Sunday, Final, Evening Snooker: World Championship

# HELLO DARKN'T MY OLD FRIEND # I'VE COME TO TALK WITH YOU AGAIN

Because of the vision # Left it seems when I was

leaving # And a vision in my brain

# Still remains # Within

stones # When my eyes were stunned by the

flash of a New York light # And the sounds of

Never is the sound of silence so compelling as it is here in

Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. Snooker's home, filled to the

rafters, hushed, fascinated by events here in the 2016 Betfred

snooker championship final. Many have come to will on Mark Selby to a

second world title. Many in, in China, are hoping their man, Ding

Junhui can become the first Asian player to lift this trophy. Never

mind the sound of silence, he was in troubled waters earlier on, in

contrast to the way he sailed through the championship so far.

This is fabulous stuff from Ding Junhui.

Oh, tremendous pots. You cannot hit a ball much better

than that. You can't strike a ball better than

that. Oh, he looks full of confidence now.

He's played it perfect. A great shot.

Mark Selby came to the fore. We may be have a new favourite for

the tournament and he is definitely a major contender.

Excellent stuff. Mark Selby is a world number one and he's showing

how good he is. A record-breaking seven centuries

from the Chinese sensation. He gets himself into his first ever final.

And what a player and what a competitor Mark Selby is. He's got

himself into his second final in three years.

Well the commentators are always saying you never settle down until

you win your first frame. Ding Junhui got off to a nightmare start

in this match. He did. You would expect he would get off to a good

start, in a confident state of mind. It seemed like all of a sudden he

panicked. He was over-reaching for shots. This green was a tricky one

into the middle pocket. He only needed the green but played

position. All of a sudden it looked like he had lost confidence. He made

seven accept cannureries in his ---en centuries in his semi-final.

He got further and further in the hole and missing obvious balls by

then and very worried, I think, and concerned about how he was playing.

In the interview Terry Griffiths tried steady the ship. These become

more difficult for him. Came down the table and gave a chance to Mark

Selby. And he was six-nil behind. The fact he started to disintegrate

gave Mark Selby more confidence. He was playing granite safety play

which put on the heat on to Ding Junhui. He was strong amongst the

balls, but had the better head on all day long. Every time he missed

and it was not very often Ding was always in trouble but his potting

and break-building was miles better than in the event. If he converted

this one chance he could have been 7-0 in front. As it was, Ding just

about got it together in the end. It always looked like Ding would need

help. When Mark Selby left the blue out of the pocket... There There

were a few cheers when he did pot it. You could see the emotion on his

frame for just winning a frame. I think he needs to be mentally strong

this evening. Far stronger. He took the final frame to reduce his

deficit to four frames and this will be fascinating tonight. Rob Walker,

it is all yours. Top Welcome to the World

Championship final. These are the dreams players think about for

decades. It is a massive night for both men, here at the sport's

spiritual home, the Crucible. Please welcome yesterday's record

century-breaker, who is today's history-maker. The first Asian

player ever to contest a World Championship final, two massive

frames this afternoon have reduced his deficit. The 11-time ranking

winner is ready to continue his revival tonight, as the eyes of the

nation watch from afar, enter the Chinese dragon, Ding Junhui.

He has incredible mental strength. This is his first World Championship

final and he showed all his experience to produce a great start

this afternoon, bidding to join an illustrious list of multiple world

champions here at the Crucible. Here comes the world number one, here

comes the Jester from Leicester, he's Mark Selby.

The second session of this World Championship final between the

legend which is Ding Junhui and Mark Selby. Mark Selby obviously got off

to a flyer. A foot-hold in the match now.

The cameras and the phones away now. I agree. There's a massive session

in this final for Ding Junhui. Anything less than a win in

tonight's session, it is hard to see or hard to make a case for him

winning this match tomorrow. I am a little surprised he doesn't

do that more often in this afternoon's session. He's got a

brand new tip. When you put a new tip on it is obviously difficult

when you play with little bits of side.

Put it on about 10pm last night, he put the tip on, maybe later. The

surprising thing was that Ding, having played remarkable in the

semi-final, just couldn't get off to any kind of start this afternoon.

Those were the balls he was potting all the time yesterday.

He didn't hit that well at all. He didn't time it. When you miss these

shots, it looks like you have hit it far too hard. You see where his cue

finished up, he didn't strike the cue ball where he wanted to, so, I

know it is only the first pot of the night's session, but when you hit it

as badly as that, it doesn't fill you with much confidence. Especially

if the red you hit goes right over the pocket.

That's played. Didn't get into that cue ball at all well there.

It will be interesting to see how Mark, because all through the

championship, the second sessions of his matches he's played very poorly.

He went 6-0 up on Wilson. At one stage was back to leading

8-6. There are nine in this second

session. Ding will look for at least six frames to out of the nine to get

back into this match. That is amazing stat, they have been

here 17 days. 17 days match play. 17 points between them, of all the

matches they've played. They have both been very, very

consistent. We got so used to Ding against

McManus, when he got in the frame-winning it in one visit. He

needs to do that tonight in these first two frames. One of the first

two frames - a chance here, because that is what will give him the

inspiration to get back into this match properly.

Even if he wins frames scapily it will give him that encouragement

that he's playing well enough. Taking this red off the pink spot

there, which helps. If that red is on the pink spot,

that means a pink will spot. And want that kiss like that.

I think he would play around the back of that one.

That was a very poor positional shot. He's played a few of them

today, just very tentative. He's just not been his normal,

positive stuff when he's been in among the balls today.

The bad shot was the red, not to get on to the pink nicely. That pink was

just about missable. This is not the start Ding was

looking for this evening. It gives you more confidence if your

opponent has two chances and scores very little.

I think the one above the black spot will pass. He will probably play

high on this one so he's got the one in the middle just in case.

This is the sort of shot, if your new tip was a bit soft it will be

hard to judge this coming out from that red to the corner.

He's played a lot of snooker with it, so I don't think the tip is any

issue now in this match. He did make sure he got really high

there with the cue ball. Played for the red just above the black spot.

What you cannot do is finish low. At least he knows he's got the one in

the middle pocket in case he went too high. He played for the one just

above the black spot. It is very awkward to get on that

black. I think that's OK - he's landed on

the black. Not quite high enough.

Going to try and scau back and get to the blue or baulk colour here. If

you don't bite into the cue ball immediately and kiss that he has to

screw into the cue ball here. He didn't really fancy it because he

played it so slowly. Ding's body language tells us it is

very tight. Just pot off the left-hand but I

think it is risky to play it slowly. Just see that left-hand. He's taking

it on though. He's got it.

Very, very good shot. Excellent!

APPLAUSE That was an excellent pot.

Those shots are no problem if you are straight shot behind the cue

ball, but at an angle and the cue ball was tight in the cushion - so

excellent cueing there. He's played the cue ball in an

area... Could do it to stop a little bit, could do with it to stop. That

was a little bit clumsy. Looked to his friends in the

players' boxes there. OK, no problem potting the red. It's got to get top

side of the blue. I say no problem, he's having to cue right over the

top of this red. That is just because he played for

two reds. You have to play for two sometimes, don't you? Yes. Just a

clumsy positional shot from Ding. He had a huge margin for error to get

in either ball but hit it far too hard.

He needs to get in a frame and make a big break to get his timing.

A touch of left-hand side and you see the cue ball had a couple of

feet to stopping there. Normally Ding's position is so

pin-point. His game is all about scoring.

He's not been doing that so far. That is why when he comes to the

table he's just not relaxed at all. He has to make sure he doesn't kiss

his red 4-ball and just kiss the half ball to be on both reds, not

just one. He's 27 points in front. He doesn't

need to move that red off the cushion. He can get two reds, two

colours, I will be very surprised if he plays any other than just to roll

it in for the pink. Play for the blue instead, that's no

problem. He will get the first frame on the

board. It is a frame that will hurt Ding because he will know he's had

three chances in this frame. These long matches are all about

momentum. Ding won the last two frames of the afternoon session, so

he would have liked to have kept that momentum going tonight by

getting a quick start. And it has not happened.

He would have liked to have potted this last red. We can see it doesn't

pot. Ding likely to come back to the table here, being only 41 points

behind, unless Mark gets in tightly behind the black, then he may decide

not to. Times when you miss that off a

cushion. A player of his class shouldn't do that.

No high breaks in this opening frame. The worrying thing for Ding

Junhui, he's had three glorious chances to win this opening frame.

He just let his head drop a little bit sometimes.

It is hard to overstate how popular a sportsman Ding Junhui is in China.

27% of the entire television audience yesterday watched him reach

his first Crucible final. Those shot are from Beijing this afternoon,

showing he was very much prime-time viewing attraction again in the

opening session today. It is a Mayday holiday there.

