Sunday, 1st Round, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

Hello again. Curse, Hex, jigs, you can call it what you like but there

is just no shifting the so-called Crucible curse. Yesterday Stuart

Bingham turned up as the defending champion after a wonderful year when

he had taken the trophy all round the world being a fantastic

ambassador for the sport, but he became the 17th World Champion to

come back and failed to successfully defend his title and the sixth to

ball at the first hurdle. They one at the World Snooker Championship?

It was a thriller, all right. And it looks like he may have got

the snooker here. And if he Bingham has got to hit it and has got to get

it safe. Otherwise his title defence is over.

He needed the cue ball to run and run hard. Could that be Stuart's

last shot? He has been a great ambassador in the last 12 months,

but it could be coming to an end. The title of World Champion, right

here, right now. APPLAUSE

Well, he put up a great defence. He didn't play well in the first

session of this match. And he had looped the blue, so that's does end

any hope Stuart Bingham had of staying in this championship that he

so gloriously won last year. It congratulates Ali Carter. Stuart

Bingham went 5-1 behind, then 9-8 in front, but a great response from Ali

Carter to come back and win the match by ten frames to nine. Stuart

Bingham, great sportsmen to the end. He will be back, no doubt about

that, but Ali Carter advances to the second round. It is just

unbelievable. It was just so difficult to get over the line. It

was always going to be a really tight game. You could sense the way

it was going. 5-1, 5-5, just like that. I played a very good decider.

I know that Stewart missed a couple of balls. Only a couple of balls

here and there that made the difference. The table was really

playing difficult. Loads of pings. When he flipped the snooker, it just

blew off the cushion. But I dug in and won and I am delighted. I am

delighted to get through. It is hard out there. I feel fresh as a daisy,

and I will be back. I beat Stephen Hendry when he was reigning

champion, so it is not nice to be beaten in the first round after

winning it. It was a tough draw, but I made too many mistakes myself.

That play to Ali The ever generous Stuart Bingham said he hoped that

Ali Carter wins the trophy because he deserves it. His words, not mine.

35-year-old Alan McManus has a 6-3 lead on friend Stephen Maguire.

Ricky Walden could do damage against Robbie Williams. Four time World

Champion John Higgins plays Ryan Day tomorrow. Judd Trump waits until

Wednesday to play Liang Wenbo. And Ding Junhui, a qualifier this year,

against Martin gold. Two champions, Mark Williams and Graeme Dott,

playing tonight. The mercy and Anthony McGill match going all the

way this morning. And Marco Fu's odds slashed to 5-1 after doing so

well against Peter Ebdon. And Ronnie is bidding for his sixth world title

against David Gilbert this afternoon. And mark Allen start

against the only new boy this year, Mitchell Mann from Birmingham.

Masters champion Kyren Wilson against a well fancied player.

Stuart Bingham, current World Champion is out, struck by the

Crucible curse. And a great response by Ali Carter to beat him. Tough on

Stuart because he did everything he could. But the level of attention

that comes with him into the Crucible, no matter how hard he

tries to deflect that attention, they first-time winner has ever

successfully defended it. You know that all eyes are upon you and

instead of playing the game as you normally do, one part of you is

wondering what people are thinking about your chances. Can you remember

coming back as defending champion for the first time? Was it a

different mindset for you? I had a good season and I won tournaments

but as the tournament got closer, the pressure started to build, and I

realised the importance and how difficult the mountain is to climb.

Until you win the World Championship, you don't know how

tough it is. When you have won it, you can be more scared of the

mountain, and that is where the problem lies. You need more years to

reflect on her back for more. He went through the full gamut of

emotion, going behind, then coming back and then losing in a final

frame decider. Sickening for him. Yes, it is. I don't know if we will

ever get a first time defending champion going on to win because the

pressure builds. But he handled himself perfectly and it was a good

performance. And the standards are just so high. Yes, they are, and it

will be difficult for anybody to win it, never mind a first timer.

Stuart Bingham is still clinging on to with hopes of ascending to the

world number one spot. He is provisionally world number two and

provided that nobody in the top ten at the moment goes on to win the

title, he will stay there at world number one. We will see. Ronnie

O'Sullivan knows what it takes to win this title, having done so five

times before and being world number one as well. Everybody here is

looking forward to his arrival this afternoon. He plays world number two

David Gilbert from Staffordshire. Everybody was watching this morning

a potentially very tight match between Shaun Murphy and young

Anthony McGill from Glasgow. Shaun Murphy is one of the game's great

that everyone including his peers thinks that. It is tough talking

about somebody when they are sitting next to you, so we should include

that person in the conversation. And when he is in with alarm's -- arm's

reach. Your cue action, you can flatter to deceive, but right from

the start, your cue action has been your strength. You have obviously

studied the game, and you realise that you want to get everything in

place that gives you the best solid platform to give you any solid

talent that you can produce. I was very lucky that as a child my dad

took me aside and taught me the basics of the game. He really

hammered home the importance of good basics. And a good strike. We used

to have lots of different practice routines to generate straight cueing

and consistency, going through open matchboxes and all sorts, with the

contents taken out. If the box moved, it failed. It was all about

gearing up for a good, straight action. When you are analysing,

watching from the commentary box, it is one beautiful motion, back and

forwards like a piston. Through the cue ball. Safety play, tactical

play, I am much better at it than I ever have been but I don't want to

do it, I did get enjoyment from it but at the end of the day I am

playing snooker to win it. Now I am more mature, I understand that I

have got to play that style of game sometimes to compete in tournaments

but I would much rather go for my shots, enjoy the game and see what

happens. Do you think that is the reason sometimes what you have not

been as successful as you possibly could be? You have come unstuck

against players that we would say, in the studio, in the commentary

box, that you should win easily? You have let things slip. Absolutely. I

am guilty of playing the wrong shot at the wrong time. But when I am on

the hill, just needing one more to go to get the victory, I like to

press for the victory. I don't want to wait for my opponent to give me

the chance. Sometimes I have beaten myself, played too aggressively,

opened up the pack unnecessarily, stuff like that, and it has come

back to want me and I am still learning. You should take a leaf out

of mine and Stephen Hendry's book, which is to be a bad, bad loser.

After the match is finished, there and then, if I am asked questions

and I am the runner up, I am genuinely pleased for my opponent

and thankful for the opportunities that I have had. But when I get home

and I have got to think about it, I get annoyed about things. A bit

annoyed? A little bit? Yes. Terrible. This morning Shaun Murphy

return for the deciding session against the man ranked 27 places

below him in the world, Anthony McGill from Glasgow. He comes on to

The Smiths Charming Man, and my goodness did he charm everybody last

year. He went on to knock out the defending champion Mark Selby, and

the 25-year-old from Glasgow went on to meet and lose to Shaun Murphy in

the quarterfinal. A rematch going on. It has been a fascinating match

so far. They finished their first session 4-5, the five in Shaun

Murphy's favour. They came back this morning to finish it all off and it

went 6-6, but Anthony McGill took the lead. Shaun Murphy has dug in to

win the next and so now he trailed 7-8. Here we join them in the fifth,

Murphy seven points adrift. Shaun Murphy is renowned as being

one of the best rest players in the world. He is excellent with it. We

have seen a couple of balls missing the middle pocket already this

morning. The pink is not easy. Yes, he missed the red. A bit more

difficult than in the previous frame but that was very missable indeed.

Quite a good distance. Not the best shot he has ever

played. He will need a good one to continue this break. Will he take on

the long blue or the long green? Looking at the green. He seems

pretty confident, but this is tough under the circumstances. He has

pushed it out a little bit. He might have got away with it a bit.

He can't believe this. That is incredible. Needed a feud deep

breaths then, Shaun. Goodness me, my head would have fallen off then.

There would have been some head shakes them. That is so cruel. It is

amazing what can happen on a 12 by six table. The case on the green

slows down the cue ball. -- kiss. If he plays Finn off the black

commie have to be careful to get it near the jaws of the green pocket.

He really needs to be in between the green and the brown spot with his

cable. If he doesn't leave that read on.

Just going round to have a look exactly between the brown and green

spot, which is fine. Not sure if he hit the cushion

first, but he played it towards the pocket, probably hoping to pot the

red direct. If he can hit this with a lot of

pace, he can bring some reds into play. Trusting with some luck as to

where the cue ball is going to land. Not too bad. That has opened up the

roads around this pocket here. Just the pace of the brown. Just

fell in-off the jaw of the pocket. Great position now.

He missed an uncharacteristic pink in the last frame, which cost him.

He has just had a quick look at the two reds close together. I think

they are plant. As soon as he puts this red, the two in chloro to the

right of his cue ball, into the corner pocket, which will help as

well. He is looking pretty con posed,

looking around the table, at a brisk pace, it have to be said. A sign of

confidence. This is where the plant certainly

comes to his rescue. 52 ahead, 75 remaining. A couple of reds with

high value colours. He will be two up with three to play. He is not on

the black, but the forward pink to the left centre.

