Sunday, Final, Afternoon

:00:48. > :02:17.Good afternoon. Since 1977, snooker's old masters abilities new

:02:18. > :02:22.have created moments of supporting artistry in this very theatre.

:02:23. > :02:26.Captured beautifully by Sheffield painter Brian Smith, but who will be

:02:27. > :02:34.the subject of his next work over the next couple of days? 2,345

:02:35. > :02:36.frames have already been played in this year's betFred World

:02:37. > :02:40.Championship, from the qualifying round until the end of the

:02:41. > :02:45.semifinals. 35 more over the next two days will tell us who will be

:02:46. > :02:50.champion in 2016. Will it once again be the Englishman, Mark Selby, or

:02:51. > :03:05.will China's Ding Junhui finally win it at last?

:03:06. > :03:21.COMMENTATOR: This is fabulous stuff from Ding Junhui. Tonne up again.

:03:22. > :03:25.COMMENTATOR: Tremendous pot. Well, you can't hit a ball much better

:03:26. > :03:40.than that. You can't strike a ball better than

:03:41. > :03:48.that. He looks full of confidence now.

:03:49. > :03:57.He's played it absolutely perfect. Great shot. The match nous, if you

:03:58. > :04:03.like, of Mark Selby, came to the fore.

:04:04. > :04:08.We maybe have a new favourite for the tournament, and he is definitely

:04:09. > :04:25.a major contender. Excellent stuff from Mark Selby. He

:04:26. > :04:36.is the world number one and he is showing how good he is.

:04:37. > :04:42.A record-breaking seven centuries from the Chinese sensation and he

:04:43. > :04:52.gets himself into his first ever final.

:04:53. > :05:00.What a player and what a competitor Mark Selby is. He has got himself

:05:01. > :05:06.into his second final in three years.

:05:07. > :05:13.Ultimately it is not about how you get to the final, it is as long as

:05:14. > :05:17.you do but looking at the form guide of the two players to get here, you

:05:18. > :05:21.have to say Ding Junhui has been in better scoring mode. Without a

:05:22. > :05:25.doubt, the form player and of the four semifinalists he played the

:05:26. > :05:28.most impressive snooker, although Mark Selby was brilliant in the last

:05:29. > :05:33.session last night. He has cracked the code of how to be a top class

:05:34. > :05:38.match I player a long time ago and you know you are up for a top match.

:05:39. > :05:41.He has been able to come to this tournament winning ugly before, not

:05:42. > :05:44.playing well but he has that mentality, he doesn't want to lose,

:05:45. > :05:47.you don't get it number one without having that. He has been in three

:05:48. > :05:51.times. This is the first one for Ding. I know Ding has experience

:05:52. > :05:55.winning the UK and the Masters. But this is different. It is a different

:05:56. > :05:59.occasion. I remember my first time in the final. You have to enjoy T

:06:00. > :06:02.Ding will come out. He will be thrilled with atmosphere. He needs

:06:03. > :06:09.to keep Mark Selby on the table. If he gets to the table, he will clear

:06:10. > :06:15.up every time. -- Mark Selby needs to keep him off

:06:16. > :06:20.the table. Here are the views of the players. Everybody wants to win. It

:06:21. > :06:25.was a really bad feeling the year I lost. This time I did it, I played

:06:26. > :06:31.simple snooker and went for the shots. Didn't think a lot and tried

:06:32. > :06:36.to play quick. I wasn't performing well. I had to dig deep and try to

:06:37. > :06:39.find something from within. The last session was probably the most

:06:40. > :06:44.relaxed I felt. I felt I was in control of my game and emotions. I

:06:45. > :06:48.probably played the best in that match, towards the end, when I

:06:49. > :06:54.needed to. Never give up. You just keep scoring. It doesn't matter how

:06:55. > :06:56.much, eight or ten or 20, it doesn't matter, everything he could do. That

:06:57. > :07:09.is a tough, tough guy to play. He is playing well at the moment. A

:07:10. > :07:13.great all-round game. Scores as well as anyone. A great technique. Not

:07:14. > :07:19.that many weaknesses but I need to be on the top of my game. Two years

:07:20. > :07:25.ago I won it for the first time which was a fantastic feeling and a

:07:26. > :07:30.dream come true. If I am to win it again for a second time it'll be

:07:31. > :07:35.even more special. Everybody is dreaming to win the world titles. I

:07:36. > :07:48.just want to join one of them, to lift that trophy. And for it to stay

:07:49. > :07:52.with me for a whole year. So, the 2014 Mark champion Mark

:07:53. > :07:59.Selby against former UK and Masters winner, Ding unwi. The 32-year-old

:08:00. > :08:08.Englishman's third Crucible final. The first for Ding and any Asian

:08:09. > :08:16.player. He was watched by many across China yesterday. He will have

:08:17. > :08:20.millions tuning in support him right now, 9.00pm Beijing-time. There is

:08:21. > :08:24.nothing between these players in the matches, ten wins each but the book

:08:25. > :08:29.bhakers can't separate them. But something has to give in the next

:08:30. > :08:34.two days in four sessions of play. We cannot wait to get started. Are

:08:35. > :08:39.you ready for the 2016 BetFred Championship final. MC Rob Walker

:08:40. > :08:42.sure is. Thanks, Hazel. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,

:08:43. > :08:50.after 15 fabulous days of action, this is it. It is the big one.

:08:51. > :08:52.Welcome to the final of the 2016 BetFred World Snooker Championship.

:08:53. > :08:57.Another chapter of sporting history is about to be written in this

:08:58. > :09:02.marvellous arena. This one could be an absolute cracker. Let's get the

:09:03. > :09:02.boys on the baize. CHEERING AND

:09:03. > :09:35.APPLAUSE Here comes yesterday's

:09:36. > :09:39.record-century breaker. He is today's history maker. The first

:09:40. > :09:44.Asian player ever to contest a World Championship final. He has been in

:09:45. > :09:49.sensational form here in Sheffield. 11 times a ranking event winner but

:09:50. > :09:54.this is the match that will define a lifetime's work. An entire nation

:09:55. > :10:00.are on the edge of their seats on the other side of the world. So

:10:01. > :10:02.enter, the Chinese Dragon, Ding Junhui.

:10:03. > :10:25.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

:10:26. > :10:32.And his opponent, a player who is already regarded as one of the

:10:33. > :10:36.game's greats. He has incredible mental strength, even under the most

:10:37. > :10:41.extreme pressure as he proved once again late last night against Marco

:10:42. > :10:50.fu. Already a Masters' champion, already a UK champion. Here he is,

:10:51. > :10:57.bidding to join an illustrious list of multiple world champions. Here he

:10:58. > :11:11.is, he is the Jester from Leicester. Here is Mark Selby.

:11:12. > :11:17.So, a completely new and special feeling for Ding Junhui. He first

:11:18. > :11:22.came here as a 20-year-old in 2007. Incredibly he was ranked second

:11:23. > :11:26.favourite before he even played a match in this arena. It took him ten

:11:27. > :11:31.attempts to make it to the final. He is playing with a man with great

:11:32. > :11:36.experience. 31 years after the most famous Crucible final of them all,

:11:37. > :11:39.Steve Davis and Denis Taylor are together again, this time for the

:11:40. > :11:45.opening commentary station. Bring it on, guys.

:11:46. > :11:51.DENIS TAYLOR: WE CERTAINLY WILL, HAZEL. WELCOME EVERYONE TO FINALS

:11:52. > :11:56.DAY. WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE as both players were introduced into this

:11:57. > :12:03.magnificent arena. The first frame, Ding Junhui to break.

:12:04. > :12:10.Every player's ambition when they turn professional, is to become

:12:11. > :12:16.World Snooker champion. Mark Selby achieved that a couple of years ago,

:12:17. > :12:17.can the Chinese sensation, Ding Junhui win his first World

:12:18. > :12:36.Championship? Late last night after his semifinal

:12:37. > :12:41.strike Mark Selby had a new tip put on his cue. A brand new tip, it has

:12:42. > :12:47.it be said. It'll be interesting to see how he starts off this session.

:12:48. > :12:53.Not the best safety shot from Mark. But it does take a bit of getting

:12:54. > :12:57.used to, the new tip, Steve. STEVE DAVIS: I have to say, that

:12:58. > :13:02.must have been that he felt that he couldn't play at all with the tip he

:13:03. > :13:04.had on. It is a night mayor scenario to have to change the tip at such

:13:05. > :13:17.late notice in the tournament. Well, that was a nervy shot from

:13:18. > :13:24.Ding Junhui, there. But he hasn't left anything.

:13:25. > :13:32.A great air of anticipation in the crowd before the start of this match

:13:33. > :13:38.and a fantastic reception for both players. Yes, it is England verses

:13:39. > :13:42.China but I think the Crucible crowd have taken Ding Junhui to their

:13:43. > :13:44.hearts over the last few years. Arguably as much support for him as

:13:45. > :13:57.for Mark Selby. Something to pick between the two

:13:58. > :14:04.players. They have played each other on 20 occasions. It is 10-10. But

:14:05. > :14:08.one of the significant no I have can't wins was Ding in the 2011

:14:09. > :14:13.quarterfinal of the World Championship. He defeated Mark,

:14:14. > :14:19.13-10. Now those four colours now are in

:14:20. > :14:43.perfect positions to try to get in behind.

:14:44. > :14:50.The fascinating think about this match-up, Denis, in the final is

:14:51. > :14:55.nobody has a clue what will happen. Nobody has an I think cling. There

:14:56. > :15:04.is no track record as such that is sticking out there. -- nobody has an

:15:05. > :15:11.incling. You could pick a winner but that could go horribly wrong. Well

:15:12. > :15:15.this will test the new tip. The type of shot he goes for, punches it in

:15:16. > :15:19.around the back of the black. This will give him a bit of

:15:20. > :15:31.He has flicked the other red over the pocket. It was a got pot but as

:15:32. > :15:35.we show you it again. Just flicking that red and...

:15:36. > :15:46.Now, an early chance for Mark Selby Picking up where he left off last

:15:47. > :15:48.night. He was in absolutely superb form by the end of the match with

:15:49. > :16:00.Marco Fu. The tip looks to be played in. Put

:16:01. > :16:06.that camera away, please. It has a light on the front of it.

:16:07. > :16:08.He knocked a few balls in last night, if he had the chance, but not

:16:09. > :16:21.ideal. I think we are assuming it is a new

:16:22. > :16:25.tip he has put on, as opposed to an old one played in, that he had sort

:16:26. > :16:29.of stored up already for emergencies. He didn't have one.

:16:30. > :16:32.Bobby his good friend who was with him said it was a brand new tip that

:16:33. > :16:46.was going on. The way he has controlled that cue

:16:47. > :16:50.ball there is certainly nothing wrong with this new tip. Of course

:16:51. > :16:56.we have a brand new cloth on the table as well. As play finished last

:16:57. > :17:06.evening, they were dismantling it to put a brand new cloth on. I suppose

:17:07. > :17:10.towards the end of that session, played beautifully, it was starting

:17:11. > :17:14.to ping a little bit off the cushions but I'm sure this table

:17:15. > :17:21.will play superbly well over the next two days.

:17:22. > :17:26.Impressive start. A bit closer to the cushion than he would have

:17:27. > :17:45.liked, though. And because of that t made it a bit

:17:46. > :17:49.more difficult to get the power on that and guarantee the shot and also

:17:50. > :17:53.perhaps because the cushion covers have been renewed, a little bit of a

:17:54. > :17:56.cushioning effect with the brand new cloth. Just slowed that cue ball up

:17:57. > :18:33.more than perhaps he expected. No easy path for Ding Junhui back to

:18:34. > :18:35.the safety zone. So, he might have to leave the white up this end of

:18:36. > :18:41.the table. That's what he has done. That's what

:18:42. > :19:10.we call the dump shot, introduced by Cliff Thorbourne. There he is, he

:19:11. > :19:14.hasn't changed. He looks the same. I played him in 1972 when he came

:19:15. > :19:16.over. We have been best buddies ever since. He has his name on that

:19:17. > :19:43.beautiful trophy. . Dangerously close to that green

:19:44. > :19:50.pocket. That would have been a mistake. I assume you played the a

:19:51. > :20:34.bit thinner than that, or attempting a bit thinner than that.

:20:35. > :20:42.The problem for Ding Junhui here is that it is unavoidable, playing the

:20:43. > :20:46.safety shot, to keep the pack time. You can see what he is looking at.

:20:47. > :20:50.It is a very aggressive opener but he might think it is worth the risk.

:20:51. > :20:54.I think he has mentally turned it down.

:20:55. > :21:03.Well, that would be some shot to take on, it would scatter the reds

:21:04. > :21:06.everywhere and not guaranteed. The plant, you would probably maybe get

:21:07. > :21:07.it twice out of ten. Well, is he having a go? Very aare grossive

:21:08. > :21:22.this, if he is going for this plant. No - yes. Wow. Well, that was. I

:21:23. > :21:26.don't know, surely you could have seen a containing safety. I mean

:21:27. > :21:30.that is presenting your opponent a chance to win the first frame and

:21:31. > :21:31.whilst it is the best of 35, question marks about the choices

:21:32. > :21:41.there. He had a straight-forward safety

:21:42. > :21:49.shot down the right-side of the table, as we look at it. But elected

:21:50. > :21:52.to take on - well, I said I thought it was two out of ten. The chance of

:21:53. > :22:09.getting it. He is OK. He has dropped the shot.

:22:10. > :22:16.Has it gone right underneath the table - the chalk. He really didn't

:22:17. > :22:21.hit that very well at all. He completely messed the shot up and

:22:22. > :22:27.end of break. Could have got lucky, possibly and held the pink spot. It

:22:28. > :22:53.wasn't what he played. So Ding Junhui let off the hook.

:22:54. > :23:04.He tried to get that cue ball to go wider.

:23:05. > :23:24.A strange position with that red by the yellow. Not sure if it goes into

:23:25. > :23:33.the green pocket. He will attempt to try to get back

:23:34. > :23:38.up the table with the cue ball and push the red up the table. He is a

:23:39. > :23:47.bit wide. Just got it past the pink. He will be very happy with that.

:23:48. > :23:55.That was a clever safety shot he played there. Look at the black.

:23:56. > :24:09.Totally out of the game now, a red either side of it.

:24:10. > :24:13.He might just take the chance it free the black here. Play the red

:24:14. > :24:43.next to it. Eight frames to be played this

:24:44. > :24:48.afternoon. There will be nine this evening. Playing the outside red at

:24:49. > :24:52.the bottom here. I don't think he is playing the one by the pink. Could

:24:53. > :24:58.knock the black into play, possibly. Tried that. That was quite an

:24:59. > :25:04.attacking safety shot and he's got a good white ball.

:25:05. > :25:11.I'm right down the line of the shot. I think he might be able to get past

:25:12. > :25:17.the yellow and the pink to clip the red. It would have been in all sorts

:25:18. > :25:21.of trouble, and he may be in all sorts of trouble if he can't. That's

:25:22. > :25:26.tight. A little bit of right-hand spin A new tip. Not easy to judge.

:25:27. > :25:39.Perhaps he can just get to the middle of the cue ball. Yes. But a

:25:40. > :25:43.mistake. And a chance. A chance for Ding, although, if that yellow is in

:25:44. > :25:45.the way, it is more awkward and also the positional play is even more

:25:46. > :25:51.awkward. I think if he pots this, he might

:25:52. > :25:56.double-kiss that red and he could head up and leave the pink on. Well,

:25:57. > :26:02.he could polyit slow and try and see if he could hold for the black. That

:26:03. > :26:06.would be a shot -- play it slow. Trundle in there, the cannon on the

:26:07. > :26:09.red and leave yourself on the black. Perhaps not? A slow drag shot or a

:26:10. > :26:25.power screw-back? Well, he has left himself a very

:26:26. > :26:30.tricky black. He didn't get the double-kiss. But this is a key shot

:26:31. > :26:39.early in this final. He can roll it slow and if he misses

:26:40. > :26:52.the black stays over the pocket. So a bit of insurance, perhaps.

