Day 17, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

and it fascinates me. The champion does get the mine game right, finds

a way to deal with the inevitable hard knocks and is truly the last

man standing. Some fascinating observations. You

spent some time with bill. What did you learn from him? I thought he was

fascinating. I could have spoken to him all afternoon and the fact that

he came here as Crucible Virgin and was blown away by it was amazing to

me. He is used to working with teams and to see the individual side was

the thing that amazed him the most. He was a lovely fella to talk to and

I could have been there quite a while. One of the things that struck

me about what he said was about though momentum, the lack of it, in

the Crucible arena, breeding negativity. Do you empathise?

Sometimes I listen to these guys and confuses me a bit because it all

came naturally to me, the positive attitude and everything. I didn't

have to get anyone to give it to me. I tried to recreate the feelings I

had when I was winning later on. A lot of it goes on in my head. How

did you stay positive out there? It just came naturally. I almost took

it for granted. This is a special place to play and I just loved it

and I think it's the biggest test. Talking about fatigue and things

like that, if you can't cope with that, you can't win the World

Championship because it is the biggest test. Optimally, then, if

you felt these waves of positivity, what goes? -- ultimately, then. The

scars are there and you start to remember your defeats and bad shots

and it is hard to get rid of. John, when you listen to what he said and

we see the work that Dr Steve Peters has been doing with Ronnie

O'Sullivan - and, by the way, this is going to be a supreme test of his

stewardship and tutelage - in some respects, do you wish you'd had

access to a sports psychologist? Would you have gone down that road,

knowing what you know now? Absolutely, 100%. It's just having

somebody there to sometimes let a bit of steam of an just say what

your thinking and for somebody to go, "this is what you need to do". I

was lucky with the late great John Spencer in my dressing room. But

it's slightly different when you have somebody there who has done

it. He said one thing to be the year I won and I took it out to play and

it definitely helps so I'm a believer. Let's talk running. He's

in there with Dr Steve Peters and has played Mark Selby in a best of

19 frames and it was an emphatic victory for Robbie at 10-4, but this

is a completely different test at 35 frames, against a player whose style

can get under his skin. Absolutely. The first frame could be so crucial

in the outcome of the whole match. Ronnie looked really up for it but

didn't get the split he was after and ended up losing a protracted

frame and since then it has been all Selby. Steve. I just called you

Steve! Who are you? We are going stir crazy! If you are Ronnie

O'Sullivan, what do you do? I agree with Stephen, the first frame was a

chance, but he's been outplayed. Every time he comes to the table,

he's got a problem, he's in a snooker or... What do you do with

him? You can't really open the balls up against Selby. It taken under.

How much trouble do you sense he might be in? Judging by his mental

state, we've seen him looking down, slumped in his chair, but it is

important not to get completely... You can let your head go. He is so

tough to play against and he's not making 100s all the time but 50s and

the rest is torture. He calls him the Torturer in his book. Every shot

has a purpose. There is ways something to solve and Ronnie wants

to get in amongst the balls but he's not letting him. Selby looks sharp,

full of energy. You can tell in the look of his face and his demeanour

around the table. He looks more confident and that is everything. We

are hearing that Dr Steve Peters is going to stay with Ronnie for the

whole of this interval. We hoped to have a word with him but clearly he

has a lot on his plate. But we are going to talk instead about the man

in the middle. This is Sheffield, the home of snooker, but never

before, since 1977 when the championship moved here, have we had

a man in the middle who has been from this city and Brendan Moore

breaks the mould. And, in fact, he was a bus driver and used to drive

the number 47 bus pass the stage door here until he became a

professional referee in 2005. What a proud moment for him yesterday when

he walked out. I've been going to the Crucible for

numerous years with my dad. We would go to the finals, cue up at the

Crucible door on the Monday morning at 9am to try to get a ticket to get

in. To actually be there as a referee now is fabulous. Sheffield

is synonymous with snooker. This is Sheffield Transport Cudd

club, where my love of snooker started when I was five years old.

My dad used to be a bus driver. This is a transport club where the bus

drivers came so I've been coming here since then. I lived five

minutes from here so every Sunday afternoon, me and my dad would come

and through playing snooker, I fell in love with the game. It's ironic

that the first time at the Crucible was 1977 and the first time I picked

up a snooker cue was 1977. I always dreamt of being a snooker player. I

won my first junior tour when I was 14 on the three quarters table over

there but sadly, that's where it peaked for me. I was a bus driver

from this depot for ten years. This is the bus stop outside the Crucible

Theatre where I used to stop every day. You would have thought that one

day I would referee inside? My highest break is still only 63 but I

still play in the league every Wednesday, as often as possible. I

absolutely love the game. This is why I'm a referee. I got into

refereeing because I wanted to know the rules. It was good to come up

through the ranks and make mistakes. You learn from them and, obviously,

touch wood, I've not made a mistake while being out there yet. My first

game professionally was 2006, a qualifying event at Pontin is. And

all I wanted to do was to earn my stripes and get to the point where I

could walk out at the Crucible for the first time.

