Day 1, Part 1 Snooker: World Championship

World Snooker Championship. Unprecedented levels of excitement

and anticipation ahead of the Championship. Much of it centring on

the return of the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan. What can we expect? We

are not sure. And neither is Ronnie. Almost 12 months ago, it was here in

this arena, that the Rocket claimed his fourth world title. Since then

he has barely lifted a queue. The day he has turned up to face the

toughest mission of his long career. arena. It was just me and my little

boy for an amount of time. I will carry that with me for the rest of

my life. It seems quite fitting to end it on that note. My final

parting was last year. In some way I still see that as saying, thank you

very much. That was the final chapter. I struggled with my sport,

if you like, but I stuck with it. And for me to finish playing the way

I did last year, and having little Ronnie there, it does not get any

better for me. It was the right time to say goodbye, I suppose. As soon

as I stopped playing snooker, I assumed I would be running

marathons, and it was the opposite. I was lying in bed until 11am,

thinking I could not run at this time of the morning. I kind of

just... I thought I was just existing. But then it came to a

point when I thought, you know, it is important that I go to work.

Whether that is playing snooker or doing something, I needed to go to

work. Things never took off for me because I was looking to work do

other stuff away from snooker. I got a bit scared because it did not

happen. I thought, if I leave sneaker for much longer, that

opportunity might not be there -- snooker. I am not overly enamoured

about coming back. I was content with my decision. But I was not

happy with the fact I lost focus in my life. I needed to do some sort of

work. It would need to be something that would bring, it you know,

elevate my self-esteem. I had no income. I felt exposed in some sort

of way. My insecurities were popping up. I thought, I need to have some

income to pay the bills and pay my way in life. I have never taken this

amount of time off from the game. So, I do not know what to expect.

Talking about me winning it and being the favourite, I do not know.

In some ways, I think it needs a player to come along and have the

confidence to say this will be my world title. Forget Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He is 37, the oldest world champion since Ray Wealden.

They should say, I am the new daddy, the new governor. No one

seems to have back confidence. -- that confidence. There is nothing

left for me to prove in sport. I am going back to Sheffield, with the

opening match, another opportunity. What is the worst that can happen? I

get beaten in the first round and I am number 30 in the world rankings.

People say, you should have stayed at home and not come back. Why did

you come back? But, for me, it is more about the journey. It has got

me out of bed for the last two months. I have had a good two

months. People will only see the disappointment of me losing the

match at Sheffield but I have had a good two months leading up to

Sheffield. And I will have another break after Sheffield. I will get my

cue out again and hit a few balls but because I want to do it.

Steve Davis and John Parrott know what it takes to win here. You have

seen a lot in sport. How would you describe the mission that Ronnie

O'Sullivan has today? Monumental. This is the hardest tournament in

the world to win. And after not playing for 12 months, in a

competitive match, it is a huge task. What will be the toughest part

of the assignment? You have to focus on the table and forget the

excitement and the hype around you. That is something Ronnie O'Sullivan

does well anyway, so I do not think he will struggle. Can he win it? And

what would it mean? Good morning from BBC London News. I'm Alex

Bushill he can. He needs to get past me. It is monumental. This

championship was already shaping up before Ronnie O'Sullivan decided to

take part, as one of the greatest for many years. Letters remind you

of all 32 in the draw and how they what to expect from Ronnie today.

Higgins has a tough opener against Mark Davis, who beat him at the UK

Championships in December. King of the Crucible in 2005, Shaun Murphy

taking on Martin Gould, who has won three titles this term. This one is

a repeat of the 2006 final, Graeme Dott against Peter Ebdon.

Both Matthew Stevens and Marco Fu have come close at the Crucible

before. And indeed, so has the talented Jud

Trump against Dominic Dale. And Neil Robertson aiming to become

the first oversee's player to win Mark Williams against the star of

the future Michael White. Scotland's Stephen Maguire faces

Dechawat Poomjaeng. The first type player at the Crucible. And Mark

Allen is against Mark King, making his 14th appearance. And Ding

carrying the hopes of the Chinese. Barry Hawkins taking on one of the

most exciting newcomers Jack Lisowski.

And Mark Selby trying to achieve the Triple Crown against Mark -- Matthew

eye? The bottom half. That is the half of doom. Coming through the

bottom half is like winning the top -- tournament itself. The bottom

half look so hard to win. And of the six rookies, five from the UK and

one from Thailand, which do you think could inflict the most damage?

