Stephen Hendry v Ronnie O'Sullivan, 2002 Snooker: World Championship

Hello, today's Crucible Classic is a semifinal occasion that really

packed a punch - almost literally, in fact. Because in 2002, the

defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, was taking on seven

times world champion Stephen Hendry and in the build-up, had promised

to, "Send him packing back home again", in no uncertain terms. That,

in turn, had fuelled Hendry's fire, and had created plenty of column

inches in the newspapers in the build-up. I thought we had gotten

all right off the table but obviously Ronnie said we didn't, so

that was a surprise to me as much as anything, what he said. I think that

was quite a defining point in my career, really, because obviously he

is the king of snooker, you know, and such a great record at the

Crucible, that it was like, you know, his own back yard in a way. He

made it his own kind of back yard in a way. And you were made feel second

best when you played Stephen Hendry We play the same game, Ronnie

obviously plays it a bit quicker but basically we play the same kind of

snooker, so it was obviously great to play Ronnie and play those

aggressive, attacking matches where obviously whoever is playing the

heaviest is going to win. Well, the Crucible crowd - we have

oohs and aahs all around. This was very close.

A similar shot, albeit on the other side of the table, with which Hendry

started his 91 break. In the decider yesterday against Ken Doherty.

Well, he is left with a tester here, if he takes the black on, he is

going into the reds - the reds over the corner pocket - and up left of

the brown. It's a must pot situation here.

A bit awkward cueing. He might take a red to the middle pocket. I

thought that was a bit of a stretch there. There's one that will go into

the middle and then he can get on to the blue, but this is a bit awkward,

bridging over the reds and pink there. It's quite straightforward to

knock this one into the middle and stun over to the right side of the

blue. Always had this red in reserve, if

he came the wrong side of the blue. It really is a fascinating battle.

You've got a player here who I think will go on to be the greatest ever

player that played the game up against, for me, the greatest player

that's ever picked up a snooker cue and I think even the great Steve

Davis has conceded that fact, as well.

Good start from Ronnie O'Sullivan. I do hope that both players play at

the top of their form. It will be a fascinating semifinal, this.

O'Sullivan's picked up where he left off. Against Steven Lee last

evening. He finished that match off with 82 centuries.

And just look at the position he's in here - it's take your pick time,

with three reds in a row. Well, to make his century, he's

going to have to get from yellow to green .

Very quick, very sure. The break only just reaching the six-minute

mark. APPLAUSE

So this would be three centuries in four frames, you would have to say.

APPLAUSE Spread across two matches. But what

a tremendous start - one chance and it's all over.

A superb effort of 115 gives Ronnie O'Sullivan the first flame of a

possible 33 -- frame of a possible 33 spread over four sessions. What a

clearance from Ronnie of 115, and O'Sullivan trying to do what only

Hendry and Steve Davis had previously achieved by successfully

defending the world title the following year. Well, that clearance

really did set the tone in the early stages - both men quite clearly up

for this, given the history and the build-up to the match. Into frame

four we go and it's O'Sullivan leading by 2/1.

O'Sullivan replying to Hendry's break-off shot.

A starter for a good many. Good opportunity for this, then, Hendry.

That was amazing, Clive. The audience anticipated that the white

was going to go in the pocket - so they really are keyed up for this

match. They're involved in every single shot.

That's a careless one, to cannon the brown.

Well, if Steven starts knocking in the long ones, we're in for an

absolute treat here. Yes, his initial red in this break - as easy

as it was - was too thin to hold for black. And momentarily he was in

trouble. But, he's back in prime position again.

Always had the brown as a bit of insurance there. Bit unlucky not to

be on the black but it just means he has got a long way to travel with

the white here to get back to the reds. That was the pace. He's having

the cue ball cleaned quite a bit. It must just be picking up a little bit

of dust or ... It's amazing sometimes, how you can pick little

bits of the carpet up and it gets on to the ball.

