:00:00. > :00:00.and it fascinates me. The champion does get the mine game right, finds
:00:00. > :00:08.a way to deal with the inevitable hard knocks and is truly the last
:00:09. > :00:13.man standing. Some fascinating observations. You
:00:14. > :00:19.spent some time with bill. What did you learn from him? I thought he was
:00:20. > :00:22.fascinating. I could have spoken to him all afternoon and the fact that
:00:23. > :00:28.he came here as Crucible Virgin and was blown away by it was amazing to
:00:29. > :00:31.me. He is used to working with teams and to see the individual side was
:00:32. > :00:34.the thing that amazed him the most. He was a lovely fella to talk to and
:00:35. > :00:38.I could have been there quite a while. One of the things that struck
:00:39. > :00:43.me about what he said was about though momentum, the lack of it, in
:00:44. > :00:48.the Crucible arena, breeding negativity. Do you empathise?
:00:49. > :00:51.Sometimes I listen to these guys and confuses me a bit because it all
:00:52. > :00:56.came naturally to me, the positive attitude and everything. I didn't
:00:57. > :01:01.have to get anyone to give it to me. I tried to recreate the feelings I
:01:02. > :01:07.had when I was winning later on. A lot of it goes on in my head. How
:01:08. > :01:10.did you stay positive out there? It just came naturally. I almost took
:01:11. > :01:16.it for granted. This is a special place to play and I just loved it
:01:17. > :01:19.and I think it's the biggest test. Talking about fatigue and things
:01:20. > :01:22.like that, if you can't cope with that, you can't win the World
:01:23. > :01:28.Championship because it is the biggest test. Optimally, then, if
:01:29. > :01:37.you felt these waves of positivity, what goes? -- ultimately, then. The
:01:38. > :01:42.scars are there and you start to remember your defeats and bad shots
:01:43. > :01:46.and it is hard to get rid of. John, when you listen to what he said and
:01:47. > :01:49.we see the work that Dr Steve Peters has been doing with Ronnie
:01:50. > :01:56.O'Sullivan - and, by the way, this is going to be a supreme test of his
:01:57. > :02:00.stewardship and tutelage - in some respects, do you wish you'd had
:02:01. > :02:04.access to a sports psychologist? Would you have gone down that road,
:02:05. > :02:08.knowing what you know now? Absolutely, 100%. It's just having
:02:09. > :02:12.somebody there to sometimes let a bit of steam of an just say what
:02:13. > :02:18.your thinking and for somebody to go, "this is what you need to do". I
:02:19. > :02:21.was lucky with the late great John Spencer in my dressing room. But
:02:22. > :02:28.it's slightly different when you have somebody there who has done
:02:29. > :02:32.it. He said one thing to be the year I won and I took it out to play and
:02:33. > :02:36.it definitely helps so I'm a believer. Let's talk running. He's
:02:37. > :02:41.in there with Dr Steve Peters and has played Mark Selby in a best of
:02:42. > :02:49.19 frames and it was an emphatic victory for Robbie at 10-4, but this
:02:50. > :02:54.is a completely different test at 35 frames, against a player whose style
:02:55. > :02:58.can get under his skin. Absolutely. The first frame could be so crucial
:02:59. > :03:01.in the outcome of the whole match. Ronnie looked really up for it but
:03:02. > :03:05.didn't get the split he was after and ended up losing a protracted
:03:06. > :03:12.frame and since then it has been all Selby. Steve. I just called you
:03:13. > :03:18.Steve! Who are you? We are going stir crazy! If you are Ronnie
:03:19. > :03:22.O'Sullivan, what do you do? I agree with Stephen, the first frame was a
:03:23. > :03:26.chance, but he's been outplayed. Every time he comes to the table,
:03:27. > :03:31.he's got a problem, he's in a snooker or... What do you do with
:03:32. > :03:35.him? You can't really open the balls up against Selby. It taken under.
:03:36. > :03:41.How much trouble do you sense he might be in? Judging by his mental
:03:42. > :03:48.state, we've seen him looking down, slumped in his chair, but it is
:03:49. > :03:53.important not to get completely... You can let your head go. He is so
:03:54. > :04:00.tough to play against and he's not making 100s all the time but 50s and
:04:01. > :04:09.the rest is torture. He calls him the Torturer in his book. Every shot
:04:10. > :04:12.has a purpose. There is ways something to solve and Ronnie wants
:04:13. > :04:18.to get in amongst the balls but he's not letting him. Selby looks sharp,
:04:19. > :04:21.full of energy. You can tell in the look of his face and his demeanour
:04:22. > :04:26.around the table. He looks more confident and that is everything. We
:04:27. > :04:29.are hearing that Dr Steve Peters is going to stay with Ronnie for the
:04:30. > :04:33.whole of this interval. We hoped to have a word with him but clearly he
:04:34. > :04:37.has a lot on his plate. But we are going to talk instead about the man
:04:38. > :04:42.in the middle. This is Sheffield, the home of snooker, but never
:04:43. > :04:46.before, since 1977 when the championship moved here, have we had
:04:47. > :04:51.a man in the middle who has been from this city and Brendan Moore
:04:52. > :04:55.breaks the mould. And, in fact, he was a bus driver and used to drive
:04:56. > :05:00.the number 47 bus pass the stage door here until he became a
:05:01. > :05:01.professional referee in 2005. What a proud moment for him yesterday when
:05:02. > :05:26.he walked out. I've been going to the Crucible for
:05:27. > :05:30.numerous years with my dad. We would go to the finals, cue up at the
:05:31. > :05:34.Crucible door on the Monday morning at 9am to try to get a ticket to get
:05:35. > :05:37.in. To actually be there as a referee now is fabulous. Sheffield
:05:38. > :05:50.is synonymous with snooker. This is Sheffield Transport Cudd
:05:51. > :05:55.club, where my love of snooker started when I was five years old.
:05:56. > :05:58.My dad used to be a bus driver. This is a transport club where the bus
:05:59. > :06:02.drivers came so I've been coming here since then. I lived five
:06:03. > :06:06.minutes from here so every Sunday afternoon, me and my dad would come
:06:07. > :06:12.and through playing snooker, I fell in love with the game. It's ironic
:06:13. > :06:17.that the first time at the Crucible was 1977 and the first time I picked
:06:18. > :06:22.up a snooker cue was 1977. I always dreamt of being a snooker player. I
:06:23. > :06:25.won my first junior tour when I was 14 on the three quarters table over
:06:26. > :06:36.there but sadly, that's where it peaked for me. I was a bus driver
:06:37. > :06:39.from this depot for ten years. This is the bus stop outside the Crucible
:06:40. > :06:44.Theatre where I used to stop every day. You would have thought that one
:06:45. > :06:47.day I would referee inside? My highest break is still only 63 but I
:06:48. > :06:52.still play in the league every Wednesday, as often as possible. I
:06:53. > :06:59.absolutely love the game. This is why I'm a referee. I got into
:07:00. > :07:05.refereeing because I wanted to know the rules. It was good to come up
:07:06. > :07:11.through the ranks and make mistakes. You learn from them and, obviously,
:07:12. > :07:19.touch wood, I've not made a mistake while being out there yet. My first
:07:20. > :07:24.game professionally was 2006, a qualifying event at Pontin is. And
:07:25. > :07:28.all I wanted to do was to earn my stripes and get to the point where I
:07:29. > :07:37.could walk out at the Crucible for the first time.