That is so unfair. They will capture the imagination of the public. There

are some great lads coming through. We are seeing new blood make it to

the Crucible. The other side of the coin is the fact that there is

disappointment for the Chinese contingent. We only have during and

we expected more to come to the Crucible. So many subplots and

storylines to discuss in the next 17 days. So much to look forward to on

this opening day. We are moments away from live play. C what is on

Ronnie and his opponent Marcus Campbell. Perhaps the highest

profile match of his long career. Also in action this morning on table

two is Ricky Walden, who won the first event of the season in China,

and hopes to butt end that season in style. And expect plenty of

self-expression from Michael Holt. We always love watching Michael

play. This afternoon we gauge the form of the 2005 champion Shaun

Murphy, under way against Martin Gould at 2:30pm. And this evening,

two-time Crucible winner Mark Williams pits his experience against

Michael White. And keen to get the first frame is

under way. We have John Virgo and Stephen Hendry in the commentary

box. Stephen, you were with Roy last night -- Ronnie. What mood was he

in? We did not chat about snooker. He was very relaxed and is looking

forward to it. He will be excited, walking out in the Crucible as

defending champion. There is no better feeling. And so much chat

about Ronnie. But Marcus Campbell of Scotland is a wily character. How

would you assess his game and what kind of occasion is it for him

today? It is an occasion where he has nothing to lose. All the focus

is on Ronnie. A few years ago he beat Stephen in the UK. He is

capable. He is a better player than he was then. In terms of the

excitement generated ahead of the Championship, what if has Ronnie's

inclusion done for the profile of the event? It is like Tiger Woods

being away and coming back to golf. He is the best player in the world.

There would be a huge gap if he was not here. I'm looking forward to

seeing how he plays. He has been installed as the third favourite,

remarkable given his lack of practice and matchplay. Yes, it is

amazing. I think it should be 10-1. It is the most open championship I

can remember. It is when the Crucible nerves start. That will be

the test for Ronnie. It will be interesting to see how he performs

this morning. If it is not Ronnie, and can he come back having only

played one competitive match, and retain his title? If it did not win,

it would not be that much of a shock. But it would be an amazing

achievement. It would not surprise me too much. And of the other

players, we have talked about Matt Selby, it would be an extraordinary

achievement for him. He has been solid all season and that is why he

is back at world number one. There are so many players you could put up

as a winner. Ronnie to win it would be unbelievable. The campaign starts

here and now. There are four players in this opening session this

morning. Our MC is wearing to go. MC: Good morning ladies and

gentlemen. This has to be one of the eagerly anticipated days in Crucible

history. Welcome to the 2013 World Snooker Championship. Please welcome

iPlayer that came through a tough match in qualifying to put in his

sixth Crucible appearance. He is a philosopher, a student, a man with

his eye on the bigger picture and he is seriously fired up. From

Nottingham, the Hitman, Michael MC: And his opponent, a player who

won his second ranking event earlier this season.

He always travels with noisy home support, UK Championship

semifinalist, hoping to get on a APPLAUSE

MC: And on table number one, please welcome iPlayer making his fourth

appearance at the Crucible. He reached his first ranking event

semi-final this season. Marcus Campbell.

MC: And finally, please welcome the most naturally gifted player ever to

grace the modern game. Winner of 24 ranking event titles in

all. We are counting down to the return of the defending champion,

because this is the relaunch of the What a moment for the four-time

world champion. So often we have seen Ronnie rise to

the challenge but what a challenge he has set this time. 19 frames in

the first round and two sessions to play today. This is it.

What a reception. I think they are first round is always cagey. Both

players will be nervous. Absolutely. They might not look it but there

will be a few nerves underneath the meeting the world champion in the

first match, then play some other sport. It will be an interesting

opening few frames. We do not know what to expect from Ronnie. What can

First chance for Marcus. With Ronnie not playing for a year, he will not

have had experience of the cloth in APPLAUSE

Ronnie was positive with that one. round. To get your cue arm going. To

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there. He will have to go for the nerves. But there was no sign of

them so far. He is cueing beautifully. Just making it look so

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enough, that created this to one red needed, just the red with

last seven or eight weeks, since he announced he was defending his

title. And it shows. He looks very thick, but damage done already,

Marcus Campbell says in his seat. The Rocket is back and he takes his

first frame in style. HAZEL IRVINE: He is back all right,

and we are back in our winter garden studio. John, opening impressions of

The Rocket? I told you he be rusty! I thought he

would get a century, cue beautifully and made a break straightaway.

Looking dangerous after one frame! It is ridiculous, isn't it?

