03/12/2013 UK Snooker Championship

We are seeing a new legend in the making tonight, I think he will be

entertaining for years to come. The reception was unbelievable. I can't

believe it. Hello, it has been two years since

Ronnie O'Sullivan's last campaign in the United Kingdom championship. He

missed it 12 months ago when he was on his sporting sabbatical but this

is the event that launched the Rocket into our imagination and our

living rooms, when he claimed this beautiful trophy 20 years ago at the

tender age of 17. He turns 38 on Thursday and I am sure he would love

to be in the thick of things here on his birthday. He has plenty of work

to do today, though. In fact, he had to work hard last night.

Sheffield's Adam Duffy asked a few questions of the Rocket. He came

through 6-3. It is deja vu for his opponent, Scotland's Marcus Campbell

was the first man to play Ronnie after his sabbatical at the Crucible

in April. The rest is history. History is what Neil Robertson would

love to make. He has landed the world title and the Masters already

but the UK would give him a career triple Crown. And we hope you will

join the conversation today through e-mail, Twitter or Facebook.

We are with you for the next five hours or so and I hope you have got

the time, at some point, to sit down, enjoy and wallow in the

snooker with us for the next few hours. But I have gotten used to

bring you from the main arena because we have been underway since

9:30am this morning and Milkins has seen off a former champion, Matthew

Stevens of Wales, by six frames to two. The Gloucester potter who

impressed us at the Crucible this year cemented his place in the top

16. Looking good for a place in the Masters, as well. Milkins into the

last 16, the 2003 champion is out. David Morris of Ireland has ended

the dream run of our last remaining amateur, Mitchell Travis, the

21-year-old from Sheffield who knocked out Marco Fu on the way.

Mitchell goes back to his day job in a call centre and a part-time barman

but we hope we will see him again, if and when he turned professional.

It has been a great run, fantastic to watch. Well done to David Morris,

though, through to the last 16. It is all go in the arena because we

have a final frame decider between two very, very serious contenders

for this title. A two time champion in the UK championship, Mark

Williams of Wales, and Ricky Walden, the world number 12, semifinalist at

the Crucible this year. It is 5-5, this is the decider. Dennis Taylor,

Willie Thorne, all yours. Missing the jaws, it is possible he

has played the pot. That could be costly. He thought he was taking the

pot on as a shot-to-nothing. It it far too thin. All you want is one

decent chance. Ricky Walden has that. How many can you score from

that? A very talented player, Ricky

Walden. He had a great chance in the world championship this year. Net

Barry Hawkins in the semifinal and was going great guns then came

unstuck. He nearly came unstuck there with

that black, it wiped its feet. If this last frame had been a

tactical frame, you could have fancied Mark Williams, but Ricky

Walden is one of the better break builders in the game. This is the

kind of chance that Dennis mentioned you are looking for. He should be at

least 40 or 50 in front before he has to do anything to dangerously.

Very quick when he gets in and around the blackspot.

Ricky has won two ranking titles, both in China. He seems to play

better away from home. He will be looking for a good run in this UK

championship. He has got a great chance for that one to continue

here. Just overran that slightly there, he

wanted to be straight on the red. He does not want to risk having to play

any unwanted cannons. He might have to cannons are bred to the left of

the black kid just hold position. -- to cannon that red to the left of

the black just to hold position. He has wobbled that one as well, so

he is feeling the pressure out there.

It is essential that the next black leaves a good angle, and if the case

goes right it could be the end of Mark Williams' challenge in this

championship. It is all about the next colour.

This is the key shot, he does not want to go into the red at the back

full ball. He caught it on the side, only a

couple of pots away from knocking out the two-time UK champion. If the

red at the back looks like it puts he can continue on blacks. Very

unusual to have a maximum in the final frame. Stephen Hendry had won

a few years ago against O'Sullivan. That looks a bit tight. The main

thing is to win the match. It has been an excellent break. Mark

Williams played a very poor safety, a shot-to-nothing, hit it far too

thin, left the red relatively close to the corner pocket. But he has

played these beautifully, a very good break. A great fightback from

5-3. I know we say it is a toss of the coin, a deciding frame, but you

would have made mark the favourite, the way things were going, but Ricky

Walden has taken these very well indeed.

