Day 8, Afternoon Session Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon. What a week it's been here in Sheffield at the

Betfred World Championship. Talk about eventful. Mark Selby, our

defending champion, turned up here last Saturday, won his first round

match and went home for Easter:ism. Judd Trump beaten by a man 50 places

below him. Ronnie O'Sullivan didn't intend to say much at all. Oh yes

and in the meantime, the Prime Minister's called a general

election. At least she's waiting until the trophy is presented here.

Hoe a voracious audience in China would love one of their own to lift

the silverware this season. Wi is in the mix in round two against the

fellow Chinese. It's approaching 11 at night in China. You can bet the

snooker fans are rocking there right now. Good start for Wi. 6-2. Seems

to be doing good. Absolutely perfect and well played. Well controlled.

That is just wonderful. Fabulous pot. He's been out played completely

this evening. Played it beautifully. Deserved to win the frame. Wenboa

trails 9-7. 210 million people tuned in to watch Junhui against Mark

Selby and he just failed to get over the line. Now he's back trying to go

one better. Ding is one of four Chinese cuemen hoping for this and

he's guaranteed to play at least one player in the quarter-finals, but

which one? Ding has been Asia's first world champion in waiting for

almost half of his life. Wenboa is a great friend but he'd

love to make ding wait a little longer. McTh McLeod returns having

despatched Judd Trump and he's now taking aim at Scotland's Steven

Maguire. He was twice a semi-finalist. He's quietly slipped

into the reckoning this year. We'll be spending our afternoon here on

Saturday in excellent company of two former world champions. These are

the matches we'll be watching. One will start and the other will

finish. Junhui versus Wenbo. Stephen Maguire versus Rory McLeod. Speaking

of excellent company, messers Parrot and Davis. Day eight. How are you

bearing up? Got my second wind now. Fantastic. You are readily for the

all-Chinese event? Yes. Yesterday I had a treat, Higgins in the

afternoon, the standard last night was tremendous and he deserved to

come out of the session. He's 9-7 behind, Wenbo but the scoring was

superb. We have 45 minutes and there is a lot to reflect on. We have been

on the go for a long time, up early for a morning session which was to

be decisive in a prize-fight match between O'Sullivan and Murphy. Could

Sean punch his way back into this one?

He's not going to bother. He badly needed that frame and he's got it.

11-7 now. Oh, what an horrendous kick. That

was vile. He really is an animal on the table

when he's in this kind of mood. Superb break from the Rocket Ronnie

O'Sullivan. Just needs one more frame for a place in the

quarter-final. He rolled that in, perfect round the

black. Looks like that kick that he got has

sapped any remaining belief that Sean had that he could win this

match. Sean is the perfect gentleman. But in the end, Ronnie

was just a little bit too good. Very solid performance from the

five-times world champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Superbly focussed O'Sullivan, striding over the line with hardly a

glance behind him this morning and he brought that same level of focus

into the practise room afterwards to discuss his win with Stephen Hendry

and me. The chief positives from that performance would be what

today? I don't know really. Pretty hard to assess your performance.

Just trying hard, just trying to mentally hold it together. It's a

really... Played off the cushions? I took a leaf out of your book, you

know! I thought when it gets to the nitty-gritty, I'll play Stephen, in

1996, he got more aggressive and I got more negative. He looked like he

was ready to run over the line. When you get to that situation, rather

than go tentative, the winning attitude is to try and attack the

game. If you miss them you miss them but you have got to try to win. Did

you any you dodged a bullet yesterday, 10-6 was a good result?

Yes, when he missed the green, yes. 9-7 you fancy yourself, yes. He

played well: You are going to play guys like that who can win frames on

the spin. We were just talking before you came in about obviously

the controversy. We are not talking about what happened on Sunday and

the contents of that press conference, but having been put off

by this feud that you have had over the last few months, how are you

able to turn the negatives into positives going into this and, how

much motivation did you feel going in against Sean this week? No, no,

no, not any more than usually, you know. I was pleased that I just put

a statement out to say that I would rather not talk about anything

during the tournament and let's focus on snooker, which is the most

important thing. Some fantastic snooker and players here and it's a

tournament on its own so it's play and enjoy the event. Obviously you

practised first. I said before I didn't fancy you to win it. What

I've seen, you comment on what you see and you haven't played well. I

haven't practised for a year. I put in practise, through the season I've

been working. I think snooker is a little bit like, you're a pop star

and if you can make a brilliant album every year, you'll do well but

if you can't, that is it. I feel that I need to -- I don't

feel that I need to improve. I just kind of put a bit more practise in.

One of the tracks on that, that match against Gary Wilson, we didn't

talk a huge amount about it at the weekend but I wonder how much

admiration you had for Gary? I came off that table and went, that was

one of the hardest matches ever. He never looked like he was down. Every

credit to Gary and if he continues to play like that, he's already made

the final, but he'll definitely wherein tournaments. A lot of it out

there, this place sorts the men out from the boys and you've got to have

to right head for it. This is about doing it under the

cosh. You are a 17-time major winner. It's

a significant piece of history for yourself. You own that in the

Masters and I wonder how much of a taste it's given you again. Does

that sort of stuff get you up in the morning? Not really, no. Just

enjoying life, just enjoying what I do. It will be great. When I won the

seventh, it was like, that's nice, you know. If you'd have told me 25

years ago the feeling that you get after winning the seventh, would you

put all the work in, I would say, no, it's not worth it for that

feeling because it's not that great a feeling, it's nice to do but the

most important thing is the process. The memories and the matches that

you've had along the way is what really means I think to a player.

