:00:12. > :00:16.well for years. Still, nobody likes to lose such a great talent. How did
:00:17. > :00:25.he change the music scene all these years ago? He used to do what he
:00:26. > :00:31.thought. No matter how bizarre it was. He would see it through whether
:00:32. > :00:46.it was mine, outrageous clothing, make up, CNET through as a natural
:00:47. > :00:51.thing -- see it through. Were you influenced by him? We used to have a
:00:52. > :00:55.great laugh, he had a great sense of humour. He used to write words by
:00:56. > :01:00.ripping up a newspaper, throwing them up in the air and seeing how it
:01:01. > :01:10.landed. It always intrigued me. I did a few sessions with him. He will
:01:11. > :01:15.be missed, you remain a creative force and we wish you the best.
:01:16. > :01:23.Going to places inside America I had never been to, it will be fun. Great
:01:24. > :01:26.to see you, thank you. Quick reflection on the season so far of
:01:27. > :02:29.Mark Williams before they get back out there.
:02:30. > :02:36.You can see the pedigree of both players and here they come, both
:02:37. > :02:42.turning professional in 1992, both there 24th season and they have met
:02:43. > :02:48.on scores of occasions. And in this latest one we are absolutely
:02:49. > :02:51.engrossed. COMMENTATOR: Great interview with Ronnie Wood, lovely
:02:52. > :03:00.to hear. Colin Humphreys trying to get the
:03:01. > :03:15.crowd to settle down. Ronnie gets the first frame after
:03:16. > :03:26.the mid-session interval underway. A little bubble kiss. -- double. We
:03:27. > :03:33.have seen it happened so many times, pretty good break off shot. Not the
:03:34. > :03:37.first time he has got that red to stay on the side cushion. Not even
:03:38. > :03:45.giving Mark Williams the temptation. He has played those well today. Even
:03:46. > :04:12.better! APPLAUSE He had to swerve it and has put a
:04:13. > :04:16.red over the pocket. The black and pink are tied up, how does Mark
:04:17. > :04:21.Williams get to the blue from here? Does he have a slight angle? That is
:04:22. > :04:34.how you get to the blue. Absolutely fabulous shot, and an
:04:35. > :04:36.angle on the blue if he wishes to bring the pink and reds into play,
:04:37. > :04:43.might even free the black. How many times do we see that, a
:04:44. > :05:04.player forgets about the pot. But at least he didn't leave
:05:05. > :05:25.anything. But that first pot, the action was terrific.
:05:26. > :05:48.Getting a fair slice of luck early on in this frame.
:05:49. > :06:17.The course of this match seems to have turned. Seems to have changed
:06:18. > :06:26.after the miss cue from Ronnie O'Sullivan. I was talking to Mark
:06:27. > :06:30.Williams during the interval about this shot, it was as if Ronnie had
:06:31. > :06:42.not made his mind up, Mark said why did he not just stunned the black?
:06:43. > :06:44.That little bit of indecision caused him to dip the cue and that is why
:06:45. > :07:02.he jumped over the top of it. It is a chance, but not a clear-cut
:07:03. > :07:08.chance, yet. Mark Williams looks to be pretty fine fettle in the potting
:07:09. > :07:21.department. Is he going to be forced to try and open some reds up here?
:07:22. > :07:27.He has undergone that, played for the red at the back of the bunch and
:07:28. > :07:34.he has let himself snookered. We'll have to try and get a snooker behind
:07:35. > :07:46.the green and blue. Leave the white tight to the cushion. Was going to
:07:47. > :07:50.be hard to guarantee. Perhaps he could have considered going into the
:07:51. > :07:57.pack of reds but was not guaranteed also to get on a red anyway. Quite
:07:58. > :08:09.critical, had to try and get the right angle on that.
:08:10. > :08:28.Difficult to control the cue ball from that type of shot, was hoping
:08:29. > :08:30.to possibly be on the pink but he knew if he got it thinner they had
:08:31. > :09:28.the baulk colours. Overscrewed a little. Should be able
:09:29. > :09:35.to develop reds. A couple have poked their nose out.
:09:36. > :09:46.Brown was a two cushion choice to get on the reds. If he had played
:09:47. > :10:05.the brown he would have been guaranteed straighter on this red.
:10:06. > :10:17.I think you should have played the brown, Dennis. Yes, he left the
:10:18. > :10:21.white in a terrible spot. Almost pulled it off and brought the black
:10:22. > :10:24.interplay but did not get on the red as you said, as he intended -- into
:10:25. > :10:37.play. Ronnie immediately taking the
:10:38. > :10:47.opportunity of opening up all the balls. Will be lots of twists and
:10:48. > :10:55.turns in this match. That really has opened things up. Mark Williams had
:10:56. > :11:00.a great chance. Just thinking, having lost the two opening frames
:11:01. > :11:09.and then winning the last two, if he had gone on and won three in a row
:11:10. > :11:11.they would have been a handful. Still an awful lot for Ronnie to do
:11:12. > :11:22.here. Two reds and they are not really
:11:23. > :11:32.safe. The one along the top cushion is
:11:33. > :11:54.certainly not safe. Chance, should he wish, to get on
:11:55. > :12:05.the red on the side cushion. Has taken the opportunity early.
:12:06. > :12:22.Could also take the opportunity to get on the red on the top cushion as
:12:23. > :12:55.the second last red. No! I know this top cushion, the
:12:56. > :13:02.balls are clinging to it but if you don't hit it correctly they want go
:13:03. > :13:11.in. That was nowhere near. Sent that away from the pocket. There is a
:13:12. > :13:22.chance for Mark Williams to win three frames in a row and get
:13:23. > :13:25.himself in front. Chose the red into the middle pocket. Nicely on it this
:13:26. > :13:59.time. Couldn't ask for the balls any
:14:00. > :14:05.better. Yeah, doesn't have to worry about getting from blue, to pink.
:14:06. > :14:37.The green, the brown and the blue would be enough.
:14:38. > :14:57.He is not bothered about the black, it is a frame which could have gone
:14:58. > :15:01.either way but in the end it is the Welshman who takes it and that is
:15:02. > :15:12.three in a row, Mark Williams now Reid 's 3-2. -- now leads 3-2.
:15:13. > :15:16.Ronnie looked like he was right back in, a couple of reds safe, removed
:15:17. > :15:20.one of them and then he played for the swan, on this occasion and they
:15:21. > :15:24.have been going quite comfortably but you still have to hit them
:15:25. > :15:30.correctly and Ronnie, maybe a little lapse in concentration. Just didn't
:15:31. > :15:35.hit it correctly and I am sure that would have given him the frame
:15:36. > :15:39.because it is a chance that he maybe should not have had because Mark
:15:40. > :15:46.Williams was in and tried a tough red, didn't quite get on it as he
:15:47. > :15:50.intended. He played the yellow, he could have taken the brown but he
:15:51. > :15:55.just didn't hit this hard enough. Left himself a long way short. Had
:15:56. > :15:59.to finish up to try to pot this and develop the black and it didn't
:16:00. > :16:09.work. This was the shot that led Ronnie in. Yeah, a fascinating
:16:10. > :16:14.match. It's been a decent standard but if you looked at the breaks, the
:16:15. > :16:20.highest break of 47 so far for Ronnie O'Sullivan. And he is on the
:16:21. > :16:25.back foot all of a sudden. 64 the highest break for Mark Williams.
:16:26. > :16:28.It's been a very high standard and it shows you that sometimes you
:16:29. > :16:33.cannot just assume just because the breaks are low that it hasn't been.
:16:34. > :16:37.Mark Williams, one of the greatest predators the game has ever seen, he
:16:38. > :16:54.will smell the weakness, he will smell some blood.
