0:00:29 > 0:00:30Hello again.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33In 2013, Ronnie O'Sullivan was attempting
0:00:33 > 0:00:35to do something pretty remarkable.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38The defending champion had taken a break from the game,
0:00:38 > 0:00:40a sabbatical, if you like, and hadn't played
0:00:40 > 0:00:43a single competitive match since the previous September.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45And yet here he was back at the Crucible,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47normal service quickly resuming.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50In fact, he didn't lose a single session
0:00:50 > 0:00:52on his way back to the final.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55There, he would meet left-hander Barry Hawkins
0:00:55 > 0:00:58whose progress was remarkable for other reasons
0:00:58 > 0:01:00because in seven previous attempts
0:01:00 > 0:01:04the man from Ditton had never made it past round two.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07At the time, I didn't feel intimidated at all.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I felt confident and, um...
0:01:10 > 0:01:12we had a fantastic final, I thought.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Some people say it's probably one of the best standard of finals
0:01:16 > 0:01:17they've ever seen.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20My memories of the match is it's probably the best snooker
0:01:20 > 0:01:23I've played in a long-format much. You know, where I was just
0:01:23 > 0:01:25consistently making 80s, 90s, 100s.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28I think I had six centuries in that match.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31If this was all new to the modest Hawkins, it didn't show.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33He certainly wasn't overawed.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37In fact, they shared the first six frames in fine style.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40There was a break of 50 or above in each one of them.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Let's pick them up in frame seven.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Thank you, frame seven. Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04Ronnie breaks off.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Looks to be a pretty good break-off shot.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15He now knows he's got a match on his hands.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18He's got the file there just to rough up the tip.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22The tip can get a little bit shiny.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Oh, too thin, and look what he's done.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30- AUDIENCE:- Come on, Ronnie.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37I say, look what he's done.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Maybe there's no easy pot.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Mm, that's...very tight.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48He's not directly in behind it.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02This is the error of the safety shot.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Ronnie's playing the more difficult of reds.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08He feels if he was directly behind it, he could pot the red.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10We showed you it did go off one cushion.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12But he decided to play the more difficult red
0:03:12 > 0:03:13and played it nicely.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37There's Ronnie, just roughing that tip up.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41I remember Ray Reardon used to give him a tip, or a file,
0:03:41 > 0:03:42he could put it in his pocket.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44He couldn't put that file in his pocket.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51The great Ray Reardon used to always carry a little file
0:03:51 > 0:03:53that he kept in his waistcoat pocket.
0:04:13 > 0:04:1514.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Seems like only five minutes ago that Barry Hawkins led 3-2.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32There's a chance now he could be going behind again.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35But I think having trailed 2-0, I think the key thing was
0:04:35 > 0:04:37just to get a foothold in the match.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38He wouldn't have minded obviously,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41as long as he won at least three frames of the session.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43He's looking at a lot more, obviously,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47but just stay with Ronnie, put him under a bit of pressure.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48And this is the first time
0:04:48 > 0:04:52- Ronnie has been put under pressure in this tournament so far.- 22.
0:04:55 > 0:04:5623.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Still plenty of loose reds,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04there's six reds still available.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08That's why Ronnie's not playing any cannons at this stage.
0:05:11 > 0:05:1330.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Well, there's a charming gentleman there,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Huw Edwards, the BBC news presenter, and his son Sammy
0:05:26 > 0:05:29who I met in the corridor at the interval.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32He loves to come along to the Crucible, a big snooker fan.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Won't be enjoying this attacking play then, will he?
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- 31.- He's engrossed, isn't he?
0:05:48 > 0:05:52This developing into an excellent chance again for O'Sullivan.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Obviously with his great pal here, he's been here for the 17 days.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04The renowned artist Damien Hirst is in Ronnie's corner,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06and there he is.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Looking very intent, isn't he?
0:06:08 > 0:06:12He's probably a little bit nervous for the first time for his pal.
0:06:21 > 0:06:2238.
0:06:36 > 0:06:3744.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46You could hear a pin drop in the Crucible at the moment.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52You mentioned earlier, most of this crowd thought it was going to be
0:06:52 > 0:06:56one-way traffic, the way Ronnie O'Sullivan has been playing.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03But that man in the background there, Barry Hawkins,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05has got other ideas.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08And he's played three terrific frames.
0:07:13 > 0:07:1552.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21It's all about the little cannon this time
0:07:21 > 0:07:24as to whether he clinches the frame with one visit.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Yes, it could definitely go wrong, couldn't it, this cannon here.
0:07:29 > 0:07:30He could stick on the pack,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32so he has to hit the red on the left half-ball.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Hit it half-ball. Made sure he didn't stick on the pack.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40OK, he wouldn't have known
0:07:40 > 0:07:42he'd be pushing that the red over the middle.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46- He'd have expected to be on one in the corner, but he'll take that.- 59.
0:07:46 > 0:07:51- The standard continues. 50 or above in every single frame.- 60.
0:08:03 > 0:08:0466.
0:08:16 > 0:08:1867.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30APPLAUSE
0:08:33 > 0:08:34- 72.- The frame safe.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Ronnie can concentrate on making another century.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43He's made seven so far this year.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48We've had 47 in total.
0:08:50 > 0:08:56Just listen to this - this man has made 689 century breaks.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- 81.- Incredible.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Crucible centuries, Willie, he's made 125.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Well, there's some players in the top 60 at the moment
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- that haven't made 125 centuries in their career.- 88.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14And he's made 125 here at the Crucible.
0:09:23 > 0:09:2495.
0:09:27 > 0:09:2896.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42That's a fabulous response from Ronnie O'Sullivan.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45103.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Terrific century break. The first of this year's final.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- And how well did he cue that with the rest?- 104.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07Where's that cue ball going?
0:10:10 > 0:10:11111.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24- Surely even Ronnie O'Sullivan can't pot the green.- 113.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Don't put it past him, though, it's a thin one.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Not quite.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33He won't bother about that, that was a magnificent century break.
0:10:33 > 0:10:34What a response from the Rocket.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37In a matter of no time at all,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40he's back into the lead with the aid of that century break.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41Four frames to three.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Well, absolutely, the way he's played so far.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56But he's obviously got Ronnie O'Sullivan
0:10:56 > 0:10:59in the same form he's played at throughout the last 16 days.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03I mean, Barry has already made breaks of 88, 81, 45 and 50.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08But O'Sullivan has bettered that with 74, 92, 76 and 113.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10So both players in great form.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17APPLAUSE
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Ronnie just doing a little bit more work on the cue tip there
0:11:28 > 0:11:29in between frames.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32That is a big file. Where's he got that from?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Close, it's close...
0:11:52 > 0:11:53it's in.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Only going to cost him four points though.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Last frame of this session.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Ronnie won't be taking any careless shots on.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10He'll want to win the session 5-3,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13that's what you set out to do over a long match.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Look at the average frame time, under 14 minutes.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Terry Griffiths there that was talking with Jason.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Used to take Terry 14 minutes to break off sometimes.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33Harsh, but true.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Well, Barry can get through to the potting angle of this red,
0:12:45 > 0:12:47but there's no value in potting at all.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51He's just thinking if he just pushes it towards the black cushion,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53leave the cue ball very near this cushion.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56But the way Ronnie's cueing at the minute, he might take the red on
0:12:56 > 0:13:00that's behind the black, so he's got to be careful here.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05If he just drags it, he'll be leaving that red on.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Just try to slow the cue ball down,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12or that red will be on at the back of the cushion.
0:13:15 > 0:13:16A tempter.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23It's a tempter, but he's got to get over for the blue.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25If he pots it...
0:13:30 > 0:13:33APPLAUSE
0:13:33 > 0:13:38- One.- Well, you could say he got over for the blue.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40And he got perfectly on the blue.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43You won't see many better shots than this. Have a look at this.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Powered it into the pocket.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49The pot was difficult enough, but to finish the correct side of the blue,
0:13:49 > 0:13:51well, that was even better.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03Six.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Seven.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32This was this pot. Have a look at the white.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36He hit it that hard, the white bounced right in the air.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41It just shows you how accurate the players are with their cueing.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Look at that, it bounced at least three or four times.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- The red bounced.- Absolutely.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53But he's just cueing so well.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56His position throughout this tournament
0:14:56 > 0:14:58has been as good as it's ever been.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00OK, his long potting wasn't as good in the early matches,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03but that's started to come back now.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07And there's another wonderful shot.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09He's got the pink in play now
0:15:09 > 0:15:12so he doesn't have to worry about the black.
0:15:12 > 0:15:1415.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20I just wonder when the pink goes back onto its own spot,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23whether there'll be enough room for the pink to be available.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25There's bringing the pink into play.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Always thinking all the time, just needs one other colour in play.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31It doesn't matter if they're both not in play as long as one is.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Now, when the pink goes back up to its own spot,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36it'll definitely be available in the right-hand corner,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38but is it available into the left-hand middle?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42And there's your answer - freely.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45So this is an excellent chance now for Ronnie to open up
0:15:45 > 0:15:49a two-frame lead for the second time in the match.
0:15:52 > 0:15:5423.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16As the frames have gone so quickly,
0:16:16 > 0:16:22the players will have a couple of hours,
0:16:22 > 0:16:27two and a half hours or so, to relax before this evening's session.
0:16:35 > 0:16:3635.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- 36.- Kind of come up a little bit short on the blue.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47But he has got the loose red.
0:16:47 > 0:16:48He's got a choice of shots here -
0:16:48 > 0:16:50he can go into the bunch, which he probably will do.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Watch the side when it hits the two cushions.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57No, didn't catch it as he wanted.
0:16:57 > 0:17:03- He might still be on this red so a little bit of good fortune.- 41.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Oh, very much so. Once he's caught the jaw,
0:17:08 > 0:17:09the cue ball could have finished anywhere
0:17:09 > 0:17:12and Barry, as you see there, just dropped his head.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15He was playing two cushions into the back of that cluster of six,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19but now he's on this red, he could get an angle on the colour.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21He'll still have to play a cannon.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Now, where's the cue ball going to finish?
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Half-ball green would be nice.
0:17:25 > 0:17:26It's amazing, isn't it?
0:17:26 > 0:17:29When you're playing well, it's amazing, isn't it?
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Everything finishes perfect.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Half-ball yellow or green could take you into the pack.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40That's the angle he's looking at.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45And that's freed the black, also.
0:17:45 > 0:17:4844.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52That's a bonus, but he played the shot beautifully
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and now he can just cannon the red, leave the black on.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00So, it was a bonus when he freed the black,
0:18:00 > 0:18:05- but he deserved it because he played the yellow so well.- It's amazing.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07He played three shots on the trot where a little bit of fortune
0:18:07 > 0:18:10was involved and, every time, it finished perfect.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11I'm sure when Barry sat down,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13he thought, "Well, he can't clear up now
0:18:13 > 0:18:15"with the pack all tied up, the black all tied up."
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Two shots later, everything's in open play.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I'll tell you what, for a table that's not supposed to be
0:18:28 > 0:18:32playing all that well, have a look at the breaks the players have made.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37It looks to be beautiful from my point of view.
0:18:37 > 0:18:3861.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Barry's had 88, 81, 45 and 50.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Ronnie's had 74, 92, 76, 113
0:18:48 > 0:18:52and this is some standard, Willie, isn't it?
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Well, we were thinking that Barry could possibly take a lead
0:18:56 > 0:18:59into the session when he led 3-2 for the first time
0:18:59 > 0:19:02and we thought, "Well, can Barry win the session 5-3?"
