Day 8, Part 1 Snooker: World Championship

# When that day is long, and the night, and the night is long.

# When you are sure you have had enough of this life, hang on.

# Don't let yourself go, because everybody cries.

# And everybody hurts, some times. # Sometimes, everything is wrong. #.

The Rocket gets to fire. Welcome to the Crucible Theatre and the 2014

death of the worlds Snooker championship. I hope you are

comfortable on your sofa this morning. Ronnie O'Sullivan faces a

crucial third and final session. Ronnie knew he needed a good start

and he came out all guns blazing. He finished the frame. It was a century

break for a few seconds until the white went into the centre pocket.

He did what he needed to do. He won the opening frame. Joe Perry took

the next two frames, showing great composure.

Ronnie, with the 66 break, clinched the frame and he went on to make the

Jurassic clearance on the colours, potted a very important yellow. That

got him back to just one frame behind. One of the great

characteristics Joe Perry shows with his matches is he has kept on again,

and he'd so with breaks of 88 and 73. So much happened in the last

frame, you could see the tension, both players knew how important it

was. Joe went 6-10 ahead. He played a great shock of the pink when he

didn't even Snooker O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan was delighted to close

the session with 4-4. This would be one of the B -- this would be one of

the big Crucible shots if Ronnie was beaten. He has not been beaten since

2011 help when he lost in the quarterfinals to John Higgins. Ken

Doherty trails Alan McManus 4-3 in his last match, that is on table to

this morning. The one we are concentrating on this morning is

Ronnie O'Sullivan taken on Joe Perry. Good morning. Welcome to a

session of snooker, it will be so good it sells itself. Welcome to

what we know will be a magnificent middle Saturday here in the World

Championship. Legends of their game, one and all.

Please welcome, first of all, a player producing the best snooker we

have seen from him in almost a decade, 23 years after his debut, he

beat four-time world champion John Higgins in the first wound. The

former Masters winner has done it all week with a new tartan cruise,

what a story for the pride of Scotland, here comes Alan the angles

McManus. MUSIC: "Return of the Mack" by Mark

Morrison. And his opponent, a man who is

flourishing into his early 40s. His class roadster before yesterday to

keep in touch in this match. It is his first time back in the second

round here in eight years, proving he still has the magic. Winner of

six titles, including the title here back in 90 97 the islands -- Irish

eyes are smiling for Ken Doherty. -- back in 1997. KEN DOHERTY - MUSIC:

"The Irish Rover" by The Pogues. And here on table number one, please

welcome a player once again firmly established amongst the game's

elite. Semifinalist at the Welsh omen. -- open. He is back in the

world top 16, here comes the gentleman, Joe Perry.

And finally, welcomed the most exciting game -- player to grace the

modern game, winner of 26 titles, he stormed to victory that the Masters

in January, he won the Welsh with a 147, here it comes, you're defending

world champion, blink and you will miss him, Ronnie the Rocket

O'Sullivan. RONNIE O'SULLIVAN - MUSIC: "A Man

Should Better Himself" by George Lam.

You could be watching one of the export stories breaking this morning

if Ronnie O'Sullivan is dumped out of this match by Joe Perry. If you

want Ken Doherty versus Alan McManus, that is available online,

but now we are concentrating on Perry versus O'Sullivan. Good

morning to our commentators. Good morning, Jason, good morning

everybody. I think you have set it up absolutely perfect. It could be a

classic final session for the second-round match.

Match time coming up to the four hour mark. Joe Perry won the first

session. 5-3. Ronnie levelled but Ronnie's pot success, 93%, 80%

money. He have to raise that to 90% or above. And that is just the start

he would have been looking for. A lovely red. A few balls struggling

nicely. And he just about has an angle on the blue. Interesting

session, Terry, Ronnie has two start producing. Interesting first shot as

well. You saw the cue ball, it looks like it would not get past the blue

but he struck it beautifully. There, you see he has just got an

angle on the blue. He decided not to come down for the red stop I think

the black is available. And in playing the black, he can

play little cannon. You always have to be careful with the shot. With a

kiss from black to read. This, of course, will make the black

available into both corners but he just has to get this right. Well, he

didn't play for the red to the right of the black. He used the red to put

it off it. He will have to go for blue, or maybe the pink. He decided

on the blue. A nice angle. He played it well.

Everything is without effort, even his walk around the table. You

mentioned yesterday, he felt he lost a little bit of control in one of

the sessions but he does that every so often, he gets frustrated if he

doesn't get excellence. Nice. None better in the game and that shot.

