02/03/2014 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good afternoon. It has been a fabulous week of snooker hee in

Newport, I hope you have enjoy it at home. The crowd certainly have. We

started with 128 player, and now we are down to just two and set for the

perfect finale. There is no doubt that Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding

Junhui have been the best two players here this week, and now,

they are going head-to-head to win the bet victor Welsh Open title.

-- Bet Victor. Yes, I dream to play runny -- Ron

you, he is always my hero, I never have any pressure on his face, I

improved mist to go to that top level. I can be the same or close to

him. I am pleased to be in the final,

pleased to be playing someone I have great respect for hiss game. If I'm

not in the tournament, like to see him do well, he is my favourite,

will you him do well, he is my favourite,

-- if you like. I know Hendry has win five before. I

just go, keep winning. Not many players go beyond their mid

30s or 30s and carry on winning, these times and the moments now when

even gets good results you want to cherish them and you appreciate them

a lot more, so for me it is great to be still having a go.

Ding Junhui has had one or two close calls on his way to the final. Young

players Ben Woollaston and Joel Walker took him to a deciding frame

but he had the answers under pressure. The semifinal victory over

Joe Perry mean he is one match way from five ranking tournament

victories this season. Ding Junhui, what a player. And what

a great technique. Doesn't suit everybody, we talk about players

having very long back swings, he is a very sort of piston like action,

but it stands him in God stead and slowly but surely he is maturing,

his cue action is standing up. He is the most consistent player in the

game. All you have to do is look at his record. He has won three ranking

tournaments in a row and he is first player to do that since Stephen

Hendry did it 22 years ago. I have to put Ding Junhui in his top three,

he is good as anybody I have seen. Peter Ebdon told us to look out for

him because of his break building. He has made multiple maximums,

fabulous break builder. As far as fame is concerned you can't get any

more famous as Ding. He has won a few tournaments in China, the people

are behind him. He is maturing, the man to beat. It is surprising he has

not won the World Championship. He has copped into ultimate

professional. Everything in his game is perfect. Year he will win the

World Championship. His emtransplant has changed. I remember watching him

when he missed a shot or things weren't going well. He would go back

to the seat. Slump in the change, sometimes he looked as if he was

asleep. Those days are long gone and Ding Junhui now has one the best tem

transplants in the game. -- temperament in the game. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has been playing some of his best snooker this week, his

victory over John Higgins in the quarter-finals summed up his

extraordinary won of form since winning last year. His semifinal win

over Barry Hawkins was the first time he dropped more than a single

frame in any of his matches. Ronnie O'Sullivan is a genius, he is

is a e-- is he good for the game? He has been great for if game.

Following in the likes of Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, he is the man,

if you like, that gets people in, crates -- creates an atmosphere,

superb. As a -- has a few problems off the table, we all sit back and

say, well, long on, if we were that good why would we not want to play?

But obviously he has a few demons that occasionally come about, but he

has been one of the greatest things that has happened for the game over

the last few year, and kept the game in the spotlight where he belongs.

For me, Rocket Ronnie has overtaken Stephen Hendry, I would say Ronnie

O'Sullivan is the greatest player that ever picked a snooker cue up, a

lot of it is down to that technique. Right handed, left handed. Doesn't

matter which hand he plays with, you not fault that technique. Ronnie

O'Sullivan is almost up there as John Higgins as tack anical

knowledge round the table. When he is not right he doesn't try too hard

on the safety department. When he does try he is unbelievable. In the

break building department he is getting closer top Stephen Hendry's

record. He made over 750 century, Ronnie is just over 100 behind the

great Stephen Hendry, so there is plenty of years left for him to

overtake that record. The thing is s is Ronnie going to be round long

enough. Will he go on, will he retire? There is one thing at the

back of Ronnie's mind and that is to equal or not better Stephen Hendry's

modern day record of seven world titles. That is his goal and I think

he can achieve it. If he wants it he can have it. As I said before, he is

a genius. So, two top class players in the

final today. O'Sullivan is more than ten years olden that Ding and that

is reflected in the amount of ranking titles they have won.

-- older. Both men have former winners of the

Welsh Open, Ding lifted the trophy here just two years ago.

Willie Thorne is my guest for the first eight frames of this final. I

know we saw there you were almost running out of superlatives talking

about Ronnie O'Sullivan, but you made me think he has played better

this week. I have had the pleasure of commentating on working on finals

in the last 20 year, this one I am looking forward to. You have two

player, almost at the top of their form. And Ron yp has looked --

Ronnie has looked fabulous, relaxed and confident. It is terrific to see

him in this mood. It is sad but I have started tweeting. I tweet

tweeted about his match. The break he made of the 67 to clear in frame

seven was the best I have seen since Jimmy White, Alex Higgins, so

fabulous. Ronnie has marched into the find with terrific performances

but Ding has been put under pressure a couple of time by young player,

how do you think he has responded? The one man against Joel Walker, he

made 70-100-00. Ding has been taken to the last frame by Ben Woollaston

and Joel Walker, if he plays poorly as that early on, Ronnie O'Sullivan,

the way he is playing, could steamroller him. We know Ding will

have to be up for this match. If you are not up, you will never be up.

Exactly. Ding is a man for the big final, it is an incredible record.

He has won four ranking titles this season. That hasn't been down since

1990. He is the man in form Without doubt. Robertson made 87 century, we

are bless at the moment in professional snooker to have four or

five great players that are capable of winning any tour tournament. We

have two finalists that are capable of winning the World Championship, I

think Ding is definitely a World Championship contender without

doubt. O'Sullivan, if he wants it, as long as he wants to keep winning

he will keep winning. A terrific fine in prospect. It is time for the

talking to stop, and the final to begin. Let us join our master of

ceremonies Mark Johnston-Alan. What an atmosphere here in Newport

this afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. For the final of the Bet

Victor Welsh Open of 2014. First up a man who has been in four ranking

finals already this season and won each and every one of them. He is a

is in superb form. Please welcome from China, Ding Junhui.

He is up against the best in the business. At the moment, this man

appears to be in a league of his own. He is the reigning Masters

champion and the reigning World Champion, he is of course the

Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan. MUSIC: "A Man Should Better Himself"

by George Lam. Two of the world's best players, an

electric atmosphere, both men have huge followingings, it is time for

the final of the Welsh Open. Your commentators Terry Griffiths and

Darren Morgan. What a mouthwatering finale this is going to be to the

Welsh Open. Having the customary photographs at the start. Big

smiles. Probably two best players in the tournament. They have played the

best snooker, that is for certain. It is what everybody wanted.

Two great players of the game. Both in terrific shape.

There is something special about being introduced in a final.

Tall the reds are covered. He will want to look through to see if he

can get through to the edge. But I think if he can it will be very very

tight. He is down playing it, so obviously he thinks he's can get it.

You can see he can just about get the edge.

It was always going to be tight. Ronnie O'Sullivan four. That could

be a free ball. He might just, that cue ball might

have rolled on enough. I think the referee will have said no.

Cue ball is going back. I don't see Ronnie questioning the

referee at all his behaviour is impeccable out there on the table,

always, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Some players have a look. Some will

check the-re-is doing it correctly. At the end of the day the referee's

decision will always be final. Gold Cup feel safety shot. He is

going to want to try and keep everything nice and tight. Play his

way into this final. He is not wanting Ronnie to get on the same

sort of run as he had last night. This green hasn't come to the

rescue. If he can get through to the corner. He is having a look to see

in the vent to get it back on to the black, will it go back on to its own

spot? You see the black goes but that red is just to the side.

He has lectded to go down. He played for the blue.

We normally say in the commentary box this isn't a great chance but

not when Ronnie O'Sullivan is playing, just in case.

That one didn't touch the sides. Nicely played.

In an ideal world he would love to get this red from above the black.

It would open that little area right up. We can see I think the red will

just about go. To that corner pocket, so it is all

about the position. Just played that with trace of

running side. Change the angle coming off the cushion.

He played it very well. Well, there is plenty of room there.

He didn't just flick the red, he caught it quarter ball.

So both players missed their first chance.

