:00:31. > :00:38.Hello. It is the kind of final but they were all hoping to see. To do
:00:39. > :00:43.the very best. The world number three, Neil Robertson, I been to
:00:44. > :00:45.lift the trophy for the second time, a man hoping to go for his fourth
:00:46. > :01:02.Welsh Open title. I would like to think that some of
:01:03. > :01:07.the things that I play is the greatest that anyone has ever
:01:08. > :01:12.played. I have not got seven world titles, I've got five. Not as many
:01:13. > :01:16.as Hendry and Davis, not far behind. But this year standard and scoring
:01:17. > :01:24.and shots and whatever, I would like to think that it is anyone has ever
:01:25. > :01:29.produced in the game. Probably the match that everyone wants to see.
:01:30. > :01:39.Especially, I have won the last two huge tournaments, and he won the
:01:40. > :01:45.Masters. We have won back wrote the last three titles. And it is England
:01:46. > :01:51.against Australia. He is competing to a level that again, is as good as
:01:52. > :01:57.anyone has played in the game. He scored 100 centuries in one year. He
:01:58. > :02:06.was involved in a great match at the Masters. He has been playing
:02:07. > :02:14.flawless snicker. He is playing in an era that is as hard as it is ever
:02:15. > :02:19.been. -- snooker. You only have to have admiration. I have never seen
:02:20. > :02:23.him play better, and not BOOING
:02:24. > :02:31.Also some of the greats. I never saw the 80s and
:02:32. > :02:38.it is more important that people go away that people go away having had
:02:39. > :02:42.a great time. Hopefully, we have both played a great match. It would
:02:43. > :02:46.be nice to win, but if I did not, I still think I have had a fantastic
:02:47. > :02:51.week. I have enjoyed it. I am not a good loser, so I will be trying
:02:52. > :02:53.might absolute whatevers off. I want to win. Of course I want to win. But
:02:54. > :03:06.I am up against the Machine! It has been a long time. 2009 was my
:03:07. > :03:10.last semifinal. The crowd had been waiting a long time for me to get
:03:11. > :03:16.back to that one-table set-up. It is nice to get into another final. This
:03:17. > :03:22.was the second tournament I ever won. This is how Neil Robertson made
:03:23. > :03:28.it to the final. One frame from going out in round one, before
:03:29. > :03:35.winning the decider against Fraser Patrick. After that, a smooth ride.
:03:36. > :03:40.His toughest battle clinic is Mark Allen, but a 6-4 win for Robertson.
:03:41. > :03:44.And Ronnie, well, he lost the first frame in three of his matches, but
:03:45. > :03:50.it is not being an issue each time. He has come back to win compared to
:03:51. > :03:54.be. Most important -- most impressively in the quarterfinal
:03:55. > :03:59.when he won 5-1. Only five frames dropped in six matches. It does
:04:00. > :04:04.promise to be some occasion. A good afternoon to Willie Thorne. An
:04:05. > :04:09.impressive step from Ronnie O'Sullivan. Magnusson snicker
:04:10. > :04:14.throughout the week. He is on the book -- verge of something special.
:04:15. > :04:18.He has been so relaxed this week. We have seen him smiling and all the
:04:19. > :04:23.rest of it. A relaxed running oh Sullivan is very dangerous. --
:04:24. > :04:29.Ronnie O'Sullivan. Newell had to get off to a good start. He could have
:04:30. > :04:38.lost the next two against Mark Allen. He was referring to Robertson
:04:39. > :04:50.as a machine. That is the Mac of a serious champion. -- mark of a
:04:51. > :04:57.serial champion. Ronnie -- mark has changed his approach. He is number
:04:58. > :05:01.three of the work -- in the world. This is two sessions. Best of 17
:05:02. > :05:11.frames. Who has the best mental stamina? I think Robertson will have
:05:12. > :05:17.stamina if you guys guys. But he has to start well. A real sense of
:05:18. > :05:23.anticipation here. The players are getting ready to make their grand
:05:24. > :05:33.appearance. Let's join our MC. The final of the bet Victor Welsh Open
:05:34. > :05:40.2016. We started off with 128 players, we now just have two. They
:05:41. > :05:46.are battling it out for a ?60,000 first prize. Australia versus
:05:47. > :05:50.England. Let's get it on! First of all, the biggest name in the world
:05:51. > :05:56.of snooker. The five-time world champion, three-time Welsh Open
:05:57. > :05:57.champion, he loves the Welsh, please welcome the incredible Ronnie
:05:58. > :06:29.O'Sullivan! It is up against a natural born
:06:30. > :06:32.winner. He is struck -- he is from Australia. The Thunder from Down
:06:33. > :07:05.Under. Neil Robertson! It is the final of the 2016 Welsh
:07:06. > :07:15.Open. Darren Morgan and Dominic Dale.
:07:16. > :07:24.COMMENTATOR: This could be a very thrilling final. They have played
:07:25. > :07:29.each other 14 times. Neil Robertson has had more recent victory in the
:07:30. > :07:34.semifinals of last year 's Masters. He won 6-1 on that occasion. We
:07:35. > :07:43.could be set up for a really good in counter. Alongside me is Darren
:07:44. > :07:51.Morgan. Adhesive is going down? It's going to be a long one, you would
:07:52. > :07:57.feel. You would have to put Ronnie O'Sullivan slight favourite, because
:07:58. > :08:00.he has played flawless snicker. Neil Robertson, every time he has had to
:08:01. > :08:13.rise to the task, he has. I think as Ronnie said, is this all
:08:14. > :08:18.going to be that the start. They are going to have to get off to a good
:08:19. > :08:24.start. When a couple of the early frames. Put Ronnie under as much
:08:25. > :08:33.pressure as possible. We saw all week, when running start locking
:08:34. > :08:40.them in, at the moment, he is very confident. He is in a real good
:08:41. > :08:47.place of the table. He has improved his game immensely. I had a little
:08:48. > :08:57.chat with him early on, and I said that life begins at 40. He said that
:08:58. > :09:04.he is playing like he is 14 or 15. It took in that long to really enjoy
:09:05. > :09:11.himself, to create a powerful where he wants to go. For him to allow
:09:12. > :09:14.himself to -- express himself. He is playing like it is exhibition
:09:15. > :09:36.snicker. We know it is very serious matchplay.
:09:37. > :09:41.This is the best of 17 frames. The first of nine -- the first 29 will
:09:42. > :10:01.be the victor. Ill Robertson started yesterday's
:10:02. > :10:07.semifinal rather hesitantly. He needs to be more positive early on
:10:08. > :10:09.against Ronnie O'Sullivan. If he does not just stop playing well
:10:10. > :10:35.straightaway, from the word go. Nothing too shoddy about that one.
:10:36. > :11:08.He keep that absolute perfection. -- cued that to absolute perfection.
:11:09. > :11:15.There you go. You can see a near capacity house in attendance. It
:11:16. > :11:20.will be further tonight. The concluding session of this year's
:11:21. > :11:25.final. A wonderful attendance this week at the Welsh Open. It has been
:11:26. > :11:59.heartening to see, as a snooker player myself.
:12:00. > :12:06.Robertson trying to get the red in the right centre, but trying to keep
:12:07. > :12:11.things nice and tight. He will be a little bit disappointed, Neil
:12:12. > :12:20.Robertson, after knocking a great long red in, only to get six.
:12:21. > :12:29.That is a lot thinner than he would have liked. This is a half chance
:12:30. > :13:06.finial. For it has -- the sponsor's logo has
:13:07. > :13:16.come. They have found it stuck their cue, and then stuck to! This is a
:13:17. > :13:17.much better start than what Newell had in the semifinal. He looks up
:13:18. > :13:46.for this. -- as always, it will take the place a
:13:47. > :13:53.few shot to -- it will take the players a few shots. They are trying
:13:54. > :13:59.to work out a way of getting the black ball into play. There is a
:14:00. > :14:00.plant there to the left corner. I don't think that Niall will need to
:14:01. > :15:36.bother with that. -- sailing, that effort. Everything is
:15:37. > :15:44.just covering each other. Now the plant that I mentioned earlier could
:15:45. > :15:46.come into play. There it goes. If he is not on a colour here, he will be
:15:47. > :17:14.very is not on a colour here, he will be
:17:15. > :17:18.snicker. -- escape the snooker. That has rebounded quite nicely from the
:17:19. > :17:22.pocket jaws. He is quite well set here on the brown into the Green
:17:23. > :17:27.Park it -- Green pocket. A couple of fibres stick out and it
:17:28. > :17:57.catches your eye. It has made things awkward at the
:17:58. > :18:19.other end of the table. He has had to concentrate in the few
:18:20. > :18:34.opportunities that he has had. It is OK. He potted this red. The
:18:35. > :18:54.bottom one of the three. Heat keeps getting the right side of
:18:55. > :19:01.the blue. This could be a frame-winning chance. Ideal now.
