25/02/2014 Snooker: Welsh Open

When this man is around there is always a crackle of excitement and

an extra buzz in the crowd. It's no different this evening at the Welsh

Open as Ronnie O'Sullivan prepares to play his second round match

against Barry Pinches. We will bring that to you live. First, here's the

story of the day so far. that to you live. First, here's the

Mark Williams was in action this afternoon against China's Tian

Pengfei. It was a straightforward day for the two-time world champion.

He never needed to get out of first gear. There was this foul in the

third frame. Williams wrapped up the match in

fine stale with a break of 108 to seal his passage to the last 32.

4-0, could have won the first couple of frames. But I finished the match

well. Probably finished the match off better than I played for a long

time. However, there was heartbreak for Jamie Jones who lost out to

Graeme Dott in a final frame decider that went down to the black ball.

Ryan Day made an exit, he lost 4-1 to Anthony McGill. He will be joined

by Ding Junhui who beat Jamie Cope 4-1. Ding Junhui looked in ominous

form. Winning was good, whatever winning, always feeling well. There

were two other games played in the late afternoon. Neil Robertson

looked in control as he dominated his match against Rory McLeod.

Former world champion Shaun Murphy is also through to the last 43

beating Craig Steadman 4-2. A is also through to the last 43

big names already through. It's fair to say the biggest name of them all

big names already through. It's fair is here tonight, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

When Ronnie is here the atmosphere seems to lift another notch. It's

unbelievable to see him back. He was sadly missed last year. He missed

most the tournaments last year to be fair. A fantastic talent, probably

the best the game's ever seen and for me personally terrific to watch.

Love watching him. A red hot favourite you would think, but what

has Barry Pinches to do to stand a chance of getting into this game?

Make no mistakes and pot as many balls as he can, more than Ronnie.

Barry is an accomplished player. Ronnie won't have it all his own

way. Ronnie this year is in terrific form. Barry won their last meeting

more than three years ago. Can he produce a big shock tonight? Let's

find out, it's time to get the players out with our MC.

Thank you very much. The atmosphere this evening is fantastic! Our next

player is playing the best snooker of his career, a former UK champion,

quart-finalist, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Barry

Pinches! And Barry is up against simply the

best in the business. This man is a Masters champion, a world champion,

on a snooker table he is a pure genius! Ladies and gentlemen, give

it up for Ronnie O'Sullivan! What a reception for the world

champion here in Newport. Ronnie O'Sullivan is ready to play. To

describe this match for us it's Willie Thornee and Dominic Dale.

Good evening everybody. What a match this could be. The legend that is

Ronnie O'Sullivan taking a player that people won't know a lot about,

Barry around a long time and did beat Ronnie a few years ago.

Lovely lad Barry Pinches. Got his work cut out tonight, though. With

me I have Dominic Dale, the recent winner of of the tournament in

Blackpool and playing tomorrow morning, I think? Yes, against Matt

Selby. Good evening everybody. I am keenly looking forward to this

match, like most of our viewers. Yes, that's true that Barry did beat

Ronnie about three or four years ago.

Important I think that Barry starts well, puts pressure on Ronnie.

Probably notice there at the back, Norwich City

supporter. Has played a lot of the big names

over the years, but playing in front of a capacity crowd is always very

tough. Got a chance of getting in behind

the brown here. Ronnie has to come down the

congested side of the table, the left side. I don't know whether he

will fancy skimming off one of the reds and avoiding two reds near that

left cushion because the cueing is so andingward. Dk dk awkward. --

awkward. Definitely should get behind the

That will be his aim. Might need the angle.

That will be his aim. Might need the extended spider to get over those

reds. That's a poor shot. Got to give

extra cueing down on a ball like that. When you were playing those

shots did you find that playing with a spider and elevating the cue it

kills the pace. With a bridge you get more speed. You are cueing the

top of the white down into the table. You are not getting the

desired top spin on it. Too thick this time. The first real

mistake comes from Barry. That was very good cueing from

Ronnie. Controlled the amount on the cue ball perfectly. With that last

shot Barry developed the black spot cue ball perfectly. With that last

area a little bit. This is a cue ball perfectly. With that last

chance here for Ronnie already This will open another red when he

gets rid of this one. Doesn't necessarily have to play any cannons

for a few shots. This will be the fourth black.