You talk about it, 25 years you have been coming here. Almost half your

life. I feel younger now than I did when I came in. I was 19, bloated

drinking, now I'm sober, healthy, 25 years younger! Do you feel more

capable of coping with it all now as you're getting older? No, to be

honest it gets harder. You just see youth and you start to think, wow. I

used to hurt when I got beat. I used to motivate me to get stronger. Now

you knock 'em down and think, knock 'em down and they'll come back

stronger. They are like I was when I was younger. You have got to be

mindful of that. I looked at John Higgins and I thought, we look like

old men today compared to some of the guys but we make up for it

because we come along here and snooker's never better. We are able

to give most of the players maybe a ten-year start. Obviously your

Selbies and Dings and Murphies and Trumps, you know, I don't mean give

them a ten-year start but the others, we are all close. How glad

are you that you are still fighting and clearly got a chance of a sixth

world title. I'll keep going to the end. 17 days out of the year that

you have got to do this. It's probably the worst part about the

job nowadays is coming here and doing this because it's tough

mentally. I struggle mentally. It's my weakest spot, I have to work at

it. This finds you out. There is a time when it stops being enjoyable.

When you're here, I'm enjoying it, you don't think that to yourself,

but you say, next OK,. That's what it's like. And next is Ding or

Liang, two good friends of yours. I don't know how much across that

match you are. From what you have seen, Ding looks fantastic but

Liang, a real fire cracker and always fights back? He's an

emotional type of player, either flies or is poor. Ding is obviously

a bit more balanced and probably got more out of the sessions whereas

Ding got his session 6-2. Ding was n't going to lose a session.

Probably had the better score. Ding is... Still above the Chinese

players on another level for me, Ding. And Wenbo is the second. He's

mental, his positional play is so good. He gets excited sometimes! If

you can manage that, he's difficult. You have a couple of days off

because you are playing the quarter-finals on Tuesday morning

then in the evening. Well played today. Very focussed and

professional performance. Well done. Thank you. Good to get a chat with

wonny there and some interesting points in that interview. Sean

Murphy said in the press conference afterwards if he plays like that

with that level of focus, I think he can win. What do you think? I think

he's dead right. Plenty of people said they didn't think he could win

coming here. When you look at the big events, he was beaten in an epic

final in the UK by Mark Selby. He's won his seventh Masters. The big

tournament he's come out to play and he's focussed. I loved that

interview today. Very even keeled, everything ready to go. He looked

focussed, it will take a good one to knock him out. A couple of

interesting things he said about his practise, that he hadn't been

putting the work in, but the last six, seven weeks he's knuckled down

for a good tilt at this one? Yes. Only Ronnie knows how much he's put

in effort-wise. Not just in hours but in mental preparation. And

Ronnie is the type of player, I wouldn't think there is many around

who can get themselves ready for a particular event. Most of us mere

mortals, we tried to get ready but we never knew when it was going to

come. If Ronnie has been coasting... I think you did all right! Well,

that's not how it felt. But if Ronnie had been coasting through

events on very little practise and effort, and then decides to put in a

concerted amount of practise in the build-up to something and actually

feels he's playing to a higher level, even though we keep on saying

the rest of the pack's caught up with him and actually he can be

outplayed now, we might be wrong. Perhaps Ronnie when he properly puts

his mind to it can always outplay the rest. Then there's only a couple

of players, Mark Selbies, John Higgins, who can withstand the

pressure. He was very gracious about Gary Wilson in the end. He seemed

much more at ease with himself. I wonder if the outburst on Sunday's

almost got a few things off his chest and cleared his head? I don't

think you can play this game if you have all things going on but I'm not

a genius like he is so I don't know what goes on up there. I wanted

everything to be perfect when you were playing, you didn't want any

distractions, you wanted your whole world to be on an even keel when you

turn up for events. Perhaps he's had a chat with Steve Peters and he's

said, perhaps the reason why it's best to go as being a normal snooker

player with normal interviews, it's better for your karma and well-being

to not have any aggression and think the world is on your shoulders and

people are having a go. Try to see the bigger picture and try to be

under the radar, rather than on top of it. The ambition was bursting out

of his chest. That's the perfect place for it to happen, at the

table, but not off the table. Agree? Absolutely. Very impressed with the

interview, good to see him like that and honestly, the way he played, the

first match he played great. Gary Wilson played really good to get

through that match. He is here for a job. Into his 18th quarter-final.

There was another match this morning at 10 o'clock, the second session of

the match and this was worthy of anything we have seen before because

you may have seen the Northern Irishman knocked him back with a pot

success rate of 96%, played like a God and yet he was still only two

frames clear of the four-times world champion John Higgins at 5-3. This

morning it was the Scot's turn to dominate. He took the opening four

frames with a 124 on the way, turned the match on its head from two

behind to two in front. At the interval it was 7-5. Allen replied

with a 166to get it 7-6. When we left it earlier on BBC Two, we'll

pick it up there. That red would have been frame ball

so maybe a chance for a counterattack. Tough red to start

with. Didn't expect him to miss that the way he's been potting. The last

couple of frames. John Higgins can get past the brown.

Dropped it in. A few points to play with. Not a lot. Came to the table

70 behind. 75 remaining. Well, if there was one player that you had to

put your life on making a clearance under pressure to win a frame, it

almost certainly would be John Higgins. He's just lost the cue ball

a little bit there. He won't be happy with that.

John Higgins has cleared up to win crucial frames hundreds of times in

his career. He doesn't want to be too straight.

. He doesn't have much of an angle. May have to play along the top

cushion now. If he's just off here, it's tricky.

Don't Fay season him missing this. He finished absolutely perfect on

the black. And because he's taken black just

off the last few reds, he's looked at the score board, 32 points

behind. He can afford to go red blue or red pink, whoever he feels would

give him a better position on the yellow.

Allen can see this frame slipping away. Six colours to go back to two

frames in front. More importantly, what a body blow for Mark Allen, in

first, break of 70, John Higgins has a chance to clear up. To pinch it on

the black. John Higgins has done this so many

times in his professional career. He seems to do it when the pressure is

at its greatest. That's one of the hallmarks of an outstanding

champion. He's been one of the greatest we have ever seen. Landed

perfect on the blue. Pink and black to clear up with 72

against the 70 that Mark Allen made previous.