:19:02. > :19:43.There is risk with that shot. That is what he is looking at.
:19:44. > :19:54.Three quarters of the table time, Neil Robertson, in this opening
:19:55. > :20:01.frame. That is why he is only a a few pots away from winning it. He
:20:02. > :20:07.may have the opportunity here potting this red to stun into the
:20:08. > :20:16.red. To the left of the black, to split it up.
:20:17. > :20:48.So, red, blue and red to get this opening frame for Neil.
:20:49. > :21:36.That Fred was frame ball for Neil. Play the black here, and stun the
:21:37. > :21:42.ball into the red. It will kick along the position towards the left
:21:43. > :21:47.corner. He took his eye off the black, but Ronnie, if he does come
:21:48. > :21:56.up to the table, will need two sniggers. Neil Robertson takes the
:21:57. > :22:01.opening frame. He leads by 1-0. STUDIO: Yes. Good start by Neil
:22:02. > :22:05.Robertson. Worth a look at how these two measure up at this stage. We see
:22:06. > :22:12.that they are not too far apart in the world rankings. The 27 ranking
:22:13. > :22:17.titles. In terms of their clear career head-to-heads, money is up
:22:18. > :22:23.9-5. Perhaps the interesting thing is that they have not met too many
:22:24. > :22:27.times in the last two and a half years. The last time that they met,
:22:28. > :22:31.it went to Robertson. That was in the 2015 masters. You would think
:22:32. > :22:35.that they are the two best players in the world, and they would meet
:22:36. > :22:40.often, but Ronnie has been picking and choosing his tournaments. They
:22:41. > :22:46.could be in the others -- other half of the draw. As we talked about post
:22:47. > :22:54.match, or pre-match, Robertson would have to get off to a good start.
:22:55. > :22:58.That would suit Robertson, and -- a scrappy opening frame. Ronnie did
:22:59. > :23:02.not get any fluency at all. Newell has a foothold in the net. He got
:23:03. > :23:10.off to a good start. Ronnie has lost three of his opening frames this
:23:11. > :23:17.week. That is amazing. Let's go back.
:23:18. > :23:21.COMMENTATOR: It was a scrappy first frame, but Neil Robertson and
:23:22. > :23:25.knocked in a couple of real good long pots.
:23:26. > :23:37.I do agree with Willie. With the way that the first frame went.
:23:38. > :23:46.Obviously, running is not going to be worried at all. -- Ronnie. What
:23:47. > :23:50.is most worrying is that he is playing around with his tip.
:23:51. > :24:42.We have not seen him doing that at all this week.
:24:43. > :24:51.It looked like, for a minute, that the bread was going to go in the
:24:52. > :25:11.right corner. -- the red. Neil Robertson in a bit of trouble now.
:25:12. > :25:22.APPLAUSE Both these players will be pleased to see the black still in
:25:23. > :25:28.open play. They will have to attack and break build. Both are very
:25:29. > :25:33.proficient in that department of the game.
:25:34. > :25:39.He just caught that read too thickly, Ronnie. It caught and
:25:40. > :25:50.another raid on its weight back to Boult. It's in the red corner if you
:25:51. > :26:06.want to go for it. It was brought back fraught with danger.
:26:07. > :26:18.He is having a good look at this. It is just the side of the cost of
:26:19. > :26:20.going into the corner pocket. He is going to have to play this with
:26:21. > :26:35.pace. It is tight. Very tight. He has got
:26:36. > :26:40.the second part of the shot right. He has got a reasonable cue ball. He
:26:41. > :26:44.left running chanced to the left corner. It is all about leaving a
:26:45. > :27:19.chance. -- Ronnie. Good effort from Ronnie. He has not
:27:20. > :27:23.quite got into the match. He has not got his cue arm and timing and
:27:24. > :27:27.rhythm going just yet. It is early days in this match, from his point
:27:28. > :27:36.of view. He scored five points in the first frame.
:27:37. > :27:47.Well, that is amazing how Newell has found the gap there and not cannoned
:27:48. > :27:50.any of the reds. I am not sure he thinks it goes. If he has to play
:27:51. > :27:57.the blue, it is not easy to get on the next red.
:27:58. > :28:05.Even if you can get to the bottom angle on this black, there is no
:28:06. > :28:14.guarantee of the control of the cue ball. He will do well to miss the
:28:15. > :28:18.red on the top cushion. Obviously, him potting the black, he is going
:28:19. > :28:23.to tie it up, somewhat. He is putting it back on its own spot. We
:28:24. > :28:31.could see a similar pattern to the previous frame here. Yes, I think he
:28:32. > :28:39.has decided that the black does go. He should be able to avoid the
:28:40. > :29:06.cannon on the top cushion. When it re-spots, it is tied up for now.
:29:07. > :29:21.APPLAUSE The black is now truly tied up. Can
:29:22. > :29:28.he get on this thread? To the left-centre... It should be a bonus
:29:29. > :29:33.if this goes. If not... He has won at the top. A chip back to the
:29:34. > :29:40.corner. Already down, this red must go.
:29:41. > :29:43.Again, there wasn't much room but he has played it well, back in good
:29:44. > :30:01.position now. Just had a look to see if the black
:30:02. > :30:07.wood pot into the right corner. Possibly to see if the red to the
:30:08. > :30:11.left of the black would also pot. And doors, he has played Britt, and
:30:12. > :30:18.when he plays for this, this will really open up the black. I think he
:30:19. > :30:24.had to bend it in slightly, to straighten the potting angle. That
:30:25. > :30:29.is why he can and the red and he played it as a stunt shot. Putting
:30:30. > :30:31.this black, it could clear the black spot area, this is a good chance
:30:32. > :31:04.developing for Neill. Having a little look to see if he
:31:05. > :31:10.can part this red into the corner. He would love to play that shot. As
:31:11. > :31:15.Dominic says... It will clear the black spot area. Make things a
:31:16. > :31:18.little bit easier for him. I think he thought in potting the black he
:31:19. > :31:33.would get a much thicker contact. He has played to cam in the black
:31:34. > :31:40.and it has worked out OK. That could have gone wrong. He will be quite
:31:41. > :33:12.happy with the finished A bit lower on this black than he
:33:13. > :33:17.would have liked. Looking to see if he can get into the cluster of the
:33:18. > :33:25.reds. Going right to the bottom of the cue ball. Well... He just cause
:33:26. > :33:32.it a little bit too full, I think but he should still be on the red in
:33:33. > :33:36.the right it will be a bonus. He meant to catch the outside of the
:33:37. > :34:03.red he initially hit. Wanted the cue ball to go to the right.
:34:04. > :34:10.Neil will be the first to admit he was somewhat fortunate to have the
:34:11. > :34:14.red on into the right-centre and it has gone in. From his point of
:34:15. > :35:49.Not on this thread as well as he sailing. 51 points in the lead, to
:35:50. > :35:51.Not on this thread as well as he would have liked, he caught the
:35:52. > :36:01.black a little bit thick, it went in-off the jaw. Still no problem.
:36:02. > :36:10.So... 66 ahead, 67 on the table, a nice, it easy blue. I think it's
:36:11. > :36:11.fair to say Neil Robertson will go to frames up.
:36:12. > :36:25.APPLAUSE This has been a completely different
:36:26. > :36:35.start for Neil than to his semifinal. He has come out of the
:36:36. > :36:48.blocks like a little bit. -- whippet.
:36:49. > :36:52.I am sure this crowd would love him to get a century earlier on in this
:36:53. > :37:06.match. He needed a lucky little kiss and he
:37:07. > :37:12.hasn't got it. This is going to require a really good pot. To
:37:13. > :37:29.continue this break and hopefully go on for the century.
:37:30. > :37:33.Are we going to see a new Robertson special?
:37:34. > :37:44.We are not. We'll Ronnie come to the table? I think it's a good decision
:37:45. > :37:50.for Ronnie O'Sullivan. APPLAUSE
:37:51. > :37:59.He hasn't had any table time whatsoever, really. This is not an
:38:00. > :38:03.easy read. He will have no aspirations, I don't think, of
:38:04. > :38:10.winning this brain, this is all about potting a couple of balls.
:38:11. > :38:21.Well... It hasn't gone in, he might even concede. Obviously, the
:38:22. > :38:26.gentlemanly thing is to concede after your opponent has played his
:38:27. > :38:41.shot. And Ronnie is a gentle man when he is out there.
:38:42. > :38:49.There is value in doing this. Trying to keep Neil on the table a little
:38:50. > :39:00.bit longer, he has found his rhythm. Ronnie will be trying out a way to
:39:01. > :40:05.knock him out of that. Try a doubt of safety.
