:00:36. > :00:56.Surely now he is going to get it. Unbelievable. Fantastic. Here we go.
:00:57. > :01:03.Get in! Get in! Mark Selby! The magic 107.
:01:04. > :01:14.There has been a lot of attention on me with 100 centuries. I have gone
:01:15. > :01:20.under the radar. I have had good matches over the years. Mark and I
:01:21. > :01:24.have played the finals. I beat him in the last as final last year and
:01:25. > :01:29.he beat me in the UK final this year. I want to attack, make it
:01:30. > :01:36.breaks, pot long balls and I want the crowd to enjoy. People keep
:01:37. > :01:40.saying to me, you will win in one day but until you do, it is hard to
:01:41. > :01:44.believe. While I am still in the tournament, I still have a chance.
:01:45. > :01:49.Fingers crossed. Good afternoon from us all. It is a beautiful day in
:01:50. > :01:55.Sheffield and we have a spring in our step as we inched ever closer to
:01:56. > :02:01.the Dafabet World Championship final that starts tomorrow. Whoever
:02:02. > :02:04.designed this year's programming, we want to know whether they can supply
:02:05. > :02:08.it with some lottery ticket numbers because, look, they have it
:02:09. > :02:16.absolutely bang on. We have the world number one Neil Robertson
:02:17. > :02:21.facing Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan looms large over the
:02:22. > :02:25.whole thing. In fact, Ronnie made it through every early to the final
:02:26. > :02:30.last night, tying up a pretty emphatic 17 frames to seven victory
:02:31. > :02:36.over Harry Hawkins with a session to spare last evening. He is the first
:02:37. > :02:42.man to get into the final, having a special -- session to spare since
:02:43. > :02:43.well, Ronnie O'Sullivan. And my goodness, was he in brisk and
:02:44. > :02:57.brilliant form last night. The game is fickle and you will have
:02:58. > :03:00.patches where you are playing really well and your partner is not and by
:03:01. > :03:08.subversive. I didn't have nothing left in me, I didn't have enough
:03:09. > :03:16.drive. Straight into the heart of the pocket. And he extensively. This
:03:17. > :03:24.game is about momentum. If you can gather some of that, it is not as
:03:25. > :03:35.easy when you are doing it coming from behind. The mistakes are
:03:36. > :03:39.magnified them. Amazing. Being in the semifinal, playing against
:03:40. > :03:48.Ronnie, any little mistake magnifies against him. I feel like I have been
:03:49. > :03:57.in a boxing ring, doing 12 rounds with Tyson. I have learned to play
:03:58. > :04:04.hard every game. It is a huge tournament, a lot of pressure. As
:04:05. > :04:09.each match goes on, you get is a bit comfortable, the deeper you go into
:04:10. > :04:19.the tournament. What a great pot. I try my hardest. You are kidding! I
:04:20. > :04:25.feel mentally bashed and to be honest with you, I am glad it is all
:04:26. > :04:29.over! I am trying my hardest out there. I am going through every
:04:30. > :04:35.imagine you can imagine pretty much, just like everybody else does.
:04:36. > :04:44.Ronnie O'Sullivan is into the finals. Three years in a row. It has
:04:45. > :04:47.been a fabulous display from the defending champion! Are very
:04:48. > :04:52.comfortable winner in the end. 17 frames to seven. You never come here
:04:53. > :04:59.with nothing to lose. I am just happy to lose. Apart from the
:05:00. > :05:06.numerous breaks running mate, he was also great from behind. He looked so
:05:07. > :05:09.relaxed. Hawkins was mentally fatigued after his quarterfinal with
:05:10. > :05:13.Dominic Dale and he likened his match with O'Sullivan as if he had
:05:14. > :05:22.been in a boxing ring. Momentum is key. Sublime snooker. Ronnie said in
:05:23. > :05:25.his post-match interview that he was getting more comfortable as the
:05:26. > :05:30.tournament progresses which means the final, well, it could just be
:05:31. > :05:34.another day in the office for him. The quality of seven's matchplay has
:05:35. > :05:41.been superb. His long potting, as good as it been all season. Running
:05:42. > :05:45.wedding and with a session to spare. Robertson and Selby have gone toe to
:05:46. > :05:51.toe. Surely, it is advantage of Sullivan. Our other semifinal is
:05:52. > :05:55.developing into a long distance race, maybe even a marathon. Neil
:05:56. > :06:00.Robertson and Mark Selby started out in their semifinal on Thursday night
:06:01. > :06:06.and a first session the living tree and craft as well. Both men made a
:06:07. > :06:14.century before Selby emerged with a need. -- and lead. Selby forces way
:06:15. > :06:20.in front to 9-7. This morning, they returned for their third session.
:06:21. > :06:23.Selby with his fourth session of the event to re-establish a three frame
:06:24. > :06:29.advantage but Robertson responding strongly to take the next two and
:06:30. > :06:35.move to within one at 9-10. We join them in frame 20, will be left from
:06:36. > :06:42.BBC Two earlier. We do so in the company of John Virgo and Dennis
:06:43. > :06:54.Taylor. This is a beauty. Absolute beauty. At knowledge by Neil
:06:55. > :06:58.Robertson. He hasn't got the snooker but he almost snookered him on all
:06:59. > :07:08.the reds. Yes, but this is a tough shot, to try and get this faith --
:07:09. > :07:13.safe. Normally, you think the cross double but he would have to play
:07:14. > :07:17.that with a bit of side and being so close to the cushion... The only
:07:18. > :07:21.other way, he is looking now if he could play this red firm into the
:07:22. > :07:26.black, he would keep this red at this end of the table and maybe
:07:27. > :07:30.screw back, and may be knocking to the middle pocket to get the cue
:07:31. > :07:37.ball back to baulk. There is nothing guaranteed about this shot. He has
:07:38. > :07:51.got plenty of cute path. He will need it here. Where is the red going
:07:52. > :07:56.to finish? Well, that is a couple of pieces of good fortune he has had.
:07:57. > :08:04.Yes, I think this morning, on balance, the run of the ball, it has
:08:05. > :08:09.certainly favoured Neil. He was lucky there. He played it well,
:08:10. > :08:16.don't get me wrong. He would say, I would be unlucky for the red to
:08:17. > :08:20.double-click the black -- double kiss the black. What want you have
:08:21. > :08:25.played it like that, there was no guarantee to get it safe. -- but
:08:26. > :08:47.once you have played it. Did the red go far enough question
:08:48. > :08:52.maybe. Yes, that is very difficult. If you are fighting behind it, you
:08:53. > :08:59.and Robert the pocket but from where Neil is efficient, it is far from
:09:00. > :09:25.easy. -- you would have to drop it in the pocket.
:09:26. > :09:33.I tell you what, he has got a terrific snooker. He thought about
:09:34. > :09:44.the pot and then he thought better of it. He played little gem there.
