Day 7, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

The three balls, I am wondering if they are right for a plant into the

left corner. He has had a quick look at that just in case.

Ronnie deciding it was too difficult to attempt that.

Joe put his hand up to apologise. That was not as he intended.

This could develop into a bit of an awkward frame with the two reds at

the other end of the table. The safety area is the cushion behind

the black. With the white tight to the cushion,

that is not a lot Joe can do. He could leave this one close to the

cue ball. I think it is a good enough shot. It

is definitely on. It is a bit of a stalemate. I am

wondering what the players will do. There is no score.

It is not quite tight on the cushion. He can always get a little

bit of backspin. Stretching his arm to get a little

bit of backspin. Ronnie is looking to see if he can

get the cue ball into the corner. He is catching the middle pocket.

What a difference that has made. He was trying to get back down behind

the yellow and Brian to snooker Ronnie. When you catch the middle

pocket you never know where it is going to finish.

Because Ronnie got that tight shot before, it made that a bit more

difficult for Joe. He will play for the red after he

pots the black. He missed a very easy black off the

spot at the start of this match. He kept his cool. That was something

a couple of seasons ago Ronnie was not doing, but he kept his focus.

These are tough shots, blind pocket. Not certain, those shots.

Ronnie had an anxious look to see of the red would go into the middle

pocket. Maybe it does not. Maybe he is OK.

He has blocked the escape on the side cushion. He is looking at

getting on the red to the left of the black.

The yellow and blue seems to be in the way.

I do not think it is on. Getting the cue ball kite behind the brown has

made the difference -- tight. The red on the left might be the one

he is trying to hit. That has come up short. It is an awkward angle. He

would definitely play for the red to the left of the black, but there are

balls bothering him problems. There is a red that goes into the

right corner. He was in a bit of a hole.

That red at the back of the bunch is available.

If he leaves it in the right position he can bring more reds

interplay. Every frame is key. If Joe can open

up a three frame advantage, it is going to ask a big question of

Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is in pretty good form. He is

hitting the ball well. He got a little bit of contact.

You give yourself the chance of extending the lead further.

The natural angle would have taken him into the reds, which he did not

want. He is straight on the black, so he

needs something available. He was trying to move that on, with

his body, but not quite. Keeping the pressure on all the

time. If you score every time your opponent makes a mistake, you will

go far in this game. I do not think the two reds are

planned. -- a plant. There is very little to play behind

when you come back down the table. He has got it.

He is cueing so smoothly at the moment. That is unlucky.

What has he done? He did not want to go that close to the pocket. He has

a 43 point lead, but this is a dangerous board.

He is the favourite for the frame, but if Ronnie gets in, he might not

be. At the moment, Joe Perry seems to have all the answers.

Knocking the pink did not do him any good.

If he tries the plant, which he is lining up, he has to make sure he

keeps well away from the right corner pocket with the cue ball. If

you can take it on without the white going in, he can turn it into a

plant. The jaws are in the way of the red

on the left. This is the longest frame of the

match, believe it or not. It has only been going coming up to 90

minutes. -- 19. The one next to the yellow might be

slightly hampered with the blue, although he is looking at that.

It was one of those where the red must have been slightly in front of

the yellow, because if you hit both at the same time it is a foul.

No hesitation from Ronnie to get the pink back in play.

He is trying to make it as easy as possible that if he does get a

chance he can make a counter clearance. Superb.

There is a possibility of the one closest to the green.

He could find himself in trouble here.

Is Ronnie hard enough? Just a fraction out.

Not hard enough. As he left a chance? I think he might have done.

This is not an easy one. I have a sneaky feeling he had to

play that with a little bit of swerve because of the pace on it.

If he was to take the blue, another red and another blue would be enough

to leave Ronnie needing a snooker. Just the red would do, he did not

need the colour. It is always difficult, but when you

are playing against the crowd favourite, even more so.

Joe is not missing much and he looks comfortable.

He said, if I play well I can beat the defending champion, and he is

certainly playing well. You can have that belief, but you

have to back it up. It is as good as I have seen him

play for a long time. A clearance of 46 and break of 48

and he has a three frame advantage. Fantastic control from Joe Perry. It

is about controlling the cue. When you're talking about controlling the

cue, what Joe Perry does very well, the controls the backswing. Let us

look at the different pew actions. Ronnie O'Sullivan is a bit faster.

He pulls back and has more of a swing, not too much of a swing. Joe

Perry prefers to control the backswing slower and have more of a

pause. If you are panicking, slow down the

backswing and pours like Joe Perry. -- pause.

They will all be practising that at home. Just like golf, no two swings

are the same! The interval is coming up after this

frame. 7-5 would be the scoreline that Ronnie O'Sullivan would be

looking for. But if gentlemen Joe Perry goes four in front, that will

make things very, very interesting. Could play the red onto the pink if

he wanted to. Knows he wanted to. Those who were not scattered too

much by playing that shot. He can find the gap which is even better.

Good safety from jail, once again. That department is working very well

today, tactically, very adept. Certainly scoring well. At the top

of his game. Well, that is a beauty. A fabulous

shot. He is at the wrong side of the blue. But he could have things

opened in a couple of shots time. I think that came far enough. That

was OK. His brain works so quickly when

there is a break in front of him. I think he is sensing a bit of

danger in this match. The scoreboard, 7-4, thought, better go

through big box a bit here. You can see he is already quicker around the

table in this particular contribution, so he knows how

important it is. That wasn't a great bunch to go

into. It was always going to be difficult with a pack like that.

