Day 10, Afternoon Session Snooker: World Championship

Good afternoon. A week today we will be closer to finding out the

identity of the 2017 Betfred World Snooker Champion. Today is the final

day of second-round action. Five men already through to this year's

quarter finals. Three more spaces up for grabs. Leading the charge is the

defending champion, Mark Selby. The two-time Crucible champion

looking to book his place in the quarter finals. This is what's

coming up this afternoon. Mark Selby, the undisputed world

number one is four frames ahead against China's Xiao Guodong.

But, Kay xa won the last two -- Xiao won the last two frames to stay in

the match. As for Barry Hawkins he is looking to set up a quarter final

clash with Stephen Maguire. He's looking good. But do not rule out

the 2006 world champion, Graeme Dott. Last night he made a fight

back. So, this is the state of play at the

Crucible. This is how we're looking. Remember, best of 25. We could have

a very quick finish this afternoon. We hope it goes down to the wire.

Good afternoon to two men who know that very sweet feeling of lifting

one of the world famous trophies at one of the great British sporting

venues. Do you think Mark Selby will be

wanting a quick finish, Steve? Possibly. We all want to get away as

quickly as possible, in that respect. He's up against a guy who

is good amongst the balls. Perhaps tactically unsound on a couple of

shots yesterday, otherwise the score line could have been closer. Among

the balls Guodong can score. Mark will hope to coast him. We had a

chat with Mark last night. He's in the mood. He was 10-4 at one stage.

I think Guodong got luck to win those frames. He had to show

courage, a little bit of bottle. I think Mark was aggrieved that the

score wasn't bigger for him. And Xiao, if he is going to take this to

the wire, he has to get on the board early doors. Yes, he has. He'd be

silly to go all out of tact. He has to go the way he plays. If you start

to change your game too much, it never works. As for the other table

- there's something about Barry Hawkins this year - quietly going

about his business. He's that quiet - assassin type. He's been to a

couple of finals, semi-finals as well. The guy he's playing has won a

couple of finals as well. He made a great comeback Graeme Dott. At 9-3

down he looked out of it. It could have been closer. That last frame

when Barry Hawkins got the kick, but the pink still went in, it was

incredible. It could have been closer. I commentated on that first

session of that match. It gave every club player around the country hope.

It was a tough start for both. Barry Hawkins, the Hawk started off, he

looked like he would be a dodo by the end of the match. Graeme Dott

didn't capitalise. He lot himself into a hole. Slowly digging himself

out of it. No guarantee. Barry Hawkins is experienced. We were

keeping a close eye on the match, that is one I couldn't get you away

from. We did have a look at the way that Graeme Dott was cueing. He was

cueing beautifully. He's such a determined character. He never gives

in. He's got plenty of grit determination. We are in for more

snooker than people think. Thank you very much. Let's say good afternoon

to our MC, Rob Walker. THE COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon

ladies and gentlemen. This is the day we complete the line up for the

quarter finals. Five through and this afternoon two more will join

them. It is day ten here at the sport's spiritual home, the

Crucible. Please welcome a man who so often

produces his best here in Sheffield. Three times a finalist, world

champion in '06. He won three of the last four last night to give himself

a chance, from Scotland, he's the Pocket Dynamo. He's Graeme Dott.

His opponent, bidding for a fifth consecutive Crucible quarter final.

Running up in '13. Winning of three ranking titles, including this

season's Grand Prix. Here comes the Hawk, Barry Hawkins.

On table one, here comes the player hoping to continue his best ever run

at the Crucible. Coming through the qualifierers, winning the last two

frames yesterday to give himself a fighting chance, Xiao Guodong.

And finally, bidding for his seventh criticisible quarter final --

Crucible quarter final. He won his 11th title in China. World number

one for well over two years and the defending world champion, he's The

Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby. Every shot here at the Crucible shot

covered here. If you are out and about, and you want to chose between

table one or two, that is available for you. Red button.

Live here on BBC Two, it is Mark Selby against Xiao Guodong

THE COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon Jason. Good afternoon, everybody.

And they look to be a time, as we look at it, just short of

five-and-a-half hours for these 16 frames, it looked for a time that

Mark Selby had the upper time and was going to run away with this.

Winning the last two frames last night gives him a bit of hope here.

It does, John, absolutely. I have been very impressed with him. He's

been a pro for ten years. He's really took Mark Selby to the sword

here. Mark Selby has produced two very, very good clearances to be

that four frames in front, rather than be all square. But this boy can

play. I'm a little surprised he's not got better before now, that is

how good I rate him. A little bit naive in the game when he was 60-odd

points in front yesterday and should have put...

APPLAUSE An extra seven points and that is

one that Selby ended up winning. He's actually ten points ahead on

points scored in this match. Amazing.

He didn't play the best safety shot, Xiao, that's why he's in trouble.

Cannot get the cue ball back to the baulk in.

We are right into the second round of this tournament now and Mark

Selby is yet to make a century. Very surprising.

Mark Selby, as we all know ask hard to beat. If he's -- is so hard to

beat. If he's not playing at his best, he still finds a way to win.

That was a bit too thin. The rattling in the jaws has made it a

better safety shot than it was. Mark Selby, the longer matches -

tailor-made for it. There is a couple of reds he could

play the pot on, but too risky. Making certain he's not going to

knock anything towards the right corner here.

Needs to miss the brown for it to be a good safety.

He has. So it is a good safety, that one.

Got to be a little careful with this thin safety shot.

That is a long way, away, but he was making sure of the cue ball.

See here the advantage of getting that cue ball tight to the baulk

cushion. Plenty of reds he can hit. Got to

avoid the kiss. Too thick! Much too thick! Result... Is it a result? Or

maybe not. I think Mark can just get past the

blue for this red. He could. I think the pink may be

available. It shows you, that one good safety shot. Get that cue baulk

tight under the cushion. Force a mistakes from his opponent.

The cue ball a couple of inches too far. Clearly play the red next to

the pink... APPLAUSE

Mark Selby now becoming a past master, when you get a chance to

make sure you score heavily. I know when he first started

playing, started in your snooker club in Leicester.

Did you spot the talent straightaway? I remember when I

first saw him play, his cue action was a little bit long and you just

felt, has he really got it? When did you notice he was destined for the

top? He always had a top 32 safive game -- safety game. Neil Robertson

and Mark Selby, both of which started to play at my club when he

first came over are the most improved players I have ever seen.

Mark Selby was not going to be a journey man. He was always a decent

player. Not going to be top 16. Then he got cueing close to the cue ball.

Improved 40 points overnight and now is one of the best players we've

had. So solid.

Never seen anything work harder. He would be in my club eight hours a

day. Never stopped. I think that's the secret to success - hard work.

But you can only put in the hard work if you actually love the game

and you want to do it. Looking up to the balcony, where his

supporters are. Not happy with that one. He has tried three shots to get

on to the black. When that black goes back to a different spot.

18 out of 18 he's potted with the rest. A little to do with the cue

ball. I don't think he can play it slow enough to get on to the black.

If he decides to get on to the pink at the middle.

Can he get a good angle to get the black on to his own spot?

OK this time. Around the back of the black or screw it direct? I think

he'll have to go around the back of the black.

I like you thought he might have screwed around the back of the

black. OK he wouldn't have fancied missing it. But there's a little

more to do here. No problem. Now looking for an angle

on the colour. He'd like to hit the left-hand side

of the three reds in front, on the left. The bottom red pots.

He got quite a bit of action on the cue ball, didn't he? Just watch the

white, hit then and the back spin was still on it. That's why he's on

this red to the right middle. That's all you're looking for - an

easy ball to continue the break with.

In actual fact a red and a black will put him 70 points ahead, 67

remaining. So not far from the winning line on

this frame. With all his experience he knew a

quick start was paramount. So the black to leave his opponent

needing a snooker. He's had to work for this. He's had

a brown, a blue. Five pinks and now four blacks.

This is his highest break of the match.

This red close to the pink, to the middle.

Tried to disturb it. He's just about done it.

He hit more of the pink than he wanted to. As I say, just on it.

Sent me a text last afternoon saying, I can't make a century! He

can now. And that's absolutely superbly

played. That is the 4th century of this year's Betfred World

Championship. The record is 86. We're not started the quarter finals

yet. That's not in. It doesn't matter.

Xiao Guodong stays in his seat. Mark Selby first century break of

the match. 11-6. That is Mark Selby's first century

of the tournament. Good afternoon to you. We are now in

our studio. It is surprising. He's only had one

century. He's played so many frames, for the world number one. You have

seen other players, even like Mark Allen he had five or six centuries.

