Day 5, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon. It's day five of the Dafabet World Championship. It

promises to be a pretty is a difficult afternoon because we are

expecting an announcement from the governing body about the future

shape of this championship and the rather controversial subject of wild

cards and whether a certain Steve Davis and others should be gifted a

wild card for the professional from next season. Oh, yes, and the small

matter of the last of the first-round match is getting under

way as well. A busy day. Mind you, it's been extremely busy since day

one, ball one at the Crucible. Here comes the defending world

champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan. JOHN VIRGO: Played it beautifully. A

sensational break of 124 from Ronnie.

Wanna blue, 11 black. Wonderful. He's taken the world number two and

one of the favourites for the championship to a decider. What a

fluke and what a time to get one. Michael Wasley, one of the biggest

shocks ever at the World Championship.

Ryan Day, world number 20. Straightaway going for it. Good

shot. We're in for a final frame decider.

Great pot! Excellent pot. What a battle that was but he goes

into the last 16 a 10-9 winner. That is a brilliant shot.

What a great match. You deserve every round of applause you are

going to get, Michael White. The third 10-9 we've had in the last two

days. This is like rolling back the years.

Well, Alan McManus beats his good friend John Higgins 10-7. You kiss

the ground because you never know when you're going to be back here.

This would be four frames in a row if he would take it and that would

give Stuart Bingham a lot to think about. I was getting quite emotional

at the end. I'm in the next round and I'll be giving it 100%.

So we're scheduling out some of the world's most high profile players.

Let's give you an idea whose left. Neil Robertson, the Welburn born,

start this afternoon. But as for the number two, Ding Junhui, one of the

biggest shocks we've ever known, out to Michael Wasley, the world 73 on

his first time at the Crucible. Stuart Bingham went home to Ken

Doherty. John Higgins was beaten by his great friend Alan McManus. And

Stephen Maguire, a fellow Scot, out to Ryan Day. Four of the top 16

players have all headed for the exit door. What on earth can we expect

today? World number eight Judd Trump didn't

look to be in great danger against Tom Ford yesterday but it's getting

pretty tense. We'll watch the conclusion shortly.

World number one Neil Robertson is about to cross swords. Looks like

he's been getting some practice in! The Aussie has been one of the stars

of the season but so has Marco Fu. And he has his wife Shirley and baby

Alicia in his corner today. Will get around the table to talk

after 2pm with plenty to discuss. Wild cards, the World Championship,

wanderlust. Is a larger venue now required? Will put all that and more

to the chairman of World Snooker Barry Hearn.

And the trick shot express is building up steam. There will be

more today. This is how the draw is panning out

today. Ronnie O'Sullivan is going to play Joe Perry. Shaun Murphy is

already through and we are waiting for the match between Marco Fu and

fore to finish. This Mark Selby and Ali Carter match is going to be a

good prospect. I was impressed with Ali Carter, the way he turned the

match around. And the two evergreens, the two pensioners still

left in the tournament, Alan McManus and Ken Doherty. Fantastic against

McManus and Bingham. -- Higgins and begun. Ricky Walden is already

through and he will face Hawkins or Gilbert. And Michael Wasley, the

shock of the tournament, knocking out Ding Junhui. He will face

Dominic Dale or Mark Davis. And Ryan Day getting through to the last 16.

That was fantastic against Maguire. The other big name in this quarter

is Neil Robertson, who is still in with a fantastic shout. So too, many

would argue, is Judd Trump, the world number eight from Bristol, a

former runner-up in this event and the former world number one to boot.

How deep can he go into the championship this time? Anyone's

guess. But he's got a tough first-round opponent in Tom Ford,

the 30-year-old Leicester cueing. Cue man.

# He wore black and I wore white. # He would always win the fight.

# Bang bang, he shot me down. # Bang bang, I hit the ground.

# Bang bang, that awful sound. # Bang bang, my baby shot me down #.

JOHN VIRGO: Judd Trump has all the ability you need to win this

championship and it's always interesting to see how he starts

off. A lovely pot. I like the way he's

stroking the ball. Davis A very positive shot from Tom

Ford. And excellent shot. What a good shot

that was. Very well struck. And that will mean

it's going to be two apiece in the mid-session interval.

He did double kiss it. Big error. This black to really hurt Tom Ford.

Tom Ford will be absolutely kicking himself! 4 - 2. Five colours in a

line. Judd Trump looks to have played this beautifully.

Tom Ford will be very disappointed. Judd Trump want to be that happy

with his game but will be pleased with the scoreline.

