Day 13, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

My best snooker will come out now. I had been a bit more patchy. I

have a lot of belief in myself. There would have been nothing

better to me than when it last year, go away for a year and win it again.

He is tough. A lot of pressure and stuff. I have nothing to lose.

These are the tournaments but Reddy kinds. It is important for me to

show that I can play the game to a high, high level.

Q evening. It is semi-finals time at this year's Pet faire World

Snooker Championship. The Cristobal has been transformed. We're all set

for high drama. The one table format is with us. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has announced that he is retiring again, and he has not even

finish this come back! He is locked at four frames apiece with John

Trump after the first afternoon session today. This is near to the

two men who will be contesting our second semi-final. What a golden

opportunity for 80-1 shots. To get to the one dibbled set up here, it

is what everybody dreams of. So, so happy. I am in the semi-finals now

and I'm over the moon. A I am trying to focus and settle down as

quickly as I can and try to perform out there. It is tough, lots of

pressure, but I'm going to enjoy it. I have nothing to lose. Let's see

what happens. I know Barry pretty well. He is a brilliant match

player. He plays the game the right way and scores heavily. It will be

a tough, tough match for me. Ricky has improved his all-round game in

the last couple of years. He has one ranking tournaments now and get

into the late stages quite often. He is a tough, tough opponent and

he is a great lad. I get on really well with him. I used to come here

when I was 10 years old to watch the snooker. This is everything I

ever wanted, to play here in a one tables set up. I am really looking

forward to the challenge. I have been watching everybody over the

years get into the finals and lifting the trophy. I have always

dreamt of may be getting into that situation and never really had the

self-belief. To get to the final would be a dream come true. Call

for players in the semi-finals are English, that is the first time in

22 years. Ken, how impressive have they been, Ricky and Barry, to

emerge from this draw? He was a minefield in the bottom of that

roll. So many good players. These two guys come out of a tough bottom

half. What I would say to them is just relax, enjoy it. Look at the

atmosphere. They will be nervous, but welcomed the nerves. Co I can

just play. Can you describe what kind of opportunity this is for

them? It is amazing. The first time I walked out I sat in the chair, a

wanted to see what it was really like. It is quite a long difference

from chair to table. They have the whole focus of their match just on

themselves. It is really exciting. Their nerves will be jingling, but

they have the Gowerton will commit. The key to settling down his what?

Trying to get off to an early start. Get the first frame on the board. I

think there will be a lot of safety in the initial part. Once they

settle in, they will play the way they have played this week,

brilliantly. These guys are ranked 13 and 14 in the world. Very good

friends. They have both -- have both claimed big titles before.

This is the first time that they have met in the televised stages of

the major event, and this is the bigger stage of the Mall. Steve

Davis, you know it well. I am getting so nervous unbodied

than playing! This is snookers equivalent of the dentists within

room. Your name is called out and you walk down this corridor. You

just see the one table with the trophy in the background and you

know you're in the best liquor and that the picture in the world. All

this sudden, but one single table. Both players would have been right

here earlier looking at it, getting a feel for the place. There is

masses of area. There was only one thing on the mind of the players

now, all they want is for me to shut up and throw to Rob Walker!

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. SOUND BRICKING.

Please welcome a player who is having the best fortnight of the

snooker career. In Mark Selby and Ding Junhui he has knocked out to

the biggest names. He has been a professional for 17 years, but has

come of age in the last 18 months. The reigning Australian Open

champion. What a moment for him and all his family, the Eagle eyed

His opponent, a player producing the best form we have seen since he

won the Shanghai Masters back and 2008. Hard to believe he had not

won a match you at the Crucible until this year. He has beaten

Michael Holt, Michael White and Robert Milkins. What a chance this

is for a player who calls himself the dark horse for the tournament,

Nervous and proud moments for these men. This is the first of four

possible sessions in the semi-final. It is over we go to Willie Thorne

JOHN: What a moment it is for these two young stars. It really is the

biggest match of their life. We wish both of them the best of luck

and hope they play to their potential.

But that is probably the worst hurt you could have had! Whatever you do

when you break off, don't hit the blue. It is a massive ordeal for

both these young men. Barry Hawkins has obviously been the most

consistent. To have beaten Mark Selby and Ding Junhui, two

favourites for the tournaments bomb macro neither of them are settled,

as you would imagine. This is the Yes, it is one of those situations

when you get down and it feels like you cue does not belong to you.

