:00:38. > :00:44.Hello again. Talk about a tear-jerker. Many sporting occasions
:00:45. > :00:51.have stirred emotions in us over the years. But perhaps none more so in
:00:52. > :00:55.snooker terms, anyway, than the 1982 Crucible final, featuring Alex
:00:56. > :01:01.Hurricane Higgins, and Ray Reardon, the canny Welshman who was already
:01:02. > :01:03.the owner of six world titles. Reardon represented snooker's
:01:04. > :01:09.establishment, but Higgins was a polar opposite. A genius at the
:01:10. > :01:14.table, but away from the table, a controversial character. He had
:01:15. > :01:18.already won the world title in 1972. Ten years had gone by, however. And
:01:19. > :01:21.having won that title, he had done so at a time when snooker really
:01:22. > :01:25.didn't register with the general public. In the intervening period,
:01:26. > :01:30.his stylish demeanour and brilliant play had garnered an army of fans.
:01:31. > :01:35.Snooker was now a front-line television attraction. But Higgins
:01:36. > :01:37.had singularly failed to recapture that title, having lost in two
:01:38. > :01:42.previous finals in the intervening years. This was, in fact, a repeat
:01:43. > :01:48.of the line-up from 1976 against Reardon. There's a huge contrast,
:01:49. > :01:53.both as people and as players. Alex Higgins is, like, dancing all over
:01:54. > :01:56.the place, always moving, very impatient, you know, very nervous.
:01:57. > :02:04.And Reardon, of course, is the perfect pro, you know? I mean, he's
:02:05. > :02:10.always dressed imimmaculately, had a great presence in the arena. A
:02:11. > :02:14.six-time champion. I think it was a little bit unexpected. I think Ray
:02:15. > :02:17.Reardon was just over the edge of his great play. As was Alex Higgins.
:02:18. > :02:22.He was no Hurricane then. It was more of a good, tight safety battle.
:02:23. > :02:26.And Higgins, after winning the world title in 1972, ten years in between
:02:27. > :02:29.drinks was a long time. He was the people's champion. He had beaten
:02:30. > :02:33.Jimmy White in the semifinal with one of the best performances anyone
:02:34. > :02:37.had seen. Now he's come up against Reardon. And everybody thought,
:02:38. > :02:43."Right, at last the people's champion was gonna win the world
:02:44. > :02:47.title again." Higgins' chance had certainly improved after the shock
:02:48. > :02:52.first-round exit of defending champion Steve Davis to Tony Mills
:02:53. > :02:54.that year. Ray Reardon, who depeefted Eddie Charlotte in the
:02:55. > :03:00.semifinal, was seeded fourth this year. He took a two frames to one
:03:01. > :03:01.lead early on in the final. Let's join them inside the Crucible
:03:02. > :04:11.Theatre in the fourth frame. Oh, and that's come out very nicely.
:04:12. > :04:41.Six. Seven. And a lot of side with screw
:04:42. > :05:54.on that cue ball. Well, the pink won't go on. The
:05:55. > :05:56.highest available is the brown. And just nudges that red out of the way
:05:57. > :06:10.for the black. Well, Alex split those reds perfect
:06:11. > :06:38.there. Had to run into the other red there,
:06:39. > :06:39.but still came very nicely on the red.
:06:40. > :08:09.38. APPLAUSE
:08:10. > :08:11.That's an excellent shot. And that's had a 54 break now. That's Alex's
:08:12. > :08:21.first 50 of the match. And what a marvellous red that was.
:08:22. > :08:26.The one that he wanted. Kept himself in position.
:08:27. > :08:37.62. And with this next colour, it is the important one. Reardon will need
:08:38. > :08:52.snookers. And Reardon the general who will
:08:53. > :08:59.know exactly what to do in this situation. Try and relax.