:26:53. > :26:59.Well, it did touch the cushion on the way across, as you see here, but

:27:00. > :27:02.the pace let it drop into the pocket.

:27:03. > :27:11.The brand new cloth helps no end. With the pocket swallowing the ball

:27:12. > :27:16.up, regardless of the size of the pocket.

:27:17. > :27:26.So first realistic chance now, with the balls open for Ding Junhui.

:27:27. > :27:46.This is now a good chance for Mark Selby.

:27:47. > :27:51.You could tell straightaway, as it caught the near jaw, it was never

:27:52. > :28:12.going to go in. A pretty tense opening frame.

:28:13. > :28:16.Neither player really settled down. Of course the first frame of every

:28:17. > :28:19.one of these four sessions important. It can dictate the

:28:20. > :28:35.pattern of that particular session. I think he is just OK, a little gap

:28:36. > :28:42.to screw between. I think he can hold for the pink again if he can...

:28:43. > :28:47.I'm not sure if he can hold it or - no, he has had to go through the

:28:48. > :28:52.gap. It there wasn't quite the angle to hold for the pink. That means he

:28:53. > :28:57.has an awful long way to travel now with the cue ball for those three

:28:58. > :29:00.reds between the pink and black, that are available. Well, certainly

:29:01. > :29:16.two of them are. A bit straight on the green, so he

:29:17. > :29:21.has had to come down the left side of the table.

:29:22. > :29:28.He is looking for his 68 points, as you can see there, to leave Ding

:29:29. > :29:49.Junhui needing a snooker. That's useful. Just a bit shy of

:29:50. > :30:01.pace but he's OK. Perhaps that top cushion playing a

:30:02. > :30:15.little bit slower than it has done. It'll be stored in the memory banks

:30:16. > :30:19.of not just Mark Selby but Ding Junhui will have noticed as W

:30:20. > :30:28.-- as well. Yes, even with a new cloth on, the tables play slightly

:30:29. > :30:32.different. But within a frame you know what is happening, you get used

:30:33. > :30:43.to the pace of the cloth and the cushions within one frame.

:30:44. > :30:48.Already 52 in front. Another couple of pots from securing this opening

:30:49. > :31:20.frame. Mark Selby hasn't been in blistering

:31:21. > :31:22.form. He did up the pace in the semi-final. Timing is everything.

:31:23. > :31:39.Has he timed his run to perfection? Well, he missed a few tournaments,

:31:40. > :31:43.so he is fresh coming into this year's world championship.

:31:44. > :31:50.You see him moving around a bit. Not as much as he used to. It is just a

:31:51. > :31:57.mannerism he has had for a number of years.

:31:58. > :32:01.But he seems much better than two or three seasons ago. He is just a

:32:02. > :32:26.terrific player to watch. He can become very machine-like, as

:32:27. > :32:30.can Ding Junhui. Bit concerned about the aggressive plant that Ding

:32:31. > :32:38.played. I hope he hasn't got a game mrap to attack -- plan to attack too

:32:39. > :32:46.much. To get stuck in a tactical game. The trouble with that mind set

:32:47. > :32:51.is the balls dictate a lot of the shots.

:32:52. > :32:56.Well that kicked and the red still flew in the pocket. Let's have a

:32:57. > :33:10.look at this. This will be a great shot if he can

:33:11. > :33:18.swing this round and get on to the green.

:33:19. > :33:23.He would like to clear them all up. That is what he is attempting.

:33:24. > :33:38.Superbly played. I suggest while he didn't win the

:33:39. > :33:41.frame in his first couple of chances, that is a good

:33:42. > :33:47.confidence-builder with a new tip on.

:33:48. > :33:53.He would have been concerned. But when he had a practice session he

:33:54. > :34:01.would have known if the tip was good or not. Sometimes you can get a bad

:34:02. > :34:20.tip and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.

:34:21. > :34:28.Well, Mark Selby needed a couple of chances. Ding took a risky plant on

:34:29. > :34:34.at the beginning and he looks on fine form. The world No 1 takes the

:34:35. > :34:39.opening frame. What a start for Mark Selby and you have got to ask how

:34:40. > :34:49.big a gamble is putting a brand-new tip on your cue after a semi-final.

:34:50. > :34:52.Massive. The feel is affected. He has played half an hour after last

:34:53. > :34:57.night when he must have been tired. He had half an hour's practice. He

:34:58. > :35:03.had an hour and a half this morning. He seems happy with it. The way he

:35:04. > :35:08.has played, I'm surprised how well he has played. He is trying to get a

:35:09. > :35:12.fast start and Ding Junhui has been desperate to try and get a fast

:35:13. > :35:16.start. That is a plant even you would not have attempted. Even I

:35:17. > :35:21.wouldn't have played this. You have the cue ball on the baulk line and

:35:22. > :35:25.you can screw it back for safety. But that was a crazy shot. That is

:35:26. > :35:31.more of a gamble than Mark putting a tip on. You can see he had a red on

:35:32. > :35:38.the left-hand side. If he plays that full ball, he can't leave anything.

:35:39. > :35:43.A couple of nervy shots from diveng. Ding. He missed a comfortable red.

:35:44. > :35:50.It will be interesting to see how long it takes h imto settle down.

:35:51. > :35:56.Mark is a very different character. Ding would have fancied winning that

:35:57. > :36:05.match no, disrespect to Alan. He knows he must make a fast start. And

:36:06. > :36:07.one tweet says Ding must score, otherwise Selby will dictate. Back

:36:08. > :36:24.we go. As all great champions do, Mark

:36:25. > :36:30.Selby won that opening frame with a break of 90. 91 to be precise. That

:36:31. > :36:50.is the start that he was after. All about wheth Ding can settle in

:36:51. > :36:55.sooner than later. Nice break off from Selby. Don't know if he played

:36:56. > :37:18.to get that red back or whether it just happened.

:37:19. > :37:26.This is going to slide off the edge of pack. But I think it is going to

:37:27. > :37:31.be OK. Might have given Ding a sniff just past the black. Not an easy one

:37:32. > :37:36.though. There was a few occasions in the semi-final where the ball was

:37:37. > :37:39.sliding off the cushions between Mark Selby and Marco Fu. That one

:37:40. > :38:08.did slide a bit. He would settle for that. He played

:38:09. > :38:10.to come across the face of the black and leave it for the other corner.

:38:11. > :38:26.But that will do nicely. Last evening's semi-final the number

:38:27. > :38:27.of times off the break-off shots where the black was being tide up

:38:28. > :38:50.and a red was going either side. He has not got too many reds to work

:38:51. > :38:57.with. Before he is just left with the pack.

:38:58. > :39:04.He would like to split the pack and keep on the black. Not ideally

:39:05. > :39:23.placed on this situation. He decided to play it. He didn't

:39:24. > :39:28.catch the right part of the pack. He was hoping to play as we look on to

:39:29. > :39:32.the right through that gap. That would have sent the cue ball out to

:39:33. > :39:34.the right. He caught the other side of the red and had to trust to luck

:39:35. > :40:06.and he got none. Not nice to come to the table

:40:07. > :40:19.presented with an ideal opening and only score 16.

:40:20. > :40:31.Cue ball creeping past the brown has made this shot a problem for Ding

:40:32. > :40:33.Junhui. Mark Selby's safety at the end of the match with Marco Fu was

:40:34. > :40:47.incredible. Ding forced to play to the black

:40:48. > :40:51.cushion. He has caught this a bit wide and he didn't want to hit the

:40:52. > :40:59.black. So far, he has not settled down at all here. Wasn't a wrong

:41:00. > :41:04.shot. He just mishit it. One questionable decision in the first

:41:05. > :41:08.frame. And he is on the back foot already. Mark Selby would love to

:41:09. > :41:36.capitalise. Just about perfect on the blue. Just

:41:37. > :41:44.looking at the reds. They're all covering each other. A few are

:41:45. > :41:55.pottable. Just having a little look to see if he could play a cannon and

:41:56. > :42:04.bring a few more into play. I doubt he will go into these that hard.

:42:05. > :42:11.He may stay clear of the pack. That is a good choice if the cue ball

:42:12. > :42:15.comes around for enough to be past the pink. A bit shy of pace. Perhaps

:42:16. > :42:46.that top rail playing a bit slower. Has he got a slight angle on the

:42:47. > :42:51.brown here? He can play for the red that is near the black spot. There

:42:52. > :42:56.is one to the right of the pink that is available. To the left middle

:42:57. > :42:59.pocket. If he has got an angle and there you see it he clearly has, he

:43:00. > :43:19.can get up to the are reds. Now he has played that such a way he

:43:20. > :43:24.had a choice of the reds, one to the left middle, one to the left corner.

:43:25. > :43:35.He would love to get on the black and get it back on the spot. Not nol

:43:36. > :43:46.-- not until this red is removed that is to the right of the black.

:43:47. > :44:16.Very little to do with the cue ball here for position.

:44:17. > :44:24.Just spotted something on the cue ball there. He will have to play for

:44:25. > :44:26.the blue here and possibly down to the red near the black spot. He is

:44:27. > :44:50.already thinking about it. He didn't go into the reds the last

:44:51. > :44:54.time. It will be interesting to see if he plays for that loose red and

:44:55. > :45:02.tries to get the black back on its spot. He can play the cannon this

:45:03. > :45:07.time. He refused it previously. Depends how he feels. The red to the

:45:08. > :45:12.right of the pink he hoped will open things up here.

:45:13. > :45:21.Flicked the pink, didn't want that - a misjudgment. And for all the good

:45:22. > :45:22.hits he has put on the cue ball, that would have been the one he

:45:23. > :45:33.would have liked to have gone right. It will take a good shot to keep

:45:34. > :45:37.this break going. I would like to play a safety shot down the table.

:45:38. > :45:39.He has got his opponent in a bit of early trouble. So keep it tight is

:45:40. > :45:59.perhaps the order of the day. I think he can play a thin one off

:46:00. > :46:05.that red and get the white somewhere off the cushion. He will want to

:46:06. > :46:09.make it as difficult as possible. He is thinking about leaving it in the

:46:10. > :46:14.jaws of pocket. You don't always have to get the snooker. And so

:46:15. > :46:20.early in the match, Mark Selby 1-0 in front and only a few points in

:46:21. > :46:25.front. It wouldn't appear like he has got Ding Junhui in trouble. But

:46:26. > :46:56.Ding has not settled down. That is pure experience from Mark

:46:57. > :47:00.Selby. He did look at another shot, a difficult pot and he could have

:47:01. > :47:12.got on the black. But he decided on keeping things tight.

:47:13. > :47:27.Needs to miss the green here. UMPIRE: Make sure the phones are on

:47:28. > :47:30.silent please. Paul collier, just telling the, well some of the

:47:31. > :47:36.audience to keep your phones on silent. I think one of these days we

:47:37. > :47:42.should ban the phones from coming into the Crucible. Like the Masters

:47:43. > :47:48.golf in Augusta - you can't take your phone in there. Mark Selby

:47:49. > :48:06.revving up for thbig long red. That is what he thought. He had an

:48:07. > :48:19.easy safety shot and this time Mark decided to... He has got away with

:48:20. > :48:28.it! Well... What a result he has had here. There weren't many reds that

:48:29. > :48:32.were pottable up at the top of the table. He didn't expect that the cue

:48:33. > :48:37.ball wouz going to be -- was going to be shoved back up that end with

:48:38. > :48:45.the double-kiss. But Ding would have hoped for better.

:48:46. > :48:57.Can he cut this back into the right corner? Oh, well... Well... I think

:48:58. > :49:02.that is one each in the luck department. I think Ding Junhui

:49:03. > :49:07.was... He was a long way out with the cut. There was some frustration

:49:08. > :49:18.the fact that Mark got away with it that forced him to take that on. But

:49:19. > :49:23.he has had a slice of good fortune. Misjudgment. This is advantage Mark

:49:24. > :49:32.Selby, although it is very early in the session.

:49:33. > :49:58.Ding just needs to get a few points on the board and settle down.

:49:59. > :50:05.He may have got away with this again. I think at first glance he

:50:06. > :50:11.has. Once he missed the pot and cannoned into the reds he could

:50:12. > :50:16.quite easily have left quite a few on, but then he is probably getting

:50:17. > :50:20.anxious. I know it is only the second frame. But he wants to get in

:50:21. > :50:24.and get settled. Sometimes you're better off waiting. Playing a few

:50:25. > :50:39.good safety shots and wait for that chance.

:50:40. > :50:50.Without doubt this is the biggest match of Ding Junhui's life and he

:50:51. > :50:55.just needs a clear head. Not easy to have a clear head if you're on the

:50:56. > :51:01.bottom cushion all the time. It is like playing you, Steve, you used to

:51:02. > :51:15.play most of the match striking from the baulk cushion. This doesn't look

:51:16. > :51:22.easy. He has got reds, but it is pretty crowded.

:51:23. > :51:26.Can he get past that black for the cut? He will settle for that. Great

:51:27. > :51:53.shot. APPLAUSE. I know this is the best of 35, but

:51:54. > :52:03.these are quite tense moments. Mark Selby will realise the scenario.

:52:04. > :52:08.But he has got to keep Ding under pressure and he has got a difficult

:52:09. > :52:22.safety shot here. Well, he made that difficult safety

:52:23. > :52:34.shot look very easy. That is a clever shot.

:52:35. > :52:41.Ding just well you could say maybe psyching himself up a bit there. He

:52:42. > :52:50.is in for a tough final. He knows that.

:52:51. > :52:59.He has caught the green and this time he hasn't got away with it. Up

:53:00. > :53:05.against Mark Selby, you have got to be so precise with your safety game

:53:06. > :53:06.to try to give yourself an opening. It is going to be tough, because he

:53:07. > :54:11.is a master tactician. You play these longer matches in

:54:12. > :54:15.little sessions of four. Try to get a 3-1 advantage before the interval.

:54:16. > :54:28.If you get all four, that is a bonus. Mark Selby is a true

:54:29. > :54:35.predator. If he gets his teeth into you, he doesn't let go.

:54:36. > :54:46.A little like Ray rear don in the 70s. Oh, and all of a sudden...

:54:47. > :54:51.Well, no one saw that coming. He had them at his mercy there. They were

:54:52. > :55:01.all sitting pretty and then all of a sudden he puts it on the far jaw.

:55:02. > :55:16.Now this the first real chance for Ding Junhui.

:55:17. > :55:26.Controlled that well, could have been forgiven for choosing pink or

:55:27. > :55:28.blue there. He could have hit the cue ball harder. But played the

:55:29. > :55:45.correct shot. He will be pleased to see that go

:55:46. > :55:55.in. It looked like an unmissable shot, but as yet not settled down.

:55:56. > :56:03.A couple of reds, a couple of colours before he gets his cue arm

:56:04. > :56:11.going. You can see he is still not settled. Badly placed now on the

:56:12. > :56:15.pink. Did well to go in. There is a big blue to take on and the pink is

:56:16. > :56:20.not that good for positional reasons. Might be able to take the

:56:21. > :56:36.pink on and play a cannon on the second red.

:56:37. > :56:44.Must make sure of the pot and that is exactly what he did. But the pink

:56:45. > :56:50.is blocking the path, but using that second red as a stopper there. There

:56:51. > :57:08.is still one between the pink and black that is on.

:57:09. > :57:14.Still got the problem of the two reds on the top cushion to resolve

:57:15. > :57:34.at some stage. If Ding Junhui can make Mark Selby

:57:35. > :57:37.play for that sitter of a red he missed, it will give him a big

:57:38. > :57:49.confidence-boost. But as Steve mentioned, it is all

:57:50. > :58:03.about those two reds near the cushion.

:58:04. > :58:11.If he gets nicely on the blue, he can get an angle to come up and

:58:12. > :58:13.cannon to the left of the reds. The pink slightly in the way, that is

:58:14. > :58:21.the only problem. He might have to come off the side

:58:22. > :58:27.cushion and try to cannon the left of the two reds. Let's have a look

:58:28. > :58:30.at the angle. He can play this with top spin. It is a bit of a chance

:58:31. > :58:41.this. He can't aFahd to hit it too --

:58:42. > :58:46.afford to hit it too hard. Has he cannoned that red out. Oh, he is

:58:47. > :58:53.unlucky. A little bit less pace. Just a little less pace to guarantee

:58:54. > :58:57.being at the top of the table should he get an unfavourable flick, which

:58:58. > :59:12.he did get. If he had hit the cushion first... It was perfect.

