:00:44. > :00:51.It has been a few years. It has been disappointing watching the
:00:51. > :01:00.other guys have success in the World Championship. He has been off
:01:00. > :01:10.the best player has of the season. He comes to Sheffield and always
:01:10. > :01:17.seems to do well. To be in the latter stages of this event, it
:01:17. > :01:25.means the world to me. Anybody can win this tournament now. There are
:01:25. > :01:33.no favourites. I will be the underdog in the semifinal, but that
:01:33. > :01:42.will suit me. It will be very hard. It will be a tough match. I have
:01:42. > :01:49.not had any easy matter so far. Hello again. Semifinal of the
:01:49. > :01:54.world's snooker Championship. day 13. It is the 30th campaign at
:01:54. > :02:01.the Crucible for Matthew Stevens. He has been unlucky over the last
:02:01. > :02:07.few years. Twice he has been 1 up up. He has a poor record against
:02:07. > :02:17.Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has not beaten him since 2003. Things look
:02:17. > :02:19.
:02:19. > :02:22.ominously like they are clicking into place for Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:02:22. > :02:27.Ronnie O'Sullivan Formby is the most brilliant snooker player I
:02:27. > :02:35.have ever said. Ronnie O'Sullivan is the best player I have ever
:02:35. > :02:43.played. He makes the game looks ridiculously easy. If he applied
:02:43. > :02:49.himself he would break every record in the book. Left to the right hand
:02:49. > :02:59.it. He does not care. He -- when he makes breaks he is never out of
:02:59. > :03:00.
:03:00. > :03:07.position. When he is there he tries his best. I have always respected
:03:07. > :03:17.him as a player and a manager. never know what you will get the
:03:17. > :03:20.
:03:20. > :03:25.The Matthew Stevens but that record at the Crucible was superb. Twice a
:03:25. > :03:26.finalist. Three times this semifinalist. But it has been seven
:03:26. > :03:32.semifinalist. But it has been seven years since he got to this stage of
:03:32. > :03:39.the event. If you are watching earlier, you will see that the
:03:39. > :03:44.Welshman got nothing for his efforts. He went into the mid-
:03:44. > :03:50.session 4-0 behind and easier to find his rhythm. This is what
:03:50. > :04:00.transpired when they returned. This is the fifth round and Ronnie is 17
:04:00. > :04:01.
:04:01. > :04:08.points behind. -- fifth frame. Has he got and just that bit too far?
:04:08. > :04:15.He played for the pink so he could cut the pig endeavour not be red.
:04:15. > :04:25.He will have to plant pots have signed. -- Cup be pink and develop
:04:25. > :04:27.
:04:27. > :04:32.the red. He is not selected. -- cut the pink. If he can avoid the
:04:32. > :04:41.cannon on to the yellow - the added problem is he might put the red on
:04:42. > :04:51.to the grain. -- only problem. -- the green. He avoided the green.
:04:52. > :05:22.
:05:22. > :05:32.Matthew narrows as it looks up into the commentary box it is possibly a
:05:32. > :05:42.
:05:42. > :05:52.snooker. -- Matthew notice as he He needs lots of sight on this to
:05:52. > :06:01.
:06:01. > :06:09.come off the cushion. -- sighed. -- It has to trap he has to try to
:06:09. > :06:19.keep the white here and get in behind the black. -- he has to try
:06:19. > :06:21.
:06:21. > :06:26.to keep the white here. That is a very good sacker. -- snooker. This
:06:26. > :06:36.shot is a possibility it and he could finish on the yellow or green,
:06:36. > :06:48.
:06:48. > :06:54.but can he knock this difficult red He is very unlikely. He could not
:06:54. > :07:00.have played the shot any better. But little knowledge has spoilt his
:07:00. > :07:10.run to the winning line. He just flipped the yellow. Just the
:07:10. > :07:21.
:07:21. > :07:31.This is awkward, Willie. This straight up-and-down is difficult
:07:31. > :07:43.
:07:43. > :07:53.to judge. He would have to go near 82-cushion the scope is what he is
:07:53. > :08:22.
:08:22. > :08:32.Mind you, he has had a result on He did not get anywhere near with
:08:32. > :08:45.
:08:45. > :08:55.for us to tent. That is where he The referees are assisting to
:08:55. > :08:57.
