Day 8, Part 3 Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon. The second weekend in Sheffield. We are immersed in

what has been a fascinating first eight days. Everybody is trying to

get into the quarterfinals. Ronnie O'Sullivan went through this

morning, but it was not easy up against Joe Perry. The man from

Cambridgeshire had an 11-9 lead at Ronnie went on overdrive with breaks

of 124 and 113. He played some utterly sublime stuff to get him

through to a 16th Crucible quarterfinals. How good was he?

Awesome. To produce two century breaks back-to-back on the most

extreme pressure when you have not been at your best, fantastic

performance. What's turned it for him? He came out after the interval

and there was no stopping him. He sensed a little bit of weakness in

Joe Perry. Perhaps one tactical shot. We really are splitting hairs.

It was Ronnie O'Sullivan playing precious snooker when he had to. I

think he is the best pleasure player I have ever seen. That was huge

pressure. He plays like he is in the club. It is 11-11. In most aspects

he has been outplayed. To produce that when you have to do it is

phenomenal. That is his 12th victory in a row. He has not been beaten

since the quarterfinals in 2011. The trouble is, where the other players

are going to have a problem for the rest of this tournament and for the

foreseeable future, is that Ronnie O'Sullivan does not have any

weaknesses in his game. If you are playing top Trumps, he would be

better in every department. It is not like anybody can get a grip on

him in any shape or form so they have to play well above their

standard, because it is not as FE does not play good safety, or years

a front runner and crumbles when he is behind, every department is so

strong, it puts a lot of pressure on his opponent. So they come in and it

is very hard for them not to commence in a negative state of

mind. You have to give credit to Joe Perry because he stood up to

Ronnie, not just today. One of the best performances we have ever seen

from Joe. The best. He took it to him the first session. He stood up

to him. He said a marker and said he was going to take some beating.

Unfortunately he ran into a genius at the end of it. He can be very

proud of his performance. The world number three would have been

watching and watching the other match this morning because Mark

Selby was the first man through to the quarterfinals last night. He was

watching a match between Ken Doherty and Alan McManus. The veteran

couple, the oldest guys in the draw. This was a very interesting start to

the match. They only managed to complete seven of the eight frames

yesterday and it was Alan McManus who led 4-3. Alan McManus streaking

ahead this morning, five in a row. This is the 13th frame.

That is halfway for Alan. He has left the red into the middle.

Let us see if he can get a break to get himself going. Not that he

played that shot, but he will take it. He was saying last night the

table is so fast. Sometimes if you stay out a little

bit later and have a glass of wine, you find you cannot pot a ball if

you do not have a drink and if you have a couple of gin and tonics you

cannot miss a ball. Sometimes if you go to bed early you do not sleep

properly. There is such excitement playing

here in the World Championship. He needs to get on the half ball

like in order to bring a couple of other reds into play.

Can you believe it? This is so frustrating for Ken. Just put it

onto the near jaw again. It gets to a stage when you do not

even want to be in the room when things are going so badly. He has

not made a break above 30 in the whole match. I think Ken is one of

the best players of all time. That was delightful, because he had

so much side it could have just cannoned into the red. Look at it

spinning between the two reds. He did well. He could have held for

the Black the other side, but the reds are perfect from this side.

He can't pot this, I am sure. -- can.

He is gradually closing in on the quarterfinal place. It is 2005 since

he got to the quarterfinal, Alan. He lost that year to one of my old

practice partners. He was a great player and got to the semifinal but

he had a bad shoulder injury and never recovered and had to retire.

Just when he had the frame in his mercy, he misses a black off the

spot. A tricky little red in the middle, but he can hold for the

paint. -- pink. If I was not sitting here watching this, I would not

believe what is happening. He is a firm favourite with the

crowd, Ken, as is Alan. You have to feel for Ken, definitely.

He is sitting there and he just does not know what to do at the moment.

Alan has to keep going and get this much over as soon as possible. --

match. He needs three reds, three colours.

He cannot win the match in this session. They are only going to play

eight frames. It should not really be a problem,

although the two reds are they either -- are either side of the

pink, they are both pottable. See how he forced the angle. It

looks fairly straight. This is frame ball. Ken had two

glorious chances in this frame. That puts the frame beyond

reasonable doubt. X in a row for Alan McManus. -- six.

Ken cannot get a frame on the board. A little exhibition shot,

beautifully played. That sums up his name, Angles

McManus. A lovely break of 54 Boots Alan McManus further clear.

It is not looking so good for Ken Doherty. His biggest break of the

Championship so far came next. His top break had been 26. He is very

happy about that, and he should be. That case has left a chance for Ken.

If he pot this, he is going over towards the two reds. Let us see if

his luck has changed. Thank you. Thumbs up from Ken as

somebody in the crowd said, yes! When you think of how many easy

blacks he has missed, and he gets this difficult one.

A good start, four reds and four blacks. There is ?25,000 for a

maximum. He has done it before here. The one I saw he would have won a

?70,000 sports car, and he missed the black.

He is looking at playing the cannon. If this works, he is still on the

black. There are a couple of reds that seemed to be available into the

right-hand corner. If he can get back onto those, at least one of

them will go. This would be the greatest

performance of all time, the way he has played in this match, if you can

get close to getting a maximum. He will be thinking about that. You

always want to secure the frame. He looks like a completely different

player. That is OK, he could go into the reds if he wanted.

There may be two of them that will go. There is two, at least.

It was always going to be tough to get high on that red, he has done,

well played. He needs an angle on the next black to get into the five

reds. It was in the European tour event

that he made his only maximum break. This is the key shot. If he gets the

cannon and opens the five reds, he will have a chance. He did not get

into them as he intended. He needed more topspin.

He hit the wrong one. The only chance he has is to pot the long red

and screw back up. Maybe if the left of the three will go, he is now

looking at the plant. Is there an angle on the red?

I do not think he can make the plant from there.

He did not even hit the red. Fabulous effort from Ken Doherty. He

closes the gap by winning the last two frames, but he is still behind.

We have seen four blogs over the age of 35 this morning. 13 of the 16 men

who started over 30, although three of them in their 20s. It is not a

young man's game when it comes to the Crucible. You could argue you

have far too much time on your hands. Snooker, like golf, is a game

of experience, but you have to hold your nerve as well. The argument is,

how old can you become before the nerve goes? It seems like 40 is

tricky. Stephen Hendry started to go off a bit, so did I. There is

nothing wrong with playing pass that time. There might be a case to be

made that there has been a drop in the amount of clubs in the UK and

the game has moved more worldwide and we are missing a generation of

players that are coming through and it may be time to worry about the

future. Hopefully we can somehow get new players, new blood, into the

game in this country, otherwise it might be that the hotshots are going

to come from overseas. Maybe not too much time on my hands, just a

Crucible bubble. It is all a bit of a fog. Let us clear that.

This afternoon we will have Judd Trump. His first round match he has

to improve, a match he admitted he got a little bit bored. He will have

to improve sharpish and get the concentration head on today because

he is up against Ryan Day, who has had a quietly impressive season so

far. I was not really playing well at the

start of the season. I changed something with my technique around

Christmas and I worked really hard for about three weeks up to a month

constantly practising until that change became second nature. It is

important to hit the ball well and timing is so important. It is

important to get into a rhythm early and rely on your technique. If your

game is in shape and you are feeling pretty confident, then you sort of

care less about to your playing against, you just want to

concentrate on getting your own game in shape and just worry about

yourself, really. The pride of Bristol! The ace in the pack! He is

a great player, I am looking forward to the match, I have been

practising, just looking forward to getting started. It is likely to be

pretty open, we are both likely to get on with it with not too much

safety and just hope it doesn't go to the side again. Hopefully I will

win this time, but more convincingly! I have got two young

children, so I have not been able to put as much time in quality practice

as I should have. Anyone that knows, having children, it is a

massive change and now they are starting to grow up, and now they

are in school, it is a bit easier on myself and my wife and I have

started to practice properly and the results are slowly starting to come.

