Day 9 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

Welcome today nine of the pit red .com second-round match between

Matthew Stevens and Barry Hawkins the man responsible for ending the

hopes of Mark Selby in the first round. Ken Hawkins carried his

confidence on? When we leave the match earlier, Hawkins had extended

his lead 6-3. Stevens is just one behind. We join them in frame

He made sure he was on the black. He could straightened up the cue

ball but this a danger to get It's not often you get a clear cut

chance when you have missed a very easy red as Hawkins did earlier. He

was very lucky not to leave anything. He's right amongst them

now for the first time for a while. He's not made a break over 40 in

this session. He made 39 in the first frame. All the rest of this

The highest break was 69 from the second frame. He would like to beat

that here. He holds a two frame lead. No centuries have been scored

Once they get onto the pink and the black they seem to be able to

manage better. You cannot beat potting balls from short range when

the cue ball is going round the table. You can run out of position

and the shots will become more awkward. This is the type of

situation he would have practised The red is just below the pink.

It's out and the Open, second from the left. Bennett it's a bit more

He could have done with one more He can get a nice kiss from these

two reds now will stop. He is a bit close to the red that he can pot it.

He'll also has a chance with the red to the left of the middle. That

Has he gone far enough for the blue? I think so. He is looking at

the scoreboard. This will put him He wants to be straight on that red

and that was inch-perfect. Red, We're back where we were at the

start of the evening with Hawkins two frames in then he can stop --

Poor ins would be very pleased to be two frames in front at the

In this case Matthew Stevens is In golf there are no pictures on

Hawkins is enjoying this a little bit more with two frames in front.

Barry Hawkins has managed to frame He is perfectly on the blue. I

think he should go for those loose reds just above the black. He has a

choice of two. He can run through and known to few. He needs to be

careful with his cue ball. He could not have played that better and

this is a good chance but he has had to work for it. This is an

There are plenty of reds available Just what he was looking for. He

did not make the most of the first four frames. They have two frames

each at the moment. Stevens look to He decided to play the pink. I

think he could have gone a little bit further up. There are reports

on either side of that bunch that are available. He was able to hold

He goes for the blue. Bearer to read balls on the left side of the

table he can go for. He would have liked to be a little bit closer.

But this should be well within There are few less reds but he has

He came just play a little cannon on the red. -- he can play it. He

played it beautifully. That was a good shot. He has three reds to

play. He will not have to play many more cannons after the end of this

He is making this looked very easy. He has great cue ball control. He

and tre and maybe one available at the back

of those balls. He has spotted something there. It would be handy

into the right corner. There may be a plant to the middle. He did not

have to play for the plant. He played that absolutely beautifully.

One red and one colour. And that was a quick frame all brought about

by the poor break. That's that fine line between success and failure in

this game at this level. 67 remaining. He is taking these very

He would be disappointed with the angle on the blue. He takes the

pace out of the cue ball. He sent the red past the blue. He may not

have the rite angle on the blue but He apologises. I think the frame

was over anyway. This one may plant into the left middle. It may just

Just plain to the left and swung the second red ball to the right

and he could not have had a better A chance for his third century.

This will be his second from three It would be nice if he could make

(APPLAUSE). It's not always a big The early part of it was inch-

perfect been positional play. This is the 48 century of this

Betfred.com World Championship. Could we get 100 in this

tournament? Is that the on the Wouldn't that be something! 100

What a pity he was not concentrating. But it was faultless.

He only left one red sticking out and that's the end of the frame.

Matthew Stevens just one behind. For organs respond it by taking the

next to go 8-6 before Stevens produced a break of 87 and is only

one behind in the final frame of the session with Hawkins at the

He has some momentum here. He has a good chance from the 87 in the

It difficult to judge how the cue ball will go near the pocket here.

He needs a little cannon on those two reds above the black. He needs

to leave red into the same pocket as the black and that should not be

a problem. I'm sure he realises the importance of this chance in this

He has a nice lazy cue action. It's imperative of this red that he gets

a good angle on the colour. This is the last of the open reds and he

will need to bring the other reds into play. He shakes his head. He

does not feel as though he can get it. He will like to get down low.

