Day 13, Part 1 Snooker: World Championship

good for productivity as well as for all

It is the final Thursday here at the all of us. It

It is the final Thursday here at the World Snooker Championship at the

Crucible. That can mean only twhing - one table. . Overnight everyone

has been hard at -- thing - one table. Overnight everyone has been

hard at work to make sure this table is in A-1 condition.

From being cramp and almost suffocating, this of has morphed

into a spacious sporting arena. Only the best make it this far. You

are not sitting with your opponent - you have some space to relax. It is

like first class. You don't want to be at the back where they keep the

ice! This is what you practise for, this is what you fla for and the

best -- play for and the best thrive. A dream final is within

their grasp. All four lads have been the distance before and they are

only one match away. Hello. Good afternoon and welcome to

the Crucible theatre and the 2014 World Snooker Championship. We have

reached the semi-final stage. Four players, one prize. The biggest

title in world snooker. This amazing venue has seen some dramatic moments

over the past 24 hours. I would rather him play for a baulk

here, I really would. Make the 100 of certainty.

A nice angle! He has a nice angle!

Snurly now he's going to get it -- surely now he's going to get it.

A record that might never, ever get beaten again! Well, at least I'm

going to have the hon tore be the first to congratulate him if this

green goes in. And at this stage of the match -

absolutely unbelievable! A monkey off his back. The crowd stand in

ovation. He deserves that. It has been brilliant. At this stage of the

game, to produce that fantastic break, it is quite incredible.

Congratulations to Neil Robertson, not only on the century but to have

levelled at 11-11. An amazing sort of set of emotions to take grasp of

in that last half an hour of the match, making the century. A century

is an unbelieve yoobl reception -- is an unbelievable reaction from the

crowd. The match was going my way. It looked like I was going to be

beat. Stuck on 99. That is why it led to such celebrations and relief.

Boy, the crowd really enjoyed it. It was that electric!

Thank you! The deciding frame. Dale to beat!

Here we go! He's taken this red hot. Very brave!

Nothing wrong with that. What a great pot.

These two loads are playing one of the biggest frame of their live.

From 11-5 in front, to go 12-11 behind and then stop his opponent.

There's the bang on the table. That is what it means to him. Dominic

will give Barry a warm handshake. What a comeback from Dale. Barry is

absolutely delighted! He's through to the semi-final to meet the

defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

To win a match like that, especially in this place - it is an

unbelievable feeling. I would have found the nearest bridge if I had

lost that, obviously. Fair play to Dominic. I was squandering chance

after chance from 11-5. He played so solid. He's found his A-game. It

wasn't really, I didn't really do anything wrong. Found his A-game. He

won it. I didn't lose it. You could see how much it meant to me to get

over the line and just a massive, massive release.

I am now backstage. The atmosphere here is very, very tense. The first

semi-final of this year's championships about to get under

way. Ronnie O'Sullivan taking on Barry Hawkins - the man he beat in

last year's final. You know, it is hard mentally to

keep that, keep flowing if you like, you know and it is like survival of

the fitness in some sort of ways. It is quite a sadistic type of sport.

It is not like football or tennis where you can let some aggression

out. A lot of the time you are sitting in your chair and pondering

on your thoughts. I tipped Barry before coming in here. Everybody was

saying Ding was the man on form. He was the man on form. I still thought

Hawkins was the danger-man in that side of the draw, especially of how

he played last year and just the type of player he is. Like I said,

at this venue, it is a marathon. I think Barry just goes about his

business quietly and goes about it. He plays the same, plays the balls.

He has a great temperament. He has a great game. If you don't have the

game to back it up, then you know, you will not do anything. He has the

game. He can score, good positional play, good safety. He's won

tournaments. Well, I have to say both players

look incredibly relaxed. They've had their moments on the practise room,

now they are in their dressing rooms. Barry Hawkins is in this

changing room, discussing tactics, last-minute tactics with his coach.

Let's give him a knock and tell him that the Crucible is waiting for him

to start his semi-final. I can hear him talking to Terry. They've had a

couple of frames this morning. Here he goes! Are you ready? Yes. How you

feeling? Good. There is a crowd out there ready for you. Off you go!

He's just grabbing his extension. Good luck to you. Take care. Barry

Hawkins takes his way. Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Barry here in the

Crucible last year. Barry Hawkins only has one win against Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Ronnie is in here with the art yirs

Damien Hirst. The atmosphere is so tense here at the Crucible. Hello.

Are you feeling good? Yes. A solid crowd out there. He's on his way.

Let's join John Parrott. John Virgo and Ken Doherty. Ken this

is a special occasion - down to one table. Something you've done on

three occasions? The focus is on the two players now. No noise from the

other table. This is where the magic of the Crucible comes alive. It is

fantastic. You have plenty of room around the table. You are in the

semi-final, down to one table. It is an amazing theter to play in. What

have you made of Ronnie's progress? The great advantage is he won with a

session to spare in his quarter-final. You know when it is

simmering underneath? It will be interesting to see - Barry Hawkins

went all the way with Dominic. What will be the reaction here today? He

was 11-5 up. A brilliant performance to get over the line. What has that

taken out of him, Ken? It remains to be seen. Sometimes players get an

extra buzz from that. They find relief and they can go out today,

like Barry can, and just express themselves. He had a great run

against O'Sullivan here. 15 and 12 it went to last year. He has more

experience than last year. It will be interesting how it pans out. Time

for this first semi-final. It is all yours. Good afternoon, ladies and

gentlemen. Four players, one table. It means only one thing - it is

semi-final time here at the Crucible hasmt a way to start - a rerun of

last year's event - the World Championship line-ups.

APPLAUSE Please welcome a player who has

produced the best form of his career in the last two years, winning the

Aussie Open in 2012 was the start of a great run. He survived an

incredible come back yet and finished with two nerveless

clearances. Here he is - the player from Preston, here comes The Hawk -

Barry And his opponent, the most exciting

player ever to grace the modern game - he's won the champion of chasm pi

yons and the Welsh Open this season alop. A great come back against --

alone. A great come back - please welcome your defending world

champion. Blink and you'll miss him - the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. The first frame, Barry Hawkins to break.

Barry Hawkins, I would suggest a very relieved man to be in this

semi-final. When he looked at the draw, he knew, possibly a rematch of

that world final. He went through the mill, as we said earlier with

Dominic. These opening frames - it will be interesting to see what that

took out of him. Yes, that's true. It will be very interesting.

Sometimes, as I said to John Parrott, sometimes they can get that

relief, getting over that tight match, John and sometimes, you know,

it can be a positive thing. It just remains to be seen how it has

affected him. He's a much different player I feel

from last year. He's gained an awful lot of

experience throughout the year, of course. Being in that one final last

year would have given him a lot of confidence. He won the championship

final only a few weeks ago, as well. It was awkward cue cueing. Played it

nicely. On the green now. Does he play for a red or go straight into

the cluster? No. First frame. Playing for a red. There's one above

the black. He looks to have played that inch-perfect. No sign of nerves

there. I think you spoke too soon, John!

That was a surprise and that will be a shock to the system. It certainly

went - you can see that! Both reds went there, didn't they? He was on

the inside red - he could have potted that and dislodged a few.

Let's have a look at this. From that angle, you cannot see how much of

the pocket he had. There was plenty of room there. Does this red cut

back? These semi-final matches - four

sessions. First three sessions will be eight

frames and then the remaining, if it went the distance, in the four

sessions. So, it is a real test of who the better player is.

It is quite an interesting statistic. I know it is the

semi-final stage and we've been at the Crucible for 12 days, but

session-wise, we are only halfway through the tournament.

It there's! Good shot! Nicely controlled.

The first look at the table, John, it looks to be running beautiful.

Very, very quick! They just caught the red. Tried to

slip by it. I think it still goes into the yellow pocket.

A couple of lose reds on the right-hand side. Normally Ronnie,

the first opportunity, only being one lose red would consider going

into the cluster. Now, he's just playing for that one. He played it

nicely. There are two reds in a line, into

the bottom right-hand pocket. I am wondering, not sure Ronnie's had a

look. Two reds, into this bottom pocket - may be a plant as well.

A Direct Line. Not sure whether Ronnie has spotted that just yet.

There is a bit of a gap between the two reds. I have to be honest with

you, that was lucky to go in. Well, he spotted it. If he has a

nice angle, he will be bringing other reds into play here. Glance

off a few reds from potting this plant.

Just got a little too much on the left-hand side.

This will be the first test for Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Certainly passed the test! Very nicely cued in.

And this will please Ronnie, because in his match against Perry and

against Murphy, he had a slow start and that is not like Ronnie

normally. Usually he knows the importance of a quick start and was,

well, to all intents and purposes given this opportunity,. ,.

Not the angle he would have liked on the black. He can play it off two

cushions. The red into the right centre also. I think the red in the

middle of the bunch pots as well into the same pocket of the black.