Ryan Day and Judd Trump, and Judd Trump 16 months ago was at the top

of the game, the world number one, and his form this season has left a

lot of people scratching their heads. He did not make it past the

last 16 in any of the major tournaments until the German Masters

in February when he was runner-up to Ding Junhui. He made to the

semifinals of the Players Championship a month ago when he was

beaten by Barry Hawkins, but overall, he has dropped to world

number eight. Clues about this match? Not many, because when you

think about it, there has only been one match between them which was a

couple of years ago at a minor event. Ryan Day had the last word on

it. It should be a very watchable match.

This should be a really attractive match? It should be, both like to

score and over the shots, I am looking forward to it. Judd Trump

needs to up it in the first round? Yes, he had some trouble, he has got

a new tip on the cue, it would be interesting to see how it goes

today. Ryan Day, wedding hell he did with Stephen Maguire, that should

stand him in good stead. -- winning the way he did. It showed great

character, Judd Trump needs to improve a lot. These are heavy

scorers, but that be the key to this today? Yes, they are not great

safety players or tactician, but they pot as well as anyone in the

competition. Who do you fancy? Ryan Day. Judd Trump. Rob Walker, down to

you. Thank you. We have got our breath back from the drama this

morning, now we get to do it all over again, because there are still

six places up for grabs in the quarterfinals of this 2014 Dafabet

World Championship APPLAUSE . An atmospheric Crucible here.

CHEERING Please welcome, first of all, a

player bidding for his second successive Crucible quarterfinal,

twice a ranking event winner in China, he showed that class

yesterday, semifinalist in this year's UK Championship, from

Chester, Ricky Walden! CHEERING And his opponent, a player who has

reached another level since winning the Aussie two years ago, now

undoubtedly playing the best snooker of his 18 year career, a magnificent

run to the final here 12 months ago, the winner of last year's

Players Championship, here comes Barry Hawkins! APPLAUSE

Here on table number two, please welcome a research and Welshman,

once again going in the right directions on the world rankings,

his victory over Stephen Maguire in the first round decider, arguably

one of his best performances in recent years, the semifinalist in

this season's German Masters, he is dynamite, he is Ryan Day!

APPLAUSE And his opponent, one of the most

exciting players of his generation, since reaching the final here is

three years ago, his bold, attacking style has won him an army of fans,

twice a ranking event winner in China, if former UK champion, and

this year he had an official 147 in Belgium, he is the pride of Bristol,

the ace in the pack, Judd Trump! APPLAUSE

We will keep an eye on the Barry Hawkins, Ricky Walden match, but

first, we will go to table two, Steve, Willie, it is all yours.

This could be an amazing match, Judd Trump will have to improve greatly

on his first-round match, but it shows how good he is now, any body

else would have gotten beaten in that match against Tom Ford. Yes, he

had some help from his opponent to on the day could not get over the

line, but it would be interesting to see how Judd Trump performed in this

match. A lot of expectation on him. He had that win in China, that

winning the UK, you would have thought he would kick on from there,

but he just has not done it. It is about time that he started

producing. He had some tip trouble in his

recent round, he changed his tip, then he had a few days to knock it

in. Ronnie O'Sullivan also has troubles with the tip, you would

think that they would have a decent tip by the time they get to the

World Championship. Yes, Ronnie O'Sullivan has done it many, many

times. Between matches, the changes it sometimes. -- he changes.

The aggressive safety shot, coming off three cushions, but the first

chance of a Ryan Day. -- the first towns of a pot for Ryan Day.

The only case there would not have left a pot on. A thin kiss or a

half-ball contact would have been fine.

Second potting opportunity for Ryan Day.

In practice, that is the shot you would play.

Both long shots have been a long way off. Perhaps he has not settled yet.

He has got his dazzling shoes on again, that allegedly Costerg couple

of grand! -- cost a couple of grand. Would you fancy those? ! Never

thought I would see a snooker player wearing those. We're getting too old

for those, Willie! The balls are in a perfect position,

the black is still unavailable to the right-hand corner.

Great advantage to have that cue power. No problem at all. Cueing up

for that bore colour. -- baulk colour.

He tried to bring the black into play, he has got a breezy bonus, the

pink is now available. He got into the cue ball a fraction too much,

but that turned out to be perfect. The cue power is such an advantage,

so many players in the game do not have that shot in their arsenal. It

truly hampers them. You can tell already that the tippee

has got on is much more responsive. Any time he played the screw shot in

the previous matches, he did not get the position, but he is now.

It's very good contribution, considering black and blue have been

out of play. He needs to screw back about another inch. There is no gap.

He has taken this on. This is dangerous. What a brilliant shot.

Very, very unlucky not to be on a ball. All of a sudden, he is

nothing. What a clever shot to screw off the black, Stephen? Yes, a

example of his cue power and timing. To be able to get yourself out of

trouble with these shots, few players could do that.

Once again has two play an aggressive shots to get to pink or

black. Just a bit worried about getting in front of the black.

Mostly controlled. Pity impressive so far, Judd Trump. He looks focused

and composed. Relaxed. Everything that you need to be.

He looks to be up for it. Because he played so poorly in the first earned

much against Tom, people have not even been talking about him winning

this tournament, but in this kind of form, he has got to be a runner. He

is one of only maybe three players that will fancy having a go at

Ronnie O'Sullivan. And he will not be scared of playing Ronnie

O'Sullivan. There are only two three players left in this tournament

where that is the case. Now the frame is safe, he can

concentrate on maybe making a century at this visit. In the first

round, his highest break was 72, and it is still 72, but Ryan Day coming

back for some practice. The first frame, did you come back

to the table in that situation, Stephen? I don't think I would come

back in this situation, because the reds are awkward, but if the reds

were different, then yes, maybe. Especially the first two he

attempted, he missed them by a mile, but wants to get his arm

going. Most players would spend half an

hour in the practice room before they come out and then go to the

dressing room to wash their hands and then straight on. All the hard

work should be done in the practice room, but I am sure that Ryan Day

will concede now will stop that fabulous break of 70 has taken Judd

Trump to the first frame. His long potting let him down in the

first match that he played against Tom Ford, a match where he said, I

just got bored and started to take everything on, Tom was playing quite

slowly, is match was not on the job on that opening match, compare it

with these opening exchanges? The first round is a funny rent to play

in. It is strange to say that you are bored. If that is what is

happening out there or if that is what he said in the press

conference, I don't know. Players cue do the talking, but to some

extent, the form guide is that the window. A good start? He looked

close to disinterested, if Tom Ford had opted, you would have knocked

him out. If he has gone and had a bit of practice and change the tip

on his cue, then he looks much, much better on the table already. OK,

that is the opening thought as we head into frame two.

No real chance in that first frame, a couple of long pots. You always

want to get your first frame under way as quickly as possible, Willie,

even in a 25 frame match? You never settle until you get the frame on

the board, but the best of 25, lots of chances.