It is unlike Mark Selby. There was one particular shot, looked very

simple - it was a drag shot. He's dragged the past there to the red

for the same pocket and kept the break going. He's granite when he's

on top form. He's so tough. People kind of focus on his tactical play

and the fact he can dig in. But he's vastly talented. Incredible cue

action. I remember playing an exhibition with him where he was

potting long balls, ramming them in the pockets. I realised then how

strong a cuist he was. I said to you at the start of the afternoon, is

Mark Selby looking for a quick finish? I think we have our answer.

THE COMMENTATOR: He's looking at me in the commentary box... He's made

one. He sent me a text saying, I cannot make a century. H his match

play has been, as usual, perfect. It has gone in. He put up his hand

to apologise. The idea wasn't the pot. The idea was to get the safety.

He's potted the red and coming out of a baulk and nicely on the yellow.

Thought he may have taken an opportunity there, particularly with

the black tied up to come off the yellow with pace and into the side

of the cluster. Here's the shot. Much too thin, really. But the

pocket got in the way. He will play that shot into the

pink. He hasn't got another red to fall back on. Full on the face on

this pink. He couldn't have hit that any

better! He could not have hit that any better! If you want to see how

of the break the balls open - that is it. Pink full in the face. If you

do that with stun, that is why the cue ball stays in the middle of the

table. A super shot! What I have been impressed with is

the way he break builds. Most players would have taken the yellow

into the bunch rather than the blue into the bunch on the second shot,

but he's very, very good in the balls. Played over 100 competitive

centuries as well, which is always a sign.

Obviously the slight problem here is the black out of commission. He'll

have to concentrate on the five other colours.

He's gone through three qualifying matches and believe it or not, this

is his 72ed frame of this year's World Championship.

Need some stamina, don't you? Yes, all the qualifiers, coming in

sharp, when you consider they've had four days of play before they get to

the marathon of 17 days, you need to be fit. You certainly don't need to

get any illnesses during that space of time as well. It's a long time to

keep your form. And you have to be mentally strong

as well. There's the side bar. 47 points from

this position. It will put him into the snookers

required stage. I don't know what snooker players

are supposed to look like, but he looks more like an accountant than a

snooker player! He's looked at the outside one. He's straight on this

one. Well, if he's straight, I can see no reason why he cannot roll it

into the pink in the middle. Obviously when you are behind the

shot, you see it differently. Can he get to the right side of the blue?

Well, he couldn't in the end. He decided to play for a baulk colour.

Well, that is a very surprising miss.

The frame was there for the taking there. That may be the first sign

that Xiao is struggling in this match now.

One of those, particularly if you don't get through the ball you

decelerate slightly. Only a fraction, but it makes all

the difference. If you miss one at this level, it can be very costly.

He's expecting to make the most of this chance. He has the problem that

Xiao had - the blacks not available. The four reds around the pink look

nice and easy. Don't know whether he can run

through to get to the top. Looking at that picture, he probably can.

That surprises me, that shot. This is a tough pot to get out for the

pink again. It was never easy that and the pace

he had to play it. Disappointed with that.

Xiao gets a second chance. Not bad. Will want to be using the

rest for the pink. He has the same problem that Mark Selby had before

all these reds seem to be covering one another for the right corner

pocket. I think he was trying get to the

red. Three reds behind the pink, the one to the right of those. The one

to the bottom of the three goes into this corner? Never easy these.

Well, he will be disappointed. They're never easy when you're

digging down. I expected him to get it.

Yes, that was his second good chance in this frame. Usually you are happy

when you are playing one of the top players to have one chance a frame.

The next two reds don't appear a problem. If he is to win the frame

at this visit has to possibly leave an angle on one of the reds to move

the red and black out of the way. Didn't expect such a big bounce as

that. Played for the blue in the middle.

Four points the lead. Still not straightforward to win the frame at

this visit. Sorry four points behind.

His head's not moving as much as it was last year, as well. He has

worked hard on that, trying to keep his head still.

I knew he would kiss the other red and that other red to kiss the black

on to the pocket. Give him the benefit of the doubt and say well

played. Lots of left-hand side there to take

the cue ball on. Played it nicely. Now an 11-point lead so he will need

these three remaining reds with colours and that's a big ask.

Playing a stun to get on to both reds there.

A nice angle on the blue. A red and a reasonably high colour.

So the pink and Xiao Guodong... If he pots the pink you would think he

is bound to be on the yellow. And he is. No way back now for the

young man from China. 101 in the first frame, 51 and

counting this frame, he is on a mission again.

It was like a salad bar there watching all the colours he had

potted in this break. This is only the second black in the break. But

it's the black that takens him to 73. 101 in the first. 73 in the

second. Now leads by 12-6. What was important about all those

statistics, a good record at The Crucible. Xiao Guodong trying to

keep his hopes alive. He has to win this frame.

Terrific pot and a helpful little flick on the blue there. He has the

green or the blue to play for now. Excellent pot.

Deserved a bit of luck. Looking at that stat, his long pot

success - I say Xiao, exactly what you need, 67%. He played that

positional shot off the blue absolutely inch-perfect.

Xiao has played quite well in this match and it's not beyond the

possibility that Mark Selby will close out a winner. It shows you the

standard you have to get. I have been impressed with the young man

but playing against one of the best in the world.

This is the standard you need to get. Played that with a trace of

left-hand side so when the cue ball came off the cushion it checked. But

it didn't stop the pace of the cue ball so having to play this black

with the rest. Right in the heart of the pocket.

He always knew if he overran it, he would have something to the right

middle. 41 points needed. To get to the snookers required stage in this

frame and match-winning opportunity. Even though there is a couple of

loose reds, the two reds he is looking at, if he hits the join

directly above the black, this could be a frame and match-winner this

shot. Got the joint perfectly. Brought another two reds into play.

Perhaps he would have wished he played it a little bit harder. Is he

not on this red? Oh, he is not on it. Can he bend it with a little bit

of side, I don't think so. No, I don't think he can.

Plus the fact with the red closest to the cue ball, sort of stopping

him playing with that little bit of left-hand side. He is having to play

safe. Maybe he thought on the previous

black that he couldn't really get into the cue ball if he played it

any harder. Because as we know, he can push through before he goes

back. I thought he played the cannon perfectly, didn't you? Yeah, when he

hit them I thought that seems perfect.

But the cue ball, obviously, just ran on a little bit. One of the reds

he cannoned didn't move. That was the one that covered the potting

angle. Had a chance of a red to the right

centre. But fair play, he is going - he is basically saying to Mark, you

are going to have to win it, I am not going to give it to you.

Mark's had a look at the possibility of a plant. Two reds in the middle.

A plant to the corner. Depends how close they are, whether

you can move it. He can't get through to the two balls but he is

thinking can he make it into a three-ball plant? Close enough, you

could turn it, hit the first on the right side, pushes the second one to

the left. Maybe worth playing. I don't see an alternative.

No, couldn't hit the first one on the right. A little flick off the

green. Oh, nearly crept the cue ball behind the yellow. But a thin cut on

here. That's a little unlucky. That's what

you don't need when you're trailing 12-6. Excellent pot, kiss on the

red, you would have expected to be on a baulk colour.

You know, last night on this table, Neil Robertson played exactly the

same type of shot and he said it just drifted up. It's just along

that baulk line where you can get that.

Yeah, you can see it curl. What a big difference it made.

But Mark could have got a bit of cue ball.

A red going towards the corner. There you see it. Mark can't get

through to it. A red in the middle of the table he can get through to

and he might be able to cut that back to the right corner and still

get the cue ball back to baulk. Too thin but he knew he would get

the cover with the two reds on the right of the table.

Xiao Guodong is taking a risk playing this red, trying to get

around the back of the black, avoid the red near the top cushion.

Well, he didn't avoid the red near the top cushion. He has knocked it

over the corner, caught the bump in the middle pocket. I am trying to

think of anything else that could have gone wrong!

That's going back on to its own spot. So this now, obviously a

chance to win frame and match. So the pink going in, 65 ahead, 67

remaining, but not for long. Pot this red... Now 66 points in front.

Only 59 left on the table. Xiao Guodong's race has been run.

I think he has a future in the game this young man, but you play Mark

Selby at the Crucible and you're always going to be up against it. I

have been impressed with him, sounds strange when you have been beaten,

he will be disappointed, he knows he could have more three or four more

frames than he has done. Yeah and it's all a learning experience.

First time here, you have to take the positives out of it.

It's all over but the handshake now. He will keep an eye on the match

this evening on this table, which is the third and final session between

Marco Fu and Neil Robertson. What a match that has been. 8-8 at the

moment. Well, doesn't matter about the blue. Mark Selby, without

breaking a lot of sweat really, well played, young man, but Mark Selby is

through to the quarter-final. He wins comfortably in the end by 13-6.

STUDIO: That's unbelievable. I said he is looking to get over the line.