I know this young man played very well last year in this championship.

He has certainly improved since then. An outstanding performance,

win or lose. This red to make sure of it. There.

He only needs one more frame for a place in the last 16. Shaun Murphy

has his back against the wall. Some people, some players, love the

Crucible and some find it very hard to play here. And for a rookie, and

to be fair he is still a rookie in the big-time, he seems to thrive on

playing at the Crucible. He seems to be enjoying himself, very relaxed.

In the whole match there has only been two frames which hasn't been 50

or above, so the quality has been excellent. Murphy nearly made a

century in the last frame. Anthony McGill to make one here.

His best has been 119 in this match, in the second frame.

Broke down on two occasions already this morning to make a century and

it looks like it might break down again.

Good pot. Excellent. This blue will be the eighth century of the

tournament so far. Well played. Absolutely magnificent from Anthony

McGill. 117, taking him one frame away from victory. He now leads 9-7.

Shaun Murphy has got his back against the wall. Can he do it? It

is going to be interesting. Anthony breaks off in the 17th frame. What

is left in this match? Shaun Murphy has done it before, no

doubt about it. He will rely on his memories of fear when he won the

trophy, of course. He has some great memories. The final against Stuart

Bingham, when he lost. I don't think Shaun Murphy will

shirk at the opportunity, if the situation presents itself, to win

the frame or the match if it gets to that stage. Excellent opener. He is

certainly not going to change his game. He will be going for the pots.

Great pot, but finishing betwixt and between at the minute. This blue is

still on, OK. A slight angle on the black but he

would have liked to be lower so he could go into the pack and still be

on this red. He didn't have the angle that time.

He doesn't have to go into the pack. He can go into the red to the right

of the pack and still be on for the bottom left-hand corner pocket. Nice

shot, terrific. He has a nice angle to bring some reds into play here.

That is OK. That is all right. Perfectly legitimate. It bounced

over all of the pack. As long as you don't bounce over the object ball!

Is object here is the red and if he doesn't bounce over the object ball,

he can bounce over any ball on the table. I am surprised by that

because he was not cueing down the ball. It was weird the way that took

off. Amazing. But he is in prime position still. Still got three or

four loose reds. We know that he is capable of winning three frames in

20 minutes. He literally cannot miss one ball that he goes for now.

Playing the same shot again, by the look of things, looking to flip off

the pack. Not got the desired contact. With that kiss on the red

ball, he pushes it into play. Both reds will pot. He decided they

couldn't. Screwing off the pack, but not leaving an easy one in the

middle. This red is on. Always difficult when you are screwing into

the pack to get the cue ball coming back towards the cushion. Luckily

for him there is a red available. This is really good stuff. Showing a

lot of character here. Whatever you need to get in this

break, 75 or 74, would it be better for him in respect of winning this

match to break down on 80 rather than taking it out of him? I don't

agree with that. The more balls you pot, the better you feel. People say

don't worry about the century but I think players like to make centuries

these days. I agree, but being this far behind, might it take a bit out

of him? He has got to do this three times on the trot. Yes, but all

morning he has been sitting in the chair. He just wants to get out and

pot as many balls as he can. Under pressure, absolutely

excellent. Well played. John Murphy, 17. You can see how

well he snookers, I suppose. McGill needs only 14 point snooker, but bar

that, Murphy will have cut the deficit, just one frame. It is still

beyond the realms of possibility, that is why you enter into the

philosophy of only making a break and winning the frame, I preferred

it when you pot all of the balls, it makes the player feel better. Now he

is going to struggle and it will take more out of him, the fact he

did not kill off that frame. I did not expect him to miss, you get to

80 or 90, then this. The centre is important for sure that this moment

in time, winning the match is far more important. McGill's aim would

be to put these three reds, we will leave the rednecks to the pink last,

it is an easy snooker. -- the red that is next to the pink last. It

looks like it was going near... Look at it, it catches the edge. As you

said, only the pace of it... The bottom rate does not part, he is

going to have to make it... Off of the black. He does not want to hit

it too hard, you does not want the pink to move up to fire up the

table. He wants to keep one of the reds and the pink in close proximity

to each other. He won't take the red in the left corner, he might take

the red in that pocket. The problem now is that the red has

stayed on the pink spot. So, you cannot do what we thought. Slipping

behind the pink after the next couple of shots.

Just try to work out whether he parts red and then ping, the pink

will go back behind its own spot, will he be able to get the pink off

of the last red? -- right down the line to this shot.

That will be a rip reef for Shaun Murphy. -- reprieve.

APPLAUSE Welcome he missed the yellow, McGill

nods to the referee. Murphy has another frame on the board but he

trails McGill 9-8. APPLAUSE

Frame 18, John Murphy to break. Shaun Murphy, breaking off for his

last time. Obviously, if it goes 9-9, he would hope to be breaking

off again in this tournament. If he does, he will be into the next

round. Look at how the reds have sprung out. Shaun Murphy is looking

amused, laughing, he cannot believe how the red has come up the table,

it cannot come up the table on a normal break, it is impossible. I

know that this is not the right time to discuss it, what we have to try

to do in World Snooker is get rid of the table leaders. Let's try, we

have to find a way of stopping the bounces and kicks and things. They

have tried it, to be honest. It was not very successful. Not successful

at all. They have complained about it.

If it does part, it is the first chance for McGill. -- pot.

From that camera angle, it does not look too bad, does it? Taking the

risk, he is looking at a plant into the middle pocket. The reds close

together... Definitely not set, it has to be made... Certainly risky.

Should he miss it, he will be bringing other reds into play.

This could be one of those frames where players will be trying to keep

the ball down the centre of the table, because of that red, it is

not a frame that the players like to play. This is risky. That was a

risky shot. Why didn't he just roll into the pack? Leave a touching

ball, bringing all of the reds into play like that? What a chance for

Anthony McGill... Always the chance when you play a

ball at that pace, coming into the pack, one could spring out and come

towards the pocket that you did not expect. Even if it does not come

back, back to this corner pocket, there is the chance that one is

going to go towards the middle. Yes. But he may not get a better chance

to win frame and matching this visit. Look at how these reds are

spread. -- match in this visit. What is awkward is that they have

blocked the blue into the corner pocket. Maybe they'll be able to get

onto the green here. They can try to play for the yellow or the green,

the yellow into the middle pocket. It's a little short, green into the

corner pocket. Got on the green nicely.

You won't get a better chance than this. To win the match in the way

that the balls are spread. It's all about composure here. His heart will

be racing, no doubt of that, he will be feeling pressure and tension.

Just have to keep them in check. It's just a case of holding yourself

together now. If he does not which, he will be in the second round. --

twitch. That is what he wants to get two, 60 eight. He is at 16 at the

moment. At 68. -- 68. Mind you, that is a bit

short. 24. That wiped its feet, we've seen

three or four missing the middle pocket. Just a series of little

screw shots around the pink, needing a bit of caution now. Not straight

enough on this thread to get to the black, they have to use the cushion.

-- red. His heart will be racing now, even though this is the chance

he has been racing for, to close the match. Marco Fu awaits the winner of

this match. Again, a straight on the black. It

could go wrong this... It could go wrong... He's been very fortunate

there. Try to get onto to reds, left the pink. A bit of a result. This

will be Shaun Murphy's only chance of staying in the championship, if

he misses this... It is there. APPLAUSE

That could not be... Putting him into the second round of this year

's World Championship. Just red and black, that will leave Shaun Murphy

needing a snooker. That was a good blue under the circumstances. He has

potted millions of them, he would have potted many under pressure. He

has outplayed Shaun Murphy in this session, he has been fantastic.

Every frame one has been 60 or above. Superb. -- won. One more red

to be sure... A glance at the scoreboard. A deep breath... Shaun

Murphy's last hope is on this shot. He has missed it Proceeds of Crime

Act 2002 my God. I -- he has missed it! My God. I don't

know how that has gone in! He does not have to do anything. It has

worked its feet, pot this black... It's been a wonderful performance

for McGill, it has to be said. He's in front in every department, he

outplayed him in the safety, in the pots, you knows his friends are in

the audience. He looks up to them there. In every department, he is in

front of Shaun Murphy in this match. What a way to finish. With a

possible century. Can he get behind this red? He needs

the cue ball to slow down... That is unlucky. OK, can he

fluked it? Hold on, in the middle? Unlucky! McGill, what a fantastic

performance for Shaun Murphy. The gentleman as ever, congratulate him.

Looking disappointed, Sean, chances missed. But Anthony McGill took his.