Look at the cue ball, it is the red that comes back in. He doesn't

played with a lot of pace, he just wanted get a couple of breadth into

place. Never been in front in this match. Always been behind and at one

time, three friends behind. -- three frames behind. When he had to reduce

his deficit to one frame, Joe Perry has come out and won the next

couple. Another cannon. Only just looking

for a red to continue with. He may just have been a little

unlucky there. He looked as though he would be on the red to the left

middle. Hit them pretty well. But I don't think he is on anything. That

is why he is having a look at the ball, way to leave the cue ball.

Sometimes, the run on the ball, that can frustrate you.

So, a good start but he will be a little bit disappointed with the cue

ball, it should have been tight against the baulk cushion, he has

left the chance of the pot for Joe Perry.

That is one thing Joe Perry can do, he can put the ball. -- he can pot a

ball. This is a big, big session, we talked about the demise of Ronnie

but this is a great chance for Joe Perry to produce one of the results

of his career. That has gone wrong. He knew it was running into the

second red but he should have calculated it better. He is not on

the black, as expected. So, that could be the end of break, unless he

was to take on this very risky blue. He played a safety shot, and quite

right as well. It would've been a hint of desperation if he had taken

the blue on. Need for that. -- no need for that.

Well, that is a good safety. Cue ball tight to the baulk cushion. Joe

Perry needs a good safety now. Well, well, he's totally miss hit

that. He left an easy red on and black is available. He tried to hit

that red very thin and he courted much too thick. -- he caught it. It

will be a tall order to win the frame of this visit. -- at this

visit. He would like to be on the red that is closest to the pocket

but I don't think he can get through to that. Whether the black is

available now into the right corner, I am not so sure. It will be

tight. But don't missed the red! He has

made the most of his chances. He hasn't got the break skills of

O'Sullivan, nobody has, really. He plays to a very high level here, he

has put more pressure on Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Once again, Bonnie has not played the best safety shot there. --

Ronnie. He has had two chances now, Joe, and not made the most of it. He

will be trying to redeem himself and take this on to certain.

Now, has he got away with it? He may have done. Now, Ronnie can get

through to this red. It is very straight. He may be able to pinch a

bit and run around. Is he on the black? I think maybe

just about. Important, I feel now, for Bonnie to win the frame at this

visit. Joe Perry has had three decent chances. Well, the last one

was tough. Prior to that, he had two very good chances to score. A very

important opening frame, this morning. Ronnie now doesn't want to

give him another chance. Just to red and black. Or a red and

blue, in actual fact. A red and black. The black Bull put him 54

points in front with just 51 remaining. So, that is just the

start. A few loose safeties, it has to be said. It wasn't flawless

snooker from Ronnie but the most important thing in this final

session on this race to 13 was the first frame this morning. And now,

that is in the bag. It doesn't matter about that. Joe

Perry will be disappointed there. Two good chances but he got what he

wanted, he won the first frame. Joe Perry now only needs -- leads by

one. It is 9-8. Well, Terry, just the start that Ronnie wanted but not

the start that Joe wanted. A few errors there but the only thing that

matters is who won the frame. A very important frame. He would have been

three frames behind at this stage. He is getting closer to the magic

13, it has been tough for him. Let's have a look at a couple of mistakes.

This was a good chance, he got a nice opening red. Basically, he is

running through, must have thought he would catch the red and orbits

then because that was a bit of a schoolboy error but this one,

unforgivable, that is the type of shot you would never expect Job

Terry to miss, the stun run-through. Of course, he had the scars of the

two missed opportunities prior. And that in the end cost in the first

frame. One mistake too many. So, Joe just waiting for Ronnie to return

and Bonnie has come back. -- Ronnie. Another big frame coming up.

He is continuing with the left-handed break off. I spoke to

Ronnie about that a few times, he feels he can get more side on it

playing its left-handed. He always believed you have to be this side of

the baulk line to be -- to find a good place on the baulk cushion. He

has lost the chance of a pot on here.

