Day 17, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

To been working out that trophy at the end of 17 days, you have got to

be a very special snooker player indeed. You are the master of the

world. That is why I wanted to become a snooker player, to come to

the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, and lift that a beautiful trophy.

very few people get to kiss that lady on top of the trophy and when

you do, you never forget it. thought that it belonged to me, it

was my trophy, it was my championship. I hated anyone else

of winning it, even now. When you become the world champion you want

to give that beautiful little lady a kiss, and say, you're mine, for

Good evening from the Crucible Theatre on one of the great Nice in

British sport. Tennis has Roger further up, darts has Phil Taylor,

but snooker as Ronnie O'Sullivan, and he is on the verge of something

extra-special this evening. After her year-long sabbatical the return

of the Rocket could culminate inner 5th world title. What can be 18-1

shot Barry Hawkins do to stop him? We are in the final session of this

Betfair World Championship. The us is the story so far. One, the

dominant force in the game, I Goliath of the green baize,

defending his championship. other, a giant killer, a fearless

contender, and certainly up for the fight. Barry struggled to settle.

Ronnie had the cue ball on a string. Suddenly it was 2-0. And then the

hawk it took the three frames on the spin. The Rocket reeled for the

first time in the tournament. But he exploded into life, producing

back to back centuries, and led by three. Then the finest snookers

session of the championship. I and the evening session provided drama

to match. Barry showed resolve, digging deep and levelling at 7-7.

Ronnie looked rattled. How would he respond? Like a champion -2 more

century breaks. Then, Ronnie O'Sullivan took a dramatic final

frame to lead 10-7 overnight. Barry Hawkins could not afford to lose

those final frames if he wanted to inflict those final scars. So ended

along to O'Sullivan, the greatest front runner in the game. How will

split the opening two frame so was an astonishing clearance from

Ronnie, and he was four up. Barry responded forcefully, to give his

fans hope. By the Rocket hit the afterburners and then powered on to

his 6th century break of the final, I knew Crucible record. So, can

Barry win it, or is this Ronnie's Einstein said time was an illusion

but on the biggest day of your career, it is nothing of the sort.

From the moment the last ball drops in the afternoon, time is your on

the reality. On the clock, it marches forward, second by second,

minute by minute. A but in the mind, anticipation slows it, and fear

makes it past in a rash. You think you're killing time, but sometimes,

it is time that is killing you. can be your friend on the macro

enemy. But, whatever the speed of your own reality, the Crucible

clock is still ticking. A quarter- century of routine, as easy war

hour, approaches. -- zero-hour. Your past, present and future are

about to collide in the famous arena, and the question is, has

Ladies and gentlemen, please will MUSIC: "Beautiful People" by Chris

And now, please welcome the defending champion, the Rocket,

MUSIC: "Let Me Entertain You" by Ronnie needs just three more frames

to claim back-to-back world titles. Barry Hawkins has a possible 10

more frames to try and do in things around. Ready for action in the

commentary box we have the seven- times world champion Stephen Hendry,

and Mr Maximum himself, Willie The climax of this year's Betfair

world's snooker championship. -- He could have been much closer. But

every time O'Sullivan's back has been against the wall, he has

been against the wall, he has Mathematically, it has not been

Foul, Barry Hawkins, four. He does not appear to have done any damage.

He missed a long pod by quite a long way, but was unlucky to have

This first frame is huge for Barry, if he wants to, at the very least,

take this final into the second session. We have known that Barry

Hawkins has been a great player for a long time but, this final, he has

proved to everybody that he is a That is an excellent reply from

O'Sullivan. I hope that Barry can take all the positives from this

World Championship. He can be a multiple winner, not just one

ranking tournament. Taking this pod on just below the pink spot.

Normally that would be enough to be in front in the match but, when you

are playing a Ronnie O'Sullivan that is not enough. They have

played 25 frames and he has still got and 94% potting success rate.