:09:00. > :09:09.APPLAUSE and the perfect line along the black
:09:10. > :09:12.here gives him complete command of the cue ball too. Just a little
:09:13. > :10:20.nudge there and he's off again. Yes. This time, can take the red off
:10:21. > :10:30.the side cushion with this red. And absolutely spot on.
:10:31. > :10:44.And that is true craftsmanship, just nudging that red.
:10:45. > :11:07.APPLAUSE APPLAUSE
:11:08. > :11:16.So, an excellent 104. Now, can he make the clearance?
:11:17. > :11:34.The highest break so far in the tournament, of course, is by Willy
:11:35. > :11:47.Thorne, which is 143. So, at least he can get close to it. 113.
:11:48. > :12:11.Oh! Alex. Very bad luck. But the most delightful break. So, we end
:12:12. > :12:14.this session at two frames all. Yes, a marvellous clearance of 118, which
:12:15. > :12:19.thoroughly delighted the Crucible crowd. Hig Hig had produced great
:12:20. > :12:23.snooker already that week. There was one clearance that many of you will
:12:24. > :12:28.remember, that 69 against Jimmy White in the semifinal, which had
:12:29. > :12:32.rescued hits chances and all but put him into this final. Back to the
:12:33. > :12:35.action. It was Reardon, taking the next two to lead four frames to two,
:12:36. > :12:47.as we go into Frame 7. APPLAUSE
:12:48. > :14:02.One. And that miss into the middle pocket
:14:03. > :14:03.by Higgins could mean that he falls three frames behind instead of
:14:04. > :14:48.narrowing the gap to one. Hit it perhaps a bit too well. He
:14:49. > :14:49.wanted to leave himself much straighter on to the red into the
:14:50. > :15:07.middle pocket. Yes, a very confident shot, that
:15:08. > :15:12.one, because it certainly looked easier into the middle. But giving
:15:13. > :15:17.him a chance to get on that last red this time, after blue.
:15:18. > :15:33.And that looks about perfect. 12.
:15:34. > :16:08.20. And Higgins has got a shade more hope now. Out of position on the
:16:09. > :16:09.green. Good shot to pot it and a better one to hold position on the
:16:10. > :16:16.brown. More difficult than it need have
:16:17. > :17:05.been, but in anyway. Seven. Alex Higgins. Well, I can't
:17:06. > :17:09.believe my eyes with that. 54. Alex Higgins, 55. How could he have
:17:10. > :17:11.missed that shot? Just needed blue and pink to win the frame. Thank
:17:12. > :18:56.you, ladies and gentlemen. Reardon needing only the pink, but
:18:57. > :19:10.surely too risky to attempt to pot this.
:19:11. > :19:19.Alex Higgins, 55. Ray Reardon, $59.. -- 59. Higgins needing both pink and
:19:20. > :19:59.black. And I think Alex would have loved to
:20:00. > :20:02.have had a go at that one in the middle, but... Very sensibly putting
:20:03. > :20:24.Ray into the driving seat. A very depood shot by Reardon. It
:20:25. > :20:28.would have been so easy -- good shot by Reardon. It would have been so
:20:29. > :20:39.easy to drift the pink over the pocket.
:20:40. > :20:43.But Higgins wishes he could have that again. Reardon will certainly
:20:44. > :21:00.attempt this pink. APPLAUSE
:21:01. > :21:02.They both clear the frame away, but Reardon won it in the end. He leads
:21:03. > :21:54.by five frames to two. Nine. And the special importance of
:21:55. > :22:00.this frame for Higgins is that he needs to limit his interval deficit
:22:01. > :22:01.to only two frames. Four behind at the interval would be very serious
:22:02. > :22:31.indeed. Well, that read as free, red into
:22:32. > :22:34.the opposite pocket. He has got just the right angles to nudge this if he
:22:35. > :22:35.wants. I think he may well take advantage of that.