And a good one it is. Fully committed there. He would have like

to have stopped it. Joe Perry have to make sure, he

obviously is thinking about it, but you cannot start thinking you have

to make the most of every chance, it is not quite like that. It does help

if you do but if you stop thinking it, you will be likely to miss. --

if you start thinking it. He missed a few chances in the first frame

which doesn't help your confidence. Missing that pink will be a real

body blow. After the good opening red. And of course, Ronnie is the

type of player, like all great champions, Terry, they will see that

as a weakness and jump all over it. I think Ronnie is thinking about his

own weaknesses at the moment. He was not happy with the way he played in

the first two sessions. Not that he expected Joe Perry to play so well

but Bonnie was not at his best. But these days, he tends to still win

matches when he is not at his best. In years gone by, that may not have

happened. Yes, it was a few years ago when nothing but his best

pleased him. He used to get frustrated and it would show in his

play. I have seen that a couple of times yesterday afternoon in the

second session when I thought he lost a little bit of discipline. He

was trying to make things happen. But that is what can happen when you

are playing catch up. Going into the reds, looking for one to continue

with. It could have come better. It had -- it could have come a lot

better than that. He hit them well enough. He needed the cue ball to

come away from the cushion. It looked like it would do it until the

red came and nudged it back on there. A tough shot coming up.

He doesn't like that red. He is taking the more difficult pot on.

Well, I didn't think it was in until it dropped, to be honest with you.

But he is nicely on the pink. A good chance.

Steve Peter's has had a big effect on Bonnie's mind of the game on the

table. No one has handed him perfection better than he has and

that is what it is all about. He will never lose his skill.

The cannon, but he slipped through the reds. Now, what is available? By

the looks of it, nothing. He is playing safe.

Just watch that again. He just wanted to catch that little bit

fuller. I must say, he is a little unlucky to get the cannon and slide

between the gap of the other two reds. But at least he gave the

safety full concentration. Just a bit thick on that safety. He

may not have left anything to tempt Ronnie to go for. I would expect him

to play a better safety than that. Well, he is playing the pot.

Super shot. What will please him is the long potting has been below

standard for most of this match. He has put in a couple of nice ones

already this morning. That is Richie Lowe for Ronnie O'Sullivan, 48%. 13

out of 27 he has potted. Joe Perry hasn't disturbed the

scoreboard too much this morning. He will have to get started. He is in a

tough position here. He swerved it too much. He doesn't want to leave a

free ball. And the first session there, you see the pot success of

Ronnie. Just 29%. That was very long. And so far this morning, 100%.

I think mid 60s is about right for longer potting. Obviously, if you

are very long and with the attacking players today, that means that you

are not taking advantage of slight safety errors from your opponent. I

think Ronnie O'Sullivan is a bit like Stephen Hendry who rises

heavily on that with the top players to beat them and get in and score

them -- score with his long potting. It is very satisfying if you do. It

gives you inspiration because you are taking risks with long pots.

Missed again. Well Ronnie will have it put back now. Could he get

through to hit a red? I don't think so. Just because he's trying the

shot doesn't mean to say, does he get a warning? No, he obviously can

hit any red. Swerving this to try and get a thin

contact. He has got it this time and played it pretty well. But that was

always the fear that he was going to knock the red towards the corner and

that is what he has done. If Ronnie can pot this red and get a position

on a colour, it could be the second frame of this morning.

He has lost position a few times and that will affect him. Going back to

the long potting, of course it is not just the numbers that count, it

is how much you miss them by. If you're missing them by a

distance, you're hitting slightly across the ball, or putting a bit of

unintentional side on. It doesn't look as if Ronnie is on a colour.

Taking the opportunity to put one of the colours out of commission. Gave

that a bit of thought. In a spot of bother is Joe.

That is as good a shot as he has played this morning. Well played.

Good shot, Joe. Taking this one. There would be a

good chance of a safety. He has got it slightly thick. One thing Ronnie

has done well is when he has lost position, he has played a good

safety from it. He hasn't rushed in and got disappointment. He seems to

be in a better frame of mind today. There is a long pot that goes in for

Joe. That is what I expect from Joe Perry. Very good potter.

The problem is when you're 40-odd points in arrears, it is chipping

away at that deficit. Before you can think about the frame.

What you have got to ask yourself, if this was roles reversed, would

you fancy O'Sullivan to clear up from here. The answer would be yes.

I would fancy him to get back in the frame. To clear up, I don't know.

The yellow is awkward. Joe wasn't happy with the contact there. So he

asked for the cue ball to be cleaned.

There is a few hurdles along the way here. But Joe Perry will be glad to

be on the table. A chance to bring one of the awkward

reds away from the side cushion. He didn't get into it fully enough. He

wanted to guarantee his position on the colour.

