Day 7, Part 2 Snooker: World Championship

Hello, good afternoon, welcome to the 2014 Dafabet World

Championship. Ronnie O'Sullivan is back in town, looking per his third

consecutive world title. This afternoon, live coverage of his

second session against Joe Perry. This has had the second round draw

is shaping up at the end of this week. The defending champion Ronnie

O'Sullivan is trailing Joe Perry by five frames to three, that would be

our live match. Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion, you takes on

Marco Fu. It is a repeat of the 2013 Crucible Theatre me by no, Barry

Hawkins and Ricky Walden go head-to-head. Dominic Dale and

Michael Wasley, they are coming up, and Mark Selby and Ali Carter, they

of the match so far. Alan McManus and Ken Doherty are rolling back the

years, two wily old campaigners will meet this afternoon. It is England

versus Wales at the Crucible Theatre as Judd Trump Meades Ryan Day. And

Mark Allen has a really tough match on his hands taking on the current

UK champion, Neil Robertson. Some fascinating encounters, if we look

at the top quarter, Ronnie O'Sullivan, people will be surprised

he is behind, but Joe Perry is a proper player. Marco Fu, Shaun

Murphy, a cracking match also. If you look at the third quarter, Mark

Selby, Ali Carter, that was superb standard, and interesting Alan

McManus, Ken Doherty, these are impossible to get rid of! This

section down here, Hawkins and Waldon, a high-quality encounter and

Dominic Dale, he has not won a match since the year 2000, he has beaten

Mark Davis. And Ding Junhui has been knocked out. Of course, this quarter

is the best quarter line-up at the moment. Four the most talented

players, Judd Trump and Ryan Day, it will not be slow and it would be

aggressive. Judd Trump will have to up his game. You did Neil Robertson

in the commentary last night. Neil Robertson has made his case for

winning this World Championship. Bubbling up nicely, Jason. Some

great matches to look forward to, this is what is coming up this

afternoon. Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible this afternoon, can he make

it three world titles on the bounce? The gentleman, Joe Perry, he

says he has little fear of taking on Ronnie O'Sullivan, he is doing very

well and looking very relaxed. Can Alan McManus take victory against

the 1997 world champion, Daugherty? We will keep you right up-to-date

with the cracking second-round match runners-up, Mark Selby and Ali

Carter. The Hawk is looking to fly into the World Championship final

for the second year running, Barry Hawkins takes on Ricky Walden. Our

trick shot series continues with more thrilling stuff. And we will go

to the newspapers and discuss the big stories of the day here at the

Crucible with Neil Robertson, the world number one.

A traffic first session between Mark Selby and Ali Carter, let's have a

look at the head-to-head statistics. They played each other on 12

occasions and their last meeting here at the Crucible within 2007. --

a traffic first session. This is the state of the match at the moment, it

is 5-3 after the first session yesterday, they showed the first

four frames this morning, 7-5, we pick it up in frame 13 with Mark

Selby at the table, 27 points ahead. His parting of the moment, that is

deserting him slightly. -- his potting at the moment. His pot

success is dropping. There is a red in the open, normally

of the brown you could play the cannon, but that red is loose from

the main bunch. It is a bit of a blocker. He has obviously got one

that goes to the left corner as well. There it is.

Not happy with that. I have to say, I was a little surprise that he did

not go back up for the blue. You can see the heavy contact. I just felt

if he got back up on the blue, a nice angle, it would be perfect to

go into the red. I just think he has got another angle to play for the

loose red. Now, he desperately needs an angle

on the collar. He needs that to play the cannon.

Ideally, you would like to go into the middle of this bunch. I would

prefer to be high on the black going into that bunch. That is always

likely to happen when you are screwing into them. I'm surprised

you put so much bottom on the cue ball for that stunned shot. The cue

ball comes back to the top cushion, that is why.

That was a tough one. He left it. He banged the table with his cue. He

knew that was a good chance. Neither of them has their scoring

boots on today. Mark Selby has only made a 59, not been the standard of

yesterday at. -- yet. This is a big session. It is like

you're getting prepared, Mark Selby thinking, can he stretches lead? Ali

Carter trying to level things up. -- thinking, can he stretch his lead?

The shot selection, halfway through, when Ali Carter was at the table, I

was amazed to did not go for the blue, because it would have been the

perfect angle to go into the reds. At the moment, he just seems to be

concentrating on getting what is there, rather than thinking

positively about winning a frame at one visit. Which I am sure is in the

back of his mind, but just getting a bit stifled by the occasion.

Doesn't look to have the best angle on this black, so will be hoping

that something is available. Obviously, he thinks that this red

will go, but he needed to go up the table at that further. -- a bit

further. He has no guaranteed to be on a colour. This could be the key

shot for this frame. I don't think he will get another

chance in this frame. 40 points ahead, 51 remaining, as

soon as he parts the red, there will be 43 remaining. A red and a blue is

all that is required. A quick check of the scoreboard.

