Sunday, 2nd Round, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon. 39,000 runners slugging away on the streets of

London today. Meanwhile, in Sheffield, just about to cross the

halfway mark in our annual snooker marathon, at the Betfred sticker

World Championship. Anything better lazy Sunday. -- snooker World

Championship. It was Tim Peake who got the race under way in the South,

for once Ryan O'Sullivan not having it is always against Barry Hawkins.

-- Ronnie O'Sullivan. Barry Hawkins doesn't have a great

record against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Absolutely destroyed in the final of

the Masters. He needed a good start, got that. He missed the black early

on in the frame, Ronny Deila not take advantage, Barry Hawkins settle

down -- settle down. All of a sudden, Barry played a bad safety

shot. The Rocket, Ian, 139 break, highest of the tournament. Third

frame Ronnie in the balls, you expect him to clear up. Simple black

humanists. 2-1, to Barry. -- he missed. For frame, before the

interval, Barry had a chance. Ronnie came to the table, looked like he

would make a century, 88, good enough. Going into the mid-session

interval 2-2. Barry Hawkins in first, did not make the most of it,

another century from the Rocket. Superb, 3-2 in front, going his way

again against Barry. All of a sudden, scrappy game, seem to suit

are more than Ronnie -- suit Barry more than Ronnie. Once again,

another tactical frame. Barry Hawkins competing with Ronnie in

every department of the game. 4-3. Into the last frame of the session.

Barry Hawkins knew he could not be behind, but would he have the

advantage? Once again keeping Ronnie at a playing good, solid snooker, he

was cueing well. Takes the lead, 5-3. Barry Hawkins resumes 5-3 in

front of Ronnie O'Sullivan. The first time he has led the Rocket by

two frames in any match since 2002. 14 years have gone by. Let's see how

both of them fair this afternoon, our live offering. We have plenty

more coming for you. We will keep a close eye on four

time world champion, John Higgins will stop 40 centuries this season,

five already this week. A finalist in snooker's most recent tournaments

on the tour. Time to get our green matter going, one man for the job. I

have a fiendish QI question for you later on. The burning question was

the suggested burning of a misbehaving table one. We will talk

about that later. And the Hawk Switzerland chance to go top of the

table. He is under pressure, does not want to go over to minutes, 11

seconds. Judd Trump against former number one,

Ding Junhui. Shock in that other match, 7-1, Mark Allen losing to the

qualifier. There have been tongue is firmly in cheek from two the guys

who found themselves down in those matches. Judd Trump tweeted...

They may be making light of it, but Peter Ebdon and Steve Davis, former

world champions, how serious is it survives? The situation they find

themselves, the shock of social media kicking in. If I had been 6-2,

7-1 behind I would be throwing the phone out of the window, not talking

to anybody for the rest of the day. Things have changed, estimate like

this. Every session is different. It has been a very unpredictable World

Championship. Nobody knows who the last four will be. Let's talk about

the four in action this afternoon. The match between Ronnie O'Sullivan

and Barry Hawkins, interestingly poised. Barry in the ascendancy.

Despite the Rocket making two centuries and an 88. How do you

assess that? We know what a great matchplay Barry Hawkins is. He will

be determined to share the next session, possibly win 5-3. Depends

on what sort of mode Ronnie is in. If he is in top form, he is

unstoppable. We will be keeping a close eye on the John Higgins, Ricky

Walden match. The players are making a guest appearance at the Winter

Gardens. As MC today, it is the one and only Mr John Parrott. Firstly on

table one, winner of three ranking events semifinalist in 2013, Ricky

Walden. His opponents, winner of 28 ranking

events, four times champion of the world, it is John Higgins.

On table two, winner of two ranking events, finalist in 2013, Barry

Hawkins. His opponent, winner of 28 ranking

events are five times champion of the world, the Rocket, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. We are off and running, this

afternoon, day nine at the Crucible. You can catch the other match on the

BBC sport website. We say good afternoon to Stephen Hendrie and

John Virgo. COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon to

everybody. I love the second round matches. When we get into these long

before matches, the second session is always the big one in my eyes. In

golfing terms, you would call it moving day. So important to get the

lead, going into the final session. Barry Hawkins breaking off, knowing

if he shares the eight frames, he will have a 9-7 lead. That is not a

good break. It will give Ronnie chance. The first four frames were

incredible. Average frame time of just over 12 minutes stop then it

got a little bit slower after the fifth frame. Nice opening Red Bull

from Ronnie. -- red from Ronnie. He gets in straightaway. What is the

availability of the black? It is spotted. He would have liked to be

little straighter on this red. Just nudging the other one away, making

the black available into both corners. If he plays this with top

spin, he can get the red closest of the black in the right corner. He

has chosen to go into the bunch. That has worked out pretty good.

Pretty good. I don't know whether he can get back for position on the

black. Because of the red just above it, only available to the right

corner. As so often we see with Ronnie, and anyone who is one of the

great players, always looking to get the opportunity to get the ball is

open and get a frame-winning chance stop he has won here. -- to get the

balls open and get a frame-winning chance. He has won here. To play the

game that way, you need great self belief. Slightly hampered here.

Right in the heart of the pocket. The break off from Barry Hawkins to

leave him that long red, I think that is feature of this World

Championship, leaving opportunities from the break. You come round two

cushions, then third cushion, if you don't get it right, it slides off

the third cushion, always leaving red one. Ronnie, full steam ahead.

Funny, I was in my room this morning, watching the play, whenever

they went to the studio, in between frames, all I could see was Ronnie

O'Sullivan practising in the background. He's putting his work in

this morning, coming out, looking sharp. He knows how important this

second session is. So often in these matches, longer session matches, he

has one session where he tends to blow his opponent away. 6-2, 7-1.

Looking for one of those today. Strike that beautifully. Needed to

play that with left-hand side to widen the angle. He made it look so

simple. JVC, 60 ahead. Black, then one more

red getting him to the sniggers required. He has just missed just

that. -- misjudged. There you go, he has jammed that that one, frightened

at playing the push. All of a sudden, this frame is not over. 68

points in front, but 75 remaining. Well, this would be the type of

frame that this wing a match around, here. Barry Hawkins, never expected

a chance. Straightaway, looks to have the

angle. Maybe just too much of an angle. Perhaps does not want to take

a risk just yet. Looking at the school board, 62 behind, 67

remaining. That is with blacks. Will not be playing for the black here.

He has a few points to play with, but not many.

Again, the angle to take the red off the right cushion. Chronically won't

take that opportunity. Cannot afford to miss the thing. It worked out

nicely. Interesting to see where the pink will go. It does not go on its

own spot, as close as it can with the direct line from the top

cushion. Without touching the red. Certainly one of those reds

available. Possibility the one closest to the pink is available to

the right middle. This is made easier by the fact that Barry is a

left-hander. Definitely a chance, not an easy one. These are the ones

at this level you have the take. -- to take.

Maybe he has stunned a little bit too far. He will be OK, he can roll

it in. He has decided he could not hole, coming around the two

cushions. Not bad. Not perfect. If he goes up for the blue, he won the

blacks -- he will need blacks from the two remaining reds. That looks

inch perfect to me. Able to disturb the red. He has a

problem. Looking at the school board. That has stopped him in his

tracks. Frightened of the push. If are placed for the pink comedy can

only type -- if Barry plays for the pink, he can only tie. Pot this, 35

behind with 35 remaining. Not ideal on the pink. Decided. Not thinking

of the double. Thinking of playing a good safety.

He has not got the snooker, but a good cue ball. The six remaining

colours on the spots. Remember, he can only tie.

Purposely playing at that pace. Enough pace to bounce off the baulk

cushion. To tie, Barry needs this with a black. He does not want this

to go in. He could have got the snooker, he has done. If Ronnie does

not hit it. Barry can win the frame. He has missed it. Easy to leave free

ball is now probably is. -- is he going to leave a free ball? Probably

is. Free ball, new favourite for the frame. Very surprising Ronnie missed

that red. Has he just let this cue ball run? Further away from this red

then he wanted. This counts as a red, colour to follow. As he

followed through far enough? Surely not. Has he got a kick on that blue?

Incredible. You cannot believe that. OK, maybe able to hit this thin

edge. When he got the free ball, I thought new favourite. He has missed

a great chance here. If he does not pinch this frame, Barry might not

recover from that. This frame is massive. Let's have a look at the

contact. Is it a kick? Maybe a little bit bounce. Ronnie will be

relieved. Now 25 points in front. Red and the colour needed.

The red was too risky. Also felt there was the opportunity to knock

the black off the spot, make it awkward.

The type of frame, no matter who loses it, that will hurt.

Not bad. Not quite the snooker. Ronnie will probably play with

swerve. Going to play playing ball, he has two catches right. He could

get to the right-hand side of the red. It needs to run. I think it

cuts. Ronnie cannot believe he has left the red on to the middle. Being

25 points behind, any colour from this red will do. It is in. What

sort of position? He will settle for being on the yellow. This yellow and

the six remaining colours for an amazing turnaround in this frame.

Ronnie was on 68, cruising. One careless positional shot.

I think this is a shot that will win him the frame. Black is office box.

Don't see that as being the problem. This is a shot, for me.