It would be interesting to see in this match how many power shot these

players play. Another long part, he has not got

close. -- long pot. Almost looks like it would stop on

the jaws but turned at the last second. What a difference that made.

Judd Trump is a good opportunity here to score a few points. Split

open again. That is the thing with attacking players, they play an

attacking safety shot, so you cannot afford to make a mistake. It puts

pressure on your safety and your long game. He let that positional

shot go. The tables are very, very fast. To

avoid the kiss on the brown. Screwed it in to make sure there was no sort

of kiss, a very good shot. He has got a nice enough angle to

bring the cue ball in and out of baulk. The yellow is the danger.

This is excellent. Looks a different player than he did the other day.

All of the talent of the world, but the little positional shots can let

things slip. In a long frame match, you just

cannot keep getting out of position. Not nicely on the yellow, not nicely

on the blue. He needed to get the pace right, he

has generated just about enough. Getting more difficult because

nothing is available from the blue on the right hand corner.

That is the first time he has missed this shot by a long way in this

match so far. That is all you need, when you

haven't had an easy shot, then the cub Leblanc ones that he misses. He

is faced with a tough safety shot. 37 points behind.

An excellent safety shot from Ryan Day. Well played. The key against

playing Judd Trump is that you cannot leave a long part on. He will

go for them. -- leave a long pot one.

Forgoes at a long pot, not potted one of them. This is a difficult one

to go. He works beautifully with the cue. Should get the upper hand

behind the green. Tight as possible, try to cut out the side cushion, but

it is hard on the fine cloth to touch ball now. You hardly see them

roll-up and touch ever. Especially in Ryan's situation, you want to

make sure that you get the snooker. Straight on the red, I think that is

the shot to play. He has not looked at it, he fancies this, the black is

available. This is Ryan Day's first real chance at this match.

He did not hit that as well as he was hoping, but he is still on the

black. A decent chance to get back into

this frame. He is making it awkward, because the black will only pot to

one corner. Played a good shot to screw in

between the two reds. It is amazing the red that is three away from the

black has caused this problem all this frame.

The last shot I thought he may have played a cannon on the red.

He is a great talent, he was once up to number six in the world.

Both players have been in and that red has never moved this all frame,

the problem red to the right of the black.

Again can't get on that red. May have to go around the table in

between the yellow and pink. He had better hopes the blue will

come to his rescue. A wry smile from Judd. He thought he had mishit it.

He did miss hit it. Didn't get into the cue ball.

Might be worth risking the swerve to hit the red. Because playing this

safety shot will have to get in between green and pink.

Quietly please! He has taken every long pot on so far. This one is a

bit more difficult. Where is the red going to end up?

There is your answer - got away with it.

Foul. Decision time for Ryan. Up and down would be best.

That is a bit careless to hit the green.

Generates a lot of cue power there with not hitting it too hard. Ryan

knows he should play for the blue in the middle.

Looks like he is taking the right centre, the element of safety. No,

didn't go for the pot. If he had got away with that, that is a result.

The shot was so miss-hit. It was a chance to win the frame.

I think Ryan is snookered from the red that is next to the yellow. This

isn't easy to get safe. I bet he wish he took on the red now

on the last visit to the table. If you lose a frame from a safety shot

it hurts more than if you have gone for a pot.

Well that will help! He had to take the green out. Yeah, I didn't spot

that one. Still not ourt of the woods -- out of the woods yet. You

would rather be near the middle pocket.

Just yellow and green needed to level the scores.

This is going to be an interesting match. Both players appear to be

cueing well. The blue's not gone in. But a braet

of 47 -- break of 47. We are all square at 1-1.

It is interesting to see he has played Shaun Murphy 15 times and

played Judd Trump once. It is amazing they have only met once. Yes

it is an unusual stat. Both players sharing the first two

frames. So both will be, or they should be pretty relaxed now and

ready to get on with the rest of the six frames in this session.

Long way away with that pot. The blue has disappeared as well. It is

a good chance for Judd to get a few points on the board.

He was dead straight on that red and couldn't play for the blue.

He will be looking to leave himself high on the black to go into the

pack. That was a great shot. Where is the

green going? Foul. Having seen the green go in, he will be reasonably

pleased that the cue ball's finished near the cushion. He will be

disappointed if the green had stayed up that is near the cushion. But

this red just passes the other red into the corner. But he would have

to play it at pace to get near the black. He may just play a safety

shot here. The red clearly pots in the corner.

He just played the safety shot. I don't blame him. He was in a bit of

trouble there. But a cue ball there. It was a better shot than it looked

from Ryan Day. At first glance it looked careless

to leave the white so far off the cushion.

He needed the cue ball to be nearer the cushion. Then that shot wouldn't

have been on. What a clever shot this is. That is

as good as he could have done. He has left the pot in the middle. If

he hits the red thinner, this red wouldn't have been on. He played it

perfectly. Very unlucky. If you get a kick there, the cue

ball goes nowhere. The angle he has here you can see, just run through

and get on to the black in the opposite corner. This is now a

chance to go 2-1 in front. He just played for the loose red. So

he will go for ball, ball, colour. It opens up the two reds into the

corner pocket. But he imparted too much side. Poor

shot. A decent pot on the yellow. He can

start to feel more confident. Oh, nice bounce! Nice bounce! The

cue ball has travelled about a foot more than it was supposed to. It

seeps that table, that side of the black, when it hits the cushion, it

is the same shot all the time. He has lost the cue ball a little

bit there. That was just as easy as anything

else. He played the cannon. Not nice, but

he still has some sort of pot on. Now just a couple of pots from

taking a 2-1 lead. He didn't get into the cue ball

there as he wanted. He would have liked to have been straighter on

this. If you're straight on it, you can't

miss it. So 44 in it, 59 on. The frame is still alive. I won'ter if

Judd will -- wonder if Judd will play an attacking shot and take the

reds away from the cushion? That is what he has played and it is not

bad. The fact that he is left-handed,

these two reds are tricky on the right hand side.

I think he will have to play it with a trace of left-hand side.

That was unlucky. Played to use the top spin, almost bananaed the cue

ball to take the red out. He has got a nice angle on the brown. He can

basically do what he wants. He is going to have to screw into it

now. I don't think the black or the pink ice any good. But he has an

angle on the black. He can get in behind that red. Does

the red pass the yellow. You get so many psychological times in a match

where you need to pinch frames. This is the chance for the first A he was

he was a long way off second prize. A long way off the pot. The red

clearly potted past the yellow. I kpt believe he didn't get -- can't

believe he didn't get close to the jaws.

There was a chance to deliver the first blow in the match - pinching a

frame he should have lost. A very poor safety shot and he has given

Judd a lifeline. If he gets on a killer, he looks

certain to lose it. But didn't play for the blue in the corn e but that

is what he will take. -- corner. Stephen mentioned although it is the

best of #25shgs when you throw -- 25, when you throw away a frame you

should have won. Then you're playing catch up.

Stays down on the pink. Stays down on the black.