He finds himself in the second round of the World Championship. He wins

by 10-8. Unbelievably, you've done it again! Yes, a phenomenal win for

me here. Looking at the players last year, Shaun Murphy was one of the

favourites. One of the top players on the planet. It's an amazing win

for me. Considering how well you performed last year, we were

expecting summing special from you this season, that has not yet

happened. Why is it you are able to raise your game at the most

important time of the season? It's an amazing arena to place new car

in, but the length of the match, it is not easy, these long matches. It

feels like a proper game of snooker. Compared to the other formats. When

you play a guy like Shaun Murphy, you don't want to embarrass

yourself, sort of thing. Did you feel as though you had a chance when

you came back in this morning? Did you feel calm and relaxed? I felt

good. I thought I was pretty poor yesterday, I thought Shaun Murphy

was pretty poor as well, I thought I would not play that badly today.

5-4, it could have been worse for me. I came out and tried my best. I

got away with a couple of lucky ones. But I guess you need that.

Four frames in a row to go 8-6, when you got one back and reduced the

lead to 8-7, did you think that he was coming back? -- when he got one

back. I don't expect to stroll out, expected to go 10-8, 10-9, I was

looking and I could see he was up for a fight. I thought, let's go for

it and fight. You are a relaxed and unassuming character, you believe

that you have a great chance against Marco Fu, presumably? Two successive

quarterfinals? I'm not looking that far ahead, I will go in and try my

best against Marco. I don't think I've ever beat him. He is a class

act. I will stick at it and see what happens. Being modest as always, a

fantastic victory and another upset. Good luck in the second round.

Cheers. I've not lost in the first round here many times, I've played

much worse than that in the past and got through. In all arenas around

the world. In any match, where you make two centuries, several

frame-winning breaks with yourself, if you feel good in the balls, where

you lose those matches, you have two shake his hand and say well played.

It is a two man sport, you play against the other guy and if he does

better than you won the day, you shake their hand and wish them the

best. Generous as ever from Shaun Murphy, an interesting fact, this is

the first time that both finalists have gone out in their first match

in round one. It happened in 1980 when Terry Griffiths and Dennis

Taylor went out in what was round two, but they had been given a bye

through to the next round. It is all change here. Of the three matches

completed, Stephen John, that is two qualifiers who have gone out with

Stuart Bingham and now Shaun Murphy. Steve, your reaction to the fact

that he's done it again, what has he proven again, this young man? He's a

great match player, you could say that he likes the venue. Sometimes

players like a venue, you can get that. The kind of snooker that

McGill plays lends itself well to the longer session matches. The

argument could be that the kind of snooker that Shaun Murphy plays does

not always lend itself to the cut and thrust and bread and butter type

of snooker that you need to do to play to get through the next round

of the Crucible. It is panic stations in the early stages. What

did you like about his performance? I think that he has Crucible U. He

turns up at a venue and loves it and plays his best snooker. --

Crucibility. He looks at home in this place. He was helped a bit, but

he had a good run at the balls and was helped by his opponent, he was

really a bit open today, even by his own standards. I know that you can

attack and do as much as you like but sometimes, occasionally, you

have to be cute. There was one shot in particular, when it comes to the

safety, this was quite poor. He has played to open the pack. And go up

to the top cushion, you have to believe with how the balls are lined

up, as Willie Thorne said in commentary, you will come back to

the top cushion. At this level, arguably it is a shot that you don't

have to play. I don't think John Higgins would have played that, he

saw the risk and would have played a more containing shot. Sometimes you

had to swallow it and play your bead game and wait for your chances.

Shaun Murphy has said he does not want to play that, we aren't taking

him out, he wants to make it open, and keep playing the positive shots.

The trouble is sometimes against the quality of standard of players, you

will be an picked. He has two accept that that is how he plays. As you

say, you try to change, and he went back. You will win some tournaments

in the season because he is too good a player and two good a scorer but

he will lose the odd match from playing like that. Someone will have

to play well to beat him, that is what happened here, four centuries

in the match, it two from each guy, McGill made six other plus 50s. A

strong performance from him? There lies a problem for the players

seeded through, year upon year they come against better quality hard and

match players. Not only do they get a full season worth of matches to

cut their teeth on but they have three matches to get through to the

Crucible. You could say that they may be worn out but on the other

hand they are match sharp. For the first time in history, it is the two

fellas that contested last year 's final who are out. Thank you for the

stats and figures that were provided.

One match finishes this morning, another has just started. It

featured Robbie Williams from Merseyside, world number 57 making

his third appearance here, up against Ricky Walden, world number

nine. It has been a funny season for him, he became a father to Percy

last November. A lack of sleep did not help his game. He would be the

first to admit that for a good six months, but normal service resumed

in the last few weeks, Walden reached the finals of two major

events in Manchester and Beijing. This morning, they were 2-2 at the

interval. It has not been scintillating, top break 33 from

Walden, 41 from Williams. Yet win a match in two previous appearances

here let's pick them up from frame five, John Virgo and Stephen Hendry

commentating. COMMENTATOR: He did not catch that

quite as intended. He has left the pot on. The problem is, you play it

and hope for position on the colour. It would be difficult to avoid the

other reds, just don't miss the pot. You need a bit of luck. He has left

himself a pink on the far right corner. A bit of pressure on it he

does not have to do anything with the cue ball to do the next red, but

if he misses the pink, you will be there for his opponent.

The pink looks like it is available to the right corner. The chance to

score. He could get a viewpoint here in this frame, before he has to

think about going into the pack -- a few points. He let the cue ball

run... Just let it run loose. Such a simple shot, but a poor shot, you

put yourself under pressure to play a good positional shot the next

time. You still expect him to get it. Try and make this came as easy

as possible. -- game. He is back in good position now. He has got an

angle to disturb a few of the reds if he wants. There are enough loose

reds at the moment. Nice. Start thinking about it sooner rather than

later. So, one more red after this one.

Going into the pack of of the blue. Where the pink is, if he hits it, it

may not open the reds up that much. He is going to have to play for the

remaining loose red here. Not enough angle on the blue to force the cue

ball into the main bunch. As Stephen said, there is a loose red.

Trying to get it off of two oceans, that is what he is attempting, and

it works out nicely. Very nicely -- conditions. A great shot. Plenty of

left-hand side to generate that pays around the corner of the cushions.

He may choose to play the same shot here on the opposite side of the

table. The Reg to the right of the pink is

what he is looking at, he is left-handed and can get on that one

nicely. This cue ball is going to be... Going between a gap between

the reds and the pink. A guaranteed position here. He has two hit it

well. Pressure on this pink. Bit as verse

firmly as that. -- bit averse to hitting it as firmly as that. This

frame could be decided by this pot. Yes, cued it nicely, very nicely. He

has got the frame at his mercy now. He just underhit that's likely. But

he is OK. A lot of noise coming from the other

side of the screen. That is why Robbie is just taking a moment or

two to let it settle down. Big chance, this.

The action of the cue ball after he potted the red. This is better from

Robbie Williams. First 50 break of the match. Can't see any problem

with the next three reds. He needs to win this in one visit with a big

break. It would give him so much confidence. Looking for the pink and

one more red to clinch the frame. This may spur Ricky on, I was

thinking, the fact his opponent is starting to score. Sometimes when

one player struggles, it drags the other down and the opposite as well.

One player playing well can inspire the other.

As you said before, sometimes the balls dictate, John.

That didn't go in. 67 point lead, 69 remaining, it should be enough. It

was indeed enough and the top break of the match so far is the 67 from

Robbie Williams and it is the qualifier in control once again, a

pattern we have seen over the next few days. Onto the next and it is

Ricky at this time. Amazing. There it is, the Crucible,

the crowd so close. If you are not playing well, it feels worse than

anywhere, any venue in the world. Good, solid pot. Getting the blue, a

little plant on the two reds near the right middle. Shouldn't be a

problem. The chances for Robbie Williams are coming thick and fast.

He doesn't have to do anything. He just has got to get out of his seat

and come to the table and pot balls. He has got to take the risk here and

go for the pink. He has got to be on the red at least to right middle.

Well done. He can't play the cue ball exactly

where he wants because he is hampered but he should be on a

colour. Playing for the red to the right

corner. Not enough back spin. May have one to the left corner here.

The one immediately above the black. Of course in playing mat, a bit more

freedom, can come back up for green or brown.

Yes, nice pot. He has got a better angle on the brown now. And if you

loose reds in the middle of the table. This is a good chance.

Well, I have no idea what he played for them. The red closest to the

question is the one he should have been playing for, off two cushions.

I can only assume he played for the red closest to the cue ball and

overhit it. But still it was a strange red to play for. Had to get

the cue ball in the middle of the table somewhere and then he would

have had a choice of reds. Good opportunity went begging.

That is a bit more like it. Good pot. Not ideal on the brown. That is

as good a shot as he has played in the match so far. Just have to

concentrate on the pot to be automatically on the red.

You can't see anything going wrong from this position, but the way he

has been playing so far, nothing is guaranteed.

Just one point behind, so this black will get him in front on points.

Enough loose reds in the middle of the table, and if he gets those, he

will get to the snooker required stage, so I can't see a problem that

we have said that if you times this morning. -- but we have said that a

few times. Pink and one more red. This is more

like it from Ricky Walden. This is what we expected. It has been some

time coming. And now snooker is required for Robbie Williams, who

will have been disappointed to lose this frame, because he had a couple

of chances. Poor positional shots let him down.

