Day 6 Snooker: World Championship Highlights


Day 6

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Blink and you'll miss him, the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan and! Here

:00:36.:00:44.

comes the musician, Sean Murphy. At just happy to be out there and play.

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Every snooker player loves playing and you have to embrace at all. I

:00:48.:00:52.

came here in good form a few months ago and he slapped me to one side.

:00:53.:00:56.

You are capable of anything coming not just playing him, you're playing

:00:57.:01:02.

the entourage and his intimidation factor and the crowd and last time I

:01:03.:01:05.

got too involved in all of the other stuff unforgotten A. It is round two

:01:06.:01:12.

at the Crucible and the boxing analogy may be apt because this

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evening we had ourselves a proper heavyweight contest. You know and I

:01:17.:01:21.

know that Ronnie O'Sullivan and Shaun Murphy are not exactly best of

:01:22.:01:26.

pals but that gave their second round match an extra edge amidst a

:01:27.:01:30.

heated build-up and a lot of strong words on the way. Stand-by for the

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magician against the Rocket, that was evening offering. Earlier in the

:01:36.:01:41.

afternoon Neil Robertson got across the line in comfortable fashion

:01:42.:01:47.

against Noppon Saengkham. The Aussie had earlier in the match knocked in

:01:48.:01:52.

a landmark 500 strolled over the line 10-4-macro. Today we saw more

:01:53.:01:59.

of the knock-on who qualify to get here. Yesterday was very daunting to

:02:00.:02:03.

come here for the first time and I was speaking to him straight after

:02:04.:02:07.

the match and I said that he would do better next time here and he said

:02:08.:02:12.

he was very nervous in the first session yesterday so he came out and

:02:13.:02:16.

played much better today but it was very tough to lose from 8-1 down in

:02:17.:02:24.

so many things have to go against you and I was lucky to finish off

:02:25.:02:28.

the match pretty early. This evening Barry Hawkins became the last man to

:02:29.:02:32.

book a place in the second round after beating Tom Ford. He hasn't

:02:33.:02:36.

failed to make it to release the quarters since 2012 and he now faces

:02:37.:02:40.

Graeme Dott, another Crucible specialist. I am delighted to get

:02:41.:02:46.

through that round and I am expecting a tough game. Tom is a

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great player when he gets going but I will take it and the main thing

:02:50.:02:52.

was together a past that first round really. I think winning 7-2 in the

:02:53.:02:57.

session yesterday against him didn't really kill the match off but it put

:02:58.:03:01.

a lot of doubt it is my, that's official. If I get a chance I will

:03:02.:03:34.

score. I am happy with my form and this is a tough place to play but if

:03:35.:03:35.

you can settle that they're as I have done in the last few years then

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I can play good snooker and hope you do that again. The second round draw

:03:37.:03:36.

is now complete and here is how it looks.

:03:37.:03:57.

Earlier this week Ronnie O'Sullivan caused a Ferrari amidst all the

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accusations of bullying and intimidation at the highest levels

:04:02.:04:06.

of the sport, accusation strongly denied, and then Shaun Murphy waded

:04:07.:04:09.

in and accused Ronnie of washing his dirty linen in public and a slanging

:04:10.:04:13.

match between the games authorities and players doesn't look good.

:04:14.:04:17.

Factor all of that into your computations and you have got the

:04:18.:04:21.

makings of a Rather combustible encounter, to say the least. The

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bell went on it tonight and we join the refrain one with Shaun Murphy to

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play and 14 points behind and we are in the company of Steve Davis and

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John Virgo. The cue ball is coming up the table. Money will be tempted

:04:43.:04:48.

by this one. He will look at what he would be left with if he puts his

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opponent up again and Sean will play a more successful safety. He has got

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to go for this. Absolutely. If he had it replaced John -- Sean could

:04:59.:05:03.

get the safety shot just right and he would be in trouble. There is a

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little bit of something in the cloth that has caught his eye. Good cueing

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needed for this. Just off straight and he will play the run-through for

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pink or blue. That is solid. A good shot. A good finish and a little bit

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betwixt and between. 2.5 for the pink and not enough of the blue. --

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too hard for the pink and not enough for the blue. Not absolutely sure

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what he played for there but I think he played for the blue and once

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again these conditions are at the moment playing a bit slower.

