:00:31. > :00:37.Good afternoon, once again, from our Winter Gardens home here, John,
:00:38. > :00:40.Steve and I settling in for the next 17 days in the Bet Fred World
:00:41. > :00:43.Championship. Day one of course and this afternoon we have been
:00:44. > :00:46.following the progress of the five times World Champion Ronnie
:00:47. > :00:52.O'Sullivan, he is playing a man who came through a very gruelling
:00:53. > :00:57.qualifying round, the world number 59, Gary Wilson. And Ronnie 3-1.
:00:58. > :01:01.They have just come back after the mid-session break, they have five
:01:02. > :01:06.more to play and so let us hand you straight to Dennis Taylor and
:01:07. > :01:15.Stephen Hendry. Thank you very much Hazel. Ronnie looks very focussed. I
:01:16. > :01:18.shook hands with the doctor who came out of Ronnie's dressing room. The
:01:19. > :01:25.way he started. He cut this red in, that is a terrific start.
:01:26. > :01:31.He is still in among the ball, there could be more open after this next
:01:32. > :01:35.shot. Played perfectly. Didn't have tos
:01:36. > :01:43.for it that time. -- to force it that time.
:01:44. > :01:50.You can see how focussed he is there, he didn't even smile, almost
:01:51. > :01:56.tripped over the referee there. But he has already played a couple
:01:57. > :02:02.of cracking shots in this fifth frame here.
:02:03. > :02:06.Yes, this is a shot row don't see played that often. I think it is a
:02:07. > :02:09.great way to go into the bunch. You can generate so much pace with the
:02:10. > :02:21.cue ball, with that run-in side off two cushions.
:02:22. > :02:27.You are right Dennis, he looks back to full focus. A couple of instances
:02:28. > :02:44.of frustration getting to him in the fourth ream. -- frame.
:02:45. > :02:50.I think he is just OK. He is coming round the see if the two reds just
:02:51. > :02:56.above the black are available. I think they are, so he can follow
:02:57. > :03:22.through, when potting the blue and leave choice of those.
:03:23. > :04:02.It will be interesting to see if he can clear this frame with one visit.
:04:03. > :04:09.Well, that looks like it could be the shot that will give Ronnie this
:04:10. > :04:53.frame, with one visit. Well this frame is not going to last
:04:54. > :05:03.very long, is it? It is coming up to nine minutes. Frame safe, so just
:05:04. > :05:41.concentrate, so if he can get a century.
:05:42. > :05:47.What a shot that was to develop the last red. That could have prevented
:05:48. > :05:54.him from making a sent, it's on now. And I think it will be the first one
:05:55. > :06:01.in this year's Bet Fred World Championship.
:06:02. > :06:10.Better get your skates on Brendan, the Rocket has lifted off.
:06:11. > :06:24.Hurry up Brendan. I think he even had a little smile there Ronnie as
:06:25. > :06:29.well. And there we go, for a century, the
:06:30. > :06:36.first in this year's World Championship. A tonne up for the
:06:37. > :06:43.rocket. It has been sublime break, really has. O'Sullivan at his best.
:06:44. > :06:50.Rocket. It has been sublime break, really has. O'Sullivan at his best.
:06:51. > :07:05.That is going to hit the middle pocket and come out on the pink.
:07:06. > :07:11.Well whatever Steve Peters said to Ronnie at the mid-session it
:07:12. > :07:14.certainly work. He won the frame with that magnificent century break,
:07:15. > :07:20.he extends his lead, it is four frames to one now.
:07:21. > :07:24.And really, straightaway, the opening part of this frame, he
:07:25. > :07:30.knocked a couple of cracking pots in. We showed you this one before,
:07:31. > :07:35.this was a lovely little cut into the corner pocket. That got him
:07:36. > :07:38.started but there was a few other nice shots. He got a nice touch on
:07:39. > :07:42.the yellow there. You can see the red was next to the
:07:43. > :07:47.black, he wanted to get that out of the bay to free the black up, and he
:07:48. > :07:52.played on that one immediately, and after that, Steven, it was all plain
:07:53. > :08:00.sailing. Yes, we see that with the top-spin takes effect in time to
:08:01. > :08:03.stop the in off. Also it didn't go into the meat of the pack but this,
:08:04. > :08:09.a lovely target there, because he knew he was going to put that red
:08:10. > :08:15.over the right corner. We had a bit of strum there with Ronnie and the
:08:16. > :08:20.referee. -- Strictly Come Dancing: I would love to see Ronnie on strictly
:08:21. > :08:42.come dancing, I think he would be brilliant.
