:00:00. > :00:44.. Hello come there. Since 1977 the Crucible Theatre has been bringing
:00:45. > :00:48.us the edge of deceit slow burning tension that has kept many of us
:00:49. > :00:54.watching our TV sets and glued to the action until the small hours the
:00:55. > :00:57.morning. Many rivalries have engaged with imagination and none more so
:00:58. > :01:04.than perhaps than that feature in the ruthless religions of Stephen
:01:05. > :01:11.Hendry up against the colourful ever popular intuitive Jimmy White. By
:01:12. > :01:19.the time these two squared up in the final of 1994, Jimmy was appearing
:01:20. > :01:25.in his fifth final in a row. And by this point, Hendry was a major thorn
:01:26. > :01:30.in his side. In fact, they were squaring up now in their fourth
:01:31. > :01:42.Crucible final and the third in a row. I think I said to Jimmy in the
:01:43. > :01:48.final that no other player should turn up because he had been winning
:01:49. > :01:53.every year. But, one element was different this year. Hendry had
:01:54. > :01:58.played the entire fortnight with a fractured arm. He clipped his arm in
:01:59. > :02:06.a sling. The injury had not seemed to impede his progress. He settled
:02:07. > :02:13.on a real mission, surging into a lead in the early stages of his
:02:14. > :03:19.final. Hendry is trailing 13 points -24. What a result.
:03:20. > :03:40.Stephen is now two points Hind. -- behind. Ten. I would not be at all
:03:41. > :03:49.surprised if he does not win the frame.
:03:50. > :04:58.Points. And I am sure Jimmy thought that he left Stephen in a lot of
:04:59. > :05:15.trouble when he left the table. E did in fact when he started this,
:05:16. > :06:07.just two reds and two colours down this end of the table.
:06:08. > :06:17.I think this capacity is audience are a little stunned at the moment.
:06:18. > :06:28.I think they thought it could be Jimmy's date to date, he started off
:06:29. > :06:44.so well. -- today. But his opponent has been something special so far.
:06:45. > :07:06.However, there is a long way to go. Things can change.
:07:07. > :07:24.So from nothing, and 80 clearance. He had this persona around him of
:07:25. > :07:28.getting into a bubble and nothing would affect him, nothing would put
:07:29. > :07:34.him off. I don't know where that came from but that was part of his
:07:35. > :07:40.armoury. I was the number one player in the world and having won the
:07:41. > :07:45.championship two years ago as well. I was at a stage in my career when I
:07:46. > :07:47.always took for granted that I would win the championship, I was that
:07:48. > :08:35.confident. A little desperation in that shot
:08:36. > :08:47.but if you can make that pay, what a difference that would make to this
:08:48. > :08:49.match. He still needs a good blue. Looking at them, but I don't think
:08:50. > :09:03.it will take it. -- he will take it. That was a good shot. Now can he get
:09:04. > :09:25.through to That was not a problem, to the
:09:26. > :09:33.right. And suddenly that running seems to have changed. Jimmy lacking
:09:34. > :09:37.prime position. You would certainly expect an inform Jimmy White to
:09:38. > :10:45.clinch the frame. Jimmy overhit that one so he will be
:10:46. > :10:54.screwing into the Reds and the pinks now hoping for the left corner. That
:10:55. > :11:04.bottom Reddit must pass into a corner. 56 points in front. Just
:11:05. > :11:31.colour and one more red. Surely not. All of the space at this
:11:32. > :11:43.end of the table to drop on to we read. Well, as you see there is very
:11:44. > :11:51.tight. It was a strange choice of shot. He could have stunned the blue
:11:52. > :12:03.between the yellow and the brown stock he nearly did the one red.
:12:04. > :12:32.I am sure Jimmy a few moments ago was thinking "here we go again."
:12:33. > :12:40.Stephen Hendry in his very best form. A feeling of deja vu, he had
:12:41. > :12:44.been here before. But, Stephen will know that he still has a match on
:12:45. > :12:51.his hands. Jimmy will take a positive thought with him after the
:12:52. > :13:08.end of this session. Although the balls were there to be
:13:09. > :13:16.potted, this is a great effort from Jimmy because he really was facing a
:13:17. > :13:25.6-1 deficit which was quite a big one.
:13:26. > :13:33.That was an important frame for Jimmy to win. 2-5 behind but still
:13:34. > :13:37.in touch after a session that was dominated by the younger man. It
:13:38. > :13:42.seemed to give Jimmy a huge amount of confidence. So much so that he
:13:43. > :14:34.reeled off five frames on the bounce to lead the contest.