I can't imagine what it's like to walk out on the Crucible as a

player. As a referee, it's the biggest buzz. It's the ultimate, the

pinnacle of a referee's career. I've never been nervous when I've

refereed. The first time walking out on number one table at the Crucible,

it took me five or ten minutes to calm down. I was really nervous. But

it was a number League one experience. -- and unbelievable

experience. I'm so proud to be given the final. My wife will be there and

my dad. He's probably more excited than I am, to be there. It's great

for me and it's great for Sheffield. I can't wait. It's going to be a

tremendous experience. HAZEL IRVINE: He's in the middle of

what is developing into a fascinating match. Ronnie O'Sullivan

trying to go from three titles in a row to equal the likes of Steve

Reardon and -- Ray Reardon and Steve Davis. We understand he's just gone

into the practice room, loosening up, because he hasn't had much to go

at in the first four frames. Getting a bit of table time, loosening up,

and he will be back in action shortly. Things are getting pretty

heavy in this final. I'm sure you are thoroughly engrossed. The fact

that they are getting heavy suits one of our celebrity spectators

today, and he is with Rob Walker. It's amazing who you can bump into

an final day of the Crucible. Here is Nico, the drummer with iron

maiden. How did you get into snooker? My dad got me into the game

many years ago. I was a little boy and he took me up to the snooker

club. All the old guys were there. I started to play when I got into

teams and I joined a club in Haringey. I got into music ended

play any more. I started again around 1985-86 and have played a lot

since then but I have a passionate love affair. I love it. I hear you

might be getting a table. You bumped into Ken Doherty inefficient chip

shot when he was working on the Masters and now a bit of coaching

and we might cease a magic from you on the baize. You never know. I did

get a table through Ken and I have a wonderful relationship with the

World Snooker Federation. I get to be here and thanks to Ken I get to

meet you guys and see this wonderful final stop man, is this something

else? It's such great pride to be here. It's like the Valhalla of

snooker. In comparison, it would be like iron maiden play in the Albert

Hall, if ever. Thanks very much. I hope you enjoy the rest of it. A

pleasure to meet you. It holds such a fascination for so

many people. Ronnie O'Sullivan is about to leave the dressing room to

come back out to the arena and Mark Selby will be coming very shortly as

well. While we look at the next four frames stretching before us, how can

run the change the momentum of this match? Perhaps try and get the ball

is opened earlier. You play the ball is the way they open but as I said a

couple of times, the first few shots of every frame are imperative. We

saw last night he was getting bogged down and after two frames he played

very aggressively and went for aggressive shots and got in quickly.

It'll be interesting to see what impact Steve has had with that chap

in the dressing room because he really hasn't had much to go at.

That's what he'll probably be saying. He hasn't made many mistakes

but has just been outplayed. I agree with Steve. If Ronnie can get the

balls opened up a bit more, you've just got to be sure that the shot

you're playing the safety off is the right one. But if he can get them

open and get flowing again, it will be good because he's had no rhythm

in the match. It's been all sell before the last few frames and, as

we've been saying, he's won the last six in a row to take the lead for

the first time, after 21 frames of this 35 frames final. Back they come

and we have a change of personnel in the commentary box that these four

frames as we say hello to Willie Thorne and John Virgo.

Maybe the pot success tell the difference. The tournament pot

success was around about 93% but it has dropped in the

success was around about 93% but it sessions. There it is, 92%. But it's

success was around about 93% but it the last few frames that will be on

Ronnie's mind at the moment. I'm wondering what is going on in

Forcing it I'm wondering what is going on in

Ronnie's mind. Just coming out there is Steve Peters, the sports

psychiatrist. He was in Ronnie's dressing room. This is not the start

that Ronnie needed in this frame. What makes this

of course, pink and black are tied up. But I would suggest, Willie,

of course, pink and black are tied that at the moment Mark Selby will

be brimming with confidence. He rang me late last night and was

absolutely cock-a-hoop that he had made it 10-5 from 10-3. He said,

"those two frames are massive, Willie, and it has given me a

shout" . But we didn't expect him to win the first four frames of the

afternoon session. Amazingly enough, he could now go two clear

with this chart. But as you say, pink and black is going to take a

little while. This is more like the pace he was

playing against Neil Robertson. Both players played the most amazing

match. You wonder how Neil Robertson is still not here at Sheffield.

I think the most significant thing when we look at the shot time -

normally, you'd expect Ronnie to be at least 18 seconds a shot at 22

seconds a shot is slow. Mark is just keeping it tight. He's keeping

Ronnie's opportunities to a minimum. A nice little piece on Brendan Moore

as we see him clearing the table. His first final at the Crucible.

