Saturday, Semi-finals, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre. The deciding session of the

semifinal between Alan McManus of Scotland, the oldest man at the

Crucible this year, 45. And Ding Junhui from China, he has been

coming here for ten years and this is his second semifinal, and he is

trying to become the first player from Asia to make it through. The

winner will go through to tomorrow's final, and this has been an intense

battle so far. We're going to hand you over to Dennis Taylor and

Stephen Hendry, for the 27th frame. For those viewers who have switched

over, you have not missed anything. Will Alan be tempted? This is a half

chance. Great cueing from Alan.

It is the type of shot he has been knocking in through this year's

Betfred World Championships. He has been a revelation. After 23 years he

is in the semifinal, amazing. Something slightly disturbed him. He

got up, something in his line of sight, got back down again. He did

all the right things. After the cracking Long red. Just over cutting

the black. That is a good shot from Ding

Junhui. If he can get into that pack, he has a good angle, Alan

shaking his head, he knows if he plays this shot correctly, he can

open up quite a few reds. That will do nicely, unless... I think he is

OK, the red coming off the cushion, I thought it would cover things. You

can tell with Ding if he's on a shot, he gets the cue ball cleaned.

Would not do that if he was doing the safety. Ding Junhui had to hit

that from the left-hand side of the bunch.

No breaks today so far. From Ding Junhui. Is this when he will step up

a gear? Winning the frame in one visit. As you well know, Stephen, he

has done this sometimes, he will want to watch the other gladiators

battle it out, winning this one early. Watch Marco Fu and Mark

Selby. He can relax if he wins this match, that is.

A lot of left-hand side check check on the cue ball. He wants to avoid

this red and he wanted to miss that one. Today not complete control of

the cue ball. Worth taking this one on, will not leave anything apart

from the red he's taking on. He could screw that, the think may be

available. -- pink. Looks good to me, right in the centre of the

pocket. He seems to have got his focus back. It has been a feature of

Ding's clay in this championship, whenever he has lost the frame he

should not have, comes right back in next frame, more often than not,

with a break. That is a great sign. He is stuck on that red. Looking to

see if that red would go it is so difficult. We are on this side of

it, he's on the other side of it is not he can play up for the blue.

Years away, couple of shots ahead. He would love to take that one.

The outsider one his playing, cutting. Terrific. -- the outside

one he is playing. I say terrific, not only for the pot, but what he

did with the cue ball. Coming up a little bit short. Did

not want to risk snickering himself with the

pink. He found a gap tween the yellow and brown, claimed that one

to perfection. -- between. Another tricky little shot to negotiate.

That is just about perfect. Going past the line. Say just about

perfect, he has a slight angle, as we show you there. The correct side

of the blue line. He may have to come off the side cushion with top

spin, because they'll look to be covering each other. Close to a

plant. He would be OK. Let's see how he plays this. Top spin. There may

be one available here. Is the plant on? It must be. That is a bonus. Get

set plant. He can screw the cue ball of the other five reds. Could be a

frame-winning shot, if this turns out right. Screw back for the pink,

or the blue. And tell you what, that jumped. Igor

Anic amend this kick, did not affect the plant. Just have a look rest.

The first red tried to jump over the other one. That is how bad it was.

But everything is OK. You'd have to say, the way the balls

are situated, odds-on for his seventh century of the match. So

much scoring by Ding Junhui. Very impressive the ladies come out

after the last frame, while he was not expected to pinch, because he

needed a sneaker. He got himself back into it, would have been

disappointed to lose. Great focus, coming back in this frame. Sign of a

great champion that is, that is for sure. You would have to give Terry

Griffiths a pat on the back. There was a couple of times in the first

round when he lost the frame, his opponent needed a couple of

sneakers, and he came back winning frames in a row. Maybe Terry is

helping him mature as a player. Every chance Ding Junhui can make a

seventh century in this match. That will be the most by any player in a

match of the Crucible. The record number of centuries was 16. That was

achieved for the gentleman sitting next to me. Stephen Hendrie. John

Higgins at 14. If it keeps going like this, get into the final,

playing the same way, every chance he could be fattened two matches.

As you said, Stephen, so impressive. After an almost 50 minute frame. All

the tactical play. Coming out, one chance, taking it. In style, it has

to be said. Another superb century break from this Chinese sensation.