:14:35. > :14:47.This shot is more difficult than he intended. A nice little cannon to
:14:48. > :14:54.hold the white that he missed the red by quite a margin. It did not
:14:55. > :14:56.even get into the jaws. Stephen is not potting anything like he has
:14:57. > :15:51.been throughout this championship. That was a good shot. Red is on the
:15:52. > :15:59.right, or the left corner from the right side of the table. That is why
:16:00. > :16:02.Jimmy put the white ball there. But he is not going forward for the
:16:03. > :16:06.black, he is going back for the blue. And he is on the right side to
:16:07. > :16:37.position back to the reds. Yes, the red to the right corner
:16:38. > :16:38.appears to be on. It was a good shot from Jimmy. He came in there in
:16:39. > :17:33.perfect position. That was a lovely shot. Just picking
:17:34. > :17:36.off that odd red. Having removed that, of course, he has opened the
:17:37. > :18:09.corner pocket to the line reds now. And I think he is a fraction short
:18:10. > :18:15.on that one. That was fairly important because he had a nice
:18:16. > :18:17.plain sailing shot just a run through in setting up all of those
:18:18. > :18:43.reds. The two reds to the left of the
:18:44. > :18:48.cluster are clearly on. But he seems to be looking at the two reds by the
:18:49. > :18:57.pink. Now, he is not taking those reds. They cannot be on, but this
:18:58. > :18:59.one certainly is. And he put the other red into a nice position over
:19:00. > :19:34.the middle pocket. Yes, Jimmy has excellent
:19:35. > :19:38.concentration at the moment. Previously he is taking a little
:19:39. > :19:47.longer on his shots and it is nice to see.
:19:48. > :20:03.Played for the pink. And now he will try and push one or two of those
:20:04. > :20:15.reds out. Into portable possessions. -- pottable positions. Now, he did
:20:16. > :20:22.not have to disturb the reds. It is nicely on for the corner. Ooh, my
:20:23. > :20:24.goodness. That was a little careless. He was in perfect
:20:25. > :21:17.position. Stephen can make full use of this
:21:18. > :21:22.and managed to clear up. -- manage. That is the sort of effort that
:21:23. > :21:30.might well bring him back on song. He has had a long period now where
:21:31. > :21:33.he has been totally disorientated. Ooh, and that was a kick. He has
:21:34. > :21:50.gotten away with it. If he cares to split the two reds by
:21:51. > :21:59.the pink, there is a nice angle on the Blacky to do it. -- plaque here.
:22:00. > :22:14.-- black. All three reds are pottable. None of
:22:15. > :22:16.them that easy, however. He needs to play a good shot now, particularly
:22:17. > :22:37.to keep the cue ball under control. Took the corner pocket to play his
:22:38. > :22:40.best positional shot on the pink. Nice angle now to drop onto the
:22:41. > :23:09.black. Everything is looking rosy here. I'd
:23:10. > :23:23.bet Jim is kicking his heels now. He must
:23:24. > :23:28.shot. A good positional shot, particularly now with he can get to
:23:29. > :23:33.the loo. He will have a saloon passage run to the yellow. -- if he
:23:34. > :24:05.can get to the blue. He looks a little anxious that. --
:24:06. > :25:07.there. There was a nice amount of check
:25:08. > :25:12.that. Leaving the cue ball sitting on the pink. Stopping the rot here.
:25:13. > :25:20.Stephen Hendry pulls one back. Stephen now needs green and the
:25:21. > :25:47.brown. Well, that was a cracking pot.
:25:48. > :25:51.Perhaps a trifle unlucky to slip between the two balls there. They
:25:52. > :26:11.kiss may have given him a better opportunity than this.
:26:12. > :26:21.22 points on the table and Jimmy, if he can take these, can pinch the
:26:22. > :26:30.frame. The brown is certainly not easy. He may play for a snooker
:26:31. > :26:39.here. Well, I thought he would have taken the white ball to the corner.
:26:40. > :26:51.Not the brown. This is quite pottable for Stephen now.
:26:52. > :27:11.Well, Jimmy looked quite distressed at what he had done with the brown
:27:12. > :27:19.but low and behold -- law and -- lo and behold it has done him a favour.
:27:20. > :27:28.What a strange game this is. Now he has about five feet between the blue
:27:29. > :27:52.and the cue ball. This will be a big screw. That looks almost perfect.
:27:53. > :28:16.And I think Stephen will be annoyed. In goes the black.
:28:17. > :29:01.Stephen will be trying to make a nice angle on the black to split the
:29:02. > :29:10.three reds by the pink. Yes, and that looks an ideal position to do
:29:11. > :29:16.it. He still has the two single reds.
