First Round: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Liang Wenbo Masters Snooker

Hello. This is Alexandra Palace. Ali Pali in north London. The PVC darts

boys and girls have packed away the arrows, they have had their fun,

they have at the moment, and now it is the turn of snooker. The 16 top

players in the world have turned up here, hoping for a very happy start

to 2017, as the Masters champion, the second longest running event in

snooker. And arguably, this is the greatest field we have ever

assembled. For the first time, every one of the players involved already

owns in major world ranking title. That's the first. But none of them

in this field has mastered this great event more offered than the

man who will be taking those off this afternoon - the six time

champion, the defending champion, the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, playing his best ever of the week to take the Masters

title. I'm a Londoner. Being in London, I'm looking forward to it.

MUSIC It looks like his fourth Masters

title now... I love winning, I love it!

and, like running, the only other six time winner of the Masters,

Stephen Hendry, is trying to look cool calm and collected at the

prospect of perhaps losing that record. Warning on a roll, going for

a seven. Steve Davis, he has long since worried about other people

making his record! Happy New Year to you both. What are the chances of

Ronnie itching himself alone in the history of this event. He has as

good a chance of anybody -- Ronnie itching himself into the history of

this event. He has been slipping up against the other top players.

He has been beating players, maybe not fancying it so much against the

top players. He won this last year in superb fashion. Obviously he

loves the big occasion,... It's an interesting point. You look back at

the last three months. He's been in a big final three times, he lost the

Judd Trump, John Higgins, and of course Mark Selby Dustin December.

How do you read that form? No disgrace to lose the those three

players. -- just in December. It is getting more difficult to guaranteed

to win events. All you can really do is get your solving the frame and

give yourself a chance. He is getting there. So will get yourself

in the frame. It's just getting over the line has always been difficult

and will be more difficult. Is he going to be nervous with that record

in the last three months, though? I don't think he looks at it that way.

He's had lots of match practice. When it comes to this event, this is

a massive crowd now. It's like a big auditorium. One table, all eyes on

the one match. As Stephen said, a big occasion player. This, I've

probably said it before, this is his office, he is harder to beat here

than anywhere else in the world. Is going to be fascinating over the

next week or so. Ronnie O'Sullivan and the world number one Mark Selby

drawn to face each other in the final at the top and bottom of the

order. There are a huge number of very capable, very expert players

who could take this title themselves.

First up it's O'Sullivan against China's charismatic Liang Wenbo, a

real firecracker. A home event for the Essex boy. Flamboyant Judd Trump

meets Marco Fu, he was informed. World number two Stuart Bingham

playing the Gentleman Joe Perry tomorrow. The only debit and this

year, Kettering's Ireland Wilson. 2015 winner Shaun Murphy playing

last year's for up Barry Hawkins. And the world number one meets Mark

Williams. It gets going in a couple of moments when Ronnie O'Sullivan

works out to this great arena, 2000 strong, against Liang Wenbo this

afternoon. As you know, this time last year he came to Ali Pali off

the back of a seven month sabbatical away from the sport, not the first

time he's done that. He's also had something of a bit of a love hate

relationship with snooker. He's in love with a together the moment

because he tells us that he would now love to be viewed as the Lionel

Messi of this game. People that are watching, they're saying, he don't

just win, but he delivers on it. I think it's very important. Sometimes

people say like you can't play like that, but Lionel Messi proves that

you can, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer do. I want to try and be one

of them. Arguably he has been that, one of those great entertainers all

of his career. This is his 23rd campaign in the Masters. Let's meet

the man he is going to be playing today. 29-year-old Liang Wenbo. This

fella could cause a few problems. The odds have been stacked against

Liang Wenbo consider the previous match-ups. Ronnie with five wins the

Wenbo's one. The recent contests have been pretty close. Ronnie has

reportedly given Liang Wenbo one or two pieces of playing device. It

will be interesting to see what difference it makes today. And how

about this? Liang getting his big first title in the English open in

October, really that. Loved A lot of people will remember he was in the

UK championship final two years ago. A quirky character, a heavy scorer.

I wonder how many questions he is capable of asking Ronnie today? As

you said that, I think his heavy scorer, he is going to have to do

that today. You know, Ronnie is going to be well up for this match.

Liang has to match in the scoring department. His temperament also,

he's got to keep that in check. You know, he concedes a lot of times,

Liang, he shows his emotions. He starts swearing, shaking his head,

his he smacks himself in the face. He's got to keep his temperament in

check as well stop like the crowd will be thoroughly behind Ronnie

O'Sullivan. That is a withering experience for a player in the past.

Good luck you do well in by the final it is the full crowd.

But this is round one, you are right in the deep end. It's a shock to the

system for every player that comes here. Usually you is your solving

the tournament. Wenbo has a bit about him, though. So you is

yourself into the tournament. Perhaps the early start, it would be

good for Wenbo to get off to a good start from his perspective. But this

tournament is a shock to the system. A blogger made a very good point, it

is required reading. Ronnie seems to like playing. If you watch his body

language, he is always smiling against Wenbo. Do you get that

impression about him? They are very good friends off the table. Liang

amuses Ronnie, possibly off the table as well. He likes his antics

around the table, he's a breath of fresh. So many of the players

nowadays show very little emotion at all, if any. He is different from

that, he's good to watch and good to play against. He has a 5-1

advantage, he is comfortable with that. From the perspective of

Stephen, my perspective from my rack and Stephen's era, we prefer to have

an aura around us that we were untouchable. We didn't make friends

too much with our opposition, if at all. Do such an extent that we were

quite disliked! But it seems different now, the game has changed

enough. But I don't like the thought of getting too friendly with another

player. Judd Trump did it in the UK championship, he had dinner with the

guy who beat him. And suddenly it's a different culture now. You see

them before talking to each other before they go out, we would never

have done that. OK, I don't know who is buying goods to write, but we'll

find out. Liang is -- buying dinner tonight. Ronnie is 13 and Liang is

11. But this 2000 strong crowd is already the start. It will be lively

and crackling with anticipation. As we get ready to get underway, the

honour is being done by the man who won this great title exactly 30

years ago, Mr Dennis Taylor. Would you please welcome into the arena, a

player who lifted his first title just a couple of months in ago in

Manchester. The reigning English professional champion, Liang Wenbo!

APPLAUSE And his opponent, would you please

give a warm welcome, he is the defending Masters champion. He is

five times a world champion, six times in Masters champion, it's the

rocking Ronnie O'Sullivan! It's lively, all right! A quick

sprint into the commentary box. You have done your Sunday work-out

already! Sit back and revel in one of the great sporting occasions of

any year, is the Masters, best of 11 frames in the opening round. We'll

get a win this afternoon. Dennis on his way to meet three-time Masters

champion John Parrott, good afternoon, John.

COMMENTATOR: Welcome to a very lively Alexandra Palace. The top 16

players in the world put into the melting pot. And usually when you do

that combination, it comes out to be very exciting. Away we go for what

should be fascinating week of Sugra. -- a week of snooker.

I don't think he has covered the outside read here. This is a chance

for Ronnie. Not easy of course, first shot in this year's event for

him. So, not to be. I agree with the

boys, his attempt at the long pot. It's very important to get a good

start at any match. Particularly against Ronnie O'Sullivan,

ineffectively his own backyard. He has got the score to date, Liang,

and heavily. I love watching Liang Wenbo play. He

really is very exciting. Bit of a character as well.

And he's one of those players who just loves a stage like this. Packed

house at the Alexandra Palace. He plays his best snooker under these

conditions. What conditions they are. Look at this wonderful venue. I

think it was 1500 couple of years ago, now it is 2000 capacity. A very

popular event here in London, and why not? We should be in for a treat

here this week. The tournament first started in

1974-75 season by the late, great John Spencer. He was beaten in the

final. It has kept going ever since. From 79-2006 it was a conference

centre. The next five years it went to the arena, and then for the last,

well, this will be the 60th year at Ali Poly. This was seamlessly taken

over as a great host for a wonderful event -- the 16th year at the Ali

Paoli. Of course we mustn't forget the New London Theatre in Drury

Lane. It was played there. That was a terrific venue. Well-established

now, as you say, John, almost packed out here.

I always used to love playing this event, Dennis. There's a real buzz

about it. It's your reward for playing well throughout the year and

being a top player. You know full well you've got to be at it right

from the get go. There's nowhere to hide here. You're the centre of

attention, only one table, and you've got to bring your stuff with

you, no good trying to find it, because you won't win this event by

doing this. You've got to win here by bringing to a game. -- your a

game. Well, that could be the end of

break. He was just a bit unlucky. He didn't get quite enough right-hand

side when potting that brown. Justin Gilbert Moorside and he would hit

the pink and red. -- just a bit more on the side. He will be

disappointed, his first proper visit on the table and it was a big target

for him to hit. Liang Wenbo 27. Decided to have a go at the double.

The only red he could leave was the one he tried to double. He has left

a chance for Ronnie to follow that red. Can you put the camera away,

please? They did mention no cameras, please. The referee just emphasising

that. I don't know whether he saw the red

going and he kept the angle to get into the pack like Liang did. Wow.