When he attempted double here? Yes. -- will he a attempted double here?

It was not a shot to nothing, but he got close to the double.

Where will this finish? He has been lucky. It could easily have gone

over the pocket. In fairness, I think that is the first ball he has

missed. He has been berry good today. -- very good. That is another

double, but he has brought the white add far enough. That was too risky.

I think he just over a hit that and the red will just pot now. --

overhit. Would you believe it? ! Would you believe it? That was a

distraction for him. That is not the best shot he has

ever played. Needed a little bit more side on that. Yes, need to hit

this properly and get right in with the cue ball. Absolutely brilliant.

A lot more difficult than it looked. And the way it has come out, a

straight run through and end up on the black. A great, really good

shot, really well played. A possible planned, the red is

definitely available. The red over the green is an insurance policy

also. Missed a check, Joe Perry, if you

hit the front, they do not go in. You can nearly overcut and they go

in-off the far, so a slight mistake. Still has that read that John

mentioned. A little bit of insurance, the one over the pocket.

He may call on that note to keep this break going.

Not far away from securing this frame.

That is just about perfect. This is a massive frame in a match like

this. We'll be delighted to get back to just 7-5 will -- back to just

7-5. That will give him a chance now to

clear the lot. The shots that John mentioned, he

got the red slightly in the way and put some side on it. Just left it in

the jaws. High-quality stuff from these two

players. Ronnie O'Sullivan, that 93 break.

Very good stuff indeed. The red doesn't go in. Ronnie O'Sullivan

pulls one back, but at the interval, Joe Perry leads by 7-5.

What you think so far, Steve. Joe Perry is doing well to keep

initiative, he has got Ronnie O'Sullivan on the back foot. Ronnie

O'Sullivan was pushing it a fraction taking on the second double. It was

mentioned that maybe he did not need to go for that. Another day, Joe

Perry doesn't miss the red on the top question and into the top

pocket, and he punishes Ronnie O'Sullivan and the scoreline is

different. Ronnie O'Sullivan has made light work of mopping up the

balls, so a fair fresh and that they have had 2-2 each. -- a fairer

session. He is pushing Ronnie O'Sullivan more than any other

player in the recent past? Yes, his confidence will be high because of

what he has achieved so far, and this is a very hard test for Ronnie

O'Sullivan, harder than people thought. People thought he would

wipe the floor with everyone, and play like you did in the Welsh and

in the Masters, that he would not come up against any resistance, and

it has been proven not to be true by Joe Perry. In 2009, these two

played, Ronnie O'Sullivan ran out the 6-5 when, that is the tightest

match between these two, doesn't have the potential to go like this?

It is going that way, you would expect Ronnie O'Sullivan to put on

the heat, but it Joe Perry responds, it will be difficult for

Ronnie O'Sullivan to turn it around completely. Let us look at the other

match that began at 2:30pm here at the Crucible, it is Scotland versus

the Republic of Ireland, two old wily campaigners, Alan McManus

taking on the man who lit up the Crucible in 1997, Mr Doherty.

You never forget your first time at the Crucible, it is so special, the

crowd, the atmosphere, everything about it is unbelievable. The best

place in the world to play snooker. In 1991, I first came through those

curtains and sat over their playing Steve Davis. The first four frames I

was in a complete days, 4-0 down within 30 minutes, mesmerised by the

place, mesmerised by who I was playing, the atmosphere, the

proximity of the people beside you. The whole ambience of the entire

theatre. I watched Alex Higgins in 1982, Dennis in 1985, something I

wanted to try to achieve, follow in their footsteps, take that trophy,

give it a big kiss, hold it aloft, the backdrop of the lights that look

like stars in the ceiling. It is like all of your dreams, all of your

birthday is coming together, that particular moment. It was like just

what I dream to bed as a kid and fritter finally come true, that was

an amazing feeling. -- dreamt about as a kid. It was absolutely

beautiful. Walking to the curtains again being introduced to the

crowd, a wonderful feeling. All of the great memories coming back, that

is one of the reasons why I kissed the carpet, I will not be doing that

again, it was a bit dirty! It was a sign to the crowd to show how much I

love being here and how much I love playing here and paying, edge to the

place, I do not know how many times I be back here. Hopefully it will be

a few times more! I did get quite emotional. A fantastic feeling,

great to go back to the dressing room, Mickens Dennis Taylor coming

in, I said he should get his cue back out, he could make a comeback

as well! It was fantastic. Some fantastic memories. So, microphone

down, snooker cue out, the old adversary, Alan McManus, I played

him first on this old table back in 1994, around 20 years ago, well, a

lot of water under the bridge since then! I think we were both really

enjoyed it and relish every moment. Savour it, play our hearts out and

see what happens. Love it. Cannot wait. Add a cup of tea with her BBC

colleague this morning, Ken Doherty in good spirits, looking forward to

the match today, just so happy to be back at the Crucible and performing.

Let us take a look at how the stats are looking between these two

players. This is the 24th meeting between these two old campaigners,

one apiece in World Championship matches and they started playing way

back in 1991. It began at 2:30pm this afternoon, Kent at the first

frame, we join it at the start of the second. -- Ken Doherty took the

first frame. That break off was all wrong. The

cue ball is meant to come between the green and pink.

This is very similar to a break-up for Alan McManus. For a player that

is renowned for his safety play, that was a shocker.