Well, it has taken six frames, but that is a bit more like the Ricky

Walden we expect. He slaps the table as if to say to himself, that is

more like it. Robbie Williams misses an opportunity. We are all square

again, 3-3. All square and Ricky Walden beginning to find his stride,

it would appear. A struggle for the two of them so far. Waldon is a

former event winner and semifinalist at the Crucible before is up in the

next, but not by much. Not too bad. Always got to be

careful when you are playing this one that you don't get the double

kiss. That has worked out very nicely. It could not have worked out

better because he has released the brown now. Not as difficult as it

was. This frame is now well and truly in the balance.

He may have played the double-kiss safety. It has worked out all wrong

with the cue ball running into the pink. What a chance now for Robbie

Williams to regain the lead. This blue will make the points all

square. Pink and black for an unexpected win. Ricky Walden had so

many chances in this frame and he will be very disappointed to lose.

But the writing looks to be on the wall now.

Yes. That is a frame that Ricky Walden let slip away. He always

looked in control, but in the end, a couple of poor safety shots and

Robbie Williams goes in front once again 4-3. And indeed this is the

end of session score. Williams, the qualifier, who has been here twice

before and never yet won a match, but in command here. 5-4 in front

and they will be back tomorrow evening to finish off their match.

We are building towards the arrival of Roddy O'Sullivan who comes to the

Crucible for a 24th campaign, pretending to win a sixth world

title. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is on the table at 2:30pm this

afternoon and we will have his opening match live against David

Gilbert. That is one of the subjects we are discussing now.

Once again we have been joined by Jason Ferguson, who is the chairman

of the governing body. Great to see you again. We were here yesterday

and you discussed at length with our friends the fact that the qualifying

process has been fascinating, interesting, and it has thrown up

some stories, but one that it has grown up that we did not discuss was

the one that was featuring in around one at the Crucible. It was this

one. In the qualifying process, which is pretty tough, there was a

man, Steve Davis, attempting to get through to the Crucible for the 31st

time in his career. 38 years a professional, since 1978. He was up

against Fergal O'Brien. He said yesterday that he treated it as a

nice day out. He didn't win, obviously, but this was his reaction

at the time when he had lost. To oblivion and beyond! What did you

mean by that? That was my last match as a professional. I am calling it a

day. I thought I would follow in your footsteps and Jason's and

Stephen Hendry's. I called Barry and I said it was on my mind to enter

the World Championship and make it my last and to retire. Barry said,

Steve, you retired ten years ago but we didn't have the heart to tell

you! Typical Barry response! My father passed away recently and I

think it was the team thing. It is time to call it a day. He got 289, a

bigger break than I made in that match against Fergal! -- he got to

89. Time to call it a day. Are you happy with the decision now? I

should have done it ages ago. I think I played for my father. That

is what happens. Delighted to have had such a great time in the game.

Lucky that your hobby becomes your profession. How lucky are we all in

that respect? And also the fact that without sounding like I am blowing

people's trumpets, if it wasn't for somebody in the BBC down the line

making the decision that snooker was going to be shown on the television,

none of us would have had such a great life, so it has been a

fantastic journey. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I would like to shake

your hand for the first time as someone who is officially retired

and welcome you to the official retirement club. Congratulations,

Steve. You have talked about this game giving you say much but you

have given us so much as a player, and a friend and colleague at the

BBC. How much has Jason given to snooker? I am speechless. -- how

much has he given to snooker, Jason? I am speechless. Thank you for

providing that inspiration to me. As a young player I watched you win

that championship and I read your book afterwards, as many of us did

during that time. At that time, I could never have imagined that I

would get to play Steve on the table or get to help to run the sport with

him. Very proud to have Steve with us. I know it was a difficult

decision. You retired when you are part of our broadcasting folder as

well, but has it come as no surprise to you, John? Yes. When you get up

in the morning, you expect the sunshine and Steve Davis to have a

cue in his hand! I remember being 13 and going to the Albert hotel in

Liverpool where the big tournaments were played, and this fellow turned

up. He took his cue out of the case, took three shots, and my father said

World Champion. I said what? He said World Champion. Six times champion

of the world and he was inspirational to me starting. I

couldn't tell him because I had to grow up and play him and I had some

dumplings over the years. Fantastic matches. Was always the benchmark.

If you gave Steve a run for your money, you were doing well. I was

able to come in when the game was blossoming. Recently there has been

that Rack Pack on BBC iPlayer, looking back at the history of the

game. I was there at the start, turning professional in September 19

78. You are lucky as a snooker player to have a long career if you

wanted. That golden era will never be repeated again. It will move onto

other places and get even bigger but it was great to be there at the

start. It is lovely when you feel like you are the grandfather of it,

a bit. Very strange. You are far too modest so we will let the pictures

say it but I was trying to sum up your career and there are so many

statistics and facts and figures. Six time World Champion, six time UK

champion, three Masters, 30 appearances at the Crucible. Sports

Personality Of The Year, runner up and in the top three more times than

anyone. That is not bad. MBE, OBE, rear of the year winner, yes. 28

world ranking titles, appeared in 100 majors finals. Made the first

official 147 break. While we digester news, here are some of the

many interesting moments from Steve Davis's career.

That is it. The World Snooker Championship Steve Davis.

And it goes to the fabulous Steve Davis.

He has had so many nicknames over the years. Ginger Musician, The

Nougat, The Citrus Twin alongside John Parrott. DJ Thunder Muscle.

What is that about? I do a radio show and we play some electronic

music and at the weekend, somebody said did I want to DJ and it was a

great experience. I do love my music. There are so many different

facets to Steve Davis that I don't think Jason and John really knew

about when he was playing. Did you really know this man when you are

competing against him? Did anybody really know him? No. I thought it

was only programmed to speak at press conferences when he won. He

didn't speak to anybody to 20 years that he was too busy picking up

trophies. He was away from the other players but he was the ultimate

competitor and that was the way he was. He was that player that

everybody modelled themselves on for a while. It was a technique. He was

like a robot. We all learned to sip water as players because that is

what Steve Davis did. I have to say, having spent time with Steve, people

thought he was a bit boring but he is a pleasure to have around and he

is a great character for those that know him, as you guys do. We have

all got to know him over 15 years of broadcasting. If you want to see

more of the DJ, it is on the iPlayer if you are so inclined. I know that

Dennis and Stephen in the commentary box, hard at work today, you have

just heard the news as well. I think 1985, that Mr black, was one of the

most influential and important shots in snooker. You benefited clearly,

but give us your reaction to Steve saying farewell to the game. It is a

sad day because he changed snooker completely when he came on the

scenes. He was the first player to put in six or seven hours of

practice and the only way to get any chance against him was to put in the

practice as well. I will never get the first time I met him. Well, I

didn't meet him. I saw him at the festival of snooker, contents, where

we all walked round with snooker queues, and I looked in through the

window and I saw long ginger hair, sleeves rolled up, and then he

cleared the table and then again. I didn't know who it was but I hoped I

would never see him again. I did see him for many years and I have had

some fantastic shows with Steve where we have gone around the

country doing lunches and dinners and he is a pleasure to work with.

So funny. I think he could still carry on but he wouldn't be prepared

to put the five or six hours practising that you need to with

these boys. What an ambassador he has been for the game of snooker.

Absolutely fantastic. Stephen, you loved winning and Steve loved

winning, but when you couldn't win titles any more, Steve continued

trying to win matches, which was enough for him. Did you understand

that mentality? Not at all. I had many conversations with him about

it. How can you lose to people you should never lose to? He said he

treated it as a day out and I can't do that. I have to say thank you to

you. He was the best person to learn to be miserable from and I think I

have done him proud. Fantastic. I am sure there will be much more

reaction to Steve's decision to call it a day after 38 years as a

professional. From someone who has won six world titles to a man trying

to attempt to match your record of six and then go for the record of

seven at the Crucible, and that is Ronnie O'Sullivan, just about to

make his 24th appearance here at the Crucible in Sheffield. This is the

ultimate event. Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the World Championship! It is a

great atmosphere. What a tournament. O'Sullivan has been simply

magnificent. It is the World Championships and it has a special

feeling about it. What a performance from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

This is the home of snooker, if you like. The people of Sheffield come

out to support this event. Even the people walking around Sheffield, it

is like they are spotting snooker players. All right, Ronnie! It has

that village feel. If I had a choice of where to live in England, I would

probably want to live in Sheffield. Where better to spend 17 days

hopefully? When I first came here, I was so excited, so young, and I felt

like I was living the dream. Now sometimes it feels like living the

nightmare. I don't mean that! I have nothing to prove to myself and to

anybody that has followed snooker. I need to find the motivation in other

ways. It is important to leave the snooker fans with memories of great

sporting moments. What a fantastic maximum break! It is just about

trying to enjoy the process, if you like. And just see it as a vacation.

