Day 16, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

Good evening. Two players stand head and shoulders above any others here

in Sheffield. They have proved it by reaching the final in this year's

Dafabet World Championships. Ronnie O'Sullivan could match the

achievements of Reardon and Davis if he were to win a third a row. Mark

Selby has got a foothold in this final.

Ronnie O'Sullivan returns to a standing ovation. His opponent, the

lowest ranked man in the tournament, from Finland. In the end,

straightforward for Ronnie. A 10-4 winner.

Not so comfortable for Mark Selby as he was unable to shake Ofqualfier

Michael White. It went to a decider.

What a great match, Michael White, you deserve every round of applause

you're going to get. Anything but straightforward for the

defending champion against Joe Perry. It was a tight match. Ronnie

O'Sullivan rallied in the end w a wonderful censure -- with a

wonderful century to finish. Magnificent. The Rocket was superb.

And you can see what it meant to him!

Mark had a tough second-round draw in Ali Carter.

He stayed ahead all match and won 13-9.

Ronnie faced the 2005 world cham pi champion Murphy. 13 of the next 14

frames Ronnie had a winner with a session to spare.

There was a similar situation for Mark after a tight first section

against Macmanus. He was able to pull away a comfortable winner.

In the semi-final, the defending champion faced Barry Hawkins, a

repeat of last year's final. Nothing left in the tank for Barry Hawkins,

Ronnie wins with a session to spare and a day off before the big final.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is into the final for three years in a row.

Mark would have been expecting a huge battle against Neil Robertson

and that is what he got. The game went to the wire and Mark

eventually came out a winner. What a fantastic match!

Congratulations to Mark Selby. His second Crucible final.

There were some significant shots in that A-frame. Ronnie O'Sullivan,

tight to the cushion - pink across - beautiful shot. You could expect to

be tight with your cueing, but how beautifully did he hit that? And

played position when he got the red into the pocket after that. Into the

third frame, Ronnie O'Sullivan is cueing beautifully. He has

third frame, Ronnie O'Sullivan is trademark blue to split the pack. We

have spotted it there because one of the reds will dislodge that and put

it into play. Table at his mercy, a great shot. Ronnie O'Sullivan seems

to be in trouble, but he has spotted a long red. This is a brilliant

piece of cueing. Lands on the brown, perfect shot, makes 63, wins the

frame. Into the last frame, very important. Mark Selby 4-3 behind.

Tries to work out a safety shot, looks OK. Double kiss, red into the

pocket and all of a sudden, a chance for Mark Selby to get to 4-4, then

this. One or two said he played this a little bit quickly. There is

pressure isn't there? Once you have played that and had position, you

have left the table for Ronnie O'Sullivan. That is what happened.

It is 5-3 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. More to play for in the evening. Thank

you. There's been a quickle 80 -- a quick 80-minute turn around. They

await another call from our MC, Mr Walker. Thank you ladies and

gentlemen. The time for the second act in an absolutely fabulous final

here at the Crucible. Once again, we tonight!

Two of the very best. But of one will become the Dafabet World

Champion. APPLAUSE

Please welcome a player who was brilliant here in the semis late

last night. P seven years after his first Crucible final, he's back for

another chance to take the sport's ultimate prize. She a

multiple-ranking event winner, a multiple Masters winner. He holds

his nerve on the big occasion. A brilliant ambassador for the sport.

He plays with a smile on his face. Here comes the Jester from

Leicester, Mark Selby. And his opponent. He's been gracing

the And his opponent. He's been gracing

than two decades now. Without a doubt, the most exciting snook ter

player ever to grace the game. Winner of 26 title, including five

Crucible crowns. Here he is, Winner of 26 title, including five

to entertain once again. Raise the roof for the defending world

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

And a reminder that it is first of 18 in this best of 35-frame. They

are playing nine more this evening. Ronnie had a two-frame advantage. It

is surely to be lively in the commentary box. It is always lively

with Ken in the box, as you well know. I am looking forward to this

session. Good evening everybody. This afternoon, Mark Selby got away

with a bit. The fact he's come out of the session 5-3 and could as you

have seen have levelled at 4-4. This is a massive session. He needs to

either win or at least hold Ronnie. Absolutely! What an atmosphere here.

