Day 7 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

Hello, it is a late night for us here in Sheffield but an important

one. We would know the identity of the first man through to the

quarterfinals of the sea's Dafabet World Championships. More on that

shortly, but first, Ronnie O'Sullivan, he has run into a very

game Joe Perry in his second round match. And the Cambridgeshire at

human was Alex -- in extremely assured form once again.

Ronnie knew he needed a good start, 5-3 down, he came out all guns

blazing. It was a century break for a few seconds until the white went

into the middle pocket. But he won the opening frame. It was Joe Perry

who came storming back to take the next two frames showing great

composure. Ronnie O'Sullivan missed some uncharacteristic shots.

Ronnie then went on to make a terrific clearance on the colours.

Potted a very important yellow and he missed the frame on the black.

That got him back to one frame behind. One of the great

characteristics Joe Perry has shown is that whenever he has been

pressurised, he has kicked on again, and he did, making 88 and 73. So

much happened in that last frame. Both players knew how important it

was. Joe Perry went 10-6 ahead. Ronnie, in the end, would have been

delighted to have closed the session out just two frames behind. It was

4-4. They return at 10am to finish that.

This evening, we were engrossed in this match between the world number

three, Mark Selby, and Ali Carter. Now, these two guys share very some

-- share something in common which is that they've both been a

runner-up at the Crucible. Mark Kloster John Higgins in 2007,

he made it into the quarterfinals through the last five years. As for

Ali Carter, he has had heartbreak not once, but twice because he got

to the final in 2008, when he lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan. And then again

in 2012. He has seen a lot of Ronnie over the last couple of years. It

was him that knocked him out last year. It is Ali Carter against Mark

Selby. It was Mark Selby who had a 5-3 advantage after the first

session. Now it is session number two.

Everybody is looking forward to this second session.

Played it beautifully. Mark Selby leads 5-3.

Excellent sportsmanship from Ali Carter.

Excellent. Fully committed. Could not have played it better. And a

little punch of the table shows his delight.

That is incredible. That is such a careless and add shot. -- add shot.

It is 9-5. Tremendous pot.

He has to catch this wafer thin. He has played it perfectly. Indigo

is the black. It will be 9-7 going into the evening session.

13 is the magic number, chasing to book a place in the quarterfinals.

Selby is a bit of bother, 42 points behind as pick it up with John

Virgo. It is not the most straightforward

of tables, so to speak, the way the reds are. Just looking at the

possibility of the plant just above the black because if you straight on

this pink, he can remove the cue ball too much.

He just notched that red, has he knocked it safe? I have a feeling he

has. That red closest to the cushion just went past those two reds, but

he just nudged it. He has an alternative to the far right corner.

But this is a lot more difficult. Excellent pot, very good indeed.

Perfect angle to come down for the loose red next to the black as well.

Still plenty of work to be done here. Those three reds, left do not

look like they are pottable. If he had a nice angle on the pink,

he could play a run through to play those reds interplay. But he is

strikingly low. He played it nicely. He can stun this over to the other

side. He gave that a hard look. It is too

straight, he will have to play for the red along the cushion. He didn't

want to play for it. But we cannot see an alternative red to play for.

This is asking a lot, unless the top of those three goes to the right

corner, maybe that is what he is thinking.

But he needed to be straight on at even think about playing it. That is

end of break. Sending the red up to the baulk end,

we could have a few minutes of TP Tapie.

There will be no chance of a re-rack, believe me!

Well, he has given him a shot of that at the baulk end. Ali is just

checking these two reds are not a plant.

Quite a clever shot, that is, to put another red over there. The only

thing is, has he left Mark Selby a chance opposite the green pocket?

It is there! What a shot! That was a terrific pot. Drop your guard for a

second, Ali Carter was more concerned about getting the red safe

rather than thinking strategically. Looking ahead, that red and brown

are not safe because where these are, if Mark gets on the blue or

pink, that red on the left-hand side will leave a natural angle on the

black, and that red and brown could come into play. There you go. He is

on the blue. Well, Ali Carter will hope his shot is no good.

The key to the frame could be the next couple of shots.

Not quite there, but he is back in the frame. In fact, he has just

struck the front. Despite Ali Carter having a 42 point lead, Mark Selby

has clawed his way back. And he wants the frame.

Mark will be disappointed with that. He overhead that. Did he get a

bounce? I don't know. He was trying to get that cue ball to the top

cushion behind the black. Mark is having a look at the cross

double. There is a chance that you can get the red to get into the

right corner. You can bet your bottom dollar he will be looking at

a good white as well. The two in one shot. There it is. It is in.

