

to watch. I thought that performance today was very professional, very

business-like. Played every shot correct. Hard-match play. And scored

when he got his chances. He was tough to play against. He is almost

very hard to play. I mentioned Dr Steve Peters. And we were talking to

Damien Hirst about this. The right message in his ear T calmed him

down. Not transformed, but it an improved one. He didn't win any

opportunities. If the shot was there to play the right shot, and there

was nothing but played the right shot. Barry was struggling to get

going, and Ronnie knew that. He didn't give him lifelines. He kept

the peddle to the metal and he was very proeggs iffal today. I

mentioned to Barry, he must be sick of the sight of Ronnie, every time

he takes a sabbatical, he comes back and it is Barry he has to play. It

has been tough luck from Barry's point of view. From Barry's Hawkins'

perspective, he said he had a bad day, he didn't feel comfortable.

Sometimes the early part of a match can dictate what happens. Barry

Hawkins was left with awkward shots. They went wrong and the end result

from that perspective was he got into more of a hole as the match

went on. Sometimes you just have to go out - it just wasn't to be for

Barry Hawkins. It wasn't the case. He has turned up this week, 16 best

players in the world, he's come second. If he reflects on t the

final was disappointing, he didn't turn up and play as well as he can.

But a big three final. A nice cheque, confidence boosted. He

played very, very well. Today wasn't his day, it didn't go his way. He

came up against a wonderful champion. But he had a good week. He

will have to look back at the match with Judd Trump and show what he is

capable of. Back-to-back centuries. And a wonderful victory to beat Judd

Trump who was in remarkable form himself. Yes, you can only try your

best on the day. I think from Barry Hawkins' perspective, it does cement

his place in the top 16 properly. Those top 16 places are very hard

fought for and I think he now is a player whose stock has risen but,

still, he would love to win one of the big ones. What now for Ronnie?

He says he is going to be a pretty permanent feature for the rest of

the season. And clearly in this sort of form, which will clearly get

better as we go towards the Cruisable, a threat for the #w0r8d

title? He is but not the only runner in that field. -- world title. Judd

Trump and Robertson will have a say. Williamson will turn his form and

and John Higgins has played brilliantly. The tournament has had

magnificent standards. Ronnie didn't play Trump. It is a big test, 17

days a marathon of the mind. For snooker, great to have him back,

yes? Oh, yes. Obviously there has never been a situation where one

player has been bigger than the game. But I think we are the closest

we have ever had, to be quite honest. The great Alex Higgins was a

big draw. You need the big draws, the crowd as you can see, they love

t with Jimmy White it was a similar situation. But the game of snooker

is in rude health because of so many good players. How much great matches

have we seen this week? The standard seems to get better and better. The

crowd have really been entertained I think these days. They have and they

were entertained in your day and indeed in your day and these eras

have co-alested over the years and in fact, we have time in hand

because it is foretu to us because at 9.00pm there is a new pock pock

drama about to launch in 50 minutes' time. It is the Rack Pack and tells

the heady storivity development of snooker in the '80s through the eyes

of Alex "Hurricane" Higgins and Steve Interesting Davis and the rest

of the merry crew in those days. It is something to behold. We have been

behind the scenes during filming of the Rack Pack.

"Hurricane" Higgins. I'm an entertainerment Please welcome,

Steve Davis. I'm going to make you and me very rich. I know Will hope

that's your snooker cue. What are you doing, Alex?

You have to tell the story of how snooker went from the backrooms of

these small clubs to become a massive national sporting event. It

is the story of the characters and the people behind that, you know.