0:19:02 > 0:19:05All of a sudden, Ronnie O'Sullivan seemed to change gear,
0:19:05 > 0:19:09one of the few players in the game who can do that.
0:19:25 > 0:19:2672.
0:19:29 > 0:19:3173.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35This break has just been absolutely perfect.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Well, we told you in the last frame, 48 centuries we've had.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Ronnie's had eight.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50It looks like a certain century here, Willie.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51Terrific to watch, isn't it?
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Well, this crowd have been absolutely thrilled
0:19:56 > 0:19:59the way that both players have played, not just O'Sullivan.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02We keep saying everybody's worried about how Barry Hawkins would play,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06having struggled yesterday, but the standard of this session
0:20:06 > 0:20:10has been probably one of the best we've had at the Crucible this year.
0:20:16 > 0:20:1795.
0:20:20 > 0:20:2197.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Back-to-back centuries for The Rocket!
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Well, what a shame! What a wonderful session of snooker,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46most of the Crucible audience standing.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49An excellent session from both players.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51O'Sullivan in great form, two centuries to finish
0:20:51 > 0:20:54and O'Sullivan goes into the second session this evening
0:20:54 > 0:20:57leading by five frames to three.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Every time it got a bit close, I kept pulling away
0:20:59 > 0:21:02and he'd get it close and I kept pulling away
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and I thought, "I know I'm going to win frames in one visit."
0:21:04 > 0:21:06I felt that good.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08He made me play that well and I knew I had to play well.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12He played a lot better than I expected in many ways.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Although I know he's a great, great player, he is a great player,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17I didn't expect him to be that good.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55APPLAUSE
0:23:19 > 0:23:24Tried to get the outside edge of that red. No real danger, of course.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27He's just come round to have a look.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Is there a possible shot or nothing on?
0:23:30 > 0:23:35No, nothing on, so back to its original position.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44It's quite a tough shot, this, Willie, cos as we said
0:23:44 > 0:23:47he's got to almost take the paint off this red here.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Yes, he'll risk it once more, won't he?
0:23:51 > 0:23:54He'll risk the thin cut again and then he'll be warned
0:23:54 > 0:23:57should he not hit it, so he'll have one more try at this
0:23:57 > 0:23:59then play an alternative.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02That's where it was, that's where it is now. Pretty good.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Yeah, Ronnie just having a look.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32There's a couple of reds, one of them could go close to the pocket
0:24:32 > 0:24:36so that's why he's taking an alternative safety shot here.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44That's an excellent return.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49That's one of the great things about Ronnie O'Sullivan's safety game.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52He purposely wanted to keep the cue ball down behind the green
0:24:52 > 0:24:54on the right-hand side of the table
0:24:54 > 0:24:57because of the red that's close to the right-hand side cushion.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It's a little bit more difficult to get it back to safety here.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04If you leave the cue ball down the left-hand side of the table,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06there's a straight path back,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08but this makes it a little bit more awkward.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18He's played it well.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Yes, the red that's behind the black
0:25:27 > 0:25:30is in the way to play the thin cut into the corner.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31He'd play it if it wasn't.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35So, he's only playing a safety shot here.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40There's a perfect angle if that red wasn't there just to pot it
0:25:40 > 0:25:42and go round the back of the black, but he can't play it so he may
0:25:42 > 0:25:46just have to play what Barry did on his previous shot, a very thin one.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53This is bringing the black into play so whoever pots the next red,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57they would get a sizeable lead in this frame where the balls are now.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Well, Barry's won that safety battle and won it well
0:26:50 > 0:26:53because he put Ronnie in trouble on three occasions
0:26:53 > 0:26:57and, on the third occasion, he played a poor safety.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Now, pink and black in play - Barry will be disappointed
0:27:00 > 0:27:02if he doesn't get at least 40 from here.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Whether he goes on to make a frame-winning break,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08we will know in about seven or eight minutes.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Things couldn't be any better, Ken, could they?
0:27:18 > 0:27:19Yeah.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Nicely placed and he doesn't have to worry about going into any reds
0:27:23 > 0:27:25for the foreseeable future.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29He wants to get this black open into both corner pockets.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35- Potting this red now will do that.- Eight.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Nine.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Yeah, I think if he can pot that black and just disturb that red
0:27:53 > 0:27:54that I have a little circle around
0:27:54 > 0:27:56cos I think if he nudged into that red,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59he's got the red just to the left of that open
0:27:59 > 0:28:01and back into the corner pocket.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05He can just play a little stun shot into that red
0:28:05 > 0:28:08if he feels it's the right shot.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16Well, it didn't go for him on that occasion and that may tell us
0:28:16 > 0:28:18that that red may be a little awkward,
0:28:18 > 0:28:19the one just to the left of it,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22but this one on the pink certainly pots.
0:28:29 > 0:28:3117.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35You couldn't believe this was the same player
0:28:35 > 0:28:37that was playing in the first two sessions of the semifinal.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40He looked almost frightened to play.
0:28:42 > 0:28:43He looked anxious when he got in the balls.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46He missed probably 30 or 40 balls
0:28:46 > 0:28:49that I'm sure all the snooker players in the audience
0:28:49 > 0:28:52would have thought, "Well, I could pot those,"
0:28:52 > 0:28:55but he's certainly a different player now.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58He looks in total control of his emotions.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05And make no mistake, the way Ronnie's played,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08he knows he's going to have it all to do, but, let's not forget,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Ronnie was a pro player two years ago
0:29:10 > 0:29:12and he wasn't winning every tournament.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14We know he's the best player when he's playing well,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17but, like every player, he's vulnerable. He's beatable.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30Yeah, I suppose what Barry has to do is just worry about himself
0:29:30 > 0:29:33and his own game, not really worry about who's in the other chair,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36because once you're sitting in that chair, there's nothing you can do
0:29:36 > 0:29:41when you're at the table, that's the most important thing to understand.
0:29:43 > 0:29:4529.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03The one thing he does very well, he takes what's on.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05He's always looking,
0:30:05 > 0:30:09mops up the easy ones, gathers up a good lead.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18- 35.- He's running out of reds now, though, Ken, and I agree with you.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20When you talked about that little stun on that red,
0:30:20 > 0:30:21if he'd have played that early,
0:30:21 > 0:30:24he wouldn't have been drifting around the blue spot area now.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28He can get into that loose red and play for the gap in between
0:30:28 > 0:30:32that cluster of three and cluster of four and that's what he's playing.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35So, getting rid of this one now opens another red into the corner,
0:30:35 > 0:30:36so that's a pretty good shot.
0:30:36 > 0:30:3840.
0:30:46 > 0:30:4841.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55I'm sure that red just to the left of the black
0:30:55 > 0:31:02that's in the pyramid goes into this bottom left-hand corner pocket.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05He needs a nice cannon on these reds here.
0:31:07 > 0:31:08That looks perfect.
0:31:13 > 0:31:1448.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21I'm just wondering when he runs this in,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24he can miss the kiss on the red that's on the cushion.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26That's what he needs to miss.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31Maybe screwing it in so he's going across the face of the black,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33which could put the cue ball near the pink,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35which would make things awkward.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38He's played it nicely.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43- He didn't want to be hampered by the pink.- 49.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46He just needed to get hold of that cue ball enough to slide it
0:31:46 > 0:31:49past the pink there to save him cueing over the pink.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55This now an excellent chance to level the match for the first time
0:31:55 > 0:31:57since the fourth frame.
0:32:01 > 0:32:0456.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06There you see 52 ahead.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11He's still going to need a few more reds and colours yet,
0:32:11 > 0:32:13but the way the balls are positioned,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16you'd have to say he's going to win the frame here
0:32:16 > 0:32:19and this is extremely impressive stuff from Barry Hawkins.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23He looks very composed.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25He's got a nice pace around the table.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Controlling the cue ball very well.
0:32:34 > 0:32:3563.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38I think he's actually playing better now than when he beat Ding
0:32:38 > 0:32:40and Mark Selby, Ken, isn't he?
0:32:41 > 0:32:45Well, there's no doubt that beating the world number one Mark Selby
0:32:45 > 0:32:49and then beating Ding would have given him great confidence
0:32:49 > 0:32:51and I think maybe the occasion of the semifinal,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53playing Ricky Walden and knowing what was at stake -
0:32:53 > 0:32:56getting into the final and playing Ronnie O'Sullivan.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58There was a lot of pressure on both players
0:32:58 > 0:33:01and there's no doubt it got to them a little bit,
0:33:01 > 0:33:06but once they settled down into that match, he played his best snooker.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09He's continuing on with that now.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12He's got to be a little careful here. He still needs the red.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16I just wondered if he might snooker himself there,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18but it's played in nicely.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23He just tried to drift by those two reds
0:33:23 > 0:33:25and he's got an angle on the black to get onto the one
0:33:25 > 0:33:29just below the pink in the same pocket, just screw through the gap.
0:33:37 > 0:33:3877.
0:33:43 > 0:33:4578.
0:33:59 > 0:34:0084.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08- 85.- A lot of people were talking about the fact
0:34:08 > 0:34:10that Ronnie O'Sullivan could outscore Barry,
0:34:10 > 0:34:12the fact that he's been playing so well,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15but this next little caption we're going to show you after this black
0:34:15 > 0:34:17just shows you how well he's competing with Ronnie,
0:34:17 > 0:34:20not only on the frame scores.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22There he is, he's only one point behind so he's scoring
0:34:22 > 0:34:25with exactly the same strength as Ronnie
0:34:25 > 0:34:27and Ronnie's had two centuries.
0:34:31 > 0:34:3293.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35So, the points now are identical,
0:34:35 > 0:34:38but the key thing is Barry Hawkins is levelling the match
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and what an amazing stat that is as well when this ball is potted.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44They've pocketed exactly the same amount of balls.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46What a fantastic break!
0:34:46 > 0:34:51His fifth century of the tournament and it's a milestone, really,
0:34:51 > 0:34:54cos it's the 50th century of the tournament as well.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58101.
0:35:15 > 0:35:16106.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36111.
0:35:44 > 0:35:45115.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57120.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05126.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Wait for the noise when this black goes in.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12- APPLAUSE - An excellent break of 135
0:36:12 > 0:36:14from Barry Hawkins.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20He levels the match. It's now seven frames each.
0:37:09 > 0:37:10He's left a red on this time, I think.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Can he see the one to the left of the pink?
0:37:29 > 0:37:30APPLAUSE
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Wonderful shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan...
0:37:37 > 0:37:40..particularly when you're bridging over that middle pocket.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44Difficult hitting down on the cue ball, of course, as well.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48The perfect side of the blue now.
0:37:56 > 0:37:57Six.
0:38:15 > 0:38:16Seven.
0:38:33 > 0:38:3514.
0:38:39 > 0:38:4015.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42And it's a very important time in the match, this.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45He doesn't want to go behind for the second time.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50He was behind at 3-2. He's been in front ever since.
0:38:54 > 0:38:5622.
0:39:02 > 0:39:0323.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08Yeah, getting the awkward red out straight away,
0:39:08 > 0:39:10the one close to the back cushion.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Just frees up the black and particularly the cue ball,
0:39:14 > 0:39:16using that back cushion for positional play.
0:39:18 > 0:39:2030.
0:39:27 > 0:39:2931.
0:39:43 > 0:39:4538.
0:39:48 > 0:39:5039.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Going to need one good...
0:39:58 > 0:40:00..split on the reds.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02A possible break on of 145.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04Ronnie won't be worried about that just yet.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08He wants to win the frame in this position first.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12He needs one good split to get ready to counterattack,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14- and that looks OK... - APPLAUSE
0:40:14 > 0:40:17..as long as he's not too straight on this red into the right centre.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Does he have an angle to get up topside of the blue?