My preparation hasn't been great and that is my own fault. If I am to

come through this tournament, if I can get through my first match, then

I think I will have a better chance of knowing where I am at and whether

I have the game to go on and win the trophy. The most important match for

me will be the first one, I think. I like Dave's game. Great technique,

great strike of the ball, and coming through the junior ranks, he was

coming through with the likes of Shaun Murphy and he plays a really

good game. Hopefully we can both take each other to a good level.

Well, his opponents Dave Gilbert said he had a nervous giggle to

himself when the draw was made on Thursday. 34 years old, a former

potato farmer, 22 in the world. He has enjoyed a breakthrough season

and a terrific run to the final of the international championship last

November, the biggest event outside the UK. He lost to John Higgins. The

newlywed's biggest payday and it helped to pay for his new house with

his wife Abigail. He has only ever played The Rocket once before and

that was five years ago, losing 4-1 in a minor event. It is Dave's

fourth appearance at the Crucible. Ronnie has played 22 matches since

his return on the 19th of December. And he has won 20 of them, including

the Masters title, and of course the Welsh Open. John Parrott, not a bad

old record, having taken eight months out, and having six weeks off

to prepare for this. Short favourite for the championship. 7-4 before the

start of it and he deserves that because he has probably got a decent

draw. There are good players in there, but there are players in his

section who he has beaten before and quite regularly. We are looking at

him having a good run. He mentioned enjoying the process in the

interview and that is the important thing for him. If he can come here

and put it all in for 17 days, he is the man to beat. He is the man to

beat, and so say the bookmakers. He will be coming out very shortly. In

terms of the eight-month lay-off, he admitted he was very rusty but he

still won the Masters title in January. He was in devastating form

at the Welsh Open and blitzed everybody there. And he is writing

what he says. The first round is the most important. He had 11 months off

and had Marcus Campbell in the first round. He did not be at his

brilliant best but he made some good clearances and then ran through the

whole field. What he said about the opening match, it is very important

for him. Do you detect the appetite is there

to win a sixth world title? After that interview, definitely. He's in

a good place in his life, I spoke to him the other week, we played in a

series of doubles and we were beaten on a re-spotted black, we were -- he

was on a good run until I came along. He will be out shortly, I

know that Rob Walker is standing by in the arena earlier than he would

normally be. Afternoon ladies and gentlemen, what

a moment for one man waiting backstage and what a moment this is

for everyone gathered in this auditorium that he made famous,

nobody here has heard the announcement. To reiterate, finally

after so many years as a pro, after collecting six world titles, the

legend that is Steve Davis has finally announced his retirement as

a player. We thought it was appropriate that you, the crowd in

the Crucible and everyone at home gets to share in the memory is one

last time. Steve Davis, waiting backstage, this arena is it always

has been and will be is all yours. -- this arena as it always has been.

APPLAUSE CHEERING

APPLAUSE CHEERING

They are still going! CHEERING Steve, they cannot believe it. None

of us can, really. What a wonderful, wonderful and appropriate

celebration of all you've done for the sport on and off the table.

Thank you. It is an emotional think I did not know what would happen. I

was going to Peter out from the game but thought it was a nice thing to

do. My father passed away this year. Just before the World Championships,

I still played in it. He was with me from the start, so I thought

finished this time around. APPLAUSE

CHEERING We are lucky to have seen him in his

pomp as a player, and our team were lucky to have been his colleagues

and friends for the last 15 years or so. It's incredible how he juggled

both jobs over the last 15 years, in 2005 he got to the championship

final, his 100th major final while combining both jobs. Will we ever

see anyone with his longevity again in the game? He's a one-off, a

one-off in the nicest way. I got to know him as a friend here, working

together, he's a good friend and we love working together. But he is a

formidable competitor, a wonderful winner, a champion and great for the

sport. Thankfully he's hanging around and we can still see him. For

those of you who were not around in the 1980s and realise the impact he

made, he made eight out of nine finals, seven in a row. He was that

dominant, completely dominating the 1980s before Stephen Hendry came

along? He came in with an all-round game. As Dennis mention, legendary

practice hours, seven or eight per day. He took it to another

professional level. His long game is better than anyone else's, his

break-building was better, his cue action was better, he is better in

every department. He brought snooker up to a higher level. It's time to

say farewell to the six time champion, he will be with us. We

will work hard, don't worry! Over the next two weeks and for the next

few years to come, we hope. Let's say goodbye to Steve the player,

officially, let's say hello to a man trying to any lead him, Ronnie

O'Sullivan is waiting backstage with three others for a very important

session this afternoon. Let's go back over to Rob Walker.

COMMENTATOR: What an atmosphere we have here at the Crucible. A day of

huge emotion, we've had three world champions knocked out already in

this years back Fred World Snooker Championships, there is so much more

drama to come right here, right now, in the world's number one snooker

arena, the Crucible! Please welcome a player still going

strong 25 years after his Crucible debut, bidding for a 15th appearance

in the second round, rolling back the years in style, these days he

takes it all in his stride. These welcome Adam McManus. -- please

welcome. FUNKY MUSIC And his opponent, a fierce

competitor on the table, seriously pumped up for this session of

snooker, five times a ranking event winner, he reached the semis of the

China open at the start of the month and twice he's been to the one-table

set-up here in Sheffield. When he's good, he's on fire... Stephen

Maguire! MUSIC: Here I Go Again by Whitesnake.

On table two, a player rejuvenated and re-motivated over the last few

seasons, making his third appearance here at the Crucible after eating

Jack Liz Askey in the first Michael . The Tamworth massive have turned

out in force to support the man who calls himself the Angry Father,

David Gilbert! MUSIC: Lights On by Katy B.

And his opponent, making a 24th consecutive appearance here at the

Crucible, the most exciting talent the sport of snooker has ever seen,

winner of the Welsh Open and the Masters this season, a five-time

champion of the world... Ronnie O'Sullivan! MUSIC: "The Changing

Man" by Paul Weller. The auditorium has shed drama this afternoon, ready

for some more, the Maguire and McManus match is on the red button

and online, we will keep you updated on that all-important final session.

Now, Stephen and Dennis, a lot of intrigue surrounding Roddy's

appearance at the Crucible every year. He will answer some of our

questions today -- Ronnie O'Sullivan's appearance.

COMMENTATOR: Great anticipation to see how well he is going to play

here. The fact they are very played each other

on one occasion, Ronnie winning that. I think that Dave can try to

enjoy himself, he's a big underdog. It is not the easiest thing to do,

win these games. This will be a good start. Unlucky. But a good and

positive pot. This is very nicely struck, right into the middle of the

pocket. A bit unlucky with the cannon. No secret. He has to take

his chances. There is every chance that he will not get many. That's

the only chance he has got. Will he take full advantage? He has to go

through this match... It's amazing how close he could

probably get if he does not miss easy shots and make unforced errors.

Made a bit of a mess of the safety shot there. Hit far too thin with

too much pace on it. The pink and blacks are tied up at the moment.

This table is playing superbly, they seem to have problems on the other

table, Peter Ebdon, he lost 10-2, but said it was one of the best

tables he had ever played on. It's amazing, to think that two tables

can be so different. The other one wants chopping up, and a new one

bringing in. Why don't you say what you think, Steve?

That has tied the blue up also, an awkward opening frame with three

high valued colours out of commission. Show you the blue

again... There is talk about possibly recover

in the other table, perhaps even replacing the slates, there are six

slate there, the cloth on top of the slates, it is a delicate and skilful

operation, to put together a table. That could possibly happen over the

next couple of days. This is going to open things up, he has to have a

thick contact on the reds to avoid the blue. A good shot. Tap on the

table, and excellent cue ball. The last shot has brought the pink into

play. It has helped the situation. That has brought the blue... Not

back safe again, but it was a total mis-hit from Ronnie.

The pink was onto the black spot here, that would help the situation.

The blue and the black are out of commission, as is the green. It has

gone awkward. Is the pink spot occupied? We will find out shortly.

It is! Seven, not a bad chance now. As I said earlier, the you have to

take these chances. Easier said than done, this is a massive occasion for

Gilbert. Playing O Sullivan in the first round at the Crucible. He did

play me in the first round here and won 6-3 up after the first session,

I managed to win the match but it shows he's not afraid of playing the

top players here. That was back when I was one of the top players, a long

time ago! I keep trying to talk to you, and

talk you into making a comeback. If you put the effort in, you could

still get back to the Crucible but that is my own opinion. You are

probably not much better than me. Whether that would ever happen or

not... this needs striking as well, right

into the middle of the pocket. I like that sound, as it hits the

ball, it is very crisp. He has got a lovely pause before he

delivers a very fluid cue action. You can see the tip of the cue back

between his thumb and his finger. He is making a pretty good job of this

one, he only had the pink to work with, when he putts this, it will

free up the other two reds. I think that he's gone far enough to move

back and leave the two reds in the same pocket as the pink.

