:00:34. > :00:40.A very good morning from the 2014 Dafabet Snooker championship,
:00:41. > :00:44.another thrilling quarterfinal day in prospect. There are four players
:00:45. > :00:49.looking good semifinal places, there are four players at a link to stay
:00:50. > :00:55.in the tournament. One of them is the 2005 champion Shaun Murphy. Six
:00:56. > :01:01.- two down against Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:01:02. > :01:10.When you talk about technique, is there a better game than Shaun
:01:11. > :01:16.Murphy? Get through the ball so well. Very good power, very
:01:17. > :01:21.delicate. His technique is superb. Single ball potting, there is not
:01:22. > :01:26.many better than Shaun Murphy. That cue action, that smooth cue action,
:01:27. > :01:30.that paves the way for Shaun to knock in some of the most ridiculous
:01:31. > :01:35.plots. One of the best long pot as I have seen in the game. The one thing
:01:36. > :01:41.for me he has not improved on is his safety play. He doesn't know when to
:01:42. > :01:48.push the ball is out, when to draw them in. It is that fine balancing
:01:49. > :01:54.line between when to go for one and when to play safe, I still don't
:01:55. > :01:58.think it comes naturally to him. Shot selection, that has come in
:01:59. > :02:05.question. Whenever do you see him when a match by 5-0. That tells me
:02:06. > :02:10.his shot selection is not right. I am one of his biggest fans, I just
:02:11. > :02:14.wish his shot selection would be more conservative. He tends to push
:02:15. > :02:18.the boat out a little bit too much. You can see him at the table when
:02:19. > :02:22.things are not going well, that little Rosie Ness comes into
:02:23. > :02:28.Shaun's cheeks. What can you do about it? That is something that is
:02:29. > :02:34.natural and that will carry he is a little bit suspect in the
:02:35. > :02:39.temperament department. Call me old-fashioned but Shaun Murphy, to
:02:40. > :02:43.me, is the ultimate professional. I love the way he behaves around a
:02:44. > :02:47.table. I like the way he behaves off the table. He is the ultimate
:02:48. > :03:31.professional. Quite a few players should take a leaf out of his book.
:03:32. > :03:39.Shaun Murphy, only just let the practice room. How is he feeling
:03:40. > :03:45.today knowing he is up against the defending champion Ronnie
:03:46. > :03:53.O'Sullivan? He last won in 2000 and final bash 2009. He eventually won
:03:54. > :04:00.out to John Higgins. On his way to another Crucible semifinal. That is
:04:01. > :04:04.our live match now. On table two, Mark Selby needs one frame to become
:04:05. > :04:08.the first player into the last four against Alan McManus. Another great
:04:09. > :04:16.day in prospect here at the Crucible. You can really tell the
:04:17. > :04:20.anticipation is growing here at the Crucible day on day. This is the
:04:21. > :04:25.morning where we begin finding out the line-up for this year's Dafabet
:04:26. > :04:29.world Snooker championship semifinals. The crowd are in great
:04:30. > :04:31.spirits this morning. It promises to be a wonderful day of action here in
:04:32. > :04:49.Sheffield. Please welcome, first of all, a
:04:50. > :04:52.proud Scot who has rekindled the glory days with his run to the last
:04:53. > :04:57.date this year. He has produced some of the best snooker we have seen
:04:58. > :05:03.from him in a decade. He has beaten two world champions in the first two
:05:04. > :05:06.rounds. He has done it all in those famous tartan trousers. He knows
:05:07. > :05:11.this will be tough but he will come out and give it absolutely
:05:12. > :05:12.everything. These respond with acute reception for Allenby Angles
:05:13. > :05:33.McManus. MUSIC: "Return of the Mack" by Mark
:05:34. > :05:39.Morrison. And his opponent, after coming
:05:40. > :05:43.through a ten nine thriller, this quarterfinalist has found a higher
:05:44. > :05:47.gear. Three times a ranking event winner and Masters winner, bidding
:05:48. > :05:52.for his first Crucible semifinal in four years, he always does it with a
:05:53. > :05:58.smile on his face, that is why he is the Jester from Leicester, Mark
:05:59. > :06:14.Selby. MUSIC: "Fast Fuse" by Kasabian.
:06:15. > :06:20.And on table one, please welcome a class act on and off to the baize. A
:06:21. > :06:26.player who is the epitome of dedication in all areas of his game.