:09:45. > :09:51.-- a little gem. Yes, it is a snooker. And that was very well out
:09:52. > :09:56.shot. He knew the red he was playing, he would run it into the
:09:57. > :10:01.other reds which would stop it coming back up the table. I remember
:10:02. > :10:06.the first time we ever saw Neil play, it was at the Masters at
:10:07. > :10:09.Wembley conference Centre. He qualified and he played Jimmy White
:10:10. > :10:14.in the first round, as we watched this shot again, and as I say, he
:10:15. > :10:17.knew the red would run into the others and he took the cue ball
:10:18. > :10:27.behind the brown. His great friend Joe Perry said, he is a great player
:10:28. > :10:34.but all he can do is pot. And that was all he could do at the time
:10:35. > :10:40.but, boy, he has improved his game. He is not just a potter any more.
:10:41. > :10:43.And you can't be to win championships. Just being a potter
:10:44. > :10:46.won't do it. You need an all-round game. That was a good line. Good
:10:47. > :11:04.shot. He is looking at this red along the
:11:05. > :11:08.cushion. He might be able to take the pot on and head towards the
:11:09. > :11:29.greenie -- the green. I think he could get the white up
:11:30. > :11:33.towards the green. To have stayed high value colour would have been
:11:34. > :11:41.very risky but heading up the table, well, the red I mentioned, it
:11:42. > :11:46.will pot. But she played the percentages there. He thought, if I
:11:47. > :11:51.can knock this in and get on the green, I could get a good chance. If
:11:52. > :12:06.I miss it, I know that Mark has two pull out a good pot.
:12:07. > :12:21.He cued it nicely. But he is not nicely on a colour.
:12:22. > :12:35.The green will cut but he cued that very smoothly. Yes, if you doesn't
:12:36. > :12:41.answer the cut on the green, you think it is not that difficult to
:12:42. > :12:48.play off the green and try and get the cue ball in behind the yellow.
:12:49. > :12:53.It is cuttable. I think he is looking at the pot, he knows this
:12:54. > :12:57.could give him a great chance, John, in this frame, before the
:12:58. > :13:01.mid-session. If he pulls this off, he could give himself and excellent
:13:02. > :13:23.opportunity. No. The red near the pink will go,
:13:24. > :13:33.but he thought I have got half a chance here. He courted to little
:13:34. > :13:50.thicker than he needed. -- he caught it a little thicker.
:13:51. > :14:05.If you punch it in, it makes the pot even more difficult.
:14:06. > :14:18.Horrific! Terrific pot! -- horrific. That was absolutely top draw. That
:14:19. > :14:26.really was. Dennis described the difficulty of that shot. He may just
:14:27. > :14:30.have the angle on the pink here to run into these three reds and bring
:14:31. > :14:40.them into play and still be on to the one in the corner. Well, he
:14:41. > :14:44.didn't want to risk that. It only just run past the pink spot, that
:14:45. > :14:53.nearly went all wrong in the blink of an eye.
:14:54. > :15:00.I think that red might just be available, the one to the left of
:15:01. > :15:06.the three. Yes, fair comment, and if he can get on that and finish high
:15:07. > :15:11.on it, it will bring the other two into play. A big moment, now, in
:15:12. > :15:18.this frame. It is another long, hard battle.
:15:19. > :15:33.So, the last frame is a long one and this is in the 37th minute. That was
:15:34. > :15:40.the opportunity to bring the reds into play. He controlled the cue
:15:41. > :15:47.ball nicely. This ring, two more reds and colours, and he will go to
:15:48. > :15:58.the mid-session interval. -- this pink.
:15:59. > :16:04.You can't separate these two players. They are so evenly
:16:05. > :16:10.matched. They really are. What a battle they are giving us here. Some
:16:11. > :16:11.brilliant tactical play here, both had century breaks, both had
:16:12. > :16:30.clearances. Well, he could not have played that
:16:31. > :16:36.any better. Though, he could not have done much more. It is a choice
:16:37. > :16:40.of reds now. Does he play for the one along the top cushion on the one
:16:41. > :16:46.along the side cushion? He has such a good angle on the black, he could
:16:47. > :16:52.play for either. So, but one along the top cushion. He is now 34 points
:16:53. > :16:57.in the lead. So, red and a colour required. Not beyond the realms of
:16:58. > :17:11.possibility. He forced it in. I was going to
:17:12. > :17:17.suggest to be didn't fancy playing for the black, he could have always
:17:18. > :17:25.had the green over the corner. This is to go 42 points in front and then
:17:26. > :17:31.it goes. The frame before was nearly 52 minutes. This one, by the time he
:17:32. > :17:35.has finished, maybe get him to 40 minutes. But two big frames for Neil
:17:36. > :17:43.Robertson. These are frames you would have
:17:44. > :18:09.thought may have suited Mark. He missed it. Yes, he missed it.
:18:10. > :18:18.Well, 42 points in the lead. Two Smith needed. It should be ten
:18:19. > :18:23.apiece. -- to snooker needed. That was over two hours to play the
:18:24. > :18:28.first four frames. As they went to be interval, for the second time in
:18:29. > :18:33.the match, Robertson levelled it. Ten - ten. After that much-needed
:18:34. > :19:33.rest, they are back out again. Frame 21.
:19:34. > :19:44.Touching the ball help the situation.
:19:45. > :19:55.That is a great shot, there. One cushion, two questions, here comes
:19:56. > :19:56.the third cushion. And maybe not quite the fourth cushion but close
:19:57. > :20:19.to it. Just a little bit thick on that
:20:20. > :20:26.safety, so I'm a well short. A chance here for Mark. The red to the
:20:27. > :20:29.right corner. The blacks available to both pockets. What a good chance
:20:30. > :20:50.this would be. He is usually very reliable with
:20:51. > :20:54.that type of shot but he cued across that one slightly, and you could
:20:55. > :20:55.just either back hand there. He didn't quite get it through on a
:20:56. > :21:35.straight line. So, just about OK on the yellow.
:21:36. > :21:47.More comfortable hearing on the yellow. A couple of loose reds.
:21:48. > :21:57.This is a decent opportunity. The last time he was in front in this
:21:58. > :22:02.match was the first frame, he led 2-1. Not a bad time if he could get
:22:03. > :22:12.in self ahead. There is a lot of work to be done here.
:22:13. > :22:22.He can get on the black this time. He might be able to which it would
:22:23. > :22:38.be extension. He is quite a tall ad. Maybe about six foot two.