A little bit careless, leaving too much angle. Don't get me wrong, he

only needs the blue, but he also needs that one more red, which was

to Ali Carter coming back to the table. And he is on the red. No

return now for Ali Carter. He keeps battling back, Ali Carter,

but he just cannot get closer than one frame.

So, now, 52 ahead, 35 remaining, he will play this new career and Ali

Carter will concede, I am certain. -- and he will play this snooker

here. That was a good frame-winning contribution from Mark Selby and he

goes three frames in front again, this time 8-5.

Into the next frame, Ali Carter at the table.

Lots of tension in the air. It is showing. He has got a kick. The red

he was playing for, the one closest to the right corner, it did not go

in far enough, so you saw the cue ball and it stopped. Running

through. Throwing the rest on the table. He doesn't hide his emotions,

Ali Carter! He has missed the brown. That was a

pretty good safety, but what a chance will go begging there. There

is a pot on here for Mark. This is the kick. He needed to be a foot

from the middle pocket. That is how Hawk-eye played it. He would have

just been on that read, but this red is on for Mark. And data reflect

pot. This is a time when you need a kiss on a baulk colour. The chance

of a brown. He knows he should have been winning

this frame. A massive frame. They have all been big frames this

morning. More so for Ali Carter than Mark Selby, because Mark Selby has

always been the one that was in front. We will not count our

chickens, we said before we had a new favourite and Ali Carter got

amongst the balls. Just a couple of reds, a couple of blacks needed now.

I cannot see Mark not taking this opportunity. A little bit of

experience there, and as we look back at Ali, cannot see a mark on

his head. He is sitting there, cannot look at the table, absolutely

seething underneath. Such a frustrating game. All sports are

when you had a chance and not taken it. He under head that. That is not

as well played. -- he has underhit that.

No problem are rolling in for the blue. The blue will put him 35

points in front with 35 points remaining.

It is over now. This Reg to go 36 points in front with 27 remaining.

As knackered this red ball. Now, Mark Selby knows that he will

at least be ahead going into the final session. He would be looking

to press ahead into what could be an unsurmountable lead going into the

final session tonight. Two frames left in this session. He

would want both of them. In goes the black and Mark Selby

will be mighty relieved. It looks as though Ali Carter is going to stage

a comeback, but he missed and Mark Selby is now in the lead by four

frames, 9-5. Stretching his lead, you get the

feeling a big frame is coming up, back to the next frame with a Mark

Selby at the table and training by one point. -- trailing.

That was too thick. What were you thinking?

There is another Reg to go at, some work to do with the cue ball per

position. -- there is another red ball to go.

He plays a soft screw, he should be able to cannon the left of those

reds. He will get the backspin on in time, you would have thought. Played

it nicely. Could not afford to hit it hard because it would not allow

for the backspin to take in. That wasn't an option. A good angle to go

into the reds. Stunning into these two reds to the right is the way to

play this, try to get them half ball.

That time, he just caught the edge of the red, and he went into them

again. Just about on a reds to the right middle. -- on the reds. This

is a big visit to the table in terms of this match for Ali Carter.

That was an excellent strike. Did that really well. He can see the

action of the cue ball when it hits the bunch. He did it yesterday, he

won the last two frames of the session to stay two behind, can he

do it again? When he went into those, he was a bit unlucky that

they did not open better. Not cut the angle here to disturb anything.

This is quite a thin cut to the left middle, controlling the cue ball is

not guaranteed. He can play bottom on the cue ball, that would make it

easier. Nicely controlled. I do not think the red parts to the middle. I

do not think the red will pot to the middle.

Would have liked to have been a little bit closer to this red. He

can screw back for green or brown. He can always nudge the blue to the

right centre without as much pace. Played that absolutely perfect and

now there is the opportunity off the blue. Two cushioned it is. How can

you miss the cannon? ! He needed a bit more thinking time. He seems to

lose his composure for a second. He will know that was another good

chance going begging. He thought was only one shot to play here, and he

cannot take anything for granted. Cannot take anything for granted in

this game. It was the easiest two cushioned cannon you could have

wished for and he missed it. He got into them. Could have played

with a bit more pace, but if you play with more pace on that type of

shot, the cue ball will swing wider RFID -- after.

Lots of head slapping going on here from both players. There is the

importance of the occasion. Ali Carter, 45 point lead. Still

favourite for this frame. Can he get this cue ball in behind the brand?

-- brown? Not like that, he won't. He didn't

get a good length with the cue ball. He missed the chance to put Mark

Selby in a spot of bother. That is nice to see from Ali Carter.

He walked to the table, said good shot to market he was passing him,

so even in the heat of battle, he has not forgotten he is a sportsman.

