Monday, Final, Evening Snooker: World Championship

Sparks will fly in the Crucible tonight. Snooker's Mark Selby is

aiming to etch his name on to the trophy for a second time. But Ding

Junhui still has a cast iron chance to become Asia's first ever world

champion. After an announcement that a deal has been forged to keep the

Championship in this great city for the next eleven years until 2027.

That will mark 50 years of drama and my don't they love that. The next

exciting installment of the drama starts now. Finals day at the

Crucible. The atmosphere electric. Nothing edgy about Ding Junhui. A

magnificent break gets him to within two. He has won that long tactical

frame on the black. That is century No 84. I said he could do with

finding another gear after losing the first two frames. That is

exactly what he has done. Superb play from Ding Junhui. We go to the

mid session interval 11-10 to Mark Selby.

Wonderful shot. It is a great shot. Tremendous shot. At the start of the

third session it was Ding Junhui who trailed, so the object of the

exercise was to win the first mini-session. Mark Selby like the

true champion he is and by the end of the session they had shared the

eight frames. So the question is coming into tonight, can anybody

give the world No 1 a three frame start? Ladies and gentlemen please

welcome China's national hero, Ding Junhui!

Here comes Leicester's world No 1 - Mark Selby!

A possible ten more frames to be played tonight on what is always one

of the great occasions in sport. So settle back and soak it all in with

Ken Docherty and John Virgo. Well the way, well the reception Ding

Junhui got, I think Sheffield has an adopted son here. Absolutely. Great

reception for Ding and for Mark Selby and what a wonderful

atmosphere. There is nothing quite like coming down those stairs for

the last session of the World Championship. What a buzz for both

players. Thank you the 26th frame, Mark Selby to break.

Mark Selby gets this final session under way. Goes without saying that

Ding Junhui needs a good start. UMPIRE: Cameras and phones away

please. The difference now the end is in sight. When you play these

long session matches, we have already had three sessions.

It is hard to see the wing line, sometimes trying to keep your

opponent at bay. For now every shot will count and the first mistake,

long pot missed, left a chance for Mark Selby. Yes. There is the

attempt again on the long red. Normally very good at that

particular shot. Left an easy opener for Mark Selby. Can he finish off

the last session in great style? Particularly when it was put up to

him. Every time Ding has asked a question, Mark Selby somehow found

the answer. A couple of times he has got within

one frame and you think is he going to level it. Mark has come out and

finished perfect on this red. Cannoned the red next to the black.

And potting this black plays for the red he has just cannoned into the

right corner. Black will be available into both pockets.

He would have liked to be a bit straighter on this red. Just had a

quick look at the pink into the left centre.

Still a couple of loose reds after his next colour.

Pink won't spot so it goes directly, well obviously the yellow spot is

available. So that is OK. I'm not quite sure if he'll go into

the pack or not here. He's got a couple of loose reds. It will be

interesting to see what he'll do here. It's what our colleague Willie

Thorn calls the flat-backpack, so maybe choose to go into them off the

blue. Might not be a bad idea here on this red into the left corner

pocket, go for the blue and play the canon. Always have the option of

that red to the right middle. 70 points to the target to get to

snookers required, so still a way to go.

He's looking down the line of trying to go into the pack but he could

have done with the cue ball being a couple of inches towards the line.

It's not a great angle on the blue, have to force it in. Well, didn't

have the angle at all and just lost the cue ball slightly.

Potting this red into the right centre, must get a good angle on the

blue. Looks a lot better. Got the perfect

angle on the blue but this time he doesn't have a perfect shot on the

red if this break on the reds doesn't work, but he's played it

lovely, controlled. APPLAUSE

The only thing is it's got to be over the right corner, but he's

going to be slightly hampered. If it's on that true angle, fine. If he

has to do a little bit with the cue ball, could be a problem.

He's got a nice angle on the black. He can go into the reds and the

loose red together. Still half of the red just above the black. He

just played into the loose red on its own, didn't take the chance, but

he's still in prime position. He's just having a look at the red that's

closest to the pink spot, the same with that pot as well - I think it

does. If he could get three reds, three blacks, wouldn't have to get

any canons and he's got a couple of loose reds to play for.

Misjudged that. 57. I think he's still on the red to the right

middle, but it's not exactly how he played it.

Well, can he not get through? I'm sure he can get through to the one

that's closest to the right centre pocket. The fact that it's touching

the ball, John, if that red moves, just the one it's touching, of

course that would be a push shot, so he's got to be careful here, and the

referee has got to have his eyes peeled - now... Would you believe

it? APPLAUSE Can't believe he wasn't on

that red. Too thick, so he just couldn't hit

enough of it. Oh, that was risky. That was too

risky, surely. He's gifted the frame now, surely, to Mark Selby. Well,

that was a bit of a nervy one from Ding Junhui, and just the way he

played it, didn't expect the cue ball to be this side of the blue.

That's the only black he can - he's having a look at whether to risk the

canon into the four reds. This black will go in 64 - sorry 65 points in

front with 75 remaining, so this red and a colour will get him past the

winning line in this frame. He's chose the blue which will put

him 71 points in front with just 67 remaining.

Played it beautifully, nicely controlled. Didn't have to play it

with any pace, just catch that red full ball and good start for Mark

Selby. Now we just caught a glimpse of

tournament total points, and Mark Selby has just gone three points in

front, amazing, isn't it? But, more importantly, he's now going to have

a four-frame advantage. If he didn't win the frame in one

visit and he gave Ding Junhui half a chance, but as Ken said, he played

it very nervily. Red didn't go in, but Mark Selby -

APPLAUSE. Rather get the ball set up for the next frame. He's now four

clear. More importantly, just three frames away from his second world

title. Well, two world champions in here know exactly what it takes to

get over the line. For you, Steve and John, is this the decisive move

that we have just seen here tonight? I think the decisive move from Ding

Junhui has got to be very quick if it's going to happen, because I

don't think he can - he hasn't got much breathing space.

Three frames out from Mark Selby, you know how clever he is at winning

frames and stealing them so I think Ding Junhui has to get a move on

quickly. For those just joining us, to catch this final instalment of

the drama, remind everyone what kind of fight and character Ding Junhui

has shown throughout the match? All the way through. I thought the match

with Judd Trump was awkward for him and every time he's had a question,

he's had the answer. This match he was stuck in. He was 6-0 behind.

Very easy to throw the toys out of the pram. He kept going. He stuck

in. Unfortunately at the moment he looks like he's starting to weaken.

I wouldn't blame him if he did because he's had a very searching

examination in this match. Sum up the iron Will, the determination,

the grip that Mark Selby can achieve in matches. The thing about him is

he's such a fantastic all-around player but every time he has been

asked a question in this final and throughout the tournament he has

produced astonishing stuff and has raised his game. You can't do better

than that. All of a sudden you're asked the biggest questions and you

actually improve your standard. I mean, that is a great champion. Is

there a fight-back to come? Well, if there is a fight-back to come, it's

got to start very soon, John. He has fought back tremendously well

already in this final, 6-0 down, looking like it was going to go 7 at

one stage. He's shown tremendous character so far but he's going to

have to dig deep now if he's going to have a chance of lifting that

beautiful trophy tonight. Yes, there it is, 1997. That was in

your hands, Ken. Uh-huh. Oh, that was a touch too thick, but

there may be - the end red may come, but I don't think he can play it

because if he did he may run into the top cushion. He's going to play

a safety shot. He's played some good safeties, Ding Junhui, but that

first frame, he looked very nervous, and he's just got to shake the

shackles off here and just concentrate because he's no -

there's no backward steps here. He's got to play well if he's going to

get anything out of this match. Excellent safety, though. Well

played. APPLAUSE.

Of course, he's going to feel a little bit of nerves. The safety has

been good. Safety success in the tournament has been 84% from Ding

Junhui, and 82% from Mark Selby. APPLAUSE.

Well, applause, but we may see Ding Junhui take this red on to the right

corner. The black is available into the opposite corner. It's a big

shot, but they're all big shots now. He's got to start knocking these in.

He knows it. Can he raise his game? Tried to hedge his bets by screwing

ball to the ball, Ken, but the ready pen is creeping up and has somehow

finished in the middle of the table. I am sure he thought if he got in

the jaws of the pocket, he wouldn't leave it, but he has.

Yeah, the type of shots - right in the heart of the pocket. They

certainly give you a lift. He's got to play a good positional shot.

Brown would be perfect, three cushions for the two reds above the

black. This looks pretty good. Excellent

positional shot. APPLAUSE APPLAUSE.

Well, he's just contemplating, will he go into the pack of reds? He has

a few reds available, but he has a nice angle on the black. He's

blessed with a lot of cue. He's not going into the pack at this stage.

