Saturday, 2nd Round, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon. What a week that was here at The Crucible, in our annual

snooker marathon. We have lost seven of the top seeds, including last

year's champion, Stuart Bingham. We have said goodbye to Steve Davis as

a player. We have said good riddance to Dennis Taylor's troublesome

appendix. He is fine, don't worry! But Marco Fu has also said hello to

the quarterfinals, and he will be joined there by three other players

today. And we have had a lot to talk about when it comes to the

pre-championship favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan, although he has

preferred to keep his own counsel this week. He will be letting his

talent do the talking out in The Crucible arena this afternoon, in

round two. So, end of a busy week for it is the

second round stage for Ronnie O'Sullivan - what can we expect

today? Well, obviously he ended the last match, everybody knows, there

was a bit of uncertainty at how he was feeling. He played well, he was

very solid. He has got a tough second round against Barry Hawkins,

but obviously, has got to put the misery of the destruction in the

final of the Masters, 10-1, that was the last time they played, out of

his mind. But he has played royal number of times so it is tough match

for Ronnie. You want to play people you have beaten before, so what will

his approach be today? He has got to get off to a good start. As we

always say, Ronnie is a tremendous frontrunner. Perhaps he has got to

try and win the first session. As soon as Ronnie gets ahead, and the

same again in the next session, the match is over. We always stay with

Ronnie, it is 17 days, do you think he is here till the end? I think

he's determined to win. Nobody knows because he did not say anything

after the last match. Nobody knows. But on the table, I thought he was

very solid, especially the first session, in the balls, he just

cleared up every time. There was ample inevitabilities. And here is

the rest of our menu for this afternoon. Ali Carter delivered a

knockout blow on last year's champion, but this morning he is in

an almighty scrap with Alan McManus. Meanwhile, world number one Mark

Selby is going to do to with the lowest ranked player left,

Birmingham's Sam Baird. Ronnie O'Sullivan steps out at 2.30 against

the man he has played and beaten here in two of the last three years.

Yes, birthday boy Barry Hawkins, 37 today, will not be expect him many

gifts from The Rocket today. And for whom will The Crucible's budding

romance ended in tears? It is not you, it is me! Hey, they can still

be friends! So that will be the match to finish this afternoon,

along with the start of the Ronnie O'Sullivan-Barry Hawkins match. But

we have been under way here since ten o'clock this morning, enjoying

what has been an absolutely thrilling finale in the match

between Ali Carter and Alan McManus. Both of these men were qualifiers

this year. McManus saw off his great friend Stephen Maguire. Ali Carter

meanwhile beat the defending champion on the opening night. Ali

Carter was leading going into the final session this morning. McManus

has been hugely frustrated with the table conditions but he has come

charging back to take the first four frames this morning and now leads

11-nine. Remember, it is first to 13 in the second round. We will be

joining it in the next frame, with McManus 47 points adrift. Commentary

from Willie Thorne and Peter Ebdon. REFEREE: Foul, and a miss. Ali

Carter, five. WILLIE THORNE: Just has to be

careful here, and he bound to get a frame on the board, his first of the

morning session. Two more reds and colours, that will be enough to keep

Alan McManus sitting in his chair. It looks like Ali Carter has got

himself back into this match. It had been drifting away from him.

Peter EBDON: He has look to completely different player in this

frame, Willie. WILLIE THORNE: I'm sure more people

will be wanting to have you in their dressing room, Peter, seeing how he

has come out for this second half! We have said many times how

intervals can change matches. It looks to be the case so far for this

one. This is the kind of speed highlight

to see Ali play at. He looks to be in good with now. That is what you

can do when you are playing somebody like Alan, who is a wonderful tack

fishing and a bit slower than most. You have got to try and play the

game at your pace, not at their pace. But he is looking pretty good

now. He could not believe that cushion

there! He is smiling away and I do not blame him!

That was a magnificent break of 71, and Ali Carter is back in this

match. He still trails, 11-ten. HAZEL IRVINE: As you probably know,

Ali Carter has an impressive CV at The Crucible. He is a two-time

runner-up, most recently in 2012. And he has got himself back within

reach. He is fighting. But let's show you what happened in frame 22,

because Carter, ten points behind, just the colours remaining, and it

is a miss cue. He might have had a chance to level the score. But this

frame is firmly back in the balance once again, as we rejoin it.

Opportunity to snooker behind the black here with check side. Got the

double kiss. And he may well have been fortunate again. Although there

is a good chance that Alan can pop this yellow off the side cushion,

with a touch of right-hand side. It is one of those, he has to hit it

virtually free quarter-ball to pot it, which is hard to judge. Good

pot, puts him 12 in front. But how does he get on the brown? Maybe a

double? And the fact that it is frame ball,

he will be taking this double one. That's a reprieve for Ali Carter,

because I thought that double was virtually... Well, he would pot it

more times than he would miss it. I wonder whether Ali will be tempted

to play it cushion first and try and leave the white exactly where the

brown is. He has not caught this very well. This is an easier chance

than the double. The blue has not gone in, but

barring snookers, Alan McManus will be one frame away from victory.

Alan McManus, one up with three to play.

Alan McManus, one frame away from victory. The point of no return for

Ali Carter. I wonder, Peter, whether that is what he needs. Because he

knows now that he cannot make any mistakes.

Peter EBDON: This is a very difficult red to take on. Oh, that's

brilliant! Possibly his best shot of the match. Incredible cueing.

That's just magnificent cueing. Well, if that does not give him a

boost of confidence, nothing will, Willie. Not perfect on the green.

Nothing seems to go in this left-hand top pocket. So he has

played for one in the middle. Needs the white to pull up... If he can

get the one just to the left of the black, that would be a bonus. It

would free up the black. This now becomes a better chance - as long as

he pots this red. Yes, well played, nice pot. Green to follow.

Unusually for Ali, he has just lost the cue ball a few times this

morning. As a result of that he has not scored as heavily as he normally

would do. But his concentration and focus

seems to have come right back. And after that magnificent opening

red... He is giving himself a real chance.

You could see the cue ball jump there. He has lost position because

of that. He will be absolutely distraught at losing prime position

there. If the red goes past the pink in the middle, it might not be too

bad. Yes, this is OK. Just screw back, he's back on the black again.

Very good recovery. He has got a couple of loose reds.

Just needs to drop this in now. And leave himself an angle after potting

this red to go into the bunch. And leave himself onto the red into the

left-hand black pocket. That's just about perfect. Needs to stand up

into this pack, though. If he screws up into them, he could lose the

white. That's what he has done, but he has left himself hampered.

Perhaps should have played it a little bit harder than that.

Yes, that previous shot was almost in between a Stanning and a screw.

But a very good effort from Ali with his back against the wall. Showing

that he still feels he has got a chance to win this match. That's not

one of his best positional shots. If we watch it in slow motion, if

possible, that was another outrageous kick, another heavy

contact. Watch the black jump. Wow! Look at that. The thing which upsets

the players so much about these bad contacts is that we know that either

you lose position or you can miss the pot. There is nothing you can do

about it, it is just very, very frustrating for the players. Still,

54 break, this has been an excellent effort from Ali Carter so far.

Another kick. Just took some pace out of the cue

ball. Positionally, he's OK. Played that nicely. Three more reds,

three colours, to be guaranteed of making it 12-11. The three below the

pink are lined up like soldiers into this corner pocket.

That flew off the cushion, look at that. That has gone 3ft further than

it should have done. Please somebody set fire to this table!

Needs to put all negativity out of his mind. The good news is, there is

only 67 left, and he's a 70 in front so that he can play the red with

confidence. One more red and Alan McManus will concede.

So, big moments in this match. Well, it has taken a while, Willie, but we

are actually beginning to see signs that the real Ali Carter is turning

up. I would still be a bit worried about his emotions if something went

slightly wrong in the next frame. Obviously, now he will feel he can

still win the match. Already made one century in this match, 103,

earlier on. There has been 42 centuries overall made this year. It

is amazing, people complaining about the tables, that they have made 42

centuries. Just shows you how good they are when they are in close. And

this will be a real tonic for Ali Carter. And for his fans. If he can

make this century break here. Well played. That really is an

excellent effort, considering everything that has gone before this

morning. HAZEL IRVINE: Real character from

Ali Carter, as you would expect. He's not quite in control of this

match as yet, though. Into the next we go.

