Day 10 Snooker: World Championship Highlights

Sometimes I am out there and I look around me and I say this is where I

want to be, it is where I have always wanted to be. I will not

complain, I will just get on with it. Normally I am watching the

quarterfinals back in the house, it is nice to be watching and the MM.

Technically I am definitely a lot better now than ten years ago. I

will be up for it. Coming here, I felt fresh. I think it showed in my

first two matches. The one thing I need to do, keep my thinking, simply

play the shots. A lot better appearance than two years ago, to go

on here, qualify, win two matches, that is unbelievable. A big night in

Sheffield with the last two rounds to be claimed. Some big names here

to see it. Most notably Danny Willett, Yorkshire 's own Masters

champion. The green jacket winner was here to soak up all of the drama

and there was plenty of that brewing in a match that we were all keen to

enjoy between the favourite Romeo Sullivan under real pressure against

Barry Hawkins. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan. It is the third time that these two

have met here in the last four years, Ronnie O'Sullivan has always

had to his own way but for once Hawkins had the upper hand leading

9-7 as the winning post came into view, the first four frames this

evening for a shared so Barry is now 11-9 in front and it will quickly

become at 12-9 as Hawkins made a break of 94. Barry has suffered some

dumb things at the hands of Ronnie O'Sullivan, most recently at the

Masters final,, he was three in front with four to play and it

looked like he was on the verge of his first victory over his nemesis

since 2002. Was Ronnie O'Sullivan heading out of the Championship was

it time to cue another miracle comeback? Let us join them in frame

22, it is being watched by Willie Thorne and Terry Griffiths. An easy

pot. He was a bit lucky there. Potted much too thin. At chance, if

he can pot this red. He needs to get his potting boots on.

Decided it was a bit too risky to play for the black. Yellow is OK,

Green is OK, but when I say OK, not guaranteed to get position.

Did well to straighten that. Trying to keep the white away from the

cushion. He has played the ball is twice

tonight, in a situation like this and won the frame both times. He has

been in and around the black spot area, a break of 93 in frame 17,

apart from Matt, low 30s that has been big difference, but is why

Barry Hawkins has won three of the frames -- apart from that.

This looks like the most clear-cut opportunity that Ronnie O'Sullivan

has had for a while. You always feel that the reds that

are there that are available to pot in the centres, but he has made a

mess of that. He may still pot it I get on the red. He needs to come out

of three or four inches. Did not quite get enough spin, you can see

the rise smile on his face. A little flick off the edge of the pack. That

takes the spin out of it. This is where the unit out of play with both

hands is such a big advantage. He is looking back now, in full

flow. He knows he has a great challenge in front of him and he is

up for it. He is not one to back off, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The facial expression tells you that he is up for the challenge. Only

three more reds to make it safe. The case, playing a little flick on

the red. He is still on the red -- kiss.

In the blink of an eye, five minutes of playing time in this frame, he

may have secured the frame. Ronnie O'Sullivan is one behind John

Higgins in the century apartment. This would be his fifth century of

the tournament. -- department. Just the blue for his fifth century

and the 58 of this Championship. Very, very good and that ties his

total from two years ago when there were only 58 tournament centuries.

We could not get 100, could we, Terry?

This is a master at work, poetry in motion to set and watch this. Facing

elimination from the tournament. Just needed one frame. At the start

of this. He has certainly come out with the

best form he has showed so far in this match.

124 from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He will be happy he has pulled one back.

Then down against Barry Hawkins. Hawkins needed one, Ronnie

O'Sullivan needed three. It is worth remembering that Ronnie O'Sullivan

won four in a row in a similar position to beat Joe Perry at this

stage. He knows how it is done and I am sure Barry Hawkins will remember

that, a real test of character and cueing as we go into frame 23.

That is very unlucky. Crossed on the green on the cushion. Ball-in-hand.

