Day 7, Afternoon Session Snooker: World Championship

What an atmosphere here at the Crucible. These are two of the

greatest cueists the game has ever seen. Cued it to perfection! What a

shot! This is snooker of its highest quality! Starting to turn into a bit

of a nightmare for Shaun Murphy. He's in a hole. Shaun will hope to

do better. STUDIO

Good afternoon, Snicko's prizefighters and there is active

corners being mocked down ahead of Sachin two. -- Shaun has countered

by taking two frames and metaphorically speaking has a few

putts and bruises ahead of their second session this afternoon. You

just know Ronnie O'Sullivan will have on his mind an early finish,

perhaps with a session to spare. But that's not what Shaun Murphy will be

thinking about. We will be live with the second session in about 90

minutes time. Let's just show you where that match sits in the overall

context of around two's draw. The defending champ as had a week off.

Mark Selby back tomorrow against Xiao Guodong. The promise of a

high-quality and entertaining match when Neil Robertson meets Marco Fu.

Kyren Wilson with a lead against ex-champion Stuart Bingham. Mark

Allen has the better record overall against John Higgins. A meeting

between Crucible specialists Hawkins and Dott. Rory's reward. In Trump is

a meeting with Stephen Maguire. When the draw for this World Championship

came out everyone was saying it looked a bit top-heavy. Now we're

into the second round, Kent, is that still the case? Are there still

better players in the top half? You would say so, you have got Ronnie

O'Sullivan and Shaun Murphy, former world champions both. This match

will be a cracker, Neil Robertson against Marco Fu, who could

potentially win the World Championship. And you have got the

all Chinese clash, and Ding Junhui lost in the final last year. But

there are some world champions in the bottom half. Here is the big

one, the four times winner John Higgins. Cracking match against Mark

Allen, it should be. Barry Hawkins has been to the final and the

semifinal a couple of times. Stephen Maguire, former top 16 player,

former UK champion. It's going to be tough to get through the bottom half

and tough to win the World Championship. Four former world

champions in the top half, three in the bottom half and a finalist as

well. Perhaps if Ronnie O'Sullivan wasn't so low down in the seedings

list that would change the equation as well. But don't forget this man

caused a big sensation in the third round beating Judd Trump, the number

two seed. I think the players in the bottom half will feel this is a

great chance to get to the final and let all the heavyweight in the top

half knock themselves out. It will be tough whatever happens. I'm not

sure if you guys believe in positive omens but if you do it could be a

very exciting day today because it was on this date 20 years ago, the

21st of April 1997, that Ronnie O'Sullivan knocked in the fastest

147 ever seen. Five years ago to this day, Stephen Hendry knocked in

the tense and most recent Crucible maximum. We can't say anything for

certain but this is the rough plan for the afternoon! Stuart Bingham,

the former champion, his chances with it before our eyes, 5-0 down

against Kyren Wilson, but he fought back today. Ding Junhui knocked in

three centuries already. Is he warming up nicely to go one better

than last year? He will have to barge past former friend and

countrymen -- friend and countrymen Liang Wenbo. Either way, China

beckons. Yes, I just want to play a very good match. For the Chinese

fans and the world fans watching the match. It doesn't pay to make him

angry, a focused and fired up Ronnie was all business last night.

Blistering start against a Shaun Murphy. Shaun's actions are going to

have to count louder than words, in their second session this afternoon.

I like to try and do my talking on the table. John Higgins on a mission

to join O'Sullivan on five world titles. The Scot starts out in his

first session against Mark Allen today. Shot clock or no clock? You

decide. We want to know your thoughts, so get in touch using

hashtag BBC snooker. Live action at about 2:30pm, but until then we will

reflect on the other two matches that got under way at 10am, and in

Stuart Bingham's case, a match that has resumed. As you know, it took

Stuart Bingham 21 months to come to terms with the fact that he was a

world champion after that fantastic victory here in 2015. And I guess

the increased ins -- expectations of himself and I guess everybody else

on him, took a lot of pressure on him reaching four semifinals and

then he finally got over the line again, winning the Welsh Open in

February. Pressure off? Not really. Now he's got to prove that he's not

Crucible one-hit wonder. Muhammad Ali. Golf, tennis, football,

snooker, darts. Darts is good, yeah, I'd say darts is pretty much up

there. Winning the World Championships! I remember losing a

tennis final with a doubles partner and I was having a right top at him.

I fulfilled it last year! I like Coventry, the Ricoh Arena.

Conditions there played pretty good. I'm always into gadgets or can cute

as so I think I would be along the lines of something like that. Lose

-cam lose Yourself by Eminem. I get goose bumps just listening to it.

Winner winner chicken dinner comes to mind! I booked my flight and got

the dates wrong. I looked at the arrival they instead of the

departure day. They rang me up and said where are you? I said I'm at

home. They said you should be on the flight!

The first of the second round matches just about to get under way.

And that settles this first frame. Kyren Wilson leads Stuart Bingham by

one frame to nil. Wow, that is fantastic cueing. He is

on this green nicely. Anywhere but there. So, Kyren Wilson leading by

three frames to nil. He actually got a kick, there.

Another excellent pot. He now leads by five frames to nil. And he will

be a very relieved man to get a frame on the board. Still two to go,

but he trails 5-1. Kyren Wilson has had a look to see if he can play a

masse shot here, pot the red in the middle. Has to be very careful not

to play a per shot here. It may have been a push. So, a very relieved

Stuart Bingham wins the second frame. He trails now 5-2. Looks like

he's playing the pot. And it's there. He will be absolutely

delighted to finish this session only 5-3 down.

STUDIO Not the greatest of starts from

Stuart Bingham but he clawed his way back. And this morning, as we pick

them up, Stuart has made an 84 contribution and he is now just one

behind and 5-6. Into the next we go, Bingham up by 26 points here. All

watched by John Virgo and Peter Ebdon.

COMMENTATOR: He's played the double... And he's got it! But the

snooker Kyren Wilson now needs, Stuart has got. Funny old game!

There you see it 28 ahead with just 25 remaining. It's a straightforward

one-cushion escape, but your mind can play funny tricks on you. There

you go. REFEREE: Foul, Stuart Bingham two,

Kyren Wilson four. I was thinking the other day, I have never seen as

many escapes from snooker is missed as you do hear. I think one of the

reasons for that, John, is because these cushions, with the plots and

the new balls, they just slide so much, and it is very easy to get it

wrong. Anyway, Kyren Wilson can now win this frame. 24 points behind, 25

remaining. We've been saying all along how big a frame this is. It's

massive, now. No, but he's just not knocking those

mid-distance balls in. He's had a few chances this frame.

Well, he's thinking about this, Stuart. It does cut to the middle.

He needs the green to get the snookers required. In the end

committee tried to hedge his bets. Why? Why? Well, John, there's been

so many twists and turns in this final frame, I'm beginning to get a

little bit busy. Quite incredible. An amazing frame of snooker. Just

the pressure of the situation. Stuart is absolutely delighted.

There is the frame time, 32 and a half minutes. The longest frame in

the match. Probably the most important. Could have played that

better. But if Kyren were to win this, it would feel like winning two

frames, in effect. Needing a snooker and with the chances that Stuart has

had to clinch it. Stuart will be very disappointed if he goes into

the mid-session interval two the Hind, the same as he started this

morning. And every likelihood that that is going to be the case now.

Under the circumstances and given what has gone before in this frame,

that was an excellent pot under pressure. He timed that really well.

Soft screw shot with left-hand side. He timed that beautifully. Another

chance. Blue, pink and black still required.

Normally, John, on that sort of shop, when you do need to get into

the cue ball with quite a lot of power, Kyren goes very long. I

noticed he was quite short on that. When you do go short, you just can't

get the cue power on those sort of shots. So, has this frame got

another twist? Hmmm... And where is the pink

running to? Now, Stuart, I don't know how many chances you've had to

clinch this frame, but... Could this be the decisive one?

This game has never come easy, and it doesn't forgive you, sometimes,

you feel, Peter. It says, you've had enough chances, you know, I'm not

going to make it easy for you. To be perfectly honest, John, I'm in a

state of shock. The number of chances that both players have had.

It's just pressure. And it's beautiful pressure, that is one of

the beautiful things about the Crucible. We see players tested to

an extent that there never usually tested. And under the circumstances,

that was a very good safety shot, duly acknowledged by Stuart Bingham.

Yeah, decision time for Stuart. The obvious shock to me is to play the

pink up the table and try and get the cue ball in behind the black.

That would be a telling snooker. But he got the double-kiss. It wouldn't

surprise me now... Anything could happen in this frame. Both players

have had umpteen opportunities to clinch it. Who will the ball 's

favour in the end? It's not a difficult shot to put the pink onto

the baulk cushion. I don't think the angle is there to play a cross table

double. That was definitely the right shot

to play, and he played really well. Just got to get the pace right.

After all pink and send it down to this top cushion.