:06:27. > :06:31.That hard work was rewarded with a fifth ranking event title in China
:06:32. > :06:36.last month, a great addition to his Crucible crown. He has some work to
:06:37. > :06:46.do this morning but he is a proven performer, give it up for the
:06:47. > :06:49.Magician, here comes Shaun Murphy. MUSIC: "The Superman Theme" by John
:06:50. > :07:06.Williams. And finally, the most exciting
:07:07. > :07:11.player ever to grace the modern game, he has won the Champion of
:07:12. > :07:15.champions, the Masters and the Welsh Open this season. He produced a
:07:16. > :07:20.comeback of real composure against Joe Perry in the second round. Here
:07:21. > :07:27.comes your defending world champion, link and you will miss him, the
:07:28. > :07:29.Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan. MUSIC: "A Man Should Better Himself"
:07:30. > :07:50.by George Lam. Snooker and its best. Here comes one
:07:51. > :07:55.of the sport's biggest stars, one of this country's biggest sports stars.
:07:56. > :07:59.If you want Alan McManus against Mark Selby, that is on the bread
:08:00. > :08:00.button. But he alive at the Crucible, it is Ronnie O'Sullivan
:08:01. > :08:23.against Shaun Murphy. up behind the green, looking at the
:08:24. > :08:29.angle it took. He headed a little bit hard there. Shaun Murphy could
:08:30. > :08:34.do with the same start. The stock he had in the first two frames. He took
:08:35. > :08:45.that quite comfortably. -- the start. That is an attacking safety
:08:46. > :08:46.shot. Immediately, he has left a possible pot into the left corner
:08:47. > :10:25.for possible pot into the left corner
:10:26. > :10:35.end of one session, he bit the tip of the cue. He has been very
:10:36. > :10:37.composed for the last couple of seasons, really, since he has been
:10:38. > :11:11.working with Doctor Steve Peter's. It is probably the most important
:11:12. > :11:17.part of the snooker cue, the tip. If you are not happy with it, the right
:11:18. > :11:22.thing would be to get a new tip on. When you say a brand new tip, it is
:11:23. > :11:24.properly a tip that has been played in rather than a new one at the box,
:11:25. > :11:43.so to speak. Depending on the brand, some of them
:11:44. > :11:48.are pretty soft when you first put them on the cue. It takes a day or
:11:49. > :12:10.two before they become firm enough to be able to play all the shots.
:12:11. > :12:28.The money will be trying to get down behind the brown. -- Ronnie.
:12:29. > :12:42.And at first glance, that is pretty good. Not an easy escape, this. And
:12:43. > :12:48.that is what can happen when the object ball is close to a cushion,
:12:49. > :12:52.it is so easy to catch it thick, and that is exacting what Shaun did
:12:53. > :13:03.there. He needed a very thin contact and he didn't get it.
:13:04. > :13:07.The reds are mostly placed above the pink and black are tied up at the
:13:08. > :13:29.moment. There, you can see 15 seconds for
:13:30. > :14:03.the average shot time. That is fast. He was debating whether to get the
:14:04. > :14:12.pink into play but he decided it wasn't worth the risk. The red next
:14:13. > :14:14.to the pink, I don't pink it will pot, it must be very tight. If it
:14:15. > :14:36.does, it will help the situation. He has gone a bit too far, anyway. A
:14:37. > :14:38.change of plan, the reds are nicely situated but the colours are pretty
:14:39. > :14:51.awkward. If he hits the red and pink at the
:14:52. > :15:12.same time, it is a foul shot. You can played with a little bit of
:15:13. > :15:23.left-hand side to try and square the angle with the red. The EC red he
:15:24. > :15:29.has got, he cannot find the path for the cue ball. To try and get around
:15:30. > :15:41.to the blue. It is very awkward. He found the gap. That is pretty
:15:42. > :15:46.good, underneath the circumstances. -- under the circumstances. Look how
:15:47. > :16:33.precisely had to be there. It rolled a bit too far there. Final
:16:34. > :16:46.Cut and he wanted. -- a finer cut than he wanted.
:16:47. > :16:59.He may play some sort of cannon here. I am just wondering if he can
:17:00. > :17:13.get enough side on it. Has he nudged it enough to leave the
:17:14. > :17:18.pink available which Mark maybe not quite. Another turn on the red and
:17:19. > :17:21.he would have been absolutely perfect. He has the other one that
:17:22. > :17:36.is nearer the pocket. Well, he is doing very well. He is
:17:37. > :17:40.all around the table here. But that is the sort of thing, sometimes he
:17:41. > :17:45.enjoys the challenge because they are not just there for the potting.
:17:46. > :17:50.He is having to work hard for these. Once again, he could match the pink
:17:51. > :17:59.but he could stick with it, that is the problem if he cannons it. He
:18:00. > :18:05.decided against it. The plaque is available along the cushion. -- the
:18:06. > :19:04.back. Nothing wrong with stain on the blue. -- the black.