You know, his angle and that wasn't the same as Liang's, it was more of

a difficult shot. Couldn't quite get the side on.

Yes, it's so easy to going off that last shot on the attempted. That's

the angle he had. You need to hit it at the right-hand side and avoid the

middle pocket. Didn't quite manage that.

Even though it's the best of 11, it's always nice to get off to a

good start. And he's had plenty of good starts in the match, six times

in Masters champion. Yes, I think some of Ronnie's best

snooker ever has been played at this event. The 10-3 was as close to

perfection as you could see. The demolition of Ding Junhui was

absolutely outstanding. He has played some great stuff here.

Not particularly appetising for Liang. He's just got to be careful

here. Probably trying to drop in the back of the pack here.

We always talk about Ronnie being the greatest break-builder of all

time. He's got a fabulous tactical and safety game, which you have to

have. You have to be able to mix it. Not the best safety this time from

Ronnie. Liang Wenbo can have a go at this red and get himself onto the

black. It's a bit of a free shot. The only ball he can leave will be

the red. If he misses it, you can quite easily send it into the pack.

It's a half chance. He is pretty good at this type of pot.

He concentrated so hard on getting the pot, which was difficult in

itself. Straight in the centre of the pocket, but just lost the white.

If it stops there, it would have been perfect. Not much he can do

here, really. Just going back to the venues, John,

the Wembley conference centre. You were so far away from the table.

Here you are closer to the table. It was quite a long walk back to your

seat, it took a lot of getting used to in that venue. But there again,

you would have 2700 people there for the final.

Many a time players forgot where they were and tripped over the

plants in that place! That's a terrific shot. I think you

can take the brown because there is a red just the right of pink that is

available. Oh! He didn't see that coming. He

was perfectly on the red. A second chance for Liang. Just caught the

near jaw. Now, perfect position on the blue.

This is a lovely pack to go into. The red next to the pink is making

it even better. If he can hit that one, the red and pink together, it

should open up lovely. He has just got to be careful that the pink

doesn't head towards the left corner pocket when he cannons into them.

Well, is he on that red? I thought he would hit them a little harder

than that. I think he got a little bit lucky to finish there. They were

begging to be hit hard. He is an one.

I'll tell you what, this table looks beautiful. I thought he was going to

come up short on the blue, but it's very quick and the players like it

that way. He has a nice shot here. He pops this blue and leaves it low

on the red, he can split the pack up that way. He needs the cue ball to

go a bit more. If it does, that's what he's looking for. If it does,

what the red and Canada into the pink, quite a few open in the plate

-- cannon into. I'd love to have another couple of inches of role and

that cue ball, it would have been perfect. With the 34 point

advantage, he can win the frame if he can play the shot that John

suggested. Is it a little too straight from the red to do that?

Not a lot of room there. So, a change of plan. Is he going to

go far enough? I think is going to have to take the pink. He's going to

split the reds. Straightaway he gets the rest out. It's a natural angle

to pot the pink and split those five reds. We have seen it already, but

both players have had a go on the brown and in quite get enough of the

side of the cue ball in the frame. Sometimes on these new cushions,

they throw a little bit different. If he judges this correctly...

Well, missed the pack. And this has all come from the one off the blue.

If he had just got the right angle on the bottom red, it was from over.

Not from as wide as he fought and missed the back. -- not thrown as

wide as he thought. He might have a 41 point leave here,

Liang. This is a dangerous board. If he hits the roads here, only the

brown in an awkward position, he has to be very careful.

Well, this will require good cueing. He can only just see enough of this

thread. He has had a look at that. -- of this red.

Just a safety shot. He needs a good cue ball here.

That's not bad, but there is a half chance for Liang. He is a

devastating long putter, and runny nose that. He practices enough with

this Chinese player. -- and Ronnie knows that. This is not

straightforward. He has defined the Gap back around the table. -- he has

defined the gap. What damage has he done here? Mis-hit that completely.

What a chance for Ronnie to get right back in this opening frame.

It's not only the damage of missing it, he flipped the red off the side

cushion, a double whammy. He brings the red into play. A good chance...

It should have been. Can he just sneak back the yellow

enough to pot the green? Just a bit of noise. There is a

latecomer coming into a seat, and somebody is making noise there. It

has been spotted. Just a couple of flights, I think. They might be the

line of sight, which is off-putting -- a of lights.

Just reflecting on to the railings. They are catching Ronnie's I.

He is going to wait to get the light off. It is putting him. He knows it

is quite a good chance to get himself back into the frame. We've

got to find the switch that will get rid of that blue light. There is

just one red that is safe here that could come to Liang Wenbo's rescue.

The one near the ocean, as John mentioned, he knocked the other red

red out into the open. -- the one near the cushion. Frank Baker just

heading off. The light is safely switched off. I suppose, Dennis, we

mentioned the top cushion. Ideally Ronnie would like to get into the

black and only dropped the red in to get it back on the spot. In a

perfect world, that is what he would like to do.

The Wiggo, if you can get on the black now... -- there we go.

Change of plan. He did play on the black there.

This is a lively cloth. He has overhit that by the way. This is a

little cut back. Can he avoid the contact on the

brown? Of all he will have to put a little juice on it. Only just.

I haven't used that term before, a little bit of juice, another word

for a little bit of side. I mentioned earlier, it looked like

a dangerous position for Liang, even though he was a few points in front.

The ball is in a portable position, with maybe the exception of the

brown. You can see Ronnie trying to work out the best way. Ideally, as I

say, he'd like to drop the black and play on the loose red. This has got

counter clearance by the North Everett. -- written all over it.

Liang could kick himself with the chances he has had in this frame.

Doing exactly as you predicted, getting the black back on the spot.

And he doesn't want to be dead straight, though. And that looks as

if it is almost straight. Not much of an angle.

Yes, that could always happen. Trying to play the snookering behind

the black. -- the snooker in. Very little angle to work with. In fact,

the red jumped a few times. Not the best safety Liang Wenbo has

ever played. On the other hand, this is far from easy.

What a pot! What a cracking pot that is! Ronnie O'Sullivan special. All

about brown to blue now, that's going to be the key factor.

I agree with you Dennis, this cloth is lively, hardly touched that.

Straight back. Perfect angle. Deserves to win the frame. Has he

left himself a decent angle or is he a little bit straight?

Had that little bit of angle. Is it going to come up a little bit short?

He only needs the pink, no problem, doesn't matter about getting on the

plaque. -- the black. It has to be said, Liang Wenbo had

if you chances to take the opening frame and he didn't, Ronnie

O'Sullivan takes the frame and he leads 0- one. The defending champion

off and running, effectively a tale of. Yes, one that Ronnie turned

down, you can see the situation here, he looked at they read a

couple of times and perhaps if he is 2-0 or 3-0 in front he takes it on,

but he knows the importance of this frame so he refuses it and place the

safety shot and gets in. Looks like he was possibly going to win the

frame. The next long red and we are going to see is when you had to take

on, there is no safety shot. Hardly hit it, this was just all timing.

Also in stroke as well? Yes, came straight at the red on the top

cushion but looks to be cueing very nicely on what looks to be a

lightning fast piece of cloth, snooker on ice effectively and no

better player than Ronnie O'Sullivan per controlling the cue ball on fast

conditions. And perhaps that safety shot that Liang Wenbo played, when

it rolled a few more inches down the table gave Ronnie the chance. Safety

becomes difficult on fast clots, everything is tricky on a very fast

cloth. There were a few nervous moments as you would expect from

both men and I think that lends to the intensity and intimacy of this

venue. Liang Wenbo will be disappointed, he had three or four

chances in the frame and if he keeps needing that he will get beaten

today so he has to up his game if he wants to win. Back we go, the second

frame. COMMENTATOR: I would agree with Stephen Hendry, Liang Wenbo

cannot carry on as he did in that opening frame. Had a few decent

chances. But he knows that only too well John. Yes. Playing against the

very best chances seem to be few and far between and he had enough of

them in the opening frame but have to make the most of them.

That certainly will help his confidence. It was a long red

similar to that that he hit two thick in the previous frame. No

problem this time, right in the centre of the pocket. This is a

really good chance. Reds spread around, could score plenty of points

before you need to get down to the nitty-gritty of opening up the pack.

Could score a few here. The pink is out of commission at the

moment, but the black has a red either side of it. In a few shots

time he could have the black in the open. Got to be very precise with

this, needs to pull up a little bit. That looks to be absolutely perfect.

Yeah, he is on the black, you can tell by his body language. Looks a

bit tight but I think he's OK. If he is on it it's the best shot he has

played in the match. Have already mentioned how quick the cloth is.

That's a fabulous shot. Excellent control. But his heart was in his

mouth when the cue ball was running. And now he has the black in the

open, that truly was a superb positional shot.