A very topsy-turvy frame. He missed the second chance and it cost him

the frame. Judd Trump pouncing on that mistake by Ryan Day. Ryan

played well and potted a lot of tricky balls. He showed a lot of

confidence and then he missed the red in the mittle -- middle. It was

inexplicable. You can't do that. We were chatting about the feature we

saw with Ryan and he said he had a change to his technique. Werp not

sure what -- we are not sure what that is. But it has changed the way

he is thinking. It is not obvious what the change is. Perhaps he wants

to keep that to himself. A lot of players in the snooker world, as

opposed to golfers, who are more open about it, but Ronnie O'Sullivan

is looking to get his mind right. But the other way to get confidence

is from getting your technique right and getting your confidence from the

practice table. You could argue they have both got their place. It has

shown, Ryan Day has beaten some good playest like -- players like Mark

Selby and Judd Trump after a couple of years going backwards. Yes he can

do well, because he scores. If you don't score, you're up against it.

That is why going back to that red in the sceptre -- centre pocket.

Just stamping your authority on it, missing a pot like that doesn't do

you any good. How much better is the match up with a guy who is

like-minded and likes to go for big breaks. Is this good for Trump? It

can be, but we saw Judd miss a shot, the red into the yellow pocket.

Sometimes players just start missing balls and they start going for too

many. You don't know until they get out there. Sometimes the session can

can dictate the style of play. If one plays well, it can spur his

opponent on. So back we are go. He didn't have a go at it in the

end. You get frames like this, you always have a heart that things when

you see the lack there. -- the black there.

Well, I haven't got a clue what he played there. I'm sorry. Did he play

the cut and completely miss it? It must have done. He hit it off ball.

Let's have another look at that. That is the only shot he could have

been playing. It certainly wasn't a safety. Great shot.

The black isn't available to either corner. Maybe the pink might be

available. If he finishes low on the pink, that might help. He is not

playing at this time but he may played in a couple of shots time.

Too much pace on the cue ball. He still has the red to left centre.

These are tough. He hit those so well. You don't see

Judd Trump played dead role in. He always likes to lay them with a bit

of pace. He did play for the blue there. But he was too far on the

table. He's got the wrong angle on the blue to stun over from the left

to the red to the black. He has to get the pace exactly right. And

also, he have to put the blue. Once he has missed the pot, you would

think he would go on the red but I don't think he has. I didn't expect

to miss this blue. It was dead straight. He is more comfortable

punching balls in mental condemning. -- punching balls in van dropping

them in. It looked as though it was tight but

he hit it too thick. The choice of 2/2 chances here, Rich

left-centre or read up to the green pocket. If he puts it, he will have

a lovely angle on the blue, to snatch it into the pack. -- to smash

it. It is a good pot but it is not so

easy to control the direction of the cue ball. He still can play the

shot. Play the bluefin on the right-hand side of it. He left the

cue ball fraction. There is the angle. There was a plant in the

middle. He missed it by a fraction. If the cue ball is away from the

safe cushion, it is unmissable, the cannon on the pack. Still, to find

that gap, Cukor played in a hundred times and you wouldn't find it. A

very aggressive safety shop. He needs to get a good wide. This red

is still on. But the cue ball path going back up to the other end of

the table is blocked by a few reds. If you placed the pot, he is going

to have to get it. Well, it looked very tough. That was

excellent pot. The red that he is looking up now,

he is looking to get it in in such a way that he can drop back onto the

black. Yes, that is what he has played, he

is playing for the black here. The red at the top of the bunch pots

to the right corner. He would like to land straight on that red so he

can follow through on to the black. Putting all your eggs into one

basket, playing for this one. A good recovery. He needs to get

into this blue for the site to take, he needs to get a kiss on this one.

It may be a bit thin for that. Looking at the deep screw yellow,

both these players are blessed with an abundance of cue power. Look how

good he hit that. You just cannot strike a ball better than that. To

hit it so smoothly. That was effortless. That is just pure

timing. Oh, can you believe it? He played

the most great shot from yellow to red and then gets a kick on the

black like that. That is up there, amps and a see-through OFCOM bounced

100 miles high. It is amazing how many times you do get that kick. If

you don't time that absolutely perfectly, you seem to always get a

kick. I just wonder when you're playing, but what is going to

possibly leave the bed anyway, maybe that has something to do with it. It

happens an awful lot. I just hope it hasn't cost him the

frame of this visit. If Judd Trump clears up here, it would hurt. The

black has landed in an awkward place here.

He has only got a safety shop now. He cannot get back to baulk off the

red. He can put this but how does he get

the cue ball into play? He has to hit this very thing to have any

chance of getting topside on the blue. He is looking to play read on

to read over the whole. -- red on to red. He is thinking about playing

the red to the right-hand side over the pack as the plant to the red

over the other pocket. He knows whether White is going to end up but

he still has to make the plant. But he has done. And it could be on the

black. A brilliant shot. One good pot now from Ryan and he

will forget about the kick on the black. It is still not guaranteed,

this red. He could do with the cue ball being another for oranges into

the middle of the table. -- another four inches.

The back red of the 3-ball pot so he doesn't have to worry about getting

the perfect angle on the black. Just making sure that he can bring the

two reds into play. He is going to have to play the case

out, he has finished a bit low. -- played the case now.

Not the best split, is it? He has already missed one of those shots.

He got that one, though. 17 points in front. Both reds needed.

Just last red needed if he gets on the black nicely. Goodness me, that

is a bit of tension in the arm. That is all that was. That was virtually

frame ball, he has done it again. Not good for your confidence when

you keep missing pressure shots. There will be a lot more pressure

shots to come. The angle has come into this red. He

has to be a bit careful here. He just managed to miss a double-kiss.

Not as good as he could have done from there.

He doesn't want it to hit the jaws and stay in the pocket, does he? He

would do well not to leave the pot on here. He plays down the left-hand

side, he has two make sure he doesn't hit too thick and kissed the

brown. It was hard to see that red being

made into a plant and that will cut. Amazing. Hitting the pink was in his

favour but all of a sudden, the head -- the case has not worked at all. I

think you can pot the pink to the right centre.

The pink was on but I think he thought it was a bit too risky to

play. Missed it by two inches the first

time, missed it by an inch that time. I would like a pound when he

hits it this time. He should have gained the upper hand

with the safety there and he hasn't. He got mighty close. Where will it

end up? Not too bad. He got very close.

It is just's turn to have a go at a long one. There is a shock. What a

good safety shop he has played as well. Well done.

I think he can just see the end of the red. The red will be going round

the left-hand corner. He needs to cover the red up. He has played the

red hard enough to go on the cushion. Good shot.

That was a poor shot, Stephen. He has left a pot on.

Ryan Day has had every chance to check a 3-1 lead but there is a

chance he could be 3-1 behind. The green is not too bad for

left-handers so he doesn't have to worry about that one for the moment.

It is natural to go round the back of the green. I think that is why he

has played the yellow. He knew exactly where the cue ball would be.

This is perfect. Having hit it hard enough? There is a lot of margin for

error there. Anything too hard was always going to leave some sort of

pot. Ryan Day blew his cheeks out there

when he saw the green going close to the pocket. A strange choice of shot

from Judd Trump. Ryan Day needed three chances to win

that frame, he took the third one. They go to the interval all square

at 2-2. If there is one thing that is the bane of the snooker player,

it is the dreaded kick. We have a situation, wonderful positional play

by Ryan Day and the blue man through and look at it, have a look at this

for a kick, it is an absolute monster. Probably the worst we have

seen in the championship. You can see from his reaction. Absolutely

sick. This man has a theory about a kick. What I am going to try and do

is recreate a kick here in the cue zone. I have one here in the oven I

prepared earlier. Let the claim what a kick is. It is earning crease in

friction when a spinning ball hits a stationary ball. If there is an

increase in friction, this can cause the spin to transfer too much onto

the other ball and it lifts off the table. Imagine the situation, you

are on the black, and you put a lot of chalk on for the back spin

because you want to play at deep screw back with reverse side and the

chalk, one revolution later or half a revolution, gets trapped between

the cue ball and the black. I cannot guarantee getting the chalk from the

cue ball into a trap position on the black so I have loaded up the black

ball with lots of chalk. The contact point has lots of chalk on it. I

want to play a spinning shot with side as well which will quit the

black off course. I played firm, which will increase the grip. Let's

see if I can replicate the kick. The black ball jumps off the table and

you miss it. I tell you who is getting a kick out of the snooker,

it is Barry Hawkins. He has transformed his image and reputation

within the game in the last 18 months from a kind of genuine

challenger to approve an challenger. He has won two big

titles. He has also left up to world number four in the rankings and

expectations are high again this year.