:59:13. > :59:26.Another tricky one. Very missible. Superb. Well, it looked a similarle

:59:27. > :59:29.shot, but that was the best shot of the match so far. That was a little

:59:30. > :59:43.beauty he has played there. So a red and a black and Mark Selby

:59:44. > :59:44.will need a snooker and he will rue that missed red into the right

:59:45. > :59:56.middle pocket. Mark Selby had his opponent on the

:59:57. > :00:01.ropes early in round one. But he couldn't seal the deal. Ding Junhui

:00:02. > :00:17.fights back. He would love to get on the yellow,

:00:18. > :00:28.but it is all about making sure the black goes in to make sure Mark

:00:29. > :00:35.needs that snooker. And it is there. As you say, he sacrificed a little

:00:36. > :00:44.bit of position there. Only that one snooker needed. We know what Mark

:00:45. > :01:03.Selby is like when it comes to requiring snookers. This looks good.

:01:04. > :01:12.There is just enough room for a Mark Selby to go around the back of this

:01:13. > :01:17.yellow. Off the right side-cushion. He will be hoping to send the yellow

:01:18. > :01:20.back up the table with the possibility of getting a snooker

:01:21. > :01:33.back. He could slip around the back of the yellow. Now Ding has every

:01:34. > :01:41.chance of getting a snooker here behind the brand. He could play to

:01:42. > :01:58.clip the yellow aim. -- in. An easy chance to get in behind the brand.

:01:59. > :02:06.-- brown. That will do nicely. Well, a big swerve shot from Mark Selby.

:02:07. > :02:18.Coming off the side-cushion. The White could go in the pocket.

:02:19. > :02:25.Nearly. He cannot leave the green on, Ding Junhui, look at the Green

:02:26. > :02:32.sitting. If he was to leave the yellow on and Mark was to pot it,

:02:33. > :02:47.look where the green is sitting. This frame is far from over. He has

:02:48. > :02:52.got him snooker again. Maybe not. If he can pot this, he is heading back

:02:53. > :02:56.up towards the green. All of a sudden when Ding made sure of the

:02:57. > :03:02.black and did not get onto the yellow, the frame is not safe. This

:03:03. > :03:04.is a key shot coming up here. He would prefer the green below the

:03:05. > :03:20.pink but it is still possible. I thought he could see enough of the

:03:21. > :03:28.yellow to take the pot on. If he pots the yellow with the green...

:03:29. > :03:47.Still well-placed for snookers. He has found the gap. How did he

:03:48. > :04:00.find that gap between the green and the pink? If Mark Selby could get a

:04:01. > :04:34.full ball hit, he could get a snooker back. Shows you what I know.

:04:35. > :04:48.This is a great effort. That horrific effort from Ding Junhui.

:04:49. > :04:49.What a shot faces. He is certainly testing Mark Selby's and knowledge

:04:50. > :05:09.of the angles here. Another thin snake. I think you can

:05:10. > :05:18.get to this with the rest. The blue is a slight distraction. I was

:05:19. > :05:23.speaking with one of the referees, Alan McManus had a shot similar to

:05:24. > :05:29.this. It was even more awkward. If he was to pot the yellow, he will

:05:30. > :05:32.not call two until the rest is removed. That is the rule. Just in

:05:33. > :05:50.case you foul with the rest. It is the player's responsibility to

:05:51. > :06:04.get the best out of the way in an awkward situation like that.

:06:05. > :06:18.He is playing on the yellow. And this time it is a snooker. He may be

:06:19. > :06:20.able to swerve this. Yes. There you can see it. Just watch the cue ball

:06:21. > :06:45.as it bends around the brown. Probably forced to pot the yellow

:06:46. > :07:10.now. The green is not as ideally placed as it was.

:07:11. > :07:27.Very well judged. Especially with a brand-new tip on the cue. That was

:07:28. > :07:35.first class. Now it is a must hit for Ding. He is now thinking, when I

:07:36. > :07:43.potted the black, I should have played for the yellow. This is when

:07:44. > :07:47.he potted the black. He wanted to pot the black vote hit it too hard.

:07:48. > :08:01.Otherwise the frame would have been well and truly over.

:08:02. > :08:10.REFEREE: foul. Mark Selby, four. He had to play

:08:11. > :08:15.with an element of insurance that if he did miss the green he was not

:08:16. > :08:21.leaving Mark and easy pot at the green. Sometimes when you play slow

:08:22. > :08:29.onto a cushion, it is harder to judge.

:08:30. > :08:34.He is back in it. Really it is what we call a green ball fight. Whoever

:08:35. > :08:45.gets the first chance to pot the green, you would think, will win the

:08:46. > :09:04.frame. There was no miss called because the player needed snookers.

:09:05. > :09:09.He seems to be looking at the potting angle of the green into the

:09:10. > :09:14.right middle pocket to take the white all the way around the table

:09:15. > :09:20.to get on the brown. That is what he has looked at. What a shot that

:09:21. > :09:31.would be. He has tried it. It was risky. Is he lucky? Is he lucky? I

:09:32. > :09:40.think he has got away with it as best he can. Yes, Ding Junhui has

:09:41. > :09:49.got a couple of options of corner pockets or a thin edge. He can play

:09:50. > :10:09.it thin. He is playing a thin green. It is a chance for Mark Selby. Well,

:10:10. > :10:17.that was committing. I thought he was going to play a thin green and

:10:18. > :10:24.snooker behind the black. The second thing shot he hit thick. This would

:10:25. > :10:43.be a body shot for Ding Junhui. He must have felt the green was more

:10:44. > :10:46.or less a certainty. Otherwise, if it was risky, he should have played

:10:47. > :10:57.the green into the corner, screwed back for safety. He played it with

:10:58. > :11:05.running side. Strange choice. You would expect Mark Selby to clear up

:11:06. > :11:14.but it is still not certain. This time the pace is perfect. An early

:11:15. > :11:16.steel. This would keep Ding John Howell under severe pressure very

:11:17. > :11:39.early in the final. -- Ding Junhui. It looked for all the world as if it

:11:40. > :11:43.was going to be one frame in each. Mark Selby needed a snooker. He got

:11:44. > :11:49.it and he has pinched the frame. He now leads by 2-0.

:11:50. > :11:56.If ever there was a lesson in having to kill off the frame, that was it.

:11:57. > :12:01.Why is Mark Selby so tough to play? I think he is becoming the ultimate

:12:02. > :12:05.long session match player. He can get through sessions playing

:12:06. > :12:09.terribly and still not be losing. And when he plays well, EU is still

:12:10. > :12:15.going to win. If Ding was to win this final I would be so impressed.

:12:16. > :12:21.O'Sullivan could not beat him in the final. He got to O'Sullivan. He is

:12:22. > :12:25.so tough to play against, Mark Selby. That will really hurt him. He

:12:26. > :12:30.is desperate for a first frame in the final and yet he has not managed

:12:31. > :12:38.to do it. Some of these shot selections, how much concern will

:12:39. > :12:42.they be to Ding fans? I think they will be very concerned. Why was he

:12:43. > :12:46.playing all around the table? Sometimes you come to the table and

:12:47. > :12:51.there is nothing on. You try to force the issues. It is difficult

:12:52. > :12:54.when you play Mark. But he committed the ultimate sin against Mark Selby

:12:55. > :13:03.near the end, not playing position on the yellow. You have got to win

:13:04. > :13:08.frames. This is a really difficult moment for Ding Junhui in this final

:13:09. > :13:14.already and we're only two frames in? Yes, very much so. If you cannot

:13:15. > :13:21.play some good snooker, it will put him in a negative frame of mind. He

:13:22. > :13:26.will have his work cut back out. So far in this tournament, his attitude

:13:27. > :13:32.has been the best I have seen. This will be a major test. I have read

:13:33. > :13:37.this final wrong. I thought he was going to come out and score heavily.

:13:38. > :13:46.Mark Selby is making sure there are no chances. It is what he does. He

:13:47. > :13:50.is the boa constrictor. I would take Mark Selby in long session matches.

:13:51. > :13:59.If you do not get into it early, it will be torture. It is the same

:14:00. > :14:07.arena, the same place where he made the most number of centuries by any

:14:08. > :14:14.player in the world Championships. You do not usually get much

:14:15. > :14:21.expression from Ding. But as he walked out of the arena, he gave the

:14:22. > :14:29.table a little knock. He knew he threw that frame away. There will be

:14:30. > :14:34.a few hundred million fans in China biting their fingernails at the

:14:35. > :14:45.moment. They know Mark Selby. They know what a tough match player he

:14:46. > :14:49.is. I think the thing is, for every part of the fact that Ding Junhui

:14:50. > :14:53.has played great in this tournament, when his boils down to it on a

:14:54. > :14:55.snooker table, it is the right shot at the right time that usually wins

:14:56. > :15:10.the day. He has got a couple of reds he can

:15:11. > :15:13.take on here. He looks to be marching around the table, so he is

:15:14. > :15:26.certainly trying to get himself thinking positively. It is not

:15:27. > :15:31.straightforward as regards position. He did not even get the red in the

:15:32. > :15:42.jaws of the pocket. I do not think he has left anything easy. He must

:15:43. > :15:43.not start panicking so early on. He made the record number of century

:15:44. > :16:10.breaks. Nothing on for Mark Selby. I think

:16:11. > :16:21.he is going to risk this into the right corner past the blue. He did

:16:22. > :16:35.speculate. Once again, with an element of safety. Clever matchplay.

:16:36. > :16:39.It is the modern-day game. If you can see a red, it is worth going

:16:40. > :16:52.for. Even if it looks a risk. Excellent shot from Ding Junhui. And

:16:53. > :16:57.whilst Mark Selby did not sacrifice a pot there, he TAG sacrificed a

:16:58. > :17:06.tactical exchange. At first glance it is going to be tough to guarantee

:17:07. > :17:13.this one is safe. Yes, with the reds open, nothing easy to land on.

:17:14. > :17:24.Two-cushions. Flick the red and try to get back down the table. Not

:17:25. > :17:31.easy. The first time you would rather miss it. He hit it too thick.

:17:32. > :17:42.That was like his feeler shot, if he is put back in. Perhaps you can just

:17:43. > :17:58.eat closer. I do not know exactly what Ding is looking at. Surely he

:17:59. > :18:04.has got to put him back in? You would expect Mark Selby to get close

:18:05. > :18:20.with this. But I think he is still likely to miss it.

:18:21. > :18:30.Nowhere near at the moment. Of course he can have as many attempts

:18:31. > :18:37.as he once. -- wants. Ding back looking to see. This is a slightly

:18:38. > :18:42.easier chance. But if you are not guaranteed a colour, keep putting it

:18:43. > :18:47.back. It is a tough situation for Mark Selby. He is sacrificing loads

:18:48. > :18:56.of points to get that situation right.

:18:57. > :19:05.Ding is currently desperate to try to pot a ball. That is why he is

:19:06. > :19:15.taking so much time. But really he has got to put him back in. Unless

:19:16. > :19:26.he suspects that eventually Mark Selby will play this shot correctly.

:19:27. > :19:29.A little bit like that. So he sacrificed eight points. But old

:19:30. > :19:36.Saturn of Selby got it right that time. He certainly knows his way

:19:37. > :19:53.around the snooker table. -- Saturn have.

:19:54. > :20:00.He has pushed the red on and he has not got the snooker. The blue is

:20:01. > :20:07.over the pocket. If you can get this around the back of the red, just

:20:08. > :20:21.behind the black, he will be powering this in.

:20:22. > :20:29.He has played the cannon. And it has all gone wrong. He tried a delicate

:20:30. > :20:33.pot to leave himself on the black. I thought he was going to punch it in

:20:34. > :20:41.because the blue was over the corner pocket. What a chance this is for

:20:42. > :20:43.Ding Junhui. The best chance by far. How many can he make? That is the

:20:44. > :21:03.question. The first shot he has got right. He

:21:04. > :21:21.can pot the black and clear the black spot. Could have come out

:21:22. > :21:26.better. I do not think he is the right side of this red. He has to be

:21:27. > :21:31.careful he does not pot the red slide past the one to the left of it

:21:32. > :21:37.and nine -- and then not be on a colour. He needs a bit of resolving

:21:38. > :22:21.here. A horrible angle. That is a terrible shot. He thought

:22:22. > :22:28.he was going to miss that red. He could have screwed into that red. As

:22:29. > :22:35.soon as you hit it with pace, he accidentally hit the red. He potted

:22:36. > :22:47.it wide. Another cut. He has missed two already. He has lost position.

:22:48. > :22:53.And once again from an ideal position, unless he is going to

:22:54. > :23:07.really go for it, it is end of break. To play this yellow, good

:23:08. > :23:15.shot. I think it goes past the blue. I cannot believe it is the right

:23:16. > :23:22.shot to play. But here we go. Is he playing it?

:23:23. > :23:53.He did well to get position at all. Yes, he is having to work really

:23:54. > :24:02.hard. He has not been in an ideal position for the last three shot.

:24:03. > :24:18.That is better. Back where he once it. -- wants it. A big shot, the

:24:19. > :24:21.red. The yellow was a big shot, but that consolidated things. It has

:24:22. > :24:31.given him a chance to get his cue arm going.

:24:32. > :24:38.Does that red go through the gap? Yes. His body language to look --

:24:39. > :25:05.his body language looked as if it was OK.

:25:06. > :25:12.If he can get himself out of this mini road early on and come out with

:25:13. > :25:15.a reasonable scoreline at the end of the session,, that yellow could be a

:25:16. > :25:37.big turning point for him. That was a little lapse in

:25:38. > :25:59.concentration because he knew he had to power it in to get on the black.

:26:00. > :26:07.And all of a sudden a chance for Mark Selby to get right back into

:26:08. > :26:12.this third frame. HNC did not think he was going to get. Ding was

:26:13. > :26:31.starting to look good until he hit that one a little bit hard.

:26:32. > :26:36.The way Ding John Hahn has started this match is nothing to do with how

:26:37. > :26:48.Mark Selby has been playing. Mark Selby has just done his job. What a

:26:49. > :26:58.great shot that is. Back spin. Mark Selby is just doing his job. It is

:26:59. > :27:06.not ideal here by any means. He really opens the reds. He could have

:27:07. > :27:23.finished absolutely perfect. It is there.

:27:24. > :27:31.That seems to come off quite quick. This is not the red he played for

:27:32. > :27:44.but they were so nicely placed when he opened them, he has options

:27:45. > :27:48.there. The table is very responsive. Perhaps Mark Selby's tip is

:27:49. > :28:00.responsible as well. Sometimes you can get more screw back on. This

:28:01. > :28:11.would hurt Ding Junhui. The last frame really hard him, didn't finish

:28:12. > :28:14.it off. They all hurt. Every frame you lose. Sometimes it is the way

:28:15. > :28:26.you lose them. He was in here again, Ding.

:28:27. > :28:41.Mark Selby looks in good shape. He has had the most table time. You

:28:42. > :28:45.would expect him to clear these. That is like a practice line-up

:28:46. > :28:53.across the table! That is the line-up would do quite often. Five

:28:54. > :29:00.either side of the pink. So used to this position. Of course, when you

:29:01. > :29:03.are out there in the final of a world championship, it is a bit

:29:04. > :29:15.different to a practice session, that is for sure. We always say, you

:29:16. > :29:20.never settle until you get the first frame on the board, no matter how

:29:21. > :29:27.long the match is. He let a golden chance slip by there. This was it.

:29:28. > :29:33.The pockets have been considered a little on the big side this week.

:29:34. > :29:35.But with pace, you still have to be accurate. Mark Selby a bit out of

:29:36. > :29:56.position here. Back. And if Mark Selby does go on

:29:57. > :30:08.to win this game -- frame, the next one becomes a massive frame. And as

:30:09. > :30:14.was mentioned in the studio, some work for Terry Griffiths. Coach to

:30:15. > :30:36.Dean John I. -- Ding Junhui. Opened with a break of 91, Mark

:30:37. > :30:55.Selby. This things and we had a break of 52

:30:56. > :31:05.in the second frame. -- Ding Junhui had a break.