:29:17. > :29:25.It may even be one of the three reds on for the left corner. He has
:29:26. > :29:28.decided to go into them. Is he lucky enough to be on the one into the
:29:29. > :30:30.middle pocket? Yes, he is getting down to it.
:30:31. > :30:37.And spare you heard, probably, the cast of Stephen. -- the gasper. A
:30:38. > :31:05.gasper of disappointment and dismay. Now he is faced with a tricky red
:31:06. > :31:09.here. It will go in the centre pocket, but it is partially a blind
:31:10. > :31:13.pocket, and he might well take it in the corner.
:31:14. > :31:41.I would suggest he will take this red on to the right corner. It could
:31:42. > :32:28.be a frame winner for sure if he can make this one.
:32:29. > :32:57.Another frame that Stephen had to work hard for. And badly needed.
:32:58. > :33:06.Stephen takes the frame. Back to 8-7 comment favour of Jimmy White.
:33:07. > :33:11.This final was turning out to be everything we hoped it would be.
:33:12. > :33:15.Fascinating, swinging too and grow. They shared the next couple of
:33:16. > :33:30.frames 9-8-9, as we picked them up again in frame 80.
:33:31. > :33:40.COMMENTATOR: Stephen regularly finds big push on with his safety shots.
:33:41. > :33:56.-- finds the commission. -- cushion.
:33:57. > :34:03.It looks as if he has covered it but there is one red that will pot into
:34:04. > :34:05.the right corner. Not the one nearest the pocket, the one to the
:34:06. > :34:26.right of it. He has placed the cue ball too well.
:34:27. > :35:08.It is dead straight. Once again, as we have seen so many
:35:09. > :35:14.times from the break, that red goes just to the right of the blackened
:35:15. > :35:28.causes a slight problem. -- right of the black and causes.
:35:29. > :35:32.I think Stephen could get onto the black if he just brings the cue ball
:35:33. > :36:00.back a bit. I think he might just get through to
:36:01. > :37:53.the black. That first frame has certainly given
:37:54. > :37:55.Stephen Hendry a lot of confidence. He seems to be queueing very
:37:56. > :39:14.smoothly. -- cueing. This positional play, at the moment,
:39:15. > :39:38.is absolutely spot on. There are the breaks in the final so
:39:39. > :40:03.far. Of Stephen Hendry, that is. Seven over 50. No centuries yet.
:40:04. > :40:27.He wants this frame, of course, to level the match.
:40:28. > :40:34.There is a possible 136 if he takes likes with these reds. -- takes
:40:35. > :40:54.blacks. 68 in front now, just a possible 67
:40:55. > :40:57.on the table. Stephen Hendry can relax a bit and see if he can make
:40:58. > :42:01.his first century. All that Jimmy White can do is sit and watch.
:42:02. > :44:04.APPLAUSE He has levelled the match. Nine frames each.
:44:05. > :44:13.May be a bit of contact. But he is OK, even if he is straight on the
:44:14. > :44:38.blue. He has got the loose red to the right of the pink.
:44:39. > :44:45.It would be a help if the Blackwood passed the red. That is what Jimmy
:44:46. > :44:47.was looking at. But it looks pretty tight. We can't really see from that
:44:48. > :45:20.angle. Just checking to see at the pink
:45:21. > :45:22.will spot, which it will not. We can see that the lack definitely would
:45:23. > :45:55.not pot. -- lead black. Not a bad contact. This is a good
:45:56. > :45:59.response from Jimmy White. He really only played one shot in the last
:46:00. > :46:23.frame, and that was a bad safety shot. He had to sit it out.
:46:24. > :46:56.I wonder if he can move this nuisance red. It appears so.
:46:57. > :47:04.Well, we keep saying it. But this is the important shot coming up. Nice
:47:05. > :47:05.angle. If he gets a lucky split on the reds, a good chance at the
:47:06. > :48:21.frame. Well, Stephen Hendry had 89 in the
:48:22. > :48:25.last frame. Jimmy White has responded. This could be one
:48:26. > :48:33.terrific final we are in for. It could be a complete classic.
:48:34. > :49:00.Stephen's turn to sit in the chair. All the reds this end of the table.
:49:01. > :49:30.Wouldn't it be brilliant if both players played to the best of their
:49:31. > :49:43.form on this final day? It seems to me, Denis, they are.
:49:44. > :50:33.A signal from Stephen Hendry, and Jimmy White is back in the lead,
:50:34. > :50:38.10-9. The lie Jimmy took the next frame to restore his two frame
:50:39. > :50:41.advantage, in an-9. Many of his adoring fans who had gone through
:50:42. > :50:44.the agonies of watching him lose five finals in the past were
:50:45. > :50:49.beginning to believe it might just be his year. Enter frame 21, Jimmy
:50:50. > :51:04.20 points behind. COMMENTATOR: Pressure shot.