A Stephen Hendry special coming up he's got enough angle. But it's a

little bit awkward, this - if he catches that pink half ball, he

could go into either corner pocket. He has had a good look at the reds

to see if there was anything available, but he's definitely got

to move them. So he might be running it around here.

Well, at first glance, it looks as if he's not on one, but there might

be one pot-able. But he couldn't have played it any better - opened

them perfectly. But he needs a bit of help to reach this. You could see

his reaction, there, to his bad luck.

The referee, Arian Williams, producing the necessary aids to

performance. He's going to need a few of them here, Clive. He needs

the spider to bridge over them. APPLAUSE

Did it well. He did more than well! Not only the pot, but judged the

cannon on the black and I would give him definitely ten out of ten for

that. Well, Clive, I don't know about you,

but I'm enjoying every single minute of this match. We're coming to the

mid-session interval and it has been a fascinating opening four frames.

And there's a little bit of snooker still to be played in this one

before we go to that interval - that is a bad miss. An unforced error,

just when Hendry seemed certain to level to two-all. It frame appeared

to be his but it might not be. Just look at the scores - he only needed

a red and a colour. So here's the first crisis point for

Hendry. Could his blunder cost him a two-frame deficit?

Well, they're all in a perfect position now. What a frame to pinch,

this would be. And just looking at Stephen Hendry

there, I don't think he expects Ronnie to miss . Well, I don't know

about him - I certainly don't. But you never know with the blue on the

pink spot and the pink on the blue spot.

Not very often you see the colours like this. When a player's clearing

up. The brown - he's got a lot further to get to the blue and then

back to the pink. Pink and black still needed. And

he's straight on the pink. That's what I mean - with that pink being

on the blue spot. Look what he's going to be left with, if he rolls

the pink in. Is it going to be 3/1 or is it going to be two each?

, after all! It's going to be 3/1 to O'Sullivan, assuming Hendry pots

this. APPLAUSE

Hendry first in with 65. O'Sullivan with a chance to clear. But lost

position for the last black. So it's Hendry who levels at 2/2 at the

mid-session several. All square there and already this is shaping up

to be a memorable occasion. 26-year-old O'Sullivan took the next

and as we head into frame six, it's Stephen with a 35 points advantage

here. Well, it looks as if he might be able to make this.

So now Hendry has a chance to atone for his unexpected mistake.

He hasn't got a good angle on the black, he normally would play it to

get up to the circle, but he can't do that so that's why he is looking

at whether he can put a red into the right middle pocket. He's just not

sure and sometimes when the reds are close together like that, you're not

sure if one of them will pot. But one of them must go to the middle.

Now, which one is it that pots? The pack opener left the red and

colour that Hendry needed to clinch the frame.

Well, it's still fascinating stuff from both of these great players.

And we're going to be all square after six frames.

Three times Hendry has been the odd frame behind and three times he has

responded. Hendry's initial 43 in this frame

ended prematurely when he missed a very simple red.

But he has taken his second chance to level the match.

Well, I mentioned earlier, his highest break in this match so far

was in the fourth frame, of 65. He's going to better that here.

And with his break of 73, Stephen Hendry levels of match, three all.

Three all and O'Sullivan, who had beaten John Higgins in the final the

previous year, edged ahead in the next frame, 4/3. That's the score as

we head into frame eight. Excellent red and also got into the

cue ball sufficiently to get above the blue. And what about that for

perfect judgement? A nice little cannon on to the red

there at the back of the bunch will hold the cue ball nicely.

Ronnie O'Sullivan opened this afternoon with a break of 115. He's

going to finish with a few here, I feel.

He really is something special to watch. You could watch him all day.

He's a wonderful break-builder, particularly in the way he keeps

going into the bunch to develop reds.