Oh, he's played that very well. Inch-perfect.

A great start from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

One more red would leave 60 ahead, with just 59 remaining.

Barry - we know probably that red he missed, it looked like it clear

clearly went. Well, Ronnie is saying there was

something putting him off there - people talking. He could hear the

noise. But that was frame ball.

Ronnie having a word with the referee, saying could you have a

word with people backstage? Looked to have judged this shot

inch-perfect. You have to say, Ken, apart from

that red into the middle, he started off cueing like a dream. He

certainly has. He has the pace of the table. Absolutely beautiful

here. Just the start he would have wished

for. He's just so clever to nudge the red

from the pink. The snooker brain is just phenomenal! . Early on in the

frame, when you mentioned that plant - Ronnie noticed it. He walks around

and sees things other snooker players wouldn't see.

Works very, very quickly around the balls, of course.

Wants to get the balls in the open, doesn't he, straight away? This is

good stuff! Excellent stuff! He's on it.

The perfect start. Barry Hawkins was first in with the

red and then got a second chance. It was a difficult pot he had to take

on. Barry Hawkins had his chance early

on - didn't take it and Ronnie O'Sullivan looked in supreme touch

there. 1-0 to the reigning champion. Good afternoon. It is the perfect

start for Ronnie? Yes. Superb. There were a couple of shots when he was

straight into the table. One black and reversed for a red in

the middle of the pack. He's got the table straight away. Your assessment

of the first frame? Ronnie is doing what all top players do. Starting

quickly. Don't need any time to relax into the match. Bang on

straight away. How much is down to the fact that Barry Hawkins had a

marathon match against Dale and went through all emotions? ? Too early to

say that. It looked like the red would go. It's too early for that.

As Stephen said, the great champions, they impose themselves.

Go on about Steve and they set the tone for the day. Ronnie has done

that. Do you think it will be in effect this afternoon - whether

Barry Hawkins will feel the pressure after yesterday? No, I think he'll

be in this match thinking he's got nothing to lose. He's not the

favourite, by any stretch. We know with Perry's match, if Ronnie needs

to stick with him this session, we know what will happen. He has to

establish himself. He's a run-away-train when he's playing

well. They were talking about Barry

Hawkins and how important it is in this session to get a good start and

not let Ronnie O'Sullivan get away too early.

We know what Ronnie is like as a front-ruper. He's very hard to --

front-runner. He's very hard to hold on to. Hawkins has to stamp his

authority as early as possible on this match.

I think with all great champions, they are not frightened of the

winning line... APPLAUSE

That's the type of safety he'll have to play. He's going to have to stick

with Ronnie. Not one session, two sessions and then we'll see how it

plays out. He put Ronnie under a little bit of pressure last year in

the final. Got back to 15-12 at one stage.

I certainly don't think he'll be phased by the occasion, as I said.

After last year's experience here - certainly stamped on him - no doubt

about that. He's been playing very well during this championship.

As long as he covers the red to the left of the brown, it will give some

safety. He's done that - a good length with the cue ball.

If Ronnie's going to try to get this back into baulk, this cue ball, he's

going to have to hit it absolutely perfect.

As I say, the one thing you don't want to do is leave that red that's

there... A bit thin. A bit pacy. A good chance for Barry to put

Ronnie in a bit of trouble here. I am just wondering, will he risk the

double - play it as a shot to nothing, if he wishes?

The first priority, of course, was blocking the reds with the double.

If it goes in, has Ronnie in the snooker.

Contributed It needed to be thin. Has he left anything easy?

I think it will be going back. I don't think that red left cuts into

the centre. He has a be possibility of that red into the right corner

but doesn't fancy it. He is looking to see where the cue

ball is. That looks pretty good. We'll see where it was. He has to

catch this very, very thin. It could go in-off if he doesn't catch it

properly. Is He will warn Ronnie. He could

clearly get through to this red. You hear the warning. REFERREE: . I have

to warn you, if you don't hit the ball on, you'll loose the frame.

Tough rule. I think he could play down this side of the black. He will

be covering certainly the red to the left of the black.

S. A decent length and the reds now nicely spread. So, first mistake and

it could be costly for either player.

A chance for Barry Hawkins. This red adjacent to the blue will definitely

cut to the left, middle. I think there is a clear path to go back up

the table for blue or baulk colour. An unexpected miss from Barry

Hawkins. The red has gone close to the corner

pocket. Has he left it? Well, he can see it, but this is by

no means easy. Well, if the cue ball slows up a

touch, and he it has done, he is absolutely inch-perfect on the blue.

So, he has his chance. This opportunity, even at this early

stage could tell us a lot about how Barry is feeling.

I mean, there are a couple of loose reds but if he can play a delicate

cannon, left of two those reds, right of the pink spot, it'll

certainly clear the pink spot. He is just looking to the one to the right

of the pink, there is a pot into the corner pocket, but if you can play a

delicate cannon into those two reds it would certainly open things up

for him. Well, he could have played it a

little bit harder than that. Looking for a full ball contact on that red.

There is a little bit of work here to do with the cue ball to get up to

the top cushion. He didn't want to be having to play

it delicately for the blue, so nicely on the yellow. Nothing

settles you down more in a match than a sizeable contribution. But

once again, he just can't keep control of the white. Is he looking

at a plant? Mm, lucky to have found this.

Maybe he can get past those two reds to the left corner. It is a

difficult one. It wasn't easy. You just get the

feeling he is not settled just yet. A little short of pace so he has to

take the cue ball in and out of baulk here. It is all about line and

length. Well, that's very unlike Ronnie, to

make an error like that, to catch a baulk colour. Yes, just got into the

cue ball a little bit too much. He was fortunate to catch the yellow

there. He could have left either of those two reds into the top pocket,

a lot easier. Quite a big target behind green and

brown here. Just about covered that red to the left centre. He's got to

be careful here, Barry, because he's got to get good distance with his

cue ball here to make sure he covers that red when he tries to get back

to baulk. Yes, just a fraction short. Ronnie

will look to see if this red cuts into the left, middle, but it is a

thin one. You'd rather play the cut than play into this left corner.

No, didn't fancy it. Where is the cue ball going? REFERREE: Foul.

Barry Hawkins, four. Well, just a quick look at the table. Maybe not

too much damage done. I don't think there is - well, there is a red

there that goes past the black but that's fraught with danger should he

miss it. Maybe there is an easy safety shot to try to get the upper

Nelson Mandela this tactical battle. -- the upper hand.

Oh, much, much too thick. He is desperately looking to see if he

left this red on. The problem for Ronnie is, in potting it, can he

control the line of the cue ball? I suppose if you could, would you

cut it in and try it cannon the red next to it. Where is the black

going? Oh. Well, turned the pot down. I tell

you what, he is a little bit fortunate. There are two lefts - two

reds on the left-hand side of the corner, that he can't get to. This

now puts Barry's safety under more pressure.

This is tough. If he leaves the cue ball down this end of the table, the

black end, he is going to be leaving the pot into the left corner. And if

he manages to get back up the baulk - because he has to cover those two

reds, that can make a plant. Here is Hawkeye's view.

Well, he has covered these two reds. It was a fantastic effort, wasn't

it. It had to be said. A tap on the table for Ronnie. He knew how

difficult it was for bory to get it safe. He can get through to these

two reds but from Ronnie's point of view, he had to hit the first red on

the on the right-hand side. The left-hand side as we look, can he

get to the left-hand side of the first red? Maybe. There is enough I

distance between the two of them to make this plant.

It might not look too inviting but he can not leave them there for his

owe Pope ented. Or maybe he is going -- for his opponent. Or maybe he is

going to try the safety and run the red into them or does this red pot?

It is a risky shot. No, just trying to dislodge the plant but it's gone

all wrong. A big chance now for Barry Hawkins. He needs to make the

most of this. For his own peace of mind. It was a

strange shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It looked like that plant could

easily have made it. Not sure why he didn't take it on.

Well, he would like to dislodge the red close to the right-hand corner

pocket because that will open the black

This will make him feel good and certainly settle him down.

Just about OK on the black. Maybe a bit lower than maybe he would have

liked but he has enough reds in the open. This black will put him 53

noints front. -- points in front. So another three reds. There you see

it, 53 ahead, 83 remaining. Every time he pots a red, that points

remaining reduces by 8 points. Because that's the maximum, a red

and a black. So, he is looking for a colour and

another red colour, and possibly a red just to make certain that Ronnie

won't come back to the table. A nice solid pot. Now, if he gets a

black off this red he will go 68 points in front with 67 remaining.

Nicely-played and on the black, good shot.