Both players received an ovation as they came in. We spoke about what

sort of effect that match last night against Neil Robertson would have on

Mark Selby and he certainly wasn't himself in the first session today.

The highest break is the one I am really concerned about for Selby

supporters. You cannot beat O'Sullivan if you don't make

frame-winning breaks. Mark knows he'll have to improve in that

department, which he obviously will. He didn't get with it at all this

afternoon. Does that look all right? Yes?

Mark Selby is saying just a little bit more. Making the shot a little

harder, trying to get that cue ball in its original spot. He can just

about clip the left-hand side of this red. He's got to be careful.

If he hits it too much it might hit the jaws of the pocket. Now, he

won't be warned here, because he cannot see that red full ball. He

does not want to leave a free ball here. I think he has and I think

he's left an easy opener for Ronnie O'Sullivan. A yellow into this

pocket. Pretty straightforward, you would have to say.

It had a wonderful angle on that brown to go into the pack as well.

Take a chance. The table is very, very fast.

He'll be disappointed with that, though.

the way, having to swing it around three cushions. He'll have to play

behind the yellow. He cannot behind the brown. He's played it super

thin. It was all about the pink being in the way there.

You have a wonderful view here, no matter where you sit in this

wonderful theatre. A round of applause, but he may have

left a possible pot. I am not sure the bottom red, will attempt to pot

into this pocket on the right-hand side.

That's pretty good! . That is one of the things Mark Selby did not get

right and you would expect him to this afternoon, it was

right and you would expect him to He's one of the best safety players

of all time. In the final you play the match in

sessions - minisession, even. If Mark Selby will be hoping for a 3-1

or better and particularly over the evening session if you can win 5-3,

then we're all level again. Were you ever behind in the final -

I can't remember. Were you always in front? I was always ahead. I am sure

Stephen would say the same. He would play exactly that same way.

APPLAUSE That is better. Yes, a good reply.

There's a chance for Ronnie here. The extreme left red. He'll try and

knock this into the black and maybe bring it back to play.

Well, just trying to nestle on to that red. He has over-hit that by

some way. He's left a chance of a red down the

cushion here. I am not sure, if the pink is available into the

left-centre, he's having a quick look I looks very, very tight. What

if the pink was available - he'd have to drop it into the corner

pocket and have the pink into left-centre. Obviously the pink

doesn't pot. Almost too clever there, using the

red up and down, hoping to miss the kiss on the way back.

At first glance, doesn't seem to have left anything easy.

The fact he's got the brown now has left Selby pot into this left-hand

corner pocket. That's very unlucky!

Tried to find a gap and pot the red. Just have a look at this. Got a kiss

and then of course it is the second kiss on the second red.

A tiny kiss would have been OK. Try number two - maybe off the brown

this time if he can't off the yellow. He'll try and bring one of

them into play. Un Unbelievably - missed it by a

fraction again! You expected him to score a few and

all of a sudden, all the hard work, having potted three reds, three

yellows, that was the first time he had the ball where he wants them.

Black looked slightly off the cushion. He may be able to screw

back. There is just that red left of the black spot. If he can get that

into the same as the black the black spot. If he can get that

he's just hit it perfectly! the black spot. If he can get that

Absolutely perfect! A great shot! I am not sure he can play the kiss

thick enough to push them both away. He will probably try and catch it

half ball. Now, it is not guaranteed to get

half ball. colour here off the angle here.

That's very good. Not a lot of margin of error.

Still not out of the woods yet! Nothing pots this side. He would

love to get a kiss somehow. Doesn't know the angle because the reds on

the Russian is in the way. Such a difficult pot. If those reds

were not the way it would be straightforward. When you go into

reds, it takes your eye off the pot slightly.

Ronnie, deciding to hold the black. This is a tough pot.

This has been a very scruffy game. Both players have had to work hard

to make an opening. This now, is the best chance to score.

Again, Ronnie can leave an angle on this red, just position the cue ball

before the pink spot. He may disturb the red next to the pink. He has

gone a little bit too far. Needs to go back down for black.