I think Sullivan will ignore what happened last night. Hiss

performance was of a very high standard. He won't go out with the

same expectation, he will just go out and play, just disregard that

and go out and play his best. It would be very difficult to better

his performance last night. Think he has left himself low on

this red on purr, so he can just move a couple.

That is what he has done. -- purpose. Just didn't get quite in

fully enough. He disturbed all the reds but he has come off the cushion

quicker than he would have liked. That was slightly too thick to catch

the baulk cushion. I don't think Ronnie O'Sullivan has an easy pot on

though. Some days you can play a few safety

shots and get away with it, and other days every time you play one

you leave something on, no control over that.

Is that thin enough? What a beautiful shot.

If he hit that thick he could have left Ding something on.

He has got a pot on this time. Very thin cut into the corner.

I do feelsome someone gets in, it is going for a hard scoring opportunity

due to the pink and black are tied up. You have to concentrate on the

blue. So far, no-one has given an inch.

They have had a few chances. How do these players get to the final any

way? Well that has brought the black into

play and he has left a red on. That is probably the easiest safety he

has played for a while and he made a mess of it.

He has to concentrate on the pot, just roll it in. Nothing with a cue

ball. Automatically he will finish on the black.

These pockets all week have shown, unless Tay are played to perfection,

they are not going in. That was never going to go in, at

whatever place he played that. He caught the cushion. Ronnie will be

happy though. Here we can see straight on to the

cush. Got the wobble. On a club table that might still have gone in.

Not in the professional game. Didn't really expect this type of

start to this final, because these two players are both very good in

the ball, and the balls are not helping at the moment. O'Sullivan

has overrun that. One of the reds, the two available

into the left corner. He may play one in the middle.

Oh, that was cheeky! Fraction of out position on the

black. He does make things happen though.

Check the cue ball off the cushion. Very good indeed.

I don't knowry -- Ronnie didn't play that but he will take it. Nicely on.

He doesn't apologise much, Ronnie, does he? I tell you, it's different

from all the other players. You don't see him shaking his head very

much when he misses the ball. Mind you, he doesn't miss many! He shook

his head. It's one of the few commentators curses, as they say,

but he did have a wry smile and shake, what was that? Maybe it's

listening to your commentary. Once again, the school board is ticking

along. O'Sullivan is 40 points in front. A little bit disjointed

along. O'Sullivan is 40 points in there for both players. It could

open up now with five reds left. He wants to take the cue ball at

least up to wear the blue is, around that area. So that he would be

leaving the red on the opposite corner. It's a tap shot, if you're

dropping it in, this one. -- tough shot.

Well, he had to take it on, but he has got away with it. Can Ding part

of this red on the left cushion and come off one of the other reds?

Looks like it. Just pointing his tip now to see where he wants to contact

the red nearest to that corner pocket.

It was always going to bring the black back into play. Get past the

yellow, I think you can. It's a clear-cut opportunity now for Ding.

With each pot Ding is making, he is clawing his way back into the first

frame. Kerry said it wasn't the start we

were expecting. Nevertheless, it's still been a little bit intriguing.

A cagey sort of start from both players.

I have to say, this now becomes a great chance of winning the frame

from this visit. A couple of shots ago, you would have said that was

not the case. He has just overrun back for the

blue butties nicely on the yellow. -- that he is nicely on the yellow.

Well, it looked, for all intents and purposes, Ding Junhui was going to

take this first frame. That would've been a good steel. Additives, -- as

it is, unless he misses something we haven't seen him this all week,

Ronnie O'Sullivan will be retaking the frame. I won't say relieved, but

Ronnie O'Sullivan will be retaking he will feel much better, because he

knows he's They always say Ronnie is a terrific

frontrunner. And that is true. Over the years, he has totally

developed, even when he is behind, he used to drop his head a little

bit. He now never gives up. In a very,

very happy place. So, a little bit of a strange first frame but,

nevertheless, very intriguing as Ronnie O'Sullivan takes it, 1-0.

Willie Thorne is my guest in the studio. That was a cagey start from

both players. I think Darren said it was a strange first frame. Ding's

highest break was seven. He had a great chance to part one of the

other. This one went down the cushion. He brought the two red and

the black back into play and all of a sudden you thought Ding was going

to pinch it. I think you broke down on 30 and then he missed the red on

the cushion. If he plays it for the black, it's almost a unmissable. He

has to play a little bit more aggressively and screw back for the

blue to make the clearance easier. Unfortunately, these pockets, as

they have been all week, are proving tight. We have been talking also

about how tight. We have been talking also

battle is going to be. We think tight. We have been talking also

them as great break-builders. You think actually, the safety

them as great break-builders. You could be key to determining whether

Ding can beat O'Sullivan. They say it is going to be due because Ding

will have to win that battle if he can. O'Sullivan is one of the best

safety plays in the game at the moment, but the way he is

break-building, I think the safety game is very, very important. Can he

do that the way he's playing? It will be hard but Ding now to compete

at apartment. This is the best of 17 frames. Ronnie O'Sullivan has

already got one on the board. COMMENTATOR: A left-handed break

off, Ronnie O'Sullivan, the second frame. He seemed to be playing all

right with the right hand, to me. He's got this thing where he

releases a little bit, when he breaks off his left hand. What can I

say? You never want that cue ball to slip

past that brown. No damage done, other than Ronnie

gets his hand on the table quite comfortably. Plays the same sort of

shot. Has he missed the green? He hasn't. It's advantage back to Ding.

Trying to get this right on that back cushion.

And that's very good. APPLAUSE

Oh, the court the wrong road there, and he has not been lucky.

-- he called the wrong read there. -- he caught the wrong red there. He

tried to catch it thin but could not get through to it. He looks happy

enough though. Ding would love to put 60 or 70 in

here. Few chances in the last frame, especially with that red he

missed. You need a frame on the border soon as you can in these

matches. Both these players can run off three frames in no time with big

breaks. But you would rather be three in front, that's for sure.

That was an edgy one. He had that much harder than he needed to.

Didn't really get too close. The black, the shot before, he could've

played red back-up to the corner pocket, but elected to play that

into the centre. His only saving grace is, he hasn't

left Ronnie anything really easy. Trouble is, the

And that's Trouble is, the

confidently played that. Just dropped it in. Perfect weight.

Not quite far enough but he still has the red in the corner. A lot of

talk about Ronnie's silky skills, but is a great competitor at their

now. He's very much like what Stephen Hendry is to be like in his

prime. He knows what it's like to hurt his opponent.

Barry Hawkins, last night, the semifinal. When you're in command,

like that, it feels like somebody has put their hand in your pocket

and pinched your sweets! He's got a very, very quick snooker

brain, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Built in maps. What sort of shots were going

to play next. He works it out quicker than most. I think that's

what makes him so exciting. There's no hang about. Decision is made.

Just get on with it. He has been blessed with this abundance of

natural ability and talent. Obviously, it doesn't come on it's

own. A lot of hard work, as well. Boy, don't it help?

Plenty of competent players out there who can plug the gaps without

lifting the pulse. O'Sullivan is not one of them.

Gets 100% attention from everybody in this Newport Centre on every

shot. It's fascinating to watch the spectators faces watching Ronnie

play. Mesmerised. We have got a smile

there from somebody. The first time he smiled from months! -- for a

month. They can't wait to go back to the

club and tried to do the same as Ronnie O'Sullivan. It could be a

long day! APPLAUSE

Sure they are Ding fans, still enjoying themselves.

I'm sure they will be hoping, sooner than later, Ding will get a frame on

the board. A chance of a first century break,

then. A vital one. AUDIENCE GASPS

Not to worry. A break of 91. He is 2-0 in front.

Do you think Ronnie is a little bit too good here today? It looks like

Ding is struggling. Yes, it does look like he's struggling. He had a

couple of chances in the first frame and it looked like he was going to

take that first frame until he missed a relatively easy read down

the question. Obviously, he got punished for it. Ronnie cleared up,

and only came very close to a century in that second frame. And

you would have to say, his work is cut out but there is read into the

left centre, he played it well. He did need to hit it that hard. He had

a nice angle on the black. This is a little bit nervous for Ding. Just

got to keep positive. Hope he little bit nervous for Ding. Just

his chance. I'm sure, once he little bit nervous for Ding. Just

frame on the board, he will make a tidy effort and will feel a lot more

relaxed but, at the moment, he is striving for that frame.