:08:43. > :08:51.He come out after the interval and has that done against him, Gary
:08:52. > :08:54.Wilson, in the next frame. To see Ronnie on strictly come
:08:55. > :09:24.dancing, I think he would be brilliant.
:09:25. > :09:36.A very popular lad up in the North East, is Gary, a lot of support
:09:37. > :09:43.there, and... I know there is a lot of supporters all packed into the
:09:44. > :09:47.Whitley Bay snooker centre there, Paul Rinadldi who has done coaching
:09:48. > :09:48.over the year, they are all there, hoping their man can perform well
:09:49. > :10:44.here, but what a task he faces. He didn't cue that one very well.
:10:45. > :10:49.Missed the pot to the left of the pocket. But worst still, he stuck
:10:50. > :10:51.the red up that he missed. Sometimes you get away with it, and sometimes
:10:52. > :12:00.you don't. Sometimes you get away with it,
:12:01. > :12:10.sometimes you don't. Ronnie got away with it that time.
:12:11. > :12:13.He had a little glance into the crowd there, Ronnie, I'm not sure
:12:14. > :12:40.what that was about, when he missed that. It was rather strange.
:12:41. > :12:50.Let us look at that when he missed. He looked into the audience. Not
:12:51. > :14:25.sure what that was about. Got to be careful when he screws
:14:26. > :14:30.back off the two reds to get behind the pink or orb brown. Won't be sure
:14:31. > :14:39.how they are going to react when he hits them.
:14:40. > :14:44.He has left a possible long red, the black is not available, but if there
:14:45. > :14:48.is a slight angle, he could take this on and he could come back up
:14:49. > :14:55.the table and finish on blue or pink there. You see, slight angle to play
:14:56. > :15:00.this with top-spin. To send the white through after the red.
:15:01. > :15:23.Not quite. That was the length of the pot.
:15:24. > :15:26.Got to be very precease with that top of shot. -- precise with that
:15:27. > :15:38.type of shot. I think the pink spot might be
:15:39. > :15:43.occupied, so the pink would have to go back on the brown spot, that the
:15:44. > :15:44.highest available, but more importantly it's what happens to the
:15:45. > :16:16.cue ball here. Careful here off the reds. That
:16:17. > :16:21.middle pocket always comes into play. I bet the last colour he
:16:22. > :16:26.thought he was going to finish on is the brown. But enyou make contact
:16:27. > :16:34.with another red, when you are screwing back, it is easy to lose
:16:35. > :16:39.control of the cue ball. There are a couple of attacking shot
:16:40. > :16:47.he could play. He could go one cushion into the bunch.
:16:48. > :16:52.Played neither. And if he was just playing for the
:16:53. > :17:02.red it is not the best shot he has played, to finish hampered.
:17:03. > :17:19.If he could get himself on the red that is above the black in such way,
:17:20. > :17:24.but I don't think he can do it from this position, but in a few shots
:17:25. > :17:34.time, he could get the black into play.
:17:35. > :17:39.Wow. That is the end of break. But there was a possible chance to get
:17:40. > :17:43.the black into play there, but didn't want to hit the green. That
:17:44. > :18:32.was the end of any thoughts about that.
:18:33. > :19:03.Pretty decent cueing that, tight against the cushion.
:19:04. > :19:14.We might see this shot again, off two cushions.
:19:15. > :19:23.This time he chose to go directly into them. He hit them pretty well.
:19:24. > :19:33.Unlucky not to be on something easier than this.
:19:34. > :19:37.Had to hit them very thick. He could have gone in-off there. It is
:19:38. > :20:00.potting balls but it is not getting any easier this break.
:20:01. > :20:06.He had no guarantee of getting on a core there.
:20:07. > :20:10.-- colour. It is is a little awkward, he is hampered here and he
:20:11. > :20:13.doesn't want to hit the yellow full ball, he wants to get up near the
:20:14. > :20:26.cushion with the cue ball. And that is a pretty good effort
:20:27. > :22:01.there. From that awkward position. He has played that well. Applause
:22:02. > :22:05.and nice to see so many ladies here, in fact there is probably adds many
:22:06. > :22:10.ladies in the audience as there are men. It has always been that way,
:22:11. > :22:15.they have always loved snooker since the early days of Pot Black but nice
:22:16. > :23:17.to see them here in the Crucible. It is going to leave the red up.
