Day 15, Part 4 Snooker: World Championship

Crucible Theatre for the final session of the second semi-final. We

already have one finalist. Have a guess? Yes, he is back, the

defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan meets the winner of this match

between Ricky Walden and Barry Hawkins. I would suggest that is the

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this match. 12 all, all to play for! For Ricky Walden, this is

another game, something he has done a thousand times before. They

distort the -- not just another game, is it? It is unchartered

territory. If you can forget the scoreboard, trust your technique. A

will wipe the floor with you. Once he gets going, he is unstoppable. If

he gets agitated, then he could lose to anybody. Very unusual cue action.

He has a similar flow to Ronnie, but he has an up and down motion. A

great potter who scores very fast and very heavily. He is a player

that has maybe not fulfilled his loves running, good player.

thought he would have probably done better when he won in China, but he

has not done well for the talent he has got. He gets on with it. He is a

very fluent player. When he gets on a roll he can roll over you.

Barry Hawkins, this is the most important session of his career in

the most important venue snooker has ever had. It is one frame at a time,

one ball at a time and most and some friends used to go to the

snooker club. I went with them and fell in love. At least I was not

hanging around the streets. I think my mum and dad preferred that. I

just was down there all the time. I just wanted to get better and better

and win matches and stuff like that. That was part of the reason why I

loved it. I suppose it was the challenge I was looking for. I can

remember making my first century and missing my first century as well,

missing a black off the spot. I was trying to keep screw in for the

yellow and make a total clearance but I miscued. I think the second

time I rolled the ball in for the century. I definitely remember that.

There has been so many memories over the years. Once you get to a certain

level you have got to keep getting wetter and better, especially at the

top end of the game. -- better and better. It does not get any easier,

that is for sure. When you win big matches, the Bulls kicks in. Playing

in front of packed houses and stuff like that, that is a great buzz. You

do not get the same feeling playing your usual, you just play it because

Terrific atmosphere here in the Crucible. Last year, Ricky Walden

did not make it out of the qualifiers. Now he has the chance of

making it up a World Championship final. The players have made their

last-minute preparations. Let's join our MC. Good evening, ladies and

gentlemen. This is the best of nine to join Ronnie O'Sullivan into

moral's Betfair World Snooker Championship world final. For the

men backstage, this is the biggest moment of their lives so far. The

crowd are ready to give them a hero's welcome as we prepare once

again to get the boys on the bays. in the first two sessions but came

alive this morning, two centuries helping him to draw level. He has

already knocked out Mark Selby and Ding Junhui. Can he find one more

top-quality session of snooker and make it through to the final? His

17th year career could climax this weekend. Please welcome Barry

Hawkins! And his opponent, what a season it

has been for a player and now guaranteed a place in the world's

top eight for the first time. hadn't won a match at the Crucible

until this year and even though he has been brought back, this is still

a huge opportunity. He has been at his best for the last two weeks. The

We are all set. What a recovery Barry Hawkins has made in this

semi-final. He has beaten Mark Selby, he has beaten Ding Junhui,

has he got another big performance in him tonight? Good evening to the

commentary team, Stephen Hendry and John Virgo. Good evening everybody.

And, yes, a big night for these two Maybe they will relax because the

end is in sight. Just nine frames this evening. They started

practically three days ago. You feel out to a reception like that any

time in their career. It will get Ricky Walden plays. He was clearly

suffering at the end of the session. Clearly, the end came at a good time

for him. You can put yourself under pressure. He knows in the first two

sessions, Barry Hawkins never produced anything like his top

game. He was thinking, why is it still so close? He had its

opportunities and he has not taken them. You would think, of the two,

Barry Hawkins would be the more pleased, to be 12-12 and still not

producing the form he did against are spread. He has to be careful,

particularly with the black corner. There is a medium-range

red. First chance of the night to Ricky Walden. To date nicely. --

getting his cue action going through smooth. He would like to remove the

red near the left corner to play the black for both corner pockets sooner

foreign off to leave him on the black. -- has gone through far

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the business end but using the rest nice angle to cannon into the three

reds above the black, because it is just a bit congested in that area.

He will have to select the one on the right hand side that is sticking

out, he will have to flick that one. He plated with a bit more pace than

you would have thought. -- he played it with. Surely one of these two

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down on his cue ball to get position he been straight on the red he could

have constantly played for the pink. He will have to go for a blue or of

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but there is a bit of work to do a position where he can get through

to the black doorstop if the pink went to the right middle there would

be problem, just stun the red in. the left corner if he plays to this

to the left of the black, so a little screw as we, in over the

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into the lead for the first time in do we see that! It is not a bad

lead, though, 50 points with 51 remaining. I would suggest, as we

watch this missed red, so close. Ricky Walden will have to play safe.

With each red hit parts he has got to pop the black to be able to win

on this red? Perfect to get on the black. What a frame this would be to

steal for Ricky Walden. He has got a psychological blow in this session.

