Day 14, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

Here he comes, ready to dig deep once again, Barry Hawkins! A

magnetic talent, simply irresistible to watch, blink and you will miss

him, the Rocket! Ronnie O'Sullivan! Another Ronnie special.

Good evening, I hope you will be spending Friday night with us here

at the Crucible Theatre for our run which is a smash hit once again, the

2014 Dafabet World Championship. This does not win to tee finish

until Monday night. This evening, are cheaper tackiness are due out,

we have Ronnie O'Sullivan and Barry Hawkins. -- our sheep protagonists

are due out. Century number eight for Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Back-to-back centuries. The Rocket

is on fire at the moment. Well played, Barry Hawkins. He has got a

smile on his face, he has 10-3. This green for the 100. A well played by

Barry Hawkins. He still trails Ronnie O'Sullivan. We're here with

Dennis Taylor and Willie Thorne, always a great era of anticipation

with Ronnie O'Sullivan coming into the arena. Yes, even at 10am, and

the way that he played, years so focused. Every credit to Barry

Hawkins. He came back in that last frame and that has kept him in. It

is very easy to throw your toys out of the pram. Yes, all of a sudden,

he is now 10-2 behind, so that 15 minute interval must've felt like

half an hour so he has now pinched more frames. If he wins this 3-1, he

is back in the match? , yes, he has been in the practice room with Terry

Griffiths, and he is determined. If he wins this with a session to

spare, it would be a dream! Yes, it would be a dream! Now, over to Rob

Walker. Hello, good evening, this is act three in this fascinating

drama, two world-class players, but there is only room for one in

Sunday's 2014 Dafabet World Championship file. -- finals.

Please welcome first of all, a player who has come of age in the

last two seasons, the winner of the Australian open in 2012, he was at

the final here last year, he battled back against Ricky Walden and

Dominic Dale and battled through this morning to give himself a final

chance, give it up for Barry Hawkins! CHEERING

And his opponent, the most exciting player ever to grace the modern

game, 21 years after his Crucible debut, here he is bidding for his

sixth appearance in a Crucible final which saw just how much it still

means to him with that amazing comeback against Joe Perry. He is

the winner of the Champion of champions, the Masters this season

also, is he about to take one step closer to one more title, here comes

the defending world champion, blink and you will miss him, the Rocket,

Ronnie O'Sullivan! CHEERING

It is quite boisterous in there tonight, it is conceivable that this

match could end this evening, this is the third of four sessions

scheduled. Can Barry Hawkins slow the express train that is Ronnie

O'Sullivan? Over to Dennis Taylor. Thank you, Hazel, what a great

reception for both players. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, frame 17,

Barry Hawkins to break. Barry Hawkins gets the first frame

under way. Can he continue from where he left off with that

magnificent century break in the final frame of the last session. It

truly did keep them in this year's World Championship, you have to say.

The part success rate has dropped slightly. -- pot success rate. 74%

long pot success rate is very good. And Ronnie O'Sullivan is ahead in

the safety department also. And just ahead in the highest break.

Pretty good, and he is back this evening, Doctor Steve Peters, a

sports psychiatrist, not psychologist, and what ever it is,

he has worked wonders with Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last few seasons

and has not done too badly with the Liverpool football club.

It looks like he is taking the pot on here.

Straight into the heart of the pocket.

You can see that his long game is better than Barry Hawkins, and he is

very consistent with his long game. That baffled Ronnie little bit. He

was thinking more about the cue ball and took his eye off the pot, but it

did get very good position. We were chatting with John Parrott

just before the players came out, and we said that Barry would be

looking for 3-1 in this little mini-session. He has got the chance

in this opening frame. This is the Department of Barry

Hawkins is better than most, he scores very heavily when he gets in

here normally. What a battle he had against Dominic

Dale in the quarterfinal. He knows more than most that it is possible

to make a comeback, but Ronnie O'Sullivan is a different

proposition. That is horrendous. He would have been perfect on the red.

He got the kick and look at where the white finishes up. It comes back

off the cushion, hits the red, so unlucky. The white should have

finished leaving the red into the right corner, but look at he

finished up. I would still be tempted to take one on, but Barry

doesn't look like he wants to. Look at where the white finished with the

kick, without that kick, it would been perfect. Looks like it can get

to the one on the back cushion. He decided to play a safety. Needs to

make sure he misses the blue in the safety. Which he has done. It is a

shame. That is a very good length with the

safety shot. There is a possible pot in the right corner.

