Wednesday, Quarter-Finals, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

This is our last afternoon inside the beautiful Sheffield Winter

Gardens. We are preparing to decamp shortly to move inside The Crucible

itself. With a place in the semifinal up for grabs, and with it

a chance to structural stuff in the one table arena, that is what's on

offer in the World Championship today. Today is the time when we

whittle our eight remaining players down to four in the climax of the

quarterfinals. Ronnie O'Sullivan's bid to join Stephen Hendry in a

record 12 Crucible semifinal is in big trouble, because last night it

was Ding Junhui who sawed away in a blistering five frame stretched and

he needs just three more to beat his idol on the big stage. Mark Selby's

bid for back-to-back titles rolls on relentlessly. A four frame advantage

after day one of his semifinal, and it might have been more. Marco Fu

has been doing things the hard way in Sheffield so far anyway. The Fu

fighter may yet emerge. Barry Hearn will join us live and there's much

to discuss. Today is our cue at The Crucible for ladies Day. We will

meet the pioneering Rhiannon Evans. I don't know how you will swing this

but it's definitely a day where you can access all of our coverage. At

two 30p will be going live to the deciding quarterfinal between Ding

and O'Sullivan. And will spend the afternoon in the

excellent company of Steve Davis and Ken Doherty who between them have

strutted their stuff to reach 14 semifinals between you over the

years. It's all about the men who are trying to do so today. We're

looking forward to this live prey between Ronnie and Ding. Ronnie has

the interesting perspective of having overturned a 6-10 deficit in

a quarterfinal and also having lost one. How valuable will both of those

experiences be today? It's nice to know that it's not an impossible

ask. I think he probably will just hope that things go right in the

early part of the session. There is an element of luck involved. Half a

roll of ball can make all the difference. That first frame is

never certain, even if you've got the right mindset. We know how

susceptible Ding has been under pressure to Ronnie O'Sullivan. I

wonder how important it could be today. It's going to be massive. I

commentated on those eight frames last night and Ronnie was quite poor

by his own standard. He gave himself half a chance by winning the last

frame with a nice century. By all accounts talking to his manager he

feels relaxed about the job which is a good sign. During that eight

frames he didn't look up for it at all. He has to start very fast

because this is a different Ding Junhui who he might have been

counted in the past. He looks a lot stronger this year, he looks very

prepared, very relaxed. He's been the best scorer of the tournament so

far. It's a different proposition of a Ronnie O'Sullivan. Just because a

player has consistently beaten another player and it looks like

they've got the evil eye on them, they can't have that forever. I'm

going back to 1985. I don't even want to talk about it! I beat Dennis

Taylor up so many times up until that moment. Somewhere down the line

he thought, I've got nothing to lose and all of a sudden he pushed his

chest out and became a fighter. Not that he wasn't a great player. That

could be the situation of the Ding Junhui. It's been ten years since

Ding Junhui had the better of Ronnie O'Sullivan in any match. At 2:30pm

we will be going to that. Until then we are in catch-up mode. Jason was

there at 10am this morning for the first sessions. The concluding

session between John Higgins, bidding for an eighth semifinal, and

he had a very strong lead against Kyren Wilson the world number 14 who

knew he was going to have to come out swinging. Only once before in

the 40 year history of this great event has someone overturned a 5-11

deficit. This is how it turned out this morning.

COMMENTATOR: That time he caught the jaw and it didn't go in. That was a

very unexpected mess. -- miss. It's their... APPLAUSE

The vital frame, how many times have we seen it missed? Decided to go for

it. It didn't matter about the blue. John Higgins stays in his seat. What

a shame. John Higgins is through to his eighth World Championship

semifinal 13-6. He's really tough player, Kyren. He

was really unlucky. Still a great win for me. To put into context

where some people might understand, it's like a dancer wearing in a new

pair of shoes. Imagine the blisters you get after wearing them, going

for your comfy shoes. It feels like a completely different ball game. To

be back at the one-table set-up, there's no place like The Crucible.

Just delighted. Two dozen and 11 is the last time. I was pretty close

last time and McManus pipped me. You start to think maybe you'll never

get there again. Luckily enough I'm here and obviously I'll be willing

to go one better and get to the final. STUDIO: Very intriguing. The

last time John Higgins got to the semifinal and the one-table set-up

and didn't win the title, was 2001. Heat 343 every time he gets into

this one-table situation. He's back, six years on. He's not just back,

it's the way he's done it. You could argue he's been as impressive as

anybody in the tournament. I'm a massive John Higgins fan. His play

is immense. Mark Selby plays a similar type of game but John

Higgins, on his best day, has been unplayable. If he continues that I'm

not sure how he loses a session, unless he goes into his shell

somehow. For me, when he started talking before the championship

about how he knew he had the game to win again, that almost flicked a

switch in my head. He such a supreme confidence player. If he believes

he'll do it, he probably will. He's going to be very tough to beat. He

has all of that experience. He's probably one of the greatest players

who has ever graced the game. His record proves that. He has such a

great record at The Crucible. He's climbed that mountain four times

already. Anybody who plays John Higgins will have a tough battle. As

Steve said, on his day he is hard to stop. Not only is he a great

pressure player, he's a great break-builder and he is so clever as

well. When you put those into the mix, how do you combat that? There's

not too many players who can combat that that left in the tournament.

Let's extrapolate how this tournament goes out which is a

dangerous thing to do. This is no disrespect to any players. Whoever

John Higgins plays in the semifinal, Barry Hawkins or Steve Maguire, you

put him as favourite. They are great players. OK, John Higgins gets to

the final. He plays either Ronnie O'Sullivan, Ding Junhui or Mark

Selby. Let's say it's Mark Selby. Mark Selby's biggest drinks are

negated by John Higgins. Much more so than if he plays Ronnie

O'Sullivan in the final -- Mark Selby's biggest strength are negated

by John Higgins. Does Mark Selby say he is top dog or does he prove that

he is really the number one player in the world? They did play that

final in 2007 and Mark Selby had a real go at him. He gave him one heck

of a fright. He's a different Mark Selby now. If anybody can beat John

Higgins at his own game, and particularly after the season Mark

Selby has had, it is Mark Selby who can be John Higgins at that game.

It's going to be a fascinating encounter, if that happens. There's

a lot of players still in the tournament! The interesting one is

this afternoon. What a terrible thing to say it! We are allowed to

speculate. That's why we are here. We mentioned Mark Selby, the world

number one who has won four big events this year. It's the most he's

ever won in one season. He's going for back-to-back titles. He was in

dominant form in his first session against Marco Fu and the man from

Hong Kong is having to do things the hard way again. He's come from 7-1

and 4-1 behind in his matches today and he's giving himself another mini

mountain to climb. It got worse, Selby took the opening two frames

this morning to go 8-2 ahead and he also took frame 11 as well. There's

a seven frame gap in it now. Remember first 13 will go through to

the semifinal. Let's pick them up in frame 12.

COMMENTATOR: Mark Selby breaks off in frame 12. Can he make it a clean

sweep for the second time? He won the first four yesterday morning.

As is normal when you're struggling, whenever you miss you seem to leave

one up for your opponent. Almost identical to the first frame.

Somehow Mark Selby manage to make a frame-winning break in one visit,

can he do it again? Is he just on this red?

I wonder if you'll risk playing for the black? It's the right shot.

The black is just slightly off the cushion which makes it a bit

trickier, especially because he'll be playing at a bit of pace to bring

the cue ball out. APPLAUSE Play to clear high so he can go into

the bunch and leave himself a red corner. Even though it was very

close to the cushion he played it right in off the jaw. I think he's

got to play at those two. He's very, very good at this shot. Normally the

cue ball moves over to the left-hand side of the table if you're playing

at the top and the right-hand side, but he's not playing it, I don't

think. Definitely gone into the bunch from the next shot. You always

want to split the red top when there is one loose red. Lots of left-hand

side to the cue ball to keep low on the black. As Stephen said, he's

left that loose red. He's stuck on the pack there. Couldn't get any

reaction from it. That's what you've got to do.

This looked to be a good split, just call that first red slightly

thinner. I think he can get through to the red. There is an excellent

chance to win another frame... You have to feel sorry for Marco Fu.

This morning's session he's missed a couple of easy balls. Every time he

missed, he's loved one on. Sometimes it goes like that. -- he's left one

on. He's been outplayed but he hasn't had the best of runs. He

hasn't started in any of his matches in this tournament well enough. In

his first match he was 7-1 down. Did he go 4-0 down in his second-round

match? He's done it here. He's giving himself too much to do.

Especially against the world number one, it was never going to work. So

for whatever reason he's just not been sharp enough at the start of

matches this week. It's been a long season and Marco has had a very,

very good season. A lot of the pundits would be saying Marco Fu

would be one of their favourites coming into this tournament, he was

one of my favourites. It shows you sometimes... I don't know if he's

got burn-out or gone to the well too often this season but he doesn't

look the same player in the last couple of rounds.