He looked like he was cruising for the first frame. That is a careless

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bottom red to develop it. Just playing the top red off the

worst. He will screw this and play topspin of two cushions. -- off two

He needs the black to win the frame at this visit. Now, the pink and the

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six remaining colours to take us to remaining colours he will get

another chance, because there will this is the most important one,

position from brown to blow. If he gets perfect on the blue it is a

formality, if not, he will have to come off the top cushion. Still a

with a lot of right-hand side to follow through off two cushions for

the black to the right corner. He can just drop the pink in and leave

a tougher black to the left corner, but we will see how he feels. He has

Ricky Walden. Barry Hawkins had a chance, just wanted one more red, he

missed it in the middle. Unfortunately, Ricky could not get

Ricky Walden won the toss. A frame that he should have had one by now,

but it is the one that most players play these days. The black tight on

the cushion means he cannot have a go at the double either. It is not

occasions, you do not want to leave your opponent a pot on, but try to

get as much distance as you can between cue ball and object ball. If

you don't, you leave your opponent there. If that black runs of the

cushion he may have got away with it, but I don't think he has. Not

sure what he had in mind there. He has left a good chance on for Barry

Hawkins to put that to the back of front for the first time in the

match. Ricky Walden had a chance, but couldn't take it. Barry Hawkins

That is a frame he should have had wrapped up. He should have, but it

was a great clear from Ricky. it came down to the final black,

Barry Hawkins could not play this any better. When you play this

shot, if you get the cue ball higher than the black, you have put him in

all sorts of trouble. There's not much can do. Ricky decided to try

and play that shot, but was struggling to keep the white ball in

the bottom half of the table. There was a possibility he could have

played at containing double kiss, but apart from that, he was in

trouble. He decided to play an aggressive attempt in the end, but

it went wrong because the white ball whipped up the table. Which begs the

question, what was he playing at? would have chipped the black on the

top rail. Psychologically, where is Ricky

Walden's head right now? He has to keep going. He knows tonight is the

best of nine. It has gone wrong with there, but he has to keep going. He

took the clearance well at BM. memorably said, don't panic. He

might well have done. I was talking about Barry! No, I think there will

be panic before the night is over. The closer we get to the finish

line, the more interesting frames we I think anything that doesn't leave

the pots are now, we have to give red to the far left corner.

Interesting to see what choice of shot Barry Hawkins plays. He has not

looked at the red to the far left he has Ricky Walden, not where he

wants him, but under pressure. He's a good match player, Barry. He will

try to him there. There is no doubt that Barry looks

the more comfortable and composed of with being behind for the first time

from Barry. Opening up the reds. It is not a bad idea to open up the

reds, but you need a better length He has not got away with it. Much

here. Keep the pressure on. At the moment, Ricky looks like the

occasion is getting the better of him. He does not look comfortable at

like this. Concentrate on your own game, but keep a note on your

opponent and how he is feeling. If he is under pressure, that gives you

an important red to get rid of, it cleared the black spot, but Ricky

would make him think, Barry Hawkins, why didn't that red them in

are quite tricky. Have to give it a positive cue action, but at the same

time not hit it too hard. Going back for the blue this time. He did not

of the pocket. Sometimes, if you are going to be the wrong side, with the

brown not on the spot, you think there would be a good chance of

coming in on the baulk. Probably too straight to force that. He will do

Maybe the red to the white -- right of the black will work, but he won't

play that. He will try to find the baulk cushion. Whatever you do,

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don't hit the blue. So, he didn't throughout the match so far, Ricky

Walden has looked the better. As he proved in the last frame when he

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corner, but so close to the cushion. deadweight. I suppose the only good

thing about having such a fine cut on the black, he will play at such a

pace, if he misses it is a good chance the black will cover the

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is available. This time he has a the reds. He may have to play the

man now. Can't see a red that is available. He has a nice angle to

come on and off the top cushion. a O'Sullivan, the way he brings the

cue right back to his hand and follows through smoothly. Excellent

ball these days, they get the cue ball claimed. Can they detect a

cake? I did not really detect one. Almost looked to be hitting the red

to fall to me. He just came slightly Hawkins comes to the table 36 points

behind. He will do well to win the the reds are not great. There is

only really the green and black at take advantage of, playing at this

importance of trying to make this clearance. Really punish Ricky for

than went on. Thought it was going to be perfect on the black. That is

what I thought and then he seemed to come off the cushion and quicker

than he went on. He is not perfect on this blackmail. -- black now. Had

to try and make the come on, but needed to catch the red first. As it

turned out, he got in behind the premature end. He did get a quick

behind the yellow, brown and blue. Just not enough pace. Just landing

on the baulk line leaves a chance hit the ball a bit better, he

accelerated there and that is why he to pot the red. A touch of

right-hand side and it will go towards the other red and maybe take

potted that red, he was looking at the possibilities of where to leave

the cue ball to play a double on probably screwed back a little bit

further than he would have liked. pocket. If he has an angle on the

behind. He is looking at the scoreboard. He needs up to and

left-handed. The pink is on the correct side of the table for him to

play that. But it will not be given this frame. Yeah, the pink is good

for a left-hander, but not the run to the side cushion is the way.

Ricky has nothing to do there, he has had his chance. Will he get

another in this frame? He will have get back to the table. It is an easy

safety. It is a difficult pot. potting angle, but I think you are

safety. If he had got in the jaws, the pink would have stayed at this

smile. He thought if he missed it he may run safe, but once the pink kiss

the black. And in it goes so Barry Hawkins now really putting Ricky

Walden under pressure. He has now always looked the most comfortable

in the balls, but he got in the balls and was looking good and then

he missed the red. He was slightly hampered by the red closes to his

hand, but he was on a roll. Obviously did not give it enough

care and attention and reacted like it was a kick, but it didn't look

like the red left the table. I would like to give him the benefit of the

doubt, but it looked like he missed it to me. You wonder now what is

going through Ricky 's head because he led all the way through this

match. Now we are in this vital final session and he lost the first

two frames. That is six in a row he has lost since the last session.