What a first frame, John. And believable, careless positional shot

from running. This will really hurt him. He was looking for a fast

start, looked to have made it. The pink Panther black. -- the pink and

black. For a three frame advantage. Looks perfect. Well, what a frame

that was. Barry Hawkins in the end needed a couple of chances. Ronnie

will be wondering how he lost that one. Looking at the school board, it

is there, in black-and-white. Three frames behind.

STUDIO: Ronnie looked like was cruising. How important Barry

Hawkins cleared up, sending him a strong message? Massive first frame,

he did tremendously well there. You saw the shot Ronnie missed, wary of

playing the push-up. Your assessment of the way Barry started? One thing

getting on level terms with Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible. Another

thing beating him in a session. Not many people do that. When you are

asked the question in the next session, can you press and your

advantage, a lot of players wilful to. Barry Hawkins has proved how

good a player he is, he has been to the final the World Championship,

you expect that. Easy to panic, and think, what a great chance. To get

in the moment, and think of the whole significance. Very impressive.

We talked about Ronnie as a fantastic front runner. One thing,

even at the Masters, the Welsh Open, nobody asked him difficult

questions. Neil Robinson did, he had some very good answers. This is new

for the last couple of seasons. We know he has the game to do it. Will

he do it on this occasion? Time will tell. Stuart Bingham had the better

of him last year on his way to the world title. Barry Hawkins

acquitting himself very well so far. Back we go.

COMMENTATOR: Frames like the last one can turn matches. You look back

at the end of it, and think, remember that ninth frame. Barry

eyeing up the possibility of the pot here. It is an absolute cracker.

That was a peach. This black in its own way, just so difficult, there is

pressure on it. He has missed it. You see the anguish on his face. He

knew that was a chance. The funny thing is, looking at it, if he had

got it in the middle of the pocket, he had notched the red towards the

pocket. This appointing. -- disappointing. He needs to miss that

yellow. Because the black is over the pocket, does not really matter.

I will be surprised if he does not play the black. He is looking at the

yellow. Maybe there are couple of loose reds he can play. Also the

angle to go into the bunch, if he feels like it. Playing for the two

loose reds. Probably thinking, if he leaves himself a quotable shot onto

the black, he can play the cannon that way. As we saw in the first

frame. Always looking for the opportunity to bring all of the reds

into play. It looks to be the perfect start for him in the first

frame. One loose positional shot, and we saw how frame can be turned.

He decided to go up and get the right angle on the blue. Now

deciding to play the black. It is difficult to judge the path of the

cue ball when it object ball is near the pocket. And he is not on the

cred he played for. He played for the red on the right-hand side. He

ruined his position there. If he misses the pink, he would have been

perfect. That flick just slowed the cue ball down. He is still on this

red. It is automatic to just drop it down on the black. Amazing. His pot

success with the rest, 89% when you consider that every opportunity you

play left handed, I'm amazed at how good he is with the rest. He does

not get a lot of practice with it. Still a loose red for the same black

as the pocket here. When he pops this red, he will

release another one. When there is a red that you can go, even play low

on the red. The player can bring other raids into play. -- Rhodes

into play. Does he go into them? Does he play into them? : the open

red. These can go wrong, viz, when you are playing off other balls.

He has played that beautifully. No pace. Easy as you like. In fact,

that are no portable reds. -- Potter ball.

Careful with the positional shot. It went to the last frame. Back for the

blue, but he is straight back on it. That is pedestrian. He will have to

give this a bit of thought. This is missable. He played it well. Can he

get the right angle on the blue? I think there is a read. I know there

is a red available on the right-hand side. But I think there is also a

red available on the left-hand side that is available to the right

corner. The problem is, with the reds to the right corner, he has to

avoid stripping himself with the pink. -- snickering himself.

He is playing with three cushions of the green. He needs to miss the

blue! He didn't do. So that one poor positional shot off the black a few

shots ago is making this difficult for Ronnie. But that is a nice pot.

Still got a little bit to do. Still 67 remaining. And he needs a precise

positional shot. There is one read that will go, but he needs to judge

it well. That pink is the danger ball for me. Is it going to roll

past it? Just. So this red and colour. For

the frame. That was an excellent positional shot. Could not put the

cue ball in a better place with his hand.

He has a red to the middle, so it looks like no mistake this time. 63

ahead, 59 remaining. The frame all over now.

This is the way that we expected the first frame to finish, but the long

positional shot caught him out in the last frame. He managed to play

some good recovery shots. Already made two centuries in this

match so far, has Ronnie. Two centuries and 88. Those have been

the only three frames he has won! Up until now.

Absolutely wonderful. The 54th century at this year's world

Championships. Ronnie's fourth. Impressive, Stephen, considering the

way that he lost the last frame. He has kept his focus on what he is

here to do in this session. So, in goes the black. A marvellous frame

of 118. The new Ronnie O'Sullivan putting the disappointment of losing

the last frame behind him, and he has closed to two again. 6-4, Barry

Hawkins. STUDIO: Paul Hunter today Day Day

today. He died ten years ago this October. How appropriate that Barry

Hearn is going to name the Masters trophy after Paul Hunter. When Barry

made the announcement last week that the Masters trophy would be named

the Paul Hunter trophy, my wife and I was overwhelmed and happy. It is a

great honour and tribute to Paul. , and at wonderful legacy for his

daughter. Doesn't she look beautiful, she really does. Ten

years after Paul sadly died from cancer, just before plate started

today, there was once again a minute's applause to honour his men

at -- memory and legacy within snooker. Always beautifully

observed, and always good to celebrate his achievements in the

game. I think everyone absolutely thrilled that the Masters trophy

will now beat the Paul Hunter trophy, and it will be played for

every January in London. How appropriate is that? Back we go.

O'Sullivan on the chase. 4-6 behind. COMMENTATOR: So Barry gets the third

frame of this session under way. And once again, he has left the three

callable red to the right corner. He is asking for trouble.

And the ball needs to slow up. Just a little bit too far.

Well, Ronnie playing P Tucker. But normally when all of the reds art

altogether, you must think there must be an easy safety. But there is

not necessarily one here. The reds are in a cluster. He needs to catch

this right. It is a bit PC. As he left one of the middle? -- it is a

bit pacey. We'll Ronnie be tempted? He has been

given a touching ball. It makes it an easier returned to the Boult. He

has decided that that is the better option. -- Boult.

A little shake off the head from Ronnie. He has left an edge of the

red sticking out. He just did not judge it correctly there. Only a

fraction away. It makes all the difference. That was the one thing

that impressed me, Barry Hawkins has shown there. He is playing some

excellent safety shots. I don't care who you are, when you are cut --

type to the baulk cushion, there's not much you can do. Ronnie's long

shot success, 82%, that is excellent. So he has got to get the

cue ball on the baulk cushion. He has to be careful in playing

this, if you catch a too thin, the red is tight at the top cushion. And

that is very unlike Ronnie. That is very unlike him. To fall for that.

He knew the red near the cushion was the danger ball.

Along with having a safety, keeping the cue ball on the baulk cushion,

the only thing he can do is score. With these opportunities. That is

Ronnie's mistake. Poor shot for him. For anybody at this level, come to

think of it. But as you say, it is important now that when Ronnie makes

these mistakes, and gives Barry these opportunities, he has to take

them. He won the last three frames yesterday afternoon with breaks of

43 in frame six, 49 in frame seven, 48 in frame eight. It is not

record-breaking scoring. Breaks of 33 and 30. He is looking at

opportunities. It is not going to be easy. That

will certainly be a bonus. You cannot pass it if you are

straight on it. -- pot it. Short on the blue, but the red

between the blue and green means that is not a problem.

If Barry can keep that cushion of tee frames throughout this

afternoon, it is going to put more pressure on Ronnie, even in amongst

the balls, it is going to put pressure on Ronnie keeps going the

way he is. Once again, having a look at this black. He has a night angle

on the blue to come down this end of the table for the red. I think he

saw it, and he is going to take the risk to go for the black. You just

feel that he is not going to win it off the blues. So if he can get the

black on its spot, then it might be worth the risk.

The problem with potting the black here, it is not on its spot.

Just looking at the black spot, but this squeeze through to the right

corner? He has another read anyway. I think he might play one or two

shots to early there. It could be a possibility, to pop this read and

play a cannon on the black. He played it with a lot of pace. He

has knocked the black say. Was the cue ball to slow up a little bit. He

did not want to risk playing the cannon on the black. So hitting it

hard at he was not certain whether cue ball was going to finish. They

could not have finished much worse, in all honesty.

He would love to play the blue and just play off the cushions to get

the pink into the right corner. I think the black is stopping it. So

this is missable. Struck it well. Maybe it will be worth getting up

cannon on the pink here. There looks to be value in it. He is

absolutely perfect on the blue. To play that cannon.