:07:38. > :07:43.I can't imagine what it's like to walk out on the Crucible as a
:07:44. > :07:50.player. As a referee, it's the biggest buzz. It's the ultimate, the
:07:51. > :07:54.pinnacle of a referee's career. I've never been nervous when I've
:07:55. > :07:58.refereed. The first time walking out on number one table at the Crucible,
:07:59. > :08:02.it took me five or ten minutes to calm down. I was really nervous. But
:08:03. > :08:11.it was a number League one experience. -- and unbelievable
:08:12. > :08:14.experience. I'm so proud to be given the final. My wife will be there and
:08:15. > :08:20.my dad. He's probably more excited than I am, to be there. It's great
:08:21. > :08:24.for me and it's great for Sheffield. I can't wait. It's going to be a
:08:25. > :08:27.tremendous experience. HAZEL IRVINE: He's in the middle of
:08:28. > :08:32.what is developing into a fascinating match. Ronnie O'Sullivan
:08:33. > :08:38.trying to go from three titles in a row to equal the likes of Steve
:08:39. > :08:41.Reardon and -- Ray Reardon and Steve Davis. We understand he's just gone
:08:42. > :08:46.into the practice room, loosening up, because he hasn't had much to go
:08:47. > :08:51.at in the first four frames. Getting a bit of table time, loosening up,
:08:52. > :08:55.and he will be back in action shortly. Things are getting pretty
:08:56. > :08:59.heavy in this final. I'm sure you are thoroughly engrossed. The fact
:09:00. > :09:03.that they are getting heavy suits one of our celebrity spectators
:09:04. > :09:09.today, and he is with Rob Walker. It's amazing who you can bump into
:09:10. > :09:12.an final day of the Crucible. Here is Nico, the drummer with iron
:09:13. > :09:20.maiden. How did you get into snooker? My dad got me into the game
:09:21. > :09:25.many years ago. I was a little boy and he took me up to the snooker
:09:26. > :09:32.club. All the old guys were there. I started to play when I got into
:09:33. > :09:40.teams and I joined a club in Haringey. I got into music ended
:09:41. > :09:43.play any more. I started again around 1985-86 and have played a lot
:09:44. > :09:50.since then but I have a passionate love affair. I love it. I hear you
:09:51. > :09:53.might be getting a table. You bumped into Ken Doherty inefficient chip
:09:54. > :09:57.shot when he was working on the Masters and now a bit of coaching
:09:58. > :10:04.and we might cease a magic from you on the baize. You never know. I did
:10:05. > :10:07.get a table through Ken and I have a wonderful relationship with the
:10:08. > :10:12.World Snooker Federation. I get to be here and thanks to Ken I get to
:10:13. > :10:18.meet you guys and see this wonderful final stop man, is this something
:10:19. > :10:22.else? It's such great pride to be here. It's like the Valhalla of
:10:23. > :10:27.snooker. In comparison, it would be like iron maiden play in the Albert
:10:28. > :10:34.Hall, if ever. Thanks very much. I hope you enjoy the rest of it. A
:10:35. > :10:39.pleasure to meet you. It holds such a fascination for so
:10:40. > :10:42.many people. Ronnie O'Sullivan is about to leave the dressing room to
:10:43. > :10:47.come back out to the arena and Mark Selby will be coming very shortly as
:10:48. > :10:51.well. While we look at the next four frames stretching before us, how can
:10:52. > :10:57.run the change the momentum of this match? Perhaps try and get the ball
:10:58. > :11:00.is opened earlier. You play the ball is the way they open but as I said a
:11:01. > :11:06.couple of times, the first few shots of every frame are imperative. We
:11:07. > :11:09.saw last night he was getting bogged down and after two frames he played
:11:10. > :11:14.very aggressively and went for aggressive shots and got in quickly.
:11:15. > :11:18.It'll be interesting to see what impact Steve has had with that chap
:11:19. > :11:23.in the dressing room because he really hasn't had much to go at.
:11:24. > :11:28.That's what he'll probably be saying. He hasn't made many mistakes
:11:29. > :11:32.but has just been outplayed. I agree with Steve. If Ronnie can get the
:11:33. > :11:35.balls opened up a bit more, you've just got to be sure that the shot
:11:36. > :11:41.you're playing the safety off is the right one. But if he can get them
:11:42. > :11:45.open and get flowing again, it will be good because he's had no rhythm
:11:46. > :11:49.in the match. It's been all sell before the last few frames and, as
:11:50. > :11:54.we've been saying, he's won the last six in a row to take the lead for
:11:55. > :11:58.the first time, after 21 frames of this 35 frames final. Back they come
:11:59. > :12:03.and we have a change of personnel in the commentary box that these four
:12:04. > :12:28.frames as we say hello to Willie Thorne and John Virgo.
:12:29. > :13:27.Maybe the pot success tell the difference. The tournament pot
:13:28. > :13:31.success was around about 93% but it has dropped in the
:13:32. > :13:39.success was around about 93% but it sessions. There it is, 92%. But it's
:13:40. > :13:39.success was around about 93% but it the last few frames that will be on
:13:40. > :13:53.Ronnie's mind at the moment. I'm wondering what is going on in
:13:54. > :14:34.Forcing it I'm wondering what is going on in
:14:35. > :14:38.Ronnie's mind. Just coming out there is Steve Peters, the sports
:14:39. > :14:47.psychiatrist. He was in Ronnie's dressing room. This is not the start
:14:48. > :15:04.that Ronnie needed in this frame. What makes this
:15:05. > :15:11.of course, pink and black are tied up. But I would suggest, Willie,
:15:12. > :15:15.of course, pink and black are tied that at the moment Mark Selby will
:15:16. > :15:20.be brimming with confidence. He rang me late last night and was
:15:21. > :15:26.absolutely cock-a-hoop that he had made it 10-5 from 10-3. He said,
:15:27. > :15:31."those two frames are massive, Willie, and it has given me a
:15:32. > :15:35.shout" . But we didn't expect him to win the first four frames of the
:15:36. > :15:40.afternoon session. Amazingly enough, he could now go two clear
:15:41. > :15:42.with this chart. But as you say, pink and black is going to take a
:15:43. > :16:04.little while. This is more like the pace he was
:16:05. > :16:09.playing against Neil Robertson. Both players played the most amazing
:16:10. > :16:18.match. You wonder how Neil Robertson is still not here at Sheffield.
:16:19. > :16:24.I think the most significant thing when we look at the shot time -
:16:25. > :16:33.normally, you'd expect Ronnie to be at least 18 seconds a shot at 22
:16:34. > :16:38.seconds a shot is slow. Mark is just keeping it tight. He's keeping
:16:39. > :17:23.Ronnie's opportunities to a minimum. A nice little piece on Brendan Moore
:17:24. > :17:28.as we see him clearing the table. His first final at the Crucible.