Oh! Well, Joe, you cannot miss these type of shots! You cannot make these

mistakes at this level. Oh, he has missed the black! There

you go - trying to get the cannon, took his eye off the pot. A lot off

for Joe! -- let off for Joe. Well that could act in his favour. I

don't think he played that shot. But it will bring the yellow into play.

The yellow will come back up and go on its spot. It's hard work so far

this morning for Joe. I wouldn't expect him to miss that. I know it

is along the cushion. But such a good potter.

Ronnie trying to put distance between cue ball and object ball and

he has been very lucky there. He has left the yellow. But the green is a

blocker. Very fortunate. Good hit there from Joe. And nearly

got the snooker. Not quite. There's nothing quite like an

exciting end to a frame when there is mistakes are made. Somebody's

going to clear up if they have got a chance.

Good pot, but he is not on the green.

He could get snooker behind the brown which would give him

initiative in the game. Well, he is not quite there. You can just bend

it. Well he didn't get right in behind

it. Foul. There is a foul there. I didn't quite see what happened. If

it is a foul, I presume miss would be called. So let's have a look what

happened here. I can only assume maybe Ronnie hit the brown or

something, did he? Well, I didn't quite see the foul. I didn't see

that myself. I presume he touched the brown. It is so important to get

this greenback in the right position.

Let's have another look at this. Maybe he thought it was a double

hit, did he? Didn't look to hit the brown. Pushing the cue through, hit

it there. Yes, the cue followed the white, so maybe it was a double hit.

It is an unusual double hit from that situation. Yes, it was

definitely half covered by the brown the top cushion. It's got to be so

precise this. I sometimes wonder why they don't just ask the players to

put them back, because you know they're the ones who seem to be

having the final decision here. Well I think the player who played the

shot knows exactly more or less where it is, give or take a tenth of

a millimetre. I don't think you could hit it direct. He had to

swerve it slightly. That is the line I would be

thinking. He just clipped it. That was a bit fortunate and where is the

cue ball going to finish? But it is safe enough. That is all you're

hoping for. Nine points the difference. He has

got a good line here. Pink and black were always going to be the

snookering balls. Well, is it safe, or will this green

cut in? It may just cutback into the pocket here. Nine points adrift.

Decided not to risk it. Thought he was guaranteed a snooker and he was

right. Calling the shots at the moment in this very important safety

exchange. A very important frame, because both

players have missed chances in this frame.

Gone very quiet all of a sudden. Just the pink needed.

The frame to Joe Perry. He missed a few chances, but Ronnie O'Sullivan

won't be too happy. It has now gone two frames back again. 10-8 to Joe

Perry. Yes, that will disappoint Ronnie to lose that frame. Joe Perry

once again showed few signs of weaknesses. Particularly when he

missed the pink in the middle. Ronnie just hasn't got complete

control of the cue ball when he is in and making breaks. We usually see

him so pin point accurate with his positional play. But Joe Perry made

enough mistakes in that frame and Ronnie had enough chances. OK,

Ronnie's long potting has improved from the first session. But he will

be disappointed to have let that frame slip. That was his first shot

of the morning. Nicely aimed, clean as a whistle. As I say, something

that will please him and this was another terrific one. He didn't get

position on the colour. As with this one. Finished up on a colour and in

the end finished up losing that frame and with the opportunities and

chances he had, a few that were given him by his opponent, then

disappointed. But he keeps getting within one frame and then Joe pulls

away again. And with the target being 13, for a place in the second

round, he needs to close that gap sooner rather than later. So sit is

on him at the moment, the defending champion. Two more frames to be

played before the mid session interval. They're all important, but

these two are very big. And Ronnie still not firing on all cylinders.

Oh, well there's a fluke! Nothing you can do about that. And he is

just about on the yellow. But as we all know, if you have a bit of luck,

take advantage of it. Ronnie O'Sullivan, if he goes on to

win the frame, that fluke would be very important in Joe Perry's mind.

We have seen rrn enough to know that he hasn't really started great. --

Ronnie O'Sullivan. But a flick of the switch and he is off to go.

It is a frightening atmosphere players like this, they play so

quick. As Rob Walker says, blink and you miss it.

He needs to run past the black. He has just about done it. He overhit

that slightly. Just over run the position again. He

will have to play the cannon here, you feel.

He is OK, he has got a red to continue and he has finish on it

nicely. This is a great opportunity for Ronnie to take full advantage of

that fluke red. But when you get a bit of luck,

don't apologise. Just take the opportunity.