Mark Selby has only made one century so far in this year's championship.

If he went on to win it there would be more to come. This is an

excellent chance to make not only a century, but a very big one.

Kid have been happy with a 3-1 mini-session. -- he would have been

happy. Marco would be absolutely delighted. Three blues, to pinks,

six blacks so far. This looks very much like the 56th

century of this World Championship. I think 86 is a record. So the

players left in the tournament are going to have to go some to make

another 30 centuries to beat that record. After today, only four

players left. So it's going to be close.

It's been a very professional performance this morning so far from

Mark Selby. Stamped his authority early on in the first frame with a

magnificent break. He's finishing off the four frames with this

immaculate century. I can't find a reason for him not winning this

match a session early, now. Marco Fu is going to have to do something

pretty special in the next four frames after the interval. I can't

see it, though. Awesome display from the defending

champion. He beats Marco Fu 10-2. Marco Fu's task is to get this match

into the third session. Something that might make Marco's

task a bit easier is the fact Mark Selby will be putting pressure on

himself to finish this match. That was a magnificent cue in. When

the cue ball goes up the table it looked like it was tight in the

cushion but it caught the jaw of the middle pocket and now it's perfect.

He made the frame-winning break. There is a good chance here. There

are still three loose reds available. It is not have to go into

the pack just yet. He will play one more red and then he will go into

the bunch, because either of those reds, the one at the bottom of the

bunch to the right corner, it makes a good shape for the pack to screw

the cue ball into. He will leave himself low on the black ear. Maybe

just one more. He will have to play for the loose red here. He wants to

screw the cue ball through the red, through the joint between that red

and the pack. Now he is leaving himself some space. I have seen a

Selby played this shot better than anyone else at the moment. He is

playing the complete right-hand side one. Magnificent. He had exactly the

outside red. When you use stun you have to have a chance to put one in

the middle. He does not have to go into the

bunch at all now because the bottom red pots.

I am surprised there has not been a break above 140 get in this

tournament. Now, the century looks assured.

This has looked inevitable ever since he got the bump in the middle

pocket, to finish nicely on the blue. It has never looked in doubt.

Racing towards the winning line. He is pretty straight on this black.

I am just looking at the two reds. I am not sure if they are available

for the corner pockets. That is what he is leaving it for the yellow

pocket. This is the first missable shot of this break so far.

He will be tough to beat in this tournament.

57th century of the tournament coming up. It was never in doubt.

So, this will be to total clearances back-to-back for Mark Selby. All

Marco Fu did was break off. This would set a decent target. 139, it

probably won't be enough to get the high break prize, but you never

know. This was the initial red you were talking about. If he doesn't

get the bump he has a hard shot on the blue. This was very fortunate,

but an excellent pot. He is having a lovely time out there today.

Everything has come up very easily. He has left himself a bit to do

here. He has to be careful he does not miss cue here.

He has said it too well. It looks like he will have a tricky black to

middle. So, this black for the highest break

of the tournament so far. Is it there? To total clearances

back-to-back. Magnificent 139. The highest break of the tournament so

far and it takes into an two lead. That scuppers stripping's hopes

proclaiming the hybrid prize. His 137 has been beaten by back-to-back

centuries for Selby. It took Mark a match and three quarters to make his

first and now he is powering in the big scores. 11-2 ahead and Selby

eyeing an early finish as we head into frame 14. Thank you, settle

down please. Frame 14. Mark Selby to break. It is a horrible position to

being a match. The audience wanted the match to go

on longer, so he is getting a bit of encouragement from them. Good shot.

He just pulled up a little bit short to be able to go into the pack, but

there is one of red. -- one loose red. Marco has found more cue power.

He has lifted his cue action over the last couple of months. He will

need all his cue power whatever angle he gets on the black to open

these rents. Visit them enough on the black? The three red is closest

to the back, the middle one is what he wants to get here. That is what

he has done. Great shot. This is the red Stephen was talking about. Oh

no. He can consider himself a little unlucky, because he played into the

pack perfectly. That looked quite tight. I think he just had to

squeeze the cue ball a little bit to get an angle on the pot. Marco Fu

had an excellent shot to split the roads open, but it looks like Mark

Selby is going to be the one to reap the benefits. You would not bet

against three centuries in a row here. Mark Selby has already won at

the World Championship twice and played great snooker, but I think he

is playing now than he has in his two previous attempts at winning the

World Championship. He looks in total control of his game, his

emotions. His demeanour around the table looks frightening.

He has not gone far enough to stay on the black.

I think you mentioned earlier on, the only thing missing from this

match performance was a century break. It looks like three in a row

now. He has had a very heavy contact there, but he is OK.

The angle he has on the red, he has played quite firm to bounce it off

the ignition. The white is going very close to the right-hand side.

That is why he is playing a screenshot for the blue again. He is

going to have to go in and out of baulk between the yellow and brown

on the left-hand side. I think when he won the World

Championship last year, this side of his game was not there, I do not

think. He won it three being a ferocious competitor. This scoring,

together with the competitiveness, it will take a special performance

to beat him. He was shaking his head there

because he did not get dead straight on this red. Once again has to go

between the brown and yellow. There is a lot of screw on the left-hand

side this time. He might need the red to make the

frame safe and go one away from victory.

Even then he was slightly disappointed. He lost the cue ball a

little bit. As we said, had the year and doesn't

go in. He will be very annoyed. Now, Marco, what do you have left in

the tank to try to make a frame-winning break. He has got

horrible contact on the black which has sent the cue ball wide. It is

hard enough playing Mark Selby in this form.

And as good shot. Everything is difficult at this stage, just

keeping your focus and concentration is difficult.

If the scores were a little closer, you would say Marco Fu is a

certainty to win this frame now. I am still not sure he will clear

them, but he should do. This is the highest break so far this morning

from Marco Fu. The first time he has gone past 30. Selby has been scoring

so heavily. He got a bad bounce there. That cue

ball has come off at least the third verdict that it should have done

with the pace it came off the cushion. So, that wasn't his fault.

He still has a little bit of work to do. That is too hard, isn't it? He

got the second prize. Very well done, Marco Fu. That took

a lot of courage. He has been sitting down most of the morning

session. It took a lot of hard. Eight magnificent break of 56. Marco

Fu has got a foothold in this match now. It closes to 11-3. Marco some

some resistance after losing the previous six in a row, but with only

two frames left in the morning session, Mark Selby can win them

both, potentially and earned the evening off.

Playing this with the lot of top spin. The cue ball, back of the

cushion. He is definitely playing for deeds

-- the cue ball to hit the side cushion. This is a difficult black.

Brilliant. It is easier when you haven't yet frame lead. It is still

excellent. Three or four shots ago, there were

eight reds on this cushion. Now all of a sudden, after this next black

he should get rid of the red that is stuck in the bottom corner. The

black could be developed to both pockets in a moment. He does not

want to lose the black onto the brown spot, he wants it to spot.

With those reds on the back cushion, he will finish low on the black

because he does not want them to storm of the cushion.

30 points ahead now, he will be able to win this frame without doing

anything about the awkward rates. You

can see the determination of Mark Selby's face. He was so disappointed

to have lost the last frame when he made a break of 67. At least if he

wins this frame he has a chance to close the match out before the final

session tonight. He knows he has a great chance now to lead 12-3.

He felt here he had a very bad contact. He obviously played for the

paint in the corner. He felt he got a very heavy contact. You sort the

red bounce, leave the table. One frame left in this session. One

frame needed by Mark Selby. What willpower, what desire does Marco Fu

have left to bring this match to a final session tonight?

It goes without saying that Marco has not really been at the races in

this match but the way Mark Selby has gone about it has been so

clinical. He is playing one of the best players in the world and he is

12-3 in front. And cueing like a dream. Now then, let's see him get

on the next red. For, maybe five conditions. That will do it.

Could not play a proper positional shot.

They must seem like pockets at the minute for Mark Selby, two pot that

at that pace. This but the century. Is it there?

It is. Brilliant. How he made a century from this, I do not know? A

chance of making the first 140 plus break in this World Championship

now. A possible 143. Incredible. The last two shots have just been

incredible. I don't think I can remember a session where there has

been three total clearances in an eight frame session.

I've known mark since he was 12 years old and obviously seen him

play thousands of frames. I don't think I've seen him play better.

He's in a great place at the moment. The game has just seemed so easy.

He's finished a bit straight on this green, though. Maybe he'll have to

pay for the brown in one of the middle pocket.

: Wilson made the highest break last year. 100 -- this will equal that,

of course. Magnificent. That's one of the best

centuries I've ever seen. Hundred and 43 by Mark Selby. She wins the

match. STUDIO: Wow, that beats Mark Selby's personal high at The

Crucible of 142 back in 2010. When he was in here at the Winter Gardens

he was reminded of that. He now owns the two top breaks. Ken and Steve,

from where the ball started initially it was like a splatter gun

effect all over the table. It was an extraordinary break. No wonder the

guy in the front row was doing that. We were watching saying, where's the

next one coming from? Some of the black Sea parted, the red, it is

incredible. This is the start. This was one of the easiest ones of the

whole break. This black was just incredible. Just madness. OK, so,

he's plenty of frames in front, it makes the game a bit easier. I think

that's probably one of the most astonishing breaks I've ever seen.