Very special for him. All the referees do an excellent job. A

little bit awkward, this. The blue is just where he would like his

bridge hand. APPLAUSE

But no problem. And just got a slight angle on the blue. He may

have preferred more of an angle. Unless the top red of that cluster

goes to the right corner, I can't see any obvious red she can just

drop in. I don't think he wanted this much

angle. The automatic path, you feel, for the cue ball was to run into the

black and bring the black and pink interplay. He'd love to hit them

right in the middle. If he could hit those... But by the look of things,

if he plays it hard, I don't know how he could miss the red next to

the red he's playing. It depends what pace he plays it really.

He was always going to hit that one. That was a big mistake there to play

at that pace. He didn't leave himself that well on the red, hence

the miss. If he had rolled it in, he would have had the black but maybe

he had no chance of bringing the black and pink into play at that

pace. This is a decent chance for Ronnie,

under normal circumstances. He's only made one break over 30,

amazingly enough, in his first six frames.

REFEREE: Stop calling out when the players are at the table, please.

There were six frames in total last night where he didn't make 30 or

above. APPLAUSE

Forced the angle and we can see the power he put into it. Got to the cue

ball bouncing but he's just about got the blue.

Just a little bit short of pace. It isn't as if he can drop the red into

the right middle and play for the pink into the right corner because

that isn't on. A bit more difficult using the rest. A similar type of

pot to the one that Mark Selby just missed.

APPLAUSE But Ronnie is not trying to do too

much with the cue ball. Even so, he is overrun the position on the blue.

We know the two reds together are at the bottom. If he can get onto that

or find the perfect gap to get onto the one nearest the pink, he will

have a chance. Some players might decide to overscrew it is likely to

try to find the gap. -- overscrew it slightly.

The pink after being parted will go back onto its own spot so this red

to the right of the pink is available. -- after being parted.

This black will put him one point behind.

He needs three reds, three high value colours, and possibly the

yellow and green. He has certainly asked the question, having lost

those first four frames of the session... There's Cliff Thorburn

watching backstage. Everybody now is really getting

involved in this match. Perfect angle on the black to stun

to the side cushion for this last red.

APPLAUSE He wanted the cue ball to bounce a

touch and it did. He still wants every due care and attention into

this. Well, he'll be very disappointed

there, not to have won that frame at this visit. I think he just caught

that. He'd just wanted that cue ball to bounce another quarter of an inch

and the red would have been an missable. Can Mark cut this red in?

He may be able to but he will have no idea whether White is going to

end up. -- where the cue ball is going to end up.

He's got a good cue ball but the red ran loose. Ronnie comes back to the

table, 14 points in the lead. Once again, not the best safety shot

from Ronnie but I thought he was going to catch the jaw. Neither

player has been finding the baulk cushion as often as you would expect

in this final so far. They're all big frames but you

really feel this is a massive one now for Ronnie O'Sullivan, when he

knows he should have won it. He had the frame at his mercy.

A little bit thinner than was required so that meant there was a

bit more pace on the cue ball. A chance for Ronnie now to play a

better shot than that. Well, the kiss on the yellow hasn't

helped that much. This reds cuttable.

He'll have to play with a bit of right-hand side to make sure he gets

onto the black. He'd like the cue ball to be

Always knowing the red could spring back into a position where it is not

pottable but it appears it is pottable. It clearly goes.

APPLAUSE Good shot from Ronnie. That bumped

off the little pocket... What sort of an angle has he got off the

black? I don't think he's too happy with it. He can't get close to the

yellow. Couldn't be much straighter than that.

22 points is the lead. Yellow and green needed to secure the frame.

GROANING He erred on the thin side but didn't

expect to kiss the green. He played it with side and just a

little bit too much. Trying to force it in. Where is the

cue ball going to finish? I think Ronnie can just about get through to

the yellow. He can certainly hit it. I think he

can pot it. Clearly. But this cue ball will be running loose and isn't

certain to be on the green. GROANING

well, that was a surprise, missing the yellow. A massive frame, this,

now. Yes, they both had two chances, haven't they? Amazingly, Mark Selby

won't be as disappointed if he loses it as Ronnie O'Sullivan will be now

because he's had clear-cut chances. Selby will be taking this on but

he's got to play it pretty powerfully to make sure he doesn't

snooker himself behind the blue. Well, they are both cueing pretty

well now, they are rattling the jars.

This is the best chancy has had. -- of the best chance he has had. There

is Ronnie's son, Little Ron, there. Well, would you believe it? Would

you believe that? Regardless of whether the pockets

are tight, that was unmissable for someone of Ronnie's class.

He has not played this very well. Make a been a little bit of a heavy

contact there. -- might have been. Well!

Unbelievable. This is the World Championship final. Remember that

and take nothing for granted. Yes, the yellow was the bad shot, he

left himself hampered with the pink. Just the green needed.