It is getting more popular in China now because Ding Junhui made a huge

contribution to it. Ding Junhui... Go, go. Go!

Snoo he's pretty determined and -- He's pretty determined and talented.

Of course I wish him all the best and I hope I can see him go all the

way up to the top. The sport is hugely popular there

now and Ding was the first Chinese player to ever beach at the Crucible

when he made his debut in 2007. Expectations have been significant

and perhaps at times, Steve, quite debilitating. What has been your

experience of his popularity and the effect on him over there? It is hard

to judge because we don't live in the country. But we tend to get the

feeling he's a massive superstar over there, earning plenty of money,

but the one thing he has not got it is found on the world trophy,

possibly. Everything is in place when. We don't really know how much

pressure he's under. In some ways, John, there's no more pressure than

100% at the Crucible, regardless of what is going on back in China.

Absolutely, as much as he's sitting there, all he will be thinking about

at the moment is losing the first frame this evening because it was a

major blow for his chances, he would have been three behind instead of

five behind. This is going to be a real test for him now, five frames

behind. COMMENTATOR: Ding comes to the

table. A little bit deflated, he will be, after the first frame. As I

said before, after winning the last two frames this afternoon, he would

have been wanting to come out firing tonight in the first frame.

GASPS FROM CROWD A foul and a miss. Mark Selby, four.

And you always tend to err on the thin side at your first attempt at

this shot. Just trying to catch the outside red but if he gets this red

full, he will be splitting the bunch. You have to be so precise

with this. GASPS FROM CROWD

Foul. On the outside of the pack, bears pots. He will put it back

again. -- there is pots. Can he see a red full ball? Not happy with that

miss for the second time. He can't quite understand what is happening.

A big part of the cheeks. He can't afford to miss this... GASPS FROM

CROWD A foul and a miss. Mark Selby, four.

People talk about how many points you don't worry about giving away,

you don't really worry about giving 40 away if you get the shot right.

You just don't want to smash them up and leave them in. I don't know, 40

might be a bit strong but I know what you are saying! You feel like

you can make four or five, there. Like you say, if he catches it too

thick, it will be a disaster for Ding Junhui but in the end, he

played it very well. GASPS FROM CROWD

Well, you would not think he was the same player that played yesterday.

He just seems totally bereft of confidence. I don't know, since

frame one today, he's just looked intimidated, to me, by Mark Selby. I

think in fairness, it must have been a shock to the system because Mark

Selby has played, by his own standards, very poorly throughout

the championship and still got to the final so he was expecting to get

off to a poor start, but when he saw Mark Selby's early good scores, it

was such a shock to the system, he's not unable to handle it, and as you

say come he's been intimidated by him since then. -- as you said, he's

been. APPLAUSE

That was excellently played. So much power in the cue ball, here. Lots of

left-hand side, to get the cue ball careering into the reds. Unlucky to

catch a loose one, he could have opened up more. I was thinking, if

he had called the pack a little bit thicker, he had two reds to bring

the black interplay so that is what he was trying to do, to bring the

black into play but he still has the pink on so he can hopefully score 40

or 50 points without reply and hopefully a little more.

At the interval this afternoon, he came straight out and asked what the

Leicester score was. He was delighted to know that they just

drew with Manchester United. APPLAUSE

13. That was an example of very good timing, there, the action he got on

the cue ball for such a soft shot was excellent.

He's looking at this red to the left corner as a possibility of canning

the black but the only problem is, the red is so close to the black,

you can't play the cannon because the cue ball will end up too close.

It will be a few shots before he can get the black interplay, here. --

into play. If the pink, when it goes back on

its own spot, does not pot into the bottom right-hand corner, he will

play the blue. If it does... Oh, dear. Now, then, how is his tip? It

is brand-new. It is OK. He had a look, there. The man who puts all of

Mark Selby's tips on is a very good player, almost professional himself.

Ye aimed so low on the cue ball, Mark Selby, when he is playing a

screw shot. -- he aims so low. You would have to say, once he's

miscued, he's been very fortunate not to leave an easier shop than

this. It will finish on the black, possibly, if this goes in. Good

shot. APPLAUSE An unexpected chance for Ding

Junhui. He's got to start taking advantage of these chances. He keeps

on having a close look at his tip, Mark Selby. Hopefully for him, it

has not made a dent in it. I'm sure it's OK but it puts a bit

of doubt in your mind the next time you have to play a deep screw shot,

doesn't it? Following the cue ball through the reds, here. It is not

guaranteed, trying to finish on the black to the left corner.

Well, he has changed his mind, played the percentage shot where he

was more guaranteed to be in position.

As we always explain in commentary, you are just playing areas, you

don't particularly know if you are going to get on the blue or pink,

but you just play into an area where you will get onto the blue ora book

colour. But he's a bit betwixt and between, not nicely on any of them.

If this blue goes in, you could expect him to win the frame because

the red and black are in a fine position now. APPLAUSE

If it was the Ding Junhui of yesterday you would say it was an

absolute certainty to win the frame from here, but I'm not sure he's got

his confidence anywhere near where it was yesterday.

It is hard to believe, really, after nine frames, his highest break has

been 52. Just a little series of 30 breaks since then. Yesterday, he

made seven centuries, was it? Playing a little cannon on the red

to the right of the pink spot, here. He has five open reds, even if he

takes the black, he's going to need one of the tricky ones. They are not

too tricky, but when you are low on confidence and desperate to get

frames on the board, nothing is easy. You start to see problems

before they are even there. If this is dead straight, he really

needs to get into the cue ball to play for the red in the opposite

corner, the one he just screwed around the back of. He can't afford

to finish short. He could stun up the line. That is OK. So, 16 points

in front, three loose reds, which will put him 40 points in front so

he's going to need at least a red and a colour of the three difficult

reds. Mark Selby was in the balls, thinking it was a great chance to go

8-2, like I said in commentary, getting on the pink was not an

option because it would not have potted in the right-hand corner but

that was a bad miscue. 47. That has eclipsed his high break of

52 in the third frame. Just stun across the face of the red with the

red in the opposite corner. He could just hold it. Now, he's got to get

one more red and a colour after this red.

We will see after this shot which red he is going to play for. From

that angle, this is not the best angle, here. Is he going to play for

one of the two reds below the black bastion mark -- below the black?

Well, he has played that nicely. I always, when it was match ball, I

always hated getting the cue ball cleaned because I wanted to keep

going, keep the rhythm going, and when you stop to pause, maybe you

think about the importance of the shot a bit more. Yes, naturally, he

wants to get onto the black but the important thing is, make sure you

don't miss this red. APPLAUSE Just the black needed now. Make sure

you get on the red on the left-hand side cushion and pot it. The last

thing he needs is 15 or 20 minutes of trying to get out with snookers.

APPLAUSE Steve Davis, John Higgins and Mark

Selby, three people you would never have wanted to carry on against, if

they need four or five snookers, you would have felt happy but if they

only needed one, it was always dangerous. This is just as important

as any other ball in this break. GASPS FROM CROWD

Oh, 76 is not going to be enough, Mark Selby will carry on but barring

those snookers, Ding Junhui has done very well.

APPLAUSE One.

Now, obviously it means nothing, really, but I think it will be good

for Ding Junhui to clear the colours, here, just keep potting

balls. Well, he's not cleared the colours,

he has missed the yellow but he gets his first frame on the board to

night. He still has a four frame deficit, 7-3. STUDIO: We saw Mark

Selby with a miscue earlier in the frame and just to get your

perspective on this, he changed the tip of his cue last night after the

semifinal and we were talking about how big a gamble that was. Why would

a professional like you need to do it and why would you want to do it

at such a critical time in the championship? Apparently, that it

had become rock hard, it was probably getting very low, he's been

playing it throughout the tournament and chalking the tip is basically

scraping away the surface so it where that pretty quickly as you

play a lot of snooker like you do in a World Championship. He must have

felt like he was getting the feel but the trouble is, going to a

brand-new tip, it goes from being rock-hard to potentially quite soft

and spongy. Whether it affected that particular shot is hard to save stop

but it's been a gamble? He felt he had to take it because he was

telling me when he was screwing back, he could almost hear the

contact on the ball. It is something he had to do but it's a gamble. It

happened to be in a final many years ago, I split mine in the semifinal

and I did not have one that was broken in. I'm an advocate of having

a few tips that you have broken in knocking around so you can swap them

in. A lot of people have asked on social media about why players don't

have another cue ready but the trouble is, everyone is different.