:31:06. > :31:21.And he knows that this frame is slipping away by the shot. 24 the

:31:22. > :31:26.difference. It doesn't matter, the fact that the blue is blocking the

:31:27. > :31:33.path for the green into its natural pocket because the frame would be

:31:34. > :31:42.over by then. He just needs the pink.

:31:43. > :31:58.APPLAUSE You just cannot afford to miss when

:31:59. > :32:05.you get a chance against Mark Selby because this is what he will do to

:32:06. > :32:15.you. And the way he closed out that semifinal, it looks like he had got

:32:16. > :32:28.his a game together just when he needed it most. He looks a different

:32:29. > :32:34.animal out there today. He has not potted every ball but he is in

:32:35. > :32:42.control, more so than Ding Junhui at the moment. It doesn't matter about

:32:43. > :32:53.the green. Ding is coming to the table but barring a lot of snookers

:32:54. > :33:20.it is 3-0 to Mark Selby. 33 the difference so two snookers to tie.

:33:21. > :33:33.Great try. I'm not too sure he's going to get any points out of it

:33:34. > :33:36.but I suppose there is the possibility, if Mark Selby cannot

:33:37. > :33:42.get through to the green, he would be going off the side cushion and

:33:43. > :33:49.there is the possibility of an in-off into the pocket. I would be

:33:50. > :33:55.surprised if Mark Selby falls for that but it is a possibility,

:33:56. > :34:00.swerving around the green, he could get too much swerve and go in-off.

:34:01. > :34:22.It wasn't far off the enough that Steve predicted. The blue is in a

:34:23. > :34:29.great spot to get snookers behind. He couldn't get it thick enough to

:34:30. > :34:31.play up behind the blue that time but what a good effort to get behind

:34:32. > :35:07.the black. Brilliant effort. Can he get in behind that blue now?

:35:08. > :35:16.Unlikely that he is going to get these foul points. He can get in

:35:17. > :35:18.behind the blue quite nicely but just needs to get the top spin

:35:19. > :35:32.right. Through the gap? A little bit of

:35:33. > :35:46.swerve just needed, he might even go close to potting this. Look at this

:35:47. > :35:52.shot. He thought he had potted that. I'd tell you what, Dennis, this next

:35:53. > :36:01.frame is going to be a massive test of character for Ding Junhui. I

:36:02. > :36:07.don't really want to go on about it but the worst we have ever seen Ding

:36:08. > :36:13.was when he was playing Ronnie and he got outplayed and it all

:36:14. > :36:17.unravelled. And whilst you cannot win the final in the first session,

:36:18. > :36:21.as we always say, you can go a long way to losing it. He has got to dig

:36:22. > :36:36.in here. He knows this frame is a forlorn

:36:37. > :36:45.hope really, but he is correct to give every shot juke and

:36:46. > :36:55.consideration. -- every shot due consideration. He has got to try to

:36:56. > :37:08.keep the green safe, which he hasn't done. This will cut into the middle.

:37:09. > :37:28.I don't think the brown passes the blue, maybe it's just squeezes in.

:37:29. > :37:59.Just about. Not making many mistakes, the world

:38:00. > :38:07.number one, that is for sure. And he hammers the pink into the middle

:38:08. > :38:12.pocket. It is the earlier break of 76 that did the damage and what a

:38:13. > :38:14.start for Mark Selby who has won another frame and is now leading

:38:15. > :38:23.3-0. Ding's every shot under pressure and

:38:24. > :38:25.he is not the only one because 1997 champion Ken Doherty has his cue

:38:26. > :38:34.out. The famous demonstrations. What a

:38:35. > :38:40.particular shot that it could turn out, this red along the cushion will

:38:41. > :38:45.stop he is a bit straight so he has to power it in and force the cue

:38:46. > :38:52.ball out for the black. This is the shot he has played, playing it off

:38:53. > :38:56.two cushions and forcing it out. It is said that the pockets were quite

:38:57. > :39:02.generous and that will show you. But if he is a little higher with the

:39:03. > :39:07.cue ball with a bit more angle, he just asked to drop it in and he is

:39:08. > :39:13.on the black. It just shows, that little fraction of the cue ball

:39:14. > :39:16.closer or more of an angle, how much easier the red would have been and

:39:17. > :39:20.he would have gone on to win the frame but he had to force it and

:39:21. > :39:27.missed it and subsequently Mark Selby steals it. It could be a very

:39:28. > :39:33.important red. Very important, and the next frame, as we said, so how

:39:34. > :39:39.disconcerting is this for Ding who was so fluid yesterday? We said in

:39:40. > :39:46.that third frame, this is the opportunity, against McManus you

:39:47. > :39:52.could say that the frame was over, but he got it back through an

:39:53. > :39:56.excellent yellow. But that shot Ken was describing, we thought he might

:39:57. > :40:01.follow through and not play it so hard. It wasn't the wrong shot

:40:02. > :40:08.because if it goes in, nobody pays any attention. But he is desperate

:40:09. > :40:15.for a flame. He needed to win that frame and to have it stolen and now

:40:16. > :40:19.3-0 behind, he has got himself in a terrible situation. And I don't

:40:20. > :40:24.suppose history is any consolation but last year Shaun Murphy was 3-0

:40:25. > :40:28.up on Stuart Bingham and the year before, Ronnie was 3-0 up on Mark

:40:29. > :40:36.Selby. Early days but worrying times for Ding Junhui. COMMENTATOR: It

:40:37. > :40:37.certainly is worrying for Ding Junhui and his army of fans around

:40:38. > :40:56.the world. The mid-session interval coming

:40:57. > :41:04.after this frame. The brown has just come to his rescue somewhat rare.

:41:05. > :41:10.There was a red into the right corner but he is hampered. This will

:41:11. > :41:26.just be a safety shot, you feel. Playing somebody like Mark Selby,

:41:27. > :41:37.your safety has to be so good, to try to force him into making a

:41:38. > :41:41.mistake. And not only one good safety shot, you have to play a

:41:42. > :41:50.series of them until your opponent makes a mistake.

:41:51. > :41:58.I think that is one of the tough things about playing someone like

:41:59. > :42:03.Mark Selby or John Higgins. It is a tough enough game at the best of

:42:04. > :42:06.times without playing somebody who is such a strong match player. You

:42:07. > :42:17.know you have a tough day ahead of you. It can make the job seem even

:42:18. > :42:24.harder. And if Ding Junhui is in that frame of mind, that he thinks

:42:25. > :42:32.it is a more difficult job than it was previously, in rounds before,

:42:33. > :42:47.you put yourself under that bit more pressure.

:42:48. > :42:55.The cue ball is going to pull up short of the pocket. And that is a

:42:56. > :43:03.good shot from Ding Junhui. He gets to play it with lots of side so he

:43:04. > :43:08.did not career in the the reds. This is an awkward shot and surely he

:43:09. > :43:13.will not knock this in? I didn't think so! But what a good shot he

:43:14. > :43:28.has played. APPLAUSE Currently Mark Selby does not need

:43:29. > :43:36.to take any risks. He is hoping that Ding Junhui will just still be in

:43:37. > :43:46.panic mode, trying to force the issue a fraction too much. Ding

:43:47. > :43:52.Junhui needs lots of patience for the rest of this session, just to

:43:53. > :44:03.try to play his way into the game naturally.

:44:04. > :44:16.He really is relentless with his tactical play, Mark Selby. That is

:44:17. > :44:25.another perfectly played safety shot. Mark is ahead in the safety

:44:26. > :44:42.success department as you can see, and as you would expect.

:44:43. > :44:53.He looks to have Ding Junhui in all sorts of trouble. Ding just coming

:44:54. > :45:06.off the top cushion to lay on the red on the side. That's all he could

:45:07. > :45:14.do. Nicely played. APPLAUSE Touching ball. That is typical, it

:45:15. > :45:22.makes it so much easier for Mark Selby. It is amazing, for the cue

:45:23. > :45:28.ball to travel the distance that it did and just land touching the red.

:45:29. > :45:36.I think all Mark Cann do is try to put the cue ball back in exactly the

:45:37. > :45:37.same place -- all he can do. He might get a repeat performance from

:45:38. > :46:02.Ding Junhui. Deja vu. You're absolutely right, Steve, that

:46:03. > :46:08.is all has available to him. Is it going to reach? I don't think so.

:46:09. > :46:14.And is there a red at the back of the bunch that will go? Maybe the

:46:15. > :46:20.black is not available. The red will not go because Mark had a look at

:46:21. > :46:24.it. He can hit other red is so interesting to see if he plays the

:46:25. > :46:28.same shot again because if he comes up short this time, he will be

:46:29. > :46:34.warned, because three misses from this situation and you lose the

:46:35. > :46:45.frame. He can't afford to hit this too hard because any separation

:46:46. > :46:48.between white and red will leave Mark Selby a sniff into the green

:46:49. > :46:56.corner pocket. This is harder. It's going to reach. APPLAUSE

:46:57. > :47:02.But once again he will be back in the same position, the off the red

:47:03. > :47:06.and off the side cushion and up towards the baulk cushion somewhere

:47:07. > :47:20.behind the yellow. Tight to the cushion is what he is after. Not

:47:21. > :47:25.quite this time. There is an escape route for Ding Junhui taking him

:47:26. > :47:30.down the left side of the table. He could even come down off the red

:47:31. > :47:36.that is near the right side cushion. He has had a look at that and he is

:47:37. > :47:38.back looking at it again. As long as he avoid the double-kiss, the White

:47:39. > :48:02.will head up towards the green. It's a bit short of pace. He may

:48:03. > :48:12.have left one on here. Or maybe not. Certainly a long-range tempter for

:48:13. > :48:29.Mark Selby on the left of the table. Screw back into the bottom half of

:48:30. > :48:34.the table. APPLAUSE I tell you what, there is not a lot

:48:35. > :48:41.wrong with that new tip when you are knocking that type of shot in. It's

:48:42. > :48:46.fantastic. How to keep the heat on your opponent in one easy lesson.

:48:47. > :48:52.And that was not defensive, that was taking it by the scruff of the neck.

:48:53. > :48:58.While plenty of people at home think that Mark Selby is a defensive,

:48:59. > :49:04.destructive player on the table by dragging his opponent on the table

:49:05. > :49:05.into drawn-out, tactical play, innocent he is the ultimate match

:49:06. > :49:26.player. -- in essence he is. He has got them nicely placed now

:49:27. > :49:32.with at least four red is available before he would have to go into the

:49:33. > :49:40.bunch. Look at the number of points, 305 against 119. And every chance

:49:41. > :49:50.now that it could be 4-0. There is an awful long way to go but Mark

:49:51. > :49:58.Selby is in the mood. The second frame was so important. For Ding

:49:59. > :50:11.Junhui to have won. He let Mark Selby back in. And he smells blood.

:50:12. > :50:19.There is a long way to go. But he is looking like a machine at the

:50:20. > :50:24.moment. I keep harping on about it but what a decision to take the tip

:50:25. > :50:29.off after winning the semifinal against Marco Fu. His friend was

:50:30. > :50:32.saying it was too hard and he was not comfortable with it but it is a

:50:33. > :50:34.brave decision and it has paid off, by the looks of things. There is

:50:35. > :50:51.always a risk. The pack looks relatively tight but

:50:52. > :51:03.there are a couple of reds at the top as we look, that go.

:51:04. > :51:12.She has won to the right of the pink spot that goes into the right corner

:51:13. > :51:22.-- he has one. That will probably be the one he plays on.

:51:23. > :51:27.It looked as if they were all covering each other but the one

:51:28. > :52:06.closest to the pink is available. He has just played for that loose

:52:07. > :52:12.red and he has an angle here to bring more reds into play. And the

:52:13. > :52:18.number of balls spotted in the tournament, that is incredible, all

:52:19. > :52:27.square. But not any more. That is a beautiful shot. The red next to the

:52:28. > :52:32.black might be a little awkward but he took the opportunity to bring

:52:33. > :52:38.more reds into play. He is already 47 in front and looking good for

:52:39. > :52:42.4-0. I'm not sure if he knew that would be the outcome but he decided

:52:43. > :52:48.to play as a screw back rather than running through for the black. If he

:52:49. > :52:58.did read that screw back exactly as he played it, it is fantastic. The

:52:59. > :53:22.Jester. The cannon didn't work out, he was

:53:23. > :53:30.hoping to push the pink on so now he has a medium-range blue required to

:53:31. > :53:41.clinch the frame. APPLAUSE And he is right on the red next to

:53:42. > :53:46.the black. He really is in fine form in this final, probably the best he

:53:47. > :53:57.has played. He had a terrific final session against Marco Fu.

:53:58. > :54:05.He didn't quite get the side on that so he needs one more good shot, a

:54:06. > :54:13.delicate little cannon, that can clinch the frame. Just a little

:54:14. > :54:15.delicate one. He has hit the other one but that is fine, any cannon

:54:16. > :54:29.will do. Ding Junhui has shown weakness here

:54:30. > :54:35.in this opening session. Mark Selby has done his job and has shown great

:54:36. > :54:39.strength. I don't think anybody thought it would be a 4-0 scoreline.

:54:40. > :54:42.We thought Ding Junhui would continue in the same vein, he has

:54:43. > :54:47.looked very comfortable in this tournament so far but you never know

:54:48. > :54:53.what is going to happen, especially at the start of a match. He has just

:54:54. > :55:00.got that. I thought it was drifting towards the near jaw. Damage

:55:01. > :55:12.limitation for Ding Junhui for the rest of this session.

:55:13. > :55:21.Mark Selby has had seven centuries in this year's World Championship.

:55:22. > :55:27.There have been 81 so far and the record is 86. That was set last

:55:28. > :55:35.year. But this has been superb. From the world number one.

:55:36. > :56:01.He has made 45 century breaks this season. 416 in his career.

:56:02. > :56:11.A little smile on his face, he is enjoying himself. He is totally at

:56:12. > :56:43.ease with his game. What a start. Beautifully played, the way he

:56:44. > :56:52.nudged that red passed the pink spot. He is going to take some

:56:53. > :56:59.stopping here, in this year's final, it has to be said. Winner here two

:57:00. > :57:04.years ago with that magnificent victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan. An

:57:05. > :57:05.awfully long way to go but here is another magnificent century break

:57:06. > :57:20.from Mark Selby. I think Ding Junhui is going to have

:57:21. > :57:28.to head to the practice table and have a chat with his mentor, Terry

:57:29. > :57:34.Griffiths. We know that the mid-session interval can change

:57:35. > :57:47.things around. Will it? That is the question. Kyren Wilson still holds

:57:48. > :57:53.the high break, of 143. ?10,000 for the high break. Kyren is getting

:57:54. > :57:58.married in six weeks' time and he might be hoping to use that towards

:57:59. > :58:05.his wedding. But it could go in this final. It is a lot of Marassi pan,

:58:06. > :58:24.isn't it! -- marzipan. An exhibition type positional shot

:58:25. > :58:33.there with loads of side. Doesn't matter about the pink. What a start

:58:34. > :58:40.for the world number one, Mark Selby has played four and won four and he

:58:41. > :58:44.goes to the mid-session interval 4-0 in front.

:58:45. > :58:53.STUDIO: This is a turn-up, many expected this man to be hanging onto

:58:54. > :59:00.Ding Junhui today but it is not how it has worked out. A complete

:59:01. > :59:05.contrast to the last I Mark Selby with in the final in 2014 when he

:59:06. > :59:09.was down against Ronnie O'Sullivan. That was the 82nd century of the

:59:10. > :59:14.championship this year and we are only four away from the record which

:59:15. > :59:19.was achieved last year in what was Stuart Bingham's year. It has been a

:59:20. > :59:24.very interesting start and I hope you are enjoying it. A long way to

:59:25. > :59:28.go about how positive has Mark Selby looked in himself and his form

:59:29. > :59:32.compared to the last few rounds? He is an absolutely wonderful match

:59:33. > :59:37.player. He seized the opportunity in the second frame and he knows how

:59:38. > :59:42.much that would hurt Ding and he has been exemplary since. He has given

:59:43. > :59:47.him nothing. He has upped his game considerably from what he has showed

:59:48. > :59:52.so far in the scoring department and the fact he is doing it with a

:59:53. > :59:58.brand-new tip, that's just exceptional. We always knew while he

:59:59. > :00:02.-- right he was world number one. He has been on and off since 2011. If

:00:03. > :00:09.he wins the title he will remain at world number one. But Terry

:00:10. > :00:14.Griffiths is going to add to weave his magic again.

