Semi-Finals - Part 4 Snooker: Welsh Open

On BBC Two Wales, I'm very pleased to say that we can bring you back to

the Welsh Open snooker. I did promise you last time there would be

no more interruptions. Hopefully that was the last one. Apologies for

another loss of transmission here in Cardiff. Let's hope that is the end

of it. We can rejoin our commentary team of Dominic and Terry.

That was a good red from Joe to the right centre to keep the break

going. I am sure for a moment Joe thought he might have missed that

black. He's not ideally on this red. This black and one more red the

quiet for Joe Perry to get the scoreboard rolling. He can level

this matchup at 1-1. Good break, this, by Joe.

APPLAUSE Possibility for Joe of making 143,

if he takes blacks with the reigning reds. -- remaining reds.

if he takes blacks with the reigning Ronnie O'Sullivan made an excellent

clearance Well played, Joe Perry. Wonderful

total clearance of 139 sending a clear message to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

He intends to make a match of this. Levels the frames up at 1-1. So,

Terry, what do you think of that response from Joe Perry? He looked

very confident in that break. No reason why he shouldn't be. He has

been playing very well. He is up to Number Ten in the world at the

moment. He has been as high as nine. For many years, he has been making

the bottom rungs of the 16, from that sort of Mark from 13-16, but he

has pushed forward now, he has won a few events, and now, he practices

with Neil Robertson who is in the final tomorrow. I dare say that he

has learned a lot from Neil, in many ways. Neil does not arrive in the

club till late afternoon, he tends to practice a lot on his own, and

then goes home. Maybe he has learnt to take things more seriously. He is

a great player, Joe Perry. He will not afraid of Ronnie O'Sullivan. It

is set up nicely, now, as Ronnie breaks in frame three, at one frame

all. He has got a pot on here. Just a

thin cut back down to the baulk area. That has gone wrong. He may

have thought that Redwood cannon into one of the other reds. He may

not have played that shot otherwise. It is a bit of a distance, 12 foot

between these two balls, so not an easy shot for Ronnie O'Sullivan. He

is not happy with that. He thought he was hitting the pack on the way

back. Foul and a miss. So, a miss given,

this gives Joe another opportunity, never easy. He can flick the red on

the way back up to the baulk area. Joe Perry has got to hit the cushion

at least where he did last time, he seems happy enough. I would not say

he is that happy but the referee has put it back in the right place. That

is the problem. A bit too thick and you generally leave your opponent a

chance and this is quite a good one. Ronnie O'Sullivan sat out most of

the previous frame. Maybe that will spur him on a bit. So far, he has

not seemed to be that interested, sitting in the chair. I dare say he

is. Ronnie landed pretty well on that

red and was able to develop a few others in the course of potting that

one. It can be missed, this black, but I don't fancy him missing it, I

suppose. Dead centre. This, for me, is where Ronnie has

impressed me most this week, scoring so heavily, so persistently, in his

matches, winning so many frames in one visit from opportunities like

this. He has not looked in trouble in any match. Possibly apart from

the first when his mind was wondering slightly. He should have

gone 2-1 down in the best-of-7. The most impressive performance from

Ronnie O'Sullivan was in the second or third round, he made three

centuries and 90 break, 4-0, by the time his opponent had put his ice in

his drinks. Yes, 38 minutes, that match.

He did not quite get that right. Down to the red. But he is safe in

this frame, barring smokers. -- snookers. It would be nice to have

another century. I don't think he can get one from there, he is

shaking his head. He's disappointed. He will be disappointed if he

doesn't clinch this century. He has gutted! What a shot that was -- he

has got it. I did not see that from here. I could see he was looking at

it, but the chances of that, that is something really special, to

actually make the plants like that, that is ridiculous. -- plant. The

crowd love it. Shots like that. I did, anyway. LAUGHTER

I think he can get through to the red after this green. Hopefully it

will be straightforward. He will get the century.

This will be his eighth century so far in the Welsh Open.

What a wonderful exhibition of snooker. It has been a great advert

for our sport, the Welsh Open, some tremendous stuff. Yes, Terry, 146

and a 147, I don't think I've ever seen that before in a tournament.

Exhibition stuff, very enjoyable. Well done, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Centuries in the second and third frame, but that takes Ronnie in

front. He leads to-1. STUDIO: Another big break. We are back in

working order, and so is Ronnie, you lost the first frame, but he

recovers. -- he lost. Exley lost the second one, rather than losing the

first, but I'm happy that Joe Perry stood up to him -- he actually lost.