That is a lot for a player of the nature of Ricky who is fluent and

break the building. It is not as though he has not had chances. It

will be gnawing away at his have been looking for a big lead

coming into tonight's fresh -- session. To now be behind, that can

view, he can get to the red on the right-hand side of the table, but if

he can get past the yellow, he can only just about reached the baulk

line rather than the baulk cushion. He is not hitting the ball at the

corner. As far as he is concerned, he has a good cue ball. This red is

dead straight so you could take it on and potted, but you would only

get one point. I suppose it is worth while playing that, because you

would not want to play safety and leave that one for your opponent.

tried to roll the red in. He was lucky not to have (here. He was up

off the cushion, you have to be so accurate with these. Very tough

and you wonder how it went in, but as soon as it hits the top cushion,

you know it is not going to go in to me, under the pressure. The likes

of this Crucible arena. There no better place to play snooker, but no

worse to -- no worse place to be if REFEREE: Foul. That is a bit

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better option? I think so. He has the perfect angle on it. He chose

not to go into the paint. If he was going to play the cannon he may as

well have gone full-blooded, into this thread. -- to this red. He

would have got the pink into play, possibly the black, get those pinks

enough of the pink to pot it or whether he is looking down at the

baulk end. He cannot see enough of the pink. He has got to cover the

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path to this red, adjacent to the might be in trouble next time. If he

can get that cue ball somewhere where his cue is pointing out, he

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run past the brown he would be in all sorts of trouble. Just one good

safety shot could force your opponent into making a mistake. At

the moment, the safety is very have got to be looking at 90% and

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pottable, both into the right-hand He is looking at alternatives. Can

he get back to baulk? He is coming off a side cushion, just resting on

the red to the left of the yellow. Just a containing safety, and not a

have said that safety was one of Barry's strongest assets. It hasn't

been good so far. That is rich coming from me, but he has not got

that cue ball back to the bulk cushion anywhere near enough. -- the

baulk cushion. You get no points for a safety shot! And that has cost

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him. What sort of angle has got on that is that he has put the pink

safe again. He can play a cannon into the two reds and the pink if he

chooses. It is worth the risk. has decided to play on the red above

and to the right of the black, so he will have to go for a good angle on

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saying to himself after that shot. It will not be very complimentary!

think he is hoping to bring it down the table for the red just to the

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Possible pot for Barry. He is looking for a cup to bring him into

patient this choice of colour would not be a problem, but this pot is

just a little bit more difficult. Played it well. He might be able to

pop this red. -- pot this red. It would be a tall order to win the

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frame at this busy but he can get the right corner. He wants to pot

the black to the right corner and disturb the four rates at the

worse. I do not even think he is on the black. I do not know why he

didn't try and stun round of two cushions. -- off two cushions. The

pink is a lot more difficult than problem. If he plays on this red he

will run into other reds, so he is thinking he might -- so Walden is

thinking he might get to the table result of all cannons. And it does

go. The double-kiss, and look at the back to the table may have just

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angle to stand out for the reds on it for granted. Ricky Walden is

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looking at another frame slipping when he made his first break over

50, he is just staying in by hanging tough. He is getting his rewards. It

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is odds-on to have a three frame seven frames in a row and now, Harry

Hawkins becomes the hot favourite for a place in the final. - Barry

Amazing stuff, considering frame 19 Barry Hawkins made his first century

break. He has played so well. Walden has come out tonight

optimistic, because you would expect that. He has made some wrong

decisions, especially in the first frame. In the second frame, pink and

black left on the table. He made 50-50 decisions and sometimes when

they go wrong, you get punished for them. You get the feeling the

confidence is seeping through Arie Hawkins pot play tonight. -- Barry

Hawkins' play tonight. Walden can't seem to win a frame. Earlier,

Hawkins' highest rate was 36. Obviously tonight he has come out

all square. You made a point in the second frame, you told Ricky to slow

down. Perhaps you need a fraction of time to steady yourself. Ricky

Walden isn't the sort of person plays snooker slowly. I might have

gone out to the toilet at the end of with Terry Griffiths. Is that what

he brings to a player, this concentration? It is easy to listen

to someone who has been there and done it. He was a world champion.

Barry Hawkins moving ever closer to the final. Still plenty of time to

Ronnie in the final! Something I have felt throughout this much, for

both players this is the biggest match of their careers, a place in

the final. I think they have had the feeling, if they have just not made

any silly mistakes, they could win. Whoever gets into the final

well-known that they can only bring their a game if they get the chance.