0:40:29 > 0:40:31- Cued it nicely. - APPLAUSE
0:40:31 > 0:40:32It's perfect.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37That's a wonderful camera angle.
0:40:45 > 0:40:4652.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Looking to see if he can get through the gap of these two reds.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54It will be the easier of the reds.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56But as you can see there, it's tight.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Have a look at this little picture here. It's very, very tight.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02I thought he'd play that red. He's got work to do with this cue ball
0:41:02 > 0:41:04just to send it round the back of the red.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07And the reason it's a bit of work is it was easy to overscrew that.
0:41:07 > 0:41:08As it happens,
0:41:08 > 0:41:12he's left a perfect angle to kiss onto the red next to the pink.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Well, he's playing to hold it, but that's the same thing.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17He just played up into that area.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19Beautiful break, this, Ken, isn't it?
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Yes. He's playing absolutely inch-perfect.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Average frame time less than 15 minutes.
0:41:30 > 0:41:3261.
0:41:45 > 0:41:4768.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57- APPLAUSE - 69.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02The round of applause from this knowledgeable Crucible audience
0:42:02 > 0:42:04tells you that Ronnie O'Sullivan has just passed
0:42:04 > 0:42:08the snookers-required stage. Now, how big can this century be?
0:42:08 > 0:42:10133, the last frame from Barry Hawkins,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13the biggest of the match so far.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16- This could be eclipsed in about three or four minutes' time.- 75.
0:42:20 > 0:42:25A possible 141, but he'll be taking the pink, so a possible 140.
0:42:35 > 0:42:3781.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40- 82. - APPLAUSE
0:42:52 > 0:42:5489.
0:42:57 > 0:42:5890.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04There you see it, eight blacks, one pink, three blues.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07This has been absolutely top-quality stuff.
0:43:15 > 0:43:1697.
0:43:19 > 0:43:2198.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:43:32 > 0:43:35Yes, a great cheer from the Crucible crowd.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39Ronnie's tenth century of this tournament so far.
0:43:42 > 0:43:43CROWD GASP
0:43:43 > 0:43:47Well, what a shame. He didn't eclipse the previous break of 133.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50But Barry Hawkins missed one long shot. It cost him the frame.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54The standard is superb. It's O'Sullivan now leading 8-7.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29Clearly there he made sure he hit the safety shot a little bit
0:44:29 > 0:44:33harder, and, unfortunately for him, it's stuck a red over the corner...
0:44:33 > 0:44:34albeit dead straight.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37Now, Barry has not potted one of these long, straight ones
0:44:37 > 0:44:41for two or three shots. This is a tough one.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46Yes, always missable, those. Always missable.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48Just lost his way for a second.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50Having made 133, Ken,
0:44:50 > 0:44:53you thought he'd really got a foothold in this final
0:44:53 > 0:44:56and a chance to put Ronnie under pressure, and he hasn't done it.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59Yeah, he's normally so good at that shot. He stays so still.
0:44:59 > 0:45:03But you saw from his back arm just a little bit of movement there.
0:45:03 > 0:45:07And that's why. He's trying to put a bit more pace into the cue ball,
0:45:07 > 0:45:10just to bring it back a couple of inches to be high on the black.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20One.
0:45:21 > 0:45:22Just have a look at his back arm.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25Yeah, you just see a little bit of movement,
0:45:25 > 0:45:29and that's why he's just come across the cue ball.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32And that's why he subsequently missed that red.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34Another excellent opportunity now for Ronnie.
0:45:41 > 0:45:42Seven.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58Well, this is where Ronnie is...
0:45:59 > 0:46:03- ..really good. Puts the heat on his opponent.- 15.
0:46:04 > 0:46:09And once he gets his nose in front in a couple of frames, he's very,
0:46:09 > 0:46:10very difficult to stop.
0:46:15 > 0:46:1622.
0:46:21 > 0:46:2223.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40Well, there's another one that's just slightly got away.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43Is he on this red? It's very close.
0:46:52 > 0:46:53- Oh, great shot. - APPLAUSE
0:46:55 > 0:46:58Excellent shot. But again short of pace on the blue.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02Going to need another good shot here
0:47:02 > 0:47:05to get back on one of these loose reds.
0:47:14 > 0:47:15APPLAUSE
0:47:16 > 0:47:1836.
0:47:18 > 0:47:19That's not bad.
0:47:24 > 0:47:2537.
0:47:29 > 0:47:31Not absolutely perfect.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36There, you see he's a bit straight on this black.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38He needs a lot of power again.
0:47:40 > 0:47:42Needs to slow up.
0:47:43 > 0:47:44Just.
0:47:46 > 0:47:4844.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57- 45. - APPLAUSE
0:47:57 > 0:48:01Everything's going into the heart of the pocket at the moment.
0:48:11 > 0:48:1252.
0:48:16 > 0:48:1853.
0:48:28 > 0:48:29APPLAUSE
0:48:32 > 0:48:3360.
0:48:36 > 0:48:3761.
0:48:49 > 0:48:5067.
0:48:53 > 0:48:5468.
0:48:54 > 0:48:59Yeah, now, you see the break, six blacks, one pink, two blues.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03- This has been superb, because he's had to go in and out of baulk.- 75.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06He's had to pull out a couple of...
0:49:06 > 0:49:07tough pots and tough positional shots.
0:49:07 > 0:49:09- 76. - APPLAUSE
0:49:09 > 0:49:13But he's kept the break going wonderfully.
0:49:16 > 0:49:20And at the moment, well, he's just moving through the gears.
0:49:20 > 0:49:2183.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25Still a few sighs and moans and groans.
0:49:25 > 0:49:27He's still not completely happy!
0:49:28 > 0:49:30- But at the moment... - APPLAUSE
0:49:30 > 0:49:34..everything he's looking at is going into the pocket.
0:49:34 > 0:49:3584.
0:49:46 > 0:49:47APPLAUSE
0:49:49 > 0:49:5086.
0:49:53 > 0:49:5488.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59Well, this has been an incredible standard so far.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04This is going to be three centuries in a row.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08And there's a little exhibition shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan.
0:50:12 > 0:50:1395.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:50:20 > 0:50:24Century number 52 at this year's World Championship.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27Number 11 for Ronnie O'Sullivan.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32106.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34- MURMURING IN AUDIENCE - Shh!
0:50:36 > 0:50:38Well, he misses the black, but he won't be bothered.
0:50:38 > 0:50:39APPLAUSE
0:50:39 > 0:50:42106 break from Ronnie O'Sullivan.
0:50:42 > 0:50:47He puts another frame on the board and now goes into a two-frames lead.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49It's nine frames to seven.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52You can easily get carried away just watching him
0:50:52 > 0:50:53and enjoying the way he plays,
0:50:53 > 0:50:56thinking, "I wish I could make it look that easy."
0:50:56 > 0:50:59The frames go by quickly, especially when he's banging in big breaks.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02Before you know it, you've lost three or four on the spin
0:51:02 > 0:51:04and you haven't even done much wrong, really.
0:51:04 > 0:51:07So, yeah, you've got to compete with him in all departments.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09Yes, 9-7 to O'Sullivan.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11He's produced some quite flawless snooker.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13And yet Hawkins is competing very ably here.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15He'd come to the Crucible that campaign
0:51:15 > 0:51:18ranked as the world's number 14 player
0:51:18 > 0:51:21but was full of confidence after a bit of a breakthrough -
0:51:21 > 0:51:24a first major title had come his way the previous
0:51:24 > 0:51:25summer in Australia.
0:51:25 > 0:51:29So, back we go. This is the last frame of the first session,
0:51:29 > 0:51:32Ronnie leading by seven points, one red remaining.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37WILLIE THORNE: Decided to risk the slow shot,
0:51:37 > 0:51:39but, as I said, he's going to be virtually straight on this pink.
0:51:39 > 0:51:42I didn't see the value of playing for the pink there at all.
0:51:42 > 0:51:43Eight.
0:51:50 > 0:51:51Bemused.
0:52:12 > 0:52:15Trying to get the cue ball...
0:52:15 > 0:52:18just three or four inches to the right of the black.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22Oh, listen, how's he played that?
0:52:22 > 0:52:24APPLAUSE
0:52:26 > 0:52:31Well, you won't see many better safety shots than that.
0:52:31 > 0:52:32Played to perfection.
0:52:46 > 0:52:50Well, as JV always says, it's not hitting 'em, it's getting 'em safe.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59He's hit it. Has he got it safe? APPLAUSE
0:52:59 > 0:53:02Has he got it safe? He needs to pull up.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07We haven't seen Ronnie play too many of these deep-screw shots.
0:53:07 > 0:53:12Judd Trump would love this shot. But how's Ronnie going to play it?
0:53:17 > 0:53:19Well, he decided not to screw back but to run through.
0:53:19 > 0:53:21APPLAUSE
0:53:21 > 0:53:24- Two.- Almost perfect, but the green doesn't look on.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Yeah, he hasn't had a look at the score,
0:53:37 > 0:53:39but this green is very important.
0:53:47 > 0:53:48He didn't go for that.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50He was trying to get a snooker behind the pink and black,
0:53:50 > 0:53:52and he may have played another absolute...
0:53:52 > 0:53:55- APPLAUSE - What a shot he's played there.
0:53:57 > 0:54:01A lot of oohs and aahs in the crowd, but he didn't play the pot there.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04And that's a fantastic snooker.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07Well, no wonder Barry is scratching his head. I mean, goodness me.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09Two of the best safety shots we've seen in the whole
0:54:09 > 0:54:11tournament in the last ten minutes.
0:54:11 > 0:54:15This is by far and away the longest frame, coming up to 28 minutes,
0:54:15 > 0:54:18but in some ways it's been the most exciting.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30APPLAUSE
0:54:30 > 0:54:32KEN CHUCKLES
0:54:32 > 0:54:34Well, would you believe it?
0:54:35 > 0:54:36Three.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41Well, it's Barry's turn to try and get the cue ball in.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45His target would be to kiss the black, so he can play twice across.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47The brown's going to be safe.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49It's just missing the blue. He's got to miss the blue
0:54:49 > 0:54:51by an absolute fraction to get this shot right.
0:54:59 > 0:55:03Yeah, I'm not too sure it was on, because the blue was in the way.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06But he's got plenty of distance between cue ball and object ball.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08And there's only seven points in it.
0:55:26 > 0:55:27Hmmm... This is cuttable,
0:55:27 > 0:55:30but I'm not too sure he can hold for the blue.
0:55:47 > 0:55:49Is it there again, for the third time in this frame?
0:55:49 > 0:55:53Is it there again for the third time in this frame?!
0:55:53 > 0:55:55Wow. Good effort. APPLAUSE
0:55:56 > 0:55:58Good effort, indeed!
0:56:01 > 0:56:03Well, is there a gap? Can he get...?
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Can he see this brown and even pot it?
0:56:08 > 0:56:10This would be unbelievable.
0:56:12 > 0:56:13CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:56:13 > 0:56:15What a shot!
0:56:15 > 0:56:18He just had enough gap.
0:56:18 > 0:56:20- Four.- And he has a quick look at the scores.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23He's 11 ahead and just needs the blue.
0:56:28 > 0:56:30Yes, a massive four points, that, for Ronnie,
0:56:30 > 0:56:33because obviously Barry needs the three balls.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37Even if he leaves this blue on, he's going to have to play a good
0:56:37 > 0:56:40shot to get the angle on the pink to get on the black.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43So it was a massive four points, that was.