Peter EBDON: Alan with a 24 point lead. It is quite big lead as well,

the way balls are. Yellow and pink, out of commission.

He knows he has got to take this on. This is a chance for frame and

match. He doesn't like it, though. Very good shot. If he does take the

blue on, he will be cannoning in to the two reds on the cushion. He is

not bound to end up on one of them. Just needed the cue ball to come

another inch or so away from the left-hand side cushion. This is

tricky. Played it very well. And his unfortunate not to be on the red

closest to the black. Of course, running into those reds, he was

never sure what kind of cannon he was going get. There is a red into

the middle, but it is tough. The blue will put him 44 points in

front. Sorry, it will put him on 44. So he needs two more reds.

Red and black will put him 44 in front with 43 remaining. He has been

out of the limelight for a few years, Alan. This is a chance to get

right back in the limelight, with a place in the quarterfinals in the

World Champion ships at Sheffield. It's in. Needs the white to slow

down. Well, I would be taking the black on!

Well, the blue is unmissable unless he gets a kick.

But can he get on a red? I think there is a gap between the brown and

Grinham. That's what he has played. Excellent positional shot.

This red for a place in the quarterfinal. Ali Carter can only

look down and hope that Alan McManus misses this red.

Well, this is an opportunity for Ali, but it is not straightforward.

Because he is hampered by the blue. Well played. That's an excellent

pot. He has given himself a chance. I would suggest that he just needs

to drop this black in and leave himself an angle whereby he can

stand the red down the table and leave the cue ball behind the black,

leaving Alan McManus snookered. And he has got another kick there. And

he certainly did not want the cue ball to finish there. Makes it very

hard for him to control the cue ball now.

This is tough. Needs to avoid the cannon on the pink. Yes, that was

really tough, and unfortunately for Ali, he is pushing the red towards

the green pocket. And that could well be the end of this match.

All of the hours of this you put in. This is what you wait for, the

chance to win frame and match. Ali Carter is deciding whether to

carry on but barring snookers, Alan McManus will be into his first

quarterfinal in quite some time. It has to be said, throughout the

match, Alan McManus has played excellent safety. He has made it

tough for Ali Carter all the way through.

In the early part of the match, Ali Carter could not pull away from

Alan. Alan was dogged, determined, persistent. And that is what he

does. He does it better than most. Well, that has just about wraps it

up a terrible final session for Ali. What a tremendous performance from

Alan McManus. Ali Carter will be very disappointed. Alan McManus is

back into the big time. He goes through to the

quarterfinals. That was a win that must bring you huge satisfaction.

Right now it is a sense of relief. It was tough all three days. Not the

best match in fairly tough conditions but it has not dawned on

me yet I have come through the match. I am pleased to be through. A

couple of days off. I play the winner of John and Ricky. What a way

to start this morning. It started all right. I felt OK most of the but

conditions are tough on our side. We were getting a lot of kicks, a lot

of bounces. It was cutting both ways. It did not spoil the match,

but it goes a long way to making it more difficult for both guys out

there. Me and Ali Carter had a couple of words about it but you

have to dig in. I will always dig in here, I have done in the past. I am

pleased to come through. It was not many years ago you could not get to

the Crucible and here you are, your second quarterfinal in three years.

I went a lot of years, four, five, I did not play here, and the last four

years I have been here and I love it. Matches like that, three session

matches are special. I hung in the whole match. 5-3 down, 9-7 down, I

thought if I stick in, maybe get to ten each, 11th each, and see what I

can do from there. I played a couple of decent frames this morning but

for the most part, it was toughing it out. I have a bit to take into

the next round and hopefully I will play better. Well done. We will see

even the last eight on the big stage.

Alan McManus at 45 years of age, a great enthusiast in the game, he has

done it again. How significant is that? Massive will stop he got

beaten by Ali Carter 10-5 last year in the first round. 45 years of age,

people say you are over the hill. When you are a top-class match

player you always are, and to shot selection is superb and he competes.

A fantastic performance. 24, 23 years ago, the two of you, McManus,

being piped out into the arena. And he is still doing it. I want to ask

the secret that enthusiasm. I spoke to him the other day. He says he

just loves playing. He loves going to practise, going to the club. That

is a massive bonus in a player, to love what are doing. He will play

either Ricky Walden or John Higgins next. How bad a defeat is this for

Ali Carter? Massively so. I have more than an inkling he thought he

would win this match. I think you put himself under the cosh. With the

greatest respect to Alan, he is thinking, I beat him last time. I

think he put himself under pressure. What did you notice about his

performance, he got increasingly agitated? Next season he has to look

at himself and how he handles himself in the arena. It is all

right having anger and channelling it the right way, in his match

against Stuart Bingham, he was shaking his head when Stewart was

playing good shots. Your opponent is allowed to play good shots. He could

not play his best game when that happens. I agree, I think he saw it

as a good draw. I did it. Peter Ebdon in the final. I did not think

he could beat me in four sessions and he did. Ali Carter will return.

He is one of the most tenacious players in the game. But

congratulations to Alan McManus. It is about time to catch up with

the world number one Mark Selby, who has had a great season when it comes

to watching his football team Leicester City, but it has been

fairly average in terms of his standards because with one smaller

event title in Poland, that has been the only thing the Jester has had to

smile about really. Mark Selby is playing the only

player from outside the top 32 to make it beyond the opening round,

sunbed, who came here ranked number 59 in the world and enjoyed his

first win at the Crucible, knocking out Michael White. He made a strong

start, out scoring Selby in the first session. Coming out for -

four. That has become 6-6 this morning and Selby knocked in his

first century of the match and we will pick them up in frame 13 in the

company of Ken Doherty and Steve Davis.

KEN DOHERTY: it is a good start, after the return from the

mid-session interval. Just looking to see if the pink pots into the

bottom right-hand pocket. That tells us it obviously does.

I am not sure if it will go back on its spot. Nicely on the two reds

just above the black. The referee will just take a bit of time. It

does not go on its spot so it goes directly behind, in line with the

black. I am thinking, it may pot. It would

be perfect if it does. If he can pot this red and the pink pops into the

left-hand corner... Obviously didn't. He can still play these

screw off the pink and open up the pack a bit.

He did not play that shot. Perhaps he was too straight. Do you think he

is considering using the red to get ideal on the blue? Maybe. You could

go into the pack now, knowing you would still be on the red to the

right centre. He has played that lovely. Played it

very nicely indeed. How much back spin did he get on that shot? Wow.

He must've hit very low on the cue ball to get that much back spin

without a great deal of power, which could have sent the cue ball too far

down the table. For all of the puzzles we try to work out, Mark

Selby sorted out a better option. It was the delayed reaction on the

cue ball, if we get a chance to see it again. The initial impact on the

reds and the delayed reaction of the back spin.

That was a terrible contact on the black. We can look at the split. The

cue ball is going away and the back spin, it is like a delayed reaction,

taking almost a 90 degrees turn. Only available, really, on the best

quality cloth and also a new cloth, as well. You could hear the heavy

contact. It was a good recovery. He managed to just about hold onto the

cue ball. That kick, that Mark Selby got, left a chalk mark on the black.

The really bad kicks are due to chalk. That is where Mark Selby will

try to pot the black. Nicely on the red at the bottom of the pack.

Just another red and colour will put the frame safe and Mark can then

concentrate on possibly making a second century of the morning's

session. APPLAUSE. The crowd acknowledges.

Over the winning line in this frame. He did not do much wrong, sunbed. He

left Mark Selby and opening red. It was a wonderful opener, wasn't it?

So often from the break of shot, a red like that is left available but

you still have to knock it in. Very impressive from Mark Selby, coming

out at the start of this little session. He has had his nose in

front in this match for most of it. But no player, as yet, has opened up

a two frame advantage. This will be another chance for Mark Selby to do

such a thing. A wonderful century from the world

number one, Mark Selby. That is career century number 412. An

incredible amount. The top five or six break-builders

of all time, now. Magnificent. A clearance from Mark

Selby. He gets his nose ahead once more.