The type of shot he would have been expected to pot. O Sullivan is well

aware he wants to give Ding on zero frames, but that's almost

impossible. A bit of awkward cueing here. But it

didn't affect the shot. Ding has made 350 centuries. Turn

professional, 2003. We haven't really got to know him. He's been

over here ten years but it's only in the last year or two that he's been

able to speak in cash. AUDIENCE GASPS

Now he's missing too many shots here. Unforced errors. Those are the

ones that her 20 go back and sit in your chair. -- those are the ones

that hurt when you go back and sit in your chair.

Ronnie has got a couple of starters to the left-centre. Just looking

there to see how quickly he can put the black back onto his own spot. He

will already, in his mind, be thinking this is a chance to put

another frame on the board. Just hasn't spotted a red yet. The way

he's played this week, there ain't many opportunities that he hasn't

taken. And made into frame-winners. A lot of work still to do.

That's how confident he is, as well. He just decided to run through.

Leave himself a bit longer on this thread than he would have liked. --

red. I suppose the frightening thing, as

well, for Ronnie's fellow professionals, he's a lot older than

when he first blasted onto the scene as a very young man. He soon see

playing better now than he was then. He certainly got more focus

now than he did then. Much happier in his life. And he said the years

and years, even when he was winning events, he wasn't happy. He could

play better. He's always been self-critical of himself. All of a

sudden, he's just playing magic stuff. They must all be worried. It

looks like he could be picking up all the trophies.

Nicely played again. A deft cannon into the pink to retain position in

the centre. 91 in the last frame. 56 here. Still on the table.

They say that top players don't go around snuffing out fires. They

prefer to like them and that's what O'Sullivan does. Makes a

frame-winning chance look like nothing and he first came to the

table. Well, already the frame is safe.

Will we see Ronnie this time make the century? Just failed last frame.

If he's going to make one, he's going to have to pull off a good

double. Well, it wasn't to be. I don't think Ding Junhui is going to

get out of the seat. Saying that, I don't blame him for doing this. He

hasn't had much of a shot in the last couple of frames. He wants to

get a couple of pots and his belt. But he was a long way off with that

one. There is value in him keeping on in this frame now. And just try

to play his way back into a better feel.

He needs some table time. It's a lost cause doing this

because, unless he thinks he can win the frame, which is fair enough,

he's still 61 behind, he needs three snookers. You can see he's not in

the right frame of mind to be playing. Sitting in a chair, knowing

he's not going to win the frame, that makes it worse. You wouldn't

see O'Sullivan playing on. He is playing on, but he is potting

then. Yes. And it looks like he has gone 3-0 up and he has had loads of

table time, but I know what you are saying.

I used to do it just to try and annoy my opponent a little bit. To

Troy and get what ever I could -- try and get whatever I could get to

put him off a little bit, so if it meant I could make the game go

another 15 minute, as much as I kiddien't want to do it, I did it:

Ding Junhui stays in if seat. Ronnie extends his lead, looking very

impressive. He is now three frames ahead.

It is one way traffic at the moment. Ronnie O'Sullivan into a 3-0 lead.

Willie, is this a fair reeffection, does that reflect what we have seen?

On the break building side Ding doesn't have his hand on the table.

Ronnie has given Ding chance, he is in the balls with a straightforward

black and this is black he wouldn't miss once a season, but because he

is 2-0 be hype, because he is anxious he is playing against Ronnie

O'Sullivan in imperious form, I he is a bit frightened he never looks

like that unless he played Ronnie O'Sullivan. There have been lots of

tweets about players are saying when O'Sullivan is there people are

frightened of him. Hendry was the same the 90s and Steve Davis in the

'80s. When you are the best player in the world and the number one

player, even though Robertson is number one in the season people are

frightened of you. You are almost 2-0 in front before you start.

Dipping is a great match player, I mean he has played so well this week

when he is behindful I am concerned it could be a run away at the

moment, I would hate to see that because Ding doesn't deserve to get

beaten easily, because he has been one of the best two in the

tournament. If you right that players feel scared about Rob, how

is Ding going to be feeling now when he is already three frames down? He

has to look at the situation, there is eight frames in this session, try

and win at least three, so at least the worst way it is 5-3 going into

tonight. It is unlikely he is going to win the match if he is 6-1

behind. He could win the next five frames so we might be talking out of

school. At least get three of the last five frames.

Ding would love to get one back to make it 3-1.

You would think Ding would be desperate to win this frame, as you

mention mentioned but so would O'Sullivan. He will know if he can

go into the interval 4-0 in front it would be tough for Ding to come back

from there. Plenty of frames of course, it is

just that you get the feeling Ronnie could run away from you.

There is nothing worse, Ding already a winner of four ranking events this

year, ranked three in the world. Ronnie O'Sullivan picks and chooses

his vents and is ranked 32. -- events.

Is on paper, it looks like you would think Ding would be favourite, but

obviously we although that is not quite the case.

For Ding, you know, he is positive and up beat. He will probably be

thinking how can somebody do this to me and I have won all these events

this year and I am probably playing the best snooker in the world, but

Ronnie, just a different animal. Obviously, even though they have

played many, many times, over the past, I suppose everybody will

remember 2003, they played in the Masters final at Wembley, that

Ronnie O'Sullivan really gave Ding a lesson that day. Beat him 10-3. It

was very emotional to watch. Very upsetting. Ding was very upset at

the end. Ronnie played absolutely flawless snooker. And who know, does

Ding still remember that match? I would have thought it is still

there, still memories of that that what, and he is still scarred in. So

way. -- of that match. Especially as each frame is going on, without

reply. Just gone tar enough to make this

green a little tricky. -- far. I don't think it was in the direct

line, but just squeeze through the corners.

Didn't hit it too hard. Could try and bring the rack into

play, I think. -- black into play. A big round of

applause but he is not in a great position there. We have to take the

one into the centre. Otherwise he has to bridge over this red. Behind

the cue ball. Try and get some spin on.

Kiss the blue, but it hasn't made any difference, he had a nice kiss

on the blue. I suppose the longer you stay on the

table, like Ronnie has in this match so far, the more chance you have to

get a good run in. 63% Ronnie has at the moment against

37 from Ding. Difference is in that 63%, Ronnie

has scored more. Ding's highest break is still 29.

Total point points 247 O'Sullivan, 59 to Ding.

He is a bit concerned with that one. It wasn't as straight as he would

have liked. I am sure this pink is thinner than he would have liked.

With all we have seen so far, shouldn't prove much of a problem.

Back in good position. At the moment, he is just playing

one chance snooker. Every time he goes in, he looks like

he is going to clear up. How do you stop him? This is the

question. Ding will be saying, sat in his

chair. He has had a lot who think about.

But what do you do when someone is right at the top of their game?

Playing faultless. It can be a lonely place out there,

I can assure you. Not a comfortable seat.

O'Sullivan looks as if he feels more in control of how he wants to feel,

instead of letting his feelings take control of him.

He pointed towards the cue ball. He thought he may have had a bad

contact. 49 points in front though. Unexpected chance for Ding.

Maybe nudge the led away from the black, if he has the angle for that,

he would still be on the other red. He is dead straight so didn't have

the opportunity there. He has to bring that black into play, with the

reds are, to win this frame. Not quite sure if he has the angle

here to achieve that. The red that is just below the black is stopping

him coming off the cushion, and dislodging that red away from the

black. It doesn't look easy when you are in

Ding's position, even if all the balls were open. Everything looking

more difficult than normal when you are behind. Especially with someone

like O'Sullivan who is such a good front runner. On He is played. Very

unlucky. Good attempt, that. Leaving it a chance, of course. Couldn't

cast the red full enough. Well, he has got a choice of colours

here. He could play the blue and bring the two resin to play. At this

stage, quite risky shot. Taking the yellow, playing for the loose red.

Well, it wasn't the easiest from here. And he didn't miss it because

he was forced into positional play. He just left himself a long red. He

will be so disappointed with that. It really is tough, missing shots

when you are behind in a match. It takes great courage to keep your

thoughts together. Keep your mind clear. Everything is clouded when

you get a chance. Every shot looks difficult.