He will then try to go straight into the Reds without going off the

cushion. He did not have to come off the top cushion but he can play

this ball. He will make certain he does not miss the black. He will

put a lot of power into the cue ball. And that could not have been

any better. Absolutely perfect. There was no need to risk any side.

He had plenty of top spin and it Matthew Stevens is towing his

quality here. He faced a deficit overnight. He has lifted his game a

They Iraq two reds in line. He may He did not catch the pink and the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

red that he is working around Hawkins has not had enough time on

the table. He needs to be searching. Matthew Stevens looked so very

fluent. You have hit the nail on the head. Matthew has really

attacked the ball with confidence. You have the feeling that Barry was

He's not absolutely ideal on to this pink ball. He has a red ball

into the left middle. He would have liked to be a bit straighter. It's

maybe the last hurdle for him to overcome. He played that well. He

did not want to risk the blue. He's not far away now, 54 points in the

lead. If you more and it will be all square at the end of this

second session so it's important for Matthew Stevens. Just a few

inches short of perfection. Isn't that always the way when you are

just within a few reds of the frame. Just slightly out of position. The

referee cleans the cue ball. There's nothing Barry can do. It

was very close. He has struggled this evening. He will still go to

the final session all square. He plays the black and that looks

certain. Excellent. It looks easy. But when you around there there is

pressure. You can miss the easiest of drop-outs. 64 points ahead. He

just needs a red and a colour. It may be a little awkward. Without

any spin he can get close to the He was worried about using the side.

You would expect him to pot this black. This will put him 72 points

in front. He does not need the red. He could play the black with some

speed to stay on the pocket and he is having a wood block at it. Very

This is good stuff. He is striking the ball beautifully. There has

never been a lot in this. Since the early sessions there has only been

a few frames. He misses the red. But Barry Hawkins has conceded.

Matthew Stevens will play again The second session of the big

showdown between two former world champions but Williams and Ronnie

O'Sullivan. -- Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan. This could be

very special. It was not the easiest of plants. It was lovely.:

Ronnie, make sure you get your He concedes immediately and Ronnie

O'Sullivan looks sensational I tell you what, he must be so

confident. He is surging away from Mark Williams leading 9-3. He has

made 108 at the Crucible and there is another one. Another frame for

What an effort from the Welshman. Nine frames in a row he lost but he

What a shot! All credit to Mark Williams by winning the last two

frames with a dazzling session. But Ronnie O'Sullivan was absolutely

Now to this afternoon between Ali Carter and the current world number

two chat Trump. Carter lead after the first session and this is what

happened in the second. Judd Trump and Ali Carter resumed the match

with Carter leading 5-3. It was Tom who came with all guns blazing with

a break of 120 to reduce the gap to just one frame. It looked like

another straightforward frame for the world number two after he took

a 4-point lead. After missing the black, Carter was unable to take

advantage allowing Judd Trump to Carter was the century hitting one

but and well and regaining the Judd Trump levelled things up again

after taking a 43 point lead. The man now living in Romford went

ahead for the second time in the match with a break of 80. He

increased his lead it to two frames in the 14th but Ali Carter was able

to narrowed the gap. Judd Trump went ahead in the final frame of

the session. He goes into the final session. The one remaining match to

bring you up to speed on was between two qualifiers, Andrew

Higginson and Jamie Jones. This is a massive advantage, being the

underdog. No-one is expecting me to win.