:19:05. > :19:12.This is not the start Shaun Murphy needed, if he has any chance of
:19:13. > :19:18.coming back in this match. The first frame was a big frame for him to try
:19:19. > :19:25.and win. It is not over yet but it looks like Ronnie is going to take
:19:26. > :19:35.it. Swing this round the angles again, to leave the blue. That is
:19:36. > :19:48.perfect. He has said that so well. -- he has hit that so well.
:19:49. > :20:03.Just the black along the cushion and he will drop it in dead weight. That
:20:04. > :20:15.is all he needs. He didn't worry about position
:20:16. > :20:40.there. A pretty good start for Ronnie
:20:41. > :20:43.O'Sullivan and barring a snooker, he should be 7-2 in front. Just the one
:20:44. > :21:02.snooker needed, though, to tie. That tip looks OK, Stephen. The
:21:03. > :21:16.first chance he got, he made a almost frame-winning break there.
:21:17. > :21:22.He will have to be a little bit careful here, Ronnie, because if
:21:23. > :21:28.Shaun gets the chance with these three reds that are in the open, and
:21:29. > :21:31.three blacks, look where the red is next to the pink, a great chance for
:21:32. > :21:38.snooker but will he get the chance to put a red? There is one of them.
:21:39. > :22:10.But he is going to need two snooker is now.
:22:11. > :22:17.He could quite easily have conceded there but it is not the done thing
:22:18. > :23:01.to do when your opponent is coming to the table.
:23:02. > :23:13.This time, Shaun stays in head seat. Seven in a row for Ronnie O'Sullivan
:23:14. > :23:19.and he now leads 7-2. Stephen mentioned that Ronnie had put a new
:23:20. > :23:25.tip on. It seems to be pretty good because he made that break of 63.
:23:26. > :23:26.This was a lovely little shocked. Stephen had called it, he said he
:23:27. > :23:39.might try to move the pink. He played with lots of left-hand
:23:40. > :23:46.side. If it moves another inch, he is perfect, he would have freed the
:23:47. > :23:54.pink as well. He is thinking pretty straight, Stephen. Here is a view of
:23:55. > :23:58.the tip. It is very nice. It looks like at tip that has been tapped
:23:59. > :24:04.down a lot because a brand new one is bigger than that. Whoever put it
:24:05. > :24:41.on has made a good job of it. Ronnie knows that than anyone what to do.
:24:42. > :24:56.I'm not sure that tip on for Ronnie. There's daughter has put the tips on
:24:57. > :25:08.for Ronnie in the past and also for Stephen. A bit of an expert in the
:25:09. > :25:11.tip department is Les. A bit of a chance for Shaun Murphy. He needs to
:25:12. > :25:33.get going sooner rather than later. That was a great shot. Top-spinner
:25:34. > :25:55.and he powered through the pack. He had no angle with that. That was
:25:56. > :26:09.all he could do. Having to just run away from the black.
:26:10. > :26:20.He has beaten Ronnie in the past, in the final of the 2009 Premier
:26:21. > :26:25.league. 7-3, he beach Ronnie. But Ronnie has had six wins against
:26:26. > :26:40.Shaun. They only played once in the World Championship, 2011, . Ronnie
:26:41. > :26:59.one that 13-10. -- Ronnie beat him 13-10.
:27:00. > :27:04.Just a little bit short of pace. He didn't want to be anywhere near the
:27:05. > :27:20.cushion for the next pot here. And when you raise them but a big
:27:21. > :27:28.cue in the air and you are striking down, it is quite easy to do what
:27:29. > :27:33.Shaun just did there. But it was the previous shot that should not have
:27:34. > :27:37.been anywhere near the cushion. He cannot afford to miss these short of
:27:38. > :27:43.chances against Ronnie, especially if he knocks this in. -- sort of
:27:44. > :28:05.chances. He should still be able to make
:28:06. > :28:18.contact in the pack here. A lovely shot. Shaun's poor positional shot.
:28:19. > :28:23.He didn't give it enough pace. Hawk-eye will show you he was just
:28:24. > :28:50.playing up into that area and that would have been ideal.
:28:51. > :28:59.This match will be played to a conclusion this evening. The way
:29:00. > :29:04.things are going, how many frames is Ronnie given to need in this
:29:05. > :29:11.evening's session? Shaun Murphy will have to sharpen up. The match is
:29:12. > :29:17.just running away from him here. First of all, he is going to have to
:29:18. > :29:22.win two frames this morning to stop the match being finished a session
:29:23. > :29:35.early. That puts a little bit of pressure on him. This next shot will
:29:36. > :29:54.open or both reds up. -- open all those reds up.