:40:06. > :40:15.Frame conceded, frame, Neil Robertson. Ronnie has had enough. A
:40:16. > :40:19.lucky break of 78, Neil will be happy, Ronnie O'Sullivan is in
:40:20. > :40:27.unknown territory, 2-0 down, the first time this week. STUDIO: a
:40:28. > :40:31.banana for Neil Robertson. Unusual for Ronnie O'Sullivan. As we know,
:40:32. > :40:37.relatively less damaging, the best of 17 frames, we have not seen
:40:38. > :40:41.Ronnie having to fight. It will be interesting to see how he performed
:40:42. > :40:46.is, the first time his back is against the wall, the first of 17.
:40:47. > :40:50.Ronnie is not there at the minute, he hasn't had a chance, you could
:40:51. > :40:55.expect him to score 50 or 60 but Robertson is doing what he has to
:40:56. > :41:04.do. Essential for Ronnie to get a foothold in the match. If Robertson
:41:05. > :41:08.can go three or four ahead, there is every chance of him winning. Ronnie
:41:09. > :41:14.is popping out for a break, making Robertson hang on. It's interesting,
:41:15. > :41:22.the first time this week he has taken table time. His opponent has
:41:23. > :41:31.had practice. Now and then, you have to get your cue am going, get a feel
:41:32. > :41:35.of the table. Your cue am, he might have slept badly, he could have a
:41:36. > :41:40.stiff arm, he came in and practice before the match, 30 minutes, still
:41:41. > :41:45.feeling OK. But this is a massive frame for Ronnie, we know he can be
:41:46. > :41:46.petulant if things are not going his own way. Let's see how things
:41:47. > :41:59.progress. COMMENTATOR: I think Willie has hit
:42:00. > :42:04.the nail on the head. The first important juncture of this match so
:42:05. > :42:10.far. If he fell three frames behind, it would be an uphill town square
:42:11. > :42:16.him. Never really settled down in any match until you do get the
:42:17. > :42:19.scoreboard rolling, get that first frame on the board and Ronnie will
:42:20. > :43:32.be very keen to do that as soon as he can.
:43:33. > :43:40.Trying to get through to the red in the right corner. He is going to
:43:41. > :43:49.play this safety. Even if he can get through to it, he doesn't fancy it.
:43:50. > :44:00.That is something we have not seen all week. Ronnie hitting a ball
:44:01. > :44:07.collar. Neil has got a perfect chance of making the red through the
:44:08. > :44:14.gap between the red and black. I think he has had a bit of a kick.
:44:15. > :44:19.Judging by the size of the side that he gave what Ronnie will be quite
:44:20. > :44:26.happy. Most players would have had the cue ball cleaned but Ronnie
:44:27. > :44:34.Dawson. The red to golf. Obviously, he has got some kind of... A bit of
:44:35. > :44:35.chalk on at or some foreign body. This is his first opportunity in the
:44:36. > :44:49.match. He is not happy with his tip. A
:44:50. > :44:54.couple of shots ago... When he was cueing of the cushion, it was
:44:55. > :44:59.fraying on the one side a little bit. Obviously, it is annoying him
:45:00. > :45:04.as he is looking down the barrel of the cue.
:45:05. > :45:10.When things go good, it doesn't really matter of what you are
:45:11. > :45:13.looking at. When things are not going so well... Any little thing
:45:14. > :46:00.can put you off. It can be very off-putting when you
:46:01. > :46:05.are about to strike the cue ball, you see a spot of chalk or something
:46:06. > :46:11.that distracts you, that is why he had it clean.
:46:12. > :46:19.This is the shot... A deep screw shot into the pack should pull the
:46:20. > :46:24.red to the right, to the corner. APPLAUSE
:46:25. > :46:30.I thought there is no way this could go wrong but it has gone slightly
:46:31. > :46:36.astray. He has still got a shot at a red to the yellow pocket, and a thin
:46:37. > :46:38.one to the left middle. You would have expected it to be really easy
:46:39. > :46:50.on something from there. APPLAUSE
:46:51. > :46:55.Well, there is an exhibition shot for you. If he messed that, he was
:46:56. > :47:02.leaving new Robertson three easy reds. It doesn't mean anything, he
:47:03. > :47:40.played it as if the red was right over the hall.
:47:41. > :47:49.Another opportunity for Ronnie to bring further reds into play. That
:47:50. > :47:52.has gone wrong. Played both threads together, it would have left him
:47:53. > :47:57.nicely on the red to the right corner, he caught the left-hand one
:47:58. > :48:02.fully, the cue ball ran through an insurer to blocking his intended
:48:03. > :48:04.red. Fortunately, he can still pot the red into the left corner or the
:48:05. > :49:13.centre. He is in full flow. Makes it look so
:49:14. > :49:32.easy. He must be the best striker of the
:49:33. > :49:33.ball, he has developed a technique that just repeats itself, shot in,
:49:34. > :49:51.shot out. That was a terrible contact that
:49:52. > :49:56.Ronnie suffered, it could mean the end of the break. Just a view more
:49:57. > :50:04.parts needed to get his first frame in this final. He is going to
:50:05. > :50:13.require a second opportunity. Excellent safety, nevertheless.
:50:14. > :50:17.Neil, if he desires, has the opportunity of a long red to the
:50:18. > :50:29.right corner, you can see the kick there. Yes, of all the shots, no
:50:30. > :50:30.chance of getting in the black. Ordinarily, the cue ball would have
:50:31. > :50:54.run on a foot further. They don't come any better than
:50:55. > :50:59.that. He has got a long way to go to get back into this spring, never
:51:00. > :51:08.mind winning it. What a body blow this would be for Ronnie also open.
:51:09. > :51:14.If new Robertson, somehow... Was to make a counterattack with this
:51:15. > :51:18.effort. What a great long red that was and you can see it, Ronnie was
:51:19. > :51:24.sitting in his chair, thinking, probably, he will drop this Reading,
:51:25. > :51:27.after he has had the kick, it looks like he will win the frame for
:51:28. > :51:32.definite, you can't legislate for a kick. This could be a massive body
:51:33. > :51:58.blow. Long way to go. I am sure O'Neill's train of thought
:51:59. > :52:06.is to catch sight of the blue, play a little cannon and he knows he will
:52:07. > :52:13.be guaranteed to be on a red to the right centre at the very worst. That
:52:14. > :52:18.has finished probably as right centre at the very worst. That
:52:19. > :54:23.was ever likely to do. Not cannon on the yellow. A very bad
:54:24. > :54:28.safety by his standard afterwards. It was a shot to not think, he hit
:54:29. > :54:39.it too thickly but another chance here.
:54:40. > :55:04.He needs all the remaining balls in order to steal the third frame.
:55:05. > :55:13.He will be playing off the red either for pink or black. The pink
:55:14. > :55:18.is... Better choice. If he can get real close to the red on the top
:55:19. > :55:23.cushion, the half ball... He will play the drop in, otherwise, I think
:55:24. > :55:28.we might see him hit around the table and play the snooker in behind
:55:29. > :55:32.the black. Just having a little look to see where he needs to put the cue
:55:33. > :55:40.ball to get as close as he can to that red.
:55:41. > :55:47.One thing he doesn't want to be is dead straight on this link because
:55:48. > :55:55.if he is, he will not be able to get close on the red and he has a nice
:55:56. > :56:00.little angle. And that, is just about perfect, I think, a little
:56:01. > :56:02.angle, he can drop in the red, perfect weight, a little half ball
:56:03. > :56:17.on the black. Yes, he finishes nice and low on the
:56:18. > :56:25.black, in natural angle to play for yellow in the left centre. Is this
:56:26. > :56:31.end? Neil, Neil... That could have been a very important part of this
:56:32. > :56:37.final so far. That could be a mini turning point. Neil could have gone
:56:38. > :56:43.on and made that clearance to keep Ronnie under the cosh. Wouldn't
:56:44. > :56:48.normally miss those but he knew the importance of it. And now the red
:56:49. > :56:55.has gone then, Neil finds himself needing a snigger. I don't think he
:56:56. > :57:02.expects to have the opportunity to play for it. -- needing a snooker.
:57:03. > :57:10.Ronnie O'Sullivan may get his first frame on the small scoreboard. I
:57:11. > :57:11.wonder if that missed red from Neil Robertson could come back to haunt
:57:12. > :57:55.him. In goes the pink, Ronnie is not too
:57:56. > :57:59.pleased with the contact but nevertheless, aided by his own
:58:00. > :58:00.break, he gets his first frame on the board but still trails Neil
:58:01. > :58:13.Robertson. 2-1. STUDIO: Ronnie is off for another
:58:14. > :58:18.break, feeling slightly better, but intensely what a pivotal moment. He
:58:19. > :58:22.potted a great read, looked like he would win the frame, new Robertson
:58:23. > :58:29.live like winning until he had the shot on the top cushion. This has
:58:30. > :58:33.surprised me this week, it caught the near jaw. What I can't
:58:34. > :58:38.understand is why there has been so many breaks in this tournament.