That's OK. It's not that easy now for Kyren to try and get in behind

the black here, without risking leaving the pink near a pocket. He

may elect to push the pink onto the right-hand side cushion. That's as

if he's trying to get the cue ball the black, though, and this is a

relief difficult shot. He didn't want that. Because not

only has he got the black into a safer position, he's left a double

that, almost certainly, Stuart Bingham will take on, because he can

play it with a degree of safety and get a good cue ball onto the black

cushion. Well, he was quite a way away from that. Not the greatest

angle on the pink. It would be a really tough shot to take on. A few

times now I've seen Kyren inspecting his tip. I would hope that nothing

is amiss with it. This is a massive shock to take on. And that's

brilliant. That is absolutely brilliant. Has he got the cannon on

the black? Oh! What a shot! So unlucky. That was brilliant. Yeah,

he's had a few long pots that he has missed, and that was top draw. And I

suppose there is some justice, after the chances that have been had, that

we have come down to a black ball shoot out.

He has played that well. He's asking the question now for Stuart Bingham

to get this safe. And it's not that easy, I promise you.

This is an excellent safety shot. That's brilliant, that is absolutely

brilliant. Well played. Yes, purposefully played at that pace to

come off the baulk cushion and down to the side cushion.

And this is another good safety, from Kyren.

Two in front or all square? That is the value of this black ball game.

Same shop for Stuart, and if that doesn't go in, it's over the pocket.

It's pulling to the left slightly. It's over the pocket! Hmmm. He will

be disappointed, Stuart. At one time, Kyren needed a snooker. He

didn't get it, Stuart got it. But he just needs to get this back to

retain his to frame advantage. It lasted 41 minutes, but what a big

frame it was, particularly for Kyren Wilson. They are as you work 7-5 at

the mid-session interval. STUDIO

The warrior Wilson, the former Shanghai Masters winner, he has a

bit of breathing space again. He had his first century, 110, a couple of

frames back. But he's got Bingham breathing down his neck this

morning. In we go to frame 13 now, and it is Bingham 13 points in

front. COMMENTATOR: Too sick, much too

thick. -- too thick. It has to be said, the

standard of play in the first two frames and indeed this one has been

a little bit below par, but that is what the Crucible Theatre can do.

Pressure on every shot. There you see it, pot success.

Stuart Bingham, not too bad, but Kyren, 82%. Safety success... All

these stats should be 90% or above if you're going to be pleased with

what you're producing. A bit of work to do here. This isn't

a formality, to pot the red and get good position on a colour.

Hmmm. Kyren Wilson, three. Kyren Wilson is usually very reliable with

the rest. That is a few shots he's missed with the rest in this match

now, and a couple this morning. He will be very disappointed with that.

Normally he doesn't miss very much at all with the rest. That, again,

is purely an indication of the pressure that is out there on both

players. Just from our point of view sat in the commentary box, it seems

at the moment that the occasion is just getting the better of both

players. But that is a good pot from Stuart.

OK, maybe a bit thin on the blue. If he feels that way, he can always

play the yellow. REFEREE: Turn that phone off,

please. MOBILE PHONE RINGS. The dreaded mobile phone. And they

are reminded by RMC, Rob Walker, to switch the phones off. -- by our MC.

Maybe it was a call to remind them to switch the phone off, John.

CHUCKLES Stuart won't be happy with that

shot. Unless he can just get past the pink to the red to the

right-hand corner. I think it may have just stopped in time. Yes, he

can just get past the pink. Another role and he would be nothing. -- be

on nothing. The way things are going at the moment, John, this match has

got 13-12 written all over it. Yes, I couldn't agree more. You just

don't feel that any player at the moment is going to grab this match

by the scruff of the neck. Once again, not the best positional

shot from Stuart. I'm sure he played for the pink. Fortunately, Stuart

has got quite a large room for error here. He can play for a red into the

left black pocket off either two or three cushions. Well. He played that

with running side. And to be honest, that was very fortunate, because

that could quite easily have gone very wrong. Quite easily he could

have finished up on nothing. He put his hand up to apologise to Kyren.

Much too much pace on the cue ball. But the kiss... Has helped.

If you play them, it's a cannon. If it's unintentional, it's a kiss!

There you go, ball spotted. 179 apiece. That doesn't show up in the

scoreline, but Stuart now has got to make the most of this opportunity.

40 points the lead. This is the one time when you

wouldn't mind being straight on the pink.

If the pink goes into the opposite corner that he's going to play this

red, it's no problem. Well, it shouldn't be a problem anyway. But

he has to come up for the blue. Just a couple of good positional shots.

That should see this frame in the bag. Obviously the pink will go.

Two reds. Two colours still required.

He needs this to bounce. Just about bounced.

Pot this red, 61 points in front, with 59 remaining. It should have

been easier than this. To be fair to Stuart, I did detect

the sound of a slight kick and that took the pace out the cue ball.

Perceived the situation very well there. A nice put.

Well and truly over now. He had a couple of half chances here.

Missed an opportunity. This one and I know you think he's one of the

best players you've seen. Yesterday he was 11 out of 11 with the rest.

Oh! Where's the cue ball gone? I don't think it will matter. I don't

think Kyren will bother coming back to the table. He's checking the

scoreboard. 51 remaining. That's enough.

He's conceded. So, not the best frame from either player, but they

will all be important in the end. Kyren Wilson, a one-frame advantage.

7-6. The 2015 champion is giving this

26-year-old man from Kettering a real run for his money.

Kyren Wilson's third time here. He's got form and he's got the

experience and this is all boiling up very nicely, as we go into the

next one. This time it is Bingham, nine points ahead.

It was made more awkward, the fact he was stretching over the green and

blue. He's finished up with a nice angle on the blue here.

Talking about apologising for flukes and tapping the table when your

opponent plays a really good shot, we had a really unusual incident the

other day... What a brilliant shot that was. Well played.

We had really unusual situation, came off the baulk cushion, hit the

red and deliberately left the snooker. Played a great shot,

apologised for leaving the snooker. It was quite amazing!

You say that was an excellent shot on the blue there.

Brought all the reds into play. What a chance this is to get back to

two frames in front, as he started this morning's session.

I really believe this is one of Kyren Wilson's greatest strengths.

It makes him a different from a lot of the modern players coming

through. When he's at his best he's aggressive and he takes the first

opportunity to open the balls up. Not perfect now. Easy enough, but

just a little bit of work to do with the cue ball.

17 points the lead. Going to need, you would think, at

least four of these reds with colours.

Trusting to luck a little bit here w this positional shot here. He played

that very well. A deep screw shot there - lots of

power. This is a tough pink. Deciding to take an equally tough

black. How's this for a shot! ?

APPLAUSE Absolutely inch-perfect!

If he's on the reds, the left corner, well, he couldn't have

placed it better with his hand. Well, John, I first met Kyren Wilson

during a pool exhibition that I did, almost 20 years ago, when he was six

years of age. And I played him on this pool table and I remember

commenting to his parents how natural he was as a cuist. And her

we are, almost 20 years later, he beats me up in practise almost every

day. Should have kept it to yourself!

Funny thing, although it is the first time you have mentioned that

to me, I knew the story because I was with him in Ireland in January

and we did the snooker legends over there and he told me the story. So,

well done you, Peter! Good to see a young man coming

through. Neither player has really reached

their limit of what they are capable of.

Well, the red's not gone in. 47 in front. 43 remaining. One

snooker to tie. For that, he'll be two frames in front again.

And he was. He's led from the first frame. There's a long way to go here

because it is the first of 13 in this second round. We will head into

frame 15 of a possible 25. Got the kiss on the second red.

Where's the cue ball going? He played a positive shot trying to

bring the red into play. Nice to see he's got the appetite to

smile. I don't think I would be smiling.

I am sure inside he's not very happy about that at all.

He could have decided to pot the red, but decided to give himself the

opportunity of winning the frame by removing a difficult red.

He shouldn't miss this red into the left centre.

This red, black and one more red will be enough.

This red will put him 43 points in front, with 43 remaining.

To be perfectly honest John, neither player will be happy with how they

have played this morning. The only thing that Stuart Bingham may take

out of it, and it depends on the frame, one more frame to be played

in this session, if he can come out all square, job done. Having lost

the first session, 5-3, win the next one 5-3. If he's still two behind,

the opportunity he's had, he'll be disappointed, as will Kyren. He's

had opportunities as well. But, he was very unlucky in this

instance. No way back to the table now for

Kyren. Both players will think about the last frame of this session and

the importance of it. Well, doesn't matter about the

green. Both players now will go out to the dressing room, prepare for

what is a very, very important last frame. Kyren Wilson. He still needs

by one. 8-7. Bingham keeps nibbling into the

lead. Can he close that gap? Highly-significant final frame

coming up. Wilson is five points adrift.

Now, he would have been disappointed with his long pot in this morning.

He's fully committed - fair play to him, but wasn't really that close.

He's left a red on for Stuart. The problem Stuart has is how does he

get out for a colour? Finds the gap. Nicely on the yellow.

And as Peter and I were talking earlier, although neither player

will be that pleased with their performance this morning, this is a

chance for Stuart to get out the venue and think, job done! Two

frames behind. Well, John, this has been a

thoroughly enjoyable session of snooker this morning.