I remember a good few years ago we were in the commentary box and I

remember seeing I thought Liang Wenbo was the next big thing. I had

seen him play and thought his cue ball control and scoring was

absolutely fantastic and I thought this boy would going to win lots of

events and it's fair to say he went missing for a few years but

thankfully he is back on the big-time here in top 16. Won a

ranking event in 2016, he has found something from somewhere and it's

good to have him back because he certainly supremely talented.

Well, this might have just gone astray. Misjudged the cannon, think

his left things very difficult for himself.

This is tough, it will just go past the blue up into the corner. A

beauty! Yes, excellent recovery. Could have

easily been disappointed from the shot he played before. Really had to

do so little with the cue ball on this cloth, it is zipping around the

angles. Just got to make sure that this next positional shot, it's

important, got to get the right angle.

Isn't it ironic John, when he played the previous shot in the first frame

to split the reds he did not get enough side, that time he got too

much side on. He was thinking about the shot he played as we show you

out again, this time getting too much side on it. No easy safety

shot, has to just roll into them, cannot do everything else. Ronnie

cannot run away up the table. Of that red. Closest to the tank.

Following a similar pattern to the opening frame here where Liang Wenbo

was leading by 40 points. Once again the safety shot has to be very

careful. Have to get the cue ball glued to the bottom fusion cushion.

That's pretty good but there is an easy safety shot for Ronnie of the

reds just to the left of the pink as we look at them.

He needs the green to come to the rescue here. It's not. Round of

applause but there is a gap through to this red. This would be some shot

but knowing Liang Wenbo he will play at. This will be interesting to

watch because it was a long part in the opening frame when he was in

front and not in much trouble that caused him to ultimately lose the

frame. What will he do here? That was not the cue action I'm afraid.

Looked like a lot of pressure on that.

Let's have a look, the reds sitting on the black spots will have to go

directly behind because of the other spots are occupied. I think that

last part that Liang Wenbo missed, he's just concerned about who's

coming behind him, he's got Ronnie O'Sullivan, the six time Masters

champion and that puts a much pressure on a part like that and

that's where the mental strength comes in, you have to try to forget

what you are playing and think about what you're going to leave. But that

is easier said than done. I think the red goes that is closest to the

black, but he cannot get on that red, the angle he has left the pink

but there is no problem, plenty of other choices. Usually manages to

sort out which way to go doesn't he? Adept at seeing the table and

getting the computer working, where to leave the cue ball. To make the

break as easy as possible. Fair to say he's been fairly useful at that

over the years. He can leave that red next to the

black for the time being. He played the last red, playing to try to come

dead straight on the pink to run through for the red next to the

black, did not quite get there are so a change of plan. Just trying to

leave himself that angle to run through and get on that red by the

black. But if you don't quite manage it you have to change the way you go

about it. And he is they are now. -- there

now. A couple of tricky reds, the one next to the blue is available

only in corner pockets. That one jumped quite a bit but did not

affect the shot. The one that is near the right side cushion is

slightly awkward, I wonder if he will try to develop that? A little

risky. That's what he's played. And didn't develop it.

Just having a look to see if the red passes the blue to the green pocket

which I think it does. I think that was the table again,

the reaction he got. It really is so fast. This is awkward because he's

so close to the red. And look at that shot. APPLAUSE

Difficult to pick the angle out when you're so close to it and he can

take the green here and swing this around the angles to head towards

that last difficult red. Here comes the cue ball, where is it going to

vanish? Just slipping past it. 15 in front, they are all on. Needs a good

snooker here. APPLAUSE I think he'd have to use web around

this stick at the edge of it. It's quite tricky to judge with the blue

and green playing with a touch of swerve. Where is the red going?

Well, this will pot, to take the second frame.

For all the world and looks like 2-0 now to Ronnie O'Sullivan. If I was

Liang Wenbo I would be sitting in that chair kicking myself because

the scoreline at the moment is self-inflicted. Two long reds, one

in the opening frame that he missed by a mile and that one there in the

last frame that he missed when he was 40 points in front...

That's the one in the first frame that he missed by a mile. Cost him

the frame. And then this one which was a really good opportunity for

someone of his class. Because of those looks like he's going to be

2-0 down. Well, no fireworks just yet but

Liang Wenbo could have quite easily led 2-0 but the scoreline currently

reads Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-0 Liang Wenbo.

Defending champion has a 2-0 lead and John Parrott summed it up,

self-inflicted he said from the perspective of Liang Wenbo, do you

agree? Of course, Liang Wenbo wins his first ranking event, his stock

rises and with that comes different problems and one of those is

expectation. Now Liang Wenbo possibly going to come into

tournaments from now on in expecting it to do better and that puts

pressure on. Only his second appearance at the Masters, on his

debut last year, this is a 23rd appearance for Ronnie. How

intimidating is this place when you're just getting used to it? You

are battling against the Ronnie O'Sullivan show when you come here,

you have you have to have tremendous mental strength to get through it. I

remember when I used to play Jimmy White at the old Wembley conference

Centre and it was the same thing. Forget about the surroundings and

just, anyone who plays a top player, cut out the unforced errors and

you'd be amazed how well you do. It's quite obvious when you are

looking at all these factors, he has been caught cold in the first couple

of frames, couple of misses that you could put in the easy category, how

do you set yourself down? It's just an unforced, it's trying 100%

concentration into every shot. He needs to win frame quickly in this

match. COMMENTATOR: We always say you never really settle until you

get your first frame on the scoreboard. And that is what Liang

Wenbo will be thinking about, must get a frame sooner rather than

later. Now, has that red cover of the one

near the pocket? I don't think so, Liang Wenbo can get through to cut

this in. And I think he will avoid cannoning into the bunch of reds and

the pink. Even if he did it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world but

it's all about making sure of the pot and letting the quite take care

of itself. -- the white. Come through a gap that I didn't

see. That is what he was looking at, wasn't absolutely certain about the

cue ball, but to find the gap was a bonus as we show you the shot again.

Not the gap he played for but he'll take it. Just giving himself a

little bit of extra time here to make sure that he gets the next shot

right because if he can get good position he can give himself an

early chance here in this third frame.

I think the pink is out of commission looking at it, the black

still a little awkward, like it was in the earlier frame. This is a much

more difficult chance than the one he had in the second frame, the

black is really awkward. Taking his time, I don't blame him. He is 2-0

down after all. If it goes 3-0 down I cannot fancy him at all. Somehow

he has to get around and under the blue, so how does he find the path

round there? He's just checking to see if the pink would possibly going

to the right middle pocket. Looks a bit tight. We'll find out shortly,

the way he plays best shot. That has been overhit by quite some

way. That's just a little bit of tension there. We mentioned how

quick the cloth is, that such a difficult shot to play on a really

quick cloth, of the side cushion. May have left Ronnie along red on

the right-hand side. He's looking at the black, but I don't think it

pots. Very tight if he was to leave it where he is cueing, maybe he can

get on that if he stuns the white through. He had an angle to come an

and off the cushion to get on the black. Unexpected miss from Ronnie

O'Sullivan and a chance for Liang. We know the black is available.

Little bit street, but looks as if he's going to miss to the right of

the pocket as we watch cueing but safely in. This will open the black

up. Little run through to land on the

loose red. I know we keep going on about it but if you're going to have

a future in this match Liang he's got to score now.

Need to keep going, he wanted to have an angle. Looks of it straight.

We'll have to power this through with lots of side. Going to be a bit

close to the condition but he's got the red lives near the right corner.

Quite cleverly played. Often say to people how do you make a break, you

try to leave yourself in positions where there are a couple of options

so that was well played, knew he didn't get on the other red near the

black he still had this one. APPLAUSE

Very well controlled. Really well controlled. You can sense already

that Liang knows how important this is. And he knows how important this

next shot is going to be, leaves himself on the black to split up

this bunch of reds, that's going to be key. This is the one that could

pave the way. To taking his first frame in this match. It's not the

best pack of reds to go into, needs to get plenty of action on this.

That red is available to him. Just run through and leave himself on the

pink or black. Well once again he finds himself with an almost 40

point lead and really there is no excuse from here. Somebody of his

quality, this is an excellent chance. To take the frame.

You can see Liang taking a nice deep breath as he walks around.

Deep breath and go again. Maintain that concentration level.

This is what he is very good at, Liang, close control around the pink

and black area. Scored very heavily and very quickly. A series of little

stuns and screw shots. Racks up the points very quickly.

Yes, he knocked in 30 centuries last season. Nearly 18 this season. He

has just let the white run a little further than he intended. Safely in.

And there you can see, 67 ahead with 59 remaining he can relax a little

bit. Certainly is an excellent response.

We said at the start of this frame, this is what he has to do to score.

A little bit of help for Ronnie in this frame, it has to be said. I

didn't expect Ronnie to miss. But nevertheless, he has taken things

very well. Ronnie's shot, we thought he would come off of the black, but

not to be. Showing very good character here, Liang.

He has got a lovely swagger around the table, a very confident swagger.

Liang Wenbo is a lovely lad. But when he's playing well, you know,

it's as if I'm the boss! The big boss!

You remember that, John, Bruce Lee, the big boss.

No reason why he shouldn't go on to make a century break. The first one

of this year's masters. His cue ball control has been exemplary.

