Day 14, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

This has been called the most unlikely semi-final line-up in over

a two decades as some of the world's most experienced players

went tumbling out at the bottom Both players ranked outside the

world top ten, attention inevitably played its part in their opening

First time for up Ricky Walden and Barry Hawkins in the same theatre.

Plenty of nerves. Ricky Walden played Super in the first two games.

Basically, he has laid down a mark here saying, I can play just like

everybody else. The crowd loves Barry looked so are at of sorts,

didn't he? To have missed so many balls, it was a miracle he managed

The Barry Hawkins goes to the interval with plenty to think about.

At the interval I am sure Barry Hawkins would have spent a little

bit of time with Terry, trying to He could not have hit it better.

reflection, that is as good as Barry could have got out of the

His highest break was 36 so far and he was 6-2 down last night. Ricky

Walden are more comfortable of the to throwing in two centuries on the

way. They are still in the ninth frame as we pick it up. Both

The you join us at quite a crucial stage. It has been an awkward frame,

30 minutes were both players have had lots of chances. Barry has not

settled. He has not been cueing very well. Ricky Walden has had a

few chances to win this frames. He looks and little bit tired. This is

all new for these players. Lots of And another nervy shot coming up.

He got up, he got back down again, He will be feeling a little better

now. These men are good friends, but Ricky has let this one slip

Well that settle Barry Hawkins down? Ricky Walden should have

taken this frame and he has not. There are three frames difference

now. Steve, if you had been Terry Griffiths in Barry Hawkins corner

before he walked out this afternoon, what words of encouragement might

you have given him? To say that every session can be a different

story that unfolds. Even if you are 6-2 behind, if you can win the

First couple's frames, the heat becomes on your opponent very

quickly. You can look at the scoreboard, but if you are not

getting enough table time, you can still freeze. He has certainly not

frozen so far, he has beaten at the world number one in this

championship. How difficult is it to reproduce that kind of form in a

Crucible semi-final? It is difficult, and he did start off the

more met -- at the more nervous of the two. Terry will be saying to

him, forget about yesterday. If you can go out and when the session 5-3,

anything better than that it is a bonus. You take each session as it

comes along. Go out and win the first four frames, 3-1. Do not look

at the scores, just take each session and each frame as it comes

along. It is a cliche, but I am sure that is what Terry will be

We will join them just a after the What about this for a break off?

There have not been many worse than this. It is probably the worst one

we had seen in this year's World Championship. Straight away he has

given Ricky Walden a chance to settle down because Ricky looked

very tense even though he led 6-2. He had chances to open up a five

frame advantage. Let's see if he can produce some of the snooker

that he produced in the first game where he made two centuries. It is

a great opportunity for this player from Chester. He was brought up in

North Wales but is now back to He has certainly settled down out

For someone who has played so well in this championship, Barry Hawkins

has not produced yet. When you get to the semi-final and the one table,

it is a totally different theatre altogether. It really is. If I was

using the Wimbledon analogy, you have been playing on the outside

court for the first week and a half, then you are Centre Court for the

He has done it again, it is the sort of thing Ricky does. He looks

absolutely terrific and all of a sudden he loses focus. He did it

earlier on in the opening frame exactly the same. When there is a

cannon involved, he misses the pot. You're quite right. Barry has

really got to start scoring, OK, this is not a great opportunity.

But when he does get one, he has got to score for his own peace of

Well, that was a much better shot than it looked and he is unlucky

not to be on anything here. That He might be able to take this on

such a way you can run through and get on the pink or blue. It is just

one of those awkward angles were if he screws back he might hit the

black. If he runs through, he'd I think I would prefer the screw

shot than the run through. He in fact, he doesn't like both and I do

Ricky is just ahead in the head-to- heads. He has won four to Barry's 3.

The longest match they played was in the qualifiers for the World

Championship in 2005. They are fairly evenly matched, these two

players. That red is causing a slight problem, the one on the

right hand side of the table. He needs a thinner contact here. He

If he keeps leaving Barry these chances, you feel it is a matter of

time before he gets back into Just for his own piece so mind and

to make him feel as if he is truly involved in the semi-final, he

That is not quite as planned but he just needs one good shock to get

He is slightly the wrong side of You want to keep them as simple as

possible. He is having to change Planner all the time because the

shot before he played to get on the When you're struggling a little bit,

like he is, you wanted everything He has got an angle here to pot

this and may be spun around the All depends on the angle he is

faced with here. If you can play position on this pink, it is

perfect to pot and move all the reds out. If that is available,

He is one good positional shot away You could see he cued across that

slightly. He played it with a trace of side to play the shot that you

said. And he just cued slightly across it. It would have opened the

reds up and that is what he thought I cannot believe what I'm seeing.

Ricky put a little bit of unwanted side on that. Worrying signs for

Ricky even though he is three frames and fun. -- three frames in

He is leading 6-3 and he seems to be under pressure. He has got to

All the coaching in the world does not help you when you're out there

on your own. You have got to do it yourself, or rely on your technique.