Play the pot but was more concerned with getting the cue ball back to

the baulk Russian, played it nicely. What a beautiful length that is. --

getting the cue ball back to the baulk Russian. -- cushion.

This pot may be onto the left corner. A good shot. Tremendous pot.

Looking at the scoreboard, he has got a 46 point lead with 67

remaining. That could deter him from playing the part on the brown. --

the pot on the brown. Mark Selby can afford one more

mistake in this frame. If he does, that would be the end of it.

He has left it on. That is why you try to come around after two

cushions and nestling behind it. He has left a chance for Ali. They have

got monitors on the side, he is having a look. If Ali doesn't feel

he can get on the black, then pot the red and play the snooker behind

the black. Another eight point off the table every time he takes the

pot on the red. Cued it beautifully. Couldn't hit a

ball much better than that. Lovely shot. This black will put him 54

points in front with 59 remaining. So one more red after this black

needed. And he is on it. So there has been a

few twists and turns in this frame. Both players showing their

frustration at certain times. There is one more frame to come

after this to mark the end of this second session.

Ali Carter will be pleased he has won that frame and will be getting

himself ready for the final frame of the session. Can he reduce his lead

to two?. That was an important frame for Ali Carter. Now into the next

frame and Selby at the table. There is no score. One of those situations

and we see it so many times in snooker, you get a player in so much

trouble that he tries to pot his way out of it.

He has got to catch this wafer thin. Now if this rolls behind the yellow

it will be a free ball and he won't be having it repraised -- replaced.

He will play the brown. Yes, it is a free ball. Now for those of you

interested, when people say what is the maximum break. This is where it

can happen. All the reds on the table. The brown counts as a red,

colour to follow. This a how you get more than a 147.

A big chance. Yeah, and it was the one he was looking for. You're just

looking for one chance. But he just can't get past the pink. Otherwise

that would have been the obvious red to play for the black. He will go

back up for blue here. A little stay at that. Played that

well. Made sure he got the right side of the blue.

Just asking him to clean the cue pal. He is going -- cue ball. He is

going to play a run through for a position on the black. He doesn't

want any heavy contact. You heard sigh when Ali played that

shot. He knew he'd underhit it. Just wanted another inch or two on that

cue ball. A little cannon would be perfect and

he has played it perfectly. He decided to dig in more and cut

out any risk. Still in good position. Still a frame-winning

chance. This is excellent stuff from Carter.

Four frames behind again. A long way to go to win the frame. But showing

great character. An aggressive safety shot opened up

the reds and forced a mistake. Showing great character, because

sometimes he could take the disappointment of one frame into the

next one. There is nothing wrong with showing

your emotions as long as you get rid of it before the next shot.

Still looking for three reds and three colours to be safe.

If the pink goes to the left centre, that will help. Mark Selby when he

led 9-5, probably thought if I could win the next two and take a six

frame advantage into the evening. This black to go 77 points in front

with just 75 remaining. In goes the black. So just make

certain of this and I don't think there will be any way Mark Selby

will come back to the table. Oh, and he has missed it! OK, one

snooker needed. But that might not be beyond his opponent. But for that

snooker it will be 9-7 going into the evening session. Well, that is

frustrating. So frustrating. Just make sure this red. He did try to

make sure. He didn't do anything fancy with the cue ball. But there

was huge importance on getting it. And this frame is not over by any

stretch. He needs to get into these reds of

course. And he is a bit unlucky. He was hoping possibly for a red to the

middle. But the pink is stopping that. It always looks an

unassailable lead. But it is just one snooker.

He still feels this frame is winnable. What a psychological turn

around going into tonight that would be if he could pinch this

He doesn't want to leave much for Mark and just try and spread them

around and hope one may go near a cushion. It was the cue ball that

didn't. He won't be too unhappy with that.

That makes matters a little worse, as Mark looks at the score board. If

he pots the brown, he is going to need two snookers.

He could play the pink. Still needs two snookers.

I would be surprised if he takes that red. Because if he could pot

the red to the right of the table and get a high value colour, there

is an easy snooker behind the yellow. If he takes red/blue, he

will need two snookers to tie. Ideally he needs to be on the pink.

Good shot. Does he have an angle on the pink to get the cue ball back

into baulk? No. Well, he tried, but, oh, dear me, he

kissed the green and it may have snookered him. Maybe he can hit more

than an edge. Oh, yes. He can stun the red up to this end of the table.

Quite a good line of balls to snooker behind.

He has got a pretty good line. It is a good line. Now he has got it close

to the top cushion. He just can't come off the top cushion and hit

there. So he has got to be careful here. Two problems here, if he plays

it with pace and misses it he will leave a free ball. If he plays it

snow he leaves a snooker. Oh, he just missed it. Because he

played it slow, he has left himself open for another snooker here.

Oh, the flick on the brown has made it. But it is not as tough a Snook

erp as it could have been. If it had run back the brown it would have

been very difficult. I think it is a possibility of a swerve.