People do not think these players come under pressure.

Now, the question is, can he poured this green? -- candy pot. -- can he?

No, he just had to play the safety, and in all honesty that was a poor

one. Just tried to drop the green in dead

weight, there was a chance of it cropping, but...

Not one of Ronnie's best, but it has worked out OK.

It has worked out very well. There you see, full ball snooker,

and he will have to come off the side and up to the baulk cushion to

get in behind. If he doesn't he would leave this green on, you would

have thought. He hit it on the way up, I am not

sure that was intentional, but he will settle for it. No snooker but

safe enough. Yes, Ronnie can play the green into

the black here and leave the green on the black spot area.

Well, he played it too thin, he played to fit the black full ball,

he needs the blue to come to its rescue and it doesn't.

Not the standard of safety we expect from Ronnie.

Mark is just coming round to have a look at the black and he is

thinking, if he kisses the black thin then the fight will go back up

to baulk, but if he hits it thick it will stay up this end.

Well, Ronnie has had his chances. One thing with this shot, as you say

he could run into the black, but concentrate on the pot. You are

never certain where the cue ball has gone to finish,

Well, this is another chance for Ronnie. It is frame ball, and if he

can get a good cue ball, as well... Yes, he only needs the green.

He has to hold himself together now and cue this.

He has been hitting at the ball rather than stroking it, which is

unlike Ronnie. He needs good cueing there. Green

for the frame. And it is there! Superb angling

macro. By -- superb pot. Boy, will he be relieved. It was nice to see

young Ronnie there in the pressure in the box.

Puts the cue on the table, there is going to back to the dressing room

and he will be very relieved. Come on, dad, says young Ronnie. It was a

frame that both players perhaps felt they should have won, more Ronnie

O'Sullivan, but he did get it and we are all square, 11-11.

REFEREE: That is the first frame Ronnie has won since 10pm last

night. He is under the cosh here from Mark

Selby but they are feeling it tonight, ardently, John?

Well, it could have been going to dwell there and Mark Selby, the

pressure reversed onto him. He missed when he was income and the

shots near the end, both were missing.

shots near the end, both were in. This yellow with Ronnie, I

cannot believe he has missed that. You thought that would be the end of

the frame. I wonder if Mark Selby has maybe missed a chance to get in

front of this match. Ronnie never misses his shots and he

was wavering. If he could have capitalised on Ronnie's misses

there, Ronnie's head could have really gone. But he has got himself

back level and suddenly the pressure reversed is once again.

I thought the 50 BT made was superb, as well.

When you have been frozen out, as well.

has positively bolted, because he has not had any chances to go at.

He missed that last red and after that there was a lot of theatre.

Ronnie won this title for the first time in 2001, he beat John

Ronnie won this title for the first in 2014, he

Ronnie won this title for the first four final since then, this is the

toughest match he has had for a long time.

COMMENTATOR: Yes, and by far and away the hardest much of this

tournament. He had a difficult match against Joe

Perry, but since then he has won comfortably.

He felt it was worth the risk, the only red ye could leave was the one

he was playing. Not a bad length, not inch perfect.

What sort of safety shot will Mark Selby play?

He is playing beneath the blue, he is obviously going to keep things

tight here. But he has not played it well.

Unless it runs past the green... The green has come to his rescue.

A little tap on the table from Ronnie. I suppose that is the line

that Mark played, so he deserves acknowledgement. Nice to see, even

in the heat of battle. Well, once again, Ronnie's safety is

causing problems. This red me past the pink. -- it may pass.

The red is cut a ball in the corner. He does not have to do an awful lot

in the cue ball. The reds wire spread very nicely,

but he has overrun the cue ball. -- the reds are spread.

I think he has just the right angle on this red. He cannot do a lot with

the cue ball committee is looking to pot the red and find the natural

path. He will just be aware of the cue ball to the left middle.

Hagood pot on this red, he has left a straight red. With the black spot

being covered I am not sure whether the black will go on to the pink

spot. How tied up will this black be? It

may go to the right-hand corner when we have of that in a second. -- when

we it must be very tight, that black

into the corner pocket. It's just about pots, doesn't it?

This is the key shot, getting on this red.

Not this time, he played it for the back of the pack.

Well, this time he has a nice angle to play for the red you suggested,

but he also has a nice angle to cannon into the black and bring that

cluster of reds into play. He played the cannon and where is

the black going? ! He hit the black fill in the place -- fill in the

face. OK, I'm lucky to let it go in. It is hard to question Selby, he is

one of the best break builders in the game, but this shot would not

have been my first chance, playing through the gap. Appears no damage

done. The only damage was done is it was a

chance to build up a useful lead in this frame and he did not take it.

That is an excellent safety shot from Ronnie.

Not straightforward, viz, you have to be careful you do not slide off

them. There is one loose red if he was to slide past the cluster.