Superb. Superb. The pinnacle. Absolutely brilliant. Superb from

Mark Allen but couldn't get that one he needed. Then he had a long pot,

missed it, John Higgins then cleared up as only John Higgins can do. Mark

Allen started the morning session two in front. He's two behind again.

What a match. John Higgins Dishing up from way behind. That is classic

Higgins trademark isn't it. Six points adrift, the Scot.

Thought that one was in. Has he been unlucky here. He may still be able

to pot the green but he'd have thought, sure to be on pink or blue

but it's not the case. A bit of pressure on this green now. Perfect

example. He's overcut it. Tried to play it

plain ball and where the green went, he got a touch of unintentional

right hand side on that one. We are so used to seeing the players

make the game look so easy. A little bit of pressure on that green and he

knew it. Obviously they handle pressure. That

needs to slow down. May just have slowed down enough to be on the

black. Obviously hasn't. He's having to

play a pressure green. Oh, it's a great shot. Great shot. Well played.

This match concludes this evening. And I suppose if Mark Allen can win

this frame and the last one, bringing it to all square... He'd be

reasonably happy, although John Higgins having won the first four

frames will be thinking maybe he should have pushed on. Marvellous

frame the last one. But that green caught him out in this.

Chance for Mark Allen to get within one.

Mark will be pleased to get the blue back on the spot. Just gives him a

Faw more options. -- a few more options. Had to get on the new

perfectly because it would have been a very tough pot into the centre

pocket from anywhere other than where he finished.

This is really good stuff from both players now.

Safe to say both players are at the top of their game and it's making

for a controlling contest. Might not get another one in this

frame. Black to go 40 in front. Still 67 remaining. Two reds and two

high value colours still required. Found himself on the blue.

And after John Higgins' truly outstanding clearance in the

previous frame, what a wonderful response this has been from Mark

Allen. This is missable, this is not easy this red. Oh, well played,

excellent. He is looking for one more red to

clinch it. That is not perfect. 51 ahead, 51 remaining. He could have

played for the blue after the last red he potted. No! Would you believe

that? John Higgins can still tie. But he

didn't. This time there was no comeback from John. A grandstand

final frame of the session was coming up.

APPLAUSE. At tap on the table from John

telling him that he is in a spot of bother here. If he plays the red

that is just away from the cushion, he will do very well not to get her

double-kiss. The brown is covering the reds that are sticking out on

the right-hand side as we look. Where is the red going? Well...

Strange game this, isn't it? You can have all the skill in the world, but

you can't beat a bit of luck. There is 137 macro he could get on,

it is available into both corners. He has a nice angle on the green.

APPLAUSE. He has judged that beautifully. Not all thoughts on

getting a nice angle on the black to try and disturb some more reds.

Nobody has really been developing the reds Leckey would normally

expect. Normally the players tried to use a lot of back spin and arc

into the reds. That is what he did. I have never seen the reds not open

as much as they normally do, particularly off the black. It seems

to me that the blue is the best ball to try to open up the reds. Maybe it

is just the atmospherics out there today. The reds have not been

opening the way they normally would do when players have been playing

the power shot to try to screw through the balls. To be perfectly

honest, from an impartial viewpoint, it would have been a shame for the

free to have finished on a fluke on that visit. Will Mark Allen get an

opportunity to level at 8-8? You feel the way both players have

played they would deserve to go into the final session 8-8. That is a

mistake from Mark Allen. He would expect John Higgins to take full

advantage of this opportunity. Not happy with that safety shot, Mark

Allen. If John gets this, it could be a very costly one. Right in the

heart of the pocket, nicely on the black.

Lost the first session of this match 5-3, if he can take this frame and

get another 41 points he will have won this session 6-2.

Just passing the four hour match time.

Well! That looked wide. It just the celebrated -- decelerated.

Got the cannon. Now as straightforward run, particularly

with the -- if the red to the left of the pink goes to the right

corner. With the blue up in the baulk end and the baulk colours on

their spots, you wouldn't think it should be a problem. Well, he

decided to roll again and come across the table for the pink.

Maybe, he was just hedging his bets, slightly, which is very surprising

for John Higgins. Yes, I don't think that John would have missed that if

he had played the shot he suggested, the stun shot with a touch of

left-hand side. It seemed to do celebrate slightly through the cue

ball. That was a tough chance for Mark Allen there with the rest. I

don't think he has left this red into the centre. It is certainly

very difficult. You can see that it does go. But certainly not easy.

Yes, then, you have just got to play it and let gravity takeover.

It wasn't as difficult as it looked. He was able to control the cue ball.

He has needed three chances here, John Higgins, which is unusual the

way he has played so far this morning.

Maybe that did affect him on a couple of shots he played, but now

back in perfect position to take the frame. Look how far behind he has

been in all the points, but that is because Mark Allen has made some

centuries. Mark Allen came into this session with a two frame advantage.

For all money now, it looks like he will be leaving two frames behind.

If that were to be the case, I still feel that this match is evenly

poised. John Higgins knows that Mark Allen is playing well enough to

rattle three or four frames off if you get the opportunity in the next

session. Absolutely. He will be taking nothing for granted. He will

be over the moon that he has a two frame advantage. Going into the

final session this evening. This match is already a classic, if it

goes all the way it will be one of the most memorable matches ever

played at the Crucible. As you like to say, there will be a few twists

and turns before the end of this. Just this red to go 47 points in

front with just 43 remaining. APPLAUSE.

You have to take your hat off to this man. We talk about Ronnie

O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Williams, that era, he is still here firing on

all cylinders. He produces time and time and time again. But for three

or four snookers, he will have that two frame advantage going into the

final session. So, there we are, 9-7, two frames in

front. A fantastic session of snooker. This is classic Higgins.

Just a brilliant match round. Looking back on the match, the last

frame yesterday afternoon and he got about -- but I do but 5-3 behind.

