Final Snooker: Welsh Open

Good evening. Just a couple of hours away from crowning a new

champion. Either Mark Selby at all Ding Junhui will lift this

prestigious trophy and pocket the winners cheque. We have had eight

frames of this best of 17 final. Our expert has been analysing the

Two centuries from Mark Selby, a 64 in the first three frames set the

standard. But as a mist black by the 2008 Welsh champion allowed the

Chinese player to level at the mid- session. -- missed. Another miss by

the world number one allowed Ding to take a two frame advantage. The

former Paul champion used his full repertoire of shots to set-up a

frame-up winning break in the 7th. It was Ding he finished the session

in front. -- who. Looking for his first ranking title win in two

years and showed the sort of resilience you would have expected

from his opponent. Ding Junhui, carrying the hopes of

millions of fans in the Far East, as a two frame lead, a leading 5-3

and it will be the first to nine he will be the Welsh Open champion.

Mark Selby when he won this title in 2008 came back from a much

tougher position than this so it is all to play for. Our players are

already. Here is Rob Walker. Good evening. This is the very last

session of snooker of the 2008 Welsh Open. For the very last time

this week, let's get the boys on Please welcome the pride of China,

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And now, please welcome the current world No. 1, The Jester from

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It is absolutely rocking here, the atmosphere has never been better,

the players are ready and it is the first to nine frames who will be

crowned the Welsh Open champion. To commentate, Dominic Dale, and Terry

Griffiths. Thank you. What can you say about that introduction?

If the two players went excited before that, they certainly will be

Set up for a wonderful evenings sessions play. We are right in the

middle of this incredible atmosphere. If that doesn't help

There weren't far off there a game this afternoon, in spells there was

really superb snooker, not just break played but tactics. The whole

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You can see the angle there. Can Very fast this cloth,. Can you

please check your mobile frames, Frankie. -- mobile phones, thank

you. Doesn't matter how many times you tell people, they still don't

A little bit more pace required to see these ones going. The black is

not available yet. I don't think it will pot into the right corner,

Just didn't get down into the cue ball enough there. The pink ball

pops into the left corner. If not, play the blue. No problem with the

pink. Not sure whether it will re- spot on its own spot. Could be a

red prohibiting the pink from the ink re-spotted. There is no way the

pink will go back on there. It will either go just behind a red

abstracting the sport court may be behind the pack of reds. --

Just got into that a little bit too much. A bit too much back spin. He

wanted it three or four inches to the left of the blue spot it to

make this red a lot easier. Tricky He will have to cannon into some

reds. It is a little bit tight with his cue. Watch he doesn't foul the

blue with the follow-through. Will be playing off the second red and

We do have gone for that, Dominic? Not in a million years. -- would

I can't believe he thought he would The pack of reds has been dislodged.

The black will be available to both corners fairly soon. Can just get

position on one of the reds around the black spot, he will be in

He is not on his intended red. He may have been playing for the red

to the left of the black to play a cannon on it. If the any possible

red is the one next to the cue ball If you could have played that with

her little West pace you would have a chance of the pocket accepting

yet. -- little less pace. Both Sometimes out there you are better

off not have any chance. When you miss if you you get a little bit

unsettled in the chair, as if your opponent doesn't give you anything

to go at you feel exactly the same Once again, not a favourable set of

balls. The pink and black are Ding put so much of his

concentration into the position, it was very tricky, he forgot about

the pot. Wanted to clear those reds round the black spot and now he has

At the end of one of the frames this afternoon where he was

actually safe, he missed the brown just like that. He did square on

the other jaw of the pocket at that time he overcut it. The same kind

of angle. I don't know whether it Maybe just had one eye on the

positional shot there. He will know why he missed it, that is the

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A few chances for both players at the start of this match, the first

three frames were 100, a hundred and 64, and 124. We haven't had

that so far. A good chance here of If you wanted to bring the three

reds into play, pot the red and cannon into the pink, should leave

him position on the black and possibly the pink as well. Alas one

is a plant into the corner. He is having a look. He'd like to cannon

the red rather than the pink, if he Didn't go in the middle, to say the

least. A good bit harder that would He is asking our referee, from

Malta, to clean the cue ball. He has got a red in the baulk area but

has got options to pot the blue and Swindon White round the table for

those three reds down to the pink He could have dropped that red and

still be on the brown. A good Bad contact. Sometimes the bad pun

cat -- contracts are very Mark Selby has got the first head

of steam up in the second session. Both these players have made any

mistakes but if Mark Selby can pot this black he will be safe. Barring

snookers. In goes. The audience The worst place, so play the yellow

this time. He will be playing for Shame he doesn't take the pink

because there would still be a This was the rudimentary brown he

Judge that one well. Exhibition shot by Mark Selby. That really did

leap off that cushion. A positional He really didn't matter what

happened there, more than safe in the frame. Mark Selby reduces the

lead to a single frame. You may have heard somebody's

mobile phone go off at the start of that frame and it may have given

Ding Junhui cause to remember he might not even have been in the

final of the phone hadn't gone off in the deciding frame of his

Surely a mobile phone hasn't gone off. That is terrible. You could

lose a match in worst circumstances, to see or hear a mobile phone go

off just as you strike the cue ball. I feel very if sorry for Stephen

Lee. That man was asked to leave the

arena very quickly after that. Back to tonight and Mark Selby has won

the first frame of this session. What did you make of that?