0:56:43 > 0:56:44Brilliant shot on the brown.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49Now, the little tinker's trying to knock the pink safe.
0:56:49 > 0:56:52- But he's not hit it hard enough. - Ronnie O'Sullivan four.
0:56:54 > 0:56:58Well, will he play the roll and try
0:56:58 > 0:57:01and drop this blue into the corner pocket?
0:57:02 > 0:57:05He could try and play the snooker, of course, as well, but...
0:57:07 > 0:57:09..will he try and take this blue on?
0:57:11 > 0:57:13Decisions, decisions.
0:57:22 > 0:57:26Well, he did play it, Ken, but you know what's going to happen here.
0:57:26 > 0:57:29The white will be kissing the black, and he'll be behind the pink again.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35Ooh, he's underhit this.
0:57:35 > 0:57:39Ooh, that was careless from Ronnie. This is cuttable in the middle.
0:57:41 > 0:57:43He had so much margin of error, Ken, didn't he?
0:57:43 > 0:57:46With the black where it was, he could play the cannon on the black.
0:57:46 > 0:57:47It was bound to be the snooker.
0:57:47 > 0:57:51Yeah, just got too much side. But, as you said, this blue is cuttable.
0:57:53 > 0:57:55Definitely worth having a go at this.
0:58:00 > 0:58:03It's a tough safety shot, isn't it, to play it any other way?
0:58:03 > 0:58:05Well, if he plays it hard,
0:58:05 > 0:58:09the cue ball will definitely be coming down close to the pink, so...
0:58:09 > 0:58:11as long as he doesn't undercut it...
0:58:13 > 0:58:17If he undercuts it, he'll definitely leave it up. If he overcuts it...
0:58:18 > 0:58:21- ..it may still come out safe. - Mm. Good thinking.
0:58:32 > 0:58:33APPLAUSE
0:58:33 > 0:58:37How's the cue ball? He needs it to bounce about eight or nine inches
0:58:37 > 0:58:39so he can get onto the black.
0:58:40 > 0:58:42Oh, it's tough. The pink he can pot,
0:58:42 > 0:58:44the black probably not.
0:58:49 > 0:58:54Well, there's Barry's friends and family - mother, father, sister.
0:58:54 > 0:58:57They've got their fingers crossed here, because this is a huge frame.
0:59:04 > 0:59:07The pink's there.
0:59:07 > 0:59:08Well, it's decision time.
0:59:08 > 0:59:10Do you play the kiss along the cushion
0:59:10 > 0:59:12or the guaranteed safety shot?
0:59:12 > 0:59:15- MURMURS IN AUDIENCE - Quietly, please.
0:59:21 > 0:59:22It's the safety.
0:59:28 > 0:59:31- Oh, he's overhit it. - Barry Hawkins, 11.- He's overhit it.
0:59:31 > 0:59:33The crowd knew it straight away.
0:59:33 > 0:59:36Ronnie knew it straight away. He was up out of that chair.
0:59:36 > 0:59:38Settle down, please. Thank you.
0:59:42 > 0:59:44Black for the frame.
0:59:49 > 0:59:51CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:59:51 > 0:59:55Well, what a tremendous black, what a tremendous frame.
0:59:55 > 0:59:58Both players will be very pleased with their night's work.
0:59:58 > 1:00:01The crowd - standing ovation for these two great players.
1:00:01 > 1:00:03They've treated us to some fantastic snooker
1:00:03 > 1:00:06but it's Ronnie O'Sullivan who takes a three-frame lead
1:00:06 > 1:00:08into our afternoon's session.
1:00:08 > 1:00:10What a game.
1:00:10 > 1:00:13When play resumed on the Monday afternoon,
1:00:13 > 1:00:15they shared the first couple of frames.
1:00:15 > 1:00:17Ronnie 11 frames to eight up now.
1:00:17 > 1:00:21Into the next we go, and it's Barry on a chunky break here
1:00:21 > 1:00:24and needing just one more red to take the frame.
1:00:32 > 1:00:34He's missed it. He's missed it.
1:00:34 > 1:00:36FROM AUDIENCE: Go on, Ronnie.
1:00:36 > 1:00:40Yeah, he just got too close to the cushion there.
1:00:40 > 1:00:42Now, 54 points behind,
1:00:42 > 1:00:4459 remaining on the table.
1:00:54 > 1:00:57Yes, he's not got many points to play with here, Ronnie,
1:00:57 > 1:00:59so this is the big problem he's got.
1:01:00 > 1:01:03The reds are in reasonable position
1:01:03 > 1:01:06but they're at the wrong end of table for him.
1:01:16 > 1:01:18Trying to force the cue ball.
1:01:18 > 1:01:20Unless he gets a good kiss,
1:01:20 > 1:01:21he's not on anything.
1:01:21 > 1:01:23- Eight.- Nothing easy anyway.
1:01:23 > 1:01:27He may have this red to this left corner pocket but...
1:01:27 > 1:01:29he needs pinks or blacks.
1:01:39 > 1:01:41APPLAUSE Oh, marvellous shot.
1:01:43 > 1:01:45Not perfect on the black.
1:01:49 > 1:01:54Yeah, nice pot, wasn't it? Just a little bit low on this black.
1:01:54 > 1:01:58If he can get close to this red on the left-hand side of the table -
1:01:58 > 1:02:01anywhere in behind it, close to the cushion...
1:02:01 > 1:02:03Try and get it into the right centre.
1:02:05 > 1:02:08Yeah, needs to go in a little bit, get behind it,
1:02:08 > 1:02:10and he's got it into the right centre.
1:02:10 > 1:02:11APPLAUSE
1:02:11 > 1:02:14- He's had to play that...- 16. - ..almost perfect.
1:02:14 > 1:02:16I'm just calculating the scores.
1:02:16 > 1:02:19He can possibly take a brown, he's 38 points behind.
1:02:22 > 1:02:25Red and brown, left...
1:02:25 > 1:02:27needing the last red with a pink or black.
1:02:32 > 1:02:36That's why he's gone up for the blue.
1:02:36 > 1:02:38- Hits the run.- 17.
1:02:38 > 1:02:40He can't get close to this red.
1:02:44 > 1:02:46Well, that's what he's thinking of now.
1:02:46 > 1:02:49As I say, it was always going to be difficult
1:02:49 > 1:02:51because he didn't have that many points to play with.
1:02:51 > 1:02:53He's looking at the scoreboard now.
1:02:53 > 1:02:56Pots the blue, he'll go...
1:02:56 > 1:02:5732 points behind.
1:02:57 > 1:02:59So, off this last red,
1:02:59 > 1:03:01he's got to be blue or above...
1:03:03 > 1:03:06..if he's going to win the frame at this visit...
1:03:06 > 1:03:0822.
1:03:08 > 1:03:11..and what a clearance this would be.
1:03:22 > 1:03:24APPLAUSE
1:03:24 > 1:03:26- What a shot he's played there.- 23.
1:03:26 > 1:03:28Absolutely fantastic shot.
1:03:28 > 1:03:29Have a look at this.
1:03:32 > 1:03:34That's cueing...
1:03:34 > 1:03:35at its finest.
1:03:35 > 1:03:36Round the angles here.
1:03:38 > 1:03:40Well, he's going to leave the long yellow. It's hard.
1:03:40 > 1:03:44He might go around...a few cushions trying to get close to this yellow
1:03:44 > 1:03:47- but he's going to require, now, another good pot.- 28.
1:03:47 > 1:03:50There you see it, 26 behind, 27,
1:03:50 > 1:03:53and Barry, of course, will be sitting in his seat
1:03:53 > 1:03:56suffering because he only needed that one red...
1:03:57 > 1:03:59..and he missed his chance.
1:03:59 > 1:04:00Will he get another?
1:04:04 > 1:04:06APPLAUSE
1:04:06 > 1:04:0830.
1:04:08 > 1:04:10Well, has he got an angle on this green?
1:04:12 > 1:04:15What a shot he's just played there.
1:04:15 > 1:04:16Cued that in so nicely.
1:04:20 > 1:04:22Needs side. Watch the side.
1:04:22 > 1:04:23Absolutely perfect...
1:04:23 > 1:04:26- APPLAUSE - ..on the very first shot.
1:04:26 > 1:04:29He's pulling them all out of the fire here.
1:04:29 > 1:04:31This will hurt Barry Hawkins.
1:04:31 > 1:04:33This could be the turning point...
1:04:33 > 1:04:35- 37.- ..in this final.
1:04:41 > 1:04:45Barry Hawkins led by 54 with 59 remaining.
1:04:45 > 1:04:47- What a clearance this would be.- 42.
1:04:47 > 1:04:50He's not come perfect on the pink, a little short.
1:04:58 > 1:05:02Played that with a tremendous amount of right-hand side.
1:05:02 > 1:05:05And now the black to win the frame by one point
1:05:05 > 1:05:10and make Barry Hawkins really regret missing the frame ball red.
1:05:10 > 1:05:12In it goes.
1:05:12 > 1:05:15It doesn't get much better than that, believe me.
1:05:15 > 1:05:17That was a sensational clearance.
1:05:17 > 1:05:19No points to spare.
1:05:19 > 1:05:21Absolutely brilliant.
1:05:21 > 1:05:23Barry Hawkins had his chance.
1:05:23 > 1:05:25He missed one red
1:05:25 > 1:05:27and that was enough for Ronnie O'Sullivan,
1:05:27 > 1:05:30now, to go four clear.
1:05:30 > 1:05:3212-8. What a frame.
1:05:32 > 1:05:36Well, a superb contribution of 90 in frame 21 from Hawkins
1:05:36 > 1:05:38reduces arrears to 9-12 now
1:05:38 > 1:05:40as we head into the next.
1:05:48 > 1:05:49That's a pretty good length
1:05:49 > 1:05:51for the break-off shot
1:05:51 > 1:05:54but it leaves a red for Ronnie to take on.
1:06:09 > 1:06:13Now, can Ronnie knock a long pot in here?
1:06:20 > 1:06:22APPLAUSE
1:06:22 > 1:06:25- Of course he can.- One.
1:06:25 > 1:06:27It just shows the importance, Willie,
1:06:27 > 1:06:29of break-off shot. He got a good length,
1:06:29 > 1:06:31but nothing safe when the players with potting like this.
1:06:31 > 1:06:33You've got to find the top cushion, don't you?
1:06:33 > 1:06:36And he was very close to finding the top cushion there but...
1:06:36 > 1:06:38Ronnie was able to play the shot to nothing.
1:06:38 > 1:06:39He's on the choice of green or yellow.
1:06:39 > 1:06:41The green would have held better position.
1:06:41 > 1:06:43The two reds to the right of the pink
1:06:43 > 1:06:45look easier to get onto from the green.
1:06:45 > 1:06:47He's actually looking at playing the deep screw now
1:06:47 > 1:06:49and trying to get him to the two red above the black, which
1:06:49 > 1:06:53you wouldn't blame him because, if he gets on those nicely...
1:06:54 > 1:06:57Well, still playing the same shot to run through this time,
1:06:57 > 1:06:59but left-handed, running through.
1:06:59 > 1:07:01Not been able to get perfect position...
1:07:05 > 1:07:07..but that's OK.
1:07:07 > 1:07:10APPLAUSE
1:07:12 > 1:07:13Three.
1:07:32 > 1:07:33Four.
1:07:33 > 1:07:36APPLAUSE
1:07:36 > 1:07:38When he switches hands,
1:07:38 > 1:07:40it's quite amazing.