Not too bad, there is a red to the middle, but the cue ball is tight on

the side cushion. Not guaranteed to get on a colour even if he should

pot this. He would have to play to drop on the yellow or the brown.

That was never easy. Where will the red finish? Some supporters getting

a little excited. The number of times that you think

the blue is on its part, you play a positional shot and suddenly you are

out of position. But he is OK. He does have the ankle to still get

here. He needs to be quite low on the blue. -- he does have the ankle

to get here. -- angle. That is what is looking for, a full-ball contact.

Oh, no, he has got the red as well. That is quite unlucky. I am sure he

had a look around. He got the split is perfect. Was there a possible

plant on? That was very unlucky. At least he can smile.

That is a real bonus, because now the pink and the black are in play.

You do not mind losing a frame if you play a bad shot, but if you play

a good chat! He is perfect on the balls, then he breaks the pack.

There is no way he could have seen that going in-off that read, so

perfect chances and lockers come to the rescue from Ronnie. -- that red.

It is almost impossible now for Ronnie O'Sullivan not to get three

more reds and some colours which would put him past the winning frame

in this frame. You cannot do anything when this happens when

you're playing somebody like Ronnie O'Sullivan, because you know that he

will dish up. Just taking a little glance at the scoreboard. He has not

settled yet this evening, amazingly enough, there had been a couple at

he have missed, a couple have gone close to the jaw.

He just has to get himself ready for the next frame now.

He just rolled that in, did not try to get out on the black. A deep

black. But that doesn't matter, because the frame is well and Chuli

over. -- truly over. He wants to pot the Latics -- the

loft! Doesn't matter about the blue, Barry

Hawkins, very unlucky in that frame, but nothing unlucky about

that clearance, Ronnie O'Sullivan made that 76 break and he is

extending his lead, it is now 12-5. I know many of you would be getting

out into the garden this weekend, but these kinds of plants, this is

not what Barry Hawkins would have wanted! There was no way he could

have known where that was going to go. He has been very unlucky. He had

a couple of bad kick today and in the first session, and then he got

the double whammy. He is playing through the gap to get on the pink.

He clicks it through, it runs, straight on the black, and then he

parts the black on the corner which is a good shot. What is your

attitude coming into a match like this knowing that there is a danger

it could finish early? How do you stay positive and channelled? You

have to not panic. You have to wipe the slate clean when the frame is

over, there is nothing you can do about the bad luck and everything

that has gone, you just have to approach each frame like it is the

first. Back to frame 18. Ronnie O'Sullivan, certainly at the

top of his game at the moment. Nobody so far has put him under

pressure apart from Joe Perry. He produced two the finest friends we

have seen at 11-11 to take it 11-13. -- two of the finest frames.

Throughout this year's World Championships, there is one thing

about Ronnie O'Sullivan, he has not played a wrong shot and when things

have gone wrong he has not pushed the boat out. He has played the

correct shot each time. He is not taking any risks. He is giving Barry

Hawkins the utmost respect. That is what you have got to do. You just do

not let your opponent in if you possibly can help it. Still looking

at that tip, he has had another tip on, but it is certainly working

well, I would say. Barry needs the brown to come to his rescue heroes

far as the red in pork is concerned. -- come to his rescue here as far as

the red in the baulk area is concerned.

Black and pink, once again, slightly out of commission, so a bit of work

to be done from Barry. But the reds are nice.

He needs to get the pink and play, really. You might play for the red

at the bottom of the black spot. He is scratching his head, that

white did come off the cushion quite fast, and he is out of position

already. Let us have a look in see doesn't hit the cash on? A nice

pace. It kept on rolling. -- letters have a look and see if it does hit

the cushion? It seems to have quickened right up, the pace. It has

bedded in stop the clause is dried out now. -- the cloth is dried out

now. He may have a red to go out. The

luck of the blue is gone. That needed to slow down, and it

has. Has he gone too far? He might have to take the green now, but that

is what he would like to do, because there is not much available. But the

green is a much easier pot and there are a couple of reds he can get on.

A great shot. Look what's happening when he goes into the bunch. All of

a sudden, the black is not available. The think is. Would be a

lot easier with the black in play. The pink was available into the

middle pocket but he did not have the angle on the red, so having to

work really hard, but still in position. Another good positional

shot and he can keep this break going.