This was that fluke again. He had to play it thick to avoid the red on

the right hand side of the table, never imagining one would go into

the corner. But it did. I think the pink spot is in the

open. He is looking after this pink. He

still needs three reds to get past the winning line.

Decided to flay cannon and -- play the cannon and he is nicely on the

red. This blue and one more red will get

him to the snooker required stage. Joe Perry will be thinking how

unlucky he was not to get a chance in this frame and I would agree with

him. But that is snooker. It is so difficult to sit out and

watch this for Joe Perry. But for everybody else, they love it.

When he is on his game, he is brilliant to watch.

Well, it is a pity the black didn't go in. But it started with a fluke,

but he made the most of it and he is one frame behind again. 10-9 Joe

Perry. It always makes me laugh when people say that was a great break,

although he fluked the first red, he still had to get the others. But if

he doesn't fluke the first red, you don't know what would are happened.

So Ronnie took advantage of his good fortune. He had to avoid the red on

the right and it worked out in his advantage. Well the great thing

about Snook Serce is you have no -- snooker is you have got no controls

of balls when it has gone. He has no control of fluke. Other times the

balls don't go for you. He did take advantage. It is the speed he does

it in. That is what is disturbing as his opponent. That frame took just

over seven minutes. So there is a mid session interval after this

frame. Can Ronnie level? Everything points to Ronnie

O'Sullivan levelling. But he has set up the reds again and anything could

happen. I have to say in one way what

happened in the previous frame with Ronnie having a fluke, it is better

for Joe Perry than if Joe Perry lost the frame with a few shots that he

missed. That is what affects you the most.

The only red he can get to is the one on the right. If he was to stun

that in and leave the cue ball where the red is, he would have a chance

of the black. Great pot! Great pot! Knew it was

always going to be close to the side cushion and the black was never

going to be easy. Does he see any future in this

black? He its having a look to see what he can get. Good control from

Andy Sullivan. Sometimes, when you look at a long pot, it is hard to

control. You won't see him do that very often, refuse a shop like that.

But as you say, good control, self-control, and he knows the

importance of this frame. Can he get back on?

This looks dangerous side to come down to me. I can't believe he

didn't ink about trying to play the red near the top cushion. That was

fraught with danger, coming down that side. So, here is a chance Joe

Perry now. Two frames up again but more importantly, a mid-session

interval for Ronnie to stew over. He doesn't seem to be losing his

composure, Joe. He looks and control out there,

which is good. Lose control of your mind, you've got nothing.

He played that nicely. He played for two reds.

I don't think he was happy with the bounce of the cushion. There was a

little bit of a jump when cue ball met object ball. He is not perfect

on this black by any means. He has got the natural angle on the black

to play for the red along the top cushion but that red will be tricky.

And he will want to play for it. No, he won't. So, I presume he has

played to the -- for the red macro to the left middle. It looks like he

is playing it in the middle. Now, a poor positional shot off the

black. Well, it is the thin cut but Ronnie may not play it. Let's look

at Joe's miss again. That was all caused because he and hit a

positional shot from black to red. He has gone for the cut. It needs to

bounce off the cushion. Just enough to give him a chance of putting the

black and getting into those bunch of reds.

He has brought one or two reds out, right from the middle. The red at

the top of the path may go to the left corner.

I don't think he played for the pink. I am sure he didn't. , so,

blue, it has helped the path of the blue. There is plenty of room to

come in and out of baulk. Playing the cannon. He needs to catch it

bullish. It didn't. It has opened it up slightly. I think he had just

about got the angle. But, boy, you've got to be accurate with this

if you are playing with any kind of pace. And there is not much of an

angle, looking at it. Play did brilliantly. Didn't do a

lot with the cue ball. He knew how difficult the pot was. There is one

red sticking out of that little line of four. If he can pot the black,

cannon this red in the little of the table. He got the cannon.

Not out of the woods just yet. You saw him take a deep breath

disappointing. He feels the pressure, like everybody else does.

They say we are all human, we all like to be loved and we all get

wrecked in the main, John. -- we all got wet. -- we all get wet. A tricky

little shot, this. Any more pace, and I don't think it would have gone

in. But he played it lovely and he is nicely on the red and if the

paint is available into the middle, it makes it a little bit easier for

position. But he could stun over for the black. Just one point behind

now. Big frame, this, one of the biggest

frames in the match, because we are getting near the business end.