Ronnie replied with a fabulous break. The standard, as they have

said in commentary, what a great standard, and I don't think I've

seen better in a tournament, the barrage of high breaks has been

remarkable. Talking about the exhibition snooker from Ronnie, a

great example about this in this frame. He is trying to make a

century break to please the crowd. That is the plant, you could try

that one in ten and you would have got it once, that is how good that

was, and I'm so pasty went on to make a century from that position.

-- so pleased. Joe Perry has started well. He should have won the first

frame, he should be 2-1 in front, but the fact there was a break,

maybe Joe was frustrated, he should have won the first frame, but he

came back and made a magnificent century. Joe has settled well, they

have both settled well, and I expect an excellent game. We will see how

Joe Perry response to going to-1 down. They are back at the table. --

responds to going to-1 down. COMMENTATOR: This is a very

important frame before the mid-session interval.

Fantastic from Ronnie. He really is playing well again. In this

semifinal match. And is waiting for him to have a bad time session, a

time when he is struggling, but it is not happening yet. -- and I'm

waiting. Very deflating, when you are not doing very much wrong

yourself and stop finally, mistake from Ronnie. I'm sure Joe was not

expecting to be back at the table so quick.

That was unexpected from O'Sullivan. And it wasn't one which wobbled in

the pocket. Did not look happy in his way back to the chair and I

don't blame him. O'Sullivan is a bit different from

us in the commentary, we think how easy it is for him, but it is not

like that for him. If he has got the red at the back of

the pack, he is OK. He has got to be careful.

Very early, yet, but we could have three centuries in succession, this

is a good chance for Joe. That is one of the problems with Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Stephen Hendry was very similar. When they miss, there are

always balls available, because they opened the pack so quickly. Yes,

absolutely. Shaun Murphy reminds me of a player like that, as well, when

he gets in, he develops the balls very soon and if he misses something

easy his opponent comes to the table with an opportunity, most of the

time. Just not straight enough here to hold for the black. He is the

wrong side of this red. He went up for the blue, but he is a few

wrong side of this red. He went up to level things off before the

mid-session cup of tea, we have a 50 minute interval after this frame. --

15 minute. Oh! Is he and a red? I think Joe thinks the bottom red will

go. -- on a red? APPLAUSE This is good stuff from both of

them. The first semifinal was outstanding. Neil Robertson against

Mark Allen. We have had good crowds all week and they are getting plenty

of entertainment. Snooker is very popular in Wales and always has

been. That red was frame ball. Looks

likely now that we will go into the mid-session interval at 2-2. This is

great stuff from Joe Perry, he is not worried about who he is playing

or how he plays, he is there to do his own thing, that is the way to

play against not just Batman, Ronnie O'Sullivan. -- against not just that

man. He's a great player himself, Joe Perry, as we have seen here. He

already made the fantastic 139, levelling the match at 1-1, and he

can make another century here to level at 2-2.

What a shame. No century break, but he draws level at 2-2.

STUDIO: The players are inseparable, Ronnie O'Sullivan not having things

all his own way, in the first session. Willie Thorne, Joe spoke

about having the belief he could win and he has backed up that belief

with the performance. He has silenced the crowd, they are a bit

apprehensive. I was listening to them, and they were applauding great

shots from Joe, but they are stunned. This is what you have got

to do with Ronnie O'Sullivan, to have any chance of beating India

have got to stand up to him, and if he makes a big break, you have got

to do the same -- to have any chance of beating him you have got to stand

up to him. Shaun Murphy said on Twitter, that we are seeing the bar

being raised by Ronnie O'Sullivan and it is up to the rest of them to

catch up. Yes, the same thing happened in darts with Phil Taylor.

If you see a player beating you all the time, you will get better, and

that is what they have got to do in snooker. Ronnie at his best is

almost unbeatable, almost. There is a long way to go in this match, the

best of 11, and whether he can beat Ronnie in this format, I'm not sure,

but he is doing a good effort so far. The second session is coming up

very shortly, but the winner of the match will play the 2007 champion

Neil Robertson, who beat Mark Allen 6-4 in the first semifinal. We will

see a key moment in the third frame, in fact. Mark Allen was leading 2-0

and had a good chance to make it 3-0, but a foul with a nudge by his

cue resulted in the initiative being handed to Robertson. He consulted

the television replay to make sure that his cue had nudged the red. In

any case, that gave Robertson the initiative in that match. We can go

to the 10th frame, with Robertson at the table with a break of 34.