In a way that takes a bit of pressure off. These two players were

very nervy in the first two sessions and I agree with what John Parrott

said, Walden should have gone on from there. He had his old Paul and

not playing well, highest break 36. It was frame 18 before Hawkins made

a break over 50. Funnily enough, he lost that frame. If he loses this

much he has only himself to blame. He should have been clear after

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have this replaced. There you see it, the gap. It is a thin one but it

without much pace. You should take every half chance that comes along

now. He played that as if it was a get this red away from the black

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spot. He could not have hit that on the yellow. He struck it really

well. This is the screw shot. It brings back with all of that

on that shot and will be disappointed. He should have had a

better angle on the blue than this. That is what caused the miss. In a

way, he is very lucky. If the blue had not come across and knocked the

Whiting, he would have left a nice easy starter for his opponent. I

think the blue may have gone in the pocket. I was watching Ricky Walden

talking away to himself. He thinks the world is against him at the

this frame. I think it goes without saying, that Ricky has got to win

it. If Barry Hawkins wins it, he will be one frame away from a place

in the final. The way this evening session has panned out, I think it

would be too much for Mickey while -- Ricky Walden to claw back. He has

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he would have left a sitter on for Barry. The whites just managed to

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baulk cushion here. Played it well. side of the path to cover the baulk

long as this in their careers. He doesn't fancy this line. He will try

think Ricky Walden is thinking the world is against him here. Barry has

not left a pot on the. Hit it much too hard. Nearly touching, but not

play another good safety. Hope that the next time your opponent makes a

for Ricky Walden to win, that swimming lane will be so tough to

get over for Barry Hawkins. And for Ricky if he gets that far. To get to

the final of the world championship, huge pressure to get over the

not bad. I think he has an angle to come down for the red. It was a good

part and he found a good line. I think he thought he may be running

into another red. As you say, he has its spots, but it is too risky.

Having said that, can he get a good the pink. Just another couple of

rolls needed. Can he hold for the pack. That would be a positive shot.

sometimes. It will be more frustrating now that the pink is on

the blackspot. The red he is closest to is pottable. It is. But the red

he wanted to be on, I think he has just run a little bit too far. I

know he is close to it. When you are close, sometimes it is difficult to

judge the potting angle. He is playing the one along the cushion, I

would rather the one he is closing rather than shots for something. I

think he has chose that thinking, if I missed it I won't leave anything.

He needs to think more positive. don't see any point in taking the

part on if that is where you would leave the cue ball. I would rather

is what happens when you are just not finding the middle of the cue

ball with the tip of your cue. Report and into -- and intentional

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taken. There is a chance here for might know what he is saying. Barry

staring down at the floor. It was a poor pink he played there. Once it

was careering towards the red, he was lucky he did not split them all

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ball he played has careered into the reds. But once again, not left

anything easy. Apart from the easy like to leave the cue ball. A lot of

people walk up to the baulk end and see where they would not like to

play the next shot from. As far as I am concerned, with any of these

shots, find the baulk cushion and the Titanic. Then nothing will be

difference. When that cue ball is tight against the cushion, you can't

put any side on it or widen the angle. He can put side on this if he

time this evening, Barry, he is well short of his intended target, which

if he plays the runthrough? He can only red he could leave was the one

he was playing. As I say, he was just frightened that if he hit it

too thin on the right-hand side, he could have run into the cluster. I

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don't think this reds just above the negative shots to play. I agree.

Particularly as he could have screwed the cue ball back to the top

cushion. Whoever gets the cue ball tight to the top cushion here is in

control of this. Having said that, as it happens, it has not turned out

to bad because he has hampered him the corner pocket is a good place.

Again, try to get tight on the couple of attempts to bring the

black into play. Ricky can get to the bottom of this cue ball, so he

to the left corner pocket, it stops Ricky playing the shot. There are

enough he will have the red behind the brown to play for, but that is a

over the left corner pocket. Obviously could not get to that

position where he was, but he has given Ricky chance. If he could get

this cue ball behind the black, he would have the initiative in this

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into the yellow. Misjudged it. I am sure he has left a pot on here.

Barry Hawkins ten points behind. A chance to the far left corner.

be interesting to see how positive he plays this. For a colour or does

that pace and be that accurate, was session and he would be one frame

this pink. A little shake of the head there, so that tells me he is

reds to the right of the pink would have been available easily if he had

had a better angle. He managed to play a stand. He has played it very

careful. These two reds, when he pots the left-hand one, he does not

want to knock the other one safe against the cushion. That is why he

played it firmer to bring the reds on and off the cushion. Of course,

what happens? He is hampered for the pink, but he always knew he would

have the blue as a reserve. Had to play at farm, did not want the red

honesty. The blow with a thin cut. Once you pottable saying it is

having a little laugh to himself. He is an angry man in that chair at the

minute. You can't play your best scoreboard. He still means three of

these reds. As long as you are with high valued colours, a but he is not

certain to get high valued, -- semi-final. Jacqueline Zaleski is

one of the up and coming players, one in the world. And then Ding

Junhui, seventh ranked player in the world. He has had a tough time of

it. When this match first started, you thought maybe it has taken a bit

out of him is he really struggled. But he has hung on in there and now

looks certain to go within one frame of a place of the final comes the

midsession in -- midsession the midsession interval in a place

that no player likes to be. He led 12-8. Halfway through this vital

eight frames in a row. Is there can take Barry's eyes off the prize,

Selby and Ding Junhui, he was the underdog. Perhaps it was not under

too much pressure. I thought in the semi-final maybe there was a lot of

sessions, but he is coming through the right time. Ricky Walden only is

the arena. Where is his next frame going to come from? Barry Hawkins is

now one frame away from a place in Hawkins so far. When he won the

Australian open, he said that hopefully that when was going to

inspire him. This fella, he can't miss and yet he was so scrappy when

he started. They always say you have some session at the Crucible where

things do not go right. He had two of them at the start, but he climbed

in. 9-7 behind, he must have thought he can't play any worse than that.

don't think I have ever seen a semi-final match turnaround as much.