We'll talk about Alex Higgins making that fantastic clearance, that was a

different story to stay in the match. But I've never seen the ball

is more difficult. Somebody would say to you, that's going to be a 143

break and you go, no. That is without doubt one of the best breaks

we've ever seen at this championship. You've got to hope,

and we might get a 147, you never know, but it deserves to stay there

because of its uniqueness. Yes it does. For all the stuff we've been

talking about potential winners, I mean, there's the potential winner.

All the stuff we talked about, forget about that! Let's start

again. All of it within four frames, an extraordinary achievement. One

frame away now, will he get it in this last of the session? He's on a

mission. COMMENTATOR: The final frame of the

session, could it be the final frame of this match? That's the equation

if Mark Selby wins it. Breaking off in what he hopes will be the last

time in this match. Played the double there which has

left Marco with half a chance that the red that passes the blue.

I for one wouldn't begrudge Marco from making a sizeable break from

here. He needs an angle on the blue or the yellow to go into the bunch.

Perfect aim on the blue, come on Marco, dig deep. You don't deserve

having had such a great season to lose like this. APPLAUSE

Marco is needing the spider. He's got to stop the cue ball dead to

leave himself the black. Could have been easier than this because he

played the kiss on the red perfectly. Yes, it was a great shot.

Does he have to take the cue ball from black to same pocket?

Well done. You almost had to guess the angle, there.

No. Oh! Well, they don't often go... I think it was just sheer pace. I

thought he'd missed this. Very surprised that went in off the

knuckle. Mark Selby is sat in his chair with a little smile to

himself. He thought Marco Fu had missed that. He thought he was going

to have a chance to win this match. That wasn't the cleanest of pots.

He's lost the cue ball again... You could tell he was struggling,

couldn't you? Yes, he's taken a battering in this

match. APPLAUSE

Could this be the final visit? He doesn't really want to play the

cannon but it could be the only way he can slow the cue ball down, play

the cannon onto the pink spot. He'll play red to the middle than

pink. It looks ominous now for Marco Fu.

Totally focused. Now he's got a chance to have a rest this evening

and watch Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui but a little else. -- battle

it out. Mark Selby will keep one eye on the

match this afternoon, I'm sure. He plays the winner, who ever comes

through that match. What a game that is going to be.

The message is sent out to the rest of the field by this performance.

He's had two sessions against one of the best players in the world, and

it looks like he's going to win them 6-2 and 7-1. And there's still

enough points for a century. He's already had three, could he possibly

have for? -- Reform? This Crucible crowd have witnessed

lots of wonderful sessions of snooker. I'm sure should Selby go on

to win, they'll give him the applause he deserves. .

A couple of those pots he's missed were in frames when it was all over.

Great recovery, topside of the blue. He's going to need one of the

awkward reds so he's going to win the frame at this visit.

He's not potted a pink in the centre pocket... I don't expect him to miss

this. It is safely there. APPLAUSE What a shame, I just wonder whether

Marco Fu will carry on. He is carrying on. Selby has been so

clinical and he is in the semifinal. You can see Mark Selby knows his job

is done. Especially now, what a tremendous performance of Mark

Selby. A standing ovation from this pact Crucible. They probably never

seen anything like that. Almost flawless snooker from the current

world champion. He's going to be so hard to beat. Many condolences to

Marco Fu. He played his part. Mark Selby goes into the semifinal.

Session to spread through to the one-table set-up yet again, a

perfect outcome. Fantastic feeling. I played well for the majority of

the match. I played really well yesterday, a good 5-0 in front.

Marco nicked two frames. The frame after that I was 40 or 50 behind. I

came out of the session 6-2 yesterday which was huge. I felt I

was in charge of the match and Marco would have still been in it. I came

back today and played a full flawless snooker. Those big

centuries, you seem as though you are really in a groove, now. Even at

the end I probably played the wrong shot. I should probably pop the

black to make sure. I'm so focused, I wanted to try and make another

century. Unfortunately the Marco he potted a red and that was it. I'm

really happy with my performance. First two games I played OK. But

this much I more or less scored from start to finish. How significant

could it be that you've now got the evening off, you've got plenty of

time to rest and prepare for the semifinal tomorrow. Of course, it's

a massive boost. I'm not sure my friends will enjoy that. They were

all coming down tonight but obviously that's not going to be the

case. It's great. It's such a long tournament so whenever you can get

some rest is great. Any preference, Ronnie or Ding? It's going to be a

tough game, whether I play Ding or Ronnie. At the moment it's looking

like Ding but you don't know what could happen. Enjoy your night. I'm

sure you'll find something to do with the boys and we'll see you

tomorrow. Also on display and Mark through to his head Crucible

semifinal. The ever modest Marco Fu has just tweeted "Selby was very

careless to lose three frames to me today, that's how good he was".

Stand-by for a barnstorming afternoon live snooker. Find out who

Mark Selby will be playing in the semifinal. Before that, a man who

always makes headlines, he's our guest in today's Table Talk. Is the

chairman of World Snooker Barry Hearn. Nice to see you. Tell me,

we've heard from you but we've had a statement from you during this

championship, we've not seen you in person yet but let's get things

straight. It's been an eventful championship so far. The last we

heard you were responding to Ronnie O'Sullivan's comments of

intimidation and bullying, secretly wondered if you would have been

rubbing your hands at the publicity. Ronnie never fails to deliver. I

think it was something that needed to be addressed. Obviously it's

something I don't like personally to see, bullying and intimidation, they

are very emotive words. Probably relevant, to be honest. The game's

come a long way. We've made a huge amount of progress over the last few

years across the world to become a truly global sport. For that reason

we have to have standards and we have to have professional standards

by players as well as officials and tournament organisers. When we look

at other sports, we are now competing with those. We aren't the

little shop on the corner, we are up there at the sharp end. We are

competing with golf, tennis, football, rugby, because we are a

major global sport. That brings responsibilities, particularly on

players. We incorporate those in a player's contract because we have to

set out the rules of what you can do and what you can't do. Same as life,

really. If you park on a double yellow you get told off. That's the

rule. Snooker is no different. This contract is devised between World

Snooker and the players governing body. It's constantly reviewed and

is currently being reviewed again. Within that contract, there is a

code of conduct. That code of conduct is the same for every player

and every player signed a contract. If you break it, don't accuse anyone

of bullying or intimidation of someone points out you are in

breach. Things we will never accept things like obscene or foul

language. We will never accept officials being publicly criticised

in the open media. We will never accept criticism of our partners,

sponsors or TV companies. There is a procedure behind the code of conduct

which allows you to campaign, but not in the public media -- allows

you to camp -- com plain. The Royals are there and the walls are to

change if the players themselves want to change them. There is a

method how they can change them but it's not something to blurt out.

That said, clearly it looked like it was escalating because the language

you used had a whiff of legalese. There is no resolution required,

there is a contract in place. The legalese language was because I

personally disapprove of any form of bullying or intimidation. Frankly,

it wasn't the case and hasn't been the case. Players that have

criticised the player 's contract have never been specific about what

they don't like. The door is always open to them to come and tell me

what your problem is. Come and explain to the players

representatives, the WPBSA, because nothing happens without their

consent. They are your governing body. Don't go off on a tangent and

try and blame something on something that isn't really applicable. The

player 's contract is a fundamental part of the image of snooker to the

world. John Higgins is on record as saying that there are some points in

that contract that may be a bit over the top. I'm not sure specifically

what they are. This is the whole point. I don't think these top

players have either read the contract themselves, even some of

the older players. Have they read it and don't understand it or have they

read it, understand it and ignored it. That's unacceptable. When

players say there are two or three things in the contract we don't

like, I say, fine, not a problem, tell me what they are. But these

players, when we put these things together, these other players that

don't attend the meetings, that don't comment and put their point

across, that don't read it and criticise. They wait for a platform

to express something, probably out of frustration. We aren't looking

for a problem. We are reviewing it, we've got a players commission.

Shaun Murphy, Alan McManus, Mark Allen, Mark Williams, yourself.

These are guys with an opinion. We will sit down and agree every word.