He has overrun slightly. You need to have an alternative in case you

overhead for you underhit. He is one of the best dressed

players I have ever seen. He really is up there with the great rest

players. Jimmy White won. But I would put Barry Wright up there. He

has potted 13 or 15 with the rest. I am glad that those stats were not

around when I was playing with a rest. I would have had none out of

15. He can't get perfect. He is nicely on the red, but he is

hampered because he's cueing on the red. You can see he is having to

jack up a little bit to get up onto it.

This red in the middle would be in a better position, but this is

dangerous. He is showing real character here,

is Irish. -- Barry. Purposely holding the spot. It is

much easier to get on this red, withholding the pink spot. He has to

be careful he does not snooker himself with the red to the left of

the pink. He is a little concerned that it is

not overscrew this. It is all about this cannon here.

This could develop the black as well as the red. It could be the key to

the frame, if this works. A little flick off the black, with

the red along the cushion. Once again, he is cueing over a

ball. That is there, well done. He had to

work hard, but he is still going. Amazing. He has done all the hard

work, I mean, there was very little on when he came to the table and

suddenly he has put... Well, it was almost in the pockets. After all

that hard work, he has missed the pink.

Look at the reverse side he had on that. Look where the White has

finished up. He has finished rather awkward. He wants the pink back on

its spot. He can just about cue past the yellow.

Look at the action he has got on that as well. He may not be on a

red, but to get the white up there from the straight pink, I mean, talk

about cueing well. It is his turn to be fortunate with

the position. APPLAUSE

Ronnie bringing them back into play, he needs the high value colours in

the open -- bringing the black interplay. Barry has got a few balls

that are in good positions from his point of view. Blue, a couple of

Reds either side of the cushion. Great cueing.

APPLAUSE Well, under the circumstances this

is a fabulous pot. If he has enough angle, he can get onto the red. It

is absolutely straight. When you are struggling, everything goes wrong.

The pink is half-ball, he does not want to be playing that.

Can he reached this? He has got himself into a position. He only

needs a red and colour. I think this is the right choice, a

good safety shot. I think after what happened to him

in the first frame, it would have been justice to win this frame

because he has been in the balls. He has got such a quick brain. He

thought, I have a go here, I have a chance. What a pot he has knocked in

there. At the pace he has played it, as

well, to get on the black. Coming up a long way short on this

one. He can cut this down the cushion,

but it would have been so much easier.

There is no weaknesses. We see the left-hand coming into action here.

He is checking the scoreboard. He has played for the blue.

Well, that is the first pressure ball I have seen Ronnie miss in this

match really. He knew it was frame ball if he got it and he was

gesticulating his arm went into the shot a little bit. Barry Hawkins now

to secure the frame. 26 points in front, perfect on the green and

justice may have been done, because he was an fortunate in the first

frame. -- unfortunate. Barry Hawkins only made 36. He

mist-macro the blue, but Barry Hawkins pulled one back and trails.

That players tour championship he won, he picked up ?100,000 for that.

That was a nice little price. REFEREE:

Thank you, frame 19, Barry Hawkins to break.

The first to 17 that goes through to the final. There is still quite a

way to go. For Ronnie O'Sullivan, but even a lot further way to go for

Barry Hawkins. That is pretty good, because he had

to swerve that a little bit to create the angle for the safety. It

wasn't straightforward. He found the gap, he tried the pot

but he made sure he got the gap there.

That was easier than the previous one he played.

APPLAUSE It appears there is no easy way back

into Borg here. He has the long run on the right-hand side. Just coming

to look to see what happens if he leaves the White at the end of this

table. It looks like you will have to do

that, hope that money does not knock the warning on the top rail there.

If he doesn't find the cushion, may have gone in-off, but he has played

well to finish that close to the cushion. Ronnie might be taking this

on. Oh, that is going to be unlucky if

it goes over the middle. He appeared to wobble that in the jaws of the

top pocket, he tried to screw back for safety but when he did not get

it in the jaws it was running loose and it hit the yellow and finished

near the middle pocket. But once again, the black, so many

times off the break-off shot there is a red that goes to the left of

the black and puts it out of commission. I think the pink is

available. He will have to concentrate on the

blue for a couple of shots. I wonder if he will risk trying to

get onto the red just above the black spot, so he can nudge away

from the black. This red was in the way of the

previous shot on the blue. He thinks so quick, Ronnie.