Oh, dear me, what was that? How on earth can you miss ball like that

from so much distance? Lack of concentration? You can't believe

that at this stage of the match, and such an important frame, but that is

what it looked to be. What a let off for Joe Perry. Can he now make the

most of it? He mustn't have even looked at the red.

Unbelievable, the things that can happen.

That herself admits was unbelievable. The shock. It is the

unexpected that is the hardest to put up with. Puts him ten points in

front. A quick glance at the school board,

16 points in the lead. If he had played for the black, he

would need the black in the yellow but now he is playing for the blue,

he needs yellow and green. So, if is not just a case of rolling this

yellow in. If he only needed big yellow, that is what he would have

done. He has to get back up for the green.

Joe Perry has done well here. He had to make the balls under extreme

pressure, like all the players. He still leads by two frames. 11-9.

Joe Perry maintained his to frame advantage. I said it was going to be

thrilling. Steve Davis joins me. They picked up from when they left

off less today evening. It looks for all the world as if Ronnie

O'Sullivan would produce a 3-1 mini session and get back to level but

all of a sudden, when it looked like he had done all the hard work, he

was on it, all of a sudden, he moved his head to the right to check on

the colours, got back down again and Mr shot. And, what you need to do,

if you do have your mind take another shot, you should get again

and take the start -- start the process again. I think Ronnie

O'Sullivan but he was definitely going to pot the ball. It is the

type of thing that you would tell a kid, OK, you are not sure what you

are going to do. Stand up, approached the shot again, as if it

is a separate shop. Like in cricket, you are taught if you're not happy

with the field as a bowler, you stop your runner-up and you say to the

umpire, I am going to start again. The same with golf. You are lined up

with a shot, you change mind that the shot, you see the Gulf of very

often get back up again, stand behind the line of very often get

back up again, stand behind the line-up is shot and go through the

whole an error. He could have got the shot and it wouldn't have made a

difference but in hindsight, a big error. Joe Perry is still in front

and that is crucial. That frame was enormous because Joe Perry is now

very close to the finishing line certainly to the one on the Hill.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, he will realise he has thrown away a golden

opportunity to turn it around in the first session. It is getting more

critical for him to not make mistakes. Joe Perry will be buoyed

up by the fact that he produced a very good claimants when needed and

once again, Joe Perry is getting confirmation and affirmation that he

is producing, when needed, in the biggest of all, against the greatest

players that have ever been, you cannot get more confidence than

that. Is there an upset on the cards? Yes, that was the biggest

moment but he still has to get over the line. We saw last night, little

did have trouble getting over the line in the last frame. There still

will be the opportunity for the player to baulk at the finishing

line. Thank you. Let's turn our attention to the other match taking

place this morning. Between Ken Doherty and the last remaining

Scottish play here at the 2014 death bed world Snooker championship. We

are going to pick up the lead now. -- against Alan McManus.

He managed to sort another one out. My seat on the green. I don't know

if he can cut the blue in as well. But certainly nice on the green.

Loads of reverse side there to take the cue ball wide. He can pick the

pink or blue, whichever he wants. When Alan McManus went 4-1 in front,

he was probably thinking, I will be careful now, expecting to take on

full -- from 4-1. And it went little bit quiet.

Not a bad chance here, even though the black is tied up. Just

concentrate on the pink. It is great to see Alan McManus back

again. He struggled for quite a few seasons but it has been looking good

for the last couple of seasons in the qualifiers. He has started to

produce the Snooker that he used to do throughout the 1980s. He was one

of the toughest players in the game to beat. He spoiled Stephen Hendry

pot run in the Masters. Stephen had won five in a row and beat him in

the final. Stephen was going for his sixth Masters title.

Clearly, Alan is going to struggle to win the game at this visit.

Tried to leave an angle in the pink so he could screw onto the red but

once again, I think it is a little bit too straight to do that.

Oblivious no good because he cannot get onto the blue. This extension

gets a bit of use. He has put it down three times already. I wish

they had had those around when I was playing. I was useless with the

rest. It would have been so helpful. I've remember when the first

expansion ever came out, the commentator and a great player, Jim

Eder Croft, used to work with the BBC, Q plus, it was called, you

stuck it on the end of your cue and that was the very first extension.

It hasn't done all that well the last couple of years. If you are

watching, Jim, all the very best. We used to practice together with Alex

Higgins. He was trying to click that red. Jim

stayed with me in Leicester for a couple of years. I don't think I

have ever seen a player able to get more side on a ball than him.