He has just lost his game at the If I was Ricky Walden, I would be

trying extra hard. His opponent certainly is not punishing him up

when he misses. If he could step up The way Ricky is feeling and some

of the pots he is missing, the way he is walking around, he does not

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

That is a useful little flicker Yes, it is a wonderful venue this

Crucible Theatre, but when you came goes west, it is absolutely

We keep talking about how fast these cloths are, they are

brilliant to play on when you're cueing well. When you lose that cue

action, they can make you look a little bit silly at times. That is

to Ricky's advantage of there, He is 24 points behind. He has a

straightforward safety shot. You never know sometimes. Just looking

to see if he plays the red next to the pink, up what that pink will do

Even his safety play, he is just You would not believe you could win

three frames with the highest break That was pretty good. In fact, he

may be snookered. It is just not That is what he is faced with. This

That was risky, he tried to just clip that on the way back down. It

The green will leave him nicely on I think that white seemed to fly

Just wondering about those two reds He can get their off the green.

Either of one Krishan or two If you are all to critical, he

should not have went anywhere near the pink with that positional shot.

This is a free shot for Ricky. He can take the red that is near the

pink. If it goes in he has got the yellow near the corner pocket. It

goes past the pink, so it is worth the risk. He will be playing a

He got a kick there, believe it or not. That was amazing. It through

You could see the red jumper. In fact, that kick helped the red

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

What has he done here? I mean, that is a terrible shot from Ricky. What

The good news for Ricky is, that red on the right-hand side is a bit

tricky for Barry Hawkins being I am just wondering whether they

are getting a bit nervous because of the prize-money. The runner-up

is guaranteed 125,000 and the Yes, you're absolutely right. It

gets a little bit embarrassing when you are out there and you keep

missing. But somebody has got to grab hold of this match. Ricky has

a three frame advantage and he has got to capitalise on Barry's

mistakes. He is trying so hard, maybe he is trying that little bit

As you say, �73,000. I used to twitch when I played for a fiver.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

have seen you on the golf course, Barry has the chance to take

Well, it is in but of course the cue ball will be going away from

the red. It might be a kiss of dropping it in dead weight. Trying

to leave the cue ball slightly off Somehow, Barry Hawkins has got

himself just two swims behind with a highest break of 36. -- two

Ricky has thatted enough of the frame. He concedes. . He leaves, I

don't blame him. Too very poor frames. Barry Hawkins must be

delighted. High break of 36 and he is only two behind now.

HAZEL IRVINE: All defies belief. Proof that snooker can make you a

head banger as we saw from Barry Hawkins in that one. Frustrations

from both men, how do you assess what we have seen? How do you

explain it? I think it is safe to say that is the occasion getting to

them. It is the importance of trying to get over that line, trying to get

into the final. It is such a big match for both. Everybody suffers

nerves and these guys have played great to get to this stage. At the

moment, the occasion and maybe the arena has changed. The one table set

up, that, one player starts to miss, sometimes it is like contagious, the

other guy starts to miss. When one guy can grab this hatch pick the

scruff of the neck, he could run away with it. But at the moment,

Ricky, even though he is 6-2, he looks more nervous of the two.

was the one that came out full of confidence, knocking in a couple of

century, look looked great. You try and work out why one day you can

play so well and even within the same session, it seems to go wrong.

Very fine margins playing the game of snooker. It is amazing the

standard that achieved the difference between potting a ball

and missing is so much. The difference as Ken alluded to there,

is as much as in the early rounds is a two table set up and you are not

centre of attention. If you are a dull part of the match, there is

another game on the other table. All of a sudden all eyes are on you, and

all responsibility is on you to produce and intertaken as well as

compete. When it goes wrong it can go drastically wrong. Then it

becomes catching for the other guy. That is what is happening at the

moment. It ain't pretty but it is important.

Ricky wept out of the arena, to compose himself. -- went out. In he

comes and hits the blue. And we don't know, having got

chatting to Ricky, I don't know if they have slept well, it is a huge

occasion for both players coming to the semifinal, one table situation,

6-2 lead. You would think you would sleep well. It is not always the

case. . This is a new ball game. They won't have played in a

tournament where they play first to is, first to 30 and then you have a

semifinal coming up. All the length of the matches is all new to both of

these players, so, all great experience for them, but tough to

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

trying to get the white on to the he has blocked off the escape down

the left hand side of the table. The pink is in the way. Looking at the

table, I can't see any other red. He might be forced into taking the pot

on and screwing back in to the baulk area.

That is the first time I have seen this type of shot. If he takes it

on. Ricky feels as if he has got a gap, he might be able two to go in

between the black and red. And he did. Well judged.

That was an excellent shot. He got That is a beauty through the gap.

I wonder whether Barry might choose to play slow roll into the jaws, and

try to come to that red. That is a shot he has got if he wants it. We

will have to try and take that one Don't like much else.

He is looking at maybe coming off the side cushion for it.

That would be all right as well. Which ever way he does it, the red

is down at the bottom in the corner Ooh, it was there was a red

available unthem knocked that red and covered it, so, there is a red

with a cut into this right corner, but the red just knocked another red

on to it and covered it. Just watch as he sends this red up

the table. There is a red available there, and all of a sudden the one

he canoned on to went and blocked Well, the one thing Ricky had to do

was get that cue ball next to the baulk cushion. There is a red that

is pottable. You don't know where the cue ball is going to go but he

should have been making it more difficult for Barry.