He has played it well. This is where the advantage is

massive being able to play with both hands, because that shot would have

been very difficult to play with the spider.

If you play with your hands you have every chance of finding the baulk

cushion, that is exactly what he did. There was a line of three

reds, below the black, they could be a guide to our pot to the right

corner. He caught it thicker than that, so

there was no intention of the pot, and that is one of his

Ronnie has not really had a close look at this, the red he is playing.

There was a possibility of pushing a red over a corner.

He is fine now, with longing. -- with the length.

A very important safety exchange, this. With Mark, and his 18 point

lead, you feel if he gets another chance and he can win this safety

battle, you can see he can get clearly through to the reds, he is

just worried about knocking one over the pocket, but she gets the next

chance you would think that would be frame over -- if he gets the next

chance. The same could apply to Ronnie. It is important he wins this

tactical exchange. It could have been

pot, the red closest to the cue ball.

If he decides to screw across the face of the black for the red to the

middle, there is a red that will pot so it could be too dangerous.

I do not know how he could miss the pink if you try to screw up for a

baulk colour. That is what he has tried to do.

Well, the fractions are just not favouring Ronnie at the moment. I am

sure he thought, like I did, that that red was going to go in. But

just a fraction weight. -- wide. Just a little bit too much pace for

gravity to take over. Needs a good white, and he has got

one. Well, this will test Ronnie's safety play now. As you can see,

this red near the right corner, covered by the green. He needs a

good reply here, Ronnie, and his safety play in this session so far

has not been absolutely spot on. The flick on the blue does not help,

he has left the red. Well, if he plays it plain ball the

gap is there between the two reds, but there is it chance it could be

slow up to the black or pink. He would have loved to have been on

the blue or pink there, but with the black on open play and even when it

goes back to its spot, it will probably appeal him into the

left-hand corner. This is a chance for Selby to take the chance again.

You could say he was a little bit unfortunate to tie the blue or pink

up, but we did see if he got a chance he would be favourite to take

the frame. I see no reason why that is still

not the case. Just having another check to see

whether the black will still pot off its own spot.

He will wait for the black to be put on and have another look.

It must be very tight. It does not look like it pots into

the left-hand corner. With the blue and pink being out of

play, you may have to go for a baulk colour.

In this match alone, that is how close they are, 11-11, 337 balls

each. An amazing stat, that, isn't it?

Still, as you can see, not in perfect position yet. He is just one

shot away from getting the red away from either side of the black, then

he has a chance to win the frame at this visit.

Now, if you could get someone in that circle and beyond the red next

to the black... -- somewhere in that circle.

He has come a bit way before that, he will be lucky to be on a red

here. And he is not. He just got into the cue ball little

bit too much there. He was certainly playing for your

circle, John, he just got into the cue ball too much.

He does not want to hit this too hard.

He has not left the black tied up. 37 point lead, he is favourite, but

with this run of play, who knows? Yes, you can see he just swung it a

little bit too wide, trying to force off to cushions. -- two cushions.

Where is the cue ball going? 41 points, Mark Selby ahead. 75

remaining. You would not think he would be tempted by the red this

side of the table, he hasn't easy safety shot. He may even knock it

into the right corner, he will think about that. It is worth trying to

play the cross doubled to the right corner, you know you are going to

get a good cue ball back to the baulk end.

He played that with lots of side, if he played that plain ball the kiss

was into the blue and pink, so he purposely played it with lots of

side to ensure it was not the case. This is an excellent safety shot.

Perfection. All you can see here is marked

playing directly to the red to try and drop it dead weight. -- Mark

playing directly. When there is a lot of tension in

the arm it is not as easy as it looks.

I don't think it is worth the risk to try and get the cue ball back to

the baulk end and possibly bringing all these reds into play.

He is looking at what will happen if he plays a slow roll up to those two

reds. I suppose that is as good as anything. The only problem is, those

two reds are tight to the cushion. If you just over hit it and hit one

of them full in the face you will get a troubled guests -- double kiss

and the cue ball will spring away from them.

Well, he worked that out well. He thought, playing that red, he was

not under so much pressure to get the speed absolutely perfect. He

does not gain any advantage, of course.

Not a very good safety shot from Ronnie, considering he was so close

to the red. He will not be happy with that. Of course, if Ronnie is

to have any chance in this frame, he has to play a good safety and bring

those reds into play. He could not there.

He may be able to do it this time, but of course the safety shot he

will be playing, you would imagine he would be pushing a red over the

corner, so he may have to play a negative safety shot there, just a

thin one. He has brought a couple more reds

into play, so that is pretty good. That is just what he didn't want,

that kiss. The pink has gone a little bit more safe, but Ronnie

will have options at a chance of a red.