Mainly because of the tension that has affected both players.

Just to emphasise this is the World Championship - there's tension in

the air. And it's good, hard match play.

And the mistakes just make it that much more watchable, because you

don't know when it's going to come. I mean we would like to sit in the

commentary box and predict every shot and rewrite... No fun in that.

Stuart played a lovely positional shot there.

Gave himself the choice of three reds. Into the right corner.

Into the middle pocket. This is the one that's more

straightforward. That was nicely worked out.

Just gets that red away from the pink spot.

Quite obviously Stuart's concentration has gone up a notch

and he's just taking his time here. He knows the importance of this

contribution, this visit, and indeed just how important winning this

frame would be in the context of this match.

Slightly overhit that. He's OK.

Nice little cannon here, to leave himself on the red in the same

pocket. Looking good.

Still the tendency to play for the blue here, to cut out the chance

that that red that's just left to the pink, as you look now, with that

to come into play. And that's why he didn't want to

take that risk and go for the blue. Thinking clear.

After losing the first five frames of this to finish the second session

all square would be a very positive thought for Stuart.

And just the opposite for his opponent.

Kyren certainly had chances this morning.

And he'll be very disappointed with his performance today. A shake of

the head there. It confirms that.

But this is all great experience for the young man.

There really is no better experience than the often torturous times that

you face at the Crucible here. This is good stuff from Stuart

Bingham, digging in deep here. A red and a black.

Well played! The applause tells you, snooker

required. He's tempted to play this red. He

knows if he drops it in, it is definitely frame over. At the

moment, if he played it and left it, just one needed for Kyren Wilson,

his frame would be still on. No heroics. Just give it every

chance to drop. Decided it was too risky. Where's the red ball going?

It is possible that Kyren may be able to hit this red back, send it

down the table and snooker Stuart on all of the reds. Perhaps he couldn't

get in behind it and he got a kick on the red, anyway.

I just thought that if it was possible to hit the red from behind,

he could have left the cue ball where the red was and snooker him on

all four reds behind the yellow. As it has turned out, it was a good

kick. He's snookered Stuart on the reds,

anyway. Not that he should miss this.

Stuart will be a little bit concerned. Only if Kyren can get the

chance, one you would think of the three would be behind the pink. Be

able to play a snooker off. And play the pot there. He cannot get

position. Wouldn't want to be opening these

three reds. But then, don't let the scoreboard

determine the right shot to play. Well, I know it is a thin snick but

this does go. Rather than play three reds off the middle of the table.

The only thing is if he caught it too thick he could run into those

three reds and then he would be scratching his head. So he's playing

safe of these three reds thinking he may not want to decide cushion. Much

too thick. Much too thick! So, 61 points in

front. 59 remaining. Kyren will be going for the pot

here, no doubt. Could there possibly be one more

twist left in this session, John? It wouldn't surprise you. Stuart

Bingham would be a little bit edgy because he's already lost one frame

this morning, where his opponent needed a snooker.

He would have liked to have been straighter on this black, but

doesn't have to do a lot with the cue ball, just concentrate on the

pot. Wants to be on the red to the right

corner. With only needing one snooker I

don't suppose it does matter. You could play the snooker on the yellow

if you could get the cue ball in the right position.

With that red being adjacent to the pink, you think he may decide to

play the snooker off the last red. You need the cue ball to be tight to

the snooker in ball and put distance between cue ball and object ball.

He's going to play the snooker behind the pink.

35 remaining. One four-point snooker required to try and get this tight

behind the pink here. Couldn't have played that any

better. Could not have played that any

better. Every possibility of a... Could there be one more twist?

Let's see if we can find a way out of this? I'm not certain how much of

the cushion he can hit. The right-hand side cushion.

This is a tough shot. A miss won't be called because we're in the

snookers required stage. Stuart will be very keen not to leave a free

ball here. If he comes down this side, I mean,

there's not much of the red to hit. That's my suggestion. As I say, he's

playing it this way. He doesn't want to leave the free ball.

A Miss won't be called. REFEREE: Foul, Kyren Wilson four.

Free ball. Free ball! Obviously it's difficult to tell from our position.

Can't get both sides of the red, so in a way he overhit that.

Here is the twist you were talking about, Peter.

Glance at the scoreboard. That Brown counted as a read. There's nothing

Stuart can do now. Is this going to be the second frame of the morning

he has lost when his opponent needed a snooker? If he gets on this

yellow, you think that's going to be the case, and he has landed

absolutely perfect by the looks of it. Red, colour and the six reigning

colours to retain his to frame advantage. -- six remaining colours.

Under normal circumstances, this would be a straightforward

clearance. Kyren Wilson is now under massive pressure to clear, here. The

difference between 9-7 and eight each. You always fear in these

clearances that the key shot is Brown to blue. If he gets perfect on

the blue, it's a formality. Stuart, he'll be... Well, very upset that he

has let this chance go to finish all square going into the final session.

Well, this is the key shot. Get a good angle on the blue, no problem.

So, this will be the second frame that Stuart Bingham has lost this

morning when his opponent needed a snooker.

We might see a little bit of a fist pump here, because this was a frame

Kyren never looked like winning. That was a big, big frame. Stuart

Bingham will be very upset to have lost it. Kyren Wilson nearly knocked

the referee over, there. And that will give him a two frame advantage

going into the final session this evening. He leads nine frames to

seven. STUDIO

And what a one to win. 61 points behind, needing a snooker, laid it

beautifully. That is a clever, canny move by Kyren Wilson. It certainly

was. Sometimes when you get the snooker and then a you've got the

easy clearance, there is pressure on to do it. You can bottle that part

of it. But Kyren Wilson looks very strong in that department. He's got

an all-round game that is very strong and also guts and

determination. We were talking about his scoring. 3/2 centuries in his

first match. He's made his first century here this year in this

match. You mention his all-round game. You don't think of him as

primarily a potter will start how clever a player is this guy? He

seems to be good all round and that is what you need to win this

championship. You have to rely sometimes... Pots aren't always

going to go in. Sometimes the frames go scrappy and you need to have a

bit of that craft and he certainly has that. To win two frames needing

a snooker against a former world champion takes guts and

determination, and also a little bit of the old grey stuff. You need a

mature personality, it seems to me. The warrior, what should we call

him? The wily warrior! Wily warrior Wilson... Whatever! They will be

coming back for their final session this evening. Wilson with that two

frame advantage. Ken and I were doing the commentary last night with

the presentation on the red button and Jason will be accompanying Mr

Davies there tonight. Press red and you will get the whole presentation

on the red button. It's been great fun to do that, tell you now. All

right. We've talked a lot about the Chinese domination of the draw this

year, a record number of six Chinese players made it to Sheffield this

time. All of them in the top half of the draw. Four of them are through

to round two. Two of them meet in this second round. Ding Junhui

against Liang Wenbo. Either way, China wins, they have a guaranteed

quarterfinalist, but which one? COMMENTATOR: Ding Junhui goes

through into the second round. COMMENTATOR: Liang Wenbo goes

through into the lasting steam. This will probably be the best TV match

ever for the Chinese audience. Regards has been doing -- Ding has

been doing well this year. And Liang Wenbo getting into the top 16 as an

established player and winning his first ranking title in Manchester,

the English open. That's why he got his nickname, the Firecracker! It's

great to have someone with a strong character is our game. And it's

exciting to see him doing well on the circuit. Yeah, I'm playing Ding.

He is a good friend. We just want to play a very good match for the

Chinese fans in the world fans, everybody watching. It should be a

good match. When we talk about Ding, he is definitely the top five

sporting hero now in his professional career. 90% of people

know who he is and what he does. That is how big a name he is. I

bring snooker back to China, make that famous. I believe they could

have more players come to the Crucible in the next few years. He

has been a role model for all the up and coming Chinese young players for

maybe one decade. He is doing so well. All the new generation is

looking up to him. If he wins, he will be the first one to lift the

title for China, for Asia, and that will be a special moment for

everyone in China. It's quite hard to play somebody from the same

country, China. I just need to concentrate on all my shots.

Everything comes to my mind but I must just lose it and turn it clean

and play snooker. If you do good, everybody has the chance. This is

now the last 16. Just keep going and concentrate, control the table.

Confident, yeah. Well, it's amazing to think that

Ding turned 30 years old on the 1st of April and he has been the Pied

Piper of Chinese snooker for half his life. Players like Liang Wenbo,

who is actually two months older, have tried to emulate his success.

Liang has one to win and that was winning the Steve Davis Trophy, the

English Open, last year. In matches between these two, it is Liang who

holds the better record, 3-1, but this is their first meeting in a

competitive match in three-year 's. Ding has motored away in the first

part of this match. He is 3-1 ahead in frames as we pick them up in

frame five, Stephen Hendry and Willie Thorne in charge.

APPLAUSE COMMENTATOR: He knew -- you didn't

know he would leave the black as a snooker in ball but that is what has

happened. He's going to have to play a little bit of left-hand side.

Can't play this plane ball, needs a touch of side to get there.