Once we agree and both sides are happy, that contract has to be

enforced. If that means disciplinary proceedings there will be

disciplinary proceedings, because we can't have anarchy. This port is no

longer a little boys club of getting together on a Friday night and

saying and doing whatever you want. That's not the real world and we

live in the real world. John Higgins was very supportive of many of the

other initiatives. Just give some balance. We'll so saw that Mark

Selby may become the first player ever to the ?1 million barrier in

terms of earnings in one season if he wins this. There's a lot of

dissent and talk about what's been happening at the lower reaches of

the sport, those just within the 64 and beyond. What changes are you

making to help those players? This is the result of people like Ken and

the other players actually fighting the corner of the lesser-known

players. I think we've all understood, and it's becoming

crystal clear, this tour is now 52 weeks a year, it involves a lot of

cost. Today we are going to announce that we are going to look at our

prize-money, we are increasing prize money again going forward into next

year, with an emphasis on the lower levels, in other words to make the

prize money go deeper into a tournament. Number two, we are going

to abolish entry fees. We've become a global game now and as such entry

fees were a thing of the past, when wasn't the money in the sport, when

we had to have help from the players themselves to play for their own

money. When Ken started it was the basis of financing tournaments. That

is abolished so that will save every player about ?5,000. Which will make

a big difference to a lot of the players at the bottom. If the guys

aren't winning anything, that ?5,000 is a lot of money. That's net as

well, without the tax. You have to earn maybe ?10,000 to get that

?5,000 back. And expenses as well. It will be good for a lot of the

players. Would like to see more players down at the bottom levels

for the player so when they win a match they've got a bit more. When

they are travelling to China it's costing them a lot for flights and

stuff like that. Would like to see more of that down the bottom. I

think we're going to see this year that our prize-money will go up to

?12 million. Six years ago it was ?3.5 million. More importantly, this

is just the beginning. We have deals in place now which will be

announcing over the next few weeks which will show an entirely

different climate coming in in terms of prize-money from China, for

example. We are delighted to say we've just agreed a new ten year

deal with the national TV company in China CCTV. Our future is

guaranteed. The only people who can mess this up is us. They start

delivering brilliant entertainment. We have to be a professional sport.

I remember a gulf of mine who used eight four letter word where there

were two spectators. He was fined ?14,000 by the PGA. That's how you

keep the level of respect and the perception of value and class and

quality. We've got an amazing potluck and great players. We have

to listen to the players all the time. This commission will be a

valuable addition to the circuit. These guys aren't frightened of me.

A guy who's just got his tour card is a bit in awe of rocking the boat.

Ken Doherty, Mark Allen, Mark Williams, they don't care about

rocking the boat. We'll get a balanced view to go forward, to be

fair to everybody. That's what we want. At the same time, I gave

certain guarantees six years ago on the level of prize-money. This year

I have surpassed those guarantees by ?26 million. We are doing something

right. How much can you further outlined the business to accommodate

the Far East and market? We had six Chinese players and a player from

Thailand as well. Your record saying half of the top 16 will be made up

of Chinese players. Inevitably will the sport go east much more? No. The

business is all about supply and demand.

break in this World Championship now. A possible 143. Incredible.

By doing that, where it has worked to our advantage, we can say to the

Chinese publicly, who we get on well with, we have a fabulous

relationship, you cannot have the Crucible, you cannot have the World

Championships, you cannot have our history. Though and make your own.

They will shock a lot of players over the next few weeks with the

opportunities. For the winners will be the most rewards, but there will

be more money in the pot. Why cant you do what they have done in

women's sport? Would you move any of the three majors over there? We will

be creating another major with prize money we have never seen before.

Price money generates majors in the brutal world of sports. It comes

down to money. If someone wants to say we will give you the same prize

money as the World Championships, that event will become a major.

Every young player will aspire to be in the final stages. Hardwick, --

combat the influence of so many tennis players? At the commencement

of next season, we are launching a new challenge tour for European

players. For the players who enter cute school who do not get their cue

card, they will have ten events. It is a joint initiative. We will

finance it, give these guys practical experience. I did on my

golf tours. It is quite a small event, but you will find out if you

have got what it takes to go to the highest level. There is a lot of

movement. Again, we are all learning about being a global sport. We have

talked it up in the past, but now we are in the real world. We are

competing with tennis and golf. You have to give something to the

amateurs for them to strive to before they get to the professional

level. If you do not feed the grassroots, you will have no future

in the game. What is the potential for integrating the women's tour?

Let's talk about women, because it is ladies's Day. We operate an open

system. It is a nonsexist organisation. Whoever you are, the

rules are the same, it is a game of snooker. We have seen some

reasonable performances. What we are sent to them is if you have got the

ambition to play on the main circuit, it doesn't matter if you

are a man or a woman, it doesn't matter. This is sport. You can play.

If you enter cute school, and should they can be a miniature player, if

they want to play small events, that is not my role. The opportunity will

be there for them to play in the challenge tour. There will be spot

on the main tour for the winner of the challenged. There will be

motivated. They will find out what they want to do with their life. Are

they prepared to pay the same price as the professionals today have

paid. If they have, we will give them the opportunity. Fascinating as

always. I am sure you will be watching this afternoon as Ronnie

O'Sullivan was out there and tries to overturn 84 frame deficit against

Ding Junhui. Ding has been sleeping, I wonder how easily, on the fourth

impression. Let's see how he established that last night. The

fascinating second session this is going to be. That is a brilliant

shot. Played it nicely. It was a wonderful shot. Century number 54

Ding. Ronnie has two really pull something out of the fire here.

Worrying times now for Ronnie. He will take some stopping now, Ding

Junhui. That is just about perfect. He has a virtually won every frame.

Looking very concerned. Of course, Ding Junhui is only another three

pots away from assuming a five frame lead. A huge frame for Ronnie of

Southern. That is a good start. If anyone can come back from such a

deficit, it is certainly Ronnie them. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan. This has

been a fantastic response. 104. A very good session free Ding Junhui.

He leads the five-time champion going into the final session

tomorrow by 10-6. Ronnie summoned some resistance last night. He has

won a quarterfinal here from success intent behind in the past. He has

also lost one from that position as well. Their blockbuster final

session ahead of us. Exciting times ahead in snooker as we heard from

the studio and exciting times ahead for this session. Here, backstage,

between the auditorium and the dressing rooms, historically the

players were asked to stand closer behind the commentary box when the

Commons were watching them. They don't like a camera in the face

before they go on. It is the nerve-racking pot before you go on.

In my experience, I was like a cold spring here. The register ready to

go. You would tell the reporters to get out of the way. You just want to

get out there. This is delaying it. It is annoying. Ronnie O'Sullivan

has a mountain to climb. Make the case for Ronnie O'Sullivan turning

this around and winning this afternoon. If he wins the first

three, he is back in it. He will put pressure on in January. Big pressure

on doing. Big expectations. Making the case for Ronnie, if he wins

three of the first 40 is well back in it. His strength as he can red of

those frames very quickly. Depending on the first frame, the mindset is

very important. Also, a little bit of luck. Definitely. He didn't have

a good session yesterday. Everyone has sessions like that, even Ronnie

O'Sullivan. If he comes out firing today, it will be a big test for

Ding Junhui. We'll Ding Junhui crumble? He will be under big

pressure, is he mentally strong enough? If Ronnie plays like the

last from last night, it will be a big test of Ding's mental strength.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Without doubt, this is one of the

most eagerly anticipated sessions of snooker so far at the 2017 World

Championship. What an occasion. What an atmosphere here at the sport's

spiritual home. Please welcome a player who from 5-

?1 has got himself right back in the match. Five times a ranking event

winner, bidding for his third Crucible semifinal. The pride of

Glasgow, when he is good he is on fire, here is Stephen Maguire.

And his opponent, contesting his fifth successive Crucible

quarterfinal, one of the most consistent performers here in recent

years. Five frames in a row yesterday has given him the edge.

Runner-up in winner of three ranking titles in all, he is the heart,

Barry Hawkins. On a table one, here comes a man who

has been the box office draw for snooker for two decades, bidding for

a record equalling 12 Crucible semifinal, he finished last night

with a century in under four minutes and he will be ready to roll this

afternoon. The five-time champion of the world, blink and you were

missing, Ronnie was a living. -- Ronnie Southern.

Finally, emerging today just three frames away from a third Crucible

semifinal, there will be millions of people tuning in to watch back home.

One of 12 ranking titles in all and the Crucible runner-up last year, a

national hero in China, enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui.

There is red button coverage of Hawkins and Maguire. We will keep

you posted throughout the afternoon, but Dennis Taylor and Stephen Hendry

on duty. The big afternoon for them and for Stephen. You own the record

of 12 appearances in a Crucible semifinal. Can run extra magic? You

are about to find out. I cannot wait for this session to get going. What

I am interested to see is how Ding Junhui copes with this. Straightaway

he has got to cope with the snooker. I don't think Ronnie intended the

snooker, he was trying to get behind the green. Ronnie could do with

three out of the four frames in as many sessions here. Ronnie had that

break a little bit too hard, but it will do nicely. I think a lot of

people are reading a lot into the session yesterday. What is wrong

with Ronnie? The simple fact is he did not play well. Even one of the

best players in the world can have a bad session. It was only a couple of

lapses where he seemed to lose concentration. That cost him a

couple of frames. It could easily have been equal. Every frame doing

one was with one visit. The percentages are all about he has

got the frames on the scoreboard. Ronnie is a joint second with eight

tournament success rate of 92%. John Higgins and the defending champion,

Mark Selby, have 93%. There wasn't a great deal of

tactical play. They view of the frames had good save the date, but

he was making enough to win the frame. I think something else Ronnie

did not do well, he did not seem to have the same intensity in his focus

as he did in the first two rounds. I remember his reaction after winning

the first round and he was up for the second. He didn't seem as for it

yesterday. Sometimes you just do not play as well.