At the end he settled down very quickly and started showing a

couple of exhibition shot. Ding will be a little bit concerned, not

too bothered but he did have a couple of early chances and it is

imperative for both players to settle down and get off to a good

start. A couple of early chances. Ding didn't take them. Selby won

the first frame with a good break earlier and again now. Is it easy

to see the interval as a fresh that and treated as a brand-new match?

Like anything else, if you are on the winning run you don't want the

interval to come but if you're losing it can't come quick enough.

Important to get a good start. The frames can go away from the as you

mentioned in the studio, and it is about momentum. Once you get moving

out there begin get a lot easier and when you are struggling it is a

Ding would be very pleased with the way the session went this afternoon.

Selby, a little bit disappointed. 63 if you lose the first round, it

is a different ask. -- 6-3. always set yourself little tasks

and I am sure Mark Selby coming at this evening knowing he would be

playing four frames before the mid- session interval would have it in

his mind to to win them 3-1 to Raced off the side cushion with the

That is the easiest line of escape for Mark Selby but he needs to be

careful with the pace of this, a little shelf or four reds. If

you're going to cannon to at the same time you might just slide of

them, maybe leave the red on that Mark Selby has decided to play for

this bottom red instead. I wasn't sure if he had enough angle to play

Missed judged that one. Wanted to be tight on the back cushion behind

the yellow. A good food short of pace there. -- foot. Not sure what

mark is looking at. He may have seen some type of plant. -- What

Another one of his Paul shot. -- Clipped off the other red in the

corner. It is the roll up this time. A little bit more awkward from the

previous time. When it Ding snookered Mark Selby. A few reds

available on either side of the I fear my first line is wrong here

but that is the sort of path he will try. Gone the other side of

the blue. I think the last line is pretty close, got is absolutely

Very little room for error, perfect. A lot of left-hand side to change

Another safety you would have expected would have been better.

The safety play this afternoon was of a very high standard. Both

The school teacher always put on my report, room for improvement. That

What a great pot that was. In many respects you could say he deserved

a better case. He can certainly put in a good safety shot here.

Possibly behind the brown. He could play the pink and come twice across

the table behind the yellow if he That is the sort of line with the

cue ball he would be looking for. He's very good at these shots,

normally. I don't think he will be very for off. Too much side. I

don't think, of course he didn't think the pink was going to cannon

a red over that bottom right-hand corner pocket so that is a mistake,

He did say he was very good at those shots, Dominic, would you

He's very strong in the safety Alex Higgins was no great at those.

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In between Alex Higgins and Steve It is the first clear cut chance

that Ding Junhui has had in the second session. The pink is

available to the middle and to the other corners. Normal be very

efficient when the balls are open - Two fringe today, he had a flutter

nine and the third frame and a 40 in the tough, but apart from that,

it has been high scoring from both He has played that very nicely.

That little cluster of four should You can see, he got on that red

with the option to run the cue ball through the other reds on to the

black. He will still need a few of those reds. The white looked as if

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it was glued to that red on the way It has not quite put him safe,

although it got it round of applause. They can still tied the

frame, with 59 points lower. -- You can see the difference. This

all came about from a poor safety Quite be straight forward safety.

He tried to get behind the yellow, he left the red on. It is a hard

It is a shame, he is a little bit in between the pink and blue, he is

taking on the more difficult green. No century, then, but that break

from Ding Junhui has put him two frames in front again, 6-4.

sure Ding Junhui will deal better having won that second frame of the

second session because he did make the odd mistake in the first frame.

And that safety shot back of the pink from Mark Selby, we can have

another look at that because it cost him the frame and the end. I

think what Mark Selby was trying to do was to develop the black spot is

a rare. The normal way of playing this short would be to go thin of

the pink but he has played a top- spin shot through the pink that a

lot more pace. And that was the last shot that Mark Selby played in

that frame. I think both of these Frame 11 of this best of 17 frames

encounter. Getting the inner to the winning post of nine frames. Mark

Selby is going to have to try to get back into this match pretty

quickly. If he loses this frame, he will have an awful lot to do.

has been a dramatic turnaround in the match when Ding Junhui went

from 2-1 behind,-4-2 in front. Either of these two could run two

or three frames of, quickly. He wanted to edge towards that red,

the second one away from the pink This is the sort of shot he was

trying to play it if you were to catch the red below that and

glanced off at leaving a choice of reds for Ding Junhui, you have to

take care with the shorts. -- with That was 12 of way, very quickly. -

Your warned that if you miss it this time, then the frame as a war

that to your opponent. -- the frame is awarded. It is the one on the

right cushion, the one you can see. He can see both sides. He will play

If that red does not, it far enough to go past the pink, he's OK. --

That is probably I say for her shot than the one he previously

It looks so simple to just kick off the red and get it tight on the

cushion but on this fast cloth, it is really a good touch to play it

like this. And you never know quite exactly what angle the cue ball is

He played that shot quite well but he had to be careful because he

could have left the red to the centre pocket, the one just above

the cue ball. It would have been a straightforward shot into the

middle with guaranteed position on the black. He hasn't quite covered

the red passed the yellow on the left-hand side of the blue. He may

go for the pot into the right corner, he is guaranteed to go at

He goes for the thin one, and make something of a mess of it. He is

quite fortunate. He raises his hand up to apologise. Why do you have to

be sorry for having good luck? think Ding Junhui might take this

on, it is going up towards the baulk area. His problem is that he

He was allowing a bit too chance with the cue ball, making the shot.