Incredible, really. He needs the blue or yellow to come to his

rescue. There may be a gap, not.. - He had no problem getting back into

baulk, so he is going to roll up for an end-off. -- in-off. Well

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 68 seconds

If he had missed that the cue ball was careering into the reds and it

certainly could have been a frame- winning opportunity. Takes

incredible conference to pot them. A perfect angle on the green, he

can put the cue ball where he wants, The red to the middle, hampered

In the end, he did well to pot this. Have to concentrate on the pot,

couldn't play position. To get the right side of the blue. You have

Stephen mention, he had to go up for a baulk colour. If the red

above the black pots to the corner pocket, he has got every chance of,

and a few shots time, bringing that black into play. He will have to

Needs to put the breaks on. -- brakes. If the cue ball had stopped

at two of three inches before that he would have been able to get onto

He has done very well. He didn't have the angle to get this close to

the black. He really had to nip the cue ball, there. There was a prime

example of a player playing off the jaw of the pocket, that is how well

these players can play when they He's perfect on the red to the

right hand corner and he is looking for a chance to get top side of the

He didn't quite get it just right. Unless he can pop this yellow, that

could be end of break. -- pot this yellow. From the red to the left

hand corner, that is where he can get back on to the black. He needs

That really was a fantastic shot with the rest. The control of the

cue ball. Keeps it so still, gets such a straight line, and match,

this is a frame-winning opportunity, after that shot. The only

department that Barry is not complete in his break-building. He

has had more table time than Ronnie O'Sullivan in this match, 51% of

table time. He has to start to make every chance a frame-winning chance.

He will be very disappointed if he 52 point lead. So two more reds and

blacks and he will have done what he needed to do, as Stephen said,

in front of this packed Crucible crowd. Looking good, Stephen.

us is fabulous. Fantastic long red. He has capitalised on at superbly.

-- on that. We can show you this long red again. That was a must-

make shot. And the crowd a plot that he has got Ronnie was Solomon

in the snookers required situation. -- applaud that he has got Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the snookers-required It is a sign of the respect and

Ronnie is giving Paris that he still feels the need to raise a

gear or to stay in front. -- is I mentioned that he needed to

improve his winning a frame at one visit, and he has done that man. He

has only had one century in this match, fabulous break of 133. You

can see this red struggling. Well This is when you produce your best

snooker, live, Monday night, the final session of the World

Championship. There was no better place to play your best snooker.

never found out, Stephen, but I will have to agree with you,

because you obviously did it on so Will play it, Barry Hawkins! This

century warmly appreciated by the This ties the record four centuries

in the final. That, just to remind Stephen, was the game between Ebdon

He will do well to get past the middle pocket from this pink. So

much so, he may be doubling the black. Or trebling. It's close,

it's really close! That is the way to opened the evening session of

the final. The gap closes to four It is amazing. So many people

expected a walkover for Ronnie O'Sullivan. Barry Hawkins is giving

as good as EDS. If that doesn't get the juices flowing, nothing will.

You have to take your hat off to Barry Hawkins, he is enjoying every

minute of it. Ronnie O'Sullivan thought he was not going to be in a

fight, but he has got another think coming. Barry Hawkins has laid down

a marker, that was a great start. And Ronnie has never flinched when

Barry Hawkins has come back at him, he always seems to have had an

extra gear. That is what we have seen time and time again in this

match. He has a bit of breathing space, but Barry Hawkins has been

underrated for most of his career. We will not be under rating him

from here on in. But Ronnie O'Sullivan can move up through the

gears, but he has got to do it once again. Describing what it is like

as one of the Gladiators coming into this arena on the final night.

It is very special. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It

is like a good race horse, like Frankel. Every time that he gets

close to Ronnie's quarters, he Can Barry win two or three frames

in a row? That would put the cat amongst the pigeons. We would see

how Ronnie would react to that. It is easier said than done. Two

cushions to lie at the bottom of REFEREE: Touching ball. He will be

hoping to finish on the blue, or He made sure that by putting that

little bit of side on it. And it sprung off the cushion, with loads

of side. Because the red was near the blue he did not want to risk

playing for the blue. He couldn't have done it better. It was not a

tough escape, to get that cue ball safe. Such an innocuous shot. And

It looks like the pink might have to go on the black spot, which

should not be a problem for Ronnie. Looks like the red on the pink spot

will pot, so you might be reluctant to pot the pink. He might rather

put the pink at the play. Weaving that red there leaves the pink in

open play on the black spot. Incredible movement and Ronnie gets

with very little power. The top of his cue comes right back to his

thumb, which enables him to get That was a shot you did not see

coming. If this red is on the Well done. He screwed into the pack

this afternoon, but this is not a pack you can screw into, is it?

has the red to the left, if he stands into that one, that is the

shot to play. The cue ball can come back towards him. He has played

that perfectly. He has been unlucky if he is not on one year. -- here.