:23:18. > :23:23.That is is a bad mistake from Ronnie.
:23:24. > :23:26.He was just playing to nestle on the red that was tight on the cushion
:23:27. > :23:31.there, I think he can get on out to the yellow here.
:23:32. > :24:08.Yes. Played it nicely. If he can get a nice angle on the
:24:09. > :24:23.blue it is worth playing the cannon on to black and those two reds.
:24:24. > :24:29.Has gone there, it is definitely the right shot play. Doesn't have to
:24:30. > :24:36.play it with too much pace, if this goes right. A great chance to win
:24:37. > :24:44.the frame. Just could have dope with that much
:24:45. > :24:47.thicker contact. I said it didn't need a lot of pace but he could have
:24:48. > :24:52.hit it harder than that, he needed to make contact with the red and
:24:53. > :24:58.black. He tried to hit the red full-back and caught it on the side.
:24:59. > :25:01.This is the big test, we which ever read red he choose, the one from
:25:02. > :25:05.from the middle he is tight on the cushion. Not easy to make a good
:25:06. > :25:15.bridge hand. Very awkward this.
:25:16. > :27:17.But what a good recovery that is. Much better shot than it looked.
:27:18. > :27:24.39 the difference. Just drop this in, dead weight. Make sure of the
:27:25. > :27:30.red. Well, I don't know why he didn't
:27:31. > :27:40.roll the red in. Ronnie would have stayed in his seat but as it is, it
:27:41. > :27:45.is not just over yet but you think he has pulled one back.
:27:46. > :27:49.He is now thinking, I should have just rolled this in. Didn't have to
:27:50. > :27:55.get on the plaque. Ronnie would have stayed in his seat.
:27:56. > :28:00.-- black. It is only one snooker to tie, but,
:28:01. > :28:04.Ronnie has misjudged that slightly. He was trying to get in behind the
:28:05. > :28:10.black. He has the snooker behind the blue though.
:28:11. > :28:15.And the middle pocket slightly in the way of escaping down the right
:28:16. > :28:19.side of the table. But is there a gap, no, he is playing to swerve, he
:28:20. > :28:28.has to make sure he gets the swerve on this, otherwise could hit the
:28:29. > :28:36.pink. Well, look that the for at show.
:28:37. > :29:19.Right in between his cue action, can't get any closer than that.
:29:20. > :29:30.He is looking at a way to play a snooker here and looking at way of
:29:31. > :29:34.keeping the reds safe also. I think in the end, he was trying to
:29:35. > :29:39.pot the red, get on the black an then look for the snooker he needs
:29:40. > :30:37.on the yellow, because if he pots red and black one snooker to tie.
:30:38. > :30:47.That has put the green into a better position for snookers. He has now
:30:48. > :31:01.got the pink and green in a good position. Where is the cue ball?
:31:02. > :31:08.Surely not! Oh, dear me. How often do you see that happen? Now Ronnie
:31:09. > :31:11.can tie and he can pop this and get on the black. It is amazing what
:31:12. > :31:18.happened out there on a snooker table. Not the best shots that
:31:19. > :31:39.Ronnie's ever played. It is a must pot here.
:31:40. > :31:53.That was incredible how unlucky that was, wasn't it?