Unbelievable shot. No attempt at the pot there, just

trying to get the safety shot. That type of shot really tests your

cue action. I don't think he has got away with it, this red passes the

green, if he has got an angle, he can now play a cannon. He doesn't

have to play a cannon but he can get past the pink ball one of the reds.

In fact, this red pots. If he had an angle, he would love to cannon into

the red. He might just have that. If he forces it in and one the white

down. Oh, what a shot. What a shot. That is why they call him angles

McManus. It is a key frame, this opening

frame. It should have been the last frame of the opening session, but

they only managed to play seven. He won four straight frames, did Alan.

Ken took two in a row. So, this is key for Alan to establish a two

frame advantage again. He is already 21 in front. He just needs the black

so he won't be trying to get right up to the yellow, just make sure and

give yourself a long pot of the yellow. Had he has needed the

yellow, he would have played the reverse side to get closer to the

yellow. Another glance at the scoreboard, he is 28 ahead. 27 on

the table. No attempt at the pot there. Trying

Snooker, Alan McManus has established a two frame advantage.

Into the next frame, McManus back at the table, trailing by two points.

He has two power this in, to get it back towards the pink. -- he has to

power this in. There are a couple of reds or

certainly one red available into the left corner if he puts the pink. It

is just a of the black spot. That nice little cannon has made

three reds available. 12 points in front, he will be

reluctant to play in the black. He will definitely try and keep the

pink in his eye line. These five reds are still pottable from the

pink. He can get into a position where he wins the frame here.

Another excellent positional shot from Alan, there. He might play the

one to the right hand pocket. You can't do an awful lot with the cue

ball, screw back to the red for the same pocket. But you don't want to

be straight on the pink. That is his next problem. Played it nicely.

He lost the cue ball there. That was a pull shot. -- that was a pull

shot. The break comes through at 35.

Looked like he would win the frame for that. Ken trying to bring the

black into play, but you have to be careful with that red in the middle.

It could be in the way. There it is. A very bad shot.

Got to watch the brown with his sleeve there. The referee there,

eagle-eyed. He needs two more reds and two

colours. That is a better shot. The frame is safe. The pink to make

absolutely sure. Left himself a possible double here.

It is a good start for Alan McManus here to opened up a three-frame

advantage. Ken nods to concede the frame and

Alan McManus has taken the two frames and is now 6-3 in front. If

you want to continue watching that match, it is available on the red

button, and on the BBC web-site. However, here on BBC Two our live

match is Joe Perry taking on Ronnie O'Sullivan. Perry leads 11-9. It is

the first to 13. The pressure is very much on. Let's rejoin our

commentary team of John Virgo and Terry Griffiths. Both players are

back. The match will be played to a finish here and now. The reason it

is a two-frame deficit for Ronnie O'Sullivan was this red, just wasn't

comfortable on it and probably should have give it an extra second

or two thought. But it is behind him now as Joe Perry breaks off.

Looking for two more frames for a place in the quarter final and a

big, big upset. He is giving this plenty of thought.

It must be difficult. He is trying to get back to the baulk end and he

has to catch it right. Played the thick one. Well, he has

got a good cue ball. A little tap on the table from Joe Perry as we go

past the five-hour mark. Ronnie O'Sullivan came in a short priced

favourite to win the title. It is getting near the winning line in

this match and the form book is out of the window.

Just a bit pacy and Ronnie has been left a chance of a long red. And he

may decide in playing the red to play a little cannon on the two reds

to the right of the black. Well, he decided to play with a

little bit of left-hand side to check, the cue ball needs to slow

up. He knows now he can't afford any more unforced errors. Just went in.

The side threw it a little bit wide. When twe looked back at that red he

missed in the last frame, he was playing it before he decided what he

was going to do with the cue ball. So this is what he was looking for

first chance, can he make the most of it?

He will wait for a better angle possibly. The black available to

both corner pockets. There is a red next to the pink and he can drop the

blue in and play for the red to the right of the pink. He would probably

prefer to be on this red to the left.

He screwed past the red, no angle to achieve that. But he gets immediate

spin on. Could have played it better. He is not perfect on this

red. He has left an angle to perhaps

dislodge the two by the pink. It may have gone wrong. Does that

red go? It is close. Oh, well I thought it just went and

so did Ronnie. Once again a chance to win a frame in one visit not

taken. He doesn't like that pocket. That is where he missed the red in

the previous frame. That red lifted off the table.