They have both obviously been on the practice table, but playing out

here in the arena in a one table situation is something else. It is

He could only see half of the pocket. It looked like an easy pot,

That is not to bat. -- do bad. This book so? -- this asks a question of

Ricky Walden has never consistently produced it on the big stage.

the two, the draw has been favourable to Ricky Walden. Things

worked out quite nicely for Wicky in this tournament. Yes, Neil

Robertson lost out. One of the top players he was scheduled to play.

Barry Hawkins has had a tough path this semi-final. Nearly off the

The only thing against having a go at this red is a don't see what the

colour is. The brown, yellow and blue all seem to be blocking each

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

He could not have finished worse, Excellent first red, and very

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

Ricky will be hoping for a touching He will be trying to get in behind

the blue year. He had to watch that red in the middle of the table.

That is a mistake, and he has kept the red. That was a little bit

He has a good angle to go into the cluster, or he could play for the

red did just appears to be blocking He appears to have left a bad ankle

This is the point you're making you maybe have not seen too much of

Wicky. In the balls, out of the two players, he might score more

consistently than Barry Hawkins, but Barry Hawkins has the best all-

round game of the two. I wouldn't argue with that. It makes it a very

interesting match-up. This could be an absolute cracker. I know all

eyes around the other semi-final at Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump,

but this in its own way has a lot of interest for me. Barry Hawkins

has beaten the world No. 1 in Ding Junhui. Wicky has not played a top

16 player yet. But we know what he is capable of. In his defence, in

one of the tournaments he won he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.

That tells you his pedigree. That is perhaps a little bit unlucky not

to have left anything he's a liar - That was the problem many let

himself distance between the cue ball and object ball. That was

That is bad. You have got to find the top cushion with the safety

shot. You would expect your opponent to be due in trouble. He

had a couple of options. First game on the table, not used to the speed

of it, it'll probably take him a Just catching that a little bit too

thin, so, once again, not a great safety shot. As far as the Crucible

and the World Championships are concerned, this is the first year

he has ever got past the first round. He has been a professional

Barry Hawkins needs to find a baulk cushion to give his opponent a

The last time he didn't find a cushion it created an opening. That

was because Ricky played a bad safety shot just after. That look

like it was going to miss the pink Could pot needed there. That could

be very costly. Because -- and this is a chance for Ricky Walden to

clinch the first frame. Nothing settles you better than getting

that first frame on the scoreboard. It just shows you, John. All this

sudden, they're miss hitting a lot of balls tonight. There will be a

lot of pension. He almost played Don't think too far ahead. Don't

think who they're going to meet in the final. In the final, no matter

who they play, they will have to be He plays with the lovely speed

around a table. When he gets in, he gets on with it. Ricky is very

Nothing settles you more than getting a frame on the border! --

Because it is the first frame, Barry Hawkins may come back to the

table for a bit of practice, but the frame has gone now. Ricky is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

just starting to find the middle of Barry Hawkins is that there, hasn't

really started yet. What every you do, don't panic! That is the first

left-handed shots I have seen him play there, Ricky. Everybody now I

can see what a great natural talent he is. He is taking this

beautifully. That is a tremendous He didn't fancy playing this group

left handed! He got the rest out. Yeah, yeah! I don't care who you

are, it is lovely to come out into a packed audience, particularly at

the Crucible, and laid down a marker here, saying, see, I can

What a shot! The crowd loves that! Barry Hawkins hasn't got started

yet, but what a start by the man from Chester!

That is what you call a flying start! Great stuff from Ricky

Walden. What would be the chief strengths of his play? Cue ball

control, scoring. The scores quickly. Confident potter. When he

gets around the table, he has a style Abbott like Ronnie O'Sullivan.

He has that waggle. He is unusual with his two leads because they're

both ends, like you are starting a race. He is an excellent player. He

is proven quality. He can play, all right. What is your memory of your

first one table set up? Good bits bad bits? The amount of space you

have around the table. The fact you don't sit with your opponent is

great. There was a time when the players were allowed to smoke. You

were sat beside somebody smoking! It is just an nicer area to be in.