:31:54. > :32:10.Just got to judge this little positional shot. Try to miss the
:32:11. > :32:16.blue. Almost a natural angle to come off to questions there, so this
:32:17. > :32:24.looks like it could be the first re-spotted black of this world
:32:25. > :32:30.Championships. Well, this would be a real body blow because Gary thought
:32:31. > :32:34.he won the frame. That last red, why didn't he just drop it in? I know he
:32:35. > :32:44.was very unlucky, but had he had just rolled in the red in, to hit
:32:45. > :32:50.the jaw of the pocket was incredible. He has still got the
:32:51. > :33:02.pink and black. Now, this is not going to be absolutely spot on. It
:33:03. > :33:09.is quite a thin cut back. But it is safely in. Gary can't quite believe
:33:10. > :33:14.it. The audience can't quite believe it, but we have got a re-spotted
:33:15. > :33:23.black. It looks like he was back to just two behind. Well, Gary won the
:33:24. > :33:28.toss. He puts Ronnie in and I'm wondering whether he'd going to play
:33:29. > :33:32.this shot that most modern-day professionals play. Just push the
:33:33. > :33:37.right side question. Just push the back onto that. Yes, that is the
:33:38. > :33:46.shot for the player nowadays. It leaves a possible double on, but if
:33:47. > :33:51.you take the double on and don't get it, you live the black on. He's gone
:33:52. > :33:57.fully double! And if you don't get the double... And where's the cue
:33:58. > :34:04.ball going? Look where the lack's on. I thought Gary might chipped the
:34:05. > :34:11.black onto the cushion by the black spot. This is a frame that is going
:34:12. > :34:21.to hurt so much. It still needs good cueing because he could follow this
:34:22. > :34:31.in if he doesn't get it right. No problem. I do not know how he one
:34:32. > :34:35.that frame, and Gary does not know how we lost it. Ronnie O'Sullivan
:34:36. > :34:43.extends his lead, it is now 5-1 and not 4-2. It looked like a really
:34:44. > :34:47.positive response, and it just shows you how thin the margins are in this
:34:48. > :34:50.sport. A massive turning point because Gary Wilson looked like he
:34:51. > :34:55.was starting to relax into this game and it looked like 4-2. He didn't
:34:56. > :35:00.want to be close to this middle pocket, but it catches that front
:35:01. > :35:04.jaw and it put some side pocket on and it clings to the cushion. It is
:35:05. > :35:09.hindsight, but looking back, Dennis was right in what he said. Just drop
:35:10. > :35:13.the last red in. You don't have to play at any pace. What happens in
:35:14. > :35:19.the rest of the frame wouldn't happen. Yes. From 5-1 behind here,
:35:20. > :35:24.it doesn't look good at all. No, and when you think of Ronnie O'Sullivan
:35:25. > :35:29.bashing his hand on the table because he knows he has lost
:35:30. > :35:33.something, he would have been very happy. Ronnie would have said about
:35:34. > :35:40.frame before the interval was the one he wanted a win. Now it could
:35:41. > :35:45.completely change the match. How does that change Ronnie's
:35:46. > :35:51.perspective on the match? He is four frames ahead any will try and push
:35:52. > :35:53.on now. It is a massive gap. It is a great opportunity and I expect
:35:54. > :36:00.Ronnie in the next frame to be really focused. Great champions know
:36:01. > :36:04.that when things happen and they win frames they shouldn't have, they
:36:05. > :36:08.take on. It is a test of Gary's composure as well, isn't it? It is.
:36:09. > :36:12.If Ronnie can sense the pull-out a big frame that Gary will be saying
:36:13. > :36:16.everything is against me, why me? That is the kind of thing that goes
:36:17. > :36:22.through your mind. Ronnie can try and help them along that road. 5-1
:36:23. > :36:25.for the five-time champion. Here we go for frame seven of nine in his
:36:26. > :36:33.opening session today. Commentators Mac.
:36:34. > :36:40.You have seen the grimace from Ronnie O'Sullivan, not because there
:36:41. > :36:57.was a bad break off, but look at what has happened with the black.
:36:58. > :37:05.I wouldn't be surprised to be just flicked off the black and play the
:37:06. > :37:14.cue ball to the balk cushion. A little safety off that red. Get the
:37:15. > :37:20.black into play. But that black that he was left to put Dennis, I think
:37:21. > :37:23.he thought he was going to go in. Added that he hit it as well as he
:37:24. > :37:34.wanted to. He potted it quite straight. -- I don't think that he.
:37:35. > :37:43.He has caught that safety shot much too thick. That last frame will have
:37:44. > :37:47.affected Gary. Here is the black ball. You can play this with a bit
:37:48. > :37:54.of angle, but he put it quite straight. You see the reaction. He
:37:55. > :37:58.thought he mis-hit it. You have seen a couple of shakes of the head from
:37:59. > :38:09.Gary Wilson, he has not shown much emotion today, his temperament has
:38:10. > :38:16.looked good. But maybe his coping mechanisms disappeared and that last
:38:17. > :38:22.game. -- in that last game. Yes, you can always pick out even a best of
:38:23. > :38:30.19 one turning point and I think that was the turning point. That
:38:31. > :38:33.last frame. A long way to go, but I think Gary has got a bit of a
:38:34. > :38:38.mountain to climb now. OK, the reds are nicely open here, the black is
:38:39. > :38:45.tied up Stephen mentioned and the pink looks tied up also. It might
:38:46. > :38:49.possibly be available in one corner. You can see the pink goes into the
:38:50. > :38:55.right corner, so he has got be pink and blue to work out, so he might
:38:56. > :39:02.just carry on and try and win the frame with the pinks and blues. I
:39:03. > :39:05.think you looked at the possibility of two cushions to Cannes and the
:39:06. > :39:13.red and black because even if he misses the cannon he has to be on a
:39:14. > :40:19.read. It is worth a gamble. -- cannon.