Then he won the important last frame again. What a match player he is.

Mark Allen has played fantastically, but John Higgins's matchplay is

superb. The best ever is six centuries at

this stage in a match, he has made four and is two frames behind! It

used to be that you can ease your way into the tournament someone and

you would try to pay for the final stages. I don't think that is the

case now. You need to hit the floor running. Your second round opponent

is Mark Allen or John Higgins, you need to be honoured all the time.

You don't want to play anybody! Who will win this? Will Mark Allen

comeback? He can definitely do that because he is playing well enough.

The first frame tonight when they play is massive. You can share that

with us on BBC Two and then the red button while evening from seven

o'clock. Can't wait for that. This is the 90th anniversary of the World

Championship, first played for in 1927. We have so many memories from

the last 40 years. You will be able to see the gala celebration, I

believe it is still on the iPlayer, which preceded this championship

last Friday night. Judd and some big there is a new documentary by Steve

Davis that is well worth catching. Join me, Steve Davis, for a Crucible

celebration. Lots of things should not be right about the place but it

just is. Once you get serious about snooker it is where you want to

play. The best moments in snooker have all been at the Crucible. The

saddest person in Sheffield. Heartbreaking. I like it when he

tilts his. So much history attached to it. It is the shrine of snooker.

BBC Two, Sunday nine o'clock. Definitely worth watching. You can

vote for some of your favourite Crucible moments on the BBC sport

website in the snooker section. Make sure you log on and pick your

favourite. That must've been a labour of love in order to make

that. You caught up with a lot of old friends. What are some of the

high points in documentary? 85 final, not voting for it! It was

lovely to talk to so many different people from all walks, the fans,

celebrities comes, players. As soon as they start talking they open up

about their memories. This places in our DNA. We all have such brilliant

memories here and we are all richer for it. That was the overwhelming

feeling I got. I'm looking forward to it. We had a chat about it during

the Masters and all of the memories came flooding back from my short

three years doing it. It is a heck of a place. Time for another

confessional with her mother dodgy driver, Steve Davis. Liang Wenbo is

excitable at the best of times, but put him through this, wide and J!

Anyone order a taxi? Nice to see you! Steve. Not Stephen.

Steve. Just leave. Never been Stephen. On my birth certificate

that just says Steve. We were very poor, couldn't afford the final

letter. Where do you live? SX and sometimes Manchester. What would be

listened to in the car come what is your favourite music? Chinese music?

I like this guy from Hong Kong. His music is the best. He is so famous.

I don't know the words but only one Chinese song. Chalet sing it? I will

sing the melody. It is a song from the 1990s. It goes like this.

STEVE SINGS. BOTH SING.

This song is so famous. He is so famous, yes. A lot of people like

it. Perhaps I didn't do it justice. Deti karaoke in China? Sometimes,

yes. You will not bring out a record? No.

What do you walk onto? For the World Championship? Chinese man. For many

years. Just what incompetent. How does it go?

LIAN SINGS. I've got it. Do you know snooker

loopy? I like poker face, as well. It is not as good as snooker loopy.

No? OK. If you are not... If you are at

home, did you watch a film, read books? I like the game, for people,

online. Fighting game? Like poker, but different. It makes me relax. I

watched Chinese movies. I concentrate very hard on movies,

very loud. Keep playing snooker. Yeah. We are

home. OK. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Steve displaying extensive knowledge of the Mandarin folk scene. The new?

He seems to be none the worse for his experience. He is only two

frames behind Ding Junhui, having haven't the deficit in yesterday's

session. Reading the honours board here. It was furious and flamboyant

comeback last night. Ronnie got it right in his interview to say he is

excitable. You don't quite know what will happen with him. His cue ball

control is outstanding. I don't think there is anybody who has got

so much body movement when he plays. I like watching him because there is

a feeling that something could go wrong at any minute! He has won the

Steve Davis Trophy as the winner of the English open last year. We saw a

different side to this man, he has got the temperament to be able to

claim big titles. We saw him in the UK championship final couple of

years ago. All of a sudden he believes that he can play the game

at the highest level, as well. Watching some of the snooker

yesterday, they were just having a laugh, having a chap in the chair. I

didn't know how their relationship is in China, but from the

perspective of the, I would've liked to have been more reserved and kept

himself away from other players, not talked as much. All four players

backstage are ready. Stephen Maguire is going to be playing Rory McLeod.

It is over to Rob Walker. Good afternoon, ladies and

gentlemen. Welcome to another brilliant session of snooker here at

the 2,000 1753 macro -- the Betfred World Championship.

Please welcome first of all, a player who produced one of the

biggest upsets in Crucible history on whether the night, knocking out

one of this year's favourites, Judd Trump, with their superb display.

The biggest win of his 23 year career so far. Here he is marching

into the second round, his mates call him the Highlander, Rory

McLeod! MUSIC.

APPLAUSE. What a reception exclusion at his

opponent, a player who this year came through qualifying and did so

in fine style. That form continued here in the first round with a

comprehensive win over his good friend Anthony McGill. Five times a

ranking event winner, his seventh appearance in the second round, the

pride of Glasgow, when he is on -- when he is good, he is on fire,

Stephen Maguire! MUSIC.

APPLAUSE. On table one, please welcome a

player bidding for his second Crucible quarterfinal, I superb

century break and four other 50 plus Ltd yesterday reduced the deficit.

Remember, he is this season's English open champion. What a huge

session of snooker that is for the man they call the firecracker, Liang

Wenbo! MUSIC. APPLAUSE.

Finally, a man who has inspired a generation of players back home. He

is now for frames away from a fit Crucible quarterfinal. This season's

Shanghai Masters champion and winner of 12 ranking titles in all, a

national hero back home in China, so enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui!

MUSIC. APPLAUSE.