SMIT good hit! And he has got the snooker back behind the yellow. Near

enough. Nice to see him, well Mark Selby a tap on the table and Ali

apologises for snookering him. Where is the yellow going? A bit

hard, but it may have dropped. Worrying times this for Ali Carter.

Yes all this unneed Ed stress caused by -- unneeded stress caused by

missing that red. He may have got the snooker. The way

Ali's looks, he has got the snooker. Where is the cue ball going? Well,

unbelievable. Now, 34 points behind. 35 remaining. If that red had slowed

down or bounced, Mark Selby would have been thinking I can win this

frame. He needs the black. Anything less is

not good enough. He will have to go up and down the table. That is the

only way to get on the black. Well, he potted the red thick. Pink

and he can tie. If he misses it, he needs a snooker.

That will be the end. It will be a very relieved Ali Carter now and it

just shows you just the timing of the finish of the match at the other

side of the wall and there was that noise and Mark Selby was aware of

it, but just felt he had to play the shot. He could have played that pink

with top spin and he wouldn't have had to hit it so hard.

That cue ball needs to slow up. Dangerously close to the middle

pocket. But the frame over now. I think on chances that have gone

around, then sharing this session 4-4 is about fair and what a session

we are in for this evening. You just heard Mark say cheers Ali

and that is it. Well it all sets it up for this evening's final session.

You won't want to miss that one. It is back on this table at 7 o'clock

tonight. Mark Selby leads 9-7. What a massive frame that was and a

situation here it is. 34 points behind, Carter was unlucky to going

off. But a fraction of good luck in he left that red awkward. Stephen

picked up in commentary that Mark Selby caught the shot a bit thick.

What he was trying to do was pot the red, keep the cue ball on the right

hand side of the table and come down for the black. That required either

hitting it thinner or put being side spin on. He had the pink ball as the

saver for the draw. As long as he got in the top half of the table, he

will have a crack at the pink. The risk was if he lost control of the

white ball. He was 77 points behind and it is difficult to refuse. You

wouldn't play safe off the red. If the red was closer to the cushion,

the shot would have had to be put the cue ball on the green spot, play

to the red, bring the cue ball across to this part. He gave enough

of the red that he had to go for it. What he did in the end was he just

played the shot, caught it a fraction too thick. The white

tracked off the cushion and that is missible. A -- missable. I fancied

him potting the pink. He could have got in with a respot black. The

noise is always a problem and it can put you off. It is game on for

tonight. Thank you. We will be showing you live coverage of Ronny

O'Sullivan's match with Joe Perry. Autumn this week we have been -- all

this week we have been entertained by our trick shot master. Here what

is he has in store this afternoon. This is the railroad massive.

So I am going to hit the white ball into the rail. It will fly into the

air and then I will hit the nine and catch the white and put the white

there and the 9 ball will come and drop.

This is what I call a high jump shot. We will shoot the white ball

one rail, two rail, three rail. The ball comes inside the triangle.

He is a bit of a genius. But you know such great trick shots and

there was only six people watching. It was a bank holiday. But he is

great. He is showing off now. But not as impressive as you on that

touch screen. I don't think so. Thank you for now. Back to the

serious business one of the stand out ties in the second round is

Barry Hawkins taking on Ricky Walden. Hawkins was beaten in the

final last year and he is looking to land in the final once again. I feel

confident. I have had a decent month. I wor a tournament -- won a

tournament last month. So I feel quite good about my form and I'm

looking forward to the rest of the tournament. It was a long week. I

got home about half 3 in the morning on the Sunday and I was due to fly

to China that evening. After winning the tournament on such a high, I

just got home and I was knackered and I couldn't face the journey. I

would have been going out there not in the right frame and mind and I

would probably have got beat and then I'm coming home with a bit of

disappointment. Whereas the preparation for this tournament, I

can turn up knowing the last match I played I won a big tournament. That

is important turning up to this place. If I'm a favourite, that is

great. If I'm not, I don't really care. I just want to play and -- try

and play as well as I can. If I can get far into tournaments, that is

all that matters to me. Snooker takes the up most of the time. Any

time I get is spent with the wife and my little boy. We try as do as

much as we can. But it is tough, because we are away so much and

travelling all the time. So any spare time I get is time to involve

them as much as I can. We both like to get on with it. Ricky's quite

fluent hitting the balls. I don't think he enjoys the tactical side of

it as much. But sometimes you can only play what is in front of you

and the way the balls go. So I concentrate on keeping doing what

I'm doing and if I get the chances, then hopefully I can take them well.