A cagey start to this first frame. Another thing -- another thing

safely required here. That might be a chance for Ronnie to get in behind

the brown. You can see the right side of the red is as we look at it.

It is who plays the more telling safety shot. This looks good. This

looks very good. That was a gorgeous safety shot. Sacrificed on the black

out of cushion for the sake of getting the excellent cue ball. An

interesting start. Ding Junhui has a higher safety success rate than

Ronnie O'Sullivan. That is a factor which caused a 10-6 scoreline so

far. Very unusual for O'Sullivan to be outplayed in that department.

He had no safety shot on there. That was all he could attempt.

Great to see the 2016 Masters champion, Danny Willett, here. A

great lad. Not having the best season, but he will bounce back. No

doubt about that. He loves his snooker. Along with the few friends

here. There is another good safety shot there. A keen snooker follower

there. One of the top European tour players has been out injured and is

back again. Sheffield have two Masters

champions. Danny Willett and Lee Westwood. They love their sport in

Sheffield. I cannot get out of that. Lee

Westwood should have one the Masters. He is my master.

There is one in the middle of the bunch that much trouble him. Just

played the safety shot. There is more safety being played in this

opening frame than in most of the match.

Already 28 minutes. -- already going eight minutes.

He is on the yellow but the green is preventing him from getting back up.

He would have the power of this to hit the green and the cushion and

get up. There is the side. It is not bad. He could pot this and screw you

over for the blue. If that was cricket it would be a

wide. Never seen that coming. I really believe this session this

afternoon is one of the biggest test Ding Junhui has had in his career so

far. I think the record against O'Sullivan is 10-2 in favour of

O'Sullivan. A big mountain to climb today, even though he is 10-6 up.

He had to make sure the pot there hasn't finished on a red. That is a

good target, he can get in behind the green here.

Not sure if Ding can take this pot on. He might be able to find the gap

and get back down the table. Well, he tried the pot but he was a long

way off it. He is very edgy here this afternoon. I think you are

right, I think it is the pressure of playing Ronnie to get into the

semifinal of the World Championship and nine there are a couple of

hundred million people watching back in China. He was superb yesterday.

If they could have carried on the match

yesterday, doing probably would have one the match. I was about to say

the fact he had all night to think about it, he is 10-6 ahead.

The little drop the shoulders. He has finished dead straight on the

blue. He might have to play the green here if he wants to get close

to red. That has turned out to be a very

awkward opening frame with the reds surrounding the black.

The brown was distracting him there. He can get on the pink shortly. The

blue, move the red to the left of the paint. That will clear the tank

into the red corner as well. Having another look at his trip

there. That was another Burnley played shot there. It was almost

like a deceleration. He has perfect position there. Just a slower

delivery of the cue. After this shot, he should win the

first frame. Well, I did not see that coming. That seemed to be a

slight lapse in concentration. It is pretty straightforward. That was a

careless one. The chance for them to settle down, though he does seem a

little edgy. He might be just OK. It is such an important opening

frame this, it really is. You can tell because both players are

slightly edgy. Another easy red before the problems

begin. Deliberately finishing high on the black. Is he trying to move

the red here? Just got to full contact.

This is going to make life very difficult now for Ronnie O'Sullivan.

All the colours are in pottable positions. This is an important

escape here. He could go once across the table, past the blue. He would

have to just land on the red, you would feel. It is just a little

awkward this, because he could push the red into a pottable position if

he does not get the correct contact on it.

He has overcompensated. Ronnie has gone and sat down when the referee

replaces the white. He was looking around, where are you Ronnie? I am

over here. Third time lucky. This is better. He just wants to forget.

Well played. Very well judged there. He has gone

and had the red once again. He has got to get it safe. That is all you

can do in that situation, hit and hope you get it safe. The fellow has

come to his rescue. While Ronnie has an anxious look, doing is having an

anxious look. It looks as if it will just pass the yellow. There is not a

fruit pocket as you can see and we are right down the cue of Ding

Junhui. No, it would not go. I think you are right, there was

definitely some pocket to aim for. It was too much to risk.

What a shot there. And absolutely cracking shot, that was.

That is never going to reach. It is going back, but if he hits this red,

he could easily push it on. This is a bit of a problem for doing here.

He wants to hit the cushion first before the red. If he hits the red

before the cushion at that pace, I cannot see him not sticking the red

up. Now, the longest frame of the match,

this one. Ronnie has just gone slight favourite. Doing has got to

do well to hit this and get it safe. He just has to hit it and hope it

goes safe. No idea where they are going.

He might be able to screw in behind the yellow again.

He could swear of this if he wants, but he will still come off the top

condition. Will he get away with it again? Where is this red? It is

coming close to the corner pocket. It will cut. It is a thin one. What

colour do you play for? It is thin enough that he will avoid the pink.

I think it will be heading toward the yellow, looking at the natural

angle. Just checking to see if the yellow

passes the brown. It must not. The cue ball will be very close to this

cushion. He decided it does go past. He needs the yellow, green, brown

and blue. This is the shot. And it is safety in. It is the longest

frame of the match so far, but the most important, you would have to

say. This is just what Ronnie O'Sullivan

needed, to get off to a good start. Ding Junhui has had a couple of

chances. As did Ronnie. But in the end it is he who takes the frame and

closes the gap. It is now 10-7 to Ding Junhui.

How many times do we stress the importance of the opening frame? Has

gone to Ronnie O'Sullivan and suddenly the gap narrows. The

pressure squeezes down on Ding Junhui. It is a question of mental

strength at this point? It is. It was and how people may be envisaged

Ronnie O'Sullivan would win that opening frame. There were enough

mistakes by both players to realise it was an important frame. They both

looked edgy to start with. Very tense. Very nerve-racking. You could

cut the atmosphere with a knife. You can feel the tension even from here.

Very nervous, Ding Junhui. He missed a lot of pots by some margin. The

one with the rest nearly hit someone in the front row, it was that

far-away! Who knows what can happen? It is an extraordinary situation,

what the Crucible can do out there. You look back to the last frame of

the session last night which Ronnie pinched to stop that momentum. How

much more comfortable would it have been at 11-5? I felt it would have

been over. 10- snakes -- 10-6 gave him a sniff.

10-7 and it is more interesting. I feel Ding needs to get in early in

the frame, making nice break. Not even a frame clincher, just a nice

break, to settling down. Get his arm moving.

A very useful cannon on the yellow to take the cue ball close to the

coition. -- cushion. Just playing the white into the top

end of the table. Ronnie feels he can pot this into

the middle pocket and possibly get on a Black.

Well, that was a mis-hit therefrom Ding Junhui. There is a long red on.

Ronnie can get on to the black. This is a test of the cue action. This

would be a nice one to knock in if the black is waiting there.

That was a good pot. There was pressure on that. He was leaving the

red to the middle. He has gone too far with that. That

was a bit careless. There may be a plant that will come to the rescue.

And there was. But can he see enough of the black? Just about. He is

fully stretched though. Oh, good recovery. Terrific recovery. Now the

chances there. -- the chance is there. It couldn't have been placed

any better. He is looking to get to 71 points to secure the frame. I

think it has just finished a little awkward. He can't run-through for

the black. He may be able to. Yeah, no problem.

This is not what Ding Junhui wanted to see. He has lost the first frame.

OK it was scrappy, both players make mistakes. But now Ronnie O'Sullivan

is in amongst the black, the reds in the open.

I think if Ronnie wins this frame in one visit, he becomes favourite in

the match for me. Yeah it was a very careless safety shot

from Ding Junhui. 60 points ahead. Just a few more

pots. This black and one more red would be enough.

And the first two sessions were like this. If one player made a mistake,

the other made enough to win the frame.

This red to stop Ding Junhui coming back to the table. It is there.

It is not that easy to make a century, the balls are. Ronnie has

already had five in this year's Championship. -- World Championship.

We are up 258 centuries now. -- to 58 centuries. Chasing the record 68.

No century. But he won't be too concerned. He has done what he

wanted to do. Ronnie O'Sullivan with that magnificent and 97 break has

taken the second frame and closes the gap.