:17:29. > :17:32.Very special for him. All the referees do an excellent job. A
:17:33. > :17:34.little bit awkward, this. The blue is just where he would like his
:17:35. > :17:43.bridge hand. APPLAUSE
:17:44. > :17:47.But no problem. And just got a slight angle on the blue. He may
:17:48. > :17:52.have preferred more of an angle. Unless the top red of that cluster
:17:53. > :17:53.goes to the right corner, I can't see any obvious red she can just
:17:54. > :18:12.drop in. I don't think he wanted this much
:18:13. > :18:15.angle. The automatic path, you feel, for the cue ball was to run into the
:18:16. > :18:23.black and bring the black and pink interplay. He'd love to hit them
:18:24. > :18:28.right in the middle. If he could hit those... But by the look of things,
:18:29. > :18:35.if he plays it hard, I don't know how he could miss the red next to
:18:36. > :18:41.the red he's playing. It depends what pace he plays it really.
:18:42. > :18:53.He was always going to hit that one. That was a big mistake there to play
:18:54. > :19:00.at that pace. He didn't leave himself that well on the red, hence
:19:01. > :19:03.the miss. If he had rolled it in, he would have had the black but maybe
:19:04. > :19:05.he had no chance of bringing the black and pink into play at that
:19:06. > :19:14.pace. This is a decent chance for Ronnie,
:19:15. > :19:31.under normal circumstances. He's only made one break over 30,
:19:32. > :19:35.amazingly enough, in his first six frames.
:19:36. > :19:42.REFEREE: Stop calling out when the players are at the table, please.
:19:43. > :19:44.There were six frames in total last night where he didn't make 30 or
:19:45. > :19:55.above. APPLAUSE
:19:56. > :19:58.Forced the angle and we can see the power he put into it. Got to the cue
:19:59. > :20:14.ball bouncing but he's just about got the blue.
:20:15. > :20:20.Just a little bit short of pace. It isn't as if he can drop the red into
:20:21. > :20:25.the right middle and play for the pink into the right corner because
:20:26. > :20:28.that isn't on. A bit more difficult using the rest. A similar type of
:20:29. > :20:37.pot to the one that Mark Selby just missed.
:20:38. > :20:48.APPLAUSE But Ronnie is not trying to do too
:20:49. > :21:17.much with the cue ball. Even so, he is overrun the position on the blue.
:21:18. > :21:26.We know the two reds together are at the bottom. If he can get onto that
:21:27. > :21:31.or find the perfect gap to get onto the one nearest the pink, he will
:21:32. > :21:38.have a chance. Some players might decide to overscrew it is likely to
:21:39. > :21:57.try to find the gap. -- overscrew it slightly.
:21:58. > :22:03.The pink after being parted will go back onto its own spot so this red
:22:04. > :22:23.to the right of the pink is available. -- after being parted.
:22:24. > :22:35.This black will put him one point behind.
:22:36. > :22:48.He needs three reds, three high value colours, and possibly the
:22:49. > :22:53.yellow and green. He has certainly asked the question, having lost
:22:54. > :22:56.those first four frames of the session... There's Cliff Thorburn
:22:57. > :23:06.watching backstage. Everybody now is really getting
:23:07. > :23:19.involved in this match. Perfect angle on the black to stun
:23:20. > :23:22.to the side cushion for this last red.
:23:23. > :23:33.APPLAUSE He wanted the cue ball to bounce a
:23:34. > :23:34.touch and it did. He still wants every due care and attention into
:23:35. > :23:47.this. Well, he'll be very disappointed
:23:48. > :23:56.there, not to have won that frame at this visit. I think he just caught
:23:57. > :23:59.that. He'd just wanted that cue ball to bounce another quarter of an inch
:24:00. > :24:08.and the red would have been an missable. Can Mark cut this red in?
:24:09. > :24:15.He may be able to but he will have no idea whether White is going to
:24:16. > :24:25.end up. -- where the cue ball is going to end up.
:24:26. > :24:30.He's got a good cue ball but the red ran loose. Ronnie comes back to the
:24:31. > :24:48.table, 14 points in the lead. Once again, not the best safety shot
:24:49. > :24:56.from Ronnie but I thought he was going to catch the jaw. Neither
:24:57. > :24:57.player has been finding the baulk cushion as often as you would expect
:24:58. > :25:15.in this final so far. They're all big frames but you
:25:16. > :25:19.really feel this is a massive one now for Ronnie O'Sullivan, when he
:25:20. > :25:26.knows he should have won it. He had the frame at his mercy.
:25:27. > :25:32.A little bit thinner than was required so that meant there was a
:25:33. > :25:34.bit more pace on the cue ball. A chance for Ronnie now to play a
:25:35. > :25:58.better shot than that. Well, the kiss on the yellow hasn't
:25:59. > :26:09.helped that much. This reds cuttable.
:26:10. > :26:15.He'll have to play with a bit of right-hand side to make sure he gets
:26:16. > :26:21.onto the black. He'd like the cue ball to be
:26:22. > :26:26.Always knowing the red could spring back into a position where it is not
:26:27. > :26:39.pottable but it appears it is pottable. It clearly goes.
:26:40. > :26:50.APPLAUSE Good shot from Ronnie. That bumped
:26:51. > :26:54.off the little pocket... What sort of an angle has he got off the
:26:55. > :27:02.black? I don't think he's too happy with it. He can't get close to the
:27:03. > :27:16.yellow. Couldn't be much straighter than that.
:27:17. > :27:31.22 points is the lead. Yellow and green needed to secure the frame.
:27:32. > :27:37.GROANING He erred on the thin side but didn't
:27:38. > :27:44.expect to kiss the green. He played it with side and just a
:27:45. > :28:11.little bit too much. Trying to force it in. Where is the
:28:12. > :28:12.cue ball going to finish? I think Ronnie can just about get through to
:28:13. > :28:25.the yellow. He can certainly hit it. I think he
:28:26. > :28:26.can pot it. Clearly. But this cue ball will be running loose and isn't
:28:27. > :28:37.certain to be on the green. GROANING
:28:38. > :28:46.well, that was a surprise, missing the yellow. A massive frame, this,
:28:47. > :28:53.now. Yes, they both had two chances, haven't they? Amazingly, Mark Selby
:28:54. > :28:58.won't be as disappointed if he loses it as Ronnie O'Sullivan will be now
:28:59. > :29:01.because he's had clear-cut chances. Selby will be taking this on but
:29:02. > :29:03.he's got to play it pretty powerfully to make sure he doesn't
:29:04. > :29:18.snooker himself behind the blue. Well, they are both cueing pretty
:29:19. > :29:24.well now, they are rattling the jars.
:29:25. > :29:28.This is the best chancy has had. -- of the best chance he has had. There
:29:29. > :29:34.is Ronnie's son, Little Ron, there. Well, would you believe it? Would
:29:35. > :29:53.you believe that? Regardless of whether the pockets
:29:54. > :29:54.are tight, that was unmissable for someone of Ronnie's class.
:29:55. > :30:03.He has not played this very well. Make a been a little bit of a heavy
:30:04. > :30:24.contact there. -- might have been. Well!
:30:25. > :30:27.Unbelievable. This is the World Championship final. Remember that
:30:28. > :30:37.and take nothing for granted. Yes, the yellow was the bad shot, he
:30:38. > :30:46.left himself hampered with the pink. Just the green needed.
:30:47. > :30:59.People do not think these players come under pressure.
:31:00. > :31:12.Now, the question is, can he poured this green? -- candy pot. -- can he?
:31:13. > :31:17.No, he just had to play the safety, and in all honesty that was a poor
:31:18. > :31:24.one. Just tried to drop the green in dead
:31:25. > :31:31.weight, there was a chance of it cropping, but...