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Trapping a bit. When they are hitting the cushions

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Square on, but when they are hitting it sideways they seem to be sliding.

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He played for one of the reds in the middle of the table and he got one

:06:08.:06:10.

to the right of a black. He can just get through to.

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Not the right angle on the pink so a little bit of work to do with the

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cue ball. He can use a fair bit of force here. He played that well. He

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deserves everything he gets. He has got choices now. Should the

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red away from the path of the black. -- shift the red away. There is a

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red by the black spot but he won't like the look of as well.

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You don't want to be playing the black, as Steve said, the black spot

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is almost tied up by the red. Just hit nicely to get on the pink. I

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would say that if there was any player in the game that you would

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pick to tune into a table as quick as possible, it is Ronnie

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O'Sullivan. He needs to get to 61 points. He has

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screwed back a little bit too far and there is a little gap year. He

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has to find it though. He won't mind that cue ball keeps running, and it

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has, he is now perfect the blue. You can see it as a nice angle. The

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right side of the blue line. The Bulls could not be better placed. A

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snooker player 's nightmare, the wrong side of the blue. On the days

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when you judge that particular shot by Ronnie O'Sullivan has judged to

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perfection correctly, it makes the game a lot easier. The red colour

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and a red would be enough as Ronnie glances at the scoreboard. He has

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overdone slightly but after this blue just one point needed. It was

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never going to be a problem. The next red to go 57 ahead with only 51

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remaining. Inigo Ros. -- in it goes. He needed two chances but Shaun

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Murphy blade two pour shifty shots and he capitalised on the second

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one. -- Shaun Murphy played two pour shifty shots.

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He won't be able to make the century but he will be keen to clear the

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table. He doesn't want his opponent coming back and getting some

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practice time. Clever use of the middle pocket. He

:10:16.:10:28.

looks wonderful touch. Sending out a signal to Shaun which

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I'm sure he knew before the start of this match, that if he is going to

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get anything out of it he will have to play well. But that is what you

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expect at this level and that is what you expect in the World

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Championship at the Crucible Theatre.

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Wonderful stuff from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It is Ronnie O'Sullivan

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who takes the first frame. He leads 1-0. Ronnie was springing out of his

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corner to land the first blow and incidentally he has twice beaten

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Shaun here in Best of 25 frame matches at the Crucible, most

:11:45.:11:49.

recently in 2014 which was a thumping 13 frames to three. We go

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into frame to with money trailing by 46 points. -- Ronnie is trailing by

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46 points. Didn't see that coming. The bridging

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is awkward and I think it certainly got a kick, the red came off a bit

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thick. It was the type of shot that he has misjudged the fact that he

:12:18.:12:18.

was putting top spin on. Surely now pot the black and get

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into those roads, just use those roads as a buffer. He didn't have to

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do, I know, but he thought he might as well have done. He can get over

:12:48.:12:53.

the line without them, I know. This will put in 62 points in front.

:12:54.:13:13.

You still need to read and the colour. It looks like the top right

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of that cluster of four goes to this one way, but it doesn't, he is very

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proficient with the rest. The red and the black will do.

:13:27.:13:50.

In goes the black, 70 points is the lead now. Just 67 remaining. He is

:13:51.:13:57.

on this read to the right middle. 25. He made a couple of mistakes in

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this frame, Shaun, but he wasn't punished for them. Yeah, I mean we

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may not be correct in digging him out for not going into the pack of

:14:31.:14:35.

reds. There are plenty of ways to play the positional side of things.

:14:36.:14:46.

He will be happier now he has a frame on the board, that is for

:14:47.:14:47.

certain. 41. He has got into this a little bit

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too much. When you play this shot you're trying to win the yellow

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under brown. It doesn't matter now of course. Funnily enough, if he was

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to clear up here he would have a 91 break. That would equal one his

:15:57.:16:01.

break in the first frame. Tit-for-tat, or what?

:16:02.:16:12.

Tonight 's session, however it unfolds, one thing is for sure, you

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are witnessing two of the greatest cue wastes that the game has ever

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seen, -- two of the greatest cueists that the game has ever seen. So

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relax and enjoy. Not bothering about the black. That puts Shaun Murphy on

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the scoreboard. It is one apiece. So, at counterpunch from Murphy and

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into the next it was Ronnie, this time with a break of 75, going 2-1

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in front. Now we're into the last before the interval, frame four, and

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it is Murphy to This game has been going on over

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41.5 minutes. The average frame time at the moment is just under 14

:17:27.:17:31.

minutes. Now let's see how Ronnie queues this one.