:22:36. > :22:38.APPLAUSE 33. And just the blue means that
:22:39. > :24:57.Reardon needs a snooker. APPLAUSE
:24:58. > :25:04.45. Alex Higgins. APPLAUSE
:25:05. > :25:09.And that's plenty. To ensure that Alex Higgins is only two frames
:25:10. > :25:12.behind at the interval. 33-year-old Higgins did indeed secure that frame
:25:13. > :25:19.and was just two behind at the end of the session. When it resumed in
:25:20. > :25:24.Frame 9, Alex had raced into a 42-point advantage. And Reardon, who
:25:25. > :25:35.remember was six months shy of his 50th birthday, had it all to do.
:25:36. > :25:44.Ray seemed to see a possible pot on there but played it rather
:25:45. > :25:47.recklessly. And the way the reds have split open here gives Alex a
:25:48. > :26:15.very good opportunity to continue his lead.
:26:16. > :27:05.So, Ray now requiring snookers and no doubt Alex will try and...drop on
:27:06. > :27:12.to the reds and clear the board. 18. APPLAUSE
:27:13. > :28:30.39. Alex Higgins. So, Reardon remains in his seat. First frame of
:28:31. > :28:34.the session to Alex Higgins. Score now 5-4. Just one frame between
:28:35. > :28:39.them, but Reardon kept the pressure firmly on, restoring his advantage
:28:40. > :28:45.and leading by 42 points to 17 as we head into Frame 11.
:28:46. > :29:38.APPLAUSE Picked out those two reds on the
:29:39. > :29:39.cushion very nicely. Got lovely position to pot them and continue
:29:40. > :30:06.his break. So, Alex just one point behind. From
:30:07. > :30:12.a rather struggle in this frame, he suddenly finds himself in a position
:30:13. > :30:21.where he can just clear up. And he's certainly put too much on that one.
:30:22. > :31:03.33. Alex Higgins. Rather disgusted. APPLAUSE
:31:04. > :31:05.Should have finished it there. Ray Reardon, 42. Alex Higgins, 50.
:31:06. > :31:51.Quiet, please. APPLAUSE
:31:52. > :31:52.And what a good shot. And being really tight on the pink, Ray has
:31:53. > :32:05.got to be a bit careful here. I would think he'd come off the
:32:06. > :32:13.bottom cushion. No. He's going to try and snick it
:32:14. > :32:19.off the side cushion. And well played.
:32:20. > :32:33.APPLAUSE The only problem, it looks as if
:32:34. > :32:44.Alex has a possibility of laying another snooker here. Stunning the
:32:45. > :33:48.white behind the pink. But you never quite know with Alex.
:33:49. > :34:14.Well, he's reasonably close to the pink here, so I would imagine that
:34:15. > :34:18.he will try and draw that cue ball back up the table. Right onto the
:34:19. > :34:28.black. And the pace of the shot has kept
:34:29. > :34:29.the pink out of the pocket. And he's gone safe. And that's a little bit
:34:30. > :34:51.fortunate. Quiet, please. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, if
:34:52. > :34:53.you could please refrain from making remarks when the players are in the
:34:54. > :35:21.middle of a shot. If you please, thank you.
:35:22. > :35:28.Rgets and that's it! -- and that's it! So, Alex Higgins pulls one back.
:35:29. > :35:43.6-5. So, the first real mistake puts Alex
:35:44. > :36:45.in charge. That opens up of the reds gives Alex
:36:46. > :38:26.an excellent opportunity here. And Alex missed the cannon there. He
:38:27. > :38:28.played a cannon on the red. But fortunately he is still on a nice
:38:29. > :38:33.red, which makes the black available.
:38:34. > :39:27.39, Alex Higgins. So, Alex now 30 points the leader.
:39:28. > :40:49.Ray Reardon, 10, Alex Higgins, 40. That was a very good brown. Not an
:40:50. > :40:50.easy shot to push that white through at that pace and into a centre
:40:51. > :42:09.pocket. Well, if Alex can open up these two
:42:10. > :42:16.reds here, he stands a very good opportunity of winning this frame.