It is sad to get involved in this, you will laugh, but if I was Marcus

Campbell, I would have got up and not a few balls in if I had the

chance, just to get a feel of the thing. The modern way is to just

give the frame. Ronnie has been practising recently

here in Sheffield with the likes of Peter Ebdon, and Peter said, don't

be fooled - this man has indeed put the work in on the table, and if

anything, Peter said - and he is not prone to exaggeration - if anything

he looks better than he did before. Well, one way of looking at it is he

is certainly fresh. The one thing you are always worried about is that

lack of match practice, but after the first frame I don't think is a

problem for him. The last thing Marcus Campbell

wanted was to make a bad break of shot like that, he caught the end

read much too thick. -- the end red. side on the cue ball there than he

would have liked to play for the view, it was not an easy starter. He

just played the one port. -- he just played the one pot in that last

frame, just a little tentative with it. A poor safety from Ronnie and of

course that was the end of frame. Then followed off with a bad break

of shot, and back at the table again and because he was playing so much

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back script -- backspin he is short at the time where he needed a good

positional shot, because there is no easy red to get on now. He decided

he could not play for the black in And a perfect angle on the black.

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That is the way he plays the game, he found the perfect angle, forgot

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close to the red he has to be there, perhaps that is a lack of

match practice. He got down very quick to play it and it was a tricky

shot. But he had not missed up until then, so he was obviously confident.

The problem is, you play a shot like that and you play the cannon to

bring reds into play. He got the cannon, but missed the pot, so now

he is going to have to sit there. He was quite a way off with that

yellow, you wonder if he had parted it whether he would have got the

straight on this black. The bottom red will go to the right, . He has

not played that well. He is asking for the cue ball to beat cleaned,

but I think he was trying to play a little stun runthrough, and that

caused the cue ball to jump, more than a heavy contact. I know that

the two bowls jumped in the air, but when you are striking down trying to

force an angle, you can get the cue ball leaving the bed of the table

before it reaches the object ball. He would be a brave man to try and

I think Ronnie can get through to the red close to the top cushion,

but... Well, he may be able to get through the gap of the green and

left-hand side to check it. I don't think it is safe, there is a

has not left the red he played for, but that was an opportunity and he

certain, don't we? If Marcus is going to get a result here, he is

going to have to play well. Anything but his best is not going to be good

percentage of his half chances, never mind the good chances he gets.

That was in between a half chance and a good chance, that red. If he

potted that, he would be favourite Ronnie, with not playing matches.

When he is in amongst the bowls hill BB is -- he will be as good as ever,

but when it comes to these scrappy frames it will be keeping his

There is no way he could have envisaged that happening, that was a

He is not certain to be on it. He will be disappointed with that.

Again, similar to an earlier shot, far too much left-hand side on the

That is careless by Ronnie if he has left him. He is using the spider so

obviously cannot get to the cue ball enough.

I think he is looking at the possibility of the cut. Maybe he can

just get to the side of the cue ball. No, a little shake of the

head. The only problem is, if he did play the cut into the corner, there

you see, there is just not enough of that red. This is very, very

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second frame, just looking for two What a chance this is now for

The pink will be needed for Marcus Campbell to win the frame at this

that red, he was 18 points in arrears. Even if he got these two

blacks, yellow, green, brown and blue, he will still need the pink,

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at. The angle is a little thin on can tell from his facial

it looks inch perfect. But still the awkward pink. A fabulous shot. He

had to avoid that bottom left-hand he could leave himself a double on

the pink but he has such an angle on the blue, surely he has to try the

cannon. He is thinking about the double. It looks to me like he

should stun off the top cushion and the cushion. He would like it not be

so close to the cushion. It feels like you do not have control of the

boost for Marcus Campbell. They never looked like he would win the

frame. He pulls it out with a double on the pink.

With a maelstrom of publicity that really showed some character for

Marcus Campbell. It is important to stress his kit and chills this week.

He has been in the quarter-finals of a major championship and a semi

finals as well. He can play. Yes, considered by many to be a journey

man of the game but at one stage she beat a certain person in the

commentary box. Mr Hendry.Yes, you realise how great a player he is.

What an important frame for Marcus Campbell. That was an incredible

shot. Everybody thought he could probably get that cue ball to the

side cushion and trustee could get past the pink and the middle pocket

to get back on the brand. That is a superb win. Reason, the way he got

back into that match, because Ronnie was playing so well, and getting

everything Tom but he ended up playing a risky yellow and gave

Marcus Campbell a lifeline. Assess the match from Marcus' perspective.