Perfectly played. Already 39 in front. Only two comfortable reds

still available. A little heavy contact there, not on the pink as he

would have liked. Just spoiling things slightly... I

don't know if he can avoid the cannon when potting the pink or that

read to the left of the black and the red. He may have to concentrate,

part the pink, play the cannon, and hope the white finishes nicely. --

pot the pink. He managed it. Letting it run away a little bit.

David Gilbert, 45. APPLAUSE This was close, but too much pace.

Unlucky to knock the other red out. Two more reds in good positions. Two

difficult reds near the black, this is the kind of situation Ronnie

revels in, he knows it is not an easy chance.

He would have to get it absolutely perfect on the pink, if he was going

to be able to play a cannon. I wonder if he would risk potting this

and tried to Cannes and the two reds and the black and hope he drops on

one -- try to cannon. Worth the risk, but... It did not work out for

him. Ronnie O'Sullivan, 13. APPLAUSE

Bringing the blue into play. The difference is 33, it is far from

safe in this frame. For David Gilbert. He has hot water that he

has at the table sometimes. That is going to be OK, just, I

think...? Or is it. If you are writing behind, it has to go across

the matter but it still seems that he can sneak it in. -- right in

behind. Playing safety off of the green

here, I think. Coming off of the cushion, you want to partake, to get

more points on the board -- you want to plot

-- tee a colour. He was thinking along your lines,

but he changed his mind. He wanted to bring that green into play. He is

32 behind, he has to get to one of the higher valued colours off of the

last red if he is to win the frame. All of a sudden, balls are out in

the open, the green is not entirely safe. This could be a free ball, if

it hits the yellow, the worst possible thing to have happened

there. That difficult green we mentioned,

you might be able to drop in behind it in a couple of shots time. He has

not played the best shot there. A bit of an angle on this yellow to

come off of the cushion with a lot of left-hand side. That was the

problem... A bad shot off of the black.

You had to play it with a lot on the left-hand side. Throwing the cue

ball off-line. APPLAUSE

I mean really, where the Green-Ellis, if you can get

somewhere near that circle, you can get the green down the cushion. I

don't know if he has the angle to get there, the pink could be in the

way -- where the green is. A little too much pace. You have to get your

hand on the table, said the green around the ankles, get the green

behind the black and put the white behind the brown, that would be the

choice. Well, he has played it... Same

result really. You have to keep the Green safe, there's a pink coming to

the rescue here. That is what we now call a green

ball fight, whoever pots the Greenwood win the frame... -- green

would win the frame. I think that he can avoid the cannon

on the brown, it is a tough shot, he is so close to the cushion but if he

pots this, it could slip past the brown, back-up, and leave it on. It

could be a frame-winner if this goes in. Ronnie O'Sullivan did not even

attempted it shows that it was not quite as easy as we thought. If the

cue ball is near the cushion. I'm still shocked he never took it on, a

tough shot. I can only assume that the angle was taking the cue ball up

towards the brown. This is a bit of a chance, it is an

automatic angle. If he's the green, he will come around the back of the

blue, every chance on the brown, but it is a tough one. Good cueing. A

slight angle on the brown, 17 ahead. The brown would be enough to leave

Ronnie with a snooker. Seven. Quite a lot of support here, Dave.

They would be delighted with the opening frame. The best possible

start for David Gilbert. He has taken the opening frame. He leads

Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-0. Just settling in the opening frame here, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, he would normally take most chances on.

Stephen, like myself, was surprised about the green, they thought he

could take it on. The White was near the cushion. I thought that natural

action committee might have cannon to be brown but even if he did that,

it looks like a shot that he should have taken on. There surprised, a

shot to win the frame. -- very surprised. Maybe he felt the cannon

that he was going to get on the brown would not be good enough. And

he was going to knock the brown save or even if he had to play at pace,

it would be hard to get the cue ball away from the side cushion. I was

shocked, he has turned down a frame ball. Looking relaxed, he was in the

practice room with Steve Peters. The sport psychiatrist who has got

Ronnie O'Sullivan in a terrific frame of mind for the last few

years. But, it's always nice to get the first frame under your belt. I

would love to know what's going on in his brain.

-- the referee has the balls ready. Some call Dave Gilbert Dave, the

referee said David, so will we. There are nine frames to be played

in this session. Well, this will be interesting to

see if he takes on the blue. He is showing Dave a lot of respect

here. That was an excellent long pot. He

has three, four loose reds. He has enough to play with at the moment.

Sometimes you will not get as perfect and angle again. He has gone

into them off the brown. He did not even look at the black.

It is a very thin cut, if it even does.

A little bit unlucky not to have anything easier, but I think he

missed a trick, not playing the black the previous shot. It was very

thin. He did not even look at the black. He needed the black back on

the spot. It is a chance to see how well

Ronnie is cueing. It is not an easy chance, by any means. Four reds are

available. One at the back of the pack, if you got onto that, he would

free up another one. He got a big bounce off the cushion.

This could be a bonus. He might be able to get through to the one past

the pink. He did not play for this one.

Does the green Passley please? -- pass the blue? Yes. Now he has them

in a good position. It will be interesting to see how many he makes

now. Removing that red clears the path

for the other red into the opposite corner.

He does make it look so easy when he gets going.

Yes, we know he is cueing well. He only needed the one chance. This is

why I said earlier for Dave to have any chance in this match he has to

take all his chances because more often than not, when Ronnie gets a

chance, this is what is going to happen. He will not be surprised by

this. He will be surprised by that. No century, but he only needed one

chance and he took it. Dave Gilbert refused the black, took the Dow

instead. HAZEL IRVINE: Steve Davis is back in the studio. He has been

in demand in the press room about his retirement. People have sent

tweets about Steve's retirement. Surely saying, thank you for the

memories and from all our family congratulations. Alex says my wife

calls me the tin man. I do not often cry but your speech has done it. And

another said they want to see Steve Davis on the decks. Another said,

that is an interesting development! I am sure there will be more

reaction but from what you have seen, and John, help them out, what

we have seen from Ruddy, has it given you cause for concern or

indeed hope? He was talking about how important the first match was

because he has been out of it. He has been around the country playing

exhibitions. I think he has been a little bit conservative with shots

early in the match. He wants to feel his way in and then normal service

was resumed with beautiful cueing. Good to see Dave Gilbert settle

early. He is a man, we have not seen a huge amount of, but the run to the

international championship final was a breakthrough moment for him. And

he has ensured into a better player. I played him, he has been around

long enough, I played him and I thought, nice player, he could put

more effort in at times. He looked lackadaisical, but he is not now.

You join us as he missed the attempted red. He did not get away

with that. Alluded to the shows Ronnie has been

doing around the country. He went to Romania, playing exhibitions, and

travelled to various venues in Europe. His interview at the Welsh,

I found so funny. He was interviewed and said he used the tournaments for

practice for his exhibitions! I have never heard that before! You always

get something different from Ronnie. He has loved doing the shows. I have

done some with him and they are great nights. People, even in small

clubs, come along and pay a lot of money to see him. He has made a fair

few maximums in those shows. But make no mistake, he will have put a

lot of practice in on proper match tables. The exhibition tables and

club tables, the pockets are easier. Could not go straight from playing

on vigour pockets, you would be lost. -- figure pockets.

-- bigger. It looks like a nice angle.

This is still pottable, the black. It needs more attention.

The last frame lasted just over eight and a half addicts. --

minutes. This will not take too long. The

balls are not perfectly placed by any means.

It shows terrific focus. He did get a bounce off the cushion. Never even

bothered about it, he got down and potted that. It was not

straightforward, that black. It is now.

As I mentioned, I do not think this frame will last very long. Nothing

David Gilbert can do about this. As you said, Stephen, if he gets a

chance, he will have to go all-out for it. He will not get many

chances, looking at the way Ruddy is cueing here. -- Ronnie.

It will not be easy to make the century because of the red close to

the cushion. This man holds the record now, 819 centuries. He will

not make a century now. One of his ambitions is to get to 1000 century

breaks. Wouldn't that be something? Not a bad effort. Once again, he

only needed one chance, and Ronnie O'Sullivan took it and with the

break of 84 he leads to- one. He has made 151 crucibles centuries

but none yet in this match but encouraging signs for Ronnie

O'Sullivan fans? He has made this look so simple. He decided to screw

back through what looked like a complicated path of reds. He makes

those shots so easy. We are back. The last frame before the interval.

DENNIS TAYLOR: That was an unusual break-off shot from David. He went

the wrong side of the blue. He has not left any given. -- anything.

You said he did not leave anything, there was a red. He did not get a

thick enough contact on the red, but the red to the right corner, it is

on. He does play a percentage game, these days, Ronnie. He does not have

too take many chances because when he is let in by opponents, he kills

off the frame. Why take a risk? Let your opponent let you in.

One of the best pieces of advice I had when I turned professional was

from the great man who got this game going, Joe Davis, he would say, play

the percentages, that is the name of the game, and I suppose it still

applies today. Knowing when to go for them, knowing when not to.