Both these players are played each other ten times before. Ronnie, 8-2

in front. Ding's first win over him was 2007 in the Premier League. As

we are saying that, Ronnie has missed a red, trying to power it in.

What a big frame this is. O'Sullivan brought the black into

play when that red Rt Honed. Row wobbled. -- red wobbled. .

Played that nicely. That was going to be the vital one,

he missed the red be the rest. He had a chance to win the first frame.

Both players have missed a few on this cushion. Still in it though, 25

points in front, Ronnie O'Sullivan. 35 left on the table.

He maybe able to get through to this.

This is an easier shot than the one he missed who on the cushion. It is

a tough shot. -- than the one he missed on the

cushion. He fully committed to that. Which is

the right way. He needs it at this stage in the match.

Ding had a big smile on his face there. Doesn't show a lot of

emotion, but much more than he used to.

So has got a shot at this red again. Not easy. You would fancy him in

practise. Bit different out there.

He has made the red now, can he convert this one.

He would be happy if he could get into the interval at 3-1 behind.

Must take this chance. Controlled that one nicely.

Looks very inviting. Four colours on their spots.

15 points behind. He will need all four colours. Three, should I say

no. -- now. Well, he caught that too thin and he

still didn't hit it hard enough for the pink, so he may have to swing

this round the table now. He has played it perfect.

Stone dead perfect. What a great shot, under extreme

pressure. That was Ding's highest break so far

of this match, of 32. More importantly it gives him the first

flame but O'Sullivan leads by 3-1. His cup of tea will taste all

sweerkts just for that frame, he has one on the board so trailing at 3-1

to Ronnie O'Sullivan at the interval. It has been fascinating,

that he just is missing a lot of balls you would expect him to get in

his sleep. Is it the Ronnie effect if sw had a mental disintegration.

It was his fourth attempt, there, really to finely close out that

frame He won't be having a couple of tea. He will be in the practice

room, but the thing is, he will be delighted he has a frame onrd board.

They will be so disappointed the easy chances missing, on this yellow

here, he is trying to make sure of yellow. He is not trying to get

position. So he is trying to roll it in. That is a shot he would get 100

out of one one -- 100. He gets another chance here, this red has a

slightly poor angle, so really running it in round two cushion,

would have been an easier shot than that, but he is trying to play

everything too perfect. He is tense, he is, has a lot of pressure on him,

the fact he is playing a man in great form, but that could be the

turning point. Because Ronnie O'Sullivan has not missed very much,

but when he has, he still has got Ding missing everything. It could be

important. When a player seems to be struggling as much as Ding is at the

moment, how welcome is an interval, just to put a break on the momentum

of the match? Perfect time for Ding. Ronnie wouldn't have been

governmentered about interval. Ding is walking in behind us to have a

practise now, try and get a bit of rhythm going because he is getting

up tying. He looks at the back arm, he is in theroom chair, not, as

smiley as he has been, but he is still in the match. 3-1 is no

problem. We discussed, get out this session, 5-3, 4-4, don't be 6-1

behind. Still a long long way to go. The Welsh Open falls toward the end

of professional snooker season, current season got under way last

summer and it will finish with the big finale at the World

Championships in Sheffield next month. Let us have a look now, at a

summary of the season so far. Th. It has been a busy few months.

Let me show you a graphic of the list of the winners of this season

ranking tournaments. Ding dominates it. You will notice that all of the

events have been won by overseas player, so if he can win today

Ronnie O'Sullivan would be the birth British player to win a ranking

tournament if he takes the Welsh Open title. Very unusual. I didn't

realise that had happened throughout the season. Ronnie is not playing in

every vent but to think a British player has not won a tournament this

year, when you think of the talent in Wales, Scotland and the talent we

have in England and Ireland as well. There is a lot of great players so

it is surprising, it shows how big the game is worldwide. Is that a

reflection of how the power has shifted to Asia? We thought the

influx would come from Thailand. Many years ago China wasn't a place

we used to play, we played in Thailand a lot then the Chinese came

into it, I mean it is so big in China, it is huge, so, it is not

beyond the realms of possibility we will have World Champions come from

China. They love it. Six events are played there. Neil Robertson has had

an incredible season as well. The world number one, and closing in on

100 centuries in the season s now that is a remarkable achieve. When

you consider that Ronnie O'Sullivan has only made 50 on centuries. Ding

had 45. To think he made 87 in a season. Unheard of. Something very

special indeed. There has been a new format to a lot of the tournaments

this season s including here at the Welsh Open. We started the

tournament in the first round with 128 players, and that real will

gives a lot of young rank outsiders the chance to take on some of the

top players in the game. But the new innovation has not gone down well

with everyone. The principle of level playing

field, 128, seeded draw, is the fairest principle in sport.

-of-are peninsula irshould be in at the first round of every tournament.

If you have earned your right to call yourself a professional snooker

player you should have the same opportunities as everybody else. If

you are a youngster coming through in snooker, it is a fabulous time,

because pretty much you are going to all the venues, when you had to pay

your graft and win a lot of match, qualify and now you can just be a

professional and go straight the the venue and you are there. I wasn't

the biggest fan, but the 128 is fair, when it comes dough the list,

but I don't agree the devaluing of these media events.

We are on a journey, in any journey there will be a few bumps in the

road. Logistically it has thrown some problems at us. Taking 18

players to a venue that is probably not big enough. There is too many at

the venue, a lot of travelling, you know, if you are not do doing I

wouldn't say very good, if you are not winning a lot of games, a lot of

players will go skint because of expenses are high.

Showing up for a tournament, playing one match and you still in the

tournament but you don't play for five, six day, some time, that is

quite hard to take, but, you know, that is not my, I can't change it.

So I can just moan. Barry is trying and he is not quite right at the

moment. But he has to try everything, I know they will get it

right at one point but we have to grin and bear it at the moment.

I know the players are coming from a different anglings because they are

players that have been spoiled or pampered in the past. Those days are

gone. I am personally against it to be

fair, but you know, you have to look a the wider game for itself, and

obviously Barry has his ideas, and world snooker have their ideas, I am

just happy that I am not 21 and having to probably play my way

through this year of snooker. having to probably play my way

Everyone says we were protected which wasn't the case, ones that

have been hit the hardest are the top 16. We feel a bit aggrieved or I

do. That is the way, like Barry says we can get another job, can't we.

But the trouble is if we get another job, there won't be a game will

there? People are looking at it what suits me? And those people that

think like that, I have nothing to do with them at all.

Our opinion is what suits the game. You have so many tonnes now to do

well in tournaments and earn money and gain experience along the way,

you would never play at a venue like this when I was a youngster. I am

lucky to have started playing when I did to have come into the game. It

is probably the biggest it has ever been, like globally, and the amount

of tournaments what are now, the chances what you get to play against

your top 16, instead of having to qualify for an event, you can play

in the PTCs, and I like being round them, you feel more comfortable and

it has been a massive help. If you are a young up-and-coming player,

the type of player the sport needs, we need a vibrant sport, not a sport

of just the same old names, saying just the same old games, because

that, frankly, was what it was like. It was not getting boring, it is

getting tedious, and we are seeing the stories coming through for that

we are seeing kids get their chance if they're good enough, despite any

protests. There will be no changes. The format stays, because the

protests. There will be no changes. shake-up for the what do you make of

the new format? 99.9% of what Barry Hearn does works, so let's give it

time. The top ranked players, few of the moaning, Shaun Murphy said if

Europe professional snooker player, you don't play qualifies to get down

to the last 72. If after two days, you have made the cut, you go home.