:29:55. > :29:58.He didn't get into that so I don't think he can see enough of this to
:29:59. > :30:35.take it up into the corner pocket. DENNIS TAYLOR: This is risky. He was
:30:36. > :30:39.going to play a difficult plant, but he was disappointed with his last
:30:40. > :30:42.shot, leaving himself out of position. A big margin of error, but
:30:43. > :30:58.he didn't get the screw he needed. He was never happy with that and
:30:59. > :31:14.that is a mistake and, Shaun Murphy, it is time to go to work, Shaun.
:31:15. > :31:27.Well, what was that? That is probably one of the worst positional
:31:28. > :31:38.shots but -- that Shaun has ever played.
:31:39. > :31:48.STEPHEN HENDRY: Yes, he will be very disappointed. It is not often that
:31:49. > :32:31.when Ronnie gets in, Shaun is going to get a second chance.
:32:32. > :32:43.Excellent part, just let the cue ball drift a few inches to be
:32:44. > :34:25.comfortable on the black -- excellent pot.
:34:26. > :34:29.comfortable on the black -- the pink is available. If it doesn't
:34:30. > :34:36.go to the corner, it will go to the middle.
:34:37. > :34:44.And it could be a mini turning point. If Ronnie had rolled up tight
:34:45. > :34:45.against the green when he got a fluke, he would have been favourite
:34:46. > :35:27.to take the frame. Needs to have a little bit angle
:35:28. > :35:39.here this -- on this red. He didn't get into that shop at all.
:35:40. > :35:45.He has got the advantage in this frame but, again, he hasn't taken
:35:46. > :36:12.the advantage to win it in that visit.
:36:13. > :36:21.He needs the brown to come to his rescue. I think it has. He can see
:36:22. > :36:35.the yellow, but I don't think he can see enough to pot it.
:36:36. > :36:46.Beautifully played. He has got to be a little bit careful, Shaun. If he
:36:47. > :36:53.comes off microbicide cushion, that he doesn't go in-off the yellow --
:36:54. > :37:11.off the side cushion. Now the chances there and if he
:37:12. > :37:14.loses this frame, Shaun, after the position he was in, he said, as we
:37:15. > :38:16.say, will be in a jamjar. He is not going to get away with
:38:17. > :38:20.it. He is going to push it over the pocket and that is the sort of thing
:38:21. > :38:21.that happens when you risk one and you're struggling a little bit. You
:38:22. > :38:34.always seem to leave them on. He didn't play that too well. He
:38:35. > :38:37.might still be able to pot it but he didn't want to be this close to the
:38:38. > :38:48.brown. What a body blow for Shaun Murphy
:38:49. > :38:52.here. He should have had the frame wrapped up.
:38:53. > :39:03.Now just the pink, to make it eight frames in a row.
:39:04. > :39:15.He is going to take the black. It doesn't really matter. He has needed
:39:16. > :39:18.two or three chances, and in the end, Shaun Murphy, he gave him those
:39:19. > :39:33.chances. And Ronnie has another frame on the board. Shaun was in a
:39:34. > :39:39.great position, he ended up playing the snooker behind the black and he
:39:40. > :39:43.just didn't catch it correctly. No, a couple of times in the frame, he
:39:44. > :39:49.played pool positional shots. He had done the hard work to get in and
:39:50. > :39:54.create this opportunity. As somebody who cues as well as Shaun, it is
:39:55. > :40:02.elementary. Just stun it up to the black. Hawkeye never misses in these
:40:03. > :40:06.positions, unbelievable. Although he didn't get out of a snooker once, I
:40:07. > :40:13.remember. I don't know what happened. Anyway, Shaun let that
:40:14. > :40:17.slip. 7-3, I still think he is in with a shout, but 8-2, it is
:40:18. > :40:24.difficult to see where he can get back into this. As I said yesterday
:40:25. > :40:33.at 6-2, I thought the match was virtually over. When Ronnie gets a
:40:34. > :40:37.lead, it is one in 100 that someone can get back. He is such a strong
:40:38. > :40:44.frontrunner. The first session yesterday was so important for Shaun
:40:45. > :40:48.and he lost it six -2. They have the arena to themselves now, play has
:40:49. > :41:11.finished on the other table, as you can see. So no distractions.
:41:12. > :41:19.I don't think he is happy with the tip still. Both break-off shots he
:41:20. > :41:20.has played, he hasn't got into the cue ball enough. Perhaps a little
:41:21. > :41:58.bit soft. He is usually so reliable with the
:41:59. > :42:21.break-up shot, but not this time. -- break off.