If the yellow goes he will be able to take it on and bring it down the

table with the red to the right of the pink been the best option.

Potting the blue is easiest but there is no future there, on the

Ding Junhui is having a look at the red to the left of the one he wants

to take here. If he plays the stun shot it might go through the gap

and leave the cue ball nestling against the cluster. Or, he can

screw off them, which is what he has tried to do. He thought that

the pink would cannon clear of the pack, but it hasn't. I think in

fact that will go, so, well played, He was a little short of pace,

there, because he had potted the pink off the corner of the pocket

instead of into the centre. It just caught the corner. Still on this

red, he will have to spin the cue ball round, through two-cushions.

Putting backspin on to it, to take the speed out of the cue ball.

These balls look favourable but they are not, he is going to have

He had very little room. Almost dead straight. And it has gone

wrong. I pink he played to come past the red that is to the left of

Those 18 points taken 30 points in front because of the six. Penalties

our where, for Mark Selby. -- six I don't think that was a piece of

ticker-tape. It looked like a piece Another four.S four penalties. --

four points for penalties. Nor advantage for Ding Junhui, so it

goes back. He will be in a tight position after this. Just checking

whether replacement is correct or He can just get to the edge of the

red, and the referee is having looked as well. Just a trace of

swerve on the cue ball should There have been some good bouts of

safety play in this match but not How often that cannon on the baulk

makes a difference to the safety shot. You would think the

difference from one cushion to the other on the baulk line, you would

That is disappointing for Ding Junhui. Mark Selby has not potted a

ball for over 21 minutes, so there is a chance for him to get going

again. The black is available. There is a slight problem with

where the blue is. He cannot get his body on to the table. He is OK.

Dalmore enough. -- down low enough. He is sweeping his chalk of the

table - Ryan Day does that, it is just a habit. Sometimes he white

suit in the wrong way, in the direction of the nap, and he roughs

He's down in the area of the black now, but he has gone back up for

the blue. The first red, he was perfectly on the black. I don't

will white's he has screwed back for the blue. He has just made it

more difficult. It appeared as if the black would pot into the right

hand, past the red, but he can certainly get on it now, to the red

corner. If it is in the way, he can clear it off the pocket, now. It is

always ideal to have the black That was a bit tight, that black,

to be fair to him. He is having a look at it now. Getting it out of

the way. He has caught other But he has not lost control of the

Came to the table but the four points behind. Almost half of those

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It is a big frame. He does not want Perfect example of could cue ball

control from Mark Selby -- good cue ball control. He has not been in

We have seen an abundance of good breaks in this final, so far. Mark

started us off with 103, another break of 124, but only for the, in

the 5th, but we have seen breaks of Did you ever call the bingo, at one

Just this black and one more red required and he has another frame

That is perfect. 42 ahead, there will only be for 25 remaining if he

can pot this red. That was a good break from Mark Selby. Ding Junhui

had the first opportunity when he made a mistake. He has punished him,

as he must do. Can he see a century? This was surprising from

Ding Junhui. I expected him to pot Good shot. The green is the only

obstacle now to putting in another A little thick, there. What angle

does he have won the screen? -- on this green? Unfortunate. Never mind.

Excellent break from Mark Selby of 91. It is a frame back and reduces

Mark Selby really is a fighter. Really punishing Ding Junhui for

those mistakes. Only one mistake he made, went for

a long red there you would expect him to pot nine times out of 10.

But he missed it. Mark Selby hadn't really had a chance since the frame

before. That was top class. Look like he was going to make his third

century but wasn't to be. The match is back on. Since the interval they

have been alternating frames. At this stage, he would your money be

on? It is a hard one to call. Ding would have come in tonight, going

back to the make session interval ahead and he still on target for

that to -- mid-session. To turning out to be a male --

All the frames are important, but as you get closer to that magic

number of 9th, the pressure does get a bit harder for both players.

The importance of every frame it seems to be bigger but it is not.

If Ding won this frame he would be very happy. If he loses it you

would have to fancy Mark Selby. A good match. Not a lot between them.

Ding has twice gone two frames in front. Paid to back each time. --

Mark Selby won the first and third frame to lead 2-1. But he has

either drawn up level all been behind since that. He is the one

A good use the word careless very often in commentary but that was a

bad mistake to allow Mark Selby a Look at the way these reds are. A

Very easy to just lose your mind sometimes in situations like this.

He just let it run away to the possibility you come when the frame

from here. Instead of keeping your mind in the present, just a lack to

wonder a little. What a let off for Ding. -- just allow it to wander a

His tip right at the top of the cue ball imparting top spin on. Black

Slightly over done that. I think he wanted to get the red away from the

Could have done with being an inch further down towards us, make the

shot a lot easier. Having to go Straight into the pink, it spread

the reds out and hold the cue ball That is a dream that split a for

Ding. He wouldn't have played that shot had he not been wrongly on the

blue. Where is that cue ball? That could be a huge slice of luck

for Ding. Completely missed judged how fit he was cannoning that

second red. He thought he would screw into a red and cannon it much

thinner. Nearly doomed to failure there. Back in with a good shout

out. The black is available into A choice of reds to either black

That was well played. That could have gone wrong. But a lot of

Ding will be devastated if he doesn't win this frame. Haven't got

a better chance than this, when Selby was in, missed that red in

the corner pocket. Thinking about That is really a bread and butter

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Certainly having the cue ball Just watch his cue action now. Very