He could stun to the left-hand side and try and finish high on the red.

I think the MIGHT have helped him there. He would not have been on it

like this and it did help. That is amazing.

That shot would not have been available to Ronnie without the

little flick he had previously. He would not have had the angle to do

that. Have a look at this coming through,

right? If he misses this red, he will be the wrong side of it and

suddenly he glances off it and it finished perfect.

Ronnie immediately tries to win the frame.

He might have to go on to the yellow spot. No problem with the black

being available. He break builds so perfectly well

every time he gets to the table. The key to the frame coming up, this

shot, if he gets this split right. It is wrong, awkward, amazing how

that can happen. He is completely out of position. He played the shot

well enough. Unlucky to stick, red. -- unlucky to stick on that red. Can

he see enough of that red to get the white behind the pink near the baulk

cushion? He has played this well.

APPLAUSE He is enjoying his safety play. When

he was working with Ray Reardon a few years ago, he was really taking

his time with every safety shot and he appears to be in that frame of

mind now, when he is enjoyed playing safe.

A little smile from Barry. Just going back to the safety game, there

is never, ever been a player that has won World Championship just by

purely potting balls. You have to have a good tactical game as well,

to give yourself the chance to get into pot the balls. When Ronnie

wants to be, he is as good a tactical player is anyone we have

ever had in the game. Do you know, Willie, I did the match

this morning and he knocked a few like this in, a few unbelievable

pots. He has to mist-macro the pink,

otherwise he might not be on that red. He would love to take the brown

on and get himself on that red to the left of the yellow. It looks

unnatural to cannon the pink, so let's see how he plays it.

That was the best he could do in that situation. A little stun shot.

He might have made a mistake here, I think the pink would have gone on

the black spot. That is a mistake from the referee.

He realises it now, everybody is entitled to make a mistake. I am

sure he would not make a mistake like that, he is a top referee.

Maybe the spot was covered. Anyway, he is 70 ahead, so the frame is

over. I am sure he would not have made

that mistake. REFEREE:

File. Barry is looking to see how many is in it, now he has gone

in-off, he might come back to the table.

These colours are well placed for smokers. -- snookers.

I think Ronnie thought the frame was over when he hammered the back. He

thought Barry would have considered. He will concede now, after that

shot. A little wry smile on Barry's face.

He thought, he won't knock this in. No exhibition stuff from Ronnie. He

just clears the colours up, as he normally would do.

Look at the side he had on that ball!

Well, he had an early break of 49 and then he cleared the lot with

that break of 55 and Ronnie O'Sullivan extends his lead. It is

now 13 frames, to six. HAZEL IRVINE: And he needs four of

the next five to have the day off tomorrow, if he was to have the day

off. How great is the temptation is to it to push things and go for

things, a fine line to get right? I think he has woken up in this

championship. Some of the stuff in there, there was a brown in the

middle pocket that was the wrong angle. He stunned it, honestly, past

the pink to get it. Some of the touch shots and the deafness of his

play and cue action is fantastic to watch. Do you sense with a session

to spare, this target he has in mind? He looks focused. There is no

doubt he wants to finish the match tonight. Any player would. He looks

focused, walking around the table. We are eulogising here in the box,

in our bubble, just watching him float around the table, floating

those long red zone, his safety is spot on. He is making all the right

decisions, not pushing the boat out. He is so confident and comfortable

and comfortable in his own ability. As John said, that brown, so many

players in the game and at the top of the game would have rolled up to

the green there because that brown is so difficult, to stun it in, to

widen the angle and get on the red, a lot of players would have taken

the easy way out and try to keep it tight but O'Sullivan in that mode is

incredible. Every aspect of his game is finally to and. Let's go back. --

finely tuned. Ronnie O'Sullivan is looking very,

very good this evening and totally focused.

The normal escape into the side of the pack. He could leave a couple of

pots on. He's trying to be precise. One of them few mistakes that Ronnie

O'Sullivan has made. Not enough side on that.

This is an important shot coming up here, because it has to go right

into the reds and hope to get on the black. Is he on the pink? ! That

would be a bonus! He never dreamt he could get on the pink, but there is

a gap. Well done. He has had a little bit

of bad luck in this match, but he was playing to get on the black, and

look, that little gap appeared. I was watching Ronnie's face, you

never flinched. -- he never flinched. He's totally focused. Just

bothered about his own game. A beautiful shot. Could not have

played that any better. Just having the white cleaned after

a slightly heavy contacts. -- contact. It was a very slight one.