:42:22. > :42:28.I think what Shaun could do with is a sizeable contribution, just to get
:42:29. > :42:33.his confidence going. He is such a talented player and the way he set
:42:34. > :42:38.off in this match, the two opening frames, a 101 and 59, I thought
:42:39. > :42:46.Ronnie was going to be in big trouble. But he has not won a frame
:42:47. > :42:49.since the second frame. And he has dropped down to 86% with his pot
:42:50. > :42:57.success. He needs a good split here. When
:42:58. > :42:59.things are going well, you always open the balls up and have multiple
:43:00. > :43:07.choices. And when things are not going well,
:43:08. > :43:12.that is the sort of thing that can happen. The shape of the pack wasn't
:43:13. > :43:19.conducive to a good split. It was always going to slide off that line.
:43:20. > :43:32.But he is one of the best in the world at this kind of shot. He cues
:43:33. > :43:40.them so well. He really does. Yes, worth another look at that one. And
:43:41. > :43:44.he is in a good position. The red at the back of the bunch and he will be
:43:45. > :43:50.scattering those reds all over the place. Got to make sure of the pot,
:43:51. > :43:58.though. He did it yesterday, spread the reds but forgot the pot.
:43:59. > :44:05.He is unlucky. Look where the red is going, right over the pocket, to
:44:06. > :44:10.block the path of the black. Very unlucky. Couldn't have played it any
:44:11. > :44:15.better. Look at it coming across the table to knock the other red into
:44:16. > :45:22.the way of the black. Looks as though he is going to try
:45:23. > :45:31.and sneak it in. It is very thin. Perfectly on the pink. And in a few
:45:32. > :45:33.seconds' time, Ronnie can be right in amongst the reds with the pink
:45:34. > :45:52.and the black in the open. It was a bit pacey. OK, he has got
:45:53. > :45:54.one to the right middle pocket, but he played for the one to the left of
:45:55. > :46:24.the black. That is not a great shot. I don't
:46:25. > :46:29.know what he was trying. It looked as though he tried to cannon that
:46:30. > :46:34.one out but why? Look how many reds he has left out in the open. He
:46:35. > :46:44.could have left that for later. That was a poor choice of shot, Stephen.
:46:45. > :46:49.Yes. By Ronnie's high standards, he is not playing that well.
:46:50. > :46:58.Think some elementary positional shots poorly that you never see him
:46:59. > :47:17.play when he is focused -- playing some.
:47:18. > :47:23.What he is doing when he is making a mistake, he is still playing the
:47:24. > :47:27.correct shot. A couple of seasons ago, if he played a disappointing
:47:28. > :47:34.shot, he would get down and try something that wasn't really there.
:47:35. > :47:41.But he is playing the correct shots. You can tell he is thinking about
:47:42. > :47:42.the new tip he has got on. At the end of the day, he is still a
:47:43. > :48:51.winner, he wants to win. The perfect angle now, as long as he
:48:52. > :48:57.gets the correct cannon. But he hit it rather full and I think he is out
:48:58. > :49:02.of position. I think he was looking for a half ball on one of the reds.
:49:03. > :50:17.Didn't quite get it as he intended. You won't see many better escapes
:50:18. > :50:22.than that. The fact that he has landed on top of the red means Shaun
:50:23. > :50:24.can't take the one to the right middle. So it worked out perfectly
:50:25. > :51:09.for Ronnie. A bit of a chance here for Sean. --
:51:10. > :51:38.Shaun. Ooh. He might just be OK. I think he
:51:39. > :51:43.has covered the one that was over the pocket. How close was this? Oh,
:51:44. > :51:48.he hasn't covered it. From that picture there, you would
:51:49. > :51:51.he hasn't covered it. From that can't see that red. Clearly he can.
:51:52. > :51:56.Ronnie coming round to see if he can can't see that red. Clearly he can.
:51:57. > :52:00.make himself an angle on the pink. can't see that red. Clearly he can.
:52:01. > :52:00.Maybe disturb the two reds on the back cushion.
:52:01. > :52:24.He has to be careful, it has to be pretty close to a plant.
:52:25. > :52:35.In fact, it might be a plant now. He was hoping to develop both of them.
:52:36. > :52:44.No, it is not a planned. So he has won into the right middle pocket...
:52:45. > :52:49.Well, he did have until the pink went back on its spot. I
:52:50. > :53:14.Well, he did have until the pink if he can still cut it. Maybe just.
:53:15. > :53:28.I expect Shaun can get twice across the table to land on those two reds.
:53:29. > :53:40.Might be able to see enough of the one cushion.