That is his highest break of this year's championship. For the first

time in this match we have a two frame gap. Selby won the 14th. We

picked them up in the next. It is qualifier Sam Baird on a break of

51. No. I am surprised. He stunned it,

rather than dropping its dead weight. He was quite away from the

red. A counterpunch from Mark Selby. What can he do?

A pivotal moment in this match, I feel. It could be a turning point.

What a boost it would be for Mark Selby.

These are the types of frames that really give you a great lift, but

also, at the same time, they hurt your opponent.

Particularly as it looked like he would go on and win the frame in

that visit. The balls are in the open. The way

he has been playing the past few frames, you cannot see where he will

go wrong. Getting the more difficult red out

of the way. Should he win this frame, he would

be guaranteed a lead going into the final session tonight.

As long as he takes high value colours, he will not even need the

pink which is off its spot to get over the finishing line.

A black and blue and then up to the blue would be enough. He is just

having a quick look. He is doing his calculations.

He is thinking a good few shots ahead.

This is really going to hurt Sam Baird. A must win frame, you would

have to say, coming up after this, should Mark Selby clear up from this

position. He will be reeling in his chair at

the opportunity missed. He has just got to forget about it, compose

himself. Because it is a massive frame for him, this next one coming

up. It has been a good clearance so far

from Mark Selby. Sam Baird with a great chance for

8-7 behind and now he is reeling with the possibility of 10-6 behind.

How quickly things can change. More or less guaranteed that Sam Baird

cannot avoid potting the pink. He is that close to it. Oh!

Mark Selby has another frame on the board.

HAZEL IRVINE: Mark Selby could not capitalise in the last frame of the

middle session. Because Devon's Sam Baird got over the line. A modest

break in the 30s, but it was enough to remain in touch against the world

number one and he goes into the evening session 7-9 behind. The

27-year-old qualifier. They will return this evening. 7pm.

STEPHEN HENDRY: It your observations about Mark Selby. I know you watched

the match against Rob Wilkin is. Erratic form!

He has not played much match snooker in the last month or two. Maybe he

needs a couple of matches to get his sharpness back. He has never been a

player to run away with matches, even being world number one. You do

not see him like Ronnie, running away. He seems to make it difficult

for himself. The top players tend to slowly pull away from their

opponent. It was when we got 28-6 that there was more than a frame it.

He went toe to toe in the first session and a half. We were talking

about Ali Carter perhaps thinking it was a good draw against Alan

McManus, there is no doubt Mark Selby expect to be Sam Baird but I

think he has a better mental attitude than Ali Carter, I don't

think he will allow that to agitate him. You could see in the first

session he struggled to pull away and maybe that is a reason. Two

years ago he won the title. Is he in that form so far? Yes, the fact he

always seems to be able to win matches, even when he does not play

dazzling sticker. We saw a magnificent century break and in the

next frame, he can scrap it. He wins frames every way. When he beat

Ronnie in the final he was not the best player in two, three sessions

but he can produce it when it matters. He will try to do that this

evening when they come back. We are about to go into the Crucible for

the afternoon match, which will be Ronnie O'Sullivan taking on Barry

Hawkins. And we have another one to finish. Everybody is intrigued about

O'Sullivan's form. This is the third meeting between the spare in four

years. Barry Hawkins celebrating his 37th birthday today and when he

looks back on the matches against Ronnie O'Sullivan he will know in

2013 he was in the final and acquitted himself well, and lost.

The following year, semifinal, thrashed with a session to spare.

And this season he suffered another thumping in the Masters final. There

is a saying, those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.

What lessons has he learned of late? Always a great occasion when you

play him in any tournament but here, it is a little bit more special. A

dream come true. And experience walking out for the final the first

time. Something I will never forget, God knows what it is like when you

lift the trophy, it must be ridiculous. It was one of the few

times I fancied beating him. I really thought I could win. It was a

nice feeling, which I have not had the last few times I have played

him, I have crumbled and he has run away with the matches. He wins the

Masters 10-1. A little bit embarrassing is how I feel

sometimes. Getting bashed, if you like, by him. I think I let the

occasion get to me and I have to forget about that and remind myself

how well I played in the final and I can put up a good performance

against him. Hopefully I can do a Stuart Bingham! You have to believe

you can win or there is no point in being here. I have to perform,

otherwise I have no chance, so I have to concentrate hard on my own

game and see what happens. Dad in the commentary box with a

couple of legends. We have Ronnie back, what can we expect? -- down in

the commentary box. We have seen Ronnie in top form. He has been

playing superbly and seeds have struggled in the first round but not

Ronnie. You worked with Barry Hawkins. He is a brilliant player

but not a great record against Ronnie. Anything you have said to

him to change his mind set? Not many, not many have a good record

against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Barry is looking forward to it and he has

played well on the practice table and feels good and it is a good

opportunity to play Ronnie here lies, who is the favourite to win

the title. The pressure is on him. John, he will not be complacent

today, Ronnie. He has beaten Barry Hawkins a lot of times. But he will

not be complacent? He can take nothing for granted. It is a great

opportunity for Barry, nothing is expected. He knows the only way to

get anything out of this match is to play well cover which is what you

have to do to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan. He will go in there with

positive thoughts and I'm sure Terry has instilled that.

How important is it for a good start today? It never changes, every shot

you play will be important from start to finish, it's never

different. Thanks very much, Rob Walker, it's all yours. Thank you,

ladies and gentlemen. What an atmosphere we've got here at the

Crucible. Day eight of the Betfred World Snooker Championship continued

in fine style. Four of the best in the world waiting to entertain us

all afternoon, here at the sport's spiritual home.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Please welcome first of all a hugely

popular player who produced one of the shocks of the first round,

beating former world champion Neil Robertson. Bidding for a first

appearance in a Crucible quarterfinal. Shanghai Masters

quarterfinalist, two-time PDC event winner, he is Nottingham's hit man,

Michael Holt! And his opponent, one of the finest

sportsmen his country has ever produced. Three times a Crucible

finalist, twice a world champion. He is bidding for his first Crucible

final in five years. Winner of 18 ranking event titles in all... He

will fire it up this afternoon. He's the Welsh legend, Mark Williams.

Here on table two. Please welcome the only player to have made the one

table set up for the last three years at the Crucible. He has

flourished since winning his first ranking title down under four years

ago. Masters finalist in January, here he is, celebrating his birthday

today on this board's ultimate stage, here comes the Hawk, Barry

Hawkins! And his opponent, 23 years after his

Crucible debut, here he is still performing at the highest level.

Five times a champion of the world... Blink and you'll miss him,

the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan! STUDIO

So, many happy returns to Barry. I don't expect he expects to many

presents from Ronnie today. We will go with this match. The Mark

Williams Michael Holt match is available online. Hello to our

commentators. JOHN VIRGO: hello, Hazel. A match that

they will both be relishing. That's a nice break up shot. His opponent,

one of the most outstanding talents who has ever picked up a cue, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Best of 25 now, these second round matches. Well, he's

potted that! He puts his hand up -- he didn't put his hand up to

apologise, so he knew that by knocking one on there was a plant

there. Just trying to trickle behind the yellow, will it reach? Ooh! For

a moment Ronnie thought it wasn't going to get there. As we watch

that... Just the final role. Now he's got it tight to the yellow.

There is no easy one cushion escape. New hairstyle today. A bit of gel.

Barry trying to make contact with one of these Reds near the top

cushion. He's just not got the right line. He will have that replaced,

will Ronnie. Of course, I'm sat in the commentary

box with one of the many people that Terry Griffiths coaches, Barry

Hawkins. I'm sure he's excited by this prospect, Terry? TERRY

GRIFFITHS: well, if he's not, he shouldn't be playing professional

snooker fans of the television cameras. He's up for it, that's for

sure. Better line but if he's not hard enough, he might leave a red

on. He won't have this replaced, he has left a red along the top

cushion. Well, we see that so many times.

When their tight to the cushion they are a lot easier. That was just off

the cushion, this red. Had to be very accurate, was just a bit wide.

He's left a chance for Barry. Good pot. Controlled the cue ball

nicely. I was talking to Barry after his

first-round match and he was little bit disappointed in the way he

played. There seemed to be an awful lot of pressure in that first round

match and that's probably why in his first-round match he at 89% pot

success. But he did finish the match with a wonderful 141 break, which is

the front runner at the moment in the high break of the tournament.