I have a funny feeling he won't be the only one this week. There will

be a few of them, John. A magnificent break from Liang

Wenbo. And coming just at the right time for him and his supporters.

That really set this first-round match up. After the two frames, no

fireworks. Well, we've had a few in this frame, all coming from the

Chinese player. It doesn't matter about the pink. Ronnie missed an

easy red here. Wenbo got one chance, and didn't he take it well? He

missed a century break, but he still trails 2-1.

It very much needed frame for Liang. If there was a shot in that frame

that was a surprise that Ronnie played, with mentioned he played a

drag shot. I thought it was strange, he played with a lot of bottle just

hold for the black. That's the drag shot but you mention, when you hit

the ball on the bottom, swinging backwards, take all of the off of

it. It reverts into top spin, as you can see. It lands on the object ball

softer. That is what he was trying to do with the black, it didn't

quite work out. Consequently, Liang went on to win the frame. Once

again, it's amazing from the break of shot, look at the red either side

of the black. What has happened in all three frames so far, the red

they are hitting seems to be sitting on either side of the black. I think

it is an indication, the pack is really opening.

Actually a very good break off from Ronnie. Can he just get past that

blue just need that read. It looks as if he can. Paul Collier is having

a good look to see. The reason the referee looks is because if you were

to miss it altogether he'd have to get it back, but he can, and he can

avoid it if he hits it than enough. He can play and swerve, even write

up this. That's what he's done. That's what you call a containing

shot. Ronnie just tapping the table. Nothing wrong with that shot.

Sometimes that's all you've got. He thought one pocket might be in the

wake if you didn't get it right, he chose to play that one. Sometimes

you put yourself back into the bit of trouble, but that's all that you

can do. Well, the crowd have got so involved

this afternoon. It's the opening match, a packed house.

He didn't get it in the jaws of the pocket.

This is what the game of snooker is all about, playing, a one-table

situation, 1700 people in, this is what the players turned professional

for. And they strive for it. They've got to play an awful lot of events

these days that are the best of seven frames, mostly cabled venues.

But this is what it's all about. This is your reward. Well, Ronnie, I

think you found the plant here. Just having a look at it. Trying to see

whether it is on the near jaw locked. Which side he is going to

hit it. Of course, it depends a little bit on how much of a gap

there is between the two reds. It looks like it's on to me. If it is

so close and he doesn't get it correctly, he can squeeze the second

read away from the pocket. That is why he is taking extra care -- the

second red. It is going is to the left of the pot. Which means he

would have to make sure that he gets the correct contact on the first

round. It's not a foul shot if you can lift your feet off the table

when you are looking at the short! But you can't do it while you are

playing the shot. Well, we've got a perfect picture to

see whether he judges it or squeezing it away from the pocket. A

foul and MS. -- and a miss. I think because he was striking down

on it, the Kiwis going down and he swerved it, it bounced straight into

the blue. -- the the cue. The final thing that happened in that shot,

the black Kayumova and rested on the plant and moved it. Everything

happened there apart from the lampshade for on his head! -- the

black Kayumova. Of course, the balls wouldn't have

to be placed back, because it is not a miss. It is just a far shot. And

that is a player with quite a bit of confidence. And that century break

has given Liang Wenbo back fat confidence. That was a terrific long

pot. It certainly was -- a bit of confidence. The second frame he hit

right across it. It was excellently cued. He won't be bullied by the

fact that he has seen a couple of mistakes from morning. It is nice

when your opponent is missing one or two poor shots. It helps with your

confidence. Ronnie at 85%, Liang my device

percent. His potting success rate. -- at 95%. 95 is quite high

considering he lost the first two frames. If Liang hasn't got high

enough on the pink, that a stinker. It wasn't easy shot to get up there,

but maybe he's just sneaked an angle out of it. One thing he had to be

there was above the pink to go back down for the reds. Have a look. He's

just made it. And that's OK. So much reverse side on that shot. I

mean, I don't think the crowd realised how much side he had to get

onto that. You can see the whites spinning off

the cushion and heading towards the red. That normally would have run

out into the middle of the table. Yes, quite a bit of work to do with

this chance. It's not a great one. It would be helped if he can get the

blue back on the spot, that's for sure. Just drop this in and get the

angle on the loose red, that would help.

I'm just wondering whether the black goes in the centre pocket. He is

coming round to have a look. If you can drop this into get that handle,

he may get the black back in play. Yes, it does. It looks to have come

well, a natural angle to get back in there.

All of the spots are occupied. The black will have to go behind its own

spot, behind that red there. It shouldn't really put it out of

action. Oh, we've got a wasp! It's a bit early, sorry, a bit late for one

of those, John. Missed it! Well, that's it now, the refs at it,

it'll be coming after you in a minute! I think you got a kick when

he had a go at that wasp! -- I think EE got a kick.

Well, that was looking like not a very promising visit to the table.

But he's negotiated is very well, Leanne. -- Liang Wenbo. He has the

blue back on the spot. Black might still be available. A lot better

than a few shots ago. More importantly, he has started off

dangerous. It is amazing how many top

left-handed players or in the game nowadays, and all terrific players.

Answer me this, why do they all look so good? That's the other thing.

It's like the top-class golfers, left-handed looks brilliant. Bob

Charles, I remember him, and elegant golfer.

Yes, is definitely warming to the task. A bit of a shaky start. Down

by 40 points -- up by 40 points in the opening two frames and lost both

of them. A century in the last frame. Going well here. He is

looking like the player who won that English Open back last year. He met

Judd Trump in the final. He has got a slight problem here. He

didn't get on the pink as he intended. He is going to get a

cannon. I think he can come off the crush and looking at that angle and

hope to bring water or two reds in the plate -- off the caution. Lots

of top spin, I don't know if there is a possible planned there. He's

got a bit of a kick there. He may have been attempting the plant. Yes,

Dennis, I think that's what he's playing for. That was a terrible

kick. 48 up in the air of Mike both balls. He's already had a look at

that. This is not totally straightforward. Quite a bit of

distance between these two reds. They look easy from behind the

pocket, but when you actually see the gap between the two of them...

Well, he's picked the spot on the cushion where he's going to set the

first round to make that angle. Well, that was just... He didn't

have the angle. I'm thinking he was lucky there.

Boy, didn't he give that a good old belt? He has covered the one with

the blue, but there is another to the right corner.

Be careful you don't touch that white, Ronnie, he was clearing

something away and very close to the cue ball with his finger, there.

Now, then, Mr very straightforward in the previous frame which cost him

-- missed a very straightforward red. I didn't collecting the missed

this. It looks like he's got away with it. He has had the right

result. He will be very happy to have left the cue ball where he has.

It could have been a lot easier for Liang year. Here.

Much too thick. He was just hoping to bring the black back into play

there. But he got it particularly wrong. He has just gone slightly out

of sorts for a frame and a bit, Ronnie. Not his usual high matchplay

standard at the moment. Needs to keep running to finish on

the black. Look at that. Once again, it looked as if it was going to come

up short. It's just beautiful to play on. When you're cueing well,

it's beautiful to play on. I don't know if he has got two straight on

this black, though. It looked like he had a few inches on the cue ball

to leave an angle. He's got a little bit. You couldn't force much out of

that cue ball. To be honest, he didn't you it very well either. --

he didn't Huw it. He cued the plant poorly before. It was fairly

straight. A few players would have got a bit more out of that than he

did. Well, there is a half chance for

Ronnie here. If you can get himself onto the black, we will show you the

miss from Liang Wenbo. Yes, he's got a gap. He can avoid three reds and

get round and black or blue. He doesn't want the cannon on the

blue. It has finished a little awkward. Had he have missed the

blue, he'd have been perfect on the black.

Now, the way the red Czar, you'd have to say that Liang Wenbo is a

strong favourite, but you never know with Ronnie O'Sullivan -- the way

the reds. Absolutely superb. Beautifully, all

of the work that he gets on the cue ball, it goes past the blue. Run

inside the back with this red. Can you believe it? Liang Wenbo has come

out of his seat. He can't believe it. That red was a bit of a

distraction, leaning over the two reds. Still, what a mess. -- a miss.

I suppose, at 2-0, Liang Wenbo would be thinking, if I can get just 3-1

down I would be quite happy. The way it's going coming he's going to be

all square. He's going to be all square after missing a couple of

chances as well. Even better. Ronnie has had breaks of 55, 30

five. I don't think that's happened very often. Last week he was on only

55, but that's what's happened today. He was good enough to lead

2-0, but disappointed going into the interval 2-2. Leanne will be

delighted. Game on again. -- Liang Wenbo.

Just over one hour and three minutes before the first four frames. It has

been pretty fluent staff. -- fluent stuff.

Could have played to move the red, but decided, being a left-hander,

I'll just dropping behind it. It doesn't matter if he misses this.

He'd like to clear it, but it doesn't really matter.

He lost a bit of concentration. Now the frame as well and truly over. A

shaky start the Liang Wenbo, but I'll tell you what committee didn't

half finish in style. He goes to the mid-session interval all square.