Simply because O'Sullivan has four times been the odd frame in front, I

think he has shaded this session. And here's his chance to reflect

that by taking the last frame of the afternoon to secure a two-frame

overnight advantage. He just needs one more red and it

will be #r5/3. -- 5/3. The highest break of the session, as we

mentioned, that break of 115, in the opening frame. By Ronnie. Can he

finish with a century? O'Sullivan is good in all

departments, but in terms of reeling off frame-winning breaks, he's

simply superb. Can't score enough to overtake

Matthew Stevens' break of 145, the highest in this year's Embassy World

Championship, and there's ?20,000 for the highest break. He fails to

get the century, but the break of 99 secures for O'Sullivan a 5/3

overnight lead. You've got to knock a high

percentage of those shots in at this level, because so often they give

you the initial chance. It's extremely important in this

second session of four that Hendry doesn't fall further behind.

O'Sullivan started with a break of 115 yesterday, four times went the

odd frame in front, and eventually got two in front in their last frame

of the day, with a break of 99. I'm sure Stephen there played up on

the blue so he could cannon into the bunch. He didn't find the angle but

he has played a good positional shot there. He's just got to judge as the

ball goes into the other reds. But as he pots this here, he will be

releasing some more reds. He couldn't have played that better -

that was an excellent shot. Well, you can always tell with a

player, if he gets down pretty quick, he's happy with the po

potting angle he. He. -- -- potting angle. He looks a little bit

straight but straight is OK. He has come back for a choice of reds, one

in the left centre and this one in the corner. It's quite amazing,

really, when Stephen came to the table, he thought it was his turn to

break off. But the referee said it's Ronnie's break, so Ronnie came to

the table - because I don't think he was sure - he broke off, and Stephen

knocked a tremendous long red, and this is the result. Talk about toss

of a coin! Well, Hendry hasn't won this frame

yet, but he's certainly got a chance to do so.

Hendry will be very disappointed if he doesn't clinch the frame this

visit. He did make a couple of unexpected

errors yesterday, when he seemed to be heading for a frame-winning

contribution, although strangely enough he ended up winning both

those frames. The black, one more red and a colour

is what's required and he's looking a little thinner on this black than

he would have liked. But in it goes. Nicely on the next red. Tough

school, this. More so, having just broke off. But it looks as though

it's going to be his only shot in the frame.

APPLAUSE Knowledgeable applause for that

simple pink. It was the ball that guaranteed Hendry the frame, barring

snookers. A long red to start with and then

slide rule precision. Well, this has just been a

tremendous start from Stephen. I remember you saying yesterday,

Clive, you didn't think Stephen would really be happy until he won a

frame at one visit. Well, you don't come any better than this - from the

break-off, never gave his opponent a chancement -- chance. Superb start

to the morning. O'Sullivan broke-off, but the next

35 shots were Hendry's. His break of 125 halves his overnight deficit,

but he still trails by 5/4. It's fantastically high quality stuff,

this match, isn't it? And neither man can shake off the attentions of

the other so far. They shared the next couple of frames, so O'Sullivan

leading 6/5 as Hendry gets ready to break in the twelfth.

So often a red like this is left from the break-off shot.

O'Sullivan had a shot like that in the frame before last, at Hendry's

break-off, but he has missed both of them.

We saw Ronnie's reaction when he missed the red - he wasn't happy at

all. Probably a little bit frustrated he lost the last frame.

There has been some great match-ups in snooker, hasn't there, Clive. You

can think of Reardon and Higgins. There's Ronnie's reaction. You've

got Reardon and Higgins. Then you had Steve Davis and Higgins, then

Steve Davis Jimmy White. But this one is a bit of a match-up to

compare with any of those, I think, Hendry/O'Sullivan. Yes, there's a

touch of the old king versus the new king about it.

But at the moment, Hendry is playing like the king of the 90 he was. --

90s he was. Hendry hasn't been all that

successful on the circuit this season. He has won only one title,

the European Open. But in a sense, he has always regarded all the other

tournaments as preparation for this one. The climax of the season.

The one which counts more than all the others put together in terms of

status and standing in the history of the game.