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That is better. They are tough shots to play. He had to hold for the

:17:44.:17:52.

black and seeded. You cannot decelerate with those. A good shot.

:17:53.:17:58.

You really have to get the cue few through. It is interesting that the

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shot but Ronnie O'Sullivan played, if he misses it he presents Shaun

:18:09.:18:13.

Murphy with reds at the top of the table. It is very difficult to try

:18:14.:18:18.

and explain which shots are the ones who have to go for and which ones

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you should leave alone. That is whether you are sitting in a

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commentary box, fan, a player at home, or the players out on the

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table. They all have different opinions.

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25. There is a loose read up near the blue but he has a nice angle if

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he should wish to go into the red tear. I don't think it is one of

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these situations that you can guarantee. One is had a quick look

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at the pink into the red corner and if not I play -- I see value in

:19:46.:19:53.

playing the cannon here. He decided not to. I can only assume that the

:19:54.:19:58.

red just below the kink -- pink does go. And it does.

:19:59.:20:12.

Play the red to the left middle here, I would have thought. I know

:20:13.:20:36.

he was low on this red here, but I suppose he could play at an open up

:20:37.:20:40.

the reds but he wouldn't have a clue where the cue ball would finish.

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This is quite a shock to take on. It is a frame-winner if he putts but it

:20:45.:20:51.

is a risk. Summing up this red in the middle pocket. This is the one

:20:52.:21:00.

for me. OK, it is a tough spot but if you miss it you will be bringing

:21:01.:21:07.

everything into play. But he did not miss it and he will be black, black.

:21:08.:21:20.

-- back on the black. It looks like the end of 147 if he is dead

:21:21.:21:26.

straight. It will be tough to keep the break going from here after the

:21:27.:21:31.

black, does he have a fractional angle? Just. He may be able to force

:21:32.:21:38.

it to the condition. If he comes in very low on the red he turned down

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before. He is on it but he won't be able to play on the black off it. He

:21:45.:21:50.

is a bit closer to the red. He'd get his hand on the table and it is

:21:51.:21:53.

close enough that it makes it a bit easier, this pot. In Ros. He is on

:21:54.:22:09.

the pink. -- in it goes. This is snooker of quality. Break shot.

:22:10.:22:15.

Didn't leave much, but now Short is suddenly seeing he is looking at the

:22:16.:22:18.

mid-session interval and see he will be 3-1 down. Only ever been two 146

:22:19.:22:28.

breaks at the Crucible apparently. I remember Doug Mountjoy making a 145.

:22:29.:22:43.

Mark Allen Graham got one. It was a pub quiz question. A nice -- the

:22:44.:22:54.

highest break at the moment is Ding Junhui, it will get broken, but just

:22:55.:23:02.

when? He is a little bit betwixt and between there. He will give this red

:23:03.:23:09.

every due care and attention. Nice plate. He controlled the cue ball

:23:10.:23:15.

perfectly. A quick glance at the scoreboard. This blue will put in 67

:23:16.:23:20.

points in front but there are still 75 remaining so he is looking for

:23:21.:23:24.

another red. That will put him 68 ahead. There are just 67 remaining,

:23:25.:23:31.

he will want to clear up here because this will be a good target.

:23:32.:23:35.

At the moment there is a possible 142 if you took blacks with these

:23:36.:23:44.

remaining reds. He has decided to play for the pink. That just means

:23:45.:23:50.

now that there is no way that Shaun Murphy will win coming back to the

:23:51.:23:58.

table. A good break this, Steve. Yes, and also made without risk as

:23:59.:24:06.

well, forgetting any types of 147 prize money or anything like that,

:24:07.:24:15.

when the frame at all costs. He looks as we speak very workmanlike,

:24:16.:24:19.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, apart from his natural genius which was makes him

:24:20.:24:26.

look like a virtuoso. Yeah, workmanlike, I am not sure if Ronnie

:24:27.:24:31.

and workmanlike together, I'm sorry. But the way his attitude, around the

:24:32.:24:36.

table more than any body language. Yes, claimed the correct shot and

:24:37.:24:39.

play the expansive shots, if you like. That is what I hate about

:24:40.:24:45.

golf, when you hit your best drive down the middle they all go, steady,

:24:46.:24:53.

steady! It's my best shot! He has played these absolutely wonderfully.