One more frame to be played before the myths that interval. If Ding

Junhui takes it, he is in the final. Absolutely superb. The only needed

one chance, and didn't he take it. Winning the frame with another

magnificent century break. Now just one frame away from a place in his

first-ever final at the Crucible. STUDIO: That is his seventh of the

semifinal. A record no one has ever made, nobody making seven centuries

in a single match at the Crucible. He keeps going on and on, how

impressive is this from Ding Junhui? Particularly in the manner he lost

the previous frame. Time and again he has come back after losing a

frame. His composure has been very sound. Showing again there. Seven

centuries in a match of the Crucible, incredible feat.

Extraordinary from him. The quality of the match we are seeing, now

beginning to get away from Alan McManus. One away, Ding Junhui? The

writing is on the wall, to some degree. Alan McManus has produced a

rearguard action of monumental proportions. He is up against the

machine. We thought the machine has broken, dropping out of the top 16.

It looks worrying for Ding Junhui. A couple of years back the won five

ranking events, astonishing in today's's game. He has got the spark

back. However he has gone about it. Changing his attitude by working

with Terry Griffiths. Something has changed. Looking more relaxed around

the Crucible, happy to be at the Crucible. In previous years, he said

he did not like the venue. He got those thoughts out of his mind. Much

more relaxed with the crowd at the Crucible Theatre. He looks the most

comfortable of the four players left in the event. Certainly looks the

most dangerous, in scoring brilliant over the last two days.

Congratulations Ding Junhui. That record will take some beating. One

away from a place in the final. COMMENTATOR: Some records, Hazel. I

suppose he would give up a record for a place in his first-ever

Crucible final. Records are there to be broken. Stephen Hendrie, next to

me, held most of those. Ronnie O'Sullivan breaking a lot of those.

Ding has his own little piece of history now. Meanwhile, Alan McManus

needs this frame, to take us to a myths ash and interval. -- take us

to a myths session interval. And keep the fairy tale life. -- alive.

What a pot that was. Will he take the green on? Almost in the jaws in

the pocket. Looks like we'll take the green on. Not guaranteed to be

on a red here. We could do without that from the

crowd. Some individual shouting out. That will not help Ding Junhui.

I mean, the green was a tough shot, only that red to play on, because

the black was not available. Thinking so positively, thinking if

I can get on one red, I can get down to the blue, because the pink and

black are out of commission. He has a chance, but difficult. Came out to

see the angle on this red, to cushion that, and flick it away from

the flat. Right-hand side, one of these reds. The ones closest to the

black. Looks like the natural angle. This was Allen, earlier, shoving

determination and grit. Will he get another chance?

Could have done with that red being a bit further to the side. A bit

close to the black. This is a blind pocket.

Well-controlled, really was. He just plays all the right shots. That last

shot bringing three or four reds into play. Only went gently into the

pack, you don't have to smash into them. Ding Junhui looking for that

magic number 69, taking him into his first ever final.

He had to pinch a little bit of pocket, to keep the cue ball under

control. Alan McManus thinking, am I going to get another shot in this

World Championship? That is a tricky little spotting of the pink. He had

to get it directly behind the spot. In a straight line.

Lovely little shots, lots of right-hand side. Often cushion, this

into the right centre. They think the two reds to the right of the

bunch of faith available to the left corner pocket. A touch of left-hand

side often cushion. To play for those. He has the angle to go into

the bunch, if he chooses. It is a big target.

Just did not get enough side on the cue ball. That will annoy him. Just

the pace, he did give the side on it, but did not hit it hard enough,

and the side disappeared, just catching the red. He will have to

wait for another chance stop nice 41 point advantage, had he dropped on

those two reds, the have the chance to clinch the semifinal. -- he had

the chance. Can he pot this? You might be able to. No. The white is

close, hitting the same jaw the red this. Getting to the stage, as we

show you this attempted pot, getting to the stage for Alan McManus, he

cannot really make another mistake. Is a long way off the pot. The brown

might come to his rescue. I think it has. That red will not pass the

brown. I don't think there is one available into the right corner.

Tricky little cut back into the left corner, looking at. Looks good.

He is so close to his first-ever World Championship final.

This is a big shot, taking on. Pot the blue, cannon onto those two

reds, to the right of the bunch. 47 ahead, this one along the

cushion, he would have two punch it out, to get on the black. If he pots

the red, getting onto the black, you would have to say, he is in the

final. Alan knows this could be the last throw of the dice.