central. The cue is right in the middle. Central sighting for him,

which is pretty common for young Everybody's site is different but

not many have got a cue action like Just have a look at his cue action,

he has this sort of double Paul's. He pauses the tip that the white

ball. Brings the back and back before striking, pauses again. Then

he strikes the cue ball. As Good As He wouldn't be changing his cue

action a lot. The interval coming up. Another chance for a century

break. We could have had won in the previous two frames but both

players broke down. Ding on 83, Mark Selby on 91. This will beat

Ding's first century of the tournament. Hard to believe as well

Centuries are not everything, of One of the few players that play

that with top spin and run inside. They love a century. It is like

A trick shot on the black, 124. He is -- he has opened up two-frame

gap once more. Mark Selby couldn't wait to get out.

This session has been shared two frames each and that preserves the

Ding's two-frame advantage. He only needs two more now to be crowned

Welsh Open champion. That seemed like a really important frame. A

very big difference at this stage of the match between 7-5 and 6-6.

Mark Selby would have been saying I can win the session 3-1, go out at

mid-session, six have and six. Bash s 6-6. The frame before Ding missed

an easy red, and in this one Mark Selby missed a real bad red. Ding

played up and make a frame-winning break with that opportunity. Very

evenly poised, but it will be Ding happy of the two.

If you make a mistake at this level you get punished. It has been

terrific. The final has been great from start to finish. Dominic went

on about it, only two frames with no breaks, every other frame has

had a big break in it. Very high quality stuff.

Lots of people popping in and out of their snooker here in Newport

put the most popular visitor has been Ray Reardon, the greatest

Welsh snooker player of all-time. He is still going strong

approaching his 80th birthday and he has been reminiscing about his

I was looking forward to it. For many reasons. And later on when the

audience canoe, even when it was empty, this takes me back a few

It was a good area, south Wales was I paid my pocket money, loser pays,

and if you lose eight claims on the trot you asking for the week so you

learn to play quitted quickly. The goal, to be something, do something.

He didn't miss out a marathon. He played all your other sports, I

work down the mines, you'd make the time. As soon as it was 7 o'clock

on Friday, Saturday night, I would say way you are going drinking?

They would tell may and I said I will be there at 9 o'clock. And I

had two hours in the billiard hall. Stay at 9 o'clock, a couple of

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Six times world champion, absolute legend of the game, her class act.

He was one of the four Super Probably the best Welsh snooker

player ever. Probably the third or 4th best player in history, done

1976 they split the World Championships. He came out with a

cloak on, the Dracula cloak. And there was an aura about him. Apart

from he was beaten everybody easy most of the time in the World

Championships, there was just him. He did have a great sense of humour

anyway. He was a great ambassador Your guess is as good as mine as to

what he will play now. He said when you get a bit older the butterflies

get bigger in the stomach. And that more or less sums sitter, he

recognised he was and 80 min any more tournaments and didn't want to

hang about. -- it wasn't going to I love the game, yes, but you have

got to be good to start with. I couldn't help a young person coming

along because I am not a coach. I am just an expert who has certain

I am more of an aggressive player, he was also very aggressive but the

tactician. I probably never really thought about it, I was just

interested in potting balls and I needed to maybe learn that side of

the game because the thing that wasn't going my way of liking, and

leads a back-up plan. Another phase I turned pro when I was 35. They

are younger. When I was there rage I could pot anything. Just like

they can. Everybody has done this. But instead of doing it in your

billiard hall, here they are doing it on the television as

professionals. Playing for money, big stakes. And you see they are

attacking, the game has changed that way. It is an aggressive game.

The balls open up more than they used to because they are lighter.

The idea is get them open. When you go into the pack their it open like

roses. It is easier. It may be easier to pot the balls and make

breaks all the time. But if it is easy to pot them, it is harder to

What about Wilson, he had a bad eye and he could pot anything?

Wonderful player. They all come and play here now which is wonderful.

He has been very important to watch snooker, the best player to come

out of the country and somebody people look up to and still do. It

is not just winning, it is how he carried those titles and help the

The area is very fortunate they have Mark. Look at the Young ones

around. Very good. The conditions are ideal for playing. Young people

can come in and play. The standard overall is high. They could produce

I just do what I want to do, you can't have a better life than I

have. If it rains a place snooker, if it is sunny I play golf. I wine

and dine in between. And try to get What a great man, really is one of

a kind. You played against him towards the end of his professional

career. A couple of matches and I am

pleased to say he did get his fangs into me. What a legend. You must

have learnt so much from being able to play someone like him. Quite

funny Abbey and when he said I can't see any more, the end of the

table, and he would move the ball a couple of inches. But he kept

nicking them as thin as he wanted, a fantastic legend.

The Welsh Open has become a real fixture on the sporting calendar

here in Newport in recent years. Newport is a city with a growing

sporting reputation. Dominic Dale has been out in a -- -- out and

about to see what is on offer in We have seen a fairly radical

transformation over the past decade in terms of sport within the city.