Well, he is winning the safety battle at the moment, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Yes, beginning to stroke those

safety shots nicely. When they play them, they always

play them with a trace of side just to widen the ankle.

You have to cue them smoothly, if you start hitting their ball, then

you start hitting them too thick. -- hitting them full ball.

Well, Ronnie's excellent safety has forced an opening, but the red

kissing their has opened up the pot. He does not know what will happen to

the white, that is why he is refusing it.

It was risky. But that risk may be rewarded.

You always have to be a little bit careful here, if

You always have to be a little bit ball with the red a little bit

You always have to be a little bit you could be running off into the

corner pocket. But come in a way, he will not mind that. He has not left

corner pocket. But come in a way, he pot on. OK, he has given four points

away. There was always a danger of this.

Ronnie is having a look at this, I don't think there is a plank, but

whether he can play one red onto the red that is on the cushion, that in

turn could push the red in. It looks like from that angle it will hit the

near jaw, doesn't it? There is enough room between the reds you

would feel you could make it, but I would be worried about the red

closest to the top cushion, is that blocking the path for the first red

to get to the second? Well, he has had a good look. He is

right Bianca shot, so it is his decision. -- he is right behind.

Didn't play the pot but hasn't played the safety very well. One

good pot from Selby could be the frame.

We saw Ronnie's expression. A chance for Mark Selby, 37 points the lead.

The red went over the pocket. Missed a chance there.

He was gripping the cue a bit tight. You mentioned earlier that you do

that when you are under pressure. A kiss on the green but it's OK. In

a perfect world, Ronnie would love to cannon these two reds that are

close together near the top cushion. Has he got the perfect angle to do

that or can he not risk it? He will play if it's on.

For somebody like Ronnie who is the best break-builder in the game at

the moment, he missed that. A little look up there. Sometimes he

looks up at his supporters but in fairness, he had a good chance.

Sometimes if you miss them, the ball is done for give you.

Playing the pot is far too dangerous. Amazingly enough, I can't

see a safety shot. He's looking at coming off the side

cushion and cutting the middle of those three. He's entitled to take a

bit of time. This is one way but you'd have to be

so accurate. The only other shot, it seems to me, is to play the other

red but I think it's too risky. He's got a lead of 31 points. He just

doesn't want to put all his eggs in one basket. There is an escape

route. You've got to be so accurate with it. But surely worth a try.

For a minute, I thought he was going to take your advice.

If he hits it 4-ball, he'll leave a red in the middle. Oh, he went for a

pot. Oh, dear. Not so sure about that. Very surprised that he played

the hit and hope there. Very surprised!

This is a chance for Ronnie. S just the red closest to the top cushion

you feel is the one that will give him a problem.

If he takes high value colours, he won't need the pink, which would

have been a problem. He is looking favourite to win this frame. Yeah,

but we take nothing for granted. That red on the top cushion could be

Mark Selby's saviour. The reason for this thinking,

although he could have been better on the blue, is that it easier to

get on the red in baulk and then if he doesn't get on the black

correctly, he can always play a snooker on the awkward last red.

That's why he's leaving the awkward last red till last. Nine points

behind. If he lands perfect on the red along

the top cushion, he doesn't have to play a lot of pace. Otherwise there

is the option of playing the snooker behind the black.

If it stroked co-worker uterus makes a new pot the red and play the

snooker behind the back. Shouldn't be any here RICS here. You birdie

the red. -- if it's straight, you make sure you pot the red.

Who would've thought when he played that last safety shot and brought

all the reds into play that he would have a chance. It could have been

the end of that game. Frequent

REFEREE: Foul and won't even bother getting out of his

seat. A long frame, just But you have to say that we have a

new REFEREE: Foul and a miss. He doesn't

want to leave a free ball. He got very close to this yellow,

didn't he? Amazing. Even in slow motion, we couldn't tell how close

it was. whether pinkies. Ronnie didn't get

out of his seat. That could have been a frame-winning

chance. If he hits this yellow now and gets it safe, he may be

regretting That's exactly what's happened.

Amazingly enough, that little cannon on the pink has helped Mark Selby,

not Vani O'Sullivan. All of a sudden now, whoever puts the yellow is

favourite for the frame. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Where is the cue ball going? He misjudged that completely.

He looked at the green in the middle because he felt that if he stunned

it in, he couldn't look at the cushion.

That was tough. Did he get second prize or has he been lucky? He's got

the snooker. When Ronnie comes off the side

cushion, he wants to hit the yellow on the right-hand side. He played it

pretty well. APPLAUSE

But there is a chance of a pot. Don't get me wrong, this is a tough

one. He's had a go at one yellow and missed it by a long way. Will he be

tempted by this one? Vicky and Vicky's Mum and dad

looking very tense, as you'd expect. If he takes with the screw on the

yellow, it is possible he could screw in behind the pink. -- takes

the deep screw. He didn't fancy it so he played the

safety but the yellow ran loose. Mark Selby has had two pieces of

very good fortune. That was asking a lot.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. The cue ball won't go in but it could be a

free ball here. All eyes on the referee. No free ball. That's why

he's having it put back. No surprise that this is the longest

frame of the match. Such a big frame. It's a dangerous shot, this,

that Ronnie's attempting. Even if he does hit the yellow, if he hits it a

fraction of it, it's off into the corner.