It is one of those situations where he might take this on and try and

canon the black, bring it into play, that is what he was thinking about.

There is an angle to pot that red and screw over on to the black.

If he takes the pot on, screws the white across the table, he could

bring that black into play. If he doesn't see easy safety shot, there

would be nothing wrong with playing this. He might be able to get the

back red, find the gap. No, he has took the shot on.

Good pot that, den ni, when you haven't had your game most of the

match. A lot of pressure on that one.

If he doesn't hit that red he would have put the black on, but he has

the yellow and green to go at. Ricky's shot before all the more

sloppy. He wasn't in any trouble. It was an enforced error that.

It is slightly running away from Ricky, he hasn't settled. Barry

hasn't in fairness, but one or two mistakes he doesn't need to be

making. As you say, when he is in front as

well. It is strange how it works out. He came out 6-2, you would

think he would be the more confident and relaxed of the two player, but

neither seem comfortable yet. Although, if I was Barry Hawkins I

would be jumping through hoops to be only 6-4 behind with a high break of

You can see him strike the white there on the top. That creates the

top spin. Has he found the gap? Do you know

this might be absolutely perfect. Without a doubt.

Struck that beautifully. Much more like Barry Hawkins.

Lots of top spin. Couldn't have put it any better.

You just sense that Barry is growing in confidence, and that confidence

has been given to him, because Ricky, his opponent, has been

Barry had a little look there, that red closest to the black spot would

be the one he would like to get rid of fairly quickly. Gets that out of

the way, tries to get the black back moment. It seems to happen when you

are struggle for your game a bit. The balls seem to land up or are a

bit awkward. I am wondering, he has a good angle on the green, his

background to the yellow, a couple of reds he can play on from the

yellow. He had an angle on the green there,

which I don't think he locked at. He could have played the grown and

played a canon on to the three reds behind the pink. He was always going

to be on something, can he get the black into play with a nice canon?

He could do, looking at that picture. You have to trust your

ability, play the correct shot and hope you get the correct canon.

Beautifully controlled, that, a bit more bomb bottom on the cue ball

required for that shot. Struck really well. Still awkward the way

these are at the moment. Don't quite know what angle he has

got, if any on the black, it is not too bad. Should be able only do out

for the red on the right hand side here.

But you have to pot the black at the result he has had.

REFEREE: Touching ball. REFEREE: Touching ball.

Put the black safe. Touching ball. Tried to do a bit too much with

that. If I was rickey I I would be trying to get the black into play.

You have to make sure that red safe near the pocket. What a mistake that

was from Barry. I don't know why he hit it so hard. As long as he

stunned the black he was on the right hand side guaranteed. Ewas he

trying to play the screw back an move the red off the spot? That was

asking a lot. That is what happens when you are under the cosh.

You make wrong decisions. That is where Ricky would love to

play the cue ball so he doesn't leave the red near the corner. If he

tries to get there... And move the black at the same time, it is a

slight problem. I think I would be playing off the black here,

three-quarter ball run through. As long as he doesn't get the double

kiss. Well, he needs the grown to come to

his rescue, that is a terrible shot again.

Understand that one, I know there was a double kiss maybe involved,

but honestly such an easy shot to play. Control the cue ball a lot

better. Once again, he has left a red there

but he has been fortunate to leave No no value in taking that pot on.

He was just canoning into the other A itle thin one will get him up to

A little thin significant off that he can get to the blue. He is

looking at something else, but that has to be the best shot.

That is what he tried, but he is a long way off, he has left a path

back down the table. He can play-off the reds to the left

of the pink as we look at it, has he have got the last shot correct, this

That was a good shot. Well played. There is a red on the reasoned, but

don't think there is a path back down to the baulk area. There would

be a gap between the two reds on the left, but the one that is stuck

directly behind the black spot, tightly on the rail, would be in the

way. So if he does take the pot on, there is a fair bit of pressure on

this. If he tried to pot that, he would

have to try and find a gap. So that Well, it is coming into the jaws, it

is giving the add vanening to Barry, but -- advantage to Barry, but that

Ricky Walden, he needs either this frame or the one before the

mid-session interval. That is the best shot he has played.

The red on the right hand side cushion is a wit bit of a problem

because Barry would like to go off the side cushion to the other side

and back for the red together op the top. The one on the right hand side

might be a bit of a problem. He has judged it well, though, John.

He played the shot that you suggested.

Played it pretty well, although Ricky had a look at the red along

the cushion, but the way things have been going, I don't think he wants

to be taking that on, but... He is Well played.

He made it look easy. Now can he restore a bit of confidence, because

that was a terrific shot he played get himself to the mid-session

interval, get on the practice table, because he has lost his rhythm at

the moment. The pink has come back, it has covered the red, that was a

dolly straight into the corner pocket. You can see it, pink has

come back and blocked the path, so the bottom red is obviously

He can play a canon here. The red that is close toast the black, move

that along. He should leave himself on the other two reds. Chance to

score a few points here. He played the cappen outed, John,

but he could have played it a bit better than this.