:40:20. > :40:26.This might just type the pink up. I'm not sure if it is on its spot or
:40:27. > :40:31.not. I don't think it is looking at it. It is usually in line with the
:40:32. > :40:38.middle and corner pocket, so is... It is just off its spot. It might
:40:39. > :40:45.have to go in behind. The green spot is available, it might have to go up
:40:46. > :40:47.there. We will find out shortly. Well, it is the only spot that is
:40:48. > :41:02.available, the green. He made that chocolate very easy. --
:41:03. > :41:28.he made that shot look very easy. Well, that just makes me laugh.
:41:29. > :41:33.Left-handed, gets down and screwed it back. People just get so used to
:41:34. > :41:36.it now, he switches hands, you don't even get a reaction. But to screw
:41:37. > :41:42.back like that with the opposite hand, it to reflect. -- it is
:41:43. > :42:09.terrific. That is not the best positional shot
:42:10. > :42:22.he has ever played. It has now become very missable. He has got it,
:42:23. > :42:43.but he has to go in and out of baulk.
:42:44. > :42:51.He is faced with a horrible shot here. He has got to try and land on
:42:52. > :42:57.a red. We would just love to nestle on the one next to the black, but if
:42:58. > :43:02.he goes into the three reds next to the pinks, that is tough also. Let
:43:03. > :43:12.with a lot of sight. Is he going to get away with this? Not quite. That
:43:13. > :43:25.was very, very difficult. To hit those and not leave a read on.
:43:26. > :43:35.-- red on. It is such a hard shot to get the amount of action he needs to
:43:36. > :43:39.get back to the blue because it is so close without playing a per shot.
:43:40. > :43:49.He is just going to leave himself sure on the blue, try not to be too
:43:50. > :44:02.dodgy. Try not to use the cuteness match -- try not to use
:44:03. > :44:26.the cue as much. The angle is too acute. Trying to play that, he has
:44:27. > :44:30.hit the red far too thick. That won't go, but there is one to the
:44:31. > :44:32.middle pocket that will go. A bit of a chance to get right back into this
:44:33. > :44:54.frame that he could do with winning. That is a good start to it. The
:44:55. > :44:59.chance is there now. This would be a huge boost to Gary after what
:45:00. > :45:04.happened in the previous frame, but he has got an awful lot of balls to
:45:05. > :45:21.pot. At least he has got the chance to do that.
:45:22. > :45:28.Yes, he has landed on this red nicely. He can play for the black
:45:29. > :45:58.into the pocket. This really is a golden opportunity.
:45:59. > :46:07.He doesn't have to play a cannon. Those three reds on the pink spot or
:46:08. > :46:18.clear each other if he pops one. -- all clear each other. This is a
:46:19. > :46:32.great test of Gary's temperament here.
:46:33. > :46:39.Yeah, temperament and belief in your own ability. If you believe you can
:46:40. > :47:03.clear up... The only possible stumbling block is
:47:04. > :47:16.the green that is near the question, but it is still possible. He will
:47:17. > :47:21.already be thinking about that. He just hit that a little harder than
:47:22. > :47:35.he intended. You have to keep it as simple as possible for yourself.
:47:36. > :47:49.Has this gone a bit closer to the cushion that he needed? He needs a
:47:50. > :47:59.good part here -- good pot here. He cued that nicely. When you run
:48:00. > :48:04.slightly out of position, it takes you a view shots to be back in the
:48:05. > :48:08.perfect spot. And that was a very delicately played to shot, you stop
:48:09. > :48:12.for a brief second there, he thought he might have missed that, but to
:48:13. > :48:25.hold it like that, this is the key shots to be nicely on the green. To
:48:26. > :48:30.be able to be out on the brown. He has taken these very well. I don't
:48:31. > :48:36.want to put the jinx on him too early, but he looks very composed in
:48:37. > :48:42.this break. Granted, the reds were all an excellent positions, but when
:48:43. > :49:08.you're 5-1 down, it shows good character here.