It has to be said, the balls are in rather a nice position at the

moment. A little bit lower on the black than

he wanted. When you get to this stage in a break and looking for a

147 it's best to play on two reds, rather than one. So long as he gets

past the pink spot by three or four inches he is bound to be on one or

the other. That's not a good shot. Didn't play the kiss there, but he

will be happy with it. I just love the effortless ease with

which Ronnie plays. Such freedom. Very hard to do.

I wonder if he is thinking about the possibility here of a 147. After the

second black he started thinking that.

The key thing with Ronnie, he brings his practice game to the match table

which everybody wants to do. Not everyone is able to do that. Not

many players in the game are able to do that.

He will play the two reds here. The one next to the green but if he

overhits it he has the one in the middle. Didn't need to kiss the

blue. The red next to the green is no good to him now.

That is a fantastic shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan. How about that for cue

ball control? Two inches too hard. Is that blue going to get in the way

again? Is it possible to get back for the

black? It certainly is. Great shot. Just a fraction too hard, though.

That's a shame. He needs this to speed up. Not a bad

effort. He'd love it to come on the red next to the pink.

This is still OK, though. This is the key shot. He has to get

high on the black now. Oh, you're kidding, what a shame. A

fabulous break of 104, looked like being a maximum. Ronnie O'Sullivan

looks in great form. Ronnie O'Sullivan takes the first frame.

What a start, on course for a 147, strangely, even though we've just

seen a century break down, we're feeling disappointed. Brilliant. A

little bit a joke really. He's making it look too easy really. Just

into the arena, a ten-minute knock, waited, got on the table. First

opportunity, bang, nearly a 147. Unbelievable. We saw some wonderful

examples of potting power and that ability to place the cue ball round

the table, as if it was on a string. Yes, obviously, that shot there was

just absolutely different, he couldn't pick the cue ball up with

his hands and play it any better. Then other positional shots to get

down the side cushion, makes the game look easy. We've seen Robertson

and Murphy and Mark Williams making slow, tentative starts, 40s and 50s,

to come straight in like that in the first frame and get a century

straight away, on course for a 147 as well, that just shows, it's the

measures of the man. It is. In the longer-frame tournaments he seems to

be winning at the momen He breeds confidence. He's on top of his game.

Barry Pinches must feel he's staring down the barrel here. It's early

days. Can he get back into this one? COMMENTATOR: He certainly can, but

winning this second frame will be a big help to him.

Barry's seen this all before. He'll have played Ronny a good few times

over his 20-odd year professional career. He will have played all the

greats at some time or another. That's another superb safety from

Ronny. Snoockered on all reds here. Just looking at the stats, and Barry

Ronny. Snoockered on all reds here. has only played four or five times

against Ronnie, he's only won a couple of frames. He's always

competed. Three matches on the trot by 5-2, this is best of seven

without an interval. Sometimes you wish for an interval, if you're

struggling. Say you're 3-1 behind or something, you think let me have a

rest, get my thoughts together. Of course, best of seven, no interval.

Do you like that format? I do, actually. Conversely, if you're

ahead, the last thing you want is an interval. It's a tricky one. It just

depends on your own performance as to whether you prefer an interval.

If the match is going well, you are don't want an interval. If you're

struggling, it can be a help. He needs a blue to come his rescue.

If he has, it's very fortunate. Couldn't be Nymphomaniac in the way,

the blue. He can -- couldn't be anymore in the way, the blue.

He could swerve around the blue to pot the red, that's an easier shot.

If you want to guarantee success at potting the ball. Positionally,

If you want to guarantee success at in the lap of the gods. That worked

out rather well. The black is missable, but it's one he has to

take on. The rewards are there if he gets it.

Barry will be well aware he can't afford to miss pots like that. That

was just as good an opportunity in this frame as Ronnie had in the

last. Secretly he would have hoped to win the frame. Butch he's handed

the initiative back to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

It was pretty straightforward, the black. It was a bit of a surprise

for him to miss it by so far. Even worse when you're playing the

best of seven and you've lost the opening game.