:58:39. > :58:41.Considering the pockets are so tight, interesting that Ronnie is
:58:42. > :58:45.having a chat with the referee, he feels like the cue ball is
:58:46. > :58:52.collecting hearers or something from the cloth, whether he is asking for
:58:53. > :58:55.the cue ball to be changed, we will find out. It has been cleaned a
:58:56. > :59:03.couple of times already. More than it has been so far. How do you
:59:04. > :59:08.explain the pockets and the Joss? They are regulation? Exactly the
:59:09. > :59:12.same templates every tournament, virtually the same fate comes to
:59:13. > :59:18.every tournament, why pockets plays so tight, maybe it's the cloth. They
:59:19. > :59:23.are all shape the same. Sometimes it's different, it has always been
:59:24. > :59:27.the same over the 25, 30 years I have been involved, sometimes they
:59:28. > :59:32.are tied, sometimes not. They appear tied this week, at the centuries
:59:33. > :59:36.have been amazing. Lots of them but despite that, no doubt we will get
:59:37. > :59:37.back in touch with that later but let's rejoin the action in the
:59:38. > :59:53.arena. , Tez in the context of this match,
:59:54. > :00:00.this is an important frame. Neil Robertson will want to assert
:00:01. > :00:08.himself with a 3-1 lead. That is what he would've been thinking, to
:00:09. > :00:19.have any chance. Minimum, too. -- two. At at least take three at the
:00:20. > :00:25.first four. It that like Ronnie was going to win the third frame with a
:00:26. > :00:31.big break. Probably the right result in the end. Newell had a great
:00:32. > :01:54.chance of pinching it, and he will know that.
:01:55. > :02:06.He played that pretty well, Neil. The way that the reds are spread,
:02:07. > :02:11.every mistake could be the last before the mid-session interval. It
:02:12. > :02:19.is imperative that the safety shot played here is a good one. He will
:02:20. > :02:24.be so tempted to hit this red in the right centre. But if he can get the
:02:25. > :02:35.cue, he can get this black office red. He will be happy with that.
:02:36. > :02:43.Obviously, is that it is important to get the cue ball tight eliminate
:02:44. > :02:50.that shot. He is playing it on the bottom left-hand side. He has play
:02:51. > :02:56.that he has to play it at pace. The cannon from red to read or colour.
:02:57. > :03:05.He does not want coming into the centre of the table. He has been a
:03:06. > :03:19.bit fortunate, there. He has left the red to right centre.
:03:20. > :03:29.He is trying to keep the pressure on. Earlier in the week, it shows
:03:30. > :03:33.important to Ronnie, early in the week, he would have been going to
:03:34. > :03:38.right centre. He has gone for nearly everything. For his opponent, the
:03:39. > :03:54.problem being that it has all in. That is what I was on about. That
:03:55. > :04:13.cue ball is Ronnie could be forced to doing
:04:14. > :04:15.this. If you can think of a safety shot, he would like to stick the
:04:16. > :04:47.ball down in the corner pocket. Ronnie felt that he had to take that
:04:48. > :04:53.one on. Great pot. Now that the red has gone in, he has to consider
:04:54. > :05:03.himself rather unfortunate to be on some sort of a pot on some colour.
:05:04. > :05:13.At least that has gotten out of the hole that he was in. The problem is,
:05:14. > :06:23.it is not easy. Not easy to come up with constructive safety shot.
:06:24. > :06:39.He will have a go at the red. He knew he was going to get reasonable
:06:40. > :06:51.cue ball. These reds are now nicely spaced around the fullness of the
:06:52. > :06:56.snooker table. Just a little bit wide with that red. Where is it
:06:57. > :07:08.going? It was merely a fluke, but not quite.
:07:09. > :07:21.He has left this on, you know. What a chance this is. Ever so
:07:22. > :07:24.disappointed, Newell, if he could not win the frame from an
:07:25. > :07:28.opportunity like this. Absolutely everywhere, these reds. Like a
:07:29. > :09:37.cherry tree! All about keeping tight control now,
:09:38. > :09:46.with his cue ball. He has another loose reds. They are in the open to
:09:47. > :09:50.make sure that he can win this frame before it starts getting too
:09:51. > :09:52.difficult. He needs to ensure that he gets high value colours with the
:09:53. > :10:19.reds. He can afford to have a couple of
:10:20. > :10:29.low value colours if there are colours at the other end of the
:10:30. > :10:38.table. With the next pot, he will be playing for the blue to get down to
:10:39. > :10:46.these rates. -- reds. Trying to leave the two nearest the fit -- F10
:10:47. > :11:20.cushion to last. The cue ball travelled little bit further
:11:21. > :11:29.Neil Robertson freely admitted that there was a time when he is to roll
:11:30. > :11:34.into the cup in the afternoon and the two or three hours practice, but
:11:35. > :13:07.not these days. He is a much harder work than that. He does
:13:08. > :13:19.He has taken these very well. He would've expected to have scored
:13:20. > :13:28.quite a few, he has taken these very smartly. He is going to enjoy his
:13:29. > :13:33.interval, 3-1 head of Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:13:34. > :13:57.Have not seen century yet. Could this be the one?
:13:58. > :14:15.He has got every chance now. It is the one awkward red.
:14:16. > :14:25.That was not a great contact. He was a lot thinner on the blue than he
:14:26. > :14:31.would have liked. He may feel the value in scanning the red of the
:14:32. > :14:39.blue. He has gone for a more difficult green. He will be quite
:14:40. > :14:44.happy. The 76 follows up the earlier 78. Ronnie O'Sullivan has a lot to
:14:45. > :14:50.think about. You tell 3-1. STUDIO: So, halfway through the
:14:51. > :14:54.first half, as it were. Robertson re-establishing the two frame lead
:14:55. > :15:03.over Ronnie O'Sullivan as he heads for the in -- mid-session interval.
:15:04. > :15:10.I guess it is kind of a roll reserve full -- reversal situation. I
:15:11. > :15:13.Sullivan let Robertson back in to regain the two frame lead. This game
:15:14. > :15:17.is about fractions. Ronnie O'Sullivan is playing the red in the
:15:18. > :15:26.middle of the pocket as a shock to nothing. He is playing at, but he
:15:27. > :15:29.catches the four jaw, comes through the gap, and landed over the corner
:15:30. > :15:34.pocket, and that is what we talk about. It's all about fractions. It
:15:35. > :15:37.would have been safe. But the beauty of the first four frames is that
:15:38. > :15:42.Ronnie can still be counted. We took about it in the studio last night.
:15:43. > :15:46.To have any chance, you have to show that you are there. Ronnie can be a
:15:47. > :15:51.little bit temperamental, and we have seen him walk out in the past.
:15:52. > :15:57.He is not in that kind of frame of mind, but the beauty of Robertson is
:15:58. > :16:01.that he has got Ronnie thinking. I would not be surprised if Ronnie has
:16:02. > :16:05.a little practice. But it is that because he has been kept off the
:16:06. > :16:11.table. He does not look as happy as he has looked in the matches this
:16:12. > :16:20.week. I'm surprised that he has had so much trouble with the cue ball.
:16:21. > :16:25.It is the carpet fibres. He was chatting to the referee, whether he
:16:26. > :16:29.was suggesting changing the white, the hairs coming off the brush,
:16:30. > :16:35.sometimes the hair falls out the brush. But it was so unusual. Many
:16:36. > :16:40.times in snooker, you have had the white ball changed, but the visit --
:16:41. > :16:45.because it is picking up excess dust. Robertson was referred to as
:16:46. > :16:51.Robocop figure. There is more to his game than simply that. He is a
:16:52. > :16:57.century break machine. I don't think we would see anyone making 100
:16:58. > :17:04.centuries in a season. When you make that, I don't think he will do that.
:17:05. > :17:09.He is a seasoned matchplay player. We will have the second session
:17:10. > :17:18.shortly. We are going to be talking about young players. Michael White,
:17:19. > :17:21.the Welshman, made headlines for putting out John Higgins. For those
:17:22. > :17:27.in the know, his success came as no surprise. He was tipped for big
:17:28. > :17:34.things from an early age. We may have unearthed a young start. Liam
:17:35. > :17:47.Davies is only nine years old. Could he be the next Michael White?