:31:32. > :31:32.Not one of Ronnie's best, but it has worked out OK.
:31:33. > :31:52.It has worked out very well. There you see, full ball snooker,
:31:53. > :31:58.and he will have to come off the side and up to the baulk cushion to
:31:59. > :31:59.get in behind. If he doesn't he would leave this green on, you would
:32:00. > :32:08.have thought. He hit it on the way up, I am not
:32:09. > :32:14.sure that was intentional, but he will settle for it. No snooker but
:32:15. > :32:21.safe enough. Yes, Ronnie can play the green into
:32:22. > :32:25.the black here and leave the green on the black spot area.
:32:26. > :32:32.Well, he played it too thin, he played to fit the black full ball,
:32:33. > :32:37.he needs the blue to come to its rescue and it doesn't.
:32:38. > :32:47.Not the standard of safety we expect from Ronnie.
:32:48. > :32:53.Mark is just coming round to have a look at the black and he is
:32:54. > :32:58.thinking, if he kisses the black thin then the fight will go back up
:32:59. > :33:08.to baulk, but if he hits it thick it will stay up this end.
:33:09. > :33:15.Well, Ronnie has had his chances. One thing with this shot, as you say
:33:16. > :33:20.he could run into the black, but concentrate on the pot. You are
:33:21. > :33:34.never certain where the cue ball has gone to finish,
:33:35. > :33:39.Well, this is another chance for Ronnie. It is frame ball, and if he
:33:40. > :33:46.can get a good cue ball, as well... Yes, he only needs the green.
:33:47. > :33:48.He has to hold himself together now and cue this.
:33:49. > :33:52.He has been hitting at the ball rather than stroking it, which is
:33:53. > :33:56.unlike Ronnie. He needs good cueing there. Green
:33:57. > :34:09.for the frame. And it is there! Superb angling
:34:10. > :34:18.macro. By -- superb pot. Boy, will he be relieved. It was nice to see
:34:19. > :34:39.young Ronnie there in the pressure in the box.
:34:40. > :34:45.Puts the cue on the table, there is going to back to the dressing room
:34:46. > :34:50.and he will be very relieved. Come on, dad, says young Ronnie. It was a
:34:51. > :34:54.frame that both players perhaps felt they should have won, more Ronnie
:34:55. > :35:00.O'Sullivan, but he did get it and we are all square, 11-11.
:35:01. > :35:02.REFEREE: That is the first frame Ronnie has won since 10pm last
:35:03. > :35:05.night. He is under the cosh here from Mark
:35:06. > :35:10.Selby but they are feeling it tonight, ardently, John?
:35:11. > :35:14.Well, it could have been going to dwell there and Mark Selby, the
:35:15. > :35:17.pressure reversed onto him. He missed when he was income and the
:35:18. > :35:20.shots near the end, both were missing.
:35:21. > :35:24.shots near the end, both were in. This yellow with Ronnie, I
:35:25. > :35:29.cannot believe he has missed that. You thought that would be the end of
:35:30. > :35:32.the frame. I wonder if Mark Selby has maybe missed a chance to get in
:35:33. > :35:37.front of this match. Ronnie never misses his shots and he
:35:38. > :35:42.was wavering. If he could have capitalised on Ronnie's misses
:35:43. > :35:46.there, Ronnie's head could have really gone. But he has got himself
:35:47. > :35:50.back level and suddenly the pressure reversed is once again.
:35:51. > :35:50.I thought the 50 BT made was superb, as well.
:35:51. > :35:54.When you have been frozen out, as well.
:35:55. > :36:02.has positively bolted, because he has not had any chances to go at.
:36:03. > :36:08.He missed that last red and after that there was a lot of theatre.
:36:09. > :36:11.Ronnie won this title for the first time in 2001, he beat John
:36:12. > :36:13.Ronnie won this title for the first in 2014, he
:36:14. > :36:16.Ronnie won this title for the first four final since then, this is the
:36:17. > :36:23.toughest match he has had for a long time.
:36:24. > :36:31.COMMENTATOR: Yes, and by far and away the hardest much of this
:36:32. > :36:34.tournament. He had a difficult match against Joe
:36:35. > :37:14.Perry, but since then he has won comfortably.
:37:15. > :37:19.He felt it was worth the risk, the only red ye could leave was the one
:37:20. > :37:48.he was playing. Not a bad length, not inch perfect.
:37:49. > :37:51.What sort of safety shot will Mark Selby play?
:37:52. > :37:52.He is playing beneath the blue, he is obviously going to keep things
:37:53. > :38:01.tight here. But he has not played it well.
:38:02. > :38:04.Unless it runs past the green... The green has come to his rescue.
:38:05. > :38:11.A little tap on the table from Ronnie. I suppose that is the line
:38:12. > :38:13.that Mark played, so he deserves acknowledgement. Nice to see, even
:38:14. > :38:41.in the heat of battle. Well, once again, Ronnie's safety is
:38:42. > :38:52.causing problems. This red me past the pink. -- it may pass.
:38:53. > :38:54.The red is cut a ball in the corner. He does not have to do an awful lot
:38:55. > :39:16.in the cue ball. The reds wire spread very nicely,
:39:17. > :39:33.but he has overrun the cue ball. -- the reds are spread.
:39:34. > :39:40.I think he has just the right angle on this red. He cannot do a lot with
:39:41. > :39:45.the cue ball committee is looking to pot the red and find the natural
:39:46. > :39:51.path. He will just be aware of the cue ball to the left middle.
:39:52. > :40:27.Hagood pot on this red, he has left a straight red. With the black spot
:40:28. > :40:28.being covered I am not sure whether the black will go on to the pink
:40:29. > :40:54.spot. How tied up will this black be? It
:40:55. > :41:00.may go to the right-hand corner when we have of that in a second. -- when
:41:01. > :41:08.we it must be very tight, that black
:41:09. > :41:23.into the corner pocket. It's just about pots, doesn't it?
:41:24. > :41:28.This is the key shot, getting on this red.
:41:29. > :41:52.Not this time, he played it for the back of the pack.
:41:53. > :41:58.Well, this time he has a nice angle to play for the red you suggested,
:41:59. > :42:02.but he also has a nice angle to cannon into the black and bring that
:42:03. > :42:18.cluster of reds into play. He played the cannon and where is
:42:19. > :42:27.the black going? ! He hit the black fill in the place -- fill in the
:42:28. > :42:32.face. OK, I'm lucky to let it go in. It is hard to question Selby, he is
:42:33. > :42:37.one of the best break builders in the game, but this shot would not
:42:38. > :42:41.have been my first chance, playing through the gap. Appears no damage
:42:42. > :42:53.done. The only damage was done is it was a
:42:54. > :42:56.chance to build up a useful lead in this frame and he did not take it.
:42:57. > :43:02.That is an excellent safety shot from Ronnie.
:43:03. > :43:07.Not straightforward, viz, you have to be careful you do not slide off
:43:08. > :43:11.them. There is one loose red if he was to slide past the cluster.
:43:12. > :43:28.He has played it well. This is where the advantage is
:43:29. > :43:32.massive being able to play with both hands, because that shot would have
:43:33. > :43:37.been very difficult to play with the spider.