10-8. 35 minutes gone. The deficit is

halved. We have a match on? Absolutely. It was what Ronnie

needed. Another good frame. A good long pot. He was missing those last

night. That will give him confidence. There is a momentum

swing. Steve says Ding Junhui needs a break to settling down. He has

made 43 points in two frames. That will not have a settling effect at

this point? No. Patience is handy to have coming into this part of the

match. You don't want to take half a chance

where you know it is not the right shot. But you can see your opponent

coming behind you and it is easy to panic. Whereas Ronnie O'Sullivan,

coming from behind in the match, doesn't ever panic. He is a relaxed

player, even though he is fast and furious around the table. He has

been pretty workmanlike. He has. The last time his back was to the wall,

couple of years ago, it was against Joe Perry, 2014. It went into the

last session and he was 6-9 down. He won five out of the last six,

including back-to-back centuries, to get the job done.

I think this man will have something to say about that. He has not been a

terrific long pot. -- knocked in. He played the red very confidently.

Stopped the cue ball short. No thought of any safety element to the

shot. That's what happens when you don't

connect with the painful ball. -- with the pink full ball. He was

lucky enough. He was hoping to bring the black interplay. -- into play.

He has brought a red up with the cue ball. The pink is next to the blue.

It is a little awkward. The black is tied up. The natural angle, if he

pots this, would be to run the left side of the black. He would have to

screw it to get over, to leave the black available.

He felt he could not hold for the black because of the angle and get

round to it baulk colour. What a cannon on the blue that was.

He has got quite a nice angle on this red to flick across to the

black. Leave himself on the black to left corner. That was not as played.

He got a result. He has finished perfectly on this

red. He can bring more into play. He will be playing this with top spin.

He could played with screw. But he could finished too high on the

black. Oh dear. That could always happen. That is the risk with the

follow-through in that shot. If you play the screw shot, that can't

happened. A little bit unfortunate. If he got on the black, the way the

reds, he -- you would have fancied him winning the frame.

As Steve Davis said, you need to have patience.

He didn't hit that one very well. He is anxiously waiting to see if the

blue is coming to the rescue. It has further red. But there is one to the

other side of the table. This is a bit of a test for Ding Junhui.

Good queueing. Excellent. And a great chance now. That certainly

will settle him down. Stephen mentioned the previous frame

Ding Junhui just needs a chance to knock in 40 or 50, just to get his

confidence back. He may do that here.

This is a very good effort from the Chinese player coming at just the

right time. He was looking a little edgy. But just relying on that solid

technique that he has. He has won 12 ranking titles, Ding.

It has, Krul up assured but that doesn't matter. Beautifully played.

He sent it all the way around the ankles.

He has already made two centuries in this match. If this goes in, there

is a chance. No. No century. But Ding Junhui has done what he needed

to do. With that break of 69, he opens a three frame advantage.

It is 11-8. Last night Ding Junhui had a run of five frames on the

bounce. Ronnie had three. How much does that take the heat off in? It

does for a little bit. You never know what will happen in the next

couple of friends. There was a critical moment. Perhaps the most

important ball he parted -- potted, Ding was left with a difficult shot

into the right corner. Given the amount of pressure he is under, when

there was the chance of another one for a ball roll, all of a sudden, to

knock that in, was a big moment in this match. Yes indeed. A settling

break. 69. Put yourself in this situation of being in there with all

the pressure upon you. How does that translate into your physical

well-being knowing you are off the mark? It will be a massive relief.

It stops the run of Ronnie O'Sullivan. And also, it settles him

down. He has potted in nice few balls. He has kept the cue ball

tight. Played some nice shots towards the end. This is quite

possibly Ronnie's only chance. If he loses this frame, he is out of the

tournament. If he wins it, it gives them a chance.

The form that thing is in, you cannot win five in a row against

Ding. He must win this to keep his hopes alive.

This is the last frame before the interval.

That was quite a good shot from Ding Junhui. I know he missed the pot.

That last frame was so important for Ding Junhui. As I said before, I

thought Ronnie might have gone favourite when he was 10-8. Ding

didn't look comfortable at all out there. But the last frame was vital.

Getting amongst the balls and score. -- get in. What a pot!

He just needs to get the red away, the one to the left. Maybe not this

time, but certainly next time. He wants that red next to his hand out

of the way. Then the black will be clear into both corner pockets.

I never like to say these things too soon, but you could not have the

reds in a better position. We have had one of the best breaks I have

ever seen, 143, from Mark Selby this morning. This could be better. Or

certainly a higher break. I know you don't want to say it, Stephen, but

it is all reds and all-blacks. The first thing is to make sure you

score enough to take the frame. A friend that he badly needs, as the

boys in the studio were saying. 12-8, you wouldn't give him much of

a chance. 11-9, all to play for. Yeah, I think as soon as he potted

red, black, he will be thinking about it. It will be for the glory

of making a maximum at the Crucible. That will be beat -- that will be

the prize he is thinking about. I don't want to get into it too much,

but it's disappointing. There is ?10,000 for the high break, with

only ?5,000 for a maximum break. They are sitting perfect. The last

gentleman to make a maximum break in the Crucible Theatre was in 2012. He

is smug -- smiling. The cannon has kept them on the black. He is

smiling. He is looking up at Stephen Hendrie in the commentary box.

He has tried to get on it but he did not manage it. He has plundered 13

times. It could still be the highest break. Even Ding Junhui was smiling

in his seat. I don't think he was giving it 110%.

Still under six minutes. Just coming up to six minutes for this quite

outstanding, under the circumstances.

He is flying around the table at the moment and he is still smiling up at

Stephen Hendry. He has finished short on the blue.

Absolutely incredible. Do not miss the black. And he has not. Ronnie

O'Sullivan, what a brickie has made there. He has made the highest break

of the World Championship this year. A magnificent 146 and he goes to the

mid-session interval just two behind, 11-9. What a match this

could be. Only the third ever 146 we have seen at the Crucible. What a

response. We were talking about his chances being over under the one

that frame and he has underlined that he is still in it. With such

aplomb as well. It is good to see him enjoying himself out there. He

has kept himself in the match. He needed that from badly and he will

feel better. It looked like it was just going to be a bog-standard 147.

It was the most clinical one he has ever made. When it started to go

wrong, he potted a good red and the start was fantastic. When he got

down for the blue, ?5,000 extra for a 147 break. That is why he messed

around. If there is 50,000, I think he gets the 147. Therein lies an

interesting decision come much do you put for the break. It is only

one frame. Historically it is such a holy Grail, they are making more of

them. Back in that Day they used to insure against them and the premium

started going up and up and up, so it became prohibitive from a view of

how much money you would then spent out of the total pool of prize

money. We are now in a situation where some of the players hit it and

others say it is just the way the game has gone. An extra 5000 if

there is a 147. That would be split if they were to maximums. We could

have a decade since Stephen Hendry at his last Crucible. That was the

tenth one here. There's an argument to say, put up 50 or 75,000,

whatever it might be. . The messing around. The 147, I know you

shouldn't put a price on it because of the history of making it at the

Crucible. It is special and should be rewarded with a special prize.

Even a car or something like that. We won't go there. Nevertheless, a

146 means he has another frame on the board, he is back in this. 9-11,

came on. It would've been nice from his perspective to just get on with

the next frame because he could have got going back in the whole again

but then has a bit of respite. He will not be delighted that he has a

bit more space. I fancy Ronnie to come out and win the next frame.

There is a little bit more going on in this match. They have about 15

minutes to reflect on it. We will reflect on events in Sheffield

because it is latest Day. We will look at the women's World

Championship which was staged last month in Singapore. For the first

time in more than 20 years, the most prestigious ranking event in women's

snooker was held outside of the UK. It is the first time for the ladies

snooker championship to be held in Asia. Hopefully this will bring new

faces to the game and create more awareness. I have wanted this to

happen for so long and there is no better place in the world than

Singapore to have our first inaugural event overseas. It has

proven there are more ladies out there, even girls. This is only

going to publicise ladies snooker. That is what we need. We have 32

great players from around the world. We are very pleased. The women who

play, the more chance we will end up with awe", which is to develop a

women's's game alongside the men's sport when we can go for an Olympic

bid for 2024. Over seven days, the top players were kept apart during

the group stages. Two players would advance from each of the groups and

would be seeded going into the quarterfinals. In a dramatic

concluding Day, the semifinals saw Evans fears her opponent a repeat of

the final from last year. A break of 50 lead to a 5-4 win. It was always

good to be a toff half of the draw. I just threw every frame away and it

is my own fault for the loss. Meanwhile, in the other semifinal,

Rebecca Grainger lost 5-1 to become the first Indian player to become a

finalist. I tried my hardest today, but a lack of sleep last night and

the change in pace of the players, I play fast, she played slow. It

slowed me down, so I couldn't get into my rhythm today. The first ever

all Asian final entered the tournament. It came down to the last

two balls. She at the pink and found the black. Her belief that would

then potted the pink to claim her second word women's championship. I

am still dreaming because I was so nervous. It has been a long Day.

Congratulations. Back-to-back titles for her. Evans, an 11 times

champion. Lovely happy with this. As you are saying, we always had in

when you lose in the semifinal with the final. Congratulations on your

progress. We have the also congratulate you on an absolutely

landmark achievement right here in Sheffield. The first woman to ever

win one of the qualifying matches here. Just explain how much

publicity it garnered and how much satisfaction was in that for you. I

wasn't confident after just losing the World Championships. Wanted to

get the buzz going again, build-up to it and I felt good in that much.