COMMENTATOR: That pocket is so tough, I've seen a few not go in and

we have seen a couple from the far jaw not going. Opportunity for Mark

Allen. He cleverly moved the red of the black spot, knowing it would

have been tied up. That was never going to go in at

that piece terrain pace -- never going to go in at that pace. It is

interesting to see the contrasting styles. Mark Allen can roll this in

for the black into that same pocket, and at the same time develop the

pink and the reds. That is what he's thinking.

So much margin of error, there. He could have gone another foot higher.

He has got to cut out those positional shots. He is right back

into the frame. Could we possibly get a decider?

What about the last red nearest the middle pocket? He can move it now.

Move the red and if he doesn't get it on nicely he has the long pot

into the corner pocket. Half ball. Yes, well done. We have a chance of

getting all square now. What a great match this has been, breaks in every

frame. You get the impression it has been a long struggle out there, I

suppose it has full periods, but there have been many breaks in this

match, as well, too many to mention. 77, 55, 56, 49, 50s, 70s, 124 from

Mark Ellen Delay -- Mark Allen a couple of frames ago. He's

left-handed, so cueing is no problem. The frame could hinge on

this shot. Absolutely, this is for 4-5. That is how tight these pockets

are. -- 5-5. APPLAUSE The only way that you could have

played it different, is rolled it rather than play it at pace. Neil

Robertson would have thought a few moments ago, when Mark Allen was

playing this shot. Could he have rolled it in? The way he played it,

it gave every chance to nibble away from the pocket and go safe, but a

more positive shot, the star shot, rather than the role through. --

stun shot rather than the roll through.

Just travel to far, kneel. -- travelled to far, Neil Robertson.

This could go wrong. I'm looking at this from Mark Allen's point of

view. He could screw this across the ground. Well, I think that man in

your picture feels he has indeed played his last shot in this year 's

Welsh Open. It has been a great match. Mark Allen started the

stronger of the two, very unlucky to not go 3-0 ahead. But a wonderful

performance from Neil Robertson. It was 2-2 going into the mid-session

interval. It has been a wonderful match, both players have made big

breaks, but Neil Robertson finds himself in tomorrow's final. He

defeats is Northern Irish opponent Mark Allen 6-4. I was singing and

dancing at the interval, at 2-2, it should never have been 2-2, I was

not playing very well and I was missing safety shots, and Mark

looked like he was going to go 3-0 in front until he fouled on the red

and that gave me time to get back on the table. I made a tremendous

clearance to make it 2-1 and then get it back to 2-2. The turning

point is when I touched the red in the third frame, and I was not

arguing with the referee in any way. But I said I don't feel as though I

touched it, can you check? It was a pivotal point. I said that I did not

think I definitely didn't touch it, but I did not feel it, so could we

have confirmation? As soon as I saw on the replay I had touched it, I

accepted the decision and I moved on, but at the time I did not feel

as though I had and I had to question it. Three scoring visit and

I was 5-2 in front, but he responded very well and I knew he would, he

opened up his game and when he got in he was scoring very heavily. I

had to be patient, waiting to my chance. Robertson, the first time he

has made the final since he won the trophy nine years ago. People had

their eyes on the Ronnie O'Sullivan Joe Perry match, and Ronnie is a

practising in the break, by the way. But that game earlier, that was an

enthralling game. It was a pleasure to commentate on.

Robertson was singing and dancing as he used the term, at the interval.

OK, the foul shot made all the difference in the world for Mark

Allen not to take the 3-0 lead. On reflection, Mark Allen will be

kicking himself. But Robertson showed so much grit and a

termination. He hardly missed a ball. Some players are intimidated

by this player, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Neil Robertson would be? I don't