:49:09. > :49:18.It doesn't matter about the pink. Absolutely brilliant that by Gary
:49:19. > :49:25.Wilson and, barring snookers, he has won a very important frame and
:49:26. > :49:33.deserves that drink. Unusual to see Ronnie coming back to the table
:49:34. > :49:42.needing to snookers. -- two snookers. If he knocks the black
:49:43. > :49:55.onto the cushion he will concede the frame. You would think. Well, it
:49:56. > :50:01.doesn't matter now, doesn't? Showing an awful lot of character that to
:50:02. > :50:04.come back after what has happened in the previous frame, it is an
:50:05. > :50:10.important frame, but he still trails 5-2. You have got to hand it to him,
:50:11. > :50:17.that is the highest break of the match for him so far. What a time to
:50:18. > :50:22.do it. There are other balls in front of you coming you might not
:50:23. > :50:27.practice every day, but it is not here -- you might do it in practice
:50:28. > :50:33.everyday, but it is in the Crucible. Takes up strength of mind to come
:50:34. > :50:36.back in that situation. 5-1 down having really mucked it up in the
:50:37. > :50:41.last set. It does. The qualifiers help you get into that zone. The has
:50:42. > :50:45.already had three heart matches and you are match up. Even so, this is a
:50:46. > :50:48.different venue and a different standard of player, so you have
:50:49. > :50:52.still got to fight against all those demons that build up. What do you
:50:53. > :50:57.make of Ronnie's fighting spirit this season? It is interesting that
:50:58. > :51:12.Doctor Stephen Peters is with him from day one. He seems to be
:51:13. > :51:19.revelling and -- in his fight and being a villain. -- and being an
:51:20. > :51:24.arch enemy. Yes. Maybe he is looking at thinking I have got a few more
:51:25. > :51:27.goes on this, winning a UK and winning a Masters and he is putting
:51:28. > :51:35.everything he had got on that. He has done that in the last 12 months.
:51:36. > :51:38.He is tied up the last few dollars. On occasions, people have commented
:51:39. > :51:42.that Ronnie O'Sullivan has looked happier in the commentary box than
:51:43. > :51:46.he has playing, so from my perspective, the fact that he has
:51:47. > :51:49.actually called Steve Peters in means that he is not ready to bail
:51:50. > :51:53.out, he had actually looking forward to the tournament and he wants to do
:51:54. > :51:57.the best. The phone call is not a worry phone call, he has got
:51:58. > :52:01.business to do. He has indeed. Let's does have a look at what is going on
:52:02. > :52:05.in the other side of the curtain in there. The match we have been
:52:06. > :52:17.following is David Grace against Kyren Wilson. Kyren Wilson has taken
:52:18. > :52:22.that lead 5-2. The that like they are in the eighth frame right now.
:52:23. > :52:28.David Grace is not afraid. We reached the semifinals of the UK
:52:29. > :52:33.championship a few back. Had a marvellous time there. We are
:52:34. > :52:39.actually nearly finished here on BBC Two for the afternoon, but don't
:52:40. > :52:43.forget you can see all of these matches online. In fact, how can you
:52:44. > :52:51.watch all 17 days on the BBC? There are myriad ways of doing so and the
:52:52. > :52:59.dye them. There are plenty of ways to enjoy our coverage of this year's
:53:00. > :53:03.world championship. Stephen Hendry brings a great championship to an
:53:04. > :53:08.end. There are features and more on the BBC website. Radio five live
:53:09. > :53:20.will bring you updates throughout the day. Steve Davis, for ten years
:53:21. > :53:26.at tapestry of titles. You can join in to the conversation via social
:53:27. > :53:33.media. There is live action on the BBC sport at, mobile phone, tablet
:53:34. > :53:36.and a connected TV. John Parrott wins the world championship. But
:53:37. > :53:41.don't forget as well as our extensive coverage on BBC One and
:53:42. > :53:46.BBC Two, we are on the red button. Join Hazel and the rest of the team
:53:47. > :53:51.from 7pm tonight. Just press red. And indeed, we will be presenting
:53:52. > :53:56.every session live for you and we will be able to see us here in the
:53:57. > :54:00.Winter Gardens and the players practice studio as well. The man we
:54:01. > :54:03.will be watching this evening is Mark Selby, he is going for a third
:54:04. > :54:11.win in three years, the defending champion, and he really is the man
:54:12. > :54:15.of the moment. Mark Selby, I have known since he was 14 years of age.