:42:17. > :43:16.24. And he will be well pleased with that, I would think.
:43:17. > :43:26.A little bit close, but I think he can handle it.
:43:27. > :43:29.And that's a very pretty shot, just pushing the blue into the open
:43:30. > :43:43.there. And what a very good frame this has
:43:44. > :43:48.been. It's certainly going to Alex, and they've had quite a safety duel,
:43:49. > :43:54.when it did seem that rear reer was on top. But suddenly -- Reardon was
:43:55. > :44:02.on top. But suddenly a mistake, when Reardon seemed to be getting the
:44:03. > :44:08.frame under control, lets Alex in and the result is that we end the
:44:09. > :44:09.session six frames each. And in goes the black.
:44:10. > :44:19.APPLAUSE So, nothing between them as this
:44:20. > :44:24.classic 1982 final came to the boil. When they returned to the arena,
:44:25. > :44:37.Reardon with that mixture of caution and aggression, took the first frame
:44:38. > :44:39.to lead 7-6. And as we head into -- into it, it's Higgins who has it all
:44:40. > :44:48.to do. APPLAUSE
:44:49. > :46:21.Alex peeks at the scoreboard. ?37,500 at stake in this final.
:46:22. > :46:46.APPLAUSE And that looks absolutely perfect
:46:47. > :46:51.for the red just to the left of the black.
:46:52. > :48:11.36. Just want the black now to leave red and snookers.
:48:12. > :49:43.Alex playing to get below the black so he can now pot the black, stun
:49:44. > :49:51.the white up to move those two reds up near the yellow pocket.
:49:52. > :50:18.66, Alex Higgins. APPLAUSE
:50:19. > :50:22.Well, Alex hoped for one of those two last reds to disappear.
:50:23. > :50:26.Unfortunately, it was the yellow. But Reardon stays in his chair and
:50:27. > :50:30.the scores are back all square. Seven frames each.
:50:31. > :50:34.Stalemate again. Before Higgins finally took the lead for the first
:50:35. > :50:38.time since the opening frame, in fact, eight frames top seven.
:50:39. > :50:42.Everyone enthralled inside the theatre. And perhaps none more so
:50:43. > :50:47.than another Welshman, who had reigned in the same arena some three
:50:48. > :50:51.years earlier. And enjoying this final, the former
:50:52. > :50:54.world champion, Terry Griffiths, knocked out in the first round of
:50:55. > :51:19.this Embassy World Championship. That wassal tremendous pot from
:51:20. > :51:26.Alex. Now got a good chance to clinch this game here.
:51:27. > :52:13.13. Disbr and just the pink or the blue -- and just the pink or the
:52:14. > :52:28.blue to leave red. Higgins well and truly into his
:52:29. > :52:44.flamboyant stride in this frame. 25, Alex Higgins.
:52:45. > :53:22.APPLAUSE Reardon needed snookers, which he
:53:23. > :53:25.didn't get. And when Alex took the final frame of the session, there
:53:26. > :53:29.was now significant distance between the two men, of three frames.
:53:30. > :53:34.Higgins leading ten frames to seven. At the end of the first day's play.
:53:35. > :53:35.So, could the Northern Irishman press home his advantage when they
:53:36. > :53:43.returned the following afternoon? 22. Alex Higgins.
:53:44. > :53:58.APPLAUSE Higgins unlucky, actually, to go in
:53:59. > :54:02.off the black, but the trouble started the previous shot, when he
:54:03. > :54:06.left himself just short of his intended position on the black. Had
:54:07. > :54:49.to pot the black at a much thinner angle than he would have liked.