He is OK. He is on a red to the right corner. Now he has loosened

the reds that were around the pink. A little unlucky to divert the pink

in the possible position. A nice run to the winning line in this frame,

you would have thought. Inch perfect on the blue. That is an

amazing positional shot. He could play a little nudge. There

is a half full contact. He could go for the pink in the right centre. He

may not want to take that risk. It looks as if... He has played it. It

is just a tricky pink in the middle, but I think he is OK. The pink will

have to go in the black spot. You feel that if he pots this pink and

get it on the red, it is the frame over. Bigshot now. Yeah, no danger

in the heart of the pocket. An impressive visit, this, to the

table from Barry Hawkins. Very composed. He missed a black on the

spot in the last frame and was forced to sit down for the rest of

the frame. You would forgive him for being edgy in this frame, but he has

not been. This red and a reasonably sized colour... Well, if he pots the

green, he would need one more red. That should not be a problem with

the red in the middle of the table. He has never looked like missing to

me. He is cueing lovely. He is cueing really well. His safety play

has caused Ronnie problems. I think because of Ronnie's success

in the game, we talk about Barry being such an underdog, but taken

Ronnie out, he has won titles. So we Billy McCulloch talking about him as

an underdog is not showing him enough respect.

He really came of age when he got to the final and lost to Ronnie. That

was the point where he realised and have belief in himself that he could

do anything in the game. He is such a beautiful cue striker.

A pity. No century break from Barry, but he keeps the three frame

advantage. He took it well. He leads 7-4.

So that is a potted history of Barry Hawkins. If you look at those stats

closely, the longer the matches, the better his win percentage is. That

was very noticeable to me. He needs the jaws of the pocket to

come to his rescue here. He just brought the cue ball back to the

position. No attempt to pop their from

running. Just concerned with getting the cue ball back to be baulk

cushion. It always amazes me watching Ronnie

play safety shots. He rarely pays a safety shot playing baulk. He is

always trying to manufacture angles, trying to get into the best

position. He has forced a mistake. There you go, seeing the benefit of

getting the cue ball close to the baulk cushion. It forced running

into a mistake in the last frame, which Barry Hawkins took full

advantage of. Can Ronnie do likewise?

A bit wide. But it went in, and he has just about got an angle on the

blue. This last frame before the mid-session interval. Just the right

side of the blue line. I will be very surprised if he doesn't play

for the black off the next red. Maybe not of this one, but then he

will play for the red near the left corner. He wants the black on its

spot as as soon as possible. When he plays for the black, he would like

to keep the red near the top cushion. He does not want to do too

much with it. He will not want to play for the black near the top

cushion. Will that read the adjacent to the right corner? It will not

matter if he has the straightest angle. He would like to have been a

little bit straighter than this. Due care and attention needed here. He

made light of it. Good shot. A few loose reds to play for, which

I think will be the choice. He does not want to cannon into the

cluster as it is. So obviously, there is a red on the

right-hand side. He landed on it absolutely inch perfect. Look at

that! The cue ball control, it is the speed that he plays it. It is a

natural instinct. The touch, the feel. That is why he has so many

admirers in the game. He just does it on instinct.

He's got a slight angle on the black. It is the only one. If he is

going to win the frame on this visit, pay the cannon? It is not the

easiest bunch. That is quite a bit of space. Where is the red going? It

is OK. He has landed closer to this red than probably planned.

Well, that was delightful. He knew he was running into the black, and

he played it with enough pace to get the black on and off the cushion.

And that looks like end of frame now. Wonderful, wonderful visit. Do

you think he played that cannon? I think you did, to be honest with

you. Don't get me wrong, I think he was making certain of the pot on the

red, but I think the red was admissible. He thought he would run

into the black, and the black... I will give him the benefit of the

doubt, anyway expect he has done what is required again. It looks

inevitable that the train is going to be over.

-- frame is going to be over. Well, he is annoyed that he missed the

red. But Barry Hawkins is not going to come back to the table. They are

both going back to the table. It is as you were. Ronnie O'Sullivan

started to friends behind, and that is still the case. Barry Hawkins

seven higher than five in front. -- 7-5.

STUDIO: What do you make of the weight that he has responded? Both

players, fantastic start. A bit of a shock in the first, but Ronnie

O'Sullivan showing great character, as you would expect from a great

champion. Barry Hawkins holding his end up very well. It set up so well,

but as mentioned by John Virgo, if Barry Hawkins can share this next

session, then that is a great advantage going into the last

session. They know each other so well. This is the third time that

Barry has played Ronnie in the last four years. He has been beaten in

the last couple, but I just get the feeling that there may be a bit of

embarrassment on Barry's Park. He does not make a 50 part -- 50 plus

break. There are two things to be said. Every player in the game knows

that Ronnie O'Sullivan come wipe the floor with you. The more times that

a player like Barry Hawkins is put into the deep end, against the likes

of Ronnie O'Sullivan, and the more times that Barry Hawkins plays at

the highest competitive level, which he has done much more in recent

years, he's going to get used to that scenario. The end result is

that he is not going to be fearful, but he is going to be more tolerable

in his surroundings. More culpable playing against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

If we had played Barry Hawkins ten years ago, we were to say he is not

mentally strong enough. The only player on the circuit that

has made the semifinals in each of the last three years. He has what it

takes at this venue. As John Parrott, our new MC said. He is

comfortable here. A player can up his level of confidence, and it is

down to hard work, dedication, and masses of talent. He may not look as

fluent as Ronnie O'Sullivan, few players do. But every player at this

level of play has bags of talent. They are enjoying a break. We are

delighted and excited to have on our team this year a huge devotee of

snooker. He also has a brain like planet, ladies and gentlemen, it is

only Mr Stephen Fry. Hello, welcome to QI. Each day we have been posing

you a question on snooker and related cues sports. It may have a

tenuous, and fleeting association with the game we love so much.

Celebrities will be having a bash at our questions, and so can you. Today

the question is... Give us your ideas, get involved on

social media. Use the hashtag below. Left-field thinking required, when

Mr Fry is around. We will give you news on that, while we do some table

talk. The hot topic is the tables. Ali

Carter was so frustrated with conditions, he said he wanted to

smash the place up. Michael Holt said they were interesting, it was

down to who was the best and guessing. What is your best guess

about what has been going wrong? Slow off the cushion. Goodness me.

The table was disgusting, and the biggest tournament, yet the worst

conditions. So frustrated with what is going on. So angry. Looks like

with 1-2 punch somebody. You start second-guessing yourself, all you

think about is getting a kick. -- he wants to punch somebody.

Disappointing, to play on a table like that, when it is so important.

No, not happening for Ali Carter this morning. He will be bitterly

disappointed. It is just another bitter pill to swallow for me, I am

afraid. I don't believe that. I have never seen the cushion bounce as

badly as that, laughable. It is difficult to explain. The cue ball

finishes where it should not. I was letting it get to me the first

couple of sessions. Then I thought, except it, it is going to happen,

will not be able to change it. Move on, play good match, and the

conditions will improve. I will get to play good match. Can you believe

that cushion there? Since day two, there were issues with table one,

getting more big bounces off the cushions. It appears to be getting

more kicks on the table. The players have been quite vocal about it, the

commentators also picking up on it. Look at that. That has gone three

feet further than it should do. Please, somebody set fire to this

table. I was having a break, but in a black, dying to watch it back. Do

not even consider is getting in the middle pocket. I blamed myself, but

did not see it going anywhere near. The most frustrating part for me,

they have got the solution in the office stop they can stop bounces

like that, could do something to the balls, stopping bounces

straightaway. You would never have one. If they don't do anything, it

will keep happening. They have the solution that would get rid of it

straightaway, why not use it? They looked at the conditions in the

arena, the temperatures, the cushions, the environment around the

tables. We have been monitoring that. Conditions are what we would

think would be acceptable. If we have the answer, we would fix it. It

is ongoing, World Snooker Are looking to provide the best

conditions possible for the players. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons,

table one is playing completely difficult from table two. I know the

problem, but I cannot say, if I criticise who I think is the

problem, I will get fined. When you turn the camera rough, I will tell

you exactly why I think it is. That remains a secret, as far as Mr

Williams is concerned. The players are reticent to speak out about it.

They have done absolutely everything in the last few days, the table

leaders, temperatures up and down. They have changed the cushions for

the fourth time last night. They were here until 2:30am in the

morning, doing everything they can. Peter Ebdon, you were in Ali

Carter's corner when he said he wanted to smash the place up. How

infuriated was he in that match? Not in a good place at all, to be

expected. He let the table conditions get to him. It was the

same for both players, but incredibly frustrating. I had a chat

with him during the interval, much,, really focused and determined. Made

a century, but one or two things happened with the table, taking him

over the edge. Unfair with both players. Alan McManus put him under

top-class pressure with his match game and safety. Making it really

tough. The table conditions did not help. This is table two. There have

been no problems with it last night. Or today. Something has gone right

at last. Very difficult, when you don't trust the bounces you are

getting. That must be really disconcerting. Mark Williams'

solution, and some players would like this to happen, is that the

balls are polished regularly, so it cuts down the friction between the

ball and another ball. Even more importantly, when it is hitting the

cushion. I would say the biggest problem is not with the balls and

the polished, but we are playing on thin cloth all the time. Effectively

the rubber underneath has more effect. If we went to the

old-fashioned cloth, it has more of a cushion defect. You could go back

to figure cloth. -- thicker. The biggest problem is it is too thin.