:08:57. > :09:04.determine exactly where the boys are. -- balls. That is where they
:09:04. > :09:11.will be fraught and this is them now. That is near enough. -- that
:09:11. > :09:17.is where they were before. If he can just re adjust slightly to make
:09:17. > :09:27.that ankle, he might just get a play with it. -- angle. Beautifully
:09:27. > :09:31.
:09:31. > :09:39.played. But if you come to be miss he do it first time it is lucky to
:09:39. > :09:48.have got away with it this time. -- nephew completely mishit it. --
:09:48. > :09:54.Matthew. Whoever pots the green will go on to win this for him. Is
:09:54. > :10:00.the yellow going? This year is a perfect shot to play around three
:10:00. > :10:08.cushions and get on the ground nicely. This has to go in. This
:10:08. > :10:14.will give Matthew a lot of confidence if it goes in. If he can
:10:14. > :10:24.get B potting angle and miss thank you black he will get a terrific
:10:24. > :10:27.
:10:27. > :10:36.amount of applause. -- 8 potting angle. He needs to miss the brown.
:10:37. > :10:41.When you are strapped then light Matthew is at the minute you have
:10:41. > :10:51.to take everything out of the equation. -- when you are
:10:51. > :10:55.
:10:55. > :11:05.struggling light Matthew. -- like Matthew. He can play a snooker. The
:11:05. > :11:06.
:11:06. > :11:16.jaw of the middle pocket has spot Not straightforward if he does this
:11:16. > :11:20.
:11:20. > :11:30.say. -- if he gets this safe. It is not an easy safety shot. He must
:11:30. > :11:33.
:11:33. > :11:42.beware of the double-kiss if he He could hit the left side of the
:11:42. > :11:49.green and sent the green over two days left corner pocket. - Max and
:11:49. > :11:59.the green overt to the left corner pocket. -- sent the Greens over to
:11:59. > :12:02.
:12:02. > :12:10.the left corner pocket. -- send the green. This is a great chance for
:12:10. > :12:20.Matthew to settle in this semifinal. He needed to miss the kids on the
:12:20. > :12:45.
:12:45. > :12:55.blue and he did it nicely. -- case. No progress in that tactical friend.
:12:55. > :13:00.Matthew Stevens will be delighted. -- no breaks in that tactical frame.
:13:00. > :13:10.At long last Stevens is on the board. The former UK and Masters
:13:10. > :13:43.
:13:43. > :13:53.champion. He has got his nose in Matthew, what have you done there.
:13:53. > :14:02.
:14:02. > :14:07.-- have you done they? That was very careless. -- done there? He
:14:07. > :14:17.has slipped himself on the intended red. That was a good chance to push
:14:17. > :14:17.
:14:17. > :14:27.on. -- snookered himself. He has already had to play safe twice and
:14:27. > :14:43.
:14:43. > :14:51.Just to a delicate little cannon but he missed it badly. -- just a
:14:51. > :15:01.delicate. Let's say it Bob occur shows us. Yes, there would have
:15:01. > :15:15.
:15:15. > :15:20.done it. -- see what Hawkeye. -- He is going to take this on. There
:15:20. > :15:30.is a gap between the blue and the green which is the path but could
:15:30. > :15:36.
:15:36. > :15:46.take. But he could go very close to him off. -- in-off. After a series
:15:46. > :16:04.
:16:04. > :16:07.of little kisses, I think he has All of a sudden only will smog from
:16:07. > :16:17.Nick a solvent and it is as if that the double has changed everything
:16:17. > :16:20.
:16:20. > :16:25.around. -- a little smile of from Ronnie O'Sullivan. -- that interval.
:16:25. > :16:35.He has to hope the white kids a trip half here and play for the pig
:16:35. > :16:49.
:16:49. > :16:59.or the black. -- the white shows a I am not sure what if he can just
:16:59. > :17:00.
:17:00. > :17:10.stunned in the 20 minutes and leave the white somewhere there. -- stun
:17:10. > :17:11.
:17:11. > :17:21.I think the peak will be available into the right corner. I am not
:17:21. > :17:34.
:17:34. > :17:44.sure. -- the pink. They know, it He is just not getting into the cue
:17:44. > :17:47.
:17:47. > :17:57.ball at will. Six or seven inches short. -- at all. But recovery.
:17:57. > :17:58.
:17:58. > :18:08.Slough off the cushion. -- good Slough off the cushion. -- good
:18:08. > :18:21.