Well, he played for the blue, and he didn't really get into the cue ball.

He's on the yellow, but looks to be pretty straight. Got to choose this

positional shot well. That'll do nicely, thank you.

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE. 17. Heavy contact again. He's had a

few kicks in this match. Took the pace out of the cue ball, wanted to

be topside of the blue. Below the blue line, wanted to be a

bit left of that line. Can drop the blue in or take the brown. The brown

is a bit more pressure on, a bit of a tougher pot.

Well, that to me shows the sign of a man who is growing in confidence, no

hesitation. OK. He could have done with running this cue ball to the

foot, but still nicely on this red. He'll be playing for the blue. He

hasn't got the angle. He's not hitting. Now it would be great to

play the brown and try to canon into the reds.

I'm not quite sure if he has the angle here, but he needs a

tremendous amount of power on the right-hand side. Almost got it -

nice. Has he got a good kiss? Oh, great effort. Great attempt. Just

couldn't generate enough power on the cue ball.

Just to chase this side so when it came off the cue ball, it just moved

behind the green. I think Ding Junhui has snookered on all the

reds. He's looking to come off one cushion and land this red near the

top cushion, which surely, Ken, is a big target just to the right of the

pink, as we look, just to nestle into. Yeah, just put a line in

there. I mean, if - the problem about trying to get the red as close

to the top cushion, he could go by it and leave a possible pot, but the

target is, as you said, the pack of reds. That's a bit short. He's

looking down the line. You just saw Ding Junhui having a look at the

line as the cue ball stumbled to a stall - to a halt, I should say. He

has the line already, but that is the target. It is a big target,

isn't it? Yeah, he's just worried that he might slip by, and that's

why he had a quick look after it was going off the cushion. He seemed to

be OK, just needs a bit more pace, but he cannot afford to slide by

them. He'd leave a certain red on if he did. More pace. Don't want to

slide by it. It's OK. Or is he? He's come around. Is there a gap for this

red to go? Do you know, I think there is. I

think he can play this with a trace of left-hand side and just turn this

red over. He's playing with lots of left-hand

side. This is on. This is on. Won't be striking down like this, but

doing this, can he be on a colour? Mmm. I wouldn't have played it like

that and he's left nothing. He has been fortunate there. To me, the

slower you play that shot, the more chance you've got at getting the

chance to turn the second red over. Totally agree. He could have played

wit a little follow-through, left-hand side and gone on the

black. He was reluctant to play that type of shot. But left nothing.

I think Ding will be sat there mightily relieved because he looked

to see if There was a gap for that red to be potted, and he thought it

was on, so the fact he's got back to the table immediately, he didn't

leave anything, he'll be very pleased. There's his reaction. You

suggested he thought he left a red for Mark Selby. But he's played a

very, very good safety shot there, has Mark in a lot of trouble. It's

one of those where he's more or less forcing Mark into playing in pot

here, and this does pass the black, but sometimes if there is no safety,

you might as well try and pot your way out of trouble.

I think he's eyeing the pot up - tough one. This is strangely tough.

Oh, didn't want that - didn't want the cue ball going into the pack and

came right across that, was hoping to avoid the pack of reds, and cha

chance now for Ding. Well, that's a couple of shots there that Mark has

played, and I'm surprised he played it so firm. If he'd have played it

more or less deadweight, he could have - than what he was playing, so

what's the chance now? He needs to take these. I know that goes without

saying, but he has to up his game now and score heavily at these

visits. Underhit it, but I think he's OK. He

can stun it for the blue, just got to keep control of that cue ball to

make the game easier. 15. Nicely on the blue again.

Doesn't have to play any cannons. Certainly one of these two reds

below the pink is to the right-hand corner, and if not one of them

certainly one of the others, but he looked to have played that in

perfect. Now he's in control of the cue ball. Can he take advantage?

He's got a slight angle on the black. I'm just wondering will he

play the cannon? I don't think he is. It's risky. But he's played it

absolutely perfect, and now the frame is there at his mercy. I don't

think he wanted to play that shot this early, but he landed so well on

the black, he had to take the chance. 29. This black will put him

five points in front. Yes, and that wonderful cannon, has

brought those two reds into play, and set up an opportunity now, and

that would certainly make him feel good.

He's just having a quick look to see - will the red that's close to the

pink - will that pot? 13 points, the lead now. These four

remaining leds, and that will be the frame in the bag.

21 ahead now, 51 remaining. 52. Two reds, two blacks, would put him into

the snookers required stage. Maybe he doesn't fancy playing for the

black but if he's up for the blue he'll need the three remaining reds.

He's just having a quick glance of the scoreboard. His body language

would suggest the red just below the pink doesn't pot. I was just

wondering about his angle. On his next colour. He has a nice angle on

the black. He could make a cannon on the red and pink, but he could still

try and track the loose red as well, but he has a nice angle.

Needs a good cannon. Needs a good kiss. Can he get past the pink? He's

unlucky if he can't. I don't think he can. I do not think he can. Just

a fraction more run on that cue ball.

Sometimes you can convince yourself that it - you can get to the potting

angle. Looks very tight. No, I think it's too risky. He's having to -

would have to play it with a lot of right-hand side.

He'll be disappointed with the safety shot. He was disappointed

wasn't on the red, and I'm sorry to say it affected his next shot. That

was not a good safety. Mark Selby knocks this red in, we could have a

new favourite for this frame. Good attempt. May have thought that

was in the minute he hit it. It was close. Look at his face. I think he

did. Sometimes you think you're halfway there, you think you have

potted it. That is good safety shot, better length with the cue ball this

time. APPLAUSE.

It's a tough one. But at this standard, just any nif of a pot, if

your opponent knocks it in, could cost you the frame. Not there. Now,

where is the red running? Where is the cue ball going? Hand up to

apologise. He's got away with it. This is where you've just got to

keep your focus, your self-control. He's not had the best of luck the

last couple of visits, hasn't Ding Junhui. But don't let it affect your

next shot. Well, he's having a look here, may

play the cross double, Mark Selby. If this red is in off the

right-hand-side cushion aiming towards the left middle pocket.

It's not far away. Is it going to bounce into the other ball colour?

It is. Nicely worked-out shot. He's got a

nice angle on the green, as we see the back cross double. Pots the

green into the top right-hand corner pocket, the natural angle of the cue

ball will be going towards the red. 3. So this red, any colour, and the

six remaining colours for the frame, a frame that looked all over. Ding

Junhui was going to win it. He played the cannon on the red just

behind the pink, just another roll of the cue ball, it would have been

frame over. This was the one. It looked for all the world it was

going to be on the red, and he just needed another roll. And now he's

got to sit there and wonder. And he'll be feeling the worst now.

We have a new favourite for this frame.

APPLAUSE. Excellent pot on the red, just come

too straight on the blue. We see the red again. Just got into the cue

ball. He is going to have to drop the blue

in and play the yellow from mid distance. This would possibly be

Ding's only hope. If he pots this and gets on the

green. Excellent shot, but again got into the cue ball a bit too much. A

bit of adrenaline, a bit of tension in the back arm.

Right in the middle of the pocket. He has just overrun. I always think

that the key to this clearance is to make it easier is this positional

shot now from brown to blue. If he gets perfect on the blue it is a

formality. Taking deep breaths. He is not

perfect on the blue. But he is perfect now. He is inch

perfect now. This will hurt Ding. He had the

frame almost in the bag and a couple of long pots that Mark Selby missed

came out a bit lucky. Didn't leave Ding another chance and that back

cross double as you quite rightly pointed out, John, that's what's

given him this opportunity and what a frame to steal.

Oh he is not on it! I thought he would have dropped it in-off one

cushion. He has tried to make the black easier, just to leave himself

an easier black. Well, look he is looking at the cut. Best of luck

with this one. This is tough. He has got it. Absolutely superb.

What a shot and Ding Junhui must wonder what he has got to do to win

a frame. Now Mark Selby, he is in comfort zone you would think. He

leads 16-11. Somebody's going to be the 2016 champion, I'm with the

current one. You're still clinging on. Rvegts I have hopefully two

frames. What was great. An unbelievable black. What have you

made of the final, gritty? Yes, Ding has done well and he has done a

Selby on everyone, he is so gritty. He is hanging on there and nicking

frames. You have got an ulterior motive for being here? I have taken

home half of the Crucible Theatre. Last year I actually walked past on

the Tuesday and sealed a carpet in the skip. So I have bought a new

house and there is a snooker room and I thought it would be a good

idea to nick some of the carpet. Stops you paying for it and they

talk about Scousest! Rs! You're here for the after party. You like a

party. Looking back at last year, my manager done me in like a kipper, he

said have a quick picture with this, three hours later I was still taking

pictures. What has the 12 months been like? It has been fantastic. I

will remember it for the rest of my life. Your name is never coming off

the trophy. No. Thank you. Cheers. Stuart Bingham has a vested

interested, if Mark Selby doesn't win, Stuart Bingham will be

snooker's 12th world No 1. So he has a stake in what is going on. But

what an amazing black to finish? Yes I thought it was like a lifeline for

Ding Junhui as Mark tried to make sure of the final black by trying to

get straighter on it. For a second, I thought he was dead level on the

it would be impossible to play the shot. But he pulled out a big shot

that was the difference between 16-11 or 15-12. He has won three

frames in a row and he is two away from a second title.