It is hard to describe how a player feels inside. When you are walking

around the table, you know you have won the match, there is no better

feeling. It is such a buzz, absolutely. He will be bouncing now,

Ricky. If the red pots, why did he not go

for the maximum a few shots ago when he was on 64? From the picture

there, you can see it does pot. He could have gone for the 59,000! I

think he just wanted to make sure of the match, and clearly you can see

the red did pot but there was no pressure on that.

This is a terrific way to finish the match.

He is always fast around the table, and he chalks his cue more than

anybody else. He has got if you little mannerisms that are all his

own. -- he has got a few. Well, what a way to win a match. You

cannot do any better than make a century break.

That tells you how he is feeling now.

As I mentioned, Mark Williams, twice a winner of the UK championship, way

back in 2002, 1999. But he could not do anything about this. He made one

mistake, tried to chip that red in, hit it too thin.

He did not get the chance that is all you are looking for in a

deciding frame. The black for a total clearance,

doesn't really matter. What a way to finish the match! Ricky Walden, 5-3

in front, Mark Williams battled back, and didn't he do it in style?

Ricky Walden comes out the winner, 6-5.

Two Welsh winners of the UK championship are out this morning,

Stevens and Williams, and we have got two former UK champion Tia,

Stephen Hendry and John Parrott. Strapped into their seats, we would

not want them to get away! Stephen, your reaction to the frame winning

137 at the end? Beautifully done? Fabulous, fabulous break. As Dennis

said in commentary, you are looking for one good chance and he took

advantage of it. There was no way he was going to take the risk on 64.

5-3 in front, head back to 5-5, the pressure is on. It was a fantastic

break in the end. Ricky is playing with a new cue this season will stop

he was unlucky to go out at the Crucible. He seems on a mission to

prove that was no fluke, and this represents his best progress, he has

not been beyond the 32 in the big events this season. He is one of a

few players like that, John Higgins has not been passed 16 since June,

which you would not believe. They have not this tournament down from

nine to six to be in the winning score. He wants to play well in the

big tournaments. That was a fantastic way to finish the match.

We have had some good stuff this morning already.

The last amateur has gone home, ritual Travis, and Matthew Stevens

has gone out. One other match to bring you up to date with some of

the world number nine, Mark Allen of Northern Ireland, playing Michael

Holt of Nottingham, who is enjoying his best season ever, moving to a

career-best world ranking 20, having already reached the semifinals of

the Shanghai Masters. He has given a good account of himself in this

match. It is five - for in Mark Allen's favour. We will join them in

the company of Ken Doherty and John Virgo.

JOHN: Thank you, Hazel. This has been interesting. Michael got it

back to 3-3, then went behind. The last game was very scrappy. All

smack red Mist, normally you would not win a friend missing balls like

that -- balls missed. Mark Allen have missed a few pots that normally

he would clinch the frame from. Again, a shake from the head, he

wanted to be closer to the Reg to have a nice angle to bring more reds

into play. Not 100% sure he is even on the red now. If he is not, just a

safety shot from here. But, yes, the match is in the

balance, no doubt about that. This was the first miss in the last

frame from Mark Allen. Then have a look at this one. He tried to blow

this one in. Another error for Mark Allen. The

red closest to the cue ball popped into the yellow pocket, I'm sure it

does. A pretty straightforward shot. Made a little easier with the fact

that he does not have to do a lot with the cue ball to automatically

be on the black. A bit more pace, that might not have

gone in. Certainly wiped its beta bit, didn't it. -- wiped its feet a

bit, didn't it? Michael has just come around to have

a look whether this popped into the corner. -- whether this pots.

In potting this red he can come down to the black, even stay on the pink,

but more importantly bring some reds into play.

A bit surprising with that shot because it just makes this next

positional shot a little bit more tricky.

Eventually he will have to disturb the reds if he is going to win the

frame from this visit. I never really liked playing to the

pink, you have to be absolutely inch perfect on it. If you are too

straight then you cannot get the cannon. He is walking around pretty

quickly so he must have the slight angle he was looking for.

It will need a lot of power, top spin on the cue ball. He did not get

the top spin, but it looks OK. He stunned it a little bit as opposed

to using the top spin. But he is still on a red.

Nicely on the brew. What a chance this is to take this into a decider.