think so. He knows that if Ronnie is at his best he's going be almost

impossible to beat. He has got to stand up to him as Joe Perry is

doing at the moment. We will be back with a second session shortly. If

you're a fan of snooker, you may well have seen the BBC drama, Rack

Pack, about the golden era from the 80s, Alex Higgins, Steve Davis,

Willie Thorne is in it as well. We went behind-the-scenes for the

filming of it. I am an entertainer. Please welcomed Steven Davis. I am

going to make you rich. You have got to tell the story of of

how snooker when from the back rooms of the small clubs to become this

national sporting event. It is the story of the characters and people

behind that, the burgeoning management like Barry Hearn, who

made it very professional and organised and commercialised, then

the kind of raw natural talent of people like Alex Higgins and Jimmy

White, who were these great folk heroes of their day. Excuse me? I

was wondering if you might provide me some information about the tables

and facilities in this establishment. You know, what the

buckets are like and the slate. Do you need me to call your mum? No

matter how many times you look at it, he transformed the game with

Barry Hearn. His shadow hangs over that whole era. I'm sorry, but I

cannot keep my eyes open. Let's make this interesting. If you say so,

Alex. They became the opposing forces, if you like, of the story. I

have waited a long time to meet a man like you, Davis. I bet that

something you don't hear very often. I think snooker is going to be big,

properly big, bigger even than wrestling. I am being serious. I

want us to go into partnership together. It was interesting to get

into the world of snooker in its golden age, how sexy it was and how

cool it was. It is definitely very unique on its own and probably could

only have happened at that time. It shows you how snooker-mad the world

was. camera above the table in any match,

and this film totally takes you down to the level of the players. It is

all a bit rock and roll. The script is funny, and the way it

is brought together by the actors brings a lot of humour to it. Alex,

you are four hours late. They are baying for blood in there. It is

also dark as well. And that is necessary. Me and you James, we are

the only two that they all loved. It is tragedy and comedy, and there is

a lot of tragedy, it is emotional and there are heart-warming scenes

as well. I love you, baby. From the first moment I held you in my arms.

Your daddy is playing in the final tomorrow. It is going to change

everything. I hope that it is a timeless story. The drama is there.

Everybody can appreciate that. And I hope that viewers of the modern game

might go, there was a time when perhaps the game had a few more

characters. THEY SING "SNOOKER LOOPY". We know that the way that

people consume drama is changing. And hopefully this will be a project

that reaches out to a lot more people and creates opportunities in

the future. We want to roll it out on iPlayer, it has got such a

following from that era, there's a lot of love for snooker. Tonally, it

is quite strong. There's a lot of emotional moments and wild

behaviour. It is right that people would come to find it on iPlayer,

and then hopefully, further down the line, it would go on the telly. I

don't think snooker has ever looked so rock 'n' roll. What do you think

of it? Is it accurate? Poetic licence? There was lots of players

in the players room afterwards. The characters were brilliant. The guy

that played me looked more like a Mexican bandit. And I thought he was

Steven Davis' twin! You have not changed a bit. You mean with the

moustache? It is time to go back, most, for the second session of our

semifinal at the Motorpoint Arena on the Saturday evening. We have just

seen Ronnie and their practice room. Normally, it is opponent comes out

here, but this time it was Ronnie. He will have felt that he was not

cueing quite so well. But he has had a break of 124, so you would think

he was playing well, but he has spent ten minutes in the practice

room. It is the best of 11. Joe Perry has to win two of the next

three to put Ronnie under pressure. Let's get back to the commentary

team of Dominic and Terry, it is 2-2.

It has been a very interesting match. With the high-scoring and the

disruptions. Different, slightly different. I am sure that the Crown

has enjoyed it all. -- the crowd. It is a big crowd. They were all

standing and looking at the table. I don't know what is there that they

do not see from their seats. Now, it was not that bad until the red was

knocked over to that left-hand corner. Let's see if his practice

upstairs has helped him here. It is not always the case that players go

up and practice in the practice room in the interval, because they are

not playing well. It is just because they want to fill some Simon,

really. REFEREE: Foul, Ronnie O'Sullivan,

four. -- want to fill some time in. Isn't there a rule that you cannot

pick up the ball and wipe it 's that the referee has got to do it? You're

not allowed to clean it with your own cloth or anything like that.

Some players were going out into the arena and would have the cloth with

a certain brand of spray polish. I will not name names. It was thought

that they were polishing the balls with that particular polish because

that is what they did on the practice table and it suited them.

Well, there is nothing wrong in that! Who was that, Dominic? You

have given us a clue and you have just left us hanging. I will tell

you later! A chance for Ronnie to nudge one of

the reds into a pottable position. It has worked out quite well.

Nicely into the gap for the black. With that job back spin and science.

-- with a touch of back spin and side.

He's having a look at this shot into the right-hand corner.

That was not a good contact. The white balance a bit, but he's OK on

this red, I think. He had a quicker response of the top

cushion, Ronnie. Just a tiny bit short on this red. Into the pack

again, maintains position on the black. Quite a few more reds out

now. He wanted to be a little bit lower, it is more of a cutback than

he intended it to be. Dominic and myself do not want to

say anything. We just feel like spectators when Ronnie gets in. It

is special. But you have got to say something.

The frame clenched in one visit. -- clinched. Look at that. Five reds

are available. And without that much pace, as well.