It is a huge occasion for him. has come with a lot more pressure

than it would have done. He probably thought, if I ever have a chance of

beating Ronnie O'Sullivan, this is it. That adds to the pressure of the

occasion. He will feel that he has to score. Both players have indeed

done that, one frame apiece. Very nice of Steve to bring back

those memories. It is in the record books. It will get mentioned as long

as Marcus Campbell is playing. stared at the start of the match

committee is a much better player than he was then. Much more

Ronnie. Unfortunately for Marcus comedies just the wrong side of the

blue. He has quite a bit of work to do with the cue ball. Or he roles in

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the blue and leaves a mid-distance last frame. He will be feeling more

comfortable out there now. He has his first frame on the board. Now he

will be looking forward to the rest than he anticipated. If you can drop

the Redding, the black will be to pay it -- play it with a bit of

pace. Now we will want to stay on this red above the black. Just screw

thought he would do. The more pace you play it with, it gives you less

time for the back spin to take effect. That is why he did not get

disappointed. He did not make the Ronnie getting plenty of

encouragement. Most people are probably wondering how his tactical

side of the game will be. That was a corner, the black available for the

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opposite corner. Good cueing is confidence, due to the distance

Ronnie missed that ball boy. It does not put so much pressure on the

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safety shot if your opponent is not right corner. It gets on down to the

business end. Had he run too far? Can he get through to it? It is

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has a 36 point lead. The reds are an angle on the black if he could

stun into them. I am not certain could not play it any better. A big

favourite now for this frame. Ronnie flew out of the block with an 82 in

had done all the hard work. He missed a sitter. He chose to bring

the cue ball back. I do not know if he would have followed through for

the black. I would not have expected him to miss it. So, another test for

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been a confidence booster for Marcus, and if Ronnie could pull

this one out, it will boost his confidence. That is the game of

most important thing. He has almost had a year off. These are the big

tests. If you're going to win this knocked that red a little bit too

far. I do not think it passes the blue so he will have to play it into

positional shot on this last red, and we have another favourite for

pink, checking the scoreline. This will be a bit of a body blow for

to play the run they are, rather the wall, but that just adds to the

atmosphere, you have to hold yourself together. Ronnie has done

that absolutely superbly. The points on level, blue and pink to pinch the

mixed emotions, Ronnie O'Sullivan will be delighted, Marcus Campbell

will be kicking himself. He had the chance to go to -1, but now he is

behind. HAZEL IRVINE: This is certainly a

decent workout from both men so far. This was the betting odds before

play began this morning. Neil Robertson is trying to win

back-to-back events, he won the China open a few weeks ago, and he

has been installed as the favourite. Mark Selby is going for the troubled

crown, the Masters, the UK and the world Championship in the same

season. Ronnie O'Sullivan is second favourite.

You can see it is wide open, ten ranking events, ten different

wonders. The interesting thing about Ronnie O'Sullivan is, you could have

backed him at 10-1 last year when he was in fooled tournament situations,

this year he has not played for 12 months and he is 6-1. Obviously some

people think he can win. Quite a few people do! When we look

at these odds, in some respects some of the players like Robertson and

Mark Selby are coming in with the attention firmly on Ronnie. Does

that help or hinder their cancers initially? -- there are chances

initially? I don't think it matters, you turn

up for your match and press the button and hope you are playing in

form and get more in form as the tournament progresses. I always

think that being a distance winner here at the Crucible helps your

cars, so would John Higgins at 11-1, you could make those odds look a

little stupid. A couple of other players like Ali Carter could have

there say. And Shaun Murphy. But Ronnie O'Sullivan there made an

incredibly difficult clearance looked like a walk in the park. That

augurs well for him the rest of the Not only did he miss the pot by

quite a distance, that is why he ran through in-off. Obviously the in-off

was not on. At the moment his long game is not quite what he would

like. Even back when he was playing

regularly, he was never happy with his long game. He has missed a

couple by a long way. That does not make you feel good inside. It puts

pink, but it has worked out nice. He played to avoid the pink, obviously,

but it has not done him too much damage.

He has those two reds to go into the corner and then he is on the black.

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Perfect angle. He has a choice of US himself to straight on that

Black, a little work to do with the cue ball here. This is not

straightforward. Catching the bomb, leaving himself the wrong side of

the blue does not help. -- catching He is going to have to leave himself

corner, that would be a chance for a positional shot, he could stunt

through for the black. -- he could stunt through. He has to clear these

positively by just following if he was playing a follow-through.

He played a little drag shot, hitting low centre to take the pace

out of the cue ball, but he has left himself very low on this black.

He potted the red on the left-hand side of the pocket, it was thick. He

has to make contact with the bunch to keep the break going. You cannot

say he never played that positively! He did, but having come of the

rents, what is he going to be on? -- having come off the reds. A little

bit of unintentional right-hand side, it could not have worked out

better. Well, he would not have been opportunity in the last frame. He

needs to make amends here. Midsession interval after this

frame. The best of 19, the first matches. The play nine and the

remaining frames will be played this evening.