:51:05. > :51:10.Well, this is a gift. This is the sort of situation where Stephen
:51:11. > :52:04.really excels. This time, doesn't look to have the
:52:05. > :52:53.angle on the red. Leading the perfect one along the
:52:54. > :52:56.black, just to drop deep black in. The red into the same corner pocket.
:52:57. > :53:37.A good chance here for Stephen. A choice of two reds, the one to the
:53:38. > :53:51.right of the pink or the one near the right-hand side cushion.
:53:52. > :54:18.Just the black, and one more red required.
:54:19. > :54:29.Not quite the angle on the blue, to stun into the back of the reds. I
:54:30. > :54:37.don't think any will pot, so it will be coming directly off the side
:54:38. > :54:44.cushion. A of left-hand side on the white, to come around the angle and
:54:45. > :54:54.split the reds. -- lot of left-hand.
:54:55. > :54:57.The way he is looking back, he is looking to see if that middle red
:54:58. > :55:11.will go into the green pocket. Didn't disturb them, so I think that
:55:12. > :55:39.is now the end of break. That rake was enough for Stephen to
:55:40. > :55:43.come within one frame of Jimmy once again, at 10-11. Into the next we
:55:44. > :56:20.go, and it is Hendry at the table. Can Jimmy get through to the red at
:56:21. > :56:25.the bottom of the pack? It doesn't appear so. This could be a great
:56:26. > :56:38.chance for Jimmy. Of course, his confidence will be
:56:39. > :56:45.eight to higher now, after missing the previous lack. He let Stephen
:56:46. > :56:50.in, and suddenly he is off the hook. Might protect you points together
:56:51. > :57:01.here now. -- put a feud points together.
:57:02. > :57:10.He was looking for the rub off the green, but he hasn't had it. I must
:57:11. > :57:15.say, I think we are seeing quite a different Jimmy White this year. I
:57:16. > :57:23.am sure he will not mind me saying that he has been first-class in his
:57:24. > :57:28.attitude this year. He has got his head down in the evening, he is a
:57:29. > :57:31.good light. And if he this, this, Jack, he will be having the rub with
:57:32. > :57:38.the green. APPLAUSE
:57:39. > :57:46.He looked to be unlucky. But once it got on to the ball, it
:57:47. > :57:54.turned out better for him. -- once he potted the ball.
:57:55. > :58:07.That is a bad mess. Just look at the reds here. Jimmy hangs his head, and
:58:08. > :58:12.thinks, what have I done? And of course this frame is a big frame.
:58:13. > :58:13.All frames are big frames. But now Stephen Hendry has a chance to make
:58:14. > :59:10.it all square. Every ball on the table is near a
:59:11. > :59:42.pocket. of exercise that will give Stephen
:59:43. > :00:14.confidence. Yes, Stephen is making Jimmy paid
:00:15. > :00:22.for that bad miss. -- pay for that add miss. I think it is a very
:00:23. > :00:27.important for a player of Jimmy's type, aggressive, you need to punish
:00:28. > :00:37.him for his mistakes and undermine his confidence.
:00:38. > :00:43.And the position of the balls now, we will expect Stephen to go on and
:00:44. > :00:55.clinch the frame. Well, he is watching, intense and
:00:56. > :01:28.concentrating hard. 37 points now the difference. So
:01:29. > :02:15.colour, red, colour would be sufficient.
:02:16. > :02:44.So now it is just a matter of cannon he clear the board? -- cannon he
:02:45. > :03:25.needs the blue to make 100 on the table.
:03:26. > :03:37.So will we see the first century? It is no indication of the quality of
:03:38. > :03:44.the match. It has been absolutely superb. Both players trying to break
:03:45. > :03:48.one another and as yet be have not succeeded. Stephen takes the frame
:03:49. > :04:15.and it is now 11 frames the. Would you believe this? Oh, good
:04:16. > :04:21.heavens above. Well. You can only say that that is fewer carelessness.
:04:22. > :04:28.Jimmy only wanted a brown to win the frame. Did not need to play for the
:04:29. > :04:38.blue. You can not say that is bad luck.
:04:39. > :04:55.Well, he has got to try and get that out of his mind. And that has come
:04:56. > :04:59.just a trifle less. Stephen waggles his head there and thinks "that was
:05:00. > :05:09.not good enough." He wants both balls.