There was something about Mark's demeanour last night that he wanted

to get this over and done with. Yeah, it depends upon the resolve of

the other player, whether he feels he can get back in or if he's

mentally given up. It looked like, some of the scorelines are quite

big, a big gap. It's because the other person feels like there is a

mountain to get back in the match is too hard to climb. What was

interesting last night, when we were on the red button show yesterday, we

saw Ronnie O'Sullivan coming in, we saw Mark Selby and Neil Robertson,

straight after he finished his match. Is that the mark of a

champion, someone who wants it that badly, we didn't see Xiao going in

after his match yesterday evening? Sometimes, Xiao plays in the academy

here at Sheffield, he may feel he wanted to go back to there, more

comfortable in his own surroundings. They all work very, very hard away

from the Crucible or from the tournaments. They like the practice

and like to loosen up, as well, even in between matches. From my memories

of the era I played in, don't know about you, Ken, but I never, ever

went to the practice table after a session. Never. Perhaps I would have

if it was two sessions in a day, get ready for the night. I never ever

did that. This is more in keeping now with what you see in the golf

world, after a round of golf they go to the practice range. Well, that

for me would have been a strange thing to do. I think it was about

ten minutes after Neil Robertson finished he was back in the practice

room which was incredible. I think what happened it was highlighted

through the commentators from the match and Neil Robertson was playing

mid distance and long range shots and everything he was putting

left-hand side and everything was hitting to the left cushion. Sew

wanted maybe to try and -- so he wanted maybe to try and fix that, as

it were. We will show you the best of the action from the match on the

other table, Barry Hawkins, runner-up in 2013, playing Graeme

Dott. But all this week we are going celebrating the special people who

make the World Championships here at the The Crucible tick and today we

are meeting MrDuncan Richmond. .

Duncan Richmond, cameraman 20 years. The word unique is overused.

Sheffield, The Crucible is unique. There isn't enough space to work in.

And then it becomes one of the most spacious venues. It's not just

called The Crucible because it's a nice word, it is a Crucible, you can

feel the atmosphere. You cannot get closer to the crowd,

there is no other sport in which we work closer than the officials and

the players. You have two tables. Four players.

Two referees. Five cameras. And we all have to work in that space

together. You are wearing headphones, you have

the director in your ear, he is not necessarily telling you what to do

but guiding your hand. I spoke to someone yesterday who referred to us

as the dancing cameraman. On the floor cameras three and four as

they're known, they complement each other's shot and you have to work as

a tight pair. One wrong move from you, you can put a player off. Rule

number one, we wear black. Rule number two, player goes down on the

shot, you don't move. Players know us and trust us. The adrenalin

pumps. The more exciting, the more difficult it gets, I find the

breathing slows down, the heart rates slows down. Because you are

thinking quicker and quicker. It's incredibly exciting.

Yes, you get caught up, because if you are in the game you are in the

moment. You know where to go, you know what to do. You are thinking

clearly. It's like putting on an old coat,

comfortable jacket, that's fine, I know where I am and what's

happening. They put up with me, I have put up with them.

It's good to be part of it. I had my 40th birthday here. I had

my 50th birthday here. I jokingly said to somebody if I have my 60th

here, please shoot me. I may restrakt that statement! I would

like to think I won't be here for my 70th.

He is a lovely man. Look at this. This was earlier today before we

came on air. Duncan celebrating his 60th birthday today. Rob Walker gave

him the big Crucible walk-on. A lovely hug with Ken and Duncan. He

will be celebrating this evening. He is such a lovely man. Lovely bloke.

Yeah, he is. You know what, all the ka ramen that cover the snooker and

girls -- cameramen. They are exceptional at their job and are

specialists, as well. You see that bit, you don't usually see that,

they're dancing around, getting out of the way and back into position.

You can see the snooker player, how close the cameras are to the pocket.

Great guy. 20 years here, fantastic. The sign of a good cameraman, you

never notice Duncan as a cameraman. We should reinforce the fact to

viewers, it's like one big happy family here, from the production

staff, on the television, through to the cameras in the studio and

everyone around, world snooker, as well. It's like one great family.

I've had the privilege of doing other sports as well. The other

thing, yes, you do other sports as well. I don't know any other sport I

have covered at the BBC where you get this close to players. These

guys are happy to chat in the practise room. It is a big family,

isn't it? Talking about how close the camera is to the corner, you are

tuned in and you wouldn't know it, would you? That is a compliment to

the cameramen. The cameramen, when it is a two-table set up, they

hardly have any space to manoeuvre. As seef says, when you are focussed

you don't notice anything. When you are not focussed everything seems to

bother you. Who were you pointing to when you said I made my first

century break at the Crucible. I have made lots of 60-plus. He would

be, I will be happy if you make 60. Today I made one. Got that monkey

off my back. I asked Steve when we came on air how quickly you wanted

this over and done with. Was it important to get it done? The first

frame was the key one. 10-6. You have a comfortable lead. 11-9, back

in the match then. To win it in one was better. It is interesting. I was

commentating on the match, there was a massive frame he failed to clear

up after the baulk. That seems tactically it was not strong enough.

Yesterday? He allowed, he tried to roll the black in and he left all

the balls live. I didn't want it straight after that visit. It was

strange of him playing the black. When I look back, he was potting the

black for an extra seven. It was gaining no value. You have had a

week off, you know between matches, from your first and second round,

has that made you more refreshed? It's been a long season. You have

won three times already this year. Coming here nice and refreshed, or

were you tired getting? It was nice to have a week off. I was surprised

it was that long. Normally two years ago I played on the Thursday, the

Friday morning, Friday night. To play not until Saturday, if you do

progress you don't have the day off. It could work in my favour, it could

not. If you have a week off, I don't mind. What you know now is the games

come thick and fast. You are on tomorrow at 2. 30pm. Are you feeling

the pressure? Are you relaxed? Not really. I would rather play every

day in some ways. You can only practise so much on the table. You

have done all that before you have come here. It is a question of

staying positive and staying in the right frame of mind. I would rather

play every day, I think. Is it good that you are back on at 2. 30pm

tomorrow? Looking forward to it. Robertson or Fu to play Selby? It is

good from Mark's point of view. He can watch those two sweat it out

tonight. I think it will be an absolute classic final session. Very

hard to pick a winner between the two. I don't think as a player and

if I can sort of transpose myself into Mark, when I was playing in the

game and I felt comfortable, it didn't really, you didn't really

mind who you play. You go, I don't know who I play, it will be a war.

At my best I came out and said, it will be a fight, you know, it is

like a Crucible fight to the death sort of thing. You are happy enough

with your own game that you just go, bring it on! That is how Mark feels.

Is that how you are feeling? I don't mind who I play. Whether you are

playing Neil or a guy down the club, the game don't change. It is a

matter of how you approach it mentally. Confident enough. See who

wins. One final question. There's been a lot in the back pages,

perhaps more in the first week than we've had at the Crucible because of

what Ronnie said in the news conference and then Sean responded

as well. Are you happy to be sitting there and letting them get on with

answering all the difficult questions from the press? And you

can quietly go about winning matches and easing your way into the quarter

finals? I would rather take a back seat and let your snooker do the

writing. Try and get under your skin - he's hard enough to beat at the

best of times. You don't want to rub him up the wrong way, that is for

sure. See you tomorrow at 2. 30pm. Thank you, Mark. Let's bring you

up-to-date with what is happening on the other table. Barry Hawkins, 2013

Crucible runner up, taking on Graeme Dott.

We are going to join the action in frame 17.

Graeme Dott leads by 14 points. Commentary from Denis and Peter.

THE COMMENTATOR: That is a terrific chance for Barry Hawkins. As I say,

at the moment, it looks like the black is just available into the one

corner pocket. He's the wrong side of the blue. He's got work to do.

The two reds near the cushion there, one's blocking the path for the

black, he would love to get on that in a few shots' time.

This red, back for the blue, the correct side of the blue.

He'll be back in prime position. He's got three or four reds he can

play for. That one that's blocking a black, he would like to get on that

at some stage. He's played on it straightaway.

That's bounced a little. He wanted to be closer to the cushion. He's

finished a little awkward. There's no problem with cue for Barry

Hawkins. Oh, he didn't pop that into the centre of the pocket. That's why

he's run out of position somewhat. Watch where the red goes. In off the

right. Barry Hawkins facing with a

difficult black here. He's coming around to check that red

that is just above the red. Just needs to be a little bit

careful with this positional side here. If he's playing for the black.

Times the ball beautifully, doesn't he, Denis? I think I said it

yesterday, he's very easy on the eye. He's a lovely player to watch,

Barry. He's got a terrific technique.

The only consolation is he hasn't got on the red.

Where did that one come from? Put a little quick one in, which he

doesn't normally do. He's telling himself off there.

This red will pass the black. But it's not a gimme. He played for the

one closest to the cue ball. Because he missed the black he didn't get on

that. It's all about potting this. It

doesn't matter where believes the cue ball. He'll be on the black.