APPLAUSE Oh! His heart was in his mouth

there. APPLAUSE

He needs a bit of help and he hasn't got it. This pink is going to be

very, very tough. Is this the time possibly to put the red on the

right-hand side vision and get a snooker between green and black. --

behind green and black. Sometimes, Stephen, you've got to play to the

scoreboard. Yeah. I don't often say this but I think you're right. If

you play the pink, you're playing for position on the red. He's going

to play safe. You wanted a bit of insurance, Stephen, by playing the

Brown safe? The last thing he wants is a high-value colour down here. I

don't think he's gained any advantage with that shop at all.

APPLAUSE I'm afraid he's got no one to blame

but himself, Ding Junhui, for this situation.

Just trying to rest on this red that is nearest the left-hand jaw. Now

you can see why it was so important to put the red safe on the previous

shot. Now it could be for reds and four colours and of course the

clearance is on. APPLAUSE

Well, that is one of the best shots of the morning.

He can't really flick of the red that is nearest the pink, because of

the yellow and brown in the way. If he plays it slightly thin, he could

go towards the corner pocket. If he plays it thin to go on to the baulk

cushion, that red will spring away from it. It's not straightforward.

Make sure it covers the red up, because at the moment it is playing

away from the red. There could be a pot on here. Is there it gap? Is

there a gap? Not quite. But he has left a shot to nothing on the red on

the pink spot. Liang Wenbo looks like he is shaping

up to take this on. But if he misses the red: he may knock into the other

two reds and not get back to safety. You feel he loses the frame if he

misses this. Yes, it's one of those that if he hits it plain ball is not

a problem avoiding the red, but if he hits it slightly harder and

misses the part... He tried to make sure of the gap, and missed it. It

could be very costly. He's already trailing by 45 points. He has just

left this a little bit awkward. He could possibly concentrate so much

on where the cue ball is going, you could miss the pot here. No, safely

in. I thought it would cost Liang Wenbo the frame if you missed that

red, and it has done. Ding Junhui knows, at worst now, he's going to

be level going into the second session. Now it's all about pressing

home the advantage and seeing how many of these last three frames he

can get. So, frame over. Ding knows he can't

be behind going into the second session now. Danny Kent enough gap

to make it the catalyst? Very rarely does a player comeback from 7-1 or

6-2 behind when it is a race to 25. Although Liang bow when

-- although Liang Wenbo has not played to badly this morning.

Yet another 50 plus breaks. It was a bit of a scrappy frame but he takes

it and stretches his lead now to 4-1.

STUDIO Well, Liang Wenbo hit back in the

next frame and got it to 2-4. But this is an emphatic first session

from the man who was runner-up here last year. Being made another 52 to

go 6-2 in front. -- Ding made another 52. Three major titles. He

just needs the Worlds to complete a triple Crown. He looks very sharp,

five centuries so far. Now, all of 210 million people watched that

final with Ding Junhui and Mark Selby last year. House brightly does

he seem to you early on, Ken? He was very impressive against is Oulu

-- he was very impressive in his first match. He's scoring a lot of

century breaks. If he is in good form and on the top of his game, he

is a match for anybody. I saw how well he played here last year when

he nearly won the title. He is a major contender. He pushed cell be

hard in that final session. What do you think that has done for him? He

seemed so uptight coming to the crucible on previous occasions? I

think for the World Championship alone, purely in the Crucible,

experience counts perhaps more than in other events. The fact that you

know what is required and what it feels like to go the distance can be

a marvellous thing to have armoury, because other players, it's a

journey into the unknown. I think you just calms you down to know what

you can withstand. Everything is thrown at you in the Crucible. There

was a point in that match early on when the scores went to 2-1. The

balls were all over the place. Whoever survived that, and it looks

like Ding has done that, has got control of the game. He has got

through that one and they are back for the second session this evening.

Now, his popularity is absolutely huge in China. It's hard to

overestimate that. And Ding's popularity here Sheffield committee

likes to get a quiet life actually! He has been the subject of a

documentary made by the BBC's Jamie Broughton. It is called Enter the

Dragon. A bus journey gives the players the

chance to catch up. Tonight's destination is the famous tower

where the reception is being held. The snooker fans are also making

their way there. This red event feels more like a

movie premiere in Hollywood. Only in China do snooker players get treated

like film stars. Most of the fans here have only ever seen their hero

on television before, so are keen to get a chance close-up. Sheffield is

a city Ding knows well. He's lived here for the past ten years. In

China, it's impossible to walk down the street without being recognised,

but here it is a different story. Well, almost a different story.

Hello. Best of luck. Thank you. And he takes it all with such grace, he

really is a lovely person. I'd better get a wiggle on here because

time is fleeting and time pressure is a subject today in table talk.

And the reason for the haste is because we are talking shop clocks

today. The Snooker Shoot out is currently the only event on the

World Snooker Tour that uses a shot clock and puts players under time

pressure. They have got 15 seconds to do so for the first five minutes

and then it goes down to ten seconds thereafter. A good idea or a serious

pain in the neck? Let's get the players's views. A shot clock of

some sort have got to be introduced, I think. Not for each shot but maybe

the referee and the tournament organiser can assess how things are

going at the interval. A shot clock is not going to work. It's not

snooker. OK we have the Shoot out and things like that... Some players

want to take long and drag it out, that is their business. You can't do

the shot clock. I personally think they could use like a traffic light

system. When your green, you're flying. When you get to yellow, you

sort of get a little nudge and say, you're getting a little bit slow.

And if you are red, you are in deep trouble. I would be all for it if it

was maybe a one table format. But not a two-table format and nearly

every tournament we play in these days is multi-table. John is not for

it but would it be an effective tool for speeding up debate. Gentlemen,

are you ready? Ten, 15 seconds starts now! Yes but I don't think it

can be introduced as John said on a multi-table. I think an average shot

time could be introduced. As opposed to beep beep beep. Not bad, 13

seconds. Steve, have a look at this graphic which actually gives you the

slowest to fastest shot times of the players so far. Ronnie, not

surprisingly, 19 seconds. Anthony McGill in the first round, 30

seconds. Only one match this year has gone to overtime so far. Your

impressions and indeed your thoughts on whether it should be introduced

at the Crucible? Start the clock. LAUGHTER

That's what you call a pregnant pause. No! I think that should prove

the point. Players who play very slowly usually lose. The only thing

about the shot clock that does stop things... Ken, the shot clock would

add an extra degree of jeopardy to proceedings and may stop people

falling asleep in the front row. Start us off. I don't think it could

be introduced in the World Championship. I think it would take

away from the World Championship. Would they fall asleep? I don't

think so. OK, you're on the wire again, 14 seconds. Steve, the shot

clock is an infernal gimmick that shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a

snooker tournament, and the Snooker shoot out should not be a world

ranking event in the first place start the clock. The Snooker shoot

out is a fantastic event but it should not be a ranking event. The

rules are different so it should not be a ranking event at all. The

biggest problem with this shot clock is that you take away the tension

and that is what snooker is about. How many World Championship would

you have won if there had been a shot clock in play? I would have

one... Seven World Championships! LAUGHTER

I like it! A fantastic start for Ronnie O'Sullivan last night. He and

Shaun Murphy readying themselves backstage for another blockbuster

session this afternoon. The figure of Ronnie looms large in Sheffield

quite literally at the moment. Not just the players who have been

putting years of hard work and dedication to the test. I'm here to

meet a young man showcasing his talent on the biggest stage. It's a

passion, doing it. This big wall outside, it's a blank canvas. He

said, I'm going to predict the winner of the world should be chips.

He said, you'll have to wait and see! He used to be opening presents,

my brother, toys and things, and I would be opening pens and paper and

things like that. My vision is pulling me to something, if you know

what I mean. It is quite strong. Anybody who can make a 147 as fast

as he has, televised, he's a genius if you ask me.

That is perfect. I wanted to do something for my dad. He

picked the photo. You can see that in Sheffield. Our technological talk

on the Rocket is by one estimate acquire. We have had some

unbelievably talented snooker players in our game, have you see

anyone more talented than Ronnie O'Sullivan? No, the honest answer.

The most naturally gifted snooker player I have ever seen. I don't

think in snooker and there is a better site to see than Ronnie in

full flight. Great to watch. He really is the all-round package.