How good did he hit this, and not He has an angle on the green that

is perfect to go into the bunch from one cushion. I think that is

the shot to play. It is a big He would have expected the pink and

black to come into play at same time. He has made two eight shots

in the state and not been watered. -- great shots in this break and

Excellent shot. Just screwed off the second red. He can play off one

cushion and can in the red closest That is a very good. It has put one

There are a lot of reds to miss here when he is playing for the

pink or the black. Well done. It would not be a bad idea to hold the

spot. But if he screws back one inch its should be OK. Still a

chance, we have the balls are at the moment. -- where. Nothing is

more hurtful than when your opponent misses an easy shot and

you clear the table. How on earth does he miss this? Slightly

But you are right. If Barry Hawkins wins this frame from here, although

we have seen before - as soon as he gets close, Ronnie O'Sullivan pulls

away - but he is asking the question. Looking as good as he has

in the whole tournament. Did not play particularly well until the

last few frames of the semi-final but this is undoubtedly his best

performance of the championship, It is worth playing a little short

on the red and black. But he may play for a deal was red. Stephen? -

The problem with playing for the one in the open is that if you do

not get on it it might have been your only chance to get on a red.

He does not want to be straight. He needs they bounce. Fortunately the

red in the opposite corner is not straight. But these are tough. The

This, now, the beck shot. -- the If this was a Ronnie O'Sullivan,

quite rightly we would be giving all the praise in the world. So

this is a phenomenal Snooker From It is all about the black and the

red. In a couple of shots he will have to find a way of bringing one

of these reds into play. But he is pre- -- playing brilliantly at the

He needs another red and colour. Where does the next red come from

It would be nice to get an angle on He has come too far across the

table. He will just play for the He has got to lead an angle. Needs

a bounce. And he has got one. This is huge. The first time he has

punished Ronnie O'Sullivan for an -- miss. Brilliant. How he has made

Brilliant snooker. That is all you Ronnie O'Sullivan will carry on

should he miss this, so he could do He has to be careful. He is looking

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 68 seconds

As always on the finals night, the gentleman that he is, he will let

Ronnie O'Sullivan did not score in the first frame, he has only scored

18 points in this frame, but he missed a very easy red. Yet when he

has looked in danger he has suddenly made a century. Well, the

red would not go in but are fabulous start from Barry Hawkins.

15-12. The gap was five, now it is three. He is playing the match of

his life. If it was not Ronnie O'Sullivan, but somebody else, they

would be thinking, what do I have to do to put this guy to bed? He

keeps coming back at me. Ronnie O'Sullivan is not that kind of

person but he still felt the need to walk out the room. Two games in

a row, very astutely done. Stephen Hendry was absolutely correct. If

that was Ronnie O'Sullivan we would be lax -- waxing lyrical. If he can

get this next frame and then have a chance in the wonderful the mid-

session interval, came on. -- the one before. -- game on. Do you

detect the neutrals coming to his side? Absolutely. You can detect

that from the crowd. They don't want an early night. Barry Hawkins,

under pressure, will not make a better break in his life. One of

the most important he has ever made. He has been a professional for 17

years, a great match play a. Wroxall. -- rock solid. Absolutely.

He never gives anybody an easy match. He was four frames behind,

but suddenly found that the mind set to dictate. -- found at the

mind set to dig deep. To produce this in the final says a lot for

his character.'s a bad mistake from Ronnie O'Sullivan. I know that the

red was making it awkward but it is not the kind of mistake that he

makes. That will give Barry Hawkins It was not just the way that he

came back it was the scoring power. He really found his range. He has

He has made eight breaks over 60 including those Cup lock centuries.

-- couple off. If he can turn those for keys into 60s or 70s, he looks

He could not use more pace there because the red to the right was

stopping him doing that. But a nice cannon. And still perfect position.

He would love an angle this time to go into the reds. Yes, where he is

pointing his skewed their. Just to the right of the cue ball. --

pointing his cue. Those reds would be perfect. Has he got the angle?

Not quite perfect. He will need to play for the red along the cushion.