Mark Selby breaks off in this 28-frame to become champion of the

world for a second time. I'm looking at Ding Junhui in the chair, was it

a look of resignation or just sort of a bit numb after losing that

frame? What a black Selby pulled out. I'm sure there was a few times,

particularly on the black, where he thought, I would get back in it. The

fact he looked closely to see he has left the red. As we see that black

again. That was amazing. He made it look easy. But it was so thin. He

played wit a trace of side, which is amazing. But Ding Junhui I think he

may still have a bit left. He was keen to see whether Mark could get

past the green. I don't think he can to play this red near the right

corner. And the fact the player is look and hoping he has not left a

chance makes you think he still believes that he can win this. But

obviously the next couple of frames very important. As long as you keep

your opponent two away from the winning line, you fool you can make

an odd mistake. Not the best safety shot from Mark

Selby and he has left a chance of a pot here for Ding Junhui.

Nice pot. He is tight to the cushion, but just dropping the blue

in will leave him on the this red near the right corner.

Now he will be looking for an angle on the black. This is the last of

the loose reds. Only that awkward red on the right-hand side that will

not be interesting Ding Junhui in this shot.

Just leave a good angle on the black.

Maybe a bit lower than you would like, but the perfect angle to go

into the edge of the reds, but you must pay due care and attention to

the pot. Sometimes you can take your eye off the pot. You're hitting it

with a lot of force. Now, how's your luck? First glance -

not very good. That is unlucky. I mean he has hit it with enough pace

you would think he would have a shot of some sort. Unlucky. I think the

red that's closest to the cue ball may go to the far left corner

pocket. I think it just passes the pink. But you can't play it. It is

fraught with danger. Having to resort to the safety. As

well as having to play well, he needs the run of the balls just to

change a little bit. To help him. Not had it so far.

You might have heard then Mark Selby say, good shot. Tells us he feels he

is in a spot of bother. He can't see a safety.

Just over a minute and getting longer. To decide what to play. It

that is red near the left middle that is the danger ball. How can he

cover a path to that? I put a line here, it is possible he could come

off the left-hand side cushion and try and nestle into the bottom of

the pack of reds. But he has got to be very delicate with that

particular shot. If he slips by the pack it could leave the red closest

to the pink on the right-hand side. He has... It is a one cushion

escape. Doesn't look that difficult. The only problem I see if you hit

that red and you hit it full you could leave a red to the far left

corner. That is what would worry him. He has looked at the two reds

on the right-hand side cushion, whether he could nestle up to one

and get the cover. But he would have to be so delicate with the shot.

Anything a bit too hard would leave a red to the left middle. Coming up

to two and a half minutes now. This is another alternative, off

that side cushion and try and nestle in that side of the pack of reds.

That is why he's having a look at now. If he nestles on that red at

the bottom will he be leaving the one you suggested?

That is what he was afraid of. One to left centre and the one to the

right centre, John. Yes he had to hit it absolutely perfect. When he

said, good shot to Ding Junhui, he meant it. Now k Ding Junhui take

advantage? Oh! Just caught the near jaw! Didn't

go in that clean. Just caught the near jaw. But it was enough to catch

the pocket. You have got to forget the scoreline

in these instances and just take one ball at a time.

There is this frame and one more before the mid session interval.

He is having a look. I think he will play for the blue. But he may elect

to play for the green. The reason I'm suggesting that, he has played

for the blue, because the pink is separated from the reds it is not an

automatic hit the pink and the pink will open the reds. I thought maybe

green and come into the side. But he has played the blue.

I don't think there is a red in that cluster of six that is available.

It is not a formality to open them up. He played it on the side. That

red needs to pounce and it has done. He hit it perfectly. Controlled it.

Good shot. Played it lovely. He didn't go into the pink as you

suggested, because he could have lost the cue ball. Just judged it,

passed by the pink and into the couple of reds.

That has brought them in lovely. Nice angle on the black now. He can

go into the pack of four and still be on the red closest to the left

corner pocket. Slightly hampered. Could have done

with that cue ball just separating itself from the red a little more

and giving him the possibility to just cue it freely.

He couldn't do much with the cue ball. But he kept the white away

from the side cushion. It is a bit of pressure on this black. Just got

to roll it in. Normally. Can you make that the last phone we

hear tonight, please? That is the all you need. A pressure pot to

play. Right in the heart of the pocket.

Well played. Great pot under the circumstances. Just a couple more.

Get his first frame on the board this evening. This has been good

stuff from Ding Junhui. So there this pink now to put him 70

points ahead with just 67 remaining. Well played, Ding Junhui.

Particularly after losing such a close last frame.

This is an excellent reply. Showing a lot of character. You asked me at

the zart of frame what I thought was left, when he got the snooker behind

the green and the way he looked to see if he had covered the red near

the right corner pocket, that has shown me a man that is still up for

this and is still looking to play good safety and take his chances.

When he has been asked about temperament, whether we credit Terry

Griffiths, I don't know. But me has shown great temperament.

No more so than in this final, particularly when he was 6-0 down.

And still out there and still believing and it is a great sign.

And as you said, John, as long as you can keep your opponent, when he

needs to frames, you always feel you have some sort of a chance.

The red didn't go in, it didn't make this century, but it will please him

a lot to get his first frame on the board tonight. It is still Mark

Selby who leads Ding Junhui why 16-12. We have seen some fantastic

scoring form from Ding Junhui. He has made 14 centuries in this

championship, just too shy of the record held by Steve Hendry, but he

is mixing it up tactically, it is not just the brakes. You cannot when

you play Mark Selby, he has hung in, brilliance but it is not just the

frames to should win, it is nicking a couple you shouldn't and there are

a couple of frames, if you can cast your mind back to the second frame

of the match when he needed a snooker on the yellow and got it and

that made the difference. And keeping Selby at 16, if he gets on

the brink, you have to say it looks like the cards may fall, but how

much belief can you still have in yourself at this scoreline? It's not

so much belief is hope, and forgetting about what is ahead and

what's gone, just playing the shots in front of you, and he knows you

can get on a row but he understands senior a bit of help from the balls,

a bit of luck to go his way. He is still fighting. He certainly is

still fighting. COMMENTATOR: Showing a lot of

character out there, especially when there is so much pressure. This is

his first final. Mark Selby has already had his hands on that

wonderful trophy. There you see Mark Selby's name, 2014, Stuart, 2015 of

course. And that the default Lady on the top of the trophy, John.

Pushed a red to the corner but it may be cut above. There she is.

Funny when you see the pictures of Joe Davis when he added, it was the

same trophy. 1927, I think it dates back to.

And interesting spectator from the Snooker Academy there. Here he is

supporting Ding, I'm sure. His practice partner.

Missed the yellow, now he wants to miss position. And he may well have

done. That little rub of the green just favoured him there.

Game could just rule include these red and then after a couple of shots

it might have re-rack written all over it. I cannot see a path back to

baulk unless it is touching. It is touching. No re-rack.

Nicely judged but I'm sure it's a touching ball. Touching ball. It is

the type of situation that you don't want to Snooker your opponent, if he

can put the cue ball in the jaws of the yellow pocket, it forces your

opponent to play this safety shot off the back of rents, where a red

Mike come out, so you don't want to be sniggering your opponent.

Personally I would leave the cue ball near the yellow pocket. If you

have a tight, as you say, if he snookers him, it's quite an easy

escape with such a big target. And this time he has not played, he's

trying to leave it in the jaws of the pocket. And that will be awkward

viewing. I suggested the other side because there is the yellow and

green on this right-hand side he could get in time, whereas the other

side he would have to swing it around. Now what the pack of threads

here. He has to be careful he doesn't not be read towards the left

corner pocket. And be careful of them bump on the middle pocket. He's

played this well. The red was a bonus but a marvellous cue ball.

That was a good Yorkshire Sound, wasn't it? Goodlatte! -- good lad!