-- nicely on the blue. a jump, but when you play these

shots you get the cue ball bouncing. But he is nicely on the red, he can

drop it in for blue or pink, if he wishes.

Just a series of little stunned shots, you would have thought,

around the pink and he should be able to accumulate enough points to

put this frame out of reach of Mark Allen and force a decider.

39 head, 59 remaining. Two reds, two blacks, that would be more than

enough. It has been a good break, he has

worked the cue ball very well. I think you would have to say, in

the last frame, of the balls that particularly Michael missed, he was

lucky to get away with that frame. It is amazing something like that

can move the impetus to you. You think, maybe I am destined to win

this match. I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am still in it. It

certainly does give you a bit of confidence when you expect your

opponent to put you away, and there is a spring in his step as he is

walking around the table, Michael Holt.

15 or 20 minutes ago, his head was in the sand a few times when he

thought it was gone. He is back in it now.

Looks like we are heading for the 63rd century break of this year's

williamhill.com UK Championships. Well played, very well played,

Michael Holt. Definitely, now, in for a nail-biting finish.

I don't know why the players do that, but they always seem to want

to smash that ball. At least it stayed on the table. Mike Allen --

Mark Allen leaving the arena. We are ready for that one frame shoot out.

HAZEL: It was very interested for Michael Holt to come back. We all

love to see a final frame decider, see the players but a little bit.

When you look at Michael Holt's record, his performance under

pressure under TV light is always, by his own admission, been a little

suspect. Do you feel he is holding himself together? It is different

coming from behind with nothing to lose but his temperament has always

been a suspect part of his game. He let things get the better of him.

His talent has never been in question but he looks pretty

together that. He is having a great season, got to the semifinals in

Shanghai, his best progress in any major championship. He must have

some confidence as a consequence? Mark Selby plays with him quite a

bit, and you have to concentrate practising with Mark Selby. I liken

into a bottle of pop, take the top of hand he goes fizzing around the

place -- I liken him to a bottle of pop. He reminds me a bit of Alex

Higgins, fidgeting around the table, he shows his emotions. A real

talent, it will be interesting, this last frame. Thankfully he has

stopped banging the table, he has realised mahogany is stronger. He

did it once and broke his wrist! Generally, if you do show your

emotions, does it give your opponent an advantage? Sometimes, Mark Allen

will know what he is like, so sometimes it can be a double bluff,

shoving emotions. Well, they are playing for the right to meet Judd

Trump in the next match. Who will it be, Mark Allen or Michael Holt?

JOHN: Michael Holt gets the next frame under way. That is a decent

enough break. Mark Allen, one of those types of players, to me, who

just seems to raise a gear at vital times. I know he needs to do one

now. Would you believe it, it was a plant! A full ball kiss on the

Greenwood be nice. Not quite. Will he be tempted by the brand? -- by

the brown? I don't think he has got the

snooker. That is careless, to enable your opponent to hit a ball. Should

have been tight behind the brown. This is a free shot, isn't it,

John? He can try to stun a cross for the blacks, and if he misses the red

there is a chance that would just be safe. The only possible but he could

leave is the one he is going for, so if he could stun the cue ball across

the face of the pink, the black into the same pocket. Requires very, very

good cueing. Must keep his head still on this

shot. Well, it wasn't far away, but he

will be disappointed the way it kissed. Having said that the potle

angle on the red, you have to play a good shot, because I don't think the

black goes to the right conner, which would be the obvious

positional shot, so a bit of work to do with the cue ball. Good cueing

required. -- corner.

That was an excellent shot as you called it. Excellent cueing, perfect

angle on the black, he will still be on this red. Over the right hand

corner pocket. That is very unlucky.

You could say he could have got into it with a bit more pace, but you

would never have expected to stick on the red like that. The red does

pot. Good recovery, he needs a kiss on

the brown. That was a happenedy full-ball kiss.

-- happy full back kiss. He is one of these player, Mark

Allen, he can up a gear, and he doesn't look as though he is going

to miss. Be it is deciding frame or anything,

he is such a great talent, just sometimes he seems to switch off to

me, half way through matches. When he is fully focussed, he is a

handful. He will leave a nice angle, that is

where he wants the cue ball. In is what our friend Willie calls a

flat backpack, but you have to stun into it. You can't screw into it,

stun, then you get the cue ball running through it. He played it

better that time. But it could have worked out better. He played the

stun, there was nothing wrong with that, maybe he can get through to

the red to the right middle. This looks pretty good. Excellent

positional shot that was. He wanted to be straight on the red

to the right middle. He still can pot it but there is more work do

with the cue ball now. Yeah, fully committed to it.