He was expecting the first kiss, but not the second key is to take him

into the red. The bounce off the cushion widens a

little bit. Kenny believe he is not putting it in there again? -- can

you believe? He is trying to maybe tempt Ken into

going for something here. He goes for it and he gets it.

That has turned out to be a good decision. Quite an ankle in this red

closest to the left hand corner to stun up to the black and the left

centre. Need an angle on the red to get to

the right-hand side of the blue. Does not want to be straight on the

red. Clearly did not settle in the

opening frame, but with the lack available to both corners... He has

got an excellent chance of getting 30, 40 points on the board without

doing anything too strenuous. This is a great chance.

For a second, I thought he had overcooked that, but he is OK on the

red. Probably a little bit more

aggressive on the black. Only three more red and three

colours needed. Perhaps the ankle he has on the red

in the middle is not good. -- the angle. He judged that very well. He

knew exactly the path that the cue ball would take and cannon into

those two reds. On reflection, both their first

round wins, I think Alan was the high scorer, consistently, in his

match against John Higgins. A little bit careless that he has

left himself straight on the blue. A bit more distance on this pot then

there should have been. -- Sander should have been.

But a little bit of extra pressure on the pot, and they did not need to

be. The black to put himself 70 points

ahead will stop 67 on. -- 70 points ahead. 67 on.

You would think he is on this red nicely to the left centre, and that

would secure the frame, it is always nice to win a frame at one visit at

the start of the match. It settles you down.

The leader 76, so he can take this on with some confidence knowing that

can cannot come back. -- that Ken. J -- that Ken Doherty cannot possibly

come back. He has levelled the match at 1-1.

1-1, then Alan McManus rattled in a break of 107 to win the third frame

to take a 2-1 lead, and this is really interesting, his first

Crucible century since 2005 when, guess what? He beat Ken Doherty in

the second round of the World Championships 13-11. Is history

repeating itself? An excellent break. Alan McManus has just gone

3-1 at the interval, so it is all going the way of the Scotsman right

now and that match will continue on the red button after the mid-session

interval. The live match on BBC TV this afternoon is Joe Perry taking

on the defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. Joe is leading the

Rocket by 7-5, so the players are heading back out, and let's rejoined

Dennis Taylor and John Parrott, a big couple of friends coming up,

Dennis? Yes, certainly, nothing to pick

between the two players in the first couple of frames. Can Ronnie

O'Sullivan close the gap? It will be fascinating tomorrow. But what is

the scoreline going to be? That would be the big question.

Joe Perry has been very relaxed throughout this match so far. Always

nice to start with a good break-off shot.

A decent break off, and, well, the problems with the red on the

right-hand side, because when he plays off the pack, used to make

sure not to get the cannon on the red on the right.

He missed the cannon, but he has hit it far too thick.

He thought he might get away with this, but look at this series of

cannons. It must be quite warm inside the

Crucible. I have noticed Ronnie wiping his hands and his face with

the cloth. He looks a little bit tired. It is a

long session. You have to stay focused. How lucky is that? --

unlucky. He has not pink in and left a red at the back the bunch. That

was very unfortunate. He was guaranteed to be on the

black. Very unlucky for Joe. It is amazing how it changes around.

Ronnie had a bit of misfortune when he left the red. He was looking, not

flustered, but tired. All of a sudden, he is out of his seat

because of Joe's misfortune. I am just wondering how much of a

turning point that is going to be in this match. You do not mind if you

make a bad shot losing a frame, but if you bought the blue and the pink

at the same time, something you could never envisage happening, it

is difficult to take. He is completely out of position. It is

touching the red. How could that happen? Joe had seriously bad luck

but he will be delighted he has got away with it because Ronnie

O'Sullivan is glued to that red. It is touching, so that is not a bad

thing, he can play snooker. -- a snooker.

The red will not be cut a ball from where he is. It never ceases to

amaze you what happens on the snooker table.

You could hear a pin drop in the Crucible because the other table is

at the mid-session interval. There is a long pot success rate,

that always tells a story. Ronnie will have to improve.

If Joe can pinch this frame, what a boost that would be.

A nice little cannon here. The other red cause and it clears the other

two. No problem. Ronnie pushed the yellow near 80

cushion. I said he broke down, he did not

really break down, Ronnie, just the safety or positional shot he played.

Will he play for the more difficult red? The one near the cushion.

Ronnie early in the frame after he lost position, any cannon on this

and he has one tarmac won frame, but I wonder if that yellow is going to

come to his rescue, because he is going to need it.

It is all about the position on the yellow. He has a choice. He can

cannon the yellow out if he does not fancy that.

He has maybe not hit it hard enough. He only needed the yellow and the

green. Well played. An excellent shot. Left

Ronnie Innocent occur. -- in a snooker. He will be pretty happy

with that, I should think. I think he is playing this so it

will come back across. He has to be careful if he tries to

swing this around behind the black that he does not put the yellow into

a pottable position. That looks pretty good. Just coming

up a bit short. No double-kiss required, but he got

one. I would be tempted to get the yellow

up the table. He has gone the other way, but it is the same thing.

He would be looking to hit the yellow from behind. He has hit it

too thin. One good pot, one good positional

shot and Ronnie might take this frame.

This is a big clearance in the context of the match. We have had

all sorts in this frame. He needs the three remaining

colours. Joe new Ronnie was going to clear

up. A frame that could have gone either way, but the defending

champion takes it in the end. He is just one frame behind.

