Day 11, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

Hello, everyone. The quarter-finals of this here's world champ venture

ball well under way. Proceedings began this morning with all eyes

are fixed on a man at making an incredible 19th performance in the

last eight of this tournament. He has lifted the title on seven

occasions. We all know who I am Stephen Hendry has beaten Jimmy

White to become the youngest ever champion. For my career has been

littered with so many memories of this place. Steve and Hendry

finishes off as he started, a magnificent finish -- Stephen

Hendry. I did almost take for granted winning here for a time in

the 90s. The 7th time in the 90s... I think the place belongs to me,

the trophy belongs to me. The last time was 1999, I have been a long

time without winning but I have been a long time without winning

anywhere. People say it is not the winning, it is the taking part. I

have never heard so much nonsense. It is about winning. If you are a

true sporting animal, like I am, all through my career I have wanted

to win and if I don't, I am devastated. Even now, it is hard to

watch two other people be in the final. Over time, it gets better,

because it has been a long time since I have been in the final. It

gets easier as the years go by. This year has been different in the

fact that I have just been, you know, one of the others. I have

sort of put myself through the qualifiers in the mind set of just

trying to win the matches, because it is tough to get motivated,

because normally the only people watching are two or three people

and normally the family of your opponent who had come to support

them on their big day. Without trying to disrespected, it is not a

big day for me, I'm just trying to survive the match -- disrespect it.

By and still very competitive. I don't have the winning form to back

up any stronger claims to say to everybody I can win this, but I am

still hugely competitive and I still expect great things from

myself. As you can see when I play in matches. When I don't make a

century break and I break down on 80, I am still really disappointed.

I want to clear the table every time and I still expect high

standards. I find myself here in the quarter-finals for the first

time in a few years. The incentive to try and get to that one-table

situation again. But I have a great opponent in the way in Stephen

Maguire who will fancy his chances to certainly go on and challenge

for the title. We will both be desperate to win. The good thing

will be a Scotsman in the semi- final of for sure.

What on earth was that? He has That is good cueing. That is a very

special shot. That is one of the best I have seen in this

I don't understand that, that is incredible. Everybody misses pots,

but I didn't think he would miss that one. It is 4-0, Stephen

Maguire. Have a look at that for a shot. Stephen Maguire marches on in

this match. Stephen Hendry's woes That will be a relief, that red

dropping it in. Stephen Maguire has a very big lead,

7-1, after the first of three I have been joined by the 1991

champion John Parrott. It has often champion John Parrott. It has often

been said that you cannot afford to give your opponent easy chances,

but you can't afford to waste them either. Absolutely, he didn't get a

foothold in the match. He played a few blacks shots, but the third one

few blacks shots, but the third one was the one, he was clearing up and

had a chance to the pink in the corner pocket and he has cued right

across. It has not even hit the jaws. One minute, you look like he

will be 2-1 behind and then it is 3-0. Is this deficit

insurmountable? It is unlikely he will come back but he definitely

has to win the session. Even if he draws it, he has to win. It is

going to need a bit of vintage Stephen Hendry. But the other

quarter-final tonight is Ryan Day and Matthew Stevens and Ryan Day is

leading that. Let's join Rob Walker to welcome them out. Ladies and

gentlemen, we really are getting towards the business end of this

year's World Snooker Championship. The second session of this quarter-

finals, where two more players will close in on the one-table set-up.

Please welcome a player who has produced his best snooker for years

in this championship. He and his opponent traded centuries this

morning in a bid for the advantage. Three times a ranking event

finalist and bidding for his first Crucible semi-final. Back in the

bedtime and loving it, are Ryan Day -- back in the big time.

And his opponent, a player very much enjoying his best run here for

five years. Now back among us the game's elite, twice a finalist in

20021005, he has knocked out Marco Fu and Barry Hawkins and took the

last frame of the first session. The Welsh Dragon, Matthew Stevens.

And on table one, please welcome the most successful player in

history. He won his first title here 22 years ago. This is his 19th

Crucible quarter-final. Winner of 36 ranking event title, he will

draw on all of his vast experience tonight. Seven-times a winner, the

king of the Crucible, Stephen Hendry.

APPLAUSE MUSIC: "Get the Message" by

Bidding for his second appearance the Crucible semi-final, he has

knocked out Luca Brecel and Joe Perry so far. Winner of four

ranking event title, when he is on good, he it -- when he is good he

is on fire, here comes Stephen Maguire.