Here we go, Rory and Stephen getting going online. We will keep you

posted on that all afternoon of course. So, through to this all

Chinese match. STEPHEN HENDRY: Hazel, good

afternoon. Really looking forward to this final session. In the first

session, Liang Wenbo was very serious when he entered into the

arena, last night he came out laughing and joking and played very

well. He was very relaxed there, as well, interesting to see what

happens. I have had the pleasure of doing both of these sessions. This

is the final session, all to play for. That never looked like

reaching. The breaks in this matchup been very good, the scoring has been

excellent. You come to expect that from Ding Junhui. Definitely the

first session he was the heavier scorer. Liang Wenbo, when he goes

into one... Great character. I was with him last night, playing poker,

Liang Wenbo. WILLIE THORNE: Stephen, he is quite a lad, isn't he? I don't

know why the referee doesn't give the player the benefit of the doubt

when he is going to play the same shot. Didn't seem too pleased taxi

driver with Steve Davis, did he? APPLAUSE.

It goes without saying this first frame will be very important. This

little mini-session off for frames, I think Liang Wenbo has to win this

4-0, or 3-1. I think that was a macro shot. The retina really

thought that the red moved. I'm not sure if the player knows.

Absolutely, the red rocks. That's fine, that's fine. You wouldn't

guess it was the final session of the second round of the Crucible so

far! Very relaxed. You have discussed in the studio

with Hazel that you feel that Ding Junhui is the best Chinese player.

But this is the session where he could command a player. He has a

Chinese opponent, are busy trying to get to the quarterfinals of the

championship, he will be trying to prove he is the Chinese number one.

I wonder if that will put pressure on him today. We will see over the

first couple of frames. It will be interesting to see the reaction.

Approaching ten o'clock at night in China. I'm sure millions of Chinese

fans will be glued to this match. APPLAUSE. Ding just held his hand up

there, he was looking to find the baulk cushion, not be behind the

brown. He is seeing if he could miss the

two reds on the left-hand side... He has an escape but it is quite thin.

Foul macro and a miss. Ding's got to be careful not to go

too near to the red and go near the blue. Doesn't want to cannon into

that. Oh, he's not settled. Very nervy.

Needs a good pot. Well done. APPLAUSE.

Hm. Long time since I've been in a position like that with my body,

goodness me! Brought tears to my eyes him playing that.

Oh, great pot. This is excellent. Look at that. Nothing to do with the

cue ball. Right into the pocket under the cushion.

If he wanted to go through and leave the black, he's got the pink there

as well. Probably play for the pink until he clears the red above the

black spot. Surprised at that. Why would he want to play that for the

blue, I don't know. Trying to develop a couple of other

reds. He'll be playing up for baulk or blue killer. Once he has the

kiss, he's unlucky not to push them both into open play. The cue ball

will be running loose here. Both reds available to the left

corner. Lookings like possibly both reds are

available. Decent visit to the table this. He's

had to work really hard. Very aggressive shot. Hit them

absolutely perfectly. He's got a 37-point lead which

doesn't sound a lot but there are a few reds safe, black out of

contention at the moment but he needs to put another red away if he

can. Play a negative safety, that could put him in trouble.

Taking the option of bringing the red off the cushion which obviously

he'll need. I can only assume he's worried about

kissing the blue. Yes. If he can get to play the red thick, he's almost

going to get between the yellow and brown, the cue ball somewhere on the

baulk cushion. Behind the green, brownish area.

He's got a thick contact. APPLAUSE.

. Every chance now of winning the frame. Seems to have settled quicker

than Ding this afternoon. Hm, potted a lot more difficult one

than a a few moments ago. That's given Ding Junhui a lifeline. A long

way away, too. 44 points be hind, black in play. New favourite in this

frame. Ideally he'd like to get the pink on

the spot. It's easy to jump behind him. Doesn't have a particularly

good angle on the pink though. APPLAUSE.

Could collide on one of the baulk colours. This time it's a good shot.

That was a nervy one. Too thick. The yellow's come to his rescue though,

he's gotten away with it. A kiss on the blue and it would have

been OK. It's worth taking this on, 29 points in front, reds relatively

safe. Plenty of value in taking this on.

Surprises me that, I thought he'd take this on.

Answers on a postcard what he played there. Wow. That's up there with one

of the worst shots Ding's played this week. He'll be horrified to see

where that's finished. Red and black is enough to close

within one. This frame hasn't been pretty but

the important thing for Wenbo and his supporters will be that he's won

the frame. And it's a worrying sign for me the way Ding's played that,

especially the last shot, his last visit to the table. The shot he

played was very weak. Yes. That body language is not good.

There's a chance it might not mean anything the way he's sitting but to

me it doesn't look right. APPLAUSE.

Maybe he's just chilling while Wenbo is clearing the table.

Very important opening frame, the win for Wenbo. Closes the gap to

5-4. MUSIC

. Apologies for that mistake, it's

actually 9-8, but I knew there was only one frame in it!

Wenbo has looked the far more comfortable and confident player so

far this afternoon. I was a bit concerned about Ding's

body language when he was in the chair. Didn't seem to be

concentrated too much on the frame. Played a very thick safety shot

there. Will need to avoid the blue. There'll be some sort of pot here

for Ding. Is it time to have a go at the one next to the blue?

Safety shot. Oh. Very surprised he refused the pot on the one next to

the blue, the one that he hit any way. You can tell least not

confident from his body language. He's gone for a pot there that was a

million times more difficult than the last he refused. I would be

worried if I was in Ding's camp at the moment.

Hole for the red just above the white there, but he may decide to

play for the right hand corner one. See the way he plays this shot. He's

able to hold it. Already a good chance to score heavily and perhaps

level the match at 9-9. Slightly hampered. 39 points in

front and the break is still going. Just enough room to get through the

two reds to get his hand on the table. A lot of cue out of his hand

though. Not too sure if the red passes to

get into the corner. That tells me it doesn't pot. That

is an excellent positional shot. APPLAUSE.

Such as the standard of these layers deride the tournament, they both

have the same number of balls potted.