Obviously we have got a good cultural heritage. If you look at

Newport rugby club, Newport County, great history. In the past few

years since we had the velodrome and the International Sports

Village things have been on the up and we had the Ryder Cup, one of

the most successful affair in the history tournament, and a lot of

good vibes about sport in the City. One of the most successful ever in

the tournament history. Europe have won the Ryder Cup. To win it in

such a dramatic fashion has been a boost to the resort. We read

overnight from being the UK's leading golf and business

destination to a global brand so we have seen visitors come from all

over the world since. On this course they wanted to go out and

replicate that fantastic pot from Graham McDowell and when they get

to the next hole, the 17th, they imagine those scenes when the

crowds invaded degree and we saw such joyous European celebrations.

It is not just the Celtic Manor that has seen the benefits of the

Ryder Cup. The legacy the event We have got a nine-hole course, and

that has been really important because a lot of youngsters

wouldn't even dream of giving up golf have been engaged about taking

This is the Newport International Sports Village, home to the Wales

National Velodrome. I don't think anybody could have predicted how

important cycling would be to ignore just Newport put Wales and

the UK. We are looking forward to the Olympics. Team GB he will be

based in the training camp at the velodrome, a real high-profile

sport. As well as being home to the velodrome this state-of-the-art

facility houses the city's football team, Newport County. Fantastic

club on and off the pitch. The day I walked in the supporters have

been first class. Well-supported club, loyal. Some tough times,

almost went out of existence in the past and that brings people

together, that Solidarity is what We are moving into a new era here

at the Dragons. Sometimes it is quite tough but certainly when we

finished off last season there was a buzz and we have managed to get a

few of our guys into the Welsh team recently. The appeal of our

national sport is not diminishing. Part of that new era has involved a

stadium redevelopment. It is the best ground in Wales. Come and

watch rugby if you want to watch two Welsh teams have been a local

derby. Fantastic atmosphere. This place is renowned for fans of the

sport. Very passionate group of spectators, and the players really

respond, not just our players, plays to come here think this is a

great place to play rugby. Just a short walk across the river has

been our home for the week, at the Newport Centre. Since 2005 the

Welsh Open has hated -- hosted a great and good of our game and

looks like it is here to stay. are delighted to announce a new

sponsorship deal. It is another important, another piece of icing

on the sporting cake, another thing to say Newport is a sporting city,

we are delighted to be able to hosted and bring the big names of

One of the benefits we have got is having so many facilities where we

can host these events, and that makes a big difference. So, very

soon another great sporting champion will be crowned in Newport.

Coming up, but last session of the Welsh Open final. Ding Junhui is

leading and needs just two more frames to win. Mark Selby may have

Darren Morgan: Am sure everyone is looking forward to the conclusion

of this match because the standard this evening has been top draw. All

day we have had some sizable bricks, excellent safety shots. I think

this match could go all the way. I think Ding Junhui will be pleased

to be in front, because Mark Selby Mark Selby just can't afford any

more careless shots. That might be one straight away. Ding Junhui will

be taken this on into the middle. - That is another good pot. Every

time he has had an opportunity, apart from one long pots, he has

got it. What a great pot that walls. Ideally he would like to get on to

He knew what ever happened it was This is an excellent opportunity to

A little bit short of speed, but he won't be too bothered. He can play

this into the cluster. She will be disturbing some other reds. -- he

He has played that perfectly. the pack to come back out for the

black. We couldn't have played it He is one of the best break-

builders in the game. He can let his head dropped if the game is not

There might be some value of him playing of the blue into the pink

full-ball. He has gone a little bit thinner than he would like on this

He is all right, he can get through to the one on the centre. He would

prefer it the pot into the pocket. He spent a lot of time looking at

the pack knowing that he was going to push the red towards the left-

hand corner. He is very close to not being able to play it. The

That is well played. He could not get on the blue so he has decided

to go up for the green or yellow. He wants to be inside that circle.

I have actually got one right! I am You can see how similar the number

of balls potted and points scored He is not on a red here. He could

play at double as a shot to nothing. Catching the first read has put all

the red Sea. -- all of the reds at so they can be potted. This could

be a change of fortunes for Mark He still could do because that was

an unbelievable pot! Back on the black perfectly. He has played that

absolutely perfectly. This has been a great standard. Right into the

heart of the pocket, Darren, as well. Never even touched decide.

But weights, do we have another? A The way both these great young

players have played, it is unlikely that we will go to eat frames all.

APPLAUSE. That was the black badly-needed.

This is definitely Ding Junhui Apart from two frames, there have

been big breaks in every frame by This was the catalyst of this

frame-winning break. That kept it going. That is just about perfect!

We said he was one of the best in the world that break-building and

There is Mark Selby's wife looking on and some Chinese supporters in

front. I don't know if Mark is going to produce one of those

famous comebacks that he has done This has been another wonderful

exhibition of break-building from Ding Junhui. He has only had two

centuries in this tournament, both 124 and the last game, and a

Ding Junhui has just won two on the Brilliant from Ding Junhui.

Centuries in the last two frames. What a time to pull out to

incredible breaks like that? When you need to produce your best to

march on, he has found the best game of his. It is just that ramrod

straight to action of his that is standing out. Full credit to him.

Mark Selby does have this reputation for making big comebacks.