Well, for one moment, I didn't think he was going to do it. Didn't flow

as he intended. Cue ball looked as though it could go off in the

corner. Just watch the cue ball. I thought for one minute, it may go in

off - slid around the jaws and the red appeared from nowhere. Just

having a little run, at the moment, Stephen. The best to of 33, though.

It should even itself out and when you get the run of the balls, take

advantage while you can. Too far for the simple pink that he

was intending to leave, though. Wanted to be straighter.

Still not all that difficult, though, the way he's playing.

I'm sure when Stephen started this morning, 5/3 behind, the first thing

he wanted to do was level the frame scores in this match. He's got every

chance to do that now. This is the last frame before the mid-session

interval. So Ronnie must have a bit of sleep in his eyes. He has looked

in good form. It's just the frame-winning chances seem to have

fallen to Stephen, rather than him. He's nothing to panic about. Apart

from the fact that Stephen Hendry is in as good a form as I've seen him

for many a long year, he really is. And, of course, he's up for this -

as Ronnie is - and it's just like two people saying to one another,

"Look, I can do this" and the other one's saying, "I can do this", and

it's just a great match-up, this. Probably the greatest player that's

ever played against the most naturally gifted player that's ever

played. Who do you fancy? The frame was long since run when

Hendry developed that red into a pot-able position. He really is

going well. And, above all, he has shown

O'Sullivan that in no way is he afraid of him.

By his choice of shot, by his attitude, Hendry is carrying the

fight to the defending champion all the time.

Well, Clive, I'm certain you'll tell us how many century breaks this is,

but he certainly loves a century does Stephen. Go in - well played

much superb stuff, it really is. APPLAUSE

At his first visit to the table this morning, Hendry made a break of 125.

This is his last visit before the mid-session interval.

And he's produced another spush century. -- superb century.

And with that break of 122, Stephen Hendry levels.

Committed himself to it fully and, had he made the potting angle, would

have been right on the black. But caught the red just too thick.

Well, from what we've seen so far this morning, this is a good xhans

for Stephen. He' not been missing when he has been getting in like

this. It's all about, of course, controlling that cue ball. That

could be a costly mistake from Ronnie.

The pink spot not available, but going on the blue is no problem to

Stephen. Before that red he was five points

in front. If he can pot colours with those remaining four reds in the

middle of the table, he won't need the awkward red near the right-hand

cushion, so you wouldn't expect a mistake, you'd be surprised if he

didn't win the frame now. And if he did, it would put O'Sullivan behind

for the first time in the match. Well, they're witnessing a match

here. I know it's only the second session of four, but the play from

both players, the determination and the skill that's on display from

both players - this is a tremendous contest.

If he were straighter, this would be a certainty, but he should still pot

what is effectively frame ball. Well, this is sensational play from

Stephen. Made a century in the first frame

this morning, made a century in the last frame. The frame before the

mid-interval and if he gets on this yellow - which he has - I fancy

another one. The skill and powers of concentration of this man never

cease to amaze me. APPLAUSE

No century, but the break of 81 takes Stephen Hendry in front for

the first time in this match. It came from that failed long red from

O'Sullivan, and O'Sullivan didn't get back to the table again. Hendry

leads 7/6. So for the first time in this match, it's Hendry, the

33-year-old, who has taken the lead. And, of course, some people were

dusting down the "Hendry IVVV" headlines in the hope he might

secure another world title. A long way to go, though. Of as we go into

the next frame he has a very healthy advantage of 55 points. Well, that's

a big mistake from Stephen and bigger because he has brought the

blue into play. That blue wasn't pot-able into the centre pocket. He

had a 51-point lead and that's really opened up the chance of a

counterattack. But can Ronnie take it? Big moments now in this second

session. Ronnie won the first session 5/3, at the moment he's 5/1

behind in this. This is a big frame. He's not good - he's not where he

wanted to be. He played a bad positional shot off the pink and he

won't be getting another chance, maybe. That was disappointing for

Ronnie. I must blunt - but there have been one or two signs that

O'Sullivan has cracked this morning. But the beauty of championship

snooker and its long matches is that there's time for a trailing player

to come back. Yes, but of course, if you look at

the breaks that Stephen has rattled up, you know, breaks of 59, 122, 81,

only a 44 in the last, but it means that - well, it's not gone in! Well!