He never, ever seems to miss that shot for some reason. It doesn't

matter which one he hits, if he doesn't fancy it, he can play for

the loose reds. Decided to play for the loose red, cannot blame him.

Well, he attempted the double and almost got the trouble. -- treble.

It is not straightforward to get this cue ball in a safe position.

The red looks like it is touching the pink.

That was risky. It is hard to understand that shot. He could see

the red next to the pink. That was a risk. He did not want to hit the red

next to the pink and put that red into the baulk area when he is 43

behind. Three in France now for the second

time in the match. -- three in front. Mark Selby will have to play

catch-up again. A lovely shot, just floated the

yellow in two cushions. Screw back, left handed on to the

pink. What a shot at! -- shot! . He would be very pleased. He gives

three clear at 6-3. The difference is now back to three

frames and Mark Selby is struggling to find some fluency, the top break

of 38, John. I obviously the leafy can compete matchplay wise, he has

just not been scoring heavily and not. -- in. If you do not scorer

against Ronnie, you are in trouble. Struggling with position. The rest

sometimes when he had options. He had a bunch of reds, then an option

for the red into the middle, and he got himself in trouble position

wise. But I agree with John and with Willie, if he is not going to score,

he has no chance. Four centuries, very positive in how he has gone in

the last 16 days, but his dress sense that the final can inhibit

you? He has been a bit inhibited. He is not scoring like he used to, but

he is taking two chances to win those frames, not winning in one.

Ronnie O'Sullivan have to take his chances. He is being clinical in

finishing frames, as we have just seen.

Couldn't agree more with the boys in the studio, Mark Selby does not have

his scoring boots on in this final so far. In those last few frames

last night in the semifinal, he was back to his imperious best, but at

the moment in this final, he has not showed up yet, but he is still well

in the match. But he has to improve. There is a lot more to come from

Mark Selby, no doubt about that, but it has to come very, very quickly.

He has clearly left the pot in the baulk, no chance to get onto a

colour. The best result would be the brown on the middle pocket.

Not quite sure if this angle is here on this red, but it is possible to

try and pot this in the left corner and Mr Blackdown towards baulk. --

and miss the black down. Just another example of how quick

this table is. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. A bit

short. Ronnie has the option to put them back. There is a red he can

go. He can certainly get on the black. It is worth a chance. No

point in putting them back. A chance for a pot and there you go. Well

worth the risk. These two reds will pot into the

left pocket. Pink and black are still available.

Black is a little bit straight. A nice angle on the pink. Still a

couple of loose reds available. Ironman 3 going to play for the one

loose red this time, do not have do anything with the cue ball, just

plain ball. -- he is going to play. Almost got a wry smile this

evening, because he's a bit disappointed. Has not got the cue

ball under control this evening so far. This will probably bring one

red out right now because he knows he has got the red in the middle.

Using the cannon, trying to nudge one ad, but it did not quite work.

-- one out. From the blue into the pack is not

easy. He ran a little bit too far to make it a certain.

Not played this before from Ronnie, the extension without the rest.

That is the first time I have ever seen Ronnie use the extension

without the rest. Can't have been comfortable.

He had to force that in. Bouncing the cue ball of the caution. --

caution. Watch the cue ball bouncing. We talked about it

yesterday in commentary... Sometimes it is about the angle. There, you

can see the stats, equal, incredible.

Just did not have the angle on the brown. Tried a similar shot that he

played before, trying to bounce it and forced the angle.

Maybe the three balls with a planned to put one safe. He has not looked

at it. -- may be the three balls was a plant.

A 57 point lead and a good safety shot.

Whether market tends this pot here? He is coming down this end of the

table, if you can leave the cue ball... Somewhere down the left-hand

corner pocket. That is a pretty good return of

safety. He did attempt that safety. He knew

where he was putting the cue ball. It was very difficult for Mark Selby

to attempt the pot. There was a red in the middle of those four. It is

on into the yellow pocket. A couple in the middle of those four. It is

of them. Two to the left. It may be worth taking on here, because again,

it will not be leaving too much, worth taking on here, because again,

should he miss. 57 points behind, you need to make something happen.