:22:39. > :22:46.A decent chance now. The pink is tied up, the black is clear. At
:22:47. > :23:13.least five or six reds available. This is the type of situation where
:23:14. > :23:19.you wouldn't have to be playing too many cannons here. If you put one
:23:20. > :23:33.red, it will make a path for another red. -- pot one red. He is picking
:23:34. > :23:47.up the pace little bit now, Neil. The last couple of frames, the balls
:23:48. > :23:52.have gone rather awkward. It developed into a tactical battle.
:23:53. > :24:00.The chance is there for Neil. You can see that red at the back and to
:24:01. > :24:08.the right, that is available. He prefers to play more quickly, does
:24:09. > :24:12.Neil. In fact, his good pal Joe Perry was telling him, I think in
:24:13. > :24:16.his match against Judd Trump, he needs to quicken up a little bit. He
:24:17. > :24:21.took his good friend's advice and has been playing much better. But
:24:22. > :24:39.you can't always play quickly if the frames are awkward.
:24:40. > :24:50.He was looking at the red in the cluster. He would have to finely
:24:51. > :24:58.judged the vision. It shows you the danger of the reds near the top
:24:59. > :25:02.ocean. Normally, you would run the black in and then run the red into
:25:03. > :25:07.the same pocket but he is to term and to try and find that gap. From
:25:08. > :25:14.this position, we will see whether he can find it or not. Well, he is
:25:15. > :25:24.not on the one in the middle of the cluster. And the one that is low, it
:25:25. > :25:28.will be running into another ball so there will be no guarantee of
:25:29. > :25:34.position here. He will be trying to stun through a gap. And hopefully
:25:35. > :25:51.finish on the blue. He made ring the pink into play.
:25:52. > :25:58.That was the problem. He wasn't certain to be on a colour. Does he
:25:59. > :26:09.take the blue on? Normally, he would. A big shot if he is going to
:26:10. > :26:13.take this on. He just have to screw the white passed the pink and this
:26:14. > :26:33.red on the cushion will be awkward for him.
:26:34. > :26:38.The red that would be beneath his body would cause a problem. He is
:26:39. > :26:49.looking at the safety shot now. If the red had not been there, he
:26:50. > :27:13.would have taken the blue on. Well, I don't see a lot of value in
:27:14. > :27:17.that shot, in all honesty. I would have liked to have left the cue ball
:27:18. > :27:23.tight on the baulk cushion, maybe using the green as a blocker but
:27:24. > :27:24.that is nothing short for me. Yes, little bit early to be pushing the
:27:25. > :27:43.brown. He left a straightforward safety
:27:44. > :27:47.shot for Mark Selby. Mark is taking full advantage. Excellent shot. For
:27:48. > :27:49.me, that is where Neil Robertson should have left the cue ball on his
:27:50. > :28:30.last visit. Another thin one. Now, then, I think
:28:31. > :28:35.he can cue past this pink and he can take the red to the left corner and
:28:36. > :28:39.made be able to get onto the black. I think there is a little angle here
:28:40. > :28:59.to get onto the black. He has to find the gap, though.
:29:00. > :29:11.He has done well. He didn't intend to fix that red but he will take it.
:29:12. > :29:15.Maybe that shot that John mentioned when he put the brown safe, he would
:29:16. > :29:31.have been better getting a good cue ball.
:29:32. > :29:37.He doesn't want to be dead straight on this. If he is dead straight, he
:29:38. > :29:51.will have to screw back off the cushion. He had an angle. That was
:29:52. > :29:56.much better. So is reds are all available into just one corner
:29:57. > :30:04.pocket. That is why he has come back across the table. Even though he has
:30:05. > :30:06.lifted a bit short, he may be OK. A little cannon on the other red will
:30:07. > :30:29.leave the pink. Just checking, I think the red just
:30:30. > :30:38.below the pink will go to the right corner. H
:30:39. > :30:47.Just six points behind now. Looks to be nicely on this red just below the
:30:48. > :30:56.pink. This black will put him two points
:30:57. > :31:14.in the lead. These four remaining reds with high
:31:15. > :31:16.value colours would see him over the line. You said putting the brown
:31:17. > :31:40.safe was a bit premature, Dennis. Yes this was the shot he could have
:31:41. > :31:44.got a good cue ball on the cushion. But he decided to put the brown safe
:31:45. > :32:03.and I couldn't understand why. The red must go next to the black.
:32:04. > :32:29.Now you see it. This black and the last red and
:32:30. > :32:38.another colour and it will be snookers required. He has taken
:32:39. > :32:40.these very well has Mark. Well here we go, we know what can happen with
:32:41. > :32:47.this type of shot. Played it well. And there is his
:32:48. > :33:12.wife and Vicky's mum and dad. I know they're more nervous than
:33:13. > :33:14.Mark is. I saw Vicky's mum and dad at the hotel and her mum was an
:33:15. > :33:23.absolute bag of nerves. Dad smiling. But what a great performance this
:33:24. > :33:37.is. It really is. He lost three frames in a row and
:33:38. > :33:49.what a way to respond. This is how this session started -
:33:50. > :34:04.one visit. He had a century and an 85 in the
:34:05. > :34:11.opening frames. Doesn't matter about missing the brown. Neil Robertson
:34:12. > :34:18.maybe missed a trick when he didn't put the brown safe. That is twice in
:34:19. > :34:24.the match that Neil Robertson has got on level terms and Selby has not
:34:25. > :34:28.been behind in the match since the third frame and he is refusing to
:34:29. > :34:30.let this happen. It is all or nothing as we get into the next
:34:31. > :34:36.frame from the start. He is so close to the cushion I
:34:37. > :35:06.don't think he can get there. It deserved more than one point that
:35:07. > :35:42.shot. That is the pink. Foul and a miss.
:35:43. > :35:47.He hasn't pushed the red on. Mark coming to have a look. But can he
:35:48. > :35:55.see enough of this? No, I don't think so.
:35:56. > :36:07.Touching ball. So it is touching the so he could play in behind the green
:36:08. > :36:21.here. He could make it a more difficult
:36:22. > :36:30.snooker. But he has got to get in behind the green. Just like that!
:36:31. > :36:40.That S ly why I call him Sat Nav sell y. That to find his way in
:36:41. > :37:12.behind the green. He has done very well. Well played.
:37:13. > :37:16.Excellent shot. It is difficult to see from that angle if they're
:37:17. > :37:22.touching, when they're right in the middle of the bunch. Well it is
:37:23. > :37:30.touching two balls this time. Well, I mean don't move them, boys, watch
:37:31. > :38:02.your fingers there! Touching both balls here. Those two.
:38:03. > :38:10.He always knew if he could get, maybe it has just not travelled far
:38:11. > :38:15.enough. He was hoping the pink could block the path to the reds. But
:38:16. > :38:43.there is just an edge of the red sticking out.
:38:44. > :38:52.No, he didn't want to risk it and just played off the top cushion and
:38:53. > :39:02.nestling into them. No touching ball this time.