:53:41. > :53:59.He might be back behind the yellow. I think off the left-hand red. Twice
:54:00. > :54:56.across the table. No easy safety shot to get the white
:54:57. > :55:04.then the table. -- back down the table. I'll tell you what, if there
:55:05. > :55:12.is no easy safety shot on, there is nothing wrong with that choice! What
:55:13. > :55:16.are pot that was. -- what a pot that was.
:55:17. > :55:22.If he had the path back down the table, he would have played the
:55:23. > :55:33.safety shot. But he was trapped. What a way to get out of trouble.
:55:34. > :55:36.The yellow is off its spot, that will be the key ball, but it is
:55:37. > :55:59.still available. Well, he had the pink, he had the
:56:00. > :56:03.black. What I miss -- what a mess. I said earlier, he is not totally
:56:04. > :56:32.focused at all. This never happens. So it is up to Shaun to try and just
:56:33. > :56:38.take advantage. He has got to get a frame on the board, he has lost
:56:39. > :56:44.eight in a row. He has played a poor positional shot.
:56:45. > :56:52.If he was going up for the blue, he is way short.
:56:53. > :58:37.Obviously, the yellow passes the brand,
:58:38. > :58:38.Obviously, the yellow passes the is even easier, just stun it in and
:58:39. > :58:44.that is just a lack of concentration to miss something this easy.
:58:45. > :58:54.And he is so good into the middle pocket, even at narrower angles than
:58:55. > :59:00.that. That is what he thought of that shot. That is a picture.
:59:01. > :59:10.So one more frame before the mid-session interval, but he has
:59:11. > :59:15.been here for a tournament where... He was here for a week before the
:59:16. > :59:22.tournament started, so he has been in Sheffield for a long time. Yes,
:59:23. > :59:29.he likes to play at the academy here, where a lot of the Chinese
:59:30. > :59:30.players practice. Likes to get sharpened up, get some match
:59:31. > :00:41.practice. A little awkward with the red at the
:00:42. > :00:46.other side of the table there. So the safety sown is not and that end
:00:47. > :01:25.of the table. Nothing he can do here.
:01:26. > :01:29.A chance to send this red back up the table and get the frame back to
:01:30. > :01:52.normal. The bit of a chance here. Shaun
:01:53. > :01:58.could try and get the black in. I think he can avoid a cannon into the
:01:59. > :02:14.bunch, if he has a decent angle on this. He can play for the black if
:02:15. > :02:21.he wants, also. Well, he has got a terrific round of applause for that
:02:22. > :02:27.fabulous shot there. To cannon the red was even better but he intended
:02:28. > :02:37.to do that. He didn't intend to do that, though. Can't explain how
:02:38. > :02:41.would you can knock a red like the red he has knocked in. Mind you, the
:02:42. > :02:49.black jumped straight off the bed of the table there. Yes, that was
:02:50. > :03:04.unfortunate. Straight to the pack here.
:03:05. > :03:08.As you say, straight in the pack. Look at this red. Everyone thought
:03:09. > :03:36.this was in. Another look at the shot. The lack
:03:37. > :03:45.clearly leaves the table. A bit unfortunate, there.
:03:46. > :03:50.The one thing about Ronnie missing that easy pink in the last frame, it
:03:51. > :03:54.might sharpen his up. He is not going to do that again. Sometimes,
:03:55. > :04:05.it brings you back into focus. Yes, this is the last frame before
:04:06. > :04:10.the mid-session interval and if Ronnie can take the frame, he has
:04:11. > :05:12.won the little mini session 3-1 and that is the target you always have.
:05:13. > :05:19.Well, normally, you would say the frame is over but after the pink
:05:20. > :05:24.Ronnie missed in the previous frame, I'm a bit reluctant to do that. But
:05:25. > :05:25.as Stephen said, maybe missing that easy pink has sharpened his focus
:05:26. > :06:05.again. Another cannon required here. Those
:06:06. > :06:09.two reds to the left of the pink, he did have to bother with a cannon. If
:06:10. > :06:19.you can avoid having to play a cannon, he can do that. When you
:06:20. > :06:28.risk the little cannon, you cancel the position.
:06:29. > :06:38.He didn't play that very well. He should be OK with the red in the
:06:39. > :06:51.middle but he was wanting a little bit more side on that.
:06:52. > :07:47.The chance of a century now. Although, having said that, one of
:07:48. > :07:53.the reds has gone safe. We have had 42 centuries so far this season. He
:07:54. > :08:03.might decide to move that difficult red comic money has already had
:08:04. > :08:10.five. -- red, Ronnie has already had five.