1:07:40 > 1:07:41He just looks so comfortable.
1:07:45 > 1:07:47Few players, in years gone by -
1:07:47 > 1:07:49people like Fred Davis...
1:07:49 > 1:07:51Well, myself, I used to switch hands
1:07:51 > 1:07:53because I didn't like the rest
1:07:53 > 1:07:55but, I'll tell you what, I couldn't...
1:07:55 > 1:07:57I could only play some shots left-handed.
1:07:57 > 1:07:5912.
1:07:59 > 1:08:02This fella can make century breaks with his opposite hand.
1:08:04 > 1:08:07And you're coming right in behind Ronnie O'Sullivan
1:08:07 > 1:08:09as he slots that black in.
1:08:17 > 1:08:1819.
1:08:22 > 1:08:2420.
1:08:36 > 1:08:3827.
1:08:49 > 1:08:51Ronnie, as ever, leaving the angle on the black -
1:08:51 > 1:08:53albeit, there is a loose red he can play for in the middle
1:08:53 > 1:08:55if he wants but we know...
1:08:55 > 1:08:58The key is, here, to not hit one of those reds full ball
1:08:58 > 1:09:00but he's playing for the loose one.
1:09:00 > 1:09:02Unlike Ronnie to do that.
1:09:02 > 1:09:04He probably feels there's a better opportunity
1:09:04 > 1:09:06- from possibly the blue or the yellow...- 35.
1:09:06 > 1:09:07..to go into the bunch.
1:09:11 > 1:09:13Probably cos that pack was a little bit flat at the back there,
1:09:13 > 1:09:16didn't feel like sticking on one of those reds.
1:09:18 > 1:09:21He didn't drop on this red as he intended.
1:09:21 > 1:09:23He's got a little bit more to do with the cue ball
1:09:23 > 1:09:25to get a good angle on the blue.
1:09:32 > 1:09:35- 36. - APPLAUSE
1:09:35 > 1:09:37He made that look easy.
1:09:48 > 1:09:49APPLAUSE
1:09:49 > 1:09:51Well, that's a terrific shot.
1:09:51 > 1:09:56As Willie said, it is difficult to go into them from the black...
1:09:56 > 1:09:57but to come in off two cushions
1:09:57 > 1:09:59and open them like that
1:09:59 > 1:10:00is a bit special.
1:10:01 > 1:10:03Already 41 points in the lead.
1:10:03 > 1:10:07It doesn't take him long to win a frame.
1:10:14 > 1:10:1542.
1:10:31 > 1:10:3247.
1:10:40 > 1:10:4148.
1:10:57 > 1:10:59- 55. - Already 55 ahead.
1:10:59 > 1:11:02Not that many more pots needed
1:11:02 > 1:11:04to open up a four-frame advantage.
1:11:08 > 1:11:1056.
1:11:11 > 1:11:14We talk about Ronnie being such a natural player,
1:11:14 > 1:11:17in not only the way he pots balls,
1:11:17 > 1:11:18he just seems to fall into position.
1:11:18 > 1:11:22As he walks round the table he just seems to...
1:11:22 > 1:11:27be absolutely perfect. Doesn't need to do any shuffling around.
1:11:27 > 1:11:2862.
1:11:29 > 1:11:32It's possible Ronnie has probably played better at some time
1:11:32 > 1:11:35or another here at The Crucible but I think, this year especially,
1:11:35 > 1:11:37a lot of players have been struggling with their position
1:11:37 > 1:11:40but Ronnie's position all this two weeks of this
1:11:40 > 1:11:43Betfair World Championship has been pin-point.
1:11:43 > 1:11:45- APPLAUSE - I think that's the key difference.
1:11:45 > 1:11:49We know he's a great player but the cue ball control has been immense.
1:11:51 > 1:11:5270.
1:12:04 > 1:12:0576.
1:12:10 > 1:12:1277.
1:12:14 > 1:12:18If he could make a century here he would equal the highest number
1:12:18 > 1:12:22of centuries made in a final - that'd be five.
1:12:22 > 1:12:25He's got a difficult red, though, near the cushion.
1:12:29 > 1:12:3084.
1:12:35 > 1:12:3685.
1:12:46 > 1:12:4892.
1:12:49 > 1:12:5093.
1:12:56 > 1:12:59And he's absolutely potted on the difficult red.
1:12:59 > 1:13:01APPLAUSE
1:13:01 > 1:13:0299.
1:13:06 > 1:13:09- CHEERING AND APPLAUSE - 100.
1:13:09 > 1:13:11That is unbelievable.
1:13:11 > 1:13:14His 12th century in this year's World Championship.
1:13:18 > 1:13:22He made 12 last year when he lifted the crown.
1:13:22 > 1:13:24108.
1:13:24 > 1:13:28And what a sensational break this has been.
1:13:31 > 1:13:33Not a lot Barry Hawkins could do about this.
1:13:33 > 1:13:37- 111.- He got a reasonably good break, all shot close to the cushion,
1:13:37 > 1:13:39Ronnie knocked a long red in,
1:13:39 > 1:13:40end of frame.
1:13:43 > 1:13:45115.
1:13:45 > 1:13:49This could equal Barry's high break of the match, 133.
1:13:49 > 1:13:52- 120.- And another record is taken away from Stephen Hendry -
1:13:52 > 1:13:55he's made the most centuries here at The Crucible.
1:13:55 > 1:13:58And now he's made more centuries in a final than Stephen Hendry.
1:14:01 > 1:14:04- CHEERING AND APPLAUSE - It doesn't get any better than that.
1:14:04 > 1:14:08He just got half a chance and he knocked the lot in.
1:14:08 > 1:14:13That was a fabulous 133 break from Ronnie O'Sullivan.
1:14:13 > 1:14:15He's back to four in front again,
1:14:15 > 1:14:18at 13-9.
1:14:18 > 1:14:20Ronnie would also win the next with a knock of 67
1:14:20 > 1:14:23to lead by 14 frames to nine.
1:14:23 > 1:14:26But he just couldn't shake this man, Hawkins, off.
1:14:26 > 1:14:28He took the 24th frame to reduce his arrears
1:14:28 > 1:14:33and this now is the last frame of the afternoon session.
1:14:33 > 1:14:35That's what it's all about.
1:14:35 > 1:14:37The lady early on top of the World Championship trophy
1:14:37 > 1:14:40that's been around since 1927.
1:14:40 > 1:14:42Who's going to get their name on it this year?
1:14:42 > 1:14:44Will it be Ronnie for the fifth time?
1:14:44 > 1:14:46Or will we see a new name on there?
1:14:46 > 1:14:50This last frame could tell the story.
1:14:51 > 1:14:54Because if Barry can take it,
1:14:54 > 1:14:57and get back to 14-11,
1:14:57 > 1:15:00there'd be a lot of snooker to be played this evening.
1:15:05 > 1:15:0818 is the magic number.
1:15:08 > 1:15:11And you can see all the famous names on there.
1:15:19 > 1:15:21- APPLAUSE - What a shot he's played there!
1:15:46 > 1:15:49Trying to just nestle on the red
1:15:49 > 1:15:51that's just to the left of the black.
1:15:54 > 1:15:56Looks good to me.
1:15:56 > 1:15:58Looks very good to me.
1:15:59 > 1:16:02APPLAUSE
1:16:06 > 1:16:09He might be back in a similar position again.
1:16:14 > 1:16:16Not this time.
1:16:17 > 1:16:20No snooker. And a path back for Barry.
1:16:40 > 1:16:43Slightly misjudged safety
1:16:43 > 1:16:46but no red pottable that he can get on to a colour,
1:16:46 > 1:16:49so he'll be playing back into the baulk area again.
1:16:58 > 1:17:00Both underhitting that kind of shot
1:17:00 > 1:17:02when they're playing two cushions back in the baulk.
1:17:02 > 1:17:05There were suggestions the table was playing a little bit slower
1:17:05 > 1:17:07yesterday but...
1:17:07 > 1:17:10it appears to be playing a little bit slower today, I think,
1:17:10 > 1:17:12the way they're playing the safety shots.
1:17:24 > 1:17:28Yeah, there was a lot of talk about the table and the new cloth.
1:17:28 > 1:17:32This was Ronnie yesterday, just checking to see
1:17:32 > 1:17:35if the cloth was maybe a little loose there.
1:17:35 > 1:17:38But I think when they're in the balls there's no problem.
1:17:38 > 1:17:41He was checking both sides of the table.
1:17:41 > 1:17:44They still get the reaction out of the cloth,
1:17:44 > 1:17:47it might just be slightly slower but not necessarily a bad thing,
1:17:47 > 1:17:50and I think the breaks that have been made have proved that.
1:18:01 > 1:18:04Yes, I think the standard has been absolutely fabulous.
1:18:04 > 1:18:07I mean, both players have been scoring pretty heavily.
1:18:08 > 1:18:11Both had a break of 133.
1:18:11 > 1:18:14Well, this is one of those he can definitely take on, Barry.
1:18:14 > 1:18:17Just looking to see if he can screw back off the cushion,
1:18:17 > 1:18:20just before the middle pocket, and be nicely on the pink.
1:18:20 > 1:18:25But he can't afford to come too far over, just in case he misses it.
1:18:25 > 1:18:28I think he's looking at this red and it looks to me that he would
1:18:28 > 1:18:32cannon into the black and maybe bring it into play, if he pots it.
1:18:35 > 1:18:38APPLAUSE
1:18:40 > 1:18:42He's freed the black.
1:18:43 > 1:18:46He was hoping to knock the black towards the pocket -
1:18:46 > 1:18:48he made a pretty good job of it, deserves to be on the pink,
1:18:48 > 1:18:50but it's not a gimme.
1:19:09 > 1:19:11APPLAUSE
1:19:11 > 1:19:14He's unlucky with the kiss there.
1:19:14 > 1:19:16Mind you, I think at one stage,
1:19:16 > 1:19:19he would have been concerned about the pink.
1:19:19 > 1:19:23Looked as if it was going to hit the jaw of the pocket there,
1:19:23 > 1:19:26but not a favourable kiss on that red.
1:19:27 > 1:19:29If you miss along the cushion...
1:19:29 > 1:19:32Dear me, this is difficult
1:19:32 > 1:19:34for the one next to the black he's looking at.
1:19:36 > 1:19:37If it's tight on the cushion...
1:19:39 > 1:19:41..he could take it on, but...
1:19:43 > 1:19:46He's looking for something else, but there is very little else
1:19:46 > 1:19:51available, only the safety, and not easy to get a good safety shot.
1:19:56 > 1:19:58Well, that really is unlucky.
1:19:58 > 1:20:00I mean, OK, the pink didn't go in the centre of the pocket,
1:20:00 > 1:20:03which has made the position slightly more difficult,
1:20:03 > 1:20:06but it's very unlucky not to have some sort of pot on here.
1:20:08 > 1:20:11He's almost on two reds, into the left-hand corner,
1:20:11 > 1:20:13but not nicely on either of them.
1:20:13 > 1:20:15He looks like he's found one onto the...
1:20:15 > 1:20:18Doesn't look like it passes the green, but I presume it must do.
1:20:18 > 1:20:22It's amazing, he's awkward on all three reds that are pottable,
1:20:22 > 1:20:24and he's looked to the one past the green,
1:20:24 > 1:20:26the one past the black and the other one past the black.
1:20:26 > 1:20:31He can play this one, but will he play it with a bit of pace,
1:20:31 > 1:20:33or try and drop it in and get a bit of safety if he misses?