Brilliant save the game, save the game which can destroy other

world-class players, it is that good. Did Ray Reardon have a bearing

on that? Absolutely. I don't think enough has been said about that. Ray

Reardon made a fantastic impact on Ronnie O'Sullivan plasma game. The

last time you played Ali Carter in the World Championship, in my honest

opinion when O'Sullivan was as close to being unplayable as I have ever

seen. His safety was unplayable. You are in trouble when he came to the

table. If you look at the footage, he looked a different player from a

technical point of view. Much faster before Ray. His bridge was a

significant distance further to the cue ball. That may not have been Ray

Reardon's implements. Coincidentally happened at the same time. You

notice a technical thing? Than usual, Vienna top player in the game

able to play Wishart. The thing that makes when O'Sullivan say unique, he

plays everything with side. That is an absolute no-no from a textbook

point of view. Somebody who plays with so most side would be

inconsistent, but when he's at his best he's unbelievable. One shot

near the cushion, a shot from here, playing on the cue ball with loads

of side, clipping the ball thinly. Never seen anyone else play that

shot was all being so fine, so difficult to it takes timing. If you

are going to shape the ball. Ronnie knows he's going to shape it right

to left, left to right. He knows he's going to get it, it is a good

idea. Taking the nuances of the class, whether the table is level,

what type of arena we are playing in. Whether we are playing in

Shanghai, dead humid, or Sheffield, take that out of the equation. Get

the exact shape he's looking for. He is going to win more things? I'm

hoping he is around for a long time. The tournament is extra special when

he decides to play. From ticket sales point of view, I hope he plays

for ever. From a snooker competitive point of view, I hope he retires

next year expect Murphy the last qualifier to claim the title in

2005, close to becoming a multiple champion, losing to John Higgins and

Stuart Bingham. His most recent title was in Gibraltar. His first

since becoming a father to Harry last year. Build up full of

controversy. Getting himself loosened up. Piling into the debate,

following the controversy following Ronnie's press conference outburst.

It has been like kerosene on burning embers. Firing up the Rocket. Mark

Allen and John Higgins ready to go. Rob Walker ready to fire things up.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Surely the best line-up we have ever

had for a second round session at the Crucible. Whatever atmosphere on

a fabulous Friday afternoon at the World Snooker champ Winship. This

could be absolutely epic. -- Championship.

Please welcome, first of all, player making his eighth appearance in the

second round at the Crucible. Made the semifinals eight years ago,

since winning three rankings titles. One of the great break-builders of

the modern game, from Northern Ireland he comes Mark Allen, the

Pistol. His opponent, 22 years after his

debut. In eight years coming out for a 19th appearance in the second

round. Winner of 28 rating titles in all, tour-macro times champion the

world. Without doubt one of the finest sportsmen Scotland has ever

produced. The Wizard will of Wishaw, John Higgins. And now,

and man thrilling crowds at the Crucible for decades. 20 years ago

today, came that epic world record 147. He has gone on to become a five

times champion of the world, blink and you will miss him, he is the

Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Finally, a class act on and off the

baize. Winner of all three of the sport's Triple Crown events. Victory

in Gibraltar earlier this season took into seven ranking titles.

Champion in 2005, he is the magician, Shaun Murphy.

STUDIO: Here we go for a fascinating session. You can follow Mark Allen

and John Higgins if you want. We joined the company Peter Ebdon and

John Virgo. COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel. If

this session is anything like the first session, we're in for a treat.

Ronnie O'Sullivan with a four frame advantage, he will be looking to

push on. A big session for Shaun , Peter. Absolutely. Those are the

pot percentages. One thing is sure, as we get the

dreaded mobile phone. Shaun Murphy cannot afford to lose this session

6-2. Otherwise there will be no way back. Never ceases to amaze me,

John, no matter how the times our MC, Rob Walker, asks people to turn

off their mobiles, all on silent, one still goes. To be honest, is

unacceptable. Ronnie purposefully running that red

into the bunch reds. The one that has come loose is covered by the

blue. A nice little nudge off the brown.

You don't mind that happening every now and again. Did not look

particularly good safety shot until that flick of the brown, putting the

cue ball behind the yellow. Ronnie trying to come off two cushions,

nestle into the bunch. He will still leave one into the middle, if he's

not careful. Played it well. Ronnie going down to the baulk end

for to see where he would not like to be for the next shot.

Suggest a little bit pacey. Tight onto the ball cushion. I think he

may have left a pot on. On the left-hand side of the table. There

is a path through to it. In this case, you would say that is a bit

careless. Ronnie should have done better than this. There you go. Kiss

on the blue. Not a bad one for Shaun Murphy. Tremendous long pot from

Shaun Murphy. Down into the cue ball. Touch of left-hand side. This

is a tough pink. The pink spot is not available, the

highest available is the blue, that will not bother Shaun. That will,

being the wrong side of the pink as the cue ball has finished near the

top cushion . Might be a route to the left

centre. No. Playing safe. Slightly

unfortunate. Of course when you go into the balls like that, with pace,

never absolutely certain where the cue ball is going to finish. Even

so, very unlucky to split the reds so nicely, and are not end up on

one. Catching that a fraction too thick.

Leaving what you would think is a shot to nothing. Not another phone.

Right in the heart of the pocket. If he gets bounce off the ball cushion,

he will be on under brown. He has. I must say, John, I really like the

back of Shaun Murphy's waistcoat, very smart. I had not noticed it,

Peter. Oh, yes. He has a good opportunity, black and

available to both corners. Enough reds in the open, not to worry about

bringing other reds into play. There you go. It gets to 68 points.

Snooker is required. Another 30 required. Four reds, four colours.

Needed a good start. Looks like he's going to get one. Just thinking how

wonderful it is to see how fluent both of these players are. In

amongst the balls, really getting on with it. Player to really nice

place. Very difficult thing to do under pressure. The great Steve

Davis once said, if you can play as if it means nothing, when it means

everything, that is the way to play. Fantastic philosophy. They're very

difficult to put into practice. Both of these great players managed to do

that. This black, one more red and colour.

Ronnie will need a snooker. Not had much chance in this frame. He will

know that, not as if you missed anything. A loose safety shot early

on gave Shaun a chance. He has needed two chances, but made it with

that. But since 68 points in front with 67 remaining.

No way back to the table for running. Will not be getting out of

his seat. -- Ronnie. He'll be doing well here he can make

a century. Playing the plant. That is enough

for Ronnie, never got a chance in that frame, all about Shaun Murphy.

Three frames behind now, just the Stasi wanted. STUDIO: Needed a

positive start, it yesterday absolutely underrate. We enjoy that

last night, Steve I know you are watching. In terms of the start, how

much better will it that made him feel? Needs a fast start. Anything

other than a 5-3 victory in this session, he will be out of the

championship. At least 5-3. How much intensity, focus and desire was

evident from O'Sullivan last night in the opening session? I sensed the

same grit and determination that he showed when he won the first round

match against Gary Wilson. There was a moment in the match last night, we

did not talk about it. Ronnie failed to clinch his chance, Shaun came

back to the table, missing one, he went like that, this is my chance.

Really animated. Loads of aggression. That usually do not see

we've Ronnie. Whether it is just Shaun, or he has gotten himself

fired up for the event, he is on a mission, maybe going to be able to

stop them. There was the controversy in the build-up, it certainly has

fired Ronnie up. Here we go, back for frame number ten.

COMMENTATOR: He has left the chance of a red here. Look to see what the

consequences or if he had missed it. There is not a path back to baulk.

Deciding to use the red on the black cushion as a stopper. Horrendous

kick. That was not Ronnie's fault. I don't know whether he got the

potting angle. Look at the way the pace was taking Natalie Keble. That

happens. Why, I don't know. Left a tricky red, but doesn't have to do

much to be on the black. Jess catching the near jaw. Those

mistakes will prove very costly at this level. You cannot afford to

miss when you are in like that. Ronnie's first ball he has potted.

That one catching the near jaw. We have seen one or two drop, but

usually when they catch the right-hand jaw. They do not go in.

Obviously got the wrong angle on the black. Wondering where the pink will

go when it is re-spotted. Ronnie getting out of the way,

sitting down, a sip of the water, letting the referee position the

pink. Looks as if it could go on the pink spot, but obviously doesn't.

Always a joy to watch runny when he gets around the black spot area.

Taking his breaks. Not one that goes into the pack straightaway, smashing

them open. You are trusting a little bit to luck. He would rather leave

it to skill. If he gets to 72, sneakers will be

required. Quite a way to go yet. I don't know whether he can play for

the black now, may have to give up for the blue. Oh, no, he was OK.

He will think about trying to bring some reds into place very soon. --

play. I wonder if the top red of that cluster... Ronnie looking if

that is available into the middle. Might be able to get that, bring

some more into play. That is what he has played for. All depends on the

potting angle here. Decided to leave it out of the last

minute. Stunning into the red on the left-hand side, just missing the

pink. Will be unlucky not to be on one. A bit surprised he played it

like that. I thought it was more of a stunt, to run through the red.

Would have loved to open up the reds, pushing the Keble ten inches

further to the left. He will be disappointed with that. Persimmon

control of the frame. -- puts him in control of the frame. Disappointed

not to win it in that visit. Shaun 63 points behind, but a possible 83

remaining. Shaun needs to be very careful here.

Playing the red on the left-hand side of the table, needs to cover

the red into the right centre. Which will not be easy, despite the baulk

colours being there. Not so sure about that. No. This red

is a bit more difficult than it looks on your screens. It is more of

an acute angle than it appears that you would not expect Ronnie to miss

it. He doesn't have to do much with the cue ball to get position.

And I think to be fair to Shaun, he almost certainly got a heavy contact

on that red because the cue ball finished three feet shorter than his

intended position. Obviously this top red in the

cluster goes to the right corner and he just needs this red and colour

and that will be the frame in the bag. 67 points is the lead now, 67

remaining, but this will put on the 72 points in front with 67

remaining. A complete turnaround from the first frame, Ronnie never

got much of a chance and Shaun has not had much of a chance in this

one, apart from that chance when he missed the red along the top

cushion. But it is a tough school when you only get one opportunity.