Especially after last year, getting to the final and being close to

picking up a trophy, I am desperate. It is what you dream about when you

first start out in snooker so to pick up the trophy and be crowned

world champion would be a dream country. --, true. This is a repeat

of the 2013 Crucible Theatre me fine. Hawkins one. That -- Hawkins

won that. What happened? He is tapping his

head. Did he get a kick? Maybe that is what happened because you're not

going to miss a shot like that. Did he just take his eye off it? This

could kick-start Ricky Walden's second round match. He was sitting

in his seat thinking he was going to be 3-0 behind. He still might be,

but what a chance. It might be worth playing to get on

the pink in such a way he could cannon out the difficult red. If he

does not, red, so it means you have to my

chances. He did not have the angle to move that. He can take the black

if he wishes. It is a far more difficult pot than

the pink but it looks as if he is going to try to take it. Well

played. He can just about get past the blue.

He has a great chance. He has the yellow. He can bring this red into

play. Not quite. He needed to get into it

with a little bit more screw. It is a bit risky to take the double

on. He might be able to take the double on and not play for the

black. Barry has a bit of a problem. You never know where they are going

to finish. You just hope you are going to get it safe. If he screws

back a touch, he is on the blue. There was just enough distance

between the cue ball and the object ball to make that a little

difficult. He has not left him an easy one. The black he missed could

be very costly. He missed that straightforward black.

He made his first break over 30, which was 41, of the match so far.

The red has gone in a thief position. -- safe.

If it had gone past the yellow, there would have been more distance

between the two balls. It depends how Barry Hawkins looks at this. At

the moment he has a chance of popping into the corner or the

middle pocket. Barry Hawkins will forget about the

black he missed if he goes on to win this frame. It will then be Ricky

Walden who has something to think about. He is on the yellow and he

has a good angle. That came off just a little bit

quicker than you thought it would. It is tricky. He is 12 points in

front. He needs the brown. Well played. That was a very

missable green. He has potted all the important pots so far, Barry

Hawkins. Ricky, one good pot on that last red

and the frame was his. He will have one more frame before the

mid-session interval and he needs that one. He has had plenty of

chances. That is another frame on the board

for Barry Hawkins who will be delighted. Three in a row. A

wonderful start for Barry Hawkins, but then Ricky Walden won V-max in a

row. -- three. He played it gently, trying to push

the black away from the pocket, but he forgot about the red.

I think both players would have preferred to have played better in

this session. Never any doubt on that one. He has an angle on the

black. He can come back into the reds after this. That was always the

shot to open a few more reds. At 3-0 he was looking the stronger player

and then he lost his way. Ricky had the chance to make it four in a

row, so if Barry takes this frame he will be in a good frame of mind for

this evening and Ricky will have to regroup. He is shaking his head. He

knows he could have taken four in a row.

That is one of the good things about these longer matches, you do not get

many of these in a season, the best of 25 frames, you can get in and out

sessions but you also have a chance to recover. A lot of matches these

days are the first to 5 or four. He could not have done any better.

The only problem, as we show you this again, he has finished with the

blue. He is 39 in front. The blue is going to be a bit of a distraction

for him. I said the blue was a distraction.

If this red goes into the corner past the pink, it might be the only

one he has to go at. The blue was definitely putting him off. This is

a key shot for Ricky Walden. He is right in the pocket with it.

He has earned a chance with that shot. He has to be careful he gets

the nudge on the red right. He has not even potted the black. As he

wished to mark -- has he? They are going through the mill. It

is easy to sit and criticise them, but it is tough when you are out

there struggling. It goes back to the amateur days. He

would have -- you would have a player who could fit century breaks

and put them in front of six people and they could not do it.

I had seven watching me once, but I soon got rid of them !

He could bring a few more into play here.

He has to be careful with the cue ball.

It is not perfectly on the pink. Another cannon required again. That

is better. He has them where he wants. The back red pots.

The way this match has gone you would not say it is unfair on either

player to finish off at 4-4. Both players have had opportunities to

push on in front but did not get them.

Another eight frames and then finishing off whatever frames are

needed the next day to go into the quarterfinals. He has left himself a

tricky one. The yellow is the only colour off

its spot. What sort of angle does he have on the pink if he screws back?

He is punching it around with topspin, striking the cue ball on

the top with plenty of power. A quick glance at the scoreboard. 19

the difference, so the yellow and the green needed.

Nicely played, that was tricky with the rest. He is perfect.

We could all have stayed in bed and started the match with the second

session. For -4 is a true reflection. Barring

snookers, it will be four each. This afternoon we have Ronnie

O'Sullivan. We will start by taking a look at Neil Robertson's quest to

reach 100 centuries this season. Last night he was taking on Robbie

Williams. This was frame 11, looking to take his tally to 96.

There is the chance of his 96th century this season. That was one of

his best. The cue ball has been on a string.

A chance of a 141 break to set the mark for the highest break of the

event. He has come the wrong side of the

blue. 140 break should he make it. Not likely to stand, but it has won

in previous years. Quite simply an outstanding break

from the world number one. The cue ball control was absolutely sublime.