Tom Ford is one of the qualifiers at the Crucible. He is the world number

39 and has been in the game for something like 14 years, with two

smaller ranking events to show for his efforts. He is known as a very

brisk attacking player so we genuinely thought we were in for a

pretty swift afternoon of snooker yesterday. Not the way it turned

out. They only managed to complete eight of nine frames so back they

came this morning, watched by a certain Mr Steve Davis. What a

curious morning it has been because Judd Trump was just not at the

races. It took him fully 51 minutes to pot a ball. What was going on? He

wasn't just missing but missing by miles. Yesterday, it wasn't that

Judd Trump played fantastically well to get that scoreline but it was

that Neil Ford was struggling. At the start of each session, you have

to reassert yourself and Judd Trump didn't get going. -- Tom Ford. Just

when it looked like he might be about to level the scores, there was

this pink. How tricky is this? It is always more difficult across the

table to play a shot and it is on the line. God knows why. There may

be a fractional movement across the table because of the cloth but these

are very thin cloth is. It may have been mis-judgement or pressure. He

knows that is a big mistake because it gave Judd a chance. What a superb

shot to get on the black. Judging the weight of that shot... It is all

about the weight of the shot. You can't do much about the line. As

soon as he struck it, he would have known he was roughly going to be on

the black. You have to rely on the cushions bouncing properly. They can

still very even though they are pretty uniform these days. He needed

this for the frame and the lead, which he got. Look at the reaction

from Tom Ford. He knows he's made a big mistake and let Judd Trump off

the hook. So in we go to frame 13 and it is Judd Trump at the table

but he needs of snooker. He's 22 points behind. Ken Doherty and

Willie Thorne are on duty. WILLIE THORNE: He tried to get in

behind the black but haven't played it well.

Just can't get over the line this frame.

KEN DOHERTY: This line looks very, very good. It looks very good. He's

got to be very careful. The line is good. How is the pace?

Oh! That's very unlucky. Very unlucky. Excellent effort.

What a shot he's played here! He's played some tremendous shot. Can he

swerve it? So difficult! He's missed it! A chance for Judd

Trump now. Can you believe it? Tom Ford a couple of shots ago had a

straightforward blue into the same yellow pocket. He stunned it instead

of dropping it in. Will he route that mistake?

-- will he regret that mistake? Not the best shot. S no chance to get

close to the black. I think he might leave himself a double, which will

hurt, even more. -- will hurt Tom even more. Stand by

your bed! A double here and Tom will probably disappear behind the

screen! It's not their! Is the trouble on? A

good cue ball. A bit of pressure now exerted on Tom Ford. He knows this

game should have been put to bed but it's still very much alive.

GROANING well, I think in fairness, this is

probably... This is unmissable. Well, mightily relieved, Tom Ford.

He's back within one frame. He trails now, though, 7-6. Match on.

HAZEL IRVINE: Shortly afterwards, Judd Trump scored his highest break

of the match, 72, to make it 8-6. Then Tom Ford came back with a

vengeance with a 76 break, the highest of the match, to make it

8-7, then 8-8 with a break of 56. We're now live. That's the situation

as we join them in frame 17. This is developing rather nicely with the

whole of the Crucible audience gripped and intrigued by what has

been a funny old game so far. WILLIE THORNE: It's been amazing,

Hazel. Good afternoon, everybody. If you're joining us for the first

time, this has been a match of players missing. Tom Ford got in

with a very good read and as you can see from the way the balls spread,

as a great chance to take the lead for the first time in this match -

and at the most important time. GROANING

You cannot believe it! He will be absolutely kicking

himself in that chair. Having seen the frames he's lost this morning

that he should have won... That pot success rate is very poor from both

players but this is the first round up the Crucible and so many matches

have gone so close. We've had four 10-9s so far. We could have another

one. It's amazing what this wonderful theatre can do to all the

players. The Crucible collywobbles. I saw

Judd's piece in the press the other day saying that they should move it

away from here. What do you do? Move tennis away from Wimbledon because

it isn't big enough? Where do you stop? This is the place to play. S A

nice angle on the black. He's coming round to see if one of these two

reds pot into the corner pocket. If they do, he won't bother trying to

play the cannon. Does the nearest one to the cue ball

pot? Well, it does pot. But it is tight. It doesn't look tight from

that angle but when you're playing them, particularly with this

pressure... As he missed it? GROANING

There you go. When there's a bit of pressure and you're not directly

behind it, looking at the pocket as well as the object ball, anything

can be missed. Playing into a blind pocket there. Couldn't see the

pocket from that angle. That's what made him miss it. It's amazing what

can happen here. It's not easy, this red, is it, with the rest? He may be

better taking the middle of the free and cutting it into the corner.

A lot of pressure on this. It's a tough pot and he knows if he misses

this pot with the rest down the question, it'll be frame over. --

down the cushion. He was away from it before the cue

ball even reached the red. Not perfect angle on the blue. He's

going to have to negotiate the cue ball in and out of the ball and the

green may be on its way in here. He's not going to go in and out of

baulk but just take a distance red. We've seen him miss countless reds

like this all morning. It's 55 and 50 potting this, the way the match

has gone. Can he pot it? He can't buy the look of his body language.