:16:55. > :17:16.This isn't an easy starter for Ronnie O'Sullivan, has to get the
:17:17. > :17:24.cue ball nicely back down the table otherwise Mark will have a sniff at
:17:25. > :17:33.the red. Short of pace. But only just. If he has left it absolutely
:17:34. > :17:37.dead straight it's not so bad. Slight angle and he is pretty good
:17:38. > :17:45.at this type of shot when you run through the pink and black. Can get
:17:46. > :17:51.back up towards the blue. Seen that a lot so far in the Masters, the
:17:52. > :17:55.forcing shots, if you get a touch of side, the cloth is so lively, you
:17:56. > :18:05.can see the players hitting the ball underneath the wrong side. Did that
:18:06. > :18:10.big interview with Mark Williams and he was saying that perhaps part of
:18:11. > :18:14.his game that he feels isn't as strong as it used to be is the long
:18:15. > :18:19.game. Arguably the same for all of us. But it is nice when you're
:18:20. > :18:33.striking was long shots correctly. He has overhead that, don't tell me
:18:34. > :18:43.he has snookered himself? He struck that so well. Got so much action on
:18:44. > :18:49.the cue ball. Will consider self a little bit unlucky but now I'm the
:18:50. > :18:53.cue ball was taking was always towards the pink. -- the line the
:18:54. > :19:06.cue ball was taking was always towards the pink.
:19:07. > :19:13.He never dreamt once he went past the blue, he thought he was bound to
:19:14. > :19:21.be on the red, but it just shows you what can happen. It's all about
:19:22. > :19:35.fractions at times, this game. Not the greatest shot in the world.
:19:36. > :19:55.Hit it as well as he could have done without potting it.
:19:56. > :20:09.Four cushion safety, and an excellent one as well.
:20:10. > :21:04.Looked like he might slip in buying the green but he hasn't, can he get
:21:05. > :21:09.a long one in? APPLAUSE Terrific chance, if he can drop on
:21:10. > :21:17.the red, probably that is near the black spot which would be ideal.
:21:18. > :21:26.Didn't want to cannon that, but he has missed it and come out onto the
:21:27. > :21:31.red. Out of position. He would like to have that one again, perhaps
:21:32. > :21:37.choose a different path for the cue ball.
:21:38. > :21:59.Asked for trouble little bit. A bit wide on the blue.
:22:00. > :22:16.Ronnie has gone off the boil completely here.
:22:17. > :22:21.He has had a few chances already in this frame, Mark, can he make a few
:22:22. > :22:34.more this time? That hasn't worked out. Might have a
:22:35. > :22:40.gap through to a possible plot but just didn't get into it as he
:22:41. > :22:46.intended. It was a very advanced shot he was playing, drank to curve
:22:47. > :22:50.the cue ball around the pink. With that red by the black spot, I'm
:22:51. > :23:02.pretty sure the right shot was to play to clear the black spot. He is
:23:03. > :23:07.letting Ronnie off the hook. The chances he has had in this frame, to
:23:08. > :23:16.only have 12 points on the board... It is frustrating for him.
:23:17. > :23:27.Does the yellow go? I don't think it does. No, little things happening
:23:28. > :23:33.here, faced with a very difficult... Big black, big blue, what do you
:23:34. > :23:39.fancy? Safety? I don't think I would have the safety shot. It depends
:23:40. > :23:46.which would get him onto the red, they are both difficult pots.
:23:47. > :23:55.But, signs that Ronnie certainly has lost a little bit of focus, it has
:23:56. > :24:01.to be said. Since that miss QC has not quite been the same player. --
:24:02. > :24:07.that miss cue. Will have to dig deep and get his focus back, because Mark
:24:08. > :24:18.will not keep missing the opportunities. Clever little safety
:24:19. > :24:22.shot keeping the advantage, not necessarily going to get anything
:24:23. > :24:34.out of this but can then play a good safety down the table.
:24:35. > :24:39.Can probably get in behind the yellow. Just across the face of the
:24:40. > :25:01.pink. Looks as if that shot is available,
:25:02. > :25:28.just a little thin one, miss the pink and yellow.
:25:29. > :26:23.Whilst Ronnie O'Sullivan did look in trouble he had that one escape route
:26:24. > :26:38.which I don't think Mark Williams now has. Perhaps... Round the back
:26:39. > :27:20.of the blue? Nicely played. Some good safety here.
:27:21. > :27:31.He has got a route of the two reds which are nearly touching in the
:27:32. > :27:37.middle of the table. Not choosing that shot, the possibility to get
:27:38. > :27:50.behind the green off the loose red. Close. But not close enough.
:27:51. > :28:01.Good safety here, what we do know about Ronnie O'Sullivan is... He is
:28:02. > :28:09.prepared to fight and play his way back into the game. That was
:28:10. > :28:14.debatable. He's got away with it. Very fortunate, took the pot on and
:28:15. > :28:18.once he missed it, a little smile from Ronnie, he knows he's had a
:28:19. > :28:23.result. Could have quite easily put Mark Williams right in amongst the
:28:24. > :28:36.balls and it would've been a terrific chance.
:28:37. > :28:50.As long as he played from the outside jaw it was a low risk.
:28:51. > :29:05.Tough these days to get your opponent in real trouble from the
:29:06. > :29:13.safety Department, that is why one of the reasons the game has become
:29:14. > :29:16.so much more attacking, I think. Players, both players now finding
:29:17. > :29:48.that bottom cushion pretty well. It has got a bit awkward, seven reds
:29:49. > :29:53.towards the left edition. This is shocked to nothing. He would have
:29:54. > :30:05.thought that was in. -- this is a shot to nothing. When he saw that
:30:06. > :30:08.wide ball going down the table and saw the contact from the red he must
:30:09. > :30:21.have bought it was in. Three conditions behind the yellow.
:30:22. > :30:39.A bit unfortunate the red ball has come out.
:30:40. > :30:52.When Mark Williams is playing the length of the table it is not seem
:30:53. > :30:55.to have any trouble. There is no better player at that pace. He is a
:30:56. > :31:06.bit unlucky not to have dropped nicely on the pink. Has he got an
:31:07. > :31:17.angle? Not much. Just enough. To get the cue ball back-up the table. How
:31:18. > :31:20.is your luck? Not bad. Obviously the yellow was relatively close to the
:31:21. > :31:26.pocket but how well did he strike that? Can he manufacture a break
:31:27. > :31:49.from this position? He is now giving himself a chance at
:31:50. > :31:54.making the frame-winning break. I think he's beginning to fancy the
:31:55. > :31:58.job here today. Obviously he would have been the underdog in the match
:31:59. > :32:00.but Mark Williams those how effective it can be. Fashion Aquino
:32:01. > :32:16.'s. I wonder what the betting would be,
:32:17. > :32:19.Dennis, if the scoreline was 4-2. I know Ronnie has had the better of
:32:20. > :32:32.Marco Fu the years but the last time they met, last season -- the better
:32:33. > :32:39.of Mark over the years. Mark Williams on in the quarterfinal of
:32:40. > :32:45.the International championship. Excellent rest player. It is getting
:32:46. > :33:08.crowded and the top. He just flipped the ball into the
:33:09. > :33:15.pockets. He needs to get a few high value colours with the reds to have
:33:16. > :33:24.the chance of getting over the finishing line. If he can get on the
:33:25. > :33:29.black in such a way here he could play a cannon onto the blue and free
:33:30. > :33:33.the two reds that are close to it. He has already worked out his
:33:34. > :33:40.strategy. Players think at least two or three shots ahead.
:33:41. > :33:51.He has got into that too much. That has spoiled it. He will be a bit
:33:52. > :34:05.disgusted with himself, the way he played that shot. Really did not get
:34:06. > :34:14.enough back spin. Touching ball helps, camp of the yellow safe. The
:34:15. > :34:18.ball looked like it rolled off a fraction. -- the camp at the yellow
:34:19. > :34:26.safe. That is when you have to nominate, he is touching the blue.
:34:27. > :34:34.The referee will always ask in that instance, name your colour.
:34:35. > :34:42.It would have been in his advantage to put the yellow safe, and would
:34:43. > :34:53.have meant Ronnie O'Sullivan needed to get the yellow back out again.
:34:54. > :35:03.Can he get it in behind the green? There is a chance he can do that.
:35:04. > :35:13.Has he got enough pace on it? It looks pretty good to me. APPLAUSE
:35:14. > :35:21.Relatively easy to contain the situation from here. It is going to
:35:22. > :35:35.be hard for a while to be the player to force an opening.