Acknowledgement from Joe Perry that he could have won that frame. When

he potted the pink, he did not hit it hard enough and it opened the

door for Ronnie O'Sullivan to counterattack after Ronnie had been

desperately unlucky himself. A fantastic frame of snooker, it had

everything. We were looking back at the history books and looking at the

people Ronnie beat last year. He was never really threatened a have to

give credit to Joe Perry. Last year I do not think he was behind or if

he was pushed he moved up a gear. This is the first time for a while

we have seen him behind at the World Championships. A different scenario

for Ronnie O'Sullivan. I do not think he would have been panicking,

but he knew his opponent was playing well. If you were Joe Perry, what

would you be thinking? I think you have to be realistic in terms of how

your opponent can play, I think he is enjoying it, enjoying the match,

he has nothing to be, not nothing to be ashamed of, but he is thriving

given that he is holding his head up.

Can he get one of the two remaining frames?

If someone had said to Joe Perry before the match, you will be

beating the defending champion 7-6, I think he would have taken that.

He has played well, the best I have seen him play in a while.

I am not sure why he put his hand up to apologise, maybe the flick on the

red, but it looked as if he took the pot on.

He is in-off. If you do not catch that correctly, you have to hit the

pink pool ball -- full ball. The black does not go past the red.

He was trying to punch it round the angles.

It was not going to be easy for any path. He will be disappointed with

that gave the shot. -- safety. Almost straight. It has a slight

angle. If he plays it with a little bit of

pace, he might be able to find the gap.

He did find the gap. He is on the green.

He must have hit that soap your -- very pure.

Not a brilliant chance, the black tied up, the pink is available, but

off its spot. He cannot believe what the pink

because it would go on to the black spot.

He is nicely on the pink. He has the pink and blue to work with.

If he can get to there, he can take the pink into the left middle

pocket. It depends on the ankle he has on the red.

He does not really want to be off angle. Three reds definitely pot in

the top. Ideally he would have liked to have

been straight. He is taking these very well at the

moment, Joe Perry, this is good stuff.

Just had a quick glance to see of the red above the black will go into

the left corner, I think he is OK. If you can get to eat frames, there

is no way you can be behind going into the final session.

57 ahead. This red and any colour would do.

There is definitely one Joe Perry sign -- fan! A lot of Ronnie

supporters, but if you are doing the business on the table, they will get

behind you, and Joe Perry is doing the business at the moment.

He talked a good game beforehand, and he is backing it up. He said he

could beat Ronnie and he is going to get himself two frames ahead again.

He was not being cocky, he was just being confident. Why not?

You've got to be ruthless on the table and he has a killer in stibgt.

-- instinct. Look where the yellow is. The only

way he can lead it is into the right middle pocket.

He would need this for the possibility of a century.

Joe Perry will be delighted. He has taken the frame with that break and

he has opened up a two-frame advantage again. 8-6. That was a

fantastic break by Joe Perry and the opening red of the break was superb.

I think Ronny O'Sullivan had left Joe Perry down the bottom of the

table. Joe Perry has a difficult long red. Now, when I do run the

shot, note where Joe Perry pots the red into the pocket. He plays it

thick. If he plays to tr middle of the pocket after the white ball

leaves the red, it will collide with this red and he will lose position.

But Joe pots the red into the pocket thick and the cue ball Comes off

narrower. He misses the red and he then is able to get back down the

table and pots it thick into the pocket. An excellent shot. To be

able to judge to pot into one side of the pocket as oops posed to the

middle of the pocket shows Joe Perry is cueing beautifully. Both players

have left the arena. Ronny O'Sullivan has the highest

break. But it is beautifully poised still, JP? Yes, it has been very

high quality. I have been impressed with Joe Perry. He is a top class

player. But it has been a while since he has been in a world or the

UK in the final stages and playing as well as this. He is at the top of

the game. I have said numerous times when Ronny O'Sullivan is at his

best, he is virtually unbeatable. But he is not unbeatable when he is

not quite at his best and somebody else is almost there. Ronnie, you

know hen he gets a couple of frames ahead he can steam roll a player.

Burr Joe has played so well. That is what he predicted he would have to

do to win. Ronnie still looks calm and collected, but he could do with

the last two frames. He is not going to settle for just one. He wants the

both frames to level at 8 going into tomorrow's final session, which will

be fascinating. Joe is back in the arena. And it is Joe's turn to break

off. Just getting himself ready there.

There is the black immediately tied up. It is amazing the number of

times the red goes either side of the black.

I was thinking Joe could snooker him behind the black. But there is not a

lot of advantage in that. All Ronnie will do is come off the

side cushion and into the edge of the reds.

That gets the frame back to normality, sending the red up the

table. That is the normal safety end of the table.

That was lovely. That was the side, but I think he may have left a red

on. He glanced off the red, he wanted to nestle into the reds.

Not sure what happened there. He had been for a comfort break and maybe

forgot something! There was a good way that red could

have been left on. This is what he has left. At the moment, the odds on

favourite for the World Snooker Championship is in big trouble.

There was lots of laughter there. Joe just, he had been to the toilet

and obviously forgotten to just... Adjust himself! In fairness he has

got other things on his mind. I'm not so sure the black is at good

at the moment. It is up for blue or pink at the

moment. His positional play has been superb this afternoon.

At the moment it is hard to play on anything else but the blue.