Stunned it off the top cushion. This red goes past the pink. Already

a 49 point lead. Now, if he plays the canon just on

the couple of reds, he has to sort of hit in between these two reds.

He can still be on the red to the middle. He has to hit it a bit

harder than that, if he had a bit more pace, he was always going to be

on the red to the right centre, so that is end of break.

As you say, a bit more pace, so there is light at the end of the

tunnel for Michael Holt. I was thinking before, isn't it strange

that Mark Allen played a snooker, didn't get it. Forced Michael in

into playing that long pot. It looked like a frame winning

opportunity, but not now. 57 ahead, but still 75 remaining.

Well no real difficult balls. So Mark Allen has to be very careful

now. He is trying to protect that lead.

Well, a good break but he will be disappointed. He didn't score more.

This frame, and he knows it, isn't over just yet.

He has caught the red much too thin, will the yell low come to his

rescue? -- yellow come to his rescue? It hasn't. So that could be

Michael's last shot in this UK Championship.

He will be very relieved. Black will put him 65 points ahead with 67 on

the table. So one more red requires. -- required.

But he will be mighty relieved, plal mall, no doubt about that. -- Mark

Allen, no doubt about that. So this red to put him into the next

round, and a meetings with Judd Trump.

They played each other in the final here a couple of years ago, and it

was an absolute cracker. I am sure that match up will be another

fantastic prospect. With Mark Allen you never know what you are going to

get, but when you get his best he is capable of beating anybody. Is he

consistent enough? Well, these results don't sew that, a tremendous

player, every shot in the book. Michael Holt's race has been run, he

just want s to... So he can shake his hand. He is making as though he

is going to go on the table. Game playeded in a good spirit, but it is

Mark Allen who moves into the next round, and what a match up that is.

With Judd Trump. You said it, what a match in

prospect against Judd Trump, Trump playing brilliantly last night. I

did the commentary on the Ronnie O'Sullivan match, I was looking on

the table to my left and boy, there was some playing there. The Chinese

boy had two century, Trump had three, he was right back to his

best, that is a cracking match in prospect --s prospect. It is a

repeat of the 2011 final. Yes, Mark had four centuries is and still came

up a loser. He is desperate to win a big event. He has had success in

China, but he wants to do well in this sort of masters of the world,

to establish himself as one of the top players. He has had a couple of

whips on the European tour and he leads the order of merit stand, heap

peers to be warring up. How do you rate his form by comparison, to

Judd's at the moment? I haven't seen all of Judd's play, but he is

probably playing the more impressive scoring snooker. I commented on the

match with Dave Harold. I don't know if he is comfortable with four

table, so his concentration drift add bit and I think 5-3 ahead today,

maybe it happened again, although Michael Holt did well. He has to

sharpen that up. A word from molt Holt before Mark join us. He is a

bit sloppy in the final frame, could have done bet, he got forced into

the long red, but the last safety shot was poor to leave Mark straight

in. He would have liked to have played some safeties. But he has had

a good tournament. He has, he is up to world 20. You were saying Mark

Will ym's exit means we will probably not see him at the Masters:

Think he told me at the beginning sh he need ed a semifinal place, I

might be wrong, he need ed a good tournament to be in the Master, he

is not in the top 16. That is why I think Milkins needed it. Here he is.