I think he has to play some sort of cannon here. He has not got too much

angle to drop on the reds. The two reds together to the left of the

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now, so this is an excellent chance started he was going to get chances.

runthrough and bring these reds into he was playing for the pink so he

could just roll it in and play for one of the loose reds. He was not

thinking about bringing the other reds into play, there was no need,

Still there will be a possible 83 remaining, so he is a little bit

away from the winning line. A couple of reds and a couple of colours

needed. A good positional shot He did not get the cue ball enough.

Played for this red to leave the cue ball in the left corner. He tried to

get a lot more bottom and left-hand side on the cue ball, but did not

He will be disappointed not to have won the frame there. Two or three

shots and all you was in perfect red, but he was more concerned about

getting the cue ball back to the baulk cushion. He did a pretty good

job of it. Marcus will not want to play safe of the reds in the middle

of the table. He does not want to table being tied up suits him fine

at the moment. After what happened in the last frame, it puts more

trickle dead weight onto the brown layer, but he has given Marcus

Campbell a slight problem here. You would think coming off the side

cushion and nestling into these four Ronnie will be asking him to have

another go at that, and it was just sliding past the reds slightly.

You have to watch you don't overcompensate this time and hit it

too hard. If you could sit too hard and opens the rents up, Ronnie goes

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Is there one to the right middle angle on the next colour, whether it

is pink or blue. Certainly the bottom of the two reds will go to

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the right corner, I don't know because this is a tricky shot. If

the Brown was on its spot it would be a formality. He has to be give

for this does not snicker him for He has made these clearances look

easy. His positional play has never been in doubt.

Another example, a gimme of a pink to go into the midsession interval.

You could say that Marcus Campbell has handed two frames on a plate to

Ronnie, but he still had to take them. Marcus will be disappointed,

Ronnie will be happy with a 3-1 lead. HAZEL IRVINE: To terrific

clearances to establish that lead, but what can be gauged on this date

of Ronnie's game and what is rusty? If you were picky, you could see he

has missed a couple of balls, that is about it. The two clearances were

magnificent, cue ball control fantastic. I feel a little sorry for

Marcus, he has played very well. And he looks comfortable, like he is

enjoying the experience. So often when you come to the divisible

nerves can play a big factor. Yes, I think he has handled himself

very well. Unfortunately, 55 does not get the job done in one visit

against Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has had two great clearances, so he will

be kicking himself a little bit. I wonder what the gentlemen and

ladies in the media room make of the opening exchanges of this match.

Steve Davis is down there. What are they saying?

From one legend on the snooker table to two legends of the media room,

firstly, Hector, what do you think of Ronnie O'Sullivan's inclusion in

this? Is it making any difference to your job?

It certainly has. With Ronnie O'Sullivan playing at the Crucible,

snooker fans play -- follow the game gear, but Ronnie O'Sullivan playing

at the Crucible brings in a different wider sporting audience

and makes my life a lot easier selling that to papers that are

competing with lots of other sports. It is not just about Ronnie

O'Sullivan, he is playing a gentleman from Scotland, more copies

sold to Scotland, as well? Absolutely right, there is plenty of

interest from Scotland. The Scots are all pretty close, the old

practice together. The biggest advice they were all giving him was

to, just try and stay with it in the face of any possible onslaught. The

onslaught may be coming and it is vital for him to hang in there.

Philip, many wise people in snooker have said no player is bigger than

the game, perhaps a radio five live disagrees?

We had an hour and a half long extravaganza in the last tournament,

I am not entirely convinced that would have happened if Ronnie

O'Sullivan had not been involved. He is the best player in the world, as

he proved 12 months ago. I think his absence has left a whole, not just

for the media, but also for the other players. They will probably

feel inside that perhaps any of the achievements are slightly devalued

by his absence. It takes the heat of them, and it is great for us. Thank

you very much, back to the studio. We heard from Ronnie O'Sullivan in

an interview just before the match began. It was an interview he gave

us on Monday and it was certainly worth listening to a little more of

it. He discussed one of the reasons why he has not played in the last

few months and what he has been up to over the last few months.