Every tip is going to be different but every cue is different so the

dynamics of the cue changes so the best thing that you can do is what

John said, have some spare tips you have broken into but the problem is,

glueing them on perfectly is always difficult. Ding Junhui to break

having got his first frame on the board this evening. COMMENTATOR: I

totally agree with Steve Davis about the cue and the tip. Of course, most

people go throughout their careers with the same cue as well. This is

the missed you. -- miscue. Interesting to see whether Ding

decides to play a bit more aggressive safety, now, just to try

to get the ball is open. That is what you would like to play, he does

not want to be playing Mark Selby at his own game. I'm a bit surprised he

did not play it bigger than that. He can win a safety battle against Mark

Selby but you would say it is not the best idea. Especially over a

long, four session match. You would say -- can see the 10% difference so

it is plain to see who can win the majority of the tactical exchanges.

If Ding can start getting in early on frames and winning them in one

visit, it would be interesting to see how Selby reacts. Lots of times,

you always played the thick safety because he wanted the balls in open

play. When you score like Ding, who I think is probably the second best

break-builder in the game at the moment. Exactly, you have to play to

your strengths. That was a good shot. APPLAUSE

Has not got the cue ball on the cushion but when you are sitting

across, those shots are so easy to catch thick. -- hitting across. If

Mark Selby is playing the loose red here, you've got to be careful he

does not catch it then because he could knock another red over the

right corner. That is why he's playing a thick contact on it. But

it has still gone there. Just trying to rest on... Looking at

the way he is playing it, if he comes a bit too far out, the one to

the right of the black will pot. Also, the red that is just up from

the cue ball near the right-hand side cushion pots to the far yellow

pocket, I think. You can see, I think that will be

the one that Mark Selby will be taking on. Obviously, the red that

is to the left of the cue ball, he does not want to leave that. It

might be a reason for him turning this down. And the fact that he has

gone up to the Bwlch area to look at where the safe area is -- baulk

area. That shows me he's probably not going to take on the pot.

This is one of the reasons why he is such a tough match player, 7-3 ahead

but still keeping Ding Junhui under severe pressure. I don't think I

could have turned that red down to the yellow pocket. You would have

played its slow as well and try to cover the pocket with yellow and

brown and been on baulk colour. The players who got knocked out in

this tournament should look at the way Mark Selby has come through this

tournament, he has not played anywhere near his best game but

still ground out the results. And Sean Murphy, Judd Trump and those

kind of people, I love those people but they seem not to win frames

unless they make is 60. -- a 60. What a result he has had there. He

had to make that pot but had no idea where the cue ball was going to go.

The cue ball was always going to be canning of the red so bound to leave

something on, as you could see that, if he had missed it.

GASPS FROM CROWD Mark Selby knew that having that

little slice of fortune, that pink, you would have expected him to knock

it in. I just wonder if he is going to have one of these dodgy second

sessions again? Not the best shot that Ding has ever

played. He might have to play this blue to the far corner now. He will

probably just make sure of the pot and play to the right middle but he

can play to the two reds to the right of the black. He is taking the

blue onto left middle, so he could lose the cue ball, here. That is OK,

got enough cheque side on the white. -- check side. What a chance, 76 in

the last frame, his highest break of the match, so hopefully getting more

confident. I know you spend a lot of time in China these days, playing a

bit of pool. How big a star is Ding in China? He is a massive sporting

idol in China. I think now, I've been to about 50

Chinese cities and everywhere you go, the first thing people ask you

is, "How is Ding Junhui? Is he going to win the World Championship?" If

he does, it will be incredible for him, white scary, even, how popular

he will become. -- quite scary. It is noticeable that he has just upped

his pace slightly after that 76 in the last frame, and these viewpoints

here. I was surprised earlier when I was watching him in the hotel room,

his average shot time was very poor, 29 seconds per shot at one time, and

now you can see it has gone down to 27. But he is a 20 second man, isn't

he? Yes, he is just a scoring machine

and that is what he has got to do. That is his biggest strength.

He won't be happy with that shot. The reason you said that, he was

trying to play to the left of the two reds, pinch a bit more of the

pocket but now he has bounced off the Gershon and has a choice of

three. Now he is hampered. Still be on the black though, should it go

in. You can see by the time he played

that shot, really confident on that one. APPLAUSE

37. The five reds, that is the first red of the five in the middle of the

table. At the Crucible, in Sheffield, no

better place than the one-table situation.

There were people from Switzerland, Norway, America all in the

hospitality room having dinner and then coming to watch this final. We

are having people from all over the world coming to watch now.

This is starting to feed Ding Junhui's confidence. 76 in the last

frame. 61 and counting here.

As we said in the previous frame, make sure you pot at least one more

red... When you have rhythm going the last thing you want is your

opponent to come back to the table and start playing snookers.

Just about got the worst angle on the black. Try and move the red as

near as his right eye there. We could see the first century from

Ding Junhui in this match. The record is Stephen Hendry, 26.

That could be another of your records.

This will be the 83rd century in the tournament so far.

He just found it now - on the up, everybody. 103.

-- ton up, everybody. 103. So welcome to the game, Ding Junhui,

that's more like it. More than what we expected to see.

There was that incredible performance, incredible

scoring-performance against Alan McManus.

Mark Selby to break. Mark Selby breaks off and that red

in that last frame that turned down to the far yellow pocket, it would

be dangerous for Mark Selby to go negative and protect his lead. I

totally agree. That is what you would think of doing - don't make

any silly mistakes. He should kick on with Ding playing poorly. Now

103. You play every part of this session,

this is the last before the interval... ... He's right back into

the match. That is what Terry would have been installing into him.

He got that wrong. He hit it quarter-ball. Look at the expression

on his face. When he played it, he realised he got the kiss on the

pink, how unlucky it was - it tells a story.

Very rarely do you see Mark Selby hitting the baulk colours into

safety. He didn't get close on the first two

attempts. It looked like he would be miles

away. It was nearer before he hit it.

They obviously played with the running side off the second cushion,

seemed to play with that ball to the left-hand side - it just

straightened up completely. At least he will know he has to play a little

right-hand side. It's not on plain ball - he'll have

to play it a little to the right-hand side. He's worried about

hitting one of the reds full ball. Needs to come further back towards

Ding. Foul and a miss.

You think he would be able to see from down there.

Got to play it with a little right-hand side.

That will be a catastrophe if it is a free ball. No, it's not.

Unfortunately he's got to give Mark Selby a 16 point in this frame.

I suggest 40 point, being generous there. You don't mind giving 20

points away in that situation. Where's that red going? And the kiss

as well. It never rains, but it pours for

Ding Junhui supporters. The fluke was the bad thing to take, the kiss

on the brown was even worse. A three-ball plant, but look at the

kiss on the white here on the brown. The only good thing for Ding Junhui,

both black and when the pink goes to its own spot, one pocket, maybe two.

The black will be available into the left-hand corner.

These reds are perfect with black in open play.

That's a shocker from Mark Selby - it really is.

Was he trying to push through the reds, or did he think he was playing

through the gap? Even the pace, I expect he thought he was going to

kiss it - I am stunned by that shot. He's finished nowhere.

Let's look at this one again - the pace he plays - I think he might

have thought he was going through the gap.

He wasn't happy with that shot, was he? He may have to play safe now.

I was about to say how it was going to be important for Mark Selby to

get back into this final session by winning a frame in one visit, but

that ship has sailed now. Yes, when you have the lead that

Mark did, 6-2, you think every session, you think, I make sure I do

no worse than draw the session. Looking to come out 2-2.

Looking at this red. That is the bottom of the three reds below the

pink to the right corner. It is a thin cut.

No idea where the cue ball is going to end up.

Again staying on the side of caution.

Some place to play snooker, isn't it? The best. Not a lot of people,

not every player likes it. You have been retired a few years,

and do you get a buzz when you arrive at Sheffield? I was going to

say when I was standing in the arena doing TV work before I started, you

get goose bumps. I am very jealous of those players playing today. That

sounds like you will make a comeback. You know you want to.

Stop it now. Do you remember that Stephen?

Unfortunately, I never got near it. I am sure you've got one more in

you, Steve. Got to find that cap.

He's played the safety. It's gone wrong.

At first glance he's not left anything easy.

It could be a time when a bad shot by Ding might get him in here.

It will be interesting to see whether he plays for the black in

the same pocket or plays for the black in the right-hand corner.

Didn't quite get into the cue ball enough.

Played to get into the black, the same pocket he was playing the red

in. Didn't quite get into the cue ball.

He's got a decision here, Ding Junhui was if he puts him back in he

has every chance of playing the shot right the second time. Would you put

him back in from here then? Let him play from where the balls are now?

You are not going to answer me then? This is tricky, this. The brown is

hampering cueing. Can't get to the right-hand side of

the reds to play the easy return to baulk. Possibly see the red is tight

on the cushion. When you hit across it is easy to get those thick. I

think play from there, I think. A lot going on.

-- thinking time going on. When you look at this shot, you

think, this is really awkward, I don't fancy playing this. I think if

I do am I going to leave mark with a more difficult shot than this? I

would think not. You would be happy with that safety shot.