But he will try to get that angle, The red was just off the cushion

which makes those shots tricky. If he has won fault, he tends to do

that a lot. We've himself straight on the black. -- leave. As you say,

that was not the poor shot, it was Now then, Ronnie O'Sullivan, due

have done it every time you have been in trouble this match,

That was the angle that Barry Hawkins was looking for. Ronnie

could not have played it better. He Not perfect on either. But he can

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 68 seconds

He now has an angle to cannon P reds. In fact, he has got one to

the left corner. It did not look on. But at least he can bring other

I am pretty certain he will make cannon this time into the three

I am surprised he did not. It was the perfect angle. He will need to

guarantee an angle of this time. Yes, he is running out of reds -

those are not pottable at the He has played purposefully for the

pink there. Leaving two reds in the corner. Very well done. Barry

Hawkins missed a trick when he was among the balls. We thought he

would win three on the trot. But as we have said all match, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, with his back against the wall, suddenly finds something.

Barry Hawkins had to play perfect snooker tonight to win this match.

That means every positional shot. No easy Mrs. I am afraid he has

done so in this frame, and it has cost him. -- No easy misses. Ronnie

O'Sullivan in junior looking on intently. 45 in front, just the red

What a time to do it. That's red along the cushion cost Barry

Hawkins. The reply from Ronnie Barry Hawkins looks at the

scoreboard - he has decided to carry on. But what a fabulous break

from Ronnie O'Sullivan. Snookers Barry Hawkins decides that is

enough. Friend conceded. Ronnie O'Sullivan happy with that. --

You were saying that he finished straight to many times. Yes. It may

look like a tiny thing to the viewers. But that is so careless,

leaving yourself straight on the black. He wanted to play the same

shot that Ronnie played later on. That there is right where he wants

to be. But he was forced to play at tricky red along the cushion.

have seen it that so many times. Why is it so much different when

they are touching the cushion? question! He slightly decelerated.

You have to be so precise. You can had the cushion and the red at the

You would almost fancy the double- kiss, but Barry has played this

short ferry well. You would think at double-kiss is a certainty, but

he has missed one so far. Played that well. But just push the red

You would have expected him to being a baulk colour their. OK, he

didn't have much idea of where the red would end up. It was very easy

to get in behind the green. Just a little smile there. It just pulled

A good length on the cue ball. long as he does not take it too

thin. Get the cue ball back up to Barry Hawkins will have came out

this evening thinking, if I can win three out of four, Ronnie will be

under pressure. He has the chance to do that now, if he can take this

frame. Where is the red? Good shot. We have said on occasion that when

your opponent needs two frames to win you have a little bit of leeway.

But if Ronnie O'Sullivan gets to 17, things will look a gram. -- grim.

That was the problem. The angle was perfect. Exactly the same shot on

the other side of the table, completely missed hat. What a

chance for Barry Hawkins. -- missed What a time, if he could possibly

win the frame at this visit. Because Ronnie O'Sullivan was very

frustrated with that mess. Yes, if he pots it, he goes round the back

of the black. We do not expect him to state them that poorly. --

There you can see, it is not on. Needs to get back into position. Oh,

goodness me. He missed that by a mile. What a shame, he was cueing

so beautifully in the opening two frames. I can only presume that was

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 68 seconds

a bad contact. He missed that by He will feel that black pocket from

the next shot. -- 3. But it is not great. May be able to get on that

red to bring the others into play. Let's see what angle he leaves with

Another example of how to stunt into the pack. Unlucky not to be on

anything easier. Could not have It looks like Ronnie O'Sullivan

It has been one step for, two steps back in this final, for Barry

Hawkins. -- forward. He has drawn level once at 7-7, but otherwise

not got close enough to apply the Ronnie O'Sullivan has only been

behind once in this entire tournament. And that was when Barry

Hawkins was in front 3-2. That was the only time. Every time that

Barry Hawkins has threatened, Ronnie O'Sullivan has found another

Yes, it is a sign of greatness. It separates the good players from the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 68 seconds

That red along the cushion has cost He has produced again. There is his

family and friends. They will be delighted with the way he has

produced every single time his back Ronnie's son is in the crowd. I

don't know whether that was Ronnie Jnr giving a little cheer, there,

We thought Ronnie O'Sullivan was going to make a century, but what a

fabulous four frames of snooker. Ronnie O'Sullivan looking good now,

he least 17-12. He is scoring so quickly. You have got to take your

hat off for that game. The resilience that he has have to show,

not just Barry Hawkins. The every time Barry Hawkins has tried to get

close them, it is like he just goes through the gears. He played a lot

of shores in that frame that looked simple but we have been eulogising

about them, they are so difficult, some of the shots. You are

mesmerised by him. When you're playing against him, it is

difficult, because there is so much pressure on every shot, your safety,

even though Barry Hawkins is doing everything he possibly can to put

him under pressure, every single chance that Ronnie O'Sullivan guess,

he is maximising every opportunity. You know when you hear some golf

was that can rarely have that, when he hits it, it is just different.