:54:50. > :54:53.He might have to sit down for a minute or two here, because this is
:54:54. > :55:29.a good opening for Reardon. A niels little cannon that Reardon
:55:30. > :55:33.got -- a nice little cannon that Reardon got there, to hold on the
:55:34. > :55:36.black there. And Reardon should win the frame from this position. There
:55:37. > :55:38.should be no doubt at all. And I'm sure that if he doesn't, he will be
:55:39. > :55:54.very disappointed. Except for the one red, which is
:55:55. > :55:57.behind the pink, and the one on the side of the cushion. All the others
:55:58. > :56:18.nicely opened. So, enough to put himself in a winning position.
:56:19. > :56:34.Advance planning to separate the pink from one of the two troublesome
:56:35. > :56:37.reds. And leaving himself still on an easy red for the middle.
:56:38. > :57:42.39. Just the pink and one more red needed to leave Higgins needing a
:57:43. > :58:25.snooker. 52. Well, that wasn't a good shot
:58:26. > :58:30.from Reardon and didn't get on the shot as he should have done.
:58:31. > :58:34.APPLAUSE Should have left himself a little
:58:35. > :58:41.bit easier on that, but the game is saved, so he won't be very worried.
:58:42. > :59:01.61. And Reardon will certainly want to complete a clearance here to keep
:59:02. > :59:10.his own momentum going and keep Higgins cold.
:59:11. > :59:32.No century possible. 95 is the most that he can get. But I'm sure he
:59:33. > :59:49.will be most happy with the start that he's made. 73.
:59:50. > :00:38.And that 95 points was just what the doctor ordered, from Reardon's point
:00:39. > :00:43.of view. He started the day three frames behind. He's now narrowed the
:00:44. > :00:48.gap to two. Now trailing by eight frames to ten. I think Reardon was
:00:49. > :00:52.well used to playing him, and Reardon had a wonderful temperament.
:00:53. > :00:56.In one way, I think his temperment was a big part of his six wins as
:00:57. > :00:59.world champion. He was a very clever player. Very sharp under pressure,
:01:00. > :01:03.seeing everything clear, which most players couldn't do, you know?
:01:04. > :01:15.Reardon was a bit of a nemesis for Alex. Reardon always used to leave
:01:16. > :01:20.Alex tempters, to force him into one shot too many, and then pick up the
:01:21. > :01:24.pieces. One thing was certain on that shot,
:01:25. > :01:33.that Higgins was gonna be short rather than too heavy.
:01:34. > :01:37.And the referee, John Smyth, has given a deliberate miss. Ray Reardon
:01:38. > :01:42.never moved from his seat. And he waited for the call. And I think
:01:43. > :02:02.that was a good decision. Well, there we are. This time
:02:03. > :02:07.Higgins has hit the reds and forced into at the time mistake. -- into
:02:08. > :02:09.the mistake. And this is a chance now that Reardon wanted to win the
:02:10. > :03:08.game. 15. Reardon already well past the
:03:09. > :03:10.point where Higgins needs a snooker. And, again, he will want to contrive
:03:11. > :03:22.a clearance here. Higgins hasn't shown any continuity
:03:23. > :03:24.at all today, whereas Reardon has been in very good form and he will
:03:25. > :03:34.want to keep his momentum going. 22 t Ray Reardon.
:03:35. > :04:10.APPLAUSE Higgins concedes. Reardon takes the
:04:11. > :04:16.first two frames of the day to narrow the gap to one. Higgins leads
:04:17. > :04:20.by ten frames to nine. Reardon strived mightily to catch
:04:21. > :04:23.Higgins, calling upon all of his skill and experience. But the
:04:24. > :04:28.Northern Irishman always seemed to produce smck special at the key
:04:29. > :04:33.moments. And after 24 frames it was the Hurricane, 13 frames to 11, in
:04:34. > :04:34.front as we go into the last of that session, and it all came down to the
:04:35. > :04:52.colours. Well, again, a little fortunate kiss
:04:53. > :04:55.there saved Ray a lot of problems. Gives Ray a chance of going up the
:04:56. > :04:58.left-hand side of the green here, probably around the angles, to try
:04:59. > :05:02.and get the white behind the blue, pink and black.