:05:10. > :05:19.Ooh. He has left it... Would you believe this? Jimmy White comes to
:05:20. > :05:39.the table for the second By the end of that session, it was
:05:40. > :05:43.level with 12 frames each with a possible 11 to come in the evening.
:05:44. > :05:49.As they waited back stage, Hendry knew he would be staying there for
:05:50. > :05:52.another year it after his victory in the semifinal earlier. But the
:05:53. > :05:57.Whirlwind was still seeking the ultimate prize, knowing what damage
:05:58. > :06:02.this man had inflicted upon him earlier. Two years earlier, Hendry
:06:03. > :06:07.had come from behind to win ten frames in a row to destroy his
:06:08. > :06:12.chances then. Would things change this time? In the go into the first
:06:13. > :06:26.frame of the final session. Hendry at the table.
:06:27. > :06:32.This could make a difference. Jimmy comes to the table. 26 points
:06:33. > :06:46.behind. First frame of the final session
:06:47. > :06:56.this evening and what an important frame it is.
:06:57. > :07:02.The colour on the table is safe so it is only eight matter of Jimmy
:07:03. > :07:07.keeping the cue ball under control now. -- a matter of. He should take
:07:08. > :08:04.the frame from here. Eight points behind. He wants both
:08:05. > :08:07.the pink and the black. Does Jimmy have an angle on the pink to get to
:08:08. > :08:25.the black? He is starring back... That is not
:08:26. > :08:30.what he intended. No, he had a lot of signing on that cue ball, but it
:08:31. > :08:36.was not enough. He wanted to kick it towards the right and centre pocket.
:08:37. > :08:46.So our first frame finishes all up on the black. He has had a go. It is
:08:47. > :08:55.not there. But he has the cue ball under the cushion at the top there.
:08:56. > :09:03.It will be interesting to see if Stephen takes this black on. It is a
:09:04. > :09:10.good ten feet away. He is harder on the top cushion. -- hard up on the
:09:11. > :09:24.top cushion. That was a great try at a very
:09:25. > :09:29.difficult cueing as you saw. He could hit very little of the cue
:09:30. > :09:34.ball, just the top of it. Jimmy White now with the black at his
:09:35. > :09:40.mercy and the first frame of the final session. A cheer goes up for
:09:41. > :09:50.Jimmy White as he goes back into the lead. Jimmy had his nose in front
:09:51. > :09:55.once again that three frames in a row, rattled them off and Hendry was
:09:56. > :10:08.leading at the interval. This time, Jimmy is breaking. Jimmy needs to
:10:09. > :10:37.turn the tide. He has lost four was -- of the last five frames.
:10:38. > :10:43.So the pressure is still showing out there. Stephen Mr by quite some
:10:44. > :11:02.distance. -- missed that. I'm sure Jimmy here is going to go
:11:03. > :11:49.into the pike. Strait would have made it easier to
:11:50. > :13:34.control his position. But it should still be all right.
:13:35. > :13:43.I think this is the difference with Jimmy this year. In previous years
:13:44. > :13:46.he would have already played the pot. He is taking a little bit more
:13:47. > :14:02.care now. Obviously could not get another red
:14:03. > :14:15.to hold for the black so right into the corner. Now down for the blue.
:14:16. > :14:23.Detention has been such in the first four frames at the highest rate so
:14:24. > :14:29.far, the highest has been 39. There have been many mistakes but it has
:14:30. > :14:38.been exciting. -- the tension has been such. This is decision time for
:14:39. > :14:42.Jimmy. He is looking at the red into the left-hand corner, or is that the
:14:43. > :14:52.plant at the bottom? I think it is the plant at the bottom. There is a
:14:53. > :14:58.gap between the two reds. This is a shot for Jimmy.
:14:59. > :15:15.It will be perfect on the black should he get it.
:15:16. > :15:22.We have not had a frame at won in clear-cut fashion tonight. The ball
:15:23. > :15:29.ended up struggling, later struggles. This is a chance for
:15:30. > :15:38.Jimmy to win this one more authoritatively. This will be a big
:15:39. > :15:51.Easy along the back rail here. And of course that previous shot he
:15:52. > :16:19.played, above the black into the right-hand corner.
:16:20. > :16:30.I don't know, Clive. I have a feeling that this will be a big one.