When he goes left handed and screws back, reverse side, I just cannot

believe it. There is an argument that he would be in the top 16

players, left handed. That is ridiculous. You would have to tie

both hands together! Only two men have won back-to-back championships

at the Crucible, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry. Assess for us the

magnitude of what he has taken on, and what it would mean if he was to

win it. People doubted whether he could come back after a season out,

like he had lost too much round against some great players who have

been cueing up to win this event, all staking a claim as the season

unfolded, and Ronnie was obviously not interested at the time, he was

wondering whether to play, and he did not know -- we did not know

what to expect when he did turn up for this event, especially if the

first round, and for some new mortals it might have been too much,

but Ronnie O'Sullivan is the most amazing player we have ever seen in

the game, and it just shows you how great he is. It looks very much

like he can win this again. We are in awe. Like Tiger Woods from 1999-

2001, you cannot play any better than that. When Ronnie O'Sullivan

is on it, he is better than anyone who has ever picked up a cue.

have been other issues to discuss, particularly with the snooker tour

that is chock-a-block, it is in Australia, it is in Asia, and there

has been an issue that has been dominating and that is what is

happening to some of the other leading lights in the game - his

burn-out to blame? I lost to Stuart And who could forget Tony Knowles

beating a certain Steve Davis 10-1 in the first round? He has been

defeated by Tony Knowles. A triumph for the underdog, the world of pain

for the favourite. Nerves, luck, a quirk of fate. This has been one of

those years. We have seen the top seeds falling at the first hurdle.

The players who have been beaten have had heart seasons. They have

seen the draw and thought, this is it, I'm going to be world champion,

but there have been some really good players who have gone out.

Thereafter to a 40 players who can create a shock. One reason was

given for their early exit - I don't know whether it has been a

long season and I have just had nothing left coming into the World

Championships. It is hard to put my finger on what it is. It is just

disappointing it has turned out how it was. I have to look at the

calendar and who I play my events, I think I need to practice and get

ready for events. But with the calendar there rolling one from one

tournament to the next and if you're picking up some bad habits,

it is just a vicious merry-go-round. I will look at missing a couple of

events, trying to get myself ready. Out in China, I don't know if I did

the best thing for me, practice Wise, after that. I never really

stepped up the practice, I was doing a couple of hours a day, but

when you are under pressure, the practice really means that you can

cue well under pressure. And perhaps it is down to maybe not

practising enough. But it is very difficult. People do not believe

that you can be burnt about playing snooker like in more physical

sports, but some of these players looked, mentally, like they had

just about had enough and they have got to look at how their season is

structures. At snooker, once you lose that edge, it is difficult to

get it back without having a short break from the game. It usually

refreshes the mind. And these guys have not been able to do that.

used to be told that there were not enough tournaments. Now we're being

told there are too many. This is a professional sport. It is not just

a hobby. This talk of burn-out among snooker players is the

biggest load of rubbish I have a little stock if they though not

like it they should going get a proper job and see how the man in

the street has to do it, getting up at 7 o'clock, out all those working

to pay the bills. If you don't like it, leave. Isle of the game. All

the other players talk about fatigue, I think it is a load of

rubbish. There are a lot of excuses for a lot of people, but I think a

lot of people are unfit, and I think people should go to be Jim

Moore, to keep more on their toes. It does not go down well with me at

all. Burn-out guess me quite unlike. I say, look, you're a professional.

Are you fit enough? His your di it right, is your life still right?

You're playing snooker. I know that it is tough going round the world,

living in five-star hotels and earning lots of money. Nobody has

ever said to me that they a burned- out winner they are winning. Keep

quiet and the professional and put the work in, and you will have the

autumn it exit, you do not have to play. -- ultimate. A sport is a

boring, the season has expanded and tournaments are coming quick and

fast, but like all change, it takes time to adjust, and if players want

to remain at the top of their game they will need to get used to it.

Is it an excuse for poor performance? Is it a problem? And

if so, what is the solution? It is very important to be fit and have a

good diet. Not all the players can play in every single event. We're

living in the best times that snooker has ever seen. So many

opportunities to play, so many tournaments around the world to go

to. I think definitely, players, particularly at the top, getting to

the business end of tournaments, these will pick and choose, and the

rest of them will be scrapping for the crumbs. But it is a great

situation. I wish that I had been born into that as well. But it is a

very valid point, they a professional sportsman and should

be delighted that there are so many tournaments, and it is important

that they have the act professionally and watch their diet.