Looking at this picture we're going to show you in one second... I think

he can see enough to pot it. I think he just about has enough of it. The

blue may help him because it's the perfect pact past the blue to hit

the red into the corner pocket. Yeah, well played. There was a lot

of pressure on that. 25 points in front. The black will put him 32 and

he's going to be the last red. -- going to need.

This has been very workmanlike from Judd. The tension has got to both

players. It wouldn't surprise me, anything being missed at the moment.

He's held himself together just at the right time.

Tom had two glorious chances to win the frame.

Whoever loses this match will have trouble sleeping tonight, knowing

the amount of chances they've had. Judd Trump now won up with two to

play. That was certainly a friend that

could have gone either way. Judd Trump will be absolutely delighted

to be given that extra chance that Tom Ford missed. He goes in front

9-8. HAZEL IRVINE: We are now entering

what we like to call at the Crucible be twitching zone.

Plenty of that so far. Yes, and it's understandable. If you are going to

fall to pieces during the first season, it will be in this

particular round. We've all done it but when you sit analysing, you

can't believe the easy shots that are missed. The black that Tom

missed was a glaring error. In a club, do you ever miss this, John?

You just don't. It's pure pressure. You saw the shot he played later on

with the rest where he looked anything but comfortable. You are

all on your own out there and nobody else can give you any help and

you've got to cope with it. Tom will be kicking himself if he loses this

because Judd Trump has not played well. He's been there for the taking

but Tom has not been able to do it. If you were to analyse this at the

start you would say that Judd Trump at the pedigree of the CV and on the

big stage you'd expect him to convert the victory. It's got close

enough that you are going to start analyse their mental outlook. Tom

Ford, the last couple of years, I think it would be fair to say he

hasn't really pulled up any trees in the game. Is it because at this

level, he isn't as great a pressure player as the likes of Judd Trump?

You could certainly argue that. You could argue that the likes of Ding

Junhui I have succumbed to similar pressure and he's won virtually

everything this season. I wonder what it is about this little theatre

and the affect it seems to have on the nerves. In Ding's case it is

probably the number of millions of people watching him. We've had so

many 10-9s here, it's ridiculous. You can't get away from opponents

and get over the line. You're thinking of the consequences and you

don't play your snooker. What a shot! He's on the pink in the

middle. Have a look at this. The way things have gone, this pink is not a

certainty. He's missed it! Never even touched the jaws.

I think the way this match has gone, because of the tension, because of

the Mr balls, this almost deserves to be a 10-9. Tom looked to the

heavens there. The last shot he played with the rest, he virtually

through the rest and the cue at it. He's struggling, isn't he? He just

doesn't like the rest all of a sudden. He is blaming the rest. It

was interesting to hear Steve talking earlier and it's hard to

explain to the viewers how it just happens.

REFEREE: A bit of Hush now, please. Whoever gets through to the next

round, it will be no problem. Not the best shot he's ever played and

he's left another chance for Tom Ford. Thankfully, he doesn't need

the rest for this one! I've had the pleasure of watching

Judd Trump play since he was about 14 and I've never seen him play like

this. Anything above 50, Tom, would be

good from here. Black back on its spot would be a

priority for Tom. Not sure if he'll do it with this red.

He's got a bad kiss on that pink there. He wants to be on the blue.

The blue is causing a bit of a problem and that's why he didn't

play for the black. Pink pots but coming in and out of baulk with the

pink, the way things are going at the minute, he won't want to do that

so he has no option unless he takes the brown.

Would you take the brown, Ken, here? I think the brown is possibly the

shot to bring the cue ball around to that angle but he's making sure of

the pink. Taking this red from mid-distance. Again, he doesn't want

to use the rest and that's why he's bowing his head. We've already seen

two rest shots and he doesn't want to pick up the rest.

Surely he's got a little extension he can put on the end of his cue.

There it is. Always makes the shot that little

bit more difficult. A bit of extra weight in the cue. You through the

cue out quite a bit of distance from the bridge hand. Oh, well played.

Well played! APPLAUSE

The interesting thing will be when the black re-spot is, is there

enough room for the red left of the black to pot? It's going to be

pretty tight. He doesn't have to go anywhere near that read just now

because there are still another couple of red is that he can get on.

-- anywhere near that red. If he misses the kiss, he'll be on one of

the two in the middle. I am not quite sure if he has enough

angle on the black, but that is a two-cushion shot.

I would rather play the screw shot, there is more control.

Well, he has decided against older options. -- bolder options.

Is it OK? It is not. Body language will tell us it is not. That was the

problem, I think, as you said he should have taken the option and may

be gone down for that red around the black spot.

It is just amazing what can happen in the Crucible. If he has covered

this read up, he has been extremely fortunate. -- red. I think he has,

what a result. The rest is coming out. He is

smiling, he doesn't like it, it is not his friend today, that is the

shore. -- that is for sure. He had a good bit of fortune, Judd

Trump, with his last shot. What can he make of this?

