Day 10, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

Good evening. He may have effectively taken a whole year off,

but Ronnie O'Sullivan, the defending champion, is still very

much in the picture here in the Betfair World Championships, 12

months later. This afternoon, Stuart Bingham, of Basildon, and

China's Ding Junhui, both booked their places in the quarter-finals.

This evening, Ronnie O'Sullivan is vying for one of the two remaining

spots, but he's got to get past Ali Carter first. Himself the double

world finalist. This has been a fascinating match between the two

of them so far. A bit of a wobble yesterday from O'Sullivan, but he

We are in for what I'm sure it is going to be a fascinating second

He's not just one frame behind Ronnie O'Sullivan goes to the

Ali Carter just one behind at 7-6. Ali Carter has got himself all-

It's a double, and it's there! Ronnie O'Sullivan has shared the

session and he still got that two- No one has won back-to-back world

title since this man, Stephen Hendry, 17 years ago. Who better to

keep an eye on things than this man? When you look back at that

session, really good comeback from Ali Carter, 2-6 behind to 7-7. What

sort of test of nerve did he provide for us all of them? It's

probably the biggest test that What are your thoughts on this

evening's session? The start is imperative, more so for Ali than

one me. He has to put money under pressure as soon as possible.

you feel that Carter's game is in a place where he can do that? He's

well capable. It will be interesting to see how money

O'Sullivan reacts if Ali was to win the first couple of friends. But

O'Sullivan is still in the driving seat. We will be on the air with

this match until 8pm. Let me show you the scene backstage at the

Crucible, as the players await the call to come into the Crucible

arena. We will be keeping tabs on the closing stages of the other

match between Gloucester's Rob Milkins, who ended both Jimmy

White's and Neil Roberts and's campaigns this year. The D Walden,

who holds a 10-6 advantage there. He hasn't been in the second round

since 2002. He's acquitted himself well so far. Let's not keep them

waiting any longer. Rob Walker is What a night in prospect here at

the Crucible. We are absolutely rocking with anticipation. There

are two places left up for grabs in the Betfair World Snooker

Please welcome a player whose honesty and determination this week

has endeared him to the crowds. He is closer to the world's top 16

than he's ever been before. Beating Neil Robertson in the first round,

he took three massive brains when he trailed 9-3 last night. This is

the biggest cession of snooker in his career so far. He likes a cider

but we call him the milkman. Robert Milkins!

MUSIC: "I Am A Cider Drinker" by His opponent, a player who won his

second ranking event in China this season. Closing in on his first

Crucible quarter-final, a sometimes underrated player among the game's

elite but perhaps not after this tournament. From Chester, Ricky

On table one, please welcome a player who has demonstrated real

strength of character in the last 18 months. He produced superb form

to win his third ranking event title in Berlin this spring. His

fighting spirit kept him in touch yesterday and he will absolutely

believe he is capable of taking this. Please welcome The Captain,

Ali Carter. MUSIC: "Spectrum" by Florence and

Finally, please welcome the most naturally gifted player ever to

grace the modern game. Four times is lifted the ultimate prize. The

crowds are delighted to see him back on the big stage because he is

snooker's box office draw. Here comes the Rocket, Ronnie

A possible nine more frames to play And all Essex match up there. In

charge this evening, an All Ireland duel. It's good evening to Ken

Doherty and Dennis Taylor. A very good evening. A fabulous atmosphere.

Even in the walk-in, Robert Milkins with I'm a cider drinker, everyone

Can the defending champion go true and hold himself, or can Ali Carter

If the black goes, it's an early chance. But maybe it doesn't. Ali

is having a look at that. The second session was superb. The plot

doesn't go, but the breaks, I know there were a few misses but some of

the breaks, Ronnie had breaks of 86, Ali had breaks of 73, 87, 63. The

standard was pretty good, even though there were a few misses in

He certainly will have been pleased with his performance up until the

14th frame, when he got it back to He would have been disappointed not

to come out of Session at least level, because he really did

Couldn't do anything about the last Ronni was trying to nestle into the

back of the pack and just court He is still trying to get in behind

that blue. It's a very good Evatt. That's one part of his game that

has certainly improved over the Another chance to get down there, a

little, thin one. Ronnie knows he might be in behind the blue again

if Ali can get enough side on this. He will need an awful lot of right

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Didn't quite get enough on a to get We've talked a lot about Ronnie's

long potting in this match. When he gets amongst the balls he is

terrific, but look at the long pot success, it is low for anyone.