Heaters the cue ball over too much. -- he turned the cue ball. At first

glance, nothing easy. He will take this red on into the

green pocket. That is not the best safety shot he

has played. This red has gone pretty close to the right middle pocket.

It is certainly not easy, but he will be taking it on.

Very clever that in such a way he could only leave on the one he was

going for. Made the pot difficult. Luckily for him, the red kissed the

pink. Mark Selby can see this red passed the brand which means he can

pot this red. -- the brown. This frame is now huge. If he could

now clinch this frame... Apart from the green, you would think you would

have a good chance. He will not have to worry about the pink until

virtually the last ball. He is having some trouble with that

top cushion out there today. Just about enough to be able to screw in

behind the red. This is a good chance will stop as you said, he

would be leaving that red in baulk until last.

He played for the red in baulk this time. Does he have an angle to

Brendan Green interplay? -- to bring green into play?

Did he generate enough pace? I think it was a bit too thin? Yes.

The key thing is getting back into the frame, blue, red, colour,

yellow. Then, a good safety shot, and he will be right back into it,

but he would love to have a go at the green. Doesn't want anybody to

be involved in a safety battle. He needs to get a nice angle on the

yellow. He may be able to force into the side cushion and get close to

the green. Oh, dear, I do not think you will

play this down the question. Just about the worst place he could have

finished. The green is absolutely tight on the question. If he was

behind it, you would fancy him knocking it in, but at this angle, I

do not see the value. He will try to knock it off four, five cushions and

get it close to the pink and black. A little bit higher with that break

of 42. An excellent safety shot from

Ronnie. Very good. That shot, it creates a lot of distance between

black and pink and of course, Mark, if he's going to win this frame, he

needs all remaining five colours, so a clever shot from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. A nice shot. The caution first. --

cushion. He has gone the other way. Try to bridge the green behind the

black. He would love to play loads of

right-hand side and straighten up the yellow behind the black.

If he could cannon the green onto the black, he would play that, but

it is too thin. It containing safety, lining them

up, but not quite, it is not a snooker.

He may plan an alternative shot than that. Plays on the left-hand side,

he could get behind the black and brown. That's what he's gone for.

There's the side. Perhaps a little bit too much.

Looking to play a similar shot that he played on the other side of the

table a little while ago. What's worse - a double kiss. I am

sure this green pots. He only needs the brown and he's 18

points ahead. Brown will put him 22 ahead, with just 18 remaining.

Fantastic cueing from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Impeccable! Didn't hit that particularly well,

so Ronnie will certainly be taking this blue on.

The only problem with this is you don't get too many chances when you

have only one ball to get behind, but not a bad chance here.

And in it goes! What a pot from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He edges further

ahead now in this match. It is Ronnie O'Sullivan, seven. Mark

Selby, three. The last couple of frames have taken

29 and 26 minutes. He was saying it is not often you have a match with

Ronnie O'Sullivan than involves that kind of length. What concentration

is he having to perform out there? Ronnie is prepared to do what is

required to win it. He's made a huge improvement in his

focus. He needs to apply himself in this

match. If you are plafing Selby, that is one thing you've got to do.

-- playing Selby, that is one thing you've got to do.

APPLAUSE He's very fortunate there.

Unless it is my mistake, there's nine frames tonight. There's still

time to get back into this session. Not

time to get back into this session. Robertson last night. It was top

quality in the last session, but it was over 12 hours of play, that

semi-final. It must have taken a little bit out of Mark's game today.

This man, of course, had the afternoon off, winning a session to

spare against Barry Hawkins, even the previous day against Shaun

Murphy as well. Clever shot there. Trying to flick

off the pack and bring another red into play.

APPLAUSE REFEREE: Can you not call out when

players are at the table, please? We could have a bit of a stalemate here

because the problem ball is the red in the corner pocket. Ronnie may

attempt to use the yellow and blue, but not on this occasion.

Snrf have decided to start the frame again. I was wondering, the while

the referee sets up the reds - do you think that match has taken a bit

out of Mark today? He doesn't look like he has that sparkle that he had

towards the end of that match last night? It is expectations, really.