The other problem, without boring the life out of you, the design of

the snooker cushion. Compared to the design of the 9-ball pool table.

This profile, there is a lump of rubber, the ball hitting that rubber

like that. On a 9-ball pool table, it is a point. The ball hit the

cushion at a point. The initial design of a snooker rubber, with a

big thick lump is a problem. Especially with thin cloth. I'm

boring the life out of myself, I'm going. We shall go as well, it has

been fascinating. To lighten the mood, pot quiz, next contestant,

please. Today's contestant, Barry Hawkins,

the Distin dynamo. I'm not sure about that nickname. Not great, I

preferred the Hawk. Every question you get right, you can remove one

red. Then you have the time to beat. One minute. The embarrassing time

would be some bloke who has retired, two minutes, 11 seconds. I have had

a quick look at the question is, they are tough. First question, to

remove one red. The year you reach the Crucible final, 2013, who did

you beat in the first round? Jack . He was the World Championship

Runner Runner, the year you were born present what year were you

born? 1979. Championship runner-up. I have not got a clue. Joe Johnson.

Dennis Taylor, losing to Terry Griffiths. Who was runner-up at this

season's German Masters. Luca Brecel. Correct. You were in the

semifinals of this month's Players Championship Finals. Who was the

other losing semifinalists? Shaun Murphy. Correct. Three. Fantastic.

This is really tough. Multiple choice. Very difficult. Which player

have you met in tournaments most in your career? Ricky Walden, Peter

Ebdon, Stephen Maguire, Ryan Day? That is a tough one, to be fair.

Ricky Walden. So close, 20 times, Stephen Maguire 21 times. You can

remove three reds. Take three of them off the table. I would not

chosen that one. Thinking about taking that one. The furthest away

from the pockets, in many ways. One more. Your time starts when you make

a decision. Fair enough. Time starts when you hit the cue ball. Barry,

the Hawk, is running. Does not want to go over two minutes, 11 seconds.

Complaining his microphone got in the way. Not as fast as we expected

from the Hawk, not sleeping. Good recovery. Playing for third place.

Not going for one minute. He's not going for it. He has the trainers

on, everything. The cue ball running around a table, adding to the time.

Misjudging the pace of the table. A sorry situation. How many seconds is

this? 45. He is playing safe on himself. This is embarrassing. He

has completely... All gone wrong for the Hawk. Now we are going to see a

true champion of the game, getting himself out of trouble. One of the

naturally gifted left-handers in the game, under severe pressure. Time as

we speak, one minute, 15 seconds. Skiddy get under two minutes.

The reds almost going the pockets. Good game. We cannot even edit this

one. If it goes enough, you lose. -- in. The time at the moment, one

minute, 51. I could be you, Steve, that is all right. How did I do two

minutes, 11? Rubbish. The time, one minute, 57 seconds. The Ditton

Dollard goes just under Peter Ebdon. Congratulations.

Are doing a whole lot better in the Crucible Danny did in here the other

day. That was a speed test. Mr Fry setting you an altogether more

Sruoga will challenge. If you remember I asked you...

First we should hear what our snooker experts thought. I have

absolutely no clue. Can I have a tenuous link? Not a clue. Life on

Earth, pot black? That used to be a cookery programme. When I was

cooking for us they used to film it in Birmingham. Pebble Mill. Was that

a TV programme? I don't have a clue. I always end up with a poor team

member. The music? Something to do with the theme tune. They were both

on BBC Two. Some expectedly daft answers. Some barely sentience. Life

On Earth was the ground-breaking TV series telling the history of

evolution. The brainchild of Sir David Attenborough. You may

remember, and no, in the 1960s, Sir David was a senior executive at the

BBC. Second controller of the channel, director of programming.

When BBC Two became the first channel under his control, to

broadcast in colour, the first European channel. It was Sir David

credited with taking advantage of the new technology, colour, by

choosing snooker as a showcase. On the 23rd of July, 1969, on BBC

television, Pot Black was televised. From there, countless careers were

forged. Fast forward to 1977, this great World Championship was first

broadcast from the Crucible, Sheffield. Two years after that,

having long since resigned his management position on the BBC.

David Attenborough's Life On Earth was broadcast. Terry Griffiths was

World Championship but he had to share the limelight with the animals

on the programme. Watching the giant tortoise of the Galapagos Islands.

Very hard as one programme came on to know which was which. You knew

which one was Terry Griffiths, because that was the slower one. The

answer we were looking for was the great Sir David Attenborough. Thank

you. Many of you were on the right lines. Getting in touch on social

media. And that of get it right. Amongst them are champions, Marcus

Ward, Wayne Roberts and Clive Stringer. Congratulations. You are

our QI champions of the day. Back in the Crucible for the real thing.

Dennis Taylor was on that video, out of hospital now. He's champing at

the bit to get back, but we make and take the day off after his appendix

operation. Let me hand you back to John, who had a poor team-mate in

that QI session. But Stephen Hendrie is not bad at this game, anyway.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel. Those QI questions varied skill. Nothing

insecure about this match. This is high quality. Very high quality. --

nothing obscure. Looking at the potting success rate. 97%. 96% for

Barry Hawkins. No red left on for a change. Needs a good safety. A

little bit sick. Knocking a red towards the corner. Needs a good

Duke ball. He has got one. He has left the red possible.

He does not know whether he would be lower colour. The priority, do not

miss the pot. Playing it with pace. He found the gap. He may have a

slight angle on the green. The other thing I liked, Stephen, about Barry

Hawkins, he has not ducked the issue. Saw a slight angle on the

green, no hesitation playing it. He has been very positive.

No way you could say he plays the percentage game of snooker. Plays at

the right way. -- plays it. He was number four in the world at one

stage, cannot get that high without playing the right brand of snooker,

scoring heavily. I was thinking before they came out, Ronnie's

target for this little session. Four friends would be ideal, getting out

ahead in the final session. The final session is tomorrow evening.

Plenty of time to mull over what has happened. In the second session.

Landing nicely on the blue. There are couple of reds he could play

for. In an ideal world, he would love to

be on that red just above the black. He might just have got on it. Yes,

he is honest. Clears the black spot. And the black into both corners.

Something about Ronnie's targets for these four frames. Barry will have

his own target to win the session 3-1. A 10-6 lead going into

tomorrow's's session. One thing for certain, if he wins this frame, he

cannot be behind. He will screw into the bunch here, I

think. He has defined the gap. Able to get past. He really needed to

grab the keyboard, just brushing the red as he went past. He is on this

red into the corner. Just brushing it. Not got the right potting angle.

He cannot afford the cannon -- avoid the cannon only second red. Needs to

watch the right middle. In fact he played for the pink, excellent. Did

not have to do much for the cue ball. Still in position.

There is the side bar, telling you when he gets to 68, snooker is

required. Already got 33 of them. He will have to go into the reds one

more time, you would have thought. He has overscrewed that by a long

way. OK, maybe able to get the cannon from the black into the reds.

But the black is now missable. The three reds in line, would love to

cannon the middle of those. He did do. A bit unlucky, you have to say.

It was the poor shot off the red into the middle leaving him low on

the black. Because the black was tricky. He wanted to make certain of

the black. Certain of the amount of pace required. Looks like the end of

the break. If he misses the brown, excellent

shot. Just catching the brown, did well to get the cue ball back to the

baulk end. Always the danger of the case. -- kiss. Came around to look

at the potting angle. This is an aggressive shot. You would say he

has to get it. If he misses, that will mean a careers into the others.

Dangerous shot to take on. He has got it, finding the gap. He will

finish on the blue. Very positive from Barry Hawkins. Excellent shot.

Another good shot, there. Forcing the cue ball behind that red on the

middle cushion. Needs to win the frame from here, cannot see any

reason why he wouldn't. The match time is just over three

hours. 13th frame. Tremendous standard. Just this red and a

colour. He will go three frames in front again, more importantly going

to eight. Cannot be behind at the end of this session. The best that

money could hope for is 8-8, if he wins the next three. These blue to

go 69 points in front. Just the seven remaining. -- this blue to go

69 points in front, just the seven remaining. Great concentration and

focus from Barry Hawkins. You have to say, this afternoon he has had a

barrage of breaks from O'Sullivan, keeping his mind on the job of what

he is here to do. Might not be scoring as heavily as Ronnie, but

looks every bit as effective when he gets amongst falls. Does not look

like missing. -- balls. A fair point, apart from the first frame,

when he missed the black off the spot. Basically not missing any easy

balls. If you don't miss easy balls, at least if you run out of position

you can play a good safety. Yes, a lot of the matches that funny

place against players, he gets in amongst the Bulls. Heat this is easy

shots. -- he misses. There is a fear factor.

No century on, but he has taken this very well. He ran out of position.

Played safe, Ronnie could not keep the ball safe enough, but he got in

amongst it and made 65. Those two breaks enough to stretch his lead

once again to three frames. 8-5, Barry Hawkins. Well, Stephen, he got

in first, he got a break of 41. Ronnie played a safety, just caught

the brown, and it looked like there was no real damage done. But Barry

sought out a read. He had a few safety options here. But he is an

aggressive player. And first of all, I thought he was going to go through

for the black. He had to get that. It would have

cost the frames. He is higher in self belief. It is a daunting

prospect playing someone with the talent of Ronnie O'Sullivan. But he

is up for it. He certainly is. So Ronnie playing catch up.