:35:36. > :35:44.Just another roll-up at the moment. It will take a little bit of sorting
:35:45. > :35:53.out because of the way those rates are situated. 27 point advantage --
:35:54. > :35:58.those reds. That is a stronger advantage than if the red were all
:35:59. > :35:59.in the open. That is not to say somewhere down the line they won't
:36:00. > :36:14.be. He has a shot on that he is
:36:15. > :36:18.reluctant to play yet. He could come off the top grade of the three on
:36:19. > :36:28.the fission and try and get behind the green but he would be opening up
:36:29. > :36:30.the red. It is too risky. In this situation, Mark Williams is saying
:36:31. > :36:35.to Ronnie O'Sullivan, you are going to have to pay the riskier safety
:36:36. > :36:40.shot, you will have to try to open them up and take a chance that they
:36:41. > :36:42.don't manoeuvre into puttable positions. I am quite happy to
:36:43. > :37:15.contain the situation. What they flick that was. Full ball
:37:16. > :37:27.on the yellow. This is tough. Where is the black? Unbelievable. Played
:37:28. > :37:31.it well. But you cannot anticipate something like that happening. Has
:37:32. > :38:02.not changed things massively. This reds over the red corner has to
:38:03. > :38:04.be played, really. He will not like it much. He will like it a lot more
:38:05. > :38:30.now, great shot. It needs to pull up and it is just
:38:31. > :38:46.about anything, it yellow bit thinner than he is a disfigured. He
:38:47. > :38:49.is looking great shape there. -- he hit the yellow bit thinner than he
:38:50. > :38:51.anticipated. The whole match has swung round ever Ronnie miscued on
:38:52. > :39:08.the black off the spot. We have shown it a couple of times.
:39:09. > :39:28.Looks like he was a bit in decided and you do not see that very often.
:39:29. > :39:45.46 ahead, just this reds and it will be four in a row. -- this red. It
:39:46. > :39:49.was always going to be a tough match for one year someone having had so
:39:50. > :39:54.many months off but he started so well. All of a sudden it is Mark
:39:55. > :40:01.Williams that is doing all the damage. Amazingly I suppose from
:40:02. > :40:08.Ronnie O'Sullivan's perspective, looking at the draw coming into this
:40:09. > :40:16.match, while Mark Williams may not be the force he was at the turn of
:40:17. > :40:21.the century, he is a big occasion player itself. It was a tougher draw
:40:22. > :40:31.for Ronnie O'Sullivan and mothers in the tournament. -- than some others.
:40:32. > :40:42.It does not matter. The Welshman marches on. Ronnie stays in his seat
:40:43. > :40:50.and Mark Williams has taken another frame and he now leads 4-2. STUDIO:
:40:51. > :40:56.John Parrott, do you sense that believe in Mark Williams is
:40:57. > :41:01.beginning to flow? Off there we were saying he lived nervous when the
:41:02. > :41:06.chances kept coming. I am in front, great opportunity, Ronnie is not
:41:07. > :41:09.quite at it. He only made 12 from the first couple of opportunities
:41:10. > :41:16.but what I will say about him is that is no one better at scrappy and
:41:17. > :41:19.awkward frames than Mark Williams. He's brilliant at everything else
:41:20. > :41:27.but when it gets awkward he is top class. He gets down to it quickly
:41:28. > :41:31.from the safety shots. Really rapid safety exchange. He was playing the
:41:32. > :41:36.cat and mouse game like Steve Davis said, trying to force Ronnie into
:41:37. > :41:42.making, bringing the ball is out. Those type of frames are perfect for
:41:43. > :41:48.Mark Williams. Reds on the side cushion, Ronnie getting frustrated.
:41:49. > :41:59.It goes to show, no matter happy times you take off, -- no matter how
:42:00. > :42:06.much time you take off, you will struggle. You will be rusty and you
:42:07. > :42:10.will get found out and he has two really raise his game because he is
:42:11. > :42:18.in trouble. In the commentary box they were winding back the clock to
:42:19. > :42:24.the miscue on the black. Denting his momentum, would you agree? Could be
:42:25. > :42:28.a factor, they'd be a bit fragile coming back. You would not think
:42:29. > :42:33.somebody is capable would be as affected. As long as the tip is all
:42:34. > :42:37.right it should not be a problem. He is a little bit rusty and his
:42:38. > :42:45.opponent is particularly adept at very scrappy games. It will interest
:42:46. > :42:49.you to know that 47 is the high break from Ronnie, 64 from Mark. It
:42:50. > :42:56.does not feel like that because it has been so absorbing. The reality
:42:57. > :43:02.is that O'Sullivan is trailing. COMMENTATOR: And the reality is he
:43:03. > :43:06.has to win this frame and that is not the best way to go about it,
:43:07. > :43:19.catching the blue. The focus not quite back yet.
:43:20. > :43:30.He had to screw back, the pink and black were tied up and now they are
:43:31. > :43:39.certainly tied up. He had to get back for people -- for the baulk
:43:40. > :43:43.colour. Every indication that could be another scrappy frame with the
:43:44. > :43:50.black in the back. As the boys in the studio said Mark Williams does
:43:51. > :43:58.not mind that. He can mix it up whatever way you want.
:43:59. > :44:08.He butchered that one. And he got the pink and black out. All four
:44:09. > :44:11.outcome for Mark Williams. From something that looked a lot like it
:44:12. > :44:16.was a reasonable chance of not too much danger.
:44:17. > :44:32.Now Ronnie O'Sullivan needs to flick the switch, move through the gears.
:44:33. > :44:37.If anybody can go from zero to hero it is Ronnie O'Sullivan. It usually
:44:38. > :44:52.does not take him very long. This is fascinating to see. He has got
:44:53. > :45:05.another three or four reds available to him. Let's see if he has the
:45:06. > :45:11.focus back. Can he start playing the way he started the match? Little bit
:45:12. > :45:41.underhit, perhaps. Beautifully controlled. Did not give
:45:42. > :45:47.it everything in the back spin department. The cue ball in the
:45:48. > :45:58.middle of the table, that is the art of smashing into the pack. When he
:45:59. > :46:10.opened the reds up there was every chance he could stay on the back but
:46:11. > :46:13.he has had to go for a baulk colour. It is a massive frame, he has to win
:46:14. > :46:33.this frame, Ronnie. All of sudden normal service looks
:46:34. > :46:37.to have been resumed, striking the ball beautifully. One of his great
:46:38. > :46:45.strengths is the ability to reel off frames were quickly. How well did he
:46:46. > :46:52.strike that left-handed? He has had to play it with top spin. Top spin
:46:53. > :47:03.and left-hand side with the opposite hand. That was special. He made it
:47:04. > :47:08.look so easy. No reason now why he cannot go on to secure the frame.
:47:09. > :47:14.But we have seen what happened on the black earlier on but this shot
:47:15. > :47:21.here, loads of top spin. Loads of left-hand side. Played to
:47:22. > :47:26.perfection. We do not usually think about Ronnie O'Sullivan terms of
:47:27. > :47:30.having to fight his way back into a mad because he makes it look so easy
:47:31. > :47:33.but he is digging deep here and showing great character. -- back
:47:34. > :47:39.into a match. The Wayne range of shops is absolutely
:47:40. > :47:52.wonderful. He has not come to this event just
:47:53. > :47:53.four of practice. When Ronnie O'Sullivan comes to an event like
:47:54. > :48:11.this he has come to win. APPLAUSE What a recovery that was, he played
:48:12. > :48:14.a pretty poor shot to leave himself straight on the Scala and then to
:48:15. > :48:17.knock it in at that pace and screw back of the commission was quite
:48:18. > :48:52.something. -- on the red'. APPLAUSE
:48:53. > :48:56.The frame well and truly safe now. He has already made 802 century
:48:57. > :49:22.breaks. That was quite astonishing. And it has not taken him very long
:49:23. > :49:29.to knock these in. There is no rest I can tell you in the way he has
:49:30. > :49:38.taken these. Possible 139 although you would assume he might play it as
:49:39. > :49:47.137. I think the highest break is still 137, Mark Allen. ?10,000 for
:49:48. > :49:50.the high break prize. I don't necessarily think running with the
:49:51. > :50:05.aware of that or even think that 137 would end up winning. CHEERING
:50:06. > :50:09.It is irrelevant now. That may be the end of break but what a fabulous
:50:10. > :50:16.century break. With his back against the wall, 4-2 behind, he got one
:50:17. > :51:23.chance and he made a century break. But he still trails by one frame.