1:20:33 > 1:20:36Played it with the pace, nothing wrong with that,
1:20:36 > 1:20:39- as long as it doesn't go over the middle pocket.- Barry Hawkins, seven.
1:20:39 > 1:20:41He's got a good cue ball, as you can see.
1:20:41 > 1:20:44APPLAUSE
1:20:48 > 1:20:51If you are right in behind that red, you can pop it into
1:20:51 > 1:20:55the left middle pocket, but close to the cushion.
1:21:00 > 1:21:02Still tried it, but that was, er...
1:21:05 > 1:21:09..near enough impossible, from that position.
1:21:18 > 1:21:21A nice angle to get onto the black, but it's too dangerous,
1:21:21 > 1:21:23that's the reason he's cueing back.
1:21:23 > 1:21:26Cueing with bottom on the ball to take the ball back into baulk.
1:21:26 > 1:21:29And the easier pot would be to roll it in,
1:21:29 > 1:21:31but if he had missed it, it would have left the two reds
1:21:31 > 1:21:34that are behind the black spot in the right-hand corner.
1:21:35 > 1:21:39Lovely angle there, but it was risky to get onto the black.
1:21:43 > 1:21:44APPLAUSE
1:21:44 > 1:21:46Very rarely these days do you see top players play a double,
1:21:46 > 1:21:48but that's a double
1:21:48 > 1:21:52that could be the catalyst of making a rather large break in this
1:21:52 > 1:21:55last frame of the afternoon session.
1:22:00 > 1:22:04Funnily enough, that double was his first pot for 18 minutes.
1:22:04 > 1:22:07And he's got an angle to get up to the red above the blue.
1:22:15 > 1:22:17Three.
1:22:37 > 1:22:40The last frame of the last session.
1:22:40 > 1:22:43I've never seen Ronnie concentrate so hard.
1:22:43 > 1:22:46To take it, he played some unbelievable tactical play
1:22:46 > 1:22:50and little snookers, and he knew the importance of opening up that
1:22:50 > 1:22:51three-frame advantage.
1:22:51 > 1:22:53He's doing the same here.
1:22:58 > 1:22:59Four.
1:22:59 > 1:23:02- APPLAUSE - He's going to be hampered.
1:23:15 > 1:23:18APPLAUSE
1:23:18 > 1:23:20Now, the black may be tied up.
1:23:20 > 1:23:24And the way he's finished on this red,
1:23:24 > 1:23:27he couldn't do anything else, he just dropped that in.
1:23:27 > 1:23:29He's just looking to see if he could possibly pot the black,
1:23:29 > 1:23:31what a bonus that would be.
1:23:35 > 1:23:37We'll find out shortly whether it pots.
1:23:41 > 1:23:43- 12.- Ronnie thinks it will.
1:23:50 > 1:23:54Just enough room to hit the red that's directly above the black.
1:23:54 > 1:23:57APPLAUSE And that's turned out to be perfect.
1:23:57 > 1:24:01And this looks like a chance now to win the frame.
1:24:01 > 1:24:04Just moved that red just above the black, just by a fraction,
1:24:04 > 1:24:07which made the black easier to get onto now.
1:24:07 > 1:24:09Ronnie is shaking his head,
1:24:09 > 1:24:12maybe he feels that the angle he has on the red is not perfect.
1:24:17 > 1:24:19I think he's worried if he cannons the other red,
1:24:19 > 1:24:23he'll go out of position, but it should be OK.
1:24:23 > 1:24:26He didn't risk playing for the black, so...
1:24:26 > 1:24:28He's perfect on the blue,
1:24:28 > 1:24:31so he took the element of risk out of it there, Willie.
1:24:31 > 1:24:33Great shot, wasn't it?
1:24:33 > 1:24:35I've got to be honest, I thought he'd play for the black,
1:24:35 > 1:24:38but he thought he could flick that red towards the black,
1:24:38 > 1:24:41and maybe not on it, but he's absolutely perfect on the blue.
1:24:57 > 1:25:00It's taken Ronnie over three and a half minutes for this break,
1:25:00 > 1:25:05because he's taking his time, he knows the importance of it.
1:25:08 > 1:25:12Which is incredible, when you think back to that maximum
1:25:12 > 1:25:16break in 1997, when he made it in five minutes and 20 seconds.
1:25:16 > 1:25:19It'll never be equalled in the history of the game, that.
1:25:24 > 1:25:27Slightly... He would have liked to be exactly straight on this red,
1:25:27 > 1:25:30but there is a gap in between the two reds to screw across
1:25:30 > 1:25:32and play the black into the right-hand corner.
1:25:32 > 1:25:34I presume it pots in there.
1:25:34 > 1:25:37Not too sure whether he can get onto it in the same pocket.
1:25:41 > 1:25:44No, could hold it for that pocket, too.
1:25:44 > 1:25:46This is a great chance now to win this frame
1:25:46 > 1:25:48and take a five-frame lead.
1:25:50 > 1:25:5494% pot success rate, that is...
1:25:55 > 1:25:57..going some, I can tell you.
1:26:09 > 1:26:1139.
1:26:17 > 1:26:1940.
1:26:19 > 1:26:21Because of the angle he has,
1:26:21 > 1:26:24he may risk playing the cannon onto the red and pink at exactly
1:26:24 > 1:26:26the same time, which pushes them both out of the way.
1:26:26 > 1:26:29There it is, little cannon to bring them both out of the way,
1:26:29 > 1:26:31perfect on the red.
1:26:32 > 1:26:3447.
1:26:39 > 1:26:42Looks like he may have to go for the blue here,
1:26:42 > 1:26:45but that shouldn't prove a problem.
1:26:50 > 1:26:5148.
1:26:51 > 1:26:54When we talk about his positional play,
1:26:54 > 1:26:57again, he's just absolutely perfect every time.
1:27:12 > 1:27:1453.
1:27:21 > 1:27:2254.
1:27:38 > 1:27:43- 59.- He's going to need one more red to make absolutely certain
1:27:43 > 1:27:45of this final frame of this session.
1:27:48 > 1:27:50- APPLAUSE - 60.
1:27:50 > 1:27:54And the red above the two is available.
1:27:57 > 1:28:00So, it's going to be 15-10, but I'll tell you what,
1:28:00 > 1:28:02- it's far from finished.- 65.
1:28:02 > 1:28:07Barry Hawkins will have something to say this evening, you would feel.
1:28:09 > 1:28:12- If he gets the chance, that is.- 66.
1:28:14 > 1:28:17Once again, this break didn't look on when he started.
1:28:17 > 1:28:21The black was pretty surrounded by a lot of reds,
1:28:21 > 1:28:24he finished low on the first two or three blacks, the pink was
1:28:24 > 1:28:27out of commission because the reds were around it as well.
1:28:27 > 1:28:31And he's made 73 and counting, which could possibly end up being
1:28:31 > 1:28:37the 54th century of the tournament and the 13th for Ronnie O'Sullivan.
1:28:37 > 1:28:38APPLAUSE
1:28:38 > 1:28:42Another exhibition finish and start, the break goes to 81.
1:28:43 > 1:28:4582.
1:28:48 > 1:28:50It's all about the tricky red along the cushion,
1:28:50 > 1:28:52as to whether he gets another century.
1:28:54 > 1:28:56If he does, of course,
1:28:56 > 1:28:59it would extend the winning centuries in a final to six.
1:29:02 > 1:29:04- APPLAUSE - 90.
1:29:10 > 1:29:13Mind, he's got to get nicely on the green.
1:29:13 > 1:29:16Has he got an angle to get over in behind it?
1:29:16 > 1:29:20- 97.- It doesn't appear so, does it?
1:29:20 > 1:29:23So, the green at distance for a century.
1:29:23 > 1:29:2499.
1:29:31 > 1:29:34APPLAUSE Well, stand by, genius at work!
1:29:35 > 1:29:38Another excellent century break from Ronnie O'Sullivan,
1:29:38 > 1:29:41his sixth in this final.
1:29:41 > 1:29:43And he looks totally zoned in.
1:29:43 > 1:29:45Well, we've seen Stephen Fry there,
1:29:45 > 1:29:48we've seen Damien Hirst with a big smile on his face.
1:29:48 > 1:29:51This is fabulous to watch.
1:29:53 > 1:29:56- 117.- This has been a wonderful session of snooker.
1:29:56 > 1:29:59Barry Hawkins would be sitting there, thinking,
1:29:59 > 1:30:02"How on earth have I only won three frames? I've played great!"
1:30:02 > 1:30:03But that's what happens
1:30:03 > 1:30:06when you play a player at the top of his form.
1:30:06 > 1:30:07The audience stand up,
1:30:07 > 1:30:09a standing ovation from this packed Crucible crowd.
1:30:09 > 1:30:12Ronnie O'Sullivan taking what could be an unassailable lead
1:30:12 > 1:30:14into the final tonight.
1:30:14 > 1:30:16He leads by 15 frames to ten.
1:30:37 > 1:30:39When you look at the three sessions,
1:30:39 > 1:30:42Ronnie has won two of them 5-3 and the other one 5-4.
1:30:45 > 1:30:49So, mathematically, it has not been easy.
1:30:51 > 1:30:53But the way he's gone ahead of Barry
1:30:53 > 1:30:56whenever he's been in trouble has looked easy.
1:31:01 > 1:31:02- AUDIENCE GASP - Foul.
1:31:04 > 1:31:07Well, the first mistake of the evening has gone to
1:31:07 > 1:31:10Ronnie O'Sullivan, but he doesn't appear to have done any damage.
1:31:10 > 1:31:14Missed the long pot by quite a long way, but unlucky to be going off.
1:31:20 > 1:31:23This is just a case, Stephen, isn't it, to just play
1:31:23 > 1:31:27no-miss snooker, really, for Barry to get back into the match?
1:31:27 > 1:31:31Yeah, I must admit, this first frame is huge for Barry if he wants to...
1:31:34 > 1:31:37..at the very least, take this final into the second session tonight.
1:31:37 > 1:31:40I feel if Ronnie wins the first frame,
1:31:40 > 1:31:43he might go in and win the next two.
1:31:43 > 1:31:45- APPLAUSE - That's an excellent safety.
1:31:46 > 1:31:50He's loved this final, he's really enjoyed it.
1:31:50 > 1:31:52I'm so pleased for Barry, though, it was his family,
1:31:52 > 1:31:55we saw a shot of them, father Steve, Caroline the mother,
1:31:55 > 1:31:59sister Tanya, and they've absolutely been enthralled,
1:31:59 > 1:32:00the way Barry has...
1:32:00 > 1:32:03We've all known that Barry has been a great player for a long,
1:32:03 > 1:32:06long time, but after the semifinal, he must have been a little bit
1:32:06 > 1:32:09embarrassed, the way he played, but this final,
1:32:09 > 1:32:12he's proved to everybody that he is a force to be reckoned with.
1:32:22 > 1:32:25Well, that's an excellent reply from O'Sullivan.
1:32:40 > 1:32:43Taking this pot on, the one that's just below the pink spot there.
1:32:43 > 1:32:45There is the pot success rate,
1:32:45 > 1:32:47Barry over 91%.
1:32:47 > 1:32:50Normally, that would be enough to be in front in a match, but when
1:32:50 > 1:32:53you are playing O'Sullivan, things are not quite normal sometimes.
1:32:53 > 1:32:56APPLAUSE
1:32:59 > 1:33:01When you think they've played 25 frames
1:33:01 > 1:33:06and he's still got a 94% pot success rate, incredible, really.