Against Robin you have got to play well. I felt amazing in the match.

Nerves, but it was good. I held myself together well and even said

himself, I deserved it in the end. I am not potting words in your mouth,

but you have more awareness than everything you can do in the women's

imp except win, win, win. It feels to me as if he were attentions

turned to the World Championship qualifier is a more exciting event

for you now. You get up for those matches. You are not in those

situations all the time. You have to work harder and try to achieve more.

It is brilliant to keep winning, but you get flood sometimes. Sometimes

it is good. Two years ago we had some match. I needed a snooker to

win. I believe she should not be on the tour at all, she's too good. I

don't want the beholder qualifiers. It is fantastic to see. She is a

fantastic player. She really merits being on the tour and in the

qualifying system. You got it back to 9-6 and you give him a heck of a

fright. This campaign and the Crucible, to be the first woman ever

to qualify for the Crucible, does it go on? Yes. I will always strive to

be the first. Playing Robbie and lead, not even playing my best game,

but this year I have made myself believe in myself. Others say you

can do it, I need the result. Now I have the belief and other ladies can

thrive on that as well. The holy Grail is to be on the main terror.

Now there is another way in. They challenge tour has been announced.

Ten events and two spaces to get onto the main tour. Your chance of a

challenge tour, he would fancy that, surely. Definitely. Joost Luiten is

a good opportunity, but you could be the year and have a frightening.

Just two weeks. At least it is over a season or a few months and you can

build and implement them. You might have a bad result and then a good

result and it compensates. Do you think this will encourage more

ladies to take up the game? The fact that they will have another chance

to be on the tour and they have more tournaments to play? Definitely. I

have competed against the men since I started. With these youngsters

here, we have never had so many at one time. Something is happening for

us... I also think announcing the challenge tour will kick start the

amateur game. But just in the UK and Europe, but I think you'll be

astonished by how many people decide to enter it. The floodgates might

open. We wish you all the best with this. We hope to see you back

challenging to be the first woman to play at the Crucible. It is not just

players we want. There has been a gradual number of female officials.

We have had a lot of women referees and I know you are within

forthcoming referee now. I certainly am. It has been a pleasure to spend

time with so many talented players. Sarah, we do not see many female

referees in the sport. What inspired you to get into it? I have always

been a fan of snooker. When Joel Lazarus, a friend of mine, suggested

I did, I thought I would go along for the ride. It was one of the best

decisions I ever made. I qualified in April last year. Presumably, to

get into refereeing, it would have been imported to play for a while

first to understand the game. You would think. A little bit. What has

been the highlight of your career? Meeting the players, being pot of

the Smith family at my club and on the circuit. Just becoming pot of

the snooker family. We have got to travel a lot as well. Bob and down

the country. I was in Cyprus with the European Championship. That was

an amazing experience. Is the dream to work on to the Crucible floor?

Absolutely. I have asked the public about the attire of the game. Do you

prefer a more relaxed look where the suit? I think they should be dressed

like gentlemen. Keep the traditional. Ladies out there, do

get involved. There us know your thoughts and opinions. Thank you and

good luck in her career. We are going to go into the other

quarterfinal we have been watching this afternoon on the other side of

the table. It features Barry Hawkins in his fifth consecutive

quarterfinal and Stephen Maguire back here for the first time in five

years. It was Maguire who dug in yesterday having been 5-1 down. We

are going to join them early in the Thursday afternoon.

Just hit across the slightly. He knew there was pressure on it. If he

missed it, it was bound to leave a red on. He played it in a way that

was full-blooded. He played the run-through and tried to take the

cue ball back up the table. They went all out for it so he has to

face the consequences when it doesn't go in.

It is lovely to win the first frame of the session, especially if you

have a 5-3 lead. I think this is a good chance because there is a red

immediately above the black at the bottom of the cost that will go to

the left corner. He is not desperate to open up the reds. The way they

are, you are right. If he leaves himself a little low, he can play a

shot for he brings the other reds into play as well. Barry will be

thinking a few shots ahead for that. As he underrated that were

overheated? He might have got away with that as well. You think you

would go around the back of the brand and that would leave a lovely

angle to get down to the back red. Yes, there you go. He has finished

on a perfect angle. Anywhere near the circle would be

perfect. Nearly a bull's-eye. He has, absolutely perfect. Great shot.

It just shows you. The shot for the red in the middle. Because of what

it finished he could get behind the brown and it has led to a brilliant

chance. He looks like he is cueing very well.

On many occasions we say you are lucky to get one chance, this is his

third chance. Now he has the frame at his mercy. He hits the ball

nicely. He has a nice way about him. Especially over the last two or

three seasons he is a top player. No doubt about that. He has been to the

final of this great championship. He is one of the toughest competitors

on the circuit now. I just think he is blessed with a lovely touch. He

is an excellent break-builder. Civelli plays are very good indeed.

Just a good all round player. Difficult to beat.

He is now 61 ahead and there are only 59 remaining. He is nicely on

this red. I don't think Maguire will get a chance to come back to the

table. There are still a couple of runners

left in the championship after Ding Junhui as well. A bad break has cost

him this frame. Simple as that. He has had a couple of hard chances,

long pots. The last thing he wanted to do was to gift Barry an

opportunity to study the frame. He was always playing catch-up and on

the back foot. Nicely played to the top pocket.

That will finish absolutely perfect on the black, just to play a little

cannon in the joint between the red and the pink. Could not have played

it much better. It is a good idea to make sure you cleared this up as

well. I'm not saying Stephen would come back, he is not the type, but

just cleared this up, keep him off the table. Who knows. It might make

him miss the next shot he takes. He will certainly be cold coming to the

table in the next frame. You know as well as anyone, there is

nothing like getting a nice rhythm going. Comfortable, make a nice

break in the opening frame. And don't worry your opponent in the

chair watching you do that. He knows you are in good stroke. It puts more

pressure on him. If he makes mistakes, this is what you will do

to him. Stephen Maguire has got to get his head down. This is a tough

match, as you'd expect in the quarterfinal of the World

Championship. An excellent break of 86 from Barry

Hawkins. Stephen Maguire started with a bad break. Barry needed three

chances, but Stephen Maguire did not score a point. Now three frames

behind. 6-3. An emphatic start to the afternoon from Barry Hawkins. He

has the three frame advantage. You can continue watching on the BBC

sport website. Right now we are going back for potentially five more

frames in this quarterfinal between the five times champion, Ronnie

Sullivan, and Ding Junhui, he is attempting to win his first and

after that incredible break of 146 by Ronnie in the last frame, there

is still just two minute. And Ronnie not quite getting round near the

baulk to cover this side of the table. That is the average frame

time. Just over 14 minutes. Ronnie down to 16. That is his average shot

time. Too risky, the long pot they are to have a go at.

If that cue ball had come of any further, Ronnie could play for the

black. Decisions never Ding Junhui in this

match. Does he want to keep attacking? He is choosing not to,

which is probably sensible. That is a great shot. There is another red

to the right corner, but he didn't even look at it.

Just overcome that. Just a little bit of noise from the other side of

the arena. They are at the mid-session interval. You wouldn't

think you could hit that too thin. Just a safety shot 15. -- for doing.

A pretty good one at that. In fact, a very good one indeed, because he

has blocked off all the escape route down the left side of the table. I

don't know if he can see enough of the red past the green. That is very

tight. No, too thick. Much too thick. Is he

going to get away with it? It could have been worse. Playing that with

lots of side to swing it around the ankles. That was not easy, but this

is a tricky pot up into the corner. Not a lot of pressure on this and it

could pay dividends if he knocks it in. No. I expected him to get this

one because there was no real pressure on it.

He cannot do much with this. He was trying to get to the right side of

the black when he pointed that red. He couldn't quite get enough side on

it. It was a difficult enough pot. Well now, he put self in a spot of

bother here. Ronnie can roll down behind the yellow here. But he is

clearing the black spot instead and maybe trying the same shot. It was

easy just to roll of the red behind the yellow but he wanted to bring

the black interplay. What a nudge on the ground that was.

This is very tight. -- nudge on the brown. He is having to swerve this a

bit, as you can see. But the pink and black are now out

of commission. The blue is off its spot slightly.

Not a good angle on the green to try and do something with the reds

because the pink and black are completely tied up at the moment. He

needs something to pot to cannon onto those but there is no angle for

the green and he will have to play onto the single red at the right of

the table here. The cannon on the other red would

have helped there. He's got a safety officer read that

is closest to the black that will open things up but he has got to be

careful, the red on the right side of the table, in fact he is going to

play that one simply because it was in the way of this safety.