Having finished and played so well last night, he must have been so

excited to think he can play against Ronnie in all departments. He must

have come in shell shocked and all of a sudden it's not there.

He's such a great match-player and I don't say that lightly. He does have

time, but he's got to stay with Ronnie in this session.

Absolutely and here we go again! Ronnie O'Sullivan breaks off.

Left-handed, of course. APPLAUSE

Didn't spot that plan, did you? A massive slice of luck. He's come

close to the side cushion. Watch the red.

Perfect! That's better! That will certainly

give him a bit of confidence. Needs one good positional shot here.

I think he's decided to try and push the boat out a bit now - find a pace

that suits him better. Selby, at his best, I think you will

agree somewhere around 23 seconds. When he's really playing well, he

can be under 20. REFEREE: CAN YOU STOP CALLING OUT

PLEASE? ONCE MORE AND YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE.

Somebody is getting a little cheery. Cheering Mark on.

The red directly above the black - that is the red he would love to get

on here. Just a bit too much - just a top-red

pot. Maybe a red in the middle of that

bunch, into the middle pocket. Unfortunately, for Mark, he's out of

position again. He was trying to get on that red, just above the black

and had a nice angle to knock it. The yellow into the corner. The

right-hand side, just taking off. Full-ball contact on that red would

have been perfect. That second prize - he has to really

be scoring an awful lot more of those chances.

He'll have to play an aggressive shot here. There is every chance a

black will be brought into play with this shot.

He would be worried about kissing the left just

He would be worried about kissing two reds and get it back into baulk.

That's the angle the cue ball would be taking. Of course, if he kisses

that red... If the plant is a certainty, he'll take it on and

he'll hope he gets on to pink, blue or baulk colour.

Just can't get on the ball at the minute!

Still got the cue ball here. It will not be easy to get this, not only

hit the red, but to get it safe. Didn't even bother getting out of

his chair there. He knew there was nothing that could definitely score.

It is almost like the mark of Zorro here!

Oh, goodness me! We often talk about this game being a game of fractions

and as you can see from Mark's expression on his face, he thought

he'd got that. These are the ones he wants to play,

these two below the pink spot there. He's played it perfectly.

The second one above the black - I presume he'll try and get on here.

That will release, I am sure the sure.

Just having a quick look at the score. He could get that middle red

in and bring the black into play as well, if he wishes.

These are worrying times for Mark Selby.

Starting to look a little bit weary out there. Missed a couple of pot

pots. APPLAUSE

40 ahead. Two snookers required. APPLAUSE

A rye smile from Ronnie there. He's just doing enough, Ronnie, at

the moment. He's not playing anything like he can and we know

Mark's not. He's still able to do just enough.

This was the one that Mark was hoping to get a lead in the 23 he

already had. It just bounced there. Look how many times that jawed -

eight, ten times before it eventually stayed out.

Yellow was a little bit of a problem ball here.

Just clipping the yellow here. Why didn't he pot the red or even pink?

He might not get a better chance! APPLAUSE

He needs got it.

Not so straightforward to pot the red because it is very hard to hold

for the pink into the middle pocket. He played to slow the cue ball down

by kissing into the black. Needs to be careful and hit the

He has got a full ball snooker, but a straightforward hit from Ronnie

O'Sullivan here. He didn't want the jaw a few shots

ago, he was disappointed the jaw lost in the snooker, but this time,

the jaw has gotten a snooker. That is the end of the frame, Mark

Selby concedes. We were asking why didn't Mark Selby

pot the red? Pot the red, pot the yellow, pop the black, he's just not

thinking straight. If you missed it last night, he came to a classic

semifinal against Neil Robertson, and a lot of frames in that

semifinal were characterised by that, the failure to be able to come

back and a lot of safety play taking up to ten, 15 minutes. It takes its

toll, John. It all adds up. We have been watching it in the commentary

box, the amount of times the player has not parted the last red and

there is 15, 20 minutes, they've had to have another 20 minutes of mental

energy expended before getting over the line. How weary does Mark Selby

look right now in your opinion? He looks down. Ronnie has not been his

best by any stretch, but he has not been able to get any authority in

this match at all. He has not scored, he has not been able to

impose himself. They car fire frames. Five on the bounce, and

Ronnie has won four of them. Five clear.