The idea of working on the farm, it was in the forest are used to run

in. I thought, I will get to the farm around 8:30am, run for 40

minutes, comeback, dry out and help out on the farm. I did not want to

work on the farm, I just picked the job that got me to the forest. It

was the farm, I could not go and work in some building where there

was computers and IT, that is not for me. I just wanted to get out and

keep my fitness levels up. After a while, that didn't work, so I

thought, you know, I need something in my life to give me the

motivation, to go and keep fit and do that sort of stuff, so -- because

that is what I love about my life. But then I thought, it is important

that I go to work, whether that is playing snooker or doing something,

I had to go to work. Things never took off for me, because I was

looking to do other stuff away from snooker, find a new career, if you

like, but it kind of never happened and I got a bit scared. I thought,

if I leave snooker for much longer, the opportunity to go back might not

be there. I came back to snooker with a mind of, I am looking for

something else to replace snooker, but I will not take that blind

faith, leap, jump, whatever you want to call it, and totally disregard

snooker. The changes that Barry has made to the game, I thought, it

allows me to come in with everybody else in the majority of tournaments,

so it gives me the opportunity to play without having to qualify,

because I don't want to do that at this stage in my career. My reasons

for playing melodies are different. People were saying, if you go back

it will affect your brand. That word, brand! I understand it and get

it, but I have never been about brand, I have always been someone

who plays from the heart, plays from instinct, and I don't plan things,

because I know that would this affect -- that would affect

everything I do. You know, I thought about the risks, it did enter my

mind but I thought, the risk is that I lose the first round and people

say you should not have come back and played. So what? In another 20

years will people be talking about that? I doubt it. All I will say is

I have an opportunity. You know, the last few months have been good for

me, I have been practising, getting away from home, something to feel

good about, a little bit of purpose in my life. Myself this team has

come back, I am out in a restaurant having a bit of food, when I am

putting petrol in my car, I don't feel like I have not got the money

to pay for it, I feel like I am grafting, I am putting back, I am

having a go. As long as I am having a go, I don't really care. It is

good to be back. As far as... I don't know, for me... Talking about

me winning it and being the favourite and second favourite, I

don't know, mate. I don't know. In some ways, I think it needs a player

to come along and have the confidence to say, no, this will be

my world title. Forget Ronnie O'Sullivan, he is 37, he is the

oldest world champion since Ray Reardon, why is there no one out

there saying, no, I am the new governor, I am the new daddy, his

time is over. No one seems to have that confidence to want to grab that

to say this is my game. So, I do not to say this is my game. So, I do not

know. I think they should be coming to say this is my game. So, I do not

know. I think they should bit more and standing up to the plate a bit

more, rather than trying to make me the favourite. If they are still

making me the favourite, and I have not played for a year, people need

to get their heads tested. My final parting was last year. I still see

that as my way of saying that was the final chapter. I had 20 years

and I struggled with my sport but I stuck to it. For me to finish

playing the way I did last year, and have little runny there, it does not

get better than that. Even if I won ten more titles, to me, that will be

the most special one, because what had happened in the three or four

year period and how my life had changed and how I went from one

situation to another situation and did not know if I was coming or

going. To end it as I did, was, for me, enough. Can I be happy with my

career? I was happy with four world titles. I can end there. I thought,

I have put enough on my CV. I had not done too badly. For me to think

about winning this year, if I won this year, it will never be as good

as last year. No way in a million years. It is impossible. It would be

nice, do not get me wrong, but it cannot... That one meant so much to

me. To the point that I felt like choking up. But I did not. I am not

a big one on looking back and crying. I tried to hold back. But,

when I was clearing up that last frame, I was so emotionally charged

inside, I do not know how I did it. I felt like bursting out crying. It

meant that much to me. I could not believe, that if you took me back

two years, and said you will be there with your little one winning

the world title, I would not have believed you. So, for me to

experience that, after what I have experienced before, it was

unbelievable. This year I am in a happy place. I took a year out and

had a great year. I have had two good years after two horrendous

years. This year is about making a start. Just having something to do

in my life. But listen, it will be nice to come back. How long it lasts

for, I do not know. That is the exciting part. You have to take one

tournament at a time. Sheffield is the first tournament. If I'm good

the game, I am good for the game. Hopefully, people will enjoy that

and enjoy the experience. That was a truly fascinating

interview that money gave. What kind of perspective do you think his

absences -- his absence has lent him? He has missed snooker. He has

always been a good practice and put in plenty of hours. He took himself

to the Academy in Sheffield and has been practising with Peter Ebdon.

That is great much pain -- matchplay practice. I think he genuinely

missed the game. He is trying not to put too much pressure on himself.