This safety shot is tough. Mark Selby has a new tip, if he's

playing this red, I think it is a touch a side of it where the tip is

a little bit soft he could completely mis-hit this shot.

This is the sort of shot where a soft tip is no good.

Perfect. Took a long time. He knew Mark Selby could play a telling

safety shot. He almost did. The aggressive safety is to take

that red away from the black, get the cue ball in behind the brown.

It is a decent line. He's just not hit it hard enough.

Mark Selby obviously has that 40-point lead. The fact Ding is

40-points behind that is why Stephen suggested he bring a black into

play, which he has done. Whoever pots the next red is going

to be favourite to win this frame. The two cushion escapes has not been

really good this evening. He'll have to hit this and get a good safety or

miss the ball all together. Hit it and got a good safety. Well done.

We mentioned the points were level on aggregate. Look at that - three

balls difference between these two players for the whole tournament.

I think they played each other 20 times.

Lots of right-hand side there. He realised he came very close to

it. Mark Selby has won the safety

battle, but where that white has finished, maybe not. A bit fortunate

there, Ding. He would have been hoping to be on

the brown nicely. There wasn't a lot of room to get this red go in.

Too risky to pot the brown. Mark Cannon pot is one, looking at

the angle, he can pot this red in the corner but he will have trouble

missing the kiss on the red and the pink on the way back so he probably

won't do it. He will go through the gap, the one just below the pink,

the cue ball in behind the yellow. You can see the situation that Ding

Junhui is faced with. It is not good. He does not want to slip past

this red that is tight on the Gershon, does not want to hit on the

left-hand side of it. That is a good shot. Touching ball. It's almost

impossible to run up to a baulk colour when you are two or three

inches behind it and leave touching ball. He's come the best part of 12

feet to leave that touching ball, amazing. He will be in trouble with

his next shot now, though. Mark Selby will be delighted to have

come out of this session 2-2 because Ding has started to play a bit.

That is pretty good because the red that is tight on the cushion, which

is the normal way back to baulk, play it then, you can easily hit it

thick and then you have to avoid the cannon on the red and the blue on

the way back. This is not straightforward.

I mentioned this the last time he played that shot, if that was a bit

harder, going past the left-hand side of the red, it could easily

leave it on to the right corner. It was fourball on that red, wasn't

it, so, OK. -- full ball. This looks quite pacey. Good shot.

APPLAUSE If he moves the red that is to the

right of the black, it means he cannot play the same shot again. If

he can put the white in the same place, he would not risk that shot

again, Ding because he would leave the one to the left of the black so

maybe worth picking off the red that he is closest to. -- flicking off.

He's looking at that angle now. It is all about missing the kiss on the

brown if he does play it. Just coming up to a minute and a

half. Yes, we have just gone over the 30

minute mark for this frame and I think in Ding Junhui's semifinal,

you could count on one hand the amount of frames that went over 30

minutes. This is territory that definitely suits Mark Selby.

If it misses the green, it is good but it hasn't so maybe a tempter for

Mark Selby, here, either the one that is just on the pink spot, he

can cut that in and back to baulk. GASPS FROM CROWD

Well, he's been very fortunate, there. He played to get back into

baulk. I've got to be honest, like in that session now, how has that

White got anywhere near the doors when he has nearly got the pot? He

has hit it to thin. Well, obviously, it has flicked off that red, half

ball. He could have been left something easier than this. APPLAUSE

Decent pot and because he potted the red that it looks like he stopped in

time for the green. I thought he was going to sneak behind the yellow but

it just goes in the right-hand side of the pocket.

Four. It is too early to talk about winning the frame at this visit, I

think, and certainly there are enough read there to get right back

into this frame. -- enough reds. I was in common terry this

afternoon, talking about the turning point in frame two when Ding made a

break of 52 and lost it. This could be a similar pattern, getting his

own back because Mark Selby has been in control of this frame. Ding would

then win the mini-session 3-1 and be right back into the game. 11. His

pot success this session tells you that Mark Selby is not in the form

he was earlier today. You have to be at least 90-92 at this standard.

Mark Selby, just in front on the match in terms of pot success. But

should Ding pot three or four more reds, here, I think there will be

parity in that department as well. 18.

You mentioned he could get right back in the frame and he has done

that now. The next red can well, the next two reds, are no real problem.

-- red, well. If he's looking to win the frame at

this visit, I suggest Greenback from the pink to leave an angle to take

that red, the most awkward red of those two by the left cushion. The

one closest to the middle pocket will pot so no need to move that but

I think he will be stunning for a half ball pink, here.

The reason you suggest that is because even if he gets on the red,

bringing it into play, he should still be able to pot the one nearest

the middle pocket so this is good thinking from Ding if it goes right,

and he could win the frame. Can you turn that off, please? Well,

now he is looking to pot the red to the left middle and take the other

one out with that rather than with the pink. APPLAUSE

The problem with this is that if he gets the cannon to think, it will

leave the ball on the side cushion. -- toothpick. He's got -- he has got

to make a half-ball contact on the red, he does not want to be playing

the pink from where the red is. Can you take that out, please? Can you

see who it is? A problem with a mobile phone or something. Take it

out now, please. APPLAUSE Thank you. It does not look like

Ding is playing that cannon now. He was, he got it half ball. APPLAUSE

Yes, maybe just the contact was a bit thin, there. Just concentrating

on making sure he did not make a full-ball contact to leave the cue

ball on the cushion. But still, he has made it into a more makeable

red. APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

There's no doubt after making those two breaks, he is looking far more

composed at the table although straight on the black is no good.

Yes, he can get onto the red if he plays the pink in the middle at

pace. But it's a lot more difficult, playing it at pace, to get right

back over the other side of the table. Yes, if he is straight on the

black, all he can do is play for the red to the far green pocket. Unless

he chose to play it with a lot of right-hand side, which obviously

makes the black missable. So it is the red to the far right corner. And

he might even have the angle to go up to play the brown to the

right-centre, or even the brown to the green, same pocket as he is

potting the red, and that would be a good idea, to get the brown away

from that awkward position. Yes, I like that choice.

APPLAUSE He decided he could hold for the

blue, knowing that the other one would go in. He is now 12 points in

front. Blue, yellow and green will leave him 22 in front with 22 on the

table. That is why I thought he might choose to play for the brown,

there. So, Green to brown is the shot. He may risk taking the brown

off but I don't think so. 62. If he needed all the balls, I would

suggest possibly taking the brown away from there.

He does not want to be just off straight. He wants to get as close

to the brown as possible. How is the cue ball? APPLAUSE

Great shot. That was a great shot. So, just the brown.

APPLAUSE What an excellent break this has

been. When he came to the table, it did not look like a frame-winning

opportunity. APPLAUSE

This is a lot more like it. 82. Breaks of 76, a and 89 mean that

Ding Junhui is right back in this final, trailing 75. STUDIO: He has

won five of the last six and three in a row as Stephen Hendry says and

suddenly the real Ding Junhui has appeared inside the Crucible, just

as he did in the semifinal, when he made seven centuries,

record-breaking feats then and it looks like he has found his rhythm

and found his home. Gentleman, how do you rate the way that he has

fired back in this evening session? Fantastic, tremendous character. We

mentioned earlier in the tournament, the one thing I had been impressed

with what it attitude. He has not shirked any issue that came up this

week. It was not easy against Judd Trump and Martin Gould was not easy

in the first match, he was behind in that one and every time he's been

asked a question, he's found something full stop today, it was

not looking likely, it was one-way traffic but since then, fantastic

and his scoring has come back, the choke has come out of the machine

and suddenly he has started potting balls. The importance of the century

in the penultimate frame, his 13th of the championship so far. When you

are on the comeback trail, it's important you keep up the momentum

but if you go back in time to the first session and you think how

close Mark Selby was to getting to 7-0, then you start to think about

the what ifs of the game which are always quite amazing. It looks like

a new model they have sent out, they have rebuilt him! He looked like a

rabbit in the headlights to start the World Championship final. It

looks like he panicked at the fact he was in the final. But he has

steadied the ship and suddenly, it is quite interesting. It sure is and

I know Ken Doherty, the 1997 champion has been watching it from

the practice room. What have you got?