He has knocked in some good long ones. That is good cueing. That is a

confidence booster. OK, the wrong side of the blue, but that was a

great shot. If the black passes the red, he will

be OK. Again, he struck that nicely. He is

timing the ball well. As I said earlier, and I promise I will not

say it again, he has to take the opportunities when he gets them if

he has any chance of winning this game.

From this position you could pretty much saying nine times out of ten

O'Sullivan would win the frame from this visit and you have to do the

same thing to put any pressure on your opponent.

I like David Gilbert's style. He is fluent and quick around the table.

He has a nice pace about his play. If he screws back, to find the gap

between the two reds. To leave one into the corner.

That gap. He got a heavy contact. He seemed to get a lot of reaction from

the cue ball, which is OK. He will have to drop this in. You

need to give it due care and attention.

Nicely played. The mid-session interval coming up after this frame,

and I think he will be pleasantly pleased if he could level at 2-2.

The red at the bottom of the bunch will also pot to the right corner.

Do not think he is on it this time. That was awkward. What happens in

that situation, you finish up getting side on the ball. You can

only just see the top of the white. He let the chance slip. Immediately,

Ronnie, 46 behind, has opened up the reds. David Gilbert now knows he

cannot afford to make a mistake. 46-1 down. Definitely a new

favourite for the frame. A break of 72 in the second frame.

David Gilbert was in first. I suppose he was unlucky. Otherwise, I

think he would have been winning this frame. 15 seconds. That is

quick. It is looking inevitable, every time he gets in, the frame is

over. Two or three of the top seeds have

looked tentative in their first matches, not so Ronnie.

They are a quick three frames. The first was under 20 bits. The others,

eight and a half minutes, just under seven minutes.

He has not finished on the blue for the middle, he will have to take it

to the corner now. The red left the bed of the table. But he looks so

comfortable, he just knocked the pink in as if it was over the

pocket. Yellow and green needed. A quick look at the school board,

but he is well safe at the moment. One snooker needed. A terrible kick

on that. The frame is not over yet. But he has flicked the snooker.

Unfortunate to get the cake, but fortunate to leave it there. David

could have potted the brown and got the one snooker he needed.

A bit unlucky. That is the end of the frame now.

He is not that about the black. Gilbert had a break of 46, he was

unlucky, just ran slightly out of position, missed an awkward ready,

and Ronnie O'Sullivan gets a break of 84.

Yes, he is trying to become the first man to win into his 40s since

Ray Reardon a good few years back. Steve kept playing for a long number

of years, how much more difficult does it become? Historically, it

seems like 40 was the time when cracks started appearing, but not in

money. He seems to be getting stronger. Experience plays a part,

but somewhere you start. Mac your arm does not do what you want it to

do. It is amazing how fluent he plays. He makes the game look so

easy. But the skill part is to let yourself go. Lots of good players

and lots of exceptional players, he brings his practice came to the

tournament table, he plays with freedom and fluency, his

break-building and control is fantastic. It looks that simple, but

it is just brilliant. It is amazing he can do that, because so often we

hear players say, I played lately in practice but I have not been able to

bring it to the match table. He has not qualified to play in some

events, chose not to play in other events, so he has had to do this. It

is the way he chooses to do it, that is his office, it is not a problem.

He makes the game look easy. Strangely, these tables, we noticed

it yesterday, and today, the questions are acting up. They are

bouncing all over the place. Ronnie got out of position on a couple of

shots. The better your positional play without using questions on

these tables will separate the men from the boys. If you use too many

questions, you will fly all over the place. It would be nice if they

could slow them down somehow. The second finger of the weekend. It is

time to bring you up to speed with what has been happening on the other

side of the curtain. It features the Scottish players Alan McManus, 45,

the oldest player left after the departure of Peter abdomen, against

Steven Maguire. Let's hear from Stephen about sport in general.

The only thing I would pay to watch if the Wimbledon final. You get a

ball and the teacher would say, do what you want Inbee Park, that was

PE. I gave tennis a go, I am too unfit. Get rid of the waistcoat and

the old school way of dressing, it looks stupid. Went into the club to

pass a couple of hours, I liked it, and I and using the cue now! That is

the truth! German Masters, it is special. My dad is handy at joinery.

I might have followed in his footsteps, he could have helped me

out, but it would be tough, because I am hopeless at joinery! I hate

getting photos done and being asked for autographs, because I don't

think I am famous enough. I was in Malta, I won the European open, I

can remember the first hour after that, I remember being in Glasgow

after, I don't remember the flight or anything. I forgot my chalk years

ago. I did not know what to do, what was happening. When I look back, I

got a bit angry, a bit embarrassed. A good 77 break from Steven Maguire

puts him into the lead. Very nice. Another 70 break for

Stephen Maguire, he leads 3-1. He has played it well. A nice break of

78 from Alan McManus, he cuts the deficit to one frame.

Stephen Maguire says enough, we are back level. 3-3. It is pretty good.

That is even better. Alan McManus now leads 5-3. It is

there. What a fantastic clearance from Alan McManus. He was trailing

3-1, he has won five in a row, he leads 6-3.

Yes, a 6-3 lead, very clever player. This is his 20th campaign here in

the last 25 years. We will join them in the first of their afternoon,

frame ten, commentary from Peter Ebdon and John Virgo.

Alan McManus is a master tactician. Stephen Maguire is a very good

safety play himself. If he has made that decision, he is a very

attacking player anyway. But Alan is a very cagey player. I am sure part

of his game plan will also be to leave tempters for Stephen. Low

percentage shots. This is a good opportunity for Alan. He struck the

ball very nice when he is playing well. He came from nowhere and got

to the quarterfinals of the UK championship in Preston. His most

famous victory was when he stopped Stephen Hendry winning his seventh

Masters title in succession at the Wembley conference Centre. Yes, he

made a fantastic 70 break in the deciding frame. A great competitor.

And also, the longevity that players have. We have just seen Steve Davis

taking the bow on his retirement. It is hard to keep at the top of the

game. Playing in the matches is wonderful, but it is the hours of

practice. Alan has been doing that, which shows his genuine love of the

game. That is just as important as anything else, you have to enjoy

your work. He has done well to qualify, to play free tough matches

to get here. Did you find yourself a bit jaded after those three

qualifiers, Peter? I felt fine, to be honest, John. Free Best of 19

matches in a week is tough, and playing here three days later, but I

believe my diet helps, because I feel totally different now on a

vegan diet, I have been big on for almost five years now, and I do

recover a lot quicker than when I was eating animal products. It is

not so much a physical game, but you need to be having fitness in mind

and body, the two aligned. A lot of people think that snooker is not a

physical sport. But I remember when I won here in 2002, I started the

tournament in 11 stone eight and 70s led -- and at the end I had lost

almost a stone and a half. That is what the pressure can do. A

tremendous amount of strain on all of the players. Just getting up,

Alan, lots of noise from the other side of the wall. That is

experience, if you are not comfortable, get up and start again.

I remember when John Spencer won here, he said he lost over a stone

in weight. You are not eating regularly, at odd hours. Meanwhile,

back at the table, Alan McManus has reduced his arrears. Everything is

set fair for the frame-winning chance. This would take him four

Cleo. It has been a very impressive contribution so far from Alan

McManus. Stroking the ball beautifully.

You can always miss digging down on the white. If you just put a bit of

unintentional side on it, as he may have done there, a bit of left-hand

side, pushes the cue ball into the back... He will be disappointed with

that. He has missed a golden opportunity. That is what Stephen

Maguire will be looking for. A bit of help from his opponent.

I don't think he will be too pleased with that. People have been getting

bounces off cushions. You see other matches, you have had them yourself,

you wonder if it will spring a bit more, it makes you uncertain,

especially if you are using cushions for position.

I heard from a friend of his that he was not going to hold back this

afternoon. It is all right not holding back, but you have got to

knock them in. This game does not get any easier when you are behind.

It would be a big ask to win the frame from this visit, with the red

tied up with the black. He will be looking for an angle on the blue to

bring the red into play. He judged that nicely. He could play

it now, but you are not certain to be on the red in the middle of the

table. Just play for the red in the middle, I would suggest, and get a

good angle on the blue. If anything, have the cue ball on the other side

of the table next time for the blue. Then you have got the pop and the

ball you are trying to cannon in your eyeliner.

The key shot could be coming up. He does not feel as though he can get

the nice angle on the blue, so he is looking at claim for a walk colour.

In an ideal world, he would have the perfect angle on the green. Even if

you have that, I do not see how you could develop the red into a

possible position. It is a difficult situation. He would have liked to

have travelled a foot further or even more with the cue ball. He

would have had a nice angle on the yellow Bobby brown to screw into the

red and the black directly. As you say, it will be difficult to develop

that into a sitting position. That is one of the reasons why he

chose to keep things tight. It is not a bad snooker. A bit of a

swerve, no problem hitting the red. But can Stephen get it safe?