It is special when you get to the WILL LEITCH: I agree with Steve,

the Masters at Wembley was another one we you're miles away from the

table. I played Alex Higgins there at one point in the semi-final and

he had three cigarettes going in the ashtray! I felt it was Hiawatha

sending smoke signals at one time! JOHN: That is a tremendous safety

shot. I think your comments have He can play this paean Paul Ince

will be back up into the baulk area. -- playing ball. He played that

with the trace of write home side, that is why she got it a little bit

too thin. I am not certain it the If the red was as close to the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

pocket as it appears then coming of Not too difficult a safety shot.

Just have to catch it just right. That is why he will bounce off the

baulk cushion. There is no real pot you could play and risk to get on a

colour. Missed it completely! And has brought the black into play and

left his opponent a sitter to start with. It is an ordeal playing here

and you just have to look at how Barry Hawkins has started this

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

If anything he held it too well. He Played it nicely. Got the perfect

Getting rid of this red, every time one is moved away, another becomes

available. He could play the cannon here. But I think the red is

available. If he pots that red I think he will release another. Well,

he played the cannon. He hit the red he intended. But he only

knocked one out. He has got the pace of the table beautifully.

Perfect on the blue. Just a It is a masterclass in break-

building so far. As soon as I said that, he under-hit it! Average shot

time is down to 16 seconds. He is on the blue or the pink. Still a

possible 83 points remaining. The reds he needs are in the open.

I think going into the pack was a good choice of shot. He just needs

the three reds and three colours. He can win the frame without

worrying about the pink being at that end of the table. He decided

on the blue. No problem with that. The blue will put him ahead. Just

this red required and two snookers will be needed. Well played!

perfect start. But not for that young man. The key thing is to go

into the break not thinking, what If you were not sure that this

young man could play, you now know He did not make a century in the

first frame and he missed the final black. There are enough balls on

this time. He has already made three centuries this week at the

Crucible. That was a powerful black He has amassed 142 centuries in his

career. That is good for the number of years that he has been

professional. He has had 147 in a This could beat the 42nd Cristobal

century should he not in this black. And what a shame. Barry Hawkins has

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

That was a little bit of background about Ricky Walden. The way he has

performed in the past two frames he A better break off shot than the

first frame. I think he has settled Once again a very poor safety and

that is Barry's strong point. I thought he would win more frames in

a tight situation but at the moment he is not competing in any

department. He had a chance at that read, second left on the left-hand

side of the table, but turned it That is better. Ricky may be

wishing that he had played that read, second left. It was

definitely at chance. He may just have to bend it for that red just

below the pink. It is not bad. There is a possible pot on. It may

tempt Barry. I cannot see a straightforward return back to the

That is the red I am referring to. It will cut in. I do not see a good

He is playing a containing safety. He has left a pot in the middle and

I think Ricky will take it on. Or is he just looking at the safety?

Is it work the risk, this red? would be amazed if he turns it down.

He knew he had a free run back to the baulk end. He had already

refused one pot in this frame which surprised me a bit. This red might

pot, the one on the pink spot. Ricky may be able to see one of

these long reds. It nearly went in This is a tough shot. It will

scrape the paint, here. He could have got it thinner. Nothing easy

for Barry Hawkins to go at. You The white was going towards the

pocket, but not close enough. Getting congested down the left

hand side. That is an excellent safety. There are two more shots to

play in the same position. They would both get the cue ball back in

the same place. Who will play the bad safety shot first? This red

definitely pots. But it is fraught with danger. It you take it on you

have got to pot it. I do not see a path round the back of the black.

He is just playing safe. Court that much too thick. He will be lucky to

get away with this. He will have to play something onto that red. I

thought his first choice might have been better, though one down the

cushion. I am surprised he has not taking it on because I am sure that

Ricky will do. He will meet the bloom to come to his rescue.

Just about the last red available to get back into the same position.

Once again much to stick. The blue is going to come to his rescue. Not

quite. He is going to have to hit this pretty hard. Now the black is

on the right hand side of the table. He might be thinking of knocking

once read on to another. It looks You just feel it you give it a hit

that one of these will go in. But who is going to take a chance on

He cannot guarantee getting the gap He played it a different way. That

may give Barry a chance to play the Just looking at the line. The red

closest to the pink. But he has to avoid the red near the cushion and

the black. None of them are right over the pocket. The audience

thinking, this is like the frames replay at the club! They say that

known two frames of snooker are alike. Barry Hawkins desperate to

get the first chance. But the way the balls as situated, even if he

got a chance you would do well to get 20 or 30 points. The reds are

all tied up. You have to pot a red before a colour! He is playing

another safety shot. I cannot believe that neither of them has

attempted a plant. This is the first chance for Barry Hawkins,

It is 30 minutes since he has last I just bought for a moment it was

going to kiss the black and beat There are two reds either side of

the jaws. Surely it has got to go in. There you go! That is amazing.