But the way he started the match, you should have. He is starting to

look good. The players are almost goading him. The difficult thing is

that there are so many good players. It is basically now on what form you

are in that particular week. There is so little between all of them. I

think he is the best player when he plays at his best and the other

players know that. It is just a matter of when he will hit his

heights this week. And he has said it is not a goal of his to win the

world title again this year. But he has said, he is now 37, that he

would like to win it in his 40s. So, he is clearly thinking in the

longer term. Yes, and he could do it as well because he keeps on self

it. He is back running a game which gives him perspective. You have to

be physically and mentally fit for the 17 days here. If he keeps

playing the way he's playing at the moment, she has to a chance. A lock

to be decided in the coming hours. Hardly a sideshow but the second

billing this morning is the match on the other side of the wall. We have

been hearing the trickle of applause and some loud moments from the other

side. It features the world number 13 Ricky Walden and 34-year-old

Michael Holt. Ricky is from Cheshire and has been twice before here but

never won a match at the Crucible. We will dip into this one. He has

established a 2-0 lead and this is fantastic shot. For people watching,

you have played at this venue many times, when you play at 10am in the

Have an early breakfast and get some fresh air. Yet here for 9am and get

When you knew you had a 10am session, did you practice the week

before at any? No, not really.I will be pins going in all over the

good. There are a couple of loose threads. Any kiss on the pink is

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there. Caught the pink a little bit right-hand side, as we look from the

black, even if he does not bring any reds into play, you still has the

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red over the right-hand corner black. That was controlled nicely.

Ricky is nice to watch when he gets into the balls. He gets on with it.

He tries to win a frame at one visit. He does not try and get 20

before he takes a risk that takes a risk early on in a break. He has the

frame at his mercy again now. That blue will live in his mind for a few

moments yet. He has to get rid of the thought of missing the frame

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scrappy. Since then it has been round but should have made a

good break. I expect at least a to be the highest break. There is the

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prize, as well as money for the playing, if you are playing as well

as Ricky is at the moment, he could beat anybody. A magnificent break.

That could be a tournament winner. He sprints into a 3-0 lead.

That has since become 4-02 Ricky Walden. Ricky Walden with a chance

for the high break prize. A golden cue this year. Much more about that.

You can continue to watch that match online, available by the BBC

website. Now, we go across to the other side of the dividing wall

inside the Crucible arena. We have five more frames to play this

morning in his opening match featuring Ronnie O'Sullivan and

Marcus Campbell. It is Ronnie who has established a 3-1 lead.

Remember, this is his first major match since departing the very arena

almost 12 months ago with the World Championship trophy. Stephen and

John, all yours. Thank you, Hazel. We have fingered snooker from both

players. Marcus Campbell will be kicking himself that he is 3-1

behind. It is all to play for. And five very important frames coming

Marcus, he got a huge boost of confidence and he could have easily

won the two frames after it. It could have been him that was the -1

up. Two great clearances from Sullivan, and to me that was the

biggest indicator of his chances in the World Championship so far, that

force the cue ball, I don't think he can get it back to baulk. If he

takes that Well, I did not see that one coming. He did get the cueball

the green into the middle and screw off a couple of cushions, but he

wants to keep it tight with the reds spread the way they are. Not easy to

get this safe. You always look to see if there is a

point where you can hit and not leave a pot on, but it is not always

easy, this two cushion escape. He thinks he can get this safe just by

below the pink go to the left middle? If it does, can he see

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don't want to be doing when you are playing safe is catch a baulk

to the right corner. He just has to avoid running into the other reds if

for the cueball, and he got a decent length. All in all, he will be happy

little bit heavy. -- that was a better line. He will come round and

see if he has left anything, he has left Marcus with his hand on the

table. Just over one hour, it has been a very interesting start to

this first round match for the session will be to get to five, then

he has another lead going into tonight's second session. If he gets

to five with more frames to play, try and open up of big -- as big a

Once again, catching a baulk colour. You see this happened so many

times, a little boat of safety, reds going near the cushion. The black is

slightly in the open, the pink is obviously available, the blue is on

its spot, so any mistake on the covered the red to the right

corner? He must have done. Just red near the right corner. It is not

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was not the red he intended to hit, it was the one above it. He tried to

hit it thin and missed it. It is not the best chance, this. As I say, he

played to hit that one thing, just above it, and having missed that hit

the frame at this visit will be hard break building, making sure he is

reporting that pink and leaving room for the pink to go in both corners,

balls are open, he is not really bothered that the black is tied up,

He just got into that cueball a little more than he intended. He did

not want to be as close to this red with his cue. He got a kick they

are. -- he got a kick there. Yes, it sounded a heavy contact. No

doubt about it. I don't think there Because of the kick, the cueball did

not travel on its original path, and that is why it has ended up where it

He did not really make the most of that opportunity, Marcus. There was

a good target their behind brown and pink. I am not saying he has left

Ronnie the easiest shot, because he will be slightly hampered by the

green, but a smoker would have been a lot better. -- but a snooker would

can get through to the red just to the left of the black, but if he

does that he has to be careful not to knock one over the right corner.

enough, that is why the cueball ran with pace -- not enough pace and

finished on the red Lane, rather Once again, didn't make the most of

that opportunity, well short of pace. That was a good chance again

He has just caught the bump of a middle pocket, but not too bad, he

has left the blue to the far right He got into that too well, I think.