It looks pretty straight to me, so he is going to have to play the deep

screw for pink, yellow or blue. He has managed to stun run through

it. That is as good a shot as he has played for a long time. It is

amazing, the cue ball has travelled that much distance and it just

hasn't gone far enough. Almost straight on the yellow. Screw back

to anywhere near the blue and he has a choice of reds. He thinks he can

pinch the pocket. He is OK, he is left-handed, so he

will reach this without a problem. This is a great chance for frame and

match, but the way things are going, nothing is straightforward.

The red that is closest to the right cushion, he is not going to need

that if he takes the reds and high value colours.

It won't bother him in any way, he will just concentrate on blacks and

pinks. It may be enough to get him over the line. But as you said,

Willie, every pot now is a pressure pot.

Tom has done well to get back into the match, but he knows it is a

match that perhaps he should have won.

He had a look to see if the red goes past the black a few moments ago, we

know it does. He just has to be high on the next black. He doesn't want

to go in and out of baulk to get on a red.

He will play that little cannon on the red. Bit surprising. If he had

played that cannon, he would have been on the choice of two reds. He

has gone a bit straight on this red. Bit of a mistake. You can see him

shaking his head, he is a bit straight on this red. Can he force

an angle? Needs to be high on the black and he

hasn't got it. There may be life for Tom just yet. That was a poor

decision from Judd Trump. Yes, these are visible when you are

going in between green and brown off two cushions.

Well done. How is the position? Too hard for the desired red but enough

for the red on the back cushion. He doesn't have the angle now on the

black to play the cannon on the red directly below it.

Can you believe it? How many more twists and turns will we see in this

match? Amazing, Willie. I am just confused

about what has happened. You are entitled to miss balls under

pressure, and twitch, we all appreciate that, but how many

chances? It just shows you can miss absolutely anything here. The game

never ceases to amaze us, does it? It was very, very tough to get out

into open play for the black or pink. Might have been better to

stone it off one cushion. -- This is pretty good, lest the red

goes over the pocket. The pace of the cue ball was perfect. Excellent

safety shot. Here is a possibility. He can just

come off the top cushion, but he is not choosing it. It is a tough shot.

20 points ahead, Judd Trump. If he can somehow pot this red and get on

the black, he will only need two reds and two blacks to be 36 ahead

with 35 left. He has got it. Is he on the black? He shakes his head. I

don't think he is. It is amazing. Another couple of

inches. And he would have had one foot in

the second round. A little roll-up to the blue, I think, is the case

here. If he plays it with a lot of side, he will parted but it is also

permissible if he plays it with side -- he will pot it, but it is also

permissible. I am not quite sure if that was the

right shot in the circumstances. I think the role, particularly for a

right-hander -- the roll-up to the blue.

It is about the best he could do there. I'm just amazed he is

bringing this red off the cushion. Why move it?

Unless you are going to pot it! He is 22 points in front, still needs a

red. That kiss on the green has left this

red. He has misjudged that by quite a

lot. This is a chance for Tom Ford. His cue came way out of his hand

when he played that shot, Judd Trump. Any colour will do, so if he

wants to screw it in off to cushions to play the green or brown, he has a

better chance of getting on the yellow. He decided to roll it in.

Tough to get onto the yellow from here.

This is a possibility, if he can dig down into the cue ball, try and

shift the blue into the centre, lots of right-hand side, side cushion

into the yellow pocket. He obviously doesn't fancy that. He

is bringing the pink into play. It was a clever shot. This puts a

bit of pressure on Judd Trump. Basically, you would feel whoever

puts the yellow and has a shot at the green has the chance to win the

frame. What a shot of this is. What a

fantastic shot. He really needs to hit it at the

moment. Judd Trump needs two balls, yellow and green. If Tom misses

this, he will only need one. This, you would have to say, is the

first real chance to win frame and match. He can played in such a way

that he can cover it with the green and brown, if he wants to play

slowly with the stun. -- you can play it.

You don't know with Judd, anything can happen. There is the possibility

into the yellow pocket and stun across to the side cushion.

He has gone the other way. Is he on the green? 23 points ahead, 25 left

on the table. The only problem with the cut is if

he plays it, the cue ball is careering into the brown and the

brand will go close to the left centre. -- the brown.

Under the circumstances, having seen the way the match has gone, that

took a lot of heart. And the balls are in a very good

position for smoke is. -- for snookers. That would have put the

match beyond any doubt at all. Will he put the blue and try and get

close to the pink, knock it around the table and try and get the cue

ball in behind the black? Is it possible?

Has he gone in offer? That is so unlucky. A great effort from Tom

fraud. -- Tom Ford. Here is a chance for Tom Ford. Clip

off the right-hand side of the blue, swing around of two or possibly

three cushions. Almost. Judd won't be doing any

heroics. Just dropping the blue over the pocket. I'm just wondering if it

is possible to pot the blue and get down to the pink as close as

possible? The thing is, you normally just get

the one chance on the pink and black to get the snooker.