You always think it is a half decent break, when you have a long pot on.

But Barry's safety play has been excellent. Can he find the baulk

cushion again? These are tough shots. A single run

through to the black in the right corner. This needs good cueing.

You said it needed good cueing, and it certainly did. Just raced past

the red that could have ruined position. So, it is OK. That is not

great baulk colour. I have a feeling that he played for the red just left

of the pink, but I think there are a few alternatives if he can get to

the red just below the pink. That would be a bonus. Can he? It is

tight, isn't it? I think you can just drop this in.

He can play this on the cannon to the left, and no Parra problem here

for Ronnie. -- apparent position. A little bit careless, that. Nudging

the red, and blocking the black for the right corner pocket.

He has a good angle here. He can play a good cannon. Once again, it

shows the quick thinking here. He will play the red into the right

corner. We know the black the noes to the left corner. Just slightly

hampered. It is putting him off slightly. The black goes in the

right corner, then no problem. It must do.

Now the cannon on the left and side of the two reds, he is perfect to

play the black. That is OK, but he could have been a

bit straighter on this thread. Can he hold the black? Managed to avoid

the kiss on the second red. Played it well.

He does not want to beat two straight on this thread.

I don't know if that red immediately is available. If not, he could play

the cannon, but it could go wrong, this. He has played it well. I just

thought, when it is two pulls together, you can not catch it with

a few pace. At the moment, Ronnie is doing it in

one visit, Barry is sometimes taking too. But both look in form. And they

don't look like they are going to miss anything easy. O Sullivan Way

past the point where his opponent needs sneakers. -- snookers.

Well, look at the blue, right in the heart of the pocket. These two

grades, and the one on the side cushion, -- reds. He can be

contemplating another century break in this match for Ronnie.

Not quite. But another excellent break from Ronnie O'Sullivan, just

one chance. Barry knew that when he hit his safety too thick, it could

cost him. Ronnie back to two behind again. 8-6 Harry Hawkins.

I'd like you to describe the quality. It is brilliant stuff.

Barry Hawkins has played brilliant match snooker. That was a wonderful

response from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He knew that he had to produce there.

He went up a gear there. It was fantastic to see. Some people have

been talking about the last few frames yesterday, where Ronnie was

doing his nails with nail clippers. They pointed to that as a slightly

concerning development. But it does not seem to be something that has

unduly bothered him today. World Snooker is trying to create

characters within the game, and there is some undoing their nails

expect he is a bit of an exceptional player. Rarely do you get two

players playing so well at the same time. It does put you in mind of the

final three years ago. They made eight centuries then. Fantastic to

see them both at the top of their game again.

COMMENTATOR: Absolutely. He hit the second one from the bottom. Was that

purpose? May be to make it more aggressive? It is break off in the

fifth frame, I did not see him break of the second red. He did not leave

anything from that break off. But that was a complete miss it. --

mis-hit. I remember it years ago on the old

cloth, sometimes he would break off the second red from the end and open

up the reds. But in the modern game, it is usually the end read that they

break off from. That's back end red. As you say, this is a gift. Ronnie

has had nothing to do to get this chance. And the way he is scoring,

or has been scoring, it could be very costly.

This is a fifth frame. He definitely played the second red. He has

obviously chosen to changes break, which is good, we have seen

something go wrong, but that is what can happen.

You can get its a little bit too thick. You have seen how many reds

he has opened up. You put it on the right-hand side. He has hit it a

little bit too hard, and he has pushed it in, which is why he caught

that second last read much too full. Now Ronnie, on the black, and when

he pops the black, he will play for the red to the left corner, which is

blocking the black in the corner pocket at the moment. You would not

put it past him to win the frame at this visit now.

That has not come out absolutely ideally. He has got the easier pot.

But he is badly hampered further. In these little cannon to be on the

black. Well! He decided to go for the blue. I thought the red had

stopped there! Hell is this going in?!

Here it is from a different angle. It looked wide. Clack, Clark, drop.

Ronnie's heart must have been in his mouth when the red was rattling in

the jaws. But he has recovered his position now, and now he has a blue

to cannon into the reds. Looking at his body language, he has not got

one. He is on nothing. Well, I say on

nothing, but there is a red that is cut a ball if he got the long spied

out. But that is much too risky. So just a safety. He is on such a hot

streak of scoring, that he will be so frustrated not to win the frame

at this visit. You always need a bit of luck. So you could say it was a

little bit unlucky. He did not feel that he needed to hit it that hard.

In hindsight, he just needed a little more pace on the cue. But

that is in hindsight. A good cue ball he has therewith the

safety shot. Barry maybe forced to take this on into the left corner.

The safety is as difficult as the pot.

He needs to be careful, because if he leaves Ronnie one more chance,

that will be frame over. He caught that much to flu. He will

be lucky not to leave a read on. He has left a read on. So this is

Ronnie's chance now. He got 30 at his first opportunity. He just needs

another 50 now for this opportunity and it will be praying over. --

frame over. He does not have to play any cannons now. The reds that he

needs are all in the open. Still a little bit short of pace,

though. He is on this red to play for the black. We will have to go

for the blue here. With the potting angle he got, he

couldn't get on the blue. He wanted to make certain he was on a baulk

colour. Just a little tricky shot to play here, yellow with the rest.

And that has not helped, kissing the brown. But if he can get through to

this red on the right corner, he gives him a chance to continue. But

so far in this break, he has not had this cue ball under complete

control. Good, solid part. But not quite out

of the woods just yet. That long shot, you can see how

still he keeps his head. It is one of those work you are half tempted

to pinch it. He did not mind it with the more difficult black near. --

near the cushion. So, if we take for granted that

Ronnie is going to win this frame, then a massive 16th frame coming up.

63 ahead, 67 remaining. Pop this, 64 ahead with 59 left. I think this is

what all of the few frames where that one of the few frames where he

has had a good opportunity, and normally, it has been one visit and

he has Bohn the frame. But he managed to get the two opportunities

here. As you say, what a last frame coming up!

When he did lose position, an excellent safety shot to force the

second mistake. But 90% -- 98% pot success is pretty special.

Well, it did not matter. The frame is well over before then. Ronnie did

not win it in one visit. He got 30 playing a good safety, forced

another mistake, and now, he has reduced his arrears to one. One more

frame to play in this session. I begun is.

And the margins in the second round match are so fine. It was one poor

shot from Barry Hawkins that gifted that frame to Ronnie O'Sullivan. The

break off can sometimes things, but apart from that fact, if he is going

to play a more aggressive shot, you could go wrong. But there is a red

that Barry played, a lot of the pros are saying that the pockets are

oversized. They are playing big, and that makes it... It is tough,

because I am not saying it is a great leveller, but top players do

not want massive pockets. They want them tighter. Would you agree? That

can be down to a really good quality cloth, maybe to slipping a little

bit more of the cushions. But the qualifiers, they were playing a lot

tighter. Sometimes, the pockets can be too tight. But here, it is the

other way. Well, Ronnie benefited if that was the case in the last frame.

Because it wobbled a bit, and it went in. Now, it is just the one

between them. Back we go. Commentator

COMMENTATOR: Can he get level going into the final session?

Can Barry Hawkins hang on to the two frame advantage? Who's going to get

the first opportunity? Both players you fancy winning the frame if they

get a chance. I do know whether running will be

tempted to have a pot on this red. Barry has just bounced off the top

cushion. The cue ball will go back to the Balkans. -- baulk end. It was

worth a go. Decent strike. Barry taking this red

on now. It is risky if he misses it. It is leaving a read on. He is

leaving a read to the left corner. Understandable.

They're black to play for. A choice of reds here.

On the right-hand side, he was pushing the cue ball in. Normally,

with that kind of shot, he wanted thin rather than thick. He courted

much to thick. To me, that was a half-hearted attempt at a pot. That

is what I always think, with long pot success, 66% is about right. A

lot of times, you think you have gone for the pot, but they have

erred on the side of safety. That is what he did there.

He did not get a good cue ball, but Ronnie needs to catch this red just

right. He courted much too thick. Lucky not to leave it.

He pushed the red over the corner. Now that is covered by the green...

Running, somehow, looked to cover that red himself. -- Ronnie.

If you could get back to the baulk end, and leave it on the left-hand

yellow side of the table, he can maybe cover the red. But not as safe

as he could have had him there. He will be just playing a containing

safety here. He does not want that cue ball in the pocket!

He just caught the red fraction to fall. So the first chance. He is

going to -- it is going to go to Barry Hawkins.

He is going to have to get the cue ball somewhere near the brown. He

can play with the black to the same pocket.

Just wanted to avoid that. Still on the black. This has become missable.

He has to avoid the cannon on one of those reds as well. Because there

were lots of things to think about, that is why he has not been good on

the next red. He was concentrating so much on the pot there. Now, it

all depends on the potting angle. Not a lot you can do when it is me

at the cushion. Can he roll it in? Can he role in the second read and

get it on the pink? He has not caught the red full

enough. That is end of break. If he catches the second red full in

the face, and stop the paint, -- pink... It is not the easiest safety

shot. If the red. Behind the cue ball, it

would be comfortable to come thing of the back. Bridging over.