What a chance he has given himself now. A little bit straighter on the

yellow, but you see the cross double. It got right in the heart of

the pocket. He wanted this cue ball to bounce a little bit more. After

potting the yellow, the yellow is going to be re-spotted.

He's just looking to see if he can do an up and down table. He has got

to miss the black. The pink is the danger ball now.

Well, he has played it beautifully. And, without to do a lot it, we've

got a new favourite for the frame. This would be a real blow for Ali

Carter. He made a good job of it but he

still needs the brown and blue. Glancing at the scoreboard.

Just making certain of the brown. He wouldn't leave the easiest of blues

for the frame. This has been a master in how to play snooker.

Well, he felt the tension. That wasn't even close. Well, only the

Crucible Theatre and the World Championship can bring that on. And

he is lucky not to leave it. That was a long way out.

That was something that he could have done. You're right. The second

bite of the cherry for Mark Selby. In it goes, lucky, you could say to

get another chance. But that is sometimes the way the balls run.

Ali Carter needed this frame more than Mark. In goes the pink. And a

frame that Mark Selby never looked like winning. A shake of the head

from Ali Carter. That is a blow to his hopes. Mark Selby goes three

frames in front. This time, it is 10-7.

He went on to win the next as well, so two frames away from victory as

we pick them up in the 19th. Look at that cue ball. Tight on the

rail. It is just relentless, it is tough

to play against. Of course, it forces errors, and that is a mistake

from Ali Carter, all due to the fact that he was tight on the cushion, as

John said. But he will be disappointed, will

mark, he didn't make the most of it. This is a chance to prove to

yourself, Ali Carter, that you have still got it in you to get right

back in this match. It golden opportunity for a sizeable

contribution. It's not easy, the circumstances,

the scoreboard, just concentrate on one shot at a time.

Yes, well, we looked at him thinking, he wants to get in amongst

the balls and score heavy, this is the chance he has been waiting for.

And I feel, John, if he is going to stay in this match, he has got to do

it here. Every one of those reds is lined up

like soldiers. Three reds, three black, had a

maximum break in 2008. I commentated on it. It was on this table.

Just a fraction wide, you could hear a sharp intake of breath from this

crowd. He has to be a little bit careful

with this one. He would have liked to leave himself

low on that, ideally, a cannon on the red closest to the cue ball, but

it should be all right. The problem is he has knocked the reds towards

the corner, the side cushion. Which tells me, John, that the 147 is the

last thing on his mind. He needs this frame, he knows it.

He needs to win the frame. And he won't be playing for the black

office red. -- off this red. It is an important visit, this. He has to

prove to himself, and show Mark Selby, that there is plenty left in

the locker. In fairness, he has done it twice in this match already. The

last two frames of the second session and the opening session, and

he has kept fighting and coming back. He has lost the cue ball

there, John. Slightly. He has done that a few times. A little bit of

tension on the arm. This will put him 70 points in front, 75

remaining. Oh, he has missed the black! He

bangs his cue on the table, frustration, annoyance. He knew that

was a golden opportunity. So, Mark Selby comes to the table, 63 points

behind, 75 left. Only one awkward red on the side

cushion. This is a chance. Well, at first, I didn't think it

was going in, but there is not much nap on these clots. It seemed to

drift down, didn't it? It could have run over a finger mark or anything,

but, initially, I didn't think it was in.

Match time, seven hours. And it has been enthralling and engrossing.

Good position or shot required here. A couple of reds on the

right-hand side of the pink will pop. -- pot. I don't know which one

he played for there, but he will be happy because the one in the middle

pocket looks pretty straight. Not sure he played on that one.

He will take it. And Ali Carter is going to sit in his chair and have

to squirm for the next five minutes or so while this break is going on

because he knows he should have won this frame.

It was the poor positional shot getting on the black that caused his

downfall in the end. He was pinning his hopes on that red on the

left-hand cushion. But Mark Selby, great matchplay, he knows this is an

opportunity he's going to grasp with both hands. And get within one frame

of the quarterfinal. He's already thinking of ways he can

bring that red near the left-hand cushion into play.

I do know whether I'd risk trying to bring it into play of the black.

With that red being adjacent to the pink, he could get a nice angle on

the pink, and it depends how he sees it.

He has played for the cannon. And he is absolutely perfect. What a good

shot he has played. Yes, it looked a little bit risky to me, but that was

his decision. And it could not have worked out any better.

A clear run to the winning line now in this frame.

Well, they may look simple, and I'm pretty sure in the club he wouldn't

miss, but he is at the Crucible, and he knows this would be a hammer blow

to Ali Carter. There has been a certain

inevitability about this break so far.