:43:38. > :43:42.If you play with your hands you have every chance of finding the baulk
:43:43. > :43:53.cushion, that is exactly what he did. There was a line of three
:43:54. > :43:57.reds, below the black, they could be a guide to our pot to the right
:43:58. > :44:01.corner. He caught it thicker than that, so
:44:02. > :44:11.there was no intention of the pot, and that is one of his
:44:12. > :44:21.Ronnie has not really had a close look at this, the red he is playing.
:44:22. > :44:29.There was a possibility of pushing a red over a corner.
:44:30. > :44:38.He is fine now, with longing. -- with the length.
:44:39. > :44:45.A very important safety exchange, this. With Mark, and his 18 point
:44:46. > :44:52.lead, you feel if he gets another chance and he can win this safety
:44:53. > :44:55.battle, you can see he can get clearly through to the reds, he is
:44:56. > :44:59.just worried about knocking one over the pocket, but she gets the next
:45:00. > :45:06.chance you would think that would be frame over -- if he gets the next
:45:07. > :45:08.chance. The same could apply to Ronnie. It is important he wins this
:45:09. > :45:47.tactical exchange. It could have been
:45:48. > :45:59.pot, the red closest to the cue ball.
:46:00. > :46:05.If he decides to screw across the face of the black for the red to the
:46:06. > :46:11.middle, there is a red that will pot so it could be too dangerous.
:46:12. > :46:13.I do not know how he could miss the pink if you try to screw up for a
:46:14. > :46:31.baulk colour. That is what he has tried to do.
:46:32. > :46:36.Well, the fractions are just not favouring Ronnie at the moment. I am
:46:37. > :46:47.sure he thought, like I did, that that red was going to go in. But
:46:48. > :46:49.just a fraction weight. -- wide. Just a little bit too much pace for
:46:50. > :47:16.gravity to take over. Needs a good white, and he has got
:47:17. > :47:21.one. Well, this will test Ronnie's safety play now. As you can see,
:47:22. > :47:25.this red near the right corner, covered by the green. He needs a
:47:26. > :47:29.good reply here, Ronnie, and his safety play in this session so far
:47:30. > :47:47.has not been absolutely spot on. The flick on the blue does not help,
:47:48. > :47:52.he has left the red. Well, if he plays it plain ball the
:47:53. > :47:56.gap is there between the two reds, but there is it chance it could be
:47:57. > :48:16.slow up to the black or pink. He would have loved to have been on
:48:17. > :48:19.the blue or pink there, but with the black on open play and even when it
:48:20. > :48:24.goes back to its spot, it will probably appeal him into the
:48:25. > :48:30.left-hand corner. This is a chance for Selby to take the chance again.
:48:31. > :48:34.You could say he was a little bit unfortunate to tie the blue or pink
:48:35. > :48:37.up, but we did see if he got a chance he would be favourite to take
:48:38. > :48:39.the frame. I see no reason why that is still
:48:40. > :49:09.not the case. Just having another check to see
:49:10. > :49:13.whether the black will still pot off its own spot.
:49:14. > :49:26.He will wait for the black to be put on and have another look.
:49:27. > :49:29.It must be very tight. It does not look like it pots into
:49:30. > :49:39.the left-hand corner. With the blue and pink being out of
:49:40. > :50:03.play, you may have to go for a baulk colour.
:50:04. > :50:11.In this match alone, that is how close they are, 11-11, 337 balls
:50:12. > :50:18.each. An amazing stat, that, isn't it?
:50:19. > :50:26.Still, as you can see, not in perfect position yet. He is just one
:50:27. > :50:30.shot away from getting the red away from either side of the black, then
:50:31. > :50:38.he has a chance to win the frame at this visit.
:50:39. > :50:45.Now, if you could get someone in that circle and beyond the red next
:50:46. > :50:49.to the black... -- somewhere in that circle.
:50:50. > :50:53.He has come a bit way before that, he will be lucky to be on a red
:50:54. > :51:00.here. And he is not. He just got into the cue ball little
:51:01. > :51:03.bit too much there. He was certainly playing for your
:51:04. > :51:07.circle, John, he just got into the cue ball too much.
:51:08. > :51:12.He does not want to hit this too hard.
:51:13. > :51:21.He has not left the black tied up. 37 point lead, he is favourite, but
:51:22. > :51:26.with this run of play, who knows? Yes, you can see he just swung it a
:51:27. > :51:32.little bit too wide, trying to force off to cushions. -- two cushions.
:51:33. > :51:58.Where is the cue ball going? 41 points, Mark Selby ahead. 75
:51:59. > :52:02.remaining. You would not think he would be tempted by the red this
:52:03. > :52:07.side of the table, he hasn't easy safety shot. He may even knock it
:52:08. > :52:13.into the right corner, he will think about that. It is worth trying to
:52:14. > :52:16.play the cross doubled to the right corner, you know you are going to
:52:17. > :52:25.get a good cue ball back to the baulk end.
:52:26. > :52:32.He played that with lots of side, if he played that plain ball the kiss
:52:33. > :52:33.was into the blue and pink, so he purposely played it with lots of
:52:34. > :52:38.side to ensure it was not the case. This is an excellent safety shot.
:52:39. > :52:58.Perfection. All you can see here is marked
:52:59. > :53:06.playing directly to the red to try and drop it dead weight. -- Mark
:53:07. > :53:10.playing directly. When there is a lot of tension in
:53:11. > :53:12.the arm it is not as easy as it looks.
:53:13. > :53:19.I don't think it is worth the risk to try and get the cue ball back to
:53:20. > :53:25.the baulk end and possibly bringing all these reds into play.
:53:26. > :53:31.He is looking at what will happen if he plays a slow roll up to those two
:53:32. > :53:38.reds. I suppose that is as good as anything. The only problem is, those
:53:39. > :53:42.two reds are tight to the cushion. If you just over hit it and hit one
:53:43. > :53:48.of them full in the face you will get a troubled guests -- double kiss
:53:49. > :54:05.and the cue ball will spring away from them.
:54:06. > :54:14.Well, he worked that out well. He thought, playing that red, he was
:54:15. > :54:19.not under so much pressure to get the speed absolutely perfect. He
:54:20. > :54:27.does not gain any advantage, of course.
:54:28. > :54:35.Not a very good safety shot from Ronnie, considering he was so close
:54:36. > :54:40.to the red. He will not be happy with that. Of course, if Ronnie is
:54:41. > :54:44.to have any chance in this frame, he has to play a good safety and bring
:54:45. > :54:54.those reds into play. He could not there.
:54:55. > :55:00.He may be able to do it this time, but of course the safety shot he
:55:01. > :55:05.will be playing, you would imagine he would be pushing a red over the
:55:06. > :55:06.corner, so he may have to play a negative safety shot there, just a
:55:07. > :55:12.thin one. He has brought a couple more reds
:55:13. > :55:36.into play, so that is pretty good. That is just what he didn't want,
:55:37. > :55:41.that kiss. The pink has gone a little bit more safe, but Ronnie
:55:42. > :55:48.will have options at a chance of a red.
:55:49. > :55:55.Well, he is winning the safety battle at the moment, Ronnie
:55:56. > :55:58.O'Sullivan. Yes, beginning to stroke those
:55:59. > :56:03.safety shots nicely. When they play them, they always
:56:04. > :56:07.play them with a trace of side just to widen the ankle.