:16:31. > :17:46.That was a clever shot from Jimmy. He played it in such a way that he
:17:47. > :18:07.knew he would be on the black. And one thing for certain Clive, I
:18:08. > :18:09.am sure that Jimmy will be taking any other colour bar that last red,
:18:10. > :18:31.other than the black. Already this century, the 35th at
:18:32. > :18:36.the Crucible this year, it equals the Crucible record. This is a
:18:37. > :18:38.difficult one and he will need to play with a lot of and right-hand
:18:39. > :18:52.side. And he has played that super. You would think that the only ball
:18:53. > :18:54.that will cause him problems now would be that kink near the
:18:55. > :19:21.left-hand cushion. A pressure break from Jimmy, wasn't
:19:22. > :19:26.it? To remain within distance of Hendry. But the Scot took the next
:19:27. > :19:29.to restore his advantage. And now as we head into frame 31, Stephen is in
:19:30. > :19:44.front by 31. The double-kiss was unintended and
:19:45. > :19:52.this is a chance for white, but not easy at that range. A little thinner
:19:53. > :19:53.than he would have liked. It will be very difficult to hold for the
:19:54. > :20:13.green. At this stage of the match looks
:20:14. > :20:15.simple but I can assure you that was one of the best shots of Jimmy will
:20:16. > :20:53.ever play. He needs to clear to win. It looks as though he has gone to
:20:54. > :20:57.the only place where he can't get a good position on the black. He
:20:58. > :21:10.wanted it to be another six down the table. So this frame is not over
:21:11. > :21:17.yet. -- another six inches. If he had been further out of position,
:21:18. > :21:26.six inches shorter he would still have been OK.
:21:27. > :21:35.Will he try and cut this in? He has walked around to look at it, so I
:21:36. > :21:40.would say there is no doubt he is going to try this.
:21:41. > :21:53.Marvellous! What nerve. Jimmy White cleared the colours. He again trails
:21:54. > :22:29.by nearly one frame. No time to risk the black to the
:22:30. > :22:31.middle which if it had gone in would have left White leading in a
:22:32. > :22:38.snooker. Actually, I am getting too excited.
:22:39. > :22:48.That would not have been the case. Just have not a clue what Jimmy was
:22:49. > :23:02.playing there. Who looked as if he was trying to
:23:03. > :23:06.hit the red direct off the left cushion but the blue seems to be
:23:07. > :23:16.blocking that path. I thought he would have to go to
:23:17. > :23:32.cushions. And a free ball, is it? No, it may
:23:33. > :23:45.not be. It is close. It is a free ball. That could be the end for
:23:46. > :23:47.Jimmy. 32 points in front, Stephen. In actual fact, I cannot believe
:23:48. > :24:02.this for sportsmanship. The referee has given a free ball to
:24:03. > :24:04.Stephen and Stephen is querying it, asking the referee to check it. What
:24:05. > :24:29.a sportsman. Well, that was marvellous. To be a
:24:30. > :24:37.free ball, the player must be able to hit those edges of the red and
:24:38. > :24:44.Hendry just can. Yes, but Clive, what other sport would you see that?
:24:45. > :24:49.The referee gave a foul, gave a free ball and Stephen, against his own
:24:50. > :25:03.chances of winning this tournament refused to take it.
:25:04. > :25:19.Water reward. Jimmy White is a snooker. -- what a reward. Jimmy
:25:20. > :25:27.White flew as a snooker. -- flukes. This is unfortunate.
:25:28. > :25:55.That blue will go past the green and then it is perfect for Jimmy.
:25:56. > :26:12.26 points in it. 27 points on the table. And is this another twist,
:26:13. > :26:14.Clive? It certainly looks like it. Stephen Hendry will not be expecting
:26:15. > :27:38.to get another shot this frame. Great sportsmanship by Hendry. A
:27:39. > :27:47.cool clearance by Jimmy White. Level at 16 all. Level, with three to
:27:48. > :27:59.play. With admits the drama, Hendry claimed the next. But, with Jimmy
:28:00. > :28:02.White, will he still have a say in this epic final? This is frame 34 of
:28:03. > :28:48.a possible 35. That white coming in and out of
:28:49. > :28:50.baulk shows you that the adrenaline is really flowing. So easy to
:28:51. > :29:28.over-hit the shots. A good shot from Jimmy White. Can't
:29:29. > :29:35.hit the right-hand side of the reds here, Stephen. So he may have
:29:36. > :29:47.defined the safety area at this end of the table. -- May half to find.
:29:48. > :29:56.He has left half a chance to the right middle. Maybe even a cut to
:29:57. > :30:09.the corner, the red to the right of deep black. -- right of the black.
:30:10. > :30:22.That is a cracking pot. He knows now, one mistake. But he won't even
:30:23. > :31:07.be thinking about that. Jimmy taking his time. Normally he
:31:08. > :31:18.would be straight down, not the red in. But he's composing himself.
:31:19. > :31:24.I think he has pretty well done that throughout this championship.