As you said, Ken, this will settle him down and make him feel as though

he is now in the match. He has his first frame on the scoreboard. I

just thought Ronnie might have been a little bit cautious. I thought

there were a couple of shots he could have played here and decided

to polysafe. Going back to that plant. It looked pretty

straightforward from our view. Let's look at that plant again. There it

is. This is the shot he chose. Obviously he is trying to get back

up behind green and brown there. Heavy contact on that red. He

thought he missed it. Let's look at this. It is the pace and gravity.

The break goes to 71. The chance of a century for Barry Hawkins. Already

he has had three sevenlingries in this tournament so far. -- three

centuries. A good line. Very well-played

indeed. A perfect angle on the yellow.

He'd love to make the century here because when you are playing someone

like Ronnie because the crowd have come and he is your main man, if you

like, you are just proving to them you can play here and win frames in

one visit, given the opportunity. This will be a real boost for

Barry's confidence. Yes, and also, sends a psychological message to

Ronnie O'Sullivan as well, saying - if you miss I'm going to score.

Someone needs a glass of water. (coughing in the crowd)

Such a shame, he didn't make the century but a wonderful 96 break

from Barry Hawkins. He is off the mark. It is one frame apiece. ?

STUDIO: An excellent frame from Barry Hawkins but Ronnie O'Sullivan

lost control of that frame early on. He was on the blue, having to go in

and out of baulk. We will look at T he got too much screw-back on that

and lost his position. Now look at this particular positional shot. You

have come the wrong side of the blue, somehow you have to get back

up the table for the reds. Sometimes the reds dictate what shot you are

going to play but the modern-day way is to play the pot and screw through

the gap as opposed to playing through the far side, the yellow and

the brown. On the other side for Ronnie, if you don't get enough

screw-back, you play the shot, you will hit the brown. If you don't get

enough screw-back on, you are going to hit the brown. But if you get too

much screw-back on, thank you very much, Chris, our world snooker

coach, if you get too much screw-back on, trying to get through

the gap, you could hit the green or as Ronnie did, the yellow, like

that. You are looking for a screw-back, quite a defendant this

shot that gets -- a deft little shot, and also with enough power. It

is not easy to do and under pressure t can always go wrong. That's

roughly what you want to do. Back to Ken, I think in the studio. What

about that red, Ken along the top cushion. I couldn't believe that

went in. It got a bit of a kick. It hit the cushion quite a long way

from the pocket but just a bit of graft as we say and the pace. Barry

Hawkins breaks off. -- gravity and pace. That 96 break will make him

feel good. Let's look at this red again. It was

quite amazing, John. Look how far it hit the cushion. He thought he

missed it, a heavy contact but it managed to just drop in. Yes, I

don't know how it did. He is certainly getting a good

length of the cue ball and in between frames, the interesting

thing, I think is that this is right at the table where the reefer rewas

setting the balls up, just checking to see if it is rolling straight,

Ronnie. As the referee was check setting the balls up. No law against

that, Ken? I don't think so. I'm sure the referee would have told him

so. That's another good safety shot from Barry Hawkins. I think he was

checking because, if you go back to earlier in that frame, where Ronnie

missed the red on two occasions and was warned from the referee - maybe

he felt the table was just rolling off slightly. Yes, and the last shot

he played in that frame, when he caught the red too thin, you know,

when we said we thought he might play the plant, he caught that red

too thin. Maybe he just I thises the table is just rolling off slightly

but at the moment, Barry Hawkins finding an excellent length for the

cue ball. And no matter how good you are, Ronnie O'Sullivan or whoever,

when you are tight up against the baulk cushion, you will not be

potting many balls The safety success hasn't been that good. Only

50% from Ronnie and 100% from Barry so far. Oh, excellent shot. Needs a

nice kiss on the pink. Hasn't got T nicely-negotiated. A

roll-up to the pink, I presume. -- hasn't got it.

Is you just roll off the pink on to the cushion and possibly back behind

the pink again. Off the cushion and back up. A bit

light but not too bad. Would have liked to have got that cue ball

tight to the pink because it would have made this shot so much more

difficult. A good little safety shot that from

Ronnie. He hasn't found the baulk cushion but is there a gap between

yellow and brown? He can get past the blue but it would be a thin one

to try to get the cue ball back to the baulk end. Just looks like he is

playing a safety to the top cushion. Well, he can hit that safety shot

well, Ronnie, there. And lucky that cue ball didn't go in the pocket.

Well, Ronnie coming around now to have a look. That cluster of six in

the middle of the table, top red does go to the left, corner pocket.

Could do with a nice angle on a colour, looking at the yellow. Good

pot. That just took that little bit of

pace out of the cue ball. A nice angle on this blue. As you can see,

just off straight - the wrong side. If you can get the cue ball

somewhere about there - just dropping this blue in.

It is an easy reach from this side. Again though, a good pot, but just a

little bit short of the blue. A similar shot he played in the last

frame. He hit the yellow here. It is much better.

And the red, at the top of this bunch of five does pot and in

potting this red, he'll be bringing the other reds into play. Can he

hole the red, or will he go up for the blue?

And of course, how he can play this shot with his left-hand - it is just

in ced incredible! A talent! It is funny, John, you take that for

granted when you watch Ronnie O'Sullivan. We are so used to seeing

him play those sort of shots left-handed. They are so difficult

at the best of times. . As you say to play it with the amount of pace

he put into the cue ball. Of course, we all remember when we

first saw him use it here, he was playing a Canadian, and he thought

it was an insult that somebody should play with the left-hand. He

thought he was taking the mickey. If you have it in your armry, why not

use it? -- -- armory.

The problem with those two reds being close to the cushion. He has

to try and get the cue ball up the table for black, or possibly blue.

He's now got a change of heart. He's looking at the thinner cut, which

could take him on to the pink.le Pr -- on to the pink.

I don't think that was the best contact there, but it was a chance

and he's not made the most of it. He just seemed to go a bit straight -

that red. He didn't make the most of it. A

shake of the head. So, Barry, these are the type of frames you can

really punish your opponent - take advantage of the mistake.

Could have played that better! He wanted to pot that red more into

the right-hand side of the pocket as we look, just to get out for the

black into the opposite centre. It is pretty good.

He has to be careful here, Ronnie O'Sullivan. If he tries to clip one

of his reds, he has to careful of hitting the red on the way back up.

It has to be pretty close. Just watch the cue ball on the way

back. Now, you see it - that was

dangerous. And could be very costly.

This red will free up the black spot, which will help his cause

because those two reds are close to the cushion behind the black spot.

This is an excellent opportunity for Barry Hawkins. These are the type of

frames that haunt your opponent. A nice angle on the black. He can

play for the reds around the middle pocket. He could play a nice little

cannon on the left to the... He doesn't have to, but the angle is

there if he wishes. Looking at the score board, nine

points behind. Need both those reds that are close to the top cushion.

It is not a straight run to the winning line, by no means.

He's come around to look at this red. In the last frame he played a

red, not unlike this one. When he pots the red, to really kick on and

he was making that break in the last frame. We saw how easily it dropped

into that corner pocket. That will be in his mind here. It hit the

cushion quite a way from the pocket and went in. He'll be playing it

just a little bit, a little bit more pace this time, but certainly that

last shot would have given him confidence.

Straight in - no problems a nice angle on the black, just to screw

back to the cushion, the opposite red, into the middle.

Now there is a seven-point advantage. Two reds, two blacks. So,

if he were to get that, he would still need yellow and green. Still a

bit of work to do. APPLAUSE

Controlled that beautifully - a perfect angle on the black.

Maybe an angle where you could run through and notice the red away from

the top cushion. Didn't want to risk that.

He's left plenty of angle here though. Again, just got to drop this

in and just be confident with it. If he just drops it in, give it a

chance to get into the pocket. It's there! Well played. An

excellent shot from Barry Hawkins. Needs to go by the blue or kiss it.

Oh, that is just perfect! That puts Barry 25 points in front.

25 remaining, but not for long. Perfect on the green.

Started off the first frame safely. It is his safety play which has been

impressive so far in this mafrp. I know it is very -- match. I know it

is very early days. He's not leaving anything easy. Good safety shots are

causing Ronnie problems and leaving these type of opportunities. Made a

96-break in the last frame. Ronnie, well, he's just been frozen

out with the good safety play from Barry. Hawkins, having lost the

first frame wins the next two. You get the feeling he's finding his

rhythm. Very impressive. Both us said he's got to score here. You

have to get that first frame, but also to show Ronnie he's there to

play. Another wonderful break. He's hitting well. We wondered if there

was going to be a hangover. There hasn't been so far. If there's been

one weakness, as opposed to last year in the championship, Ronnie is

not winning one frames as regular as last year. He's giving his opponents

more chances. So far he's not been punished. He's played good session,

bad session, good session, bad session - sort of thing.