Lined up perfectly. The black is available into both pockets. If

Ronnie O'Sullivan wins all four after the interval, it could take is

to a situation where there is no session tomorrow. He is playing his

heart out. I think Barry Hawkins would like to come back tomorrow,

spend more time at the Crucible. Needs to flick on the pink. That is

awkward. At a red is slightly in the way of

his left-handed, so he's back at the pink. -- that red.

A good recovery. The pink on the blue spot is much better for Barry.

He had a break of 106 in the last frame of the session which gave him

a bit of a chance in the semifinal. And this one coming just before the

mid-session interval. An awkward kick. He throws the chalk

in the area. Virtually one more red and the black and the frame is over

and he has just ran slightly out of position. I think he played to

cannon the other red. Why risk it? You play it or you don't, you played

so nothing can go wrong, and nothing can go wrong. Not over the winning

line in this frame yet. It is on like him to not think that something

could go wrong there. -- unlike him. What about this for an awkward shot?

! It is the extended spider, an extension on the cue, and even if he

was to pot this red, he might cannon the black, because he needs to get

onto the black. It is awkward to see the cue ball when you have to look

down the cue like that. I do not think you like that at all.

The only problem here is, look at the way that the reds are.

There is a shot on for Ronnie O'Sullivan here if he takes that red

and screws from the side cushion onto the black. It would give him a

great chance. I think that angle might be there. He forgot to pot the

red. Not an easy pot, but the position was perfect. He was

disgusted that he missed that shot. It was not easy.

There is no easy red available. That was worth taking the risk.

Now, he needs a red, a colour and one more red to secure this. This is

the final frame before the mid-session interval.

If he was behind by the same score, he would probably try to cut the red

between the yellow and brown. But he could not risk that with the reds as

they are, because he knows what Ronnie O'Sullivan is capable of.

He has screwed an offer! He has screwed in offer! -- in-off! When he

conceded? He says, you can if you want! Nice to see them both smiling!

It is Jimmy White's 52nd birthday today. He is on the main tour next

year because Dominic Dale beat Michael Wasley and that meant that

Jimmy stays on the main tour. Who knows, we might see him at the

televised stages next season. All the best to you, anyway, Jimmy.

One-year O'Sullivan walks out, very well done, Barry Hawkins. -- Ronnie

O'Sullivan walks out. Both of them head back to their

dressing rooms, it is always fascinating to see backstage at the

Crucible will stop they are heading off to the tournament office, at the

bottom of the corridor, that is the temporary home of Barry Hawkins. He

has performed so well in the last year or so and has shot up the

rankings. This match has been characterised by some bad luck from

Barry Hawkins and also some absolutely brilliant moments from

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Which of these are your favourite? So much to pick

from, a fantastic screw shot. He heads this too well, he doesn't

get on the red. It shows you how he gets through and how his timing is.

The way that he plays those shots so effortlessly. The research many

great shots. This is my favourite, a wonderful piece of cueing. Such a

difficult shot. I nearly jumped out of my chair! Another great charge to

keep the break going, tough with the rest. Perfect on the black. So many

examples, some delicate play, the power that he has come he makes it

look almost casual, the way that he goes about things. When someone is

at the top, they make it look simple. His long pot, this is

another one, into a blind pocket. Fantastic. And this is the man that

a few years ago, we said perhaps his game is on the decline, particularly

when we looked at the long potting, but it has completely changed now.

Perfect Barry Hawkins, he has kept his composure, he is not giving up.

Was a wonderful break. Every time he gets in, he looks to be cueing

really, really well, but he is not killing off the frame is as much as

Ronnie O'Sullivan is when he gets his chances. He has had kicks, he

has had plants, he has committed that session 2-2, so every credits

to him. And he has kept his sense of humour. He looks nice and relaxed.

You have to have that philosophy, you have to enjoy it and face the

challenge and enjoy those challenges will stop we will cap up on the

other semifinal. It is between Neil Robertson who has had a brilliant

season, he has joined the triple Crown with his last century, he has

become one of only eight players to win the Masters, the UK and the

world titles. He is playing Mark Selby who was very close to joining

that exclusive team, all that is in his way is winning this exclusive

World Championship trophy. Mark Selby has worked so hard on his

technique. In the early part of his career, he had a lot to be but with

his head and was very far away with his bridge and from the cue ball and

he has worked very, very hard on those two departments of his game.