:51:24. > :51:32.You have just seen his 58th Masters century had the 800 and one third of
:51:33. > :51:36.his long career. He talked about getting to 1000 and maybe needing
:51:37. > :51:42.three or four seasons with four fans is positive. Certainly one of his
:51:43. > :51:44.goals. It could not have come at a better time because he needed
:51:45. > :51:52.something to get him going. The frames have been so scrappy, colours
:51:53. > :51:57.going safe, it has been difficult to get any sort of momentum. He needed
:51:58. > :52:02.a century and he is up and running and I really will be the start.
:52:03. > :52:08.Underline how important now frame was in the minds of the bookmakers,
:52:09. > :52:14.Mark Williams was favourite but now Ronnie is favourite. It can change
:52:15. > :52:17.that quickly and it was a fantastic break, brilliant yellow with his
:52:18. > :52:21.left hand which he played with top spin and some running side. You
:52:22. > :52:27.would be struggling with your ordinary hand. Extraordinary, just
:52:28. > :52:54.one frame in it as we go over to frame eight of a possible 11.
:52:55. > :53:04.COMMENTATOR: He has sent the red over the corner pocket, not good.
:53:05. > :53:12.Good cue ball but did not think he would double the red over the corner
:53:13. > :53:20.but he did. It am lucky, he tried an exhibition type shop with a lot of
:53:21. > :53:25.top spin. -- it unlikely. He was hoping to stay on the black and it
:53:26. > :53:34.kept on creeping. This is thin, surely he cannot cut that in. Boy,
:53:35. > :53:41.this is some shot he is taking on here, I can tell you. Look at the
:53:42. > :53:52.angle from there. He has got it! APPLAUSE
:53:53. > :53:55.What a cutback that was and he is a bit unfortunate by the looks of
:53:56. > :54:15.things. DMA, dear me, they do not come any
:54:16. > :54:23.thinner than that. He would have to get a bit of side on that. How
:54:24. > :54:27.unfortunate was that? Once he pulled off that unbelievable cutback he was
:54:28. > :54:47.very unfortunate not to drop nicely on the red. Nowhere to play safe.
:54:48. > :55:05.Has he picked out an area to make it difficult for Ronnie O'Sullivan? I
:55:06. > :55:13.think he has. It is not clear-cut. It may have looked reckless from
:55:14. > :55:18.Mark Williams but that is one of his greatest strengths, being able to
:55:19. > :55:21.work out an aggressive shop to nothing. Obviously this one goes. --
:55:22. > :55:35.aggressive shop to nothing. APPLAUSE
:55:36. > :55:40.How well did he strike that? Perfect and he has an angle to stun down
:55:41. > :55:48.between the brown and yellow. And an early chance, after that century
:55:49. > :55:55.break in the previous rain, what is in store for us here? -- previous
:55:56. > :56:00.frame. The black is in the open, the pink is out of commission but that
:56:01. > :56:10.will not concern running at this stage. -- Ronnie.
:56:11. > :56:25.Red, blue, then up for the reds that are close to the black. He has got
:56:26. > :56:30.other choices but if you can get to the ones near the black and Whites
:56:31. > :56:38.help. He is going to leave that for the time being. This one will help
:56:39. > :56:42.to clear the pink. He can still get through to the black but removing
:56:43. > :57:02.that has opened think up somewhat also. -- the pink.
:57:03. > :57:06.The previous frame lasted just over seven minutes. How long is this one
:57:07. > :57:22.going to last? If he can get to 68 points, the
:57:23. > :57:51.frame will be safe. I think that kicked slightly, took
:57:52. > :57:56.some pace out of the cue ball. He finished dead straight on the blue
:57:57. > :58:01.because of the contact. You can see the red jumping but still OK.
:58:02. > :58:18.I mentioned I was having a chat with Mark Williams and he was saying, how
:58:19. > :58:25.well is Ronnie hitting the ball? Not often you hear an opponent saying
:58:26. > :58:57.that. I think the main burners have been ignited.
:58:58. > :59:04.It is always risky when you are having to play a cannon but he had
:59:05. > :59:13.two that time and it has not worked out. He is 52 in front, he needed a
:59:14. > :59:26.few more putts to secure the frame in one visit. -- pots For the
:59:27. > :59:34.quickfire 60 break but he is not over the line yet.
:59:35. > :59:41.That is unfortunate. He may be forced into taking a very difficult
:59:42. > :59:44.green now, without the jaw of the middle pocket. He would have been
:59:45. > :59:52.nicer on the colour, but because he is behind by so many, he has to take
:59:53. > :00:00.this on. Great shot. He has come up a bit
:00:01. > :00:12.short but he puppet everything into the pot there. That is one of best
:00:13. > :00:27.shots I have seen for a long time. I think Ronnie O'Sullivan can get to
:00:28. > :00:51.this. Mark Williams took a risk trying to
:00:52. > :00:57.cut that red in. He could have played a nailed on safety shot. Kept
:00:58. > :01:36.the frame on the boil, but, it is all over now.
:01:37. > :01:52.Two frames behind in a matter of some 14 minutes.
:01:53. > :01:59.Got a bit of a kick on that but he wasn't really concentrating on the
:02:00. > :02:02.pink. It was a magnificent effort of 60. But it has to be said Mark
:02:03. > :02:05.Williams was very unfortunate when he cut that black in but Ronnie
:02:06. > :02:10.O'Sullivan is back. It is four frames all.
:02:11. > :02:15.HAZEL IRVINE: He is beginning to turn it on out there. In the blink
:02:16. > :02:20.of an eye he is level. He has that momentum. Mark look like he has gone
:02:21. > :02:24.off the boil a bit. Had a chance in the end but took on a very strange
:02:25. > :02:27.red. He played it as a shot to nothing, and left it in the jaws,
:02:28. > :02:31.almost in the jaws of the pocket. But it is in the balance, still, you
:02:32. > :02:35.know it is anybody's game but Ronnie is the momentum has swayed back to
:02:36. > :02:41.his camp now. It is close, in terms of the possession out there, if you
:02:42. > :02:44.like, of who is in on the balls and wafer thin cut that Mark Williams
:02:45. > :02:48.managed. We were purring over that one, it was a beautiful shot.
:02:49. > :02:52.Unbelievable. He is good at everything. The awkward frames, but
:02:53. > :02:59.shots that no-one else plays or takes on, he is brilliant at it. It
:03:00. > :03:05.used to annoy you playing him. He would come up with a shot like that.
:03:06. > :03:08.He split the reds. Where he landed was in no-man's land. It could have
:03:09. > :03:12.been on a red and could have win the shot You think you
:03:13. > :03:13.been on a red and could have win the another ball, because it
:03:14. > :03:18.been on a red and could have win the good. Williams won four in a row.
:03:19. > :03:25.Suddenly it is two for Ronnie, how do you read the situation? If it is
:03:26. > :03:28.open Ronnie will win it. If it goes scrappy, we will be hard to shake
:03:29. > :03:30.Mark Williams off because he loves the frames. Back we go, this is
:03:31. > :03:49.frame nine. Great buzz round the crowd again,
:03:50. > :03:54.after those two frames from Ronnie O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan. They have
:03:55. > :03:56.backbench very fair the crowd, Mark Williams has had a terrific
:03:57. > :04:11.reception from them also, with some of the snooker he has produced.
:04:12. > :04:17.Well acknowledged by a tap of the table there, from Ronnie for that
:04:18. > :04:28.great shot. Oh double-kiss. Oh eer he has got
:04:29. > :04:34.away with it. Who's a lucky boy! ! Once he got that double-kiss, think
:04:35. > :04:39.Ronnie thought he would have left quite a few on. Touching ball.
:04:40. > :04:48.Little smile from Mark, keep telling you how laid back he is, this
:04:49. > :04:52.Welshman. And have a look at this. That gentleman shouldn't be allowed
:04:53. > :05:00.there to have that, that shows you what Mark Williams is like.
:05:01. > :05:09.Imagine coming up and asking you for a selfie Steve, if that had been
:05:10. > :05:28.round in your day! Thankfully even the -- I don't think
:05:29. > :05:33.the brick phone was invented then. What has he spotted. Is there a
:05:34. > :05:41.plant on? Can he make it into a plant? Possibly. No, he made it not
:05:42. > :05:50.into a plant. It was a plant, until he overcooked it. He had to hit it
:05:51. > :06:07.forward. It is like a squeeze effect when you hit the first ball.