You tweeted in the week, after Ronnie O'Sullivan made it through to

the semi-finals - "Stun step up." Is he the man to do it? It is Ronnie's

title to lose. Perry showed if he can stay with him, that is the only

way to put pressure on him. When you look at the head-to-head records and

see that Barry Hawkins has only won once, does that play on his mind?

Listen, today is another day and the match is another day. You get on

with it and play it as it is. So, there'll be a mid-session

interval after this frame. Barry Hawkins would love to have a

two-frame advantage. I think Barry Hawkins is a different

player this season. Getting into the world cham World

Championship final - proving for once and for all. You can believe in

yourself as much as you like. If you don't get the results it is very

hard to keep believing. His performance last year would made him

belief, what we all thought - a very, very good player and a great

match player. I think the way he performed in the final. He didn't

just roll over. He got within three frames, 15-12.

It turned out to be a close match until Ronnie ran out the winner. I

think that type of match would have given him great confidence - there's

no doubt about that! Of course winning the PCT grand

finals only a couple of weeks ago... APPLAUSE

That would have enhanced his confidence even more. As I said at

the beginning of this match, I don't think he'll be phased as much as he

would have been in the past. That is because of all those wonderful

experiences he had here last year. There is some evidence that Ronnie

played that shot before - that the ball seems to be drifting.

It seems to be drifting over to the right as the players are playing

down the right-hand side of the table. Barry Hawkins miss placed his

previous shot and he's... Just like Ronnie did in -- a couple of frames

ago. Let's look here.

There'll be a warning here. Get the spirit level out at the

mid-session interval. It will not help Barry at this moment in time.

Telling him that, to hit the ball long doesn't make this any easier to

get safe. He took a chance there.

You wouldn't want to miscue in that position, would you, in all

fairness? He was quite brave. It is nice that Ronnie saw the funny side

of it. There's obviously something just

maybe the table needs looking at. Ronnie talking about fractions -

that is what this game is all about. Of He's been a little bit fortunate.

Could have had something easier into the right-hand corner pocket. He has

this red up into top left corner pocket. No pressure on this.

Ful Played the pot. As you can see where he left the cue ball, he

wasn't going to leave much. The red he was playing. Ronnie was not

interested in that. Safe enough! It has been a cagey

affair. Apart from the first frame.

I expect it to come down from that. Ronnie is usually 15 or 16. He's up

to 21. That shows you a good safety from Barry Hawkins is making him

think a little. A little bit thick on that safety.

When you are playing those shots, you play it with a lot of side and

if you don't strike it correctly, that right-hand side will push the

cue ball to the left. Just at the moment, I think Barry is fathering

better than -- faring better than Ronnie. Got a good target with the

brown. This is a pretty good line. And OK, he didn't get behind the

brown, but slightly awkward cueing for Ronnie. Needs to hit this

correctly. APPLAUSE

Well, a little bit short of what was intended. .ment I give him credit

for that. That was -- intended. I give him credit for that.

Barry is not entertaining this red on the left-hand side of the cushion

because it is so close to the cushion. There is always the chance

that will double kiss. He's looking at trying to leave the cue ball

somewhere on the bottom cushion. A May have left the cut into the

pocket there. I saw Ronnie miss one of these in the opposite corner

pocket and just straighten up. APPLAUSE

That is better. Needs to miss the brown. That's unlucky!

No prizes for guessing what's coming next though!

It was an excellent escape - couldn't have done much better than

that. He didn't fancy it. Needs to miss

that red. He's just about missed it. Has he covered it? Applause because

of the good length of the cue ball. Is there a gap? There is a gap

between green and blue. It is made difficult because of the

proximity of the ball to the cushion. If he knocks it in, the

chance of being on the black for the opposite corner.

APPLAUSE Nicely on the blue.

This is a decent chance. Really had to cue that really well.

If you notice the way the cue went through - straight - no intentional

side on the cue ball there. He wasn't on this red. So, if he's

on this red, just a straightforward shot and the black into the opposite

corner pocket. As you say, Ken, certainly that's

not the red he played for - that was a bonus being on that.

I wasn't sure if that bounced a little bit more than he would have

liked. This is a little bit more awkward.

A left-handed player that prefers to playwright handed. Oh, that was a

horrendous kick! You don't like to see that! You

really don't! Players can miss balls and you get a bad run of the ball!

Look at that! A collision and a horrible way to finish! And it could

cost him. It could cost him dear! Curiously enough Ronnie doesn't have

the cue ball cleaned. If he drops it in for the red or past the blue -

he's OK! I think Ronnie can realise the

importance of this frame. There is a mid-session interval coming up after

it and Barry, and well, due to a bad contact there has given him a chance

to get out of this first minisession if you like two-a-piece. If he had

given this 1 00%... There was a lot of respect there for

Barry and what he was saying. He wouldn't want to give Barry too much

of a lead. Barry ponders on how did he get that bad contact.

He'll settle for that. The referee asking Ronnie for a

moment. The pink directly in line with the

black in the top cushion here. In line with its own spot.

Very surprising! Barry Hawkins gets a second chance, which I am sure he

wasn't expecting. This is a big opportunity.

If you've not got the right angle, so long as you have plenty, it is

easy to get in and out of balk. Just one point behind it now. These

reds could see him safely home. He would love to have been straight on

this red. He will have to go for blue now.

Too much right-hand side on the cue ball.

I'm not sure about the availability of these red. Obviously, the one

closest to the pink. He did feel as though he had to play

the cannon, and it could have turned out better. Most of those reds were

not available. He had a chance to move them, but didn't. He will

favour the cut, but can he control the line of the cue ball?

Used the blue to slow the cue ball down.

He has overscrew this yellow. A bit of tension in the arm. Look at the

scoreboard. 16 points. It's a lot tougher from a baulk

colour than it is from the black. He has played well. But it's not as

straightforward as it could have been had he been straighter on that

red. He has to play a really good positional shot. His position looks

good, does he have the right angle? Just a little bit off. An think he

will be playing this snooker. And a good one it is. Yes, played it

very well. This is a must fit for Bonnie. That is a great shot, a

fantastic shot. If the red had not flicked off the

brown, it would have been safe, but it is not. Red and black.

He needs up to and including the pink.

He just wants to get the cue ball somewhere along the line, so he can

screw back for the pink. It has gone a little bit astray. He will need

the extension here. That was a little bit careless. If

it was dead straight, this would be a lot easier. He has got to deep

screw this. This is a very difficult pink. He

looks up the scoreboard. The pink for the frame. Good cueing needed.

Not easy. Good pot. Good, good pot. Very

interesting frames to start this much. You can feel the tension in

the air. Ronnie O'Sullivan will be delighted at the end of this first

mini-session. There is an air of tension. This is

what happens when it gets down to the semifinals. He makes it special

as well. That was a fabulous frame of snooker. I felt for Barry Hawkins

there. It looks like Ronnie O'Sullivan has gone into the

tournament office, had he gone in there to talk about something?

Perhaps he can see us. Snooker players don't like change. It can

affect your head a little bit. I know that I would feel the same way.

We'll Barry be happy? I think so. He has established himself, which is

the first thing you what to do. I think 2-2 is good, but he will be

disappointed because he had a good frame there. He is world number

four, so he is doing what he is supposed to do out there. Barry has

been here before. The semifinals last year. You don't get to world

number four without knowing what you are doing. He is probably the most

improved player on the tour. I am hearing that Ronnie O'Sullivan has

gone into the tournament office for a tipping kit, not to complain about

the noise from us. They will have a little look about it. It is an

incredible turnaround when you consider that 24 hours ago, Dominic

Deal launched that amazing fightback against Barry Hawkins. It looked

like Barry Hawkins would be going out. But he is -- here he is. That

is why it is a marathon of the mind. You have to go and do your stuff

again. You have both been part of the article on website where you

have been talking about journalists about what you need to do at this

stage of the tournament. Do you break the sessions down in your

mind? 6-2 is the target in my head. Probably more Ford Barry van

Bonnie. -- probably more for Barry van Ronnie.

Very tight in this studio, no room for Steve Davis.

Well, file Ronnie O'Sullivan goes to the dressing room, Barry Hawkins

goes back to his dressing room. He had a chance of 3-1. Barry Hawkins

had a chance to possibly keep all bubbles under control and win the

frame. -- all the balls. He thought about putting the red, sending the

cue ball to break the three balls up. It may have been an easier

clearance. He decided to not risk it all going wrong. He played the red

down for the blue. He had to play a safety shot and let Ronnie

O'Sullivan in. You are trying to keep control of the table at all

times. It is so tough at this level. Thank you. The players are on their

mid-session interval. It appears that you love our version of the hit

TV quiz show Pointless. This is Richard Osman report this -- with

Potless. Today's question.

That is a good one. India. South Africa. Thailand, Canada. The nines?

-- Finland? Robin Hull is from Finland. A long time ago... Did

anybody represent Pakistan? Surinder Gill? There was an Indian player.