We have seen this in tennis and golf where sports men and women

have to structure their season to be able to peak for something. It

is a difficult are to be able to master. For the World Championship

you have to psych yourself up more so, for the onslaught of a two-week

event. And from that perspective it requires a little bit more

preparation. And if there are tournaments leading up to it then

that is a problem. Those interviews we have seen from the players,

after losing they have gone into the room to try to work out why it

did not work for them and are trying to come up with an idea,

looking for some reason why it did not work this time, so obviously,

they will analyse every par. If you ask them in a couple of months time

they might still say yes, because it might still feel like they need

more time for the big events, but the winners do not say that. Barry

Hawkins is playing his 101st match of the season, more than anybody.

The travel will get to some people more than others, but this is the

hardest event to win and it comes right at the end of the season, so

you're always win to get some anomalies through it. -- going to

get. It is just one of those things. The way that the circuit has been

turned round, you're going to have to get used to it. I think some of

it is self-inflicted. The last 17 days' half past in a slightly

surreal bowler. -- blur. We have got a comedian to review the

championship for us this time. tournament began with all lies on

the returning champion back from his snooker sabbatical, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. That the Vinci of developing the reds. The man known

as the Mozart of... Snooker? Snooker? Was back. Early on he was

not quite at his mind-bending best but even Mozart would have taken a

couple of concertos to get back up to speed after a year out of

composing. Peter Ebdon against Graeme Dott, a match so slow it

seemed that Peter Ebdon had hibernated on the table. At one

stage he disappear for 4 minutes between games, giving Graeme Dott

some four minutes to ponder how to speak snookers up. The answer, with

Higgins, Ebdon, Anne Robinson proving there is a substitute for

experience. One man who made it through was Dechawat Poomjaeng of

Thailand. He applauded his own shots, as if the balls were his

children in an unexpectedly flawless nativity play. He waved

the balls into the pocket like a trainee shepherd with a

disappointing issue Dott. He knocked out Stephen Maguire 10-9 in

the first round thriller. Stephen Maguire suggested that he was not

the full shilling, that he was a John Virgo short of the full

commentary box. He even tried to leave the arena by the wrong exit.

Where is the screwball going? He did everything short of coming out

for the deciding frame dressed as a pantomime horse. By the second

frame he might as well have done that. But fellow debutant Michael

White made mincemeat of them. At one point he was reduced to grazing

on the Crucible Turf. Going into the second round the were some more

shocks and some electrifying snooker. But, Graeme Dott did not

have quite enough spark, and he lost to Shaun Murphy. This set up a

showdown with the 2011 finalist, Judd Trump, who had avoided the

carnage of the early rounds with this mess, which provoked this

reaction from is a poor miss. To be fair to Dominic Dale he was not

concentrating on the snooker, he just Howard that his will have an

had displaced Angela Merkel as the most powerful woman in the world by

Forbes magazine! Referee Imran Williams against -- Eirian Williams

against the misrule. Elsewhere in round two Mark Selby was knocked

out and complained about bromide. don't know whether it has been a

long season and I have had nothing left coming into the World

Championships. I know that it is tough staying in five-star hotels

and the earning loads of money. Please don't come to me with

excuses. He says, as Barry himself would say, burn-out? Before I came

out, there was not even a fire, so dress up like a marshmallow, and

toast yourself. What was that other second round match? It was Ding

Mark King played the shot that most resembled 1950s America. It went

all over the place unsuccessfully trying to locate the reds. Boom!

That is one for of you cold war fans out there. At the quarter-

finals the Rocket was looking more unbeatable than a hungry we'll in a

plank in eating competition. -- whale in a plankton eating

competition. The Rocket can play snooker at that few can match. And

he can see threats that other players would not leaving see. He's

one of the few certifiable sporting geniuses in the world, who plays

snooker so perfect it makes you want to sit your children on your

knee, point them at the television and say, watch this, this is why I

had you. Don't tell your mother I said that! Judd Trump and Shaun

Murphy played a match that commended booked end another

fraught, final frame brings if. And Trump triumph, so we have the first

all English semi-final line-up since 1991. Hands up if you put

money on a semi-final of Barry Hawkins and Ricky Walden. If you

have got your hands up, then put your hands down again, because

you're a liar, or you are a family member of either of them. There

lifetime of unnatural expenditure on waistcoats had paid off in style.