In the last four frames we have seen breaks of 139 from Joe, 124 from

Ronnie, 92 from Joe Perry, and now this 86 and counting from Ronnie. It

does not get any better. APPLAUSE

The ninth century for Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Welsh Open this

year. The 70th of the tournament. A very special one, Ronnie misses that

red, but it doesn't really make any difference. He is back in the lead,

3-2 in front. Joe Perry breaks off frame six.

Ronnie is looking very dangerous again. They have swapped frames,

really, in this match so far. No player able to build a 2- frame

lead. Ronnie won the first frame and they have swapped frames ever since.

He has not left the easier long red from that break of, Joe. No attempt

at the pot from Ronnie there, I don't think.

He has left the red on to the middle. Ronnie didn't catch that

right. Joe Perry getting on the black. Even if he had missed it, he

would not have left anything easy on.

Would hope to bring a couple more reds into pottable positions, but

nothing really seemed to dislodge itself from the cluster. Just one

loose red now, the one to the right of the pack.

Joe just asking the referee, Marcel Eckardt, to clean the cue ball. He

needs a good contact to go into this pack of reds. Muscle Hecate now

lives in Burlington near Potsdamerplatz. That's what I used

to live a few years ago. -- lives in Berlin, now. -- Marcel Eckardt.

The reds split, but now Joe is looking down. I am not sure if this

red passes the black. Looks like end break. -- end of break. He could

drop it in-off the far knuckle, but there would be no point in doing

that, because he would not be on the black, then. He deserved better. He

hit the cue ball cleanly and caught the reds nicely.

How unlucky for Joe. He could not have asked for a better split of the

reds. And to not be on one, that could make a difference over the

course of this frame. This is nothing, really, considering the

position of the reds. Ronnie using the jaws of the pocket not

necessarily to pot the Red Button make sure that it remains down that

ends of the table, and screw the cue ball back to baulk.

Maybe a shot and nothing here for Ronnie, the red to the left corner.

He just needs to watch the bump. He caught it nice and thick.

The pink has not opened up for O'Sullivan. Just the blue and the

baulk colours available. He has gone a bit too far for the blue, but he

might still play it. He never misses a chance.

High value colours are generally in play when he is making a break. It

is quite a thin cut. Putting some spin, bringing the pink interplay.

-- into play. These reds could easily have been

Joe Perry's. He had a good opportunity. Still plenty of work to

do, O'Sullivan. He is still behind in the frame with two reds tied up

with the black, maybe three of them, in fact.

We might see a left-handed shot, to bring something interplay with these

three reds and a black. -- into play. APPLAUSE

Very nice. It did not come out perfect, though. He is only 11 in

front. He needs to make this one. Very nice. Did not play for the

black, it needed too much pace, and he could have stopped the red going

into the corner. Once again, Ronnie showing his

ability to play with either hand. To have that degree of ambidextrous to

-- ambidextrous ability is incredible, as if he's not good

enough already. He just stunned the cue ball

slightly too much, easy to do when you have the extension on. Just red,

colour, red, needed for a 4-2 lead which will be the first time either

player has had a lead by two frames. The Severus audience we have

tonight, giving Ronnie plenty of support -- the the

looks like another 90 plus break coming up. Can't quite make the

century. 94, if he goes on to make the clearance. What an exhibition of

break-building this is, from both players, it has to be said. Joe

Perry is certainly playing his part in this match, breaks of 139 and 92,

to go with 120 -- 124 and 91 from O'Sullivan, and this effort here. It

has been a pleasure to watch and commentate on this match. Ronnie

O'Sullivan, with this black comedy clears the table with 94, and for

the first time he has a two frame lead over Joe Perry -- with this

black, he clears the table. STUDIO: Daylight between the players, as

Ronnie heads off for a break, the kind of clearance that we have been

seeing from him all week. Joe Perry is unlucky with the safety, it

caught the jaws of the middle pocket and brought the white into open

play, and in fairness that rate was better than Ronnie -- break. But he

ended up clearing the table, he in supreme form, it will be very tough

now with the two frame deficit for Joe to get back into the match. Joe

Perry is being made to wait, while Ronnie goes off for a break. That

belief he said he had at the start of the match, it will ebb away. He

has made 100 and 90, so he knows he can compete, but he has got to

compete in the safety, and he caught the jaws of the middle pocket when

he played safety, otherwise he could have got 90 break. Joe has got to

compete in old apartments and at the moment he not competing in the

safety Department. When we talk about players raising the bar and

trying to match the standards of Ronnie right now, what are they

alluding to? It is not as though other players are not winning

tournaments, but are they trying to match the style? It is the way that

he plays, the way that he goes into tournaments, thinking that he will

play open snooker. When players play in tournaments, they become very

serious and they get the ball cleared every kick, but they should

take a leaf out of his book, he never gets the ball clean, he just

keeps his momentum going. Sometimes when you have it cleaned it can take

you out of that momentum. I think Ronnie has set the bar and they are

trying to get back to it. It is not play in every single tournament,

does it? ! We can get back to the action, with Ronnie O'Sullivan

having another opportunity to get to another ranking event final.