Mark having a look at this raid near the top cushion to the right of the

black, the red near the Black isn't available, so as long as he doesn't

run across the face of it and leave this red one, is it short? And that

is the worst way to be short because he has left a sitter to the left

corner! Couldn't be short. A bit tentative, that one. It could

be topside of the blue again. A slight angle to take the cue ball in

and out of baulk. It's not easy to get on this next available red. You

have to keep your wits about you all the time. The one thing he needed

was a good angle on the blue. He's gone nicely on the red, just played

the red, should have given more thought. It's the yellow running

around. He decided to check it and add ten to watch, that shows you the

skill of this young man. He may be able to play the red along the

cushion. The way he checked it, tongued the right-hand side. Very

character -- clever. He's just got a slight angle on the

blue. Whether it is enough or not, it's hard to say. Just past the blue

line, but whether he can force the cue ball down to his next red. Now

he's just making sure. I wonder if he's offered anything in the

cluster. He's looking at the red sticking out. He has played a few of

these in this tournament. He's very good at fine cuts. He played quite a

few. And there is another one! Hinders a bounce, he got a bounce.

He needs a lot of side on this. He needs to hurry. He's not on it. Has

he spotted something in the pack? The right middle? The referee, Paul

Collier, looking. It could be a planned to the middle but it begs

the question, where does the colour come from? I think it's own.

Extremely risky, isn't it? Is he going to force the cue ball through

the pack of rents? What a short! What a shot! What a

shot to take on at this stage, trying to force the cue ball up

towards the blue. Look at how much power he could get into the cue ball

to force it through those reds, lots of top spin.

Didn't like the double kiss, obviously. He's left Mark Selby a

chance of a pot, which is the last thing he wanted to do.

A little cluster of four below the link. He's not looking at the two on

the left-hand side of the table. Just in the bottom of the cluster of

four, it may be a guide, hits it to the right corner. And he wasn't far

away! I think he has covered it, but Ding

Junhui can play the plant. A bit too much pace, wanted a red to

the left centre, had to take it into the yellow pocket, but the problem

is the cue ball will be going towards the left centre pocket. With

the cue ball being so close to the cushion, there's not a lot you can

do. He can't widen the angle, so he has to judge. Does he have to play

this to the middle? He's playing it to the middle.

Played it very well, but unfortunately a bit too straight on

the green. He's having a look at the blue. Doesn't have to do much with

the cue ball, looking to try and get on the red, just to the right of the

black. I don't like that choice, mainly because he has that sheep

path to screw back off the green. Where is the cue ball going? A lot

closer to the middle pocket and he was expecting. He was playing to

bring the cue ball on the other side of the middle pocket there. He may

not be about anything that he has a 38 point lead to protect.

He's got the upper hand and Mark Selby knows he cannot afford to

leave one more chance, were this frame will have gone.

A good line with the cue ball, but he has left this red on. I'm sure he

can pot this and avoid the kiss on the black and the red close to the

top cushion. He certainly can, and his played it very well indeed.

Nicely controlled. Just managed to miss the black and red. Excellent

shot. Just one good positional shot of the blue will set up a frame with

the opportunity, you have to queue these nicely, do not take the blue

for granted. Got into a little bit too much. Just a slight raise of the

hand to mark. Mid-session interval after this

frame. And this red to go 52 ahead, with just 51 remaining. Well played.

Made certain of the red, I don't blame him for that, but now he will

concentrate hard on that link. There's only one Snooker leaders and

we see how these frames have been turned on their head. But in goes

that pink. There will be note return to the table for Mark Selby. A

brilliant response from Ding Junhui. Yes, and that's all you can do in

these situations, make your opponent realise you will not go away. He's

not going to give it to him. Don't give it to him easy. He could be

given for his head to drop especially after winning that second

frame, but he's getting back into this match and still in with a

fighting chance of his first world title. He's not going to give it up

easily. That's good to see. He may play a run through here and

try and disturb the brown, look at towards the corner. He's hit it

hard, he got that cannon, but he will be dying now to get to the

dressing room. He is still in the match. Something frames coming up,

Ken. Yet, absolutely. They will go to the mid-session interval and a

nice cup of tea will taste very nice indeed. Well played, very well laid

indeed. Mark Selby won the second frame of the evening, ding didn't

let his head drop and he won the next few frames. They go into the

interval, he is still three behind but I believe he believes he still

has a chance. I think he's beginning to believe he has a great chance as

well and back where he started, three frames per thanks against Mark

Selby as he goes into his dressing room, Worsley will have another

consultation with Terry Griffiths, his coach, trying to behind one of

the three qualifiers, because remember this is his eighth match,

he came here as a qualifier after starting the season as world number

four and dropped out of the top 16. What a journey back. I thought he

was starting to weaken, I thought it was becoming too much and those were

two fabulous responses to windows to frames. It is a bring performance

but he has not made any ground on Mark Selby, so Mark Selby will

think, he has done his job, if he can keep the lead he will be

champion. At the big dimming of this match, a lot of people but, could

Mark Selby hang on to the coat-tails of engine we, such were the role

went break secret, but the way this final started, just described the

level of resolve we have seen from Ding Junhui that we haven't

previously. I think he has matured and we have seen that progress over

all the years we watched them on the circuit, he has reached the stage

where he is calm around the table, Terry is in his corner but to win

five ranking events a couple of seasons ago is no mean feat. He is

quite calm at the moment, in his dressing room he is not pumped up he

knows the job in hand but what we saw at the start was somebody going

violently behind in the final and coming to terms with the fact it was

all unravelling, winning a frame, feeling the emotion of getting one

frame and then going to work, and he ground his way back. You have to

have admiration for somebody to do that. Easy to just live in, always

easy to go in. It's also easier to come back to people who are more

expansive because Mark Selby does not give you anything. There is an

examination every time he concluded table, he puts you in the worst

place, so it is slow, you cannot get it quickly. We may be into the home

straight here in 17 snooker marathon but it was a fortnight ago when

Steve Davis crossed another finishing line because he called

time on a 38 year most interesting career.

I think I was dotting the eyes and crossing the Tees, it was something

I'd got a not going to do that, I am happy just going into oblivion. In a

way, a relief that it was the end before us for a couple of years I

think I had been going through the emotions, mainly for my father. When

it was all over I felt relief that it was the end of an era. My dad was

the reason I played. Snooker became his passion. He tried to get as good

as he could that he didn't have that talent, so he learnt from the Joe

Davis I bowl on how to lay the game but he got to a break of 58, that

was his best, I'd talked through every positional shot of his 58

break. Around the age of Fort team I showed great interest in full-size

tables and playing the game properly, and he embraced that and

tried to help me become as good as I could be using this book so that

became the Bible and we didn't know anything about how to play the game

properly. All that ever happened was, he tried to get my mix Alex

Wright to make me as straight a header as I could be, and we had to

learn the game together, and then we went on a journey, not just around

the country with my father waking up at stupid times to go to work, six

a.m., driving a staff us across London and then coming back at 6pm

and thriving me to a snooker match. He devoted so much time to my career

but it was his passion so it is not like it was hard for him, it was

just what we did and every day was a journey. Turning professional,

playing my heroes, playing his heroes and then realising his boy

was arguably that, so his boy became in a short space of time the

champion of the world. It must have been astonishing but I don't know

how he thought about it. I think I'm a last frame in distressing room,

one of these rooms, he told me that might... I'm not sad, it's just...

So he said, he never watched the last frame, and he sold his soul to

the devil so I would win a large frame. And that is it, the World

Snooker champion, 1981, Steve Davies.

Congratulations there to the Embassy world champion, Steve Davies, from

his manager, return. Barry is impatient. He can't wait for me to

turn professional, my dad is going, I'm not sure he's ready yet. You

have to strike while the iron is hot. Sign this piece of paper on Abe

bus stop in Blackpool at! Right, sign it. And if I hadn't signed that

piece of paper or we hadn't been bullied by Barry, he is impatient, I

would never have turned professional in 1978 and I wouldn't have been

here in 1979 as a pro and two years later wouldn't have won the World

Championship, so while I owe my father everything for getting me

interested, the significance of Barry Hearn and how he got me

excited by the game and how we bumped into each other in such a

over till moment in the history of BBC snooker meant it was the right

time, right place, just amazing. Most of all I would like to thank my

mum and my dad and Barry and Susan. Suddenly I was in demand and he was

selling me like a piece of meat to the highest bidder. I would be in

the office, he would be on the phone, that's OK, he loves coffee.

Nine grand for the day. I would say, where did you get that number from?

He said, I thought of a number and troubled it. That is Barry. Most

people would say think of a number and double it, he would treble it

immediately! In the UK championship in 1980, Alex

Higgins in the final, a player who was hot property and fastly

talented. But I beat him 16-6. Not even close. That was a massive

turning point. Suddenly, in my dominance. That became the start of

the golden era. COMMENTATOR: It is all over.

Beautiful. 147!