He is one away from victory. Not content with 96, he made it 97

in the next frame. He sealed his place in the second round with

relative ease. He has set up a match with Mark Allen which starts on

Sunday morning. Good stuff from the Australian world number one showing

why he is at the top of his game, looking in magnificent shape. Neil

Robertson has made 97 centuries this season. The previous record was 61.

An incredible season for Neil Robertson.

That graphic looks good. Yes. Hopefully I can get a few more. What

is the secret? I have been able to keep doing what I have done

throughout my whole career which is look at the previous season and see

where I can improve and this season I targeted scoring heavier than the

previous year. I watched Ronnie O'Sullivan last year and how he put

pressure on his opponents. You were disappointed with your performance

last year. Yes, I pretty much blamed everything but myself, my shoes were

too big! I did not play well, I did not attack the matches as much as I

should. Last year, you sort of try to protect the lead and just get

through so you can flee the best out of 25. On the point of scoring

heavier, about the mag years ago Stephen Hendry... Last year. How did

you go about improving your break-building? When I spoke to

him, I was really disappointed, I was 4-0 up and I lost 6-4. I was not

efficient enough. I spoke to him about it, we were chatting about

snooker generally and your thought process, my thought process, and

that is when he came up with the remark that he thought my thought

process was not that of a top professional. How do you go about

transferring that into higher breaks? Did you stop and think every

shot? Yes. I used to play on natural instinct a bit too much. I used to

rely on my potting to get me out of trouble. Having to play a lot of

shots using the cushions. As I have seen in this World Championship

already, the cushions are a bit inconsistent and if you can control

the cue ball it makes a difference. There's a massive difference this

year with the same amount of tournaments. It is enormous jump.

Yes. I guess I really want to clear the table every visit. Some players

relax when they get to 70 or 80. I put in a little bit more

concentration to make sure I can make the century. Whenever you do

make a century the sponsors usually chip into words a charity to it is

important for the players to drive. Important is it for you to break

that 100 barrier at the Crucible? Before this tournament, not looking

very likely, I think I was looking at seven or eight coming into it,

but playing my best snooker in the first round has given me a really

good opportunity. Mark Allen is an attacking player so there will be an

opportunity for breaks. One of the things that has been in the papers

as well as your magnificent performance, also reporting on

Ronnie O'Sullivan's match, but also Dominic Dale's shoes. Have you seen

them? Yes, he wears them everywhere. We have them for you. Would you ever

wear them? Probably not, but he has his own style. He wears those shoes

everywhere, breakfast and everything. He came into the studio

yesterday and he told us they cost ?165. Would you pay that? It is not

that, the polish for those of about ?200. Dominic is fantastic. He does

not care. If it is not white shoes, it is peroxide hair. He is bordering

on getting to the quarterfinals for the second time in his career. He

has been playing some good stuff this year. The majority of the big

events were won, a bit of a carve up this year, last year it seemed to be

a different winner for every event, this year it has been Ding Junhui

winning the most and Ronnie O'Sullivan and yourself taking the

lion's share of the other events. I do not know why. I do not really

know. It probably means there are more hungry players going into this

tournament, guys like Mark Allen and Mark Selby will be really hungry to

do well. Suddenly you and Ronnie are the form bosses. Look at Ali Carter,

you still have Judd Trump, Ryan Deal. What about the possibility of

bringing this man and Stephen Hendry back? I think it is brilliant. You

do not have to say that. People who have made a major contribution to

our sport deserve the chance to play if they 12. I want to talk to you

about Ronnie O'Sullivan and Joe Perry. That is our live match later

this afternoon. Joe Perry says he is not afraid. I have had a good year

and won lots of matches. So the fear of losing sbt really there -- isn't

really there. Everyone that's been winning tournaments in the last ten

years I have beaten at some time or another. I know I can beat them.

Hard games, we can compete with the youth of today. We are still plenty

good enough to mix wit the players coming through. Back when when the

likes of Higgins and O'Sullivan came through, the older players got

knocked over like pins and they couldn't compete with the new

standard. I don't think the new brand of snooker is any better than

what is there already. I don't know if this will be the latter end of my

career. I could have a few more years left. Two years ago I probably

thought I had three to five years left. Now I have been one of the

best players on the tour this year in the top eight. I perhaps

shouldn't be look at another one or two year, but further afield than

that. It is different against Ronny to anybody else. You can include

Higgins in that and Hendry and Robertson. It is different playing

Ronnie, he is the best player there has been. Everyone loves watching

him play. But I know can I win. It will be extremely difficult. I will

have to play at my very best. Hopefully get a bit of luck as well.