It has been a very impressive start this afternoon by Liang Wenbo. He

really has come out with a good attitude. It has to be said, the

same can't be said for his opponent. Ding just doesn't look on it at all.

He looks like he is on a mission, Liang Wenbo, today.

Liang Wenbo has the highest break so far, 130. Red and the colour for

another century. What a shame! How fantastic free via

Liang Wenbo. The important thing is he has levelled the match at 9-

night. Liang Wenbo was a couple of frames

behind, but he has one seventh out of the last ten frames. The first

two frames of this session following what happened last night, Ding had a

couple of long pots that went nowhere near the pocket. It is

possible that Liang Wenbo has been in thrall of Ding Junhui. His

popularity is not as high as that as Ding. This is a top dog in Chinese

snooker match as well, isn't it? I assume they think so. Liang's stock

would have risen in China after winning the English open in

Manchester. It is hard to know because we are not over there to

know how it pans out. They seem to be getting on very well as friends.

They have had to spend time in the UK over the years and they would

have gravitated towards each other. He does look a little bit under it.

I still fancy Ding to get over the line. I wouldn't have been chatting

around the table with Liang Wenbo during the match. I would've myself

aloof. 91% pot success for both men so far. Back to the commentary team.

WILLIE THORNE: Steve Davis was always a little comment never said

hello to anybody! STEPHEN HENDRY: I know what he is saying, though.

Backstage they were laughing and joking together. I don't think that

is Ding's natural character before a match.

APPLAUSE. I was going to say that it seemed

that Liang Wenbo was trying to get the conversation is gone, if that

was a case, that was a good move. He is forced into taking the black on

here. He will be delighted if he can't just kiss the red just beside

the black. This is an excellent chance again to score heavily. Ding

in my opinion is in serious trouble. He has the perfect angle to go

through the gap in the reds there. One of these two reds must pot into

the corner. You can clearly see that it does with the camera angle. It

might be worth just glancing off the red that is closest yet, just to

make sure that both those reds can pot. It definitely looked on. Just

follow the cue ball through, contact on the second red and you would end

up on the black. It would have made the break more straightforward. I'm

sure he wasn't aware that he was on the black at the time, it is more

important just to win the frame. New here to freeze in the zone said

in lots of sports. That is exactly where Liang Wenbo is at the moment.

These long frame matches at the Crucible, momentum is so important.

The ability to read all three, four, five frames on the spin. The way

Liang is going, he won't want to have an interval. He would like to

keep going. There is only one more frame before the interval after

this. Ding certainly needs an interval just to get himself

together. He works very closely with Terry Griffiths. Terry will need all

of his good work to get in the right frame of mind because he isn't at

the moment. I think that shot needed a bit more

pace injected into the cue ball. Because the red and pink are

touching, he needed to help out a lot harder. Unless this red goes

into the right middle, it is end of break. He will be a bit frustrated

about that. APPLAUSE.

Ding is worried that the red on the cushion would get the double-kiss,

which is why he is going to play two cushions and go for the red alone

the black. He hasn't had much table time, he could misjudge the pace,

which he has done, by a mile. Ding is normally excellent at this

sort of shot. Willie and I are both surprised that

he had the cue ball replaced. Unless he is expecting Ding just to foul

his way to needing snookers. Which I suppose is a possibility. He will

get warned this time. So, will he have to force himself to

take this red into the corner? He did attempt it.

Liang has been left with the red to the right middle. The one that he

turned down last time. The fact that Ding missed the pot by

such a long way, he is on an advantage here. He only needs 137

macro. Just checking the scoreboard. He would need a red and a colour.

Two of the -- the only other alternative is to roll it up the

table. It looks like he has decided to take

it on. -- there. I suppose all he can take

out of that is the red he played has gone safe.

I'm not saying he is going to win the frame but this visit, but he has

every chance of getting back into this frame. Very rarely if your

opponent scored 72 points did you win the frame.

He would love to just make sure three reds and three high value

colours of these now. He will have the first chance of the safety shot

on the red against the cushion if he clears up these other reds.

A little bit dangerous in playing the cannon. He has left himself at

Trickey back. 35 points behind. He can afford a couple of browns to win

the frame. Is he looking at taking out the other red with this shot? He

needs another colour, that is the problem. It is an acute angle.

Now, he can't get on the red, so just make sure that you pot the

brown and play a good safety shot. People might ask why he isn't ruling

out behind the brown, but he would rather get the four points

guaranteed, meaning he doesn't necessarily need the black off the

last red. I would've been tempted there to

make sure of the brown and leave myself in a really good position to

play a good safety shot, or at least make it easier. It is a lot tougher

from where he is now to play that telling safety and force a mistake

out of his opponent. So, he is going to win this safety

battle on the last red? If Ding does he would go in front again when, a

few moments ago, it was looking like he was going to lose the first three

frames of this session and go 10-9 behind. He will need to hit this

quite firm, plenty of distance between the cue ball and the object

ball. This could become a pivotal frame in

this match. Ding could win it from 72-0 down.

We'll Ding be tempted? Know, is the answer. The way the colours are

situated in the middle of the table, it is not too difficult to get

snookers more or less every shot to play, as long as you are of the

aggressor. It looks like there is a gap between the blue and the black

to get to that. For our breath I thought he had left

that well short. He has the brown and black, they have come to his

rescue. This is not straightforward. Because the red is so close to the

cushion, he will be able to put any distance between them. The white

will stay on that side of the table. This is not straightforward at all.

Very easy to hit, I'm not saying that, but very hard to get safe.

He just put his hand up there to apologise. He didn't play it that

way. The kiss of the blue has left Liang snookered.

These are all useful points for Ding Junhui.

Liang Wenbo doesn't want to head the right-hand side of the red, he is

trying to hit the left-hand side of the red as it goes up the table.

Good shot. APPLAUSE.