Not an easy red for Joe Perry. At this stage he has got to get those.

That is true, every half chance has got to be taken by both players.

Ronnie will be pleased to immediately get back to the table

and finish what he started. 54 points the lead. Still a possible

83 remaining. No problem and the black will put

him 69 points in front with 67 remaining.

Just making certain of the red. He knew that would make the task

impossible. Terrific pot and he looks to have

judged the pace of this absolutely to the inch. Superb shot.

The next frame is a big one, as they all are now. But he is starting to

fly, is Ronnie. The red's got gone in, but that

means he has won the first frame after the mid session interval, but

he still trails by one. Well that is what you need to do, Terry, when

you're playing catch up, win frames quickly. But he needed two funts.

Yes, you see the red. Watch this red now. When the cue ball strikes it.

It will just bounce a little bit. You see it lifting off. That could

have caused h imto push the red into the other red. I remember years ago

there was a bill yard player called Lesley Driffield, he said when you

hit the ball, you could put a coin in front and it would jump over it.

Joe had one slim chance. But it was a tough red this. And just - this is

a little bit too thin. That was the second chance that Ronnie needed to

win the frame. But Joe never apart from that pot, didn't have much of

an opportunity. So he has nothing to reflect badly on in that frame. Two

frames from a place in the quarter final. That is what he will be

thinking. That is a often the case against O'Sullivan, you don't often

to make many mistakes when he is in full flow. But never been behind in

the match, has Joe Perry. Ronnie back in the arena now. Another big

frame coming up. So 21 frames played. How many more

are we going to have? The match has been pretty tight all the way

through. The most important thing, O'Sullivan

hasn't been in front yet. Hen he starts potting the long ones,

he is pretty hard work to play against.

He is a little bit close to the cushion. You would think the brown

would be the ball to play. He was shaping for the brown, now

playing the green. Well, it was a good pot on the

green. Helps not ideal on this red. He has just overrun it slightly. The

blue is the more comfortable pot. In it went, but he has overdone it.

He has over-screwed. He has a chance of the red to the right. But he will

be careering into the other reds. So no guarantee of position and the red

is missable. Well, he played it well. But didn't

get through reds as he wanted. Surely he can't take this black on?

Joe Perry maybe thinking he will be coming to the table sooner rather

than later. With the top spin, it was that third

red that he made contact with that just held the cue ball in this

position. He has got to select the best shot

available. The problem he has got here, he can't play safe off the

black and he doesn't want to leave that red, or a view of that red that

is near the baulk line. But the most important thing is to cover the rid

near the right corner. -- cover the red.

He is taking a chance playing it off the black. He could leave it here.

Well, the red just above the black is available. So I don't see the

merit in that shot. Gave it plenty of thought. Didn't he overcomplicate

it? I think in the back of his mind he doesn't want to get the black

safe. He has got a tough blue or yellow

on. Clean as a whistle. All you can

expect is a chance. Can Joe Perry make the most of it?

This is a defining moment in his snooker career.

He has a chance now to go within one frame of the quarter final.

This is the sort of position he has been scoring from in this match.

He caught that a little bit too full and he is not good on the reds. He

will need the long rest to play it. A very thin cut in the corner. This

is a bit awkward. He can't get to the middle of the cue ball. So it is

a tricky shot. I think he is of a mind if he gets an opportunity to go

for it. Right in the heart of the pocket.

Not perfect on the blue by any means. But another good positional

shot needed. That was a good pot with the rest.

He will need a couple of these four reds that are close together. He has

left himself an angle. But the pink is half a blocker.

He played the scan none, where is the cue ball going -- he played the

cannon. Where is the cue ball going. That is the danger. He tried to

screw and miss the pink, which he did. But catching that red half

ball, it was always on. He seemed to play the double. The

only problem is he has put one red out of commission. I can see why he

played it. If he had got it he could have rolled up. Joe Perry has a

tough safety on. These shots get more difficult,

specially when you're defending a lead. Just a bit short of pace.

Caught the pink. Left a chance of a long red. But it is a tough one and

he needs to get it if he goes for it.

Now, where is the red going? Well it has just bounced enough, but there

is a red on to the right middle. This is where we believe you on BBC

Two. But if you hit the red button you can continue to enjoy this

match. Hazel will be back at 1. 15 on BBC1 for more coverage from the

Crucible. Do join her for that. Bye for now.