:00:15. > :00:22.Ding will go straight to the practice table. He will be there.

:00:23. > :00:28.Having been with Terry, he will not be saying too much. He will be

:00:29. > :00:32.talking about general things, not even snooker. He will try to lighten

:00:33. > :00:38.the mood. Ding will be feeling heavy. He is under extreme pressure.

:00:39. > :00:46.Until he gets that first frame, it is desperate. You do not see too

:00:47. > :00:52.many balls when you play against Mark. He needs to knock some balls

:00:53. > :01:00.in. He has got himself under pressure by his own mistakes. He has

:01:01. > :01:06.not been anywhere near. This is a test of character than his snooker

:01:07. > :01:11.ability. There were a couple of dodgy shot selections. That put him

:01:12. > :01:14.under the pressure from the off. You can possibly explain those because

:01:15. > :01:20.of the occasion. He has been punished so severely? He maybe sees

:01:21. > :01:26.that he does not want to get involved in Mark Selby's game, his

:01:27. > :01:29.tactical game. Maybe the plan was to go for anything and put Mark Selby

:01:30. > :01:37.on the back foot. Do something that he does not expect. Mark Selby is in

:01:38. > :01:43.a lovely position. You are so relaxed now. You 4-0 ahead. He can

:01:44. > :01:49.just relax and play his game. He is not under any pressure. It is a

:01:50. > :01:54.great place to be in the final. He is a bit like the Floyd Mayweather

:01:55. > :02:03.of snooker. All sorts Kraupp, he finds a way through. He has got

:02:04. > :02:07.everything. Does Ding attack? He has tried that. Does he go tactical?

:02:08. > :02:12.That ain't going to happen. Ding has to try to get in first in every

:02:13. > :02:15.frame. He has to go back to how he played against McManus. If not, this

:02:16. > :02:22.could be an early finish. Much to ponder. Let's lighten the

:02:23. > :02:27.mood a little bit. Over the last couple of weeks we have been royally

:02:28. > :02:31.entertained and no little informed by the quizmaster supreme, Stephen

:02:32. > :02:38.Fry. Here he is once again with the snooker version of July.

:02:39. > :02:44.-- cue light. Hello again. This week we have unearthed some interesting

:02:45. > :02:52.facts about our favourite game, snooker. Today's teaser falls into

:02:53. > :02:57.the category of general ignorance. You will think you know the answer.

:02:58. > :03:05.Fingers on buzzers, joining on social media. Which player has won

:03:06. > :03:16.the most world snooker titles? We will talk more in a short while.

:03:17. > :03:20.Easy, surely. Or is it. -- cue Mac we are going to talk about the match

:03:21. > :03:26.referee, Paul Collier, the Welshman, in charge for the second time at the

:03:27. > :03:31.Crucible. He last did did the 2004 final between Ronnie and Graeme

:03:32. > :03:38.Dott. There are many strings to this man's bow. He did some cue surgery

:03:39. > :03:42.on Marco Fu's cue in the semifinal. He plays a large part in running the

:03:43. > :03:50.scenes -- running the game behind the scenes as well.

:03:51. > :03:55.This is the one you always want to be at. I have been lucky. I have

:03:56. > :04:03.refereed all over the world. You see history get made in that arena. It

:04:04. > :04:05.is just a wonderful place. They call it the Theatre of dreams, which is

:04:06. > :04:12.what it is. It is very special. The youngest man

:04:13. > :04:18.ever to officiate at a world final, Paul Collier.

:04:19. > :04:22.It is a bit like Stewart Bingham said last year, his name is on the

:04:23. > :04:31.trophy now and nobody can take that away. That was pretty much how I

:04:32. > :04:35.felt. It was a proud time. I am 45 years old. I have been watching the

:04:36. > :04:41.game over many years and it all started at the Crucible.

:04:42. > :04:47.Almost showtime, please welcome your referee, Paul Collier. If you

:04:48. > :04:51.concentrate, you have cracked it. If you can interpret the shots. If you

:04:52. > :04:57.can interact with the players and make them respect you, it is easier.

:04:58. > :05:01.There are some players who like to be a little bit involved, they like

:05:02. > :05:08.a laugh. There are other players who will not even look at you. You deal

:05:09. > :05:19.with people in different ways. People have said they watch us at

:05:20. > :05:23.the black end of the table. You have two players there. You are almost

:05:24. > :05:29.dancing with them. You do not even notice you are doing it. I do not

:05:30. > :05:35.think there will ever make Strictly Come Dancing! It is nice. Bullying

:05:36. > :05:41.-- being a player myself, I watched the players techniques. It helps you

:05:42. > :06:06.concentrate. I did not really say I wanted to be

:06:07. > :06:13.a referee. I wanted to play the game. We have a great circuit in

:06:14. > :06:17.Wales. You travel every weekend. I suppose phrase hotbed is the right

:06:18. > :06:21.phrase. I remember doing matches years ago in the clubs, doing

:06:22. > :06:26.quarterfinals of the Welsh Championships, things like that.

:06:27. > :06:32.Maybe 60 or 70 people crammed around a table, drinking beer. That is when

:06:33. > :06:36.you learn your trade, it is difficult. You have to tell people

:06:37. > :06:40.to be quiet, you have two tread on people's feed. You have gone through

:06:41. > :07:02.that. When you get to a place like the Crucible, it should be easier.

:07:03. > :07:13.The first stint of professional refereeing I did was in 1992 in

:07:14. > :07:18.Blackpool. Mark Williams, Ronnie and John Higgins had turned

:07:19. > :07:24.professional. There was a company that filmed pot black. That was

:07:25. > :07:29.played in Blackpool. I stayed up there and worked with them on that.

:07:30. > :07:36.That led to them offering me a job. I spent nine years with them. I did

:07:37. > :07:39.not see a way back. I did think the game's days were numbered. When

:07:40. > :07:46.Barry took over, he said he had an offer for me. I have learnt a lot,

:07:47. > :07:50.being a tournament director. There are things you do not appreciate as

:07:51. > :07:56.a referee. You turn up at events and you think it just happens. You have

:07:57. > :08:02.got tables all over Europe. The boys come and put them in, we do the

:08:03. > :08:06.administration. Job done. Quite satisfying. A good time to be

:08:07. > :08:12.involved in the job, definitely. It is nice that we can find enough good

:08:13. > :08:15.referees for what we want. Tournaments like the Welsh are a

:08:16. > :08:20.good grounding for people. You can give them experience among the best

:08:21. > :08:28.players. The concentration is the big thing. When you put them in a

:08:29. > :08:31.room where there are ten other tables, you can see other players,

:08:32. > :08:38.you can see the audience. It is learning to concentrate in that

:08:39. > :08:44.environment. I was... What was I, 2122 when I

:08:45. > :08:48.started? I was by far the youngest. Nobody came along for years after.

:08:49. > :08:53.There are so many now in that age group. They are there for the right

:08:54. > :09:04.reasons. Seeing them come through it is great. The improvement in some of

:09:05. > :09:07.these referees is brilliant. If I see one of those people that I have

:09:08. > :09:14.been able to help bring along, that would be awesome if I saw them do a

:09:15. > :09:18.final. I am probably a slightly better

:09:19. > :09:22.referee than I was the last time because I have learned more as the

:09:23. > :09:28.years have gone by. I probably thought I would never work the

:09:29. > :09:32.Crucible again in any format. Going upper-level NOW is go to be

:09:33. > :09:37.special. He is doing a fine job, as he always does. He is a terrific

:09:38. > :09:41.person and a very good referee. He is class. He has been around a long

:09:42. > :09:46.time. Nearly all the referees. They are good lads and good ladies. They

:09:47. > :09:58.are fantastic. He has been around a long time. It is encouraging to see.

:09:59. > :10:03.There are over 150 referees now. That really does show you the growth

:10:04. > :10:07.of the game around the world. The age of the referee, I do not

:10:08. > :10:13.personally understand why they would want to be a snooker ref! But

:10:14. > :10:19.obviously 150 is incredible. Could you do that? I could do that. I

:10:20. > :10:24.actually enjoy watching the game. I do not fancy picking all the balls

:10:25. > :10:27.out for him, again! But I think so. You have to have focus and

:10:28. > :10:34.concentration. You can occasionally miss things. Imagine being a referee

:10:35. > :10:40.in that frame yesterday? The long one? Yes! That is where focus and

:10:41. > :10:46.concentration comes in. And good bladder control! Let's not go there!

:10:47. > :10:50.He is a very handy man to know as well. He was the guy who did the

:10:51. > :10:57.surgery on Marco's cue when the tip fell off. Good job he was there.

:10:58. > :11:02.Speaking of good job, that is exactly what he did. Difficult with

:11:03. > :11:08.the superglue. When you have a tip flush to the clue, he had a

:11:09. > :11:13.difficult job and he did a really good job. He has got another day and

:11:14. > :11:17.a half of work in this final. Stephen Fry has set you another

:11:18. > :11:22.interesting question today. Did he get it right to -- did you get it

:11:23. > :11:27.right? Let's find out. We are deep into the second week at

:11:28. > :11:31.the Crucible in this year's World Championship. Our brains are by now

:11:32. > :11:34.perhaps a little adult after countless days of snooker. Here is

:11:35. > :11:39.the apparently easy question today. Which player has won the most world

:11:40. > :11:46.titles? Surely these guys will know that. Is this a trick question? Is

:11:47. > :11:55.it a lady or a gentle man? Jo Davis won the most to start with. 20 times

:11:56. > :12:05.undefeated. Rhiannon Evans has won 11. And I have won seven. It ain't

:12:06. > :12:15.me. How many of you won? Six. You cannot talk about the modern era. Jo

:12:16. > :12:22.Davis. Jo Davis. Jo Davis. It has got to be a catch question. It is

:12:23. > :12:27.too obvious. Where is the catch? -10 points to you if you set Stephen

:12:28. > :12:38.Hendry. It is Davis. The owner of seven titles, Stephen Hendry. Steve

:12:39. > :12:42.Davis only got six, didn't teach are Guia Stephen Hendry you may have the

:12:43. > :12:45.monopoly of success here at the Crucible, but the world Championship

:12:46. > :12:53.has been going for a lot longer than we have been coming to Sheffield.

:12:54. > :13:03.There was no fooling our great champions. The answer is Jo Davis.

:13:04. > :13:07.He won 15 world titles in a row. That was between 1927 and 1946. Joe,

:13:08. > :13:12.along with his brilliantly talented and rather chemical -- comical

:13:13. > :13:16.brother Fred, was born in Derbyshire. They were sons of a

:13:17. > :13:20.miner turned Republican. The premises of the pub contained a

:13:21. > :13:24.full-size billiards table. The rest is history and legend. Joel became a

:13:25. > :13:31.genius of the game, despite the fact he could not focus with his right

:13:32. > :13:35.eye. He was the driving force in setting up the very first

:13:36. > :13:40.professional World Championship in 1927 in Birmingham. Ten players

:13:41. > :13:45.signed up. Each came with five guineas entry fee. They purchased a

:13:46. > :13:50.trophy. The little lady at the top. It is still play for today. Joel

:13:51. > :13:57.retired in 1976 from competitive snooker. His older brother Fred won

:13:58. > :14:02.the world title eight times and played well into old age. He was 70

:14:03. > :14:07.when he appeared in 1984 for the last time at the Crucible. Do not

:14:08. > :14:14.forget John Poolman, mothering this man, who won the last of his eight

:14:15. > :14:17.world titles in 1968. Stephen Hendry owns the modern-day Crucible era

:14:18. > :14:23.record of seven, which may never be beaten. Whisper it, he is actually

:14:24. > :14:30.the fourth on the snooker all-time list of World Championship winners.

:14:31. > :14:35.Just do not tell me -- tell him I said that or he will come out of

:14:36. > :14:44.retirement. What do you think, out of

:14:45. > :14:49.retirement? I am not happy. Fourth! The question remains, John, how many

:14:50. > :14:52.will Mark Selby get and will this be number two? At the moment the way

:14:53. > :14:58.the opening session has gone, I would have disabling and that yes.

:14:59. > :15:03.-- I would have to say a big emphatic yes. He is bossing the

:15:04. > :15:10.table. This is really a test of character for doing in this session.

:15:11. > :15:16.It is. By the way, if you are Steve Ashfield, Nathan Brooks, and so many

:15:17. > :15:20.more, congratulations, 150 points each. You got the question right.

:15:21. > :15:22.Now settle down for the second part of this session. John Virgo and Ken

:15:23. > :15:33.Doherty in the box. Thank you, Hazel. You have got to

:15:34. > :15:37.say, ten, a big four frames for Dean John high. Absolutely. He would have

:15:38. > :15:45.been in the practice room with Terry. -- Ding Junhui. In situations

:15:46. > :15:52.like this you have to forget about the previous four frames. You have

:15:53. > :15:57.got another four frames ahead. If Ding can come out of the next four

:15:58. > :16:04.frames 3-1, he is back in the game. Of course the pressure builds. Until

:16:05. > :16:10.you get that first frame on the board, the pressure is going to

:16:11. > :16:15.build on being -- Ding. Mark Selby is a master in this situation. He

:16:16. > :16:23.will keep the pressure on. Absolutely. He will thrive on this.

:16:24. > :16:29.The second frame that Ding Junhui last, when he made a 52 break and

:16:30. > :16:32.Mark needed a snooker, apparently he walked out of the arena and punched

:16:33. > :16:43.his dressing room door. Frames like that really hurt you. Frames like

:16:44. > :16:48.that that you win, give you a big boost. You do not see a lot of

:16:49. > :16:53.emotion from Ding Junhui. He punched the table as well. He was really

:16:54. > :16:58.annoyed. They really do annoy you, those types of frames. Let's not

:16:59. > :17:06.underestimate the fact this is the biggest match of his life. He has

:17:07. > :17:12.the hopes of a country resting on those narrow shoulders. He has to

:17:13. > :17:16.relax and get himself in the match. He will not really relax until he

:17:17. > :17:17.gets the first frame on the scoreboard. He wanted sooner rather

:17:18. > :17:46.than Later. -- he wants it sooner. Excellent safety from Selby. There

:17:47. > :17:50.has been talk about the fact he put a new tip on last night. So far he

:17:51. > :18:00.must be very pleased with how it is reacting. I saw him in the practice

:18:01. > :18:05.room before the match started. He said he had half an hour of it last

:18:06. > :18:09.night after his match. He probably would have been very tired. He

:18:10. > :18:16.seemed very happy with it practising. Not just playing the

:18:17. > :18:18.pots, but sometimes playing the safety, that particular shot where

:18:19. > :18:25.you're trying to swing it around four cushions. If a new tip is not

:18:26. > :18:36.gripping, those shots macro can go very wrong. He seems to be OK. Dean

:18:37. > :18:45.John hi has another problem. -- Ding Junhui has another problem. I cannot

:18:46. > :18:50.see him play this shot. In the end he went for the pot. Thinking if it

:18:51. > :19:00.rattled the jaws, he would not be leaving much. Nothing that easy. He

:19:01. > :19:04.has left something. One of those situations where he could not get

:19:05. > :19:13.back to baulk. Thought you might be able to pot is way out of trouble.

:19:14. > :19:27.This red that Mark is going to take on, just cannon the red above it. It

:19:28. > :19:33.is right in the heart of the pocket. Could not have played it better.

:19:34. > :20:00.Beautiful shot. He has a slight angle but may not

:20:01. > :20:06.attempt to go into the pack of reds. Well, he decided to and he played it

:20:07. > :20:08.very well. Just had a slight angle but managed to force it. Look at the

:20:09. > :20:29.cue ball. He has forced the angle. That was a brilliant shot. He has to

:20:30. > :20:46.go for the black now. Sorry, for the clue. -- blue.