You have the people who are burgeoning management like Barry hen

making it proeggs iffal and organised and commercialised, the

sport, and the raw natural talents of Higgins and White, who were great

folk heroes of their day. I was wondering if you might provide

me with some information about the tables and facilities in this

establishment. Now he, what the pockets are like

and the slate. -- you know. Do you need me to call your mum? No

matter how many times you looked at t Davis emerges as, you know, he

transformed the game with Barry hen and Higgins, his shadow hangs over

that whole era. -- with Barry Hearne. I'm sorry, I

can't he keep my eyes open. What do you say we make that interesting. If

you say so, Alex. They became the two opposing forces, if you like,

that seemed to be the story we were telling. I have been waiting a long

time to meet a man like you, Davis. I bet that's something you don't

hear very often. You see, I think snooker is going to be big. Properly

big. Bigger, even than wrestling. I'm being serious. And I want us to

go into partnership together. It was really interesting to get into the

world of snooker, especially in its golden age and how sexy it was and

how cool it was. It is definitely very unique and probably could have

only happened at that time and just shows you how snooker mad the world

was, you know. The working title with the film was Dallas with Balls

which is a quote from Barry Hearne. We had good and bad day guys and

snooker in the middle. The millions out there don't tune in to watch the

snooker. They tune in to watch the soap opera. It is Dallas with Balls

and you are JR and Bobby Ewing rolled into one It was a brilliant

character to play. There is plenty to go with. When you watch all the

footage of Barry, he is a real character. Davis, I want you to meet

Brian, he is going to write your autobiography. I'm only 23. It

doesn't matter. He will pad it out, loads of diagrams. That way even

Jimmy White can read it. It has been a difficult project in lots of ways.

We have picked a period piece with characters people remember well and

fondly and we have had to be accurate to that and in the middle

of it all they have to play snooker, one of the most difficult sports in

the world. They have learned the sport, how to hold the cue and walk

around the table properly. One of the tricky things of this job was

learning to play like Steve and hold his physicality and his chance and

his cue action and sort of get my head around playing like that.

COMMENTATOR: He can pot this black and I think he has to go for it.

This is the big shot of the frame. And that, coupled with visual

effects, I think no-one has really tried before, in any kind of snooker

or pool film. Now another difficult red into the centre pocket. We are

confident our film has captured the accuracy of sport in a really

interesting way. COMMENTATOR: Alex not able to afford any mistakes.

Right-hand corner. You only vb one view of snooker, the camera above

the table in any match. It is always the same angle. This film totally

takes you down to the level of the players. -- you only have one view.

It little bit of rock 'n' roll. It has everything.

The script is funny and the way it is brought together by the actors,

brings a lot of humour to it. You are four hours' late. They are

baying for blood in there. Where have you been? They love me. I am

eight people's champion. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, the world

champion, Alex... But it is also dark as well. And that's necessary.

Me and you, James. We are the only two that ever played for love.

You need tragedy and comedy in there. There is a lot of tragedy. A

lot of really emotional heart-felt, heart-warming scenes as well.

I love you babby. From the first moment I held you in my arms. And

now your daddy is playing in the final tomorrow. It's going to change

everything. I hope that it's a timeless story. The drama is there.

I think anybody can appreciate that. I hope that viewers of the modern

game actually might go - yes, you know, there was a time when perhaps

the game had a few more characters. # We'll show you what we can do

# With a load of balls and a snooker cue...#

We all know the way people consume drama and TV these days is changing

and hopefully we are at the forefront of that and this will be a

project that reaches out to a lot of people and creates more

opportunities to do things like this in the future. The reason why we

want to launch it and premier it on iPlayer is because it has such a

following from that era. There is a lot of nostalga and want and love

for snooker. Tonally, it is strong, big emotional moments and a lot of

wild behaviour. It feels right people would come to find it on

iPlayer and hopefully further down the line it'll go on the telly. This

is the box office. And in a slightly surreal situation,

I'm delighted to welcome to the studio, the real Steve Davis, the

real Barry Hern, and the man who played Barry, rather brilliantly, I

have to say in the film, Kevin Bishop. Kevin, someone said to me

your portrayal was perfect apart from the fact you were not loud

enough. I'm in the sure that's accurate. What was it like to be

Barry Hern? It was nice to read a character on the script that jumped

out on the page. It is great to see someone with great lines, with a lot

of charisma. To play that person, you really know, it was really easy,

because it was there to jump into, you know. I loved it. I'm slightly

nervous sitting next to bory. As I usually am whenever he is in the

room. But, the director, Brian Welsh said to me - don't play him too big.