:08:11. > :08:39.He tried to remove the red there. He might just be OK.
:08:40. > :08:58.He has now made 741 centuries, getting ever closer to Stephen
:08:59. > :09:35.Hendry's record which stands at 775. He is not bothered about missing the
:09:36. > :09:40.pink. Shaun Murphy was unlucky with a kick on the black but that was his
:09:41. > :09:48.last shot. Ronnie O'Sullivan cleared it with that magnificent break the
:09:49. > :09:52.119 -- 118. Just over an hour ago, Ronnie O'Sullivan was practising
:09:53. > :09:55.here. There was something about him this morning. He looks like he is in
:09:56. > :10:01.the mood, desperate to hang on to his World Championship crown. They
:10:02. > :10:06.head to the mid-session interval, Ronnie O'Sullivan in complete
:10:07. > :10:12.control. On the other quarterfinal match, Mark Selby is taking on Alan
:10:13. > :10:14.McManus. McManus took the first frame of the morning session, we
:10:15. > :10:36.pick it up in frame 18. That red is running up towards the
:10:37. > :10:48.middle pocket. If he can get past the DLO, it is cuttable. -- past the
:10:49. > :10:49.yellow. He just can't get to the potting angle, not the middle
:10:50. > :11:00.anyway. He was having a look to see if the
:11:01. > :11:08.black was available. That tells me the red on the left-hand side of the
:11:09. > :11:17.table is pottable. If he was played the red -- he might leave the red
:11:18. > :11:26.above the lack. So that would be too risky. Good shot. To read the pot. I
:11:27. > :11:29.have not seen every frame in that match but I would be hard pressed to
:11:30. > :11:38.find a better pot than that. That was excellent.
:11:39. > :11:43.He had a look to see if the red above the black will go. Anywhere
:11:44. > :12:21.near the circle. That will do. Don't blame him for that. Potting
:12:22. > :12:26.the black, he can match the red away. He wouldn't want to risk
:12:27. > :12:34.putting the black and tying the red um. Yes, that was a clever little
:12:35. > :12:45.shocked. -- yes, that was a clever little shot.
:12:46. > :12:51.His potting is great, position excellent. A superb start by Alan
:12:52. > :13:23.McManus. He just misjudged the case of the
:13:24. > :14:57.second red. Everything has been good this
:14:58. > :15:03.morning from Alan. How is his long game? I think this is the chance
:15:04. > :15:14.that Mark Selby has been looking for to win frame and match.
:15:15. > :15:22.Mark world theme this a very good opportunities to get this
:15:23. > :15:30.quarterfinal out of the way. -- Mark Wills being this.
:15:31. > :16:08.He had to play that with screw and reverse side there to get an angle.
:16:09. > :16:14.He played an area where he could be on one or two reds and it is the one
:16:15. > :16:16.in the centre that he has landed on. I would have liked a bit more on
:16:17. > :16:35.that. Wrong side of the blue. The cue ball pushed up. And now, he
:16:36. > :16:41.has a lot more work to do with the cue ball here. A positional shot
:16:42. > :16:47.gone awry. He just went the wrong side of that blue and it affects so
:16:48. > :16:51.many shots. He can get close to the next read that he needs. -- the next
:16:52. > :17:04.red. Nice, clean pot. Nicely on the
:17:05. > :17:31.brown. He cued this lovely. And nicely on the red. A chance
:17:32. > :17:48.now. That red going on means the point in
:17:49. > :18:11.this frame now are all square so if he takes these reds,
:18:12. > :18:15.one in the centre now. It wasn't where he played it originally. Mark
:18:16. > :18:15.one in the centre now. It wasn't was walking around as if he would
:18:16. > :18:22.one in the centre now. It wasn't have a half ball there. They have
:18:23. > :18:24.one in the centre now. It wasn't been quite a few lively bounces here
:18:25. > :18:32.this week. Well, that was unexpected. Yes, just trying to hold
:18:33. > :18:43.for the pink, tried to pinch a little bit. It hit the phage all. --
:18:44. > :19:11.it hit the far jaw. Just checking to see if the bottom
:19:12. > :19:17.red will pot to the top right-hand pocket. I am not so sure it does. If
:19:18. > :19:18.it doesn't, it might have to be a cannon into these reds.
:19:19. > :19:33.It is not absolutely guaranteed he will land on one.
:19:34. > :19:45.You said it, John. You were amply right. He has finished up on
:19:46. > :20:38.nothing. -- you were absolutely right.
:20:39. > :20:53.ball is running. Chancy for Alan. -- a chance here for Alan.