:06:08. > :06:22.That is is a great opening red. Never easy. He didn't get on the red
:06:23. > :06:27.as he intended, and difficult to judge when you are screwing back,
:06:28. > :06:28.hitting other reds. That was a great attempt to keep on the black. He
:06:29. > :06:47.overcooked it. Some action on the cue ball there.
:06:48. > :06:54.Once again Mark Williams forced to play a thin escape. Shouldn't be too
:06:55. > :06:58.difficult. Not that thin. Oh, he has missed it completely.
:06:59. > :07:08.He has missed a couple up and down the table, hasn't he. A lot of shots
:07:09. > :07:12.he has played well. Yes, Colin Humphreys asking the
:07:13. > :07:21.referee to get the screen up, to show him exactly where the cue ball
:07:22. > :07:23.was. Left a bit. He is on the scoring today. Just fraction the
:07:24. > :07:47.other way he is saying. Can he just catch the edge of the
:07:48. > :07:51.red this time? Not great. But could end up great, if he just
:07:52. > :08:26.gets behind that green. Ronnie O'Sullivan seems to have cut
:08:27. > :08:29.off paths back to the baulk area for Mark Williams. So what can Mark work
:08:30. > :08:43.out? To the top cushion? I tend to say the top cushion, which
:08:44. > :08:50.is it on the snooker table but for people watching at home it's the
:08:51. > :08:52.bottom cushion. I say the cushion behind the black spot. I am waiting
:08:53. > :09:12.to hear from you Steve. Yes. Yes. So what should we call it, the top
:09:13. > :09:17.cushion, the bottom cushion? The baulk cushion. Let us make a
:09:18. > :09:22.committed decision. That is the gaution. You can see -- the baulk
:09:23. > :09:31.cushion. That is not an easy starter for
:09:32. > :09:35.Ronnie. Ronnie. Especially if he is straight on this. If he has a slight
:09:36. > :09:43.angle he can get on to the black. He is just off straight. Not easy this.
:09:44. > :09:52.One good pot here and a cannon and he is right in business again.
:09:53. > :10:02.So here we go. Ronnie is in first again. And he made breaks of 60 and
:10:03. > :10:16.104 in the two previous frames. A superb opening red.
:10:17. > :10:23.He started off this match looking in fine form.
:10:24. > :10:30.As things are currently, it looks like, he is going to finish off the
:10:31. > :10:32.match in fine form. Never know if there is another twist
:10:33. > :11:02.in the tale though. A tricky spotting process for Colin
:11:03. > :11:19.Humphrey, one of our top referees now.
:11:20. > :11:27.Another cannon needed. Could have worked out better.
:11:28. > :11:42.Closer than he would have liked to this red. Made it very easy.
:11:43. > :11:50.Easy to jab at those ones. Looks like Ronnie O'Sullivan is
:11:51. > :11:58.going to get over the line here. Interesting to see how Mark Williams
:11:59. > :12:02.will perform on the back foot. I suppose you can only perform if you
:12:03. > :12:13.get a chance. He is not getting any chances in these frames.
:12:14. > :12:18.Ronnie didn't clinch the last frame with a break of 60, but, it paved
:12:19. > :12:21.the way for it, but Mark's had precious little to go at. He had
:12:22. > :12:29.that cut back the boys were talking about. Fantastic cut back and was
:12:30. > :12:34.unlucky not to drop on a red. But this is not far from being over
:12:35. > :12:37.this frame, just one more good shot. He hasn't cleared that too well. He
:12:38. > :12:43.has to be careful with the reds, he is leaning over there, bit of a
:12:44. > :12:49.distraction. If he cannons this red he is OK. If
:12:50. > :13:38.he drops in behind it he is not OK. Just can get to the potting angle.
:13:39. > :13:48.Moving that difficult red. With the frame safe, he's set himself a
:13:49. > :13:58.target of a possible 1,000 century breaks in his career. He is 197
:13:59. > :14:01.short of that. What a fete that would be. You wouldn't put anything
:14:02. > :14:07.past this player. He is is a delight to watch. He really is.
:14:08. > :14:24.-- a feat. Great to see him back and playing
:14:25. > :14:27.like this, missed the UK and the Champion of Champions where he could
:14:28. > :14:29.have defended both of those titles but chose not to. He is back at his
:14:30. > :14:51.brilliant best here. We have had five centuries so far in
:14:52. > :15:07.this year's Masters. 804 century breaks for Ronnie
:15:08. > :15:26.O'Sullivan. And a little exhibition shot to
:15:27. > :15:32.finish it up with. And this crowd at Alexander Palace enjoying every
:15:33. > :15:37.minute of this. The Rocket really is on fire, as
:15:38. > :15:44.both players leave the arena, Mark Williams has got something to think
:15:45. > :15:47.about. He can't get to the table. Ronnie O'Sullivan leads 5-4 P HAZEL
:15:48. > :15:53.IRVINE: In the small matter of 27 minutes he has turned the match on
:15:54. > :15:59.its head. The tale of his new book, how to turn a match round in 20
:16:00. > :16:03.minutes. All of a sud the match you look like you are going to win you
:16:04. > :16:08.are 5-behind if you are Mark Williams. You see Mark getting
:16:09. > :16:13.himself together to form a decider. I think he will get a chance, but
:16:14. > :16:21.you know Mark, had that half chance, a long red he normally get, you
:16:22. > :16:26.know, he has missed it by quite a bit. But he has got chance, as John
:16:27. > :16:31.said, when he got a bit ahead it looks like he started to close up a
:16:32. > :16:35.bit. He has not been used to that position for a while, particularly
:16:36. > :16:39.at the Masters, I think he will get a chance but whether he will take it
:16:40. > :16:45.now the way Ronnie has played it is difficult. He lost four frames in a
:16:46. > :16:50.row. How is he able to produce ass quickly and dramatically as that?
:16:51. > :16:55.Talent. Simply talent. He is a class act. He has been obviously, he is
:16:56. > :16:58.massively experienced. Won five Masters, he knows what to do but it
:16:59. > :17:02.is just the ability to switch it on and go through the gear books box
:17:03. > :17:07.that a lot of other plays don't have. It a beauty to be able to do
:17:08. > :17:12.that, to be able to switch, get into gear like that, he is one of the few
:17:13. > :17:16.players who can do it. When he is in full flow there is nobody better.
:17:17. > :17:19.Playing against, when you are sitting in the chair, I bet Mark
:17:20. > :17:24.Williams is just enjoying it, watching it, it is beauty at work.
:17:25. > :17:28.It is what makes you a bit uncomfortable being in front. You
:17:29. > :17:32.know he is capable of that, so sometimes when your chances come you
:17:33. > :17:36.can be too careful. Is In that respect, maybe not in style it
:17:37. > :17:43.remind you of that brink man ability of Mark Selby who never ever gives
:17:44. > :17:46.up. It fact he is more dangerous coming from behind. Ronnie will be
:17:47. > :17:53.aware of Mark Williams's experience as well. He knows he won't, he will
:17:54. > :17:56.have to produce when he gets a chance, Ronnie O'Sullivan, but I
:17:57. > :18:00.wouldn't count Mark Williams out. He is a champion and he never throws in
:18:01. > :18:04.the towel. I would love to see the match go, to a final frame decider,
:18:05. > :18:08.for everybody's enjoyment to watch it. Just to see what is going to
:18:09. > :18:12.happen. I would love to see it go five each. Many people at home would
:18:13. > :18:15.as well. Mark Williams is still out. Collecting his thoughts before the
:18:16. > :18:21.next frame. The tenth. It is interesting. I am sure there are
:18:22. > :18:26.some interested spectators in Mark Selby and Ricky ward who will play
:18:27. > :18:31.tonight, the winner of that one will meet the winner of this one. Either
:18:32. > :18:36.way it has a high quality written on it. This is frame ten. Is there
:18:37. > :18:40.something left, is there not chapper terse of this brilliant match to be
:18:41. > :18:44.-- chapter of this brilliant match to be written by that man, Mark
:18:45. > :18:47.Williams. He has to do it now or it is all over for his year at the
:18:48. > :18:55.Masters. And Mark still having a bit of fun
:18:56. > :19:05.with the crowd. So he is still the relaxed Mark Williams and he looks
:19:06. > :19:14.comfortable there. In his seat. That is the beautiful Waterford
:19:15. > :19:20.crystal trophy they are playing for. Who is going to be picking that
:19:21. > :19:32.little beauty up next Sunday evening? That the big question.