:24:54.:25:02.

He has already made two centuries in the tournament so far. He could have

:25:03.:25:12.

made it 140 but I don't think he is particularly interested in high

:25:13.:25:28.

breaks. Wonderful stuff. Beautiful. 139 was possible, but not now. It

:25:29.:25:34.

has gone down again and it is 135. His early break was 136. He just

:25:35.:25:49.

wants to pot all of the balls. Remember, if you put all of the

:25:50.:25:54.

balls you are bound to rain. Judging the reaction of his first-round

:25:55.:25:58.

match against Gary Wilson which was such a tough work-out, there is only

:25:59.:26:02.

one thing on his mind, and that is lifting the title to Mondays from

:26:03.:26:11.

now. Somewhere he has been written off as not being so dominant but

:26:12.:26:15.

when he is on top form, how could you write off? Never. This is an

:26:16.:26:22.

absolutely superb break. Never looked in trouble. Clear the table

:26:23.:26:36.

completely. All Shaun Murphy did was break off, sat down and enjoyed it

:26:37.:26:40.

with the rest of us as Ronnie O'Sullivan makes one to wait because

:26:41.:26:44.

he leaves at the mid-session interval 3-1. That was won his third

:26:45.:26:50.

century here so far this year and the 20 fifth of bit tournament so

:26:51.:26:57.

far. Blink and you miss and the interval was gone and we are into

:26:58.:26:59.

frame five, only 20 behind. Six. It looks as though he has come

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straight on this red. Just to roll it into the black. He did not want

:27:55.:28:01.

to risk that. He thought he had to be too precise so he played that the

:28:02.:28:07.

blue. A nice angle on it, no harm done.

:28:08.:28:18.

You know Ronnie, he would like to get the black on the spot sooner

:28:19.:28:23.

rather than later and there was a chance now to do that. 13. You do

:28:24.:28:33.

get the feeling that once Ronnie O'Sullivan gets amongst the balls he

:28:34.:28:38.

is likely to make a frame-winning contribution but at the moment Shaun

:28:39.:28:43.

Murphy hasn't settled down in that department. He made an 80 break

:28:44.:28:49.

early on but just being found wanting a fraction more in the

:28:50.:28:51.

positional Department of the game. Yes, and the cue ball control is the

:28:52.:29:01.

essence of this game. They can all part, but it is having good control

:29:02.:29:08.

of the cue ball which can make the difference between winning and

:29:09.:29:09.

losing a match. One of the problems with playing a

:29:10.:29:33.

player of the standard and stature and break-building capability of

:29:34.:29:37.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, is that it does put a lot of pressure on all

:29:38.:29:41.

departments of your game, including break-building. When you get amongst

:29:42.:29:46.

the balls, you feel like you must take advantage. He wasn't

:29:47.:29:55.

particularly happy with that potting angle, so in potting this black

:29:56.:29:59.

comedy will try to cannon the red in the middle of the table. He just

:30:00.:30:13.

missed the cannon. He just brushed past it but wanted to hit it full in

:30:14.:30:18.

the face. It is unlike him to miss a cannon like that. He played it quite

:30:19.:30:23.

softly. He could have played it harder and he would have still been

:30:24.:30:28.

on a red. He could have struck the ball with more authority and

:30:29.:30:31.

guaranteed the back spin and the cannon. As he played it, he let it

:30:32.:30:37.

drift past a fraction. But this red is still on.

:30:38.:30:47.

No problem. It always amazes me, because he plays so many shots

:30:48.:30:57.

left-handed, his standard with the rest is unbelievable, because he

:30:58.:31:05.

very rarely uses it. He had to punch that in off the cushion. He now has

:31:06.:31:11.

a 32 point gleed. These reds in the middle of the table with blacks

:31:12.:31:14.

would put him at the snooker required stage.

:31:15.:31:28.

It is a giddy 15 and a half minutes, the longest frame of the match.

:31:29.:31:49.

He made certain of the red and there is no way back to the table for

:31:50.:32:05.