Just a few more shots, and it will be a 12-7 lead. He is some

matchplay, this boy. It is short of pace.

The only problem I ever see is that position from brown to blue. An

obstacle that has come earlier than I suspected.

It is in the heart of the pocket. Swinging around the two cushions. He

has recovered this situation. Nothing Ali Carter can do now. He

had his chance, a poor positional shot post him to miss the black.

This, to me, is the key to any clearance.

Probably a little bit straighter than he would have liked.

This has been quite brilliant so far. Pink and black to steal the

frame he did not look like winning. And it goes and that was a big frame

for Mark Selby and a real hammer blow for Ali Carter. Mark Selby is

now just one frame away from place in the quarter final. Five clear.

Ali Carter made him wait by winning the next two. That he has much to be

pleased with. He is through to his sixth quarter final and the first

man through this year. His ambition to win a career triple Crown is

nearly upon him. Very impressive. Happy to get through. Only from the

start it would be tough against Ali Carter. I had a good start to the

match. I played a good first session and I managed to maintain made after

that. Every time I came to the table I was buying and it with safety.

Mark tended to freeze me out for long periods. I never played the

ball for 40 odd minutes at times. It makes it all the more difficult. It

was a tough match. I fought to the death but it did not go my way. I

know I had my chances. I did not want to make too many mistakes.

Fortunately, I managed to follow the line. Mark Selby now plays the

winner of this between the oldest men in the door. Alan McManus versus

Ken Doherty, the former champion. This is pretty much all school

staff. There was something better significant for Alan McManus. It is

his first Crucible century since 2005. It was a rate of 107. It is

all getting reminiscent of a previous match between them. Alan

McManus took the lead in the session. The second session starts

tomorrow morning. We also had a sense of deja vu between Barry

Hawkins and Ricky Walden. It is a titanic semifinal.

They'd assume their second session this evening all square. Terry

Griffiths and Willie Thorne are commentating this time.

Trying so hard and trying to be so careful not to hit that thin. ,

sorry I should have said six. -- sick.

He has the break started. He is off to go. Does he go when he gets the

ball! He is very fast. Once he has made his mind up and

decided watch will play, he is off to go. Here we go. That took about

three seconds. I do enjoy watching him play around

the black spot area. He does break the build very well.

It is interesting to see. He got to the semifinal last year. He led by

quite a nice margin and then collapsed. He will have to keep that

in mind if he gets a bit behind. It is never over until it is over. He

was five behind in the Masters this year but he came back.

Ricky Walden his slightly unorthodox but not too bad. He presses down

with the tips of his fingers into the glass. Matthew Stevens tracks

his fingers along the class a little bit.

That would give him a great deal of confidence to the Barry Hawkins mess

a shot before the interval. There is every chance of winning the frame at

this visit. When you consider he was three behind in the match, it is a

very good performance. When both are playing like these two

are, a kick could make a difference. It probably has another difficult

shot to play. He has already had century breaks

this evening. It is likely that we will see the

second century break in this evening 's play.

So just the brown for his 167th century of the season. Very well

played. The 167th century of his career, not the season, of course.

This is his third century of the tournament as well. This is a

beautiful shot as well. No complete clearance but a fabulous

break. He can be fairly fluent. The second

century of the championship for him there. He takes in the frame

advantage. After being three frames down, it is a complete turnaround.

Trying to play a dead weight. Quite a wild shot there. About three

inches short. The first thing that goes out his

yacht touch when you are struggling outfit. -- is your touch. I think he

played the right shot. It could make a little bit of a difference.

The problem with this as he could find himself snookered again.

He has given Ricky Walden a chance. If it was at this and of the table,

I would fancy him knocking the yellow M. I think you will go for

the smoker. -- the smoker. A little bit more work to do now.

Just checking with the ball was. That is where it was. That is an

eighth spot. -- an the spot. He had to play that with maximum

backspin to hold the cue ball and with dead weight. It just went into

the pocket on the thick side. He did remarkably well there. That

could have won him the frame. He is one in front at the moment. He will

need the pink. The pink is a big target because it

is just off the cushion. I am not sure if you can get enough

spin our first to screw into the pink.

He played just to get on it, safe in the knowledge he only has to play

for it and that he does not have to go for the black. It is a big shock.

-- It is a big shot. Ricky Walden wins that frame. He now leads. Barry

Hawkins won the last two games of that session. It does give you an

overview. That is how it stands. We are back

on the air at 10am in the morning. That is a long way to go. If this

was the London Marathon, we would not even be at Tower Bridge yet.

Goodbye for now.