He needed a fuller contact on that red.

Under the circumstance, that was a good shot. It wobbled a few times,

Not the best positional shot that Barry has ever played. He is walking

round the table smiling to himself. Well, he has plenty to smile at at

the moment, because he has won two Well, it is not pretty to watch at

the moment, and they just keep running out of position, they are

just under so much pressure at the moment, these two boys, no prizes

for guessing where the cue ball will behind the brown!

You got it, John. It is one of those frames, bitty,

hard fought. Balls are horrible. Get frames like that, you have to

put up with it and try and win them. If he goes twice across the table

there, to land, he can leave that red. So he is going the other way

round to get into a similar position.

He could push this red over the pocket here.

Oh, he has flicked it. He settles He was sticking that straight up.

There is a red Ricky can pot but it is tough and you couldn't guarantee

any position, so it doesn't seem like any great value.

He is back looking at the pot. He has too easy safety shots, he can

play-off the one to the right of the white. He can go thin off the red

near the middle pocket. Thin off this one. Must make sure he

Have to make sure this is nice thin. A massive target to go between the

It is all a struggle at the moment, even that simple safety shot.

Nowhere near where it should have been. How he has hit a jaw there, he

He has more or less got away with it. Ricky might take this on,

because he is coming twice across the table. So it is a bit of a free

shot. Well played.

Look where the white has finished. He was hoping that he didn't pot the

red. He has potted some of the finest

ones I have ever seen in this frame. To roll in behind, this is, this is

tricky, you have to be careful he This is going to be difficult to

hit, because he can't go off the side cushion this time. Testify he

has to hit the cushion the cue ball is fearest to.

-- he has to hit the cushion the cue REFEREE: Foul. A miss. . That was a

decent attempt. He is digging down and hitting the cue ball into the

cushion, to bend it off to widen the angle. If he plays this plain-ball

it won't happen. He is hitting the Not what he wanted. Someone in the

audience shouted "Go on because". As long as they don't shout out when

That is not bad. He has the yellow and the reds clear now.

Ricky Walden, can he get a bit of rhythm going here? He badly needs

That is typical of the way it has gone, played on that red on the left

hand side, snookered behind the pink. It shows you things are

Is he going to try and drop this in or is he going to screw it round the

angles. He looks as if he is going if you roll it in and let the white

run past the pink. You start digging Played it nicely though.

Nicely through the ball there, took Nicely through the ball there, took

It looks a bit more determined in straight. So he can stun in behind

the red. That is behind the black Doesn't want to be dead straight. He

finished on the cushion, makes them Well, he doesn't want to be dead

straight on the pink, otherwise he can't get close to that red. It is

One of those shots you want to be low or high, but not in the middle.

This doesn't look particularly appealing.

It is going to be a struggle to get on this.

Well, the one thing you don't want to do is try and do too much with

that cue ball, and miss the pot. He could quite easily take the six

point, play a telling safety. Let us see what he decides on.

I think I would be sending this red round the angle, and getting the red

somewhere up near the blue, if you take the cut on down the cushion, I

wouldn't fancy that. Even at the best of times. Well, he is looking

at the potle angle. This, he has lost two frames. He has plenty of

Chans to win, is he going to go for pink. He can definitely snick this

it or not! He's even getting tense now. I think he'll be taking the

yellow here. If the Black was further out from the cushion, he'd

be taking the black but as it is, it's not great. Not easy to queue

these across the table sometimes. I was going to say it shouldn't be a

problem but he's left us a bit short. He wanted to be leaving the

blue into the Rhine kora -- right corner. Having to Cabinet. -- cannon

today's just strange. He should never even be having to play a

cannon here. The green is the shot, isn't it? You know you've got to put

the blue and the other pocket. -- pot the blue in the other pocket.

needs all the colours. If he parts the brown and blue, it will be 40

on the black. If he frees the black, has got an angle on pink. -- and he

pushing but let me tell you, under the circumstances it's not a uni. --

gimme. It'll be a very relieved Ricky Walden. It looked as if he was

going to lose this as well. He has opened up a three frame advantage

again. It's seven - for two Ricky Walden. That gentleman is known as

Medal Man. His name is Peter. He takes part in the daily competitions

on the big table in here. We don't pay him and he's not part of the

set. We have a fairly interesting crew

down here every day and they're all very friendly and make us feel very

welcome. Steve, a huge relief for Ricky Walden because he must have

been so frustrated at seeing this advantageous being squandered. We've

all played that type of material. It's not nice when you come this far

an event to all of a sudden store. Barry Hawkins doesn't look like a

winner at the moment. It's interesting that we saw Ricky Walden

eating something there. We've all commented that he looks very jaded

and lacking in energy. Is this where the fatigue of two weeks of hard

graft starts to show? We know he is a fit young lad and has run

marathons in the past. I don't think fitness or tiredness should be a

factor for him. But we are in the semifinals. It is only still the

halfway stage so there's still the four sessions of the semi-final and

the final. He may be feeling a little bit tired. You don't get much

sleep when you're in this championship. He may be just chewing

on a bit of banana to get a bit of energy. But so often in the years

we've been coming here on a Friday afternoon in the semifinals, this is

Jen really where we start to see the fatigue coming out. -- generally.