Well, in -- he is going to be very relieved, Judd Trump. He knows he

has to improve a great deal. Every credit to these two players, they

battled hard side. It just shows you what pressure can do at the

Crucible. Judd Trump just over the line into the next round, 10-8.

HAZEL IRVINE: Relief, but he has done it, 10-8. He did it the hard

way against Tom Ford, who really didn't look comfortable in the

latter stages. How would you sum that up from Judd's perspective?

Obviously relieved, but the most important thing is he is through to

the next round. I think that is the most important thing at the

Crucible, best of 19 with a best of 25 staring you in the face, it is a

case of getting over the line, whichever way. You would like it to

be pretty but if it is ugly, never mind. So fundamentally, you wouldn't

be concerned if you were Judd about the level of form he has shown?

There are players who concern themselves with that but I

personally say, no, done and dusted and now the tournament starts in

earnest. Three sessions is totally different to two, there is nowhere

near the panic, you can settle down. Let's get the thoughts of the man

himself, Judd Trump. That was difficult, what is your

assessment? It was scrappy from start to finish, I never really got

in the balls. I think it was about two frames in. It wasn't an

enjoyable game at all, and I am going to take my tip off because I

had trouble with it, go home and practice and come back as if it is a

new tournament. These first rounds, they can be horrible. Yes, I felt

good after the first session, even though we both didn't play well. And

today, Tom is normally a really quick player and I don't know

whether it was the pressure or not, he started to think about his shots

quite a lot and it seemed to affect me a little bit. Every time I looked

at the table, I was looking at ways to miss rather than clearing up. Now

you have the second round, but best of 25, you can play your way into

that. It will be a good game against Ryan, we are both attacking and I

can't see him playing too many safetys. I have struggled with the

table, hopefully it will have new cloth but I am pleased to get

through, considering I didn't play well. You made a couple of comments

about the Crucible saying it might need to go elsewhere. Do you stand

by that? I love the Crucible, I have nothing against the Crucible, it is

a brilliant atmosphere, but I feel like the game can sell out more

tickets and sell two or 3,000 for a final and you have got to move with

the times, I think. Football, golf, everything, the money has gone up

and up. I would so love to have a tournament here and maybe they can

invent a tournament, but I would love for a tournament to always be

here, it is definitely the best atmosphere. It is just my opinion

that sometimes you need to move with the times.

Interesting thoughts and if we can put the Crucible on top of the

Crucible, we might be all right. We take his point, there are only 850

seeds amidst unprecedented demand for tickets. They have sold 34,000

with six weeks to go, there were only a handful left with a week to

go. It is great when it is full up and the argument that Judd is

saying, you would like to get bigger, but how many matches would

sell out 3,000? First round matches may not and it would look empty and

not so inspiring. We do know the Crucible Theatre has a special

atmosphere. It has history. There are a hell of a lot of things going

for it and, at the moment, not so many things, if they are only

financial, going against it. And there are an awful lot of people

coming here over the next few weeks to see it unfolding. It was a full

house on the other side of the arena to watch Barry Hawkins, last year's

runner-up, taking on David Gilbert, the Staffordshire player

house on the other side of the arena to from Tamworth, who gave him a run

for his money yesterday. David was 3-1 up before Hawkins came back.

They were back this morning to finish it off. Barry Hawkins had his

potting boots on this morning, going 7-4 in front. We will rejoin them in

frame 12 in the company of Stephen Hendry and John Virgo.

STEPHEN HENDRY: It is quite tricky to judge these shots. You have got

to stun this up for the right corner and it is not the easiest positional

shot. They just play with a touch of right-hand side.

That is pretty good. JOHN VIRGO: I think you would like

to have gone a little bit further up the table.

But now he can nudge the roads open. -- the reds open. Only one came out.

Maybe he is thinking one is enough. There are two more available and if

you put those, you clear the path for the others. -- pot those. A

couple of good positional shots could see him home in this frame.

I think I would favour the blue but he is left-handed, which makes this

easier. Yes, the blue on its spot would have

been as you say, he would have felt comfortable, being left-handed. He

may be a bit straight on this red. Having to play for the blue or a

baulk colour again. He would liked to have been in a position where he

could have come down the table for the pink.

One good positional shot and you feel the frame is in the bag.

Just caught the bump, going into it too much. Just wanted to hit before

the middle pocket. He overdid it. Once he overscrewed, lucky to not go

in. -- in-off. But it caused him to miss. So that

missed pink by David Gilbert has not cost him the frame.

I never spotted that. Where did that come from?

I don't think that planta was on when Barry Hawkins was at the table.

-- at plant. An awkward red near the side cushion. The yellow is tied to

the baulk cushion. It is a big ask to win the frame in this visit.