But I can win. That is what I have got to keep telling myself and take

into the match. Joe leads Ronny O'Sullivan by 5-3. This is Ronny

O'Sullivan's season. No one will forget that match with Ricky Walden,

where he destroyed Ricky 6-0. This is what happened in the first

session between these two. This very attractive second round

match. Ronnie didn't score a point. Joe

Perry leads 1-0. He is leading the defending champion

2-1. He has played it confidently. Good

shot. Just the cover needed to leave him with a couple of snookers.

Gentleman Joe Perry is leading the defending champion 4-1.

This is what this Crucible crowd have come to see.

That was a terrific pot. That is a great shot. He is back in A1

position now. Cat and mouse at the moment. He will make the first

mistake? Zwrooep leads the defending champion

by 5-3. That is our live match this afternoon. Go make a cup of tea and

get ready for some Fas rating snooker. Joe is playing well. Yes,

he has been replicating the form he has been showing in practice. It is

the best I have seen him play in practice for six or seven years. He

has got a good game to deal with Ronnie. When Joe scores heavily, he

controls the white well. When you're playing Ronnie, how much of it is

handling the big occasion. You know what it is like when his name gets

announced, the crowd go wild. How difficult is it being his opponent?

That is the first thing you have to handle, handle the introduction and

not get caught up in the situation and convince yourself you're just

playing another player. As soon as you make a mistake, the crowd are on

your back and he does have all the support. You need to find

inspiration from that. Thank you for popping in to see us, Neil. We will

see you on Sunday and good luck on Sunday. So our live match is Joe

Perry takes on Ronny O'Sullivan. Leapt's take you - let's go live to

the Crucible and John Parrott. When rrn is in town, it is a bit -- when

Ronny O'Sullivan is in town it is a bit special. The players are ready.

Time for Rob Walker to introduce them. Thank you. What an atmosphere

we have got here this afternoon. This is one of the best sessions of

snooker we have had so far. You can hear the roar and the enthusiasm.

And it is kick started by a rivalry renewed more than 20 years after it

began. Please welcome a player who is

absolutely loving being back on the big stage, 23 years a after his

debut beating John Higgins in the first round it was one of his best

performances of the last decade. He is rolling back the years in style.

He is the pride of Scotland, gave it up for Alan the Angles McManus.

And his opponent a man also proudly flourishing well into his early 40s.

He is back in the second round for the first time in eight years after

victory over Stuart bing hall last -- Bingham last Sunday. What a day

this is for the man they call The Darling of Dublin - Ken Doherty.

Here on table one please welcome a player who yesterday reminded us why

he is back in the world's top 16. Bidding for his third appearance in

a Crucible quarter final, he made the semis in 2008 and reached the

last four of the international Championship, here is The Gentleman

Joe Perry. And finally, please welcome the most

exciting talent this game has ever seen. He has been intertavening the

world for more than -- entertaining the world for more than 20 years. He

is your defending world champion, bliveng and you will -- blink and

you will miss him - The Rocket Ronny O'Sullivan.

Here we go live from Sheffield Joe Perry versus Ronny O'Sullivan. If

you want Ken Doherty versus his opponent, that is available on the

red button. What an atmosphere, two of the old boys next door. The

difending champion and Joe Perry there in a terrific battle here. A

great first session for Joe. What will happen today?

A great reception for all four players.

Can Joe Perry continue from where he left off? He won the last frame with

a break of 99. After Ronnie came back from 4-1 down. It is

beautifully poised, JP? Yes, I was very impressed with Joe

Perry last night. It was a magnificent break in the last frame

and he deservedly took the lead. He has got to keep the pressure on and

score when his chances come up. Always worth the risk. This is a

tough one down into the right corner and there is only the pink

available. What a start. That is a magnificent

pot down the cushion. You're not kidding, what a shot that was. He

hit that beautifully. Ronnie will be looking for an angle

to maybe get on one of those reds closer to the black first. He needs

to move one of them away quickly to open the pocket up for the black.

That was the problem, it still goes and he can get on to the red on the

right of the black spot. But they're tricky shots these. Cued it nicely

though. The first session, he never got in amongst the black for quite

some time. Sometimes you play matches and they

just seem to run away with you not getting a decent chance and every

time you look up, your opponent is up the top end.

It is not too bad. He has got one in the middle. He has got to go into

them again. That has worked out a treat. You never know how they're

going to finish when you play a shot like that. But he will settle for

the outcome. Just a little cannon on the outside

red. This has developed into a fabulous chance.

He has manoeuvred them very well. They're looking good now.

To get on the pink there was superb. When he does a frame, it doesn't

take him very long. He is so precise. You look at the shots she

is going to play and to use an old expression, it is on a six pence.

The cue ball perfect every time. Always good if you can keep your

opponent sitting in his seat for the whole of the game.

We have already had 21 centuries in this year's World Championship.

There is a possibility for a century. Unlucky. Nearly went in.