Martin Sullivan is going to get another chance. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan

is going to get another chance. I was saying, with Stephen doing all

the scoring, Ronnie hasn't been at the table too much and probably

hasn't got a rhythm going, but this is another chance - the key shot.

Pot the pink, get position on this awkward last red.

Not bad. Stephen will be kicking himself if he loses this.

You would think, when he pots this red, 30 points behind - well, if he

pots it. It's tricky, this. It's not gimme. Well! Only just in. He didn't

have to do a lot with the cue ball. He'll play the blue, because the

blue stops the green going in He'll play the blue, because the

blue stops the green going in that pocket. But a good shot required

from blue to yellow. APPLAUSE

Should be playing soundly now, though.

Yes, I'd agree with you, if the black was on its spot. But the fact

the black's not on its spot - he wants good position, and it has gone

wrong. Well, better more angle than less. A good shot from blue to pink

required. This is the key. Looks perfect, he has just got to

drop behind the black. A big frame - Stephen Hendry looked twice as

though he had it in the bag. What a frame for Ronnie, if he can pot this

black. O'Sullivan seemed to be faltering, but at the end he got 40

to win on the black and reduce Hendry's lead to a single frame.

Hendry leads by 8/7. Attempted the cut-back, knowing he

was scattering the bunch. I don't think Hendry's got quite the same

exposure that he had a quarter of an hour ago, when he was 8/6 up. Made a

couple of costly errors in the last frame.

That was a tough red that Ronnie went for. He went for it

full-blooded. So the first good chance falls to

Stephen. And, of course, he would have been rattled by losing the last

frame, which he had two very good chance to say win, and -- chances to

win and, well, he could be forgiven for thinking that he's playing this

frame and he should have been playing for a 10/6 lead, going into

the third session. Now the best he can do is a two-frame advantage,

although he would certainly settle for that, having lost the first

session 5/3. You can feel the tension in the

Crucible. As soon as a player gets down to play the shot, there's a

hush descends, and then they pot it and everybody starts coughing and

you can hear the little chuntering. This is a match, though, that has

caught everyone's imagination. (PHONE RINGING I don't believe it, a

mobile phone has gone. REFEREE: Quietly, please.

Thank goodness for that. Not perfect on this black. Needs to hold it,

half ball red he needs. Well, he's thinking of holding for

the red in the middle. I don't know - if he has got the angle, why not

run it off the side cushion? But every shot now is a big pressure

shot. He's stunned up - he's on the red! There's ?167?,000 at stake here

on every shot he plays from now on. He's going to have to come across

for the black after pocketing the red. I can't believe it - there's

another phone gone off. Come on, Stephen, playing ball, this black,

and a natural angle to go on the yellow. I just wonder whether he's

going to play it off one cushion or two. No! No! Oh no! It was

absolutely perfect on the yellow - what a terrible shame for not only

the crowd, the commentators and Ronnie O'Sullivan alike - that was a

fantastic effort. No max numb bonus on this occasion for Stephen Hendry

but he quickly regrouped to forge into an 11/9 lead as we pick them

back up early in frame 21. And that was the worst thing that

could have happened. He hit the red in the wrong place. He left a chance

for Ronnie. Didn't want to finish too straight

on the black, that's why he purposely left it high. Stunned off

the red nearest the cue ball. Not the perfect angle. No, he didn't

quite get into the black enough. And he's not playing that well

either. He's played for the black and he's overcooked it. Can only see

a red at the baulk end now. It's a thin black... Don't think it

the type of shot you want to be playing with a lot of right-hand

side to try and cannon into the cluster here. There's reds into the

baulk end to play for. Well, he did play the cannon in the cluster. That

was a brave shot and he's got a reward. Yes, it was excellent. He

may have to flick off a red here. Yes, he's flicked off a red and

another very clever shot. He's unlucky to not put another couple of

reds safe. This is the shot that that split the pack. There's the

checking up. Deserved to be on a red, playing like that. I'm sure

that one of these reds will go somewhere near the bottom of the

pack. The top one near the pinch must go. There, you can see, the

middle of the pocket, can't see the left-hand jaw. Got to be careful.