It's two frames each. STUDIO: We thought there would be a

turnaround in that frame, but Ronnie misses a relatively simple red. You

could hear the audio bowl last of the audience when that happened --

be audible gasp. So from that happens. You play a bit of

brilliance, and the some reason you miss the next shot. Either you think

it is easy or you put too much pressure on yourself. Have those

ever happen to you? No? I didn't think so! Many times! It

interesting. Ronnie O'Sullivan goes 2-0 up, you think he is the best

frontrunner there has ever been. You think, that's it, he's going to push

on now. He missed a long red with a drag. And he has been pulled back to

2-2. A couple of unforced errors from Ronnie. The confidence levels

you could see beginning to surge through the anchor. He makes the

will -- through Liang. He has missed a couple of long once, he is now

needing help from Ronnie to get into the match and he got it. You got to

say the Wenbo, perhaps Wenbo a number of years ago wouldn't have

had the strength of character that perhaps take the next smack frames,

but he's an experienced winner now and he is using all of that to good

as dead -- the next two frames. It wasn't as pretty as he would have

liked -- he is using all of that experience. Will Ronnie be feeling

despondent at this stage about how he has performed? No, I think he

plays on a pretty, he is pretty level-headed about it, in his

attitude to matches and how they go these days. He is prepared to win

ugly. Winning the match is the most important thing. Sooner or later, he

would be too disappointed. It is interesting. Ronnie has won this

Master six times, as we know. He has also been in five other finals as

well, and incredible strike rate over 23 years, this is his 23rd

campaign. He is just wanting to win here, but what has been interesting,

and interesting he did on BBC radio five Live and indeed on the telly,

he was very keen to stress that he wanted to win with style. We showed

you the quote about him wanting to be the Lionel Messi of snooker. He

has been in rather expansive form in that chat with Jamie Elliott. --

Jamie earlier. It'd be great to get another

Masters. I does want to win another Masters. I want to win another world

is. I want to win another Welsh, and China Open. I just want to win more

tournaments. What are your memories of last year, and how well do you

think you played between the corners? I was struggling last year,

because I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to play properly again

because of my back. Seven or eight years ago I would probably have

thrown in the towel. I had to fight to win matches that normally I

wouldn't win. It was good for me, you know. Do you take a lot of

positives out of getting to the final of the UK championship? I know

it wasn't the result you wanted, but for the neutral watching it was an

amazing final? For me, it was about people coming to watch, you know, it

was on the TV, good entertainment. But I want to win it with style. I

want to play an exciting, aggressive, attacking game. So that

the people watching say, you know what, he doesn't just win, he

delivers entertainment as well. I think it's important. Some people

say, you can't play like that and when. But Lionel Messi proves that

you can, Tiger Woods does and Roger Federer. I want to try and be one of

them. Does it worry you, the lack of development, particularly the

amateur game in the UK and Europe? When I turned professional, in 1992,

I think. They basically just allowed everybody to turn pro, there's no

amateur game, there is nothing further to go and do. You turned

pro, go and get beaten 6-0. That's what's happening now, all of these

pros turning pro who are not good enough to be professional. A lot of

guys are wasting their time really. A lot of players are struggling to

stay on the tour financially. They are playing lots and lots of

variance. And it's training them. -- lots and lots of events, and it is

training them. If you're glad wanted to be a pro, would you encourage

him? I've told him, he's not allowed to. I'm going to be strong on that.

I said to my daughter, I know that girls play snooker, but I don't want

you to play. I don't think it is a good life for a snooker now coming

into the game. If you are Selby, me or John Higgins, or Judd Trump, yes,

but for the other 120 if you like, it's a nightmare. They are literally

struggling to put food in the fridge. You know, I don't want my

children being brought up in a system that only benefits the top,

top people, know. It's a bit like the banking world, you. Everyone

else is struggling to kind of make ends meet when the top people get

fortunes. It's like that in snooker. I don't want my children being

involved in an industry where that is the culture, you know. I want

them to be in something where it's a bit more even, you know. Do you feel

that you are playing at the level that you are happy with, or would

you feel that you can't lay better? I think I'm OK. For six weeks I had

-- you can play better. I had to really struggle. The last 16 was a

good result. I could have got beat early. My form over the last, say,

November to December, I had a really good plate when I fault had with my

game, I was confident and enjoying it, and it was good. My game is a

lot better place now than it was, say, early September. Your champion,

Ronnie O'Sullivan! Is there a bit more expectation, it is a London

tournament, and most of the fans are behind you and want you to do well?

I no longer here to put all of my eggs in one basket. You know, I

think the winner Masters, this is the bonus, for me. I don't ever now

make snooker my number one goal. This is part of what I do, is not

everything I do. I don't take it too seriously no more. I enjoy having

that freedom of not being a slave to the sport as much as I used to be.

And it's just about having it in my life rather than dominating my life.

I enjoyed coming in this room here day after day, playing for three or

four hours. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. But other things I've been

doing really good fun, you know. You get to meet different people. I feel

it has made me a happier and better person by taking the pressure off

and just playing snooker. So I think it's more important for me at this

stage of my career but I have a happy, stress-free life. I'm not

going to be regretting, you know, on my tombstone it won't be, you know,

I wish it was seven world titles instead of five, I don't think it

actually matters when it comes to Judgment Day. It's just about

enjoying whatever it is that I'm here to do. I love to play and I

love to compete. I've got my book coming out, that's been great. I

love doing my exhibitions. I've enjoyed doing the American show.

That's enjoyment for me. Believe it or not, I know its work, but I see

it as enjoyment. This is work, coming to place Newco, talking about

snooker, that's work. Because that's where I'm scrutinised, and that's

where I Judd myself and where everybody judges me. You are really

under the microscope. All the other stuff, just being myself, you know,

I haven't got to be the best pundit in the world, I haven't got to be

the best tour guide in the American show, just got to have a laugh.

He has broken out and is doing other projects were other TV stations, he

has a lot in his life. We drill down to the specifics of the titles and

the number of titles, he says it doesn't matter if he wins seven

world titles or Masters titles. But I am interested, the other side of

that airs this is the first time he can actually own one of the records

in snooker's three major events outright. He has chased you two over

the last 20, 25 years, your title of six in the UK he now co-owns and

your total of six in the Masters and seven in the World Championship, he

can overtake you and that is a watershed moment potentially for the

sport. Discuss. CHUCKLES I think it's right, when I was

playing, I had something in the distance all the time I was going

for. Ronnie has got the same and it's good to have that target. But

listening to that it looks like he's not bothered about it, whether he

does it or not. I think when he gets on the table he's a winning animal

like both of us wear. But he's given himself that comfort zone of if he

doesn't win then he's looking back and saying it doesn't really matter.

Secretly, deep down, how much do you feel it would matter to him as a

professional, as a snooker animal? What you have to recognise is that

is a 40-year-old man talking and I don't think a 40-year-old will have

the aspirations of a 25-year-old or even a 30-year-old. What is coming

out of his mouth is how years trying to deal with the daily pressures of

playing in a competitive game. He's unloading the pressure a little bit

by saying it doesn't matter, a 20-year-old doesn't say that, nor

does a 30-year-old, they are committed and focused. So when you

listen to him talking about other players in the game, you have to

consider its not ill informed but it's coming from his perspective

because it absolutely rubbish that Ronnie O'Sullivan says the rest of

them should not be professionals. You have aspirations as a young

player coming through, you might not be good enough at the moment but you

practice hard, do like Mark Selby and Stuart Bingham have done and

suddenly you can improve your standard and could be one of the

players to get through and makes the money. You cannot say the player

ranked hundred and 20th is wasting his time because the player at 120th

is not wasting his time, he has got a dream. Ronnie O'Sullivan does not

have a dream any more, at least not in snooker. But these other players,

it doesn't mean it's not worth achieving or chasing. It's a

political dimension to this discussion that we address that the

UK championship, we did a feature on the economics of the current regime.

For Ronnie to say it's not a career he would now have his son going to

or his daughter, it's a strong statement. The great thing is that

he won't have a choice in the matter because if his son wants to be a

professional snooker player he will be. What is your take on all of

this? When you started out at 13, 14 and you are looking at the records

and were having to get your bottom skelter couple times in matches back

then, how did you go about processing? There were so many

deserting voices sing I was too young when I was coming through at

16, saying I would lose my love for the game but when you're younger you

dream. You think what could happen if I have some success in this game

that you love playing and you have to keep that focus and that belief.

That you can do something. I am sure somewhere in the back of his mind

the target of seven 's Masters title and owning something outright, it is

a huge shining goal for 25 years of your life. It should be but I think

possibly if you try too hard as you get older you put too much pressure

on yourself so secretly he wants it as much, but perhaps the way to

achieve it is to say it's not as important any more, that might be

the way to do it. Fascinating stuff but it will work out over the next

seven frames potentially. Before we go to the match, we saw Dennis

Taylor introducing the players in some style, 30 years ago this year

was when he beat Alex Higgins and 9-8, he is partial to a final frame

decider. He still has a couple of tricks up his sleeve. Six times

world champion, seven times world champion, this is a difficult trick

shot I am going to attempt, send a height of three cushions, it should

come between the gap in the queues. Very difficult shot, under pressure.