You'd expect it to be up around 70 The one thing about money and

Sullivan, a lot of people, you wouldn't get a lot of praise for

Wood, is his knowledge as well and his safety. When Stephen Hendry

lost to him here in the semi-finals one year, O'Sullivan beat him quite

convincingly. Hendry said it was some of the best safety he had ever

I watched a final between Ronnie and Mark Williams. I've never seen

a safety battle like it. The It is not all that bad. It has cost

him four points, but everything is safe it. Ali can decide to put him

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back in from where it's finished or He would love to get it down behind

That little flick off the yellow makes this shot just that little

bit more difficult. The same sort Who is going to make the first

Another good shot from Ronnie. Acknowledged by Ali Carter. Look at

that, he's got it tight on the cushion. The only problem with that

last shot, it's not the black a A better chance for one me this

It's the type of shot he would normally take on, but how is he

He was right to try that Trott that I mentioned. -- that shot. He's

left Ali right in amongst them. Maybe he should have picked another

one or two safeties. But he got a He wants to get that blew back on

Just having a look at the black spot them as well. If he does get

it back on its spot, and ensure the first chance he gets he will try

and get it back on its spot. It will go into that bottom left

pocket. That will help his cause, That little cannon has knocked that

black in, made it a little bit Ali has to do what he did when he

was 6-3 behind. He came up with breaks of 44, 73 and 87 to get

He obviously feels confident he can The fact that the pink is open, a

little stone of the pink into the left centre. Just trying to push

the cue ball above the spot, just That looked pretty perfect. When he

puts this red, he may be able to He is going to have to play a

cannon here. He will have to be a That could be nowhere. That is no

man's land. Funnily enough, when he nudged the Black into that position,

as Ken mentioned, it's now not It would have made this breaks so

A bit unlucky to finish right on Ronnie might take this on. The

natural angle would take him towards the reds towards the left

He's a long way off. Ali Carter is I just wonder whether O'Sullivan's

rustiness in not competing all year He's OK, he's got the blue. He's

finished awkward on the pink. Maybe he can cure to the side of the

Let's see what sort of form money is in this evening. He finished up

in superb style with breaks of 72 They have the difference as well,

the first chance he gets, the black This opening frame could be a

I don't know whether that kicked. It definitely jumped. It affected

He wants to get that green into open play. It didn't work. He tried

to hit the cushion, hit the green and swing the white over towards

Not hard enough. There might be a free shot for Ronnie here. The one

to the left of the pink, can cut it in and he'd be heading back the

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A good shot. It could have gone He's going to come and the green.

This is slightly more awkward for Ali Carter this time. I don't think

He's got it thin enough. Pretty good. No green to go behind at no

This frame has been going now coming up to 21 minutes. There's

He has pushed at the red on this time. Has he got a slight angle?

Her Foul. OK, he hasn't let anything, but I am not sure why he

didn't strike it straight on. -- I don't blame him. He doesn't fancy

this one. Is he trying to tempt Ronnie into taking it on? Looks

Great shot. Absolutely brilliant. think he just accepted the

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The black back on its board would A good safety. But he will be very

disappointed he did not win the He will need help here. And he has

not got it. The black will slightly From a psychological point of view,

this is an important theme. -- frame. Not far off being the second

We are approaching 25 minutes but Anywhere over there with the red

He is just looking to see if he can overcut the red. It looks very

I am just wondering if he played that. People think it is a fluke,

but he looked at a corner pocket. What a shot that would be! It

definitely looked from the reaction like he played it their.

perfect cannon. I think he played that as a shot to nothing. Very

He has not got into that. He wanted to be passed the ball climb. -- the

That is a terrific shot. Sue per! - - superb! This will disappoint Ali

Carter. He has this a. -- battled so hard. But that was absolutely

superb. A tactical frame, taken by Ronnie O'Sullivan. He needs three

more for a quarter-final place. An update for what is happening

elsewhere. Rot Milken has made a very quick start. A break of 76 to

move up in two frames of Ricky Walden. -- move up within. His

focus is razor sharp. A very good account of himself. Attempting to

book a place in the quarter-finals for the first time. We have enjoyed

the opening exchanges. Two key And you can see the reaction in Ali

Carter's face. And did the double effectively clinched it. He is

using the ground to stop the cue ball should he Mass. -- brown.