:56:08. > :56:12.You have to cue them smoothly, if you start hitting their ball, then
:56:13. > :56:21.you start hitting them too thick. -- hitting them full ball.
:56:22. > :56:36.Well, Ronnie's excellent safety has forced an opening, but the red
:56:37. > :56:39.kissing their has opened up the pot. He does not know what will happen to
:56:40. > :56:53.the white, that is why he is refusing it.
:56:54. > :57:11.It was risky. But that risk may be rewarded.
:57:12. > :57:19.You always have to be a little bit careful here, if
:57:20. > :57:21.You always have to be a little bit ball with the red a little bit
:57:22. > :57:25.You always have to be a little bit you could be running off into the
:57:26. > :57:31.corner pocket. But come in a way, he will not mind that. He has not left
:57:32. > :57:37.corner pocket. But come in a way, he pot on. OK, he has given four points
:57:38. > :57:50.away. There was always a danger of this.
:57:51. > :57:56.Ronnie is having a look at this, I don't think there is a plank, but
:57:57. > :58:01.whether he can play one red onto the red that is on the cushion, that in
:58:02. > :58:08.turn could push the red in. It looks like from that angle it will hit the
:58:09. > :58:11.near jaw, doesn't it? There is enough room between the reds you
:58:12. > :58:16.would feel you could make it, but I would be worried about the red
:58:17. > :58:18.closest to the top cushion, is that blocking the path for the first red
:58:19. > :58:32.to get to the second? Well, he has had a good look. He is
:58:33. > :58:45.right Bianca shot, so it is his decision. -- he is right behind.
:58:46. > :58:51.Didn't play the pot but hasn't played the safety very well. One
:58:52. > :59:13.good pot from Selby could be the frame.
:59:14. > :59:24.We saw Ronnie's expression. A chance for Mark Selby, 37 points the lead.
:59:25. > :59:44.The red went over the pocket. Missed a chance there.
:59:45. > :59:48.He was gripping the cue a bit tight. You mentioned earlier that you do
:59:49. > :00:07.that when you are under pressure. A kiss on the green but it's OK. In
:00:08. > :00:11.a perfect world, Ronnie would love to cannon these two reds that are
:00:12. > :00:15.close together near the top cushion. Has he got the perfect angle to do
:00:16. > :00:33.that or can he not risk it? He will play if it's on.
:00:34. > :00:38.For somebody like Ronnie who is the best break-builder in the game at
:00:39. > :01:03.the moment, he missed that. A little look up there. Sometimes he
:01:04. > :01:07.looks up at his supporters but in fairness, he had a good chance.
:01:08. > :01:28.Sometimes if you miss them, the ball is done for give you.
:01:29. > :01:40.Playing the pot is far too dangerous. Amazingly enough, I can't
:01:41. > :01:59.see a safety shot. He's looking at coming off the side
:02:00. > :02:03.cushion and cutting the middle of those three. He's entitled to take a
:02:04. > :02:16.bit of time. This is one way but you'd have to be
:02:17. > :02:20.so accurate. The only other shot, it seems to me, is to play the other
:02:21. > :02:26.red but I think it's too risky. He's got a lead of 31 points. He just
:02:27. > :02:30.doesn't want to put all his eggs in one basket. There is an escape
:02:31. > :02:47.route. You've got to be so accurate with it. But surely worth a try.
:02:48. > :02:58.For a minute, I thought he was going to take your advice.
:02:59. > :03:07.If he hits it 4-ball, he'll leave a red in the middle. Oh, he went for a
:03:08. > :03:14.pot. Oh, dear. Not so sure about that. Very surprised that he played
:03:15. > :03:28.the hit and hope there. Very surprised!
:03:29. > :03:44.This is a chance for Ronnie. S just the red closest to the top cushion
:03:45. > :03:53.you feel is the one that will give him a problem.
:03:54. > :04:01.If he takes high value colours, he won't need the pink, which would
:04:02. > :04:06.have been a problem. He is looking favourite to win this frame. Yeah,
:04:07. > :04:09.but we take nothing for granted. That red on the top cushion could be
:04:10. > :04:31.Mark Selby's saviour. The reason for this thinking,
:04:32. > :04:35.although he could have been better on the blue, is that it easier to
:04:36. > :04:40.get on the red in baulk and then if he doesn't get on the black
:04:41. > :04:47.correctly, he can always play a snooker on the awkward last red.
:04:48. > :04:50.That's why he's leaving the awkward last red till last. Nine points
:04:51. > :05:05.behind. If he lands perfect on the red along
:05:06. > :05:10.the top cushion, he doesn't have to play a lot of pace. Otherwise there
:05:11. > :05:15.is the option of playing the snooker behind the black.
:05:16. > :05:29.If it stroked co-worker uterus makes a new pot the red and play the
:05:30. > :05:36.snooker behind the back. Shouldn't be any here RICS here. You birdie
:05:37. > :05:46.the red. -- if it's straight, you make sure you pot the red.
:05:47. > :05:58.Who would've thought when he played that last safety shot and brought
:05:59. > :06:00.all the reds into play that he would have a chance. It could have been
:06:01. > :06:18.the end of that game. Frequent
:06:19. > :06:26.REFEREE: Foul and won't even bother getting out of his
:06:27. > :06:39.seat. A long frame, just But you have to say that we have a
:06:40. > :06:48.new REFEREE: Foul and a miss. He doesn't
:06:49. > :07:13.want to leave a free ball. He got very close to this yellow,
:07:14. > :07:14.didn't he? Amazing. Even in slow motion, we couldn't tell how close
:07:15. > :07:24.it was. whether pinkies. Ronnie didn't get
:07:25. > :07:50.out of his seat. That could have been a frame-winning
:07:51. > :07:53.chance. If he hits this yellow now and gets it safe, he may be
:07:54. > :08:07.regretting That's exactly what's happened.
:08:08. > :08:13.Amazingly enough, that little cannon on the pink has helped Mark Selby,
:08:14. > :08:16.not Vani O'Sullivan. All of a sudden now, whoever puts the yellow is
:08:17. > :08:24.favourite for the frame. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan.
:08:25. > :08:50.Where is the cue ball going? He misjudged that completely.
:08:51. > :08:55.He looked at the green in the middle because he felt that if he stunned
:08:56. > :09:03.it in, he couldn't look at the cushion.
:09:04. > :09:13.That was tough. Did he get second prize or has he been lucky? He's got
:09:14. > :09:23.the snooker. When Ronnie comes off the side
:09:24. > :09:27.cushion, he wants to hit the yellow on the right-hand side. He played it
:09:28. > :09:36.pretty well. APPLAUSE
:09:37. > :09:42.But there is a chance of a pot. Don't get me wrong, this is a tough
:09:43. > :09:44.one. He's had a go at one yellow and missed it by a long way. Will he be
:09:45. > :09:57.tempted by this one? Vicky and Vicky's Mum and dad
:09:58. > :10:04.looking very tense, as you'd expect. If he takes with the screw on the
:10:05. > :10:07.yellow, it is possible he could screw in behind the pink. -- takes
:10:08. > :10:19.the deep screw. He didn't fancy it so he played the
:10:20. > :10:21.safety but the yellow ran loose. Mark Selby has had two pieces of
:10:22. > :11:18.very good fortune. That was asking a lot.