The effect of being in the studio, the same thing applies. You feel

like you've been here for ever. Whilst that's nice in one respect

because you get into the flow of it, if you hit the brick wall it's tough

to get out of it. John, Dennis, have you hit the brick wall yet?

DENNIS TAYLOR: Not quite yet, Hazel, but Barry Hawkins has hit the table

with that cue ball. It's almost stop. -- stuck. The mid-session

interval is coming up after this frame. If Ricky Walden could go to

that mid-session interval with four friends intact, he'd be delighted,

especially the way he's performed in this session. This will be a body

blow for Barry Hawkins. He may have had a kick on the brown but he had a

great chance. He should have been about that shot and we've got it

here. You can just roll the Browning, roll the blue in and then

the framers one. -- roll the Crown Inn. -- roll the brown in and then

the frame is won. This is the kick. He was playing a cannon but he

shouldn't have been in that seems to take off, off the back

the circumstances. Managed to control the cue ball. Just sneaked

he's got to force this in. And he's played that beautifully. He's played

it so well, he's got a choice. If he plays the other one, he'll be on the

black. Much better the way he session, Barry's target would be to

try to win the mini-session before the mid-session interval three - one

and if he could do that, he's high break of 36... That's got to

confidence just because he's made a 36 break but he can get on the

practice table, get the cue arm going and maybe he'll close the gap.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

But it's all about this frame as to might be a possible pot to the

middle pocket. As soon as he hit that, he knew he hadn't got it.

far as the cue ball from the intended position? It's nowhere near

the black. It's just all the superfine clocks are so reactive.

You can run out of position quite easily. Absolutely. We've all been

there and had sessions where we've been struggling. Sometimes it's just

self preservation, staying in the careers. They're giving it their

all. Maybe sometimes you try too hard. Look about safety shot - it so

far away from where he wanted it. -- look at that safety shot - it's so

someone could just grasp the nettle and just find a bit of their a game

they could string a few frames together. -- their A game. Maybe

that little flick on the red is just what the doctor ordered because it's

the correct side of the blue. It was a good pot, he had a bit of good

fortune with a cannon - can he capitalise on it? Earlier in the

World Championship, we would have been saying it was a frame-winning

pink and stun it with the two roads. That should pot. Just wanting to see

whether pink will go. -- the two played the shot as if the two reds

were going to go and the pink wasn't going to go on the shot.

He asked the referee to just checked the spot and he just did

miscalculate. He thought it wouldn't go. He's not going to secure the

frame. Let's have a look. Maybe this red at the back goes. He can't get

through to the one he thought he would be on but the one just behind

the two reds in front of the pink - can he see enough of that? I don't

know, Dennis, but it's just an example of him not thinking straight

out there to play that shot and cannon those two reds of the pink.

I've never seen him do that before. Well recovered, though. That'll

between the green and brown to get on the red over the middle pocket

and can get nicely onto the black. He should be going to the

mid-session interval having won the does, it's a foul. He's got to

nominate the colours. The referee will ask him to nominate the car.

He's not landed on a position... He's got a 52 point lead and would

love a side read as an insurance done any damage. It's just a matter

of not thinking clearly. They yellow, blue and brown are to

Riddick target now. -- our a to reflect target. -- they are a too

Barry. The red is behind the pink. If he catches it correctly, he won't

cannon the reds to the left of the blue spot. So he'll take this on.

I'm just wondering whether he's worried about contacting that read

on the way back. He's had a look at to be wary of not sticking your

opponent back in when you've worked hard to get your 52 point lead. The

last thing you want us to give him a decent opener. He's looked at the

possibility of taking this part onto the right corner. It looks as if he

wants to have a go at this. -- this pot. Is he taking the safety shot

of? He took it on and that's a typical Ricky Walden type shot.

deserves to be on one after that. That was a fabulous pot and last

frame he pottered about three crackers with no shot but that was a

beauty. That's probably his best ball. He had the choice to play on a

red or move a few round. The top one obviously potted. I just don't know

whether he's played that particularly well or whether the cue

trying to make things happen. -- shot. It was difficult to get the

cannon and guaranteed position. In fact, he hit that so hard he's

get to the mid-session interval and get on the practice table. I think

both players will be heading to the practice table. Yes, the highest

so far is just 32. I'm a little bit worried for him at the moment. I

know he's in front of that of the two players, he looks the more

tired. And he looks frustrated. First time I've seen Ricky Walden do

that. The way he chopped his cue, he was angry with himself. He's going

to leave the red on. He needs the brown and blue to come to his

rescue. He can pot this and get up onto the black but we did see Ricky

get a bit annoyed with himself. Let's see if it affects this shot.

He's spotted something on the cue ball so Paul Collier, the referee,

of genius to clear from here. These balls are not horrible position.