:39:03. > :39:09.No, he has hit the blue. He might be OK. But when you're that close and
:39:10. > :39:14.you're swerving it, it is not easy to get the required side that is
:39:15. > :39:18.needed to get up behind the green there. There is one near the black
:39:19. > :39:20.spot, he could take that on as a shot to nothing. He could slot this
:39:21. > :39:41.in. Both players are about the same
:39:42. > :40:31.size. They're both well over six foot tall.
:40:32. > :40:39.A chance for Mark Selby to play a telling safety shot, if he can get
:40:40. > :40:49.past the pink to the he edge of this red.
:40:50. > :40:55.Good effort, but the red he has played has come into a pottable
:40:56. > :41:01.position, the one above the black. I feel as though, well, he has got to
:41:02. > :41:15.play the pot. It is not an easy safety. He has got to go for this.
:41:16. > :41:24.He didn't avoid the middle pocket. It was a natural angle and he put
:41:25. > :41:29.everything into the pot. Still a bit unlucky from that angle to go in at
:41:30. > :41:34.that pace. Right in the pocket. Yes, you always sort of have the feeling
:41:35. > :41:38.that the pocket's there, but you sometimes think, well I will be
:41:39. > :41:51.unlucky to go in off. Mark can't knock it in and he has
:41:52. > :42:06.left the red. If he doesn't cannon the black
:42:07. > :42:14.there, this pot wouldn't have been available.
:42:15. > :42:30.He has over-cut it has he? No. He is on that blue.
:42:31. > :42:36.He can drop nicely to that red on the blue spot. Might have to play
:42:37. > :42:55.for the pink here. Could have played that a little
:42:56. > :42:58.better. He wanted to be straighter on the pink and then help has an
:42:59. > :43:19.easy positional shot on to the red. Be interesting to see where this
:43:20. > :43:24.pink goes after it's potted. Because the ideal ball to try and break up
:43:25. > :43:28.the reds, oh is goes on its own spot, but I think it is out of
:43:29. > :43:51.commission. That is no good. He will be
:43:52. > :43:56.struggling to carry on. Unless there is a plant, he is coming around
:43:57. > :43:58.hoping there may be a plant. But it looks straight enough to me on the
:43:59. > :44:34.blue. This a all he could do. It is now a
:44:35. > :44:45.case of getting a good cue ball to that baulk cushion.
:44:46. > :44:55.It's a good line, but it's short of pace. He is well short of pace.
:44:56. > :45:02.Another foot harder and Mark Selby would have been in all kinds of
:45:03. > :45:07.problems here. But Niamh's not really played the best safety. --
:45:08. > :45:15.Neil's not really played the best safety.
:45:16. > :45:29.But a weak safety shot from Mark. Very weak that. He kissed the blue
:45:30. > :45:35.full in the face and he wouldn't have got anywhere near the baulk
:45:36. > :45:40.cushion. There is a pot on to the right corner. But Neil doesn't fancy
:45:41. > :45:53.risking it. He needs to find the baulk cushion
:45:54. > :45:58.here. Well, he just run past the blue. So neither player taking
:45:59. > :46:00.advantage of what you would think were straight forward safety shots
:46:01. > :46:15.to put your opponent into trouble. Mark's opportunity now to play a
:46:16. > :46:23.sellest telling safe -- to play a telling safety.
:46:24. > :46:31.He failed to do so. He has left a red to the left corner. In fact he
:46:32. > :46:48.has left one to the right corner as well, which might suit Neil better.
:46:49. > :46:59.Ooh, he will be disappointed to have missed that. That type of long pot,
:47:00. > :47:05.he is usually so good at. Yes, he won't have been dispiept --
:47:06. > :47:21.disappointed at getting the little flick off the red.
:47:22. > :47:31.He is on the blue. It has just ran a bit further than he intended. But a
:47:32. > :47:48.great pot and I suppose he deserved a bit of good fortune.
:47:49. > :48:00.He has the reds nicely placed and the blue and the pink are in play.
:48:01. > :48:34.Of course these frames will be played out.
:48:35. > :48:41.That blue now takes Mark one point in front in this frame. And there is
:48:42. > :48:47.enough reds in the middle of the table.
:48:48. > :48:55.So it is a chance to win the frame at this visit. Not an easy one. But
:48:56. > :49:33.a chance. Sticking with the blue. The pink is
:49:34. > :50:00.not too badly placed. But he is guaranteed position from the blue.
:50:01. > :50:14.Doesn't need that difficult red that is near
:50:15. > :50:41.Everybody loves a plant. It doesn't matter how easy it is.
:50:42. > :50:50.You've got to admire Mark Selby, every time the world number one wins
:50:51. > :51:07.three frames in a row and comes back at him, he responds like this.
:51:08. > :51:35.This is not straight forward. He is looking to see if he zrus to the --
:51:36. > :51:42.screws to the left whether he can get on the pink to the right middle.
:51:43. > :51:49.He couldn't have played it better. Excellent positional shot. I expect
:51:50. > :51:53.him to win the frame now. This pink will put him 29 points in front.
:51:54. > :52:11.Still 51 remaining. That was so interesting to see, he
:52:12. > :52:15.stayed on to the blue until he got the correct angle to get the pink.
:52:16. > :52:22.He judged it to perfection in the end.
:52:23. > :52:29.You still that little head movement. This a something Mark has always
:52:30. > :52:41.done. Probably done it more earlier in his career.
:52:42. > :52:46.But he has turned into one of the finest cueists in the game that is
:52:47. > :53:01.for sure. Make certain of the colour. He makes
:53:02. > :53:16.certain of the red. The yellow gets him close to the
:53:17. > :53:33.red. The brown gives him insurance. He doesn't want to snooker himself
:53:34. > :54:00.by the pink! Nearly! Neil Robertson a couple of loose
:54:01. > :54:05.safety shots have kept him in his seat. So but for do snookers, Mark
:54:06. > :54:11.Selby is two frames in front again. And there is a real familiar pattern
:54:12. > :54:16.emerging in the match, Robertson levelling only to see Selby go off
:54:17. > :54:21.into the distance. The best he can do in this session is to come out
:54:22. > :54:32.all square. Where is this red going to finish?
:54:33. > :54:41.It is the only one he could leave and he has two more frames to be
:54:42. > :54:44.played. Neil would like to win them both. Mark Selby would settle for
:54:45. > :54:59.one of them. That is just about perfect. He has
:55:00. > :55:04.got the red at the back of the punch -- bunch, but Neil likes to be
:55:05. > :55:11.straight into the pink with lots of screw. The way he is marching around
:55:12. > :55:21.the table tells me that is what he is going to play here. He plays that
:55:22. > :55:26.shot so well. Did you see the white? It is amazing what happened to the
:55:27. > :55:31.white there. What a lovely shot that was. He is heading right down on the
:55:32. > :55:37.bottom of the cue ball. Watch the action. Watch the white and then
:55:38. > :55:50.spins back again. Beautifully controlled.