:18:21. > :18:28.That was a very good recovery. was looking to see if the pink
:18:28. > :18:37.would go in the right middle. He is OK. He is growing in confidence
:18:37. > :18:47.with each shot, and its estate. This is the speed he needs to play.
:18:47. > :18:47.
:18:47. > :19:28.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds
:19:28. > :19:33.He has been brought down. -- each That equals his highest break -
:19:33. > :19:43.just a 66. You would expect a little bit higher up, but the
:19:43. > :19:53.
:19:53. > :19:59.friends have gone rather awkward. - It is not ideal on this planet. He
:19:59. > :20:09.could screw directly up in to them all go off to cushions. -- This
:20:09. > :20:19.
:20:19. > :20:29.He is just one run away from making the frame so. Altarnun, Matthew
:20:29. > :20:31.
:20:31. > :20:41.Stevens. -- red. -- well done. Ronnie O'Sullivan has decided to
:20:41. > :20:44.
:20:44. > :20:52.play on, but Bahrain number of slickers Matthew Stevens will win.
:20:52. > :20:58.-- bar a number of snookers. Matthew Stevens won that frame and
:20:58. > :21:07.his back into that match. He is a great talent but should have done
:21:07. > :21:16.more in the game. He should have won so many mop tournament. He
:21:17. > :21:26.rises to the occasion. He is getting more confidence. He does
:21:27. > :21:29.
:21:29. > :21:39.not mess about. He is very for an attacking. Passionate flaunt. --
:21:39. > :21:47.
:21:47. > :21:57.The finals. He has been in two or concert finals. - break into all
:21:57. > :22:07.
:22:07. > :22:16.kinds of finals. Now to the That was a total lapse into on the
:22:16. > :22:24.-- concentration. He never even thought about the pot. He just
:22:24. > :22:34.didn't look at it. That was not a twitch. You cannot rich on a shot
:22:34. > :22:47.
:22:47. > :22:54.like that. -- twitch. You got a bed, Willie? -- want a bet. He has met
:22:54. > :23:04.many of the book with his total lapse in concentration. -- met
:23:04. > :23:31.
:23:31. > :23:41.Ronnie was on and off the clock. That seemed quite risky again. He
:23:41. > :23:59.
:23:59. > :24:09.is frustrated with that previous He did not hit that quite as he
:24:09. > :24:16.
:24:16. > :24:26.He will have to play a delicate little cannon on the blue. He is
:24:26. > :24:30.
:24:30. > :24:40.playing on the red. He is not in This is where the left hand is so
:24:40. > :25:09.
:25:09. > :25:15.This frame will hurt Matthew more than you would expect, because he
:25:15. > :25:25.knows he has had two chances and has not altered as many as he
:25:25. > :25:32.
:25:32. > :25:42.should have done. -- not pottered. He has gone a fraction too far.
:25:42. > :26:01.
:26:01. > :26:07.That is not the one he wanted to He has got another go at getting
:26:07. > :26:17.the Engel to split the reds. He has gone a couple of inches too far. --
:26:17. > :26:18.
:26:18. > :26:28.the angle. He might have to power this pink in. Unless he goes for a
:26:28. > :26:38.
:26:38. > :26:48.This time he has gone a little bit too far. He is still OK to pot the
:26:48. > :26:53.
:26:53. > :27:03.pink. Just swing it around and He is having to work for there is.
:27:03. > :27:06.
:27:06. > :27:16.They were not ideally placed. -- for these. It is very tough to get
:27:16. > :27:28.
:27:28. > :27:35.It took him five attempts to get on to the pink in such a way that he
:27:35. > :27:45.could bring the reds into play. He has hit it perfectly. Somehow, the
:27:45. > :27:47.
:27:47. > :27:51.fight has gone into a position where he cannot pot one. -- white.
:27:52. > :27:56.He is just starting to show a little bit of frustration. The
:27:56. > :28:06.balls have gone rather awkwardly. Sometimes the big breaks are not
:28:06. > :28:08.
:28:08. > :28:13.He looks a little bit fed up at the table. We have seen that throughout
:28:13. > :28:23.the championship. He has got to keep his focus. Matthew Stevens let
:28:23. > :28:25.
:28:25. > :28:35.He pushed to read into a tough position. He has not got the cue
:28:35. > :28:43.
:28:43. > :28:53.ball on the top cushion and he has -- for Matthew. Position is not
:28:53. > :29:12.