:19:33. > :19:39.Well... He has a chance. It was a similar type shot to the one that
:19:40. > :19:47.Mark missed the other side of the table in the previous frame. Now,
:19:48. > :19:52.what, what can the Welshman produce here? And John Parrot wants to see a
:19:53. > :19:57.decideling frame. I think -- deciding frame. Everyone would love
:19:58. > :20:00.to see that but I don't think Ronnie O'Sullivan would like a last
:20:01. > :20:02.deciding frame. He wouldn't mind it but he would
:20:03. > :20:24.rather get it over with in in frame. These two reds close to the black
:20:25. > :20:38.have to be sorted out. Could easily go wrong if he cannons on those.
:20:39. > :20:44.The outside red is very handy. A nice little settler to the start
:20:45. > :21:02.of this frame for Mark Williams. He hasn't had much table time, so the
:21:03. > :21:06.way this is turning out, just get his arm going. At some stage he will
:21:07. > :21:17.have to go into the pack. This is his fourth black coming up, as you
:21:18. > :21:24.can see there. Think he can run through for the
:21:25. > :21:32.black again, looking at that angle. Just about... Getting a bit more
:21:33. > :21:44.difficult now. As the red goes through the gap near the pink. Chose
:21:45. > :21:48.to go into them. Not ideal cueing. He will have to play for the blue
:21:49. > :21:54.this time, so he will quickly forget all about the blacks.
:21:55. > :22:01.It is handy, he could get his cue low there through a gap. He is a bit
:22:02. > :22:06.underpacedings, but he should be able to control this blue. Screwing
:22:07. > :22:09.out of baulk. A bit short as well but just about
:22:10. > :22:24.got there. He is an amazing player, Mark
:22:25. > :22:29.Williams, he really is. His temperament is superb, as we
:22:30. > :22:34.mentioned a few times, he is the sort of player he could have won a
:22:35. > :22:38.match 6-0 or lost 6-0 and his expression would be the same. He
:22:39. > :22:44.would still look so relaxed and laid back.
:22:45. > :22:49.Is that a plant? That is massive, if it is.
:22:50. > :23:01.Oh, he is not even on the plant. Oh no.
:23:02. > :23:08.Well, that is so unfortunate, because the white has come back, no
:23:09. > :23:16.distance at all, and I don't think he can get to that plant that you
:23:17. > :23:20.mentioned, Steve, Not certain. He could squeeze it away from the
:23:21. > :23:27.pocket. If he was playing the three ball plant. There is is a gap
:23:28. > :23:43.between the two reds, but it is risky to play it nowt.
:23:44. > :23:54.He can't really get a ball safe. Can he see enough of that? Might have,
:23:55. > :23:59.possibly. I don't think the plant is on, you would have to play it a
:24:00. > :24:02.three ball plant, youn't play it if you can see it. I don't think he
:24:03. > :24:09.would squeeze it away from the pocket. Perhaps he was playing that
:24:10. > :24:16.red all along,s that wasn't a plant, but felt like he was playing for a
:24:17. > :24:21.plant. Mark Williams is going to be forced
:24:22. > :24:22.to go up and down the table off the top cushion and thin snick one of
:24:23. > :24:52.the three reds in a line. Terrific judgment there from Mark.
:24:53. > :24:56.He has pushed one over the pocket and he hasn't covered it. Great
:24:57. > :25:08.chance for Mark Williams now. One good positional shot here and we
:25:09. > :25:14.could have a deciding frame. Oh, he played it. He played the shot with
:25:15. > :25:33.loads of drag and bottom. He thought he had got it.
:25:34. > :25:40.Well if Ronnie O'Sullivan gets on a baulk colour easily there I there he
:25:41. > :25:45.is favourite in the frame to win the match, but, now what? Green is hard.
:25:46. > :25:48.There is is a red begging to be potted over the pocket. He has to
:25:49. > :25:57.strike it well. How good was that? He made that look so easy, with the
:25:58. > :26:07.balls so close together. So difficult.
:26:08. > :26:15.Well, there is not a ball safe on the table. And that missed red from
:26:16. > :26:26.Mark Williams could be so costly. It looked almost a certain to pot
:26:27. > :26:33.this. Played it with lots of bottom, thought he potted it. Then all of a
:26:34. > :26:36.sudden... Shock, horror, it didn't drop.
:26:37. > :26:44.There is usually no better player in the game than a counter attacking
:26:45. > :26:58.part of Ronnie O'Sullivan's armoury. The referee was wagging his finger
:26:59. > :27:04.at one of the spectators there. We have nearly 2,000 people in here.
:27:05. > :27:09.They have had a superb match to watch.
:27:10. > :27:21.A bit of work to be done with those three reds.
:27:22. > :27:28.It has gone deathly quiet now at theally pale.
:27:29. > :27:39.-- the Ally Pally. Can't do anything about it, you have
:27:40. > :27:43.to sit and watch and hope that something goes wrong for your
:27:44. > :27:50.opponent, but the way he has played in the three previous frames, breaks
:27:51. > :28:21.of 104, 60, He has underscrewed that. Just left
:28:22. > :28:33.himself the wrong side of the blue, so having to take the pink. Now what
:28:34. > :28:38.sort of a cannon has he got here? It is not perfect. There is a bit of in
:28:39. > :28:43.between, the middle or the corner, so one more good shot needed here.
:28:44. > :28:55.It is not there. It is not over just yet.
:28:56. > :29:04.It should have been, but he went slightly out of position there.
:29:05. > :29:08.Well he knocked it in but he would have liked it further away from the
:29:09. > :29:18.cushion than this. What a pressure pot this will be.
:29:19. > :29:35.One good screw back now. Has he more of an angle?
:29:36. > :29:45.Well, it looked like it was all over. What twists and turns we have
:29:46. > :29:50.had in this train. Mark missed that sitter of a red, Ronnie looked like
:29:51. > :29:56.he was going to clear up and clinch the match but it looks like we could
:29:57. > :30:06.have a decider. John Parrott gets his wish!
:30:07. > :30:33.Absolutely fantastic from Mark Williams. The scores are all square.
:30:34. > :30:42.Who is going to go through to the next round? That is the big question
:30:43. > :30:47.and we have a deciding frame. Well, we had all sorts in that particular
:30:48. > :30:52.frame. Mark looked like he was going to clinch it comfortably with a red
:30:53. > :30:56.right over the pocket, he played it with a lot of drag and Ronnie
:30:57. > :31:02.thought it was over but when he missed the shock, we will show you,
:31:03. > :31:06.he played it with a lot of bottom. He thought it was in, he was on his
:31:07. > :31:12.way around the table and at the last minute, whether the white drifted,
:31:13. > :31:19.he stopped in his tracks. Ronnie looked certain to win the match, he
:31:20. > :31:24.was flying but ran slightly out of position. He was the wrong side of
:31:25. > :31:31.the blue and had to take the pink. He went round two cushions but
:31:32. > :31:35.collided with the red and left this, everybody expected him to get it. I
:31:36. > :31:41.thought it was a good strike but it went to the far jaw and Ronnie would
:31:42. > :31:49.have known it wasn't in. Mark Williams made sure of it and potted
:31:50. > :31:49.an excellent black and cleared up in great style. Under pressure
:31:50. > :32:16.conditions. Superb match. He has done that for the second
:32:17. > :32:20.time. The break-off shot catching the blue but at least it is not
:32:21. > :32:29.going to be costly because the black is not available. He just hit it too
:32:30. > :32:34.thin. This is a big shot to take on, especially if he has to use his
:32:35. > :32:39.extension to pot this red and screw back for a baulk colour. It is a bit
:32:40. > :33:04.of a stretch. That red is dead straight I think so
:33:05. > :33:05.Ronnie is turning it down but it will be available so he has to get a
:33:06. > :33:19.good cue ball. He has left that red that you
:33:20. > :33:22.mentioned and there is a path around the back of the black and Mark
:33:23. > :33:35.Williams will take it on, that's for sure. But tensions are rising. And
:33:36. > :33:36.he has got away with it, the red will run safe. Welcome to the
:33:37. > :33:53.Twilight zone! This is pottable but it's not really
:33:54. > :33:59.worth playing because he can't get on a colour. This is the time for a
:34:00. > :34:07.clear mind. Surely this doesn't cut in? Is he playing it?