MUSIC: "Here I Go Again" by We will be keeping you up to date

with the actions between Ryan Day and Matthew Stevens but we are

ready for the start of session two between Stephen Hendry and Stephen

Maguire. Let's join Neal Foulds and John Virgo in the commentary box.

Berger Macro thank you, good JOHN VIRGO: Good evening, thank you

everybody. The old saying is that you cannot win it in the first

session but you can go a long way to losing it.

NEAL FOULDS: Stephen Maguire was getting stronger as it went on and

it was a good job they started when they did. Tonight is a different

occasion and I am sure Stephen Hendry will play better than he has

been. Just the potting successful Stephen, 80%. -- success for

Stephen. That wouldn't be good enough to win an amateur event. He

has won over the pocket he can cut He didn't want be kiss on the red.

Anyone could miss that shot at the start of a match, it isn't a

continuation of what we saw this I think the problem with Stephen,

and we have seen in this championship, that his best form is

just about good enough. His break- building and scoring his tremendous

but he will have the odd bad session that he wouldn't have done

I suppose that is just an age factor. We saw it with Steve Davis,

when he went from being the greatest player we had ever seen to

a very good one. Yes, it is the consistency, really, isn't it? As

you say, Stephen produced some first -- excellent they get in his

first-round match. To be honest, he didn't have to do much in his

second-round match against an out- of-sorts John Higgins. The first

session in this is one he will want A little shake of the head from

Stephen Maguire, so not a perfect angle on the black to disturb the

If he is not on one to the corner, he is very unlucky. I think he may

be very unlucky. I wonder if there is another red that might go. The

two on the left are covering each other. That one does go. It is not

straightforward to get on a colour, Nicely on it and in potting that,

opened them up a bit more. Playing off the cushion, you are going to

get lots of top spin and he would have been very unlucky to have not

Everyone has been speaking about the match with Neil Robertson and

Ronnie O'Sullivan and one or two other players, Judd Trump now that

he is out, always thought of a winner. -- as a winner. A few

people have forgotten about Stephen He has not won a ranking tournament

this season but I am not sure how that has happened. He lost narrowly

to Ronnie O'Sullivan in Germany and only a few weeks ago, lost by the

odd frame to Peter Ebdon in the China Open, so he has been so close

to winning something. He is one of He has been very consistent and he

He played some stunning shot earlier on, very aggressive shot. -

- stunning shots. I have seen him play better, but at times he was

I think he can get through to this red in the left corner. There is

one to the right corner but he would be using the rest for that.

With this one, he is going to have He played it well. Nicely on the

He turned this red down to the right corner previously because he

had to use the rest, but it was only the potting angle that what

potting him off. It is a bit straighter now. He can play for the

I reckon he played the cannon, but having missed the cannon, he has

got the one just above it. I reckon he played to hit it that red beyond

the other one. I think you are right. This is a thin one and he is

not certain where the cue ball is Well, he was able to avoid the kiss

on the second red. It wasn't as big a problem as I first thought. Well,

he did kiss a second red, but it Three more reds will be more than

He hit it too well in the end, got too much on it. I have seen players

sometimes after a session like this morning trying to get motivated for

the second session of a match like this, but it doesn't seem to me

that Stephen Maguire has got that problem. He looks right into this.

The other thing was, he was always going a bit close to the blue

itself, so not a huge margin of error. However, it is not bad.