:20:47. > :20:57.There will be a few disappointed in the arena. The sponsors are laying

:20:58. > :21:07.40-1 for a maximum break in this session.

:21:08. > :21:21.They get excited when a few reds and blacks go in. Getting

:21:22. > :21:29.down, he is just seeing if he can reach it. The problem with this is

:21:30. > :21:32.the yellow ball. That will be is concerned. Can he get down properly

:21:33. > :21:42.on the shot and not touch the yellow? The referee, Paul Collier,

:21:43. > :21:52.having a keen eye on Mark Selby's waistcoat. That is a good pot. Very

:21:53. > :21:56.nicely played. Nicely on the black as well. He judged it perfectly.

:21:57. > :22:15.Some right-hand side. Checking the cue ball.

:22:16. > :22:45.There is a surprise. He was not doing a lot for the cue ball. That

:22:46. > :22:46.is a bad miss. Now, Ding needs to take advantage of these

:22:47. > :23:52.opportunities. Wide. You can see the red on the pink

:23:53. > :24:02.spot. It stops the pink from being re-spotted.

:24:03. > :24:11.The pink will go to the yellow spot and the red Le Tis on the pink spot

:24:12. > :24:29.clearly putts -- pots into the bottom right-hand corner.

:24:30. > :24:39.If you get to 68 points, there will be snooker is required. -- if he

:24:40. > :24:56.gets to 68 points, there will be snookers required.

:24:57. > :25:09.Nicely on this red. He was nice -- need a nice split off. He has

:25:10. > :25:22.purposely left himself long on this black.

:25:23. > :25:31.He stuck to the red. Can he get this red to the left middle? It is touch

:25:32. > :26:01.and go. He is just on it. This pink would put him 65 points in

:26:02. > :26:13.front. Just another red and a colour and there will be another frame on

:26:14. > :26:22.the scoreboard. He got a heavy contact there. He is still on the

:26:23. > :26:25.red. Let's look at the cue ball. The blue just bouncing slightly, taking

:26:26. > :26:40.some of the pace out of the cue ball. Still OK. Ding, with that

:26:41. > :26:44.missed red, will be looking to get this frame on the board as quickly

:26:45. > :26:46.as possible. At the moment it is all Mark Selby. The longer it goes on,

:26:47. > :27:11.the more difficult it becomes. After his victory last night, I saw

:27:12. > :27:17.Mark Selby and he said that the last session he played against Marco Fu

:27:18. > :27:26.was the best he felt all tournament. When he started off this final, he

:27:27. > :27:32.is carrying it in today. New tip or not, he looks good, very confident.

:27:33. > :27:35.Like all champions, when they get their noses in front, they are not

:27:36. > :27:46.going to keep looking behind for dangers. They are going to look

:27:47. > :27:47.ahead at the winning line. This early in the match, worrying times

:27:48. > :28:08.for Ding Junhui. I do not think he has played his

:28:09. > :28:12.best at all throughout the tournament, Mark Selby. Compares to

:28:13. > :28:17.a couple of years ago when he did win this championship with that

:28:18. > :28:24.wonderful comeback against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final. But he has

:28:25. > :28:27.got one of those type of games, John, that even when he is not

:28:28. > :28:35.playing at his best, the second part of his game is still so good, so

:28:36. > :28:46.consistent. It makes it so difficult for his opponents. He does not give

:28:47. > :28:55.you anything very easily. If he is going to make a century he needs a

:28:56. > :29:08.good shot here. Very solid. Nice angle on the black. The problem is,

:29:09. > :29:13.he needs a good positional shot. He played it with a tonne of

:29:14. > :29:20.left-hander side. Once again he wins the frame. Ding Junhui did not score

:29:21. > :29:29.a point again. And so Mark Selby is racing away with this at the moment.

:29:30. > :29:34.5-0. He is. What can Dean John hi -- Ding Junhui do about it? His coach,

:29:35. > :29:42.Terry Griffiths, is with Steve. You went into the interval on the

:29:43. > :29:46.table with Ding. Worrying times? Very much so. He has not really

:29:47. > :29:55.settled down. Mark has taken full advantage of his mistakes. It is a

:29:56. > :29:59.awful place. Typical of professional snooker, one day you are open and

:30:00. > :30:03.the next you are down. You have had plenty of experience of coaching the

:30:04. > :30:06.top players. More of a mind coach these days. What do you say to Ding?

:30:07. > :30:15.How long have you known in? In the end, when he finishes his

:30:16. > :30:18.practice, because he likes to come in and have a little bit of

:30:19. > :30:23.practice, so I have five minutes with him, little bit of chat, try to

:30:24. > :30:27.calm him down a bit. Obviously he is very disappointed with his

:30:28. > :30:30.performance, to date. And then I will try to get him going out there

:30:31. > :30:34.in a little bit more positive mind. It is very difficult to get from

:30:35. > :30:39.where he was too a positive mind in a few minutes, I can tell you. But

:30:40. > :30:44.have a go, and sometimes I shout at him, sometimes I coaxed him around!

:30:45. > :30:47.Obviously, it is damage limitation for the rest of this session, but

:30:48. > :30:52.what would you say to him regardless in the interval before tonight? I

:30:53. > :30:56.haven't really thought about that yet, I would like to see the score

:30:57. > :31:03.first before I make the decision. I am the flexible, because I have done

:31:04. > :31:08.it so many times. So I have got a lot of things I can use, it is just

:31:09. > :31:11.a matter of the player and how he absorbs the information I give him,

:31:12. > :31:16.to be honest with you. I am no genius. Ding is the genius, I am

:31:17. > :31:21.just there to prepare a little bit better to get him out to play. We

:31:22. > :31:31.won't keep you, get you back to the thanks. -- get you back to the

:31:32. > :31:35.agony! Thanks. COMMENTATOR: That is the key, trying to keep Ding in a

:31:36. > :31:48.positive frame of mind. Very difficult. Now, OK, here's your

:31:49. > :31:51.chance, Ding. You feel he just needs an easy chance like this, just to

:31:52. > :31:57.get his arm going, get a view points on the board, give himself a bit of

:31:58. > :32:38.confidence. Usually trying to get the black back on its spot.

:32:39. > :32:48.Nice angle into the pack, he can screw into it and still be on to the

:32:49. > :32:56.loose thread. That is pretty good. That is more like it. Great positive

:32:57. > :33:00.shot, so easy to do when you are struggling to get your first score

:33:01. > :33:06.on the board, but it was the right shot and played it well. Just got to

:33:07. > :33:15.be a little bit careful here. It is a delicate shot, this. He was OK. A

:33:16. > :33:22.little bit thinner, but he played it nicely. I wouldn't say he is

:33:23. > :33:33.perfect, black. May just be able to force the angle. A little bit short

:33:34. > :33:35.on the Redd, but that is understandable, when you are trying

:33:36. > :33:40.to force the angle, the last thing you need to do is go too far up the

:33:41. > :33:47.table. Hopeful the blue. Needs a good angle on the blue. Played it

:33:48. > :34:04.nicely. He played a positive shot, into the

:34:05. > :34:14.left-centre. Cue ball straight into the pink at the top of the pack. He

:34:15. > :34:20.has played it very nicely indeed. He didn't have to hit it with a lot of

:34:21. > :34:24.pace. Just very nicely controlled. Brought a few more reds into play,

:34:25. > :34:28.and nicely on this red into the corner pocket. That was a lovely

:34:29. > :34:33.shot, John, wasn't it? Didn't have to play it with a loss of face. And

:34:34. > :34:38.the fact he didn't, we believe he was going to hit it right. Sometimes

:34:39. > :34:41.if you are in a stage of a match where you have not got a frame on

:34:42. > :34:45.the board, you just feel you want to hit it hard and hope you will be on

:34:46. > :34:47.something, but it was a controlled cannon. He would have liked to have

:34:48. > :34:51.been a little straighter on this black though. He didn't need to play

:34:52. > :34:53.another cannon. I'm afraid he's going to have to do, the angle he

:34:54. > :35:16.has got on the black. That was the problem. If he had been

:35:17. > :35:23.straighter on the black, there were enough loose reds to win the frame.

:35:24. > :35:28.He wasn't. That this angle, had to go into him again, and it can always

:35:29. > :35:31.go wrong, and it has. A little bit tentative, that one, that was the

:35:32. > :35:41.one where he needed to inject a bit more pace into the cue ball.

:35:42. > :35:49.Understandably, the more tentative, he could have made sure of the

:35:50. > :35:57.black. That is the end of break. Now he needs a good cue ball here, tight

:35:58. > :36:05.OmniBook cushion. -- tight on the ball cushion.

:36:06. > :36:41.Doesn't want to catch the bumper on the middle pocket here. He judged it

:36:42. > :36:45.well. Good cue ball. He will be disappointed. Should have made more

:36:46. > :36:51.there. Just coming up to the two-hour mark. Ding Junhui at the

:36:52. > :37:05.moment, nothing to show for his efforts.

:37:06. > :38:21.This is a decent safety, but not quite the line. Another inch or two

:38:22. > :38:29.over and he could have got that cue ball tight in behind the green. That

:38:30. > :38:42.think somewhat blocking the path now to the left corner pocket.

:38:43. > :38:56.This looks a better line. Just a fraction out. If somebody could get

:38:57. > :39:00.that cue ball in behind the green, certainly have the advantage in this

:39:01. > :39:11.frame. Very important tactical battle, this. With Ding already

:39:12. > :39:16.having a 38 point advantage. Of course Ding knows if he gives Mark

:39:17. > :39:26.the next chance, it could count for nothing. Swinging it around. Off two

:39:27. > :39:29.cushions. Good links with the cue ball. That red in the middle of the

:39:30. > :39:31.table next to the blue put a lot of pressure now on Ding Junhui to get

:39:32. > :39:56.this cue ball safe. Yes, the fact that the is so close

:39:57. > :40:13.with the cue ball to this baulk cushion, so he can't play the

:40:14. > :40:24.four-cushion escape route back to baulk.

:40:25. > :40:34.That was a very strange shot indeed. I'll tell you what, I don't think

:40:35. > :40:39.the red closest to the cue ball passes. The red behind the black

:40:40. > :40:47.would have been a little easier than it is now. Does this read past the

:40:48. > :40:53.pink? It is tight, isn't it? Maybe half the pocket available. If you

:40:54. > :41:12.were right behind it, you would fancy it, knocking it in.

:41:13. > :41:20.This may be worth having a go. There seems to be a little high-pitched

:41:21. > :41:45.noise in the arena. It is worth hamming a go at this.

:41:46. > :41:50.Good shot. Though, he has got a nice bump off the middle pocket as well,

:41:51. > :41:51.just to keep the cue ball out in the middle of the table and nicely on

:41:52. > :42:04.the yellow. That was a nice little bonus. Just

:42:05. > :42:10.Vela get the cue ball here. Good pot. A knock off the middle pocket.

:42:11. > :42:16.Still would have been on the green. A lot easier, of course. Perfect.

:42:17. > :42:37.Could not have hit that much better. He would love to get that pink away

:42:38. > :42:42.from the bottom left-hand corner pocket. Maybe not from this red,

:42:43. > :42:52.maybe take the blue and one other red, but he needs that think out of

:42:53. > :42:57.the way, back on its spot. Pot the blue. The red at the bottom of the

:42:58. > :43:16.pack will go into this bottom right-hand corner pocket.

:43:17. > :43:32.This red he is potting now, OK, it is the only ball that was on, but...

:43:33. > :43:36.Playing for the pink, as Ken suggested, is just a little bit more

:43:37. > :43:40.difficult, because the rates that are now available all go to the left

:43:41. > :43:44.corner pocket, which he is clearing peeping from, but he has got a

:43:45. > :43:49.little bit to do with the cue ball. You wouldn't think it would be a

:43:50. > :43:53.problem, but it will be at full stretch. Using the extended

:43:54. > :44:14.extension on his cue. Got to be careful with this one.

:44:15. > :44:39.Played it nicely. Still 22 points behind. You will need the awkward

:44:40. > :45:13.red from the side cushion to clinch the frame at this visit.

:45:14. > :45:17.The bottom one of the three reds almost in line will go to the right

:45:18. > :45:40.corner, I think. Forced it in. Six points behind. It

:45:41. > :45:49.would put him 26.1 with 35 remaining, so that read on the side

:45:50. > :45:54.cushion, he needs. That could be Ding Junhui's only hope here. Could

:45:55. > :46:18.be a big stumbling block for Mark. He is blessed with tremendous cue

:46:19. > :46:27.power, but didn't strike the cue ball that well. Didn't look like he

:46:28. > :46:29.got a proper strike on the cue ball there. Running away from the reds

:46:30. > :46:45.now. Is he looking at that awkward red

:46:46. > :46:47.that he needs? The can get the cannon and the pots. No, it wasn't

:46:48. > :47:11.on. There is no value, really, in taking

:47:12. > :47:14.on the grounds. The odds against potting it and getting back up for

:47:15. > :47:20.the red, so typical match player that he is, he will keep the

:47:21. > :47:29.pressure on his opponent. That looks pretty good. Excellent shot.

:47:30. > :47:39.APPLAUSE Sort of forcing Ding into, well, the

:47:40. > :47:41.easy escape is the red onto the cushion, but of course Ding very

:47:42. > :47:47.reluctant to bring that out into play.

:47:48. > :47:58.We know how costly the miss rule can be, if you keep missing it. Hit and

:47:59. > :48:01.hope, do you think Machan, for one of those two reds, left of the pink?

:48:02. > :48:08.At least he has that insurance of the red on the left cushion. One I

:48:09. > :48:16.think you are right. There is one possible escape. Just trying to put

:48:17. > :48:19.a line-up. This is such a delicate shot, and you have almost got to

:48:20. > :48:23.play it dead weight, and if he doesn't hit it right, he will

:48:24. > :48:28.possibly leave a red to the left centre but that is a possible

:48:29. > :48:31.escape. He could pay this with a bit of space and hit it with the reds

:48:32. > :48:42.and tried to trust a little bit of luck. But again, never certain of

:48:43. > :48:45.where the reds will finish up. That is the way to hit the red.

:48:46. > :48:50.Personally I would come down the other side, swerve around the yellow

:48:51. > :48:54.and coming to them with pace from the left-hand side of the table. You

:48:55. > :49:04.never know, you might knock the pink on the cushion. You might knock a

:49:05. > :49:07.red on the cushion. Just trying to run up to this red near the cushion.

:49:08. > :49:15.As you say, that is a nothing shot, I don't know why he has played that.

:49:16. > :49:21.That it's a show of notes, if ever I saw them. I am not quite sure what

:49:22. > :49:25.he was trying to lay into the red on the left-hand side cushion or

:49:26. > :49:28.whether he was time to come off to side cushions and maybe come off the

:49:29. > :49:35.back of these reds? Yes, I think that was maybe his plan. He has

:49:36. > :49:44.underhit that by quite a considerable margin. I think he has

:49:45. > :49:56.got to try the two-cushion escape and maybe hit and hope for the best

:49:57. > :50:02.here. Harder this time. Now, has he got the line? It looks pretty good

:50:03. > :50:09.to me, looks very good... Brilliant! Brilliant! APPLAUSE

:50:10. > :50:19.Super shot. Not only did he hit the red, but Mark Selby can't pots this

:50:20. > :50:52.red. Thinking about the possibility of

:50:53. > :50:55.playing the awkward red that he will have two contenders if he gets the

:50:56. > :50:59.chance to win the frame. Doesn't feel like he could get a good safety

:51:00. > :51:22.of this red, I think mainly because he is hampered.

:51:23. > :51:27.A good safety, and Ding Junhui with a problem here. He doesn't really

:51:28. > :51:35.want to bring this red away from the left-hand side cushion. But of your

:51:36. > :51:38.sleeve he feels that the only guaranteed safety, but, even playing

:51:39. > :51:46.this one coming has got to get round the back of the black. If he plays

:51:47. > :51:49.one of the raids that is near the pink, he has got to be careful, if

:51:50. > :52:02.he catches it to the key could run into the red on the side cushion. --

:52:03. > :52:05.if he catches it too thick. Nothing will look easy to Ding Junhui at the

:52:06. > :52:24.moment. Decided just to play the containing

:52:25. > :52:33.shot. Well, he has left it saved, but that is all. -- left it safe.