Not in my memory. Where one guy looked like the winner at the start

and the other guy looked totally out of the water and all of a sudden it

turnaround. It just shows you what can happen. We go back to the break

of 140 is this morning. It seemed to settle him down. Yes. A high break

of 36 at 8-6 down? That is not Barry Hawkins. He was obviously

struggling. Tonight he started to hit the ball better. Looking at

Ricky's body language. We got a shot of his hand over his face, what

happens now? Will he have somebody to inspire him? Yes, he will have,

but the trouble is, they will be distraught as well. The atmosphere

in the room will be pretty depressing. A feeling as if you have

just blown a chance. All of a sudden thinking back to how many frames you

were in front and next minute it has turned around. It is tough to get a

player back up and firing on all cylinders. Ricky Walden has it all

to do. Let's bring you up-to-date with this remarkable story of Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He had a year out as the gale and is bidding to become the

first man since leaving Hendry to successfully defend his world title.

They ended the session yesterday with Ronnie O'Sullivan leading by

14-10. We will pick it up with Judge the only red he could lead was the

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would have liked to have been closer black pass the blue? Just about. Or

he can get on the blue. It would be nice to get the blue out of the way,

get it back on its own spot. I think it is so important for Judd Trump to

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stuns and screws, quite comfortable at the moment. The ball does not

have to travel great distances, which makes the next shot easier.

The problems will come when he starts playing for those three roads

near the top cushion. -- those three reds. Do you play the cannon or for

the loose red? He has the perfect angle to play the cannon if he

wishes. Will he risk it? That was the shot he could have played.

You'll have to get himself back into that position to be able to do that.

cannon he could have played a couple of shots ago. He needed to head that

on the other side. He may still have shots along the cushion are

somewhere in between the two reds. You might not be able to get too

close to it. Brian is the better ball for position. Three cushions,

and right in between the reds. What about this for a positional shot?

That has been one of his great strengths. His positional play has

positional shot. Onto the yellow, and he could take this opening

frame. Has Judd Trump missed his chance in the spring? -- in this

frame? You cannot see Ronnie Messing has played in the World Championship

this year, he won the opening frame. cannot afford to miss a chance

against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the it. I am not sure if this red cuts.

It is a thin one. It is the easier option. If he can cut the red in the

middle he would prefer to play that. He will have to trust a little bit

to look for the positional colour. You cannot be sure of the path of

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three raids in possible positions. -- 31 point + and three reds in

back to the World Championship and get to the finals since the Darling

in Dublin did it in 1997. It is going to happen. Judd Trump, every

credit to the young man, he has battled away. Ronnie O'Sullivan has

raised his game. OK, no big 100s, but boy, has he been an tar stick.

This has been one of the best matches ever. The only thing that

has spoiled it has it not being closer. That is enough. Every credit

to Judd Trump, but Ronnie O Sullivan, absolutely superb. He is

in the final to defend his title. He achievements in your career? If you

had asked me that at the start of the tournament I would have said it

would be amazing. Once you get involved and you get Mrs under your

belt, you get confidence and belief and you start to realise it is just

a game it is just the same for everybody and what has gone before

does not matter that much. What would it mean to become the first

player since 1996 to successfully defend the crime? It would be great.

But like any tournament, I enjoy playing, I enjoyed the competition.

Obviously, the pressure is more intense. In some ways, this is more

difficult to enjoy but it is one of those to have on your CV so five is

better than four. The other day you said this would perhaps be the last

time you were at the Crucible. Any second thoughts on that? No, not

really. It was the throw of the dice with me. It has been a good

experience. I will still play smaller events. If it suits me to

play then I will play. You can never say never. Things always change.

This result doesn't change what I said before. We will see. It is just

watch. You could have sold tickets times over to see that. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has been better than Judd Trump in every department. His

safety play was immaculate. He did not make a century but made

top-class safety shots. You spoke to him, how is he? I did an interview

with him. He was pretty candid. It is good to get an insight into how

he fears about the tournament. It puts every player through a lot. It

gives us inside about how he feels about his own standard. I tell you

what has been revealing, the way he is around the arena. He is in their

punching the air. He enjoys the location but not the pressure with

the Crucible. He has come back to the hardest tournament to make a

comeback in. He has, into the first one. -- into the worst one. It is

the most difficult one to win. have also been talking about

pressure this evening. Terry Griffiths, the 1979 world champion,

and his roll in Barry Hawkins' recovery tonight. He will talk us

through pressure. People often ask me what it is like being a

professional player and how I handled the pressure. I have tried

to describe my anguish, but the words fall short. I turned

professional in 1978. I wanted to find out if I could compete against

the best players in the world. I set myself a target of three years and

if I failed, I would go back to work. Little did I know at the time

that I was going to experience, in my first season, a trip to the Guild

Hall in Preston. I somehow managed to lose 9-8. I did not feel

anything. I wanted to say, well done, but nothing came out. There

was an emptiness inside me that had didn't my mind. It was a horrible

defeat, overwhelming, because of its potential impact. The career I had

looked forward to was in jeopardy but also because of self-inflicted,

almost suicidal, the way I lost. This is the moral equivalent of war,

the stress, wear and tear, and assault on a person's spirit and

self-esteem are incredible. It takes and a bit -- individual to the outer

limits of their capabilities and may provide one of the ultimate studies

in people because it is such a volatile and emotionally draining

experience. Unless you have experienced this type of emotional

shock and the bleak interior landscape it creates it is hard to

comprehend the impact. The memory never leaves you and act as a

positive and negative force, sparing you to work harder, while also

creating a fear inside that it might happen again. On 27th of April 1979,

I beat Dennis Taylor 24-16 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and