:05:03. > :06:06.Well, rather close to the brown there.
:06:07. > :06:15.Yes. I think he's got a little too close to the brown here. Looks as
:06:16. > :06:18.though he's playing it. A very dangerous shot, this. Well, that's
:06:19. > :06:23.all the way. APPLAUSE
:06:24. > :06:29.A super little shot. A really classy little shot.
:06:30. > :06:34.Yes. That was a tremendous pot. Knew he was leaving the brown over the
:06:35. > :06:51.pocket if he missed it. APPLAUSE
:06:52. > :06:58.So, that's it. And Ray pulls one back again.
:06:59. > :07:02.13-12. So, beautifully, and tantalisingly poised at 13 frames to
:07:03. > :07:06.12 for Alex Higgins against Ray Reardon. When they came back for
:07:07. > :07:14.that final session, it was Higgins straight out of the blocks to win
:07:15. > :07:17.the first of theing, 14-12 now, and he built up a healthy lead in the
:07:18. > :07:22.next, with Reardon trying hard to respond.
:07:23. > :07:26.I think he can just clip this right on red, and he's looking at the path
:07:27. > :07:29.it will take after hitting it to knock a ball over the left-hand
:07:30. > :07:36.corner pocket. Four. Alex Higgins.
:07:37. > :07:37.So, Reardon not getting too much good running so far.
:07:38. > :08:23.Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Began, it looks as though Reardon is
:08:24. > :08:52.bridging it with the yellow. -- again.
:08:53. > :09:00.An excellent read that raise started with, must surely give him a good
:09:01. > :09:45.chance here if he can just take care with his work. -- Ray started with.
:09:46. > :11:00.And a very nice large off the cushion for that red puts Reardon in
:11:01. > :11:05.a strong position now. -- nice large. Just three points behind, and
:11:06. > :11:19.every opportunity. Yes, that was a good shot, that
:11:20. > :11:24.black he got behind the difficult red first. Now he has an excellent
:11:25. > :11:39.chance to win the frame. Looks as though he is electing to
:11:40. > :11:44.take the blue rather than the pink. If the pink went rack in on its
:11:45. > :12:06.spot, it would hamper his position getting the last red. -- went back.
:12:07. > :12:30.54 plays 50 now. Reardon just four in front.
:12:31. > :12:46.Well! Goodness me. In perfect position, 11 points in play.
:12:47. > :13:02.And how fortunate for Ray that he didn't lead to the yellow on.
:13:03. > :13:11.He has got another chance at the yellow here. Not as easy as the last
:13:12. > :14:24.one. A difficult yellow into the corner pocket.
:14:25. > :15:26.My word. That was the thinnest of tickles, and I think a slight swerve
:15:27. > :16:20.on the cue ball. Perilously near the brown. An
:16:21. > :16:42.extremely tense moment. APPLAUSE Good heavens. That really
:16:43. > :17:07.is unbelievable. A little bit over strength here.
:17:08. > :17:16.Played the green into the centre pocket.
:17:17. > :17:24.So, now Higgins just nine points behind.
:17:25. > :18:01.That Green gives him the chance of pinching the frame back.
:18:02. > :18:13.Alex needs the pink. Reardon needs both balls. And that is it! Alex
:18:14. > :18:32.Higgins restores his three frame lead by 15-12.
:18:33. > :18:42.A tremendous potted from Ray. -- pot. He may even act to take the
:18:43. > :20:05.blue here to split up the reds. It appears the pink will not go in
:20:06. > :20:09.its spot. He is testing it out. If it doesn't spot, it has to go as
:20:10. > :20:14.near to its spot as possible, the twin B spot and the top cushion. --
:20:15. > :20:36.between the spot. That has tied the pink up, but it
:20:37. > :20:41.shouldn't affect Ray. He is concentrating on the black. Ray
:20:42. > :22:36.needs to get a good break here to get a bit of pressure back on Alex.