:52:34. > :52:34.Not going to get any advantage, but sometimes the balls dictate what

:52:35. > :53:05.shops you play. Good shot from Mark covering the two

:53:06. > :53:07.reds at the table. Leaving Ding no other option here but to play this

:53:08. > :53:26.red. Played it the other side and the

:53:27. > :53:35.kiss on the blue has ruined it. He may have found the baulk cushion.

:53:36. > :53:37.But here is a chance for Mark Selby. The three reds now are in the open.

:53:38. > :53:59.He has a 7-point advantage. APPLAUSE

:54:00. > :54:04.Good pot. The red just left of the pink. The one just beside it will

:54:05. > :54:12.pop into the left-hand corner pocket. He can stay on the pink,

:54:13. > :54:42.just look this down. Two reds, two colours. Just having a little look.

:54:43. > :54:49.Obviously having another close look. It looks like it won't spot on its

:54:50. > :54:54.own spot. It will go on the blue spot. Just wants to make sure. Yes,

:54:55. > :54:57.and of course you can't ask the referee to get a ball and try and

:54:58. > :55:02.put it on. You have got to judge it with your own eyes. I didn't know

:55:03. > :55:14.about you, Ken, I don't think it will go back on its own spot.

:55:15. > :55:24.Well, there is plenty of room, and that is why he has come around the

:55:25. > :55:28.same side. The way he was looking, yes, he had to play with the red in

:55:29. > :55:41.the same pocket. Just red, pink or black required. APPLAUSE

:55:42. > :55:47.This black to go 30 points in front with 27 remaining. Just make certain

:55:48. > :56:07.of the pots, that is what he will be thinking.

:56:08. > :56:23.APPLAUSE Another excellent long pot. 32

:56:24. > :56:36.points ahead. He will want to make sure of this green. Looks good. I

:56:37. > :56:41.think after the performances from both players in their respective

:56:42. > :56:45.semifinals, nobody would have expected a session like this. Mark

:56:46. > :57:01.Selby, 6-0 now. He doesn't bother, and Ding Junhui

:57:02. > :57:04.goes. He has a mountain to climb, just two friends left in this

:57:05. > :57:10.session, and it is all Mark Selby at the moment. He leads Ding 6-0.

:57:11. > :57:16.It is a bit of a shocking scoreline, you have to say, this is the man who

:57:17. > :57:20.has scored more points than anyone has ever done in a Crucible

:57:21. > :57:25.semifinal yesterday, and today look at it. He has been completely kept

:57:26. > :57:30.off the table, the quality of Mark's matchplay, even when he loses

:57:31. > :57:34.position, come up to the table, next minute you are snookered, he gives

:57:35. > :57:38.you absolutely nothing. He is sitting there watching it, Ding,

:57:39. > :57:43.getting continually sickened by what is happening to stop just not his

:57:44. > :57:51.type of gamer, Stephen. Years at a couple of chances where he would,

:57:52. > :58:00.just the desperation he is to get a frame, he has not been as positive

:58:01. > :58:03.as he normally is. Everything is a struggle. He needs to win these two

:58:04. > :58:08.frames, I feel, because Mark Selby has almost broke the back of this

:58:09. > :58:14.match. It will be tough for Ding to come back. Can you feel the

:58:15. > :58:19.uncertainty, the blind panic, your first final come you have waited all

:58:20. > :58:23.your life for this. I was on the end of it from Steve. You are just

:58:24. > :58:27.getting drilled, and playing someone playing much better than you, you

:58:28. > :58:30.get nothing given to you, as you'd expect in a world final. You are

:58:31. > :58:38.just sitting there watching one after another. You have had it done

:58:39. > :58:41.to you, you have done it! Ding has history, that final against

:58:42. > :58:45.O'Sullivan in the final, when he lost 10-1. That was his first big

:58:46. > :58:50.occasion final, this is a much bigger one. He has history. 2007, he

:58:51. > :58:53.was 19 years of age when he met Ronnie, he was walloped, and got

:58:54. > :58:59.very emotional. He was just a young man. Ten years later, four years

:59:00. > :59:00.after that he came back and won the Masters. You do think his game is

:59:01. > :59:14.much more mature, he is much Masters. You do think his game is

:59:15. > :59:14.mature as a man, as a person. But he has not had many bigger character

:59:15. > :59:42.tests than this one. COMMENTATOR: This is Mark Selby's

:59:43. > :59:45.100th frame of the Championship. Ding Junhui, of course, had three

:59:46. > :59:51.qualifying matches to get through, and he has played, this is his 129th

:59:52. > :00:00.frame. APPLAUSE Excellent safety there from Mark

:00:01. > :00:07.Selby. It should be easy enough to hit.

:00:08. > :00:20.He has left the red. I say he has left the red, can mark hit enough of

:00:21. > :00:35.this red to pot it? It looks like he can? --.

:00:36. > :01:19.He judged it nicely. Could have been higher with the cue ball.

:01:20. > :01:34.No. A mistake. Looking at it quickly, no harm done. Just try to

:01:35. > :01:40.pinch a little bit of the pocket there. He will be disappointed to

:01:41. > :01:43.have missed it. He will not be too disappointed with the fact he has

:01:44. > :01:49.not left anything on for Ding Junhui. Of course, with that red

:01:50. > :02:04.being adjacent to the left corner, he cannot really play safe. He

:02:05. > :02:09.played it well. That is what he has got to do. He has got to hang in

:02:10. > :02:15.there. Not despair. This is a long match. The best of 35 frames. The

:02:16. > :02:30.first to 18. You cannot lose your cool.

:02:31. > :02:35.A bit thick on that safety. He will certainly be having a go at this red

:02:36. > :02:53.to the corner pocket. Wonderful shot. Played that

:02:54. > :03:07.delightfully. Right in the heart of The Pocket.

:03:08. > :03:14.He had first chance in the last frame. It was just a loose

:03:15. > :03:25.positional shot that cost him. He would like to have been a little

:03:26. > :03:39.straighter on this red. He managed to force it in. Just about on the

:03:40. > :03:54.blue. Will he play the cannon in between the yellow and brown? Do not

:03:55. > :03:56.miss the blue! Miss the pack now! Well, another chance gone begging.

:03:57. > :04:25.He has got away with it. No problem. Ding Junhui got away

:04:26. > :04:33.with leaving the easy starter. Fine caught. -- fine cut. The problem is

:04:34. > :04:44.with that, you are never certain to be on a colour Mac. -- colour. He

:04:45. > :04:50.will be throwing a lot of cue out from his bridge hand. Almost a dead

:04:51. > :05:34.straight pot. Well played. Nice pot. Pot the black, pot the lose red. Get

:05:35. > :05:41.a nice angle on the black after this red. He needs to be low on the black

:05:42. > :05:52.with the cue ball. A nice angle to storm into the pack. -- stun. He is

:05:53. > :05:54.usually very good at this shot. Watch how this cue ball will arc.

:05:55. > :06:14.Lots of bottom. It is not too bad. He would like to

:06:15. > :06:25.have been straighter on the red. Just watch the cue ball. He just

:06:26. > :06:28.caught that red a little bit too full. It was almost coming across

:06:29. > :06:30.the edge of the pack rather than going into them. He has got this

:06:31. > :07:01.red. Left middle. It just shows you, he went into the

:07:02. > :07:04.pack was left with a tough red. Ding Junhui has got to make the best of

:07:05. > :07:17.this opportunity and win the frame here and now. He was not get a

:07:18. > :07:19.better chance than this. A couple of easy starters to get his cue arm

:07:20. > :07:41.going. He needs to get back up from his

:07:42. > :07:52.next red, back towards the pink and black.

:07:53. > :08:11.He does not want to be straight on this red. He wants a nice angle to

:08:12. > :08:18.get up for the pink. He has got a couple of reds either side of the

:08:19. > :08:40.pink. Makes it a lot easier. He has just got a slight angle.

:08:41. > :08:49.He is ten points behind. You see him just glance at the scoreboard. He is

:08:50. > :08:56.going to need the red on the right-hand side and the right -- red

:08:57. > :09:03.on the left. As well as the four reds below the pink, if he is going

:09:04. > :09:14.to win from this position. It is not a straightforward run to the line.

:09:15. > :09:20.I always feel you come to the table with more purpose thinking your

:09:21. > :09:30.opponent was going to win the frame. And it looked like that until Mark

:09:31. > :09:42.missed a red to the middle. Clearly the two reds below the pink are

:09:43. > :09:48.available into the right corner. He has played a poor shot there. That

:09:49. > :09:55.is not good. If he is going to play for the pink... It looked like he

:09:56. > :10:00.did not know which ball to play for, pink or black. He was sort of

:10:01. > :10:07.betwixt and between. It puts more pressure on this red. He wanted to

:10:08. > :10:13.clear the two reds below the pink before he tackled any of these more

:10:14. > :10:23.difficult reds. He has got to go for a book colour here. Once again the

:10:24. > :10:31.positional side of his game is letting down. That was a golden

:10:32. > :10:34.opportunity. Played a poor positional shot. It seemed as if he

:10:35. > :10:45.was undecided whether to play for pink or black. Left himself a tricky

:10:46. > :10:56.red. A good chance gone. He is really struggling out there. He must

:10:57. > :11:19.not give up hope so. There is still a long way to go in this match.

:11:20. > :11:29.He has left a tempter for Mark Selby damn the right and left. He will be

:11:30. > :11:45.trying to pot this and screw the cue ball back towards baulk.

:11:46. > :11:54.Ding has got another chance here. Yes. For once Mark Selby has given

:11:55. > :12:11.him a couple of chances. This looks absolutely is perfect. He

:12:12. > :12:19.could not have played that any better. The pink will put him 18

:12:20. > :12:30.points ahead. He will still need these three remaining reds. That was

:12:31. > :12:32.a wonderful opening red. Just the control to hold for the pink. It

:12:33. > :12:57.gives him a great chance. Anything but straight on this pink.

:12:58. > :13:05.He needs an angle so he can get in behind the red on the right-hand

:13:06. > :13:17.side. It will be the only red he needs. He will not need a colour. He

:13:18. > :13:27.needs a slight angle on this pink. And he has just about got it. I will

:13:28. > :13:36.just put a couple of cue ball is up here. Any position with the cue ball

:13:37. > :13:40.here would be perfect. Again, a little bit short. He wanted that cue

:13:41. > :13:45.ball another couple of inches and he was straightforward for that red

:13:46. > :13:50.into the yellow pocket. He only needs the red. He does not have to

:13:51. > :13:55.do too much work with the cue ball. Just make sure of the red if you

:13:56. > :14:16.can. It is not a gimme. Should've been easy. No. It is not there. Once

:14:17. > :14:19.again, I have to say, it was the positional side of his game that let

:14:20. > :14:27.him down. Normally plain that Pinky would use the cushion as a guide to

:14:28. > :14:34.how hard you wanted to the ball. Mark Selby still in this spring. It

:14:35. > :14:36.is almost perfect here. Knock the red towards the pink and black, cue

:14:37. > :15:10.ball behind the yellow. His main concern here, Dean John hi,

:15:11. > :15:22.is not to leave Mark Selby any chance of a pot. He has got the

:15:23. > :15:29.snooker with the pink. That is OK. It gives him the advantage. Easy to

:15:30. > :15:42.hit off the side cushion. But can you get it safe. Can you get it

:15:43. > :15:46.safe? Here is the Chancellor in John Wade to put its first frame on the

:15:47. > :15:51.scoreboard. He has to fully commit to this. -- here is the chance Ding

:15:52. > :16:04.to put his first frame on the scoreboard.

:16:05. > :16:17.Not really that close. The red is finishing over a pocket.

:16:18. > :16:25.Referee Makro settled down now, please.

:16:26. > :16:28.Did not really get close. Quite a long way away. The only good thing

:16:29. > :16:38.for a Ding is that he is 32 points ahead. So Mark Selby, he can pot the

:16:39. > :16:45.red and get on the brown, but then he is 27 behind with 27 left. He

:16:46. > :16:49.needs a pink or black. He cant pot the red and blue. He has to get the

:16:50. > :16:55.cue ball bank -- back down towards the pink and black. If he is going

:16:56. > :17:12.to do that, he has got to avoid the brown and green. He has done that.

:17:13. > :17:19.He needs a bounce off the caution. He is on the pink. The pink will put

:17:20. > :17:33.on 25 points behind, 27 remaining. Has Ding thrown away another frame?

:17:34. > :17:51.He is on the yellow. Tremendous positional shot from Mark Selby.

:17:52. > :17:59.Right in the heart of the pocket. Blue to pink will be the big

:18:00. > :18:17.problem. He needs the five remaining colours to steal this frame.

:18:18. > :18:27.He has got a wonderful angle on the brown. He needs to get the cue ball

:18:28. > :18:33.somewhere in that vicinity. He has got to try to get as close to the

:18:34. > :18:47.blue, almost on the baulk line with the cue ball if you can. It is not

:18:48. > :18:52.too bad. He is blessed with a lot of cue power and he will needed here.

:18:53. > :18:56.It is perfect to get the cue ball away from the side cushion. You have

:18:57. > :19:03.to really cue this to give the blue a chance to go in the pocket. That

:19:04. > :19:12.is the problem. You play at that pace, you risk. Bing is going to get

:19:13. > :19:19.his first frame on the scoreboard. -- being.

:19:20. > :19:28.This to go 21 points in front with 13 remaining.

:19:29. > :19:39.CHEERING. He has got his first frame on the

:19:40. > :20:11.scoreboard. You see the relief. Mark Selby concedes. Ding Junhui has

:20:12. > :20:16.got its first frame on the board. Will that relaxing for the final

:20:17. > :20:20.frame, coming up next? Well played. You could see what it

:20:21. > :20:26.meant for him. He looked actually very emotional as he got over the

:20:27. > :20:31.line. You do not settle until you win your first frame. That was it.

:20:32. > :20:37.Mark Selby was so close to pinching another frame. He came off the

:20:38. > :20:43.cushion perfectly for the blue. He seemed to strike it very well. Ding

:20:44. > :20:48.will have been so happy to see that. He needed something over the pocket.

:20:49. > :20:53.He had let a couple of half chances go. Missed them by a long way. It is

:20:54. > :20:57.important because it is embarrassment, almost. You just want

:20:58. > :21:01.to get a frame on the board. The weight of the world will be off his

:21:02. > :21:09.shoulders now. I would expecting to win this next frame with a big

:21:10. > :21:14.break. That is my prediction. John, 1989, you were 7-0 down against

:21:15. > :21:24.Steve Davis. You can recall what was happening in your own head at the

:21:25. > :21:27.time. Yes, and I was 7-0 up in 1979. You just feel desperate out there.

:21:28. > :21:32.You are looking for a chance. It is horrible out there. We were talking

:21:33. > :21:38.before, it is not like golf when you have got your own ball. When he has

:21:39. > :21:46.the cue ball, you have to sit and watch. This is a brutal sport but

:21:47. > :21:52.one we love. Let's have a look at Dean's emotion

:21:53. > :21:59.as he won the frame. He got very emotional. You could see what it

:22:00. > :22:04.meant to him. Almost a tear in his eye. Just released more than

:22:05. > :22:12.anything. What can he do? Can it inspire him to try to win this last

:22:13. > :22:20.frame? He has got some luck there. He has left the black safe. He has

:22:21. > :22:30.covered the red. You could tell he was under it. We have all been

:22:31. > :22:33.there. We know what it is like. When you're not playing the way you know

:22:34. > :22:39.you can, particularly in this championship. To not get that first

:22:40. > :22:48.frame on the board. What a relief it must be. Yes, and also he would have

:22:49. > :22:51.come out today thinking, the biggest match of my life. You are only

:22:52. > :23:07.human, you want something for your efforts. Good pot. I think he is OK.