Quite interesting and Stephen Hendry picked up on something particularly

from Mark Selby's point of view, 7-3 ahead and look at the situation of

the table. Trying to keep the pressure on Ding of course which is

no harm but he plays a safety here when he possibly could have been a

bit more aggressive. OK, it is a straightforward safety, to ball down

to the book area, trying to get it tight to the baulk cushion but

Stephen Hendry quite rightly picked up a possibility that he is trying

to protect his lead, Mark Selby, instead of trying to be his normal

game which is sometimes, you have to be a bit aggressive. This is the

situation as we set it up, a very simple shot, off the side cushion

but he could have had a go at this red up into the yellow pocket and he

could have played it with a touch of safety. Probably being a bit

aggressive, taking it on, and if he pots it, he gets on the blue or he

is on a baulk colour. If he misses it, he still has yellow, brown,

possibly green, if the cue ball travels down here, that he can block

with but what Mark Shelby should -- Mark Selby should not do is try to

protect his lead and coast the finish line. He's got to be

aggressive when he needs to be and passive when he needs to be. But he

can't try to coast. It's a long way to coast, a long way

to go before tomorrow evening's final session. If you were with us

this afternoon in the opening session, you will have seen the

great Stephen Fry posing as a question which was maybe a bit

easier than the ones he has been throwing at us all week. I wonder

what he's got lined up in his last quiz?

Hello, we are seeking perfection today in this, our last quiz at the

Crucible. We would like maximum effort to get the old grey matter

going. Our breer celebrity guests want to go out on the ultimate high

as they and you attempt to answer this. In snooker, what were as rare

as hen's teeth in the 80s and are now ten a penny? -- hence' teeth.

Get involved on social media using this hashtag and we shall discuss it

all anon. And we shall leave that with you. It

feels like we've been waiting an awfully long time to see Ding Junhui

make it into snooker's Premier final. After all, you 29, but he

turned pro at 16. He's been turning heads ever since. But despite the

fact that he has made his house and his living here in Sheffield, he's

never really looked at home in the Crucible, until this year. Rob

Walker caught up with him last night after his celebrations, coming

through his semifinal. Congratulations. Here you are. Ready

for the biggest match of your life and yet, you seem so calm. I don't

want to get too excited. I have not finished yet. I have to do the last

match. Stay calm. Every time I win a good match, my confidence builds up

little bit. Now it is very relaxed and confident to play. You always

get a great reception from the crowd as well. I think people feel as

though you almost an adopted Yorkshire man because you have lived

in Sheffield for ten years. Do you regard this as home? I know

Sheffield a lot. When I first moved here, I made it feel like them

because I bought a house here and I live in Sheffield. I love here

because it is a nice area to live in. Give us an idea as to how much

pressure you feel, for instance, when you go to the China Open, when

you perform in Beijing. When I play a home game in China, I feel a lot

of pressure. I don't want to play badly when I go out there. Have you

gained a sense from here in Sheffield, as the tournament has

progressed, that the excitement is growing in China? I can't keep away

because people, my friends keep sending me things, or sometimes,

they know that, they are more excited than me. Are you someone who

shies away from TV interviews when you go home, questions about your

private life? I will tell you what you want to know. I will not tell

you what you don't need to know! It's OK to talk about my life, more

what I'm doing. What I'm doing at home is private, OK, I don't mind,

but if I don't want to tell, I don't tell. If you were to win the world

title, it would obviously be amazing for you but it would also be amazing

for snooker in China. I think at the moment, I have to focus on my own

game. I have to go the way I groomed, to win world titles. Also,

if I win it, -- the way I dream to. Also, if I win it, I will give

confidence to some young boy, going on this road, to keep going. They

will see that we have got a chance to win world titles. It does not

mean that the Chinese people cannot win. We can win and we have got

confidence. If we are doing well, we can be there, to win titles. And

also, it would be amazing for your family as well. I think sometimes,

the sacrifices your parents have made has been overlooked. There are

stories about your father having to sleep on the floor to help fund your

snooker. My father Don Ilott, got a job for me. -- did a lot. When I was

13, maybe we were not living quite so good but he tried to get me fully

focused on practice. He has done everything for me and also, we have

got the same faith that we can do, we can be successful, we can make

it. And yeah, we did. So what an amazing way it would be to reward

all of your father's faith and hard work by lifting the trophy on Monday

night? Oh, he would cry! LAUGHTER He rarely shows his emotion. He is

such a sweet person and a very humble man and very well liked,

actually. As usual, he's just going through his paces during the

interval, always comes in for a little practice with his coach,

Terry Griffiths. When you think this was the man who won the world under

21 championship at 15 years old and turned pro at 16, so many people

thought he was going to beat Stephen Hendry's record of the youngest

Crucible winner but it's taken him a very long time to get here, and into

this final. Why? Lots of good players about, simple as that. I

don't know if it is many other things. Being away from home cod be

easy and we forget that because we are all based here but he had to

come and get used to things. -- which can't be easy. Interesting

that he's in there practising. I bet he's a lot better than he was when

he was 6-0 down, in the early part of the match, when he was in there,

trying to knock a feeble thing, 4- direct high that the interval. Far

better in there with Terry now. You forget he's 29 now, and other

21-year-old, he was playing you in the UK final. He achieved so much

before he turned 20, winning three ranking titles. He has been a

phenomenon waiting to explode in terms of the Crucible and I guess

this year, being a qualifier, in some respects, has that helped his

challenge? It may well have done or it may well be that he has got to

have played through this amount of snooker before he's matured or of

course, it could just be the randomness of how you turn up at the

World Championships and get through the matches. I've not seen every one

of his matches at the Crucible. There might have been turning points

in games he lost that if he had won his first round match, he would have

gone on to better things, Wicca. What you can say is a player of

doing's standing you think it will be criminal if at some stage he did

not win the World Championship but it happens. -- of Ding's standing.

And he did not like the venue when he first came, it was like a

cauldron, maybe he was under so much pressure. John Higgins did not like

it the first time he came but he soon got used to it and won four

World Championships but I don't think Ding ever felt at home. When

he won the first frame to reduce the deficit to 6-1, there was a tear in

his eye today. That is an unusual thing for a player during a game. I

think he might be a lot more emotional person and player than we

ever thought possible from his deadpan face and the machine-like

way he goes about things. He could be so emotional in some ways that it

has affected a bit and he's needed more time to mature in that

department. -- affected him. As he said in the interview, he is a very

private person but a very likeable man and he's trying to become only

the third ever qualifier to go on and win the title. That really has

been one of the stories of the championship, the story of the

qualifiers. They have come barging through, old and new, creating

headlines, right from the off, some 15 days ago. Welcome to the Crucible

Theatre, the World Snooker Championship, 2016. Steve Davis,

this arena is all yours. Oh. Oh, well, what has he done

there? Nobody would have called it. Oh, and

he has got the blue, Stuart Bingham, you will be back, no doubt about

that. This was the shot. It didn't go quite, then he won't leave it on.

But, excellent shot. To make the century, he is going to

need the pink. Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on -

yes. It's the pink first. And now try to put those back together.

We'll join you again in about ten minutes' time.

If you can't beat them, stab them. The tension will increase. Are you

lining me up there? I hope your eyes are going. Go on. The Crucible

Theatre, made by Lego. What a fantastic achievement. Thank you

very much. It is a long walk it the table over there. You need a taxi

ride to get over to the table. Steve Davis has just had a marriage

proposal, live on the BBC. There is no other spot available.

What a shot that was! He couldn't have played it any better. The hand

shake. Barry Hawkins has done what he has

not done for 14 years. Beat Ronnie O'Sullivan on the biggest stage of

all. He had to play three qualifying matches to get here. He is here, and

he is now in the quarterfinals. Can you believe what you have just

seen? John can't. Well, I have never, ever, in the history of

playing snooker ever seen that happen off the break off. He is just

laughing. Absolutely remarkable. One of the best matches I have ever seen

in my life. Smile there, black now, Kieran.

Absolutely superb. He wants the crowd to give him a big round of

applause. They have responded. The world number one, finishes in style.

It's all still to play for. Welcome to a fabulous Friday, here in

Sheffield. The old Tartan trousers are bringing a bit of luck.

He'll probably glue his fingers to the cue. A little trick shot for the

black. There it is, finishing off with a trick shot. Are you watching,

are you watching you lot? It has been bizarre at times but

brilliant. We hope you have enjoyed the last 15 days with us on the BBC.