Three reds, all on cushions. The green that he's just played on the

other one. It just might be a case of getting 16 points here. I don't

know if you can get yourself back in the frame. He's faced with one of

those tricky little ones - the harder you hit it, the harder they

are. He's played that very nicely and given himself a chance to go for

the one near the middle pocket. He can play to just not that out. He

could leave himself on the other one, also, so a bit of a chance

here. That was an excellent pot down the cushion. Had a couple of those

today. Tough to play and... I'm surprised, I can't understand that

shot. Why not play the cannon on the shot. Even if you haven't pushed the

other red on, it would've been than using the rest. -- easier than. He's

not thinking straight. He needs the black to come to his rescue and it

swerve to potted. -- pot it. Ricky's pouring himself a glass of

water out. The mid-session interval going to miss. He's got an angle on

the black. Has he got one good cannon left in him here? The green

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

is also safe. Barry won't be too out here. Yes, excellent.The

1-person escape looks to be the only trouble. Where has he found the? --

can come off the side cushion, similar to the last shot, and hit

the cushion first, he can get the red back at the table. Don't want

the red hitting the black. That's could take this read on and move the

green of the side rail at the same time. I like that shot a Lott,

black? Not quite. It's funny - we mentioned earlier in the frame when

he played that shot whether it would come back to haunt him, sticking the

green safe. It certainly stopped him yellow, he'll be safe and won't need

the difficult green but he should be able to get accurate cross between

the blue and yellow. cup of tea with a few sugars I

think. Perk himself up, ready to come back. He's still two frames in

front. At least it's looking like that. You say that and look where

he's put the white! There's only one needed but barring that snooker,

he's won the mini-session 31. -- three - one. At first glance, that

appeared quite a clever shot to stick the blue safe. Ricky hasn't

hit it at all well there. I thought it hit him -- gave him a good chance

to get behind the black. It wouldn't have been clever if Ricky had played

That was a nice little slip of the It looks like he is going to be two

behind, at 7-5. What a game

You mentioned it John, that recce will go for a cup of tea with a

couple of sugars to give himself a bit of energy.

If you put the kettle on I will just have one sugar in mine, John and we

will be back for more of this fascinating semifinal. Doesn't

matter about the blue. The snooker hasn't been pretty but Barry Hawkins

won't mind that, he has won the littleman anysession, three frames

to one, he is only two behind at 7-5.

Ricky Walden's advantage has been halved and I think the boys were

saying in commentary there, his thinking seems a bit skewed. He

looks a bit muddled. Necessary never really got going and it has gone

from bad to worse. Both player, very low standard by the standards of

semifinals of the World Championships. Highest break, 32 for

that session of the two, it won't affect Barry Hawkins as badly as

Ricky Walden. He has something to protect and he hasn't protected it

very well. What do you think could be the problem? We have talked about

fatigue. I am not sure you are a fan of that particular explanation or

not, Ken. He looks tire. It might be pressure. Being tired muddles your

thought process, maybes you play shots that not the right shot. I

mean we saw in that last frame, there, he had a perfect angle on the

black with two reds remaining. To knock the red near the middle

pocket, he tried to knock out one red. A completely wrong shot, and

that is what pressure does to you. Maybe he didn't get enough sleep,

but sometimes the pressure does get to you, and particularly for the

realisation of these player, that it is such a big occasion, it is

understandable. We are not overcriticising them. We have all

been there, I know what it is like, because I know, it has happened to

me as well. But sometimes the pressure can muddle your head, and

you need a few, and he looks more muddled than Barry Hawkins. I think

it could be a couple of sugar, maybe strong coffee for Ricky and Barry

Hawkins, his top break still only 36. Well, as you know, when we get

to this stage here, snooker is an art form, but it can also be a

science, at least it can be here in Sheffield. At the University of

Sheffield, in particular, John It is known as the steel city and

sometimes as the snooker city, but Sheffield is also very much a

science city. And the University of Sheffield has

played its part in one of the greatest scientific discoveries in

human history. This Professor is a particle physicist. He spends his

time in Geneva at certain's Large Hadron Collider where he is working

on the atlas project. Here in Sheffield, we are involved

in an experiment called the atlas, perment, which is one of two big

experiments that runs at the Large Hadron Collider, and reported the

first possible discovery of the Higgs boson in the summer of last

year. The Higgs Boson is a particle that gives mass to the other

fundamental particles. So an electron acquires its mass

from the Higgs Boson, if an electron didn't acquire mass like that, it

would never hold inside atoms so we won't have atom, so we wouldn't have

the world round us, this room, snooker tables or anything like

that. So so when something said to me what

do you think of hissing bow son, I thought I had lost at Kempton Park.