He made a comeback from exactly the score down from Ronnie O'Sullivan

in 2008 to win the title. What chance of doing that again?

certainly will not give up, but I don't think Mark Selby one of the

Welsh, Ronnie lost it that night. I don't think Ding Junhui will do

that. If he is given a chance, Ding Junhui will take them. Ding Junhui

has played some brilliant stuff in the last couple of frames and this

long red was really special. Absolutely. He knew that if you

screw de cue ball the way she did there he did not leave anything on,

so there was not too much pressure on that, especially given the

scoreline. He was so confident in his cue action that he would pop

that all that he took it on uncured the table. So, his Ding Junhui on

the eve of his first Welsh Open title? Darren and Willie can tell

WILL LEITCH: As I mentioned in the previous frame, Mark Selby has come

This could be the start of the come back! Look how confident he was

going for that read. He expected to get that one, looked a perfectly it

The only thing we have not had this week is a maximum break, although

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

You could not write The Script for this, could chew, Willie? It has

been brilliant all day. I am not sure if he can miss the pack and

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

He did miss Hick that by quite a margin, but it has done him a

favour because he now has the cannon onto the pink. He wasn't

looking at our script! No maximum I These have got to go well. It is

looking OK at the moment, but not any more. They have gone awkward.

They stick lovely, you would have thought he would have been on two

with three reds, but he is just on Good recovery, well played. But was

Again, it was only half a chance when he came to the table, but he

has turned it into a frame winner. He is nigh perfect on these two

Surely we can have three centuries on the trot! That was frame ball.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

This has been absolutely first class. Congratulations Mark Selby!

A smile to the crowd. You could see him grinning up to his wife there.

His 4th century of the tournament. I am not biased. He is from

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

This is the red he needs, and it has gone in! Matthew Stevens at the

moment could be watching at home. It is �100,000... it is �1,000 for

the highest break. If he clears up, he will pinch it off him. A

possible break-up hundred and 45 on. He has a tricky pink across the top

cushion. But you would have to fancy him. If only he had played

for the black instead of that blue, If he is straight on the blue, he

could be in trouble. He just has Well, he missed a black like this

and the actor and as -- afternoon session, I don't think you will

miss this! That is one at his best ever breaks. A magnificent break of

145! His wife, Vicky, looks on. He is getting back into the game now.

He is only two frames behind. Darren, that was pure class. We had

a laugh at the start when you call for the maximum after the first red

he potted, but if he hadn't gone down for that blue, it might have

been on. The break was unbelievable. This crowd is over the moon.

I don't want to be picky when we have just seen the highest break of

the tournament so far, but if he had only known and gone for the

black instead of the blue we could have had a maximum on our hands.

Because only on the six to read that he was going for the blue, so

he would have no idea he was going for it. That was a tremendous break.

Ding Junhui might be pleased about that because I'm sure Mark Selby

was getting cancer near the end. But is probably wide Mark Selby

The ability to do that at that stage... psychology seems to be

massive in snooker. Would it be right to say that in a strange way

the mike -- the pressure might be off Mark Selby now because he knows

when he is really up against it, he can chance his arm and Becks, as he

showed their he was smiling the whole way through it. At the moment

Mark Selby cannot believe he will win this match, but if he wins one

more frame he will believe that he can win it. There was not much

pressure on him there, so we has the freedom. That has really got

the crowd going. Mark Selby has saved his best for when he needed

it most. He is now trailing by two frames. Ding Junhui needs just one

Willie Thorne: The crowd you want this match to continue. They are

There might be a plant and his right hand corner. They are not

close enough. He will try to, somehow, turn it -- turn this into

Very, very good shot. One of the best shots of the evening. Unlucky

One thing for certain, Ding Junhui will have butterflies at eight

The black is relatively safe, but the pink is in the open. The breaks

have been building on every frame. Surely we can continue that

It has been fantastic stuff. He has been a little bit unfortunate there.

He has just been laughing about the gap that he went through. It must

have been three or four inches. Any sort of contact and he would have

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

That is very good. Very good speed on the cue ball. Nicely played.

This has been played in a very sporting way. You could see Mark

That is the first bad safety he has played in quite some time. This is

half a chance for Ding Junhui. Those of you lucky to have watched

the afternoon session we have seen Ding Junhui play in one of the best

Although she is two frames behind, Mark Selby looks the more relaxed

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

He is just double-checking with the I did not think he would miss than

by that much. He has not do -- he That is absolutely perfect! Well

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

Mark Selby has got a chance now. Darren Morgan has put a line up. He

can get right behind yellow and green. He has pushed the red over

He's having the wide ball cleaned. He might be going all out for

position and going for the black, Good kiss me. Phone the police --

good this may. How hard did he hit that? We have seen some amazing

shots this week. He seems bemused, really, rather at white has

finished. -- at where that white has finished. He will just roll

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 64 seconds

onto this yellow, to try to cover This is an option if he can get

through to that first red he can get into the gap between black and

red. It is just whether he can get past this green, to the red, if I

can take this line of. A I agree with you shot, but he just cannot

Looks like he will just try to rest He probably knew that he was going

to leave a pot red, the one just below the pink is on, but is there

anything into this corner? As you can see, I think he can get the

potting angle on that red. It is not easy. He has had the cue ball

cleaned to eliminate any chance of It had a little wobble but it found

its way in. Mark Selby obviously thought that he had to hit that red

a little bit fuller. Getting on to the next red is not straightforward.