April 1989, I won the World Championship and I apologise John,

if you are listening, I beat John 18-3. I played the best I've ever

played. I felt I owned it. I played Stephen in the UK championship and

he beat me in the big event. COMMENTATOR: He comes forward to

shake hands of young Stephen Hendry. I went into the studio with Stephen.

David Klein asked me questions first. As a statement than asking

the question, went, well, the end of an era, and turned to Stephen

Hendry. And I thought, bloody cheek, how day you, how can you say that?

As it turned out, it was. I never won the World Championship again.

My father passed away this year just before the World Championship. I

still plated it. He was with me from the start, so I thought finished...

APPLAUSE. I've enjoyed it all, yes. I've

enjoyed the love, the love of the people who watch snooker, how much

it means to them and how many people come up to you and say, you are the

reason I started playing, I am so pleased I fell in love with snooker.

To think that the game you fell in love with, so many people have got

pleasure out of it, what a life, to have done that, to have fallen in

love with a game that is your hobby, becomes your profession, you are a

flag bearer, and that is all you really, and the next minute, people

are calling you a legend, it is mind blowing. The love for snooker

worldwide is astonishing. And it is not my game. It is so...

It is a great game, you know. So much for smudging the mascara,

thanks very much for that! And so much for Barry Hearn' Romford robot.

What did the lap of honour mean to you a couple of weeks ago? I did not

want to do it but I am so pleased I did, it was fantastic. The fans who

come here, they have supported this game, over the years, when the media

sometimes... It is an easy hit, to criticise it, it is slow,

everything. The fans who watch know how entertaining it is and every

year it gives millions of people around the world so much pleasure.

Marvellous to be a part of it. Barry, I know he is a mate, but how

surprised how widespread and deep the reaction has been? It is

difficult. That is the first time I have seen that clip and it is quite

emotional. It is so unnatural for Davis to do what he did because he

is not a flash bloke who goes out and milks the crowd. It is an honour

to have known him and watched his career. We would none of us be here

without this fella. I was going to say, you clearly bullied him to sign

a contract and he knows you, but how much do you owe him? It is not in

the same league. I was useful for few years when he was quiet and

bashful and needed someone to fight his corner and watch his back, and I

was good that, but I have learned more from this man in the subsequent

30 years, we have been together for two years. It is the song, it does

not seem a day too long. All good things come to an end but our

friendship doesn't and his involvement in the game does not. As

an ambassador I cannot have a better flag bearer bound Steve. The love he

got in the room is something I have not experienced. It is a terrific

statement on what he has done and for me, I don't want to get big

headed, I would not be here without him and I would not want to be here

without him. There are one or two people you bashed up at the table

want their say. One of them is John parrot. You played this man when he

was in his pomp, 1989, the final here. Absolutely. I got a thumping.

He was at the top of his game. I think he beat you in the semifinal.

You were on the end of it. I was involved in the worst match, that

one, my best match was two years later beating him in the semifinal

which he never remembers, by the way! The big thing is after playing

against him, I count him as one of my best friends of the world. Steve,

how influential was he knew? And the comment from David Vine, the end of

an era, did it feel like that? I remember the first major tournament

I beat Steve, it was like a defining moment in my career. He has probably

been one of the most influential and inspirational people are my career.

I wanted to be the best and he was the best. I had to not copy him, but

look at him and see what I had to do to be the best. John, what did you

discover about Steve, and what changed when you started your career

as broadcasters? I thought for many years he was only programmed to

speak at press conferences when he won. Many players did not see him.

He was aloof. It was about the mystique. Working with him I got to

know him better and the Steve Davis now is different and we get on

famously well. We are known as the citrus twins because we are like a

couple of lemons when we stand together in front of the camera. We

are good pals and I enjoy his company. Six time world champion,

the UK championship, Masters. Former Sports Personality Of The Year and

in the top three on a number of occasions. 28 world ranking titles.

And snooker's official first maximum break. He has kind of done his bit.

He is entitled to a couple of weeks off. I am going to be on him all the

time. The DJ career is fine, but his original love of snooker, he has a

big role to play around the world. Showing people, inspiring people of

all ages. How good a game is and how good you have to be and the price

you have to pay to excel at his chosen sport. You will see a lot

more of Mr Davies. I cannot -- Mr Steve Davis. I could not lose a

client! And a fantastic announcement, 2027, this great

championship will stay in Sheffield. You heard is the reaction.

Unbelievable and I am happy to get it out and get it done because I am

tired of people asking, are you taking this to China? The answer is

I am not, of course. This tournament has been excellent. The extension of

the BBC contract coupled with ten years, I am made up. This sport is

back to where it deserves to be. It has been a lot of hard work by a lot

of people and the players and backroom boys and girls have to take

credit. We are back as a major global sport and ten years at the

Crucible is a great answer to those people who think the sport is just

about money. Sport is about history, quality of venue, atmosphere

generated and history. This place has the history and we cannot ignore

it. We started the chat with tears and we are finishing with a little

bit of a laugh. We had a huge amount of reaction to Steve's retirement.

We have had a lot of reaction from you today about the shot of the

championship will stop you have had your say and this is it.

In third place, Ronnie O'Sullivan's brilliant plant from round two.

In second place with 20% of the votes, Alan McManus and his trick

shot in the semifinal against Ding Junhui.

This time it is close, this time it is really close. A wonderful break.

He takes a bow. And you're winning shot with 20.8% of the votes. The

amazing escape from Mark Selby in his semifinal against Marco Fu.

COMMENTATOR: What they hit. Where is the cue ball going? Behind the

black? Yes! Unbelievable! Congratulations

to Mark and thank you to all of you who voted.

Will he win the big one tonight for the second time? It is getting

close. Ding Junhui is on the comeback trail. Will it continue? A

change of commentary and it is Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor in

charge. Good evening. A very good evening, Hazel. Welcome

back to the final session. Ding Junhui, to win the last two frames,

showed an awful lot of class. Those last two frames Ding Junhui

won, he won them in style with breaks of 73 and 70.

Can he keep it going? The Crucible crowd really have got

behind the Chinese player. They want to see a comeback. Mark Selby has a

terrific support here, going for his second world title.

And that is the beautiful shot as we zoom in from the back of the

Crucible. Much too thin will stop that was

nervy. Will the blue come to his rescue? It has. Very fortunate.

It is unusual for him to hit a shot like that, but he got away with it.

Desperately trying to get to that figure 17, when he will need one

more frame. You feel as long as your opponent needs two frames, you are

in with a chance. Is it going to reach? Of course it

is. He might be able to take this pot

on. He is coming around to look at the ankle. -- angle.

I mentioned the two breaks that Ding made but he made a 60 break to win

the frame before, so that is saying a lot about his character, that he

could come back from that. I think it has been a great feature

of his character in this World Championship. When he has lost a

frame he could have won, or he has her disappointment, he came back

strongly. In his first round, he came back and won four frames in a

row to win the match. He has been stronger mentally this World

Championship than in previous years. There is a chance here.

He is OK. There is a red at the act of the bunch. If you just drops the

blue in. -- back of the bunch. I think he played for the red by the

pink. But he has come too far. I think he can get on the red you

mention this time. He is looking to see if another one will pass. Into

the corner pocket. He was hoping to be on this red so

he could play for the black. He might be able to do that still.

Very well played indeed. All of a sudden, with that one cannon, he has

developed quite a bit of the game here.

He may go into the bunch here. Maybe not a pace, but just to bring one or

two reds. He is stuck on that red. Does he have one to be right centre

I wonder? He is having a long hard look at that one. If he is on that,

it would be much better. This is terrific from Ding Junhui,

it really years. -- it really is. It is break-building of the highest

quality. Bringing reds into play with every shot.

Another good angle to again cannon some reds out. He has that little

bit of insurance. That has gone wrong. He was into the

cue ball far too much. The cutbacks are difficult, cutting

back into a blind pocket. It is interesting, listening to

Steve Davis and Barry Hearn and talking about history and all the

things that have happened at the Crucible. There is another bit of

history still on the cards here. Ding Junhui aiming to be the first

Asian player to lift a world title. And the way he is playing here, he

is far from out of this final. 60 in front. Not far away from

securing this important frame. This could be the key shot.

If he is playing to the right corner, if he misses the cannon and

snookers himself, he could land on nothing. Is it worth risking that?

Or just playing around for the pink or blue? He is not far from winning

the frame. Yes, play the percentage shot. The only problem is if you

think it is a natural angle, you are tempted to play it. He is playing

the top spin say he may get the cannon. And he has played it

perfectly. He played it plain ball. He took the

risk and got the cannon you mentioned. And now he just needs

this black. Doing it in style, again.

If he goes on to make a century, it will be his 15th, one century behind

Stephen Hendry. And it will equal last year's record, 86. Under these

circumstances, this is superb. That got quite a big bounce off the

cushion. The only problem is he has not

finished nicely on the red. Can he cut this in?