Barry just saying, I decided to Looking at that shot again, it is

hard to believe. I am pretty sure everybody is pleased in the

audience. It was one of those situations in the end. They would

have been struggling to get more than eight! You thought you were

playing on a ship! He played it very tentatively. At least he has

Barry just not has -- just has not had an easy chance. He might take

on this red in the middle if it pots. He is having a go at the pot.

Good effort. Just caught the jaw. But it was not too risky and shot.

It was on the black, should it have If he can guarantee covering up

those two reds, he will play it. We could be having another wee rack in

a minute. If there was one red you had to cover, there enough. But

Playing an aggressive safety shot and if he plays it hard enough, it

is a good one. Just a fraction short. This might suit Barry, what

has happened in the last 20 minutes or so. Just getting Rickie out of

his stride a little bit. I could At the moment Barry Hawkins has the

It is now quite an easy shot to get back in behind the black. This is

close. It is close. But he has got to hit the first read exactly on to

the plant. -- red. It was tough to do. But he will not be too

But this red is available to the left middle. If he rolls it in he

has got the pink in the opposite The first real chance. It just

caught the near knuckle, but because of the speed of it it just

He missed the cannon on the blue and he has finished upon nothing

He has just run past the yellow. Is he on it? Not quite. He could then

He went all out for it. He will be very disappointed. It has run

pretty safe. He knows there was an opportunity to get his hand on the

table and start scoring. That is the only thing that will relax him.

At the moment, Ricky Walden is A second attempt. That was actually

He has not found the top cushion, so it is a tempter. The reds are

spread far and wide. The next person who pots at a red should be

due minute quite a few points. That's what make this -- makes this

very risky. He can get to the bottom of the cue ball, so we can

bring it back down to this top It didn't seem necessary to hit it

that hard, to be honest with you. Can Barry get his cue ball behind

the black? He has not won over the middle, but he may have covered the

He could roll of the side cushion and led up beside the pink. He may

have no option but to try and play at pot here. -- a pot here. In is

almost impossible to get this safe. He played for the plants and, boy,

was he very close! Her he has left one on, that is for sure. He worked

out that if you leave the cue ball near the side cushion, anything he

left was not going to be easy. Barry was asking for them to be

Another opportunity for Ricky to get the cue ball back behind the

black. It could be very, very But pink was that three of four

inches above the pocket! It was going to hit the other red, but he

should have been aware of that. It went straight in the heart of the

pocket. That was a bit careless not to notice. And careless not to have

found the top cushion. As with the previous attempt, he hasn't left

He got a cake. But wasn't his fault. -- he got backache. But wasn't his

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

fault. He got a bad contact. -- I can see the value in having a go

at the plant and screwing back. would definitely agree with you

Still not left with anything easy, It is official, all of the reds are

Trying to screw back to the top There is a red on the table that he

could single out. He has the key power to play a deep screw, that is

I think he tried to pot it in-off the blue. I think she purposely

tried to play it off the blue. Here is a chance for Barry. It is a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

shame he has to use the rest, it Don't finish tight on the baulk

cushion as you may be on nothing! It is unbelievable, isn't it?

does have one in the middle, of course, that he will be horrified

to have finished work he has. Of Has he got another good case? You

bet you he has! A key deserve something for a terrific pot.