:31:25. > :31:31.Quickened up the odd time on the pressure. -- under pressure. That is
:31:32. > :31:35.perfectly natural. He now wants a bit of luck. I think that could have
:31:36. > :31:40.been better. Or maybe that red goes to the right
:31:41. > :31:52.corner. Just to look at that. Another
:31:53. > :31:58.faction and he would have been absolutely perfect. -- fraction.
:31:59. > :32:00.It's amazing how you can cannon into the reds like that and not leave
:32:01. > :32:11.yourself an easy pot. Yes, I think it's important that
:32:12. > :32:18.Jimmy does take that bit of time and does nothing desperate.
:32:19. > :33:12.Good shot from Jimmy. He's blocked the path down the right
:33:13. > :33:36.side of the table. There is some more sportsmanship for
:33:37. > :34:29.you. Jimmy just tapping the table, acknowledging that excellent safety.
:34:30. > :34:38.Stephen still thinking positively. He took that one on with a certain
:34:39. > :34:40.degree of confidence that he wouldn't leave Jimmy too easy pot,
:34:41. > :34:56.but there is a half chance here. And half chances, at this stage, are
:34:57. > :35:07.very difficult to take. He was a bit unfortunate, just to
:35:08. > :35:09.flick the blue. He would have been nicely on the green or the yellow.
:35:10. > :35:29.He is having to use the rest now. Surely he hasn't finished in a
:35:30. > :35:43.position where he can pot red again. I think he has. I do not think he
:35:44. > :35:50.can get to the red that is nicely on the right corner. He may get to the
:35:51. > :36:17.one that is just out of picture to the left of the pink.
:36:18. > :36:48.The character of this man is just unbelievable.
:36:49. > :37:24.The pink and black are not very nicely placed.
:37:25. > :37:31.Jimmy is going to bring the pink into play. Well, we have seen one
:37:32. > :37:42.will two of these missed. Just a little bit tricky.
:37:43. > :38:00.But that does open things up very nicely for Jimmy White.
:38:01. > :38:20.What a final we have on our hands here.
:38:21. > :38:28.I think it is the courage of both players. Stephen has shown
:38:29. > :38:33.tremendous courage in this match, and so has his opponent.
:38:34. > :38:54.It is going to be a great pity, which ever one loses. But someone
:38:55. > :38:56.has to do. -- has to. , if it had been boxing, I am sure it would be a
:38:57. > :39:11.draw. He played for the pink, but the
:39:12. > :39:31.black was always there as a backup. He needs the extension to get to it.
:39:32. > :39:39.He has got to screw the white gay couple of feet just to get nice
:39:40. > :39:50.positioning on the red. -- screwed the white back a couple.
:39:51. > :39:56.He is 52 points in front. Straight red in the right middle, the pink
:39:57. > :41:14.awaiting. What a chance. Stephen knows that he is in for a
:41:15. > :41:29.nailbiting last frame. It has always looked, after the
:41:30. > :41:34.first session, as if this match was going to go to the wire. But nobody
:41:35. > :41:44.thought it would be quite as close as this comment Dennis. -- close as
:41:45. > :41:59.this, Dennis. Yes, it is just amazing.
:42:00. > :42:12.He will not be bothered whether the red goes in or not.
:42:13. > :42:15.APPLAUSE The crowd wanted a tin. It didn't matter to Stephen or Jimmy.
:42:16. > :42:23.Down to the very last frame. 17 apiece. Obviously 17-17, it can go
:42:24. > :42:27.either way. When you get to a final at the Crucible that goes to the
:42:28. > :42:35.final frame, that is quite special. APPLAUSE
:42:36. > :43:06.Final frame, ladies and gentlemen. Quite, please. Jimmy White to break.
:43:07. > :44:00.I have a feeling that the crowd are going to clap at every shot.
:44:01. > :44:44.Well, that contact was far too thick.
:44:45. > :44:53.I think Jimmy played a bit short on the red so he could open the pack at
:44:54. > :45:18.the same time, but not quite that short. Just the eight points.
:45:19. > :45:59.Jimmy making a similar mistake to the one that Stephen Hendry made.
:46:00. > :46:05.Jimmy White only scored eight from that. How many can Stephen Hendry
:46:06. > :46:30.make? Not quite as straightforward as it
:46:31. > :46:40.might be. The black obstructed to both pockets.
:46:41. > :46:44.Looking to see if he can get on either of those two reds at the
:46:45. > :47:17.moment. It's just shows you how clearly he
:47:18. > :47:18.is thinking, to clear away one of those reds that was blocking the
:47:19. > :47:47.black. -- it's just shows. Good shot to get the cue ball. Just
:47:48. > :48:16.below the blue. I am not so sure about this
:48:17. > :48:20.positional shot. He could have made that much harder and left the red in
:48:21. > :48:32.the right corner. This is much different.