:11:19. > :11:25.REFEREE: Foul and a miss. The cue ball won't go in but it could be a
:11:26. > :11:30.free ball here. All eyes on the referee. No free ball. That's why
:11:31. > :11:47.he's having it put back. No surprise that this is the longest
:11:48. > :11:55.frame of the match. Such a big frame. It's a dangerous shot, this,
:11:56. > :12:01.that Ronnie's attempting. Even if he does hit the yellow, if he hits it a
:12:02. > :12:11.fraction of it, it's off into the corner.
:12:12. > :12:14.Important to get this exactly right. Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan
:12:15. > :12:33.both looking. He's tried the thin cut. That, to
:12:34. > :12:39.me, is the best way to go. You just have to scrape the pink with the
:12:40. > :12:44.yellow and it's a fraction thick. If you hit the red full in the face, a
:12:45. > :12:47.chance of getting it safe. He's just so dangerous. But he's trying it
:12:48. > :13:06.again. Didn't appear to have a chance to
:13:07. > :13:08.get it safe but he's not done too bad. The pot is on but is it worth
:13:09. > :13:23.the risk? I suppose you could play the cue
:13:24. > :13:29.ball trice across so you play the pot with a bit more pace and hope
:13:30. > :13:33.that if it rattles the jaws, it will hit the baulk cushion. The other way
:13:34. > :13:37.is to play it snow and hope for a full ball snooker on the green. --
:13:38. > :13:52.play it slow. APPLAUSE
:13:53. > :13:56.Well, another very fortunate shot. The blue in the middle of the table
:13:57. > :14:06.covering the yellow - you could never have expected that.
:14:07. > :14:13.Another great shot from Ronnie. I think he's got away with it. This is
:14:14. > :14:17.a very, very tense final and they need a little bit of a break in
:14:18. > :14:20.between this session and the next. They will need at least an hour so
:14:21. > :14:24.the tournament director has decided this will be the last frame of the
:14:25. > :14:29.afternoon session. So only six frames are going to be played in the
:14:30. > :14:32.afternoon session. It will be a long one tonight if it goes all the way
:14:33. > :14:38.but I think they need a bit of a rest before they come out to battle
:14:39. > :14:40.it out for the World Championship tonight.
:14:41. > :14:44.GROANING Well, I've got to be honest, he's
:14:45. > :14:56.had some luck this frame, Mark Selby.
:14:57. > :15:03.He couldn't have played that better. APPLAUSE
:15:04. > :15:08.Beautifully controlled. A swerve there. This frame is still well and
:15:09. > :15:16.truly in the balance. We've already mentioned that it is
:15:17. > :15:18.the longest frame of the match so far and there could be a few more
:15:19. > :15:37.minutes left yet. That time he played the snooker.
:15:38. > :15:46.He's got That time he played the snooker.
:15:47. > :15:52.catches the yellow too thin, he That time he played the snooker.
:15:53. > :16:01.pocket but he played it nicely. Nice control on the swerve.
:16:02. > :16:07.You just get the feeling at the moment that Mark Selby is just in
:16:08. > :16:14.control of this very important tactical exchange. Of course, the
:16:15. > :16:29.players will not be aware that this is the last frame.
:16:30. > :16:40.Not the best of safetys this time but the green came to his rescue.
:16:41. > :16:46.Yes, and, believe it or not, isn't the most straightforward of
:16:47. > :16:48.Yes, and, believe it or not, safety shots. Obviously, you've
:16:49. > :16:50.Yes, and, believe it or not, to get the yellow safe but
:16:51. > :16:53.Yes, and, believe it or not, got to avoid the double kiss
:16:54. > :17:06.Yes, and, believe it or not, brown. The kiss on the
:17:07. > :17:24.And GROANING
:17:25. > :17:39.This bout of safety play has just made everything
:17:40. > :17:43.What ever sport you play, you can't beat a bit of luck and Ronnie needs
:17:44. > :17:58.a bit here in playing his escape. Ronnie's probably the only player in
:17:59. > :18:03.the game at the moment that doesn't shout out whether he's had good luck
:18:04. > :18:04.or bad luck. He doesn't apologise when he's had good luck or his head
:18:05. > :18:24.when he's had bad luck. -- shake his head. Looks like he's
:18:25. > :18:27.lining it up to take this on. With the green being close to the pocket,
:18:28. > :18:38.he doesn't have to do much with the cue ball.
:18:39. > :18:45.APPLAUSE I thought he'd hold that for the
:18:46. > :19:00.green. Ronnie is going to have to sit there
:19:01. > :19:07.now. We'll see what Mark Selby can make of his chance. He needs green,
:19:08. > :19:11.brown, blue and pink. GROANING
:19:12. > :19:16.Well, first of all, he needed the green and I thought that was the
:19:17. > :19:19.least of his problems. Yes, he got anxious there. He saw a bit of
:19:20. > :19:26.potting movement there. His arm went. He really tried to get into
:19:27. > :19:35.that green and hit it hard. He won't be happy with the way he cued that.
:19:36. > :19:41.Obviously, the green will pass the pink to the middle but he's worried
:19:42. > :19:42.about the line of the cue ball. It looks for all money as if he's going
:19:43. > :19:57.to run into the black. He tried to avoid the kiss on the
:19:58. > :20:06.black, missed the green. He'll be happy with the end result, though.
:20:07. > :20:12.Probably a well-deserved wry smile from Ronnie. There's a lot of work
:20:13. > :20:32.in this frame left yet. He's going to have to play the cross
:20:33. > :20:35.double here but I'm not sure that he'll hit the green hard enough to
:20:36. > :20:39.get it back to the middle of the back cushion. That was dangerous.
:20:40. > :20:55.What's happened there? When he's been hitting the safety
:20:56. > :20:59.shots, he's usually such a smooth cueist but as we've been saying,
:21:00. > :21:03.there's a lot of tension out there. They don't know it, we know it, this
:21:04. > :21:04.is the last frame. Who's going to have the lead coming into the final
:21:05. > :21:14.session this evening? A good shot from Mark. I don't think
:21:15. > :21:20.the cue ball reaches the pocket, so excellent length. You wouldn't think
:21:21. > :21:24.Ronnie would wish to bring the brown into play if he can avoid it. He
:21:25. > :21:36.needs a good cue ball. Just pushes the green past the
:21:37. > :21:39.middle pocket. I think he's left the cut on. But how did you get on the
:21:40. > :21:51.brown? It looks impossible. If the black
:21:52. > :21:55.wasn't where it was, he would go for the brown into the top right-hand
:21:56. > :22:02.corner but I don't think you can get onto the top left.
:22:03. > :22:12.It isn't an easy safety shot if it keeps carrying on. If he can leave
:22:13. > :22:26.the white where the brown is, he might sneak in behind the black.
:22:27. > :22:29.The key thing is to get the object ball safe. You know the white is
:22:30. > :22:39.going to be good. He took a chance to get it in behind
:22:40. > :22:43.the black and another 34-macro inches of play, it would have been.
:22:44. > :23:04.-- three or four. Both players looking for brown, blue
:23:05. > :23:09.and pink. APPLAUSE
:23:10. > :23:15.That could be a telling one. He's got the snooker. Easy to hit. But if
:23:16. > :23:20.you don't catch that brown full in the face, you could believe it. He's
:23:21. > :23:35.got to hit this absolutely perfectly.