Yes, I wonder if there was a plant into this corner pocket. He may have

looked at that, Willie. Yes, it was. A lovely touch, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, when he's in like this. I know we had some great match, you

always mention the Higgins, Matthew Stevens semifinal, both players

scoring very heavily, but these 2, purely one visit snooker. You can't

play better than these 2 guys are playing.

Well, once again, 1-visit snooker. The black to make the frame safe.

And Stephen, well, he is snookered on the black and it was a tricky

one. He just left one red. Such is the high standard, that my

colleague, Willie Thorne, mentioned, it's incredible snooker. Considering

the pressures, it's the semifinal of the world championship... They

couldn't play any better than this in the local club, with no pressure

at all. This is a tremendous break from

Ronnie. This is the best he's produced today, for me.

I think that was all the talk at the interval, because Stephen Hendry, to

me, particularly today, has been the stronger player. He outplayed

Ronnie. But the main thing is, you look at the scored, and after this

-- at the scoreboard, after this frame, Stephen Hendry will only be

one frame in front. Marvellous century, marvellous. Century number

290 for this young man. The a possible 136. All records are

going to be broken this year at the Crucible. We are now just one short

of the record ever at the Em basse world championship, and we've got

another half matches to go and all the final. And the record is bound

to be set now. 2 of the most naturally talented

players ever to play a game are playing against each other and it's

like a boxing match, blow for blow, century for century, break for

break. Not even bothered with the black!

You know he can get the highest break of the tournament. To get back

within one frame. Well, he played a clever shot there,

did he play, that John? He did. I thought he was playing contact,

which he couldn't play. He was trying to come off the cushion, and

catch that red thin. It was clever but it wasn't perfect. He tried to

clip that red thin, not that one, in one just before it. If he caught

that thin, he would have gone up to the baulk end, but he's left a

chance for Stephen. Just a straightforward pot. He's

nicely on the blue. And this is where all throughout this match,

Stephen has been scoring very heavily.

And particularly now, he is got the black in the open, the pink in the

open, blue on its spot. How many can he make?

Hard pill to swallow when you haven't played a bad shot, as Ronnie

hasn't done in this frame. He left Ronnie nothing on. He played a shot

to unique. And then Stephen got a snooker in the next shot and now he

can only sit and watch and probably think that was his last shot at the

frame. You don't expect him to break down before he gets 50.

That's really the view from our commentary box.

And Stephen as per usual, taking these very nicely. Nicely controlled

the cue ball. Tried to develop those 2 reds. He

got this red, he's got one more in the open, and he is going to start

playing good positional shots. That's why he tried to develop those

two reds near the top cushion, but he hasn't.

So, what does he need? 55 points in front... That red... The black...

63, you need one more red and a colour after this black.

Played for perception. -- perfection.

I'm sure if he pots the black, it won't be easy to get the next red,

unless he can disturb a red. Well, he's got the chance to cannon.

APPLAUSE So there's no way that Ronnie

O'Sullivan will be coming back too the table in this frame. As you say,

he did nothing wrong... Just a few little rubs of the green that went

Stephen's bay rather than his and that's the nature of snooker.

Table 12 foot long, 6 foot wide and 22 balls on it.

But Ronnie shouldn't be disheartened.

APPLAUSE And that's his fifth century of the

match. He's not bothered about the red.

Ronnie concedes, obviously. So Stephen Hendry with another century.