He is getting no reaction out to be cue ball at the minute. Maybe it is

his pension. Her -- out of the cue Tension in the arm is the operative

phrase, Willie. He shouldn't have missed that. Why didn't he play the

one beside the green? He is left- handed, he could reach it. I don't

think the game is looking that simple to him at the moment. What a

chance Ricky Walden has been gifted here. If he pops the blue and puts

it on its spot, it will make things They all look like they're going to

pot, but they're all a bit difficult at the moment. We will

get the chance to show you in a minutes the shot that Barry Hawkins

decided to play, as opposed to the one beside the green and you can

make up your own mind if it was the right play or not. Look at that. He

is a left-handed player. He could reach that one, pop the one beside

the green, it is perfect! It is all about decision-making. That is the

red he played on and he had no eyes He has left himself hampered. Green

and brown are available in the same He was concentrating so much on the

gap, he has missed the sector. many times have we seen it? If he

had said to him here is a �1,000, pop that, he couldn't have missed

it. He was thinking about the positional side and to the size of

the pot. It is unforgivable. And it He didn't want to run into the

green. It could have finished a lot I think the red just to the right

of the brown is available. It would be nice to play for that and get

the brown on its spot. Then he can get the frame back to some sort of

normality. He would be a bit more Nothing is going in clean at the

moment, is it? He is still yet to settle. I don't see the value in

playing for the brownout. The yellow is going to be in the way.

Funny old game this, isn't it? When you are a bit nervous and are

looking for the Balts to run nicely, it is as if they're saying to you,

just try a bit harder. You don't get anything for nothing. He played

it well! Very well! He is not quite out of the woods yet. I must admit,

the way things have been going, I thought that was a bit risky, but

every credit to him for taking it It certainly jumped didn't it?

the moment I just get the feeling that Barry is overhitting

everything. He is hitting them a bit harder, not smoothly pushing

did you through. -- do they cue -- As we have always said, you never

settle into new get the first frame on the scoreboard. He has a 35

point lead. Where the balls are, that is pretty good. This is a

difficult table to clear. What a result he has had their! He hit

that much too hard. The yellow has come to his rescue. The two reds

into the left corner, the yellow A handy little touch on the black

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

just that it it safe as well. He is The Crucible does funny things to

people. Barry Hawkins has one of the best players in the world, and

at the minute it doesn't look like he could get into double figures.

He knows this is as good a chance as he might get in the next couple

of years to get into a final, but at the minutes he has just got to

regroup. But he will get a better chance than this of winning the

frame! You can't beat a bit of help from your opponent, can you? He

comes to the table 34 points in front. Just Al red, collar and red.

He will win this frame without making a break of 20! It just shows

you what can happen if you keep This is a frame that both players

will want to forget. It has got Barry Hawkins back into the match.

That will just encourage his opponent to come back to the table

APPLAUSE. APPLAUSE.

So, he didn't exactly do it in style. Barry Hawkins will be so

relieved to get the first frame on the scoreboard, no matter how it

comes. The relief of us -- at the relief

is almost palpable. Very seldom do we see all that reds on one have

the table, and then straight up at the other half! It is quite bizarre.

No two frames of snooker at the same. It is unusual. Both players

needed a few open frames. Ricky would have loved for the momentum

to keep going. Not get bogged down in their safety play. Barry would

have enjoyed it because it has settled him down. Even though she

is still and that will be -- even though he is still a little bit

edgy, he will have like that. you good in those situations?

loved it! When all the balls go down the end of the table, there is

no pattern and I don't think any of the players like that. It is good

that the players now a relatively quickly say to each other, do you

want to erect them again? How much of a panic starts to come on? Ricky

Walden had settled so comfortably. You do panic a little bit. It is a

big occasion for these two players. Until you get the first frame on

the board you do start to panic. Barry has been a bit lucky with

what has happened to get them in this game. If it had remained open

and Mr few balls, Ricky could have mopped up the tears and the could

have been looking at being four WILLIE: I couldn't agree with you

more. When do you ever win a game of snooker with a break of 19?

Another terrible break off by Barry. But another half-chance. If Barry

Hawkins some way get out of this session drawn, he will think he has

He won't have much of an ID with the cue ball finish here. -- much

When it is not going well for you, you always finish awkwardly. This

was a good pot. It'll be very miserable if he takes the black

It is like the balls know he is struggling, isn't it? They're

saying, try a bit harder. It couldn't have run much worse for

him and that! The semi-final matches are the best of 33 frames.

You think, you can relax, there are plenty of frames to play, but let

me tell you, the first session is so important. After that black, how

unlucky is seen not to be on a red? Yes, absolutely. I suppose, in a

way, because it was a tough black, he thought it would just pot the

black and hope I will be on a red. The balls sometimes complain little

tricks with you. -- can play little tricks. This is more like a normal

frame. Balls available to both corners. Quite a way away with that,

was Ricky. If that was played in the first frame, he would have not

that in it. He has been knocked out It looks easy from there, but when

they are just away from the cushion, if they hit the top cushion first,

A nice angle on the black. There are two and reds together just

below the pink. You could release them with a cannon. He did not get

The cannon looked like the shot just to open up the red so be it.