It makes such a difference to the players. He can play this as a shot

to nothing, ball colour. APPLAUSE. All of a sudden, he is

feeling confident enough to play for at the black. That took some bottle!

As you can see, very hampered. Do not know if he can play it slow

enough if he can roll it in, the remaining reds either side of the

black. But he has. Barry Hawkins will be sitting in his

chair and starting to feel the pressure now. Ronnie O'Sullivan has

started to play really well. He was unfortunate to go in, if he had not

wobbled on that red, he would be OK. Just looks as if Ronnie O'Sullivan

has gone up quite a few years from earlier on. -- years. -- gears.

If this was earlier in the match, you would suggest that Ronnie

O'Sullivan is going to go for a 147 here, but this is too important to

risk. Unless it presents itself. Three times he made a 147 prior to

the Championship. Exhibition matches are different from Championship

snooker. His back is firmly against the wall.

He is quick, isn't he? The other thing is that he is dominating table

time. Barry Hawkins has been sitting for 15 minutes, without having

potted the ball. He is watching Ronnie O'Sullivan doing so well,

that will have an affect. The kiss on the right-hand red, he is going

to have to push through it, a pacey kiss here, but he got it nicely. He

might go for 147 now, because he only needs two more reds to make the

frame safe. I think the one just below the pink

may pot into the corner so he may not have to play a kiss. Pot the

individual reds which will move them into play. After this shot, he may

feel he can get onto the one next to the pink. Needs a bit of help. I

think he is OK. He thought it was then. Ronnie

O'Sullivan is still in the match, Barry Hawkins did nothing wrong, but

Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled one back, it is 12-11. This is a quite

superlative effort from Ronnie O'Sullivan following that one to

four from the previous frame. Importantly, he is right on the tail

of Hawkins and Barry is reaching desperately for the line trying very

hard to make the most of this chance in frame 24.

Played the positive shot. Right at the back of the pack. He is

guaranteed to be on the one into the right-hand corner.

He is still on the one in the right corner. He will need a long rest,

the spider, this is not a nice one, he is not sure he can get to the

potting angle and even if they could, it is a difficult pot.

Bridging over and red, this is very missable.

It is not there. He has had lots of good shots to keep the break going,

but the good news is, he has not left anything easy.

That was a lot more difficult than it looked!

Straightaway from that shot, he is going to get an a red by the black.

Superb down that side of the table. The reds are in really good

positions. There is pressure on him, but he loves it.

Ronnie plays a lot better sometimes when he is in these types of

positions in the big matches. Not perfect. Just two of the four

reds to pot, but they are all a bit awkward, trying to get from the blue

to the right-hand side of the table, the red, in the middle pocket, it is

very tight. That is the reason he has played the cannon, he has taken

a chance and it turned out to be perfect. That was a risk.

He takes these three remaining loose reds, some 28 points in front, so he

needs that red that looks to be out of commission, if he can get

directly behind it, he might be able to pot the red in the middle. This

Crucible crowd are witnessing a classic encounter.

That looked to be a little wide, but it went in.

He has a perfect hand on the pink to play in this time if he wants to,

but if he feels it is dangerous, he will leave it to the last, because

he will be 28 points in front and he might only need the red to win the

frame. He needs a bounce, he has played for it. This from this angle,

funny enough, it is missable. APPLAUSE. In it goes, Ronnie

O'Sullivan now favourite to win the frame.

Only the real champions can come from 12-9 behind. Barry Hawkins has

been a little bit unlucky, to be honest, the shot he played into the

bunch was Balint, but to not get onto the red was unlucky. It has

cost him this frame, to be honest -- brilliant. Well played. He still has

to look at what Ronnie O'Sullivan is doing here, it is excellent stuff.

Incredible performance. Every time he has got in, he has scored

heavily. It does not seem five minutes ago that we were saying he

has to win the remaining four. It goes in so quickly.