Not many players would have done that, they would have played for the

loose red. Always looks for every opportunity. A lot of the young

players, that have been criticised, you have to watch players like this,

all the good break builders and see what they do. Neil Robertson, of

course, who is very good at getting the pack open early.

It just went slightly awkwardly for him. He's got four or five loose

reds, trying to bring another red into play. Just to slow the cue ball

down. He was holding the white by playing that shot.

That was a slightly run through from under the cushion is always

difficult to play. Now missing that plaque hasn't cost

as many you thought it would do, Barry.

Does the pink pot in the middle? He's going to struggle to pot the

black. I'm surprised. You definitely have

to get the spider out and play the black. It's the right shot playing

the pot. It's a very acute angle. It does

pot, this red. If he wants to play safe, he'd have to screw the red

into the red nearest the right side of the black and get the white back

in. I thought he was going to kiss the

blue. That's an excellent safety shot, Barry, well played.

APPLAUSE That's what Barry needs to do with

his safety, trying to force an error out of Ronnie. He Do WhatU Want with

that one -- he could do with that one. He's looking for a containing

safety here leaving the cue ball somewhere on the cushion, behind the

black spot. There is a red that possibly could be on for Barry into

the right centre. He has left that one on that Gary

was talking about in the middle. That's certainly useful to Barry, if

that red by the blue does pot. It would free the blue into the centre

pockets. I'd love to have the pink free as

well. At least that black is in open play. It's a decent chance for

Barry, just a couple of slightly awkward reds on the right-hand side

cushion. Surprised he didn't play for the one

nearest the green but he played that very well. It could have gone wrong.

Not happy with himself. Even the black he potted he winsed with his

face. Does that red by the pink pot into

this corner? He can run through off the cushion

and get between those two reds on the right side.

That's a typical Barry Pinches shot. Play for doubles, gets a lot of

them. Got a good angle on the brown to swing the cue ball around the

angles. Look at Barry's double again. Two or three cushions.

That's unlucky. Just a safety shot now I feel. Does have a useful 27

points lead now in this second frame so every chance to win it.

Got to be very careful now. All three reds are in play.

The green down the cushion is not a big stumbling block for Ronnie. The

person who pots the next red will be favourite to win the frame.

Don't know how he managed to avoid the double kiss there, the red and

white seemed certain to collide. How has that not hit each other?

Amazing. We said who potted the next red would be favourite. He is behind

but Ronnie has gone favourite to win the frame. Look how boldly he played

that shot. He knew if he missed that red he was probably conceding to

Barry. Just 100% focussed on the pot in hand. As you say, definitely a

heavy favourite now. This is the frame Barry Pinches

definitely should have won. That's good. If he can reach it

left-handed he will play it. This is Barry's last hope. If he gets around

the back of the green he might even play to move the green here. I would

think he will be playing to drop behind it.

This is Barry's last hope. He is playing safe.

Very good shot from Barry Pinches. Could not have played that better.

Didn't intend to cue ball to run through a foot or so but he has

landed on the brown nicely, so no problem here.

Oh dear! That was for 1-1. What a reprieve for Ronnie. It does require

the remaining four colours. But this is Ronnie O'Sullivan at the

table, difficult to see him not potting these four balls to take a

2-0 lead. The fact that he has to come in and out of baulk from blue

to pink, there is one stumbling block. If he hits it poorly the

black could get in his way. By that I mean he could snooker himself but

he would have to be very unlucky to rest behind the black.

You can see he is not happy with it. He is so worried about the black. I

You can see he is not happy with it. thought that would cause him a

problem. Amazing. Got so much room but the

black was in his mind all the time. I was just amazed by how that side

took off the cushion. Barry, surprisingly, does get another

opportunity. Foul. Ronnie O'Sullivan six. Well,

not all that bad for Barry. The only real difference is now that it's

Barry that requires pink and black. Wonder if Ronnie will take a double

on here. He has done. It's close. Well it was Barry who made the

biggest break in that frame but it wasn't sufficient. Ronnie O'Sullivan

takes a second frame in addition to the first. He leads 2-0.