has had a close look at the three reds below the pink, wondering

whether the bottom one will go to the left corner. But he can't be

sure, because if he is playing the blue, he can't get to the right-

That is nice. He may be a little unlucky that the black doesn't go

into the left-hand corner. But I don't think it will bother him too

much, it looks like he has got a nice angle on the red. If the black

will go in the left corner, position is automatic. We will soon

This black will put him 60 points in front with 67 remaining, so this

and one more red is all that is Is there a plant on here? There is

That was a handy thing to appear in front of his very eyes. Yes, up

until now, I have not seen a ball hit the jaws yet. So near the

middle of the pocket, it is untrue. That is what he was like for the

most part of this morning, with a pot success of 94%. There were one

or two moments when you thought that Stephen Hendry had a chance

but he didn't take them. Other than that, Stephen Maguire will be happy

with his game. He potted the blue, he was the wrong side of it, so he

couldn't get near the next red. Nothing to pot, 66 points in front

Two snookers required for Stephen. Stephen Hendry concedes, so Stephen

Stephen Hendry has now entered the Nigel Bond-Dennis Taylor territory

for comebacks, John. Yes, and the worst thing possible to happen, he

ended up on the blue in the first frame and if you want to get your

confidence up, you have to knock the somewhere close, but he gets

this so poorly. Once again, it doesn't threaten and Stephen

Maguire, the form he is in, it doesn't look like he will miss

anything. That is the one thing that will be depressing Stephen

Hendry more than anything else, that Stephen Maguire is taking

every opportunity that he gets. he is to get back into this, he is

to play as well as he cannon get some help from his opponent and

Stephen Maguire has got stronger as the tournament has gone on. His

long game is getting better and in amongst the balls, he can't wait

for a chance. And greater be at a tournament where people are talking

about Stephen Maguire as a contender for the title. We know he

has won the UK, so that is a barometer, you can generally win

the World Championships if you have won the UK. He has gone close

before and it maybe things he should have won one by now and has

a chance this year -- he may be thinks he should have won one by

NEAL FOULDS: No signs that he is going to ease up in this match.

These two know each other very well, they have practised hours of frames

together, but you have no friends JOHN VIRGO: Close, but he may have

It is not a bad kiss on the blue. He would have preferred not to have

kissed it. Stephen is an attacking player at the best of times, and

you just know with him he is going to be thinking I am just going to

have to play at by absolute best and go for everything. -- At My. He

will have to hope something clicks into place. It hasn't so far, but

That was nicely played, the absolute perfect angle on the blue.

He can go into the pink and get these reds open. He is just looking

at a plant, which of course would be a big concern. He doesn't think

the plant is on, he blasts it and tries to get the reds everywhere,

but he is worried about the planned going in and it might change the

way he plays it -- about the plant It nearly was a plant. He didn't

hold back, though. This is good contact. The cue ball has stayed in

the middle of the table for a long His concentration is superb. He

really does get into the zone out there. Yes, I remember when he won

the UK, beat David Gray in the final, and built up a big lead in

the first session. He is not one of those who starts looking over his

shoulder. He has got great belief I think those years, when you look

at the draw, you're always keep a wary eye out for Stephen. Playing

John Higgins a year ago, he looked as though he had him. I think he

was 14-10 in front and John Higgins managed to get back and beat him in

that match. I think that actually knocked him back. It was back in

2007, it was a long time ago. Since then, he hasn't really threatened

at the Crucible, until now. This here, he has to be playing well

enough from what I am seen to win it. He is playing better and better.

If only Stephen Hendry was playing to that tournament pot success, he

wouldn't be 8-1 behind, but that is not the case. That is what it is in

this match. 79% for Stephen Hendry. That is almost unthinkable. It is,

and it is hardly -- hard at the moment to see it going up or down

because he is not playing any shots. One chance in the first frame, the

blue that had to be cued in. It was not a gimme, but really since then,

It is almost two frames since he As John Parrott said in the studio,

when you are this far behind, you have got to play unbelievably well

and get a bit of help from your opponent. The way that Stephen

Maguire is cueing, I don't think he As you say, he doesn't look like

missing. They are all going right He is getting on most balls pretty

well, even this, which is one you But no problem, because he is close

He worked on this match this morning. When I saw the score, I

thought the only chance Stephen has got is to get a good start this

evening and it has not happened. There is every possibility this

could end with a session to spare. It certainly could do. Stephen

Hendry will play on, because at the moment, he needs a two snookers.

But Stephen Maguire looking good, Might just be trying to get some

practice. I don't think Stephen Hendry has won for playing all that

long at the end of frames like this. It is possible he could get the

snooker and win it. I think he just wants to get some shots. Yes,

you're not going to getting strokes sat in your chair. So I think he's

just using this as a bit of potting practice. Don't get me wrong, I

think this frame is able to be one. You know, two Snooker's is not

impossible. As I say, the main thing is to get his hand on de

table. And try to build a bit of Just over done that. Playing for

one of those reds in the left corner. 56 points behind. 51 on the

table, so he could play for the blue. He still needs two snookers.

Sounded good. Quite on the black. He has got to get some extra care

and attention. If it doesn't go in, He has conceded. Stephen Maguire

has been moody and magnificent. He One of the best players we have got

on tour. Aggressive when he needs to be. He knows when to push the

button. Tactically, very, very clever. He has got the great all-

round game, as all good players have. He has set the standard for

myself, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, those sorts of players coming

through. Very aggressive around the table. It shows his emotions quite

a lot. He does this a lot of the time. Short-tempered, banging

tables. He get so frustrated with himself but I like that about him.