So close to being an incredible shot. Terrific pot. Just needed to

find that gap. I think he thought when the red went in, he was going

to be on the black. This is a thin cut. Has he got away with it?

Leaving a possible chance for Alan McManus? He has.

Well, he has been unbelievable through this year's Betfred World

Championship. Is there anything left in the tank? From this very likeable

Scot. I think he's going to go into the

bunch of five reds here. We will see how his lackeys. It is not good.

That is incredible. -- how his luck is. Incredible, you could stand

their play that shot another ten times, nine of them you would finish

amongst the reds. It was as if he got a little trace of right-hand

side. Now he's faced with a very tough cut into the right corner.

He's having to use it with the extension on his cue, and the rest.

Ding will know if this one is in the four Alan because he is right behind

the shot. He's doing a lot of sighing, trying to stretch across

the table. Surveying the scene, and how the remaining balls are sitting.

They are all good, with the exception of the one on the cushion,

which is a bit of insurance for Ding Junhui. More importantly, for Alan

McManus, a tough shot, he's faced with fear. -- faced with here. No, a

long way out. I think this red cuts and if it does, that would be Alan

McManus' last shot in this year's World Championship. I don't think

evil can in the red near the cushion. If you did, would not

matter. All about the pot here. Where is the cue ball going to

finish? Looks pretty good to me. One good positional shot here, cue

ball between green and brown, with a touch of right-hand side, to come

off the baulk cushion, to get the red.

I don't drop this with. This is, he will not be on the black.

He urged that into the pocket, now that has dropped, books like John we

is in his first final. What a bonus to pot the two reds. He's just so

delighted and desperate to get over the winning line.

But Alan McManus has been a sensation in this year's World

Championship, he really has. It's all over for him now, but to get

back to the one-table situation and a semifinal for the first time in 23

years was unbelievable, and some of the snooker was unbelievable, and it

is great to see the 45-year-old back.

It is a great feeling as you walk round the table, and you know you

are in your first-ever World Championship final. And who is to

say that he's not going to be the first Chinese player to lift a

trophy? He has given himself a terrific chance this year. It does

not matter about the red. Alan was thinking about it, he is coming

forward. Ding Junhui, a record-breaking seven centuries, and

he gets himself into his first-ever final. A standing ovation from the

Crucible crowd. Ding Junhui, in the end it was quite comfortable. He

takes the semifinal 17-11. A standing ovation richly deserved

for Ding Junhui and Alan McManus, it has been an absolutely breathtaking

semifinal. Ten centuries in the semifinal, seven of them for Ding

Junhui. He is now chasing Stephen Hendry's total of 16 in a single

championship, he is sitting on 12. We have came and Steve Kier.

Described the level of play that we have seen. -- Ken and Steve. The

quality of snooker in that semifinal, for both players, but

particularly Ding for the centuries. A fantastic performance. And of the

players who remain in this championship, he is by far the most

fluent, and he looks the best in stroke. Yes, and he is the most

clinical out there. He is very efficient at the best of times, but

to be able to do it on the big stage of all -- biggest stage of all, it

looks as if he has come of age. There is one more match to go, and

it is a big challenge, the biggest mountain to climb. But I think he

has proved to himself that he has gone that extra mile. And he has

gone further than anyone has gone from his part of the world, from

China and from Asia. Let us hear from Ding Junhui.

Congratulations, you have made history, not just with the number of

centuries, you at your the first Asian player, the first Chinese

player into the World Championship final. Yes, it went good, and this

month it started from qualifying, I played a lot of good matches, and

good friends. It feels better and better every day. It is great to get

into the final. Do you think going into the qualifiers has made the

difference because you seem a lot more relaxed here this year than you

have previously, and this is the year where we finally see you will

ever the talent we know you've got on the big stage. Why have you been

so calm this year? Yes, I think it is the top 16, they are waiting for

the qualifiers coming in to have a fight, and of course they have the

pressure, they do not want knocked out in the first round. For the

qualifiers, they have played a few matches already, they are more

relaxed, less pressure to playing at the Crucible. It is one thing to

play well, but to be magnificent and produced seven centuries is on

another level. Have you surprised yourself with the way you have

played? Guess, a big surprise, the first section I started 6-2, and

made four centuries. Alan played great. He came back very good.