That was a very risky shot Ding Junhui played there. Even if the cue

ball had only got to the baulk cushion he would still leave the red

on. Strange choice of shot for me. It was an unforced error. There was

no need to play that shot. If that had run another few inches

he would have had a great angle to come into the bunch and might still

be able to force the white into the reds. That was never going to be

easy from that angle. As I say, if the white out on a few more inches

it would have been a natural angle. That is going to make this frame

very interesting, the black going over the pocket now.

The target this time will be the brown. And that looks pretty good.

Not quite. That black has finished so close to the pocket I don't think

a red would go in and of that. I'm not quite sure. It just means that

we might be in for quite a bit of tactical play because of the black

over the pocket. APPLAUSE

It is possible, if a player could get in behind one of the reds he

might be able to squeeze it past the black. But you would need to be

absolutely plumb on a red to be able to do that.

A bit of a problem for Ding Junhui because he can't get down the

left-hand side of the table and if he tries to go down the right side

he could knock the black in. Nothing easy to try and nestle on.

Hm. Is there anything is possible -- pottable into the left-hand corner?

No, they are all covering each other. Not a natural angle to try

and get in behind the yellow either. That pushed a read out. The brown

might be a little awkward but there is a definite chance. Big shot

coming up. That is why he missed it. Surely he

hasn't got away with this. Once he missed the pot and went in amongst

the reds you would have thought he would have left all sorts of things

on. But at first glance there is no easy pot available. What is Ding

looking at here? Will the red go in the middle? The one next to the

pink. Is there a path through to it? Maybe. He will not get a better

chance than this, Stephen. No, like you, Dennis, at first glance I

thought Ronnie had had an incredible resolve there. But no. Now Ding

Junhui should go 12-9 in front from this opportunity. But there is a lot

of pressure out there now. Anything could happen now. 65 points required

to make the frame safe. He has had a kick. Still on the pink to the right

middle. Has he gone far enough for the black? You could see the red

jump. At least he has still potted the red.

There you can see he would need a swerve to pot the black.

I think the black is going to be OK when it goes back on its spot. It's

still going to be available into the same pocket he's plotting it in. --

potting it in. The long red running missed, and he wouldn't have missed

it if it were not for the brown, the brown was sitting very awkward.

He just couldn't get comfortable with his bridge and because of the

brown and that caused the miss. Just keeping that solid technique

that he has. Standing him in good stead here under extreme pressure.

He had to sit and watch Ronnie O'Sullivan make that magnificent 146

break in the last frame. But the interval came just at the right

time, I suppose. And Ding Junhui was in the dressing room, bumped into

Terry Griffiths in the corridor and he would have been in chatting and

using all of his experience of playing at the Crucible and chatting

to Ding and helping him mentally to come out for the frame after the

interval and he is looking good here.

But it has to be said that we are sitting lovely and he has taken full

advantage. I mean, this is another frame that he's going to win in one

visit virtually. You have to go back to 2007 to see Ding Junhui beat

Ronnie O'Sullivan. That was just the Premier League. Prior to that it was

the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy. Ronnie's won all the other meetings.

But Ding is improving all the time. They haven't played for nearly three

seasons in a major tournament. Good cueing, very good cueing, and

every chance now of a century break. He is way ahead of everyone else in

this year's World Championship. He's made eight. We've had 59 so far this

year. GROANS FROM CROWD

Well, no century break but he won't be too concerned about that. It was

very important to come out of the mid-session interval firing on all

cylinders, he did coming maybe 87 break, he is 12-9 in front and needs

just one more. STUDIO: His last eight matches in a

row against Ronnie over the last ten years, Dennis said it was a decade

since he has beat Ronnie, he has done it twice, Ronnie had the

superior record, he is on the brink but will he get over the line? Every

chance and the difference is possibly that, and it has been said

quite often in the last couple of years, the bubble has burst as far

as people being afraid of Ronnie O'Sullivan. They respect his great

play but Stuart Binny and beat him and then all of a sudden the

floodgates have generally opened. Perhaps this is the right time for

Ding Junhui to stamp his authority on the situation. That is an

interesting point because Barry Hawkins also got past him last year

as well. You are right, perhaps the aura has not gone but even at that

you still wouldn't put it beyond him. It is not beyond the realms of

possibility Ronnie can still win this match. There has been lots of

other matches at the Crucible where somebody needs the last four frames

to win. But against Ding Junhui it is difficult snooker and his long

ball game is not as good as it should be, Ronnie's. The way he has

been playing because he's been so good, he's been scoring so heavily

and you can't see him missing. All I would say is Ronnie O'Sullivan these

days needs a challenge sometimes and this is a big one. This is the

ultimate one now. Back we go. COMMENTATOR: The kiss on the yellow

has left a possible long pot for Ding Junhui. How confident is he

feeling? After that last frame. No. He's not... He looked at the long

pot and changed his mind. I don't blame him one little bit.

He hit that a bit on the thin side, almost collided into a red there.

Now, that is the first error. At first when he can end the red I

thought it was going to be an easy starter for Ding Junhui. Not often

you see Ronnie shake his head. This not straightforward. It will cut in.

Yes, good start, and a very good chance with the way the rents are

situated here. It's an excellent chance for the Chinese player.

Could this be Ronnie's last shot in this year's World Championship? Ding

has just let that cue ball travel just an inch or two too far. He is

looking long and hard at the pink. That would be a big help if that

goes. And it did. Because the black was

very, very difficult indeed. He was hampered there. Just checking to see

if the pink will go on its own spot, it doesn't, so the highest available

is the yellow. He will be so excited inside, Ding

and he will be churning inside. It makes you feel like you are shaking.

You think people can see it but it doesn't show outwardly, just inside.

He just needs to make this break to get into the semifinal.

That magical number 70 you can see on the side of your screen is what

will get Ding into the semifinal. Hey did remarkably last year, had to

come through the qualifying rounds, three rounds at Ponds Forge in

Sheffield and then got through to the final. He lost out to Mark

Selby. He will start to think about when he

is going into the bunch of reds. He will have to do it at some stage. As

I always say it's always best to do it when you have at least one loose

red available. Just in case the split doesn't work. You can see what

his plan is, deliberately finishing low on the black. The red to the

extreme right of the bunch, he will not play it with too much pace. Just

a controlled cannon. They could have worked out better.

REFEREE: Touching ball. He said touching ball but I think it is very

tight to judge whether he can get past the red he is touching to pot

the one into the middle pocket. There is no problem with the other

but it is awkward cueing. It's the other one he is choosing. He will

get onto the blue if he cuts it in. That is a terrific shot under the

circumstances. OK, he is the wrong side of the blue, but one more good

positional shot, as we show you that awkward cueing, one more good

positioning shot here. He kept himself so still on that shot,

didn't he? It was a real pressure shot. His head was so still.

Textbook. Ronnie O'Sullivan has a terrific

respect for Ding Junhui. He glances up at the monitor to see if he's got

the correct angle on the blue and he has.

He just let that run on a little further than he intended. Yes, that

was a little nervy one, I think. This is the shot that could get him

into the semifinal and it would be quite a famous victory, ten years

since he has beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan.

How is the split? It looks pretty good, if that red pulls up. He is a

red and a black away from a place in the semifinal. That red has finished

a little awkward. This is a tricky shot, it really is.

He will be playing it with a lot of left-hand side. This is missable.

It has to be said, he was very unlucky when he went into the bunch,

for that red to go awkward because it was going towards the pocket but

it was far from easy. Could there be a twist yet in this match?

This would really damage Ding Junhui if Ronnie could clear up from here.

The red at the bottom of the three pots to the right-hand corner so in

a couple of shots time Ronnie O'Sullivan will try and leave

himself low on that red and nudge the other two reds apart.

It has to be said, we have a new favourite for this frame. Especially

if that red goes he has had a look at there. The two reds that Stephen

mentioned. He has checked to see if they will go to the middle, he has

checked to see if they will go to the corner. We will find out shortly

which pocket the reds are available into. Yes, it will go in this left

corner. And what a steal this would be. Two pots away from a place in

the semifinal. That is very unlucky when he split the reds. Very

unfortunate. The only problem you can see now is

getting nice on the yellow to get to the green and even that is not going

to be too difficult a shot. He might play for the pink here if he has got

the angle. He did play for the pink but he has

just underhit it by a long way. It is a distance away from the yellow.

Can he reach round? He can get to the yellow just about, fully

stretched there. Never ceases to amaze me, this game

of snooker, the things that can happen. It has to be said that when

Ding Junhui missed the red this looked inevitable to me. He seems to

get a wake-up call when something like that happens.

So, this is a key shot, he must get nicely on the black.

Ding Junhui made a break of 63, he was unlucky with a cannon, it looked

like he was in the semifinal and he's going to have to wait for

another frame. That was a magnificent clearance from Ronnie

O'Sullivan, a break of 73 keeps him in this year's World Championship

but still two behind. STUDIO: One foot in the semifinal!

But exactly as you said, you never write this man out, that was an

extraordinary clearance. Write him off at your peril but how unlucky

was Ding Junhui? He was the role of a ball from being in the semifinal.