:17:48. > :17:55.If you have great potential, people are always going to talk. I just
:17:56. > :17:59.tell Liam to practice as much as he can, and just enjoy it. When you
:18:00. > :18:02.enjoy it, that is when you are quickest. And more clearly. I just
:18:03. > :18:14.tell him to keep playing. He is just a fantastic talent. He
:18:15. > :18:17.has got something special. When I first saw him come he was about
:18:18. > :18:21.seven years of age, and you could see that he had a bit of flair and
:18:22. > :18:24.talent. He is very short. That was the only thing, so he could not
:18:25. > :18:32.quite get to the cue on the table. So he was signed on. I was just
:18:33. > :18:37.watching it on TV, and are said to my dad, can I go down to the snooker
:18:38. > :18:45.hall? Isis of -- started off not very good, and I stuck at it. In
:18:46. > :18:50.the's case, he takes every thing in. If he sees something played a
:18:51. > :18:55.certain way, he tries to guide the club and you will see him on
:18:56. > :19:02.Saturday, and he will say that he has learned running -- learn
:19:03. > :19:05.something from Ronnie. If he keeps improving the way he has, he is
:19:06. > :19:13.going to be a very good player in a few years' time.
:19:14. > :19:19.He is a typical nine-year-old. He lives and breathes snooker. He goes
:19:20. > :19:28.to school, can't wait to get home, and get on the snooker table. He
:19:29. > :19:33.practices for two hours a day. The practices from ten o'clock in the
:19:34. > :19:38.morning to four o'clock in the afternoon. Whenever he can get into
:19:39. > :19:46.a tournament. He does quite well. He's better than his dad! I still
:19:47. > :19:52.play against him now. It is 4-0 or 5-0. Everyday! Two weeks ago, he
:19:53. > :20:05.played in on un-14th event in Wales, and he went and won it. He did well.
:20:06. > :20:10.I won the Welsh under 14s. I won 2-0, 2-0, then 3-0 in the final.
:20:11. > :20:20.Then I lost in the semifinal. That was in the underage teens. -- under
:20:21. > :20:27.18s. He has a father who is very level-headed. He is realistic in
:20:28. > :20:31.what he wants Liam to achieve. Lee Walker, who coaches at the red
:20:32. > :20:37.triangle snooker club, wants me to take mites -- coaching badge. I can
:20:38. > :20:45.look after the academy when he is gone. I have started my own academy.
:20:46. > :21:01.Every little helps, as they say. Highest break of 62. My strength in
:21:02. > :21:06.the game is safety. We have a good relationship. Snooker has brought us
:21:07. > :21:10.closer together, closer than ever, and in all fairness, the people
:21:11. > :21:17.around us, Lee Walker, Darren, Mark, they are great. We have a great
:21:18. > :21:22.relationship. He got his waistcoat, the dickie bow, he just needs to
:21:23. > :21:29.enjoy it. Iniesta pop the balls, take everything in his stride, -- he
:21:30. > :21:37.needs to pot the balls. Make it fun, try not be too serious with it. It
:21:38. > :21:41.will happen at his own speed. He is a very good player at very young
:21:42. > :21:52.age. He has got all of the pedigree to go the way. It all comes down to
:21:53. > :22:00.what Liam wants. I am number one, -- I want to be world champion.
:22:01. > :22:05.Remember the name! We will keep an eye on him.
:22:06. > :22:12.How hard is it to get into snooker if you are a youngster? I suppose in
:22:13. > :22:21.Wales, football and rugby is out there. Snooker hasn't got the
:22:22. > :22:28.exposure. We have to point the youngsters to them. It is
:22:29. > :22:36.it is such a lovely young man. He follows me on Twitter, and every now
:22:37. > :22:38.and again, he says that I will be commentating on the world
:22:39. > :22:42.championship! That is the key. However good you are, you have to
:22:43. > :22:46.think that you are the best. That is what makes you a bright young
:22:47. > :22:53.prospect. When you start getting serious about the game? About that
:22:54. > :23:03.age. Apparently there is a young boy in China who is nine years old who
:23:04. > :23:09.has made a 147. Temperament is a key thing. I think it is 60% validity
:23:10. > :23:13.and 40% temperament. That is how key it is, to have a good temperament.
:23:14. > :23:19.Neil Robertson may not be the best player in the world, but he has a
:23:20. > :23:25.templating -- temperament to match any other player. We saw question
:23:26. > :23:33.marks over Michael White's temperament. Mark Allen criticised
:23:34. > :23:41.him for that. Steve Davis, you saw it in the rat Pack, Barry Hearn made
:23:42. > :23:47.him the the robot, and I think he -- temperament is key. We can all do it
:23:48. > :23:51.in practice. I was one of the best practice players in the world. But
:23:52. > :23:55.it means nothing. You have to be the best on the table, and certainly
:23:56. > :23:59.have the temperament have an -- to be one of the best. It is Neil who
:24:00. > :24:03.has been up here, not that heavy practice, practice gathering his
:24:04. > :24:07.thoughts, getting a bit of quiet over there. Let's get some expert
:24:08. > :24:14.opinion on Robertson. We heard Ronnie talk -- talking about him
:24:15. > :24:16.being a Robocop type figure. Surely there is more tend than being
:24:17. > :24:25.machine. Neil Robertson, 2010 world champion.
:24:26. > :24:31.He has been a dominant force in the game put some time. He walks around,
:24:32. > :24:36.and it was like a male peacock. It must be quite tough for him. I like
:24:37. > :24:40.his mental strength and desire. He wants to win and win as many
:24:41. > :24:44.trophies as possible. For me, his biggest strength is his temperament.
:24:45. > :24:48.Who would watch a game with new, and you would not know whether he was
:24:49. > :24:52.winning or losing. He will around a table like he owns the place, and he
:24:53. > :24:55.thinks he is going to win at all times. He has worked snooker out. He
:24:56. > :25:04.has worked out how to play this game. He knows how to pay the game.
:25:05. > :25:08.It is the way that a sports psychologist put teach someone. You
:25:09. > :25:14.don't get the feeling that he is having negative thoughts. He is
:25:15. > :25:21.always wanting the next shot to be a positive one. I remember playing him
:25:22. > :25:25.early on in our careers, and without wanting to sound horrible, I didn't
:25:26. > :25:29.think it was that good! It shows you what a good judge and, he has been
:25:30. > :25:34.one of the best players we have seen in the game. But back then, he was a
:25:35. > :25:39.mad Potter, and would go for everything. But he hit a bit of a
:25:40. > :25:44.brick wall. But he worked a way round it. He has used you tube a
:25:45. > :25:52.lot, studied old footage. He has worked out how to be a better
:25:53. > :25:55.player. It shows you his mental character, his mental strength. He
:25:56. > :26:00.is now a very astute all-round player. He does not stand out in one
:26:01. > :26:05.player, a comic -- one area, it stands out in them all. And it
:26:06. > :26:11.annoys me, he is so good! Let's try to rip -- rip him to shreds! Has he
:26:12. > :26:18.got a weakness? He is not good at catching flights! He is the world
:26:19. > :26:22.number one of flights missed. He is well in front of the rest of the
:26:23. > :26:26.tour. There have been times when we have sat in this year, and thought
:26:27. > :26:30.that he was getting bogged down. He is taking too long over an obvious
:26:31. > :26:35.shot. He concentrate a bit too much and trying to be a little bit more
:26:36. > :26:41.exact. He is constantly walking around. I think sometimes, he has
:26:42. > :26:44.slowed it down, and taking those few seconds. Sometimes he is trying to
:26:45. > :26:53.be a little bit too careful and to excess. -- exact. When he beat me in
:26:54. > :26:57.the Masters final a few years ago, sometimes, he had me in some
:26:58. > :27:01.unworkable positions. He was taking his time over his shots. I was sat
:27:02. > :27:05.in the chair, thinking, what is he doing here? I may as well have had
:27:06. > :27:13.my hands tied behind my back. When it works, he is very good. The
:27:14. > :27:17.expert analysis on Neil Robertson's game. This next piece is very
:27:18. > :27:21.interesting as well. This is the verdict of Ronnie O'Sullivan's
:27:22. > :27:34.fellow professionals on the Rocket. Snooker is lucky to have him, and
:27:35. > :27:40.the way he is. He picks and chooses. He is also a lucky, because if he
:27:41. > :27:48.dedicated himself the way that he does, and Hendry did, we could see
:27:49. > :27:55.snooker in a different light. It is massive for the tort. If someone
:27:56. > :28:05.that I look up to, and a lot of the things that he does. I take a lot of
:28:06. > :28:11.advice. Mentally, sometimes he is not quite there. That is partly why
:28:12. > :28:16.people come to see him. Jekyll Hyde. That is all I can say. When he
:28:17. > :28:23.is on the top of his game, he is impossible to beat. Another best
:28:24. > :28:32.players that I have ever seen. Maybe in front of Stephen Hendry. I think
:28:33. > :28:36.most people agree on that now. Ronnie in the last for five years,
:28:37. > :28:41.he has been immensely good as he is ever been in his career. Ronnie...