1:33:17 > 1:33:19Red going over to the corner,
1:33:19 > 1:33:22needs the blue or yellow to come to his rescue.
1:33:22 > 1:33:25And there may be a gap... Not quite, though.
1:34:03 > 1:34:06Well, obviously no problem getting it back into baulk,
1:34:06 > 1:34:08but he feels it's too risky to try and cover the red, so he's
1:34:08 > 1:34:11just playing the roll-up here, got to be careful he doesn't go in off.
1:34:14 > 1:34:16Because if he doesn't push the red safe and goes in off,
1:34:16 > 1:34:18he'll be in trouble.
1:34:18 > 1:34:21Well done. APPLAUSE
1:35:16 > 1:35:19Excellent pot. Excellent pot.
1:35:19 > 1:35:21And perfect on the green, or the brown.
1:35:24 > 1:35:27These give you so much confidence, Steve, don't they,
1:35:27 > 1:35:30when you knock one of these in?
1:35:30 > 1:35:32Yeah, you would think if he missed that,
1:35:32 > 1:35:34the cue ball would be careering into the reds
1:35:34 > 1:35:39and it would be certain to leave a frame and an opportunity on,
1:35:39 > 1:35:43but just here, it gives you great confidence to pot them.
1:35:43 > 1:35:45Perfect angle on the green.
1:35:46 > 1:35:50Can virtually put the cue ball where he wants from that position.
1:35:52 > 1:35:54And he's not done very well, to be honest.
1:35:54 > 1:35:56He'd have liked to have been on the two reds
1:35:56 > 1:35:58to the right-hand side of the pack.
1:35:58 > 1:36:01The red in the middle, hampered cueing is not straightforward.
1:36:14 > 1:36:15APPLAUSE
1:36:15 > 1:36:17Five.
1:36:22 > 1:36:25In the end, he did well to pot this.
1:36:25 > 1:36:27But he was only able to concentrate on the pot.
1:36:27 > 1:36:29He couldn't play position.
1:36:31 > 1:36:34Couldn't get the right side of the blue.
1:36:34 > 1:36:36So this is a tester.
1:36:36 > 1:36:39- As you screw back for the blue, you've got to hit these right.- Ten.
1:36:55 > 1:36:5611.
1:36:56 > 1:36:59And it all depends about the red above the black.
1:36:59 > 1:37:02If that pots in the corner pocket,
1:37:02 > 1:37:05you've got every chance in a few seconds or a few shots' time
1:37:05 > 1:37:07of bringing that black into play.
1:37:09 > 1:37:12But he'd need to be on the blue, though, to get onto that red.
1:37:12 > 1:37:14Mind you, it looks like he's played for it now.
1:37:14 > 1:37:17It needs to slow up a little bit.
1:37:17 > 1:37:19Need to put the brakes on.
1:37:20 > 1:37:22It just got the wrong angle.
1:37:22 > 1:37:25He's seeing if he can finish on the black. There you can see
1:37:25 > 1:37:26the angle is not good.
1:37:26 > 1:37:29If that cue ball had stopped two or three inches before that,
1:37:29 > 1:37:31he'd have been able to get onto the black.
1:37:31 > 1:37:33He still feels as though he might be able to.
1:37:41 > 1:37:4315.
1:37:43 > 1:37:45APPLAUSE
1:37:45 > 1:37:48Done very well there, looked as if he didn't have the angle
1:37:48 > 1:37:51to get this close to the black.
1:37:52 > 1:37:55Really had to nip the cue ball there.
1:37:58 > 1:38:00I think that was a prime example,
1:38:00 > 1:38:04Stephen, of a player pinching the pocket, playing it off the jaw,
1:38:04 > 1:38:06that's how good these players can be when they're in stroke,
1:38:06 > 1:38:09and Barry Hawkins obviously cueing very well now.
1:38:09 > 1:38:11Had to get the black back into play. He's done that.
1:38:28 > 1:38:31Well, he's perfect on the red in the right-hand corner,
1:38:31 > 1:38:34but obviously the black's not available into the left-hand corner,
1:38:34 > 1:38:37so he's looking for a chance to go topside of the blue again.
1:38:43 > 1:38:46- Well, didn't quite get it just right.- 23.
1:38:46 > 1:38:51So unless he pots a good yellow, that could be end of break.
1:38:51 > 1:38:53Got to swing it around
1:38:53 > 1:38:57in between brown and pink and off two cushions
1:38:57 > 1:38:59and back on a red in the left-hand corner,
1:38:59 > 1:39:02because that's the way he can get onto the black,
1:39:02 > 1:39:04if he gets onto one of those reds.
1:39:05 > 1:39:07He needs to miss that blue.
1:39:11 > 1:39:1225.
1:39:29 > 1:39:31APPLAUSE
1:39:31 > 1:39:34That really is a fantastic shot with the rest.
1:39:36 > 1:39:38To control the cue ball,
1:39:38 > 1:39:40you've got to keep so still.
1:39:40 > 1:39:43The cue's got to go in such a straight line,
1:39:43 > 1:39:46and now this is a frame-winning opportunity after that shot.
1:39:48 > 1:39:51I guess the only department that Barry's not competing
1:39:51 > 1:39:54is the break-building department, winning frames at one visit.
1:39:54 > 1:39:57He's had more table time than Ronnie O'Sullivan in this match.
1:39:57 > 1:40:00He's had 51% of the table time,
1:40:00 > 1:40:03- so he's been on the table more than Ronnie.- 34.
1:40:03 > 1:40:06Just got to start making every chance a frame-winning chance,
1:40:06 > 1:40:08and this is the one.
1:40:08 > 1:40:11He'd be very disappointed if he didn't win the frame from here.
1:40:18 > 1:40:2041.
1:40:28 > 1:40:2942.
1:40:46 > 1:40:48- 49.- 53-point lead.
1:40:48 > 1:40:52So, two more reds, two blacks at least
1:40:52 > 1:40:55and he'll have done what Stephen suggested he needed to do,
1:40:55 > 1:40:58just let Ronnie O'Sullivan know he's not going to lie down,
1:40:58 > 1:41:01take the match beyond the interval.
1:41:01 > 1:41:05And there is the magnificent view from this packed Crucible crowd.
1:41:05 > 1:41:07That's what they're seeing.
1:41:10 > 1:41:12Looking good, Stephen.
1:41:12 > 1:41:14Yeah, this is fabulous.
1:41:14 > 1:41:17As we've seen before, a fantastic long red.
1:41:21 > 1:41:23And he's capitalised on that superbly.
1:41:25 > 1:41:2658.
1:41:28 > 1:41:31We'll show you this long red again.
1:41:33 > 1:41:35That was a must-make shot.
1:41:39 > 1:41:43And of course then, as the crowd applaud for the fact that
1:41:43 > 1:41:46he has got Ronnie O'Sullivan in the snookers-required situation,
1:41:46 > 1:41:50he played an excellent shot with the rest a little later on in that break
1:41:50 > 1:41:52where he had to pot it.
1:41:54 > 1:41:56So great to see Barry playing well.
1:42:13 > 1:42:15And it's the same, obviously
1:42:15 > 1:42:18the respect Ronnie has given Barry, the fact that
1:42:18 > 1:42:23every time he's got close, Ronnie's felt the need to raise a gear
1:42:23 > 1:42:26to stay in front. He's had to play brilliant snooker
1:42:26 > 1:42:27to stay ahead of Barry.
1:42:40 > 1:42:43I mentioned a few moments ago that the only thing he needed to improve
1:42:43 > 1:42:47was his scoring, winning a frame at one visit. He's done that now.
1:42:47 > 1:42:49He's only had one century in this match
1:42:49 > 1:42:51but it was a fabulous break of 133.
1:42:56 > 1:42:57- Ooh!- 82.
1:42:57 > 1:43:00The reason he rolled through slowly like that is because
1:43:00 > 1:43:02he's left now the perfect angle on the...
1:43:02 > 1:43:05As we see this red struggling, the angle he's got now
1:43:05 > 1:43:08is perfect to knock the other red off the cushion.
1:43:11 > 1:43:12Well done.
1:43:12 > 1:43:14Does the red still pass the blue?
1:43:14 > 1:43:16- It does.- 89.
1:43:28 > 1:43:2990.
1:43:42 > 1:43:44LAUGHTER AND MURMURS
1:43:44 > 1:43:4692.
1:43:53 > 1:43:55But this is really top-drawer.
1:43:55 > 1:43:57APPLAUSE
1:44:07 > 1:44:11Well played, Barry Hawkins! His fifth century at this tournament,
1:44:11 > 1:44:13warmly appreciated by the packed audience.
1:44:13 > 1:44:18His family applaud as well. The 55th century at the Crucible this year.
1:44:23 > 1:44:24APPLAUSE
1:44:24 > 1:44:27And there's been eight centuries in this final now,
1:44:27 > 1:44:29which actually ties the record.
1:44:36 > 1:44:38105.
1:44:47 > 1:44:48109.
1:44:57 > 1:44:58114.
1:44:58 > 1:45:02He needs an angle on this pink, and I don't think he's got a good angle.
1:45:02 > 1:45:05He'll do really well to get past the middle pocket here.
1:45:06 > 1:45:09So much so, he may be doubling the black.
1:45:15 > 1:45:17Or trebling the black.
1:45:17 > 1:45:19It's close! Trust me, it's close.
1:45:19 > 1:45:21Trust me, it's really close!
1:45:21 > 1:45:22CHEERING
1:45:22 > 1:45:25Well, that's the way to start your first Crucible final,
1:45:25 > 1:45:28with a magnificent total clearance of 127.
1:45:28 > 1:45:31He wins the first round of the evening session,
1:45:31 > 1:45:33which closes to four frames at 15-11.
1:45:33 > 1:45:36Well, the heavy scoring continued.
1:45:36 > 1:45:39It was utterly relentless in the next three frames.
1:45:39 > 1:45:45Barry threw in a break of 66. Ronnie replied with knocks of 77 and 88
1:45:45 > 1:45:48to move him 17-12 clear,
1:45:48 > 1:45:51and that meant he needs only one more
1:45:51 > 1:45:53to claim a fifth world title.
1:45:57 > 1:46:01Barry Hawkins breaks off,
1:46:01 > 1:46:05on what he hopes is not his last frame.
1:46:05 > 1:46:06APPLAUSE
1:46:09 > 1:46:14Can he produce the snooker that he did at the start of this evening?
1:46:14 > 1:46:16Breaks of 127 and 66.
1:46:16 > 1:46:20If you've done it once, Barry, you can do it again.
1:46:23 > 1:46:25He really did look good, John.
1:46:25 > 1:46:28I was watching that and he never looked like missing, Barry.
1:46:28 > 1:46:31Unbelievable. I think it was the best in the first frame,
1:46:31 > 1:46:33when he made that marvellous 127.
1:46:33 > 1:46:35It was the best he cued in this match.
1:46:38 > 1:46:41Just had a bit of a setback when he missed the red along the cushion
1:46:41 > 1:46:44but you could have seen him winning all the four frames
1:46:44 > 1:46:46before the mid-session interval
1:46:46 > 1:46:48and then we would have had a titanic struggle.
1:46:48 > 1:46:50But that's what happens when you miss
1:46:50 > 1:46:54and you leave Ronnie O'Sullivan in amongst the balls,
1:46:54 > 1:46:56and he's just a magician.
1:46:57 > 1:47:01But you just get the feeling that Barry still believes.