That last shot you saw with Mark Selby alongside Willie Thorne

reminds me this could be the first part of a sporting double for

Leicester. So can Mark Selby outfox all comers again? What is your

initial thought in reaching your third world final? More relation

than anything else. I felt a lot more pressure out there this time

than what I did two years ago when I was playing Neil in the semifinal to

get to the semifinal. And whether it was to get to another final, another

chance to win it for a second time now I have won it before, whether it

is that pressure I'm not too sure. I definitely felt more edgy, not just

in the semifinal but most matches. Your preparation has been different

for this, of course. You took time off. Was that to stay fresh for the

Crucible? Yes, and at the minute it seems to have worked

performance-wise it has not been too good but as far as results, I'm

still in and still have a chance it win. So seems to be working at the

moment Was that that to the detriment of your matchplay, not

having a couple of matches coming in, do you think you have got away

with it a little bit? Possibly, I was still putting in the hours

practising at home. When you are playing at home, you feel like you

are playing well but because you are not tested, you don't know where

your game is at. I didn't practice with anyone coming into the

Championships. Joe Perry asked me for a game but we were close to each

other in the draw, so I didn't do that. What about your opponent Ding

unwi. It'll be tough. Yes, it will, I need to score well. Ding is

playing fantastic, I made six or seven centuries in his semifinal. I

know I'm up against. I tell myself to be positive and I go out there

and I am not. I can't afford to go into my shell against Ding, because

I will have no chance of winning Experience, it is the first time

Ding has been in a Crucible final. It must count for something. I

suppose so, as you say, I need to get off to a good start and

capitalise on that. If Ding is going to feel anything, it'll probably be

at the start of the match, so if he is edgy there, hope flick capitalise

on a good first session. Funny enough, if you win, this will be

your first trophy this season, hard to believe, isn't it? It is, I won a

small PTC but in main ranking events I have not won anything. For this to

be my first tournament, not a bad one in the season. I probably know

the answer to this, but what will it mean to you to win two World

Championships? It would be amazing, even when I won my first, it was a

fantastic feeling. Everyone back home saying I was great and if you

win again, it would be et bore. I have given myself a chance by

getting into the final again. So I will be trying my hardest. If I win

it for a second time, I will quite emotional I think. It'll be a

wonderful season for the city of lester, looks like they'll win the

Premier League. Mark Selby could win the Championship l you start texting

me? No, I'll probably still send you the pictures of the Premier League

trophy with Leicester on T unbelievable as far as the Football

Club goes. This time last year they were struggling to stay up. This

time they have been top of the league for most of the season and

look close to doing it. Hopefully they will do it. Monday night

hopefully I will do it. From foxes, we are back to hen's teeth. I'll let

Mr Fragg explain one last time. Over -- fl fry. Eve the last few decades

we have seen fantastic developments in the standards of play, and

today's question underlines, that I asked you, what were as rare as

hen's teeth in the '80s and are now ten-a-penny. I cue should know it

better than anyone. What are as rare as hen's teeth and they are now

ten-a-penny. Kicks. Maybe centuries. But they are not ten-a-penny. Well,

you should know, you made enough of them. Maximums. But these misses.

How many frames go by without a Mrs. A Mrs? Yes, all the wives down the

front roe. Whose misses is that? You know the misplacement of the ball.

Maximum, surely. Gentleman yes. It's got to be maximum. Yes. We will go

for maximum breaks. Obviously centuries weren't as - well

certainly 147s were very rare in the '80s, that would be the answer. I

would go for a 147. You don't get any more hen's teeth than you used

top of the answer is not hen's teeth, it could be the question.

Hen's teeth are as rare as hen's teeth. You have definitely got that

right. Yes, what was once rare, is now commonplace, we are talking

about maximum breaks. Steve Davis made the first official one in

competition in 1982. Also the first on television. His reregard was a

Lada car. I'm not going to say anything. But it should be

remembered the great Joe Davis was the first man ever to make a 157 in

an exhibition match in 1955. That's crazy. That was six years after he

had retired from the game. Here in Sheffield, Cliff Thorbourn took the

honours for the fist Crucible match. But they were rare. Only eight made

in the whole of the 1980s. Fast forward around 30 years. In 2012, 1

#1, more in a single year than a whole decade of the '8 #0s. So far

this Deng died over 50. Yes, they maybe more commonplace now, but they

rightly remain one of snooker's most celebrated achievement. You could

argue that the faster cloths don't make it easier, they make it harder,

the bouncy cushions they are always complaining about. The thrill of

that moment, though, is still one of the reasons that I love watching

this great game. Over the last few days, it has been just as lovely to

share with you some weird, wonderful and quite interesting facts about

snooker. So, thanks for your company, and enjoy this year's final

weekend at the Crucible. Goodbye. And thank you to the wonderful

Stephen Fry who was so charming and so genuinely enthusiastic about

snooker. He loves the game, John. He certainly does. He loves it. He came

up a couple of years to see us, and went to the Winter Gardens. They

gave him a signed cue. He would have loved that. It was like all of his

Christmases had come at the one time. He was so enthusiastic. Thank

you very much Stephen for your help with that. And thank you, too, to

all of you who gave us your answers. We do have some winners. We have the

lack of Calum Wilson, Jeff Prophet and Vicky Dewery, you are our cue I

winners. That's 50 points and minus 200 for everyone else who got it

wrong. But it has been great to have the quizes over the last week. Now

we are down to the serious stuff. And five more frames. Frame 13. Ding

Junhui to break. DENIS TAYLOR: Well, Ding Junhui gets

the first frame after the mid-session under way and he will be

feeling much more comfortable now. He has won that little mini-session

3-1 but straightaway left a possible pot for Mark Selby. Once again, a

red goes right next to the black and puts it out of commission.

It is turning into a fascinating tussle this, after being #-1 down,

superb stuff from the Chinese player. -- 6-0 down.

Oh, well, he was a little bit off that shot. He wasn't very confident.

I wasn't quite sure whether he was going to hit the black and red.

-- a fabulous comeback. Five frames they played in the session and five

more tonight. He is a bit unlucky. It was a very

positive shot that Ding Junhui took on there. He went full flooded for

the cannon and very unfortunate to cover that black. But it just shows

you that the confidence has gradually come back he looked very

edgy at the start and every credit to him for this comeback.

That's pretty good. He has blocked the escape route down the left side

of the table. You have to be a bit careful going

past the black. He has it get it thin and make sure he doesn't go

in-off. Well, he did clip the black but

safely back down the table. It looked like it was going to go

7-0, you know. This was the shot - if this goes in, wow, it wobbled

four or five times. Because he got himself absolutely

perfect on the pink. As we see a red go over the right middle pocket. Has

he covered it? I think he has, Denis. He has a very easy swerve,

but the problem about that is that he doesn't have much control of the

cue ball. The cue ball will be going very, very close to this bottom,

corner pocket. He hits it very nicely indeed. Watch

the cue ball as it hits the top cushion. The side kicks in-off the

side cushion and back up nicely for the blue.

It is still a pretedy awkward table. With the pink tied up and the black

at the moment hampered. So he has to give this a little bit of thought.

There are at least six reds nicely-placed but it is not a good

chance just yet. There is a red he could possibly

have got on into the left-corner pocket. He can't really get on that

ideally-placed one just now. Sort of needs to get his arm going

again, doesn't he, Denis? He has been kept a little bit cold.

He needs to really sort of make a nice break, a frame-winning break in

one visit just to get a bit of momentum back. He has certainly lost

that now. Yes, make no mistake, Mark will be

looking for this little mini-session, to win it. As I say,

we have the extra frame to play. There's five more to be played.

I suppose the other turning point was when he jumped over the red when

he was 30 in front and miscued. Everything seemed to change around

and Ding kept getting stronger but little things like that can happen

in a long match and they can play a big part in it. This was T he was

nicely in, and screwing back for the pink and it wasn't really the tip's

fault. It was the way he cued it, just a bit too low. This was it.

Oh, he has played that through the gap.

Now he has a wonderful angle on the black. He can pot the black. You see

the cue ball going through the gap there. A wonderful angle. He can

move the red to the left of the black spot and still be on the two

reds into the same pocket. He has to get the cannon right on the red,

just over the black spot. He has missed it.

He just tried to kiss that red out of the way. It was like a half-ball

contact. He didn't want to hit it full ball, otherwise he could have

snookered himself from the two reds but he has an alternate. It just

means he will have to head up for the blue but maybe he can just get

through. He has spotted something there. What he is looking at. He is

looking to see if he can pot this with the black past the other red.

Because he can stun this in and get out on the black but, well, he must

feel that if the black goes - well, we'll tell the way he plays the shot

whether it is available. No, it is not and he has hit this too hard.

Much too hard. He is looking as if he got a bit of

a flier off this cushion behind the black.

That was about the best he could do. He couldn't keep the white away from

the cushion, because he was close to the cushion when he attempted the

blue. So it is not straightforward. Back for the blue again here.

And that is what can happen, when you just keep getting out of

position. He might be able to stretch and reach for the green

here. But if you lose close control, that's the sort of thing that can go

wrong. If the yellow was on its spot here this would be straightforward

around two or three cushions to get back for the reds but. He has to be

careful he doesn't hit the yellow here.

And he had to be careful not to go in-off. He must have got a lot of

action on that. You were right, the yellow was the distraction, he had

to avoid that and got a little bit too much side on T

-- on it. A free shot. He can still take a pot

on and back up towards the green or brown.

Well still not in perfect or prime position but still pulling out great

pots. I think it is quite evident that his time something not

completely there, Denis. He is losing the cue ball quite a bit. He

needs another delicate shot here on the blue. Can he hold it? Is he

going to go into the pack? He didn't catch it full

ball. That is what can happen. If you catch it full ball it'll head

towards the corner pocket. A couple of earpieces have got loud. If you

have turned them up, can you turn them back down, please. The referee

telling some members of the audience to turn their earpieces back down.