It's not straightforward. He didn't really fancy it. Look

where he's left the cue ball. So Barry had a little result there

when he missed the black, not to leave anything easy.

Probably get down and mark this red in after missing the black off the

spot. I thought so. Amazing, isn't it?

The angle he has on the black here, the white's going to go towards the

three reds. It depends on the pace, but the white will certainly go

towards them. That's just about as well as he

could have expected there. This isn't absolutely

straightforward. Could well be running into the blue here.

That was the problem. Got to be a bit careful if he's

going to roll up to the yellow. Just about. Want to get as close as

possible. But the number of times you see a player not reaching, you

know, putting themselves in trouble, but Graeme Dott has got a big

problem here. He's 30 points behind. There's no easy red to land on.

That's not very inviting. Neither is that, no matter which side he looks.

I suppose if he could Nestle on the one there, that nearest cue that

he's pointing at, might just possibly get away with it.

But very difficult. I think he's also got the

opportunity, Denis, he would rather leave that red where it was, to be

honest, on the cushion. But he could play with the spider or the swan and

come off the baulk cushion, side cushion and possibly side cushion

and hit that red. And the cue ball could possibly

finish around the black pocket. He would be leaving a difficult red

into the left centre. But he doesn't have too many options. He's looking

at that shot now. And I think that's the shot he's going to play. So,

he's got two options with this shot. He can either play to just nestle

into this red. The problem with that is he could be pushing it towards

the right corner. If he plays it with pace, he needs to catch the

third can ushtion first. That's the line he's after.

It is a good choice, because if he catches it right and doesn't catch

the red he's trying to hit, he's only leaving a very difficult red

into the left centre. I think that is the right choice. Probably just

got the first line slightly wrong. But that's where he wants to go.

That was an excellent shot from Graeme Dott.

And that literally couldn't have worked out any better. He was in a

lot of trouble there. Played a wonderful escape. So, Barry

Hawkins looking to see where he can put Graeme in the most trouble.

Could flick off the red that's next to the pink. If he doesn't get a

good cue ball he would with leaving the red into the right corner that

he's playing now. That's quite a clever shot. He tried

to put the red on to the black cushion. A bit of insurance, trying

to protect his 34-point lead. The one to the left of the pink will

cut in past that red. It may be heading down towards the

yellow. He's so good at this type of shot, the number of time he pots

these balls, which are very difficult.

There's no easy safety shot for Graeme Dott here. He may be forced

to take a very difficult pot on. As Peter said, 34 points behind if he

takes the pot on to the left corner. He'll have to get it, doesn't like

it. Graeme has a safety shot here. It is

tough. He needs to hit this really thin.

That's a very, very good shot! Well played!

A Barry Hawkins special coming up again.

He's so good at that type of shot. He really is.

It is the sort of shot that, if you were wandering through the practise

room, you will see the players practicing for quite some time,

because they know it will come up quite a few times in a match.

It should be a frame-clincher, so long as he rolls this one in,

automatically on the black. Denis, the long red Barry Hawkins

knocked into the pocket is a really good example of how important it is

on these clothes to be able to play plain ball shots, when you're

hitting above the centre of the white. Even on these very fine

cloths, if you played a touch of left-hand side he would have pulled

that thin. It was an excellent plain ball pot.

A very important contribution. Barry Hawkins pulls further away

from Graeme Dott and will now lead by 11-6.

Graeme concedes no not the start he was after. Barry Hawkins will be

delighted with that. He extends his lead. 11-6.

REFEREE: Frame 18. Barry Hawkins to break.

A very good break-off shot as well. This needs to be very thin.

That is a good cue ball. A good response from him.

I don't know if Barry may possibly be tempted here by the long red into

the right-hand black pocket, but it is quite difficult to avoid the

cannon on the black. He almost has to play this as a soft stun shot

with right-hand side, if he takes it on.

That's beautiful. Wonderful cueing from Barry Hawkins.

The secret to that type of shot is keeping your head still. Barry's

very, very good at doing that. Probably deliver the cue in a

straight line. It is a big help if you can keep your head absolutely

still. It is not as easy as it sounds to do that.

We can show you a shot that... Now, you watch his head when he delivers

the cue. Very, very good. Barry's a little disappointed.

There's positional play there. Just off straight the right way, really.

Deep screw, with side. Played that well. Side. Very nicely done.

There you see the side coming off the cushion. He needs to be careful

not just to skim off the reds here. Loads of spin there. From that

fantastic opening long red he's created another opportunity to score

heavily once again. Very, very impressive stuff here from Barry

Hawkins. Barry's so comfortable at the

Crucible, if you look at his record, the quarter finals, semi-finals the

year before and the year before that. And then of course 2013.

Runner up. And that's dropped. Absolutely plum

on the red. To get that side of the blue from

the angle he had on the red was very good indeed.

Every chance now to go on and take the second frame of this session and

put himself just one frame away from a place in the quarter final.

The white's going the wrong side of the pocket, but the pace and a

little trace aside. That was spot on for him.

Just slightly underhit that one. Deciding to play the screw shot

here. That's OK.

There's not much that Graeme Dott can do about this. Barry Hawkins is

playing very well now. I mean Graeme's record against Barry is

very good. He beat him here at the Crucible in 2009 in the first round.

10-8. It is a much improved Barry Hawkins since then, it has to be

said. He's certainly one of the top players in the game, that's for

sure. Currently ranked number seven in the

world. Had he of closed from 9-3 to 9-7, he

would have been in with a great chance this afternoon. But Barry

Hawkins looks very comfortable. Very relaxed.

And he's cueing beautifully. 133 centuries in his career, Barry.

He has made 29 -- he has made 29 centuries this

season. We have had 49 centuries so far in

this year's Betfred World Championship. Could this be a half

century of centuries? Barry's just had one so far.

Thought he might have played for the black and guaranteed the century,

but still shouldn't be and problem. He just needs the colour and then

the yellow. Oh, that's not what he wanted.

I think he's just about OK. Almost went wrong.

Oh! Can you believe it? No century break but he won't be too

disappointed about that. That was a superb break. And now he is just one

frame away from a place in the quarter-final. 12-6.

Every chance that we might not get to the mid-session interval with

Barry only needing one more frame. Where is this red going to finish?

It's usually the case when you are playing well, and you do make a

mistake, you always get the run of the ball.

When you are struggling, if you miss, you always stick one up.

Excellent safety shot there from Barry Hawkins. That's to make sure

that the cue ball didn't cannon into either the brown or the green

because that would have left the long red into the left-hand black

pocket, so very well played. Graeme's taken the opportunity to

open the reds. He has left this long red into the

right-hand black pocket. Barry Huw kins can get his hand on

the -- Hawkins can get his hand on the table.

Interesting to see the way he plays this. A lot of players would be

playing this with screw and right-hand side around the back of

the black. That's the way he played it. It was a lovely strike. He is on

the blue. Or is he on the blue? Maybe he can't see enough? Looks as

though the red may be in the way. It's a tough green or brown.

I think with the balls open, you can see the angle, just can't quite see

enough of the blue. What would you do here, Dennis? Keep your opponent

under pressure or take the difficult pot on?

Well he has a six-frame advantage, so, if he is feeling good, he will

take the pot on. But he's having second thoughts about it. Maybe just

keep the white tight on the cushion. Yeah, can't make his mind up. Yeah,

he is going to play the white tight on the cushion, not a bad choice.

Highly unlikely that Graeme could win all the remaining

frames, but you never know at this game what can happen. Don't put your

opponent right in amongst the balls, make him work for them.

Oh, the white's in. Foul.

That means there's a long straight red, the one next to the blue.

I know that Barry Hawkins is 12-6 in front and he has the ball-in-hand

here, but there's a bit of pressure on this red because if he does miss

it... He could roll it through and play for the black and that would

take the pressure off. But he is digging down in it. So he must get

it. He took the pressure out of the shot

the other way, by screwing back for a baulk colour. He is still wary of

Graeme Dott's class and fighting capabilities.

Graeme will be thinking if I can just win three frames now it will

plant that seed of doubt into Barry's mind and Barry will be well

aware of that, as well. Well, let's see how close he gets to

this one. This is more difficult than the

previous one. There you go, he loves that type of

shot. He really does. He is probably one of the best in the game at that

type of shot. He really is superb. That was a well-judged cannon there

from Barry Hawkins. Playing for the two reds into the same pocket after

this black goes in. Didn't think he had the angle to

hold for that red. This is the cannon. Played that beautifully.

This is very clinical and precise. But maybe that wasn't!

Foul. He will be anxious. He will look at

the tip there. When you miscue you get worried about taking a piece out

of your tip. Wow! Don't see it very often. He had a

look at the tip there but I think he is OK.

Come on, Graeme, let's see a sizeable break from you here.