Let's see what happens, go on, get up there. Go and knew little beauty.

Go on! CHEERING APPLAUSE

Fantastic Dennis, you never lose it. It's good but you are going to

struggle to beat one of the trick shots that you might have seen, it

has just gone viral on social media, 400 million views on this one from

the all stars snooker club in Bristol. If you have not seen this,

watch this. Starts at the top of a flight of stairs, the golf club does

the damage. It took four hours to set up, four hours of tinkering

before it all came right, over 90 attempts before they actually nailed

it. The cue ball sent on its way with the golf putter, the brainchild

of the general manager. They set it up at closing time in the club, they

kept tinkering with the set and till dawn when the cleaners were about to

come in and the club was about to open. It involves the stairs, the

snooker table, these two are mesmerised by this, two American

pull tables, six English pool tables and even a role across the floor.

What do you think? It's a good job the floors are level. It's quite an

architectural feat of engineering. It's fascinating, shows what you can

do with some imagination and a few snooker cues. There have been things

like this before with dominoes on the table, it's a magnificent

effort, the Labour of love that has gone into this is fantastic. It's

the first time it's been done from table to table, this has been seen

on the Internet before, but the sophistication of this, the area it

takes up in the club... This is the sticky point. That is where the

floor needed to be a fraction of level. Using pool tables and snooker

tables, I don't know if it goes to the dartboard? No. It's over 500

feet and for about two minutes they are already planning to top this but

look at this. Onto the bar. Some golf required at the end of this.

Here we go. The best all in one you will ever see. Extraordinary isn't

it? Have you ever seen anything so elaborate? That goes back to the old

dominoes. Dennis I know you were watching that, the man who set that

up is going to come in during the final next Sunday so has some tips

to give you and perhaps you can give him some in return? I am looking

forward to it, I might introduce that into my routine but it would

take about a week to set up. That was absolutely incredible. Something

I have been thinking about, wouldn't it be great if we got some of you

guys to think about maybe doing something at home and sending in

videos? I am just thinking good job they never assured that before the

Dennis! Absolutely, before we get back to the action, tonight 's

match. Kyren Wilson the only debit and

tear, the youngest and lowest ranked player here, ranked number 16 but

earned his place after victory in the Shanghai matters last season. He

will be making his debut this evening. Let's hear a bit more and

introduce you to master Wilson. Good old foot massage. Most

definitely James Bond, Daniel Craig. My dad playing in his best mates, he

had a pool room built and I was too young to go in and play so I was

banging on the door trying to get in. Dedication. Bad loser. I once

wrote happy anniversary to my fiance on the sand in the beach. He took it

well. Not really, I am quite laid back

when it comes to that sort of thing. Ranji jumping naked. -- bungee

jumping naked. Chilling out with my fiance and my

son and lovely warm weather. After winning Shanghai I bought myself a

new car. In just about a year he has managed to vault into the top 16 and

is now amongst the elite, earned his place here. Fantastic temperament,

what do you make of his potential? Yes, he's improved a lot, I remember

commentating on him to three years ago at the Crucible and he did not

look comfortable at all. Last year he was a dark horse to win the World

Championship. I disagree slightly about his temperament, I think you

can let things get to them, when his opponent is getting good luck you

start pulling faces so that might be a weakness but a tremendous potter.

I am sure he is taking that on board because he's a very bright guy. As

for his opponent, Ding Junhui, the first Asian winner of this title in

2011, has not won a match at Alexandra Palace since.

Extraordinary. It is, you can only put it down to the fact that the

first-round series against the top 16 player, you are not that much of

a favourite. The first round of other events you are much more

likely to get off to a good start as one of the top players. But still,

for Ding Junhui who has won five ranking events in a season and has

been very strong, amazing. Probably coincidence, just the way it

rumbles. He's already won avec tournament this season, was in a

final where he was dumped by Mark Selby and was a Crucible finalist.

Given the history, is he vulnerable? I worry a little bit, I think in

York he went out with a whimper, did not look like he was enjoying

himself, bad attitude for such a big tournament. Interesting to see how

the break over Christmas and New Year will change his attitude. That

match will be on the red button from 7pm this evening. If you have other

plans I will be back at 11:45pm on BBC Two with the highlights. But we

have this opening match of the Masters to conclude, it has become a

best-of-7 frames, let's see if Dennis has managed another trick by

sprinting into the commentary box to join John?

COMMENTATOR: I just made it! Not as quick as I used to be.

Liang Wenbo will be hoping to continue where he left off. That's a

pretty decent break-off shot. Hazel asked just before the

interval, do you think you'd be disappointed with his early

performance, I spoke to Ronnie in the interval, had a cup of coffee

with him and he said he is enjoying being out there, just happy to be

playing. Seems very level-headed it all. Did he mention anything about

the tip? When I passed him he was looking for sandpaper. Yes, he did

give some surgery to the end of it but he seems fine now. No great

issues. In good spirits. Last weekend we were over in Dublin,

Ireland played England in Legends match, it was fabulous and Ronnie

was in form. Mark Selby was there. Kyren Wilson will be on tonight, he

played really well, the Irish crowd took to him. That wasn't as easy as

it looked. A pot you would expect him to make

here of course but positional is -- play is difficult of this. Don't

think he can hold for the blue. Just having a look to see which way the

cue ball will go if he plays a screenshot. -- screw shot. No

problem with the opening Marin but what's he going to get on? He thinks

he can pot this, go past the blue, come off the side cushion and get

somewhere close to that red he was looking at and get somewhere near

the black. This will be some shot. Seemed to have a little bit of

movement on that shot. Didn't cue that one as smoothly as he had been

cueing the ones before the interval. Those shots with a bit more pressure

on them, you just ten to see an more function in the cue action with

Liang occasionally. What a chance he has left Ronnie O'Sullivan now.

Had a 55 break in the second frame but look at how the reds are

situated here. All the colours are in open play.

You're not going to mention the M word are you? It's a bit too early

but as you can see, they are sitting nicely.

Even though we are not mentioning it I am going to talk about it. Three

maximum is made here in the history of this tournament, do you know all

three of them? I remember Stevens with a white shoot making the first

one -- suit. Jimmy White made one. I'm not sure about that. It was Ding

Junhui. And the other was Marco Fu. Jimmy White was playing against a

Canadian, Kirk Stevens, when he made his.

Chatting away there, no chance of a maximum in this frame. Highest break

in itself is well worth winning, ?10,000 for the highest break here.

Not to be sniffed at. Ronnie will be trying to put a marker down for that

one. Taking these very well so far,

Ronnie. The break helped by Liang at the start of it. Poor shot on the

Marin, should not be missing those. -- on the red.

Looks like his concentration is back in order, Dennis. Yeah, I think the

interval came at the right time to Ronnie, just to get in and get a cup

of tea, relax. But this is him showing all his experience.

Frame safe. Concentrate on a possible century. 856 centuries he

has made in his career. There is a strong possibility he could go on to

be a player that makes a thousand century breaks in a career? APPLAUSE

Just hit the wrong red, might have spoiled the century. Just cannoned

the wrong red otherwise he would have cleared the table. Just had to

try. But OK, it might be in, no. But he's come out firing on all

cylinders after the mid-session interval is. The fabulous break

enough to take the frame. Ronnie O'Sullivan back in front.

At one point the M word was being mentioned, the maximum, there have

been seven already this season, Mark Davis, the first of his career in

the championship league just last week. Tell me about the demeanour of

Ronnie O'Sullivan as he's wandering around the table, he has the swagger

and it will do him good to have got a semi-decent sized break? It was

lovely. Again supplied by a bad miss from Liang Wenbo. You would think

having got himself back in the match at 2-2, presented with a great

chance, missing an easy red in the middle. He's done well to get back

to 2-2 but that's not job done, you have to keep your focus and

concentration. After that it looked inevitable that Ronnie was going to

win the frame. Their personal series so far has been emphatically in

Ronnie's favour with this 5-1 record but Liang Wenbo has been getting

closer, a final frame decider in September in Shanghai so he knows

how to get close to him. He has lots of grit and determination apart from

being a heavy scorer. The difficulty for players like Liang Wenbo to

become regular winners is how do you outplay your opponents, not just

beat them. You have to outplay them and put your authority on matches

and that's not easy playing against this standard. But every time you do

miss an easy shot and let your opponent in your progress and run

halts so it's back to square one again. They start the match off,

lose the first frame, start the session, lose the first frame and

play catch up. It is still tense, don't feel the match is caught fire

as yet. No, no real fireworks. Every frame has had mistakes so it's not

been flawless by any stretch but it has been interesting. Very

interesting indeed. A stunning final previously between Mark Selby and

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Back we go. COMMENTATOR: Not quite on the

cushion with the cue ball. One shot the players do practice a lot these

days, this type of shot. APPLAUSE

Cue ball needs to pull up. It just keeps on rolling, all he can do is

nestling behind the brown. Good opening pot.