was crowned the champion of the world. It happened only because at

the moment of deepest despair, I had the strength to stand and confront

the future instead of wallowing in the past. Many cannot summon the

strength, they cannot get up, their fight is over. Victory goes to

another, a stronger competitor. Ambitions can be gruelling and

hazardous and produce agonising failure along the way. Achieving

those goals is among one of life's most gratifying experiences. The

ability to overcome the former to obtain the latter is a fundamental

difference between winners and he is looking for is one good chance

to get over the line. -- all he is looking for. Whenever the winning

post is looming large, can he get over it? We feel for Ricky Walden,

because he has got to try and drag of all his fans. He is facing defeat

in the biggest match of his life. mood. They have been battling it out

just short of ten and a half are as -- ten and a half hours. You never

know what will happen in sport. frame for victory and you feel if

you do not win the match in the first frame, you get edgy. He will

be looking to finish as quickly as can be hard to affect the run of the

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cue ball. The case put him out of play this red to the right corner

and hold for the pink. If he can, he should take it on. Can he get

through to play the green? He tried to hold it. Maybe if it had just

kissed the red that had run by, he might have been forward on the pink.

I think he must be snookered on the path to the green. I don't know...

Poking at that, it looks as though he can get to the side cushion but

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the black as a stopper for the red. has done that a few times tonight,

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hit the safety toothache. -- to Ricky Walden. You just cannot hit a

safety shot correctly. -- he just the pink is possible. He obviously

does not want to take this risk on in such an important frame. In a way

he is in a constable position. You never thought that, when he was 12-8

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behind. Now he just has to be moment, he just seems to be jabbing

at the ball a little bit. When you play with a trace of side, that is

just going to push into the object ball. He is not heading its move at

the moment. - not hitting it smooth. The chance of a medium-range long

pot for Barry Hawkins but looks like become too cautious or it can affect

such a lovely cueist and makes the game look easy, but he is not

playing well at the moment. Well, he has got people on his side, willing

on its own spot after this? It is going to have to go into the black

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red he is going to have to go up to That could not have worked out

better. He has got the pink to work on. He is just happy to get his hand

pink to pot it. Maybe disturbs a cluster of four. It is never easy to

do it off the pink. You have to find the absolute perfect angle. He has

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cleaned, but he seemed to be up very terrific effort. Just needed to stay

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red on the left-hand side of the table. Playing on the left-hand side

more go. If he does not get it this occasion, but he has left a red on.

Just put that little bit of extra pace into the cue ball and it sprang

a red into a pottable position. Flicked off that one and then

knocked that one away from the could have got a heavy contact.

He is going to complain -- play an shot not to get in the cue ball too

much. He is trying to go all the way round as he did before. He has got

the good line again, an excellent definitely be made. It looks like he

is playing the red that is pottable. A good part and he has a decent

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developed the red, he get position He has a chance at the pink. Right

middle, far right corner. The pink will put him 63 points in front with

long time. He lost eight frames in a come back to the table. Ricky would

have liked to have potted that got he does really, doesn't he? That

just confirms, I don't think Barry Hawkins will bother coming back to

matter, the frame is over. You get to a point in the match where you

think, well, I have lost so it can relax you. He played a few poor

safety shots earlier on, did Ricky. Barry refused a few long pots. When

he did go for one, he missed it. It has been Ricky who has dictated the

have the balls on and you want to pot them, but you are thinking about

the next frame. Well, there you go. It has taken a long time. He was

12-8 in front. Eight frames in a row he stopped the rot at least and

winds that frame. He is back within three, but Barry Hawkins still only

needs one frame for a place in the in at the minute, but if he can keep

putting pressure on Barry, the longer it goes on before a chance

comes the more pressure. He has a lot of support tonight. Yes, and

that would have inspired them. If he can make Barry Hawkins squirm he

does not necessarily have to go out attacking. He can perhaps make it

hard for Barry Hawkins without having to go for every 50-50 shot.

He is a long way back, but he has a chance. We discussed that Barry

Hawkins has begin tense matches. Is that the reason why he has hauled

himself back into this match? found some form, simple as that.

Walden was helping the referee set the balls up as though he really

all out attack. He played the right intimidate Barry a little bit, but

the black into the open. He has no time to think about playing culture

safe and trying to scramble over the line. Get the coloured balls in play

and then, if you get a chance, it has really played it to the pack and

screwed back. This one opens the reds out. Not quite got the cue ball

then this second red of the plant has a long way to travel to the far

tricky blackmail. Talk about it. You would think, for Ronnie you

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of tempters to each centre pocket. A were to knock some of them in, it

three frames. When it gets to a cushion of only two, perhaps you can

reverse. He is not playing the safety. It looks like he has made a

good job of it. He left a red near the far right corner. There is a Reg

to the left middle. Also not type of situation tried to pot his

it was, but he has under heated slightly. He has left pots on, but

made it difficult leaving the cue ball near the cushion. Whoever got

in here, you would expect at least if you don't win the match in the

first frame you start to get a bit twitchy.