Exactly, but that is what happens at this level. The red has not gone in

but it doesn't matter, Shaun obviously has conceded so a complete

reversal of the first frame with Ronnie taking the second and he is

7-3 ahead. STUDIO: Ronnie averaging about 18 second shot, the fastest of

anybody in the championship this year and talking about speed, we

asked you what you thought of the shot clock. Is it a much-needed

addition or an infernal nuisance? What if the public saying? We have

had so much reaction to this question on Twitter, I could be here

all night! It has been very one sided. Esther says that shot clocks

are a terrible idea, long frames are normally caused by scrappy frames

and not decision-making. Ryan said the players need thinking time. Neil

has said that shoot out style is rushing but you could take 40

seconds with three extensions per frame but Ryan disagreed, saying

that 42nd is enough time to wake of the options and get the angles right

and take the shot. Dan hate the idea, Kate said that players need

the time to work out the best options and I will end on this one

because Neal sums it up well in terms of what our fans have been

saying, saying simply, no. That is officially a big no! Apart from at

the shoot out. But we are very much enjoying this second session between

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Shaun Murphy, Shaun might not be enjoying it as

much as Ronnie, now he is four frames in arrears again and Ken and

Steve are with me. It is Honours even in this session but they are

both in good form. They are but the trouble for Shaun Murphy it is tough

to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in a single session, I would say 5-3 is

the best you can hope for because you rarely outplay him so he has to

somehow hope that Ronnie drops his standards. Back to frame 11.

COMMENTATOR: A better break-off shot from Ronnie and when he plays

left-handed, I spoke to him about it and he thinks he can get more side

but he believes you have to be afoot this side of the baulk like to get

the cue ball where it is now and not leave that pot on. And he will be

happy with that, even though he has not got the cue ball tight, just

watch where it lands. It is a foot this side of the Boult line and that

gives you a nice angle to use the green is a cover. Mark Selby does a

similar thing. No coincidence that two of the best players in the world

are try to do a similar thing of the break-off shot and it is difficult

because these cushions slide a lot. That was an excellent shot from

Shaun Murphy. Not touching because if they would have been, the referee

would have called it. Neither player will want to get

involved in this type of frame. Sometimes it is the balls that

dictate how a frame will be played out.

Shaun left Ronnie a nice easy run back to baulk them as it turns out.

This needs to be very thin. But not that thin! Foul and a miss.

He will be under pressure if he doesn't hit it this time. But he did

and he hit it well. But he couldn't avoid the kiss on the yellow so you

would expect a better safety from Ronnie. A decent sized target to get

the cue ball behind the yellow and brown. Interesting to see how Ronnie

decides to play this. A lot of players might play it playing ball.

Almost certainly Ronnie will be playing it with right-hand side.

Just a little thick. That is not a bad flick at all, almost snooker

Shaun behind the green. I don't know what he's going to do with the cue

ball but Shaun is a very aggressive player and you can see him taking

this on but he would be trusting to luck with the cue ball.

I thought for a moment he might have the run of the balls but that is the

problem, the more pace you put in that shot, the more you've got to

hit the centre of the cue ball. You have really got to have good, Centre

ball striking and that is what caused the miss. I think there was a

lot of pressure on the shot because Shaun was not guaranteed to get on a

colour, it was a very low percentage pot. He played it full-blooded lead

but to be honest he would have had no idea where the cue ball was going

because he was cannoning into balls. And at that pace he was trusting to

luck and he thought if he hit it hard there was a chance the cue ball

would come back up the table. But you don't really want to be playing

those risky shots, as Peter said, unless you are certain of a good

reward. Anyway, he has handed a good chance to Ronnie. Obviously the

black is tied up. And I don't think the red just to the right of it is

available. Then we checked that, if he does it

again, he's out. He's clapping for their shots. It's a bit weird.

Security will have a look and if he does it again, he's out. I think

what Ronnie is saying, he must be looking at the other table and he is

clapping for shots on the other table and not this one which is just

a bit off-putting for Ronnie but thank goodness he is mature enough

now just to have a little walk round the table and concentrate on his own

game. He nearly ran out of position there.

I think this pink goes to the right corner.

Obviously it is not straightforward otherwise he would have played it by

now. I thought the end red would go to the left corner. It mustn't be

straightforward otherwise he wouldn't be taking this long over

it. He has played for this red but where does the pink go? Is it going

to be available? It is available to the left middle and when he removes

this red it will go to the right corner as well.

That's a nice shot. Playing for the red to the left and rolling this in,

he will just nudge the other three reds and be on the pink to the right

corner. If he gets to 70, it would be

snooker is required. Not the easiest of chances with the black tied up

obviously, and he can't play for the pink of this red, he has to go back

up for the blue so he needs a good angle on the blue.

And at first look, he hasn't got it. No, he needed to be a bit further to

the right of the blue line. Well, he has tried to force it in

and he did well to get the cue ball to there. He is looking at the

possibility of this plant but there is quite a distance between the two

and it is no gimme. APPLAUSE It went in nevertheless. But still

he can't get the right side of the blue. This was a good one, you can

see the distance between the balls. He really had to get that first run

correctly which he did. And that of course is the advantage

of these superfine coughs, you can move the ball almost straight. --

superfine cloths. He is now thinking about this one because it is a risk.

Can he get on a colour without any risks involved? That is the decision

he has to make here. He thought it was worth the risk and

he got it and bladed beautifully. -- played it beautifully.

66 points is the lead now with 67 remaining. What the black and go 73

in front with 67 remaining. No problem, he has taken these well,

Peter. Yes, he really is up for this match, isn't he? I have not seen him

with this level of focus, commitment, concentration, for quite

some time. Well, he missed the red and is a bit

disappointed but that is enough for Shaun and Ronnie now opens up a five

frame gap and it is 8-3. And as we know with Ronnie, when he gets among

the balls he is very dangerous. This shot that Shaun took on was very

risky as the best of times. For me it was a low percentage shot. We

know what a wonderful long potter Shaun Murphy is, one of the best

ever, but there is extra pressure on this because it is not guaranteed to

get on a colour and there was no path back to baulk. It is a shot

that you have to get but unfortunately for him he didn't get

away with it after missing it. And that let Ronnie in and the balls

were nicely situated because the black was tied up and he was in this

situation, just a couple of reds. Whatever he said to Ronnie, he was

nodding in agreement. No problems there. I think it is somebody in the

audience who seems to be clapping for no reason. Getting back to that

last frame when the black was tied up, he had to make a decision and he

thought, I can play for the pink but I'm not certain to but he was

perfect on the red and took the chance to kiss the red away from the

black. He tried to make it a no risk break but in the end decided to take

that slight risk. It could quite easily have gone wrong and couldn't

it? Yes. But once he had cleared the black, then the frame was his

inevitably. One of the things I find interesting as part of his

preparation for the World Championship every year, he always

seems to get a very sharp haircut! Well, he's a sharp lad. I think I

might go for that next time! Every frame now he is -- every frame

is building up in importance for Shaun Murphy. The target for a place

in the quarterfinal is 13th. Shaun has got to start winning frames now.

He can't quite see enough of this long red, you will have to plates

with a trace of right-hand side if he takes it on -- he will have to

play it. He decided to take the red on the

opposite side of the table and that is a mistake. Yes, he didn't get

close to the pot and I think if he had done, you might not have left

this easy one close to the black. But Shaun has got to capitalise now

on these chances. And it is only because Ronnie overcut the long red

bikes such a distance that he left an opportunity for Shaun Murphy. If

he had got closer to the pot, the cue ball would have stayed a lot

closer to the black. And not travelled so far back up the table

and this opportunity would not have been on.

Slightly under that one. This is a little bit of test but you still

expect him to get it. But these are the sort of shots that you can

decelerate on and slightly overcut. He made sure that he got a very

solid strike and played it very well.

I think he got a heavy contact their because he played for the red that

is just below the right middle but I don't think he is on it. You could

see, just a bit of a jump. Can he get to it? No, he doesn't think he

can. When we saw the slow motion, it almost looked as if the cue ball

jumped before it reached the black which might be one of the reasons he

got a kick. That can happen if you don't keep the cue parallel. Then

you have this striking down a motion and you get the cue ball bouncing

and if it is coming back to the table when it makes contact with the

object ball, hence the every contact. You can see it, definitely.

The main reason for that bad contact was

It would be good if he could miss the yellow but he can't. It's an

easy safety shot for Shaun. He did have a look but it didn't

look as if there was a plant there. It nearly went in off the other one.

The main concern was to get the cue ball back to the baulk end which he

has done but he has not found the baulk cushion. He thought that was

too risky to take on because he would be running into a the reds but

he has not played the best safety shot and has given Ronnie a chance

here. And if Ronnie can judge this well enough, he can pot this, can

the red left of it is full in the fate and might be able to stay on

the black but it depends how he sees it.