That looks pretty good. Trying to screw the cue ball, maybe disturb

the yellow on the cushion, here. He seems to have a good angle. He hit

that nicely. To pick. Playing at that speed, if

you missed it, he was bound to leave it. But, that yellow near the baulk

cushion, that will be just as much as a problem for Barry Hawkins as

Ford David. You can see from his reaction, he could not believe he

missed that red. This is not inch perfect. OK, he is

on the green, but to get near the baulk cushion, he will have to play

with a lot of left-hand side. The players are reluctant to play with

side on this super fine cloth. He is on the yellow. He might have a

slight angle, so he may be able to get the cue ball away from the

cushion to leave himself a pot at the green.

APPLAUSE. That was a good shot from Barry

Hawkins. He needs up to and including the pink to win the third

free of this morning'ssession. -- third frame.

He has overdone that slightly. If it is dead straight, this will need

good cueing. APPLAUSE.

This has been a very solid performance. Don't get me wrong, you

will always need a little bit of help from your opponent, and David

Gilbert had three chances this morning and didn't make the most of

them. That is the shop. He judged that the

perfection. Came off the side, it is easy to over do that, but you just

get the feeling is that Barry Hawkins is in a comfort zone. He is

not thinking about anything else apart from potting balls and put in

this match to bed as soon as possible. -- putting this match to

bed. He just has to keep tight control of

that cue ball. He must be feeling really good at the moment. He is

getting plenty of table time. His opponent is not putting any pressure

on him whatsoever. I was just going to say that, as well. If you are not

being punished for your mistakes, it makes you so much more relaxed.

Snooker is it -- is such a psychological game at the top level.

You need to keep your opponent in the chair are suffering, make him

feel worse and worse. So, when he does get the chance, he is in no

frame of mind to take it. That was a better shot than a

looked. He had to play back with a lot of left-hand side. He needed to

play that well. If he didn't connect with that well, the cue ball would

have been left in no man's land. Things are looking pretty grim for

David Gilbert. There is the mid-session interval after this one,

and that Barry Hawkins WinZip, which looks very likely, he will only need

one more to book his place into the semi-dot macro semi? Don't get ahead

of yourself! Into the second round! He got to the semifinal last year

and prove to everybody, and himself, that he is capable of cutting it

with the rest. It is all right thinking it, it is proving its, and

that is what he has done. He has carried on like that this season.

Well, it is not there, but 71 points in front, 67 points remaining, one

snooker to tie it. He is disappointed, he would have liked to

have made the century. Well, here is Barry Hawkins

finishing off the match. Barry will now play Ricky Walden, in what's

will be a repeat of last year 's semifinal. I'm sure Ricky Walden

would like a bit of revenge on that one. So, Barry Hawkins, he goes

through. Life play is coming your way in about 20 minutes. Until then,

it is time for table talk. Joining us, we are delighted to

welcome back George Riley. It has been an eventful couple of days. It

has been brilliant. In terms of drama and intrigue, it is

compelling. Plenty of news is being created at the moment over in the

media room. Barry Hearn is addressing the media after last

nights board meeting. He has it licensed some of the talking

points. One of the things being talked about is the possibility of a

lying in wild cards. I think everything should be level for all

players. But exceptional circumstances call for exceptional

measures. I think we are going to offer for wild cards, in recognition

of the lifetime services to snooker. We are talking about offering an

invitation to this leave Davis and Stephen Hendry. We are trying to

reward players that we owe something to for their contribution as

multi-tournament winners to the sport of snooker. This invitation

comes with certain caveats. I am desperately keen to make sure that

no individual player loses their opportunity because of the granting

of these invitations. Therefore, we have 132 players on tour. Each

tournament is capped at 128. These invitations will only apply to make

up the field to 128 layers on ranking events, and to make up the

field to 120 players on professional tour events, where we normally

feature at least eight local amateurs. I am confident that will

always give an invitation a spot, but that doesn't come with a

guarantee. They are making up the numbers. For now, we will look back

and say obviously these players will sign a contract, same as everyone

else. They are ranking monies will count towards order of merit, but

they are dependent on the number of entries so that nobody who has

entered as a cardholder 's sufferers were loses it on their opportunity.

You mentioned the number four, to give the names -- gave the names of

Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry. We thinking perhaps of Jimmy White?

There is no question he has been a major contributor to the success of

snooker. At the moment he holds his card. Result in this tournament can

have a dramatic effect. It is fair to say if Jimmy White loses his tour

card, he would definitely be the recipient of another invitation.

The reason why we are talking about Jimmy White is that he holds the

64th and last place on the professional tour. Where Michael

Wasley to win his next match, he would bump Jimmy White out of the

tour after 34 seasons in the sport. If that were to happen, there would

be a way back for him. It is complicated, isn't it? First of

all, let's the reaction of Steve. An invitation or is coming your way.