We have shown the statistics, he had not potted a ball for 29 minutes. It

of the table, in the baulk and, just concentrate on the baulk colours and

the belief of the time being. I don't see any value in coming down

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can make. Barry Hawkins was probably in his dressing room trying his

hardest not to think ahead that he has won the match. It has given

Ricky Walden the chance to clear his mind. A complete reversal to what

was happening before the interval. It looks like Barry that is a little

nicely there though. That is all you want to do in the situations, think

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down for the black. He cleared most think about getting a nice angle on

the back to play a cannon into the red and pink. Bring the red and pink

interplay and then he would not need the two awkward reds on the

It is OK, just screw off the side cushion for the red in the middle.

He would've just liked angle to the black and finishing dead

reds, two colours. This red is easy enough. He looks to have an angle

where he can play for the black. Now is miserable. -- anything is

unmissable at this stage of the match. The red next to the pink may

part into the green pocket. He has approach. He has bought one of those

play a red safety shots off the side here is over think this situation.

He has three awkward reds, a 53 nudging the black towards the top

cushion. Makes things even more awkward, should Barry get an

then. It looked as though he was going to get a double kiss.

I wonder if there is any value thinking. At the moment, Barry has a

what stopped the cue ball running through as he would have liked. He

just get the feeling at the moment that Barry is not going to be

tempted by anything too difficult. You can't see him taking on the red

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horrible safety shot, so I can't see him taking this on. Can he trickle

in behind and play the snooker? No, he could not get in behind so he

into playing a safety. The red that is near the right middle pocket, if

that is not possible, he needs to be careful it does not run into the

green. Once again, he has just avoided a double kiss. There is a

gap between green and blue and there is a pot. If he knocks this in he

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be a free and if he knocks it in. -- a free when. Good pot, right in the

remaining. If he parts the black he will go 60 points in front. Snooker

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will be needed. If he plays the pink four blacks, he can tie. That is a

tall order. I could not refuse the cut on the black. The black to leave

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your opponent needing eight snooker, adjacent to the black spot area. As

long as he covered the yellow it was going to be a decent shot. The red

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behind the black is the only one important that he covers the one on

the right-hand side of the table near the baulk, otherwise he will

leave an easy shot for his opponent. It is made more difficult by the

fact that he has come so close to red? No, he hasn't. I think this is

worth taking on. It is straight. He only needs the red, pots the red, he

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only needs to snooker is required. normal safety shot would be of the

-- off the red near the baulk line. He is thinking, he does not want to

that and get position on the black. That is probably the best result he

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won't bother coming back to the nowhere, is flying his way back in

this match. -- is clawing his way back in. He is back to within two

three frames. It is funny how it reverts and the psychology changes.

One minute you cannot when, all of a sudden, he is planning a bag. The

winning line is still there for Barry Hawkins and he still can't get

over it. How tough is that? You know you are one frame away from a World

Championship final. It is not the worst feeling as a snooker player.

The worst is having a bad session and not thinking you have done

justice to yourself. The feeling out there, when you feel as if you have

stalled and the other guy comes back, you feel like all eyes are on

every shot you play. You feel like you have got to fight, and the fact

that people are waiting for another mistake and you are thinking, if I

missed this, the crowd will react, and it is hard to get those things

out of your mind and play competitively. You start to

anticipate your own misses if you are not careful. Strength of

character comes into the equation, doesn't it? Massively so. 16-14 is

never quite as bad. 16-15 is the last time he breaks off this

evening. If he breaks off again, it will be a decider. When we went to

the mid-session interval, it looked like the end of the race. Whoever he

spoke to at the interval or met up with has done a good job. They have

got his mind back on track. He seems to have got his focus back on what

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perfect angle on the yellow. It is down the right-hand side of the

to 16 frames that he has got there first. He has an angle to disturb

He was frightened, maybe, of screwing too far back and finishing

your location. That is why I would favour following the cue ball

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through. There is so much more problem, a big target on one

condition. He just has to be careful right-hand side but it is fraught

with danger. He can get through to the reds, just on the left-hand side

of the paper. It is one of those, you have got to catch it very thin.

As I say, going down the other side of the table, back to baulk, is

pink there was an age, but that is too had a shot. He has to be careful

not to run into the black. In an effort to avoid the Blackie said a

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pink and black are out of angle on the blue. After the next

red he has to get an angle on the blue to go into the pink. There are

two open reds, but they could be could bring the pink into play. Does

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he feel he has a good enough angle pink one at the moment. It blocks up

to reds and will not halt its self like this in his career. What an

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knew it would kiss the other red and give him control of the cue ball. He

needs to run past the blue, and he has done it and it seems perfect.