:55:51. > :55:59.He played that well and with a lot of conviction. He would have liked
:56:00. > :56:13.to be straighter on this blue. He still has the chance to win this
:56:14. > :56:29.session 5-3. That would level the match.
:56:30. > :56:36.He must have the perfect angle to drop on the blue. You can always
:56:37. > :56:37.tell with a player when he get down quickly, there is no thinking time.
:56:38. > :57:04.Because he has landed perfect. Two big frames coming up now. That
:57:05. > :57:08.is not quite as Neil played. He has played for the red to the left
:57:09. > :57:19.corner. But he didn't want to be so close to the cushion.
:57:20. > :57:28.This red has nicely come to his rescue. Amazing sometimes, you can
:57:29. > :57:30.play for a ball and then you are just not quite right and then up
:57:31. > :57:41.pops another one. It has been a fascinating semi
:57:42. > :57:43.final. We have had everything. Both players have had two century breaks.
:57:44. > :57:56.Both have had clearances. Some brilliant tactical play. A
:57:57. > :57:58.couple of very long frames. But they were interesting frames with so much
:57:59. > :58:41.good safety play. You feel Neil just let an
:58:42. > :58:44.opportunity slip when he trailed 10-7 and he won free on the -- three
:58:45. > :58:59.on the trot. But a loose safety cost him. And
:59:00. > :59:11.then before you know where you are, you're two frames behind again.
:59:12. > :59:20.But he is blessed with a good temperament and that Aussie grit. He
:59:21. > :59:22.landed perfect on the blue now. He is marching around the table now. He
:59:23. > :00:03.has picked the pace up. The last two frames Mark Selby had
:00:04. > :00:25.breaks of 73 and 49. He is having to sit and watch Neil Robertson.
:00:26. > :00:34.Just a little bit short. OK, he has got the red to the far corner, but
:00:35. > :00:43.I'm sure he was playing for the right middle.
:00:44. > :00:55.This is probably the last easy red to get on.
:00:56. > :01:06.He has got a good angle on the black. If he can split the reds
:01:07. > :01:23.nicely, it should be framed over. -- frame.
:01:24. > :01:34.He had a slight distraction. He has not played that well. That's needed
:01:35. > :01:38.some more thought. He almost caught that full ball. He has put himself
:01:39. > :01:44.out of position, just when you only needed another red and a colour. And
:01:45. > :01:48.if you know you're heading towards the middle pocket, which he should
:01:49. > :01:52.have been aware of, then he should have screwed from the cluster and
:01:53. > :02:01.got the cue ball to the left of the table. There is nothing he will be
:02:02. > :02:07.taking on here. But he has missed a chance. With he get a better chance?
:02:08. > :02:20.He is 64 points in front, but there are still 75 remaining. Will he get
:02:21. > :02:27.a better chance? There is no straightforward safety shot. He
:02:28. > :02:35.cannot go to the right corner at the safety entry needs to be, because
:02:36. > :02:40.the red would cut into the middle. -- the safety end where he needs to
:02:41. > :02:45.be. He has been thinking about this for over a minute. He could do which
:02:46. > :02:50.the red safe, but he cannot even really do that. The end, you might
:02:51. > :03:06.have to roll into them. If he can get back on the cushion,
:03:07. > :03:19.he would be OK. I think he can screw back on this red that is closest. He
:03:20. > :03:32.is taking the pot one. -- pot on. Just into the bunch. Staying safe.
:03:33. > :03:44.If Mark Selby was to get an opportunity, there is only one
:03:45. > :04:20.awkward ball, and that is the pink. Neil Robertson does not want to open
:04:21. > :04:24.this cluster of four, but this is probably the best way to get it
:04:25. > :04:29.safe. There is a chance you could make a plant, but you do not want to
:04:30. > :04:46.risk it. If it doesn't go in the middle
:04:47. > :04:53.pocket, it could hit the jaw and come back down, but it could not
:04:54. > :05:06.guarantee safety, but it would be a frame when if it goes in. -- winner
:05:07. > :05:11.if it goes on. He has missed it. He tried to get the white safe, but you
:05:12. > :05:17.never know where the red will go, and trying a plant like that, and as
:05:18. > :05:32.you say, he has overcompensated and it headed back towards the black.
:05:33. > :05:39.The last frame of the previous session, it looks like Mark Selby
:05:40. > :05:46.was going to take a four frame advantage. He made a 50 odd break,
:05:47. > :05:55.but he cured up with 60 odd to pinch the frame. -- cleared up. Mark Selby
:05:56. > :06:02.is returning the condiment. It is difficult. The chance is there. --
:06:03. > :06:06.returning the compliment. What a frame this would be if he could
:06:07. > :06:14.pinch it and open up a three frame advantage. As you mentioned, the
:06:15. > :06:21.only safe ball on the table is the pink.
:06:22. > :06:32.Just having a quick glance at the scoreboard. This blue with put him
:06:33. > :06:37.52 points behind with 59 remaining. -- would put him. He realises that
:06:38. > :06:45.he needs to get a few high value colours. If he takes blues, he is
:06:46. > :06:49.running out of points to play with. At the moment, he can afford blues.
:06:50. > :07:02.But not too many more. Of course, when the cue ball starts
:07:03. > :07:10.travelling, as it has two there, just about on the blue. That was not
:07:11. > :07:26.the idea. This is where it can get difficult. If he parts the yellow he
:07:27. > :07:33.will be 49 points behind. -- pots the yellow. Then the three remaining
:07:34. > :07:37.reds will have blacks to go with them. With these reds he needs
:07:38. > :07:54.blacks. He is able to get the black back
:07:55. > :08:02.onto its spot, and the way the reds are situated, it should be OK.
:08:03. > :08:21.He might be dead straight, but with his cue power, it will not be
:08:22. > :08:30.difficult to cue back off the cushion. A slight angle, but will
:08:31. > :08:43.cue back with reverse side behind the red. No problem for Mark Selby.
:08:44. > :08:46.He will need the extension and the white is a bit further across the
:08:47. > :08:49.table would have been better for an ideal position on the black, which
:08:50. > :09:05.would then get into the yellow. He might have to screw this back a
:09:06. > :09:10.little bit and pot the black and come from the cushion behind the
:09:11. > :09:14.black to get to the yellow. If he leaves the red where it is now, you
:09:15. > :09:36.see, that is better, so it is not straightforward.