Well, that was very unlucky, but he won't be too disappointed. What a

start. That is what The Rocket was looking for and he is well and truly

off the launch pad and he is only one frame behind. Not only what the

Rocket was looking for, but what we were looking for. Everyone expected

Ronny O'Sullivan to start coming back at Joe Perry. It was a surprise

to most people that Joe Perry got in front in that first session. How

quickly out of blocks was Ronny O'Sullivan. Joe Perry played that

red into the green pocket and it didn't look like it would be a

problem for Ronny O'Sullivan, from Joe Perry's view. But the way Ronnie

slotted that red down the rail and cleared the balls was superb. What

do you think of Joe Perry saying he is not afraid of Ronny O'Sullivan?

It is the right thing to say. There is no point going in thinking you

can't win. Joe Perry is an accomplished player. He is having a

good season. In the eyes of the public, they would consider Joe

Perry to be a journeyman, of the highest level. But some journeyman.

He has got to the semi finals of the world Championship and he has the

pedigree to outplay Ronny O'Sullivan in departments. But the trouble is

keeping Ronny O'Sullivan under wraps is a very difficult prospect for any

playe As players are you aware of how your opponents are playing.

Would Ronnie be thinking this guy displaying with confidence and

building very big breaks, I need to up the my game? Not at all. You're

involved in your own game and in your days off you may watch, you may

not. You have have one opponent that you're interested in and that is the

next one. He won't care what the other players are doing. He is only

interested in his own game. As should every player be doing that.

It is 5-4. Joe Perry was two frames ahead, it

seems only seconds ago. Now he is only one ahead. He needs to

re-establish himself in the match, Joe and get a scoring opportunity

himself. That is an attacking safety shot,

splitting the reds like that. He has got a pretty good cue ball. Ron Ji

just -- Ronnie just tapped the table in acknowledgement. He knows Joe has

played a very good shot there. I think he can only see the two reds

at the right side of the table. That is what Ronnie is looking at there.

There is only those two reds. And to get the white on to the cushion

behind the black will be difficult: That was fraught with danger. But

any way, that is all he could do. A bit of a chance. That is what Joe's

faced with. This might show us how he's feeling, Dennis. A big test.

Couldn't cue it any better than that. Excellent. Very good indeed. A

big shot in the context of the match that. Misses that with all those

reds open, it puts Ronnie straight back in.

That is where the psychology comes in. There is two ways of thinking

about that last shot. Some think if I miss this I will let Ronnie in.

But if I get it, I'm in amongst them.

Of course, this second round match played over three days. Most of the

second round matches will be played over two days.

A nudge here would help the situation, the red above the black,

just opens those three up. He has a lovely touch, Joe Perry. A

pause for the cue action, just to get your eyes on to the object ball

that you're looking at. Slightly slower than other players.

We heard Neil Robertson in the studio talking about Joe's game.

Not only Joe feels he has the game to beat Ronny O'Sullivan, Neil

Robertson thinks he has the game to do that. But he will have to be at

his best to beat this man and Joe said that.

Even then it might not necessarily be good enough. He has shown in the

first session he is here to play. At the moment, he is hitting the

ball beautifully. Has he slipped up here? He played

for one into the corner pocket. I think the pink's in the way and the

red's in the way. He could have done with the cue ball

going higher. He is doing better in this match

than he has in the last three against Ronnie. Because he has been

beaten 13-1 in the last three matches they have played.

Well, that kicked, that is why the white pulled up short of the blue.

You could clearly see that jump. Have a look at the red. Just left

the cloth. He is only a couple of pots away from securing the frame.

He needs to keep going, otherwise he could be snookered behind the blue

for the red he played for and I can he is. So that kick proving costly.

Becauseless not going to - - because he is not going to clinch the frame

now. Very unlucky. He won't want to be removing either

of the two reds on the right hand side of the cushion. He may decide

to take a pot on. Well, he did take the pot on. He

didn't get very close. But he is unlucky there. He decided there

wasn't a good safety, so I will take the red on.

Those shorts with the extension, the player would never practice with the

extension on the cue. Always difficult.

If you do not have the cannon, you have another red over by the blue.

That was not a bad shot. He got the double-kiss. He was

always going to have a red available. Better to do it now than

when that red was not available. This is not good. Not the best from

Ronnie. A quick glance at the scoreboard. He has a few points to

play with, but he could do with this blue.

An impressive start from both players this afternoon. Ronnie was

excellent in the opening frame and Joe coming straight back.

Ronnie O'Sullivan concedes and Joe Perry moves it to 6-4. There was a

bit of a chance for Ronnie after Joe had made that break. This was the

downfall. Ronnie did not hit that as he intended. He had plenty of side,

too much side. He needed the blue to keep himself in the frame. It was a

funny sort of shot so usually you do not need the points, but because he

had to come down for a high value colour, it has come down on the

angle and gone right next to the pink. It was a chance, but it was

not great. He was going to be struggling to clear up, even if he

is Ronnie O'Sullivan. The standard has been superb.