I feel pretty confident. I have had a decent months, I won a tournament

last month. Obviously, that gave me confidence leading up to this

tournament so, yeah, I feel quite good about my form and I am looking

forward to the rest of the tournament. It was quite a long

week. I got home at 30 -- 3:30am in the morning and I was due to fly to

China that evening and after winning the tournament on such a high, I got

home and I was knackered and to be honest with you, I couldn't face the

journey. I would have been going out there in the right frame of mind. I

would have probably got beaten because I was not looking forward to

it. All of a sudden, I am coming home disappointed where as the

preparation for this tournament, I could turn up knowing the last match

I played, I wondered big tournament. -- I won a big tournament. I want to

try and play as well as I can and if I can keep winning matches and

getting far into tournaments, that is all that matters to me, really.

Snooker takes up most of my time. Any time I do get is spent with my

wife and my little boy. We try to do as much as I can between moments but

it is off because we are always so much now. Any spare time I do get is

time to involve them as much as I can. I think we both like to get on

with it to a certain extent. Ricky is quite fluent in the balls. I

don't think he enjoyed the tactical side as much. I figure lies to get

on and make the breaks and things like that. Sometimes, you can only

say what is in front of you. I just concentrate on keep doing what I am

doing and if I get a chance, hopefully I can take it well.

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

picking up the trophy. I am desperate to get back to it. This is

an unbelievable atmosphere. It is what you dream about when you first

start laying snooker. To pick up the trophy and to be crowned world

champion would be a dream come true for me. Barry's match with Ricky

Walden is a repeat of an epic semi final last year. Walden was miles

ahead and ran out of gas and haw -- Hawkins won eight frames in a row.

Hawkins made a great starters 3-0 up. Then Walden on a roll, five

frames on the bounce, including a second century of the Championship

and he looked good. But back came Hawkins, 7-9. That is where we will

pick it up and we do so in the company of George Riley of BBC Radio

five live with Dennis Taylor. He didn't get anywhere close to that

and I thought he had got away with it for a moment. But he hasn't.

Barry is hampered here. He has little to do with the cue ball.

He might need the spider to reach that.

A wobbly old start from Ricky Walden, who absolutely dominated the

second session yesterday. With those five frames in a row.

A great chance for bare to strike - Barry to strike first today. Yes it

is always nice to get off to a good start and Ricky had the half chance.

There are still four or five loose reds. So it is a good opportunity.

The first frame today always looked like being key after Hawkins took

the final two yesterday with an 87 and a 63.

If you go back to their semi final clash last year, Ricky led by four

frames. 12-8. And Barry got stronger and stronger.

But they're very evenly matched. In fact Ricky has won five out of their

nine meetings. It is all about the little cannon

here on the left of the two reds just to nudge it out of the way.

It was a bad miss from Ricky Walden, but Barry Hawkins has taken these

very well and this is beginning to look like a frame-winning

opportunity for the world number four.

It is a shot that he is usually very good at. He just overcut it there.

Just the one century in this match so far, 112 by Ricky Walden. Barry's

highest break 87. He has got the one into the left

middle pocket. Could have worked out better that, but should be OK.

He will try and get on to the pink, looking at the way he is cueing

this. Ooh! He did well there, because playing on to the pink, he

almost missed the red. Just have a look at this. Nearly came out of the

pocket there. He seems to be back in control of

this break. When Hawkins ran out of position, Ricky perked up in his

seat and thought I could be back in business here.

He is back to the look of anguish now though. He knows that Barry's

only a few pots from securing this opening frame of this sex. --

oeching frame of -- opening frame of this session. I think that is

perfect. Even if he is touching, he still might be OK. He got the cannon

has he intended. We have had 26 krints so far in this

-- centuries so far in this year's World Championship. And there was

that little mannerism. When he was on the cushion, he can you remembers

his finger up. The frame well and truly over. So it would be nice to

make a century. He has made 21 centuries this season, Barry.

He has made Walden pay for an uncharacteristic error.

Great start for Barry Hawkins. The 27th century here this year.

Doesn't matter about that. Just means he doesn't get the complete

clearance. But what a start from Barry Hawkins. That was a superb

effort and that century puts him just one behind. It is now 9-8 to

Walden. Once again just the one frame in it. It is nip and tuck.

This is frame 20. Barry may be able to take a pot on

and get back around the table also. Yes, he will have a go at this, I

think. Played beautifully. He does play

that particular shot so well, Barry Hawkins, and he made sure he stayed

on the green or brown. As we show you that terrific long pot. That

might just give him this frame. The Two magnificently clean long

reds from Barry Hawkins. What an opportunity.

Stretching a bit for this pink, but he is OK. A penny for them, Ricky

Walden? The match started off the best of

25. In a couple of more pots and it will be off to the mid session

interval and back for the best of five.

Oh, he wobbled that one! He knew that was virtually frame ball and

have a look at this. Well, they all count, don't they?

But he certainly tightened up on that one.

We said at the start we felt it would go all the way. It certainly

looks like it at the moment. I think I will put the kettle on

during the interval, I think they're going the distance. How do you take

it? Just in a cup would be nice! Hawkins has plugged away. And he has

levelled the match at 10-10. Well it doesn't land, but a terrific

opening session today. Barry Hawkins trailed 9-5 and now we are all

square. You're right up to date with that one. They're in their interval.

When they return you can watch it or on a connected TV. Reflections on a

topsy tufby match. You -- topsy-turvy match. Yes Ricky's

situation was the same in the semi final last year. It shows how

tenacious Barry haw Kipps -- Hawkins is. He is the type of player, even

if he goes a long way behind doesn't change his game. That is a great

thing. He doesn't change and just plays frame by frame. Ricky's blown

hot and cold. We know he can be very fluent. How deep do you think the

scar is from that semi final last year? Ping he will have got over

that now. I think it was at the time. I think he thought he was in

better form and should have won. This is always going to be close. It

goes down to the last frame every time they have a match up. The

styles seem to suit each other for long games. We are back into the

arena and the match that we very enjoying the first couple of frames

of. It is 2-2 at the interval. Judd Trump and Ryan Day. COMMENTATOR: It

couldn't be more even. Perhaps Ryan Day could have led 3-1.

Ryan Day getting a faster bounce off this cushion than he was expecting.

That is a nice confident pot and a nice position on this red.

He wants to get rid of the red to the right of the black. He was a bit

low. He is will be disappointed with that low shot there.

He showed phenomenal cue power. It comes out of can cushion -- cushion

and it has right hand side on it. Well that was the plan. He wasn't

expecting to hit the bump in the middle pocket.