Great to see Graeme Dott back at The Crucible. He had to win three

qualifying matches in Sheffield and then he defeated Ali Carter and Ali

said Graeme was just too good for him.

Graeme's lost a bit of timing there, he hit that too hard. He was

disgusted with himself. He just rolled it off the black. He can't

believe how hard he hit that last shot. Lost a little bit of focus.

When you are 12-6 down and he probably is tired. He is rubbing his

eyes, it's been a long stretch for him here with the qualifying rounds

and the match with Ali Carter. I can't see a straightforward safety

shot so he may have to take this on. Yeah, OK, he's covered it, but once

you put it on that near cushion, very rarely drop in.

Terrific chance. OK, a couple of safe reds, a good chance to close

the match out here. It may not be Graeme Dott's year

again this year, Dennis. But his name is on that wonderful trophy.

And that's something that nobody can ever take away from him. Absolutely,

Peter. Three finals he's contested here.

It's not going to be easy to get those reds into play.

21 points in front so the red and the black, 29. Red and the blue, so

he is going to need one of those difficult reds to clinch the match.

Just came a little straight. He may still be able to force an angle. I

thought he might leave himself the angle to cannon into the red closest

to the right-hand middle pocket and leave himself on the yellow.

Deciding against that now because he would have to play it with a lot of

pace. He has a little bit of angle on the

black so he will have to power this around with top spin and right-hand

side to get to that red to the right of the blue. Here it comes.

This is where his problem starts. Has to make sure he gets the correct

angle on the blue and even then it's not going to be easy to get to the

two reds. Or at least one of them, which is

all he needs. 39 in front. In fact, the red and

the blue, well, 29 in front, sorry. He's looked at the green might which

might be a slightly better angle. He is back looking at the blue.

But looking at the angle he would have to power this in with top spin,

virtually come around the back of the black or past the black. No, he

is making sure of the five points. I don't know if he can take the

double on, the pink seems to be slightly in the way. He only needs

the red. He is having a look to see if he

could get the double. It might be on.

He misjudged it and did hit the pink, but what a result.

Just taking the opportunity to bring this red into play, try to get

behind the brown and green. He has played this well. A glimmer

of hope for Graeme Dott. I am wondering if that is the last

shot that Graeme Dott has played in this year agencies World

Championship. -- in this year's World

Championship. Yeah, that's a terrific long pot.

That should be the end for the very likeable Scot, Graeme Dott. There is

another Scot waiting for Barry Hawkins, Stephen Maguire. Barry will

contest the quarter-final. He did all the damage in the middle

part of the match. He went at one stage where he had won nine out of

ten frames. Doesn't matter about the green.

Graeme comes forward to congratulate Barry Hawkins. Wishes him all the

best for the rest of the tournament. He was just too good in the end.

Barry Hawkins, and Graeme acknowledges the crowd, well done to

Graeme Dott but Barry Hawkins was too classy and he runs out a

comfortable winner in the end. 13-6. STUDIO: He is becoming a permanent

fixture in the latter stages of The Crucible. I am delighted to say The

Hawk has flown into the studio. Barry, well done. Nice early finish.

I was delighted with that. Graeme's gritty and tenacious and will never

give up, he will come out all guns blazing, to get three frames quick

was pleasing. If we go back to yesterday, from 3-3 to 9-3, that was

the pivotal moment in the match. I had a little spell, I think Graeme

fell away a little and I capitalised on his mistakes. Yeah, I can

remember, I think it was 9-4 I was in the balls and got a kick on the

pink, looking like 10-5 and I was getting on top and the game changed

a little bit and he played well and came back. A great campaign from

Graeme Dott to go for the qualifiers and a great first round match. You

think you are going to have a tough opponent but take you back to - I

was commentating on the first session, back to the start of the

match. The wheel fell off for new the second frame, missed an easy

pink and you are now 2-0 down. It looked like you were going to be in

serious trouble and Graeme had the chance to press home that early

advantage and it seemed like all of a sudden he froze. Yeah, it was a

terrible miss on the pink. When you are out there you can start

panicking and get anxious. I was trying to tell myself stay calm,

stay patient, it's a long match and I think maybe having more experience

here now I learned from that over the years and managed to get

stronger then. And that was probably, possibly, as bad a session

as you could possibly imagine playing and you ended up winning it.

I staid to Terry when I came in after we finished that session, I

said, well, I am delighted with that, I can't play any worse than

that. Graeme missed a few, he could have maybe put his foot on the gas

and got a good lead. I was over the moon. What is it about The Crucible,

you save a lot of your best snooker for here, what is it? I don't know,

it's weird, don't know. I don't know, it was strange, the last few

years have been good to me. Yeah, I seem to get up for it more, seem to

focus more. It's more pressure here than anywhere else we play, perhaps

that helps, I get focussed more and up for it. If you can settle here,

it's a great place to play. What are the biggest challenges, Stephen

Maguire next, you have had tussles with him in the past, what's the

biggest danger for Stephen Maguire? Well, he is a great player. He went

off the radar the last couple of years, but I think he's realised he

is putting the hard work in and it's a matter of time before he gets back

to the top of the game where he belongs, he is a great player and he

is probably underachieved many in many people's eyes, I love watching

him play. We go back a long way with growing up through the junior

competitions together and I get on well with him. Hopefully it will be

a great game. Lots of questions in on social media last night on our

7pm show, lots of people saying they're loving the way Barry Hawkins

is quietly going about his business, progressing to the quarter-finals,

do you feel good, are you feeling pressure? I feel all right. I felt

better today, I felt like I cued better and I don't think I am

hitting top form, but I am doing what I should be doing out there, I

think. I am concentrating and focussing and feeling calm enough.

Hopefully as the tournament goes on you generally hopefully get better.

It's not a bad thing to not have hit top form and the second week is

where it would be nice to. Exactly, now is a good time to start hitting

form. Saying that, I mean, sounds disrespectful to Graeme, but I

still, I played solid enough, I done good clearances when I needed to. I

had a few breaks. Not probably scoring as heavy as you would like

really, but I am winning, that's the main thing. You are in the

quarter-finals, that's all that counts. Good stuff, thank you very

much. You can stay here if you like and look at this.

In a short time ago we recorded Barry's pop quiz. He knows what

happens, but this is what happens! OK. We are back with Pot Quiz.

Former World Championship runner-up and world number seven at the

minute, Barry Hawkins, ladies and gentlemen.

APPLAUSE I presume you have seen it first and

you know the rules, every question you get right you can take a ball

away. Best score so far is Marco Fu with one minute 27 seconds.

Hope you have your trainers on! First question, what was the number

one record the day you were born on 23 April 1979, was it Night Fever,

Call Me, or was it Bright Eyes? I will give you a hint, something to

do with rabbits. LAUGHTER

That one then, that's the one. C, you are right. Well done.

Who contested the World Championship final the year you were born in

1979? Some fella with big glasses and some fella who was very slow?

Griffiths. Which player have you played the most at the The Crucible?

Someone who was very fast. Very fast? Ronnie. Correct. Who did you

play on your Crucible debut in 2006? You. He lost 10-1 by the way. He was

lucky to get one! What was your Crucible highest break? Wouldn't

have a clue. Don't know. No clue whatsoever. No clue. 140... It's

close. 140. Yeah. No. It was 141. OK. Very good. Good effort. OK. You

have got one, two, three, four questions right.

You can take four reds away. Four reds.

I would say try and be the middle ones. These ones. No? Whatever you

think. What do you think? I don't know. Most people have taken the

middle ones away. Because they sort of are blockers.

This one? Doesn't really matter. This one and this one. OK.

The time starts... Starts as soon as you strike the cue ball. I sounded

like John Virgo there! Pot as many balls as you can!

Oh my goodness! He has missed the first, can't believe it. It's OK,

still have plenty of time. No panic. Yes, OK. He has missed the second.

Still no panic. Plenty of time. Quick, quick!

Get the rest, Ken. We could run out of film here!

No! Start again. Go on, quick, quick.

35 seconds, come on. Yes, how did you ever get to the

world final! No wonder you only won one frame

against me! OK, come on, quick, one minute, come

on! This could be the worst time ever.

Oh, good shot. He is back. Oh!

Oh, no! Schoolboy error. He is not chalking

the cue. Come on.

OK. Two more balls. Come on.

Oh, look at this! What a finish! Come on, quickly. What's the time?

Oh, no! Roll it over the pocket.

This looks good. Is it in? Hit it.

Oh! Oh, no!

Even Steve Davis beat you. Oh, no! How embarrassing is that?

You said hit it. It was my fault! No, what's going on here?

Even Terry Griffiths would probably beat you.

Yeah! And the clock was two minutes and 18

seconds. Where does that firmly put you, very last.

OK. Two minutes and 18 seconds. Give him a round of applause!