:48:33. > :48:46.You were talking about clear thinking, it is the most difficult
:48:47. > :48:57.thing to do when you under this kind of Russia. -- pressure. Suddenly
:48:58. > :49:10.sees a chance. Caution goes to the wind.
:49:11. > :49:40.There is a red next to those two that might just popped into the
:49:41. > :49:47.pockets that was taking the black on. -- just pot into the pocket.
:49:48. > :49:50.Well, I think he is terribly unlucky. That was a super shot he
:49:51. > :50:05.played. Just look at the scores. 17 frames
:50:06. > :50:22.each, 24 points each. Incredible stuff.
:50:23. > :50:34.Stephen Hendry looking composed and cool. But I think Jimmy is going to
:50:35. > :50:40.be tempted into taking a very difficult red, to the left corner.
:50:41. > :50:44.But he has got to the final take in these difficult reds, and he is in
:50:45. > :51:09.the last frame of the finals. So who is to say he is not correct?
:51:10. > :51:51.In the crowd knew this one was in before we did. What a wonderful
:51:52. > :52:56.shot. The pace that he played it at. APPLAUSE.
:52:57. > :53:13.Did he see the title? Dear me. That was just a bit of tension. But
:53:14. > :54:21.everybody gets tense. Well, he hadn't missed one of those in 30.
:54:22. > :54:56.He keeps leaving himself the reds into the middle pocket.
:54:57. > :55:17.APPLAUSE I was about to say he had missed quite a number of shots with
:55:18. > :55:34.the rest. That want only just wriggled in. -- that one.
:55:35. > :55:42.You saw his face them. No explanation needed. Yes, red would
:55:43. > :55:49.be a terrible shame of Jimmy White, if he was to lose this frame, having
:55:50. > :55:56.missed a black that he would never miss in 100 years.
:55:57. > :56:04.You cannot take it away from this gentleman at the table. Nerves of
:56:05. > :56:08.steel. It is going to happen. -- what is going to happen?
:56:09. > :56:37.He proved that he had it when it is needed. He has proved it in the
:56:38. > :56:40.past. And once again this evening. I am delighted for Stephen Hendry hot
:56:41. > :56:47.that I could cry for the gentleman sitting in the chair. -- Stephen
:56:48. > :56:56.Hendry, what I could cry. -- but I could. I am sure that many, as I
:56:57. > :57:02.did, thought that this year was is. -- was his. Not to take anything
:57:03. > :57:08.away from Jimmy's opponent. APPLAUSE Stephen Hendry has proved
:57:09. > :57:14.once again that he is the best player in the world. He is the world
:57:15. > :57:18.champion. He has won by 18 -17, and one of the best finals you are ever
:57:19. > :57:26.likely to see. We all remember the luck of the spot that he missed. --
:57:27. > :57:30.like off the spot. I got out of that chair so fast. And he missed it, I
:57:31. > :57:38.feared the worst. I thought he was going to win. Got down to be black,
:57:39. > :57:43.and I sort of through my cue down, like a twitch. Like playing golf. I
:57:44. > :57:48.rushed it, missed the black, and sitting in my seat I knew that he
:57:49. > :57:52.was going to clean up. I made what was, loosely under intense pressure,
:57:53. > :57:57.clear and switch. Looking back, I made it look pretty easy. I wobbled
:57:58. > :58:01.one ball with the rest. It wasn't even at which. You would admit if
:58:02. > :58:04.you twitched it a bit. I just didn't hit it properly, I didn't
:58:05. > :58:07.concentrate on it properly. But the good thing is that when you do
:58:08. > :58:11.wobble one and it still goes on, it clicks you into the game. You think,
:58:12. > :58:17.I am not going to do that again. I will concentrate 100%. It was great
:58:18. > :58:20.to make that clearance. Jimmy has missed the black, that
:58:21. > :58:24.doubtless continues to haunt him. What it pressure clearance it was
:58:25. > :58:28.from Hendry to win that, his third title in a row, fourth in total, and
:58:29. > :58:31.of course he would go on to hold three more to hold the Crucible
:58:32. > :58:38.record crowds at seven. As the Jimmy, millions wanted him to win
:58:39. > :58:42.that day, and they still do. Because for all of his brilliant record, and
:58:43. > :58:47.his proud record in so many other evens, snooker's ultimate prize, the
:58:48. > :58:51.world title, continues to elude him. That was his last Crucible final. Or
:58:52. > :58:55.should I say, his most recent? The wait goes on to Jimmy.