:28:42. > :28:48.Know that I have no Ronnie since he was nine years old. I was 14 at the
:28:49. > :28:53.time. I thought that this guy has got serious ability. He was potting
:28:54. > :28:59.balls for fun. He could have been the best play we have ever seen, but
:29:00. > :29:01.the records suggest otherwise. If he is in the right frame of mind, he
:29:02. > :29:14.cannot be beaten. Fascinating set of opinions on
:29:15. > :29:19.Ronnie O'Sullivan. I will pick out one of them... Mentally, not quite
:29:20. > :29:21.there. Is that relevant? Is this a test of his mental resolve? 3-1
:29:22. > :29:32.down. I wouldn't worry but test of his mental resolve? 3-1
:29:33. > :29:59.his temperament will be tested. It was interesting to
:30:00. > :30:03.his temperament will be tested. It in Cardiff. A change in the
:30:04. > :30:07.commentary box. Darren Morgan is joined
:30:08. > :31:30.majestic to watch. Obviously, I wanted to beat him, but he was
:31:31. > :31:57.attractive to watch. Great to play. And, many moons ago, a long time
:31:58. > :32:01.now, 1997, just after Ronnie hit the fastest 147 at Sheffield... There
:32:02. > :32:08.was a lot of people unhappy with me because I knocked him out the very
:32:09. > :32:17.next round, 13-12, great match. Probably my most memorable match!
:32:18. > :32:26.Here we are, I am sitting in the commentary box and he is still doing
:32:27. > :32:27.it. I retired at 40. Ronnie is looking like he is playing his best
:32:28. > :33:07.snigger at 40. -- his best snigger. Another good safety from Neil
:33:08. > :33:13.Robertson. O'Sullivan, he glides around the table, slowly but surely.
:33:14. > :33:18.The skill, touch and vision to separate the reds from the pack and
:33:19. > :33:24.then clear the table with ease and beauty that others do not offer.
:33:25. > :33:27.Exactly what Darren said when he played against him. All the
:33:28. > :33:58.professionals like to watch him play and that says it all.
:33:59. > :34:06.Command, Ronnie. The crowd shouting out and getting right behind Ronnie.
:34:07. > :34:07.He is a big favourite with the crowd, the same as Jimmy White used
:34:08. > :34:23.to be. In the late 80s and 90s... The same as Alex Higgins in the 70s
:34:24. > :34:29.and 80s. But Ronnie was a long way off with that one... Probably the
:34:30. > :34:34.most he has missed a shot all week here in Cardiff. It was not easy. He
:34:35. > :34:41.had to force it a little bit. New Robertson, now... Got a great
:34:42. > :34:47.chance. Just laughing, the Seagulls are making a bit of a noise, a bit
:34:48. > :34:50.of a racket on the roof. We can hear them in the box. If we can hear them
:34:51. > :36:04.in the box, they can hear them at the table.
:36:05. > :36:12.Not quite as planned. It seemed like after the O'Sullivan missed he would
:36:13. > :36:27.have a good chance... But now he is shaking his head.
:36:28. > :36:31.If he potted the green, he could cannon into the brown, come down to
:36:32. > :37:27.the reds. Neil will be disgusted. APPLAUSE
:37:28. > :37:28.You won't see many shots played better than that. He played that to
:37:29. > :38:48.absolute perfection. Another good safety shot. I think
:38:49. > :38:52.Neil Robertson is well aware that Ronnie O'Sullivan's long potting has
:38:53. > :39:02.been very good in the Welsh Open. The only trouble is, his safety is
:39:03. > :39:46.good as well! That good safety shot forced and are
:39:47. > :39:50.from Neil Robertson. Just looking to see where he needs to put the cue
:39:51. > :39:57.ball to get onto the pink or black. He would love to get on the black.
:39:58. > :40:06.-- forced a mistake. Very straight on this red, a little angle...
:40:07. > :40:13.He screwed up for the pink and he has overdone that, slightly, making
:40:14. > :40:21.this more difficult than it should have been. Trying to cannon into the
:40:22. > :40:22.two reds below the spot... That has gone perfect.
:40:23. > :40:49.APPLAUSE These are the sort of moments that
:40:50. > :40:52.Sullivan is very strong on, then you need would be so disappointed he did
:40:53. > :41:00.not make more than four points from the early opening. Ronnie likes to
:41:01. > :41:45.pounce now. Keep them thinking in the chair.
:41:46. > :41:58.The black will be going back on its own spot for this next shot. This is
:41:59. > :42:00.where it starts to get a little bit of 44 Ronnie, keeping his eye on the
:42:01. > :42:15.black. -- a little bit awkward. That is just about perfect. Electing
:42:16. > :42:53.to play on the loose red, or play to cannon... Played for the loose red.
:42:54. > :43:01.Tried to play a clever little shop, tried to cannon into the two reds...
:43:02. > :43:05.A lot then on this red than he would have liked but we have already seen
:43:06. > :43:11.how tight the pockets are. He has just lost the cue ball. Knocked the
:43:12. > :43:25.red in very confidently. That was a lovely played shot, as
:43:26. > :44:10.well. The bottom, slow drag, very well controlled.
:44:11. > :46:11.Neil Robertson playing on, 53 points behind. You get the feeling he would
:46:12. > :46:33.have played on, he needs to settle himself, to blows in this frame...
:46:34. > :46:38.Six, and the frame, Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:46:39. > :46:51.APPLAUSE Robertson leading 3-2. Ronnie will
:46:52. > :46:55.be feeling a lot better. Robertson had a great chance in that last
:46:56. > :47:02.frame, played a bad positional shot, as we see. Hampered over the green,
:47:03. > :47:06.landing dead straight on the red, I can only presume if he played it
:47:07. > :47:11.harder, he would have swung the cue ball into the green, did not fancy
:47:12. > :47:16.the shot from green or brown, rolling up behind the yellow. He
:47:17. > :47:23.played a loose safety a couple of shots later, and it allowed Ronnie
:47:24. > :47:34.to make a break and get back into this match. Big difference, 4-1
:47:35. > :47:35.behind, 3-2. Anyway, breaking off, the sixth frame, he will put that
:47:36. > :50:07.behind him. Again, there is a big audience in,
:50:08. > :50:12.you would expect that for the final, especially with these players. They
:50:13. > :50:16.enjoy these safety belts, not for long spells, but they do appreciate
:50:17. > :50:23.the skills of the player, stopping the other player from playing.
:50:24. > :50:36.Beautiful setting. Just for the tournament deserves, I must say,
:50:37. > :50:44.this year the Welsh Open has been one of the best I have ever seen,
:50:45. > :50:50.great atmosphere. We had a few Welsh amateurs who have done very well
:50:51. > :50:56.this week, Jack Jones qualifying. Qualifying for the main tour.
:50:57. > :51:04.Playing another Welshman. Jamie Clarke, in the final. And also, the
:51:05. > :51:14.younger age group... We had two finalists.
:51:15. > :51:31.Yes... What is pleasing for me this year, obviously, playing in the
:51:32. > :51:37.Masters series, around the world for Wales. It's nice that these young
:51:38. > :51:47.lads have come along and done so well and it's nice that the main
:51:48. > :51:50.event, the European snooker, we sent some seniors this year that have
:51:51. > :51:56.treated it as it should be treated. And they have got their just
:51:57. > :52:03.rewards, we sent four players, three got into the semis, we have not done
:52:04. > :52:09.that for quite a few years. Certain individuals have never given it the
:52:10. > :52:15.respect it deserves, the elder generation, like myself, looking on,
:52:16. > :52:18.it has been hard to swallow. But it is great, the people going out,
:52:19. > :53:34.Wales is getting the results it deserves.
:53:35. > :53:44.I think he is asking directory is a bit of noise or... Perhaps someone's
:53:45. > :53:54.earphones are up a little bit too loud...
:53:55. > :54:04.As long as it is not an Australian saying something loud, it is OK!
:54:05. > :54:11.Undoubtedly, the best player we have ever seen from Australia. Before
:54:12. > :54:17.Neil, a few good players got into the top 16, Eddie Charlton, not with
:54:18. > :54:19.us any more, he was a great player. Never won the tournament is that
:54:20. > :55:27.Neil has one. This is the sort of chance that
:55:28. > :55:30.crops up, nothing is in your favour, the pink and black are looking
:55:31. > :55:50.awkward, reds to go for... You keep having what we call half
:55:51. > :55:57.awkward shots, not very difficult but... You need to give them a bit
:55:58. > :56:06.more thought before you play them. Looking at the blue. Perhaps he saw
:56:07. > :56:13.a mark on it or something? He has changed a few things, Darren, hasn't
:56:14. > :56:17.he? He keeps pointing his cue down, looking down the line, I don't know
:56:18. > :56:25.what he is doing that for, really. But it seems to be working. You have
:56:26. > :56:28.your own idea about that, like myself, I don't know what he is
:56:29. > :56:37.doing it for, but iron member Steve Davis doing something very similar.