That guy who lived in Leicester but said he was from Latvia. Dino Cain

New Zealand. Nobody will get that. Nobody. Surinder Gill. He's not

Indian, he's British. He is from Bournemouth. I think that is a good

one. Finland. New Zealand. Latvia. Finland. India.

What do you think at home? Tweet us and give us your answer.

My favourite contribution from Ken Doherty, he's from Bournemouth?

Ten now to turn our attention to one of the matches of the tournament so

far, Judd Trump taking on world number one Neil Robertson.

This was a real cracker. Judd Trump led for most of the match, but you

just felt that something special was about to happen.

If he holds for the brown, it may be worth taking on. I visit looking? --

how is it worth taking on. I visit looking? --

has it not gone in? I thought it was there. And so did Judd.

I don't think there is anybody out here, he will have to play an

aggressive shot. You could remove the red of the

corner with another red. But the problem is that red on the centre

pocket. He is in trouble here. Looking at

the shot now. I think he will have to play this

long pot, the right-hand corner. Stephen Hendry used to say, if I

lost the frame by playing a safety shot rather than pot, I never

forgive myself. You have got to take your hat off to him. It was always

going to be difficult to miss the blue and green. But luckily for him,

it went in. Yes, he had to cut the red quite thin. It doesn't matter if

the red goes in. This is the first time for the last

four or five frames that everything has been in open play. If this was

early in the match, he would be... But when the pressure is on,

anything is missable. A little bit of noise in the crowd.

At the moment, he is just investing in these small colours, waiting for

the big stuff. He will be feeling very confident now.

It looked difficult to make a mess of that shot, but he has.

One good positional shot, he leads to get up on these reds and blacks.

Judd Trump hasn't potted a ball for over 26 minutes, that is a long time

when you get to the business end of the match.

If that pink doesn't pot, he is in trouble. The pink is very close to

being pottable. He needs to put this and cannon onto the left red. And

now he has a chance, a big chance. There was an opportunity to play a

ringer on the black, but he prefers the pink, obviously. He would like

to to have been an inch or two further down the table. It's OK,

it's not too thin to hold the cue ball, but it makes it more

difficult. Just one good pot away from being in

perfect position. It's good to see him walking round

the table quickly when he is making breaks, it suits his style more.

Keeping a nice rhythm. It's been hard work for 38. I don't

know what the colour sequence has been.

This could be good. Wonderful shot. He deserves what he gets. If he does

go on to win the frame, hopefully, it will be his century.

What kind of angle does he have on this red? He could bring another

three reds into play here. Now the hundred century is a definite

possibility. A little bit careless, didn't quite

get the desired angle. The difficult red on the side

cushion is the one that will be a problem. And to make the 100, he

will need four reds and four blacks. For that red to get onto any

other colour could be a problem. Would it be a monkey off his back, I

would it affect him for the next few frames?

Judd Trump is looking a bit forlorn, he has lost the last three frames.

He hasn't done anything wrong, he has just lost the safety battles. I

wonder if he will risk getting on the difficult red now. There is you

answer. He has risked it. Not guaranteed to get perfect on

this red. Surely now he is going to get it.

Two pots from an unbelievable record that might never get beaten again.

At this stage of the match, absolutely under -- unbelievable. A

standing ovation and he deserves it. Absolutely brilliant.

Congratulations to Neil Robertson. 100 centuries and he has levelled

the match. Making a century, what an

unbelievable reception from the crowd. I was so glad to have done

it. Through most of the match, it wasn't going my way. That is

probably why it led to such celebrations and relief. The crowd

really enjoyed it. It was electric. It was a brilliant achievement for

him. I just wanted to get out of the venue when he had done it because I

needed to concentrate on the game. I congratulated him at the end of the

match. Finally getting there, it was incredible. I am sure there will be

players who make 100 centuries in a season, but I am the first person to

do that, it is an incredible in achievement and a great honour that

I am that player. A terrific achievement, many

congratulations to Neil Robertson. All eyes on that.

This is effectively a new record. We have more tournaments. Still a

fantastic record. Social media was going mad at the time. So many

people watching either live or on the red button.

They were commenting on it, he hadn't even won the game and he was

elevated like he had one. Why was he sending a message during

the match? You would expect him to enjoy

himself. Isn't it interesting how the players

who have been knocked out still cannot stop watching?

Thank you very much, a lot of you have been getting in touch.

Welcome back. Earlier I asked to the name of any nation who has had

somebody representing them at the Crucible. Our legends gave us a few

ounces. Finland. New Zealand. India. Latvia. It will not surprise you to

note Finland got 36 points. Eight points for New Zealand.

There are a few scores that would have beaten New Zealand. Four points

for South Africa. Three points is the best answer on the board, any

fans out there will tell you Iceland is the best answer.

A big shout out to those who came up with Iceland. This is the

leaderboard. I didn't know this was happening.

There is a very smug Stephen Hendry sitting in the studio looking at the

leaderboard. Hazel and I are taking the Neil

Robertson approach, lulling you into a false sense of security. Barry

Hawkins two, Ronnie O'Sullivan two. The mid-session interval over. Quite

a hive of activity backstage. People looking at the table. It seems

everybody happy with the conditions. A very tense opening for friends.

I am not sure if Ronnie O'Sullivan will be more relieved to win that

last frame. Long Way to go in this match, another for friends to play

-- another four frames to play. There is the safety success, pretty

low. There is where he has just won an -- fallen down slightly.

I spoke to Martin Clark's assistant and he said neither player

complained about the table. The table fitters didn't really have

much to do. I am sure they would have used a spirit level. No

complaints from the players. A bit of tactical play now with that

red. The type of scenario neither player

would like. The first chance when he gets, he will try and played the

more aggressive safety shot. Has he left a possible double here

for Barry Hawkins? Didn't even look at it. Possibly

wasn't on. Ronnie would love to force Barry

into knocking that read back up the table. He just wants to get on with

it. If you could find the book line, as you say, he has left it

down there. He will not want to get bogged down

in this match. The referee has declared touching

ball. He is firing away from the red he is touching. The possibility of a

pot here. He would like to put the red into

the right centre. Still be on the black. Excellent shot. A lovely

angle on the black, if he wishes to go into the pack. Doesn't have to.

He has got a lovely angle but he must hit this pink on the right-hand

side as we look. That is pretty good. This could have been better. A

straight red into the left-hand corner pocket. Hit it perfectly,

didn't he? He has missed it. We were directly

in line with that. He has put his hand out when he

missed it, having a word with Ronnie. I didn't see a roll off, it

was always there. Let's have a look again.

Trying to put his fingers in between those rates. If he was to touch one

he would declare it himself. It was always on the left-hand jaw, never

anywhere else. Barry intimated that it walled off, but it didn't to me.

-- rolled off. It didn't sound like the best of

contacts love. -- there. Strangely enough, I haven't seen

money getting the cue cleaned since we started.

A little bit straighter than he would like, but plenty of key power

to spare. Coming off the side cushion. There is the straight line.

He may have just hit across the ball. Certainly the red didn't roll

off. 42 points, the lead, 75 remaining.

Three reds, three colours, that would do the trick.

This black and one more red ball. The black puts him 58 points in

front, with 59 remaining. He still wants red and a colour.

Doesn't have to do much with a red. Just make certain you pot it.

The only reason I always think nowadays, I'd use to sate you just

need a red, but you want to get that other colour following the red,

keeps your opponent in their seat. He was making out that the red

rolled off, we didn't see it. Ronnie O'Sullivan made the best of the

opportunity, nice break of 80. He now leads 3-2.

I would be fascinated to find out what John Parrott and Stephen Hendry

thought happened. It looked like he was on the top

jaw. Yes, certainly looked at from the camera shot. Sometimes it can

make the ball go thick, but sometimes it can make it go thin,

unless there was a funny contact. We have seen a lot of this in the last

24 hours. I was watching the coverage yesterday afternoon, Neil

Robertson missed a simple red and he said the table wasn't playing ball

and there was no hint of any responsibility. In fairness, it

yesterday it was kicking like a mule. They changed a whole set of

balls. That was most unusual. Ronnie O'Sullivan breaks off in the

sixth frame. Watch the shot back, it wasn't dead

set in the middle of the pocket. He is having a word with Ronnie saying

he felt it walled off. Unless the path of the cue ball hit the red.

You cannot really tell behind the object ball, unless it feared off

and hit the road. Barry obviously for something went wrong. Another

excellent safety shot from Barry Hawkins. Oney needs to miss this

green for it to be anything like decent. If you can find a path round

the back of the black. This would be some sort of angle. If

he plays the pot, misses the black, you may be running into that read to

the left of the black and that will hold the cue ball. If he misses red

and black that will be OK. He doesn't like it.

Now the Green came to Barry 's rescue. Can he get to this red

second up? Even if he can there is no path back to the baulk end.