He gets back to 2 frames in front. It's very hard to question shot

selection when two players are playing so very, very well.

What a kick that was. And that might give Ronnie another chance. Either

pot for the kick, he would've been straight on the yellow. I suppose

the only comfort for Stephen, at least the green went in. With a

contact like this, the green could have been thrown offline.

APPLAUSE Good recovery. Now a shot coming up,

16 in front. But he's straight on the green, he needs a heck of a shot

to get good position on the brown. Well, a good screw back, but I don't

think he's going to be on it. In a position where he can guarantee

potting it and there's the expression on the face. He is

cutting it pack on a blind pocket. Only needs to brown, though.

Well, have you to question two shots that these players have played.

O'Sullivan's brown, and now Hendry's brown. I don't blame him for playing

the pot, but playing it at pace is a shot to nothing. Unbelievable!

Unbelievable what's happening in this frame. Great positional shot

from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He needs another one now.

It's coming a little bit narrow. He's not perfect on this pink and

they still needs the pink and black. , and well, you have to forgive

players for now and again playing bad shots. They have both played one

bad shot each. Goodness me, what a frame of snooker. Hendry start would

a 53. You can see what that frame meant Ronnie O'Sullivan. He knew

that was a frame that could turn this frame upside down. And

O'Sullivan would push on from there, taking the next with a break of 60,

and finishes the session 12 frames apiece. Into the next session we go,

and it's Hendry who has once again regained the initiative. 14 frames

to 12 in front now. And Ronnie eyeing up a tricky long red here.

Wow, that's the first reckless shot we've seen from Ronnie. Maybe just a

little frustration setting in here. He's going to have to do it all

again. 3 behind. And 11-8... So just this straysford red and it

will be the first 3 frames of this session. To Stephen Hendry.

APPLAUSE And it's a next frame, he needs it

to stay in the match. If he lost all four, Hendry would be one away from

victory. The next frame is massive for O'Sullivan.

Not quite over the line, but barring snookers, it's going to be 15-12.

Ronnie didn't get the snookers, and Stephen took the next as well. And

now within one frame of what would surely be one of his most satisfying

victories. It's there!

APPLAUSE Well, if anyone can make a comeback,

it's got to be Ronnie O'Sullivan. What what a tall order.

That's a well executed shot. Putting the cue ball in between the yellow

and brown. Another 2 inks pace would've been better -- 2 inches of

pace would've Certainly got into that. I think,

too much. No player has every won the Embassy

World Championship for the first time and come back and defended it.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is attempting to do that, but... He's got very few

chances left. Can't afford to make a single

mistake. Now, that would need an awesome

performance to win five on the trot. Especially as that young man is in

tremendous form. This is the key shot. It's not

perfect. Well, he made it look very, very simple. What a lovely shot.

That could be a frame winner. That's a good angle on the pink to

get to the last red, which was the most difficult.

So this is the shot... Hasn't got too much to do with the cue ball.

This is a brilliant break. Under the circumstances.

He made a bad breakoff shot, Stephen Hendry looked like he was going to

clinch the man, until he ran slightly out of position while going

into the reds. This match is still alive.

Got an awful long way to go, but what a start.

Oh, Stephen Hendry nufr played a bad shot in the last -- never played a

bad shot in the last frame. He prayed what he thought it was a shot

on the pink and O'Sullivan potted a fantastic red, cleared with 82.

I think that Ronnie has decided to go for everything. Fantastic pot.

What a cue action to be able to pot that like that. Could there be

another twist in this match? Just a quick look at the bunching of

reds. He is OK. Just yet. 2 more reds before he needs to worry about

that. Just looking at them, not a great pack to go into, from either

the blue or black. In fact, that one at the back of the bunch was

available, it would help. But he could go into the left-hand of the

of the -- the left side of the This is incredible stuff. Absolutely

incredible. Stay focused. He only needs the one

frame. But he might have to wait until the

next frame. Got a horrible kick. It hasn't made

that much difference this time. Apart if they decides to play the

black into the pack, because it's a hard barrack. -- black. This without

doubt is going to be up there with the all-time great Crucible matches.