The second world final Paul has refereed. He has been a top referee

for a number of years now. One of the best in the business.

He is having a look at the red that's closest to this bottom

right-hand corner pocket. I'm not sure if he has enough of it to try

to take it on. It doesn't look like he has. He is

weighing up his options of where he wants to put the cue ball, so maybe

just a good safety shot down behind the green.

Mark Selby, 30. Not too bad. But he will be disappointed, Mark Selby, he

didn't win the frame on that visit. Attempted the pot with safety in

mind. He hit it a little harder than he intended. So I'm sure Mark will

get a better cue ball here. He needs to miss the brown, though.

He hasn't. He has covered the one near the pocket. The pink is

blocking the path through to that. It is who can put in the best safety

shot here that can create a chance for himself.

Well, the natural angle is to knock the red over the bottom pocket. He

has chosen a more difficult safety shot and he has played it pretty

good. That's a God shot. That was quite difficult when the red is so

close to that top cushion. You have to hit it perfectly.

There is not a great deal of difference between them in the

safety success department. The tournament safety success rates

- 1% the difference. Ding slightly better than Mark, which a lot of

people will be surprised by. You are looking at one of the best

break-builders the game has ever seen.

Trying to get behind green and brown here, if he can straighten the cue

ball off this top and side cushion. Couldn't do that. Tried to get

behind the yellow. Now, who is going to be the first

player to get in behind that green and brown?

That was far too thin. He has covered the one he has knocked

towards the pocket but wasn't the best from Mark there, by any means.

The only problem for Ding Junhui if he tries to get in behind the green

and brown, he could leave that red that's near the corner pocket,

anywhere Eve where the cue ball is, and in line with that, he would

cover it. So is he going to risk trying to get a really good cue ball

in behind the green and brown? He doesn't have to do. He can head down

hyped the yellow. But -- he can head down behind the yellow. But we shall

see. Went for the green and brown.

APPLAUSE It was an excellent shot. You couldn't play that just with the

normal top spin. There was a lot of left-hand side to check up the cue

ball and straighten the angle. Mark is looking at a possible

three-ball plant. There you see the two balls in line with hitting the

red closest to this right-hand corner pocket. But he's going to

have to swerve that cue ball to make a proper contact on those two. Yes,

if he can't get to that, I can only see that as an escape route but can

he see enough of that cushion to play that? Maybe just. It looks as

if he is aiming towards that. He has to get fairly close to the green to

pull this off. He played it well.

APPLAUSE He might find himself back up behind

the green and brown here. Again, using a little bit of left-hand side

off the side cushion. You can see clearly those two reds

are definitely not plant. It could be made but at the moment the red

closest to the white is blocking the path for that. But things removing

this, but he could, as Ken said, get in behind the green and brown here.

This is a Mark Selby special into the left corner. If he has got a

slight angle, he plays the shot so well, with Spain, to come back up

the table. This is a test of cueing. -- with spin. He has got a 29 point

advantage. A key shot coming up. He plays it so well, that shot. He is

one of the best in the business at that shot. Absolutely. It is like a

signature shot from Mark Selby. Look at where the cue ball has landed. He

didn't try to go up for green or brown. He was walking but he thought

he hadn't hit it hard enough. Thank goodness for gravity. He was halfway

round the table before the blue dropped in. That's the beauty of

these tables. The clocks are so fast and fine that they are beautiful to

play on when you are playing well. But if you are off your game, they

can make you look silly out there, Ken, can't they? They certainly can.

He got a bit of a hard balance of the cushion. He wanted to be

straight on the road. -- off the cushion.

That's much better. He missed one earlier on into the middle pocket,

Ken, when he was four or five frames ahead and it cost him. That was a

much better strike. He should win the frame from this

visit, you would feel. The pink would put up 56 points ahead. So the

loose red just above the free reds and the black and another high value

colour and Ding Junhui would need colours -- snookers. Yes, and the

other red on the right side of the table is very accessible as well.

Just to make absolutely sure. It was probably just what he needed

as well, one good pot to try to win the frame from here, just to break

Ding's momentum. He has flicked that read, so he may have two take that

one to the left. People want one more red to keep Ding Junhui in his

seat. He didn't do anything about this. Mark just knocked in a

fantastic long red. He is reluctant to take the red just below the black

spot. He doesn't want to let Ding in for an easy chance, so he is trying

to keep a bit of pressure on. A big target behind green and brown but it

is not that good. It is a little bit short. He will be happy with fat,

24. Particularly with his opening. He will be disappointed he didn't

close out the frame from that position. He is coming up a long way

short and he has left another Mark Selby special. He needed 14 point

snooker to try -- to tie, did Ding. Well, he got a horrendous cake. Not

that it matters, but still not nice to see. -- a horrendous cake. It

doesn't matter about missing the pink. He has done what he had to do.

He has taken the frame. Mark Selby has opened up a three frame

advantage again at 8-5. Well, I like this wonderful camera

angle from the back of the theatre at the Crucible. It gives you a

sense of how big it is now. It really comes into its own. There is

so much more room around the table. You don't have to worry about the

partition or the noise from the other table as Mark Selby breaks

off. This is the 14th frame. It really is something special, isn't

it? When you play at one table venue. When you say how big it is,

some people in the sponsors lounge, the first time here at the Crucible,

they thought how small the theatre was, even with the one table. If

they had been here when there were two tables! We always say, when

there are two tables and you are on the cushion, the people in the front

row could grab the cue and play be shot for you. -- play the shot. That

is a nice little gap but he doesn't think he could get enough side, so

he is taking the safe route into the left side of the bunch. Just the

side has taken it there and even then it has not quite made it. A

file and a miss. When you are playing with that amount of side,

you almost slip off the edge of the reds and leave the red on the black

spot. Should he be short with the second attempt here, he might look

at the red he has an ion. It looks at this time. He has the right pace.

A decent shot. Did you lose a frame once with three Mrs? I'm sure I

remember that. I did, yes. At the world Championships here. In fact, I

was involved in a match with Steve Davis and Steve Davis missed three

times, lost the frame and lost the match. He was very disappointed.

That was incredible to go into that middle pocket at that pace and that

angle. Can he get this thread and can he

get himself onto the black? There are a couple of ways of doing this.

He could set it up dead straight and screw back with the white, all you

could come off the top and side cushion and sit behind the black. He

is leaving a slight angle, so he is going to play this with top spin. He

is just worried about where the black is going to go. He has got to

negotiate the red first to get on the black. It is certainly a test of

your cueing, this type of shot. In fact, he was playing up to the blue

that, because the black spot was tied up, and a big smile as he looks

at Mark Selby and says, there you go. That red could have gone

anywhere but he couldn't have left it any easier for Mark. The same

problem arises for Mark here. Will the black B pottable?

He didn't think it was going to be pottable and he is short on the

blue, is he? He may be able to take the black here, Dennis Ross Jamaat

he is right on the blue line, so he might have to take the black. If he

pots the black and leads the cue ball exactly where the black is, I'm

not sure what part he'd have. The more difficult green. Has he got on

the red that is causing the problem and stopping both players from

getting the black? That was never easy because the way

he queues at that type of shot, he is striking down on it and I think

the yellow has come to his rescue here. He is fortunate. Very

fortunate there. The white must have bounced three or

four times before it got to the red when you cue like that. He has

overcut that but he has played that in a clever way. He knows the red

won't go past the yellow. He knows if he cuts that in common he is on

the black or the blue and he knew he was covered. A clever shot. I wonder

whether Mark have a couple of options. He could try to get a plant

onto the red over the corner pack -- corner pocket or he could roll into

the pack. If he rolls into the pack, we will have a re-rack here. I

wonder if it is touching ball? I don't think they'll bother even

saying re-rack. I like how he signalled their that he wanted a

re-rack. It is like he wanted a substitute brought on. Look at the

White here. Look at this. At least three or four times. That is why the

shot was so difficult, when you have the butt of the cue in the ad. You

can see the cue action. Striking down on it. How many times does this

bounce? That first one has gone two feet? One, two, three, four. That is

what happens when you strike down on a ball. Eight ounces before it got

to the black. This is a bit of a chance because he

can put this and done off the side cushion and get on the black. This

is a bit of a free shot for him. -- stun off the side cushion. If he

takes the part to the corner and stands of the cushion, he is

perfectly on the black. This is all about the putt. -- all about the

pot. He is so good into the middle

pocket, Ding Junhui. I am just wondering, because he will still

have a pot at the black back -- at the black. It is a tough one, but I

have seen him put these before. Very tough. You have to be so straight

with your cueing here. Just the near part of the pocket but it's not too

bad. He was only going to leave that red. I think we'll see Mark Selby --

I don't think we'll see Mark Selby take on the red into the green

pocket. It is too risky. Another rewrite? -- re-rack? Because

the red is awkward. I can't see a lot that Ding can do here. Only roll

into the reds. The problem about screwing of the reds and trying to

get the cue ball back behind the black or to the top cushion may

leave a part on. He is looking at him, Mark looked at him, but Ding

had turned away. Maybe Ding Junhui should have taken a re-rack there.