Well played. Is relief the word? Yes I would have

been gutting to lose. I don't feel like I did that much wrong, but I

didn't do that much right either. A lot of frames went scrappy, I didn't

gain a rhythm. I am glad I got a chance and play ed a good safety. I

am happy to get through. I feel my form is good so hopefully I can show

that. We were talking about the fact you have won calm of European tour

vents, in Germany and in Gloucester as well, you can coming up, you seem

to be warming up nicely, is that the way you feel? Let's hope so, I have

done that the last couple of sevens and not performed. I have a bad

record on the BBC, that was an extra bit of pressure. It is probably a

silly think thing to be thinking about. I have lost a lot of matches,

on BBC, so hopefully I can get a good run and show I can play this

game. I think we saw you can play it a couple of years ago when you were

playing Judd in the final. And it is Judd again. You play ed a brilliant

part, up against Judd, how do you feel? I am confident. I have played

him twice already in season in the tournaments I works on I know what

to expect. He will go for his balls and score heavy, but I am quietly

confident, I am sure he won't be looking forward to playing me. It is

one of those match, we are good and whoever plays better on the day will

get through. You are working with Terry Griffith, and I know he has

helped so many player, you included Stephen. You said he made a bit of a

technical change, can you elab rate about that? Because I have a bit of

a weird cue action and grip, I rely on timing really, I was getting a

bit tight, and my third finger and Terry was able to spot that, he is

that good. It was a matter of trying to loosen my grip and take a longer

back swing. I was getting a bit tight so the timing wasn't there.

Overnight it made a difference and I won a tournament three day later. If

people at home were thinking, you slackened off on your third finger

and won a tournament, people would think you were off your rocker. My

grip is unique, it takings a minor thing for it so go badly wrong. I

was struggling to get back to the cushion. I was timing it so badly.

He has helped me big time. It is a shame he is not here he is not very

well. He is meticulous. He keeps can at you. It is great to have him in

your corner. He has that knowledge which is helpful. Mark, you have

done it, you are there, we are looking forward to this match

against Trump. Well played today. Well, we are going to get into some

live play very shortly, because next up, on the table that Mark has

scrated will be the Rocket. He is up against Marcus Campbell. He won't be

until we have exposed him to our commentators' eye.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is a genius.st he good for the game? He has been great

for the game. Following in the likes of Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, he is

the man who gets people in, creates an atmosphere, superb.s has a few

problems off the table, we all sit back and say, hang on, if we were

there good, why would we not want to play? He has a few demons come

about, but he has been one of the greatest things that has happened

for the game over the last few year, and kept in game in the spotlight,

where it belongs. For me, Rocket Ronnie has over taken the great

Stephen Hendry. I would say Ronnie O'Sullivan is the greatest play er

that pick ed a snooker cue up, and a lot is down to that technique. Right

handed, left handed, doesn't matter which hand he play s with, you can't

fault that technique. He is almost up there with the great John

Higgins. When he is right he is great, when he is not he doesn't try

too hard in the safety defendant. When he does try he is unbelievable.

In the break building department he is getting close to Steven Hendry's

record. There is plenty of years left for him to overtake that

record, the thing is, is Ronnie going to be round long enough, will

he go on, will he retire? I think there is one thing at the back of

his mind, and that is to equal or not better Stephen Hendry's modern

day record of seven world titles. I think he can achieve it. If he wants

it, he can have it, because as I have said before, he is a genius.

Interesting stuff from the boy, he has made a bit of a play about that

himself, in a way almost perhaps to give him a target is you. Your

record in the World Championship. Yes, I had the target Steve made six

and that was my target through my career and Ronnie, it is a

tremendous thing to have, to sort of set yourself that goal, and it is

weird, I commentated on his first round in but I don't want to do it

because it was 11 each. What we are talking about him having target s

contradicts some things he was say last night. Maybe it was a bit of

devilment among the press corps. He was say he wants to play the. Is,

that is how he puts it he wants to get enough prize money to take a few

more months out of the game. Of course, that has led us into

thinking there are possibilities within the game to be able to do

that, because the new ranking system comes in, it is no long er going to

be a ranking points system that will enable us to see the, that will fall

in line with other sports such as golf. It will and for the players it

is nirvana, the ones who don't want to play in a small vent, they don't

have to, they can pick and choose their schedule. What they have done

is fantastic, to give everybody the opportunity to earn the money they

can. This is better for the player, this is perfect. They don't want to

go here, they don't have to, they can take a few days off. Refresh

themselves and play in the tournaments they want to play in.

This kicks in the day after the crucible final next May. And just

for a bit of fun, we have done some rankings as they are now, the world

ranks, if we were to switch to a money list right now. This is how it

would look. Ding Junhui after the three world ranging wins would be at

the top of the pile. This money has been earned in the last two seasons,

the 2012/13 to this point. So there you can see Ronnie O'Sullivan is

ranked 29 in the world but he would be at number five, having just

picked to come and play in the World Championship itself and having won

itle so you can see the point he is make, if he can do that he can do

anything he likes. The big thing was the PTC, a lot of players don't

enjoy them, but because of the ranking points you had to. Now they

don't have to play in them, it is brilliant for the top players.