Played that well, the little bounce off the cushion gives him the chance

to play the cannon off the pink. Well he has missed the blue. Didn't

see that one coming. The only good thing for Judd, he hit the red he

wanted to. I'm surprised more reds haven't become available in the left

hand corner. I can't see how he is going to get

to the red in the corner. Judd had the opportunity of a red to

the left corner. Two or three years ago he wouldn't have hesitated in

taking it on. Foul and a miss. He is itching to

take it on, but even if he hits the red he will have to hit it quarter

ball to not leave an even easier ball than this.

He has hit it quarter ball. Foul. In fairness that might not be a bad

result with the way the red has gone over the pocket.

If he plays it hard, it is tough. Well there is your answer, he has

played it hard. And it has left a pot red on. I can understand him

taking the red on, I can't understand him leaving where it was.

When Ryan missed the snooker the first time he left Judd a medium

range pot to the corner. Did well to get that reaction off

the cue ball. Always hard to screw back when you're cueing over the top

of the ball. A very good shot. If he can get on to the pink nicely, he

has the chance to take a sizeable lead in this frame.

There is a red available in the middle. That was dangerous. I think

when he had the shot of the red with the rest, it was easy to play for

the pink. But there was a better shot to go for the blue.

He is going to get another chance at it. That is a let off.

That is the unlucky. Played into the side of the pack. He still has a pot

on, but it is very difficult. He decided to play for baulk colour.

That is a good shot that. Well controlled. Off the cushion

with the black available into the same pocket.

Break goes to 31, the lead 42. Getting a bit closer to that when

in-line now, in this frame. Been a good standard, not some good pots

but nobody is winning the frame first visit.

Had a kick on a shot similar to this in the previous frame.

Again, he has missed frame ball. That is three frames in a row. It

hasn't always cost him. I wonder why he didn't play the black of the

cushion. I can only presume he has placed the percentage shot. Well,

that is the polar miss. -- that is a bad miss. At the World

Championship, you have to take advantage of your opponents misses.

That was frame ball. 51 points in front now. He can tie but he will be

pushing the colour safe here. Looks perfect, to push the brown safe, but

he is thinking about putting the black safe, why, I don't know. It is

amazing, and times like this, players tend to outthink themselves,

trying to play the perfect shot. Just push the brown on the side.

The black is not safe so there is no advantage in that shot whatsoever.

I'm not too sure what the judge, can miss the red on the pink spot here

and take it on. Excellent shot. I bet he wishes he

had a colour safe now. Because even if he hits it, he will do well not

deliver pot on. We know Judd needs three reds, and three blacks. The

brown being safe on the side of the cushion now would have been a real

bonus. Would you risk playing this red? I

think you pick an angle of two cushion. Almost impossible to miss

both of them. He could leave this red on and he

has done and he can get up to the black with power. It makes the red a

lot tougher. Look at the angle on the red.

It is tough to get on the black from the angle he has on this red.

This is one of those weight you -- one of those weight you don't want

to risk playing it slow. If he gets on the black office long pot, that

last red near the cushion will not be a problem because the black will

be back on its own spot. This could be of real turning point in this

match. Needed another foot of place.

Ideally, he would have liked to have gone on the black. The red on the

cushion is not easy. A good pots. I wonder whether he will go for the

black or the pink on the blue here. That last red, where it is, where

ever you get on that, it is not easy to get onto from the pink. It is

easier of the black is on its spot. Would you pay for the black? I don't

know. I think the paint is OK. The red and lack, you could play the

pink into the middle. It would not be difficult to get onto the yellow

but if you finish straight, that will cause a problem. I think pink

is not a bad ball to play for. So, this is another great

opportunity. To finish this frame. Wow. Fantastic shot.

That was just off straight. How on earth has he got that? That was a

fabulous shot. Looking at his school, he did need a

black off the final red to win the frame. It makes that shot even

better. Tremendous cue power. This will hurt Ryan Day. That is a

kick but it's still got the desired position. You could hear the

difference in sound. Listen to the sound this makes. Lack of blood,

isn't it? Still manages to screw back. -- like a thud.

He has lost the cue ball there. Does he played this off two cushion is

with tremendous right hand side or does he go around the table?

Wow. That is an incredible shot. Absolutely incredible shot.

Well, that will be a body blow to Ryan Day. He had two or three

chances. It was Britain. He leads 3-2. We were applauding Ryan Day's

opacity for compulsion against Stephen Maguire but he's seems to

have lost this was match. He will be kicking himself. Three times he has

had gained ball. How can you missed this? All he has to do is birdie the

red and knock the whole and when the frame and he has missed it. After

that, you know when you do that, the frame will go the wrong way. He will

be kicking himself. I'm sure do will demonstrate that last pink that Judd

Trump played. Perhaps not. There are very few players who can generate

enough cue power and also put the back spin onto the able to play a

shot like this pink and stop it from actually hitting the side cushion.

So, he has to put a tremendous amount of backs Bush -- back spin

and before the ball gets on the cushion, it changes course. The ball

is travelling in one direction but the spin takes it in another. There

are not many players in the game, more so than ever before, there

aren't many players who could choose that. Most players would have played

that shot, stunned just before the middle pocket. Side cushion.

Backpass by the brown and yellow would be. Through the gap of that.

And then back up the table. He is beginning to remind us about the

kind of form he showed to get the final three years ago. Yes, there is

a marked improvement against the Tom Ford the other day. But he is

getting a lot of help. When you get a chance, you cannot through it

away. Ryan Day is doing nothing but encouraged Judd. The matter what

happens, he is not winning the frame in one visit. I do think if we go

back through the history books, Ryan Day has produced and promised so

much but perhaps hasn't done it on the big stage. We do know from Judd

Trump's shorter career that he is able to play on the bigger stage.

And perhaps on the big shots looks slightly more composed. Ryan has got

very close to major titles in the past. He has never quite got crossed

the line. He has obviously threatened to produce some great

stuff over the years. I think he is hitting the ball great. It must be

lapses in concentration, it cannot be anything else. This is a big

moment in the Crucible, back to Willie and Steve.

I must admit I thought that Judd had missed the chance to pinch that

frame and he missed the easy red on the corner. Here is that pink again.

Jimmy White used to play these shots. Yes, you wouldn't think it

was possible, years ago, that shot. I agree with Steve and John in the

studio when they were talking about Ryan Day. There has to be something

somewhere. He has had three chances are strained ball and he has missed

all of them. He must be paying too much attention to the scoreboard. I

need you have to look at it that mangy -- maybe you should take the

pressure off by. Looking for a while. We are saying how talented

Ryan Day is and that is the reason he has gone down the rankings and he

has had not -- has not have the success that his talent deserves.

You have to be able to do it under pressure. Ability wise, you would

put him in the top eight, Ryan Day, but just lacking that bit of killer

instinct. One cushion escape into the pack is

not on from the right-hand side because the red is in the way.