Would you accept that and under what terms? Yes. I feel more comfortable

with accepting on a tournament by tournament basis, if they don't have

the full number of entries, than accepting a whole tour card to

yours, which does bump somebody it. Somewhere down the line, if you

don't have the full contingent of 128, the goal of the order of merit

at the qualifying school. Somewhere down the line, you will kick

somebody off. From that perspective, nobody likes to see that, but that

is their decision. Any further than that and I think my views are

irrelevant, because I am biased, I would like to play in turn a month!

George, how will this news be received? I think that was pretty

much what we expect it, except that was maybe a little bit more vague

than we had hoped. Michael Wasley could not Jimmy White off, that is

why he mentioned a maximum number of four. I think he was very careful.

He knows he is back tracking a little bit on what he was saying

about giving places on merit. He was very careful to explain why he was

doing it, and also very careful to say there are no guarantees. You are

only invited if the tickets haven't sold, so to speak! How far in

advance can you prepare, then? Entries for tournaments are usually

about a month before, so you would get the knock on the door, I

suppose. Do you fancy playing? I think Stephen Hendry would be an

interesting concept. Me and Jimmy White, we both love the game and

want to play. Stephen Hendry has started to make noises that he would

like to play in a few events. Wouldn't it be nice to see him

back? Yes! I think a lot of people were surprised when the Stephen

Hendry said, yes, I would be up for that! You said he didn't want to

play the whole tour again, but he would love to come back and have

another crack at a future ordinance. That vagueness is quite interesting.

What would've happened if you're invited come when you were in the

jungle? Stephen Hendry will encourage his tour card. I decided

that I would sacrifice mine by opting out of events last year. I

have to go back to square one and qualify from the qualifying school.

Plenty of people still disagree with this. You make your own bed, you are

not good enough, you have to do the same as everyone else. There will be

a player who is ranked that 65 or 66, who have played two years on the

circuit, got the number 70 in the world over there ever, and will have

to go back to qualifying school. They would like that. This is a

two-year deal. There is potential for more world champions to be in

the World Championship draw. Barry Hearn is also announcing changes to

the format, particularly in the qualifying for this great event. In

entered the millions of tweets, we are not changing the duration of the

matches. The minimum will be the best of 19 frames. It is long been

my intention to maintain the flat 128 draw. I think it is fair,

transparent, open to all players. We have three tournaments at the moment

on the circuit where the top 16 are seeded through to the final stages.

Shanghai and Australia are the two events whose contract comes up in

the next year or two, and we will be making, as we are, every effort to

make those are flat draw 128. We do accept that the World Championships

is a very special event. The top 16 will continue to be seeded through

to the last 32 at the Crucible in future years. However, we have

decided to increase the number of players in the world Snooker

Championships from 128 up to 144. The extra 16 players will be drawn

by inviting any player who has won the world Snooker championship in

the past, and the additional cards will be made available to the WPBSA

is part of their global awareness campaign to include players from

emerging countries. That means that the first round draw proper of the

World Championship will feature 128 layers. It will be the flat or right

the way through, until they meet the 16 seeds at the Crucible. Along with

this change comes another fairly dramatic change. We appreciate also

it is quite another to be tough to play on this tour and we must look

at not just rewarding the winners, but making sure the prize money at

the lower levels enables people to pay the bills and carry on with

their chosen career. Whilst the first-round losers will receive

nothing, they haven't made the cut, the prize-money for the second round

will be increased from ?1000 up to ?6,000, and the second round prize

-- second round prize will go up to ?9,000 from ?6,000. We will add

?136,000 to the prize-money to make it up to a total of ?1.35 million

for the 2015 event. The only other change is, good news for the top 16

to be seeded three, but, any player that does not win a match, whether

it be in the first round or buy a seeded player who is seeded

through, there will be no ranking pounds added to their ranking list.

In other words, at the Crucible, first round losers ?12,000 and they

will all get that, but normally have of that would be added to their

ranking list. If any player in the top 16 loses their first-round

game, in the World Championships or Shanghai or Australia, they will get

their prize-money, but none of that will count towards their rankings. I

want to take away a certain level of protection to make sure that we

enjoy what we are seeing here at Sheffield, young players emerging

through the ranks, but not being held back by too much protection by

the ranking system. There is no protection and comfort level for

some of the guys even in the top 16. This is pretty radical stuff. The

headline from what we have just heard is that there will be 144

players allowed to qualify, including 16 former world champions

and some selected invitation from around the world 's, rather like the

Masters golf. Trying to bring in the young players, adults already rising

the part that the champions of the past have played. We might see Terry

Griffiths, John Parrott even! Very exciting. It will be a talking

point, wouldn't it? It is arguable how many previous world champions

would decide on a regular basis to play. That is bubbly self

administering. There will probably give a number of spots to people

from around the world 's. There is protection for the top players, even

so. If they win one match, that is a lot of prize-money. You have

highlighted their, take away as much protection as they possibly can. It

is a juggling act. George, whilst he has not outlined a specifically, the

world went number 17 upwards to 32 normally just have to play one

qualifying match in order to get through. That will not be the case

any more. They will all be lumped together and have to win a minimum

of three matches to get here. That is a big change. There were three

exciting bits of news there. The invites to any former champions. We

can see John Parrott with the key in his hands already! The loss of the

safety net, in terms of the prize-money, that is fascinating.