Important to get this exactly right. Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan

both looking. He's tried the thin cut. That, to

me, is the best way to go. You just have to scrape the pink with the

yellow and it's a fraction thick. If you hit the red full in the face, a

chance of getting it safe. He's just so dangerous. But he's trying it

again. Didn't appear to have a chance to

get it safe but he's not done too bad. The pot is on but is it worth

the risk? I suppose you could play the cue

ball trice across so you play the pot with a bit more pace and hope

that if it rattles the jaws, it will hit the baulk cushion. The other way

is to play it snow and hope for a full ball snooker on the green. --

play it slow. APPLAUSE

Well, another very fortunate shot. The blue in the middle of the table

covering the yellow - you could never have expected that.

Another great shot from Ronnie. I think he's got away with it. This is

a very, very tense final and they need a little bit of a break in

between this session and the next. They will need at least an hour so

the tournament director has decided this will be the last frame of the

afternoon session. So only six frames are going to be played in the

afternoon session. It will be a long one tonight if it goes all the way

but I think they need a bit of a rest before they come out to battle

it out for the World Championship tonight.

GROANING Well, I've got to be honest, he's

had some luck this frame, Mark Selby.

He couldn't have played that better. APPLAUSE

Beautifully controlled. A swerve there. This frame is still well and

truly in the balance. We've already mentioned that it is

the longest frame of the match so far and there could be a few more

minutes left yet. That time he played the snooker.

He's got That time he played the snooker.

catches the yellow too thin, he That time he played the snooker.

pocket but he played it nicely. Nice control on the swerve.

You just get the feeling at the moment that Mark Selby is just in

control of this very important tactical exchange. Of course, the

players will not be aware that this is the last frame.

Not the best of safetys this time but the green came to his rescue.

Yes, and, believe it or not, isn't the most straightforward of

Yes, and, believe it or not, safety shots. Obviously, you've

Yes, and, believe it or not, to get the yellow safe but

Yes, and, believe it or not, got to avoid the double kiss

Yes, and, believe it or not, brown. The kiss on the

And GROANING

This bout of safety play has just made everything

What ever sport you play, you can't beat a bit of luck and Ronnie needs

a bit here in playing his escape. Ronnie's probably the only player in

the game at the moment that doesn't shout out whether he's had good luck

or bad luck. He doesn't apologise when he's had good luck or his head

when he's had bad luck. -- shake his head. Looks like he's

lining it up to take this on. With the green being close to the pocket,

he doesn't have to do much with the cue ball.

APPLAUSE I thought he'd hold that for the

green. Ronnie is going to have to sit there

now. We'll see what Mark Selby can make of his chance. He needs green,

brown, blue and pink. GROANING

Well, first of all, he needed the green and I thought that was the

least of his problems. Yes, he got anxious there. He saw a bit of

potting movement there. His arm went. He really tried to get into

that green and hit it hard. He won't be happy with the way he cued that.

Obviously, the green will pass the pink to the middle but he's worried

about the line of the cue ball. It looks for all money as if he's going

to run into the black. He tried to avoid the kiss on the

black, missed the green. He'll be happy with the end result, though.

Probably a well-deserved wry smile from Ronnie. There's a lot of work

in this frame left yet. He's going to have to play the cross

double here but I'm not sure that he'll hit the green hard enough to

get it back to the middle of the back cushion. That was dangerous.

What's happened there? When he's been hitting the safety

shots, he's usually such a smooth cueist but as we've been saying,

there's a lot of tension out there. They don't know it, we know it, this

is the last frame. Who's going to have the lead coming into the final

session this evening? A good shot from Mark. I don't think

the cue ball reaches the pocket, so excellent length. You wouldn't think

Ronnie would wish to bring the brown into play if he can avoid it. He

needs a good cue ball. Just pushes the green past the

middle pocket. I think he's left the cut on. But how did you get on the

brown? It looks impossible. If the black

wasn't where it was, he would go for the brown into the top right-hand

corner but I don't think you can get onto the top left.

It isn't an easy safety shot if it keeps carrying on. If he can leave

the white where the brown is, he might sneak in behind the black.

The key thing is to get the object ball safe. You know the white is

going to be good. He took a chance to get it in behind

the black and another 34-macro inches of play, it would have been.

-- three or four. Both players looking for brown, blue

and pink. APPLAUSE

That could be a telling one. He's got the snooker. Easy to hit. But if

you don't catch that brown full in the face, you could believe it. He's

got to hit this absolutely perfectly.