Everyone expected me to do it so quickly but what happened was

actually the largest learning curve of my career. For many years, I was

unable to make the green. -- make the grade. It was on a Sunday night

when I was playing against my friend and there was a woman behind

the bar and there was one of a person. That was it. But I did well

in the game and that was ten years ago and it has gone so quickly. I

was really pleased to be able to play the world champion. To have

been able to defeat Shaun Murphy... It was incredible. I am so

confident at the moment and I do not see any reason why I cannot win

this World title. Please welcome ate player making his first

appearance in a second round at the crucial theatre. Andrew Higginson.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE). Then it was down to business between these

two players. The first session went four apiece. Again Jamie Jones

continued to lead. Andrew Higginson won the next. Jamie Jones took

frame 13. Here we are at frame for team. Andrew Higginson is currently

trading. -- frame 14. Andrew Higginson is currently training. --

He is on the wrong side of the blue ball but he should be able to drop

this and get on to the right side of the green ball. It is just the

red ball on this side cushion. One of the right hand ones is available

in the middle pocket. Slightly heavy contact there taking the pace

out of the cue ball. Andrew Higginson is just coming around to

have a look at that. If he can get behind that red Bull... Has he got

the angle right on the green ball close that -- on the green will? It

all depends on that angle. He has He is taking the moment to have a

think about what he will do next. There could be a problem between

the pink for and the red walls -- the pink and the reds. If he plays

the cannon, he has got to make sure he does not release the pink. He

might find himself in trouble. He has played it well, I think he

His mind will be focused on that In a couple of shots' time, he

would love to get that cue ball over that of away. If he can get

the angle on the pink, he can drop on that red. He would like to be

This is the important shot. He has He is low on the black but it is a

natural angle. He is close to the That was a little bit of pressure.

He knew how important this was. He has done all the hard work. How

many times has a player like Andrew Higginson missed the yellow on a

spot like this? But that can happen at this venue. Jamie Jones is four

He is going to have to come back across the table. He has got to get

That was well played but not as easy as it looked. He is going to

have to take it up into the corner. Andrew Higginson is shaking his

head. What a golden opportunity to slip away.

An important frame for Jamie Jones. Andrew Higginson coming back with a

break of 47. He should have clinched it but he did not and it

is Jamie Jones who goes further ahead.

Andrew Higginson put that miss on the yellow behind him to win the

next frame. He leads by 57 points The only consolation would be the

black going safe but those reds are in the pink spot area. He does not

have to worry about the black - and The opportunity is there now. One

minute ago, Jamie Jones felt he would be shaking hands. He would

have had a two frame advantage. Now there is a possibility that he

could get that 10-6 lead but he has a lot of balls to pot. He does not

have to play any cannons, they will all-clear each other. This pink and

the one behind it will offer a two roads for the right-hand corner. --

He will need that black. He may have an opportunity to take it off

the cushion. Hopefully he can leave it over the middle pocket and that

Not enough contact. He took that risk and it was the correct shot

provided that he hit the black properly. Now he has got to play

very difficult green. He has got to get between the two red balls and

then passed the yellow again. And he has done. And he has made a good

job of it. OK, it is not perfect by any means but under the

circumstances, that was good. He is looking at the black now but I do

not think he can avoid the cannon on to the other red. This is a

He put everything into trying to avoid that cannon but has he been

lucky? He has covered one with the blue. That was a golden opportunity

to open up that advantage. Very important, this shot, for Andrew

That was just the pressure. That one shot. That would have clinched

the frame for him. He has got a lot of action to get on this. Can he

screw this one back? You get he can! -- bet. Another young player

with terrific cue action to play this types of shots. -- this type

of shot. If he can reach it without the rest,

Although, he does seem like good. - That was a good pot on the red

alert of a choice of green or blue. He is going to need that black.

Will he be able to drop it into the centre pocket for will he have to

develop it? That was short on the yellow. The

black will be in his mind already Just looking at the black... If he

can negotiate these four colours... He has got to be pretty precise

when he gets on to the blue. This is the important shot off the top

cushion. Anywhere but straight on this pink should be OK. He does not

want to be straight because he will not be able to get close to the

black. I think he is straight and now he cannot get as close to the

black as he was previously. He is looking at possibly screwing back

and leaving the double. That may be his only choice. Everybody likes

the black ball. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE). Jamie Jones must be

absolutely delighted. Come Jamie Jones finishes off the session in