I don't think this is the red he He is a little disappointed, as you

see, I think he just got into it a little bit too much. I can't believe

he played for this red. He must have been playing for the red closest to

the right corner, because if he was on that he could play for the black.

From that look on his face, I think he will just have to bite the

bullet. He just cue it too well. Can he get in behind the brown and pink

there, that was half a chance to build up his lead in this frame,

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That was a better safety by Marcus That is a good length. That is an

excellent length and put a little bit of pressure on this safety shot

from Ronnie. It makes all the difference if you can stop your

opponent from putting his hand on not to risk playing the cueball back

to the baulk end. As he left anything? -- has he left anything? I

that red, he will be disappointed not to have found the baulk cushion

He never plays his safety with topspin, he always likes to hit down

on the cueball with side. Yes, I suppose sometimes you feel as

if you get a little bit more control, but we know on these

superfine class, just hit it -- overhit it a bit and this aid never

Well, that is the second good fluke he has had. A little smile from

fluke, but it certainly put him in a good position, and Ronnie now with a

Snickers. Someone flicks the ball, apologises and the next thing, the

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still a big target up there for Excellent shot. Good length. I don't

know whether or not there is a chance here to be able to port this

red. -- to be able to pot this red. He might have a path back to the

and I think that was the aim, he has made sure he got back to near the

baulk cushion. But not take enough He was not too far away with that,

but it did not go in. This is half a chance now. One good pot, the black

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cushion for comfort. If the black does not go into the right corner,

which I do not think it does, then he will have to go for the blue or

yellow. That will not be easy with Yes, a great shot. Never easy

playing a shot like that. He has a nice angle to come back down for the

reds. He can play a cannon offer the loose threads. -- or for the loose

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cannot believe he played that Ronnie, so I presume he played the

cannon and it was a great shock. Just seven points behind now but a

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black, what sort of cannon he will black. It was a difficult shot and

there was not much chance to get a close to the red so he could play a

coming off a couple of questions to land in by these two reds. --

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inside the green. Ronnie has played that perfectly. He will do well not

to leave a pot on here. He is six points behind, but knows that if he

leaves a pot for money, it could be the end of the frame. He's in a of

bother. -- a pot for Ronnie getting too close to the blue. I

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think this is a case of hit and cannon and now there is a tricky

are always tricky. What a chance he long, scrappy frames. Your

concentration can lapse a little along the cushion. He wanted to try

and develop the other red but it has gone wrong. There is still quite a

ball to the baulk end. He has left Ronnie with the problem. The red

close to the top cushion. He has to hit it just right to get back to the

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do not think the yellow has come to his rescue. The red cuts into the

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talk about, when you are tight under the cushion, and playing at pace,

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which he had to, it is difficult. on the black. The blue is hampered

by the yellow, sorry the pink and coming off the side cushion, hitting

the green, it creates a snooker. With the miserable being as harsh as

it is, he did get quite a few Ronnie wants to come in and get into

REFEREE: Foul and a miss I think it does encourage people to

play a snooker, rather than go for a risky pot. This is better. He had a

chance the last time, Marcus, to put the red. The black is close to the

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There is half a chance if Marcus decides to take the spot on. -- to

take this pot on. Eyeing up the potting angle. I think he will be

which makes it difficult to go for the blue he will have liked to have

leaving Ronnie the option of going REFEREE: Foul and a miss

He needs the yellow, green and surprised. I think he is dead

straight on the yellow and cannot get the cue ball close to the

green. He stands on the yellow, you left with a horrible shot. -- if he

REFEREE: Foul and a miss That is disappointing. He has put on

more right-hand side than he intended. I think, when you play at

that pace, it you expect it to check of the cushion. It never really did.

He made the same mistake as he did the first time and now no replacing

because Marcus Campbell needs yellow see the green, he has been

fortunate. Whether he will fancy playing the pot, I do not know. I

did not see any reason to leave the cue ball along the baulk cushion. He

only needs the green. I think it was No, he did not. That was a great

opportunity he let go begging. More interested in getting the cue ball

at this end of the table, which he safe. It is all about one good

positional shot from green to brown. If he can get on the brown, the

bit of side. You have to be careful have put that better. In potting the

brown, you need a good angle on the absolutely disgusted with the

opportunity he had which he missed. And Ronnie O'Sullivan stretches his

lead to 4-1 in front. Certainly a tale of three clearances

so far, all of them by Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has established a 4-1