:54:16. > :54:21.When I say this, I mean it's an silly, Mark Selby to me was never
:54:22. > :54:28.going to be a top 16 player. He used to cue this far away from the cue
:54:29. > :54:36.ball. They got close, he improved 40 points overnight. He wins ugly.
:54:37. > :54:41.Where as other players who if they are not playing well go out on the
:54:42. > :54:46.first round, he can scrape through matches. Ladies and gentlemen, your
:54:47. > :54:55.champion, Mark Selby. It is so hard these days to dominate. You had got
:54:56. > :54:59.the Hendry 's, Davis, riddance. It is impossible to dominate now. If it
:55:00. > :55:08.is that easy everyone would dominate. Mark Selby, this is the
:55:09. > :55:11.best comeback I've seen for many, many years. He wins the world
:55:12. > :55:16.championship for the very first time. You have to scrape him off the
:55:17. > :55:23.table and that means that the opponent must have much mental
:55:24. > :55:28.stamina to keep him off the table because he can keep going. Your
:55:29. > :55:37.mental strength gets tested. Your champion, Mark Selby! He is
:55:38. > :55:45.definitely the man to beat. He is 11. Oddly not going to be another
:55:46. > :55:53.year or 18 months until anyone can catch on. He is raising the bar at
:55:54. > :56:00.the moment, and the rest of the rest of us must try and reach. What is
:56:01. > :56:05.not to like about him? He is the greatest player to ever come from
:56:06. > :56:13.Leicester, which I hate saying. He certainly is the greatest at the
:56:14. > :56:22.moment and he is best -- besting Fergal O Brien. Then Fergal managed
:56:23. > :56:26.to take the ninth frame to avoid the whitewash. There has only been one
:56:27. > :56:33.of those and John Parrott inflicted in 1992. Still, Fergal is ten points
:56:34. > :56:38.shy of the lowest score in a match in Crucible history. 191 points. He
:56:39. > :56:48.definitely wants to avoid that. Let's does reflect on how he played
:56:49. > :56:53.today. I think this fact is helped by vocal not being able to get the
:56:54. > :56:56.engine started. Much as did his job. Made of ending champions have
:56:57. > :57:03.crumbled in the first round and stumbled to get over the round, but
:57:04. > :57:07.he has got to be happy with that. Fergal has grafted so, so hard to be
:57:08. > :57:16.in this championship. Just reminders about this incredible world record
:57:17. > :57:21.that he was and bolted to be in. Well, he had the world record length
:57:22. > :57:23.of one frame. He said it took me seven years to get here, I figured
:57:24. > :57:29.another two hours wasn't going to make any difference. He absolutely
:57:30. > :57:31.grafted to get here and unfortunately for him, he just
:57:32. > :57:35.hasn't got the engine is going. Nothing has happened for him today
:57:36. > :57:39.and Mark has looked ready comfortable. An interesting match we
:57:40. > :57:44.will also be concluding tonight, Anthony McGill finds himself 7-2
:57:45. > :57:49.behind to Stephen Maguire and he is the seed this time is Anthony
:57:50. > :57:51.McGill. He is in real hot water. The pressure of being the seeds are
:57:52. > :57:54.perhaps underestimated little bit. You haven't had the match play in
:57:55. > :57:59.the build-up in the qualifiers, all of a sudden, you are looking over
:58:00. > :58:03.your shoulder just a fraction more. Honestly, I'm a massive fan of
:58:04. > :58:07.Stephen Maguire. It is about time he played well here. He hasn't in fact
:58:08. > :58:10.won a match since 2012. Very interesting to see if he can close
:58:11. > :58:21.it up. He has actually lost three of the last four years. His galloping
:58:22. > :58:24.towards that lies for -- that line for all he's worth. Live coverage,
:58:25. > :58:30.seven o'clock with the damage this evening's session. As Selby and
:58:31. > :58:34.McGuire aim to finish off in style. We will be here for many more of
:58:35. > :58:59.morning, noon and night. They won is done for us. Good night. --
:59:00. > :59:01.once again, your champion, Mark Selby.