Shaun. There is a chance of another

:32:06.:32:10.

century. He made one before the mid-session interval. If he gets on

:32:11.:32:12.

this red, a chance of another one. Not quite. It is a pity, but an

:32:13.:32:29.

excellent contribution. Shaun laid a marvellous opening red and did not

:32:30.:32:36.

make the most of it. Ronnie now leads by four frames to one. When he

:32:37.:32:41.

took the next as well, you got the feeling Shaun Murphy did not have

:32:42.:32:46.

many tricks left up his sleeve, at five frames to one down. A huge

:32:47.:32:53.

frame coming now in the seventh. Ronnie, 57 points to 44 ahead, with

:32:54.:32:56.

just four colours remaining. What on earth has he done there? Oh,

:32:57.:33:12.

no! Well, it just shows you, he thought of everything but that. And

:33:13.:33:20.

now... Gee-whiz. Unbelievable. What a gift for Shaun. Shaun has gone too

:33:21.:33:33.

far with the cue ball. He has to do more mileage with the cue ball. OK,

:33:34.:33:37.

you think he escaped to get there, but...

:33:38.:33:46.

This is not going to be good unless it runs on a lot. He still needs

:33:47.:33:54.

pink and black. The points are level. He needs to take a big

:33:55.:34:01.

breath, Shaun Murphy, take the negative thoughts out of your brain.

:34:02.:34:06.

Approach this like Ronnie had just played a bad safety shot, and then

:34:07.:34:10.

you are in a different frame of mind. Stop thinking about the fact

:34:11.:34:14.

that you have messed it up and try to play the right shot. I think he

:34:15.:34:20.

has to go for the cut. I think it is cuttable and the cue ball comes in

:34:21.:34:25.

and out of baulk for the black somehow.

:34:26.:34:33.

He had to hit it hard, and when you hit it hard, you lose your accuracy.

:34:34.:34:42.

What has he done here? Is the black going to snooker Ronnie on the pink?

:34:43.:34:48.

It has done. There you see it. The things that can happen on a snooker

:34:49.:34:54.

table that is only 12 foot by six. It's amazing.

:34:55.:35:07.

It is safe. I am sure that Ronnie thought for a moment that the pink

:35:08.:35:13.

was running towards the corner. But he had gifted Shaun a chance, and

:35:14.:35:18.

Shaun was unable to take it. This is now a big frame, particularly for

:35:19.:35:25.

Shaun Murphy. Good shot from Shaun Murphy. He was not tempted to try to

:35:26.:35:31.

get the cue ball behind the black, that was too difficult. Ronnie has a

:35:32.:35:42.

two, three-cushion safety behind the black. The pink will be in open play

:35:43.:35:50.

a bit. He played the pot. Wow! I did not think he would play the pot.

:35:51.:35:57.

Well, it surprised me. But the pace that the pink arrived at the pocket,

:35:58.:36:01.

it was difficult for it to escape, really. Another chance for Shaun, a

:36:02.:36:06.

bit more difficult, but the natural line for the cue ball is back

:36:07.:36:10.

towards the black, if he can pop the pink. Would you believe it? Would

:36:11.:36:18.

you believe it? He is having a nightmare.

:36:19.:36:25.

He did not hit it with the right amount of pace. He was trying to

:36:26.:36:30.

play the control shot, but surely you have to make sure of the pot.

:36:31.:36:38.

Ronnie also needs pink and black. Never easy to get the cue ball up

:36:39.:36:43.

the table from a ball in the pocket. And this is a tough one. This is a

:36:44.:36:48.

massive turning point in the frame from Shaun Murphy's perspective, if

:36:49.:36:52.

he misses it. And Ronnie knows the significance.

:36:53.:36:58.

Not there. Is the black going to stop short of a middle pocket? It

:36:59.:37:08.

is. It was a tough black, as Steve explained, and he made certain he

:37:09.:37:15.

got a good cue ball. Everybody is susceptible to the tension at the

:37:16.:37:18.