Some board you don't mind going for a drink with. Enjoys life. He is a

good guide to be around with and have a couple of games with. He is

just destined win the world championship one day because he is

COMMENTATOR: Those words from John Higgins at the end of that little

piece saying he's going to win the world championship one day. Could

It will be short odds to be in the Well, this cue ball could come up

OK, easy. He has got to be careful he does not slide by them. He has

That's why it's a really good safety shot. More trouble this time.

He knew he would escape from that in the end. I think we heard from a

couple of players there, Graeme Dott says he tried to bully his

opponents. I know what he means by that. He's quite intimidating to

And, despite a good session this morning, John, we had a punch on

the table, the stuff he does, and he was running away with things.

Yes, he does like to give the table Thumper occasionally. --thumps.

When you meet him socially, you could not meet a nicer lad but when

he is out there, on the table, he is very hard on himself and maybe

that's the reason he hasn't won the He obviously wants to play like

this all the time, like he is right now, but, clearly, that's not

always possible, and it is the days when they are not going in he tries

too hard and searches for too much But you can't really knock the way

he is hitting the ball tonight. He has left a red to the left

corner. Just on a little angle so he can run back up for the blue,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 52 seconds

Right in the heart of the pocket. Couldn't avoid the kiss into the

second red, but at least he can do a bit with the blue. He has just

got to be careful. Probably the Safeway has to going between the

brown and yellow. -- the Safeway is to go in between the brown and

yellow. It comes straight down and he just misses the brown. That is

Not straightforward on the colour but it's difficult to get on the

black. He has had to drop it in and hope for the pink. That's all he

could do. The red to the left of the black is still in the way.

is still able to be potted into the right corner, so he can't get that

red out of the way at the moment. So it's not straightforward, by any

But we are talking about the greatest break-builder that has

ever played snooker. So let's see how he works this one out, because

There is a red immediately above the black. I wonder if he could

play on that and maybe get a nice angle to pot and possibly develop

I think that's what he has tried Had to go for the blue. If you're

just off straight on the blue, it's difficult, and that's where he is.

He would rather have a half ball blue. It makes it easier to come in

and out of baulk. He will have to force this one. Very difficult to

guarantee position. He has looked at one of the baulk colours but

they are miserable. The blue shouldn't be, but can he get pace

No, it was too straight for that. So, unless he plays a very risky

pot, I don't know how he's feeling at the moment, he wants to get back

in this match in style, but sometimes you have got to take your

Obviously, the moment, it looks like there is only one player in

the match. But things can change. Players have come from a long wait

back at the Crucible before. It can happen. You have got to start

somewhere so I pink at the right shot he has played this. -- I think

that is the right shot he has Catching the ball could have been

dangers but it's not too bad, as it turns out. Stephen will be looking

for a place near that baulk cushion and trying to use the brown and

yellow as cover. Slip this red into Disappointing, really. That's not

the best safety shot. But that flick off the green has let the cue

ball near the cushion so it's not as bad as it could have been.

it's not too bad, in the end, as you say. The right-hand side of the

table is covered with the pink so This is a good safety shot he needs

here, up and down. Not a very big He was always going to leave a

chance on that red but with the brown there, Stephen can't really

pot it. That was a good shot from Maguire. Yes, he hit it well but,

you have to say, a little bit fortunate. He could have hit that

yellow half ball and the possibility Stephen would have

potted this red. This is a tough That was tough. Whereas the cue

ball going? Oh, the last thing he wanted. He is suffering there. It

was a really tough shot. He played it well. He can't get side on it to

change the angle and get back to Stephen Look and up the possibility

here of a plant. Two reds and he will be think and getting the cue

ball back to the baulk end. -- Stephen looking at the possibility

Now, can Stephen get enough of this red to pot it? He is looking very

purposeful, so I imagine he can. With the cue ball goes exactly is

not something he will be certain of, because when he pots the red it

Don't miss the red, though. But it might not be too bad there. It was

After Maguire played it difficult plant... A big target, all those

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 52 seconds

Well, much, much too thin. He has gifted an opportunity now to

And I think the pink might go into the right corner, so he doesn't

have to do much with the cue ball here. This is a great chance. OK,

he came to the table 23 points behind, but it's not a straight

forward frame-winning opportunity, but to expect him to be a few

frames in front at the end of this visit. I say it's not

straightforward. He got the one on the left-hand side of the table,

and the right-hand side of the table. He is going to need them to

clinch the frame at this visit. chance to get onto the black it

would certainly be in his favour. Just the way he has been hitting

the ball, you do feel but he is it This black to make the points all

There wasn't really a risk there, that cannon. Speedy play, he could

As John said, things went get tougher until the last three reds.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 52 seconds

-- won't get up at. At which point, 21 points in front when he pots

So, he still wants two of there Now, the one below the black.