He will be happy enough. Barry Hawkins is still having a goal here,

but you feel at this stage, Ronnie O'Sullivan, 34 points in front, 25

left on the table, he is going to draw things level at 12 all. And he

did, from 9-12 behind, he has forged a final frame decider of the

Championship and here it is. Very well done, the cue ball, it is

perfect. Ronnie is going to be at least 40 or 50 points behind in a

few moments time. That is all you can ask for in a

final frame, to get a chance. Can he hold himself together? And beat

Ronnie O'Sullivan for the first time in 14 years on the bigger stage of

all? -- biggest. If he clears up from the other end,

you could give him the title. Tremendous pressure, you can just

feel it, it is so quiet, so important.

Bit of a bounce in his step, he knows, when he does eventually break

down, he will have such a big lead where the reds are.

This is the first pressure shot, looking a bit too straight on the

black. They are all precious shots here,

even the easiest shot is pressure here.

What Barry Hawkins cannot do... The pressure gets to you, you try too

hard on every shot. Takes special players to be cam out there in this

type of circumstance. They have been all there and done this type of

thing before but it is tough. -- calm.

Very, very good. He has potted 16 out of 17 with the rest, that was

the most important one. This is remarkable, he has been kept

off the table for the last three frames. Now he is producing an

excellent break just at the right time.

47 points in front, 48... He needs at least two of the remaining tied

up reds. Play for the one nearest the

left-hand pocket. Needs to be able to come back for the blue and brown.

Doesn't want to rest in between them. Ronnie is going to come back

to the table, albeit in an almost impossible situation to win.

Touching ball. That would get it behind the black. But I would

imagine he will try and push a colour safe, just the pink safe on

the side cushion. Just double-checking that it is

touching... Quite the left-hand side cushion.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is in big, big trouble.

APPLAUSE touching... Quite the left-hand side

cushion. Barry does not want to bring reds

off the cushion. Could play a really thin one. Bring the fight up near

the pink. It looks like that is what he is going to play.

This is a bit strange, I would not playing this thing. Surprised at

that. I thought he would have cut the one to the left of the brown,

near this end of the table. APPLAUSE

He is on the black. He is perfect. If Ronnie O'Sullivan gets back into

the strain and wins it, it will be a miracle, given where the balls. --

into this frame. He will be trying to get big

colours. Getting down to the nitty-gritty, the safe reds, he will

not need to get a big colour. Worth the risk, he thought but where is

the yellow going? It is still in play.

Barry Hawkins sitting there, wondering.

That should be the end of the match... Amazing. Did not get the

spin. I thought it was going to be a good chance because the brown, as it

was, do could have brought another read into play. Already knocked one

read out, next to the yellow. Barry needs red and brown to leave Ronnie

needing a snooker. APPLAUSE

What a marvellous much this has been. Barry Hawkins, as we

mentioned, hasn't beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan for 14 years.

We have had all the top seeds disappears so far apart from the

world number one, Mark Selby. APPLAUSE

That is the end of this match and what an unbelievable much it has

been. Ronnie O'Sullivan will be so disappointed to have got himself

back into it. A bad shot... Undoubtedly the match of the

championship so far. And at the handshake, Barry Hopkins

has done for what he has not done for 14 years, beating Ronnie

O'Sullivan on the biggest stage of all, Crucible in Sheffield. He might

even when the championship this year.

That was tough, really tough, he threw everything at me today. I

don't know how he thought he played. The first two sessions, he did not

miss anything and I was still pleased to be in front. I felt good,

I did not miss much at all and my safety was good, creating chances.