Touching the cue ball. Taking the risky shot out of the equation. A

little bit unlucky. Long red, that for the slight cannon, would have

been perfect on the black. Good shot, from Ronnie. Looks to

have blocked the path down the left-hand side. As we look, for the

safety. That being the case, giving Barry Hawkins a problem. Very

congested down the right-hand side. Looking if the general to the red

tighten the top right corner. Would not leave any pots on. Different

choice of red. Only a containing safety. He has hit it all wrong.

Misjudged it completely. OK, these reds are tricky. Particularly as

Ronnie will need to play with case to get on the pink and blue. Cannot

drop it in dead weight. Does not like it. Looking for the red to the

right middle, thinks that is the easier pot. It may be. He has two

avoid the kiss on the brown, to get position. No. In his efforts to

avoid the kiss, that is why he caught the red a bit too thick.

This needs good cueing. The flick on the green has helped a lot. It was

still a good path to find back to the baulk end, give him credit for

that. Needs to avoid the blue and the red

in the middle of the table. He has done. Excellent reply. Good shot.

Top-class safety at the moment. Good contact on the object ball. But for

the kiss on the green, would have been a better safety. Just a shake

of the head, from Ronnie. -- looking at the two reds just

above the Blackpool. Could be a possible target with this safety. A

little bit too thick. That is why he has caught the brown full in the

face. At first look, no harm done. Purposely running that red into the

paint. You never know what the pink may run into, looking at the

Ronnie's body language, he may have covered the path to it. He has had a

result. Could that be the turning point in this frame?

Barry intends on moving that red away from the corner. Decided to

play into the blue, strange choice. It is his turn to have a bit of

luck. I think Ronnie said something to Barry, doesn't usually have much

conversation with his opponent. I think you said something that caused

them both to have a smile. That is not like Ronnie. Mis-hitting

that completely. Coming around to look what he has left. That tells

you. He has left a red that Barry can drop in. You would think he

would play for the blue. Looking at the table the baulk end. Just drop

this in. Looks like big pockets to me. He made it a big pockets.

Playing at that pace. He thinks he's bound to be on the pink. The way he

played it, possibly missable. I can only assume he was going to be

canning into the red. In the end, turned out lovely. That's bald

eagles in. -- that ball wriggles in. Now he has the black on the spot,

could be a decent virginity. He has been reliable on the balls so far,

Barry Hawkins. A lot of pressure so far, delighted to get out of this

session keeping his seam frame advantage, given Ronnie's pot

success. There is Ronnie at 97%. Are not far

behind, 96%. -- Barry. Just landed a bit awkward. You would not expecting

to miss this red into the middle. He has to drop it in dead weight. No

problem. OK would have liked to be a bit straighter on the thing. Being

left-handed, more comfortable. I think the blue is available into the

right corner. He would like to get that back onto the spot. Not this

time. He just has to concentrate 100%, no careless shots. He has

certainly picked up his pace for this visit, Barry.

There is the target. 68 points. If he gets to that, Ronnie will need a

snooker. He has looked confident around the table. Not tentative, at

all. That shot tells me the blue does not

go into the right corner. He's out of position by almost one foot.

Surprised he played it like that, the easiest way would be to come off

the top cushion, play for the pink into the middle.

Do you know, Stephen, the last time he played on the think, playing the

screw, I was going to say, he was lucky he did not catch the red fall

in the face. This time he has done, completely out of position. That was

very careless. A lot of margin for error. It was a poor shot. It has to

be said. He knows it. 54 points in front. Still 75 remaining.

He would like to make another colour safe, easier said than done here.

Disappointed he did not win the frame at that visit. Still

favourite, but you know how quickly these frames can turn around. You

can see Barry Hawkins, 54 ahead, 75 left in the table. Another bad

safety shot from Ronnie. That one will surely cost him the frame. Two

in a row. Maybe a sign of the pressure. Starting to get to Ronnie.

Unusual error from him in the State Department. -- safety Department. He

plays a lot of shots with side, if you do not use them properly, that

can happen. Yes, not the easiest return to baulk. We expect so much

from Ronnie. Quick glance at the scoreboard, gave 62 points of front

-- in front, 59 remaining. Looks as if Barry Hawkins has started this

very important session, as we said moving day, nothing has moved, still

two in front. He will be over the moon with that, going into the final

session. He has stood up. Do everything Ronnie has thrown at him

this afternoon. -- to everything. High quality snooker from two

high-quality players. Can he two the red along the top

cushion? No, they are tough. Ronnie Washington is hand, saying well

played. We have everything to look forward to. Barry Hawkins will be

pleased, sharing the eight frames in the second session, taking a two

frame advantage into the important third one tomorrow evening. Cannot

wait for that. We are due on that. Seven o'clock tomorrow for the

deciding one. 9-7, Barry Hawkins please with his afternoon's work.

Excellent session, as Stephen Hendrie mentioned in commentary,

looking very focused. He's timing the ball excellent. We saw an

example in the last frame, red over the left-hand pocket, he screwed it

18 inches for that is how well he's cueing. How would you describe the

pressure on Ronnie O'Sullivan at the moment? Not the type of person to

dig himself into a hole when he plays, even at the World

Championship. Sometimes you can feel the heat little bit. He knows how he

can respond. He will be quite philosophical about things. Knows

he's up against a good player who can play. Like all great champions,

also sensing the fact that the final session sorts everybody out. I think

Barry Hawkins does not produce again. A couple of years ago, J

Perry had a similar lead, 9-7 going into the final session, Saturday

morning. He went 11 -- 11-9 in front. Ronnie coming back, showing

us what a competitor years. How do you think Barry will handle the

situation. A little unusual in the last key meetings against Ronnie?

This time he is at peace with himself. I get the feeling he may

well be capable of handling anything Ronnie O'Sullivan throws at him.

Fascinating prospect. It is indeed, we will tell you what has been going

on on the other table today. John Higgins in action. The last three

times he has reached the quarterfinals at the Crucible, he

has gone on to win the title. I'm sure he is looking to get there

again. Final number five could be in the offing. Floyd Mayweather, from

recent time in boxing. Ryder Cup, all the time. This skills, the

penalty kick competition. I was chosen by my school, and I won the

Pantic conversation. I would love to win the world title again. The

Crucible. Followed by the Irish Masters in island-macro. I would

love to play for Celtic. Lately it is, are you still playing snooker?

You do a little bit back. Ricky Walden, he throws a few shapes

around the table. Andrew Higginson. Open defiance of it bigger, they are

a little tight right now. -- opened the bag. Ricky Waldon, throwing

shapes around dinner table. He took three years to get past the first

round, then what an impact. A run to the semifinals, might have got to

the final had he not run into Barry Hawkins. Running out of steam in

that semifinal, as he admitted. He went home after round one last year.

These players met three weeks ago, Walden getting the better of Higgins

in the china Open. They began with Higgins 5-3 up. We join them in the

first frame of the afternoon session. Ken Doherty and John

Parrott in the commentary box. COMMENTATOR: A couple things could

have happened. Flicking off the blue, going in. Hitting the blue,

going say. Coming off the jaws, a chance for John Higgins. I was with

you, Ken, I thought he would play tight off the top cushion. Not

trying to screw behind the black. Because he has not got it, easier

for John to cue. Obviously trying to flick the reds

out. Could not have got much more out of it. He had to make sure he

hit them hard enough, so they were at least passed the green. If he had

played that softer, the Green could have been a blocker. That is why he

had to do it. Straightforward to get on either of

the two reds left. May just take the blue, prophesied cushion. The one

near the middle pocket is not really possible. OK, the one he is on now

is not a total game. I think you may not get one in. -- gimme. He could

possibly put this one in the pocket. Has not looked at the double. He may

come around and have a look. It might be an option. Does not like

it. Funny, looks perfect. If you are going to do it. Sometimes tempting

when the next red is more available. If he did get the double, total

clearance maybe on. Excellent pot. Nice clean pot. What sort of angle

does he have on the brown? Can he screw into the red. Little bit of a

heavy bounce. The people in the front row will

know this is only for John. Not there.

Funny situation, you live and die by your decisions. It looked absolutely

perfect on the back double. Sometimes you leave that to be the

last one, when you have come perfect on the shot before. It is never

ideal, cutting it back into the pocket. As opposed to being dead in

line. I am never going to question John Higgins' shot selection. It has

been fantastic for so many years. Just an option. Ricky will be

kicking himself. Over that safety shot, because it is not one.

He's just appearing a little bit tight, with his cue action, John.

Not particularly cued well. A little surprised with the way he played

this. I thought he may play with top spin, trying to hit it with a bit

more pace. Ricky played the shop with top spin. Making the shot a

little bit more easy to execute. He has come the wrong side of the blue.

One ball he will not be taking is the green. Going right next to the

brand. Not spotting the green, I would think. -- parting.

Maybe just dropping the blue in. Taking the distant yellow.

If he can pot this and get on the green, could be frame ball. Wow!