Not quite sure if you can see enough of this red to have a go. He has had

a look at it, but it is very close. You can see from his expression, he

hit that completely wrong, wanted to hit the other side of the red. The

right-hand side as we looked. Amazing. That just tells you, watch

Ronnie here, he has messed up, that was a chance.

Those rates are all a bit difficult. You have got to play them with a lot

of pace. -- those reds. You have got to be so accurate. Easy enough red

to the right corner but can one get on the black? He is already looking

to see if he can make that cannon. Not too bad, he got second prize.

Would have loved to have hit that read to the left of the black. Bring

the black into play. He just looked to see. If you're not

happy and convinced watch what you are playing, get up, get down and

prepare again. Let's have a look at that shot

again. Just watch him, just missed that one. It would have been

perfect. He didn't want to be using the rest

for this shot. A bit of work to do with the cue ball.

Played it pretty well. Overstretched slightly. It is amazing how good he

is with a rest, considering most of the time he can play with his left

hand. Doesn't get as much practice with the rest as most players.

A little bit pacey, he would have liked to have been on the blue. It

is going to be a baulk colour. Just having a look which is the best red

to play for. That is inch perfect. Still

congested around this black spot area. Not the easiest of

opportunities. Easily trying to free up the pink

because of the black. Leave a little angle on the pink into left centre,

moving the red that is tying up the pink spot. This is where Ronnie is

so good, positional play is just spot on. Just holding the cue ball

here round the pink spot. Just as I was singing his praises!

Never expect him to miss that. Unexpected mess, unexpected

opportunity for his opponent. It really hurts, if Barry takes full

advantage of this chance. Once Oney had got that pink in play he thought

it was a frame-winning chance -- Ronnie.

He will be annoyed. Once you have got the pink in play, he had the

frame at his mercy. Straightforward pink, no excuse for missing that.

Not the best of angles on the pink, wanted to be a little bit higher.

That is a good positional shot. He has got a perfect angle.

He can just put this red into the left-hand corner. Need it out of the

way of the black. What sort of an angle does he have on the black?

Just over done that little bit. He may use it to his advantage and play

a cannon. He couldn't avoid the case on the

second red. He is going to need these four remaining colours. It is

going to be a tough frame-winning challenge now. It is not straight

forward any more. In all honesty, it never was.

It was a good shot. He can play with a little more confidence. The points

are all square. Nice angle on the yellow if he

wishes. Try and bring the two reds into play. He leads a bit of luck

here. It could have been better. If that red wasn't there, he had a

lovely angle to try and bring the other red into play, but he can't do

that now. That is as good as he could have

played it. Absolutely. He seems to have a nice angle on the blue.

Being left-handed, if he has a good angle on the blue, he could come off

the top cushion and cannon of the black.

He couldn't have played much better than that.

Well, you can't believe that. That is so unlucky. A terrible kick. And

that has cost him twice already in this session. Look at that. After

doing all the hard work. To get a kick like that. Very unfortunate.

There is no legislation for that at all.

It has stopped badly in his tracks. You can see the job. -- jump. But he

has got another chance here. But this is a big shot to take on. He

could play safe of the red near the top cushion. If he can pot this red

to the left corner, then... It is a tough pot. Didn't put all his eggs

into one basket. How will that double-kiss affect you? Not good.

Now a chance for Ronnie. It could be all about this shot. He

has two play for the red to the right corner.

Pot the red and you must be on a colour, you would think. No problem.

Just shot of good position on the blue.

If he is straight on this yellow, it is not a straightforward clearance.

He just has enough angle to come off the cushion. Good shot. Perfect.

Excellent shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He made the angle by

putting that extra pace in. Just brown and blue required.

You would have to say that Barry Hawkins has been very unfortunate.

That wonderful yellow gave him the frame. Ronnie O'Sullivan takes the

frame. Barry Hawkins, slumped in his chair.

Desperately unlucky. He played a brilliant frame of snooker. And then

this happens. It throws the red off-line so it does not go in the

pocket. He can't believe it. Horrible. You don't start the day of

thinking, I need to be lucky here. You just don't want bad luck. And it

is not the first time. There have been a few. He potted two brilliant

yellows. I do think that some kicks are caused by bad cueing, not that

one. Steve is in the Winter Gardens. This cue ball, it does it

now what has happened to it bad or good cueing. It does know what

conditions it is rolling on. Today, it has been pouring in Sheffield,

there is a lot of moisture in the air. There is moisture in the class.

If it is wet, more chalk sticks to the ball and that is when you get

more clicks. -- kicks. Barry Hawkins gets frame six under

way. It frames to be played in this first session. Steve May have a

point. We had torrential rain last night and this evening.

Let's have a look at a couple of clicks. Watch this one. And this

one. That was so unfortunate. It cost him the frame.

We see it so many times, the cue ball is bouncing before it reaches

the object ball. If it just happens to be coming down, you won't get a

good contact. Someone said that it adds to the

excitement, but you try playing the game! The players would not think

so. Just to show an example of what they

were talking about. Just watch this. Look at that cue ball bouncing

before it gets to the blue. It goes down there and even with topspin, it

looks as if the cue ball is stopping dead. There you go. That is what

Stephen was referring to. If you do not cure them smooth, the cue ball

leaves the table. That was bad cueing. If we look down

the line here, just watch Barry move slightly. His backhand just moves

slightly. That was one of the bad shots he has

hit. That is a bit worrying. Rodney will hope to get the cue ball

somewhere in the position it is now. Nice angle on this red. Absolutely

perfect. Bringing some more reds into play.

That shot, sometimes if you screw it too hard, you can bounce off the

cushion. It caught of three reds. That is a difficult shot. A

marvellous shot. You have to keep souls still in those shots. -- so

still. Back into prime position now. You can just sense how strong Ronnie

is getting now after winning those last few frames. Looked a little bit

vulnerable at 2-1 down. But you can sense that he has stepped it up a

notch. Job fits -- pot success up to 93%

for Ronnie O'Sullivan. And Barry just dropping below that

90% he has had during the tournament.

Ronnie can screw past the pink for a straight red. This is an excellent

opportunity. It had -- if it had been low on the

black, he could have matched those reds into play. He can't win the

frame with just these two red Star. He has played it lovely. Just a

delicate little cannon. Beautiful shot.

It is all about touch and feel, that type of shot. Surprising that he

went up for the pink. He will only have one thought now,

trying to make a century break. He has brought those two reds into play

nicely. The highest break is held by Neil Robertson, believe it or not.

What a magic moment that was last night. Yes, fantastic. And

incredible milestone. Absolutely vintage Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He played some wonderful shots there. That brown that Barry

Hawkins mist into the middle pocket, he only needs one -- you

only need one mistake against someone like Ronnie O'Sullivan and

then you are sitting down for the rest of the session and that is what

has happened. Barry will not be pleased missing

that easy brown. The fact he has got to the figure five, he can't be

behind after this first session. Ronnie gets this final frame of the

session underway. He cannot be behind now. Barry is not having the

best of runnings at the moment. Certainly not. This is a massive

frame for Barry Hawkins. Four frame gap. Not what he would have hoped

for. He hasn't missed many pot two, just

that brown. He hasn't played many bad shots. I thought his safety plea

was excellent. First but he will be getting a little bit concerned

because once Ronnie O'Sullivan starts to get in front, he doesn't

slow down. He just gets stronger. As all the great champions have done.

Even though it is four session much, the frames begin to get quicker. The

frame time, it was just under 20 minutes frame. He may just be able

to get past the yellow. Not much going right for Barry Hawkins at the

moment. He could screw this blew into the

green pocket. -- blue. The one at the bottom of the pack, that was his

choice. I did not expect him to miss that blue.

I chanced to bring some reds into play. Just at the moment, Barry is

struggling. Just gone off the boil. Maybe those

kicks have thrown him a little bit. Yes, you can soon get disappointed

with this game. That disappointment, it is in your head. Friend you are

thinking things could go wrong, you are not concentrating on the shot in

front of you. He does not want to leave a touching

ball that Ronnie can play away. Somebody in the audience is finding

it amusing. Ronnie, purposely, has left that.

Got to hit their safety shot just right, no margin for error here.

Where is that red going? Is it going to be on to the middle? I think it

is, looking at Ronnie's the action. Barry can get past the yellow. --

reaction. I just feel there is a little bit of

pressure on Barry now to make the most of this opportunity. Just had

that feeling. He is feeling it a bit out there at the moment. I know it

is the first session of four, that he knew that he needed a good start

in this match. If you go back to that force frame, it looked as if he

was going to win it. We all felt a good start from Barry was very

important for him. Another excellent pot from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. But if the blue doesn't go... That makes it a bit tricky.

Can't take it for granted this. Ronnie giving the pink the stare! He

was hoping to be on a red in the left corner. Normally when you miss

a ball like that, you leave your opponent some kind of pot to go at.