I'm in agreement with that, to be perfectly honest. It seems like the

cream is rising to the top and the best players are getting to the

finals. Every tournament this year, all the ranking events, at least

four at the top eight are in the quarterfinal stages. OK, the young

players a chances now. We have seen Joe Walker this week for the what a

rather fresh air he was. I had never seen him play before. It just shows

you the system works. The new tournament format really has opened

up the game and it's made a lot of young players, even more keen, than

ever, to become professional players. We went to meet two fine

young Welsh amateur players, who both have dreams of making it on the

professional circuit. Snooker is one of the fastest-growing professional

sports in the world. Played in over 90 countries, by hundreds of

thousands of players. It is watched by over 450 million viewers in 78

different countries. In 1978, when Steve Davis and

different countries. In 1978, when professional, there were two

different countries. In 1978, when to play in. Now, under Barry

Hearn's new regime, there's over 32 tournaments to play in four

professional players. There's never been a better time to be an

ambitious young snooker player. These two young players are top

Welsh amateur is already mixing it with professionals dreaming of the

big-time. Dwayne Jones, from Mountain Ash, and Jamie, from my

hometown. I have been Welsh under 21 champion,

Welsh amateur champion, IBF world six champion. I have become the

under 16 's, 19 to 21s Welsh champion in the same year. And I

finished number one this year on the European amateur list. I started

playing snooker about eight years ago. My favourite player is Neil

Robertson. I started playing snooker when I was about nine years of age.

My idol is Ronnie O'Sullivan. People think when you have the name amateur

next to you, it's pretty poor, but the standard is very strong.

Especially with a lot of the invites coming to the ranking events.

Professionals play amateurs in the tournaments. It is tough but,

hopefully, we can progress in the professional game. What does it cost

playing on the amateur tour? About ?7,000 -?10,000 playing the amateur

game, and if you do get on the professional circuit, around ?15,000

-?20,000, so it's a lot of money, to be honest, but I have got a great

sponsor. CJ Williams from the Isle of Wight. He has been bullied with

me so far and long may it continue. Do you find with a backing from your

parents and sponsors, it puts more pressure on you to become

professional? -- brilliant. When I was paying for my own tournaments, I

had more pressure because I felt like I needed to do something to

make it worthwhile instead of turning up and losing in the first

round. Whereas, now I have a sponsor, I feel it's a little

easier, the pressure has been taken off my family and myself

financially. And I'm sort of on a free role, but it's a nice kind of

pressure, instead of a bad pressure. When you are playing in

these qualifiers, is a type different from Welsh amateur

tournaments? Definitely. I do find it's a better buzz playing in the

world ranking events. You feel special, like a professional. You

can turn up on Sunday morning sometimes, it's not quite the same,

but are definitely in the ranking events, I do feel like a

professional for them it's really special. Hopefully if I can get a

professional ticket, I will be there every weekend. Let's hope these

young amateurs want to enjoy successful careers and we have

another Welsh player at the very top of the professional game. We wish

them all the best as they tried to make it as professional players. I

guess this is what Barry Hearn wants, to see guys like them have a

chance tournaments like this, to make a for themselves and maybe

become professional players. I've make a for themselves and maybe

seen a lot of coming up, Mark Selby played my club from the age of 12,

and it wasn't until he got to 20, he thought it was good enough but he

kept working and working in working. I have the chance playing all over

the country, and those young players have a chance of becoming

fashionable one day. How hard is it for young players like that to make

the breakthrough? You have got to work hard. You don't get anything in

life if you don't work hard. They need to practice with a top players

in the area for the Matthew Stevens, and Mark Williams. Just practice the

people that good. I'm sure they are watching this final at the Newport

Centre this afternoon. Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui are

making their way back into the arena now. After a little break on the

sidelines. O Sullivan leading 3-1 after the first four frames. Ding

looked quite out of salt early on but he got a frame back and how

crucial could that be? -- out of sorts.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Ashley. Ronnie looks relaxed in the

mid-session interval. Reading the paper. Had a sandwich and a cup of

tea. I did not see Ding Junhui. I think he went to the practice room

and knocked in a couple of balls. Just to put those misses to bed. He

will have been happy at the interval, 3-1 in 74-0 behind.

Interesting, before Ronnie walked out into the arena, he took the cue

ball off the referee and played another shot to that left centre,

just to see if it turned off and he found the pocket. An order to

himself. It was a missed shot. It's been a bit of a different

Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first four frames, to what we saw in the

semifinal match last night. But, well, Ding's highest break so far is

32. I suppose you could say he is lucky he has got a frame on the

board. Ronnie, if he doesn't analyse his own play, he will have been

happy with the scoreline going into the interval in the final, just the

sort of start you look to have if you can manage it.

A couple of enthusiastic supporters clapping that shot. I don't think

Ronnie was too happy with it. He hasn't left anything on, but...

Wasn't the best safety shot he has ever played. The only reason I say

that is because Ding Junhui could get his hand on the table

comfortably. To be fair, he should have done a lot better with that.

Ronnie has taken control. If he could have got through to the

red at the left corner and played it, as it is, he has to play safety.

This is going to have to be thin. The cue ball down the side of the

table. That's OK. One red has blocked the

path to the other one. A bit fortunate there, Ding Junhui.

Yes, this is shaping up to be rather lengthy frame at the moment.

Becoming tied up. If one of those threads would come in the black into

a difficult position, -- reds, but rather it's a safety exchange.

Ronnie would like to play off the red below and right of the pink, but

he just can't get quite through to it.

From where he was, that was a superb shot. Just the faintest little clip

on that yellow. It may have rebound off the baulk cushion and rebounded

off it. As you can see, this is a dead straight long red for Ding.

Certainly not worth taking on, really. But this one, however, is

also shot to nothing. It's just whether Ronnie has got

more angle on this. If it's dead straight, I can't imagine he will

play it. The one just to the outside red,

that would be more comfortable cueing. He would be clattering the

reds, so I think he's going to play the long straight one. He has got a

look slight angle on this so he will deal to pinch the pocket a little

bit, which she does. And that was about as good as it could get.

Didn't get through that well? Perfection.

Yes, that will please Ronnie because he had to elevate the butt of the

cue there because the other was on the way. Normal cueing for him. That

was a real test of the way. Normal cueing for him. That

action. Passed the way. Normal cueing for him. That

He would have loved to have been on this blue better.

That's how confident he is at the moment, though. Look how long he has

left this red. That was a well struck shot again. Cueing through

the ball so good. I mean, this is no gimme. He hasn't got to do a lot

with the cue ball. Make sure of the pot. Standing over for the black.

That just shows you the frame of mind he is in. Another great strike.

Here is a big decision for Ronnie. Does he pot the black with force and

scatter the reds? Possibly what he will do, the black will part into

the right corner. -- pot. That's probably tidied up now. But hasn't

worked out well for Ronnie. This will mean the cue ball going

into other balls. He's not happy. I don't know about

you, but I don't know why... Mind you, he has cut that thin at I

didn't think he had the angle on that. He court the other red there.

Obviously, he thought he could. A chance now for Ding Junhui.

Ronnie just reflecting on his overall performance.

He has had the opportunity to dominate the game. Ding are

certainly hasn't performed well this afternoon by his own very high

standards. He sees his opponent, Ronnie O'Sullivan, making the

mistakes he is currently making, it will give him a lot of heart. He

could win the frame from this opportunity. It won't be easy, of

course. He could reduce his arrears to a single frame. He will begin to

feel he's back in this match with every chance of winning. Yes, I

couldn't agree any more. Ronnie O'Sullivan was potentially one-shot

to going 4-0 in front, and, OK, he still played very well. Breaks of 91

and 70. He was on 49 and missed a relatively easy red the left-centre.

Ding pinched a frame. All of a sudden, if he was to pinch another

one, get back to 3-2, a huge difference.

It looked like, at one stage, this match could be over before it

started but, all of a sudden, it is match back on. Just nicely going

about his business. He has got another couple of red in the open.

Before he has got to start looking at developing anything.

The black will go back onto its own spot. After he pops it here. --

pots. I'm not sure if any of those red below the pink up portable. --

pinks are pottable. Are great chance here for Ding to

cannon the middle of those three reds Wychwood would shunt them

towards the right corner. Just didn't catch it fully enough. Now,

does the red pot into the middle pocket past the blue? He's having a

closer look. A thin cut and pretty risky with that red into baulk.

That is a fantastic pot. It deserved a better rebound from the pocket,

the middle pocket. I'm not sure Ding would have potted that earlier on in

this match. I would agree with that again. It was looking desperate for

him until he pinched that fourth frame, but, all of a sudden, he's

finding a little bit of confidence. This blue is not a gimme either.