Looking at the screen, there is no easy shot you can play a safety shot

and get away with it here. Maybe just trying to wrest into the

hunch, catching them thin. Anything but that. That was tough, that, he

was in trouble. Nice opportunity, this, to be

presented with. He would have to play a cannon on

the two reds above the bread now. He does want to get rid of those two

reds out. It should make the black easier. There is an example of what

we were talking about, not only in the studio, but in the early part of

this frame. He has a little bit of clinches disease, Ryan. When he

knows he has an opportunity, he gets a bit anxious. He is such a

wonderful player. Maybe, he just needs to see somebody to make him

feel more confident on the shot. Perhaps he should have played the

red towards the right. A more positive shot. Judd Trump isn't

perfect in this blue. The park on the cue ball, when he strikes it. --

the arc. You can see the cue ball going towards the brown, and all of

a sudden, goes away from it. The back spin is on the cue ball. He is

hitting the ball really well today. A different player completely to his

first round match. Judd was so per in his first match, compared to his

standards. But today, he has struck it great. A slightly bigger bounce

than he wanted on top cushion. Unknown to you when you know there

is a cushion that is a bit inconsistent. -- it unnerves you. In

his first round match, he was playing for the about sometimes. --

for the bounce. Eight frames in this tension. Judd Trump looking like he

may go 4-2 in front. Ryan Day has missed so many pressure balls in

this game, he could be 4-2 in front himself. I used to set myself a

target in sessions. If four is the target, you know you are not going

to be behind. 6-2 is the ideal target.

He went into the pack there. And he still has enough power but to power

through the reds the second time. Still faced with a very tricky pot

into the middle. He could play the red in the corner. He is playing for

the middle. He always wants to some balls. Most players want a role

that. -- most players want to stun balls.

Why wouldn't you, the way he hits the ball sometimes? That is a tough

shot. Keep the break going. Seeing how he plays when he is on

form, it is hard to believe he has not won more than he has. He hits

the ball so good. He is still a little bit raw sometimes. He is

wonderful to watch when he is flying.

46 point lead. Two mob reds, two more colours, and he will lead 4-2.

He didn't play for the pink but it is a bonus if it goes. That is the

frame beyond doubt now. It down at 76 when for a century but

once again, Ryan Day has missed easy balls. Once again characterised by

some mistakes from the Welshman. It strikes me that Judd Trump is very

much like a Jimmy White type of player. If you don't punish him when

the chances come up, he gets stronger. If you don't score early

on, you can get a steam roller or new. He strikes me as a very similar

type player. Ryan Day has left off the hook and he has given himself a

very hard afternoon because he has not taken as opportunities earlier

on. You can continue to watch that game online. All on any gadget or

device that you so choose. It is all getting very anxious as we approach

the finishing line on table number one out there. Ricky Walden was 9-5

in front, Barry Hawkins has come storming back at him. It is now

10-10. Frame 21. George Reilly alongside Dennis Taylor, what is

going on? I'll tell you what is going on. Both players are missing

all sorts. It is pure tension at the moment. We had two very easy Mrs

just before you joined us. Ricky Walden had this red, a red he didn't

think he would have a chance to get at.

But I'd tell you what, it will be a very relieved to Barry Hawkins

because he missed a sitter also. This was the brown that Barry

missed. Well, Ricky was coming out of his

seat but now that he has flipped that, he have to sit back down into

it. -- fluked. If the green goes in, the frame is over.

Well, I am not surprised that Ricky Walden is going to leave the arena.

That was such a tense affair. Both players missed very easy chances and

Barry Hawkins must be absolutely delighted, he now leads 11 frames to

ten. You get the feeling perhaps Ricky Walden could be thinking this

is deja vu. This is what happened in the semifinal last year. How do you

break this one so far? They will be keeping an eye on it. From Ricky

Walden's perspective, it properly did come as a bit of a shock last

year, getting to the semifinal. He must have thought there was

something wrong because the following season, the start of this

season, he had a new cue. He tried a maple cue. He's not playing with one

now, I don't know if he has gone back to his original one or an ash

cue. At the start of the season, that had affected him. He has had a

good season in many other departments. But the trouble is,

playing the same player probably magnifies the problem. Just the fact

that you have low -- throwing away a lead, but against the same player,

are you thinking he is your bogey player? There is so much

expectation, Barry Hawkins must be expecting to get the latest stage is

now? And that comes with added pressure. Turning up at the

tournament thinking, I might have a good run at it and then thinking

maybe I can get to the final, a different outlook. Jury -- Judy the

numbers -- wonders of technology, we have in keeping an eye. I think it

is quite right that Ricky has gone out to compose himself. He is

getting a bit frustrated. He was so far ahead. Barry Hawkins came back.

I remember speaking to Ricky afterwards last year, and he said he

had nothing left. The rigours of the Crucible Curse had taken so much out

of it. He was eating armours, bananas, anything to get a bit of

protein, jumping back into his body. The tournament is a gruelling test.

The other scenario that raises ugly head is the burn-out scenario of

players having very full seasons these days. China, the Beijing

tournament wasn't that long before this event. A lot of players were

discussing whether they should pull out of it. Is there any validity in

that? I don't really know but good competition is something you cannot

buy. But if you get too much of it and you want some space before the

main event, I don't know. I'm not even sure where Ricky was.

Ironically, Barry Hawkins decided not to go to China so his last

memory of coming into competition is winning as a champion so he carries

a rest and confidence. Let's get back there. Twitchy! Debris, but

every twitchy indeed. Barry Hawkins 11, Ricky Walden, ten. Barry Hawkins

is on fun now. As the guys in the studio alluded to. Memory perhaps of

Ricky Walden and how Barry finished off in the semifinals last year.

Barry Hawkins reappeared into the arena roundabout the 30 or 40

seconds before the Ricky Walden. Before, he had become very animated.

A little bit too passionate. He pushed his chair, he hid himself on

the head. That was the bit premature when he

was back in his seat because all of a sudden Arie missed a sitter and

Ricky had got himself on the wrong frame of mind. -- Barry. He thought

Barry was going to clinch the frame and then he missed an easy pink so

when he came back to the table after doing that, he was not really in the

right frame of mind. But it has all gone, there is no need -- one frame

of difference. To get about the lead you had a 9-5. It doesn't make any

difference now. -- forget about the lead you had. Put that at the back

of your mind. He leads a couple of good safety shots. Ricky has played

a few safeties where he has been catching other reds. He is one of

the nicest lads you could ever wish to make. Well, both of these lads

are fantastic. It just shows you what it means to them, this World

Championship. That is more like it. Having said

that, there was a path through to the red for the left corner. That is

the one you can see, the black not available. The pink is awkward. So,

not straightforward here. Well, it is just a bundle of telling

and nervous out there at the moment. Both players really under it. Some

fabulous flourishing pots and break-building early running this

contest. But it has been a little bit error strewn over the last few

frames. Hawkins has just nudged back ahead. I think he was to have a go

at this, Dennis. The two opening frames, what a start. A century from

Barry and then a 93 from Ricky. Then, we had to frames that went

very awkward indeed. Look at whether reds are spread here. So, he needs a

good during. He may be able to get himself onto the pink. Just off

straight. That was the tension creeping in

again. What a chance for Ricky Walden. He has got an easy starter.

An opportunity to bounce straight back.

The pink's blocked into the left pocket. But that is available to him

in a couple of shots time if he needs it.

But that first shot he didn't leave a good angle.

Does the black go? Surely he is not out of position straightaway. What

is he doing up the other end of the table? He may have hit that too hard

you know? That is incredible to be out of

position in two shots. At the moment, Ricky's head's all over the

place. That is what the Crucible can do to you. He struggled for a long

time here at the Crucible, Ricky Walden. Arriving here 12 months ago

having never won a match here and then went all the way to the semi

finals where he lost to today's opponent, Barry haw Kipps. --

Hawkins. FORCEDWHITE He has let Ricky back in

again. Even though he has the extension and

the rest, he has an easy start. You know, he hasn't hit that either.