That is pretty good. He has not the red over to the centre. He can't cut

this red back into the left centre. And he has got tight enough to this

top cushion that it will be very difficult to get down onto the cue

ball to screw the cue ball back to the top cushion. A slight bit of

bother here. He is coming up to the minute's

thinking time here. Attempting the plant. Very risky.

Now, has he left a pot on for Ding into the left centre? The red pots

but it is certainly not easy. As you said, Dennis, he is so good on the

spot into the middle pocket. It is certainly worth having a go at this.

Oh, that is brilliant. A perfect shot. That was fantastic cueing.

At that pace, he had to be so precise. This is a thin one. Safely

in. Ding Junhui did win the tactical battle. Can he take full advantage?

That was a tremendous opening red. Just to QB in at that pace into the

middle. He judged it, a little cannon on the red to bring me cue

ball back for the black. Sometimes in situations like this,

particularly when you have read Max around the -- particularly when you

have reds around the blue, you quite like to get up and tidy up around

the middle pocket. He has played until a couple of reds there and if

he can get these into the left corner pocket, he will always have

the left centre. A little bit short of pace with the

cue ball. Got to play a little cannon, maybe,

into the two reds around the pink spot. He is going up for a red navy

blue. -- near the blue. If you look at the breaks he has made to get

back into this final, he has had breaks of hundred and three, 80

nine. They have both had century breaks. This final is building

really nicely and the standard is increasing all the time.

This is what I was saying. Getting around the blue. He has got a series

of quite easy pots and all the time he is accruing as it -- a sizeable

lead. I was just hoping before the final

started that both these players would play to the top of their form.

It looked all one-sided. 6-0 down. Ding was looking very edgy and a

little bit emotional at one stage. But now he's back to his brilliant

best. Even though he's three frames behind, he's going along nicely

here. He used all of the pocket their for

the black but he is still OK. He looks a little bit more in

control, doesn't he? He was completely out of sorts in that

first session. Oh, that definitely wiped its feet. A reaction from Ding

Junhui there. Have a look at this. Can you turn that off please? They

have told them. I don't know how many announcements have been made.

He is steadying himself up. He knows the importance of the next shot. A

nice little cannon here. In fact, he is rolling it. He is not going to

risk the cannon. He has gone way up the table because he knew that red

was there. A definite little cannon into the two reds behind the pink

and then he thought, I might flick off a red and snooker myself, so he

thought of the safety positional. But yes, from 7-2 behind, as I

mention the three frame-winning breaks, this final is starting to

come alive, it has to be said. That was a nice little shot on the red

there. He sometimes puts a little bit of

unwanted side but he is back in control now. His scoring throughout

this championship has been quite amazing.

He has already had 13 centuries. I think the record is 16 from Stephen

Hendry a few years ago. That is quite some statistic. Especially in

a semifinal, to make a record of six centuries, or was it eight centuries

in the semi against Alan McManus? Seven centuries he made against Alan

McManus. That was a record here at the Crucible. Funnily enough,

Stephen Hendry didn't realise he'd made the most centuries with that

16. Second in line as John Higgins, who's made 14 here one year.

It was 2002 when Stephen Hendry got his 16 centuries here.

The middle red between the pink and the other red might pot? It doesn't.

Otherwise he might have played about. He will need a cannon onto

the other red. He has gone up for the reds on baulk

and a little case might have been nice. What a shame. But he will

still have a go. The frame is safe. I'm lucky. He will be disappointed

that he didn't make the century but, most importantly, he has another

frame on the board and he has closed the gap now, but it is Mark Selby

who still leads by 8-6. We still have three more to play tonight and

John and Steve, it has been interesting to see just what a

turnaround he has managed to produce? There was one shot at the

start of this that was amazing. Fabulous cueing this. He made a

frame-winning break off T but he is right in this match now. Total

change around. Complete. It is like a different person out there, isn't

it? Yes, he has his foe ku.s you can see he is not worried about

anything. He is just concentrating on the balls in hand. That's the key

to the game, staying in the present. Not worrying about the future,

thinking about how it is going or panning out. He is focussing on what

is in front of him. I'm not saying he is not worried but he is

focussed. Mark Selby has had the guy come back at him and he has more

time to think and ponder in his chair. In the moment, a phrase.

Stephen Hendry is watching this in the practice roo. Not sure if he is

getting his arm in, with a view to a comeback but Stephen was with us

watching that first devastating session from Mark Selby. What do you

make of the turn around in Ding Junhui? I'm more interested in the

turn around of Mark Seoul bi. I knted believe the way he has come

out tonight. He looks a lot like his other matches this he can would. He

is not playing like a guy who is 6-2 in front and wants to press home the

advantage it win the final. He looks edgy and under pressure. And the

under pressure business, we talked about earlier. You couldn't - you

talked about Selby's second session syndrome. It has been a problem

throughout Championship. Definitely. He puts his effort into getting a

good start and takes his foot off the pedal, whether subconsciously or

whatever. But he looks like a different player, like at the moment

he is struggling for confidence. Interesting observations. Stephen

also keeping a little eye on the century breaks because, as you say,

13 centuries Ding Junhui has made and Stephen's record of 16 is

certainly within range. DENIS TAYLOR: It certainly is, Hazel

but an interesting observation from the seven times world champion

there. I was watching this afternoon's

session back at the hotel. When he was 6-0 up, I picked out one shot.

He took a risky red on. He had a very straightforward safety shot and

he still nearly won that frame when he wobbled the blue, we showed you

earlier to go 7-0 up. Since then, things have turned around, it has to

be said. Can Ding Junhui start with this nice long pot?

Hit it on the wrong side. It was his turn to get away with it. He had a

result there. These things happen, when you start playing well, cueing

well, you get the rub of the green, when you are struggling, if you miss

a shot like this, you stick your opponent in.

It was interesting what Stephen Hendry said in the practice room. He

is definitely right. I think we are seeing Mark Selby going into his

shell a little bit, even though he had

He is normally so good with his safety game, his B game but at 6-2

up you want to press home your advantage. The worst thing he can

do, is go into his shell. Of course the flip side of that is that your

owe Pope ented is putting you under that bit more pressure because you

know that any chance you get, he is going to make a frame-winning break.

-- your opponent. He is certainly matching Mark Selby

in the safety department. That's for sure. Brown and yellow is the target

to get in behind here. A little bit on the thin side. So a

tactical exchange now to see who makes the first mistake.

Now, will Mark Selby take a big risk? Maybe not. The red into the

right corner but he would have to get it, so he is ignoring that and

looking immediately at the safety shot.

Better length of the cue ball this time. An excellent shot. He plays

that shot so well. Judged it nicely, off four cushions. There maybe a gap

between the green and blue. Having a look at the right to the

bottom right-hand corner pocket, too, but that's fraught with a lot

of danger. That will do nicely. He doesn't want

to leave a touching ball. Touching ball.

Could be back in the same position again. Sometime in these situations,

Denis, though, I think I would prefer not to snooker your opponent

on the pack of reds, because he is going to keep playing that shot. You

would like to force him into playing a more difficult safety shot to try

to get the cue ball back to baulk. Looks short of pace that one. When

you are striking over a ball and down on the cue ball like that, it

is so difficult to judge the pace of it. That's what Ding Junhui is faced

with. Now, he missed the other one in the

opposite corner when he was rolling it. Let's see what he does with

this. APPLAUSE

WHISTLING We have a few whistlers in, which is

unusual. Of it deserved it, the pot and held the cue ball perfectly.

Well, he couldn't have cued that any better. That was excellent. Not only

the pot but the position, as you said.

Holding the cue ball perfectly for the black. The thing I like about

that particular shot. He didn't take trooch time over it, did he? He --

didn't take too much time over it. He made up his mind straightaway he

was going for the more difficult pot.

Yes, he zrnt a deleer mind at the start of this match. But I tell you

what, he certainly has now. Because four out of the last five frames he

has made breaks of 76, 103, 89 and 86.

He is' going to have to get the extension on the rest to take this

red. If he pots it, he is automatically coming out on to the

black. He has looked at that and back looking at the other red. And

that's going to be his choice. Just lost his concentration

momentarily there. It's been a while since he has

missed something like that. There again, Mark Selby throws his

little extension on the ground in frustration. That's a poor shot from

his standard. No real pressure on there. Playing