COMMENTATOR: I don't think Joe Perry will be throwing in the towel, and I

think Ronnie has a bit to do yet. 101 and 94 in the last two frames,

O'Sullivan, that puts pressure on you when you get the chance. You

think you have got to make it, but that is not quite true, but what you

must not do is make a mistake. He will feel if he lets O'Sullivan in

he will not have a go again. LAUGHTER

He is not on a colour. Such a difficult shot, to retain the

accuracy and pot it, that was excellent. He could have hoped for

something better than what he is facing now. Yellow ball.

LAUGHTER He can't stop butting them, that was

a safety. He is laughing himself. -- potting. The best safety of the

night. Amazing that it went in at that pace. He has got to be careful

not to knock a red into the corner. Oh! He needs help with the baulk

collars and I don't think he will get any -- colours. Now, that is

heartbreaking for Joe Perry. He has played it slow. He has not

got it right. He has left himself very thin on the black, at that

speed you are never certain of getting on the black. But we were

surprised he did not get on it. He is looking at the blue. He not one

of these in against Mark Selby earlier in the tournament. -- he

knocked. Very nice. Just looking at the prize-money. O'Sullivan has

earned ?8.5 million in prize money, and you can see why when you watch

him play like this. Surely he can't get past from here.

He has played in the middle, dead weight. Oh! What a great attempt. It

will not make any difference. 88 from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is

looking very dominant. Yes, 5-2, and Joe Perry has not done much wrong, I

have to say. But it is indeed 5-2, he is one more frame away from

reaching the final. STUDIO: Dominant, Ronnie O'Sullivan, once

again, it will take a great comeback now from Joe Perry to turn this

around. In the blink of an eye he wins frames, Joe Perry, I can't

think of him playing more than 4-5 bad shots, but every time Ronnie

gets in, and I keep saying this, you have got to win the frame in one

visit, rather than getting involved in a tactical battle. People can't

break built like Ronnie O'Sullivan, well, a few of them can, but not as

consistent. Joe Perry must be thinking, he has made a few bad

shots, but he is 5-2 down. The sense of destiny grows inside the arena,

everyone expects Ronnie to see it through, and Joe might be thinking

that himself. How does he think he can still do it? You have got to

have believed. Joe Perry has got to the semifinal because of its talent,

he is a very good match player. He does not play the likes of Ronnie

O'Sullivan and has only beaten him twice in 12 meetings, but not many

players have a good record against O'Sullivan. What players have said,

Ronnie has raised the bar, and this is the standard you have got to play

to compete with him. It is impossible to play like that all the

time, but this week he has been sensational, as good as I've seen

him play in my career. I've never seen him play as consistently well,

every time he gets to the table he is making 80 Rob of and that is how

well he is playing. -- 80 or above. You have got to pick your schedules,

like Ronnie is doing, you just playing in a few tournaments, Shaun

Murphy is doing it, Stuart Bingham and Mark Selby, they are playing

into many tournaments to be consistent, but I think they have

got to pick and choose and practice properly. It is a dilemma, because

of the prize money on offer. But maybe they can pick and choose a bit

more. Don't play everyone, maybe one in every two, something like that.

He has said he is using the Welsh Open as practice for exhibition

matches, but he only needs one more frame to get into the final tomorrow

night. Leading 5-2. COMMENTATOR: Joe Perry can't afford

any more mistakes. I'm very impressed with Joe, he's gone out

there and done his own thing, he has played very well. It must be very

deflating when you are doing everything, but it is still nowhere

near good enough. I go back to the fifth frame when Joe went into the

reds and he was very unlucky not to land on anything. He could have won

the frame and levelled at 3-3 but instead Ronnie got back in and he

ended up getting the frame. Well, he can't pot everything, Ronnie.

That has brought the black into play. Good safety. Has not put

Ronnie O'Sullivan in trouble, but he has not left him a pot either.

That is very good length on the cue ball.

He is on the pink and he deserved to be on something, but it is a very

thin cut into the centre and not easy. Not easy to pot and get good

position. Things have closed up a bit, the black did come into play

and the blue was out into play, but they are both out of it at the

moment. Just the pink to play on at the moment.