There you see it. If that stands, you get a bonus of ?10,000. This is

a decent chance now. Just under hit it slightly. OK, he wanted to be low

on this red at the bottom of the cluster. If you play the

run-through, you have to be careful that you don't lose the cue ball.

Well, he was a bit wary of running through too far and he hasn't

run-through far enough. Tricky black if he decides to take it on.

Good shot. Well, is there a gap for the red just below the pink? I

thought for a moment he was going to be on nothing. Can he get through to

this red? Obviously he can! Well, that was a bonus. Now, a frame

winning opportunity. We know there will be a lot of nerves out there,

first frame of the match, but it's a good chance.

But the one thing you can't do at this level is to miss when you're

in. It looked like when he had that little bit of good fortune to get in

between the gap for the red in the middle it was a great chance, but

it's gone begging. That has come a little bit awkward

for Ronnie. I don't think he can play past the black... If you can

queue past the black, obviously the blue is the natural ball to play. --

if he can cue past the black. There's nothing for Ronnie to open

now. They are all there. Barry will be sat there very disappointed.

That's what we always say, the first 50 are always difficult because

you've got to bring reds into the open. Now all Ronnie has to do is

get good position and don't miss an easy pot. But has he let that slip?

He has! He has lost good position. But poor positional shot, so that

missed black from Barry Hawkins... That was the shot. It was a thin

one, and Barry Hawkins is right back in now. You've got to take these

opportunities. He's played that well. He didn't

play the red well. Left a bit of distance there. He has already

missed one black in this frame already. Hopefully he cleared that

out of his mind before he went down for that one. Most of O'Sullivan

games are very open, but so is Barry Hawkins, he likes to go for his

shots. He's not as quick as Ronnie O'Sullivan, but pretty quick. I

think this is going to be a really good match.

Just about OK. There was a danger he could have drifted past that red,

but he is on this red to the right corner. Just a little run-through

for the black, should release the red just above it. So, this black

will put him 29 points in front. He won't need the red that is tight in

behind the pink. He can win this frame with the other three loose

reds. He got into that a bit too much. He's getting a bit too much

spin on, isn't he, John? He's hitting slightly too low. He will be

coming off the practice table onto this table and this is a bit more

lively and a lot quicker. Understandable, of course. There's a

bit of tension in the arm. Played that nice. So, if he can get

this black and another red and a black, he would be at the snooker is

required stage. But once again, just overdone it position wise. Red and a

black would put him 45 points in front with 43 remaining. But using

the spider, this is not easy. Very good shot. He decided not to

play for the black. Playing the blue. He would go 43 points in front

with 43 remaining. Not missed a pot with the rest in this tournament. I

think the spider is a bit more difficult than the rest. Just needs

this red. Doesn't have to bother about position. He played it well.

So, he needed two chances. He missed the black when he was in, but a

loose positional shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan handed him another

opportunity, and he's not spurned this one. Just making certain of the

black. That means that Ronnie will not come back to the table. He may

well play the double on the red. Well, in the end he played the

snooker. Ronnie won't bother, he will concede. Barry Hawkins, on his

birthday, gets his first frame on the scoreboard. And he leads Ronnie

O'Sullivan one frame to nil. STUDIO

Just the start he wanted. As you know, Sheffield always embraces this

championship in a huge way every April and May and today in the city

they are putting on what is called Snooker Saturday. It's a big event

in the more precinct, lots of free entertainment, come and try

sessions, trick shots, a big screen, street acts. Lots to do and of

course you can watch the snooker once you're down there, in comfort

it looks as well. If you're in the city, do pop down to the precinct.

Meanwhile, inside the Crucible Theatre, a lot of fun but a lot of

tension as well. JOHN VIRGO: well, referee Brendan

Moore has just finished re-racking the balls.

REFEREE: Thank you, the second frame. Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.

Ronnie O'Sullivan gets the second frame is under way. This match is

going to be played over three days. There will be eight frames, each

session, until you get to the final session where there is a possible

nine, which makes up the 25. Tomorrow afternoon and then they

finish on Monday evening. As we always say, in these type of

matches, you've got to take it one session at a time. Absolutely in

this one, when the winning line is so far away. Yes, most matches, a

lot of them go morning session, evening session, play the next day

and finish off. I think John Higgins's match tonight is the same

against Ricky Walden, that is over three days as well. Ronnie back at

the table. A poor save the shot from Barry has left Ronnie a nice easy

starter. -- a poor safety shot. Well, I think he played for the red

just above the black, but he is hampered on that. As to be a bit

careful with this red. He can hold it for the black in the opposite

corner easily enough. He could, just about.

Four reds, four blacks. But he may struggle to get on the black now. He

has, before the blue. You feel certain Ronnie is going to play the

cannon here into the pink and bring the reds into play. You always need

a little bit of luck. I think he may have one to the left middle. That's

all you hope for, just an easy ball to continue with. He found it. He's

cueing nicely, Terry. He scores so quickly, doesn't he gets in the

balls? When you're sitting down and playing against him, it does affect

you. It feels like a merry-go-round when he plays. He doesn't often get

into trouble when the balls are open. He manages to keep good

control of the cue ball most of the time, as much as any other player I

should think. Couldn't agree more. Of course, that is the key. Anyone

who gets here can pot balls. That's the main ingredient you need to be a

snooker player. But if you're going to get to the very highest level,

you need good cue ball control. 69 points is the target to get to the

snooker is required stage. He has a ready got 50 of them.

He got to the final in 1978 without getting out of position once --

without getting in position once! And he won the final against Ray

Reardon. Perry Manns. He was a great player, you couldn't win a

tournament playing like that now. It is such a high standard now. I think

the overall standard of play is about 50% higher now. There weren't

that many players playing and now there are so many players playing

it's going to be a higher standard. I think it's just a different

attitude of mind as well. I see players taking on shots that years

ago you were frightened to take on. You get back to the dressing room

and all of your pals would be saying, why did you go for that? But

nowadays, anything goes and you don't question any shot. That a

player plays for. 82. Three blues, eight blacks. There have been 43

century breaks already at this Betfred World Championship. Ronnie

has had one previous to this. It just shows you, doesn't it? A loose

safety shot from Barry Hawkins, caught it a fraction too thick. You

have to say, Ronnie has made this looks so easy. He's cued the ball

absolutely beautifully. First frame, OK he ran out of position. You can

understand that first frame. But he has played this frame wonderfully

well. He could have tied Barry Hawkins 141, which is leading for

the highest break in the time and at the moment, if he had got on the

black there. APPLAUSE

So there is the century. Wonderful play.

But Barry will be sat in his seat, Terry, knowing that this is what you

expect with Ronnie. He knows he played a poor safety. He courted'

much too thick and collided with another red. That's all you need,

just one mistake. He left Ronnie that easy starter and he's been sat

down other since. -- ever since. The pink would normally be awkward but

if Ronnie can screw behind it, he can play a left-handed.

APPLAUSE This will be the third highest

century of the tournament. Absolutely majestic. That was Ronnie

O'Sullivan at his absolute best. Just one mistake from Barry Hawkins

and in the blink of an eye, it is one apiece.

Just his safety, here, Terry. He just needed a little bit of

left-hand side to check the cue ball. Frightened of the double-kiss,

probably. Not an easy one. Yeah, and of course being very close to the

question, it was hard to get the side he needed. He needed to hit its

income and just caught it a fraction too thick. That's how quickly the

frame can go away from you. That hundred reminded me of something. As

Ronnie O'Sullivan potted the black, the whole crowd was in sync and is

clapping and smiling. I remember playing him once in the UK

championship once when I was about six and he got his hundred against

me and I felt like clapping! You feel like that when he guts a hunt

-- he gets a hundred because its special. Particular when he has got

tight control of the cue ball, everyone will be sat there thinking

I could have done that, because there was no real difficult ball to

pot. He has caught that a bit thin. When

you catch those reds and income are you always bring a read out to the

right-hand side. If you're lucky enough for it to run behind the

green it's OK, otherwise you give your opponent and opportunity.