Ding still has the advantage. He has the advantage in this safety

play at the moment. Another situation where he has to hit it

quite firm. If he was in front, say he was

leading the match 9-7 or something like that, he would take this red on

but it is such an easy snooker for him. There are five balls that you

can get snookers from. Sometimes you have to play to the

scoreboard, really. Maybe Liang can get through to it this time.

This is definitely an opportunity to take the red on here.

No, refused it. Or did he refuse it? He raised his hand but it is not

really any good to him, it hasn't given him a frame-winning chance.

He is getting to play the next shot, that is about all you could say

about that fluke. He has to be careful here he doesn't leave some

kind of pot on the yellow. It is not easy to come to the yellow from

there. Has he covered the yellow? That is a

clever shot, if he has. He can just see it.

That is a good reply. All of a sudden now, Liang is looking for

safety. Be trying to kiss it from behind

obviously but doesn't want the yellow to career into the blue,

brown or black because that would leave some sort of pot on. Needs to

try to avoid blue, brown and black with this shot.

Needs to take the yellow though. If this is a free ball, this is the end

of the frame. Boy, that was very careless from Ding. Still in the

frame. Only 25 points in it but this is frame ball.

Wenbo knows he should have won this frame ten minutes ago. All of a

sudden now, he's trying to be too careful. And Ding can get through to

this yellow. This is already the longest frame of the match so far.

Ding has to sense this is a big moment in the match now and put

everything into this yellow. Boy, that looked in, didn't it?

That's amazing. I don't think he can hold it for the

green into the middle so there is no great advantage in taking the yellow

on. Can't play it slow enough to hold

for the green. Decided to play it as slow as

possible to hold for the green and it's cost him the frame.

Going back to the chair when he's all the snookers and other colours

to tie. A tall enough order but all four colours in the middle of the

table and I don't fancy his chances at all.

The only thing that could go wrong here, he could catch the far jaw of

the middle pocket, so he's got to be a little careful. If he does catch

the far jaw he'd miss the blue. But he's hit it nicely.

Pink and black in the middle, this is going to be so difficult for Ding

Junhui. One snooker now to win the frame.

Not to tie. Last time he went in-off. Goodness

me. He plays some strange shots, Wenbo.

People may be asking why he didn't play to pot it formally. He was

worried about the in-off in the top corner pocket. That's why he played

it slowly. He's put himself through the wringer

here for no reason. Having snookered Ding on the

previous shot and put Ding back in again, he's been playing catch up.

He's been trying to protect the lead. Clash 35 minutes this frame's

been going on. Surely now this blue goes to right

corner. APPLAUSE.

Yes. Concedes. He now leads Ding Junhui

10-9. It's the first time that Liang has led and it was Ding Junhui who

took the opening frame a long, long time ago with an opening break of

111 which seems like days ago. In fact it was yesterday morning. There

was an opening red there from Liang which does seems like ages ago and

it had you leaping out of your chair, a beautiful shot? Yes. The

ball looked so risky. He was trying to get the cue ball down the table

and escape from that, but what a power pot. He's in great aggressive

mode and the alarm bells are surely ringing for Ding Junhui. The

equivalent of a boxer being on the ropes at the moment, he's reeling.

Exactly and that first session yesterday John, he knocked two

centuries in and looked very much the aggressor. He seems to have

retreated a bit into his shell in the last few frames? Yes, a bit of

both. He's done that but also certainly last night, Liang's

scoring was fantastic. He had something like 80, 84, 113, he

should have the highest score of the tournament. He scored, which he

hadn't done in the openings session, which has been the tale of this

tournament. At 10-9 he's under the cosh. Tell you what, can you imagine

what's happening back in China, this match will be being beamed live. It

will be after 12 o'clock on a Saturday night and they are going to

be watching it in the sports bars, the commentary and presentation team

will be jumping up and down in the air, they'll be so animated about

the prospect of who is going to win. Interesting to see what they are

coming up with in their interviews. They know obviously that he's going

to play Ronnie O'Sullivan, whoever it is going through, so there is an

awful lot to look forward to and of course there are a couple of other

Chinese players in this as well. Marco Fu is up against Neil

Robertson too in what will be a really special match I fancy from

tomorrow. That is definitely a cracker. We mentioned the old cliche

fit to be a final, that is an absolutely - try and pick the winner

in that one - I don't think Neil's been quite so good but there's a

chance to put that right. Marco has been very consistent. That will be a

great match. There's plenty of them and Mark Allen and John Higgins'

second round matches have been brilliant. Second round matches are

tough. We were talking about the fact that the draw seemed weaker in

the bottom half. It's not really. The standard is going to be great

for the rest of the tournament. You will be unlucky to buy a ticket and

watch a bad session I feel from now on in.

Let's talk about Ding Junhui and the pressure that's suddenly heaped upon

him. He's last year's runner-up and the man who everybody thought would

come through into the semi-finals to give whoever it is a run for their

money and maybe in another final, but suddenly it's his friend,

colleague, a man with whom he socialises all the time who's

dominating now. He's got to find something. He's got to go through

the gear box. He's been a little lethargic this afternoon, nearly

pinched a frame. It's a huge frame that's happened there, but he's got

to start playing, simple as that, he's got to get back and score.

Ding's never won the World Championship and perhaps his

temperament is in question here, perhaps he hasn't got the final

piece of the jigsaw. These matches you have to overcome them. This is

the last frame before the mid session interval. I'm sure Stephen

will agree with me, it's more an important frame for Ding to win than

Liang. It's a question of who wants it the

most or badly enough. There's only one player out there at the minute.

Didn't play the pot. Ding to me doesn't look like wanting it badly

enough. You have to recognise situations in

matches where you really have to put everything into it. Seize

opportunities. Doesn't appear to be touching. Does

he risk running off the three reds together or the left on one of the

three and trying to get the cue ball into the green pocket? Just come

round and have a look whether he gets in the jaws of the green pocket

whether the red will be easy or hard. It will be a tough pot. That's

not beneficial. We may have a rerack here. Wenbo looked at Ding to

suggest a rerack. Ding... Oh, they are going to have a rerack after a

couple of minutes' play. They have decided it's a stalemate.