:20:54. > :22:44.At the moment, he is playing for pride and no point in hanging back.
:22:45. > :22:45.At the moment, he is playing for confidence from this and we will see
:22:46. > :23:05.much more him. -- more of him. He could do with taking to reds and
:23:06. > :23:29.two blacks to take 35. That is his only hope.
:23:30. > :23:44.He hit that really well, he really did.
:23:45. > :23:58.An excellent shot. Good timing. So, now, 35 points in front. 35
:23:59. > :24:08.remaining. So, just this red. And Alan McManus, the race is on.
:24:09. > :24:14.And in it goes. Mark Selby now certain to have that place in the
:24:15. > :24:29.semifinal. Assessing his form so far, John,
:24:30. > :24:33.what did you think? I always think it is pretty dangerous to assess his
:24:34. > :24:37.form because it changes from session to session. I wonder is he playing
:24:38. > :24:49.well enough to win and then he turns up and wins? ! A nice comfortable
:24:50. > :24:54.win for Mark Selby. Keep the pressure on. There is still a long
:24:55. > :24:59.way to go, of course. Alan McManus, welcome back, look forward to seeing
:25:00. > :25:05.you again this next season. Mark Selby is a comfortable winner and he
:25:06. > :25:11.is in the semifinal. He beat Alan McManus 13 frames to five. Alan paid
:25:12. > :25:16.good snick in the first session. He was controlling the match and I got
:25:17. > :25:21.drawn into his way of playing in the first session. The second session, I
:25:22. > :25:25.thought I would try and attack Alan and open the balls up a bit more and
:25:26. > :25:32.that seemed to work to my advantage. I felt like I could win the match.
:25:33. > :25:38.But you have to play well. If you don't produce good snooker, you will
:25:39. > :25:43.go home. I just didn't. I didn't feel great yesterday, having the two
:25:44. > :25:49.sessions, for what ever reason, I don't know. I have got to figure
:25:50. > :25:57.that one out and if I get a chance to play here again, try to put it
:25:58. > :26:00.right. I will soldier on. I think it was four years ago since I was in
:26:01. > :26:04.the semifinal before so it teams like for ever with so many
:26:05. > :26:13.tournaments throughout the season. I am looking forward to it and looking
:26:14. > :26:18.forward to getting out there. Good morning, Stephen. It was quite
:26:19. > :26:25.simple for Mark Selby. It was the result that most people expected.
:26:26. > :26:31.Once Mark Selby found his form last night, his true form, he was able to
:26:32. > :26:34.pull away. Mark Selby didn't perform last year and I wonder if a of that
:26:35. > :26:38.was down to the fact that people were talking about the triple
:26:39. > :26:43.Crown, he won big UK Championship and the Masters but this year, I am
:26:44. > :26:46.seeing a different Mark Selby. He hasn't had as much success in
:26:47. > :26:51.winning turn is so perhaps he is a little fresher. He has not played
:26:52. > :26:57.his best yet but he is building up my see. What about Alan McManus? It
:26:58. > :27:01.has been good fun having him. He has played these and snooker. All
:27:02. > :27:06.through the season. His return to form has been incredible. He says he
:27:07. > :27:17.is we did getting his life to his practice so a great performance. --
:27:18. > :27:20.he is rededicated. I do think Ronnie has looked fully focused in the
:27:21. > :27:27.whole tournament yet. Perhaps the only time was when he was 11-9 down
:27:28. > :27:32.to Joe Perry. He gave a fist then. But this morning and yesterday, he
:27:33. > :27:34.doesn't look fully on it. He is making elementary positional
:27:35. > :27:42.mistakes that he never does but he has not been punished. What about
:27:43. > :27:47.Neil Robertson? You think that making the century of centuries is
:27:48. > :27:51.playing on his mind? Definitely. There was so much public city going
:27:52. > :27:54.into the match, I think he would have loved to have done the
:27:55. > :27:59.milestone in the previous match and he wouldn't have had to them about
:28:00. > :28:04.it. But Judd Trump paid well. He is getting stronger as the tournament
:28:05. > :28:09.goes on. Barry Hawkins going about his business my see? He looks very
:28:10. > :28:14.solid. He looked a bit edgy at the start. If Dominic had taken
:28:15. > :28:21.advantage, he could have got back into the match. Thank you. That is
:28:22. > :28:24.it for now but the match between Shaun Murphy and Ronnie O'Sullivan
:28:25. > :28:29.continues on your bread button. The players are about to walk back out.
:28:30. > :28:35.Hazel will be back at one o'clock. Neil Robertson against Judge Trump.
:28:36. > :28:39.We will see you at one o'clock. Goodbye for now.