Ronnie has got the momentum now, even though it's only at the start

of the third frame. Wonderful. That has been the highlight for me of the

tournaments that Ronnie has played this season, his long potting has

been as good as it has ever been. He seemed to go through a period where

his long potting was not consistent. But look at that, right in the heart

of the pocket and controlled the cue ball perfectly. Long pot tournament

success, 86%. That is good. Barry Hawkins just fractionally below what

is required. I'm not looking for 90% because a lot of the time layers are

playing long pots as shots for nothing. But 86% is very good. Back

in and around the black. It is like watching Willie Thorne

play here, John! The maximum he decided to screw off them and

judged it to perfection. Oh! Would you believe it? He will be

kicking himself on his way back. He has opened all the reds and played a

careless shot on the black. I can only think he played unintentional

right-hand side on the cue ball. Hit it thick and missed the pot. What a

let off for Barry. Can he make the most of it? He judged the cannon

nicely. He is hampered on the pink to the middle but he does not have

to do a lot with the cue ball. Just drop it in. He is going to return

the favour to Ronnie O'Sullivan. Makes a mistake, Barry will score

here. As we said earlier, Barry would be aware before he went out.

He would be better prepared because of it. It is difficult to play

perfect snooker all the time, but if you have a perfect mind, you always

have a chance. He played that nicely. A red to the

left middle. Have to do more with the cue ball off that one and he

played it well to be on the pink. He will have to concentrate on the

pink, I think. A little bit taken by surprise there, the way the cue ball

came off the cushion. Fortunately, he has this red to the side pocket.

He just did not get that pink in the middle of the pocket, which is why

he is a little bit short of pace. If he had got it in the middle, it

would mean the cue ball would have travelled further. He would not

expect him to miss this, but it was not as easy as it should have been.

Yes, right in the heart of the pocket. He played it confidently.

All the reds are on. He does not have too disturb anything. Just

don't miss anything easy. Well, that struggled in. That was similar to

the black he missed in the last frame.

A little bit more pace, and it would have stayed out.

It is amazing. When you play the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Steve

Davis, Stephen Hendry in their heyday, when you have this

opportunity, you go along fine and you think, if I miss now, they will

clear up, and in its own way it puts that edge on to you. Absolutely.

Ready to pounce on any mistake although I cannot see one coming at

the moment. A few of these pinks have not gone right into the heart

of the pocket, but they are going in, that is the main thing. He was

not happy with that, but he seemed to hit it with plenty of pace.

Whatever, he is 30 points in front and needs two reds and two colours

to clinch the frame. Just the red will do, putting him 37

ahead with just 35 remaining. But he knows to pot the road map Crow and

the colour and Ronnie will not be coming out. Ronnie was in and missed

a black off the spot, as Barry did. But the missed black, unexpectedly,

has gifted the frame to Barry Hawkins.

You feel that it will be one of those matches with one mistake and

it could cost you. A few balls have been miss, but very few. And the

standard from both players, when they got the opportunity, if it

carries on like that, I would be surprised. The game is more

difficult than this, as a matter of fact! He could make a century.

I think we can say he is very good with the rest. There are not many

better, I can tell you. Shaun Murphy is good. Jimmy White was good with

the rest. It is a great asset. You will not get good position all of

the time. This black, back-to-back centuries,

one for Ronnie, and one for Barry. It is snooker of the highest

quality. One mistake and you go back to your chair and wait for the

referee to set them up for the next frame.

HAZEL IRVINE: Barry Hawkins said he had to summon the feeling he had

before the final in 2013. To get off the mark in a positive way. I spoke

to is -- to Terry beforehand, it is important against Ronnie, you have

to let him know you are there. What about the mentality you have to have

against Ronnie. You have to be in a positive frame of mind. He is on

record as saying he needs to push hard from the start and two

wonderful breaks but it looks like Barry is here to play. You have to

believe you can beat Ronnie and I am sure Barry does. So often, it is

happened against me, in your career, some players cannot play their real

game against the top players. You want to see Barry play the way he

can play and he can beat Ronnie. He did it once, 14 years ago. You think

to the Masters final when he was crushed by Ronnie. How difficult is

it to get over things like that? That is where Terry has to do his

job and he is doing, to say look, it is a snooker table, a different day,

he has to put the positives on it to make you go out and do your best and

at the moment it is very good. It is very good. Back we go.

I told Barry Hawkins to win a few more frames than he did in the

Masters. A similar shot that Barry Hawkins

out to play in the first frame. He caught it to thick and let Ronnie

O'Sullivan in. He has learned from it. A very good safety shot.

Barry Hawkins has missed one pot out of 50 he has gone for. It did not

cost in the first frame, it was a safety shot that cost him. Just the

start he was looking for. You need to get out in front of that crowd,

everybody, with no disrespect to Barry, has come along expecting a

Ronnie O'Sullivan victory. You feel intimidated by that, when you have

played the likes of Jimmy White, and Terry you played Alex Higgins, you

feel as though the crowd has come to see your opponent and the fact he

has got in and made a century break, he has proved he will make this a

match and he deserves everybody's respect, including the crowd. That

was an excellent escape. He caught the yellow but he played it very

well. The average frame time just over ten

minutes! The shot time, 13, is usually about right for Ronnie. It

is quick for Barry at the moment but when he has been in, he has not had

too much thinking time. Shot time improves when you make a big breaks.

He looked to the red down the right. I can see an easier return to baulk

than this. There is not a gap between green and

brown. He did not trust hitting the red thin. Can Ronnie knock this in?

Four out of four long pots for Ronnie.

Ronnie gets the good chance. He would love to play for the black.

You know if there is an opportunity to do that, he will play for the

black. Always thinking, get the black on its spot. That is how you

win frames in one visit. The red being in the baulk end is

insurance for Ronnie, although I think he can play for the black and

pop 's red and screw up to the red immediately above it. -- pot the

red. The red in the baulk end will be

insurance for Ronnie. If he has to go up to the blue, he will have that

in reserve. Just a fraction. He can force the

cue ball down. That came off the cushion quicker than he expected,

but he is OK. He can just about reach. Well, if he can't, he will

have to use the rest. I think you can just about get the rest passed

the pink. Is he thinking of using the extension? Usually they have a

piece where they put on the extra six inches. A strange choice. It has

made a slight difference in that he is not perfect on the black now. He

can pot the black, but he will have to judge the cannon well. And he

did. No problem. If you cannot get the right side of

the blue, he still has the red in the baulk end to play for. But he

managed to get the angle on the blue. Quality stuff, so far, Terry.

There have not been many safety shots, it is fair to say. An

exhibition in break-building so far. That was not one of his best. He

forced the angle but too much of an angle.

He judged that to perfection. Back on track.

Once he puts the red there will only be 67 remaining and so this red and

a black will put him 67 points in front with 67 remaining and this has

happened in just over 40 minutes. Right in the heart of the pocket.

What a marvellous four frames. And it begs the question, are we going

to see another century? Ronnie O'Sullivan said in an interview that

he likes winning at the Crucible but if I can win, and entertain, I get a

real buzz. He judged the positional shot very

well. I think that is what every player

would love to do, to bring your practice game into the main arena,

here at the Crucible Theatre in the World Championship.

He has to drop on the tricky red on the cushion. That is all that stands

between Ronnie and the third century break in this opening four frames.

Oh, what a shame. But what they four frames. Scintillating. In the main,

one mistake and you lost frame. We go to the mid-session interval all

square. This is fantastic to watch. I love

this type of snooker. We enjoy sometimes the scrappy frames, with a

lot of safety, but this is pure snooker. One chance and the frame is

over. Important for Barry to keep it up because Ronnie this is natural,

Barry has to do it as well. He has to throw caution to the wind and go

toe to toe because he is a powerful front runner and Barry knows that to

his cost. At least when you play Ronnie you know it will happen so it

is Barry thinking, when I get a chance, as he did in the third

frame, when he gets a chance, he has to do what Ronnie does and matches

it and if you keep matching him, eventually, there will be a chink

and Barry will have to take his chance. If you think to the Masters

final, Barry did not make a plus 50 break in the final. He will be

determined to prove himself today. To put to bed that memory. I think

he was embarrassed. It was a massive occasion and not to play the way you

can play, it would have hurt him. Players might have given him a

ribbing about it. It is so important, not just this session,

the next session. If he stays with Ronnie, even 9-7 down, going into

the final session, Ronnie will be under pressure. He is expected to

win this. I hope Barry can keep punishing Ronnie's mistakes. John

Parrott is seeking the craggle. This is a view of the Crucible you

may not have seen, made by Steve. It is the Crucible Theatre made by

Lego. A fantastic achievement. Thanks. What inspired it? I love

snooker and I love Lego and I thought I would combine it to make

the model. Did you have to take photographs? It is as good as you

will get. I had been to the Crucible before and looked on Google images

to copy it as close as I could. The main arena is fantastic. How long

did it take to do? Probably about two months of evenings, planning,

getting the pieces and putting it together. You have the sponsors. I

made up stickers on a printer and put them on to make it realistic.