Steven Hendry could be getting his cue back out. One of the reasons you

packed in you didn't want to play in everything. You have family life,

you won't be, you could do it, couldn't you? Interestingly, there

is John Higgins he has slipped down the rankings, by the way when it

comes to world rankings you are slipping down gently, I looked last

time you were ranked 85ish. So all things are possible. Am I still

above Steve? No. There is your goal. You need a goal. Get above Steve

Davis. I am glad you are more soberly dressed than he has been in

the jungle. It is going to make a huge difference to the tour in

coming years. It is a brilliant idea. I do. I think it is brilliant.

The players can have nothing for that system being introduced. You

might see one two of them dropping out of some of the vent, that is

great opportunity for those lower down. We are talking about Ronnie,

had been will be due out shortly, he is against Marcus Campbell. They

have faced one another five times before, over the last 15 years in

fact, and Ronnie has prevailed on all five occasion, most recently, as

we have said at the crucible this year, it was Marcus who had the

dubious honour of playing Ronnie when he had been out for a year, it

was all about up and down as to what his form would be like, but Ronnie

ran out a 10-4 winner so Marcus has to try and face him all over again,

a few months later, so there we are. They are walking fourth a place in

the last 16 of the World Championship. Still best of 11 and

it is Ken Doherty and John Virgo again today.

Good afternoon Hazel. Marcus Campbell, Ronnie will not be

taking him lightly, because there is that great bit of snooker history,

in this tournament, in 1998, when Marcus beat Stephen Hendry 9-0. I

remember it well. We couldn't believe our eye, he is capable of a

big shock, Marcus Campbell is, he doesn't have a great result against

the Rocket though. He has played him five times and lost five times.

If anybody could possibly upset Ronnie, it is probably the type of

game Marcus possesses. Takes his time, plays good safety.

He has a solid game. It depends on the start, doesn't it, very

important for Marcus Campbell to get off to a good start here. Doesn't

want to let Ronnie just try and run away and dominate this match as he

would like. That is what Ronnie can do, he can

steamroller his opponent. So Marcus, he will have to play good safety and

when he gets the opportunity, he has to score.

Ronnie loves the hot water. Trying to do a bit too much with the

cue ball. Through it off line. Has he been lucky? -- threw it off line.

He could have left the red he played.

Red on the pink spot does pot here, he has to try and find if gap. Try

and get on to the black. It is not easy to pot this and get

on the black. These are the type of chances,

aren't they, if you were in Marcus Campbell's corner, he has to sort of

take. A bit of tension in the arm there,

you can always tell when a player hits the ball hard but hardly gets

any movement with the cue ball. So he has rolled up. Played the

snooker but you would be surprised if Ronnie left anything.

Having said that it is not a straightforward come off the left

hand side cushion into that cluster, he may leave a pot on to the right

middle. He has to be very careful here, he

doesn't want to knock this red on that is just above the black. That

is exactly what he has done. It was all about the pace there.

That is two chances for Marcus Campbell.

This is a little tester, blow and -- blue and green into the pocket.

Not straight forward. Looking a bit edgy at the moment.

Think Ronnie has been fortunate, having missed the blue the the blue

nudged the rofrd so didn't leave a pot for Marcus.

That is a good safety that, I think he has stopped the escape down the

left hand side of the table as we look. It is very congested on the

right hand side. I don't see a path back to baulk, at first look.

Yes, for all the accolades, that are thrown at Ronnie for his break

building, maximum century breaks, he is one of the best players I have

ever played from a safety department as well, so clever.

I remember Stephen Hendry saying Afrony beat him, he said it was the

best safety exhibition he had ever seen. That is something coming from

Stephen Hendry because he has seen them all.

Beat him, he said it was the best safety exhibition he had ever seen.

That is something coming from Stephen Hendry because he has seen

them all. Nnie Is he trying to

He did with the screw, he has got a red. He has a bonus. He fluked the

red. Where is the black going? Just shows you there was no idea he

didn't think a red would go in. He was just trying to get this red and

screw back up the table. Somehow the red has gone in an it was nearly

fouled in the same pocket by the black.