Probably just trying to get back into his stride. A bit of work to

do with the cue ball. It was a similar type of shot in the last

frame, albeit the blue. He missed it. That is OK, he played it. But

it needs to bounce off the cushion at least a foot. He is taking the

easy shot. And missed it by a long way, nevertheless. He played it

thinking if I miss it, I will not leave anything. There are negative

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

thoughts all of a sudden. Not Trying to get the cue ball near the

Brown if he can. A little flick has given himself an excellent cue ball

near the baulk cushion. A little bit of a problem for Ricky here.

Buried doing a little bit of work on the mental side of the game. --

Barry. He needs to get the 18th a bit more clearly now because he is

It was a half decent shot. But he has left the red. He will be trying

to get that cue ball. He would love to get in behind the brown. He is

perhaps too close to the cushion Not bad. Does not really put a lot

Good shot. That is a better safety. Ricky Walden now has to play a

better one than that and it is not That could save deep shot from

Barry Hawkins has opened up an opportunity. -- that good safety

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

Under normal circumstances you would expect Barry to make a frame-

winning contribution. But these are There is an example of how Berry is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

That is as good a pot as he has Would you believe it? He has been

fortunate. He may have left the red on. He'd probably relaxed when he

potted that could red. He is very fortunate. I peak Ricky Walden can

just get through to the red above the black. -- I think. But it could

have been easier. That is the red. He may be able to play a cannon on

the red just below it and go for the black it he is feeling really

confident. Has he run to have our? -- too far? No, he can get through

to this black. He can pot this It was a chance for Barry Hawkins

but he did not make the most of it, missing the easy green. You just

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 69 seconds

feel Ricky is in the mood to take 17 points the lead now. These reds

are all he will need with colours to get well past the winning post.

Every chance here to get back. He is a super player. He will settle.

But he has got to stay in the match. That is the key thing. Ricky will

be disappointed with that positional shot. I think the three

reds are covering one another. Cannon on the pink will at least

hold the cue ball. It is not perfect but it is OK. He does not

have to do much with his cue ball to get round the black. He played

one cushion nicely. He should win the frame now. He played a soft

stun and played it beautifully. He just widened it slightly. 41 points

Well it you had just come in and looked at the statistics you would

think it has all been Ricky Walden. And it has because Barry Hawkins

Maybe he will want to have a bit of practice in the interval. He has

plenty to think about. So no doubt about who has settled

the better. Your impressions of the opening frames? I think we keep

looked sharp straight away and Barry Hawkins has looked vulnerable

and a bit edgy. The first blow to Ricky Walden and he has got to keep

it up. What has been problematic for Barry so far? He just has not

got going. He needs to get in amongst the balls and make a nice

break. That will really settle his nerves. At least he has got the

frame on the board. He can go back and enjoy his cup of tea. He needs

to get a good frame and a break to settle him down. As you know the

most compelling story this year has been the return of Ronnie

O'Sullivan. And his audacious attempt to try to win the title

once again having not played for almost a year. His progress has

been nothing short of scintillating. He has booked a semi-final date

against Judd Trump. These are the two most exciting players of their

respective generations. I'd just take on the big stage is

where I play my best game. There would be nothing better than for me

to have won it last year. A lot of people wrote me off and I

seem to perform my best when that happens and people do not expect

much of me. I am really happy. I am a massive underdog now. If you

compared to how I played last year, you would expect to have to play

somewhere near you best to play something like this. But I'm still

in the tournament. I think I am one of just a few

players who have the confidence to beat him up and to scare him,

really. I have a lot of belief in myself and I think a lot of players

like that. He loves the sport, he loves playing. He also enjoys

wearing NICE clothes and driving my skies. There is nothing wrong with

that. He is young, why not? I will try and give it my best shot.

Hopefully the crowd willed enjoyed There was a bit of verbal sparring

between them. Judd Trump keen to stress that he has the superior

record of matches between them. Indeed he defeated Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the UK Championship. He said, I think I can crack him.