Straight into the heart of the pocket. All of a sudden, Ding Junhui

has found his cueing. A big bounce off discussion. That's

going to be very tight, I feel. Well, first expressions tell me he

can't get through to the potting angle with this. And there we can

see it. No way. If one of the reds was further away you could have

played a slight swerve, but too much of a risk at this juncture in this

match. Already 41 points to the good. Good safety is the order of

the day. But he is going to do well to get the cue ball back up in the

baulk. He will have to do come off the one red and roll onto the side

cushion. That's about the best he could do,

really. This is going to be a very important

safety battle. It's an enormous frame in the context of this match.

For both players. Trying to re-establish their authority. And to

get right back into this final. And that is a super shot from Ding. He

could've snookered Ronnie on the reds. A safety. Yes, he's looking at

the side cushion. If he tries to come thin of these reds, it'll be

the thinnest of contact to miss those jaws. He will want to see if

there's a plant in the right corner. This need to be thin. Well,

that's a new one. I will have to remember that one,

Dominic. What a great shot that was. Well thought out.

Ding had a little look at the plant as well, but it can't be on because

Ronnie would have played it. A couple of shots ago.

There we can see, nowhere near. He would love to come thin of these red

and get the cue ball on the yellow and brown.

He has hit that a little bit thicker than he would have liked and that's

why the registrant close to the right corner. His only saving might

be Ronnie might be bridging over the green. Awkward cueing. Otherwise, I

fancy Ronnie for this. Well, 80% there, Ronnie.

APPLAUSE I think it has just gone up

slightly. His long potting last night was

absolutely superb. I don't think you missed one.

Position to the red next to the black is easier if you take the blue

to the right corner. APPLAUSE

It's imperative that Ronnie leaves himself an angle on the black to

pitch into those three reds. Just clipped the top of those three.

Should knock them all on nicely into this left-hand corner pocket.

He put two reds together at the same time. They are covering each other

now, so just a safety shot. A bit of a reprieve for Ding.

A Cliff Thorburn shot that one, something he came up with in thele

0s. I don't think anybody was familiar with the shot before that.

There wasn't much wrong with the way that Ding played it. That was a

superb shot from Ronnie. He did canon the yellow to the green

previously, so a clearance from here won't be easy.

He has the littlest of angles on. He is only going to want to be dropping

the red in across the top cushion. He will want it dead straight. Ity

he has the small smallest. He might have to play this. A bit of force.

He has just dropped in, that shows you how tight the pockets have been

playing this week. Just made sure the of the red. All he can do now is

roll up to the black. Wants to try and come in behind the

yellow, Ding. Even if he does that, there is every chance he could

almost go in off, or off the other side of the yellow and pot the

green, all these things can happen, but you can't legislate for those.

If he did come in behind the yellow and kick it down the table, he would

be guaranteed to leave distance between the balls.

Good call Dominic. He has left this yell throw the right corner. But he

is going to do well. He is going to have to play it perfect weight, to

hold for the green. This is very thin.

Haye had a free shot at that one. -- he had a flee shot that the one.

Full-ball into the black. The green wouldn't move.

Just take the position of the black. That is where we has played. He has

played in behind the black as well. That is not bad. -- he has played.

He has missed it completely and because hes so much check side on

it... Checked off the cushion, and he has given Ding a shot at this

green, not easy. Just wanted the clip the green then. How do do want

to play that one? He has to be careful here, what decisions maybe,

Ding, if that cue ball were to run off the smallest amount he would

miss that green. It is such an acute angle. I can't blame him for having

the cue ball replaced. This is going to have to go back

exactly the same position. It is not far away.

Are we going to see him play the swerve shot. He is trying to get the

smallest of edges. That is nearly a fall ball swerve.

There ist brown. Come to save him.

Ronnie had an anxious look, well, he is going to do well to squeeze that

past there. Think he hit the green a lot thicker

than he would have liked. He took a risk there. That cue ball

had been a centimetre short of the brown, it would have left an easy

safety for Ronnie. One where he could have snookered Ding himself.

Ding will be disappointed there. He hit that green a bit further over to

the left, ass he look. A couple of opportunities here for

Ronnie to possibly snooker Ding, but just doesn't need that green to

canon the pink. The crowd then "Woo." Now he has

Ding in a bit of trouble. The green is the key shot in this

frame. I tell you what, though, for me Ding is the king of raise Orr

thin cut back, make this is just a bit fine. I don't know if it is on

at all. If it is on, you can be assured he

is confident he will go for it. It is the cue ball, what is going to

happen with that? You can see the cut wasn't on. He needs the cue ball

to travel. Certainly Ding won't refuse this

one. Only risk is he will be playing %

the brown so he will be leaving the cue ball short of the baulk line.

I don't know if that green will pass the pink.

APPLAUSE What a good shot.

12 feet between both balls. Shown us this week how God his

safety department is. -- good.

They go on about Mark Selby, John Higgins, but they have nothing on

Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is top draw in every department.

-- top drawer. The cue ball is too close to that cushion. He can't

really get any side spin on it. It is a containing safety.

He played it well. If Ding plays this well he can stick

the again behind the blue, the white in behind the brown.

Just got to get a thin edge. The tinge he doesn't want do is hit

it too thick. He definitely didn't want to do

that, miss cue. REFEREE: Ronnie O'Sullivan six.

Well, well, well. Unbelievable.

He will pay for that. One good shot from Ronnie. In goes the green,

nicely on the brown. Well, well, well, what a steal this

will be. Very usual to see a top protetional

miscue. -- professional and that was at the wrong time. So in goes the

blue, just needs the pink. In goes the pink so for all intents

and purposes it looks like Ding was going to cut his arrear, but it

didn't happen and Ronnie O'Sullivan leads four frames to one.

What a hard fought frame that was, a real competitive rivalry between

these two players but you may be interested to know that Ronnie

O'Sullivan has quite a lot of affection for Ding Junhui, this was

the end of the 2007 Masters final. Won by O'Sullivan during which Ding

was upset and this moment was the start of a very special friendship.

Like Ding, ever since we, you know, I know his family, his mum, his dad,

when I go to China, they are so nice to me, she cooks for me, the mum,

and the dad gives me a gift when I get to China, that goes back to when

I played him as Wembley and put my arm round him, so I have always had

a kind of, you know if I am not in a tournament, it is like I always like

to see him do well. That is lovely to hear about that friendship, isn't

it, between two great player, one that spans the Continents and churls

as. We I wonder when you were in your prime as a top prowho was your

best friend? Denis Taylor, we used to tour together and the likes of

Very go but we had the match room group. We opened the game in Hong

Kong, Bangkok, we opened the game in Dubai so it was great to have so

much rivalry and friendship tournament When you play a big mate,

how does that affect the way you play the game Ronnie is not playing

his best, but the fact Ding, it, the only problem that is disturbing me

the fact Ding is having two or three chances a frame and as we see that

miscue, he is seeing the match, 3-2, he would be delighted and I looked

for all money he made his highest break of the match in that frame,

but unfortunately didn't win the frame. O'Sullivan has a 4-1

advantage. Indeed he does. I am just wondering

if you were inside Ronnie's head, he may be thinking "I can play so much

better than this. 4-1 ahead, am I likely to lose this final? " Of

course Ding's good play can have a big say in that, but of course, the

bigger the lead Ronnie manages to get here, the hearder it gets for

Ding frame by frame. -- harder.

A sigh from Ronnie, he missed that one straight away, but no harm done.

Does he think, I was going to say, the way he was looking was he was

going to play the pot and drop on the black. He will see if he can

disturb any reds. He has that one thicker than he would have liked.

The brown. It is coming to his rescue. And all of a sudden now, it

has turned into a good safety P Could see a series of safety shots

behind the black which will open the pack of reds

If he could leave that cue ball somewhere in the jaws of that green

pocket. That would cause Ronnie a problem, if you cover the two reds

towards the Buck with the green. Doesn't fancy playing a shot like

that though. He has got the cue ball right under

this top cushion. Won't be digging down there, he

might be forced into having, he can play-off this far red to the right,

thin and put the cue ball down near the bottom cushion with the green

covering the reds. He could have a go. It depends on

how he is feelingful he is looking at the one nearest the yellow

pocket. -- feeling. So lots of options.