:09:37. > :09:42.He got himself back to ten apiece. He will be very concerned now that
:09:43. > :09:48.he may be dropping three frames behind again. He had his chance. He
:09:49. > :09:57.went into the reds, but it did not work out the way he wanted. He had
:09:58. > :10:02.to punch that around the angles and there was too much storm on it. If
:10:03. > :10:04.he is straight on the yellow, that is a problem. He can still take that
:10:05. > :10:24.on. No, it was the black. Is he going to
:10:25. > :10:26.fluke a snooker? He has been quite fortunate. He can hit the yellow,
:10:27. > :10:53.but he cannot pot it. This was the shot he was trying,
:10:54. > :11:00.punch it in, but there was too much stun on it.
:11:01. > :11:13.That looks very good. It needs to pull up.
:11:14. > :11:22.That was an excellent shot. And if Mark Selby doesn't hit this red, he
:11:23. > :11:26.will need a snooker, but it is not straightforward. I do not think he
:11:27. > :11:30.can get to the left-hand side cushion where he would like to hit
:11:31. > :11:43.the yellow. The bump in the middle pocket could be in the way. Using
:11:44. > :11:56.any other angle of approach makes this missable. Very hard to do. I'm
:11:57. > :12:02.amazed that he picked that, that was the only option. He missed that by
:12:03. > :12:12.only a millimetre. He needed to have so much swerve. That is all you need
:12:13. > :12:19.to do to give four points away. He now needs a snooker. It will be a
:12:20. > :12:28.very relieved new Robertson coming to the table. -- Neil Robertson.
:12:29. > :12:33.This is a fascinating semifinal, I hope that you are enjoying it, it
:12:34. > :12:37.has taken three hours and 50 minutes to get to this last frame of the
:12:38. > :12:44.third session with Neil Robertson to play.
:12:45. > :12:58.We start this first frame with a Neil Robertson special!
:12:59. > :13:01.Could not find the baulk cushion, you cannot keep leaving these
:13:02. > :13:16.opportunities for Neil Robertson. That was an excellent shot. So close
:13:17. > :13:27.to the cushion to force it around to the two cushions.
:13:28. > :13:32.He goes through phases where he knocks all of the long want in and
:13:33. > :13:36.then goes through a spell he doesn't, but you cannot keep leaving
:13:37. > :13:45.him up at Unity is, and that is what Mark Selby, from E, has done so many
:13:46. > :14:05.times in this match. -- you cannot keep leaving him opportunities.
:14:06. > :14:13.That was a superb shot. It really was. Not a good pack to go into. A
:14:14. > :14:39.couple of loose reds. He is one of the best players I have
:14:40. > :14:51.seen for this particular type of shot, if he plays for it. This is
:14:52. > :14:55.becoming a Neil Robertson special. The same rules still apply. When you
:14:56. > :15:01.play this, you have to catch the pink full ball, that holds the cue
:15:02. > :15:09.ball in the middle of the table. He is playing for the one loose red. He
:15:10. > :15:14.will go for the blue. As we have said, not a good pack to go in-off
:15:15. > :15:26.the black, so I do not know why he played the cannon.
:15:27. > :15:35.Never guaranteed to be on a colour when you play like that. I thought
:15:36. > :15:43.we would see more of a positive approach to this break than we have
:15:44. > :15:47.done so far. He normally goes straight into the pink, but this
:15:48. > :15:53.time, he decided to play for the loose one, so this time, he needs a
:15:54. > :16:03.couple of good shots to get back into an ideal position. But when you
:16:04. > :16:10.pot the way this Australian dollars, again, sometimes, it can be
:16:11. > :16:12.easy, even when you're not in the ideal position. -- at the way this
:16:13. > :16:30.Australian dollars. This would take him level and give
:16:31. > :16:51.him the session 5-3, which is what he would have had in mind.
:16:52. > :17:05.He has the pink and the black, which would be easier to open the reds?
:17:06. > :17:13.Some top spin? Right-hand side? He has been lucky. He has been very
:17:14. > :17:16.lucky. He missed the pot, but unfortunately for him, he did not
:17:17. > :17:58.split the reds. -- fortunately. He missed an opportunity there, it
:17:59. > :17:59.will be interesting to see if he gets another one which is just as
:18:00. > :18:09.good. I don't think this is all caught
:18:10. > :18:11.doing, I think you can get in the cue through that little gap and
:18:12. > :18:31.control this cue ball. Without the gap, he could not have
:18:32. > :18:47.kept the cue ball tight on the cushion.
:18:48. > :18:53.A bit of a stalemate with the two reds at the end of the table, but
:18:54. > :19:13.there is no chance of a re-rack with Neil Robertson leading by 37 points.
:19:14. > :19:21.I wouldn't be surprised if Mark Selby doesn't take this on, but it
:19:22. > :19:24.is a big shot. He is looking at the possibility of a plant. This plant
:19:25. > :19:29.must be close. Just going to possibility of a plant. This plant
:19:30. > :19:40.right side of the pocket. If anybody can make a plant, it would be Mark
:19:41. > :19:50.Selby. We're not right behind it, but it is not far away. The reds,
:19:51. > :20:03.there is a little bit of a gap, so I do not think he can reverse it.
:20:04. > :20:12.He made it, and he played it confidently, and he has got the gap
:20:13. > :20:21.to the black. He is so good at that shot. He was the 8-ball world pool
:20:22. > :20:40.champion. He does spot those. It has gone slightly wrong.
:20:41. > :20:46.Well, that is amazing. He had done all of the hard work, he had got
:20:47. > :20:53.himself in the perfect position and it just went on the far jaw of the
:20:54. > :20:58.pocket. We know it wasn't the red that he played for, and it was a
:20:59. > :21:05.bonus that it went. I'm surprised he played it so quickly. He should have
:21:06. > :21:14.given it a second or two of thought more.
:21:15. > :21:17.That is the second ball that Mark Selby has missed into that
:21:18. > :21:45.particular pocket in this match. He wasn't directly behind it, you
:21:46. > :21:53.knew that was enough room and you just caught both jaws.
:21:54. > :22:02.He would love to put the cue ball back in the same spot it is in at
:22:03. > :22:06.the moment. He would have to do it off the red at the right side of the
:22:07. > :22:11.table and make sure that you didn't bring that red back up the table.
:22:12. > :22:16.Just trying to find another spot where you could leave it safe, but
:22:17. > :23:02.not many spots available the way that the reds are situated.
:23:03. > :23:11.He is giving this a lot of time, a lot of thought. He is now looking at
:23:12. > :23:13.the red to the middle pocket. He feels that he can get past the
:23:14. > :23:34.black. This is a big shot. Oh, how close was that? ! How close
:23:35. > :23:42.was that? ! That was much more difficult than what he missed in the
:23:43. > :23:46.other one. He weighed up all of the options, he thought for over a
:23:47. > :24:12.minute and a half, and then, look at what Neil Robertson is left with.