:22:37. > :22:44.Now he is going to ask the referee to get this into the top pocket, to
:22:45. > :22:49.keep himself at the back. Reardon last won the title in 1978 and would
:22:50. > :23:12.dearly love to put his name on the world trophy for the seventh time.
:23:13. > :23:31.Yes, he was rather unfortunate. It is not an easy implement to use. He
:23:32. > :23:56.has now given Alex Higgins an excellent chance.
:23:57. > :24:35.That little touch Alex did on the pink, he has opened the pink up now.
:24:36. > :24:47.A tremendous amount of left-hand side on the white, to hold the white
:24:48. > :25:12.Bear for both colours. -- white there.
:25:13. > :25:39.Glances at the scoreboard. He is five points behind at this moment.
:25:40. > :25:45.He has been rather fortunate then. The black has gone all the way
:25:46. > :25:49.around the table and come between the yellow and the centre pocket.
:25:50. > :25:56.That big smile on his face told us that.
:25:57. > :26:05.He could find himself snickered behind the brown here, though. --
:26:06. > :26:19.snookered. Rather red dangerous shot, that. He
:26:20. > :27:33.is pushing the yellow to the middle pocket. -- and dangerous.
:27:34. > :27:58.And Higgins is querying that free ball.
:27:59. > :28:07.He has now, I think, accepted it. He has gone to his seat.
:28:08. > :28:14.Ray not taking the free ball, electing to play the yellow.
:28:15. > :28:30.He has not come far enough up the table. Of course, he still needs the
:28:31. > :28:35.brown after this. 17 in front. 25 on the table. He needs the brown, and
:28:36. > :28:37.will have to take the white all the way around the table. Not an easy
:28:38. > :28:55.shot at all. Well, he was fortunate. He had that
:28:56. > :28:59.angle that the middle pocket, and got back on the brown, and then he
:29:00. > :29:02.was unfortunate that the blue came along, and will hamper his cueing.
:29:03. > :29:51.But I think he will settle for that. The old campaigner, Ray Reardon,
:29:52. > :29:55.takes that frame quite comfortably and brings himself within two frames
:29:56. > :30:32.of Alex Higgins. Higgins leading 15-13.
:30:33. > :31:00.32 points ahead, with just 27 points left.
:31:01. > :31:13.Alex again getting those nervous twitches, picking out his fingers.
:31:14. > :31:25.-- picking at. Reardon drawing to within one frame.
:31:26. > :32:02.And Sir Alex finishes it. He was 46 points behind. He takes the pink,
:32:03. > :32:15.and wants to show us how to potted the black. -- how to plot the black.
:32:16. > :32:21.Well, that is one way of plotting the black. Reardon makes it two in a
:32:22. > :32:27.row, and is now just one behind, with Alex leading 15-14. For me,
:32:28. > :32:31.being a snooker fan as a kid, when I fell in love with the game, if
:32:32. > :32:36.anything, I copied Higgins' styled of playing the flair of shots at
:32:37. > :32:41.which I always enjoyed playing. I still enjoy playing those now.
:32:42. > :32:42.Higgins made snooker. Without Alex Higgins, snooker would not be where
:32:43. > :33:11.it is today. Alex wants to play this offer to
:33:12. > :33:25.cushions. Let's see if he has the right in. -- right angle.
:33:26. > :34:47.He would have liked to go a bit further into the middle of the
:34:48. > :34:49.table. This is a tough luck. -- black.