Especially with the black on its spot, it's a question of getting a

good angle in behind it. And that is it. His cue ball is under very

He's already thing about which other red he's going to take.

Probably the one you can see in view there, on the cushion over

there. And he has got the angle to go in behind it. Or perhaps to go

and knock it out? It depends how he Didn't mean to go into it there but

it's not bad at all. He is playing so well. Had a little nudge there.

Yes, all he needs is the red. The slower he plays it, the more chance

Never really a doubt, was it? So, there you see it. 45 ahead. 35

Well, half-hearted attempt at a double and Stephen concedes, so

Stephen Maguire just marches on. That always seems to be her

resignation in a match but we will head over to table to do so what's

happening between Matthew Stevens and and Ryan Day. It started 5-3

today but it's been a great start for Matthew Stevens. Two on the

bounce and now all square at 5 appease. Ryan Day should have won

the final frame, the session this afternoon but didn't do it. He has

had chances in both of these frames and played a very risky plant at

the end of this, and Matthew Stevens has cleaned up because of

it and got himself back level at 5- 5. He produced some sensational

start and is also another player coming to the boil again. Yes and

he has Cristobal pedigree, being in two finals before and arguably

should have won it but hasn't. He plays well here. It is 5-5. But

back to our match. Stephen Hendry does look like he's almost resigned

here. Well, the trouble is his opponent is playing so well and you

can look at Maguire at the moment and he is definitely trying to win

this of the session to spare. If he can get up tomorrow afternoon at

not having to come back and put his waistcoat and did he go on again,

and come out and play, he would do his utmost to make sure he has and

what to do that. He needs three COMMENTATOR: I suppose that's

familiar scoreline we remember from a long time ago in the first frame.

The great Steve Davis was beaten that score, 10-1, wasn't he? Tony

Knowles. One of the great shot at the Crucible, that was. Yes, Tony,

not too well at the moment so, if you're listening, Tony, a speedy

It was funny at the end of the last frame, Stephen Maguire was going

down and be heard Stephen's sake to him, "well played". Even though

he's in a terrible situation, at the moment, Stephen, he appreciates

what Stephen Maguire is doing up there. Because, as you said, it's

quite easy sometimes when you have got a big lead to go into your

shell a little bit. There has been none of that this evening.

Absolutely not. These two know each other. They practised together a

Well, red goes over the corner. It was an attacking safety. But now,

it could be a safety that costs him this frame. There will be in

midsession interval after this one. Well, beer is good cueing for you.

-- there is good cueing for you. I don't know whether he played for

the black there, but he's certainly got so much action on the cue ball.

He is on the green. Yes, I don't It's certainly appears to go to the

left corner. I feel he will play for that black. He is hitting the

ball so well. Not easy to get the Let's have another look at it. He

pushed that cue through straight as a die. And that is all done with

lots of backspin and plenty of There is the screw shot, with the

black and white ball which helps you to see what the ball is

actually doing. Maguire's shot was over a longer distance. The same

Yes, a longer distance, you have got to hit it a little bit harder.

Otherwise, of course, when the ball arrives, at the object ball,

He is right back in here. The shot Stephen Hendry played, talk about

attacking shots, how much does he want to get the balls open against

Maguire? He did. I think it would be the last thing he wants to do.

Yes, but I don't think you could ever accuse Stephen Hendry of being

a grinder. As I said, if he's going to get back into this match, he has

to do it in his own way, attacking and break-building, but it's not

Well, those reds have gone everywhere from that shot and every

chance one will go over a pocket, I would say, over these fast tables,

Well, the pink on its spot. The red is nicely in the open. Smack in the

middle of the pockets. It's hard to see how he's not going to win the

frame at this visit. Just about to say the same thing, again, that

I seem to remember when he won the UK Championship, way back in 2004,

when everybody said he was going to be the next big thing, that's what

the balls were doing them. He didn't miss the balls for a week

Well, I'm afraid we have come to the end of our coverage on BBC Two

for now. Stephen Hendry really struggling to cope with Stephen

Maguire tonight but a reminder that on the red button, or on your