Last night he would have rolled the red straight into the centre.

Today, though, is a different day. APPLAUSE

That was a good un. Played it in such a way if he didn't make the

cross double, he wouldn't sp leaving anything on. -- be leave anything

on. He has got the black. The reds have

split, he hasn't finished on anything real easy: But he has been

potting everything into the centres this week.

Just made that look so easy. And that was such a difficult red.

All of a sud season now, this looks very good for Ronnie.

A lot of reds in open play. What a difference that is going to

make, that miscue. 3-2, 4-1. Momentum seemed to have swung to

Ding Junhui. All of a sudden, swung back to Ronnie.

Ding Junhui. All of a sudden, swung Pretty to watch when he is among the

ball, just effortless. Yes we saw the best of Ronnie last

night, standard of play was just absolutely incredible, really.

Of course had Ding won that last frame, he would be be a single frame

behind, there would have been more press on Ronnie and Ding would have

felt more confident. The way things are at the moment, Ronnie just

doesn't feel under any pressure, certainly not score board pressure

any way. Consider we have had, well,

five-and-a-half frames I suppose many this match so far. Ding had

only managed to make breaks of 32 and 55. So it is hardly surprising

he has fallen behind. Two more reds and colours to go

further clear. He has left that one short, slightly. If you do make a

mistakes and you come to the table 60 points behind you don't want reds

positioned where they are here. Pink and green safe I think there is any

like I don't think there is any likelihood Ronnie would lose this

frame from here. So frame ball coming up, to increase

his lead to 5-1. Will we will seeing the first sent

of this year's final? He did make a break of 91 in winning

Clips that by a single point unless he can is who develop the two reds

on the side cushion. He could leave a double on them. He has missed the

canon. Never mind Ronnie O'Sullivan has

done for than enough with that excellent break of 92. He goes

further career in this match. He leads by 5 frames to one.

So, only do, what does Ding have to do to get back into this match?

-Dom. He knows he has to play better and he has to win some of the frames

he is in control of. He really ought to have produced the arrears to a

single frame at 3-2. Instead got beaten by Ronnie's tactical play and

lost that frame, to go 4-1 behind and Ronnie made that excellent 92,

and now he is 5-1 ahead, so he will have to win the last two frames.

What a cross double that was. Ding played a good safety shot. Thought

there is nothing on. Ronnie played that cross double as a shot to

nothing, potted the black, clears up.

REFEREE: Ding Junhui to break. Ding needs to make something happen, and

something happen very quick. In an ideal world obviously two

frames left in this session. Eight frames this afternoon. Nine

frames in evening. Ding would love to win these two now, to go to the

mid-session interval we would say, start the new session, only two

behind at 5-3. It is going to be a big ask.

Yes, because just sharing these two friends would mean Ronnie takes a

six lead into tonight's evening session. I have dug a hole for

myself but I think that would mean Ding would need to win 7-2 if he

were to win the title, and, well, that is very unlikely against Ronnie

O'Sullivan, especially in the fact that they wouldn't be any pressure

on him. -- there. TERRY GRIFFITHS: Just had an anxious

look with the cue ball. He needed it to miss the jaws, really.

He has played the safety and Ronnie knows if he can get out of this

session 7-1, well, you can't win the match in this

session 7-1, well, you can't win the can certainly lose it. And then no

chance of coming back for Ding, really.

I'll would say six - two is very unlikely but at 5-3, still in the

match. -- I would say 6-2. Now, he has left a red here for Ding

in the right corner but very risky. Well, look at that. Five minutes and

counting since Ding last potted a ball. -- 35.

Yes, and you do feel that if he were 5-1 up he would have just gone for

this read in the corner, so it just shows you how important it is with

his turning this red down to play the safety. And now he will be

wishing he had gone for it, because that just was not good at all.

He tried to play safe and it backfired on him. Players would much

He tried to play safe and it really give their opponent a chance

on missing the pot than mess a safety up. That's probably the

poorest shot Ronnie O'Sullivan has played all week in this event!

What does he do now? There is a red in all, a so he can't play there. --

in baulk. Not so sure about that one. I think you try to play the

queue will close into the red but, as it has happened, he has left Ding

cut on both reds, one to the left and one to the right.

That is not going to go in. No problem for Ronnie even if he is

snookered on this red into the right corner.

So we have seen him play the cushion. He has Mr two bottom reds

and is nicely onto the yellow. -- missed the two.

Well, just look at that. Ronnie's long pot success at 88%. We are told

that his breaks of 14 out of 16 in this match so far. -- that is. Just

got hold of the cue ball too much there, leaving him parallel with

this pink. Just potted so many balls this week

into the middle pocket to from all kinds of angles, and, again, made

that look very, very simple. Still got a lot of work to do,

though. He wants to make this into a good chance. Played for the black

there, just over it. I think we will see off this red, if

he can hold the cue ball I think we will see off this red, if

blue, he will be playing to get an angle on it to go into the reds.

And he has played it for the blue, gone the long way around, around the

houses, as they say! He has a little angle. He has a couple of choices.

He can play for the loose red below the cluster or force this blew into

the middle of Bob the side cushion. It would be a good pack to go into.

-- this blue into the middle off the side cushion.

I thought he would have gone into the cluster. Perfect from where they

were. As it was, he left himself to low and has not made the best job of

it, so we'll probably have to play a safety shops now. -- so he will. I

wonder if he will play the green into the reds. That would put

pressure on Ding's safety if he were to open them up here.

Well, that one went wrong! He is having to swerve a bit around the

blue to get the job that red and he just caught it a bit thick.

This is the best chance Ding has had for quite a while on that ball he

has spotted. -- potted. 42 minutes. That is a long time. Especially when

you think Ronnie O'Sullivan can reel off three frames in that amount of

time. A long time to sit in your chair. He really needs to take this

chance, try to get back into this match somehow.

Well, did he have a slight kick there? He is having the cue ball

cleaned, so... You can't see it from this angle but maybe he is getting

it seemed to alleviate any chance of getting the kick. -- getting it

cleaned. Nicely in the pocket, well played.

Still in control. Well, if Ding wants to go on and win

the frame from this opportunity, he will need all the reds with

remaining colours, so he has a lot of work to do here. But he does have

a lead ten points at the moment. That angle now on the pink... He

will consider the blue. I think that is much better for him. He may end

up having to play the red, the one near this left corner past the

yellow into the right corner, unless he feels he can drop the pink and

can this red towards the left corner.

Decided to play a much bolder shot instead, using the rest, stun and

check side. A good shot from Ding, that.

Just needs to slide past the black. Just needs to miss the black...

Which he has. A bit thin on this red but he has got a shot at it.

This red and a colour would stick him safe in this frame. But not

easy. A locked dinner on this red than he would have liked. -- a lot

thinner. Well, you got close to it but not

close enough, and look where this red has gone. -- he got close. You

are left-handed so I don't know whether you had this problem but

they are so hard to hit thin enough. He just lost the cue ball.

He was obviously concentrating on missing the cannon on the black to

get to the pink but this is the red. Surely Ding won't have another frame

stolen off him. Because from his point of view, that brown could

hinder O'Sullivan. Wants to land about three quarters ball on the

screen on the low side. He just has a bit of an angle. -- on the green.

Well, he's got into that one and he is on the brown. Close than he would

have liked! -- closer. All he could do was make sure. He is

laughing. Is he going to be tempted? What a big shot this would be if he

goes for it, and you know he is dying to go for it! But you would

probably say the safety is the right shot. But he is in attacking mood.

He got very close. Very close to both pockets. He will settle for

that. Well, the good thing there from Ronnie's point of view, he

fully committed to it. I'm trying to think of another player I know that

would have taken that on. This blew and the pink would be

enough for Ding. -- this blue. It is all happening for one, it has

to be said at the moment. He has played a very clever shot, it has to

be said. He can go for this pink knowing the cue ball is naturally

going to come back around. He will have some kind of shot on the black.