What a fantastic century break from Ding Junhui. Don't the Crucible

crowd just love that? He has equalled last year's record of 86

centuries. It does not matter about the red. Mark Selby knows he is

playing a man who is playing out of his skin at the moment. Three in a

row and with that he closes the gap. That is confirmation, the 86, it

equals last year's record of centuries made at the Crucible. And

one shy of Stephen Hendry and the record set in 2002, three in a row.

73, 70 and 103 breaks. He has the wind in his sails. It never ceases

to amaze how the game throws up exciting finishes. When you thought

the game was dead at 6-0. We expect Mark Selby to be granite and get

over the line, but you never know. Put yourself in Mark's situation,

what is it like being the man in control of the situation, and yet

this fella is on your tail. You have to try to block out everything and

play every individual ball and every individual frame and forget the

school board. It is more difficult than you would think and Ding has

momentum, which is the hard bit. When your opponent plays as he is

you feel like a bit part player in the match. If you are on level terms

you forget about the scoreline and compete. When you are in front and

someone comes back, you are looking over your shoulder. It is hard to

block that out. Time and again Mark Selby has to produce is best. The

closer we get to the finishing line. Will it be the same now?

COMMENTATOR: That is the question, Hazel. We have seen Mark Selby do it

before when put under pressure, it is amazing the number of times he

has responded but this is no ordinary match. The final of the

World Championship, Crucible Theatre, looking for his second,

Dane looking for his first. It doesn't get better than this. And a

good break off. This needs a very thin contact. He

could go into the pocket here with the cue ball. He's got the thin

contact. That's a very good shot. That's open the reds up somewhat.

He's coming up a little short but it certainly splayed those reds. He

hasn't left anything on but it now means that whoever makes a mistake

could leave his opponent in with a chance. It's been an Ding Junhui for

the last three frames. He's only needed the one chance. Mark Selby

will be well aware of that. He'll be trying to keep it as tight as

possible now. There is the safety success rate.

Mark Selby just ahead but Dane has played some superb tactical speaker

as well as locking in frame-winning breaks.

That was all he could do there. It just means that Mark has got an easy

return back to the safety area. I think he can get past the blue to

snick the red. It's very tight but I think he can just see an edge. Just

about. Just got to be a little bit careful

now that he doesn't send a red towards the left corner pocket. His

target will be to try and get the white down towards the brown, you

play it as if you were trying to get a cannon onto the brown, you might

get it behind it. He's headed to thin. This will be a bonus. Not

quite. Just developing into a bit of an

awkward frame here. I suppose Mark Selby won't mind that one little bit

after watching Ding Junhui win three in a row with one chance. Yes,

especially if we get a red that travels next to that lack -- that

lack. The time since Mark has potted anything is almost an hour. It's a

long time in a final session to go without potting.

It's always worth attempting that but it's highly unlikely he could

get it that he got a good cue ball and the fact he did get it could put

Ding Junhui in even more trouble here.

He's not denigrate deal of trouble but the way the reds are, there is

an escape after right side of the table to those reds behind the black

spot because they are all a little awkward.

Try to block off the path down the right side but I think it stinks

goes somewhere near the middle pocket he could land on the red --

if Dean goes somewhere near the middle pocket. Just below the middle

pocket somewhere and I think he can nestle on that. He has played eight

good few shots like this. I think it is there for him.

If it's dead straight, he can follow it through on the only red he can't

leave. If he follows the cue ball on the line, he's looking at it from

the baulk and so doesn't fancy it. When you haven't potted a ball from

nearly an hour, it's not very inviting, but it's just sort of shot

players would take an but he's keeping it tight here.

Keeping a quite in the jaws of the pocket over there, looks after

safety shot down the right side of the table and with the black and red

at the left side, it's awkward. To get a good safety there. This is a

thin one he is looking at. Very thin one. A bit on the fish side. --

deck. That last shot from Mark Selby left it very awkward for Ding and

now the chance for Mark to pot his first ball for over an hour. He did

put the planting, I suppose that was the thing.

Amazing, and not only has he missed it, look where the red is, so there

are signs that things are turning around in this final. That was a

nervous fit. -- hit. Easy to see who is the most

comparable ode there at the moment, the man in the red waistcoat. It's

all about momentum in these long matches and at the moment Ding has

it. The man in the red waistcoat, he's been wearing that for a while

and was the great Tiger Woods who always played on the final day in

red. This is awkward, he will need to

rest here because he have to do lean over the reds there. And he has to

get a little bit of action on this to get back onto a read.

And that was the problem, he had to force it into your position. -- to

get position. Just put it on the left there but the blue has gone

safe and that pink is out of commission at the moment. It was an

easy starter but not a great deal available.

The two reds that are to the left of the black spot, one red above the

right corner, that is the one he would love to get on.

That was an excellent choice of shot. He's all right. At least he

has landed on a read. He hit that beautifully. It was the pacey played

it had, and he almost brought the pink and red into play.

The only problem with playing for the black, he wants an ankle on it

but if he plays for an angle, that red is just up the left side

cushion, he could be hampered by that one so a straight is not good

on the black. Maybe he can play a cannon on the red. He has just

rushed it. -- brushed it. That is where he would like to get the cue

ball after potting the black, but he will need the extension on his cue

and the rest. He doesn't have to force this to much but you still

have to be very accurate with it. Just come in behind that red their

that's just to the left of that are closest to the back version. He's

got to give it full concentration from both parts of the shot.

No. Put the black straight onto the near jaw, didn't get the white

anywhere near where he wanted it. That was a nervy one, wasn't it?

Very tentative. It was nowhere near strong enough. A little bit worrying

for Mark Selby and his porters. We're going to have one of those

very tense affairs here, the way the balls have gone.

And who is going to make the first mistake in this safety exchange?

Just concerned about flicking a red over the right corner pocket.

Hit that a bit thick. He hasn't played a good safety shot. What a

test for Ding Junhui here. Black is over the pocket.

The only problem, looking at the angle there, if he plays a little

stunned shot, he has to find the gap. If he plays a plain ball, he

might be able to avoid the red, the pink there. It's all about that top

tier, that is for sure. -- that pot here.

And that was close. And now it's a better chance for Mark Selby, if

this red passes the pink. As we showed you the red wobble in the

jaws but it must be pretty tight. That tells you how close that was.

That red certainly doesn't go but he might be able to get to the one that

two behind the pink. If we just come around with it camera, it shows you,

maybe you can just see enough of the potting angle.

He is concerned about the cue ball but I think he's also concerned

about missing the previous red into this same pocket.

I think he will find the angle, where he is pointing the cue, if the

pot set. He wants to just find the path between the red and the black.

Couldn't have played it better. He gave it a lot of thought but it

worked out perfect and he has an angle on them like here to please

himself, he can go cannon link into the realms and bring quite a few of

them into play and that is what he is looking at, he could clear the

black spot area, he has all sorts of choices available to him. And he's

picked the wrong one. Tried to be very precise there. He's played the

red closest to the black spot but his court that red first, that other

one. That could have been a frame and an opportunity if that went

right there. He could have played a lot more of

pace into the four reds around the cue ball here but he chose to play

the additional shot. Sometimes you're trying to be so

precise, that can happen but he had a great angle on the black just to

scatter everything here. If each stunned that in, those four reds, he

would probably have moved the red that he tried to anyway and he would

have opened everything up, but a little bit of a stalemate here at

the moment. Touching ball, both reds. Both reds?

If he moves one of the reds, it's a foul shot. He can't do much with

this. The referee will have to keep an eye on this one. What is the...

If any of those red move, it's a foul shot. I have no idea what he is

playing here, Dennis. Whatever it was it worked because he

would never have been in that edition before, touching two reds

like that. It's nice to see the injured we

smiling. When he came on the scene you could never get a smile out of

him. He is a changed lad, a smashing lad. I went out with him and his

sponsors, a dozen of us went out for a meal and he was a delight to sit

by and his English has improved so much. Hopefully he is able to get

the cue ball back to the baulk end, that is why he is up there, then

asked him for a re-rack but Mark blanked him. Mark doesn't mind this

after the rash of breaks that Ding Junhui has thrown at them. He is not

bothered about having a tactical frame here. And this is close to

getting in behind the brown. What an effort this is.

And he's still smiling. But what he is doing, he's sitting upright in

his seat and I'm sure Terry Griffiths has worked on that with,

because four years ago he used to get slumped in these chairs and I

said to him, don't show your opponent you are slumping, sit

upright. It's all to do with positive thinking and keeping

yourself was it. -- positive. That bounced too far, it may have.

It may have. On a practice table, he could easily

put that up the left-hand side but far too much at stake in this frame.