Not scared of Ronnie O'Sullivan's reputation. But Ronnie has had

quite a lot to say. This could be my last World Championships so I

have tried to enjoy it. Last year I kind of resigned myself. And in the

past year I have not really missed snooker, to be fair. I just came

back because I need to pay the school fees, to be honest. And just

to see if it was going to be any different and it is not. So I think

I have resigned myself to not playing top snooker any more.

has been the trigger for that outburst? I really did not see that

coming. He looked very focused and determined. He played some really

good snooker. Not his best, but some top quality snooker. I am just

as flabbergasted as most of the public and the players about his

comments. How true they might be remains to be seen. Sometimes

Ronnie will say something and next day will say something else. I

think it is sad as well that he has resigned himself. But to be honest

I think a lot of the players will look at it as a bit disrespectful

to the game. Two other players, just to say, take a year off, come

back, and that is it. That is how Steve felt this afternoon. He said

roughly the same thing. For the fans, it is not what they want to

hear. He is allowed to say would ever he likes. The snooker fans

love Ronnie O'Sullivan because he has given them so much pleasure. If

it was not for snooker then he would not be in a situation he was

in. And we would not be sitting here, we would just be doing

whatever. So you took over the game abbot of gratitude. And to

disrespected in some ways is biting the hand that has fed you. It may

be just, when he gets in front of a microphone he cannot help but get

carried away sometimes. There has always been a bit of have been

where he wants to say, I need more money from playing this game.

Perhaps a bit of that is going on. We do not know the whole story.

Deflecting pressure? Perhaps. It could be a way out for him if Judd

Trump does beat him. But we are fans of the game. We would like to

see him come back and play in other events because he is great for the

game. He creates and excitement. But there are other good players.

Judd Trump is confident. He is up for the job. And snooker fans, we

find it sad that Ronnie is going to bail out. We would love to see him

play again. Well this was quite a backdrop to the start of the semi-

finals this afternoon. Ronnie really raced out of the blocks. How

would his opponents respond? Well, pretty well. There will see the

last frame of their session. Runny In the end I do not think he had

quite made his mind up. He could have taken the red that you

suggested and he would have had a He complained that cannon on the

reds. -- can play. Or just go up in a straight line. It the red goes

anywhere in the bunch, he has got a That will do. He is coming towards

the cushion but he is a left-hander. Does this red pot? Has he gone far

enough for the cue ball? It looks a little tight. But if it goes it

opens up another red for the opposite corner. He is going to

I think he is going to have to play for the red on the black cushion.

Has he finished straight on this? He needs a slight angle. That is

It all depends how well he gets You would think any cannon, he

would be unlucky not to get on one. If he wants to take this frame,

after being behind, it would be a good day's work. I was starting to

think there were warning signs already. We know how good Ronnie

O'Sullivan is when he gets an lead. But this has been a good

performance by Judd Trump. He has showed great character to get back

into this match. We're in the semi- finals and Ronnie O'Sullivan has

never been behind yet. In any of his matches. He is not going to be

94% against 87%. And he's also a head in the long pot success

Department. This is the last chance relief for O'Sullivan. You would

expect him to take the frame here. If he gets nicely on a colour, but

he is not. So Ronnie has not lost What a great start this has been to

this semi-final. We knew it was going to be a cracking match. We

have had everything. Some superb tactical play from both players.

Someone has decided it is time to I wonder how a hard he will hit

this. They will have to watch out in the front row! It is still on

the table. That is a pretty good comeback from Judd Trump. He has

won the last three frames. What a semi-final we have got here. We're

all square. We saw a brilliant session

yesterday between Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy. How did that compare.

I think it was a marvellous session. Both at the best of their abilities.

And Ronnie O'Sullivan, his body language when he came up was

perfect. He showed a lot of us all. But then shut trump switch it

around. And what has that told Ronnie O'Sullivan and? Judd Trump

not willing to be bullied. He is not scared of him at all. And it

sends out a signal to Ronnie, I am in this match as well. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has had a lead in every match so far. It sends out strong

signals. Judd Trump is not scared of him and he will relish this

match. Beating Ronnie would be a great scalp for him. Well it was a

tall order for Judd Trump but he is well up to it. That is about all we

have got time for tonight. If you want to continue watching our

second semi-final it is right on the red button and on the BBC