You could say that Barry is just getting the thin edge of the wedge

at the moment. That knocked it into a safe position.

What a shot! That is an absolute cracker.

Please stop calling out like that, it is not helpful.

This was one of the best shots we have seen in the championship, that

was magnificent. It is that lovely sound, when the ball hits the back

of the pocket. Just a lazy little push through with

the cue, got so much action. Just got an unwanted kiss on the

red. Can only drop this black in now.

Going to need another good hot, he has got to concentrate on the pot,

the pink is waiting for him. Just getting the cue ball cleaned, he

knows how important this shot, and this frame, is.

Good pot, Barry Hawkins, very good. He looks at the scoreboard. 26

points behind. The ball is not ideally situated, but he needs a

good contribution now. Struggling cueing wise, didn't have

to take the pink there, bit surprised he did, straightforward

brown. That was close to the pink spot. It was always on.

Once again not making the most of his opportunity.

It is not a very good safety. A possible red. The pink has come to

Oney's rescue. -- Ronnie. A nice shot from Barry. Another

cracking pot. Not on a colour, just nestled up to the green.

Only 21 points in it, I don't think it is a necessity to keep the green

safe. If he could cover the safety escape down the right-hand side,

just leave the red on the right-hand side cushion, it would be causing

problems for his opponent. 73% long pot success, that is good. He would

prefer if the Green would stay there, pushed the brand.

He wants to block the red closest to the corner pocket. This red closest

to the right-hand side cushion, very difficult to play a safety shot of

that one. Got to be careful. Maybe pushing a red towards this bottom

right-hand corner pocket and playing the safety shot.

If Ronnie can find a path for the cue ball to get position on pink or

blue, he has got the frame at his mercy.

The 21 point lead to build on here. Just got to find a path for the cue

ball. Surprised he played like that. It is

not good. The cue ball needs to slow up. Just

about. Not about safety. He tried to play a delicate little cannon.

Let's see what he was trying to do. Put the red, left of the blue, and

beyond the blue into the right centre. This is the way he played

it. Too much side spin. No attempt at the pot. The reason he

didn't play it was because if he had played it he would have kissed the

second red so it wouldn't have been a shot for nothing, purposely just

assuring that cue ball back to the baulk cushion.

What it does, or should have done, but the black back into play. The

way he has been knocking these long balls he needs a better cue ball

than this. Quite a long way from that one, came

right across it. But surprised. There is a chance for

Barry. Got to start seizing on these

opportunities. Oh, dear me. Would you believe it? So now, we were

asking the question, how much did that match with Dominic Dale take

out of him? We said we wouldn't know until the session was finished. I

think there is now a bit of a hangover. Just in the last frame. It

is maybe not from that match, but he has been affected by those couple of

kicks. Not only just about the bad kicks, but they have cost frames.

Needs to slide past this red, and he has done. That should set up this

frame. Barry, in a bad place at the moment. He didn't want to be for

frames behind at the end of it. That looks more than likely now. This

will be five friends in a row for Ronnie O'Sullivan -- five frames.

Got a lot of snooker left in this match, no doubt about that.

It is probably better for Barry, even if it finishes 6-2, that this

is the last frame of the session. They will not be back until

tomorrow. 48.4 and. -- 48 points in front. He

has potted some tremendous balls in this first session. But Barry

Hawkins has had a lot of disappointments, kicks, and frames

he maybe should have one. He is ready to shake his hand. Eight

frames, that is it. A disappointing start for Barry Hawkins when he

needed a good one. Oney will not be too bothered, he has got for frame

advantage. -- Ronnie. Barry Hawkins will have nightmares

over 6-2 because that was the score last time these two men met in the

semifinal of the Welsh Open this year. You have to have a lot of

sympathy for Barry Hawkins, because there we were in frame six, he has

got that red, gets a kick, if it goes in it is a different story.

He had two or three chances in the last frame. O'Sullivan was at his

best in that break. The way he hit them and how he got the cue ball to

manoeuvre was fantastic. He has had chances. It is a good time for that

session to finish. That is the reason Ronnie O'Sullivan

remains box office, the crowd are on his side, something else Barry has

got to content with. The more Ronnie goes in front, the more the crowd

supports. After his lead against Murphy said the match was over. This

is starting to look like it. How often do you see Oney lose a session

heavily? He is a runaway train in front.

Hopefully Barry will have a good nights sleep and come back with more

resistance. It is not over by a long shot but Ronnie is strong favourite.

Lots of people getting in touch, including Shaun Murphy, about these

kicks. Do you have sympathy with Barry

Hawkins? I mentioned some kicks are caused by bad cueing but the shots

he missed the red into the middle, that was nothing to do with Barry.

Of course you have got sympathy. That was to go 3-3. Do you want to

throw your view into the mix? I will leave it to Steve.

A lot of people getting involved in social networking for top Steve

Davis will get you up to date. Everybody has got theories, it is a

matter how great you play this game, no matter what happens to

Barry Hawkins, a massive frame, it destroys your confidence and a

rhythm. A few more players have been watching from home. Shaun Murphy.

He was involved in trying to look into the reasons why.

The idea for the under table heating was to dry the cloth out and made it

faster but it causes bounces off the cushion. Amazing how everybody, it

goes on forever, everybody has got their own ideas. Bad cueing, the

bouncing of the balls, moisture on the cloth, rain, atmospheric

conditions, who knows? It goes on for ever.

We haven't had any rain here. Stephen is involved, Shaun Murphy,

Steve Davis. What is your theory? I think friction is one of them. When

the clocks with thicker we never used to get them. It is like a

balloon, you can see the hairs moving. This ball is getting

electrically charged all the time. It happens after long screw shots.

If some midi plays a run through it tends to come of that. Restore the

university did something and they fed negative electrodes through the

suit could table -- snooker table and didn't get one for months. The

heaters on all day. Maybe overnight. When the place is empty. During the

day there is no reason why they have to be on. I think it is worthwhile

turning them off, just experiment. Say to the players, this is a

smaller event, we will try it, let's see if it works well stop at least

have a go. There is a belief who is not bothered. -- there is somebody.

I'm going to need the help of the media. We are going to hold the

triangle. I am going to hit one two, three, four, five, six as fast as

possible into the pocket. I am going to hit the white ball

from the left to the right, and from the right to the left, and make a

comeback. This is a variation of a famous

shop. -- famous shuttle stop the wide ball is going to come back and

hit every ball, but I'm going to do this one-handed.

I'm actually stopped me in the street the other day and said is

that man for real? Yes, he is. An absolute genius. There will be more

from him tomorrow. Let's turn our attention the match of the

tournament. In looking to wreck Judd Trump's World Championship dreams.

-- Neil Robertson. I was born the 20th of August, 1989. My nickname is

BA said. -- the case. I am the youngest player to make a

competitive maximum break. I turned professional in 2005. My

first ranking title was the 2011 China title. In 2011 I reached the

World Championships final. In 2011 I won the UK championship. In 2012 I

won the international championship. We have seen Neil Robertson draw

level and become the first man to make a century of centuries. We pick

it up in frame 23, with your commentators.

The safety from Robertson this evening has been top drawer. He can

play perfect sticker for a number of frames. Excellent single parting

comes into play. He is strong in all departments. There will come back

down the table. The benefit there for him to take a

red on. He made his previous highest break in frame 21, he made a break

of 70. Then to make his hundred. Doesn't help Judd Trump a lot, he

has still got a thin shot to avoid the other red. Didn't manage it.

The red to the right of the Blackwood pot.

Looking at that gap between the pink and red to get to that one. You need

to screw that about two inches. Having another look at it.

Getting onto a colour is not straightforward. You feel as if he

could walk on water, the way he is playing.

It could have an adverse affect on her. -- on him.

Judd Trump has been sitting in that chair a long time. So frustrating

when you don't get any chances to go for a pot and your opponent is not

missing anything, as well. 42 minutes since Judd Trump potted the

last ball. Everything is going in clean. He

could get onto the black, but there is no advantage with the red and the

Black spot. Just coming round to see if it is worth doing that.

No value in kissing into the pink here. He might just play to get the

gap. A big gap there. If he and hits it -- and a headset. This has got to

be very controlled. This is the angle on the blue which is OK.

He's going to bed on the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the

pink. -- going to play. That is his trice. -- that is his choice. He is

looking to get a few cannons into the black.

That didn't quite work out. Black was available.

He caught the black full-on then. When you see a sportsperson in the

zone. It looks now, doesn't it? This is tricky, though. Everything was

going in the middle of the pocket but that time he felt he didn't get

a good contact on the white. He felt it threw a little bit wide. I

suppose he hit the black a little bit thicker. If it had gone in the

centre of the pocket t wouldn't have caught the jaws. The fact that it

went in thick, that was the reason the white went a little bit wide.