He is struggling to buy a positional shot, Mark Selby. He's had two were

three decent chances in this frame already, Dell Mack. That last shot

was a pretty straightforward shot, a margin for error and he has overdone

it. Bounced a bit too far. That's all right, keeping things

tight but you have to take those chances and he's not doing it at the

moment, Stephen. Every time he comes to the moment and doesn't take an

opportunity, he is giving thing more encouragement.

And that will do nicely. That will do very nicely. That's a stroke of

good fortune because he left a couple of pots on but now that he is

tight in next to the blue, very difficult, there is little things

starting to happen out there. Mark showing his annoyance at that but

you have had chances, Mark, to win this frame. Sometimes if you don't

take them, the balls don't forgive you and you get punished. It was

very fortunate. I don't think he can come off the cushion or rolled the

red to the right because those three reds get a black, at least one of

them is available along the cushion, so he has a problem here. Those

three reds behind the black, it's a top one dozen pot, he will play this

one dead weight. If he gets the cue ball somewhere near that corner

pocket, that is about as safe as he's going to get it. He's looking

to see if he leaves a cue ball here, is one of these reds pottable to the

right corner? If he does get it he will win the black. It will be some

shot. To strike over the blue and hip

white in the centre to give a chance of potting that, we saw earlier he

won shot of the championship, that would have been up there. It was an

escape shot that gave him the shot of the championship. He's missed

that cannon, he still has a pot of but he wanted that cannon a lot

funner. -- more full. this was the cannon. He had to make

sure of the black and just caught the pink. You should be OK here.

I say he should be OK, it looks like you can take it on and find the gap

between the black and reds, but the longer you take over a shot,

sometimes the more difficult it becomes.

He should have got down straightaway and played the correct shot. He

thought about it. When he eventually played it he hit it all wrong. He

could have left something easier than this.

It is as if he is trying a little bit too hard at the moment to get to

17 frames, when he will just need one to win. He could have left

something easier than this. He might just be able to see enough to cut it

in. He has over cut it. He has left it. Mark Selby back at the table

quicker than he thought he was going to be. He was fortunate. When he

scattered the reds, that he did not leave something easier. Ding was

fortunate. Mark was hampered by the blue in a previous shot. Another

chance. Not trying to do anything special

with the cue ball, just making sure of the pot.

At a less pressurised moment of the match, he would have played for the

pink. He is desperate to get these two frames by whatever means.

He played that with right-hand side to get the cue ball closer to the

red. I think it will be red to the right corner.

He doesn't like it. That is the red I would fancy. It looks the more

straightforward positional shot. That is what he is going to attempt.

He may even play pink. It will go on the blue spot.

He needs 51 points to leave Ding needing snookers.

This is straightforward but the red in the open will only pot to the

left corner. He must finish higher on the black

if he is screwing back for the black. Every shot he is playing he

is making ultrashort, because he knows the importance of this frame.

-- sure. We have been going almost 35 minutes. It is just what Mark

wanted, really. Because Ding Junhui was flying, with breaks of 73, 70,

103. It was just the way the balls went at the start of this frame. He

did not play a good shot. He decided he could not get the angle on the

black but he has not got past the line of the pink. We can show you,

dead straight. He will not get onto the red to the left corner from

here. He would have to play a trick shot. Will he try that? Surely not

at this stage of the match. No. He decided not to take the extra

points and just push the pink into a safer position.

I think I would have taken the six points.

It would have meant he only needed one red and a colour to make

absolutely sure. That is not bad. That was a pretty

good shot from Ding. REFEREE: Can everybody please make sure their

phones are on silent. Maybe playing a shot to nothing. No.

He is not taking any risks, Mark Selby.

He is in a strong position in this frame with the 36 point advantage

with the blue and pink as they are. It is quite a substantial lead.

Is Ding Junhui going to get a chance to get back into this frame?

It will be difficult the wave Mark Selby has set his stall out. This is

a huge frame in this final. He does not really want to bring

this red into play, but he may have to do with no other EC safety shot

on. -- easy. Ding would love to get in behind the

green. I think you can hit this. He hit the pink unintentionally, but

it has brought the pink and it has moved the blue. He caught Ding

between wanting to get the reds into the open, but not playing too

aggressive a safety shot and leaving a pot on for Mark Selby.

It is difficult. He has the gap. But... Can he avoid the black and

red if he comes around the table, that is the question. Just trying to

roll to it. How delicate was that? I think we will give the table fitted

ten out of ten. That ball ran perfectly straight.

If the cue ball was further away from the cushion Mark Selby could

play directly into the red. It is a risk. He does not want to bring reds

into the open. The shot would make it harder for Ding to score points.

If he is going twice across the table to get in behind the brown,

the pink is slightly in the way. He judged it well. He may be tight in

behind the brown. That is another terrific shot.

His wife applauding that good shot. It is nervous times. In fact it is

more nervous for the family that it is for you when you are out there.

Look at the swerve. He will hit the black. Mark may have this replaced

because he was in a tough spot. It was these swerve that took the white

away. It was almost a better results hitting the black first because if

he catches red and black together at that pace, it will cost him the

frame. Olivier, from Belgium, just directing where the balls were.

He does not have too played the same shot again. He is going to try it.

This is risky. You don't often see a very gentle

swerve like that, but he judged it to perfection that time. He could be

in a bit of other again. Looking at the angle, I am not sure if he can

get in behind the green and blue. He can get it to the jaws of the

pocket. If he is trying these snooker he has to miss the middle

pocket. That was about the best he could do

from that angle. Ding is faced with a shot the full

length of the table and he must hit it thin.

Well played, this is a terrific shot, a brilliant safety shot.

He had the full length of the table. With the white near the jaws and the

red near the cushion. You will not see a better safety shot than that.

He has mixed it up so well in every department, Ding Junhui.

The 39 points advantage could be in a little bit of jeopardy. The

colours are all in play now. That was risky. Look where he had

the cue ball. He was right on the black. He has left a difficult cut.

Once they touch the cushion rarely do they go in at that pace. Mark is

not even looking at the cut into the middle pocket, he is now. Surely if

he cuts it in he might cannon be yellow. -- PLO. He is looking at

coming back behind the black. He could go off the red and go back up

behind the green and blue. The red to the right middle

definitely looks on. He could come back down for the black and play it

as a shot to nothing. He has not taken any risks whatsoever in this

long, tactical frame, a frame that would get him to 17 and be just one

frame away from his second World Championship.

It is coming up to one and a half minutes of thinking time.

Well, he did attempt the doubled in the end but look where he had the

cue ball. I think he will just knock the black

safe. He is just rolling in behind. Has he got the snooker? Has he put

himself in trouble here? Maybe he has just got the snooker. Yes, there

you see it. If he swerves around and hits the

cushion first he is bound to leave the red up near the pink. You have

to be so precise. He has stuck them up. The red I mentioned. The roll in

behind the black, he thought long and hard and it was the right shot

in the end. Mark Selby using all his years of

experience in this frame. It was an awkward frame. The balls

went a bit funny early on. He took his time over every single shot.

It does not matter about the yellow. Ding signals to the referee he

concedes that very long heart -- hard-fought frame. Mark Selby has

got to the magic 17. He only needs one more for his second world title.

He was protecting the advantage. He was giving nothing away. Granite,

absolute granites. As hard as steel girders. He did not take chances and

kept the pressure on Ding. He played a rock hard frame of snooker when he

needed it because the momentum has been the Ding. 51 minutes. When we

look back to the last finals, there has always been one frame, an epic,

and the winner has generally tended to have broken the spirit of the

other guy. It happened last year with Stuart Bingham overcoming Shaun

Murphy. Was that the key frame? It could have been. The decision

whether to play safe, to Gopher shots, is paramount. Magnified by

the situation. Ding had the red along the top cushion. He chose to

pot. It was a potential get back in the frame shot but when he missed it

he sacrificed the tactical part of the game to Mark Selby. You do not

think you have done too much damage but the other guy is in the

ascendancy in attack will stop that is the level. It has followed the

same pattern, when he has got behind him and looked like he could put him

under pressure, he has always found something else. As he always done.

He has been on and off world number one since 2011 and has stayed there

because his match playing skills are phenomenal. Everyone has told me he

is not playing well in this tournament. How did he get in the

final if he is not playing well? He competes in every department. There

have been sessions where he has not been near his best but he comes out

of them for - four. He has said he has not at times pages best and he

has found a way to get by. You may not have played at your best, but he

has competed at his best and that is the most important thing. One more

and he will be a multiple world champion.

Yes, as Hazel said, one more frame needed from Mark Selby to win his

second world title. That was, as John parrot said, a

granite frame of snooker played by the world number one.

That was much too thin and he will leave an early chance.