APPLAUSE Barry Hawkins it's fair to say has

had a shocker. Any TV producers out there watching this right now, do

not hire this man, as a game show host, you are supposed to help the

contestants. I tried, I was prompting him the answers to the

questions and everything. A bit critical though, weren't you? A bit.

Although funny, I have to say. Can't believe Steve had a better time.

Right, if you are tuning in our live matches have finished prematurely,

so we are going to give you another opportunity to see a magnificent

night at The Crucible, 40 Years at The Crucible. Our very own

celebration. It is almost like a very tell. We

are going to introduce almost every living great who has graced the

Crucible over four glorious decades. And also we will concentrate on a 32

men hoping to win the World Championship this year.

All Hoping To Add Their Name. Pick A Winner. I Did Not Pick Sergio Last

Weekend And I Was In Awe Of Him. . This is a trial, 17 days. We are

going to love this. We have 32 players behind us. This will make us

feel slightly old. We have a 17-year-old, the first player to

have been born in the year 2000 to qualify for the Crucible. We are

feeling rather ancient, I have to say. That said, I am sure that all

of the contenders would love to join the list of greats who have become

Crucible champions. We have many of them here this evening. Give them a

massive welcome as we introduce them. We start with the six times

world champion who won the last of the six titles, Ray Reardon, a

Crucible winner in 1978. CHEERING.

Next, a legend who won the title at his first attempt. It is Terry

Griffiths! This gentleman took the trophy back

to Canada in 1980 and took the sport to the max age a few years later.

The Grinder, Cliff Thorburn. Following Cliff Thorburn, you may

remember the six time champion of the world, Steve Davis!

And next, he won the most famous final of them all. Winning the

hearts of 18.5 million people. The 1985 champion, Dennis Taylor!

Now he is the pride of Yorkshire. At 150-1, he shook the world in 1986.

It is Joe Johnson! Will his magnificent seven world

titles ever be beaten? It is the standard they aspire to.

Stephen Hendry! Next, a blue who mastered the green. One of the most

popular champions of all time. John parrot! We celebrate 40 years

at the Crucible. 20 years since this man took the trophy home to Dublin.

The 97 champion, Ken Doherty. Ladies and gentlemen, a four time

Crucible champion and he is not done yet. John Higgins! Next, five world

titles. Maximums. There is only one Ronnie O'Sullivan!

Next, he has been in three finals but 2002 was the year of snooker's

Iron Man. The amazing Peter Ebdon! A man who

became the 2005 champion. Shaun Murphy! Another three-time

finalist, a Scot who got his reward in 2006 in the latest finish ever.

It was worth the wait for Graeme Dott. Snooker is a global sport and

in 2010 this man took the title down under. Neil Robertson! At the age of

38, this man became the oldest champion since Ray Reardon.

Stuart Bingham! To complete the most breathtaking...

I don't know about you but that is one of the most fun four minutes of

my career. Goose bumps. But there is one man missing. He is one of the

greatest students of the game and I love to talk to him. Of course, the

reigning king of the Crucible, Mark Selby!

CHEERING. First, on behalf of everybody in the

room and everybody watching, what an amazing parade. It must be an

amazing sensation to be part of the great history of this event? It is a

fantastic tournament and it does not matter if you have been here one

time, ten times, you get goose bumps leading up to the tournament. It is

a special occasion, the day before the tournament starts but this has

been extra special. This is your second defence and this time you do

not have the Crucible cursor! Is it more relaxing in the build-up? At

least I know what I am going into. Trying to defend it, the curse is

therefore a reason and coming back to defend it will be harder. This

year is the most open the tournament has been with a lot of players

playing well and it will be great. You are going for a third title in

years. What is the toughest part to try and win this trophy? Physically

and mentally. It is gruelling. You are only halfway through. Mentally

it takes it out of you and at the end of the two weeks, whoever is

strongest mentally more often than not ends up as champion. Fergal

O'Brien, you will have to scrape him off the table tomorrow. Apparently

he has but a present of a new pair of shoes in the dressing room. He is

a great guy and competitor, one of the toughest to beat on the tour and

I am looking forward to it. We are looking forward to the match and

seeing you defend the title. I think we made a mistake. We started at the

end when we have over an hour to do 40 years so let's go back to 1977, I

was born, the worst thing that happened! Jimmy Carter was president

of the US. Elvis Presley passed away. What can you remember? I was

just a toddler, obviously! Virginia Wade winning Wimbledon. The Queen's

Silver Jubilee. And a man called Spencer lifted the first title.

Let's take you back to the start. CHEERING.

APPLAUSE .

COMMENTATOR: John Spencer takes the world crown for the third time. The

1978 world professional snooker champion, Ray Reardon.

A very cool and calculating... Champion of the world, Mr Cliff

Norburn. The World Snooker champion from 1982

is Alex Hurricane Higgins. And here is the 1979 champion, Terry

Griffiths. That was the first World Championship you entered and you won

it and it was only the second professional event you entered. In

terms of your early impact, why were you able to make a positive impact

so early? I was 31 years of age, I was not a 17-year-old coming to the

Crucible, and I went through qualifying. Looking back, I think I

had things going for me. Most of the players I played were heavy

favourites to beat me and to be honest, I was glad to be here, it

did not mattered to me. You beat Dennis in the final. The late, great

David Vine came out with a classic line. Deliver it again. I am in the

final now, you know. One of my favourite lines from history. We saw

that your dad told you life is about collecting precious memories. How

many do you have from here that you will always carry with you? Too many

to talk about, really. I have won every round in this place and lost

in every round in this place and I have been here commentating,

coaching and I still coach. I enjoy every minute. Looking at the great

champions here, I was definitely the best one. I can't argue with that.

LAUGHTER. Any time you talk to players from

that era, they were not just snooker players, they would giants, Legends

of the playground, void workday characters, at least that is the

impression. MUSIC PLAYS. LAUGHTER.

APPLAUSE . Ladies and gentlemen, Willie

Thorne and John Virgo. John, a great place to start. If he could be with

as today, how important was Alex Higgins to history? I was sat in the

player 's balcony in the semifinal when he made the amazing clearance

against Jimmy which says it all about the Crucible and the magic of

Alex Higgins. He added Stardust to the game. I was lucky enough to be

in the commentary box when Ronnie made his 147 in five minutes and 20

seconds. If only those two memories go out from the rest of my life that

will be enough. You were a household name in our playgrounds and today it

says a lot about how we connect to snooker players. In any British

street, Willie Thorne, you are as recognisable as David Beckham. That

is the problem with being fat and bald! I like to remember players no

longer with us, you mentioned Alex Higgins, Eddie Charlton, Bill

Werther Nick. Paul Hunter. -- Werbernuik. So many players have

graced the stage and to play here is a lifelong ambition for every

snooker player and many will not play here. It is 16, 17 years I have

played here but still, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The

key word is family. You travel the world together and get to know each

other like a brother and sister, mother and daughter. The laughter

and jokes, it must have stopped behind closed doors when you were in

opposite dressing rooms? It did but in the early days there were only

one, two tournaments a year and a lot of time was spent at the bar

telling stories, particularly John Pullman, Rex Williams. Now it is a

very serious game with more money, the more serious it gets. I remember

sitting with Patsy Fagan and there would be nobody here in the morning

session. We did not have a two table situation and now you cannot buy a

ticket for love nor money. It is amazing how it has grown and great

to be here on the 40th anniversary. Thanks. We have so many superstars

to talk to. It is a real thrill. For the

broadcasters who work on this it is a thrill to be here every spring as

part of this amazing sporting community. It is also an endurance

test and we are all slightly bonkers and snooker loopy by the end but

broadcasters have been up for this challenge since 1977.

Very good evening. Through the curtains behind me is the Crucible

Theatre, so aptly named. Willie Thorne strikes again. Oh, I say! You

thought I was boring, didn't you? I don't believe that.

# Ima lumberjack and I'm all right, I work all day I single night. 17

days and perhaps we will do it again sometime. But the black and white

rag is still beyond me, I'm afraid! Now a major part of the broadcasting

team is a man who has a wonderful wit and charm and an interesting

personality, which is strange, because nobody thought he had one at

all in the eighties! He is a six time winner of the event and starred

in seven finals on the trot and learned the hard way you cannot win

them all. COMMENTATOR: He is breathing heavily

as he comes down to this final pink. That is it. The World Snooker

champion, 1981, Steve Davis. I'd like to thank all the people from

Romford and plums stood working men's club and everybody else all

over the place. Most of all I would like to thank my mum and my dad. --

from Plumstead men's club. COMMENTATOR: Steve Davis continues

his tapestry of titles by becoming World Snooker champion of 1983. Now

I was a multiple winner of the World Championship and started to mature

as a player, felt more comfortable at the match table even than in

1981, and I was starting to look like the dominant force within the

game. A great performance by Steve Davis

to win the World Snooker Championship, 1984. I remember

feeling so at home and so comfortable, playing so well here,

thinking this is the best it has ever been.