We want it to be more dramatic and a lot of Barry 's lines in the film

are very, very funny. I said I feel like they were jokes, we can make

them funnier. He said it pull it back. When I met Barry for the first

time I realised I probably could have gone three or four times'

bigger. He is quite a character in real life. Barry what was your

impression and your input? None, none really, I think it is from

research. They saw Steve and me. They forbade the actors to meet the

characters in real life. I never met Kevin until after it was all done.

But, you know, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my

life, for a long time watching this. It transported you back, you know,

to your youth, if you like, to when it was so exciting, all beginning,

me and the ginger nut taking on the world. And I phoned Steve before he

had watched it and said - there are two things you have to know about

this film, it is brilliant, one, and two, I come across like a bit of a

loud mouth barrow boy and you come across like a boring nerd. They've

nailed us both. That's exactly how we were. Steve, did you realise how

much of a nerd you actually were, until you saw the film? Obviously

not. But it is frightening being in the same room as two Barry Herns. I

wasn't ready for the first one. Obviously Barry has grown to be a

caricature of himself over the years but back then they were all treading

new paths. Barry was like, effectively like my older brother

leading me down a road. I was just a kid who could play snooker but Barry

had experience in the world. He was full of bravado. To me it was like -

this bloke knows everything. He is always positive. You nailed that

part fantastic. Now, obviously, now, you know every time he comes out

with a cliche but at the time he was started along the cliche road. I was

learning cliches big time. You You got the moment. I have to say the

actors, throughout the whole thing were breath-takingly good. Whoever

cast this is the real hero of the movie. They have found - I mean,

unbelievable detail and unbelievable characters that made me think that I

was actually on a time machine going back 30-odd years. That's got to be

the greatest he compliment. Whoever cast it did an amazing job. There is

one moment you, Kevin, as Barry were teaching Steve how to be robotic and

ruthless and menacing by sipping his water in a certain way. I loved

that. I wondered how much truth is there in that scene and could it

have been true, if it wasn't? I think it was pretty nailed on. You

didn't have to deal with him early on? They captured so many key lines.

Of course in any movie they are going to stretch the boundaries a

little bit. But they captured the whole mood of it, because although

life has been sweet they were the most exciting times of my life and

working with Steve on this mission, for both of us, was just, to

recapture t I had almost forgotten how good it was until I saw the

film. Well, your portrayal of this man is brilliant. And Luke T wrecks

daway's portrayal of the Hurricane was terrific. You are with him now.