:29:12. > :29:22.He does not want to move the red that is near the kitchen. That his
:29:22. > :29:32.
:29:32. > :29:41.insurance for Ronnie. -- the Group of moving the red that were
:29:41. > :29:51.mentioned. He will make sure he does not catch the black on the way
:29:51. > :30:08.
:30:08. > :30:18.He is playing it with a touch of This might be played as a short to
:30:18. > :30:27.
:30:27. > :30:32.This is a massive frame for both players in the context of the match.
:30:32. > :30:42.This could be a port for Matthew Stevens into the corner. He could
:30:42. > :30:47.
:30:47. > :30:54.play for the pink or blue. He has got to get it right. That is the
:30:54. > :31:00.long pot that he is looking at. He has hit it too thick. Where is the
:31:00. > :31:04.red going to finish? It is going to be over the pocket. If it is
:31:04. > :31:12.absolutely dead straight, Laurie can't too much with this. There you
:31:13. > :31:22.see it. -- Rory O'Sullivan. He can have the pink into the middle
:31:23. > :31:33.
:31:33. > :31:39.He has to be careful he does not follow it into the pocket. He
:31:39. > :31:49.forced the angle. That was almost dead straight.
:31:49. > :32:27.
:32:27. > :32:33.Not an easy run to the winning line He has to get two more reds into
:32:33. > :32:43.play. Maybe he can do that and a couple of shots time. He would like
:32:43. > :32:46.
:32:46. > :32:50.to finish on that red. He wants to The red to the left of it would be
:32:50. > :32:56.available so he might not risk the cannon. If he could play for the
:32:56. > :33:06.red that is behind the little triangle of reds he would be
:33:06. > :33:10.
:33:10. > :33:19.That is what he has done. APPLAUSE The crowd know that this
:33:19. > :33:26.is a frame ball. There will be no heroics with position. The break
:33:26. > :33:30.has only been 22 but he has had to play some good positional shots.
:33:30. > :33:40.Matthew Stevens let him off the hook when he missed that easy shot
:33:40. > :33:59.
:33:59. > :34:03.Matthew debating whether to come to the table. Even if he does, it is a
:34:03. > :34:09.long way back. It looks like Ronnie O'Sullivan is going to be leading,
:34:09. > :34:18.5-2. And he was. How significant will
:34:18. > :34:25.the lead be by the end of the The referee announces the final
:34:25. > :34:35.frame of the session. Already, as we said earlier, this is a big
:34:35. > :34:59.
:34:59. > :35:07.frame for Matthew Stevens. He would The crowd thought he was going to
:35:07. > :35:17.get a flick there. What has he left? Ronnie knows he can get the
:35:17. > :35:24.
:35:24. > :35:30.It is a possibility but will he risk it? He would nudge the black
:35:30. > :35:40.into a portable position. Does he have the angle to do that? The
:35:40. > :35:44.
:35:44. > :35:51.black will not go. I do not know if he can see enough of that. He tried
:35:51. > :36:01.to do it. He took his eye of the plant. He was more concerned about
:36:01. > :36:10.
:36:11. > :36:20.He has missed a couple of chances They have only got one session
:36:21. > :36:27.
:36:27. > :36:37.The two remaining sessions will be Both players at the moment have
:36:37. > :36:44.lost a little bit of focus and That can happen sometimes at the
:36:44. > :36:54.last frame of the session. You start thinking "I could be four
:36:54. > :36:57.
:36:57. > :37:07.That is no good, few. Someone has got their camera out. -- that is no
:37:07. > :37:16.
:37:16. > :37:26.He has gone into the Reds at pace. This is what he played. He could
:37:26. > :37:47.
:37:47. > :37:53.Because he is bridging over the red ball, he cannot get enough side on
:37:53. > :38:03.it. If he leaves it on this side of the table, he has got to get it
:38:03. > :38:06.
:38:06. > :38:13.That is all he could do. He has handed the initiative to Ronnie
:38:13. > :38:23.O'Sullivan. He could not play a telling safety. This is where he
:38:23. > :38:33.would have liked to hide the cue He will be removing the red that is
:38:33. > :38:51.
:38:51. > :39:01.Not the best from Ronnie. He has He can play that read. It does not
:39:01. > :39:17.
:39:18. > :39:25.have to go along that line, but A very similar shot took what
:39:26. > :39:32.Matthew had last time. It is easy to hit these thick or thin. It is
:39:32. > :39:42.difficult to hit them just right. Because he has hit it too thin, he
:39:42. > :39:52.