I don't think we've ever seen two players playing at this standard.

Such an important match. This just gives everyone a breather.

The pink is a bit tight. The referee needing a bit of time to make sure

he gets it absolutely right. I feel he'll go for the blue, because it's

a much better bank to go into from the blue.

He missed it. He didn't get far enough up on the blue and had to try

and use the two cushions. So this a replica of the first frame. Stephen

Hendry who got in first in that one. Well, the last frame before the

mid-session interval, Ronnie was the front, played a fabulous safety

shot, put it tight on the cushion. There is the reaction having not

cannoned into the reds. Hendry rolled one in and cleared. Didn't

even attempt this time. Waiting for a better chance. And there will be

the odd doubt, if Ronnie wins this frame, there could be an odd doubt

in Stephen's mind. But he looked so totally focused so far. A bit

dangerous. That's careless from Ronnie. He left

a chance and Stephen can get up on the black, possibly, from this red.

The white is going to go close to the corner pocket. Got to be a

little bit careful. That is why he forced the shot. Had he played that

plain ball, the white would've been dangerously close to the corner

pocket. Well played.

APPLAUSE Being having said that -- but having

said that, Ronnie is having a look at the table. That one spun out of

the little group, and Stephen can pot this red into the corner.

APPLAUSE Too far. In behind the black.

Yeah, that's all he can do really. He is looking at the other side, but

I thought just net yfling into -- nestling into those 2. So long as he

doesn't hit it too hard, he'll be OK.

Well, he's not thinking of a plant. It's not on, this. He has to try and

make it. What a risk this would be. He can see enough that one by the

blue, you know, this is risky. He played it in such a way he made

it into a shot to nothing. Could have gone wrong but it hasn't. If he

knocks this long red in, the frame is over.

It was close! There was an awful lot of pressure on that one, though. He

is some 49 points in front But if this red goes in, Hendry will be

taking on, and he gets on the blue, kisses the pink, who knows? That

49-point lead could evaporate very quickly. He can go into the 2 reds

off the black. Never misses a chance to win frame

at 1 visit and this is a chance. A hush came over the Crucible

Theatre. So much pressure on this possible

clearance. But the chance is there. Well, if this to a the first frame,

you would think he would be a srnty. But -- certainty. This is the frame

too get into this ninth World Championship final.

He has already won a record 7. The one he lost was to Ken.

And Ronnie can't do anything about this. He has to hope that Stephen

makes a mistake. He played that last shot with a wrist to the inch. Ron

yoi now knows that -- Ronnie now knows a little twitch from Stephen

Hendry, a pressure shot, that is the only thing that can stop Hendry from

here. We've had everything in this match,

2 of the greatest players in the game going head to head, with quite

a bit of needle. Stephen Hendry was a man on a

mission. He's going to need the black as

well. This would put him 7 in front. This has been, in my opinion, one of

his graiment performances. And absolutely unbelievable! A fantastic

clearance, Stephen Hendry is getting into his ninth World Championship

final, and the way he played here, who says he won't win it? It's

always nice to close the match out with a scoring visit. It's all very

well if the match is scrappy frames, but I get more pleasure from winning

with a visit. And Ronnie had taken quite a big lead in the frame, and

missed, and to sort of, you know, clear out from well behind to win

the match is very nice and gives you good confidence. I thought it was

the turning point of my career. Under the most extreme pressure,

Stephen Hendry got more aggressive with his game. If you're going to

get aggressive in tournaments, you need to be able to pot. He showed me

what I needed to do to improve as a player. There is no disputing

Ronnie's improvement since then. They remains one of the of the

pre-eminent forces. As for Stephen Hendry, it was a bittersweet moment.

Not long after tasting victory, his quest for an eight world title was

crueled by Peter. He never won This small, ordinary town

in the middle of Italy