How do you come pine snooker and science. It is smoobg balls. We use

snooker ball, throughout physics to explain easy concept, so things like

where you have friction, and also things like energy and momentum,

which are the properties that the balls have as they roll across the

table, but we can also explain much more complicated concepts like

quantum physics and sub at Mick particle physic. Can you explain how

the large Hadron Collider works? the old type of experiments he used

to carry out, we used to take sub-atomic particles and fire them

into a stationery target, much the same way as you might neckache a cue

ball and fire it into the pack, and some of the energy incoming particle

gets turn into new particle, so you get new particles created, and that

is what we want to study. But there is only a certain am of energy

available, so much more recently, we have built what are called particle

colliders, where we take two sub-atomic particle, moving in

opposite directions and collide them together, and when they collide,

some of the energy that is in the collision is available to create new

particle, which can be heavier, like this, which is representing a Higgs

Boson. I was flippant about that tierry,

what is it? Sure, so it is a type e elementary particle which interacts

with the other particles in the universe and through that

intersanction gives them mass, so that means that some of them end up

heavy and some light. That is important, in particular, because

some of these particles, they include the electron, which because

they have mass through inter interaccuse -- interaction with

Higgs Boson, that means they can form atom, if we didn't have atoms

the universe wouldn't exist. We wouldn't exist. Thank you for your

time. Playing snooker, I didn't know I was that intelligent. I hope you

were paying attention to that you need to pay attention in school to

have got the gist of that particular feature, but you know, once upon a

time snooker used to provide some children, some players with an

excuse not to concentrate on their homework or not even to go school,

but Steve Davis is helping to mastermind a new scheme which might

help keep them in there. Following the success of functional

snooker rolled out last year, the cue zone has gone into schools. This

week, local school children were introduced to the initiative at

The opportunity to get involved in the functional snooker was

discussed, and we thought it was a very very good idea. Something we

could use to help students to develop their literacy, and numeracy

skills. Look at the kids today, they are enjoying it. I don't think they

were that interested in snooker. It is not something that appeals to

kids. Because it is funning unional, I think it is attracted them a lot.

I don't think they realise they are learning stuff and they are adding

it up. They are too busy, I got that score. And they don't think about

adding it up. A key objective to the cue zone project is to increase

school-children's participation in snooker by 10,000 over the next 12

months. As well as being an importanten casual tool, it is hoped

the project will encourage a new generation to take up the game in

large numbers, by putting an emphasis on having fun.

Cue zone into school, it is backed by the WPBSA. We have launched it in

12 schools. We have set ourself a target of 10,000. We are confident

we can achieve that, because schools have developed themselves in the

last ten year, we are confident that young people will engage in snooker

and they will see it in a different light. It is a long time since it

was a smoke-filled snooker club in the 0s, where it was great. Things

have moved on. Xbox is here, different clubs are here, different

challenges but snooker is still here, and snooker still has a place

to play, many young people's lives. Gone the days of the smokey haul. We

know we need to take our sport to the youth of today and to engage

here at the academy, it has given us that opportunity to get young people

on a snooker table, having fun, but not only just young people having

fun, they are learning as well at the same time. If we look at the way

that you know, you ask any smoobg player his mental arithmetic is

terrific. The one thing we can engage is in arithmetic. The success

of it in the UK prompted the association to introduce it into

another important market for the sport.

China. Interesting enough the association

is engaged with 87 country, we believe we are the fastest growing

sport in the world. We have seen huge growth, particularly in the Far

East as well, and we have returned up from opening a world snooker

academy in Beijing, as a world governing body we see this as a

global body. This initiative is just the start.

10,000 in the next year getting into this. Why are you passionate about

this project? I think as we sort of seen-to- year, perhaps kids losing

interest in snooker, because perhaps they weren't watching with their

parents at home on a television set, and so all of a sudden, there maybe

a dearth of enters in this country, at that level. Not abroad but in in

this country, so the idea was if snooker, if kids weren't coming to

snooker clubs with their parents take snooker to the schools. A more

complex mathematical equation, system of the ball balls have multi

my case signs on, or whatever you want to do, creates a bit more

mathematics involved, that appeals to the teacher, they like the way, a

different unfun way of learning. is a great idea. Back many my

school. We haven't introduced that to Ireland yet, back in my old

school they put a couple of snooker tables in and they said the

difference in the children, who go in and play, they mix with the

teacher, they have the competition, they mix with some of the girl, but

the discipline and the, the sort of how they look after it, how well

kept it is, and no fighting, no messing in the snooker room. It is

like a Holy Grail in there. And the benefit of that is they are getting

more from the students in sort of in the classroom as well. Also another

way of introducing it, without the club, because there is clearly a

important place for clubs but it is not a popular way into the sports as

it once was That is because there is a generation has gone missing with

the other entertainment form, but really, a snooker club is a great

social atmosphere, and it is a great way to learn among your peers and

elders as well. And going back to the old youth club style, it is

teaching kids social skills, if you are in your bedroom, playing on an

Xbox, fair enough, but going into a club atmosphere teaches you more

about life. Good luck with that. Lovely idea. OK, well, as you know

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been in chat mode nor the last while. He has been

coming back in to snooker to pay the school fees and put food in the

fridge. That is a prime motivation for many players, for Barry Hawkins

it has been his job for the last 17 year, for Barry reaching the

semifinals is the biggest pay day of his career. He has put �52,000 into

the bang. His eyes not just on the Big opportunity to try and get to

the final of the World Championships, which I have always

dreamed about. I am concentrating on the semifinal, if I happen to play

really well and get through to the final, then, then it is all of a

sudden it is a bit different. There is a few friends that come

round and support me, and as far as my wife and my mum and dad and

things like that, I have told them to stay away really. If I get to the

final I would love them to come up, especially my little boy, because he

is at that age he knows what he I am doing, for him to watch me play out

there, and for my wife and mum and dad, to see me playing on the

biggest stage would be a proud moment for all of us.