As Ronnie leaves the arena it's fair to say Barry Pinches will be feeling

rather glum sat in his seat after that. Darren, he had his chances

there. Yeah, he had a couple of chances in that frame really. He

will feel really upset with himself that he didn't convert them. The

thing is against Ronnie that you don't necessarily get that many

chances and you have to take them if you have any chance of putting

pressure on him. Obviously, because it's a short sprint every frame is

massive. Big difference to 1-1 and 2-0. Barry's got to stay positive.

He had a real good chance at the end of that frame then to pinch it and

level the match and he will be thinking about the brown he missed

for a long time. Is that how Barry will see it, because the first frame

was a procession for Ronnie, at least Barry can say he was right in

that second frame. He did have chances, he did push Ronnie all the

way or do you think he will only be able to see it one way and that's I

missed out? He did have a couple of chances. Missed the red to the right

corner and fluked it in the left centre. It was a terrific fluke. He

scored a couple off it and he was well in control in that game. He is

unlucky with the positional shot, clipped off a red. But then to get a

chance again he potted a good green. Hit it smoothly. The brown wasn't a

gimme like Dominic was saying in commentary, it was close to the

brown and an angele on it but he will -- an angle on it. Ronnie is

going to break off in frame three. It will be a relieved Ronnie

O'Sullivan to get frame three under way leading 2-0.

Just about enough room to go around the black. Has to put side on to

miss that red. Look where the red's gone.

It's a strange game sometimes when you know you should have won a

previous frame and how things can go wrong.

He was worried about coming close to the yellow or brown.

There is the famous artist Damien Hirst who follows Ronnie around the

world and they're close friends. Always at the World Championship,

the UK Championship, always at the Masters.

There is a little bit of hair on the tip. He is not looking at the angle

of the pot. Will he remove it or comb it?

He missed that by a long way. I think he's got away with it.

It's going to be disspiriting for Barry pinches -- Barry Pinches

having lost the second frame. He's bound to think he should have won.

He's been fortunate. He mis-hit that completely. The yellow is in the

way. He's making some pun characteristic

mistakes. -- uncharacteristic mistakes here. He hasn't really got

away with this one. Well, they're both a little

distracted at the moment. Barry is a seasoned campaigner, but

he's letting the occasion get to him at the moment.

Now then, Barry, you've been given another chance.

I'm very surprised Barry took that particular red. For me, the one to

have played there, which was simple off the side cushion for the black,

was the red to the left of the pink. (

Just coming round to see what angle he's got.

He needed to play a little bit firmer than that.

This certainly isn't the correct angle that he's left himself here.

There isn't enough room to screw round the back of the black. I think

the black pots by the other red. He can roll it on and off the other

cushion. You're not going to get many Bert

chances than this to win a frame. Played that pretty well. There

wasn't a lot of room there. It could easily have gone wrong.

There is a gap to get onto the blue or the yellow.

That has opened the frame up. He'll be horrified if he loses the frame

now. Just this black and one more red

required for Barry to get his first frame on the board.

Well that's a horrible kick. He had the biggest kick you could ever

imagine. Luckily for Barry there's a few reds

that are safe. Ronnie has decided to go all out for

the victory here. Barry Pinches should take the third

frame. He's decided to play red and Black

Country and get the snooker on the colours.

-- to play red and black and get the snooker on the colours.

If I know Barry Pinches -- if I were Barry Pinches, I'd be very concerned

right now. That's unbelievable how badly he hit

that. Barry surely is going to get his

first frame on the board. Foul. Frame conceded. Ronnie

O'Sullivan had a lot of chances to win the frame. Barry Pinches get the

frame on the board. He trails by 2-1.

Fair play to Barry Pinches. He has pulled the frame back. We're about

to run out of time now here on BBC Two Wales. We will bring you the

conclusion of this match in our highlights programme at 11. 1.20pm,

here on BBC Two Wales. We will also show you Mark Williams, the local

favourite, his impressive victory to reach the last 32. We hope you can

join us for that at 11. 20pm, here on BBC Two Wales. For now, from

Newport, have a very good evening.