Nice pot, but that fast cloth prevented him from stopping nicely

on the right colour. He's fouled that. I think he touched the brown.

Trying to get a bit of swear bonnet. -- a bit of swerve bonnet. I think

Liang Wenbo had put it so close to the brown it made it quite difficult

to get the angle. In the end just got a bit too much

on it. But left one to the middle pocket.

If he is this red into the left middle pocket it would be perfect on

the black. Would like to stun it in that makes the shot slightly more

difficult. Hampered slightly. Actually, not too bad. If he can get

some screw on it will get closer to the black.

Doesn't quite seem to cue as well when there is that little bit of

INAUDIBLE APPLAUSE

The trouble is when you have this man following new you tend to pay

your mistakes. Quite a good chance already with that was red at the

back of the pack. Ideally Ronnie would like to play

this with the cue ball slightly low on the bottom red, could pot that

and bring a few more into play. That's what he's played for.

Had to play the run-through, but again promoted a read. -- red.

Has a choice of shots here. Can either move the packed out or screw

and move the loose red away. That's the one he played on.

25. 26. Ideally he would like to stand up into the pack here. Played

the screw shot, could not have come out any better. APPLAUSE

33. Looks like he's going through the

gearbox. One of the best in the business at that particular type of

shot, so much action on the cue ball, it stops in the pack and then

keeps on spinning. Last frame lasted under ten minutes,

break of 89. This frame is not going to last very long by the looks of

things. No, not while he looks as focused as he does. The interval has

been very good, I agree. Simple shot into the loose red on

the outside. Left on the three will be available.

Bottom one on the right is also available. Better position for him.

He has taken these supremely well, and once again, I think he has done

well, it looks very simple. Potting that red has cleared the path for

the other two to the right corner. You see the difference, 61 in the

frame already, and already safe. Once again, a matter of whether he

can make a century. Will not be easy with the read out on the side

cushion. Almost got the century in the previous frame. Little cannon

may have spoiled it. All about winning frames this century is nice,

but... APPLAUSE You would have to be a spectacular

red down the cushion to keep this effort going. He will not be too

concerned about that. He just got the one chance, and what did he do,

he won the frame with that chance. Now, Ronnie O'Sullivan opens up a

two frame advantage. 4-2, to the Rocket. One shop there that paved

the way, plays it so well, black when you go into the reds, a lot of

people stick in the reds, but the way that Ronnie plays, the way that

a lot of the top players play, they make it look so easy. Playing with

lots of bottom, deft hand side, because it is not a good pack to go

into, but when he hits it, it stops and keeps on spinning. A lot of

players will play this, there will not be a lot of work -- enough work

on the cue ball for it to come back, I prefer when you play that shot you

play a stamp up into it, it's the -- cue ball up into the table. This is

what happens with the cue ball. You can see the back spin, spinning

away, spinning away, and then, whenever he hits the red, because he

has so much spin on it, it does not stop, it keeps on spinning, and

eventually, it works its way through the reds, and he played it

perfectly. That is a great example there, we have seen, with the

special black and white ball, made by Stephen Hendrie, I think. --

played. STUDIO: Was that you? It was! 89 and

80, and suddenly looks like he is in the groove. Seems to have found an

extra gear, to really punish Liang Wenbo, amazing how, losing an

insignificant shot, but when Wenbo misses the red in the middle in the

fifth frame, since then, it has been Ronnie O'Sullivan, in the balls now,

he looks like he is a certainty to win the frame. Wenbo was first in

there, and it was punishing once again. The best players in the world

convert more chances among the balls than the players further down the

rankings. Even so, a little smile from Wenbo, I think he has got

himself into the game, a couple of frames, has not got the

embarrassment of being whitewashed, anything like that. He just has too

see how much he can dig in again. I think the smile there from Ronnie

O'Sullivan, back to the action. COMMENTATOR: Wenbo's turn to break

off. Good opening part, what will the

attempt on the green, will he attempt something special? He is, he

is, look at the action on that cue ball. What a positional shot that

is. My goodness... APPLAUSE CO-COMMENTATOR: What a shot, what a

shot! Work on the angles, superb. Left this purposely low, pops this

red... All about the positioning, manoeuvring reds into play. -- pots

this red. If you take the black on, good luck. He is looking at the

black, I tell you what... Almost typed on the cushion. Wow, this is

tough. The odds slightly against that going in.

Tough shot, even for the greats. Found himself 2-0 down in this

match, nice to claw his way back to 2-2. Two friends down again. And he

is going to do exactly the same thing again now. -- two frames down

again. If it were 5-2, that would end the match. That is the

importance of this visit. We said when we were 2-0 down, test

of his character. Did very well to go to the mid-session all square. Is

he up to it again? Another test. Did not want to be straight, slight

angle, might just be able to stun onto the red on the right of the

pack, that will develop things, enough angle to stun onto the red to

the right. At one of these early in the match, just sneaked past it, did

not quite get it, he needs to get the edge, as long as he does not hit

it hard, just click the edge. APPLAUSE

Good shot. Just got the cannon how he wanted. Made it look easy but

those are tough shots. I think the bottom red on the cluster will part.

Also have the red on the left-hand side as well. -- will pot. Should

have after he has ported the black. Well played. Could not hold a cue

ball for that. Scrapping for cue ball control the,

not perfect on every shot he has had on the last few. Obviously you would

expect him to pop this but he has not had the cue ball under maximum

control. 32. Good pot, not quite on the

black, he is going to have to play the cannon announced, the red was

available, but you can't really hold for that, so it'll be the cannon.

And just got a little bit too much on it, hoping he's pushed the red

into a plank there. That would be a bonus. He should be buying a lottery

ticket, because that would be incredible if he's made that into a

plant, looks pretty much spot on. What a result that is. One thing he

has got be careful on, and we will show you the attempted cannon, if he

hits the other red, and he plays the plant, the white will go close to

the left corner pocket, he needs to avoid cannon ink-jet. -- he needs to

avoid cannon -- cannoning it. INAUDIBLE

Wow! That is amazing. That was basically going to be frame

ball there are, could position of the green. -- good position of the

green. Little bit more to do now, of the angle. As I say, it has been the

feature of this break, hasn't quite have the cue ball perfect. Keeps on

going. Another difficult positional shot.

Personally played. We have seen this afternoon, one or two shots have had

extra ball. Did not cue them very well but cue that one beautifully.

Great recovery. Deserves everything he gets after that shot.

I don't think any of these three ribs are available. Another key shot

coming up here. Might just be OK, if that red keeps on running, yes, I

think he has a choice of reds, into both middle pockets. For a moment,

stuck on the red, but he is OK. Now you see it, now you don't. This

really has been an excellent contribution, on more than one

occasion through this break, cue ball was not perfect, what he has

managed to make a break and keep going. -- but he has managed. What

was that shot? 52 in front, and that is the reaction from Liang Wenbo,

because he knows he is not safe, Ronnie needs one snooker, but how

did he manage to get the white there, with the red over the middle,

I think you just made sure of the black. The only needed to stun the

black and then he could pop the red over the middle, he didn't have to

screw back, very strange shot. Chance of sniggering yourself if you

play the full screw shot but if he stands it, puts the red over the

middle pocket, game over. -- chance of snooker in yourself. --

snookering. Liang Wenbo still the massive

favourite to win this, but there is enough friends to know that when you

should win a friend, get it over with, the last thing you want to do

is give yourself another 15, 20 minutes of aggravation, trying to

get back into this match from two friends behind. Should have got it

over a lot quicker. APPLAUSE What a pot that was.

The pot was difficult enough playing with your opposite hand but to screw

it back for the black? Just checking the scoreboard, to see the high

value colour, which one he can take, so he still only needs the one

snooker, he is OK, he has a future work with. -- he has a few to work

with. All of a sudden, a friend that should have been over a few minutes

ago, Liang Wenbo is going to have to suffer for a while. Didn't mean to

hit the pink, that cue ball, close to the corner pocket... Needing a

snooker, not a bad thing to hit the pain. He has left him a lovely angle

to play a thin clip off, not the worst.

See this read full ball, he can stay in behind the yellow and the red

backed up the table. And he could do, that may have spoiled things,

catching the middle jaw. -- red. -- back. It was a certain snooker. If I

was Liang here, I would be concentrating on the long pot,

putting everything into it, because this is a frame that could go wrong,

he should have had it one already, and the chance with a bump,

concentrate, knock this read in, get the frame over. -- should have added

won already. What was he going towards... What was he doing going

towards the middle pocket with the cue ball, if it had gone in, need

could have lost the frame! That was close. This is a good effort, this

is a very good effort. Is it hard enough? Just coming up a little bit

short. APPLAUSE

Well played. Some shop, that. Just wondering whether if he swerves

this, checks on the cue ball, could not hit enough of it... -- some

shot, that. Is thinking, if Ronnie potted this

read he would have to get the black, and then would still only need one

snooker, you want to keep the red on the table, more chance of a snooker.