:24:13. > :24:19.Somebody just got up to walk out, the timing wasn't very good. Neil
:24:20. > :24:26.Robertson did the right thing, he got back from the table, saddled
:24:27. > :24:27.himself again. -- settled. You do not want any distractions at this
:24:28. > :24:44.stage. Four sessions the semifinals, he
:24:45. > :24:51.lost the first session 5-3, the second session, 4-4. You just felt
:24:52. > :24:56.that Neil Robertson had to win a session sooner rather than later to
:24:57. > :25:01.get right back in it. If he wins this frame, you will have won this
:25:02. > :25:11.session 5-3, and that will set up a grandstand finish this evening. No
:25:12. > :25:16.doubt about that. The prize, place in the final of the 2014 Dafabet
:25:17. > :25:23.World Championship. Centre-stage with Ronnie O'Sullivan. Four
:25:24. > :25:28.sessions, two days, if you cannot look forward to that, then you
:25:29. > :25:37.should be doing something else for a living! And that is what these two
:25:38. > :25:42.are striving for. And if he just minds his work now, Neil Robertson,
:25:43. > :25:51.that final session will be all square at 12-12. You just reminded
:25:52. > :25:59.me there, when you say, if he minds his work, you remind me of John
:26:00. > :26:00.Coleman, a former commentator, that was his saying, if he minds his
:26:01. > :26:32.work. Just one more red needed. And he is
:26:33. > :26:37.on the red. He would like an angle so he can part this red beyond the
:26:38. > :26:39.colour, then his opponent will not be bothering with snooker 's, and
:26:40. > :26:56.that seems to be the case. It has been a fascinating session.
:26:57. > :27:04.We have had some long frames, some high breaks. Every frame has
:27:05. > :27:06.produced some sort of excitement and it could not be set up better for
:27:07. > :27:13.this evening, as John said. He will not want to miss the final
:27:14. > :27:34.session of this semifinal. Not a lot to choose between these
:27:35. > :27:38.two players. Just a mistake here and there. Neil Robertson was desperate
:27:39. > :27:45.to win this session, and now he has done. The red doesn't go in, but
:27:46. > :27:51.that doesn't matter. Neil Robertson has done what he needed to do, I
:27:52. > :27:57.feel, and that is when that session by 5-3. They will go back now and
:27:58. > :28:02.try to have a rest before this evening's session at 7pm where they
:28:03. > :28:09.will commence, the first of 17, and he is 12-12.
:28:10. > :28:16.What a match, with a potential, you would feel, for a late finish, but
:28:17. > :28:23.an intriguing one. How do you describe the way this match has
:28:24. > :28:29.ebbed and flowed? Going to script. We have seen one winner session 5-3,
:28:30. > :28:33.then 4-4, then another... It is just the way that you would expect from
:28:34. > :28:40.these players, at loggerheads, going right to the finish. Looks the
:28:41. > :28:44.stronger after that session, Steve? Neil Robertson might feel the
:28:45. > :28:49.stronger as they go back to the dressing room, because he has dug
:28:50. > :28:52.himself out of a hole, and Mark Selby showed a slight weakness in
:28:53. > :28:57.not clearing up in the frame before that, and failing on his chance to
:28:58. > :29:04.get back on level terms in the last frame. It will be tough to separate
:29:05. > :29:12.them by the end. This is like the equivalent of a big fight, both of
:29:13. > :29:17.them, they are refusing to lose. The will to win is enormous. It is
:29:18. > :29:21.winning at all costs, so that is why the tactical play is so strong. In a
:29:22. > :29:29.slightly different way to Ronnie, Ronnie plays, he's obviously got a
:29:30. > :29:36.world to rent, but these two are sweating blood. -- he's busy got a
:29:37. > :29:42.will to win. They're not always winning the frames in one visit. It
:29:43. > :29:46.is 15 and 20 minutes on the end of every frame, which when you add that
:29:47. > :29:50.up over the series, going to 17 frames, that has got to be energy
:29:51. > :29:57.and mentally sapping before you get to the final. If they can win it in
:29:58. > :29:59.one visit, they will take much more out of themselves, or save
:30:00. > :30:05.themselves than what they are doing at the moment. Part of this as they
:30:06. > :30:11.play in very, very large occasions, up against each other, they have the
:30:12. > :30:19.UK file, the Masters final, they know exactly what one another is
:30:20. > :30:23.capable of here, Steve. Yes, and as they grow in experience, but
:30:24. > :30:28.tactical prowess they show is remarkable. It is the right way to
:30:29. > :30:32.go about playing snooker. First, learn how to pot the balls and then
:30:33. > :30:36.work on your tactics as you get older. It will come. It will be
:30:37. > :30:41.fascinating whichever one of these lads get through to the final, the
:30:42. > :30:48.difference between both of them and Ronnie O'Sullivan bring to the
:30:49. > :30:53.final. Although it is a grind, it is very watchable, it is some
:30:54. > :31:00.fascinating top-class snooker we are watching here. It is not gruelling
:31:01. > :31:04.to watch. It is top-class stuff. It is nearly too good. They are so good
:31:05. > :31:10.at the safety play and the tactical thing, they cancel each other out.
:31:11. > :31:14.It is making it hard work for both players. There is plenty more to
:31:15. > :31:20.discuss. I'm sure we will save some of that chat for this evening. We
:31:21. > :31:23.will do a lot of watching and enjoying what could be a fascinating
:31:24. > :31:28.conclusion of the match. If you have been with us all week, you will know
:31:29. > :31:32.Richard Osman has been with us teasing us with some pointless
:31:33. > :31:37.questions. We wanted to call the quiz Clued us because, let's face
:31:38. > :31:39.it, we are. But we decided on pot lists. It is getting very
:31:40. > :31:50.competitive. We gave 100 people here at the
:31:51. > :31:57.Crucible 147 seconds to name any player which has been ranked in the
:31:58. > :32:05.top 16 this season. There are only 19 answers out there. Which of them
:32:06. > :32:13.is the most obscure? Good luck. That has been in this season? I have not
:32:14. > :32:21.got a clue. That is a hard one. Robert Milkins. It is certainly not
:32:22. > :32:28.you, is it? No. Mark Davis is always there or thereabouts. Dominic Dale
:32:29. > :32:36.has not been? Let's go for the milkman, Robert Milkins. I do not
:32:37. > :32:49.know why Mark King is shouting out at me. Shout it out them. We are
:32:50. > :33:01.going to go for Mark -- Robert Milkins. Mark King. I will beginning
:33:02. > :33:06.the answers at the end of this interval. You can go on Twitter and
:33:07. > :33:12.give us your answer as well. Good luck.
:33:13. > :33:20.Thank you, Richard. We are not in a rush today because we have no light
:33:21. > :33:25.snooker for you this afternoon, but there is one man in Sheffield he was
:33:26. > :33:33.always in a rush, our trick shot man, Florian Kohler.