He's done it! I don't have any regrets about the loss. It was part

of snooker history. To think that almost one third of the population

were tuned in to watch us play a game of snooker, where only 13 years

previously, Alex Higgins had one the World Championship in 1972 in a

working men's club. The game had come so far and it captured the

imagination of the public and moved it on another notch.

COMMENTATOR: He won again in 83 and 84, but he has lost it the past two

years. Joe Johnson, the defending champion,

is the first to congratulate Steve Davis.

It is all over for the fifth time. Steve Davis becomes world champion.

I remember going into the 89 final, the last one I lifted and as the

tournament unfolded I started to play decent stuff and it was my best

win. John Parrott concedes. The title of

World Snooker champion 1989, and a hat-trick, goes to the fabulous

Steve Davis. We'll see you next year at the Crucible for another World

Championships and it certainly is a fantastic place to come and I look

forward to coming back every year, regardless of the results.

Thank you. APPLAUSE .

And a rapturous ovation for Steve Davis. Still times you times you

think you are more famous not for the six victories but the defeats to

Dennis and Joe? The 85 final was a moment in snooker history everybody

remembers being involved in and I look at it fondly, which is hard to

believe, it is one of the major moments in my life. The game changed

a lot in many ways and looking at the 70s, so many characters in the

game. I was brought in to try to redress the balance, those people

don't know! From then on, my life changed. I had to play the part,

obviously. We were not as boring as people thought? They'll would be

Jimmy White and Alex Higgins in a bar and people would say varies

Steve No Name Davis. Which of the six victories was the sweetest? You

cannot beat the first, against Doug Mountjoy, one of the greats of the

70s. I was supposed to be the favourite and perhaps pressures of

being the favourite are hard to deal with, but I got over the line. And

then re-gaining and obviously with Dennis. My last was the sweetest

because I totally ruined the final. There was no last session and I did

my job as best I could and sadly beat my fellow co-commentator and

mate John Parrott. That was one of my proudest moments. As we have all

said, playing here is the pinnacle, the holy Grail, and the fact we have

played here is just marvellous. If you had ?1 for every time you have

been mentioned, the 1985 final, you would be even richer than you are

now. You will have to steal yourself by mentioning it one more time.

Dennis is here and we know the big moment we have to talk about.

Dennis, tell me about when you got beat up in the final in 1979? It was

more important than that one against Steve. That year it looked like I

would win it. I had beaten Ray Reardon, six times world champion. I

beat Steve will stop played Terry in the final and he outplayed me on the

final day, and I had to wait another six years to realise my ambition to

be world champion and to do it against Steve was incredible. It is

a homecoming, it means so much to the country and the town. When you

returned home with the title in 85, it was phenomenal, since we had not

seen before in our home country. I had left when I was 17 and to see

the reception I got was incredible. Like Ken Doherty when he won his

title and went back to Dublin. To go back to mine, a small town, have so

many people in one place they tried to get the Popemobile! I finished on

the back of a range Rover or Land Rover and that was brilliant. It was

the first time you were ahead. You insisted we recreated the shot Steve

Davis miss. . I think you have it slightly wrong. I think the white

was there and the black was about there. How did you miss that? Where

did you think they were? About there. About their? Steeves said the

black was there and the white was here. It was something like that.

You might not reach it. And you missed... CHEERING.

Well played, Dennis. Once again, great sportsmanship from Steve

Davis, because you have had to relive that as indeed has Barry

Hearn. What did you say to him in the aftermath? Very disappointing,

but the bigger picture must have been evident to you then? He is

still my client now, after 41 years. I could not watch. There was a

curtain in those days. I had a driver called Robbo and I said, tell

me he has got it. I heard the click and heard the crowd groaning and I

thought, I do not believe it. That Ginger Muppet!

I seem to remember and I am not advocating this as a policy for

losers, but we got extremely drunk. It's nice to have a mate in your

corner. Obviously, afterwards for the week after back in Romford I was

inconsolable, Barry was great, because he signed Dennis up the

following week. This is Barry for you, absolutely. Now you are the El

Supremo of the sport the. Things are changing and going well, you are the

man who brings us news and I believe you have news this evening, Barry. I

couldn't think of a stage that was more appropriate, bearing in mind

the history of this room to announce World Snooker's decision today to

grant two invitational tour cards for the next two years to two

players, multiple ranking winners in their own right, but great

ambassador tos are the sport of snooker, so we welcome back as a

minimum for two years, Jimmy White and Ken Doherty.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING A more popular decision I don't

think you could have this evening. Thank you very much. From the 80s,

things were changing, Colin. Absolutely, like with so many sports

you think it has reached its peak and along comes somebody else who

takes it to the next level. If the 80s belonged to Davis, the 90s

belonged to Hendry. I remember obviously I turned

professional at 16 thinking, wow, imagine if I got to play at the

Crucible. It was snooker for me. The first one is obviously special.

It's your ambition to be world champion, it was my ambition.

Stephen Hendry, beating Jimmy White by 18-12 to become the youngest ever

champion. I won the World Championship when I was 21. That was

obviously special and still the youngest to this day. World champion

for a second time. The 1993 Embassy world champion.

There was a time in the 90s obviously where I felt totally

invincible. And almost taking it for granted winning at The Crucible, I

just expected to win. Stephen Hendry, once again the best

in the world. I played snooker very aggressively, fearlessly, I would

like to think I changed the way snooker was played.

For the 5th time and a record four times consecutively.

Stephen Hendry becomes the Embassy World Snooker Champion for the 6th

time. Ray Reardon six times in the 70s, Steve Davis in the 80s, but

it's a magnificent seven times for Stephen Hendry in the 90s. To win

the 7th world title, obviously to break the record, that was just

incredible. Even now when I go there obviously working for the BBC

instead of playing, I still think, I would much rather be out there with

a cue than a microphone. APPLAUSE

I could chat to you for hours, I always love chatting to you. I want

to take you back to a young teenager, the youngest ever in here

and that year and the next year was very much a battle with Willie

Thorne. Yeah, my first appearance was playing Willie, my only aim was

not to get embarrassed. I managed to run him close, 10-8 and got that

lovely applause, that was lovely. It was just my ambition to play here.

Take me to, I want to talk about the relationship with this fantastic

crowd. There's no vitriol towards players but we migrate to the

underdog and when you are unflappable automatically we all

migrate to the other camp, on top of that when you win title after title,

you add the other thing to the fact the guy was Jimmy White, did that

motivate you? Well, when you come through the curtains it's an amazing

place to walk into, it's like a cauldron and when there are boos it

can affect you any way, if you use it as a strength, as I did, it can

make you play even better. I knew in here that I maybe got half a

balcony, Jimmy took four or five with his guests, I maybe had half a

one. They were supporting me. About 97% of the rest were for Jimmy, you

have to use that as motivation. Your main enemy was not man, it was

getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. That

nearly scuppered the amount of titles you had. Yeah, the insurance

company, you are not allowed to do dangerous sports like skiing and I

fractured my elbow going to the toilet in the middle of the night.

We talk about the era of players in the 70s and 80s, you did have your

own spitting image puppet. Yeah, that was very nice. I liked that!

And Very complimentary it was too. You are going to meet a person who

has to spend 17 days locked in a room with me.

Mind you, there are worse things than spending time in a room with

you, I must say. Four finals Jimmy and Steve played together. Jimmy

came home empty handed after each one, he remains one of the best

loved figures in British sport, ever. Will you please welcome the

people's champion, the Whirlwind, Jimmy Whyte.

-- White. Nice touch.

Jimmy walking towards Barry with a handful of tenners there. But no

need. He doesn't take tenners. Bittersweet memories here for you

would that be fair? Yeah, you know, for me playing Steve Davis, he was

the hardest player to beat and I think monks of the players, Steve's

top game, for me, you know, he was such a good long potter and a good

positional player. I battled with him for 12 years or something in the

amateur and professional. Then Stephen Hendry came along and he was

potting them off the lampshades. I vice-president won the World

Championships but I am not finished yet. -- I haven't.

APPLAUSE This place, this is such a great

place for snooker. I have seen snooker go from the top in the 80s,

to small decline now, but in the 90s, but now it's in the best shape

ever and to be a young professional now is the greatest game to be in. I

take it you will be taking up the option of this wild card, tell us

yes? I don't know, I have to have a word. No, I will definitely be

playing for the next couple of years. That's fantastic. You were

still trying to make it here, you were beaten in qualifying and that

knocked you off the tour. What for you is the love of the game, why do

you still play it all these years? Because occasionally I still get it

together and I can beat anybody. Why I still have that game, I keep

trying, I love practising. I love doing exhibitions. The game still

excites me. It's great to see you in it. We will see you next season.