To get the full bowl contact on that red he would have had to stun it so

he gave the pot every consideration, something Shaun did not do in the

last frame. Yes, Ronnie certainly gave that every chance of going in

at that pace. Perhaps he felt that if he got a slightly thinner can and

he might be going up and perhaps leave himself the blue into the left

centre. The way the cue ball has finished, he will almost certainly

be taking the long blue into the yellow pocket. And because Ronnie

tends to play these with a touch of left-hand side, he will need to get

through this smoothly. A bit of a disturbance in the crowd which will

not help his concentration. I think what has happened, they are in

between frames on the other table and there are just people moving so

Ronnie decided to let them settle down and just asked the referee to

clean the cue ball so he can not be put off. This is the maturity he has

been showing in the last couple of seasons. Make sure you stay still

and sit still, please. The only thing I would be saying about having

the cue ball cleaned is that the left-hand side that he will be

imparting on the cue ball now will actually throw more so he has to hit

this smooth otherwise this will be thick but he has played it really

well. He got a heavy contact Ben. On both

of those last two shots he would have been playing with left-hand

side as John mentioned earlier, helping side to help the pot but on

these cloths it can make things very difficult sometimes. Even on a shop

like this, if you are playing drag with left-hand side you can hit the

red thick. He played that beautifully. It is the same with

every shot and particularly if you put a trace of side on, it depends

how you strike the ball because if you hit it too hard that it can be

thin but his timing throughout this match invariably has been absolutely

superb. He was given a scare in the first round by Gary Wilson and it

was his reaction after that match when he punched the air, I have

never seen him do that after a first-round match but he was

delighted and it showed how much it meant to him. As Steve Davis has

mentioned a few times, I think he has come in and he is on a mission.

Yes, he is certainly playing with an intention that I have not seen for a

very long time. He is very focused and disciplined and he is using his

experience. He is playing very fluently under pressure as he always

likes to. But there is a real determination and steeliness about

his whole demeanour this year. He just can't get that cue ball exactly

where he wants it. He wasn't good on the black and he is not great on

this red. And eventually it has caught up on

him. He never really got the cue ball under tight control for some

reason. Again, I think it was a heavy contact. There was a definite

sigh when he missed it and I don't think it was just because he missed

the pot. Normally if you get a kick they go

thick but that was one of the rare occasions where you can pull it thin

and get a kick but meanwhile that is an excellent shot from Shaun Murphy.

This is a frame he desperately needs to win. Yes, and it is a big frame

because I'm sure he was sat down a few moments ago thinking that the

frame had gone with Ronnie in the balls. He is four points behind and

trying to think if there was any way he could win the frame without all

of the awkward reds near the cushion so he has tried to bring it into

play-off red and is he on the black? It is a thin one. They don't

recommend you do that but he took the chance. It is a tricky black, it

looks easier than it is. Right in the heart of the pocket.

Shaun Murphy got up off that black, there was another noise in the

audience. Somebody in the crowd is making some quite strange noises and

if they continue to do that they will be ejected without any shadow

of a doubt. He got up off the shot just to regain his composure.

He is on this red, he should not have any problem potting it and

getting on the blue. Well, Shaun, Shaun, you cannot afford to be

missing those and he cannot believe it. In all honesty, neither can I.

He had nothing to do with the cue ball, just pot the red and you are

bound to bully on the blue. A bad mistake. -- you are bound to be on

the blue. The problem he would have had was the two reds near the

cushion. It is now Ronnie's problem but he will be happy to have it.

Half Key points in it. -- two points in it. All about the cue ball now.

Nice angle on the blue. Will not be easy. Definitely not from there. Now

will he try to knock this in play snooker. Very difficult to play at

pace. Giving himself the chance of the pot on the black. Right in the

heart of the pocket, if he misses the kiss on the yellow, this is

perfect. Look at this. Superb. Just wanted it to bounce another

fraction. Well, I said, going into a slightly

blind pocket. He played in such a way, if it does not give in, I will

get the cover with the pink. Strange thing about that shall permit the

pink was not there, and aiming he would have missed the red. Yes, I

get what you are saying, played its lower then he would have, trying to

cover it. Just a negative thought. With it being so close to the

pocket, there is a chance Shaun Good hit the red and knock it in. Need

something good to happen, otherwise we'll lose the frame. It was not

right over the pocket. Ronnie comes back to the table with a 12 point

lead. Whoever pots this red, you feel will win the frame. Tough pot,

can play it with an element of safety. Because of the difficulty,

decided against it. Not bad. Not as good as you would have liked.

The difficulty for Shaun, does not have the angle to swing the white

around the four cushions, around the yellow and brown. The chance of

sticking it over the middle that. Interesting choice of shock. I don't

think it was the best choice. He feel Ronnie has control of the

situation. Important tactical exchange. Could have played that

better. Again, sounded heavier to me. The White Sox very quickly

there. -- the white stopped. Far be going to see a Shaun Murphy special?

If you take this on, will be really tough. Not the easiest safety shot

in the world. Will have to avoid double-kisses. Played that snooker

behind the pink really well, excellent shot. Looks easy enough to

hit. Need to get the red say. He will settle for this, may have got a

snooker back. I think he has. Full ball snooker. Shaun looking to come

off the cushion. A possibility of coming off a two cushions, hitting

the red. The cue ball hitting the yellow, sniggering in the high.

Hiding him behind brown. If Ronnie can park-macro

-- pot this red, and get on a colour. Holding on the blue, not

bad. But Italy when you can play left-handed.

And just look at the scoreboard, 18 points in front. Looking for yellow

and green to get to snookers required. 1323 points in front

22 remaining. -- puts him in 23 points in front.

Just about getting past the baulk line, to make the screen easy pot.

Still not sure, snookers needed. Now no way back to the table for Shaun

Murphy. Mid-session interval coming up. He has nothing to show for his

efforts. Winning one of the first four frames. Not what he was looking

for. In goes the black. Ronnie O'Sullivan

with a six frame advantage after starting with a four frame

advantage. STUDIO: For all the world, it looked like Murphy was

going to take that one, to prevent the possibility of Irwin for

O'Sullivan with a session to spare. Where he to win the next four, he

would be into the quarterfinals. Assess how this is going for Shaun?

Apart from having a good start, he has been outplayed. No disgrace in

that. Ronnie O'Sullivan is one of the greats. From Shaun's

perspective, how do you play better? You come here with all the hype, all

the optimism, doing the practice, hard work. You know you are great

player, winning the World Championship before. Someone

outplays you, and you have to suffer it. Not the crackling intensity in

this session we witnessed last night. Because of the imbalance in

the scoreline. He has his chances, he has not taken them. Not been as

clinical. It was not clinical in the fourth session. Not as clinical as

he would be normally. I don't expect this match to finish. As the gap

widens, hard to get yourself up. As a player, you feel like the match as

gone from you, hard to keep your concentration. Funnily enough for a

game where you don't have any physical contact with each other,

you don't have a style, you come to the table, the balls are static,

amazing how a guy can put you off your stride. The balls are still

when you come to the table. But you put yourself under pressure, you

think I have to play well because he's playing well. Do you send Shaun

Murphy senses he can turn it around? I do think so. I think he senses it

is inevitable now. Because of the gap, not making the most of the

chances. To claw back six frames, very difficult. He has done before.

Not beyond the realms of possibility. Not giving up,

preparing for the worst. Deflated. Take your mind off things, go for a

drive with Steve Davis, but keep your eyes on the road.

Where do we go? Where would you go now? Let's say you have played in

the first round, you have got beaten. You want to run 1 million

miles away. The answer is home to my wife, and little baby. That really

the answer is to a golf course somewhere, get myself away from it.

What is your handicap? Scratch. That is not an ordinary reaction.

Scratch. You have picked golf up and put it down more times than I have

had hot dinners. You have had more love affairs with golf than a few.

You try your hand, then putting it down, going off on playing your

records, the Jing. You are a bit musical? How does the piano playing

do? What level are you? My handicap at piano would be a decent 12.

12-14. All I almost went through a red. I am so lost. I think it is

down and left. All these years you have been coming to Sheffield. Never

been to this pitiful. I turned right when I should have turned around.

You like a nice car? I have had nice cars in the past. You are man, no

commitments, no kids, not married. A baby seat does not look good in a

sports car. Would not have gone on the Aston Martin, that had to go.

Are we still in Sheffield? This is Derbyshire. Are we in Bakewell. I

apologise, I have turned the clock off. I will not be charging you

extra. Totally the wrong side of town. In the one-way system. Stuck

in the one-way system. The trouble is when I first came here, you could

drive anywhere. There was no one-way system. It was horse and cart. That

is cruel. I think it was. We will be OK. We will be all right. How much

petrol do we have? I have a full tank. This is on expenses. All

routes going the wrong way. Let's go to all routes. What is on the

agenda, as an adrenaline junkie. Is this right? What is on the agenda?