Still moves his head slightly but he's still working on that, but to

get your World Snooker one, what a player. When you talk about

temperament, Mark Selby is the one to watch, when some people go into

their shell, Mark Selby is one of the best of all time, he is up there

with the very best of them. He has a lot of problems with his neck, and

as someone that had his career curtailed with a neck problem, it is

very hard to put in practice and hard work nowadays but considering

all of that, to have had the seasons that he had recently, I think there

are certainly a lot more to come. He's one of the best match players

you will ever see. I have seen him outplay Ronnie O'Sullivan, and not

many people can do that in the game. He is such a solid, all-round match

player, and a treat to watch. He has been coming into my club since a

four-year-old boy playing from 7am, 8am in the morning up until

midnight, he has not been always the best player, but now he is one of

the greatest players of all time. You might think his record at

ranking event is a bit disappointed, only one file of the World

Championship, he wants that on his CV. That would be his goal this

season and four seasons to come. -- one final of the World

Championships. Believe me, he is capable of becoming a world

champion. A superb first session, they were back this afternoon with

the second session, it began with Neil Robertson two friends behind.

He slipped further adrift going into the last frame of this session,

trailing 6-9. -- two friends behind. This was watched by Willie

Thorne and John Virgo. He thought wasn't a lot of danger in

that red, but you can take nothing for granted in this game and that

red has somehow found its way over the middle pocket.

He was able to control it so nicely on you would think the green. It

gives you a better angle to get the cue ball back to this end.

This looks into perfect. -- inch perfect. Not a great pack to go into

from the black but he possesses a wonderful amount of cue power. You

will see the arc of the cue ball, it leaves a half ball case, not a

football is on these group of reds. -- not a full ball case on this

group of reds. Once again, nicely on the green. He

will know the magnitude of this frame. He has won the first session

5-3, if he can win this frame, then he will have won this session five -

three, and that 93% pot success is exactly the type of pot success that

Ronnie O'Sullivan is producing in the other semifinal. It doesn't

appear like that watching it, and whenever he has played safe, he is

obviously not taking a pot on. I don't think he has missed many easy

balls. It is justly has run out of position a few times and when run

out of position, it is not a missed pot if you play safe.

It is there. Did not have to do a lot with the cue ball, but the pot

was difficult. A frame-winning chance. Has not done it in one frame

all afternoon. There is every chance he could do it in one visit here,

right at the right time. What a kick that was, luckily for

Mark Selby, it is not too bad if he does pot the blue.

Sometimes, you get those kicks, and it could be and a break, but he will

just drop in this blue and does not have to do anything with the cue

ball. -- it could be end of break. Was able to do that, so still on

track. Still on track to have a four frame advantage at the end of this

second session. And a night off to recuperate, because this has been a

tough battle. This has been hard matched Luker. -- match snooker. And

spare a thought for the referee, our referee, he has got to concentrate

on every shot. He doesn't have time sitting down, and I was talking to

him mathematician break and he said that he really has to have his wits

about him because there is a lot of safety and a lot of things that he

has to keep his eye on. And he has done well this afternoon.

Did not see that one coming! Didn't see that! Think he changed his mind.

If he pots the black, get on the loose red-macro... What has he got

left? He has got a choice of reds. Could

get easy position on the pink. Plenty of points to play with.

Does not need the black off any of these reds. To win it at this

visit, he needs the black to win the frame, if he gets that far. That has

been Mark Selby's Achilles heel this season, even when he is playing

great snooker, when he gets to frame ball, he just gets a bit of doubt.

He knew it was such an important frame.

He wants to get through the gap. He doesn't want to miss any kisses

here. Somebody must have been moving in

the crowd. Can you please sit still? Readers noticed this a lot

more than any other players, Neil Robertson. -- he does notice this a

lot more. There was a lady putting something in her handbag, that was

the problem, but she has stopped now.

Yes, that is what creates the atmosphere of theatre, the snooker,

you have got to be very careful and frightened to breathe sometimes! But

it all adds to the atmosphere and there is no place like the Crucible.

The semifinal of the World Championship, one table.

Would have liked another two inches of pace to get close to the pink.

32 points behind. He can win this frame without the black. If he was

to take the pinks with these reds, he would not need the black.