The players. They are modelled on Ronnie O'Sullivan. I noticed in

commentary you say you do not know which Ronnie will come up and so I

thought a model of the two Ronnies would be a good idea. I helped to

make the legs. That is very good. The colour of the trophy, come on. I

have to use genuine pieces and that was all I had. If I won the World

Championship, I would not care if the trophy was yellow. Brilliant.

Wait until they Duplo aliens arrive! We will now catch up with the Mark

Williams and Michael Holt match. Bromance has been in the air, they

are both great friends and jokers. And each session has begun with a

man hug. That was a poor shot. Wow, what a

shot. Mark Williams looking very impressive. 6-4 in front.

Looking for a gap. He played that perfectly. What a shot that is.

It was thick. He got a massive bounce from the baulk cushion. They

are both having a laugh about that. That was incredible. LAUGHTER.

An excellent pot. Six frames each. That is a Mark Williams special.

Good cueing required. That is wonderful cueing.

Oh, what a shot! This is quite thin. He cannot believe it. This is tough.

For the jocularity a lot has been said and done about the condition of

the table on this match table, the one we were watching between

Williams and Michael Holt. It was a bad bounce Mark Williams got

yesterday that sums up the problem. The cushions have been bouncing in a

significant way and this rolled past the blue spot I believe. Mark took

matters into his own hands, wiping down the cushion is with his own

cloth and he was warned for it. There have been problems with static

build-up and the bounces. I have had a word from World Snooker. They have

changed the balls after each match on both tables and they have changed

the cushion is three times already on table one, the problem table.

They turned the heating down. Table one is warmer than table two. They

did static tests. They have talked to all players individually to

inform them of the moves they are making, but how big a problem is

this, and is it proving detrimental to our enjoyment? It is to the

players. It seems to be that one table. Sometimes we say it is chalk

on the balls but it has been more than that. The table needs to be

chopped up! You have to point the finger at the manufacturer. I do not

see how it is difficult to put to tables of the Crucible and they play

perfectly. In the 80s and 90s, I cannot remember the cushion is

bouncing and having so many kicks. You have to look at why one table is

perfect in the same arena. You mentioned the temperature, which

might be a factor with one warmer than the other. The cushions are

made of rubber and if it is to warm it might cause and effect. It is

affecting the players. It is difficult to play in the World

Championship without unpredictable bounces. If you land high on the

black and you are trying to use the black cushion to come up for a red

to the same pocket, sometimes the cue ball is up here. And I noticed

with Mark Williams, he did in the session, you start quitting on the

ball. You play the natural shot. But it keeps on happening and the more

it happens, the players will be aware. The cue action will be

affected. And it affects safety play.

Half the time you come back and you are past the baulk line. If you

catch a safety shot thin, it can come of this baulk cushion and end

up coming back down where the reds are! It's a problem at the moment

and at least they are on top of it and hopefully they will get it

sorted. Plenty of changes expected in the coming hours but we will get

back to this table. Let's hope it's not an issue for them this afternoon

because this is the climax of this second round match. As we left it,

as you saw, Mark Williams had won the last four frames in a row to go

10-6 in front. 13 frames is the winning line. Into the first frame

of the afternoon and Michael Holt is trailing by 12 points, Ken Doherty

and Steve Davis talking us through it.

COMMENTATOR: There is a gap around the back, down by the black spot.

The trouble was that. Didn't catch that red thin enough.

Although he has left not a full for Mark Williams. These are never nice.

I'm just wondering, would he play a plant. I can't see it, but you're

right, if you can't see the full pocket... He has played it very

well. Committed. Another monstrous bounce off

petition, will -- off the cushion, which has blighted the standard of

play here on table one, I think it's called.

He won't be particularly happy with how that has ended up. This is a

very difficult pink. Well, he made that look very easy. Historically,

Ken, I think when they go down to the one-table set-up they use table

one. I'm not absolutely sure of my information there. They may be loath

to do it this year. It seems like the one that has caused problems.

Yes, all the players have been complaining about it. They read

covered the cushions. That has obviously been the problem. They may

have to have a new set of cushions for this table. Mark Williams has

built up a 34 point lead with plenty of reds in the open. This is just

the start he would have wanted here. Well, he has overscrewed that. It's

ended up quite nice. He got hold of that blue.

He's looking much more of a predator as this match has gone on,

regardless of the trouble he's had with the table. Likewise with

Michael Holt, I was talking to Michael earlier and he said in that

second session a couple of big bounces from the cushions cost him

frames, directly cost him frames. End of rake. Well, perhaps not. I

was thinking a left-hander might not be able to get to it, but he may be

able to reach this without the spider. He also may not want to risk

missing it and letting Michael Holt back in with some kind of recovery

with snookers and free balls. But I think he can get to the middle, the

centre of the cue ball here, so this is probably in.

And I think that red seals the frame, and Michael Holt is in

serious trouble. REFEREE: Mark Williams, 50. And the

frame. Michael Holt says enough, he stays in his chair, nods to the

referee and Mark Williams takes the frame. Two away from a blaze in the

quarterfinals. He leads Michael Holt by 11 frames to six.

STUDIO But Michael Holt has really stormed

his way into this. A break of 75 in frame 18 enough to reduce his areas

to four frames again 11-7. And then Michael from Nottingham, who had

that fantastic win over Neil Robertson, his first in 11 years at

the Crucible, has only gone and made a century in the next frame here as

well. His third of the week. To win the next one and move 11-8 now. That

is you completely up-to-date with this match. A lot of mileage left in

this one. It is online if you want to follow it. Meanwhile we're going

to continue watching the match on the other side of the curtain this

afternoon, Barry Hawkins and Ronnie O'Sullivan. They have a release up

some fine, fine play for us already. That's

-- they have already served up some fine, fine play. We will return you

to Terry and John. JOHN VIRGO: Yes, thank you, Hazel.

Both players will have been quite happy going back to the dressing

room. I wouldn't have thought they would be any need for either player

to go to the practice table. At that is not the best break of shop, and

Barry has left a red to the corner. At the moment, Ronnie 100% long pot

success, you would think he would be favourite to pot this.

Hmmm. So, that ruins his percentage. But he may just have got away with

that. I say got away with it, there is a red in the other half of the

table. A shake of the head from Ronnie. He doesn't like missing that

type of pot. He doesn't like missing that pot, John. Barry has just gone

in-off, there! Didn't control the cue ball. Isn't -- isn't it amazing?

He put all his effort into the pot, got a bit too much back spin in the

cue ball, and he has gone in-off. Never entered his head that that

could happen. At least he potted the red and didn't leave anything on. So

that is something. I was quite surprised Ronnie O'Sullivan missed

that long red, by about six inches, wasn't it? Yes and to be honest I

was very surprised with the way he played it. He stunned across the

face of the black, this -- as if he was paying for the black. Normally

you would wear behind the black and come up for blue or baulk colour.

He needs the brown or green to come to his rescue here, Barry. I think

it's the green. When you leave a pottable red on, your opponent can't

get through to it obviously, this will put a bit of pressure on

Ronnie's safety. He will do well not to leave this red. He needs the

yellow to cover the past. If it's not the yellow, is it the blue? It

is the blue. Hmmm. Purposefully played that with

a lot of left-hand side to check it, and he's had a result. But there is

a red on this side of the table -- the other side of the table that

will pot into the left corner. So it's half a chance for Ronnie, this.

But he missed it. So all of a sudden, from looking unlikely to

miss a long pot, that is two that he has missed. But you could say that

Ronnie has been a bit fortunate, but I think it was always his intention

to get that cue ball back to the baulk end, knowing that possibly be

pink would cover the red. -- the pink.