That is the first time the cue ball hasn't gone far enough for quite a

while. A little bit underdone there. He is further away than he wanted to

be. Just got a slight angle. If the red,

well you can see where he is cueing. That red at the back of the bunch is

available. Looks like he is - well he decided

the one that is in the middle of the bunch there pots. What do you think

jachlt P, he got a big bounce off that cushion there. He did. It came

off very lively. -- JP. Pinged off there, but he still has

the red in the centre. He has got into that too well. He

might drop on the pink. Difficult to control that when you're using the

other reds and playing with side and screw and he hit it too well. But if

he has an angle on the pink, it has turned out very nice for Joe Perry.

Another kick there. And an absolute shocker as well. He knows

straightaway. It jumped straight up in the air that. Took all the pace

out of it. You could see it lift off the bed. No surprise that the

referee is having the cue ball cleaned there. There is just one red

available to him now. The one in the circle. He will have to run away to

the baulk area. If he pots this he will need too make sure he gs on a

colour. It is coming all right for Joe this

afternoon. As good as I have seen him play for a long time.

But he is doing it against a red hot favourite for this year's World

Championship. You can't do anything about it when you're kept in your

seat and Joe Perry has keep the defending champion in his seat for

white a while in this -- for quite a while in this match. A tougher blue

into the corner to get good position.

The only thing he didn't need to do was overscrew that, which he has

done slightly. He wanted to keep the cue ball higher up the table.

You could see that long pause, both players' cue actions and how

different they are. No two players play the game the same.

Boy has Joe Perry been playing well here. When you can clinch a frame

with one visit, it makes a vast difference. Doesn't matter about the

pink. Ronny O'Sullivan stays in his seat and Joe Perry has played

another excellent frame and he has taken the frame with one vuz sit and

he -- visit and he leads 9-6. One more frame to be played and Ronnie

could need this last frame. If Joe Perry was to go into tomorrow's

session 10-6 in front, what a tall order it would be for Ronny

O'Sullivan, even the great Ronny O'Sullivan. But this last frame will

be so key, John. Yes, I think the way the play has been, if Ronnie

gets out of it 9-7, I think he will be delighted with that. Because he

has been probably outplayed this afternoon. Joe looks more relaxed

than Ronnie, who was puffing his cheeks and wiping his feet. We had a

bit of light relief. Joe had been for a comfort broke and forgot to do

his fly up and everybody had a laugh. I think somebody on the front

or second row told him he was flying low!

Ronny O'Sullivan breaks off in the final frame of this sex and how --

session and how important is this? Joe Perry has been outstanding all

through the match. But this afternoon he has been excellent. He

has taken a lead into the final session. But will it be two frames,

or will it be four? He has hit this a bit too hard. He

is going to leave the red over the corner. But I tell you what, it is

not an easy pot. If he cuts this red in and misses the brown, there is a

chance he could finish on the black. Is it too hard or is he on the

black? It is just too hard. There was a natural appingle for --

angle for the white to come back up the table and he almost dropped opt

black. This is a huge frame for both

players. If it is 9-7, it will still be tough to pick a winner. If it is

10-6, Joe Perry would be favourite. Straight into the heart of the

pocket. Ronnie straightaway trying to get

the top end of the table among the black and pink and reds.

They have got away from the nerves of the opening match.

Well, can you believe that? Just about to say what a brilliant

standard you get with these two players, but what a miss that was.

Didn't see that coming. That was a total lapse in

concentration from Ronny O'Sullivan, lost a bit of focus there. He really

did. Oh, he is unlucky, he is stuck on

the reds. He is not on anything. If the reds had opened up, what a

chance that would be to punish that bad miss from Ronnie.

He is unlucky to finish where he is, but there was a chance that could

happen. This has been an exceptionally high standard right

the way through this match. That is a terrible shot. He wanted

much thicker contact. He has lost a bit of focus at the moment has Ronny

O'Sullivan. Let's look at this again. OK, but you know he nearly

hit that three quarter or half ball. It needed a fuller contact.

He can just drop this pink in and the pink will go on to the black

spot, which will be a big help. But this is a pink earlier in the frame,

well it can only be a lapse in concentration to miss that. Thinking

about the position that much, he took his eye off the pink. Oh, Joe!

Have you let it go? Yes, you have indeed. The cue ball shouldn't have

been anywhere near the pink. Very little available to Ronnie

there. Got to get his head cleared and just concentrate and try and

take this last frame. Because he knows that Joe Perry after that last

shot has got plenty of adrenaline pumping around. Because he just hit

that far too hard. It didn't look as though the double

was on, but he decided to have a go at it, because he didn't want the

leave anything. So it was worth the risk. Looked a if -- as if that red

was in the way. But it wasn't a bad effort.

That red has helped Joe. If that had been covered up it it would have

been trouble. He would have to get back to the baulk area.

I thought he was playing safety, but he went for the pot, thinking it was

the only one he could leave. Has he been lucky? It was a great effort

and Ronnie will have to play a cushion first.

He didn't want to risk it. He knows the importance of this last frame.

One of those horrible little shots that you have just got to play and

know you're going to be in the baulk area and just stand for it. Joe

looked at the red in the middle pocket. He is thinking I'm cueing

well, if I can knock this in the middle pocket. He is going to go for

this. Brilliant cueing. It really was. He

has been so positive and to take that on and get it, it was a

terrific chance. Oh, wow! Just played a brilliant

shot in the middle and now he is stuck on the reds. There is just one

red available to him. It's there. You know something, he

deserves everything he gets for that shot into the centre pocket. It is

one of the bravest shots you will see. Very confident.

I could sense Joe was going to take that on.