And the pink has gone in, so what a massive black this is now! Surely

we're not going to see another frame stolen from the grasp of Ding

Junhui?! Well, he has! You just can't believe

it, can you? He knew in the context of this match that that was a

massive frame. Ronnie O'Sullivan extends his lead and now leads 6-1.

Well, that was the sort of frame that could break in June we's heart.

Well, that was the sort of frame Again, Ronnie superlative when he

needed to be at the end of that frame.

We talk about shot to nothing but he had that previous frame where he

made a break of 80 odd, and OK, it is a shot that is a safety shot in

his own mind but the beauty is he then slots the pink in and potted a

marvellous black. And even though Ronnie O'Sullivan is leading 5-1,

his expression on his face knowing he had pinched a frame, you could

see that expression as he left the building. Ronnie must be delighted

with how it is going. We just have one more frame of the session and,

well, 7-1, but that is a huge margin. If he has any sort of chance

in this match he has to win the last frame. It is virtually impossible in

a final against the likes of someone like one O'Sullivan that he could

get back into the game. Ireland Stephen Hendry being 7-0 behind and

came back to win The Masters. So it is possible and he is good enough to

do it but the form Ronnie O'Sullivan is in, it is unlikely. But it is a

guaranteed must that he has to win this last frame. To come through the

round here on a couple of occasions and win all those frames, but now he

really has a mountain to climb. Think Ronnie feels this afternoon's

work is more than satisfactory. 5-3 wouldn't have been a bad thing but

6-2 is a dream. 7-1 is a fantasy. It was unbelievable last night,

where he pinched two frames from Barry Hawkins, which he had no right

to do. Unbelievable clearance. Barry Hawkins could have been 4-3 up. Just

couldn't get the frames on the board, couldn't convert.

And we see again today he has pinched two frames Ding should have

won. As we say that, he slots in another

long pot and his percentage is creeping up all the time. He has had

a smile there because he just meant to go past the blue spot. He could

be snookered if the blue doesn't go on. Because the referee will put the

blue as close as he can to its natural spot. And there we are. He

is snookered. It's going to be very tough road in

name -- tough for Ding to put out of his mind what has happened in this

frame. A bit like Alangalang, who has suffered a huge chandelier

falling on his piano. -- Lang Lang. Well, you would have to say, if this

was Ronnie, you would fancy this is a very good opportunity but this is

a big ask for Ding Junhui to knock this in. There do is to him. He has

played it and it is still a positive way. -- fair dos.

Well, you can see that cue ball's absolutely tight to the question, so

this red Ronnie will attempt to the left is very tough. All about the

pace and accuracy of the shot. He's just been on a total mission

this week. I have had the pleasure of playing Ronnie on many occasions.

I have not seen him play as well as this.

So much in this match but overall throughout the week as well. He has

already set his stall out for this year's World Championships. That is

for sure. He's only a couple away from Stephen Hendry's fantastic

record of seven. And the way he is going, you wouldn't put it past him

in surpassing that total. I think for as long as he wants to be there,

the talent he has got, he can. I'm sure Ronnie will go into the

pack of reds this time. Superb angle on the blue. Where's that cue ball?

It's OK. The black will still pot if he gets on it with the right angle.

And then the red onto the right-centre that he is looking at

here. Might just be able to run on for the black. I'm not sure if he

really wants to play for the black, though, here.

You want to just slide past there but if this pink passes... You can

be sure he will go for it. But he hasn't got it! Could this be the

lifeline he has thrown out a Ding Junhui? -- to Ding Junhui?

It is just when Ding gets a chance, it is always halfway through the

frames, it seems, and always facing a deficit. Like the last frame, if

he were to clear all the loose threads, he would have maybe, I

don't know, a ten, 15 point lead before tackling the two tricky reds.

And, as we seem, he has been losing these close frames. -- as we have

seen. Well, that just sums it all up. It

was awkward cueing. You would expect him to pop that ten out of ten. Just

hasn't been his afternoon, really. -- pot that. You have a tendency to

stop trying to hard and the game gets very, very difficult. -- to

start. It is a hard game anyway but when things are going wrong and you

are pushing the boat out, it can be very, very frustrating.

A fraction lower on this black and he wanted to be. Happy enough with

that? This is frame ball. Ding now requires a snooker. I'm sure he

doesn't feel he has been competitive in this match.

So, just one snooker required. Will Ding attempt this tricky red? He

would just love one more on the table.

I don't think he played on this red to pot it, but he might have to. He

played so he could... Get the red round the table.

As it happens, he got forced into going for that red.

APPLAUSE Very well played.

Only one four point penalty required. Well, that looked as if it

was going to be perfect. It is going to be a foul and a six.

REFEREE: Ding Junhui six. He will tell him to play from there. So all

of a sud season there is another little twist.

Both players have had a little smile.

-- sudden. There is lots of pressure out there.

Struck that rather nicely Ronnie. Ding is going to take that on. Just

a shame for Ding that pink is so awkwardly positioned. In that left

hand side cushion. He will play it as a soft stun round

the angles into the right corner. Oh, hit that badly, really.

Certainly didn't play the snooker. Of course... The referee can call

misses because Ding Junhui cud now win the frame, so -- could now win

the frame, so we have seen a bit of a turn of events here.

How close was he there? He has pushed that pink a bit closer to the

pocket. And a full-ball snooker as well. -

Ding Junhui will probably make him play from here.

Just looking to see how this shot would be. But he has moved the pink

into a very potable position. There we are. He is playing it from there.

I think that is a God decision by Ding.

-- good decision. If you have tuned into watching the

cycling, I can tell you it will follow the snooker, if you want to

watch it now, it is available on BBC Two HD, and on line.

Ronnie will be pleased with the outcome of that escape.

Amazing how this frame suddenly turned round, it would be ironic if

Ding were to win a frame he didn't look like winning having lost two

frames he didn't look like losing: That is a great shot.

-- losing. It is all happening here. Hold on to

your hats. So one good pot.

Not to be the yellow. It is going close to the corner pocket. It slows

up just in time. He is having a little look. Has to

sure he doesn't catch it two thin that he collides with the black.

Almost has the ten shin of a deciding frame about it, I don't

know why. Oh great shot from Ronnie. He is pulling out these incredible

long put pots look where the cue ball has finished. You could not put

that better with your hand, the green into the right centre.

In it goes. Just brown or blue required. For a

7-1 interval lead. I think he had a kick on that. You

never know. This is a pretty thin blue if he takes it to the left

centre, playing it to the left corner instead. It is there.

Rather surprised to see Ding come back to the table. Requires two

snookers. #123450i6789

In goes the pink. Hasn't been a good day for Ding Junhui. He has only

managed a break of 55. But Ronnie O'Sullivan has made breaks of 70. 91

and 92 and goes in to tonight's final session, with a commanding 7-1

lead. P That is two-and-a-half hours of

total dominance who from Ronnie O'Sullivan, extremely impressive and

he is in a terrific position to win the Welsh Open In snooker you can't

win the match in first session but you can lose it and that is what

Ding has done he hasn't competed at all. He has tried his heart out. He

has gave Ronnie too much respect. He tried to get involved in long

battle. But you get shots all the time that Ronnie play, he played a

great shot on the yellow. Most people's head would have been in a

jam jarks he let Ding get back in the frame. This shot to nothing. In

it go, but it he has finished perfect on the green. Now, that

would, you, you would be sick sitting in your chair. He does that

time and time again. He hasn't played as well in this session as

his previous two matches but he is 7-1 in front. With others you would

think it was luck but with Ronnie he meant it. Ding so far behind, he

needs more than just to play well, he needs a miracle. It can happen.

They do happen. But there has been matches that have been won from this

far behind but against O'Sullivan in form, it is unlikely. Ronnie

O'Sullivan in a terrific position here in this Welsh Open final, and

you can see the conclusion of this year's 2014 tournament at 7.00 on

BBC Two Wales this evening. That will be the final session of the

2014 Welsh Open. Ronnie O'Sullivan needs just two more frames, can Ding

mount an unlikely fight back? We will find out at seven, but until

then, have a very good afternoon. Victoria loves them.

SHE GASPS All you need is you to run,

swim or cycle for Sport Relief.