He's going to have to play two cushions to get on to that red. He

has played the cannon to that group of six reds. He deserves to get on

one. If he is not on a red, here, he is very unlucky. I think he has

Sometimes, this game is not fair. If you play the right shot, you

expect things to happen for you but it does not always happen in

snooker. Not a pot on to the baulk colours now. He must cover that red

He has gone for that, nicely on the green. He nice, easy starter for

Mark Selby. It is about the positional side of the shot. He was

not far away. A little bit unlucky to have cannoned those reds and not

land on anything easier than that. It is amazing how difficult it is

to get up and play for the colour, playing that deep screw. Can Mark

Selby play one? The deep screw? I guess at the answer is yes -

excellent shot. You cannot believe it, can you? What a strange game.

Both players have played wonderful shorts and got absolutely nothing

from them. The brown is on and the fact that he is playing it with

right hand side means that it does Brown or yellow will mean he is

back up at this end of the table but he might need to put so much

top-spin on that he will miss the It is a harbour shot, gone to the

yellow, it is a good job that he has got big feet, that he has got

that toe to touch the floor, if he plays this, and his foot lifts, it

will be a foal. -- foul. I don't know whether he has got away with

that. It is a pop that I expected him to get. -- pot. He doesn't

appear to even want to look at this He is trying to play a safety shot,

try to clip one red onto the other to move the red from the pocket,

which he has done, but nothing is We have been treated over the last

five frames to some wonderful break-building, but this is the

reverse, a prolonged bout of safety, and it is very tense out there at

the moment. Mark's will they cannot afford any more mistakes. -- Mark

Selby. It is pottable. I wasn't aware that that reported. -- that

that red potted. He has finished absolutely straight on this brown.

It is so easy to miss these type of shots when you are trying to play a

It is quite funny. Mark being from Leicester and how biased he is, it

was just live from me to say, come on by no more. -- dynamo. He will

He has done well not to miscue. And when he gets out of the way, we

We just don't want this match de end. It is a good match. -- to end.

It has been top draw. Both players at the peak of their game. -- top

Today has been very good, Ding Junhui has done read weighty keep

Mark Selby at bay. -- done brilliantly. He's one of the

pioneers of row sport. -- of our sport. The yellow being off its

spot is causing the problem. It is He has just had to play and

negative safety, but I think that there might be a gap. That is very

He is playing this with lots of bottom and left-hand side. The cue

ball was grew to start off to the right and then go off to the left.

He I didn't see that one he, I went for the wrong one. That was the

same effect. The cue ball would have done exactly the same. I must

Unlike the previous four or five frames, were it has all been nice,

open play, it has been hard to see if frame-winning break coming from

here, but Ding Junhui is such a fantastic break-builder, you never

Funnel enough, it will help of the pink goes on the black spot --

funnily enough. Those two reds on the black spot are pottable. This

will be a good chance, if he can He played that a little bit harder

because he wanted to get rid of the red to the right of the black.

Doesn't have to go up for the blue because the pink does pot into the

He did play for the blue, but he has although screwed it by miles. -

- over-screwed it. It is amazing how hard he can hit them sometimes.

This is the first negative short we had seen for him, but it was much

easier to come off the side cushion for the pink to the middle pocket.

He has recovered with a wonderful positional shot. Once again if he

underhits it used on the one and the right hand side, and if he

underhits it, he is on to the one He does have an angle so he can

play for the one to the right hand Good recovery, and he might be able

to play the cannon on to the two reds below this black. That would

open things up. Worrying times for Mark Selby supporters because Ding

Junhui has a chance with this black to get an angle to bring those

Looks like he may have left himself little bit straight. The one that

is just off the cushion, he can get onto that. He just needs to think

about how he gets on to the next black, not this one, the next one.

This is very tricky, if he takes this one on. You called it. He was

very close. All of a sudden, we might see another little twist. One

great shot, and it is all over. If it does not go in, he has given

Mark Selby is very good chance of getting back in. Or safety could be

the order of play, trying to get the white up behind the yellow. He

doesn't want to be tripping over a shoelace and breaking anything,

just before he picks up the trophy. That is the trouble when you wear

shoes with laces - you must buy Lovely break of 42, and then an

excellent safety shot. Mark Selby has to try and avoid the kiss on

He missed the kiss on the pink, got the reds together, how is the cue

Wonderful reply. Ding Junhui has played some of the best safety

shots we have seen this week. He played one hour earlier on and a

match which was one of the best that I had a rare scene. That was

an excellent safety shot. -- that I had ever seen. Could be going for

the two-cushion escape. The black is too far at of the way, to come

into play. We could see him going wide what this first effort. Which

we did, but he did not want that, full ball pink. That could be a

very costly mistake. They always play Wigan the first shot, to make

their loans in the next one, he just went wide, too much. Looking

at the scoreboard he needs just one black and one more red and we know

that that top red of the three will pot. I am not a big believer in the

two-cushion get out, it is not a shot and like to play. He's knocked

going to get on the black nice enough to get on the red, or the

blue. Another shot needed. A glance at the scoreboard will tell him he

just needs one more red. The Surely not! The next read his frame

The fact that we went an inch further made admissible. -- it went.

Mark Selby is 48 points behind with Why did you play into the reds?

That could be the last shot Mark Selby plays in this tournament.

think he was playing just to miss the reds, knowing the plant was

I think that is it for Mark Selby. Order fantastic final we have seen.

There are not many better nights than final night sudden major

snooker tournament. This is absolutely beautiful. The

positional play of both these two great players has been exceptional.