Will he get another chance in this frame, that is the question? He has

to be careful with the shot. Make sure you come inside the black and

just come inside it. Watch the white. It flicks the black

and it's put the black awkward. But Ronnie won't be too concerned about

that. Too close to the blue, so he may

only get one point. # I don't think he can even see the green.

Well played. Just see enough of the black. That was a great shot. It

really was. Brilliant. Brilliant, no other word. The cue through that,

absolutely perfect. And the cue ball ran past the other

red on the right and this is a great chance.

It must go, because he didn't risk it.

The chance goes begging. What a frame this is turning out to be.

Chances for both players. Well, I mentioned earlier the last frame

here is massive. 10-6. Now 9-7. That's why we have seen a few errors

creep in. If it's tight on the cushion it's

slightly easier. If it's away and it's away from the cushion. Not so

straightforward, this. You have to try to play these

absolutely dead right in the pocket. Hopefully. Don't catch the jaw.

We show you this again, because he's got an angle on the black to get to

the difficult last red. Once again, the adrenaline and

tension, he hit it harder than he intended to. I tell you what,

Dennis, this is a difficult shot for the rest. We practised this the

other day. Myself and Steve were doing a piece and one of these came

up. It was a little more difficult than this, but it's tough down the

cushion. I'm not surprised with that. He's got it safe, unless Joe

decides to take a double on. And don't be surprised, as we show you

that difficult red with the rest. Is it the double?

No. He hasn't hit this hard enough. This is just a little bit of tension

creeping in, after overhiting. It's quite understandable.

Just needs to miss the yellow. Oh, hasn't done it. Still a good red.

Decent cue ball as well. That was a chance for a snooker there.

That's going to hit the brown. Well, we've had most of these frames with

one visit. This has been the most tense of frames, the last one.

That's OK. It's a great effort. Had he have potted that, then there

would have been a gap. But there's a gap between green and black.

He's just a little bit frightened of putting the red over the pocket.

That's why he's hit that a little bit too hard.

Has he hit this too hard? The red needs to pull up, and it does.

Get it nice and thin. Not that thin. I'm not surprised he's done that, to

be honest with you. You know full well when you are playing that

Dennis, if you get it thick you'll stick it up. When it's so close to

the cushion, yeah. Even a half ball and you've put the red on.

The referee looking at the monitor to make sure it's in the right spot.

It looks pretty close. Can he get that thin edge that he's looking

for? I'll tell you what, he'll get it the

next time. Now he's got to hit it thick. Well, he can't risk playing a

thin. He will lose the frame. He's going to lose the frame if he

doesn't hit the frame. There might be the Osama Bin Ladened double kiss

shot. It's not a bad one. If you hit the white with lots of bottom and

the red full ball, and spin the white back up the table, the only

thing is if you don't get it right, you leave the red on, but that's not

a bad choice. I think he's pushed it on. He has

left it. He got too much side on that. The white wouldn't have spun

across the table. Bad news and good news. Bad news is he left it on.

Good news for Ronnie is it's absolutely bolt straight. Not much

you can do with the cue ball other than stick on it.

It might just be a case of dropping the pink in and taking the mid-range

yellow. He hasn't even got the snooker. That

was strange. Very strange. Oh, the middle pocket has come into

play again. That would have been a snooker without the yellow hitting

the middle pocket. There's a pot on here, but the white will do

dangerously close to the right middle pocket, as we show you the

yellow catching that jaw, but this is a big pot coming up. The natural

angle will take the white towards the right middle pocket.

A chance for Ronnie now. Had he have potted that he might have missed.

The corner of the middle pocket. Well, the chance is there now. It

will be a very relieved Ronnie O'Sullivan and his supporters.

This match is well and truly on now, John. It certainly is. What shot did

Joe Perry play there? If you are not going to guarantee the snooker, just

pot the pink and get the six points. What he's played there is very

strange. It can only be tension. He had every chance of opening up a

10-6 lead. He didn't do it. So the session has been shared. Ronnie

O'Sullivan, overall, will be quite pleased to be just two frames behind

going into the final session tomorrow. It's all to play for.

Dennis is absolutely right, it is all to play for. How tense was that

final frame? I didn't think so far in the championships we have had so

many ahs and oohs. I was getting nervous. For the first time I was

nervous. As a player you know what's going through their minds. The

significance of that frame was told by the pictures both players started

to feel the tension. Effectively, Joe Perry had gone Ronnie on the

ropes there. Unfortunately for Joe, he saw the finishing line, even

though it wasn't the finishing line of the match, he saw it of that

session and he saw 10-6 and froze. Do you think that's what happened?

Yeah. Listening to John and Dennis. They were saying that Joe's playing

with confidence. Do you think it was overexuberance, maybe? He had

chanced and he knew and just a little bit of panic. He missed a pew

pots. The positional play wasn't straight. Excellent chances once

Ronnie had missed the pink into the middle. We have all been there. He

knows full well all he needs to do is deliver the killer blow and he's

done so well. It's not a criticism. It's just that's what happened.

Still advantage Joe Perry, but he'll go back to the dressingroom and even

though he is still in front after two sessions, he'll be disappointed

with himself and slumped in the dressingroom and thinking what it

could have been. It could have been 10-6. Now it's 9-7. He's let Ronnie

in. He had golden opportunities to go up. We shouldn't be surprised as

to how well Joe Perry has been playing today and yesterday simply

because he has played well this season and he has beaten mark Selby.