:34:50. > :35:13.APPLAUSE What a campaigner this man is, Ray
:35:14. > :35:20.Reardon. He has been in this final on six occasions. He draws level,
:35:21. > :35:25.15-15. When you went to the snooker, you had a feeling that Higgins was
:35:26. > :35:29.playing the better snooker, but Reardon was just waiting in the long
:35:30. > :35:33.grass. Everybody thought, Alex has missed the opportunity here. At your
:35:34. > :35:35.can bet your life that Alex Higgins was a butler. For whatever he was,
:35:36. > :36:18.he was always a butler. -- battler. Playing this red to clear the black
:36:19. > :37:29.spot. He is not happy with this pink.
:37:30. > :37:32.There is a bit of danger in that shot. But it is the only shot that
:37:33. > :40:26.he can get on the red. He could be in with a bit of a
:40:27. > :40:59.chance. And Ray Reardon now requires a
:41:00. > :43:33.snooker. Alex Higgins then going towards one
:43:34. > :45:21.more frame. Brilliant by Alex Higgins. Leeds 17
:45:22. > :45:23.frames to 15 and now requires just one frame to become the world smooth
:45:24. > :45:33.the champion. The cue ball has come to rest so he
:45:34. > :48:15.is playing a safety shot. Well, I must say, he has done a
:48:16. > :48:20.number of those during the course of this final. The cue ball keeps
:48:21. > :48:48.popping into the pocket. APPLAUSE. And that a magnificent
:48:49. > :48:54.shot, right on the black. Yes, a real pressure shot because how do
:48:55. > :49:08.you miss that. All the raids were spread open. A marvellous shot. --
:49:09. > :49:17.reds. I think he has made a bit of a mess of that one. Left himself in a
:49:18. > :49:28.very difficult position to use the rest.
:49:29. > :49:42.He has got the shot that the result is he is out of position on the
:49:43. > :49:51.Black and this is a very dangerous shot again.
:49:52. > :50:17.And everything is starting to flow now for Alex Higgins.
:50:18. > :50:27.Alex knows that the championship is within his grasp in this position.
:50:28. > :50:39.No reason why he shouldn't win the title here. Ray Reardon will be
:50:40. > :51:43.suffering in his seat. This is the fourth time that Alex
:51:44. > :51:55.Higgins has been in this final. He won it in 1972. He lost to Ray
:51:56. > :52:23.Reardon in 19 76. Frustrated but helpless.
:52:24. > :53:59.APPLAUSE. Now he has got the perfect angle and he has got to disturb the
:54:00. > :54:01.raids. Perfect. APPLAUSE. -- reds. That is the shot that makes the
:54:02. > :55:15.title certain. APPLAUSE. The 33-year-old Irishman.
:55:16. > :55:21.Going out in a complete blaze of glory here.
:55:22. > :55:28.Controversial, temperamental, but a terrific talent for the game of
:55:29. > :56:18.snooker. And what a way to finish. The 13th snooker century of the
:56:19. > :56:47.championship. And what a time to make it. Fantastic.
:56:48. > :57:15.Just three balls to go now for a break of 135.
:57:16. > :57:26.Ray Reardon has sat in his chair for the whole of this final frame.
:57:27. > :57:47.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Fantastic! And to the Embassy world champion
:57:48. > :57:53.for 1982 is Alex Higgins! It was ten years earlier, he won the world
:57:54. > :57:55.championship. How did he take ten years to win it again? A great
:57:56. > :58:07.achievement. As Alex took possession of the
:58:08. > :58:11.trophy for a second time, his achievement would only be completed
:58:12. > :58:16.in the company of his wife Lynn and daughter Lauren. This moving scenes
:58:17. > :58:20.touched everyone who watched on television and were in the
:58:21. > :58:25.audience. It had taken ten years but he was the world champion again. It
:58:26. > :58:31.left Ray Reardon with selected memory.
:58:32. > :58:41.I don't want to remember that. Yes, laughter and tears characterised to
:58:42. > :58:49.be at occasion. -- characterised the occasion. That was his last foray
:58:50. > :58:52.into the latter stages at the Crucible. 1982 remains the defining
:58:53. > :58:56.moment.