To finally get one over on him after about 14 years or whatever it has

been... After my last couple of performances against, so pleasing. I

want to wish Barry... He played a fantastic match and he deserved his

wing and I wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament. But,

yes... It was hard because I felt like I was getting beaten to the

punch a lot of the time, unless I won it in one visit, you know... I

was losing all of them friends. You know, if I could have pinched a few

of them, maybe it would have the a different story. As you remember,

Ronnie did not do any interviews after his first-round victory and he

was warned about bad for World Snooker but this is what he said

about that... I am not going to tell you, go into detail but let's say

out of something negative I feel something positive has come and I

hope I can continue to play. To be honest I find the responsibility and

pressure that I could on myself, the media put on me, the bookies, they

had already decided that I was going to win it and sometimes that is it

very difficult pressure to deal with, especially when you put a lot

of expectation and use up as well, I don't always handle that well. He

will be back, the other match this evening, another real winner in show

stopping terms. Between the four time world champion John Higgins and

a former semifinalist here, Ricky Walden. The Scot taking a 10-6 lead

and the odds were not with Ricky, now 11-8 to Higgins and here is

Walden, leading by ten points in frame 20. Commentary from Stephen

Hendry and John Virgo. COMMENTATOR: John Virgo... Taking

the opportunity to play attacking safety. Well... That is

unforgivable. That is gifting a chance to your opponent. And you can

see... As he sits down, I mean, to hit it that thing, you kiss into

another red, OK, this wants some passing and John Higgins has missed

a view but he will not keep missing everything. No, he has John Higgins

at it at the moment but he is letting him off the hook.

That has not worked out great. He may have a read to the left middle.

That is an excellent shot. I suppose you could say there wasn't pressure

on that. A tricky black... First glance, all he has is a red

ball up to the far right-hand corner. If it's straight, he may be

able to screw back for the black. Maybe not... Just stunning for the

green or even the blue. Just a little stunned run through the

green. APPLAUSE

Yes... He played the run-through... And it was perfect. To get a nice

angle on the blue. Click glance at the scoreboard. Seven points in

front. Watching Ricky Walden in his chair,

he is still shaking his head. He knows this is a frame he should have

had, keeping the pressure on. Slipping away. Because of the most

careless of safety shots, the trials and tribulations of a snooker

player. I think he will be thinking about more of the green...

23 points to lead. Three reds, three pinks... 44 points in front with 43

remaining. He is going up for the blue. Has he

overheated... Came to thin on the blue, a shake of

the head. There may be a thing cut on but if he hadn't have been as

when on the blue, he could have held it for the two reds to the left of

the pink... Does this red cut? It is a thin one.

APPLAUSE It doesn't matter, he parted it. --

he potted it. Looks to have a good angle on the

yellow. Quiet, please, thank you. Was able to hook the sound of the

referee on the other table out of his mind! I do not think the referee

on the other side should shout for order. The referee on the side

should, he knows who is on the shot. This black... And another red ball

to get within one frame of a place in the quarterfinals.

This red to go 41 ahead with 35 remaining.

APPLAUSE Well played. His brother thinks so.

Right in the heart of the pocket. That means there will be no return

to the table for Ricky Walden and he will be brewing some of the chances

he has had. The first four frames of this really important final session.

Still shaking his head, as well he might.

That was superb from John Higgins and he makes his way to the dressing

room. Ricky Walden will be very disappointed, he did not take

advantage of some of the situations. The fact is John Higgins is now four

frames in front but more importantly, just a frame away from

their place in the quarterfinals. Leading 12-8. And the Scott duly

tied it up in the next, all set for another century... This one was to

fall just short... I am sure he will not mind. The last three times he

has made to the quarters he has gone on to win the title, most recently

in 2011. And so at the age of 40, Higgins is into his 12th

quarterfinal. And after ten days of play, this is the line-up, and all

Scottish contest. There is more in snooker extra and

close the book classics throughout the night but we had better get some

sleep because quarterfinal day is almost upon us, 10am is the restart

but what a wonderful might of sport we have had here in Sheffield. Good

night. They didn't choose the thug life.

It chose them. You're saying we need to go

into witness protection?! SHE GASPS

Get my MP on the phone. Got a BTEC in performance art, so

I know all about creating character.