The mental side of things has been a big part of what was lacking in the

past, you know, like the self-belief, especially, Ied

self-belief over the year, I have been working on that really hard

with Terry Griffiths. If I get to the final, then I have

nothing to lose, and perhaps that puts less pressure on me, I suppose,

but there will be enough pressure on that situation, getting to the

final. I have to deal with it. I have to get through the semifinal

first. And Barry's son Harrison I am sure

will be watching his every move this afternoon. As for Ricky Walden, it

is a big weekend for him here in Sheffield as well. Not just in the

snooker sense, because his beloved Liverpool have a derby match against

John Parrott's beloved Everton. We When I first turned pro there was

only six tournament, now you have 20, 30, it is hectic.

I have a bit of anger in there, it some times comes out. Maybe not

enough but sometimes it comes out. The last couple of years I have been

working really hard, definitely a, worker at the moment.

There is loads of characters in the game, it is just the way the game,

the actual game has changed. There is not enough joking round. It has

become more serious by the I think some player also say I have

underachieved. Some will say I have overachieved. I try to look like I

give it my best all the time. You can be fitter. I could be

fitter. I am not too shabby! Definitely struggle by tournament by

tournament, to keep riding in there, it is something I am working on to

stay consistent. Hopefully you are wrong with that

one. I have the ability to, I think. Well, we put it to Ricky Walden he

is not fit enough. I don't think so, he ran the New York Marathon four

years ago, he is a marathon man all right, but he has hit the wall a bit

today, has Ricky, four more frames to play this afternoon. Has he got

the energy to get through in fine style? Back to Dennis and John we

go. Thank you Hazel. So it is marathon man Ricky Walden,

He has to forget about what has gone A good long pot might just restore

recce's confidence. Let us see how close he can get to

That is not what he wants to see. And he stuck the red up that he has

He could see the backhand coming out a bit. Didn't push the cue through

Well, the interval hasn't made a great deal of difference.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

Let us see if Ricky can get the long Where is this red going to finish

up? That is OK. Just erred on the safety side with that last attempt.

A little smile, just, they are both trying the so hard out there and

they just can't get a good rhythm That is an excellent shot.

That is what he is looking at, and there is no escapes available there.

And no easy I ball to just land on if he. Co-s off the side cushion.

He will have to be very very precise That is not going to get anywhere

near. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Barry

Hawkins four. So that is what can happen when you

That was a good line, but this is the trouble now, you hit that a bit

harder and it slides off the cushion a bit more.

This looks pretty good. Well played.

How close with that to the pink there? Just have a look at this.

Wow! Of course, if he had hit the pink it

would have gone back and he would have been warned. Now he is very

close to this, got to be careful he doesn't push this, it is OK striking

down but you can still push it if They are difficult shots those.

You are worried about pushing it. am not surprised he overcut it.

If he had that the correct angle it Yes, a push shot is where the tip of

the cue, the cue ball and the object ball are all in contact at the same

time. When they are that close together

you have to to make sure you get the cue away quickly.

Well, the first glance here, he may have to take this on, it is very

Pink is definitely covering all the reds downed the right hand side. He

can't see any of those. -- down.

If he takes I think he has another one he might be able to take on past

it and find the gap back down the table.

He just played to move that but he has brought the red down. He hit it

all wrong, John. Yes, just tough to describe, he has

played so well in this Championship. Just completely out of sorts in the

semifinal. It can happen and I am feeling for

him at the minute. Once he careered into the reds and

pink he could have left something easier than this, though.

He can take this on, and avoid the canon, on the two reds.

He will be OK, bound to be on a Could have done with hitting it

harder. He is a tall lad Ricky, he has quiet a reach. It looks like it

is the blue. He has had a good luck round.

That is the one to the right of that little bunch of red, does it pot? It

must do. the semifinal. He got off like a

It is all about concentration, he nearly missed that and he loses that

bit of concentration. It is amazing. That must have wobbled five or six

teems before it went in. He is pretty quick round the table

when he gets go, he is a very fluent player. I mean no player wants to

play in a session where it is as bitty as this. For Ricky to play at

his best, he needs a more fluent an open game, than at the moment he has

the pals in pretty decent position here. So he will settle himself down

if he can make a decent contribution, without losing the cue

He is a bit reluctant to play for the black, but this is helping the

situation. That has removed one of the reds that was hampering the

black. That is why he didn't play to get on black on that occasion

because there is still one more red to the left of the black spot that

That will be red, blue and then on to that red that is near the black

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 87 seconds

So he should be able to pot that and Haze with Ricky into rit here, I am

afraid we will have to take our Leigh of you on BBC Two, but don't

forget you can access the semifinal, it is on the red butt top and on

line until the end of the session. We will update row with news when