:23:08. > :23:23.You have got an angle on the green. -- he has got an angle on the green.

:23:24. > :23:30.Yes, the red pots at the top of the pack. He will try to get the pink

:23:31. > :23:40.baby back on its spot. Back up for blue if wishes.

:23:41. > :23:50.It is hard to tell where the pink spot is available. He would like to

:23:51. > :23:58.be in a position where the pink did not go on his own spot but went on

:23:59. > :24:06.the black spot. I think I can see the pink spot there. Yes. He may

:24:07. > :24:19.decide to go for the blue. Then he would hopefully have an angle on the

:24:20. > :24:29.blue to try to go into the cluster. That sounded very heavy. Very heavy

:24:30. > :24:36.indeed. Willie risk this thin blue and play a cannon into the pink? You

:24:37. > :24:43.could see it bounce. And you could hear it. It has widened the ankle.

:24:44. > :24:49.He has gone on the outside of the blue and it has made this a lot more

:24:50. > :24:54.tricky, this blue, into the right centre. We saw him is a blue into

:24:55. > :25:01.the left centre a couple of frames ago. I know there is a red near the

:25:02. > :25:11.corner pocket. It looks like that is where he is going to play. Good

:25:12. > :25:15.cueing, lots of top spin. At least he will be able to reach this

:25:16. > :25:19.without using the rest. He needs a very good shot to get back on the

:25:20. > :25:33.blue. He needs to cue this really well.

:25:34. > :25:44.APPLAUSE. He did cue it really well. He cannot go straight into the

:25:45. > :25:49.paint. I think he has just got an angle. He is just the right side of

:25:50. > :25:56.the blue line to force this cue ball off the side cushion and into the

:25:57. > :26:04.cluster. But can he generate enough pace to open them up? He has played

:26:05. > :26:09.the two-cushion. Always need a bit of luck. He has got a pot. That is

:26:10. > :26:19.the best he could hope for. It is not an easy one. It is very hard to

:26:20. > :26:42.generate the pace. But he has left himself a chance of one.

:26:43. > :26:50.Great pot. He is nicely on the green. That will give him a bit of

:26:51. > :27:05.confidence. There is only -- the only red

:27:06. > :27:28.available is the one to the left of the bunch. He is OK.

:27:29. > :27:38.He could play for blue or pink here. Blue is probably the best choice.

:27:39. > :27:50.You would think so. But he has had a look at the pink. Once again has not

:27:51. > :27:56.got the angle. Can he force it again off two-cushions. He cannot come off

:27:57. > :28:00.one cushion. The black is in the way. I think that could be the end

:28:01. > :28:09.of the break unless there is a putt somewhere. -- plant somewhere. He

:28:10. > :28:13.cannot do anything off the blue. He is so straight, he could either go

:28:14. > :28:24.forwards or backwards. That would not get him on a red.

:28:25. > :28:39.He might just have too settle for the five points and play safe.

:28:40. > :28:55.He has to swing this round off two cushions. He cannot risk going into

:28:56. > :28:58.the black. That is pretty good. It always puts a little bit more

:28:59. > :29:06.pressure on your opponent to get safe when you leave a red in the

:29:07. > :29:08.middle of the table. That red in the middle of the table is the only one

:29:09. > :29:45.that Mark Selby can get to. Can Ding get past this yellow to

:29:46. > :29:49.play this red on the left-hand side? It is tight. He can bend it with a

:29:50. > :30:08.little bit of right and side. Yes, he certainly could see enough

:30:09. > :30:15.of the red, but he will be quite happy with the outcome. APPLAUSE

:30:16. > :30:23.Yes, he got a good cue ball. Snookered on the main pack of reds.

:30:24. > :30:25.He is just coming up to see if it comes off the top cushion and lays

:30:26. > :30:40.on the red. Yes, this is a possible choice for

:30:41. > :30:45.Mark Selby. He can lay on the red there, there is a red that is

:30:46. > :30:51.pottable at the bottom of the pack, but wouldn't be able to do much with

:30:52. > :30:55.the cue ball if you are tight to the bottom cushion. Well, he could see

:30:56. > :31:04.it. He has played that very, very well indeed. That was an excellent

:31:05. > :31:06.shot. So difficult to judge because there is always the possibility of

:31:07. > :31:13.the double-kiss when they are that close to the cushion. Yes, perfect

:31:14. > :31:20.safety. Now you just feel that Ding Junhui will play the two-cushion

:31:21. > :31:27.escape here, with pace. Surely he has got to come down the right-hand

:31:28. > :31:31.side of the table, as we look. The three reds just to the right of the

:31:32. > :31:38.pink, you just feel certain he is going to clip one of those. You have

:31:39. > :31:45.got to play the two-cushion escape here with pace, here. I would be

:31:46. > :31:48.amazed if he doesn't. As I say, with that line of three just to the right

:31:49. > :31:57.of the pink, it gives him the edge of either one of them. Yes, this is

:31:58. > :32:05.the line you are talking about. If you miss, as you say, one of them,

:32:06. > :32:15.he is bound to clip the other one. Well, he has played it slow. This is

:32:16. > :32:19.not the right line. Strange. It is clear to me that he is not clear of

:32:20. > :32:50.mind at the moment. I think he needs to go just below

:32:51. > :32:55.the black, a bit closer to the black this time. I think he is just

:32:56. > :33:01.concerned if he hits the pack of reds just a little bit heavy that

:33:02. > :33:05.maybe one of them may pop out and leave a pot for Mark Selby, and that

:33:06. > :33:11.is why he is being a little bit tentative with that first attempt.

:33:12. > :33:21.He needs to judge this right, line and length. No, that is no good,

:33:22. > :33:26.he's going to leave a pot on here. MS called but it would be taken.

:33:27. > :33:48.Four a miss called. Mark Selby will be disappointed with

:33:49. > :33:49.that. Straightforward pot. Should have been the right side of the

:33:50. > :34:45.blue. It was all was going to be

:34:46. > :34:48.difficult. Those baulk colours to avoid, and the fact the Queen was

:34:49. > :34:51.not on its spot, he had to get a little bit lower down the cushion,

:34:52. > :35:10.and that is why yellow came into play.

:35:11. > :35:17.But not the best safety shot there from Marks Surf -- from Mark Selby,

:35:18. > :35:22.should have found the baulk cushion. A lot of pressure on Ding Junhui

:35:23. > :35:34.here to play a better safety shot than that.

:35:35. > :35:41.Swinging it round off the two cushions. Looks a good line. It is

:35:42. > :35:52.all about the length. Not a bad length either. APPLAUSE

:35:53. > :35:59.Yes, the blue anyway of the red that is close to the left corner pocket.

:36:00. > :36:02.-- in the way. Yes, snookered on Allred is, by the look of it, and it

:36:03. > :36:11.was all because of his week safety shot. Played it short. Unlike Mark

:36:12. > :36:19.Selby. He is in a bit of trouble here. When he came to the table and

:36:20. > :36:26.wrapped the table, it was saying good shot to Ding Junhui, but also

:36:27. > :36:35.the annoyance that he allowed Ding to have that opportunity to put him

:36:36. > :36:38.in trouble. I have just put a line up here, a two-cushion escape but he

:36:39. > :36:48.has got to clip this red ball here absolutely perfect. He has left Ding

:36:49. > :36:57.Junhui a chance, the bottom red of the pack of three just below the

:36:58. > :37:00.pink pots. Doesn't have to do much here, just screw back six inches to

:37:01. > :37:08.the pink to the right middle. APPLAUSE

:37:09. > :37:09.Overscrewed it slightly. That tells me there is still a little bit of

:37:10. > :37:28.tension in the arm. He is OK. He has got to hold himself

:37:29. > :37:33.together here because this is a massive frame, having lost the first

:37:34. > :37:36.six, if he can get out of this 6-2, then at least he has got something

:37:37. > :37:51.to show for his efforts and can look forward to this evening.

:37:52. > :38:02.He has got to hold himself together. This is a massive frame for Ding

:38:03. > :38:10.Junhui. Four behind going into this evening's session would not be too

:38:11. > :38:34.bad. It was looking very precarious for him. In the seventh frame.

:38:35. > :38:42.Just got a slight angle on the pink, just over for the red directly in

:38:43. > :38:56.line towards the right-hand side cushion.

:38:57. > :39:08.And yes, he did not leave the black in play. One thing he wants to do is

:39:09. > :39:12.avoid the case on the black. But the three reds in the line on the

:39:13. > :39:16.right-hand side of the table, maybe Mark Selby is thinking he has got

:39:17. > :39:18.that problem to solve. If he is going to win the frame at this

:39:19. > :39:43.visit. This think to go 45 points in front

:39:44. > :40:05.with 59 remaining. -- this pink. Another red and a pink will put him

:40:06. > :40:14.52 points in front with 51 left. That is what he is looking at. A red

:40:15. > :40:29.and a pink to get to snooker is required. APPLAUSE

:40:30. > :40:34.-- snookers required. 40 might have played for the pink in the middle.

:40:35. > :40:40.If you pop the blue, he will need another red. Surely he has got to

:40:41. > :40:45.put the pink? I don't think there would be too much heroics from Ding

:40:46. > :40:52.Junhui here. Just pot the pink, go 52 points ahead. Obviously, still a

:40:53. > :41:03.bit conscious of his opponent, and his ability to lay smokers. Of

:41:04. > :41:06.course he has already lost the second frame when his opponent

:41:07. > :41:07.needed a snooker, so he won't be taking anything for granted just

:41:08. > :41:28.yet. Yes, to all intents and purposes,

:41:29. > :41:34.the wavy black is situated, you could say Mark Selby now needs a

:41:35. > :41:39.snooker to try -- the way the black is situated. Because he's not going

:41:40. > :41:43.to get a black of these reds at the moment. There he is, 52 behind,

:41:44. > :41:45.three reds, three pinks, that will put in 31 points behind with 27

:41:46. > :41:54.remaining. -- that'll put him 31 points behind.

:41:55. > :42:17.This red is on to the middle. It is another frame in the bag.

:42:18. > :42:23.APPLAUSE He has dug in really well, these

:42:24. > :42:27.last two frames. OK, he has needed a couple of chances, but he has taken

:42:28. > :42:37.them. Yes, he showed a bit of character, it has to be said, and he

:42:38. > :42:41.will be mightily relieved. As you said, John, he will feel he has got

:42:42. > :42:44.something for his efforts in this fourth session, and he has something

:42:45. > :42:54.to look forward to now on the second session. It would have been so much

:42:55. > :42:59.more difficult coming from 7-1 or even 8-0 behind, but a much better

:43:00. > :43:05.performance. Ding Junhui, in these last couple of frames. And how

:43:06. > :43:10.important will that penultimate frame be, John, over the course of

:43:11. > :43:14.the final? Just to get that first frame under his belt. Yes, and

:43:15. > :43:19.particularly when Mark Selby landed on the blue. Just needed blue, pink

:43:20. > :43:24.and black. It looked for all the world that it was going to be 7-0,

:43:25. > :43:30.but he got a let off. He has needed a couple of chances in this frame,

:43:31. > :43:41.but, as you say, he will be very relieved to have won these last two.

:43:42. > :43:46.The bow tie coming. He won't be coming back to the table. I mean,

:43:47. > :43:50.don't get me wrong, Mark Selby will be well pleased with the start.

:43:51. > :43:54.APPLAUSE He has got nothing really, OK, he

:43:55. > :43:57.missed the blue, could have gone 7-0, but it was always a tough

:43:58. > :44:20.shots, at that pace. So Ding Junhui whence that frame. He

:44:21. > :44:24.won the seventh and the final frame of the session, so he goes out of it

:44:25. > :44:33.with something to show, but he trails to the world number 16-2.

:44:34. > :44:40.Has he weathered the storm? Great performance, I said the weight of

:44:41. > :44:45.the world was off his shoulders. But much more relaxed. That was a

:44:46. > :44:50.massive frame for Ding Junhui. Mark Selby will be very annoyed at not

:44:51. > :44:57.going 7-0. Maybe in a while he will think 6-2 is a good result, but when

:44:58. > :45:03.he has his opponent down, you want to finish them off. A top break of

:45:04. > :45:07.52, this is the man who scored seven centuries in the semifinal, and it

:45:08. > :45:11.is Selby who has been on Hoover mode! We said earlier he was on

:45:12. > :45:19.eco-mode, but now he is on full cycle. Great session 6-0, he will be

:45:20. > :45:23.annoyed for 7-0. When you are a competitive match player like him,

:45:24. > :45:27.when you connect a frame and go 7-0 clear, you are just trying to do it,

:45:28. > :45:30.because he is a fantastic front runner, he knows how to keep the

:45:31. > :45:34.pressure on and it is funny, bizarrely, 6-2, there is a bit of

:45:35. > :45:37.that session for both players. Mark will be happy with a 6-2 lead, but

:45:38. > :45:57.Ding will also be happy not to be 8-0 behind. So in a way, a

:45:58. > :45:59.trick missed in some respects for Mark Selby? Yes, and it will be

:46:00. > :46:01.interesting, because through the World Championships his second

:46:02. > :46:03.sessions have been very poor. He was 6-0 up against Gary Wilson, his

:46:04. > :46:06.second session, got tipped to about 4-4, but in every match his second

:46:07. > :46:09.session has been poor. Yes. Sam Baird as well came back at him when

:46:10. > :46:13.he made a 134 of total clears and didn't win another frame for another

:46:14. > :46:17.three hours. He has, in effect, switched off on occasions. I think

:46:18. > :46:20.he has played his way into. He is playing better now. I didn't think

:46:21. > :46:24.he would be 6-0 up in this final, but he has played his way in, and

:46:25. > :46:28.his growing has been better, so I don't think he will have second

:46:29. > :46:32.session syndrome tonight. Generally, when he is not another one and in

:46:33. > :46:36.one of these finals, he is in full mode. He certainly made his

:46:37. > :46:40.experience Count. Ding Junhui emotional out there, getting a bit

:46:41. > :46:44.teary, after making his first frame and getting it on the border last.

:46:45. > :46:49.If you have that experience of three finals, you can make it count in

:46:50. > :46:54.these situations. This is different to any final of any other

:46:55. > :46:57.tournament. He has played four session matches but it is just a

:46:58. > :47:02.massive occasion. Mark Selby is one of the greatest long session matches

:47:03. > :47:07.possibly ever, in the respect that he has got such a good bee and see

:47:08. > :47:11.Andy Fenby game to fall back on. I keep going back to that second

:47:12. > :47:17.session with Wilson. That was AZ game, and he got at 4-4. Shows what

:47:18. > :47:21.a tremendous match player he is. Knows how to win. Mark Selby will go

:47:22. > :47:24.back another one, he is already world number one right now but in

:47:25. > :47:27.terms of the provisional rankings he is actual just behind Stuart

:47:28. > :47:31.Bingham. I am sure Stuart is watching this. I don't know who you

:47:32. > :47:36.will be rooting for here, Stuart Bingham, but I suspect it could be

:47:37. > :47:39.Ding! Stuart of course trying to become smoke's 12th world number one

:47:40. > :47:43.here and it is an omission he would love to fulfil. Interestingly in the

:47:44. > :47:47.top 16, Kyren Wilson after a brilliant run to the world

:47:48. > :47:50.quarterfinals, has got himself in. Obviously Ding Junhui has been

:47:51. > :47:55.rocketing up there as well. He will go to numb to in the world of wins

:47:56. > :48:01.the title. Mr Maguire and Michael White will drop out. So there is an

:48:02. > :48:04.awful lot on the go here, a lot of ifs, buts and maybes, especially for

:48:05. > :48:07.the two of them. Thank you very much gentleman for what has been a

:48:08. > :48:12.fascinating opening session. Don't forget that we will return at 7pm,

:48:13. > :48:15.not long actually before we are back in the chair and of the second

:48:16. > :48:20.session. They have got nine frames to play in this first day of the

:48:21. > :48:24.championship final. We are seeing perhaps a tear in the eye of Ding

:48:25. > :48:29.Junhui, he has registered his place in the final, but the jester should

:48:30. > :48:33.be full of smiles right now. We will catch you at 7pm. Goodbye.