Crucible at different times in the match, even from in front. Shaun,

:37:19.:37:25.

twice across safety, cue ball up the table. Good effort. Yes, could have

:37:26.:37:33.

done with a bit more role on the cue ball to get tight to the baulk

:37:34.:37:34.

cushion, but safe enough. Ronnie plays the side to side,

:37:35.:37:46.

guaranteed to be safe. And he has a little bit of an angle on that,

:37:47.:37:49.

enough of an angle that Shaun could be tempted into the cocked hat

:37:50.:37:54.

bubble into the right middle, with an element of safety. It was too

:37:55.:38:00.

straight. It was not like that. So another containing safety. The only

:38:01.:38:04.

problem is that he has not put distance between cue ball and object

:38:05.:38:08.

ball, so you would fancy Ronnie to play a better safety shot.

:38:09.:38:16.

Advantage, Ronnie O'Sullivan at the moment. He could not afford to hit

:38:17.:38:23.

it too thin, so he has left it up. My goodness! Everything is happening

:38:24.:38:30.

in this frame, bad shots, bad misses. The difference between six

:38:31.:38:35.

frames to one, and five frames to two, coming up now. Straight in the

:38:36.:38:43.

heart of the pocket, and much appreciated by this packed crowd.

:38:44.:38:47.

Ronnie O'Sullivan will be kicking himself. He had lots of chances, as

:38:48.:38:52.

did Shaun, but Shaun will not be kicking himself because he won the

:38:53.:38:58.

frame. Now three behind. Ronnie's domination of the session

:38:59.:39:01.

is slowed up for now but much depends on the outcome of the final

:39:02.:39:03.

frame of the evening. He missed it completely and it will

:39:04.:39:14.

run back and leave the red to the left middle.

:39:15.:39:27.

Ronnie will not be immune to the fact that he more or less threw away

:39:28.:39:34.

the last frame. So he will look on this opportunity now with not so

:39:35.:39:40.

much trepidation, but he will take extra care over every shot.

:39:41.:39:45.

Particularly at the start of the break. He will not want to make any

:39:46.:39:47.

silly mistakes. Once again, the judgment of pace, to

:39:48.:40:01.

finish absolutely inch perfect on the blue. It gives him an

:40:02.:40:05.

opportunity to play for the red just above the black.

:40:06.:40:11.

Not quite far enough. In putting the red he will have to judge the cannon

:40:12.:40:26.

on the black nicely. And he did. He did. Excellent shot. Tremendous

:40:27.:40:37.

knowledge. There was a risk of the cue ball going behind the red.

:40:38.:40:48.

He could have got into that Littlemore but it didn't matter, as

:40:49.:40:53.

long as he made contact with the red.

:40:54.:41:05.

Even though Ronnie O'Sullivan will have hated the last frame, and could

:41:06.:41:13.

have got himself under it from in front, his vast talent and the speed

:41:14.:41:16.

at which he plays around the table is usually enough to let that talent

:41:17.:41:24.

do the talking. He can take his brain out of gear and play the shots

:41:25.:41:31.

as if he is down the club. I think it is a fact, over the last few

:41:32.:41:38.

seasons you can say that. But a few seasons ago, something like that

:41:39.:41:41.

would have really knocked him out of his stride.

:41:42.:42:07.

He would play the red to the right middle but it is too straight. Well,

:42:08.:42:18.

he could. I don't know why he gave it that extra thought. I presume the

:42:19.:42:21.

downside was that he was going to finish close to the cushion.

:42:22.:42:31.

When you have to dig in, it makes the blue missable. Solid enough, but

:42:32.:42:46.

he gave every attention to the pot and has just run slightly out of

:42:47.:42:53.

position. Not perfect on the red. Dead straight, made it a bit easier.

:42:54.:43:06.

Not certain to be on a red offer this shot. He could have pushed a

:43:07.:43:17.

red towards the middle pocket. Don't tell me he is on that! I thought he

:43:18.:43:24.

would play it softer and control it towards the middle but was obviously

:43:25.:43:29.

opening up other reds. He is on this red, a massive bit of luck, really.

:43:30.:43:37.

I suppose you cannot have it both ways. So many times we see players

:43:38.:43:40.

go into the reds and finish on nothing and you say, that was

:43:41.:43:43.

unlucky. So it is swings and roundabouts. But I think his purpose

:43:44.:43:49.

was to open up more reds than just a single one, as you say. He was

:43:50.:43:53.

fortunate it caught the bump on the middle pocket, and now a clear run

:43:54.:43:58.

to the winning line and a four frame advantage at the end of the session.