You've been in this situation where you have lost a couple of frames on

the trot. What do you think about Ding's body language? What do you

notice more than most? He just... Sometimes when someone's in their

chair, you can tell when they're focussed. He could come out of this

frame and make a century, you know, but he just doesn't look, I don't

know, angry enough, maybe that's a way of describing it. He looks like

he's looking all over the place, his arms are behind his head. If you

look at Wenbo, he looks more alert. Ever since they came into the arena.

One thing that is lacking with Ding Junhui, I don't think he's strong

enough mentally. He's got every other aspect of the game, no doubt

about it. Can he fight his way through this bad session? Frame 20

take two. Another things about Ding, he's one

of the game's great players and he's definitely my top three or four

players of all-time, but some players never play great at the

Crucible. He got to the final last year, but apart from that, every

other year he's been struggling. Whether it's the mantle of being

Chinese number one and what it would mean to him to win the World

Championship, that could have an effect on him. I honestly think he

needs to win this frame. If Ding Junhui does go through,

he'll have the international. Always goes to the practise table.

It's something he does. Of course, then you have the pressurable switch

on to Wenbo. He'll be thinking about the winning line. So, a long way to

go in this match. Few twists and turns to come yet I

think. Clearly caught that a lot thinner

than he wanted. He was trying to get in below the yellow. He could play

the aggressive safety shot and open them up.

Oh, he's had a bit of luck there. OK this red is cut above the middle,

but I'm not sure he can get his hand on the table.

This could be very tricky. The referee will be on his toes here.

APPLAUSE. . He's done really well. Really

well. Massive visit to the table here for

Ding Junhui. Unless that red passes the black.

It's been a very poor shot. It doesn't pass.

A lot of margin for error there. He's still taking this one on. Could

be a bit of frustration play, this. Oh, well played.

APPLAUSE. Well played.

That was almost like, whether I'm out of the position I'm going to go

for this whatever happens. Playing a shot with disappointment can

sometimes cost you, but boy that was a great pot. He played it to

perfection because he screwed into the red to hold for the black.

Absolutely perfect. This is not one of those that is a

ten out of ten pot. Brilliant. Deserves exactly what he gets from

there now. Pointing to the cue ball. Bad

contact. Let us see if the black leaves the table. Yes. He's still

got the red over the green pocket. Would you not just play one red on

to another, the one that's in the baulk pocket Stephen and come out

for the black? Yes, good call. The gap in-between the two reds on the

side cushion is a wide gap and he's playing the one in the baulk pocket.

These are always tough. Blue spot or short of the baulk line.

I think that is probably a sign of how under pressure he is. He's not

even landed on the blue. A disappointing end to that visit

from Ding Junhui. Only scored 32. He's in control though. Certainly

not easy to get safe. He's really got to dig in now, Ding

Junhui. No problem hitting it, of course.

Somehow, he has to find the red he can get to without leaving anything

on. The red to the left of the brink, he could get near that one

and it would be safe. I don't know what length of cue he needs to play

with this spider. I'd be amazed if he plays it with the spider. If you

could see a side cushion you would just hit it as hard as you can and

hope for the best. I can only assume he is open to catch this red and for

the cue ball to carry on down the table. I don't see that he can't

possibly have a red and not leave one on here.

Foul and a miss. Obviously, Ding would love to play a pot here, but I

don't think there is anything easy, so he will have them replaced. He is

just showing exactly where he would like him to leave the cue ball. It

seems that Ding once this to be a jovial match, but he is in trouble

here. Maybe it is a good time to lighten the mood. Obviously, not

feeling the best about his game so far today.

APPLAUSE. That was worth the wait. That was

excellent. The first time he misjudged it and Ding could think in

southern lucky he wasn't left on the red. But the second try, top drawer.

Is there anything available in the left-hand middle? I suppose there is

the slight chance of uplands. He is 36 points behind, so it may be worth

the risk. -- slight chance of a plant.

He feels that the plant is too dangerous. He could play the plant

and screwed directly back and all he would leave honours a similar sort

of shot into the middle. It looks like he is taking the long

one on. He missed that by a long way. How does it look this time? A

half chance. The fact he is 36 points in front

means he will not want to play safe of the blue, he will want to leave

that there. He will probably take this pot on then play for the green.

Just a shame that he called the jaw otherwise he would have been perfect

on the green. This looks good. This looks good.

APPLAUSE. Great shot.

He might be 37-0 down, but he might have just given him the edge in this

frame. If you can get in between yellow and brown he should be able

to rule on to the left-hand side of the bunch. Normally his touch is

excellent on the sort of shots. -- these sort of shots.

Boro moment I thought he had hit that too thick. He will need the

spider. APPLAUSE. Well done. He doesn't have

any sort of pot on a colour, so it will be yellow behind the blue

again, I imagine. He could be aggressive, yellow in behind the

green. With the blue wasn't where it was, I would suggest taking the pot

on. APPLAUSE.

He didn't play that to be taken behind the brown. He wanted the cue

ball on the baulk cushion. Foul and a miss. Once again, Ding

has been a little bit unfortunate there. Where the white has finished,

he might ask for it to be put back. Yes, it has become a scrappy affair.

A lot of pressure out there, this frame is already approaching the 23

minute mark. I did not think we would have frames this long between

these two players. Each issue shows you what the pressure does, the last

session of the match in the Crucible. The first two sessions,

the standard was absolutely out of this world. There was one chance and

somebody would score 60, 70 or 100. As you say, this is the final

session. We are coming to the end of our time

on BBC One. This match does continue on the red button, so do follow us

there. That forget, we will be back on BBC Two for the final session

with John Higgins against Mark Allen. Then later tonight, the FA

Cup semifinal, Chelsea against Tottenham. To press the red button

and you will see you there again now. See you very soon. Goodbye.