Well, this will be a body blow for Mark Selby. He was right in the

balls. He did it last night from 5-2

behind, won the last frame. Yes, I usually say position from

brown to blue is important but he only needs up to and including the

pink. Straight on this blue must have been

ideal, but he is down straightaway so he must have been happy with it.

APPLAUSE A very easy black, 61 to close

within two, he is delighted, Selby disappointed.

HAZEL IRVINE: You can see what it meant to Robertson. It was in the UK

championship title a few months ago, Selby led 5-1 and was

overhauled 10-7. But what a match this is turning out to be. It is, it

has all the whole markings of going late into tomorrow night. It is

fascinating from both players, great matchplay snooker. A fantastic

clearance from Neil Robertson. Let off the hook by Mark Selby. He will

be kicking himself and won't sleep as comfortably as he should be. It

is finally in the balance. What is your view? They have only just begun

to lock antlers! It hasn't started yet. This has not gotten into it

yet. I can see this going right down to the wire. Two superb match

players, both incredibly difficult to beat. Mark Selby, no matter how

he is playing, finds a way to win, and so does Neil Robertson. This is

going all the way. They have two more sessions to play, one in the

morning tomorrow and one in the evening. Whoever wins that and

whoever he goes on to phase in that final, how much is it going to take

out of the two of them? That remains to be seen. It is a valid point. If

it goes to the wire and Ronnie finishes this match off early, it is

an advantage straightaway. You never know. It is hard to separate these

two great players. They have every part of the game is top quality and

that makes them so difficult to beat. I don't think Neil Robertson

has played like he can in that match and Mark has not got away from him,

but I am not surprised. Ten o'clock in the morning, we will be on air

and you can see it withers here on the BBC. We have about 25 minutes to

enjoy here on BBC Two. We are off air at 9pm, and you can follow on

the red button. Let's sit back for the next 25 minutes and four fourth

-- and four more frames possibly to play and Ronnie needs four more for

the victory. Barry's turned to break off. That

was a terrific break of 67 in the frame before the mid-session

interval, to keep himself in this year's Dafydd World Championship. --

Dafabet World Championship. That will come up past the green and

the brown, so a chance for Barry for a long red. It would not leave a

great deal. Only the red, he will have a go at. Can he continue here,

from where he left off? Where is the red going to finish?

The brown has come to his rescue. There may be a gap in the pack of

reds, and there was. It was a shot to nothing and once he covered the

red he played with the brown, he thought he had got away with it.

The audience knew the blue was in before Ronnie did. You could hear

them saying, "good shot. " another chance for a long pot, for

Barry to have a go at. Can he get a little closer to this one?

What a great pot. An excellent chance.

There is a red that pots at the left-hand side of the pack.

What has happened? Anything any good? At first glance, I am not

sure. He is very unlucky, looking at it. They'll all covering each other

into the left corner. There is one red that is blocking the path, the

one into the middle is not very inviting. This is far from easy. If

he could kiss the red, probably could have played it a bit firmer to

be fair. The red he begged -- the red he's thinking about in the

middle, he could play at party can't kiss its full-ball. It can't stay on

the pink. He could, if the red was not in his way, that is the only

reason he is not taking that shot that Willie was talking about there.

The cue ball has closed, not close enough. A good safety shot from

Ronnie. There was precious little room to go through the gap.

He hit it too thick. He might have got away with this. There might be a

plant on, that is the only thing I can possibly see. Two reds that may

be in line for the pocket. He can hit the other want to cut it

in. He did not get away with it. Just

hit the shot too thick, Barry, that is why it can and into the other

red. -- cannoned into. One more good positional shot, he

can then get himself onto the black, which would help.

That has quite a big bounce. It ran too far, he may not be on a red into

the far corner. I am not sure if he can get enough

action on this to go round the back of the black.

It was the preview shot that was the poor one.

Where is the red going? How -- can he get through, he may be able to

plan to ball onto it. He has covered everything up. There is one at the

edge of the pack that he may be able to send over onto the red and player

safety shot. The extreme one, if he cuts that onto, he will be playing

to move this red and player safety shot. It will be a bonus if he

manages to make the plant. And this time, he has an angle on

the colour. He played this as if he was trying to pot wit and he knew if

he got the angle right every chance of getting that in. A super shot

there. He concentrated so hard on getting

the gap, he has got the gap, but forgot the yellow.