Fantastic shot. Let his head back. He has got the cover. A wry smile

and shake of the head from Ali Carter. He cannot believe it!

will tell you why - he cannot come off the cushion because of the red

to left of the bunch. He could come of two cushions, but a lot of risk.

He has gone too narrow. Foul. a slightly better angle Ronnie

This looks a better angle. What is This is not easy. Because he is

going into the blue, he may refuse Yes, the fact that the cue ball

would have carrier into the blue, otherwise he may have been tempted

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Maybe just a safety. I'm not sure if he is taking this on. But maybe

Under the circumstances, what happened in the previous frame, we

Fully committed to be shot. Excellent pot. A good opportunity

One thing that he is blessed with, lots of cue power. And nice angle

Well, not his best. I expected a lot more charge on the cue ball. He

just did not get the second bite. More stunned than spin. He needs

the spider. He is looking at a long straight red. Not a bad option, he

could screw back off the black. He did not spot that, then suddenly it

The red close to the cue ball will be his next intention. He hit that

He made a 147 in the same year Ronnie it. The only time we have

Behave yourself, Ken! His main concern is the frame. He will be on

the black again. �25,000 for a maximum break. And the Golden cue.

Have you seen it? I have not. He didn't have a nice angle on that.

And there it red will the cushion was kind of in the way. -- the red

That is beautiful. The perfect angle on the blue. He has got a

chance to take the frame. He can cannon into the red or pink. He is

just working out what would be best. That could have been kinder. Just

squeezed through the reds. This is We have had 32 centuries so far.

Ali Carter has only made one. What A good reaction, it has to be said.

Particularly after what happened at The opening pot was a bit special.

He has gone about this beautifully. Rate in the heart of the pocket,

That is unfortunate. There was a possible 145 on their, could have

A wonderful break. He will feel much better after that. But Ronnie

O'Sullivan still leads, 10-8. Quickly to the other side once

again, Robert Milkins, going very well. He had a chance in this frame

to make it three in a row. A quick look, he has allowed his opponent

back in. Nerves playing a part. Neither man has got past this stage

before. Absolutely. Robert Milkins would have felt he couldn't make

any mistakes tonight. That is why he wears his heart on his sleeve.

This is in the bottom half of the trough. The cradle for so many

shocks. I think Rob Walden is the danger. What makes him so

dangerous? He is a complete player. Strikes the ball as good as anybody.

He has defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of a ranking

tournament. Being a proven winner, it stands you in great stead. But

the atmosphere in the Crucible is very different to anything he has

ever played. Absolutely. You can see the effect it has on even the

top players. Everybody is desperate to do well. Effectively in the

bottom half. They can see the draw opening up and think, what a

marvellous opportunity. They have got to just play one match at at

time. A quick reflection on the last frame. Or you identified one

long red. Go for it, seems to be the message from Ali Carter. Yes,

he previously has played a percentage game but he cannot do

that thickens Ronnie O'Sullivan. He must take on the short. -- he

cannot do that against. Ken and You have not missed anything. Just

back in time to see Ali Carter put that red end. An early chance.

After that 86 break, - and I agree with Stephen Hendry about the long

red he took on - that is what Ali Carter must start doing on. I am

not sure about that shot. Bottom corner, dead straight behind it.

He is not going to get much out of the safety. As Stephen said, the

percentage game and may not be the right choice now. He has to go for

shorts when he sees them. When the opportunity arises, he must grasp

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That has given him a chance. A free Look at the brown. He had a long,

straight brown. But he has played the percentages and felt that was

the best shot. Cannot knock him for He was going to take the one to the

right corner but thought that one was not as awkward. But he has good

Ronnie right in amongst it here. -- That is OK. I thought it would slip

away. But he has got the one Ali Carter was thinking about taking.

He stretched around and seemed to He may elect to go into the pack of

That is not too bad. Just watch the cue ball as it spins off the reds.

This is where he has been brilliant. Where he finished off last year. He

never looks any different when he is in around the pink and black

spots. Positional play, inch- And he never takes a very long to

clinch a frame. Such a quick brain. The bank might be available. --

That has cleared it, just in case This break hasn't been three

At the moment he seems bereft of He is treating this break as if he

is in the practice run. Wonderful That is near enough the frame over.

He could not have played it better. Ronnie O'Sullivan is moving to

within two frames of victory. But 8pm his hour deadline on BBC Two.

Fast approaching. You can keep watching events on the red button

watching events on the red button or our website. I will be back at