Now, does the pink cover the potting angle? There you see. It covers both

reds. Ronnie swinging that round, but he's hit it much too thin, which

is why he has collided with the blue. Not one of Ronnie's best David

Eades. Gary Woodland to get to the red that is closer to the pocket but

I think the pink is blocking the path of that, so he has to play the

one that is nearest to the cushion. Yes, didn't have to do a lot with

the cue ball to get position on the pink. So, first chance Barry

Hawkins. Barry just having a look if there is

a possibility in potting this red, if he can screw around the back of

the black and get position on the black. Got to judge it nicely.

APPLAUSE That's OK.

He's going to have to be a little bit careful with this. OK, there is

a red on the right-hand side of the table he can play it on, but he can

also play a little cannon on the red immediately above the black. But

it's one of those, the harder you hit it, the less chance you have of

getting the back spin. You have to hit this smooth. Oh well! He decided

to play the soft stun for the open red, and you just be celebrate on

that shot. It struggled its way in. -- you just decelerate. He's having

a look at the possibility of getting on the black here, but it looks

rather tight. That blue down there looks rather straightforward. Is he

trying to get across, cannoning the red? He's OK! Well, that's a risk I

don't think I would have been prepared to take. I think I would

have been playing for the blue. He took a very big risk but it worked

out. I think he played for the red he is bridging over but it has

worked out. There is a lot of pressure out there. Let's see if he

can retain position and get the black available to both corner

pockets. That's how you score quickly and win frames. He took a

risk and it worked out for him. He's going to play a cannon here. It

depends whether you try to play if firm and bring other reds into play

or just nudge into one gently. He went with pace. You think he's bound

to be on the red to the left corner. Is he? Surely he is on it? Well, it

must be very tight otherwise he would have played it by now. And if

he can't get directly through to it, there is always the swerve, but that

could go wrong. Just having a look. Judging by that, he would have to

play a little swerve with right-hand side. So now he's looking at the red

to the far right corner. Very missable.

GROANS FROM CROWD Very missable.

REFEREE: Barry Hawkins, 31. Well, he was in perfect position and you have

to say, off the cannon, very unfortunate not to leave himself on

an easier red than that. I don't think this red passes the blue. If

it doesn't, you would expect Ronnie to... Well, there are two ways of

playing this. Well, maybe it does. It did! Well, that was a double

whammy from Barry Hawkins. I'm lucky with this cannon but then when he

rattled the red in it ran past the blue and I thought he was safe.

REFEREE: Make sure your phones are off, please.

Left himself a nice angle now just to stun this black in. Just cannon

those two red spill-over pink. OK as long as long as he is straight on

this red, he can run through and cannon the red and get on the black

comfortably enough. Just flicked the red.

He won't be in too much of a hurry to play for the red on the top

cushion. It was in the last frame before the mid-session interval when

he had a similar red with no pressure on it to make the red.

That link now takes him three points in front -- that pink. It goes on

the highest spot available, which is the blue. He's just had a quick

glance at the scoreboard. He needs these five reds in the open with

colours to get into the snookers required stage. Without having to

play that awkward red along the top cushion. But he has underhit that.

Not badly enough that he can't hold for the pink, but he can't play for

the black. Yeah, judged that to perfection,

swinging round off two cushions. Another glance at the scoreboard,

just trying to work it out. As I say, these three open reds would get

into the snookers required stage. The longest frame of the match,

this! Just coming up to 13 minutes. We had a bout of safety play at the

start of it, which was unusual! It's boring, isn't it, this game (?) as

you can see, ignoring the red along the top cushion. He can play the

awkward red along the top cushion with a bit of ease because his

opponent now needs two snookers. Took these beautifully. Barry

Hawkins just had a bit of bad luck when he went into the reds, could

not believe he was not on an easy red to keep it going. And a chance

of another century. Made a 139 in the second frame, did Ronnie. Looked

like he was going to make one in the fourth one. Made a break of 88.

This is as good as we have seen from Ronnie for a while. Of course he

hasn't played in a lot of tournaments. But he is won quite a

few. I think he just holds something back for the Crucible though, he

loves it. Well, I suppose for any great player, anybody who is good at

any game, to be there on centre court and produce this type of form

would give anyone a buzz. So, this black for the 47th century of the

tournament. Absolutely brilliant. Poetry in motion. Tonne up! 3-2, the

Rocket. It's all about fractions, as we say on so many occasions, and

Ronnie had missed a long read, Barry was in, it all looked plain sailing,

I know he spotted a read early on and went in-off, but he got a second

chance, missed the cannon and played it to perfection, it seemed. He just

flicked the bottom red. He wasn't playing for that committee wanted to

go in the gap. But the way those balls are split, you would have

expected him to have an easier pot. The one in the right corner was

difficult. We have got our black and white ball. Just watch the spin. The

spin takes it off the black and when it hits the red, the spin keeps

going, keeps going, and then it gets through the reds. Barry, to me, all

right he just fractionally caught the wrong red, but he should have

had an easier opportunity than the one he had. That spinning ball shows

us quite a bit. It was going sideways into the pack and then the

back spin took. Yes, these super slo-mos show us things that we never

realised. So, Ronnie O'Sullivan gets frame six

under way. What a standard. He's caught that too full, where's

the cue ball going? He played to hit its three quarters ball and leave

the cue ball on the top cushion. Just misjudged it. But it's not as

bad as it could have been. He's not left a pot on. Not anything that's

going to tempt a Ronnie at the moment, with an easy safety shot,

bringing that cue ball back to the baulk cushion. Running that red into

the others just to loosen them a bit. He played this half ball to

come off the side cushion and hit it too full. Went in-off.

That was a good shot. Excellent. A tough shot after playing a poor

safety the previous shot. He's in a bit of is a spot of bother, Ronnie,

here. He has to catch this just write otherwise you get a double

case if you catch it too thick. He played it well. If he misses the

green, he's played it its perfect. Wonderful shot.

-- played it inch perfect. Barry is having a look around but I don't

think he can see any thing. He played into a very good two cushion

escape earlier on in this match, flicking the reds and going back to

the baulk area. What I don't see anything like that available. This

looks the most obvious way to go. The only thing about this is, you're

playing it with side and you can easily go around the back of this

red. You have to be careful with that. Just want to nestle up to it.

It's too pacey. If he hits it all, he's OK. Hit it full. He just hit

that read quarter ball. He could have left it on but in the end he

played it well. Just over an hour and we are already into the sixth

frame of this match. 11.5 minutes average frame time. Ronnie has

slowed down to 14 seconds a shot now. I said to him at the Masters,

he missed a view shots and he was averaging 14 seconds. I said that's

a bit quick, isn't it, Ronnie? He said, I didn't realise. The next

match he played absolutely superb and it was down to 13! I thought he

was playing the shots too quick. It depends a lot on good positional

play, doesn't it? His shot time is much quicker if you don't get into

trouble with your position. If you do, it's a lot longer. We don't see

him get into trouble with position many times when he is in the balls.

No, he has got a very quick snooker brain. I suppose you could say he

has missed an opportunity there to put Barry in trouble, but Barry has

got to catch this just right. Does he think he can pot the red below

the pink? Well, maybe he did. But he needs something to come to his

rescue here because he has left a red near the corner. And Ronnie can

get through it. He may be able to pinch a little bit of the pocket and

run around two cushions. The other alternative is to play a deep screw.

I think he would prefer playing the run-through. Got to pinch a bit. He

had to pinch a bit. If he is on the black, he's lucky.

Just looking at Ronnie's body language. Fortunate to be on the

black but the fact that he is looking at the next red... He may

have to bend it with a bit of side, but he's lucky to have any shot on

the black. Well, he could get to it without side but couldn't really

control the potting angle. Tried to get a cannon.

Yes, that cannon he made was on the red he could have taken on. He was a

bit unlucky, there. Good line with the safety but just a

touch short. Playing the containing safety. It is

risky. He has played it OK. Ronnie might decide to play the

snooker off the black. He would like to cover the red on

the left-hand side of the table with brown. If he has, it makes it a

little bit awkward. Just a look at Barry, a tap on his thigh,

congratulating Ronnie. There are plenty of reds to make

contact with, but which he can make contact with and not leave the

possible pot on, that is not easy to see.