No, he can't. Alan McManus comes to the table, he does not need the

awkward pink, he can win it without that.

The only thing in Stephen Maguire's favour, this red is pretty straight.

I would not be surprised if he spotted it and snooker to him behind

the black. He has chosen to take the black on.

It rattled, but it went in. A good shot. He did not try to overdo it. A

bit more pace, it may have not gone in. He has just played it at the

right pace. Not perfect on the yellow. Just yellow and green for a

four frame advantage. That surprised me. I fancied him

with that, he did not have to do anything with the cue ball. It

looked heavy, I think that has kicked thick, and look where the cue

ball has finished. I think it was a heavy contact.

Would you believe it? Boss that a bounce? It must have been, they

can't be that far out. He has lost his temper. He smashed the ball. It

has flew off the table. That is end of frame. He only needs the green.

So disappointed. You hit it that hard, it comes off the cushion and

flies through the air, off the table. Annoyed.

He is up against it, Stephen Maguire.

It means so much, sometimes when things don't go right, you feel that

the world is against you, and it is difficult to control your emotions

are. That loss of control started by a loss of position, it has gifted

Alan McManus the frame, and he marches on.

This is a sterling performance from a 45-year-old who has been coming

here for 25 years, he made his debut in 1991 and he is holding firm. I

said yesterday, once a good match player, always a good match player,

he has been the better of the players, he knows his way around the

table. Stephen Maguire did lead 3-1, he has had some rotten memories

here, he has been beaten in a final frame decider in the first round for

the last three years, he has not won a match since the quarterfinal in

2012. How much more jittery do you get? It is also about your

temperament, whether you get hot-headed, which is something he

has done. I am worried about my performance as an analyst, because

he looked fantastic when he was leading 3-1, but then the wheels

fall off, but that is how it is. We play mini sessions, it can all turn

around when you are playing against other players. You can only be at

the table for as long as the other person let you. You are now a

professional pundit, having said that is it as a player. You are

trending now, obviously, on social media, lots of sweets and

communication. Many former players and current players have been paying

cue their respects. Neal Foulds said it is the end of an rack. Michael

Holt said you were his hero as they cared. He said, never meet your

heroes, but Steve is more of a hero now than ever. So many things that

we can reflect on, but will you stop practising and ashing the balls

around at home? I stop practising ages ago! I shall just play

exhibitions and not the balls around and a bit of fun snooker. Practising

at our level is the tournament. You learn something every day, I did not

know I was honoured to sit next to the former rear of the year. That is

fantastic. Now you have got to keep it on their and talk rubbish like I

do. In your pump you were pretty ruthless. I remember sharing a chat

with you when you're said, what should be first four chapters of

your order to Brophy have read? If you're going to write the

autobiography of a snooker player, wake up, practice, go to bed. That

is the problem. If you are going to be good at sport, the argument that

you should not have a personality, all you should do is just play your

sport. You have got a personality, as do these fellas. We know all

about Ronnie O'Sullivan, he has been gracing the game for a long time,

and the mercurial rocket is in the lead as we get back to another five

frames to play this afternoon, in the company of Dennis and Stephen.

I love that, the material R two rocket. Meanwhile, Ronnie has broken

off the way David Gilbert do, he has gone the wrong side of the blue. I

have never seen him do that before. Four very quick frames. What will

this session be like? Five more to be played. He has knocked a few good

long ones in. He has made sure he has finished either on a loom or a

baulk colour. The Queen was slightly hampering

him. One good positional shot, he could have a chance. He has not got

into that. He is still on the red, but he could not get enough screw on

it. That is one of the best shots he has

played in the match so far. Excellent cueing. The butt of the

cue was raised in the air. Make sure you strike the cue ball.

Unfortunate, the reds on the black cushion, none of them pot.

He tried to force and -- an angle and get into the bunch, but what a

result. If you could play a shot like this, it would be shot of the

championship. Amazing what happens out there.

Another perfectly played shot. A stun into the bottom ready, no screw

on the cue ball, because it would have brought the cue ball back onto

the black cushion. You have to play close attention to this, potting

into a blind pocket. What can he make of this chance? It

could have been 2-2, he was in in the last frame with a break of 46,

he was unfortunate where the white finished. He missed an awkward red

and Ronnie cleared up. This has stuck right on the pink, incredible.

Any contact either side of the pink, no problem. That was the only

contact he did not want. It looks like end of break.

A perfect chance, he has only scored 26. A good length of cue ball,

though. He has to put the disappointment of the last shot

behind him. Runnymede be forced take the red to

the corner. A brilliant pot. That contact. It

just jumps. David is looking at the potting

angle for the red to the left corner. The safety shot would be as

difficult as a pot. There is good value in taking this on. There is a

path to get the cue ball back to walk.

That is bad luck. His long potting has been excellent. He has had a

couple of slices of bad misfortune. To go in-off after that is amazing.

And the other one to stick on the pink. He is not getting the run of

the ball at the moment. Has he covered this into the left

corner? One will cut into the right corner. He may have to choose that

one. The parties blocked. It always helps if you get a little

run of the ball, especially if you are playing someone like O'Sullivan.

He looked at the cut back. He thought about the one down the

cushion. He is back looking at that. I suppose he could play it in such a

way he may not leave anything, but this is tough. Brilliant cueing.

Brilliant cueing. If you look at where he'd left the cue ball, he was

nicely on the blue, but he was blocking that red in the left corner

also. It is a good chance now to get the

first frame after the mid-session interval under his belt.

It has been impressive from Dave Gilbert today. But for a couple of

positional shots that have gone astray. His long potting has been

excellent. He has not looked fazed at all.

He could easily have been 3-1. This is where he was in complete control.

He finished awkwardly and missed the red, which cost in the frame,

because he was 46 in front. This is the other where he was stuck on the

pink and finished on absolutely nothing. I know he is 3-1 behind,

but he has played very well. I said at the start he has to go out

there and enjoy himself. He looks comfortable, relaxed. He looks as if

he is enjoying it. You do enjoy it when you are playing well. He is

striking the ball very nicely. I said earlier, it is a nice and crisp

sound. Very fluent, very efficient. A good

clearance, this. Well we do save the mid-session

interval can change things around. It certainly has done in this case.

David Gilbert got one chance. A magnificent break and now he is just

one frame behind to Ronnie O'Sullivan. The break of shot is

important but we have seen both of them coming the wrong side of the

blue. This is Ronnie's, he hit the end red too thin. We can show you

where you are aiming to hit. We have the black and white ball. You can

see a lot of right-hand side as it spins up the table. I recognise that

bridge hand. That is Steve Davis. He has retired today and we have got

him using a black and white ball to show you how to break off.

You never really want to play that shot when you send the red up the

table. All of a sudden, the safety zone is behind the black. And there

is another red headed up that end. It looks like an upside-down frame.

I mentioned earlier, nine frames are to be played in this session. The

match will be played to a conclusion tomorrow morning.

That might get the game back to normality. He could have put himself

in trouble, Ronnie, because if Dave doubles the red up the table he is

snickering him -- snookering him on the yellow.

If he comes down the table, he has to make sure he misses the red.

He may have left the pot to the middle. That was not the best shot

from Ronnie. That was a slip-up from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Dave is in with an early, decent chance, it has to be

said. There is a lot of noise from the

other table. They are just in between frames. You get used to that

here. You can see there is a lot of movement. The referee Jan Verhaas

holding up his hand. I think it is a mid-session interval rather than

between frames, which is why there is a lot of noise.

It is funny, Stephen, I did not mind the noise. When you are brushing the

table you can hear the sweep of the brush and that used to put me off!

You get used to things at the Crucible. Sometimes you do not

notice it. There you go, Dennis, is it still annoying you? Never has

done in the commentary box. More good stuff from Dave Gilbert.

Still to open the reds. After the next one, he can get angle on the

black. Just getting rid of all the chalk

marks. I used to do that at the Elite

snooker club in Preston. 11 tables, when I was learning my trade. Three

days a week. What about the other days, part-time?

He is OK. A funny angle on the black. The cue ball was always going

to go forward before the screw took effect.

He would love to win this frame in one visit, as well. See what sort of

reaction you get from Ronnie. The green will go. I am not sure

about the brown. He is looking to see if the yellow is blocking it.

The brown is the better shot to get up to the reds.

A nice angle here. The three reds in the Triangle, if he has a cannon to

the right-hand side of one of those. That is so unlucky. Again, he is

stuck on a red when he has gone into them. If he is on this, the frame is

over. He hits the outside red, got the action on the cue ball, and then

it sticks on the red. You cannot get your breath when that

happens. You would say he was still the favourite, but as you said,

Stephen, the frame was over there. The two reds, they are not in a

pottable position, but if Ronnie got another chance, and gets the colour,

he could take them off in one shot. That is what he is looking at. There

is not a lot available. Although he leads by 56 points, we

saw it in the previous frames. He would like to remove that red