Barry Hawkins battled back but after beginning with a played nine-

lost seven Crucible record, he was about to have a busier May bank

holiday than he was used to. Neither Judd Trump or Ronnie

O'Sullivan could find their fluent best. For once, physics was not

doing what it was told. I do not think that it is there. He has left

this green on. There were breaks, but not the brilliant breaks you

would want in a world semi-final. The last time I saw it like that it

was playing against Bill were the If snooker is not for you, Ronnie,

then being on stamps is not for the Queen. Are you going to be the man

to tell her that? So, as many people predicted, it has all come

down to the final, as tournaments do, generally. This championship

has had it all. At the end we're left with one man seemingly born to

play in World Snooker finals and another man who many thought he

would never get there. Thanks be to snooker, Amen. There is no

hibernation at this table, I can assure you. Ronnie O'Sullivan, one

frame away from joining Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry as the only men

to retain the World Snooker Championship. And taking their

final season the commentary box is the former world champion and

former UK champion, Dennis Taylor Thank you, Hazel. Barry Hawkins

breaks off what he hopes is not his Can he produced the snooker that he

did at the start of this evening? Breaks of one a ridden 27 and 66.

If you have done it once, Barry, you can do it again! He will we did

look good. He never looked like missing. -- really did look.

Unbelievable, the first frame, that marvellous break of 127. He had a

setback when he missed that red along the cushion. But that is what

happens. When you miss and you lead Ronnie O'Sullivan in amongst the

balls, he is just a magician. But you just get the feeling that Barry

It is already going to be an awkward frame with the red up the

other side of the table. Behind the Not quite. Barry can play a better

one than on a. -- Ronnie. This looks good. Just a bit too far. But

still tight on the cushion. You cannot get back with the white pup

At the moment, Barry in control of this little safety exchange. But,

with the reds so tightly packed, it is hard to force your opponent into

a mistake. Cue ball, tight behind What has he done here? That is a

little bit careless. Has he got enough angle to give himself

possible chance of a black? It might be, if he comes off the other

red and a bit closer to the black. That was a very difficult situation.

He could not play it any harder striking over that red. But he can

roll tight up behind the black, off That is a little careless. There

was a shot to the middle now, for Good pot, but he was concentrating

on the safety. That was interesting to see. He is not taking any

chances, Ronnie. It looked like he could roll the other red to the

middle, but he wants to wait for a That was a good pot. By the looks

of it it looks as well he is snookered, Barry, which is a little

bit careless, but he may be able to get the cue ball back behind the

black. Into the green but he did not hit the green full enough. He

has left a red to the far left corner. He could have left

APPLAUSE in round of applause from Ronnie Jnr.

He has just over a screwed that slightly, and it's there, how is

the cannon? It is not that. He has got one to the middle pocket. If he

could see the one to the left corner, Barry knows that this is a

great chance for Ronnie. I know that there is a long way to go,

great champions usually finish in Who are the three best players ever

to play the game of snooker, two of them are sitting in the studio, and

since 1990, I said that Stephen Hendry overtook Steve Davis and I

have Ronnie O'Sullivan at No. 3, but if he goes on to win this World

Championship I would have to put him at the top of the list and say

that he's the greatest player he has ever picked up a cue. My

personal opinion. I think that three players you have mentioned

are the most natural talent the game has ever seen, there is no

doubt. If Ronnie wins the World Championship, what does that say

about the other players? They have played in an era of great this. And

that is Ronnie also of an -- -- of greatness, and that is Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He has won the championship on four occasions, and

to win it for a tough time he has got a few more to pot, yet, but

Barry Hawkins in this final has been superb. He has put on a

fantastic display. And if he had come up against any other player he

could quite easily be in front. has played marvellously well. This

will have done Barry Hawkins the world of good. He has proved to

everybody who loves snooker that he is going to be a major contender in

many World Championships. He's a great match player, and he has

proved he has a great temperament. Ronnie just having a quick look at

the scoreboard. 50 points, the lead, 75 remaining. He just needs three

Peters has been a big help to him. He has him in a very positive rain

finishing in style. We love the way he plays. And there is the little

fist pump. The thing to remember is that we love watching him play.