:56:38. > :56:41.Just double-checking, trusting himself, that he was working on the
:56:42. > :56:50.right line but whatever he is doing, it is very effective. Having a very
:56:51. > :56:54.good season. -- I remember. I think he is slowing his rhythm down,
:56:55. > :57:01.settling himself all the time. There is something about that, the longer
:57:02. > :57:04.he takes to play, it seems, obviously, he is on the table
:57:05. > :57:09.longer, although he is not putting the ball all the time but it makes
:57:10. > :57:14.you feel he is playing very well. You are not going to be rushing
:57:15. > :57:20.around for the sake of Ronnie O'Sullivan, that is for sure, and I
:57:21. > :57:26.cannot blame him. Neil is one of these players, when he came along to
:57:27. > :57:30.this country, he did not do very well, but I must say, he has worked
:57:31. > :57:34.very hard with his game over the years and now he is one of the top
:57:35. > :57:37.players and likely winner of any event he is in and all credit to
:57:38. > :57:47.him. Quite a few players on the circuit,
:57:48. > :57:51.I can tell you, at the higher level that feel everything they do is
:57:52. > :57:53.write, they just carry on doing the same thing all the time, despite not
:57:54. > :58:33.winning. Ronnie is just sitting there, hoping
:58:34. > :58:37.he will get another chance. The reds are still not in a favourable
:58:38. > :58:45.position, really, apart from the first one. Neil will be looking to
:58:46. > :59:49.get a good angle. Trying to dislodge the four reds by the black spot.
:59:50. > :00:00.He did not get quite enough spin on it.
:00:01. > :00:15.At 3-2 up, and 44 points up, he's not going to be too unhappy.
:00:16. > :00:25.He is good at bringing reds of cushions. His position play is so
:00:26. > :00:35.good. He has brought a few interplay, but a few reds on the
:00:36. > :00:43.side cushions and the black cushions. Suspect back cushions.
:00:44. > :01:01.That was the only problem with that shot.
:01:02. > :01:26.He has been left a half chance. This will take at cueing.
:01:27. > :03:06.So barring snookers, well, Ronnie O'Sullivan is not even interesting.
:03:07. > :03:12.He stays in his seat. Neil Robertson has got his two frame lead back. He
:03:13. > :04:28.leads 4-2. Just the break off from Ronnie
:04:29. > :04:37.O'Sullivan. He has left a long read on. -- read.
:04:38. > :04:52.He was trying to put it, and came off the cushion. He hit it much too
:04:53. > :05:05.full. At this level, it is a chance. The way the balls are.
:05:06. > :05:15.He had a chance to get three frames in front, and didn't manage it. It
:05:16. > :05:23.is hard out there. If Ronnie came back again, 4-3. Then Neil will
:05:24. > :05:27.start thinking if he is ever going to get away. That is the mental
:05:28. > :05:28.thought of the player. They are all looking for a big lead in the first
:05:29. > :06:10.session. No real value therefore Ronnie. He
:06:11. > :06:14.is going to run it off the side cushion. -- no real value their four
:06:15. > :06:19.Ronnie. He is going to have to make sure
:06:20. > :06:37.that he doesn't overhit cue ball. I think he is OK. He cannot get the
:06:38. > :06:39.pop single with the left Ali read to the right. He wanted to play it a
:06:40. > :08:39.little bit thicker than that. all players. You have to stick with
:08:40. > :08:47.what you are doing well. His long potting has been outstanding. There
:08:48. > :08:49.is another side of the coin. Neil Robertson will be thinking, hello.
:08:50. > :09:55.He is not over the long ones. Neil Robertson in a bit of trouble
:09:56. > :10:03.here. Trying to get the cue ball type on this.
:10:04. > :10:33.He will be quite happy about this one.
:10:34. > :10:39.If he had gone to the right-hand side of the red, yellow, he might
:10:40. > :10:49.have played the same kind of shocked as he did last time. With the red
:10:50. > :11:00.just below the green. It might be a straight up and down.
:11:01. > :11:58.I don't think Ronnie O'Sullivan has had this much safety to play in the
:11:59. > :12:17.whole tournament so far. A different player, kneel. He is tough. --
:12:18. > :12:32.he turned a possible long read down. -- red.
:12:33. > :12:43.He does not seem in the zone at the moment, O'Sullivan.
:12:44. > :12:50.If anyone can come in and kick it, it is Neil Robertson. He looks OK,
:12:51. > :13:01.Ronnie. He looks very focused. He is perhaps enjoying a very hard
:13:02. > :13:34.match, against a very good opponent. That is what the game is about.
:13:35. > :13:45.He needs that read to slow down. Neil could get through to this, but
:13:46. > :13:51.it is nearing their -- near enough dead straight. This will require
:13:52. > :13:57.perfect cueing. He has got the smallest of angles on this thread. I
:13:58. > :13:59.cannot imagine he is not going to go for this. He needs to make sure the
:14:00. > :14:17.pot, and the watch some of the side. He has played its absolute
:14:18. > :14:19.perfection. He could not have played that any better. That was a killer
:14:20. > :14:37.safety from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It is quite stop there, the two
:14:38. > :14:43.differences. 33% from Ronnie O'Sullivan, 70% through Robertson.
:14:44. > :14:51.Ronnie against Mark Selby, his long game was absolutely unbelievable.
:14:52. > :14:56.Some of the long pops he went for, he accompanied he went for them,
:14:57. > :15:08.never mind got them. He has taken a few in these early frames.
:15:09. > :15:14.Sometimes it just depends on how you feel at the moment. You look at a
:15:15. > :15:20.shop and you think, wow, I fancy getting this. Another day, you think
:15:21. > :15:32.about it and you play safe. You have to go with your feelings.
:15:33. > :15:42.Sometimes, you forget Ronnie O'Sullivan the person is playing,
:15:43. > :16:04.not just Ronnie O'Sullivan the snooker player.
:16:05. > :16:15.Let us have a look at the cue action of Neil Robertson. It is top of the
:16:16. > :16:24.tree staff. It is dead straight, Ram Rod straight.
:16:25. > :16:31.He is one of the modern day players that pulls the key back a long way.
:16:32. > :16:46.-- the Ki. His grip opens and closes perfectly.
:16:47. > :16:57.All the time. That is his main strength of his cue action.
:16:58. > :17:10.The sponsor's logo is coming off. It is stuck to the table!
:17:11. > :18:14.He won't be doing much without them in the sport.
:18:15. > :18:24.Again, played very well. There was top and left side.
:18:25. > :18:37.He will be very upset if he does not extend his lead and win this frame.
:18:38. > :18:46.When he gets in amongst the balls, he is looking very good.
:18:47. > :18:52.At the moment, his long potting is good, his safety is good. And when
:18:53. > :18:56.he is getting in, he is scoring good. He will beat -- it will be
:18:57. > :19:05.very difficult for Ronnie O'Sullivan. We said earlier in the
:19:06. > :19:13.commentary, he has had it all his own way. He has played to an
:19:14. > :19:17.unbelievable stuff. But you do feel that he is going to have to play
:19:18. > :19:22.some more to get back into this match. To have any chance of winning
:19:23. > :19:35.it. He is a different opponent today.
:19:36. > :19:47.Newell is one of the best all-round players on the circuit. He got past
:19:48. > :19:51.Mark Selby and John Higgins. He is more into the brick building, that
:19:52. > :19:58.is when he is at his very best and scoring heavily. -- break-building.
:19:59. > :20:37.O'Sullivan called him the Machine. I am playing against the Machine!
:20:38. > :20:47.He hit it hard enough, but a good break, 77 from Neil Robertson.