That last frame may have taken a lot out of Ding Junhui, because he was

in the ascendancy. He had breaks of 73, 70, 103, he was flying. All of a

sudden, Mark Selby put the breaks on. And a lot of that was down to

how the balls went in the last frame. Possibly more of an acute

angle but he can go into the pink from this.

Wow. I did not think that was going to fall. That was achieved have

another look. He had to play the most difficult pot. REFEREE: Can

everybody make sure their phones are off now, please. Do not be the idiot

that spoils this. This is what you dream of to win the World

Championship, a chance like this. The black is not available at the

moment. Look at the reds. Yes, the reds he put there when he

potted the blue and opened up the game. If he can get to 69 points, he

will be world champion for the second time. There are an awful lot

of balls to be potted. He played a poor positional shot there. This can

go wrong. It is not getting any easier, this

break. He looked absolutely shattered last

evening, just after midnight. It does take it out of you mentally

here at the Crucible. You finish up, it is just adrenaline that keeps you

going. This is what you practise all the

hours four. An opportunity in amongst the balls to win the World

Championship. There is Vicki, his wife. And her mum. Who has been

looking after their daughter. They have been up in the champions'

lounge. That was an excellent positional

shot. And there is one of the top pool players in the world. I think

he travels to China with you, Stephen. Yes there is a lot of

Chinese eight ball pool. Oh, has that gone wrong? Looking at

his body language, I think he is on a pot.

That's a possible pot to the middle pocket. He flicked the black say.

Can he hold this for the pink? It's a delicate little screw shot that is

needed. Just a fraction away from being perfect.

Nicely judged, it just means that pink is slightly more at difficult

now, just running away slightly from the reds. The last couple of frames

he's been taking his time and not rushing into the shot.

Doesn't have to even worry about the blacks, he's got that pink and if it

goes slightly astray, he's got the blue. It's a fabulous chance here

and Ding Junhui, will he get back to the table, that's the question. He

has been unbelievable this year, winning three qualifying matches to

get to the Crucible and has played so well. The wrong side of the blue.

Looking at the more it difficult thing, which would give him better

position. -- pink. That last shot has just knocked a

couple of those reds into safe editions, so it's not a

straightforward run to the line by any means now. He's looking

determined to get it won in this frame. That is probably as focused

as he has looked all right. -- all night.

Ding Junhui has had some fantastic support from this crowd but Mark

Selby is a very popular world number one, I think this Crucible crowd

wanted to see a comeback and they did see one from doing with three

immaculate frames. And that is a delightful little

cavern. Just to open those two reds up.

He's just showing why he is the world number one. He won the last

frame with so much tactical and safety play, it looks like he may

clinch this world final with this rate. Just one more easy read

available. He's 53 ahead. It's still not quite over but there

is a very proud wife there. Will he get another chance? If Mark

Selby was to win this frame and final, that is exactly the score he

beat Ronnie O'Sullivan two years ago, 18-14.

Almost there. For the world number one.

What a feeling this is. He's just got a position for the first time in

this rate but what a feeling to be on a break to win the World

Championship. You can't beat it. You have done it on seven occasions,

Stephen, so nobody knows the feeling better than you. It's not a gimme

that any means but it is the one that would give him the title. And

it's there. He points up to his wife Vicky and look at that smile.

He missed two tournament 's before the World Championship. He came in

under the radar even though he was world number one but every credit to

Ding Junhui, everyone back in China can be so proud of him, he has

played a fabulous World Championship. Deng is having a look.

He is coming forward to shake the hand of Mark Selby. What a great

final these two played. Mark Selby, for the second time, lets the world

title and he becomes the bet Fred world champion for 2016, winning 18

frames to 14. Congratulations all around.

Ladies and gentlemen, please show your appreciation for two fun car to

confine us today, and let me offer my commiserations and

congratulations to Ding Junhui. He knows how to win, but from 6-0

behind, how proud were you of the weight you were fighting in the last

couple of days? And very bad start, I thought I couldn't win frames

because I had never been to a final before and Mark played well, to win

the second frame was a big frame so I was thinking I need to win

something, so just go for it. This young man has given us 15 centuries,

he has won seven matches to get you, he has won some very special

performances and a lot of farms and a lot of respect. Thank you, Ding

Junhui. APPLAUSE

And here he is, are champion, Mr Selby. You have joined a very select

group, you are just working multiple world champion. I wonder how good

and how special that sounds for you. It was very special to win it two

years ago for the first time. I felt or under pressure this year then two

years ago because I didn't know what to expect some are so happy to win

but it was a tough idle. Dean is a fantastic layer and the amount of

pressure he is under from China to get to the final and play the way he

did, I can only imagine. 6-0 behind but he got twice within one frame of

you and I wonder how key the two frames you one last night work in

establishing that lead overnight. It got off to a great start at first to

18, 6-0 is not a huge need, especially when you are playing

someone of being's class, and the second and third session I just need

to be hanging onto ham. This morning, when I came out 5-4, so

just over the moon. You are admitted you haven't been at your best

sometimes through this championship so how have you won again? I don't

know. I save my best performance for the final, I've played Marco Welp in

the last session but other than that I had two good sessions during the

tournament, and apart from that played on my DJ most of the time, so

thank God I have had decent the game to fall back on. This is part two of

a sporting double for your own town, so will you let them share your open

top bus? I didn't get that last time when I want it to years ago, but a

small city like ours, to be Premier League champion from last year is a

big achievement and I want to say a big thank you and congratulations to

Claudio and all the boys at Leicester. I think there is a young

lady who is at about to give you a large kiss, daughter Sophia and wife

Vicky. Bring them in. Congratulations, Mark.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your presentation party, Fred Dutton

and six time world champion Steve Davis.

The runner-up receiving a cheque for 137,500 pounds and the silver medal,

what a run and what a fortnight, Ding Junhui.

And the winner, receiving a cheque for ?330,000, the trophy and the

title 2016 World Snooker champion, Mark Selby.

Once again, your champion, Mark Selby!

Still number one and a world champion again. John Parrott has

been watching this. It's been hard at times for him to get through and

at times he went messy but he shows his metal when the pressure is

highest in a final. He is just made of granite, very stern stuff. He's a

tremendous competitor, even when he is on his league game it is good

enough to give headaches to players and he doesn't waste be shot. There

was always a purpose do it, and when he gets his scoring boots on, he's

difficult to play against, and when he hasn't he is tremendously

difficult to play against. There is Sophia stealing the show. It is

Mark's title but in so many ways it was then's championship because of

the ways you perform. There was no doubt about, that they are in the

best scoring twice was Ding Junhui. Mark wasn't quite there in the

scoring department but it goes to show that Mark Selby competes at

Ding Junhui comes out with enormous crap. He has the best attitude I

have seen in any at he has played in -- enormous crap. -- credit. A great

match player and so hard to beat in all departments. Too good and too

clever for most people in the game. That break he made in the final

frame was pure class. Under the circumstances, he produces his best

stuff. And as Mark makes his way around the arena, Ding Junhui has

taken his late and Steve, we were talking about the contribution this

young fellow from China has made. He was the first layer from mainland

China ever to come here and he leads with a huge amount of credit and

confidence for the way forward. There's no guarantees you will ever

win the World Championship, it gets harder every year, but it inspires

another generation to come along and regardless of what happened in this

much, I cannot believe when they see how much character he showed they

would think this is a failure in any shape or form, they know how good

Mark Selby is and it will inspire them. It's a done deal in China,

they love the game and there will be a Chinese world champion. It would

be lovely if it was Ding Junhui but you never know. Another thing that

changed our perspective has been the qualifying process and the fact we

had so many knocking out the seeds in the worst and second row, to

qualify as getting to the semifinals, will we ever regard that

qualifying process with quite the same horror we have before? The two

of them were brilliant. Alan McManus had a fantastic tournament and Ding

Junhui looked fresh even in the final session here. Mark Selby has

had to play for qualifiers to win this title here and it shows you,

there we go, the Leicester City flag is out, he is taking his bout and I

am sure he will be sharing the open top bus with Leicester City. I was

there when he won at the first time and all the fans gave him a

fantastic reception and what a fantastic time to have Mark Selby

here and Leicester City on the pitch. And a celebration for Mark

Selby and his family, overall I would you sum up this championship?

It's been a fascinating tournament in so many ways. Not everyone can

guarantee the players they want to see at the end get through and it is

great to see so many stories can unfold regardless of who is in it. I

thought this would be the hardest tournament to win and the hardest

man won it. This fellow knows how to win. I hope you have enjoyed it.

It's been an eventful 17 days at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. I

think all of us need a big break and we're taking a long rest, gentlemen.

Thanks, John and Steve and the entire team for your contributions

and your company, and thank you to you for your company. We will catch

you again sometime soon, but in the meantime from all of us here in

Sheffield, good night.