:34:08. > :34:20.I thought the safety shot was nailed on. It is going to be hard to make a
:34:21. > :34:25.break with the blue off its spot at the moment. What sort of power can
:34:26. > :34:43.degenerate? He threw everything into it. What a great shot!
:34:44. > :34:55.Two incredible screw backs from Mark Williams. He has got the pink in to
:34:56. > :34:59.play. Superb cue power, the type of stuff you normally see from Judd
:35:00. > :35:09.Trump or Neil Robertson and he got the pink in the plane and this is a
:35:10. > :35:16.real chance. -- into play. And still he looks as cool as a cucumber but
:35:17. > :35:18.inside there has to be a bit of tension and a few butterflies
:35:19. > :35:30.fluttering around. We mentioned earlier, the last time
:35:31. > :35:39.these players met in 2014, the quarter final of the International
:35:40. > :35:44.Championship, Mark won 6-5. He has played for the blue but left himself
:35:45. > :35:50.a chance to open up the pack if he wants to. He is the Twix time
:35:51. > :35:54.between whether to play it -- the quickest and between.
:35:55. > :36:01.He didn't go in hard enough, he should have committed more but does
:36:02. > :36:03.this go in the middle? If he does, he could be on the pink and he might
:36:04. > :36:26.be OK. Perhaps he knew that. You can see the look on his face, he
:36:27. > :36:33.is completely fired up. He has to be careful with this. And he was but he
:36:34. > :36:38.has just let the white ball run away. This red is cuttable but there
:36:39. > :36:53.is no control on the cue ball. He doesn't want to just cannoned
:36:54. > :36:58.into the red that is near the cushion, that is what he is looking
:36:59. > :37:03.at, if he hit it the wrong way, he will not finish on anything. It is
:37:04. > :37:10.hard to avoid, it is a natural cannon. And he managed to get around
:37:11. > :37:15.the back of it but he doesn't want to be straight on the blue, he needs
:37:16. > :37:30.a bit of angle and I think he's got it to get up to the reds. No. He
:37:31. > :37:35.tried to cannon the pink. I said he was as cool as a cucumber, I know
:37:36. > :37:42.there is one person, his wife is here, and she won't be as cool as a
:37:43. > :37:44.cucumber! Delightful lady and their three boys are at home and they will
:37:45. > :38:01.be watching. It is a superbly controlled safety
:38:02. > :38:03.shot although Ronnie has a path back down the table between blue and
:38:04. > :38:11.brown. We did manage to find Jo, there she
:38:12. > :38:56.is, she will be so nervous. Ronnie will be happy to get this red
:38:57. > :39:09.away from the black and screw to the top cushion. Has he got the snooker?
:39:10. > :39:15.He was quickly there to see. Mark Williams, it could be argued that he
:39:16. > :39:24.asked for that. He maybe had no other chance of safety. It was a
:39:25. > :39:29.clever shot because there is no easy escape, if you go off and land on
:39:30. > :39:42.the red he will leave one on. Just catching the edge of the red but
:39:43. > :39:52.where has he put this? He must have been in severe trouble to risk that
:39:53. > :39:58.kind of shot. Great strike. He is on the green, is he? What a superb
:39:59. > :40:05.strike that was, it didn't look much but off the cushion.
:40:06. > :40:18.He is not sure he can get to it. It is just a roll-up. A small reprieve
:40:19. > :40:22.for Mark Williams. He can probably find a way into the pack to keep
:40:23. > :40:34.things contained. Yes, not straightforward to get into
:40:35. > :40:40.the pack, though, because there are a couple of reds he could leave on.
:40:41. > :40:47.Coming off a couple of cushions rather than directly into them. Is
:40:48. > :40:57.that hard enough? Yes, plenty of pace but he could still push it on.
:40:58. > :40:58.He might have. That wasn't a straightforward escape for Mark
:40:59. > :41:23.Williams. Wow, how close was that? I thought
:41:24. > :41:30.it was in and it just catches the right jaw. If he had been further
:41:31. > :41:36.out to the left of the pocket it would have gulped it in but the near
:41:37. > :41:41.jaw is the one you always don't want to hit, especially on these match
:41:42. > :41:44.tables. Perhaps on a club table it will slide in. Advantage Mark
:41:45. > :42:05.Williams, but not much. I like that shot a lot, it was quite
:42:06. > :42:12.clever from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is 27 behind, he didn't want to be
:42:13. > :42:16.behind the black as a safety zone, he wants to get the game back to
:42:17. > :42:24.normality and picked out a very good shot. Mark Williams can obviously
:42:25. > :42:31.see the left-hand side of the pack but what he is frightened of doing
:42:32. > :42:38.is opening up the reds. He really does need to get the cue ball back
:42:39. > :42:42.on the baulk cushion if he is going to play back down the table. He's
:42:43. > :42:49.having a quick look to see where it's safe. There were all sorts of
:42:50. > :42:55.shots available and it was such a clever shot he picked out, Ronnie.
:42:56. > :43:06.I'm not sure if Mark Williams is considering playing a slow, half
:43:07. > :43:14.ball thin snick to keep it on the top cushion.
:43:15. > :43:25.That is a weird plant to be even considering. I think he just has to
:43:26. > :43:30.play a half ball safety and hope he doesn't open up the reds. I can't
:43:31. > :43:37.see any other shop, the cue ball will come act to roughly behind the
:43:38. > :43:44.yellow and he just has to hope that the balls don't go into a pottable
:43:45. > :43:54.position -- come back. He is not going to go for the plant? He just
:43:55. > :44:08.can't see an easy safety shot. Surely not. That is what Jo thinks
:44:09. > :44:14.of the plant! Well... In the end, what did he play? That was
:44:15. > :44:30.definitely the wrong choice. He thought long and hard and what a
:44:31. > :44:39.shot he took on. Well, it was always pushing to the top cushion. Surely
:44:40. > :44:47.the safety shot would have been a better option. He knew that if he
:44:48. > :44:56.pulled that tough plant off, he could have won the match. Can Ronnie
:44:57. > :45:01.O'Sullivan hold himself together as someone's phone goes off? It has
:45:02. > :45:03.been terrific all afternoon and somebody has forgotten to switch off
:45:04. > :45:17.their phone. I was going to say, if Ronnie
:45:18. > :45:29.O'Sullivan can keep himself together here. It seems a strange thing to
:45:30. > :45:33.say with a player like Ronnie O'Sullivan and all he has won in the
:45:34. > :45:40.game but even the greatest players suffer from a bit of pressure at
:45:41. > :45:47.times. He might well need that last red on the side cushion.
:45:48. > :46:07.Everyone was looking forward to this match, to Ronnie O'Sullivan coming
:46:08. > :46:14.back after that eight-month lay-off, but I did not think we would get a
:46:15. > :46:23.fabulous match like this. It really has been very special. And you see,
:46:24. > :46:27.little things, that cannon, he is just about OK but this is a stretch.
:46:28. > :46:45.But he made it look easy. Fascinating to see how he goes about
:46:46. > :46:52.moving that difficult red that Steve mentioned. He can get an angle on
:46:53. > :47:00.the second last red and flipped it into play and he would be guaranteed
:47:01. > :47:07.on a baulk: -- flick it. He still has to play the shot right but maybe
:47:08. > :47:15.a bit wider than he would have wanted. If he can flick it into
:47:16. > :47:20.play, he will do. He has got to do it from the green. It needs to pull
:47:21. > :47:29.up, he doesn't want to be straight otherwise he can't yet to it. -- get
:47:30. > :47:39.to it. A little bit of angle and what a shot he has played! CHEERING
:47:40. > :47:51.He was almost straight. And he forced it over to knock out the red,
:47:52. > :48:03.it was a fabulous shot. Mark Williams thought long and hard about
:48:04. > :48:07.that plant that he took on. Ronnie is saying, the yellow has to come
:48:08. > :48:20.back up! But what a match, Mark Williams has been superb. 32 ahead.