He has come a bit thinner. He has played that well. That was an

excellent shot. And very well judged.

I don't think Ronnie can see enough of this red and that little tap on

the table tells you he can't. Congratulating Barry on a very good

escape. Barry hasn't ported a ball for just

over 15 minutes. -- potted. Will he fully commit and play for

the black? No, he decided to try to stun around. Where is the brown ball

going? He will settle for that. Once he missed the red, he could

well have left it. Ronnie was thinking about coming off

the side cushion and nestling on the red near the cushion. You would not

want to hit this hard. You have to reach. REFEREE: Foul and

a miss. I think he is trying to leave it so close to the red, so as

not to leave Barry the easy safety. Difficult to pot that with power,

and this is a bit better. Perfect. It looks as though Barry will stun

the red up the table, leave the cue ball tight to the baulk cushion. I

would not want to overthink this. He has to be careful of the push shot,

but he needs to inject pace into this red.

The danger ball for Ronnie is adjacent to the left middle.

He has to catch this just right. I tell you what, better in the pocket

than battling the jaws. -- rattling. A little bit easier, this pot. Into

an open pocket. I don't think the red goes past the

brown. I bet Barry thought when he missed the red, he thought he could

possibly knock the brown in. That messes the frame up slightly.

Ronnie not bothered about playing safe to the baulk end because it

will be difficult to play a safety shot off the red that is close to

the brown. After all the early excitement of

this match, seven and a half minutes now since a ball was potted from

either player. And I think this safety play may go

on for a little while. If somebody could pot aid red and popped pot the

brown, and deal with the awkward red. Maybe Barry now can play this

red. You have to be careful if you are running across the face of it

that you do not get the double-kiss. He would love to get it up the

table. Maybe it is too risky. That was the problem for me, you

come cushion first you are bound to run through and knock the brown in.

A schoolboy error. I think Barry Hawkins played a good

safety but the previous one, with the brown, he made sure if the brown

went in the red went far enough up the table that he would not leave it

on for Ronnie O'Sullivan. As a spectator we are glad that situation

was resolved. Ronnie has left a chance. We said usually with Ronnie

O'Sullivan and you get a nice clean frame with the colours on the spots,

the reds nicely in the open. We had that bout of safety and it has

really messed up everything now. Pink and black are out of

commission. It was as though he was looking at

the red just above the black. If he can roll it in, he could play for

the black in the opposite corner. You can always tell when a player is

perfect, they get down quickly. He got down quickly put up against, so

maybe not perfect, but he has played it well. People have the black on

its spot and if he can clear the red to the left of the pink, that will

be available to both corners. He decided the angle on the black to

play for another red. A decent chance.

To win the frame at this visit would be asking an awful lot.

There are four reds in the open that he will hope to get on. Those behind

the black, he can get a good angle on the black and opened those out.

This is an opportunity. There were ten minutes with neither player

putting a ball, which you would not expect with these two, but sometimes

the game dictates to you. There is this red and the one

closest to the left middle. They are merely easy reds, so to speak. A 27

point lead, but still a possible 99 remaining.

He played to come high on the black, which is high enough. Maybe playing

the cannon onto the reds, trying to develop something near the top

cushion, thinking he will always have the red to the left middle

should it go wrong. He had the double-kiss. It has gone wrong. You

have to say, there is no way in the world you could envisage that. The

double-kiss off the red. On a good day it will leave you a straight red

to the corner, but not today. That is end up break. -- end of. At least

he did not miss a pot. I think you mentioned that in the last frame,

when he went in-off, when you are potting, you do not mind, it is when

you miss easy pots you think you have thrown away a chance. Unlucky.

Nothing to reproach himself for. A bit thick. We would have thought

he has left this red to the corner. Ronnie coming to the table with 35

points in arrears and the reds not ideally situated. You would have

thought he would be happy to get back into this frame. He hit that

too well. Went into it too much. No. Too thin. Barry Hawkins gets

another opportunity. Such a great advantage, with Ronnie,

playing left-handed, but had to do some work with the cue ball that

caught him out. It was a touch shot with side, which are not the

easiest, but you half expected Ronnie to make that. His mistake was

overscrewing for the positional side of the black. Barry Hawkins will be

pleased he left a red on. He would have expected Ronnie O'Sullivan to

score 20, 30, anyway. 39 points the lead, 75 remaining. He looks to have

the angle on the red where he could cannon into the two reds together

but as I always quote Eddie Charlton, he said never develop a

red when potting a red because you are not certain to be on a collar

and that is why Barry took that on board, but he did not play it well.

-- colour. Still, he may have the opportunity to cannon into the two

reds. He is running across. It was a good pop row. -- pot.

He has the rest. At the moment, he is 100% success rate with the rest.

Red and a pink and want more red required.

He caught it too full.. I do not think it was a red he fancied but he

was forced to take it on, but not a bad lead. He was a long way off.

Still 67 remaining, Ronnie is 45 behind.

The first priority for Ronnie is to bring a few of these reds into play.

He has brought two into the open there, and that is what he will try

to do on his next few safety shots, if there is no pot on.

The opposite for Barry. He wants reds near cushions. There will be a

little bit of cat and mouse. He could not get that in behind the

green. It does not appear as though Barry

can hit the red in the open, but there is plenty of value coming off

the top cushion and hitting that one open red. Playing this one will

bring get away from the side cushion, although there is the

possibility of potting the red. He has an excellent cue ball. Very

well played. He does not want to bring the three

reds into play, but you think before long, they will be, one way or

another. He missed the ball. You could see he put a trace of

left-hand side on it. Ronnie could have them replaced, but if he thinks

he can play one red onto the and release the pink, he would rather

play. He is asking Barry to play from where it is now. Therefore, if

he misses this time, the three misses and you are outward -- would

not apply. That was a good shot. There is some

good safety play. From both players, I agree, it is excellent. When you

are tight under the baulk cushion, to catch the correct part of the

object ball is so difficult. And the pace on these tables is so quick.

Barry could get past the blue to hit the left hand of the three reds but

he does not want to move them. He could not have played it better.

I thought it would be a game of cat and mouse. At the moment, who is the

cat? This frame time is twice as long as

the majority of frames we have had. Nonetheless, more interesting,

though. Barry can clearly get through to the

reds. He does not want to really bring them into play. Sometimes you

have to play the shot. Just rolling into them.

A chance to bring the pink and red into play, but he has to be careful

not to leave the pot on. REFEREE: Can you stop taking pictures please,

it has a flash on. Believe it or not, now, there is not a safe red on

the table. Amazingly enough. The red will drop into the middle, I am not

saying it is easy. The two along the bottom, if you potted the outside

the one along the cushion would be available, so Barry, in a blink of

an eye, has problems. I think one in the gap behind the green, it has

been there a while. The brown was available to get behind. As it

turned out, the reds in the open, as well. He could play this one

cushion, across, and try to catch the red.

It is not great. He will not play it from there, surely? He played off

that cushion will stop he judged the right angle, what a tremendous shot.

Absolutely inch perfect. Well played. This red does pot, but he

could have left some in a lot easier. -- something.

See how he played that, he knew it was a difficult pot, but he knew he

would be on the green if he potted it.

APPLAUSE. HAZEL IRVINE: We will had to leave this here. Barry Hawkins in

the driving seat. It continues online. On the other side, Mark

Williams, Michael Holt, it was very tense. Michael staged something of a

revival with two frames on the bounce, this is frame 20 and Michael

was 54 points ahead and this was quite a steal at quite a time from

the double world champion. A major blow to Michael Holt and typical

Mark Williams in a frame that went awkward and he has pinched a massive

frame will stop it was going to be 11-9 and suddenly it is 12-8.

Michael Holt has to win every frame to go through. They have had to sit

and think about this, because immediately after this, and it was a

punch to the solar plexus, they had the mid-session interval and they

have just returned. You will be able to see the conclusion right now on

the red button and indeed online. That is the situation in that one.

We have to leave you here on BBC One this afternoon and we are back at

7pm tonight at the start of the evening session, Mark Selby and Sam

Baird playing to a finish and John Higgins and Ricky Walden will get

their match under way. My thanks to Stephen and John for their company

anti-EU for. -- and TU.