:23:36. > :23:43.He hit it full but it ran into the blue. We'll Ronnie be tempted by
:23:44. > :23:48.this? I always look at these shots and wonder what is easier, the pot
:23:49. > :23:56.or the safety. -- will Ronnie be tempted.
:23:57. > :24:05.Ronnie thought the safety was a lot more guaranteed but he needs the
:24:06. > :24:10.brown to stop. Mark Selby has the same option to come off the top
:24:11. > :24:28.cushion first, kick the brown from behind.
:24:29. > :24:44.Needs to be pretty close to the blue to make the blue a lot easier than
:24:45. > :24:47.it is. Trying to keep the white somewhere around the blue spot.
:24:48. > :24:58.APPLAUSE A beautiful pot.
:24:59. > :25:14.APPLAUSE Well, in a funny sort of way, Ronnie
:25:15. > :25:18.has done well to get out of this session and be in front, having lost
:25:19. > :25:20.six frames on the trot, similar to Selby last night. Looks like he's
:25:21. > :25:29.going to win the last session.
:25:30. > :25:35.GROANING Why has he not just stunned it in?
:25:36. > :25:40.Why go for the black when you don't need it? What on earth has gone on
:25:41. > :25:47.there? I said it before, take nothing for granted. But I took that
:25:48. > :25:49.for granted because I had no reason not to. Maybe he miss read the
:25:50. > :26:01.scoreboard. He should have just stunned it and
:26:02. > :26:02.left the white near the blue spot. Either a lack of concentration or he
:26:03. > :26:08.miss read This will hurt because that pink is
:26:09. > :26:42.in. He needs the black. APPLAUSE
:26:43. > :26:50.What a way. Selby ensures the session. From 10-5 behind, he is now
:26:51. > :26:55.12-11 in front. All to play for this evening.
:26:56. > :27:02.STUDIO: What unbelievable drama we've had in that last frame. 50
:27:03. > :27:06.minutes. Very seldom UC Ronnie O'Sullivan involved in a 50 minute
:27:07. > :27:10.frame but Mark Selby takes a lead into the final session and what is
:27:11. > :27:13.truly significant from his point of view is that in the previous five
:27:14. > :27:17.finals in which Ronnie O'Sullivan has played an won, he's never been
:27:18. > :27:23.behind going into the final session. Can you dissect what has gone on for
:27:24. > :27:27.a moment? Unbelievable. There is the greatest player who's ever picked up
:27:28. > :27:31.a cue missing a pink that your average club player would be
:27:32. > :27:36.mortified to miss. All he's got to do is studied in, it's the only ball
:27:37. > :27:39.to pot and he can only be taking his eye off or under pressure. I've
:27:40. > :27:45.never seen him miss the ball like that. How do you explain it? I think
:27:46. > :27:49.his head is scrambled. Whether it's been the length of the frame, the
:27:50. > :27:52.player he is playing against, I think he's taken it for granted. He
:27:53. > :27:57.took it for granted that he wasn't going to miss. And he'd worked so
:27:58. > :28:01.hard to get himself in a situation to win that. How bruising could bat
:28:02. > :28:05.shot and the loss of that frame be for him? Firmly enough, the fact
:28:06. > :28:09.that he's missed it and then they've gone off is properly in his favour
:28:10. > :28:13.because if he'd missed it and had to play frames after that, he would
:28:14. > :28:16.have been sitting there brooding. He'll be annoyed but he can talk to
:28:17. > :28:20.Steve Peters and get it out of his system and come back fresh. But I've
:28:21. > :28:26.never seen Ronnie miss a shot like this. He walked up from the black
:28:27. > :28:31.end of the table so I don't know why he was walking down to that end of
:28:32. > :28:39.the table. Described the difficulty of that shot. It isn't. It's a 101
:28:40. > :28:43.hundred shot. The fact remains, he's missed it and four players have gone
:28:44. > :28:48.into the last session from behind an won. One of them was you and a
:28:49. > :28:51.certain Dennis Taylor Peter Sagan Steve Davis top but we won't mention
:28:52. > :29:00.that because we're going to talk to Steve now. Your impressions, Steve?
:29:01. > :29:03.I am just in shock. When you have got players for this magnitude, you
:29:04. > :29:08.would think he would just get down and pot it. It is on a par of my
:29:09. > :29:11.black against Dennis and Willie Thorne's blue in the UK
:29:12. > :29:19.Championship. Look at the shot, into the open
:29:20. > :29:23.pocket of the middle pocket. He did play it hard, perhaps somehow his
:29:24. > :29:27.head was scrambled as Stephen Hendry said.
:29:28. > :29:30.Otherwise, I hit it so hard? I am not even going to demonstrate the
:29:31. > :29:35.shot, there is no point, it is into an open middle pocket. What it like
:29:36. > :29:40.of concentration? Was he trying to get on the black? Or did he twitch?
:29:41. > :29:47.You just don't know. One person who will have a problem,
:29:48. > :29:51.Steve Peters in getting his head right for this evening's session.
:29:52. > :29:57.How do both players get their head right?
:29:58. > :30:02.You saw his reaction, Mark Selby, he came in three frames down and now
:30:03. > :30:06.has a lead going into this evening's session.
:30:07. > :30:10.And I know you are not a psychiatrist, John, but if you had
:30:11. > :30:13.any pearls of wisdom what would you offer?
:30:14. > :30:20.He just has to forget about it, he should be 12 or 11 in front -- 12-11
:30:21. > :30:23.in front. But it is very difficult against
:30:24. > :30:26.Mark Selby come it is easier said than done.
:30:27. > :30:32.The other thing Ronnie will have in his mind is that into major finals
:30:33. > :30:37.in the past Mark Selby has won four frames in a row from an
:30:38. > :30:43.irretrievable position to beat him. It be really, because normally when
:30:44. > :30:46.we see Ronnie win big tournament he just runs over people.
:30:47. > :30:49.He has not had it his own way and I cannot wait to see him come out
:30:50. > :30:55.tonight. How do you read this situation for this evening?
:30:56. > :30:58.Tense. It will be a long night at the Crucible Theatre and I think it
:30:59. > :31:02.will have a lot more drama. In general terms, how will the previous
:31:03. > :31:06.wins for Mark Selby steal him for this session version Mark it is a
:31:07. > :31:10.big help when you have beaten someone before, but one thing as
:31:11. > :31:13.well, there were a lot of pressure balls Mark did not pop 40 got over
:31:14. > :31:20.the line there, and that is one thing I would be worried about.
:31:21. > :31:23.-- Mark did not pot be 40 got over the line. And does the tension
:31:24. > :31:26.ratchet up again? These are the best players in the
:31:27. > :31:30.world, they should be looking for to it, but it will be amazing tonight.
:31:31. > :31:35.We are looking forward to it. Gentleman, thank you very much, and
:31:36. > :31:38.I am sure you are looking forward to it, as well, they will play a
:31:39. > :31:43.possible 12 games this evening and it could be a very long night.
:31:44. > :31:46.We are right at the final chapter of this year's Crucible final at what a
:31:47. > :32:41.story is unfolding here. Don't make plans to, join us at 7pm.
:32:42. > :32:44.It's shocking it'd happen in a public place.