:48:21. > :48:29.And Ronnie now will play the winner of Mark Selby and Ricky Walden who
:48:30. > :48:35.play this evening. It doesn't matter about the brown. He looks at the
:48:36. > :48:40.scoreboard. Mark Williams is deciding whether to shake hands, he
:48:41. > :48:52.is having a think, not finished quite yet. But the Rocket is in the
:48:53. > :49:14.next round. That is one of the snookers.
:49:15. > :49:23.The brown is heading over the corner pocket, he needs four snookers at
:49:24. > :49:25.the moment. It has been three years since Mark has been at the Masters
:49:26. > :49:50.and he doesn't want to leave yet. And now we will get the handshake.
:49:51. > :49:53.He congratulates the Rocket, it has been a fabulous match, these two
:49:54. > :49:59.players have put on a fantastic show this afternoon at the Alexandra
:50:00. > :50:05.Palace and, in the end, Bonnie O'Sullivan is back and he takes the
:50:06. > :50:11.match 6-5. Well done to both players -- Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:50:12. > :50:17.Congratulations to Ronnie, what a match on his return to the big-time.
:50:18. > :50:23.Had not seen him in one of the big three since losing at the Crucible
:50:24. > :50:27.in April. How would you sum that up? Absolutely brilliant and what a way
:50:28. > :50:32.to finish, we would all hope it would go to the last frame and what
:50:33. > :50:35.a frame and what a clearance. Mark was in a precarious position. It was
:50:36. > :50:41.a dangerous plant, particularly with a bit of a lead and if it goes in,
:50:42. > :50:49.he wins the match but he missed it and Ronnie wins. Great composure
:50:50. > :50:53.from Ronnie. It was and here he is. Congratulations, welcome back. Eight
:50:54. > :50:57.months out of the heat of competition and you come back to
:50:58. > :51:05.eight final frame decider. Happy to be back and through? It was all
:51:06. > :51:10.right! A bit poor, wasn't it! It was all right. It wasn't poor from our
:51:11. > :51:17.perspective, it was thoroughly entertaining. You were 2-0 in front
:51:18. > :51:25.and suddenly Mark hits four in a row and your back is against the wall. I
:51:26. > :51:34.flicked agreeing to go 2-0, he could have had that one -- indefinite
:51:35. > :51:39.macro green. A few started to go in. We both missed a lot of balls, I was
:51:40. > :51:45.a bit lucky to get through. It was twitchy in the end. When you know
:51:46. > :51:50.the pressure is on, did you enjoy being in that atmosphere again? I
:51:51. > :51:53.didn't really feel nervous, it's a bit of a nightmare of a tournament,
:51:54. > :51:59.I lived round the corner and everyone is here. I played last week
:52:00. > :52:05.and there was no hassle, you just turn up. Nobody wants a ticket, you
:52:06. > :52:12.just sit down and chill out and you come here and this is mayhem! It is
:52:13. > :52:16.a circus, it's a bit like Sheffield. It must be good to blow the cobwebs
:52:17. > :52:22.away, you have to be looking forward to the rest. To be honest, I did my
:52:23. > :52:26.back in a couple of months ago and I was playing all right until then,
:52:27. > :52:31.playing in exhibitions and my form was great. I was cueing as well as
:52:32. > :52:37.ever at and I did my back, I'm cueing round corners! Your cueing
:52:38. > :52:46.round corners very well! I had no finish on my shot. But I managed to
:52:47. > :52:53.wangle it. Is it causing you a real problem? It isn't painful, I'm just
:52:54. > :53:01.not able to get on a shot properly. I'm out of balance. If you are
:53:02. > :53:05.slightly off, one shot goes wrong, you are chasing the cue ball and I'm
:53:06. > :53:10.not very good at that, I need to be in total control. I can't play like
:53:11. > :53:16.some of these who can keep rescuing breaks. I like to be close in and if
:53:17. > :53:21.I'm not, I'm pulling my hair out. Did you think you were going to get
:53:22. > :53:26.a chance in the last frame? I always thought I would, I didn't feel
:53:27. > :53:30.nervous, when you are flying and you think you've got prospect of going
:53:31. > :53:36.far in the tournament, you're thinking, please don't go out! When
:53:37. > :53:40.you were deciding that you would come back, take us through the
:53:41. > :53:46.thought process about why you had taken time out and white it was
:53:47. > :53:49.right to come back? I only missed two tournaments and I wouldn't have
:53:50. > :53:54.been able to play them because of my back. This was the only one I could
:53:55. > :54:00.have played in. I missed two tournaments. If you miss a couple of
:54:01. > :54:05.games in football, nothing is said, but because I missed a couple,
:54:06. > :54:13.suddenly I'm retiring! Did you miss them? Not really! Even though you
:54:14. > :54:18.were defending? I didn't really miss it and if I carry on playing like
:54:19. > :54:23.that I would be missing it at all. Unless I play well, there is no joy
:54:24. > :54:29.in it. I have had a lean 18 months, I haven't done much since I won the
:54:30. > :54:33.UK, a couple of quarters but nothing to be happy about. How close to your
:54:34. > :54:39.best do you think you are? Miles away but I am pleased to have won a
:54:40. > :54:43.match. If you start winning matches and picking up momentum, you have a
:54:44. > :54:48.chance of it clicking. It is nice to get a close game to start off. You
:54:49. > :54:53.have come through a tough match. The next game... I always think, unless
:54:54. > :54:57.you are playing really well, you aren't going to win tournaments
:54:58. > :55:02.unless you are Selby, he can win playing bad because he can make it
:55:03. > :55:06.hard for you but I'm not that type of player. If I'm scoring and I got
:55:07. > :55:11.my potting boots on, I have a chance but if I don't, I will get picked
:55:12. > :55:15.off. I should have lost today. If Mark had been a bit more clinical
:55:16. > :55:22.the wood had got through and he will because appointed but I got lucky.
:55:23. > :55:27.-- he would have got through. Well done, you came through, it is lovely
:55:28. > :55:30.to see you back. And I am sure Mark Selby and Ricky Walden would have
:55:31. > :55:34.been interested to watch today because either of them will be
:55:35. > :55:38.playing this man in the quarterfinal. Let's talk about Mark
:55:39. > :55:44.Selby, these two have had some tussles over the years and let's get
:55:45. > :55:49.an idea of his form. I played him at Wembley a few years ago. Ricky won
:55:50. > :55:53.the wild card match. I think I beat him but we have played quite a lot
:55:54. > :55:57.in other tournaments. Great friends off the table, we more or less grew
:55:58. > :56:01.up together through the junior ranks, fantastic lad and I had a
:56:02. > :56:04.thick player. He is a bit like O'Sullivan,, he plays on rhythm and
:56:05. > :56:11.he can steam roller you. Even though I haven't won anything this year
:56:12. > :56:14.come it is a bit disappointing, but the standard is high, nobody has a
:56:15. > :56:18.divine right to win anything. It's not like I've been playing Adley, I
:56:19. > :56:23.lost to John Higgins in the semifinals in China, and to Neil
:56:24. > :56:29.Robertson who is probable in the best player on tour at the moment --
:56:30. > :56:34.playing Adley. It would be nice to do a semi final into a win. And
:56:35. > :56:39.significantly, in the five major event they have played in, Selby and
:56:40. > :56:46.Walden, it is Selby with the best record. How do you assess this one?
:56:47. > :56:51.You would have to say that Mark Selby would be favourite. Ricky
:56:52. > :56:56.Walden on his day is very good, quick scorer, lovely to watch. He is
:56:57. > :57:00.a handful for anybody when he is at the top of his game also when we
:57:01. > :57:03.last saw Mark he was getting thumped by Neil Robertson at the UK
:57:04. > :57:12.championship and that was unusual will stop it hadn't happened since
:57:13. > :57:18.1999. He was getting 50s and 60s and losing. He just has too up his
:57:19. > :57:21.scoring slightly, he could go close. What a fascinating afternoon it has
:57:22. > :57:26.been. I hope you have enjoyed it at home. Jason will be here with the
:57:27. > :57:34.highlights tonight's matches later on. Otherwise, we will see you again
:57:35. > :57:35.shortly. We hope you have enjoyed it, it is good to see Ronnie back.
:57:36. > :58:06.Goodbye for now. So, no-one pays tax here?
:58:07. > :58:09.No-one pays taxes. All you need to know
:58:10. > :58:24.about tax avoidance Join Chris Packham for the
:58:25. > :58:40.World's Sneakiest Animals.