He hit it full but it ran into the blue. We'll Ronnie be tempted by

this? I always look at these shots and wonder what is easier, the pot

or the safety. -- will Ronnie be tempted.

Ronnie thought the safety was a lot more guaranteed but he needs the

brown to stop. Mark Selby has the same option to come off the top

cushion first, kick the brown from behind.

Needs to be pretty close to the blue to make the blue a lot easier than

it is. Trying to keep the white somewhere around the blue spot.

APPLAUSE A beautiful pot.

APPLAUSE Well, in a funny sort of way, Ronnie

has done well to get out of this session and be in front, having lost

six frames on the trot, similar to Selby last night. Looks like he's

going to win the last session.

GROANING Why has he not just stunned it in?

Why go for the black when you don't need it? What on earth has gone on

there? I said it before, take nothing for granted. But I took that

for granted because I had no reason not to. Maybe he miss read the

scoreboard. He should have just stunned it and

left the white near the blue spot. Either a lack of concentration or he

miss read This will hurt because that pink is

in. He needs the black. APPLAUSE

What a way. Selby ensures the session. From 10-5 behind, he is now

12-11 in front. All to play for this evening.

STUDIO: What unbelievable drama we've had in that last frame. 50

minutes. Very seldom UC Ronnie O'Sullivan involved in a 50 minute

frame but Mark Selby takes a lead into the final session and what is

truly significant from his point of view is that in the previous five

finals in which Ronnie O'Sullivan has played an won, he's never been

behind going into the final session. Can you dissect what has gone on for

a moment? Unbelievable. There is the greatest player who's ever picked up

a cue missing a pink that your average club player would be

mortified to miss. All he's got to do is studied in, it's the only ball

to pot and he can only be taking his eye off or under pressure. I've

never seen him miss the ball like that. How do you explain it? I think

his head is scrambled. Whether it's been the length of the frame, the

player he is playing against, I think he's taken it for granted. He

took it for granted that he wasn't going to miss. And he'd worked so

hard to get himself in a situation to win that. How bruising could bat

shot and the loss of that frame be for him? Firmly enough, the fact

that he's missed it and then they've gone off is properly in his favour

because if he'd missed it and had to play frames after that, he would

have been sitting there brooding. He'll be annoyed but he can talk to

Steve Peters and get it out of his system and come back fresh. But I've

never seen Ronnie miss a shot like this. He walked up from the black

end of the table so I don't know why he was walking down to that end of

the table. Described the difficulty of that shot. It isn't. It's a 101

hundred shot. The fact remains, he's missed it and four players have gone

into the last session from behind an won. One of them was you and a

certain Dennis Taylor Peter Sagan Steve Davis top but we won't mention

that because we're going to talk to Steve now. Your impressions, Steve?

I am just in shock. When you have got players for this magnitude, you

would think he would just get down and pot it. It is on a par of my

black against Dennis and Willie Thorne's blue in the UK

Championship. Look at the shot, into the open

pocket of the middle pocket. He did play it hard, perhaps somehow his

head was scrambled as Stephen Hendry said.

Otherwise, I hit it so hard? I am not even going to demonstrate the

shot, there is no point, it is into an open middle pocket. What it like

of concentration? Was he trying to get on the black? Or did he twitch?

You just don't know. One person who will have a problem,

Steve Peters in getting his head right for this evening's session.

How do both players get their head right?

You saw his reaction, Mark Selby, he came in three frames down and now

has a lead going into this evening's session.

And I know you are not a psychiatrist, John, but if you had

any pearls of wisdom what would you offer?

He just has to forget about it, he should be 12 or 11 in front -- 12-11

in front. But it is very difficult against

Mark Selby come it is easier said than done.

The other thing Ronnie will have in his mind is that into major finals

in the past Mark Selby has won four frames in a row from an

irretrievable position to beat him. It be really, because normally when

we see Ronnie win big tournament he just runs over people.

He has not had it his own way and I cannot wait to see him come out

tonight. How do you read this situation for this evening?

Tense. It will be a long night at the Crucible Theatre and I think it

will have a lot more drama. In general terms, how will the previous

wins for Mark Selby steal him for this session version Mark it is a

big help when you have beaten someone before, but one thing as

well, there were a lot of pressure balls Mark did not pop 40 got over

the line there, and that is one thing I would be worried about.

-- Mark did not pot be 40 got over the line. And does the tension

ratchet up again? These are the best players in the

world, they should be looking for to it, but it will be amazing tonight.

We are looking forward to it. Gentleman, thank you very much, and

I am sure you are looking forward to it, as well, they will play a

possible 12 games this evening and it could be a very long night.

We are right at the final chapter of this year's Crucible final at what a

story is unfolding here. Don't make plans to, join us at 7pm.

It's shocking it'd happen in a public place.