It is all over now. Ding Junhui is Mark Selby offers his hand in

congratulations. The crowd stands. It has been an absolutely excellent

match. Ding Junhui is absolutely delighted. He is the professional

champion of the Welsh Open. Congratulations, Ding Junhui. Also

congratulations, Mark Selby. He played exceptionally, made the

highest break so far at this tournament, 145, but Ding Junhui is

the new champion. Ladies and Gentlemen We have been treated to a

fabulous final. There we have another round of applause for two

world-class players. A little wry smile there. You give

that absolutely everything. played well in patches but I missed

too many balls. I probably should have been in front at the first

session and I was five frames to three behind and against some

leader of Ding Junhui you just can't do that. Ding Junhui seemed

to get his momentum and start playing well. I had my chances, I

can complain. Every credit to Ding Junhui. We deserve that. There is

no disgrace in losing when you forced the player to play his

absolute best. A pretty cheeky 145. I have just been told that it is

�1,000. A nice little consolation. Ding Junhui is a class player and

he thoroughly deserved to win today. Been world No. 1 is one thing, but

it is about getting to major finals and winning trophies accounts. This

is a great stepping-stone towards the work World Championships.

complain. I'm standing here in the final. And the first match of the

week I was about one ball from going out, so every match after

that has been a bonus. Ladies and gentlemen, a very gracious runner-

up, Mark Selby. APPLAUSE. You're fit a ranking

event title. Your first in almost three years. You must be delighted.

I am very happy to win the Welsh Open. And very nervous. How much of

a turning point was that when you went in five frames to three up

after the afternoon session. Nick Mark made a mistake on the black to

go three frames to one up, just to remind you! You had to be it your

best to win that. He is very good. It looked like he was going to lose

in the first round, but he still won. He has gone into the final. I

have beaten the world No. 1! There are 20 million people watching live

in China. We have got hundreds in the auditorium, perhaps a message

for you fans in Chinese. I love the fancier. I love that they have come

to watch me and supported this week. It isn't nice crowd.

Your girlfriend have to hide in the toilets for the last frame, it was

too much for her. Just finally, you have done the UK twice and the

Welsh, there is only one big one left. How much confidence do you

take going into the World Championships in a month's time?

will practise very heart. I got to the semi-final last year. I hope I

do better this year. Ladies and gentlemen, Ding Junhui! Please

welcome the deputy mayor, John guy. Ladies and gentlemen, you runner up,

what a week he has had, the jester from Leicester, Mark Selby. And the

winner, receiving the cheque, the trophy and the title, China's Ding

Ladies and gentlemen, you're a champion, Ding Junhui!

Well, Ding Junhui has had a fantastic reception. There are

quite a lot of Chinese supporters in this stadium. This has been a

great performance from a great champion. Absolutely, wonderful

play throughout. By a nail-biting climax to many of the frames.

Ultimately, Ding Junhui was just Mr consistent and fully deserved his

victory tonight. There were times for tonight's that Mark Selby

really did come under pressure. It looks like he was on for one of his

famous comebacks. Fair play to Ding Junhui, he produced some wonderful

matchplay snooker. It could have been a very tense final, but Ding

Junhui potted an incredible long red. Teachers can call that last

frame perfectly. Darren, you're commentating on the match. What

impressed you most about Ding Junhui? His composure. He doesn't

like anything get to him. He just did not get fazed by that. He made

the most of any chances. We knew it was going to be a good final and

then looked up the expectations. This is his 5th ranking tournament

now. How many more can go on and win? It is his first one for three

years, which is unbelievable. He has got his confidence back,

especially winning it in the fashion that he has. The World

Championship is just around the corner. I think this is the first

of many. What about the World Championship? That is the big one.

This is almost the perfect time to get a tournament under your belt.

It is the perfect race syringe -- the perfect reassurance that he can

go on and win. He has got all the key ingredients to be a world

champion. He has got a great tactical game, he can score, pot

long balls, he has a fantastic technician. Those are the key

ingredients that you need if you're going to win at the 17th day

marathon of the World Championships. How many other players are

realistic and contenders at the Crucible this year? You can never

countered Ronnie O'Sullivan. He won the last event. John Higgins,

reigning champion, he is a fantastic tactician. You need all

these things if you're going to win the World Championships. Neil

Robertson, Graeme Dott, it is always tough to win the World

Championships, but Graeme Dott has as much chance to win as anybody.

It is clear that he is such a popular man, particularly in China.

This is great for the world game because the interest will grow and

grow. I have been around a long time and I have never seen anything

like I have witnessed with Ding Junhui. It is well deserved. Brief

word about Mark Selby. He played his part in a great final. He will

be concerned about his form against Ronnie O'Sullivan and the semi-

final, but he would have felt great and this final. There will be some

consolation that he did get a highest break, but I don't suppose

that really matters as you would rather win tournaments. You never

like losing in the final. People take his hat off to Ding Junhui, he

was the better player in their day. Give me a final word on Ding Junhui.

As Woolsey had to ride his luck in this tournament. He had a lucky

break against Stephen Lee, but I guess that is what tournaments are

all about. If you are going to win any kind of the tournament you need

to have a little bit of luck and it came at the right time and he made

the most of it. He will take a lot and this today because he beat Mark

Selby, the world No. 1, playing at his very best. He is world No. 7 at

the minute, can he become one of the best players in the world

consistently? I see no reason why not. A see established as one of

the top men? You could not criticise him if he was well number

one, she is that good. A bite you very much for your company this