He has jabbed at that. He should have been further up the table. He

would have had a straight forward brown or blue.

If he drops on the one that is above the black it is a terrific shot. It

needs to keep on coming. He has got altern nats. Boy, if me had ran

another few inches he could have dropped the one in next to the black

and the black would have been in the open.

It is all about trying to hold yourself together now. He is a very

quick player, Ricky. Just give yourself an extra second

or two. He is capable of reeling o' off a couple of quick fire frames.

Needed to screw back further. The black is available on the left

corner pocket. Now he can't get on the black and the pink is out of the

game. Well maybe it goes! All of a Sunday

Ricky guz -- sudden Ricky was down and had a look at the black. Maybe

he can get it past the red. Oh! It's hard to describe what is

going on out there and what Ricky's going through. Never looked

comfortable on that shot. He plays an excellent shot to free up the

black. Not in a good place at the moment, Ricky Walden.

Shaking away of the head there. Just got himself into the wrong frame of

mind. He has got to forget about the lead

that has gone. That is what we talk about in sports psychology, you

forget about what has gone. But it takes hard work and practice to get

the mind right. If he drops on to this red. Surely

he is not going to snooker himself on it? Well, what else are we going

to see here? Everything's happening. Couldn't have played it any better.

Very unfortunate to drop right in behind the red.

Ricky's got to compose himself. You're still in this. That

three-ball plant would be a bonus, but I don't think it is. I think

#i79 is going to the -- I think it is going to the right of the pocket.

Where is the cue ball? The plant was in line with the pocket. But because

of the angle he was hitting the red in front of the plant, it seized it

aQuaye. -- it squeezed it away to the side of the pocket.

Not bad really. He has left one possible pot and what a shot this is

for Ricky Walden. Red into the right corner. The black maybe available.

A big shot. How's your cueing, Ricky? Not good! In fact the cueing

was so bad he didn't get on the black, but he has left it safe now.

He is going to need an easy chance to get a bit of composure back.

Barry trying to get the cue ball tight on the baulk cushion. Didn't

achieve that, but Ricky Walden's faced with a couple of very

difficult pots. He has looked at both options. Here

we go again. Decided I have missed too many and

the cue ball is close. It is in the pocket. Well everything's happening

out there. He thought this time I won't risk the pot. I will play a

good safety. And Barry's got a choice of reds. Zblvrjts Well, lots

of noise from the other side of the arena, they're in between frames.

But he went full-blooded, didn't hit it well. But I tell you what, the

little kiss has made it slightly more difficult for Ricky. He had a

straight forward shot. Should be OK, even with the long rest here.

Ricky Walden, you won't have a better chance than this. Can he hold

himself together and take this to a deciding frame?

Can he now make an opportunity count? A real turn around. The

second session yesterday dominated by Walden. He won five in a row from

5-4 down. And he has brought that impetus to the table today.

Just two more comfortable reds after this pink. He will need one of the

difficult reds if not two of them. Got an angle on the black just to

stun it past the pink and leave that red that is closest to the cue ball.

Red black and up with more red would leave Barry needing a snooker.

Just stun in behind that red that is to the right of the black and just

roll it in to make sure of the frame.

Well, he did punch it in. I will tell you what, George, he will be

feeling a bit better now. This will have done him the world of

good. Of course it is the first to 13, so

I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. He has taken these well, considering

how agitated he was getting, punching his chair and knocking his

own knuckle against his head. Well done Ricky Walden. He has sorted his

head out after losing six out of seven and we are level again. Ove,

it is all getting very tense there. Very watchable. Let me update you

with what has been happening elsewhere. Trump against Day has

finished and Trump is moving nicely and this was into a 6-2 advantage.

Breaks of 76 and 78 in the last of the session have put him in front by

four frames and a nervous performance so far from Ryan Day. A

man who has made it to three quarter finals in his own career. So there

we go. And they will be back tomorrow afternoon for the second of

their sessions. How would you sum that one up? It is early in the

match, but I think Ryan has missed the boat. He had the chances to take

a good lead and for Judd Trump fans, he is hitting the ball nicely. So

these two have the arena to themselves. Here we are 11-11. The

first to 13 is into the quarter final. Absolutely right, it is first

to 13. I had them playing first to 12! It is the best of three now.

We said we thought this game would go all the way. It could still be

the case. Will that frame just settle Ricky

Walden down? Well not if he is going to play shots like that. Thin air

from Ricky Walden. He actually missed it by some way

and Barry's got a red to red corner here.

He struck it very cleanly. Absolute cracker. He tried everything to keep

his head still and deliver the cue in a straight line. If he can drop

on red to the right of black, it would be ideal.

Maybe he felt he couldn't hold for that.

If he could get that red away from the black it would clear things. It

doesn't look as though the black is available from the right side of the

table. He has got the pink there. He may have to screw back for the

blue now. Hasn't quite got into it. A long way to travel now. Avoid the

baulk colours. He might have the angle to play for

the pink again and he might have to head up for the blue. If he could

get the next the shot correct, and he could get on that red near the

black, what sort of angle has he got here?

Nicely played. Just the gentlest of nudges, but the pink may be tied up

when he pots it. He has nudged the red away, but he

is out of position. He just couldn't get himself into good position to be

able to play on to the red next to the black there. End of break.

Safety only for Barry Hawkins, looking to swing behind the brown.

He will just nudge off the brown and in behind the green. Right down the

line and he may be able to get between the blue and pink to the

side of the reds. Oh, you had a great picture of that

swerve shot there. But he knocked the blue.

You could see the swerve just kicking in there. A bit unlucky to

knock the blue safe. Makes it much easier for Barry

Hawkins. He can get the white much closer to the baulk cushion.

That is a fabulous response from Ricky Walden. The last couple of

frames he hasn't got anywhere near this type of shot and he is so good

at it. Oh, not again! Not again! Ricky did

it earlier where he didn't reach the brown. That is so careless. Now he

is bang in trouble. I mean, that didn't have to be that tight in

behind it. That is twice he has done that. One of those Dennis per

session is careless. And I think Ricky would tell you himself two is

almost unforgiveable. Look at the situation he has left himself with

now. Just having a joke with the reeree.

This will be some shot if he is going to land on the two reds that

is behind the black. A lot of cushions to hit to get to

those two. This is horrible. He has put himself

right in it. I tell you what - it's not a bad

effort! Oh, he is a bit unlucky there. A bit unlucky if he slips

past that red, he lands on the two that are to the left of the cue

ball. He has left a possible pot on here.

An awful long way to travel and if he slips past that red he would have

landed on the other two. I go back to that red that is just

to the right of the black, Barry couldn't get on that previously. He

would like to drop on it this time. He has got a 28-point advantage if

he lands on that red. He has got a few more reds

available. This is a great chance to take a 12-11 lead.

You would fancy Barry Hawkins from here. Ricky walledn't left to --

what you woulden -- Ricky Walden left to stew in his seat. He has

been very agitated and annoyed with himself this afternoon Ricky Walden.

That was the only way he could hole for this red at the back of the

bunch of six. Barry Hawkins looks the strong erp

of the two. Now this Grandstand finish will happen outside our

transmission here. We have got to go. It does continue, don't forget

live online through any connected device and we will bring you

up-to-date on all the happenings from 7 o'clock. From John, Steve and

the rest of the team, enjoy your Saturday night and we will catch you

again soon at the Crucible.