A nice gap here to get onto the pink in the right centre. He has been off

the table while, Joe, and he will be glad to get another chance.

He will have played a lot worse than this many times and been well in

front. I think he has played the best

snooker of the week from his point of view in this match, and he was

2-2 at the interval, so he did hold Ronnie, but since then, great breaks

from Ronnie have seen him forge ahead. Typical, when Joe gets a good

opportunity, the black is tied up, not much he can do about it really.

And the blue is out of commission, on the Balkan cushion. -- on the

baulk cushion. He needs to control the cue ball very well, he only has

the pink and the baulk colours to go with.

That has made things a bit easier. The pink goes in both corners. And

two centres. That gives you more choice of his position. Still not

easy. Tied. -- tight. Should not be more

than 12 inches away at all. He did not get closer to the red.

If Joe wanted to, he could have played for the red which is above

the black slightly to the left. He was too high on the pink, though,

and he has had to come across either side of the red, the one I was

talking about. So it is back to the pink in the right centre. He is

taking these well, though, Joe. I would say that he is favourite for

the frame now. Just needs to keep his concentration.

I'm not sure if Ronnie expects to get back to the table in this frame.

Joe has a good angle to develop the Fred -- develop the reds. If he

could can -- cannon here, you can leave himself a shot. I think he is

still on for the top right corner, just about.

Joe will be disappointed. To see that red not find its way into the

pocket. If Ronnie can make this long read, you might be able to develop

the black, but the problem is, if he cannons is the red by the red go

into the pocket? He did not play the cannon. He played it perfectly.

That was the frame ball for Joe Perry, 36 points ahead with 35

remaining. It looks like we are heading into the eighth frame, at

5-3. No attempt at the pot. Snickering his opponent, Ronnie. He

comes to the table needing a slicker. And, barring that snooker

it will be 5-3 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. What is he going to do here? He

needs one snooker. Seems to have made his decision already. He will

get to a certain stage and then play for the snooker.

In normal circumstances it would not be that difficult to go off one

cushion. But the blue is tight on that cushion. He just about got away

from that pocket, then. He has gone for behind the brown.

Oh, what a shot! APPLAUSE

Wonderful entertainment. Joe will just play the softer side

cushion but he has got to slide it off and into the green. He has

judged it well. Good shot. He tried to stun and get behind the

brown, but it was a difficult shot. Well, he missed that by a long way.

That was an unusual one. He has brought the blue into play.

Not sure if he played the green to go back up there, but I will give

him the benefit of the doubt! Quite a difficult one to hit. He can only

go with the position he has now with the rest. And hit it hard.

A good fit, not too bad. He is still in this frame. The only needs one

snooker. -- he only needs. APPLAUSE

What a fantastic green from Joe Perry. That should secure this frame

for him now. And in goes the brown for good measure.

It has been a fantastic match from Joe Perry. He has acquitted himself

well. He has played some very, very good snooker. And in goes the pink.

Doesn't bother with the black. So Joe Perry with that 56 break that he

made earlier reduces the deficit to just two frames at 5-3. We saw the

first look of exasperation on the face of Ronnie O'Sullivan for a

change. But well played. Absolutely. He has played well to stay in the

game, he has been hit with a barrage of sizeable breaks and he has stood

up well. He made a lovely break of 56. He feels he is still in the

match. If he wins this frame, we have not seen Ronnie put under

pressure this week, yet. Every other time, he just steam rollers his

opponent. What will he be like when someone takes him to the line, as at

were? It would be good to see Joe Perry winning this frame just the

sake of the punters, to see what Ronnie is like when he is put on the

pressure. He has not been put under pressure this week. He will be

happier, and he will know that. I remember Mark Selby playing in the

Masters, and the score was 5-3, Mark Selby was unplugged, and he said if

he would've won that game, he would fancy that. That is what players

think when they are playing Ronnie O'Sullivan. If you get close to him,

you have a chance. But nobody has got close to him this week,, yet.

REFEREE: Frame nine, Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.

APPLAUSE And a good break off to the left

hand from Ronnie O'Sullivan. Looking for the one frame he needs to go

into the final tomorrow to play Neil Robertson. Joe Perry may have other

ideas. Both these players turned

professional in 1992 at the same time.