What would you like to do? By the way, ladies and gentlemen from he

put the indicator run, the wipers came on. The one I would definitely

do, and be keen to do is Strictly Come Dancing. I would love to do

Strictly. I used to do it in my younger days, when I was young and

single. It was French jive and rock and roll. So my mate said it was a

great place to meet girls. That was enough. I loved it. Really enjoyed

it. Then there was the sparkly crystal suit I had made for the

World Championship ague years ago. That was made by the head Taylor for

Strictly. The trousers were a bit baggy at the bottom. He thought I

was going to do some spins was out there. You were the first person to

see me in it. You came to my dressing room, and said, wow, you

better play well with that on. The meantime I wore it. Can you go Trip

Adviser with taxi drivers? I'm not sure, I am not registered. Aside

from your gear changing, lane discipline and general knowledge of

Sheffield, it has been great. I remember running up this road after

you for an autograph. That'll be ?355. Please. Good grief. I am sorry

for the journey. That Steven Davis, he has the

knowledge, but he has not done the knowledge. I will have to buy una to

Z of Sheffield. Difficult, all these one-way systems, they keep on

changing. -- by you the a to Z. We will have a new champion here in

Sheffield. So roll-up, who is next for our competition. It is John

Higgins. Welcome to today's edition of pot quiz. We have the four time

champion, John Higgins. Am I right in saying you had again last year. I

have not had a go. We ask you five questions, every time you get one

right you remove the red on the table, then when the clock starts,

you have the pot Demel. Which five players the GB to bring your first

world title in 1998? Is this for five reds? I have to get the five of

them. Dave Harold? No. Ken Debaty. One. Ronnie O'Sullivan. Anthony

Hamilton. Graeme Dott. Jason Ferguson, Anthony Hamilton, John

Parrott. So I did! Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ken Debaty. Who refereed? Robbie

Arendell. Which player have you played the most times at the

Crucible? Ronnie O'Sullivan? Correct. Brilliant answer. What is

your highest ever Crucible century break? 145. 143 in 1998, against me.

Thank you very much. You still have two. Question number five, what was

the number one record the day you were born on the 18th of May, 1975.

Sugar Baby Love, Stand By Your Man. Bye-bye Baby. It was Stand By Your

Man. Good luck, take your reds. When we get near the end, everybody put

him under pressure on the black. Here we go, starting now.

Fluent. Two down already. This is good. Nice touch. You can play this

quick, what has been happening? Nice cue action. Lovely series of stands.

Economy with the cue ball. Not moving very far. Excellent.

Beautiful. Coming up to 40 seconds. Doing very well. Very well ahead of

schedule. Maybe the first position on the state. The crowd roaring.

Very good. Where is the cue ball going? Stop, stop. He has himself in

a bit of trouble. Up to one minute. Beautiful shot. Fantastic. He needs

the spider. One minute. Time now one minute, 15. Quickly, you have to get

this one, then the black. You have a chance. Come on, Johnny. It is

there. This is good. We don't know how good, I am waiting. One minute,

28. Unlucky. You have lost by 0.1 in a second. I want a recount. I'm

sorry, you have failed. One minute 28. I am not so sure he does not

deserve a recount after that one. Will he take that form to the match

table? C. His 23rd go of the Crucible since he appeared first.

His best friend was the quarters last year, losing to Alan McManus.

You get the feeling he's in the mood for title number five. He has to get

past Mark Allen, who has beaten him more times than he has lost, but not

in Sheffield. In 2009, a couple of years after making his debut he lost

to John in the semifinals. That remains his best progress to date.

Never pass the second round stage since then. Let's start at the very

beginning in this match. Good place to start. We will do so in the

company of John Parrott and Dennis Taylor, four frame one.

The curtain comes down in the Crucible Theatre. The four times

champion John Higgins gets this opening frame under way. This could

be a cracker, John. Yes, Dennis, often said, these rounds for the

finals. This one definitely good. John Higgins, four times champion of

the world. Mark Allen certainly has the capabilities to be world

champion. Tough match in the last 16.

Not a bad way to start. Cracking pot, like that. Worth another look

at that one. The kiss on the blue could have been better. Quite an

attacking shot, taking this one on, surely. That is a super shot if he

is on the red next to the black. He has the one the middle, but what are

confident pot that was. Superb pot around the ankles, with the rest. --

angles. Whether he has come around the right angle near the black. He

has a choice. Looked at this before. Needs to play little cannon. Well

judged. Very positive. The two reds have just stuck

together, he is on the bottom one, that is perfect. The waymark is

getting the spider out, the swan neck I should say, looks like it

does go. You have to be a bit careful here, bridging over.

The word on the street, so to speak, before we got to the Crucible was

that Mark Allen was playing incredible stuff in practice. If he

can take that sort of form here to the Crucible, he will give John

Higgins a very tough time here. He has beaten John on eight occasions,

three times he has beaten him in the Masters.

He has, but the interesting stats, whenever they have played the longer

format, in those matches John Higgins winning all three, including

the semifinal of the World Championship. Maybe suits John over

a distance of ground. Mention how well Mark was playing, he had four

centuries in five frames at Shaun Murphy's house. Not a very nice

house guest. He will not be going back there, as a guest, either. I

can already sense in the opening frame there is far more focus on

Mark Allen. He played a Cajuns Jimmy Robinson the other day. Jimmy did

well, much improved. Mark, his concentration at the end was very

good. Parts of it were a little sloppy. He knows he will not be able

to be like that today. Mark is one of those players, he's a

left-hander, when he uses the rest coming he uses his right hand.

Amazing the number of left-handers who do that. How does that work? I

don't know why that is the case. Dean Reynolds, Mark Allen. Very

strange anomaly. Judd Trump, another one. Barry Hawkins, another one.

He got a poor contact. Stopping dead, the cue ball.

Mark was playing for the loose read the top of the gap. No reaction.

Trying to pick a spot on the cushion where he would knock the first red,

to make the ankle to knock the plant in. Quite a bit of distance between

the two reds. He has thought better of it. Just the safety shot. Maybe

he has done for the middle here. Terrifc pot. I tell you what, the

next shot, if it works correctly, he could take the frame with this

visit. Wonderful shot, well controlled. Need to keep the cue

ball for the black. This is an excellent contribution. What a way

to start the match. Played that particular screw shot

Sally had a choice of two reds. Closest to the black or the bottom

one of these two on the right. Cannoning office. -- of this.

Showing us what he made 32 centuries this season so far. 36 the season

before. 313 in his career. One of the great break-builders in our

game. He won the World Open championship

on two occasions, that was in China. The frame is safe so he can

concentrate on trying to clear them up here. And I think that's not a

bad idea. What a shame. John will probably come back to the table but

barring a snooker mark Allen Wildig the opening frame. STUDIO: That was

an emphatic start from Mark Allen who leads the head-to-head against

John Higgins 8-7 and that will continue on and we will reflect more

on it after the conclusion of this session between Murphy and

O'Sullivan, possibly the conclusion of the match but there are four more

frames to play this afternoon and O'Sullivan is four away from a 19th

quarterfinal appearance at the quiz but in 25 goes. Back to Peter and

John. COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel. And I'm sure Ronnie wouldn't mind if

he could seal this match as we are not even at the three hour stage in

the match time, and he could certainly win the match if he could

win the next four frames and it would be all over, 13-3, with a

session to spare and a bit more time on the practice table. That needed

to be very thin from Shaun Murphy, but slightly too much. It has given

the initiative to Ronnie O'Sullivan to play a better safety shot and he

is playing this with a lot of left-hand side. That is careless.

He's been fortunate, John. Shaun just stopped in his tracks

there but there is a chance of potting this red. He is looking at

an alternative but it looks like it is pottable off the side cushion.

What has he got in mind here? Well, it was a good effort at trying to

move the red from the corner and in a way he was unlucky it

double-kissed and stayed there. He will be thinking that not much is

going his way. It was a good attempt. Ronnie might well elect to

play cushion first here. Easy enough pot but controlling the

pace of the cue ball was always going to be difficult. It was on the

pink but the potting angle is taking him away from the reds. That is why

I suggested he might have been better off playing cushion first

because it would have taken the pace off the cue ball and he almost

certainly would have been on the black. Where has the cue ball gone?!

That was an unexpected error from Ronnie. The pockets are always in

the same place! Is he looking at the pot here? No,

just the safety. There was always a chance he could not want over the

left corner. -- he could knock one. He didn't mind leaving this red

along the top cushion, as long as it is straight there is no way he would

be tempted to play the pot. The only thing that Shaun has to be

a bit wary of, he has to play safe down the left-hand side of the table

and he has to void the kiss on the red that is tight to the top cushion

but he has decided to play safe off it and you have to be careful with

these. He has got a good line, an excellent line. That's a bonus.

APPLAUSE Exactly the three-hour mark now in

this match. Foul and a miss, Shaun Murphy six. Shaun has no reason not

to have it replaced. It couldn't have been closer to hitting the red.

Has to be a little bit careful here, Ronnie. If he just slides past it or

even hits the red thin, he could possibly leave something.

Two people sat there waiting for the referee to do his job.

The same shot, just a minor adjustment needed but he has to be

precise. Ronnie coming down to look at the

reds to see if he could play a shot to nothing. Digging down on the cue

ball slightly. He has caught that a bit thin. Will the blue come to his