I have had the privilege of watching this Luke. I'm going to shake your

hand. What a job you have made of it. I knew Alex Higgins for over 30

years and what a job you have done. When you were approached what was

initial thinking First of all I was fortunate to be asked to play such

an incredible character and someone who has influenced the game so much

and been such a legend for so many people. I felt honoured. Did you

play snooker? I played a few games of pool in the pub. That was T I was

being taught from scratch. I think you said to me you use ood YouTube

to find the footage. How many hours of that did you watch? I don't think

there is much on YouTube I haven't watched in terms of Alex's games and

interviews and documentaries. It is a really good research to see him

and get his physicality around the table. And you had a very good

snooker player, Tony Chapel. A legend. He was amazing. Thank you,

man. He was so helpful. We only got a limited amount of time with with

him but he was incredible at teaching myself and Will and James

to played Jimmy White, all the different styles they played in. It

is all the mannerisms that were just his. Boys, we were in the studio and

the legacy lives on, we are always in the studio going - hello, babes,

how are you doing. You will end up getting that It is hard not to, I

know. He is an amazing character and just, you know, it was an honour to

be able to bring him to the screen. We went out the other night. Me and

Stephen Hendry and we talked about Alex for about 40 minutes. That was

the character he was. The legacy. We are still talking about him. And

there has been Hurricane Alex this weekend. He has touched down in that

way. I felt it was fantastic. I'm going to watch it again. You did a

brilliant job. All the Beggs for what you do in the future. Really

great. I have to ask Steve. How much does that portrayal by Luke actually

sum-up both his genius of the Hurricane but also with the tragic

self-destructiveness in the end? I think he nailed it, as all the cast

Z it was like being back there at the time. When I was watching the

early part, obviously my own nerdy part I was laughing, but by the end

I was in tears because it was like that. And I didn't know the whole

story of Alex Higgins behind the scenes but it is true to life, I

think it all happened, if not exactly then very close to it. It

could have happened exactly that way. I actually thought - by the end

I was sorry for Alex. It shows how the drinking destroyed him. It was

about the fact that perhaps he was tortured by my image, the fact that

that was what everybody was telling him he should have been like but it

was laughter and tears. Ffs a fantastic piece of drama. Any

snooker player -- it was a fantastic piece of drama. Any snooker player,

or fan, even if they didn't grow up in that era will love it. And from

the '80s to right now. Kevin your impression on what you have seen,

you have seen a modern-day personality par excellence, in

Ronnie O'Sullivan. How much did you enjoy that experience? Fantastic. It

is my first time I have been to the snooker. I have been watching the

tournament the whole way through. Today I have been watching it, glued

to T it is amazing. It has been incredible. He is so good, Ronnie at

the moment. He is fantastic. I must admit I feel a bit sorry for poor,

old Barry. I'm sure you do and something he will reflect on but he

has got to a final. Just a thought, Kevin, I don't know if he he

currently has had manager. Maybe I will take him on, you never know. I

can make him rich. Barry as El Supremo, what is your view of

Barry's return? Well, somebody summed it up by saying no player is

bigger than the sport but Ronnie probably gets as close as you can

get. He has put bums on seats and millions of viewers on the seat

watching. He has a God-given talent. My only worry about Ronnie is he

doesn't appreciate it enough for what God has given him and the

entertainment he can give to people. I'm happy to see him back. He came

back in a Championship League. He played in a tournament in four days.

He won every match and made nine centuries. He got through to a final

which will be played in a month or so's time. He has a love for the

game. He has his demons and moments of self-doubt in the same way that

the great man, Alex had. I want to see Ronnie stay in the right path

and the right path for him is playing competitive snooker. You

won't win every game because there are so many great players but he

shows the talent. The spark that we need in any sport. The top players.

It lights up the bill boards for the Crucible. It it is another baby

altogether. It is 17 days. It is real, hard slog. Whether Ronnie has

the consistency. Again going back it Alex, a wonderful player had who

never had the consistency when he played. If Ronnie can keep the

consistency and keep fresh, he can win several more. There are no

gymmys. No gymmys. 17 days of something you will never miss.

That's about all we have time for. Let me remind you of what is coming

next over the next few weeks and months. Next up, it is the Welsh

Open snooker, starting on BBC Wales from Monday 15th February:

and before you can say frame-winning contribution, it'll be time to head

to Sheffield as Stuart Bingham tries to break the Crucible curse and win

it the next year. It all gets under way on Saturday, 16th April and

continues until, well, about July - or at least sometimes that's what it

feels like. Speaking of the World Championships. Another one tomorrow

here on BBC Two from 1.00pm, at the start of the world indoor balls. But

it is just about time to say goodbye. My thapgs to my guests

here. We are very much looking forward to seeing the Rack Pack

shortly. In fact once we have wrapped up here we are going

straight to iPlayer and to download it and to have a very good laugh at

Steve Davis' ginger Barnett for the next couple of hours. So from all of

us here at the Ally Pally, it has been a great week. We will catch you

very soon. Goodbye. MUSIC: (They Long To Be) Close To You

by The Carpenters