Another chance for John Higgins in this frame. Not totally

straightforward, yellow to green position. Obviously the pot is not a

problem. Just getting that cue ball in the right spot for the green.

Could not have hit that any better. He cue that beautifully. Could not

have placed it better with his hand. Perfect. Ricky will be kicking

himself. He had a couple of bites at the cherry, this frame. Saying

earlier, John Higgins does not give you much, he has given Ricky lots of

chances in this frame. He has not taken them.

He has not been at his best in this frame, John Higgins. Managed to find

a way to the winning line in this frame. In is the thing. Will not

bother with the black. John Higgins continues where he left off

yesterday. Winning the opening frame, leading Ricky Walden, 6-3.

The first time he is opened up a three frame advantage in the second

round match. We will join them in the next. Walden to play, 11 points

in the game. COMMENTATOR: Very thin, could be

shot. I will put this line in. Not sure where he has that line,

possibly. He has tried to cut that one in. Come around the back of the

red. I think you're shot was the right one. Certainly a lot better

than that one. That was a complete miss it. -- mis-hit. Evidence that

neither player has really settled down.

He just got enough of the cue ball, he could drop the ball in. Just

coming around to have a look at the red in the middle of a bunch of five

reds. Just coming around to look at the pot into the bottom left corner

pocket. The lower one in the bunch of five, certainly does pot.

Going down for the one over the corner pocket. Considering being

slightly hampered by that red, excellent shot. Good cueing. Never

easy, when you have a side or a quarter of the ball. Generally why

you Saigon. Trying to hit the middle of the white, sometimes you can't

get to it. A bit of noise coming from the other

table, table. This great auditorium. As you would

expect on a Sunday afternoon for world championship. Very full.

Meanwhile, John Higgins is going about this nicely. These are split

very well. A sizeable contribution here.

He is just going to try and tidy up the City Redss around the black

spot. He did not get out with the cue ball. He wanted to beat high

enough. Maybe that reds, you can see it from

that angle there. It does... There are two sets of reds. Like a little

corridor. The commands through them and know that you will be

honourable. He has decided to screw back. He hit that while as well.

Nice little touch that was. Beautiful. He just nicely. He is

starting to look more like himself in this frame. He has the cue ball

on a string. Nothing settles you down quite as

much as your opponent in the new chances and missing his. It was a --

it was important for Ricky tip picked this on, particularly with

the two frame deficit. But you cannot be giving John Higgins

chances like this. I thought he was struggling to look

like the old John Higgins. He was having problem with keys. He looked

like he was bereft of any confidence. He has become a

tournament winner again. Fabulous season. Competing like he always

did. His practice partner, Alan McManus,

both 45 years of age. Reach the good fight -- reached the quarterfinals.

Some life in the old boys yet. That is well played.

He was upstairs in the players around taking a break from his usual

stats. He has a keen eye on the proceedings this afternoon between

these two. He has always been a top, top

player. Slight problem with a break here.

John just having a look to see whether there is a plant. Once he is

on that side of the blue, he is looking to see what can be made.

That is a little awkward. Down one side of the table. He has satisfied

himself that it can be made. He can drop the blue in. It leaves himself

the angle to make the plant. The cameraman full pan around to

show that these two are dead set into the corner pocket. It looks

like it is going towards the left-hand side of the pocket, but it

should be OK. Yes. It just switched him a little bit. Nice shot.

Those are bizarre things, plants. As soon as he saw a plant, heat got to

play position of it again. Smack the plant in.

66 ahead, 67 remaining. Just this pink to put another frame on the

board. He can go on to make another angle

on the pink here. He can not one of these reds into a possible position.

He tried but did not make it. It is amazing. He has had 40 centuries

already this season. Five in the tournament so far.

As I mentioned earlier, his game is back in fine fettle.

Into the centre pocket, that it will be the shot that he takes. Not this

time. Great shot. It was not to be. But a fantastic

break. 94 Johnson hit -- John Higgins. It is now 7-3 to the Scott.

STUDIO: Frame 11 was won by Walden. 4-7 behind now. Into frame 12. The

last before the mid-session interval. Waldon behind by ten

points in this one. COMMENTATOR: Both players struggling

to get the cue ball back down to the baulk cushion, and because of that,

leaving tempters. The black is not able to park. -- pot. Lovely cueing.

Not what you could call a good chance this. Colin Humphreys, black

tied up. Making it very difficult to score. Sizeable contribution in this

frame. In fact, this might be end of break

now. Just looking to try and buy a plant cup. Plenty of distance

between those two balls. Should he miss it, the red could come back up

into the middle of the table. Great shot. Fantastic shot. What a shot

that was! Fabulous. That amount of distance between

those two balls, to play perfect position, brilliant shot. Can he

somehow get the black interplay? He did not try it on this occasion. --

the black into play. He had to force it in. Not a great

angle on this thread now. -- this red.

That is a little greasy bonus. Just chipping one over the corner. The

wrong side of the blue. Doing well to keep this break going. It is

fabulous. It was always looking difficult in this frame.

He does not seem to be getting the cue ball clean. That he does seem to

be getting the cue ball cleaned every shot. Three times in this

break already. One good pot required here. Top cushion, side cushion. He

has got to guard against snickering himself. And missing the blue! That

was a very tough break. A little bit more difficult than it

looks on-screen. Then contact required that one. Because that read

on the right-hand side could have been a problem, it sometimes makes

the pot more difficult. Funny frame, this. Just one of those

awkward ones where it is difficult to score from. A big shot to take

the blue on. He is looking at the blue. Eat

potted a tremendous blue in the last frame. This is just as difficult. He

has to hold it. Fabulous. Maybe just that blue, in that last frame, has

given him a bit of confidence. That was a magnificent pop. He has just

wrote it in. He has not tried to force it, he trusted his cue action.

He has an option here to get the black into the play. I would prefer

to play it quite firm, screw the Reading, Cannon on the black and

screw out. He might develop the black interplay, but if you don't,

try and get up on the blue. One of those where you need is a

thicker contact. The blacked out pots. Can he get another red after

getting the blue? Bigshot, Ken. He has potted ant couple of great

blues, but it is asking a lot to pop this one and screw back. It might be

an idea to bring the ball into the middle of the table.

He has to be a little bit careful with this shot. The problem playing

this round angles, but you have to try and avoid cannon Inc the red and

pink on the way back. But also, you don't want to chip a read to the

other corner. He might be taking the thin one, next of the pink. Don't

hit the blue. But at least he got the red safe.

A little dangerous, because that target behind the yellow is pretty

big. John Higgins jumping all over this.

Has he got the cue ball where he wants it? You bet.

Ricky is playing the red that is next to the black. Side cushion, top

cushion, back to baulk. Very good shot. Excellent shot. He played it

very well. I think he might have enough of this

red just deposit. It is, the same line as John Higgins's last attempt.

red just deposit. It is, the same line

red just deposit. It is, the same brown on. He has the angle. It looks

like it brown on. He has the angle. It looks

pressure on. He has played that in a way that tries to stop him from

getting on the cushion. It is blocking it off to: the loose red. I

cannot see the way he can get that, really. He is forcing him, more or

less, to try and hit another red. Of course, they all really able to pot,

those three. Tough position. Extremely tough. I am going to try

and see if I can find away for Ricky to try and get this safe. I'm not

sure whether it is there or not. You are crafty Ken, you must have away!

I am having a look at the line there. If I just put a line up

there. Go between the blue and pink. Ricky was having a look at that. I'm

not quite sure whether he can get enough.

I'm just wonder if he is going to play this screwing into the cushion.

Maybe screw back, I don't know. He is going to screw back. That is a

magnificent shot. What a cracking shot that is. Absolutely brilliant,

that was. The way he was killing that, I thought he was going to

screw back into the Boult area, but that was fabulous. Very thin, lots

to run inside. -- the baulk area. Excellent. Really good pot.

Considering he was in all sorts of trouble, heat has done very well to

get into this position. Brilliant, that was.

Obviously, the one red that is near the top cushion is going to be the

big problem. And also, because the black is not on his spot. You cannot

just drop it and get it on the black. But it is a bit more

difficult when there is no black on the spot.

He has not hit that last read the best. He would have liked to have

been a little closer. He needs a little bounce off into

that top cushion. He needs a nice angle, and he has

got it. He does not have to do too much. He can drop this in. He can be

on the pink, but also, the yellow is waiting for him.

Well played so far. This is a big pink. If you knock it in, you are

the massive favourite for the frame. I bet when the cue ball was running

towards the blue, his heart stopped for a second. The only problem with

that, just look at this. It just kissed the blue. It was near the

middle pocket, and now, just a little bit more tricky to get. From

blue to pink. And particularly now, he is little bit slow with the cue

ball there. It will come up another six or eight inches to be lifted

straight on the screen. He has a bit more work to do. Now the problem is,

because the blue has been knocked down the table a few more inches, it

just makes it a little bit more difficult on the brown, from brown

to blue is no problem but Peter pink will be. Well, he put in a nice bit

of left-hand side, so he is OK. He could not have played that much

better. Perfect. He has done very well here. He is 5-3, 7-3, he would

have been in big trouble. Great frame of snooker from Ricky Walden.