Weighed very good, some very good friends and also he made a lot of

centuries. The last free last night was huge, 13-11 would have been

rather different from 14-10. Yes, the last frame, we have both got

chances, and it was massive pressure. It is Alan had the last

shot, it was not good safety shot, so I got a chance. UR a man who is

quite calm, but you must be so excited. This is a massive

opportunity for to become the world champion, to do this for yourself

and to China. I will keep that until after the final! Well done.

We have been joined by Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the sport

's governing body, the WPBSA. A great performance from Ding Junhui.

You have been growing the sport across the world, how positive is

this for you in these efforts? It is fantastic for us. And to see players

like Alan competing at this level is fantastic. The scale and size of the

sport is tremendous, and we're very proud to here today and think that

it is truly a global sport. What do you imagine the reaction will be in

China? We had contributors talking about 20, 30, 40 million people

watching it. In the China open a few years ago there were 100 million

people watching. This year the viewing figures will be

unprecedented. Outside of Sheffield we're starting to see the Chinese

community gathering in the square. -- outside, in Sheffield. There is a

very good possibility it will be all Asian final, because Marco Fu is

still very much in the hunt against Mark Selby, which is coming up at

7pm this evening. One man who has helped us in our enjoyment is Alan

McManus, supercool, and the urbane Scott who has thrilled us. He is now

with Rob Walker. You are making the semis at the age

of 45 and turning back the years, it is one of the great stories we have

enjoyed in recent years. Does that give you any comfort? It must give

you some consolation, it has been a brilliant run. Well, it has been

hard to take an off a lot out of it right now. I am obviously feeling

pretty down. But you have got to say that the Redman won the match, he

was by far stronger over the peace. -- the right man. It is a pity. I

came out this afternoon still with hope, I thought that if I could win

3-1, 3-1, I would take 16 each all day. I still fancied coming back

because I have done at the last couple of weeks. But a couple of

things just did not go my way this afternoon, and that kind of put paid

to my chances. 16-11, it is a real toll road. Again things did not go

my way. -- it is a real tall order. Ding scores so heavily, and his cue

ball is unbelievable at times, so he is going to take all the stopping.

Have you surprised yourself with this run to the semifinals? We spoke

weeks ago at the qualifiers when you came through, and you said it is

nice to be back Mac but it is important to do well but I have

other great things going on in my life. Would you have really believed

on day one here at the Crucible that you would have made the semifinals

for the first time in 23 years? Well, I would have! Yes, every

player worth salt knows that they could play the game, and I have been

here before and played at the top level before for a long, long time.

I do believe in myself, obviously I will take a bit from it in the days

to come. Right now I am a bit disappointed. I wish Ding well and

it -- it is his first world final, and he will enjoy it. Hard luck

today, and we look forward to welcoming you back here in the

future. No worries, big man. Alan McManus is going to go up into

at least the top 20 in world rankings, which is his best ranking

for nine years. It wonderful to see someone of that integer going up the

way? Yes, and it is wonderful to see the disappointment as well. We are

all seeing, he has done well, but you can see that he fancied it. As a

true warrior and competitor, he was in the match for a very long time,

and it is understandable, the disappointment. But to think he's

going to come into next season probably in such a good frame of

mind, he's got nothing to lose in a way. He can play with a lot of

freedom. And the age issue has often been spoken about over the last few

days. They are the relative ages of Alan is at the top of the board,

with Mark Williams and John Higgins also over 40.

Vintage is going up a little, and it shows how much experience and Kraft

really does count in this wonderful sport. Yes, you cannot take away

expedience, you cannot take away the class on the quality and hard work.

The interview with Alan, what I take from that is, as Steve said, he has

the heart of a true sportsman and a great champion, and it is very

encouraging to see. From my perspective I have seen a number of

players who have benefited from a change in the system over the past

few years, and the score being relaunched. We have gone from six,

seven events to over 20 worldwide. People of Alan's age, who may have

thought they were in the last years of the career for some point -- at

this point, and they have been working hard, which has paid off. We

were dazzled by the skills of Ding Junhui, but we must also forget he

has come through qualifying, very few people have done that. Shaun

Murphy in 2005, and Terry Griffiths in 1979, they are the others who

have won through qualifying. Thank you for sharing what is a brilliant

afternoon. I hope you haven't joined us. Ding Junhui has dazzled us, and

we looking forward to a final session this evening. 12-12 with

Mark Selby against Marco Fu, join us at 7pm.