Looking to see if he cut this read, and can he hold for the black,

because the yellow is never brown... That is what he has played. Is he on

the black? He can still take the black up into the corner, had he

have missed the cannon, would have gone on the black, potted it, up for

the yellow, in behind the brown, that was his plan. Needs to pot

this. That jump, jumped quite a bit. Ronnie O'Sullivan, one. The chance

has gone, it will be a relief yang Wenbo. Both the black jumped and the

cue ball. -- this will be a relief for the end Wenbo. -- Liang Wenbo.

Foul. Liang Wenbo two, Ronnie O'Sullivan four. He has decided...

Too difficult to get the snooker is required, Liang Wenbo has stopped

the rot, he has a frame back. STUDIO: Like sweating blood to get

that one in the end, over the line, did well to keep the break going,

one plant in particular that allowed him to do so, the crowd were doing

and dying, but he settled in nicely. Missed a cannon, but he created

this, not a difficult shot. -- oohing and ahhing. The pressure

shot, this could have cost him, if he had missed this, lovely pot. The

facial expressions, by Wenbo, were going ten to the dozen, but it

should have been over, he should have kept going because it is a lot

of aggravation, as John Parrott would say. He was always playing

catch up, I think Wenbo is improving his confidence, that shows, that

blue, struck in nicely. He is gritty and as the match goes closer, if it

does, we will see more facial expressions from Liang Wenbo, as it

gets closer to the end, every player begins to live and die... Burning...

A little bit, we all do that, even the best in the world. -- gurning.

He has endeared himself, over the last couple of years, he has become

far more popular because you can see some of his internal thoughts, he

wears his heart on his sleeve. For us watching, makes it interesting,

we have said, we were never ones to show any emotion, quite miserable,

we cornered the market in miserable as. Definitely good value. Ronnie

certainly knows he's in a match. Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.

CO-COMMENTATOR: He certainly is in a match, 4-3 ahead, some stuff from

the boys in the studio there, I agree with them, if you were looking

for... INAUDIBLE COMMENTATOR: Saw them both outside

the bar last week, I asked what they were doing, they said, waiting for

happy hour to finish... (!) -- I agree with them, if you were looking

for two more unhappy fellows, you couldn't do better than those two.

The two lads were talking early on, the fact that the players are a lot

more friendly these days, and some of the players go out for dinner

together. In their day, that would not have happened. Having a giggle

at their expense. Those two would not give you too much! 13 world's

titles between them. Seven for Stephen, 64 Steve It obviously

worked. -- seven for Stephen, six for Steve. So it obviously worked.

Good shot that he has played. Moving roads around. Up near the yellow and

the brown, that is one you have got to cover. A bit more pressure on

this. -- moving those around. There might be a gap through to that

one. Tight, but maybe the brown... Can't pot that.

Read into the right corner, not very inviting, because he cannot get on a

colour. -- red. Not often you see a player playing a

safety shot up this end of the table. That was the case there.

Just looking to see where he can leave the cue ball err on the side

cushion. Playing off the loose red the back of the pack. Obviously he

wants to cover the red, so it is not easy for Liang to get down. But as

he hit it just a little bit too hard? He might have left that red is

just to clip of past the yellow. That has just helped the situation.

It is brought to the pink into play. The match is tied up at the moment.

I think Oblak is tied up. Liang can play off the face of this red. You

have to be careful with the red going across and hitting the pack of

reds. They might be something across the other corner. Even with a shot

like this, you have to be a little bit careful.

He played that really well. Didn't cannon into anything else. Good

touch. I think the brown is going to come

to the rescue. As he covered it? I think he has. It is imperative that

he got a good cue ball there. I think Liang is just seeing if he can

leave the cue ball at the top cushion, just hit the red half ball.

I don't think he can pot that. If he was away from the cushion, I think

he could but it is not a shot that is available to him. Of course he

could come off the side cushion and play that red but either way it

looks like that is what he's going to have to do. Alessi has better

eyesight than both of us. That was a better shot than the one

I was looking at. Had he played the other red, he could have left that

red to cut back. In much better choice of shot than mine. He red the

pot but boy, is that a test of your cueing. Here goes. Change of plan.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been very measured. He hasn't taken any undue

risks. That is what we call playing the percentages. He knows if he can

get this frame under his belt, he will only need one and Liang Wenbo

would have to win three. They have both played some excellent

safety shots but that one is coming up a little short. At first glance,

it looks like everything is covering each other.

He played that has a shot to nothing. This is pretty difficult to

do. And there is another one. It happens quite a lot, Dennis, on

these fast clocks. You are trying to be too delicate. And then he has on

to hit it. It is so easy to hit it a little bit of -- a little bit hard,

just trying to nestle onto it. He is taking the brown. An extra red.

That would look a lot more different than it would. He had that lovely,

didn't he? Yes, it was a clever shot. They were all covering each

other, as you mentioned. One good positional shot away from giving

himself an early opportunity here, in a frame that could get him back

all square. He may just have to take a chance of playing into an area

here, if he lands on one, which he has done. That could not have come

out much better. Left-handed, even better.

He is quite a tall lad, Liang Wenbo. Around the 6-foot mark.

He could have played the last shot a bit better. One thing he did not

want to do with this is leave himself straight on. It looks like

an easy shot, but there are limits to what you can do. He has played

that particularly well. Make no mistake about it, he will

consider this to be a very good chance to draw level in this match.

Not the best with the cue ball there. The cue ball has run eight

inches to fire there. I don't really know what he played

on there. Just make sure he gets the green in, which is obviously the

priority. But he has come on the red into the middle pocket, and that is

a bit of a result. He has taken the slightly more difficult one. If he

was right-handed, it would be straightforward. He has a slight

angle, and he can get it away from the cushion, but he needs a little

bit of existence with the extension on the cue there. -- a little bit of

assistance. And he has played it well. I think is going to need one

more cannon to put himself into a prime position. That was a better

shot than it looked on the screens. Pretty tricky. He negotiated it very

well. Now the cannon. It is pretty good. What a chance this is.

Following a pattern of the frames before the interval, to nail down,

he paid it back to 2-2. -- 2-0 down. It was in the club, he would not be

missing these. In the club, it is well documented

that Liang Wenbo, when he practices, he very rarely misses. A lot of

players like that, but it is the really special ones that can take it

to the practice table. Taking it on to the match arena, that is the key.

I would be slightly annoyed having to play this way. Playing for the

other two on the left, you have to take it down a little bit. You may

have a choice here. The pink mingle in the middle. It certainly does.

And black it is. He is still OK. He has gone a little

bit further than he intended. He had the one that was near the middle

pocket. And they are absolutely sitting

perfectly now. And once again he has taken these

very well. Still punching. One thing is for

sure, he will not give him the match today. Ronnie is going to have to

win it. Ronnie has an awful lot of support

here at the Alexandra Palace, as he has all over the world. Always a

fear crowd here. If the opponent is knocking the ball is in, they give

them the utmost respect and this is exactly what Liang Wenbo is doing

here. The great Ray Reardon, a six time world champion, used to say,

keep potting balls and you will get the crowd your side. -- get the

crowd on your side. A couple of pots away from levelling

the match at four each. A fabulous fight back. And a very

important frame coming up. If he can win the next frame, what a

lovely feeling. Your opponents needed the last two to be true. You

are not over the line but I know which scenario I would prefer. --

needed the last two to beat you. Liang Wenbo will be hoping the

pattern of the match changes because Ronnie won the first two, lost the

next two, won the next two, lost the next two.

There is something about him, I like watching Liang Wenbo. I like his

mannerisms. He has that little swagger. He is good on the eye. But

that is not very good on the eye. But he has done more than an offer.

Liang Wenbo takes another frame and all of a sudden it is all square at

four frames each. STUDIO: Shone and Dennis were saying it is a familiar

pattern, and it is all even Stevens. From Liang's point of view, he has

to take charge instead of doing the chase. He has himself into the

position to effectively take it. Ronnie O'Sullivan is still the

person dominating the match, in some ways, therefore it becomes a bread

and butter match to get over the line in which ever way you can. Some

good scoring. 83-65, 109, solid stuff from Liang Wenbo. He is doing

very well. It is turning into a good match. A lot of the time when we

watch Ronnie it is like an occasion. But it has turned into a bit of a

grind, a real high quality snooker match. I would agree. It feels

different to the normal Ronnie occasion. There is definitely a bit

of tension. It is not a done deal. As for winning with style, it is

perhaps not the messy performance he was hoping, more like a solid

midfielder. -- Messi performance. A couple of years ago, the whole thing

seems like the Ronnie show. No two years are the same, but as we have

also said on many occasions, the general standard of the top 16 is

getting better and better. It is tighter and tighter. Every first

round match is more of a potential banana skin. On that subject, at the

top of the show we mention that this is the first time we have had 16

players who are qualified to be there. Often times it was invitation

but now you are here on merit. It is the first time that everyone has

been a major world ranking champion in their own right. That underlines

the quality. You could almost make a case for maybe not every single

player but most of them, for winning this. And actually, an interesting