Let's hope this could give him the going to retire. The game needs him.

special this year. Listen to the be a record. It is not going to be a

century, but what a fantastic defence of the World Championship. A

lot of people did not think Ronnie O'Sullivan could do it. Barry

Hawkins, coming to congratulate him. But a smashing final. Fair play to

both players. You are looking at a genius. Ronnie O'Sullivan, 2013

World Snooker Championship. -- Ladies and gentlemen, European

shooting pleas for both finalists this year. -- your appreciation

please. Barry, come and have a chat. Ronnie O'Sullivan 's family are in

raptures. That is another one for the family album. I know your family

has been here and we have all appreciated what you have done. You

have justified yourself in this amazing run. What has made it so

difficult to face this man? Everything! I tried my hardest. I

have just made a few more mistakes than Ronnie did. You cannot afford

to do that against him. He is just unbelievable, to be honest. The way

he makes it look so easy is just frightening for most players. I am

just pleased I made a game of it. You won the first event of the

season, you were runner-up in the last event. Absolutely no trace of

burnout from you. How have you done it? I don't know. I have just kept

trying hard. I am sure I will collapse after tonight. It has just

been so hard over the last couple of weeks. I have come through so many

tough matches. I am delighted to get to the final. Once you are who you

want to try to win it. I could not have, up against a tougher upon.

special for your family to be here. How valuable has this experience

being? It has been a dream to play in the world's final. Hopefully, I

have got a few more years left and hopefully I can when it one day.

It is a shame I lost but Ronnie is by far the best player in the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, only 25 men have graced a Crucible final and

this is one of them. They can never take that away from you. Well done,

Barry. This is like deja vu. You have done some special things in

your time but this has got to top the lot. How have you won it?

is the hardest anyone has pushed me. I'd just could not get rid of him.

-- I just could not. I just hung in there. It was a brilliant finalist.

It was just good to be part of it. You made it look ridiculously easy

at times along the way. What has it been like behind-the-scenes, and to

whom do you owe a debt of gratitude? Obviously, Steve Peters has been

with me all the way. I do not think I would have one back-to-back titles

if I had not worked with him. It is a long time and everybody knows I am

up and down! When you first committed to defending this title,

what did you expect? I did not come here to win. I was just bored

sitting on the sidelines and I thought I could do with something to

just keep me busy for the next six weeks. And then coming here, I like

Sheffield and love being at the tournament, so it has been a nice

few weeks. I have got to keep busy now! It has been great, just to nip

back in life. -- just to get snipper back in my life. Are we going to see

you again? I have had a great time. I have enjoyed every moment. I love

playing. I am definitely going to be playing in smaller events. That is

just your snooker. There is a lot going on. I will definitely be

playing in small events. We will just see what goes on. You are not

going to be into property development? Snooker still lights

your fire, yes? I realised that I did not miss snooker, just having

something to do. Balancing it with other things is the way forward.

Sometimes you feel trapped. I am good at dealing with the emotions,

-- I am not always good at dealing with the emotions so it is good to

have someone on the sidelines to chummy out. This is a great

achievement. You are champion once again. The Rocket, Ronnie

runner-up. Receiving a cheque for �125000 and the silver medal, what a

fabulous fortnight it has been for for �250,000, the trophy, and the

title, 2013 world Betfair snooker champion, the Rocket, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Ladies and gentlemen, back-to-back world titles. How much

further ahead was he of the rest? played snooker to another level. It

is tough to live with him and he is any type of mental shape. He could

do it all over again next year. He does not seem to be suffering

getting near his 40s. A fantastic performance. Nearly -- never

challenged by anybody. Where does this rank in achievements? This has

to be his best, coming after 12 months of. We wondered what the

first round would be like. He played one session against Stuart Bingham

that was from the gods. If you can watch that on iPlayer, watch that.

What does everyone else do? A man has walked in after a 11 months and

walked away with that title. What do the other players do? The top player

can only play the standard they can play at. Somewhere is a 12-year-old

watching. At some stage, they may even take the game to another level.

It might be a long time before it happens but somewhere down the

line, somebody will be inspired enough to put in the practice. Who

knows when that is going to be? they catch him? If he is in this

form there is a question Mac. There are lot of talented players out

there. When they are at their best they can give this fellow game. When

he is at his best, he can beat every one of them. It has been an amazing

championship. You said it would take a superhuman effort to beat him and

he has proved he is human right. He said he cracked up on a couple

occasions, almost. He has been so focused and determined. He has shown

a stronger temperament than we have ever seen before and a side to his

game he -- we don't did he ever had. He has been able to hold his self