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The chance is there for frame and ball? Another red, another blue. He

has played at inch perfect. It looks as though Barry Hawkins is booking

sessions, he didn't play anything like you can play but he stuck at

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it. This morning he was by far the nicely on the pink. Ricky Walden

will be very, very disappointed. He led throughout the match. There were

difference, 35 remaining. He will have to suffer a bit longer. To

snooker is needed. -- two snookers needed. It will be very difficult

for Ricky Walden to win it, but if he were to get snooker and out of

that snooker got the bonus of a free ball, one snooker would be

Walden to get over losing this match.

This is the biggest tournament in the game by a long way. What a

chance he has had to go all of the evening, it is a daunting prospect

to play Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final, but what an occasion.

He has beaten Ding Junhui, got to the final and will have nothing to

lose. He could just go out, easier said than done, to enjoy it. What an

occasion to play the best player of the world over two days at the

Crucible. Yes, it would be a dream come true. If he knocks this red, it

will be a reality. In its goes! What a big sigh of relief because there

must have been times during this match that Barry Hawkins thought he

had blown it completely. He stuck in their, he hung on when a lot of

people would have let their heads Ricky Walden wants to shake his hand

and he says that is enough. Great sportsmanship. Ricky Walden will be

upset that it did not take advantage. Look at the delight on

Barry Hawkins. Great competitor. Now he is in the final at the Betfair

World Snooker Championship. Ricky Walden will go away disappointed and

it will take him awhile to get over it, he has two days to look forward

to Barry Hawkins. He is in the final! He beat Ricky Walden by

Hawkins. And in brace from Terry Griffiths. Terry said to me earlier,

the most important frame is the next frame. You get the feeling that

mentality is what Barry Hawkins took into the Crucible this evening.

had persistence all the way through that. He has ended up being the

winner. 6-2 he was down after the first session, but somehow he has

fought his way back. At one stage, he did not look like the same player

from previous rounds. Ricky Walden got off to an incredibly great art.

There were couple of frames that got scrappy. Perhaps that helped to some

degree. It really looked like Barry Hawkins would be down and out. To

turn it around, what a fantastic performance. Spare a thought for

Ricky Walden. He walked off quietly.

Burial Hawkins is waiting to talk to Bob Walker.

You almost look shellshocked. can't believe it, I really can't. I

feel like I am in a dream. I am so over the moon, it is unbelievable.

Things like this don't happen to me, to be honest. Well, they do now.

think everyone appreciates what an emotional moment this is. You have

been a pro for 17 years and it took you five years to win your first

match of the Crucible. You knocked out Mark Selby, took apart Ding

Junhui, how did you get back into this match? To be honest, I don't

know. The way I started off, I lost my game completely. I didn't settle

at all. I kept digging deep and so many things, setbacks, you know. I

just sort don't give up and I kept fighting. All of a sudden, things

started turning round and I found my game again. I started playing

better. I will need to play even better, but I just can't believe it.

I don't know how much more I can take. You have to come back out and

do it all tomorrow. You had a massive reception. I think people

appreciated how you dug deep, but there must be so many emotions in

your mind and so many people who have helped cheer on this unexpected

journey. I can't thank everyone enough, to be honest. My manager,

everyone. My coach Terry has been unbelievable. Everyone back at

home, I know they are supporting me. My family, everybody. It has been a

long, hard road. Now everybody has been rewarded. Everyone will be

buzzing. I have nothing to lose tomorrow now. I will go out there

and enjoy it. You never know, see what happens. It is important to

remember, tomorrow is about you as well as Ronnie O'Sullivan. We will

see you in the final tomorrow see you in the final tomorrow

What a lovely interview. We have had some wonderful iconic images at the

snooker championship this year. That has to be one of them. Let's look at

the head-to-head between our meetings. His last win was in 2008.

The Rocket 's biggest win and 9-1 victory. They have never met here at

the championship. Terrific stuff. These are live shots of Barry in the

dressing room. He is absolutely over the moon. Going back to iconic

images, I think about when he punched the air when he realised he

had beaten Selby. These are lovely pictures. What a feeling he has got

there. He said in the interview he had no game for the first two

sessions and he has come back and got rewards for sticking in there.

He won his first ranking open in July 2012. What a season. That is

right, he has come of age. He has always been a hard worker. He has

one small problem ahead, he has to get to sleep tonight. Honestly, he

needs to find something to do for a few hours because his brain will be

buzzing away. Do a crossword, listen to music, something.

He just said, he is buzzing. From his perspective, he deserves

everything he has got. How you get up for the final, you have to try

and enjoy it. When it starts again, you have another mountain to climb.

What is incredible, you have Ricky Walden who had the fantastic start

and we questioned whether Barry had run out of puff because he had big

games. We thought he would run out of energy. He probably had for a

couple of sessions. He did not settle into the venue well and then

got to grips in the third frame. All of a sudden he started making a

couple of centuries. You could see that Ricky was finding it difficult

and then he went on that run. It was a fantastic performance. A study in

persistence. Any young players who think you can't come back from being

behind, there is an example. Do you think the break of 140 was

the turning point? It may have been, but it may have been that Ricky

could not extend his lead. What mattered the most, Barry found an

extra gear and Ricky didn't. It doesn't matter how you start the

match, it is how you finish. We all know how tough the game is. Ricky

Walden will know the same way. Ricky Walden, we have to speak about

him. Lovely pictures of him in Barry's dressing room. Two proper

lads and to proper professionals. will take some effort to beat

O'Sullivan. I agree. We have our finalists. One the O'Sullivan taking