This is fantastic, regardless of the last frame. Tomorrow, when they come

out, it will be a tough ask for Ronnie to get back on level terms,

because Joe will have got over the disappointment and he'll be back in

the zone again tomorrow. It's a superb performance. After last

season, in the World Championship, when nobody stretched Ronnie at all,

you can't underestimate how good a performance it is by Joe. Can you

call this one? I think John Parrott got it right. 9 - 7 is probably in

the bookmakers' eyes is even money. I think it's set up very, very

nicely. It is. We'll show you that match live at 10.00am, Saturday

morning snooker. Joe Perry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, the third and

final session. Do not miss it. Get up nice and early get a cup of tea.

Join us. Next now to the other second-round match taking place this

afternoon. Ken Doherty, 19197 wRleed champ taking on -- world champ

taking on the last remaining Scottish player in this

championship, Alan McManus. I've been a pro 20, 30 years, so the

1990s were the glory years, or I made myself an OK player for

probably a period of eight or ten years. I don't look back with

regrets. Some of the finals that I did lose, I played great players and

some of the finals I lost I played really well. Some of the finals I

won I was poor, so I don't look at things like that and think or brood.

I just get on with it. It's nice to be back playing a decent level and

competing again. Alan McManus has certainly rolled back the years. He

beats his good buddy. The bottom line is when you're a player you

have to do your own job and try as best you can to forget who you are

facing and I've done that all right against John. I was just happy to

come through and still be there. Nine years ago it was quite amazing,

when I think about it. I've had so many good battles with Ken in the

past. We have played in the finals, albeit, that was back in the day and

we both have big respect for each other's game. A lot of people think

it's going to be maybe a long, drown-out game, but I don't think

so. I've got a mindset and I want to attack the balls and when I get half

a chance want to attack. I'll play semi-aggressive, I would say and I

want to get in and score quickly. I'll try to up the pace a little

when I get the chance. He found out it's the McKenzie clan tartan. We

had a little conversation in a hotel a couple of months ago and if anyone

gets to the Crucible we'll made get tartan trousers sorted out. Went

into Glasgow city centre and found what I thought was a nice pair,

maybe others don't, and away I went. I thought why not? It's a bit of

fun. It's good for the crowd and fans, so why not?

We are now going to take you live to The Crucible theatre and rejoin this

match. Ken Doherty and Alan McManus. Over to Willie and Stephen.

It's been excellent before the interval and a bit pedestrian since.

Ken is the surprising factor and his safety has been nowhere near the

formal standard and that's why Alan is in front.

Yes. Ken's highest break is only 24. Alan dominated second, third and

fourth frame and won the frames in one visit. Part of the game you

expect Ken to excel at, it's been very poor. He's the weak link today.

Consequently he's not been getting many chances and he's not found a

ridge up at all -- ridge up at all. -- rhythm at all.

The safety is quite difficult, rolling up to the reds. Ken can play

the half-ball. He can't get behind the green, but he can get behind the

brown or blue, whichever he decides what choice. Getting behind the

brown and yellow off two cushions is the better thought because you've

got to pick a target. It's interesting to hear the

interview that he's going to play more aggressive. He was doing that

in frames two, three and four. But since then the balls have gone

scrappy. He's not been able to score and neither has Ken.

Sometimes the ball dictates the way the game goes and now this frame has

already been going over 23 minutes. And no signs of a finish any time

soon. The players are known for their tactical game. They want to

get on with it, but sometimes it's the way the frame turns out.

He's underhit it to make sure knocking the green in wasn't an

option. Ken will hope to definitely pot this. He doesn't have to worry

about the cue ball because it's naturally going down no the area.

Another chance of a pot for Ken Doherty in the corner.

He's just really struggled today, Ken.

Alan has gone off the boil a little bit as well. Perhaps he senses a

chance to really stamp his authority on this match. A chance to lead 6 -

2, 7-1. Another prime example of how poor

Ken is cueing. If you get the jaws there's no problem playing at that

speed, because it comes back into a safe position, but to not catch the

jaws is very tough. He'll be really disappointed in how

he's played. He was looking forward to being in the second round.

A little bit of cheering from the crowd when a red goes in, but that's

how this frame has gone and Ken smiling up to the crowd and it's

what you feel like saying, "Does anybody want to grab the cue because

I'm struggling?" That's what Ken is doing, struggling.

Nicely controlled. Make sure you finish high on this black.

If he's dead straight he can get on the red, unless he plays for a

double and it's on the right-hand cushion.

Just slightly underhit it. This red's on for Ken. 23 points behind.

Something has got to happen and happen soon.

He managed to avoid the red on the left side of the cushion.

Once you miss the red you expect to leave the red on, but it's gone too

far for a cut in the middle and not far to have a go at the one on the

ball pocket. Good safety. Key to cover the loose

red, which he has done. There are finger marks on the table

that could make the cue ball roll off, but that was pretty good.

This looks pretty good. Once across. Has it flicked in? That's his first

fluke of the day, really. Certainly since the first frame when he fluked

the first shot he played! 22 points in front, Alan. He could

do with hitting one of these first shot. He doesn't want to give eight

or 12 away. The lead is massive. He doesn't want to give more than four

away, if he can help it. Foul and a miss. Look at the angle

he is trying to come off. He could miss this another couple of times at

least. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Ken could be in

front the next time he comes to the table.