Mark Selby breaks off in this 12 frame, desperate to get a frame on

the board this evening. He may have left this one to the

corner pocket. The cue ball is very close to the red, of course, but...

You have got to be carefully. Tried to screw it back away from the

pink and possibly try to get on the pink and the black.

A better pot. Needs to slow up, needs to slow up. Again, everything

just being overhead from Mark Selby. -- over hit.

He is getting a little frustrated, Mark. The cue ball has run away from

him. Left half a chance from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is coming around to

see if he can take anything on and if it will cover the pot up? It

doesn't look like he wants to entertain a pot now, going to play

the safety. I do not think Ronnie was going to push the boat out. He

will sense that Mark is struggling and will want to keep the pressure

up. Doesn't want to give him any easy opportunities to get himself

settled, because he has not settled so far this evening. Not a long way

to go in this match. You win a couple of frames and then things can

change very, very quickly. The part success for Mark Selby is down to

84% within 90% average for Ronnie O'Sullivan. -- pot success. This is

a big statistic. There is every chance now that Mark

Selby could have lost the first four frames of this evening's session. He

lost the last one of the afternoon session when he was looking like he

was going to settle for-4. -- 4-4. Even though he missed judged the

safety, he did not leave anything easy on. It is very tight, as you

can see. A possible red to the right centre,

but again, quite tricky. Ronnie O'Sullivan, he has Mark Selby

on the rack at the moment, and he wants to keep him down, that is why

he is not taking the red. He's been ultra-cautious. Joe Perry is the

only one to have pushed him to the limit.

Very rarely do you see a player playing a safety shot like that.

This is the first safety shot that has got to be played perfectly. The

last few safety shot said a lot of margin of error, not with this one.

Such was the strength of Mark's safety, Ronnie O'Sullivan decided to

push the boat out, he had no other shot. Now, Mark Selby, if he has got

any aspirations of getting back into this session, that needs to start

now. He doesn't have to worry about

disturbing any reds. He needs to play a cannon soon,

because the five reds will not be available to the middle pocket.

He would really like another 40 points from here!

The red directly above the lack will pot. -- the black.

He wants to make everything perfect at the minute and I do not blame him

at all. This is his highest break of the match so far. He really needs to

make it a frame when. -- winner. He could run through for the black

but he is screwing back for the blue.

He could just about hold it. Does not have to pay the cannon hard on

the blue. That was a big mistake, he missed

his target of the four reds. Sometimes, you try to make sure that

you will not make any mistakes, so you do not take a risk. A good

safety shot, 56 point in front. -- points. A favourite, at last, to win

a frame in this session. He is 60 points ahead, so just this

red to leave Ronnie O'Sullivan needing a snooker. Such a relieved

Mark Selby. Ronnie O'Sullivan, purposely trying

to get the pink on the spot, because that would make things easier.

Trying to drop the pink in dead weight.

They should be in their dressing room now, waiting for the next five

frames. When you're struggling like Mark

Selby is at the moment, everything goes wrong. Did, covered the

right-hand cushion. Plenty of room round the back of this red.

If you play it two cushions, there is room around the pack. Two

cushions gives you a bigger target. An excellent shot. Not out of the

woods just yet. Straightforward off the red down behind the black again.

With the green where it is, Ronnie could not leave the red on. It will

certainly be frame over now. He would be relieved. His cup of tea

will taste a little bit better! Now he has got his first frame for

tonight's session on the board. Still, he has got a lot of work to

do. Four frames behind, but the first of

18, a long way to go. This match, along which go just yet. Certainly

not going to throw in the towel, he is a fighter.

Well the pink doesn't go in but Mark Selby won't mind. His has his first

frame on the board this evening but still, Ronnie O'Sullivan leads by

four frames now, -4. ?

STUDIO: He has his first frame on the board and top break of 55. Those

four frames have taken nearly two hours to complete. Not often you say

that in a match involving Ronnie owe you will have van. He has been

showing concentration and respect for Mark Selby in