He got a break of 48. He trails 7-5. STUDIO: Very good effort by Ricky

Walden to get within two at the interval. Into the next we go. This

is just after the interval. Waldon is making up ground once again. 22

points behind. I don't think any of those red spot.

-- reds pot. He will try with the black after this red. He

has had a couple of goes. Because of that, he has not been able to get

into the pack how he wanted. But he is fine now. A good pot on the

black, and one could cannon, -- and one could cannon.

Left it a little awkward. The bottom right-hand corner pocket, he is

going to have to use the spider. Of course, he is not over the line yet

in this frame. He needs a couple of reds and a couple of colours to do

that. He cannot do anything with these, really. Easy to build the cue

ball in and put side on these. Don't get overambitious. Good shot.

Nicely played. 36 already in the lead. Just one more red after this.

Ricky Walden will be needing sneakers. Cannot see a comeback from

this position. -- snooker. Slowly but surely John Higgins getting a

stronghold in this match. Not being at his absolute best, John Higgins,

but cannot be in every session at the Crucible. What it can be is a

consummate matchplay, which is what he is. He's incredibly difficult to

beat, even when not on his game. There is an art to winning, and John

Higgins cracked it a long time ago. He has missed the red. Ricky Walden

says that is enough. John Higgins goes back into a three frame lead.

This match always looked on paper like it would go the full distance.

In head-to-head matches between the pair, it is 3-3. John Higgins

keeping Ricky at arms length, is beginning to frame 14, eight points

in this one. COMMENTATOR: The one before looked

like a sitter, that was difficult, floating it straight in. Great shot.

Very good. Not a lot of pocket to aim at. Well played. It might suit

Ricky, the Green will not go on its own -- the pink will not go on its

spot. It will go on the black spot. He needs a good angle. He has it.

Anything with a bit of pace, you can miss them. You have to be so careful

with them. The shot. Interesting the way he played there. Playing with a

bit of screw. Some people would be dropping it in. He actually screwed

it in. Very brave way of playing. Obviously a confident way. He likes

that shot. Where he has finished his perfect. You would have to be very

unlucky, not to land on one there. Despite the fact he missed the

easier chance, he now has the best chance of the frame so far. I think

when he pots this red, the pink will pot into the bottom right-hand

pocket. Not too bad, not tied up. If the pink was tied up, this could not

be frame-winning opportunity. Now I'm sure it will pot into the

right-hand corner pocket. He has come around to have a look.

Day you see it. -- there you see it. Slightly hampered, taking the pink.

Bridging over the black. A little bit of a problem, ordinarily would

like to care little cannon, but he has snookered himself on the other

one. Needs to play a full run, move both reds out of the way. That is

what he played the way he did. Just having a look, if the pink pots

into the bottom left-hand corner pocket, as well.

When he pots this pink, he will try to get on the red just to the right

of the pink. Freeing up another red. He went a bit farther with the cue

ball. Wanted tighter control. He has played that nicely. Very

nicely indeed. Leaving himself options of pink or black, the way

that worked out. So good on the pink. Did not need to play anything

else. He has taken this well, Ricky. Knows the importance of the frame.

Lose it, going four frames find to someone and John Higgins'

capabilities, you are in big trouble.

He just ran a little bit too far with the cable. He has to be careful

here. -- with the cue ball. Would you believe it? Would you believe

it? Referee confirming he has just touched the pink with the calf of

his shirt. -- cuff. There you see it.

Let's have a look at the matchplay years. John Higgins will be

thinking, if I clear up from here, major body blow.

I have played him in far too many matches, to know exactly what he

will be thinking. He will try to get the nice angle on the pink, potting

this red. He has come too far, to knock the

one on the cushion out with this shot. A chance to get behind the

loose red. You can see the determination in John's face.

Absolutely desperate to win the frame with this contribution. It

will be difficult. The ones on the site cushion a awkward. Even they

Ricky Walden will be sitting in his chair, absolutely squirming. He was

in, amongst the balls. Wow. It says left perfect angle to

move the red off the site cushion. I thought he had missed it for one

minute. Knock three times, you need the password. Perfect ankle, he will

try to get the black on the spot. He had a chance to move the red off the

site cushion with the thing. Once he drops this one in, natural angle to

come off the black for the loose red. Could be a hugely pivotal frame

this match. If you get somewhere inside the

circle, that type of angle on the black. You cannot out that last red

fools they have wiped their feet, but have gone in. This frame, Ken,

all about this cannon. This one just about got there, gravity took over.

Can he pot the black, and get the cannon? Does not want to hit it too

hard. Not quite there. He played a back cross double in one of the

earlier frames, missing it. Will he try it again? I don't think the

angle is there this time, John. Maybe more prudent to play good,

telling safety shot. All about the player's choice. He has played a

safety shot, but not very well. Getting himself back in the frame.

Level on points. Leaving Ricky Walden chance at this.

To be fair to Ricky, he got a kick on that red. Unlucky. Nothing you

can do about that. Just bad luck. He knew it, as soon as that was them,

that red was hit badly, through no fault of his own. He may have done

it in one, but John Higgins has a wonderful chance to complete this

body blow, and win the frame. Only a couple of moments ago Ricky was in

amongst the balls. Touching a pink with the cuff of his shirt. Looked

like with go on and win the frame from that position. What a

turnaround. John wins this frame, goes to nine, on the scoreboard. He

lost two fights of the cherry to extend the lead. He knows he will be

in front going into the final. As a couple more bytes to make the

advantage even bigger. What a chance. How much of a detrimental

effect will it have on Ricky Waldon present?

effect will it have on Ricky Waldon Certainly would be native place.

Hard to come back from this. It is a great deal from John

Higgins. Ricky Waldon looked like taking the frame. The foul on the

pink costing him. John Higgins ready to pounce. Extending his lead, 9-5.

Important frame that could be. Ricky Waldon cursing the person who gave

him those new cuff links for Christmas. Do you berate yourself

doing something like that? All players do. That is one of the

reasons players go for button shirts these days. It is inexcusable

really. The look on his face, you should be checking. One area of the

game where you could use the word careless, carelessly. John Higgins,

9-5 in front. In terms of what we have seen, subdued in the scoring

department. We have seen enough to know he is in very century heavy

form. One of the greatest competitors we have ever seen. Such

a tough man to beat, all-round game exemplary. Every single department.

One of the toughest players ever is. Let's see how this one goes on frame

15. -- John felt as soon as he has hit

that. That is cued nicely. What he would not give FIFA quick frames,

scoring heavily. Getting in 9-7 down.

He looks pretty determined at the moment to step it up a bit. Increase

the tempo. Nice position, these balls. The CV every shot time from

both players. Ricky generally buzzes around the table. Certainly walks at

a faster pace around the table. He tends to walk a lot more than John

Higgins around the table. I think the time is being eaten up. Play for

a red higher-ups. If you can leave a cannon, needs the cannon into the

two reds right of the black. It would be perfect, that is fine. Or

is it? Just having a look. I thought he would play the bottom one. They

are tight. If the has a look around from the pocket itself. I think that

red does pot. Not too confident that it does.

Playing a nice little cannon off the black, bouncing it off the top

cushion. Not too hard. He had to take the bottom one of the role.

Worried about taking the other red. Looked tighter. He has left a fair

bit of angle. Where Ricky is cueing, the red at the bottom of the main

cluster, the only one he can not Ian. He cannot hold the cue ball for

the others. He passive that one slightly sick in

the pocket. In an attempt to keep the cue ball tight. He has done

well. -- patted that one slightly thick. Nice angle. The time to go

into the pack. Loose red in the pack. Plenty of back spin, opening

the reds up. He went the other side instead, it will do. Just watch him.

That is having lost the cue ball. Still in a very good position. Match

time over the four hours Mark stop should not take much time, this

frame, the Bulls have been nice. Steel

-- steel four very civil balls. He was kicking himself after the last

frame, fouling with his cuff. He will be kicking himself if he does

not win the frame from here. Should have been straight on the previous

red. He has to give up for the blue, now he's straight.

He has two mind his work. -- to mind his work.

That sounded good, felt better I'm sure. He cued that one really

nicely. Always a nice sand when it hits the leather at the back of the

pocket. I cannot remember. Just coming off straight. He has two

force that Juanmi. This is a much trickier pot. -- he has two force

that Juanmi. Good pot, though. Chest hairs to

drop this one in, loose red on the right-hand side. The angle on the

blue is slightly wrong, just rocked it in. -- drop it in. This red, not

it in, should be 9-6. -- knock it in.

OK. Good break. Considering the way he lost the last frame, great

response from Ricky Waldon. Testament to a very good

temperament. Must have been sitting in the chair, this is anything,

losing the last frame. Would not know it here. Touching ball, should

be OK. He has this red towards the right centre. Does he have the pace?

He needs to blow it. Did not Kevin. Will not be bothered to much.

Delighted to get another frame on the board. Closing the gap, John

Higgins leads 9-6. This is what is happening live, right now inside the

Crucible arena. We have caught them up. Looks as if John is about to get

over the line. In fact, Ricky Waldon needs snookers. Going to be 10-6.

They will come back tomorrow evening. Looks like it is going to

be a long, three-day match. You know you are in for long matches, do you