1:47:05 > 1:47:07APPLAUSE
1:47:12 > 1:47:17Already going to be a little bit of an awkward frame with the red up
1:47:17 > 1:47:19the other side of the table,
1:47:19 > 1:47:21so behind the black is now
1:47:21 > 1:47:22the safety area.
1:47:30 > 1:47:31APPLAUSE
1:47:34 > 1:47:36Not quite.
1:47:36 > 1:47:39Barry can play a better one than Ronnie.
1:47:40 > 1:47:41Can he judge it?
1:47:45 > 1:47:46This looks good.
1:47:47 > 1:47:50- Just a bit too far but... - APPLAUSE
1:47:53 > 1:47:56..still got it tight on the cushion. You can't get back...
1:47:58 > 1:47:59..with the white tucked up there.
1:48:15 > 1:48:20At the moment, Barry in control of this little safety exchange, but
1:48:20 > 1:48:22with the reds so tightly packed
1:48:22 > 1:48:25it's hard to force your opponent into a mistake.
1:48:28 > 1:48:30But the target will be try and get that cue ball
1:48:30 > 1:48:32in tight behind the black again.
1:49:04 > 1:49:06Oh, what's he done here?
1:49:08 > 1:49:10That was a little bit careless.
1:49:10 > 1:49:12Touching ball, Barry.
1:49:12 > 1:49:15Has he got enough angle to give himself a possible
1:49:15 > 1:49:16chance at the black?
1:49:18 > 1:49:20Might be able to come off the other red
1:49:20 > 1:49:22and get a bit closer to the black.
1:49:26 > 1:49:27APPLAUSE
1:49:27 > 1:49:30Now it's a very difficult situation.
1:49:30 > 1:49:32He couldn't really play it
1:49:32 > 1:49:35any harder, striking over that red,
1:49:35 > 1:49:36and he just couldn't get...
1:49:36 > 1:49:40But he can roll tight up behind the black off the cushion.
1:49:46 > 1:49:47That's a little careless.
1:49:47 > 1:49:50There's a shot for the middle now for Ronnie.
1:49:58 > 1:50:00Hm. He's not taking it.
1:50:04 > 1:50:06CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:50:12 > 1:50:14A good pot but he was concentrating on the safety there,
1:50:14 > 1:50:17but that was interesting to see.
1:50:18 > 1:50:20He's not taking any chances, Ronnie.
1:50:20 > 1:50:24It looked like he could roll the other red to the middle but...
1:50:25 > 1:50:28..he wants to wait for a better chance.
1:50:33 > 1:50:35Yes, it was a good pot.
1:50:35 > 1:50:38But, by the looks of it,
1:50:38 > 1:50:40it doesn't look as though he's snookered Barry,
1:50:40 > 1:50:42which is a little bit careless.
1:50:42 > 1:50:47So Barry may be able to get this cue ball back behind the black.
1:50:49 > 1:50:51And the reds are spread now.
1:50:53 > 1:50:56Purposefully tried to play it into the green
1:50:56 > 1:50:58but he didn't hit the green full enough.
1:51:01 > 1:51:05He's left a red to the far left corner but...
1:51:09 > 1:51:11..he could have left something easier.
1:51:21 > 1:51:23APPLAUSE
1:51:25 > 1:51:28A round of applause from Ronnie Jr.
1:51:28 > 1:51:32He's just overscrewed that slightly but with a little cut back...
1:51:34 > 1:51:36And it's there. How's the cannon?
1:51:38 > 1:51:39It's not bad.
1:51:39 > 1:51:41He's got the one to the middle pocket and,
1:51:41 > 1:51:45if he can't see this one, to the left corner.
1:51:45 > 1:51:47Well, if he could see the one to the left corner,
1:51:47 > 1:51:52Barry knows that this is a great chance for Ronnie.
1:51:52 > 1:51:53Nine.
1:51:55 > 1:51:58I know there's a long way to go, but great champions...
1:52:00 > 1:52:02..usually finish in style.
1:52:06 > 1:52:0716.
1:52:15 > 1:52:1617.
1:52:25 > 1:52:28You know, John, when you speak at dinners and that and you usually...
1:52:28 > 1:52:31I usually do a little thing - who's the three greatest players that's
1:52:31 > 1:52:33- ever played the game of snooker? - 22.
1:52:33 > 1:52:35Two of them are sitting in the studio.
1:52:36 > 1:52:38And, since 1990,
1:52:38 > 1:52:41I said Stephen Hendry overtook the great Steve Davis
1:52:41 > 1:52:44as the greatest player that ever played,
1:52:44 > 1:52:46and I had Ronnie at number three.
1:52:46 > 1:52:49But if he goes on to win this year's World Championship,
1:52:49 > 1:52:52I'd have to put him at the top of the list
1:52:52 > 1:52:55and say that he is the greatest player that's ever picked a cue up.
1:52:55 > 1:52:57My personal opinion.
1:52:57 > 1:53:00Yeah, and I think the other two you've mentioned
1:53:00 > 1:53:01will agree with you.
1:53:04 > 1:53:07The most natural talent the game has ever seen. There's no doubt.
1:53:09 > 1:53:11Somebody said to me the other day
1:53:11 > 1:53:13that if Ronnie wins the World Championship,
1:53:13 > 1:53:16what does that say about the other players? I said, "Well, all they
1:53:16 > 1:53:20"can do is just say that they played in an era of greatness."
1:53:21 > 1:53:24- 37.- And that's Ronnie O'Sullivan.
1:53:32 > 1:53:34Well, he's the defending champion.
1:53:34 > 1:53:36He's won it on four occasions.
1:53:36 > 1:53:38It's looking good for a fifth at the moment,
1:53:38 > 1:53:41but he has a few more to pot yet.
1:53:45 > 1:53:50But it has to be said, Barry Hawkins in this final has been superb.
1:53:50 > 1:53:53He really has put up a fantastic display.
1:53:53 > 1:53:55And if he had been up against any other player,
1:53:55 > 1:53:58he could quite easily have been in front, John.
1:53:58 > 1:53:59He's played absolutely marvellous
1:53:59 > 1:54:03and I think, really, this will have done Barry the world of good.
1:54:03 > 1:54:06I know he'd be disappointed if he was to lose but, boy,
1:54:06 > 1:54:10has he proved to everybody who loves snooker that he is going to
1:54:10 > 1:54:14- be a major contender in many, many World Championships.- 50.
1:54:14 > 1:54:16He's a great match player
1:54:16 > 1:54:19and he's proved that he's got a great temperament.
1:54:21 > 1:54:24Ronnie just having a quick look at the scoreboard.
1:54:28 > 1:54:3150 points the lead.
1:54:31 > 1:54:3275 remaining.
1:54:33 > 1:54:37So just needs three of these remaining reds to be sure.
1:54:50 > 1:54:55I'm sure Ronnie would say that Dr Steve Peters has been
1:54:55 > 1:54:57a big help to him throughout this year's World Championship.
1:54:57 > 1:55:00He really has...
1:55:00 > 1:55:03Ronnie in a very positive frame of mind.
1:55:03 > 1:55:04APPLAUSE
1:55:04 > 1:55:07He's got him mentally in a very happy place,
1:55:07 > 1:55:10and that's the gentleman sitting there on the right, leaning...
1:55:12 > 1:55:13..on his knees.
1:55:15 > 1:55:1655.
1:55:16 > 1:55:19Ronnie does go and stay with him.
1:55:19 > 1:55:22He's got a room in his house that Ronnie can use.
1:55:24 > 1:55:28And this has been absolutely fantastic.
1:55:28 > 1:55:29CHEERING
1:55:30 > 1:55:33Ronnie Jr, well, they're all very pleased.
1:55:38 > 1:55:40And as you say, Dennis,
1:55:40 > 1:55:42like the true champion,
1:55:42 > 1:55:43he's finishing in style.
1:55:46 > 1:55:47We love the way he plays,
1:55:47 > 1:55:49and there's the little fist pump.
1:55:49 > 1:55:51- Well done, Ronnie.- 68.
1:55:51 > 1:55:56And the thing to remember is that we love watching him play
1:55:56 > 1:56:01and let's hope that this could just give him that urge to carry on.
1:56:03 > 1:56:06Yeah, we don't want to hear Ronnie saying he's going to retire.
1:56:06 > 1:56:08The game needs Ronnie O'Sullivan.
1:56:08 > 1:56:12And it's very rarely you see that from The Rocket,
1:56:12 > 1:56:16but he must be feeling so good inside.
1:56:16 > 1:56:19But, once again, Barry Hawkins has played his part
1:56:19 > 1:56:22in this year's World Championship.
1:56:22 > 1:56:29But this man has done something very, very special here this year.
1:56:29 > 1:56:31- CHEERING - And listen to the crowd.
1:56:34 > 1:56:3584.
1:56:46 > 1:56:4786.
1:56:47 > 1:56:50If he could get a century, it would be a record.
1:56:50 > 1:56:52It's not going to be a century.
1:56:52 > 1:56:55- CHEERING - But what a fantastic defence
1:56:55 > 1:56:57of this World Championship.
1:56:57 > 1:57:01A lot of people didn't think Ronnie O'Sullivan could do it.
1:57:01 > 1:57:05And Barry Hawkins coming along and congratulates him.
1:57:05 > 1:57:07What a smashing final we've had.
1:57:07 > 1:57:10Fair play to both players but you're looking at a genius there.
1:57:10 > 1:57:16Ronnie O'Sullivan is the 2013 World Snooker Champion.
1:57:20 > 1:57:23Well, it was a hugely entertaining and high-scoring final with
1:57:23 > 1:57:26no fewer than eight centuries - a record for a final.
1:57:26 > 1:57:29Six of them to Ronnie - another record.
1:57:29 > 1:57:31And, fittingly, it brought the curtain down on a championship
1:57:31 > 1:57:36in which no fewer than 131 tons were made -
1:57:36 > 1:57:39again, a brand-new standard for the event.
1:57:39 > 1:57:43As for Hawkins, well, he acquitted himself admirably and continues
1:57:43 > 1:57:48even now to challenge in the latter stages of the major events.
1:57:48 > 1:57:52But Sullivan, despite taking that year-long sabbatical,
1:57:52 > 1:57:53reigned supreme.
1:57:53 > 1:57:57Along the way, he joined Messrs Hendry and Davis as the only men
1:57:57 > 1:58:01ever to successfully defend the world title at the Crucible.
1:58:01 > 1:58:02You feel it, you know.
1:58:02 > 1:58:05You know within yourself whether you're delivering or not and I knew
1:58:05 > 1:58:08I was delivering in that final and I knew that he was as well.
1:58:08 > 1:58:11It is one of them, we were both playing so well that we was just
1:58:11 > 1:58:13bringing the best out of each other
1:58:13 > 1:58:15and very, very rarely does that happen.
1:58:15 > 1:58:18I played as well as I probably can do, really, and...
1:58:18 > 1:58:20Yeah, no, like I say, he was incredible.
1:58:20 > 1:58:23He didn't put a foot wrong over them two days.
1:58:23 > 1:58:25And...if anybody says they could
1:58:25 > 1:58:29live with him when he was in that form then they'd be lying.
1:58:29 > 1:58:30Quite true, Barry.
1:58:30 > 1:58:32It was a wonderful fortnight of snooker for them both
1:58:32 > 1:58:35but particularly for O'Sullivan who, at the age of 37,
1:58:35 > 1:58:40became the oldest champion at the Crucible since Ray Reardon in 1978.
1:58:40 > 1:58:46Many believe that he will add to his haul of world titles into his 40s
1:58:46 > 1:58:48and, as we've seen, with The Rocket,
1:58:48 > 1:58:50anything's possible.