I am just wondering if he can hold this for the black, somewhere near

there. He will probably be able to do it

this time. And with the black back on its

spot, that is a great chance for Ronnie.

If he wins all the frames, he will have the afternoon off.

To win two matches with a session to spare must be so much more rest.

Didn't you do it, in the quarterfinals or semifinals, in

1985? Yes, it is such an advantage. You can get yourself ready for the

final. He is a step closer to getting the

match over tonight. This was the one, he put it on to

the right corner of the pocket and he knew after that he was going to

be sitting in his seat for a while. I say sitting in your seat for a

while, you don't want to sit in your seat for that long when Ronnie

O'Sullivan is at the table. He is so fluent.

Just over three minutes for this frame-winning break.

The Chancellor century here. -- a chance for a century here.

He has had three centuries in this semifinal.

It would be money's tense, and he would overtake Neil Robertson, who

has had nine. -- it would be Ronnie's tense.

Last year, 55 centuries. A brilliant clearance from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

One mistake from Barry Hawkins and that is all it took. Ronnie

O'Sullivan has cleared up with that magnificent 103 break and he now

leads 14-7. HAZEL IRVINE: Three away from a

fifth Crucible final, the third on the trot. Is there an air of

inevitability? It is looking like a runaway train. Barry has to try and

minimise the damage. Try and keep it, get another frame on the board

to win another session. It is sublime snooker. Faultless at times.

He is in total control. He is buzzing around there, made a century

in a little under four minutes. It is hard to stop, no matter who you

are. Especially in this kind of form. It is not unheard of for guys

like you, you were six behind to Paul Hunter and came back to beat

him, Ken. But it becomes harder against a man of his calibre and

when he has built up ahead of momentum? Coming back from

scorelines like that, you need help from

get any from O'Sullivan. That get any from O'Sullivan. That

century is as good as you will get. You need those two things happen and

it will not. It could be about respectability for Barry Hawkins.

Three more frames to play this evening.

If Barry Hawkins wins the next three, we still have a match on.

Ronnie will do his utmost in these next three frames to have the full

day off. He will probably go for a ten or 15

mile run if he gets the day off tomorrow. With a bit of luck, he

might pass you, Willy. Barry Hawkins is playing some great

safety. As John Parrott said, Ronnie is

playing at the top of his game. You can't afford to give him anything.

He has to be careful with this safety shot. There is a gap to get

through to that red. I don't think so, this time.

Look at this red here, he may take this pot on. There is no easy safety

shot. He has knocked a high percentage of

long pots in, but this would be some shot, to pot this in and screw back.

Look at the distance there, to -- the cueing, effortless. Where have

his long game come from? He has been struggling with his long pot. In the

previous tournaments, even though he has won, his long game has been

poor. His long game looks tremendous at the minute.

It is confidence, he is full of confidence at the moment. 72% for

the whole of the tournament with his long pot success rate.

He is hampered, but whatever he sees there, he is getting it.

I mean, this is just superb snooker. There is no other word for it. A lot

of players could watch what Ronnie is doing here. Every of the -- every

opportunity, he is looking to win the frame. Other players would be

messing about with the Blues but he has them into the corners.

It is a masterclass in break-building, it really is.

To do this consistently, under this pressure. Everybody's aim is to

bring their practice game to the table and this is almost Ronnie

O'Sullivan's practice game and it is the biggest stage in the world.

Phone the police, that is a mistake!

He did not play the kiss on the red, he was playing the red to the pink.

But it doesn't matter, does it? Just the wrong side of the blue.

Never mind get position. Superb. I am not sure if he can screw past

the pink to get on the black, I would not put it past him.

He had to cannon the pink, he could not avoid it.

Right in the middle of the pocket and another chance to get himself to

15 frames. Every chance he gets, he plays the

cannon to slow the cue ball down to bring the reds into play.

It is amazing to think he will possibly make his fourth century

this much. -- this match. Well, he has had enough, fabulous

play from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He leads 15 - seven.

HAZEL IRVINE: He is two away. Thank you for spending as part of your

evening with us. It is the bank holiday weekend. You have to spend

more time with us over the Crucible weekend, but we have come to the end

of our transmission for now. My thanks to the team. We will be back.

You can continue to watch the last couple of frames on the red button,

or online. We will be back at 12:10am with the highlights and the

rest of the news from the semifinal day here at the Dafabet World

Championship. From us all in Sheffield, good night.