:33:34. > :33:41.What I am going to do, I'm going to have five cues and pot all these
:33:42. > :34:10.five balls right there. Five cues, one shot.
:34:11. > :34:36.This shot here is a variation of what we call the Hustler. The idea
:34:37. > :34:52.is to hit the white ball, make the ball go on the long rail, go back.
:34:53. > :35:24.This is what I call the impossible move. The white ball will kiss on
:35:25. > :35:50.the other ball, curve and then come back like the five ball.
:35:51. > :36:00.This is probably one of the crazy shots in artistic tool. -- Paul. I
:36:01. > :36:04.will do a shot where you hit the cue ball into the rail. The white ball
:36:05. > :36:06.will go into the air and while it is in the air I will shoot again into
:36:07. > :36:33.the triangle. What I'm going to do is hit
:36:34. > :36:45.whiteboard around the line. -- hit the white ball around the
:36:46. > :37:13.line into the one ball. What I'm going to do is hit the
:37:14. > :37:17.white ball into the five. I will stroke, the white will come here,
:37:18. > :37:49.into the rail and hit the nine ball. And one of the most quizzical looks
:37:50. > :37:56.I have ever seen on Steve Davis' face. Are you rather surprised by
:37:57. > :38:01.that cue power and prowess? He is jealous. Nobody likes a show. I
:38:02. > :38:13.think he is acting above his station! How did you get on with
:38:14. > :38:18.Potless today? Let's find out. Welcome back to Potless. Earlier
:38:19. > :38:22.on, I asked our legends for any snooker player which has appeared in
:38:23. > :38:30.the top 16 this year. Three of our team went to Robert Milkins, also
:38:31. > :38:47.Mark King and Mark Davies. Mark King schools 100 points because
:38:48. > :38:55.he has not been a top 16 player this year. Well done at home if you said
:38:56. > :39:00.Graeme Dott or you said Mark Williams. Both of those would have
:39:01. > :39:03.scored you nine. Ricky Walden would have scored 13 points, he would be a
:39:04. > :39:15.terrific answer. If you again tomorrow. Thank you,
:39:16. > :39:38.Richard. There is the league table. Look at the reaction from Steve
:39:39. > :39:46.Davis. It is not good. You blew it with Mark King, didn't you? Yes.
:39:47. > :39:55.Well done to you at home. Ian Norris and Luke Cole well worth first off
:39:56. > :40:00.the mark with the tweets. We have had a lot of celebrities here at the
:40:01. > :40:04.Crucible over the last few days. We have had Louis from one direction.
:40:05. > :40:10.We have had Paul Hollywood, Claire Hamilton from the bronze medal
:40:11. > :40:23.winning curling team. On the subject of curling, John and Steve are
:40:24. > :40:33.grieved that news has reached us that Rhona Martin has had her gold
:40:34. > :40:37.medal stolen along with other items on display at Dumfries Galloway. We
:40:38. > :40:42.would just like to issue a plea from everybody here at the snooker, if
:40:43. > :40:47.you have got it, please give it back. It belongs to everybody, as
:40:48. > :40:51.Rhona selflessly has said, and I'm sure dumb present Galloway police
:40:52. > :41:06.would like to hear if you have any information. -- dumb . Rodney was
:41:07. > :41:10.due to be playing this afternoon but he has tied it up last night --
:41:11. > :41:15.Ronnie was due to be playing this afternoon. Instead, we will have an
:41:16. > :41:20.exhibition for the Crucible crowd. Can we have some appreciation for
:41:21. > :41:25.Ronnie's play last night as Mac how good was it and how good in
:41:26. > :41:31.comparison to the form he has shown in other finals? Jokingly I said he
:41:32. > :41:36.was warming up. I think he is getting to the peak of his form.
:41:37. > :41:41.Some of the shots he played were sublime. His long game was fabulous.
:41:42. > :41:47.This is an unbelievable pot from the bottom cushion.
:41:48. > :41:54.You could tell he was desperate to finish that match with a second to
:41:55. > :41:59.spare to have the afternoon. He was fluent and very close to his
:42:00. > :42:03.absolute best. He has gone through with a session despair in the
:42:04. > :42:08.semifinal and the quarterfinal. That has not been done since ten years
:42:09. > :42:13.ago when Ronnie himself did it. How great a value would you put on that
:42:14. > :42:18.achievement, having a day off before the final, Steve? It is not so much
:42:19. > :42:23.a day off because you could argue it is a hindrance at this stage. You
:42:24. > :42:27.have got into the routine of playing every day. But what it signifies is
:42:28. > :42:31.really the ease with which he has carved through some very good
:42:32. > :42:38.players. He is feeling like it is more like a day at the office. He is
:42:39. > :42:44.getting more and more comfortable. It is not like the final will be a
:42:45. > :42:48.problem. To outplay him will be hard enough as it is. If he is sitting
:42:49. > :42:51.there and relaxing, even though he is behind in a frame and feels no
:42:52. > :42:59.pressure, it will be difficult to overcome. They said it has all
:43:00. > :43:05.fallen in Ronnie's lap. Listen, he has earned the right to have a day
:43:06. > :43:10.off. He deserves this day off because of the standard of play. A
:43:11. > :43:13.quick statistic for you, the finalist who has played fewest
:43:14. > :43:18.friends in getting to the final, has won eight out of ten finals. The
:43:19. > :43:24.only exception was John Higgins. That tells you it's own story. If
:43:25. > :43:29.anybody is winning easily, they must be playing well. The situation that
:43:30. > :43:33.he comes to this, he must feel super-confident, as if nobody can
:43:34. > :43:36.come near him. He is getting confirmation that no one is coming
:43:37. > :43:42.near him. It will take a massive effort for anyone to do that. Joe
:43:43. > :43:46.Perry, how good was the performance? When you look back now, he was that
:43:47. > :43:52.close. That is the standard you have to achieve. He can sit back and
:43:53. > :43:55.watch these two guys slugged it out tonight, Neil Robertson and Mark
:43:56. > :44:00.Selby. How do you feel it will go and what will make the difference?
:44:01. > :44:05.It might be a fluke, it might be a kick, it might be something like
:44:06. > :44:11.that. I think it is going all the way. Gentlemen, thank you very much.
:44:12. > :44:14.We will wrap it up. We do have some hours to ourselves. Steve has
:44:15. > :44:18.offered to water the plants here and John has promised to put up the
:44:19. > :44:21.shelves in everybody's dressing rooms that he has promised.
:44:22. > :44:26.Actually, I think we will have a rest. We could be in for a long
:44:27. > :44:36.night tonight. I hope you will join us at 7pm for a pulse rating
:44:37. > :44:38.session. You will not miss anything on BBC Two. Goodbye. Goodbye.