:39:52. > :39:58.has pushed a red ball. This will be A shake of the head from Ronnie.
:39:58. > :40:03.This is not easy. He will have to force this. Otherwise, he will get
:40:03. > :40:13.all sorts of obstacles. He has found a gap. He has done very well
:40:13. > :40:19.
:40:19. > :40:24.to find that gap. He stroked that I thought he was going to have to
:40:24. > :40:34.force it. He knew he was going to hit something. He played that
:40:34. > :40:41.
:40:41. > :40:50.absolutely perfectly. He deserved That was a bit careless. That is a
:40:51. > :40:55.little bit careless. He played for the black there. A change of plan.
:40:55. > :41:05.Matthew looks at the angle from behind the pink. Not many players
:41:05. > :41:13.
:41:13. > :41:17.You have got to take your hat off to him. He is looking like his
:41:17. > :41:27.normal self. He has been kept on his chair for a considerable amount
:41:27. > :41:28.
:41:28. > :41:38.of time. Somehow he has got back into this section. -- session.
:41:38. > :41:38.
:41:39. > :41:48.As I mentioned, in the first four frames, he did not get any chances
:41:48. > :41:58.To be fair to Ronnie, he never got him amongst the reds like this
:41:58. > :42:03.
:42:03. > :42:09.either. That is why the highest It has been very tactical. It
:42:09. > :42:19.sounds strange, but Matthew is almost trying not to lose rather
:42:19. > :42:20.
:42:20. > :42:30.than to win. He is not risking anything. He has been Ingall from
:42:30. > :42:33.
:42:33. > :42:37.near the form he has showed in his previous matches. -- nowhere near.
:42:37. > :42:47.You do not lose your form at this stage. You have played terrific
:42:47. > :42:48.
:42:48. > :42:58.snigger to get here. You might lose a little bit of rhythm. -- snooker.
:42:58. > :43:00.
:43:00. > :43:10.Especially after losing the first four. Has he covered this? The pink
:43:10. > :43:11.
:43:11. > :43:21.There is one to the middle. There is one to either a middle pocket.
:43:21. > :43:54.
:43:54. > :44:04.It is not as easy as that on to the Matthew Stevens has got quite a bit
:44:04. > :44:12.
:44:12. > :44:19.final. Lots of fans have travelled This is already his highest break
:44:19. > :44:24.of the match. It is the perfect time to get it, isn't it? He has
:44:24. > :44:34.not had a great afternoon. They will play the final two sessions
:44:34. > :44:57.
:44:57. > :45:05.I mentioned earlier, the last time that you got to the one table
:45:05. > :45:12.situation, it was 2005. He lost to Shaun Murphy, 18-16. Murphy played
:45:12. > :45:22.some fabulous snicker that year. He is back where he likes to be. --
:45:22. > :45:32.
:45:32. > :45:42.This is now the highest break of the night. It could be a century.
:45:42. > :46:02.
:46:03. > :46:12.We have had 60 centuries so far this year. Can he rock along a blue
:46:13. > :46:14.
:46:14. > :46:22.in? No. A's -- APPLAUSE. Matthew Stevens will be happy. It
:46:22. > :46:32.got a little bit awkward. That gets Matthew Stevens to just two behind,
:46:32. > :46:34.
:46:34. > :46:40.5-32 Ronnie O'Sullivan. -- 5-3 to. The highest player left in the draw
:46:40. > :46:46.is Stephen Maguire. He is the world No. 6. He is playing Ali Carter. He
:46:46. > :46:51.has returned to health and form. It has been one of the best feel good
:46:51. > :47:01.stories of the Jan picture. Here is how the first session went. -- of
:47:01. > :47:10.
:47:10. > :47:20.What a test of his during this is. -- cuing. He has said it
:47:20. > :47:38.
:47:38. > :47:48.beautifully. He will be happy. 2-0. In goes the black. Ali Carter goes
:47:48. > :48:01.
:48:01. > :48:06.Ali Carter is going on the Trying to squeeze through the gap.
:48:06. > :48:16.That looks dangerous to me. Well, would you believe it? Would you
:48:16. > :48:22.
:48:22. > :48:27.believe that? Ali Carter leads, 5-3. And they will return at 10am for
:48:27. > :48:37.the first of two sessions tomorrow. It will be a busy day for them. You