:43:59.:44:02.

And he certainly has not been tentative in this frame. We see

:44:03.:44:07.

players so often, when things have gone wrong for them from in front.

:44:08.:44:21.

All things considered, if this does become six frames to two for Ronnie

:44:22.:44:30.

O'Sullivan, I think Shaun would have to say fair enough. It could have

:44:31.:44:33.

been seven frames to one. Yes, I think it is a fair reflection

:44:34.:44:45.

of what we have seen. Shaun can look at frames he should have won, and he

:44:46.:44:50.

had chances to win, and under normal circumstances you would expect into.

:44:51.:44:56.

But 81% pot success is really the Achilles' heel of Shaun this

:44:57.:44:57.

evening. This pink will put Ronnie 72 points

:44:58.:45:14.

in front with just 67 remaining. And an opportunity to finish with a

:45:15.:45:16.

century break. He needs an angle on the blue,

:45:17.:45:29.

because no reds are available. He may just be able to force it in and

:45:30.:45:33.

come off the right-hand side cushion. Going round to see if

:45:34.:45:36.

something is available, possibly a plant. He has not got the best angle

:45:37.:45:41.

on the blue. But it doesn't matter, frame over. He played the cannon.

:45:42.:45:53.

Unlucky. I don't think he banged his cue on the table on purpose, it

:45:54.:45:59.

slipped out of his hand. Anyway, as I say, 78 points ahead, just 59

:46:00.:46:04.

remaining. There will be a handshake, and they have treated us

:46:05.:46:08.

to someone before snooker. OK, Ronnie O'Sullivan has been the main

:46:09.:46:12.

man, Shaun Murphy will be disappointed with his performance.

:46:13.:46:17.

Ronnie waves to the crowd and gets good appreciation. Shaun will hope

:46:18.:46:20.

to do better in the second session tomorrow afternoon, but thought

:46:21.:46:26.

might, he is six frames to two behind. Intrigue, drama, big breaks

:46:27.:46:31.

and black ball finish. What a start, and we will have more tomorrow

:46:32.:46:35.

afternoon in their second session. The other second-round match today

:46:36.:46:40.

featured the 2015 champion Stuart Bingham and the world 14 Kyren

:46:41.:46:44.

Wilson, who held the psychological advantage. They have met four times

:46:45.:46:47.

previously and Wilson has never been beaten.

:46:48.:47:00.

The first of the second round matches, just about to get underway.

:47:01.:47:09.

That settles the first frame. Kyren Wilson leads by one frame to zero.

:47:10.:47:15.

That is fantastic cueing. Anywhere but there are. Kyren

:47:16.:47:22.

Wilson, leading by three frames. He actually got a kick there.

:47:23.:47:52.

Excellent pot. He now leads by five frames to nil. It will be a very

:47:53.:48:01.

relieved man to get a frame on the board. He trails five frames to one.

:48:02.:48:13.

Kyren had a look to see if he could pot the red in the middle. He needs

:48:14.:48:17.

to be careful not to play a push shot. I think that may well have

:48:18.:48:25.

been a push. So a very relieved Stuart Bingham wins the seventh

:48:26.:48:28.

frame and trails five frames to two. It looks like he is playing the pot.

:48:29.:48:45.

And it is there. It will be a delighted Stuart Bingham. He will be

:48:46.:48:49.

absolutely delighted to finish only five frames to three down. They are

:48:50.:48:56.

back for the second instalment at 10am, live. There were quite a few

:48:57.:49:00.

candidates for shot of the day but only one winner, and what a winner

:49:01.:49:02.

from Shaun Murphy. I am not sure what he is trying to

:49:03.:49:18.

do. Well, he is coming off side cushion, top cushion, lots of

:49:19.:49:21.

right-hand side. This is risky. What a shot this is. Unbelievable!

:49:22.:49:41.

Unbelievable export --. What a shot! Brilliant, wasn't it? Trick shot

:49:42.:49:45.

supreme in the heat of battle. We are back live at 10am with the first

:49:46.:49:49.

session between Ding Junhui and Liang Wenbo, with China guaranteed a

:49:50.:49:54.

quarterfinalist, but which of these will it be? Catch you in the

:49:55.:49:56.

morning. Goodbye for now.

:49:57.:50:00.

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