If this was a straightforward safety shot, this would have been down by

now. Is he committing to this or just dropping the cue ball on the

far cushion? He has just missed that red. He could have caught that red

on the way back up. Good attempt. APPLAUSE

Superb exhibition of ball striking from Ronnie, there, hitting it

absolutely cleanly. Struck beautifully. A choice of blue or

green. The red that is just by the black will pot into the right-hand

corner and Ronnie will want to get on that as soon as to free up the

black. Didn't get the best contact, there, Ronnie. Short of ideal

position. The trouble is, the black only goes

in one corner pocket. He has got the black he could go through, but there

is no room for error. With the thinner cup, the pink going back

into the middle. -- is there. There is only one thought in Ronnie

O'Sullivan's mind at the moment, he is going to win this frame and the

match at this visit. That was wayward from Ronnie. I just

wonder if he was in two minds about what shot to play, positionally,

from this black. Are freed for Joe Perry. -- a reprieve for.

He has left a nice angle on this red, to play for the black.

He will be looking to split a few reds open from the black. They are

tightly packed together. He hasn't got the power to get the spin that

Ronnie O'Sullivan gets to get into the pack. That was a bit too hard.

The spin did not take. He just caught the edge of the pack.

And the chance each for each player in this frame.

Ronnie having a look at this red below the pink spot that will pot

into the right-hand corner. It is a good shot to nothing possibility.

There was a more risky long pot that he's looking at now, a three

quarters ball red, He will have to play for these reds

in the centre. Joe Perry is shuffling about in his

chair, hoping for another chance. You never know.

With Ronnie O'Sullivan, you think this could be the end. With most

other players, you would still think you have a chance. 36 points in

front, now. APPLAUSE

Playing for the blue but he had a slight angle and is on the black.

That has made a big difference, now. 44 points in front with just 43 left

on the table. He really is striking the cue ball

so well. Joe Perry has played very well in this match, with the highest

break, 139, in the second frame. But it's Ronnie O'Sullivan who has been

the most consistent of the two. 78 from Ronnie O'Sullivan, clinches

the match. It has been a great match with both players playing well. You

go through today's Neil Robertson in the final tomorrow, winning 6-3.

We will have the box office finale to the Welsh Office that many would

have wanted to see. 3- Time Warner Ronnie O'Sullivan into the final

again, two years after he last lifted the trophy -- 3- time winner.

Ronnie O'Sullivan against Neil Robertson tomorrow on BBC Two Wales.

Make a date and join us for that. It was a much closer contest than any

other that Ronnie has faced this week. Nothing to be worried about.

He adapted himself well to the crowd being against them and played so

well. The point we talked about earlier on, that Ronnie raised the

bar. We will look at this shot he played early in the opening frame.

Most players would play this as a shock to nothing, get the white ball

past the baulk line. Ronnie, whenever he takes the pot on, very

rarely, is seeping to get the white safe, but to get it in an area where

he can score. To get up to Ronnie's standard, that is what players have

to try and do. When Ronnie pots a good ball, he wants to make it a

frame- winning chance. He missed the black off its spot a few moments

later, then he went mad in the last frame. All in all, Ronnie will be

pleased with the way he scored. Because Joe Perry stood up to him.

That is key, when you stand up to him, he got the chance. Let's find

out. Here he is. Congratulations, you are through to the final. I will

not ask you if you think that your name is on the trophy. But Joe Perry

give you a tough game tonight. Absolutely. He is an unbelievable

player. He has had so many good matches. He should have beat me in

the World Championships a couple of weeks yet -- a couple of years ago.

He is a tough, tough player. He scores, and he fancies winning. He

played quite well tonight. I am just trying to compete and Nick a few

frames and I think I did that better tonight than in any other match. One

of the things you look great at, the moment is your long game. You must

be pleased the way that you're knocking the long ones in. Not as

bad as it was eight years ago, I could not pot a long ball, but I

have made a few. As long as I can make a few, I can start building

momentum, I can score. Neil Robertson in the final? Robbocop! I

watched him through the whole of the UK Championships. And he never

showed one emotion through the whole tournament. Amazing. I have been

watching him to make -- to see if he makes any kind of emotion and I kind

of got this from him today. That is about all you get from him. It shows

what an unbelievable professional he is. I am just these to be in the

final. We're going to Bucharest for couple of exhibitions in April. I am

excited about that. Then we are on a city tour of China. Are you taking

you? You are more than welcomed. You have won this trophy three times

before, you must want to go for a fourth. Have you seen that trophy?!

Of course! Thank you Ronnie and thank you, Willie, for being with

us. Tomorrow, the final will be live from 1pm tomorrow on BBC Two Wales.

It is Neil Robertson, the 2007 winner, against a man going for a

record-equalling fourth Welsh Open title. It could be a classic. Thank

you for your company this evening. It is a very good night from all of

us.