Force 206 points now without reply from

Neil Robertson. Another excellent safety shot. The

standard here that we have not seen from Neil Robertson earlier on in

the match. But this is top-drawer stuff. It has been immaculate. He

hasn't left a ball and when he has, it has been one where he has had to

play at distance. He has not stuck a red on for ages. Well-played jud.

The only good thing with this match going on late into the evening is

they are not playing until tomorrow night T would be tough on them to go

out and play tomorrow afternoon, after this battle. Well, what would

they rather do? Go out and play or go home, do you think? Go out and

play, of course but look at this safety. He has been within three

inches of that baulk cushion for the last half an hour.

Jud is looking at a plant here. Those two below the pink. They may

be available. He pink. They We knew that was going to happen if

it didn't go in. The only good thing at the moment is the fact that the

black is on the back cushion. He is not guaranteed to win the frame at

this visit. It is going to be very, very tough to get on to a colour.

The angle he has on this is not nice. He could roll through and play

the pink in the middle. But as you can see, the pink is tricky.

Eight hours played. A good pot Well, just amazing. Every ball, Terry s

going right in the middle of the pocket. -- Terry, is going right in

the middle of the pocket. His pot success rate has gone to

90%. Judd 89 and he hasn't had a shot for

ages. # It is the amount of shots he has taken on in eight hours.

Incredible. This is the first time where it could run loose. He has to

play that very slowly. Once again, in the middle of the pocket, perfect

position. Pink on. Three reds, three killers and one away from victory.

Well, that young man is going to have to dig deeper than he ever has

before in his life. Somehow he has to make something happen. It is

minute it has just been flawless snooker. Ye, it is hard to explain

how you feel in the chair when you are kept out of a match. You don't

feel part of the match somehow. Such a big audience here watching

this match, enjoying every minute and Judd Trump is thinking he is the

only one in the room. Feeling so lonely there. Now, is the middle red

of those five potable in the right-hand corner? If it is, he

doesn't have to play the cannon. It is really, really tight. It probably

goes, just. He doesn't feel it does, which is

why he has played for the more difficult red and once again, he is

inch-perfect. He played three frames against Mark Allen to win the match

when he was leading I think 10-7 and played three frames on the trot

where he never missed a ball. This, I think is actually better than

that. Well, Judd decided not to continue

playing snookers, to 68-0 Robertson takes the lead for the first time in

the match at 12-11. ?

STUDIO: Neil Robertson playing so well since breaking that record.

Being the first player to make a century of centuries.

Judd Trump is at the table. He is trailing. Well, that looked really

bad because it caught the other red early on and balls are man overing

all over the table. You can still understand why Judd has gone for the

shot. He is just not getting opportunities. He feels he has to go

out there and grasp Well, I have seen a lot of

performances from great players over the years, the Stephen honed rains

owe soul vans and Steve Davis' but from the position he is in, those

five frames from Neil Robertson has been up there with the best I have

seen. He has played flawless safety. All the frames have been scrappy. He

has never had it where he has pink and black on the spo. He has had to

graft all the time. -- on the spot There was no warning in 11-8 behind.

He didn't look like he had it in him to do it. It didn't look wonderful,

but he has just turned it around. Cue ball is running loose.

Just when to you thought it was all over, there is a lifeline. -- just

when you thought it was all over. This is a stat you are not going to

believe. An hour and four minutes at the business end of a match and it

had been stuck on 11 frames all that time. . It is normally difficult to

stop Trump at all, even for five minutes. It is starting to get near

that point now where one bad shot could cost him it. Very well done.

Well done. I think he is going to have to take the risk, Terry. This

was an excellent point after an hour's play. I was about to say he

was about to take the risk of playing the blue into the pink. If

he is going to win this frame and get back to 12-12, he needs to make

it happen. Right here, right now. He has missed the pink. Still OK,

though. He has looked at the black there. If he play for the black, it

will be a thin cut. He also could have gone for the blue. Let's see

what he thinks of it . Now, can he pot the black and check

the white a bit and play the cannon into the two reds and pink. He is

bound to be on the other red but if he misses the cannon, he is nowhere.

He played the cannon. He got the position. Well-played. Freed the

reds. Well, this would be a monumental task having been off the

table for all that length of time, to produce a break to get back into

the frame. He commits all the time doesn't he when he gets into the

balls. That's what everybody likes about him. He tries to make things

happen all the time. He is very refreshing to watch. Not many like

him in the game, really. The red on that right-hand side is

horrible for a left-handed player as well. He has an angle on the next

red. He may try to bring the red off the cushion with this shot. You

don't want to be playing this red down the cushion with the rest, do

you? It maybe a little too straight to do

that, as Neil Robertson looks on. He has played it. Well-played. A

fantastic shot. At that stage of the match. Brilliant.

That's the stage he has got to at this stage in his career. He should

continue playing that way. He has to judge this pace to perfection.

So unlucky there to leave such a difficult shot. It was such a great

shot to bring the red into play. What a shame the match could end

like this. It was concentrated Terry and drifted past the pink.

! Well, he needs the brown as well. So there maybe a little bit of life

left in this frame yet. This isn't straightforward. He needs a nice

angle in the yellow to pot it into the corner pocket and have a nice

angle to get on to the green. So this is a key shot here now.

Well, for a match looking pedestrian earlier on in the evening, it has

turned out to be one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.

There is somebody coughing badly in the back and it is disturbing Neil.

That's awful. REFEREE: Enough, please, thank you.

I'm so glad he potted that. If he had missed that after being

disturbed by the crowd, it would have been a disaster. Well Judd

Trump can only hope this is too straight to get close to the brown.

If he leaves the white anywhere in baulk, the brown will be tricky. It

obviously is straight otherwise he would already have been down.

He doesn't want to try to hit it too hard and force an angle out of it.

He could miss the green then. It is not a certainty.

Well, there have been plenty of comebacks at the Crucible over the

years but this has been up there with the very, very best. Absolutely

brilliant. I feel so sorry for Judd Trump. He hasn't hardly had a shot

until that last frame. Well, Neil Robertson, you have to

take your hat off to him. A standing ovation from this audience. You have

seen something very special this evening. 100 centuries and also a

comeback that will be up there with the best comebacks of all time. Neil

Robertson goes into the semifinal winning by 13-11. And boy is he

pleased. ? STUDIO: A text message off Joe

Perry, he said... You have to quicken your game up, you are

playing too slow. You have to put him under pressure. I came out with

the attitude I should have H I wasn't thinking about making a

century. I thought get back and do the match. Play your natural game.

Put him under pressure. Score Hovely. That's what I did. -- score

heavily. It wasn't an enjoyable match for me nothing was open. Every

frame seemed to be really slow. Disappointmented I couldn't get in

amongst the balls. I was confident of winning the match in 11-11.

Under pressure. You decided to pot ball that is didn't go. I knew I had

to keep leaning on him and pressing on him and he was making mistakes.

You know, I finished off the match, really, really, well.

? STUDIO: An excellent performance for

Neil Robertson setting up a semifinal clash with Mark Selby. A

repeat of the UK Championship final and Selby is out for revenge. Coming

into it last year I had won the UK and Masters. I was going for the

Triple Crown. There was a lot of expectation and pressure on me last

year. Coming here this year, I have not won a major tournament as yet. I

have gone under the radar with the limelight being on players like

Ronnie and ding and Neil as such. It would have been nice to win one of

the tournaments. I lost in four finals but overall not a drastic

season. Like I say, I still have been knocking on the door an getting

close to winning tournaments. Hopefully I can win my maiden title

this year, obviously finishing off with the World Championships. When I

got to the final in 2007 I was qualifier and an underdog, so I came

here with no expectations. So every match I won was a bonus. Now,

because I have been a winner and won tournaments in the past, obviously

when I come to tournaments now, I come to win. If I don't, I see it as

a failure. Obviously I put more pressure on myself to when I did in

2007, even if I'd lost in the quarter-final, I would have seen it

as a good tournament. Snooker is in my blood. Normally I live and

breathe it. Even when I'm in the playing, I go back to the TV and

watch T I have tried not to worry about anything else happening around

me and concentrate on my own game. COMMENTATOR: You have seen something

very special this evening, a comeback that will be up there with

the best comebacks of all time. Neil Robertson goes into the semifinal

winning 13-11. Boy is he pleased. Me and Neil go back a long way. When he

first came to the UK we lived together with a year-and-a-half. It

was nice. And practising together. It is great to see him do so well

and achieve what he has achieved. The last two or three seasons we

went to more or less not playing each other at all to two or three

times in a seechlingts I beat him in the Masters final last year. -- --

in a season. I beat him in the Masters last year and he beat me in

the UK. We are still great friends. I still travel to Cambridge and

practise with him. When we are both on the table we will want to beat