Well played. Colin.

Often great sporting moments are accompanied by great sporting

commentary and we remember them forever. They think it's all over,

it is now. Where were the Germans, frankly, who cared? When you look

through four decades one line jumps out to me - good luck, mate!

I do remember having a dream a couple of weeks beforehand that I

would make a 147 in the World Championship.

That's one way of getting them, I suppose. And staying on the black,

as well. When I had the opportunity to shoot the first black ball, the

balls were actually spread pretty good. These reds are now spread open

beautifully. I was sick, actually. I didn't feel

all that great. I don't know what I was running on, but anyway, I

managed to keep it going. At a stage like this with one red left, he

stops, blows his knows, and says, let's have a break. If he can take

this red and the black, colours will be on their spots. I was thinking

positive. Keep rolling! They have actually stopped playing

on the other table. This is the shot to get on the

yellow. It hasn't come far enough.

He has left himself a tough shot but 15 reds and 15 blacks he has taken

now. When I got to the black at the very

end I felt comfortable enough to say to myself that I wanted to pot the

black and not even have the black ball touch the sides of the pocket.

Good luck, mate! Oh, wonderful! That is really truly wonderful. A

magic moment, a defining moment for me.

Wonderful memories, cliff. And, you know, to think it all started with a

fluke. The commentary team didn't start talking about a maximum for

fear of jinxing until you potted the 8th red, at what point did you think

it was on? Probably after the first three or four reds because the balls

were spread beautifully. Like I said, I had a dream about two weeks

before that and the dream was that I fluked the first black ball

actually, and the cue ball hit the black and then it hit the end

cushion and came and landed right in the middle of all the reds and

spread them out like that and it was the same kind of thing. In fact, I

had done it before. Extraordinary. With one red left, ladies and

gentlemen, you had the presence of mind and the discipline to stop,

take a breath, blow your nose and go back to it. How did you do that? I

didn't want to drop to my knees with stuff all over my face, I didn't

think it would look... It was bothering me, so I had to stop and

of course I stopped and walked back to the table and saw Terry having

his tea and cookies there and that was reassuring for me. The key ball

thereafter was the yellow. Is it in the right place? This was missable,

particularly in the circumstances, was it not?

Sorry, Steve, I would rather have had your shot!

Bear in mind, ladies and gentlemen, that no televised 147 had been

achieved. Steve Davis had win one, but it was to win a car and I think

there was a strike at the time, and it wasn't televised. This was a big

moment for Cliff. Thanks, whoever thought this up. This is great!

LAUGHTER This is get even time for somebody.

But my golf is good. OK. Why I shot it this way is because, if I was to

run it through I would end up on the cushion there. And then I thought I

could play. And play it with the left-hand side and... I am not sure

about this one here. OK. The side comes out. Ronnie, you know what to

do. OK. You did it at the time. It's important that I explain this.

Absolutely. I get you. Or else I will start to break from the very

beginning and it's up to you. OK. Or else I play it with the right-hand

side. This is... Holy smokes! You see, this is the reason why I

didn't play it one of these three ways. Precisely. I thought about

that. You know how I think. Cliff, you did it when it counted and

that's all that counted. He is going to have another go. There is no

stopping him now! This is the shot. Third time lucky.

I seldom played it with stung run-through. I got a short back

swing. It's a long story. This is... Oh, gee! Seriously. Why you got

these things hanging out? Yellow ball. This is the last shot.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING And he's beautifully on it.

Fantastic, Cliff. Thank you very much.

Thank you. All right. Well, there already has

been a 147 here in Sheffield this week. Gary Wilson has achieved that.

He did it in qualifying tournament, it was one of eight centuries that

you made, Gary. A second career maximum for you. Congratulations.

You are a debutant. What do you make of the prospect of playing here?

It's amazing. I have been here to watch a few times and it's great

even spectating, but to be here and play for the first time is

unbelievable. Tell me about being here the first time. I was actually

here when I was nine years old in 95. I managed to come out into the

arena and they used to have the globes by the seats and got photos

taken, as if the globe was on top of my head. It was brilliant experience

to come and see everything back stage and I remember meeting the

players and things in the press room, it was unbelievable from that

age. The award is a match against Ronnie O'Sullivan, that's a reward.

Yeah, it's obviously one of the best draws, I am delighted and going to

go out there and give it my best and enjoy the whole experience. We wish

you the best of luck. Gary Wilson, ladies and gentlemen, thank you.

APPLAUSE Well, many people would say why

Sheffield and The Crucible? It started in 76. A sports promoter was

looking after the championship and had taken it on the road for years

but he was looking for a permanent home and his wife came here to watch

a theatre production and went home that evening and said, I think I

have found you a venue. Carole, you were absolutely right. 40 years

later, Sheffield is snooker city. Sheffield, former steel city to boom

town N the past 40 years it has survived the demise of its core

industries, to become one of the most fashionable and economically

attractive regions of the country. There are plans to open hi-tech

manufacturing plants here. Sheffield is enjoying a rennaissance.

I think we need to show how this great city, this region has changed.

Has learned from the past, but has took values and put them into a

modern setting. You can never deny your past, but you can learn from it

and I believe Sheffield has learned from that past. By April 1976 the

city was making a better -- bitter passage to a post-industrial future.

While across the pen nice the snooker World Championship also

faced an uncertain future. -- Pennines. Amid criticism the

championship that year was played in both Manchester and Middlesbrough.

The sport was looking for a place to call home.

It found a welcome in South Yorkshire.

It was always, I think, extremely friendly city, but it was a very

industrial city. It was mainly built around the industry of the

steelworks, but also around the neighbourhoods, the mining industry,

as well. Against this backdrop Sheffield Council had decided to

construct a consro version new theatre. . -- controversial. The

Crucible opened in 1971. Six years later, it entered a televised

marriage with snooker. Going into a theatre was obviously

quite a revolutionary thing to do. One thing that sticks in my mind was

the amount of beer that was drank, I understand, at that time they drank

in one night, the allocation for a fortnight. The world champion 1977,

John Spencer... Everyone knows it's been here for 40 years. The dates

have never changed. That's the sort of remarkable achievement. It's

vital, not only for the business of the theatre, but it's vital for the

business of the city, as well. It put Sheffield right on the world

stage and of course it's good for the economy, the local economy,

around ?5 million plus a year. I think it actually brings in tourists

that come in, not necessarily just to see the snooker, because it's a

great place to be during that particular period. Of course, it

brings those people back. It is estimated snooker has brought around

?70 million to Sheffield, which has fought off other cities bidding to

host the World Championship. Snooker found its spiritual home and helped

Sheffield become a leading centre for sport and a city renewed. In

1977 it was, you know, like working men's clubs, around the city in the

suburbs and the neighbourhoods, and now we have a vibrant bars and

restaurant city centre. It was a working class sport and one that I

think was embraced as far as Sheffield was concerned for the

world snooker championships and tlas no doubt that in the proceeding 40

years it's become the world of snooker. It's the home of snooker.

Julie, the leader of Sheffield Council, we might be fixated as BBC

and euro sport on what happens in the tables but you just need to walk

through this city over a period of three weeks and see what it means to

the entire city of Sheffield. Of course it does and there is a real

buzz about the place. I have also said that Sheffield is a great city

but also for the people in it, Sheffield people are very proud

people and we need to feel really proud of our city and I think world

snooker brings that pride to Sheffield, even for people that

don't actually come to see the snooker during that period, they

really feel part of it because they're proud to be here and they're

proud to be a Sheffielder. I am not going to take a side, we have two

great football teams in this city. We have also got in the modern era,

we see it as the sporting of centre excellence, Yorkshire can win more

Olympic medal than most countries, but important was the Crucible at

the beginning of that as Sheffield being seen as a sporting city?

Sheffield's always been seen as a steel city, the city of steel but

also it is now known as the city of sport. It's absolutely the city of

sport. As you were saying, we have two great football teams and

hopefully shortly one will be going up into the Premiership and one into

the championship. But Sheffield, we are gold medallists, Jessica and you

are right and you are right about Yorkshire, Sheffield is a very proud

and we are very proud of the heritage and sport is a real major

part of that heritage for us. Snooker, being here for 40 years,

it's just fabulous for the city and again I hope that we look forward to

another 40 years of it. I am going to send you about ten yards over

that way, because 40 years, it sounds good but I tell you what, 50

has a beautiful ring to it. It sure does. Ruby anniversary.

Golden anniversary, would you like to make formal the enduring

commitment between the sport and the city, because these lovely people

are about to sign documents which will keep this great championship

here at the Crucible and in the city for another ten years at the very

least! Until 2027.

APPLAUSE They're putting pen to paper on what

is now a guaranteed 50 years of history here at The Crucible for

world snooker. Congratulations.