:20:48. > :20:51.Another friend in front. It is the first time that he is three in
:20:52. > :20:59.front. He leads 5-2. STUDIO:, Another good frame. We were
:21:00. > :21:03.chatting during that frame, and you were making the point that Robertson
:21:04. > :21:09.is doing what Ronnie has done. Dictating to pay, dictating the
:21:10. > :21:13.pace. You have to stand up. We have to compete with him and all
:21:14. > :21:20.departments. We have had lots of 70 or 80 breaks. Robertson had a port
:21:21. > :21:24.safety struck -- O'Sullivan had a poor safety shot. It looks easy
:21:25. > :21:32.there, but he has to play at the pace. From that, he went to win the
:21:33. > :21:37.frame in one visit. To compete with Ronnie, you have to compete in all
:21:38. > :21:43.departments. Robertson is doing that fight. -- fine. If you are
:21:44. > :21:50.confident, that is a sort of shocked that you take in your stride. Very
:21:51. > :21:57.rarely do I see Robertson not confident. He came into the pact is
:21:58. > :22:06.room. When you are playing bad, it is winning frames. This last frame
:22:07. > :22:14.is so important. Neil Robertson will be a real strong faith -- favourite
:22:15. > :22:19.at 62. -- 6-2. It is no good everyone trying to compete with
:22:20. > :22:22.Ronnie at breakneck speed. He had to play your own game. We saw Peter
:22:23. > :22:26.Ebdon doing it in the world championship, when he really slowed
:22:27. > :22:31.Ronnie down. Neil Robertson is not that slowed, but he is to -- do
:22:32. > :22:44.dictating the pace of the game. COMMENTATOR: It has not been slow.
:22:45. > :22:53.All of these frames had been gathering watching -- averaging 13
:22:54. > :22:59.minutes. It is not long for a frame of snooker.
:23:00. > :23:10.Just under 16 minutes average. When Robertson makes his big breaks, it
:23:11. > :23:14.is seven or eight minutes. He is a different player to over Sir --
:23:15. > :23:22.O'Sullivan. But he does not hang about. He is in amongst the balls.
:23:23. > :23:25.It has been quite noticeable. It is depending on how Ronnie is feeling.
:23:26. > :23:31.He has played different in this match to how he has played all week.
:23:32. > :23:32.He has played a lot of long shot. He has been getting them. Maybe, that
:23:33. > :23:59.is the difference at the moment. I think he has got the gap here. It
:24:00. > :24:10.could bobble in the right corner, the cue ball. I think he would have
:24:11. > :24:14.a gap there. The pink is available into one of the four pockets. Well,
:24:15. > :24:28.it was. Is he going to knock this blue in?
:24:29. > :24:41.He is, you know. He is having a go. Quite right.
:24:42. > :24:49.I think he is sensing that it could be his state. He is 6-2 in front. It
:24:50. > :24:55.would be a big lead. -- keep would-be 6-2 in front. A bad contact
:24:56. > :25:04.there. He did not get the spin on the cue ball. It made a big
:25:05. > :25:13.difference. Quite a thin cut on the blue.
:25:14. > :27:14.O'Sullivan's Best has been 62. He did not have an easy safety shot.
:27:15. > :27:19.O'Sullivan's Best has been 62. He has played to those. Though
:27:20. > :27:40.centuries as yet. -- no centuries. He is hardly moving these balls
:27:41. > :27:43.about. He gave those adept. The red is going to come back and cover the
:27:44. > :27:52.pocket for the pink? Just what he did not need. He is
:27:53. > :28:05.having a look. It must be very tight. There is a very easy pot.
:28:06. > :28:18.It was quite brave to play that shop. No room for error at all
:28:19. > :28:46.there. There has to be one more good pot.
:28:47. > :28:51.There was not much wrong there. He did not want a cannon on the pink.
:28:52. > :28:58.It is a lot thinner down the cushion that he would have liked. He has got
:28:59. > :29:15.a shot on the blue. He played a drag past that think there.
:29:16. > :30:40.Straight into the middle of the pocket, nicely on the red.
:30:41. > :30:47.That was a great pot. Unfortunately, he has caught the other red, not
:30:48. > :30:53.much of a gap for him to get through. Going to be the safety. He
:30:54. > :31:10.is limited to what he can play off. He said, brown, and he can hit that
:31:11. > :31:17.black full in the face. Neil Robertson will have this back.
:31:18. > :31:22.If Ronnie plays the same shot here, I think this is it, he will get
:31:23. > :32:02.warned, awkward cueing. Has he got at this time? No, he has
:32:03. > :32:08.not. A foul, and a miss... Again, it is poured cueing. If he fails this
:32:09. > :32:25.time, he loses the frame. -- awkward cueing.
:32:26. > :32:32.Ronnie did not realise it is the three Mrs... He shouted down the
:32:33. > :32:38.table. He made sure that he was aware so the referee did not warn
:32:39. > :32:50.Ronnie. But I cannot imagine he is going to play the same shot... This
:32:51. > :32:53.would just be crazy. He can hit the black, Playhouse ball of the
:32:54. > :32:59.black... He is coming off the side cushion, to dropping behind it, he
:33:00. > :34:12.must hit the black. And he has done. APPLAUSE
:34:13. > :34:16.A big difference if that had gone in. Neil Robertson, with the long
:34:17. > :34:41.red. Aged a little bit on the thin side,
:34:42. > :34:58.he has cut that thick, cannon Inc into the reds.
:34:59. > :35:09.Clever shot. APPLAUSE
:35:10. > :35:17.That was top drawer. Neil Robertson in all kinds of trouble this time.
:35:18. > :35:25.He tries to come of this red to the left of the black. He has to make
:35:26. > :35:29.sure he catches it very thin. The corner pocket is going to come into
:35:30. > :35:34.play, just having a little look if he can play the half ball up and
:35:35. > :35:41.down, the white halfway in between the black. He has elected the slow
:35:42. > :35:47.roll... And the only problem with that shot, he was always going to
:35:48. > :35:54.give Ronnie a shot at this red, either in the centre or into the
:35:55. > :36:02.green pocket. Not an easy pot. He will be going for it.
:36:03. > :36:07.He has had a kick, I don't think it makes any difference to the red but
:36:08. > :36:09.the cue ball has been lost. APPLAUSE
:36:10. > :36:30.But was a massive kick. APPLAUSE
:36:31. > :36:36.That is more like the way Ronnie has played all week.
:36:37. > :36:42.You would have known if he had missed the yellow, it was giving
:36:43. > :36:47.Neil Robertson and easy opportunity to get back into the frame, but had
:36:48. > :37:12.a bit of a wobble before it went in but it was a positive shot.
:37:13. > :37:31.He is not quite past the winning post, a colour and another red...
:37:32. > :37:35.He did actually played just a stunt off the black but he will have to
:37:36. > :37:43.play a safety now. Neil Robertson coming back to the
:37:44. > :38:01.table... He needs a four points snooker...
:38:02. > :38:08.The green and blue in good positions, especially.
:38:09. > :38:12.Well, if that had missed the green on the way down it would have been a
:38:13. > :40:20.good snooker. There is a possibility of this pot
:40:21. > :40:26.for Ronnie and if it goes in, it is the end of the frame and it has gone
:40:27. > :40:29.in, the end of the frame. Neil Robertson collecting his stuff
:40:30. > :40:35.together to leave the arena. I think Ronnie O'Sullivan will be probably
:40:36. > :40:38.the happier of the two. Could have been somewhat worse for him.
:40:39. > :40:46.Robertson has played well in this session. Breaks of 78 and 77, Ronnie
:40:47. > :40:48.not quite as good as what we have seen all week but he is now still in
:40:49. > :41:04.this match. The crowd would love to see a couple
:41:05. > :41:10.more shots played, they will have enjoyed this session this afternoon.
:41:11. > :41:23.Both players have not hung about. APPLAUSE
:41:24. > :41:27.And exhibition shot. You feel, when he is going for his shots, he looks
:41:28. > :41:34.as good as he has done all week. Ronnie Sullivan, now back to only
:41:35. > :41:41.two frames behind, Neil Robertson with the lead for the session
:41:42. > :41:47.tonight, leading 5-3. STUDIO: Ronnie O'Sullivan feeling a
:41:48. > :41:54.little bit better. A massive frame and we will look forward to tonight.
:41:55. > :41:58.I still fancy Ronnie. I do. He can turn it around. He hasn't played
:41:59. > :42:04.well this afternoon but still in the match. Ronnie will have a couple of
:42:05. > :42:08.hours to think about things. I am sure he will come into the practice
:42:09. > :42:14.room, interesting to see Robertson dominating the session, coming out
:42:15. > :42:17.5-3. We will see, I am sure the players will be here for some
:42:18. > :42:21.practice, advantage Robertson as we head into the second session to
:42:22. > :42:28.night. 5-3, the lead for the Australian. At the midway point in
:42:29. > :42:35.the Welsh Open final. Have a break, have a cup of tea and join us again
:42:36. > :42:37.later for the big climax. 7pm on BBC Two Wales, we will see you then,
:42:38. > :43:09.goodbye for now. I'm raising my game
:43:10. > :43:19.and I WILL come out on top. Bring it on. Bring it on.
:43:20. > :43:27.Bring it on. This time, we're aiming higher
:43:28. > :43:31.than ever before. The Sport Relief season
:43:32. > :43:34.continues with