The other point, as you say, the fact that number 17 down to 32, who

normally would have to only win one qualifier to make to the Crucible,

the likes of Michael Holt, they will not like that. They will have to go

from the start, through those four qualifiers. You speak to anybody who

goes through the final qualifier, that is about as nervy as it gets

through the whole season. I have done... I have not done the maths on

things, but from the perspective of Ronnie O'Sullivan, who picks and

chooses, he has to make sure he does not drop out of the top 16. The

possibilities of Ronnie O'Sullivan winning eight World Championships

may have changed, down to how much commitment he has over the whole

season. We could see Ronnie at more events. Was he not to win the World

Championships, he will have to work is way back into the 16 to be

guaranteed of a spot without having to go through a long, drawn-out

process. If he wins the World Championship, the prize-money with

big sure that he was in the top 16 anyway. -- make sure. What was

interesting earlier, the comments from Judd Trump that the

championship might have outgrown the Crucible. Not in terms of the event

itself, but over how much the tournament could generate.

We have a contract up to 2015. The Crucible is insured up until then.

Whilst I appreciate the comments of these excellent professionals, the

commercial side rests more with the board than with them. Whilst bums on

seats are important, the history of the Crucible Theatre adds far more

TV revenue and promotional opportunities, quite frankly. Yes, I

would like it to be bigger, but it will not get any bigger. Do we

therefore those losses and move to a bigger venue somewhere? Or, that

this event should go to China? This will be the last time I will say

this, but if I am to receive the level of support that they currently

receive, with the BBC as host broadcaster and from Sheffield City

Council as the staging sponsor, we will be here for ever. That Chris

above is too ingrained in my memory, the memory of snooker fans

around the world, to play games with it. We don't need to make a change.

History is created here and here it will stay, provided I have those

partners. That is pretty clear-cut. I am relieved to hear that, but not

surprised. He always has said that appears in charge, he will not move

it. You could get much more money. But you don't have to get all during

revenue from one event. I agree with Barry Hearn, the Heritage is much

more important. If we get more money in three ticket sales, you could

increase the prize-money. That doesn't have to come from wonderment

does it? As a snooker fan, I was pleased. I can only see the only way

it would go to China is if the BBC decided one day that it didn't want

the shoes snooker on the television. Touch Formica, that is not seem to

be the case! It would have to be a big sea change in the BBC policy to

knock it on the head. Well, that is where we stand. We often get welcome

guest is to the Crucible. We also get other people with the brain the

size of a planet. We have Richard Osman! A few of us have considered

our appearance on pointless over the years can be pointless, so banks.

Brilliant to have you here. Brilliant to be here, I am a big

snooker fan. I remember watching Terry Griffiths

Brilliant to be here, I am a big snooker fan. I remember watching as

a kid, thinking, this guy is a postman, and he had never played in

the championship before and he won it. I saw him prequalify in

Stockport, I went to see him and he qualified, fantastic. Your favourite

players? I love Jimmy White, I love John Parrott... Never heard of him.

I believe you one World Championship. But Jimmy is my

all-time favourite. You do realise that it is very daunting the people

going on Pointless. I do. I will take my jacket. Popular jacket off

and then you get a question. Ladies and gentlemen, round of applause.

That is making it harder. Rattled in the jaws. Myself and

Hazel, because it wasn't a great lifestyle, a little question for you

can you get the pointless venue whether World Snooker Championship

has been played other than Sheffield since 1927 so we need a city that it

has been played other than Sheffield? I think Alex Higgins

played it in Birmingham. Birmingham, I'm going to say. Birmingham is one,

go on. You want more? You can have three. You know, people sometimes

shout out. Birmingham, Middlesbrough and, let's say... Blackburn. We will

go over to Hazel. Complete role reversal. You are correct with

Birmingham, that is an answer with three. Not bad. The other ones, you

won't write and one of them is a town, not a city. She is getting her

own back. But good on Birmingham. And we are looking forward to having

Richard here with us, And we are looking forward to having

Richard here he will be asking questions of all of us in a populous

quiz next week. It is almost time for the live play and guess who is

in store? Only the world number one, Neil Robertson.

Neil Robertson's technique is absolutely superb. If ever you want

an example of pushing the cue through gun barrel straight, that is

what you get with Neil Robertson. That is what makes him one of the

best long potters in the game. His temperament is absolutely superb. He

would have