You see the way it is sliding off that third cushion, I don't think

getting the two reds is on. You can play to the loose red, but he

doesn't want to do that. I don't know what's happened. He has

got the ball marker on the yellow. It is not touching ball. Why he

would do that, I don't know. Maybe it is touching and he feels it is

the only way he can get it to touch again and stop the yellow from

moving. This is try number four. He played for the loose one this

time and hit it poorly. Ken, you have got to get an angle on this

black to move those two reds, or even the pink.

He has over done it. Is he on the pink with an angle?

This is not easy to get safe now. He would love the cue ball to go up

behind the blue. He has fluked it again I think.

Second prize, I think it has gone safe, so that is not too bad.

Caught the safety much too thick. Red to the left centre.

A decent pot, but is he on a colour. For the brown. He is still on the

brown. The brown is the most obvious angle to get on the red.

Maybe Ken's turn to get some points off a snooker. This one is not quite

as difficult as Alan's one was. There is more room to get around the

back of the blue. So this is a chance. McManus is

leading by four points. A 40-minute frame.

A good pot. Half ball pink, he will take the yellow. If not he can take

the green. I don't know if he screw back off the pink. He is just having

a look at the green now. He doesn't have the angle on the pink to do

that. The only problem with going for the keen is you don't want to

land straight on the yellow. Because you have to get back on the green

again. In the end I'm not sure what pocket

he played for the yellow there. Needs that cue ball to be tight on

the brown to cut off the escape from the baulk cushion. There is a chance

he could get a snooker back here. Oh, he has been lucky there. How has

that blue not gone in? Ken has a sense of humour, but he is

anything but laughing inside. He could get the white in behind the

black. But he has hit it too thin to get both. But he knows where the

blue is. It is worth the risk of getting the cue ball behind the

black. Now, has he got it? Looks like it from here.

Once again Alan has had a big slice of luck. He is ten in front. A bit

of value in taking this on to be fair? You have to take the pot on

somewhere, even if it is to the left centre.

Thought he would take it on in the baulk pocket. He would have had a

chance of getting away with it. Amazingly enough Ken's highest break

in this match has only been 24. This clearance would give him the frame

and his highest break of the match so far with 25. Could it happen?

I'm always surprised when a player gets a cue ball cleaned at this

stage. The brown safely in. The object ball

is so far in the jaws of pocket like the blue is, it is difficult to get

ideal position. And he wants an angle on the pink to get to the

black. So by no means favourite to win the frame at this visit yet.

It has finished pret which well -- wet pretty -- pretty well that.

He is not happy with his bridge hand either.

He only needed the pink. I thought he needed the black. Ken Doherty has

won the frame and now trails 4-2. Ken needed that frame. I have been

looking at the history books, these two started playing each other in

1991. We heard Alan say he would be more aggressive. But sometimes you

have to play the balls. McManus has been strong, but he has gone off the

boil. Ken is a bit hurried on the back swing. We talked about Joe

Perry's lazy back swing and pausing and then deliver. And Ken is

pausing. But there is a lot of pressure and he is having a tough

session. But he has got to up his game. Because the standard is

lacking and he will be frustrated. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised

the average time is 26 minutes. If the players don't get the balls in

the pockets, you never end up where they will end up. When both players

are knocking them in, the Bams, the colours remain on their spots and

the game follows patterns that the players are used to. Listen they go

all over the place, you have -- when they go all over the place, you have

to think about the shots. And they can make it difficul Ken would have

been optimistic after an excellent win in the first round. It is a bit

of an anticlimax in some respects the way he has played. I think the

way to look at it is hang on in there. Because it is only one

session out of three. For Alan McManus, he looks stronger

generally. He is more comfortable with his game. But anything can

change. Ken said this to us, he said he is so happy to be back at the

Crucible and he is going to enjoy it. Yes, but at some stage the

tension does hit. One minute you have nothing to lose. You win your

first round match against the player that is supposed to beat you. And

you get through that. Next match you're playing a player that you

have a chance to beat. And perhaps the book makers make it evens. Make

you favourite. Now the equation changes and you're not the unddog

and you have to expect to win. Alan McManus leads. Let's rejoin our

commentary team. Apologies for saying that Ken needed

the black. But it was a long frame! In the end it Wurz a decent -- was a

decent clearance. Obviously without the black. But will that give him a

lift? There is a possibility they may get

taken off. They need to start the next game before 20-past. That is

not a good start for it being a quick frame.

This looks a good line. The sort of safety shot you expect from Alan

McManus. Similar to the other frames, apart

from the middle three frames. Balls have gone safe again. Ken

doesn't want to change the pattern of game, because he knows he is not

cueing very well. He decided to bring the black into

play, now that should quicken things up again and very nearly an

excellent safety. Playing that shot with an element of

safety. Ken just looking to see where he

wants to put the cue ball. Sometimes you think, where would I not want to

play from? He would love to find a way to get

on that red on the black spot. The two reds together.

If Ken was playing confidently, he would try and get on the pink. So he

may decide to screw up for the blue or the black.

Thinking about to screw back to leave the blue in the other pocket.

That is asking a bit the way he has played today.

Can he screw back enough on too this blue to get on to the reds either

side of the black spot? He has got the black. He is trying

to get on that. He is not quite on the black nicely.

He tried to move the two reds that are on the black spot there. Now, he

will be wishing he took the blue on. A straight blue to screw back.

Look where the black has gone. The last colour he will be playing will

be the black. Ken Doherty's last win over McManus

was at the Welsh Open. If you want to continue watching this now it is

available on the red button and online. And tonight we have Hawkins

and Walden online. From all of us for now. Goodbye.