Once the black didn't go in he felt it was time to apologise. So

careless. If the red goes in clean, the black stays over the corner.

Going off the black, but the blackout of commission, he is not a

make over. Can't get through to the blue, so he will just be looking for

a safety. He won't be playing to pot the red,

he will be playing to hit it in to get the cue ball back to the baulk

end. He got it wrong. You could say he is unlucky to knock the

blackened. Ronnie may put him back in here. No pot on, to safety.

Rather your opponent play it than yourself. Unlucky to pot the black

but he gets a double whammy, gives seven points away and has now got to

play eight to safety. -- play eight of safety.

That is snooker all over. Ronnie did not fancy that pot, and why would

you? It was a difficult one and if you did not pot, where would the cue

ball finished? But now the red has gone in and another chance for

markers. Good pot, that. -- a good chance for Marcus four chances I

think he has had in this frame. Only managed eight points. I think he

will be disappointed with that. If you ask any snooker player, when

they miss an easy shot like that, they could not tell you. It is just

amazing what can be missed. So used to seeing all of these century

breaks. It can only be a little bit of tension, can't be anything else.

You would not miss that on the practice table. Ronnie would love to

get the black back on its spot. He is just contemplating whether to get

on the pink will go back up for the black.

Excellent shot, there. The only reason he wanted the black on the

spot is because he's obviously thinking about winning the frame

from this position. From those couple of shots, look at

the position now, black into play, back on the spot. Another couple of

shots away, trying to get into spreading the bunch of reds around

the pink spot. He is snooker brain works so

quickly, doesn't it, John? As you said when he played for the black,

it was an important position all shot to get position on the black,

played it absolutely beautifully and with the black was on the spot, as

you say, the frame just talk on a completely different complexion. But

Marcus Campbell will be very disappointed with this start. We

always say that you need a good start. Sometimes you don't get

opportunities, but when you have got an opportunity and you don't take

it, it is even worse. Ronnie has got the perfect angle on the black to

split the five reds. Could be frame over.

They couldn't have broken much better. He does not mind the red

going against the side cushion, he has got a 40 point lead. Four reds

in the middle of the table are more than enough.

Just this red and a high-value colour.

I'm sure when Marcus Campbell missed the blue into the middle pocket, he

would not exactly Ronnie was going to win the frame from that position.

But one very, very clever shot from money, brings the black back into

play, on its spot. Opens the door to win the frame. He won't be bothered

about a missed red into the middle, a break of 60 from Ronnie O'Sullivan

and he goes into A1 -0 lead. In the same arena, let's update you

with a couple of the school is bigger. Ward number two Mark Selby,

defending champion, up against the world ranked 101, Stuart

Carrington, who is at the table now. He has equalled his best ever

performance, the last 32. He is losing to -0 to Selby at the moment.

Next door we have got Fergal O'Brien and Dean John way. King at the

table, a -0 advantage # Ding Junhui. The referee just setting the balls

up, and a lot to reflect on from that frame for Marcus . A catalogue

of misses. Trying to get that one safe, did not get enough action, and

this one was a poor miss. Not good memories from that first frame. He

breaks off for the second. Excellent opener. Just a little bit

unlucky he did not get a full ball cannon on the red. Just a safety

shot. An ominous sign for Marcus Campbell when Ronnie O'Sullivan

starts knocking in those long balls. It is probably one part of his game

that is probably not have good as has been in the past, Ronnie, his

long pots, particularly this week. A perfect angle on the blue here to

split the reds. Wow! Look at that for a split. That is what you call a

split! Unfortunately, I am not sure whether he is on a red.

Yeah, it did not work out too well. No easy red to continue the break

with, he has tied up the black. Could not have gone much worse,

really. Just playing safe. He has got a difficult red close to

the right corner, but it is too risky, so if you are going to play

safe, just play of the knuckle of the middle pocket here. Needs to

miss the green to be any good. Not much good, he has left the pot on.

No colour, it appears. much good, he has left the pot on.

More or less forced into playing an easy safety, but it

More or less forced into playing that part. I didn't think each you

did that bad, just a fraction off. -- didn't think he cued it that bad.

What can Marcus do with this opportunity? The first red, the

starter, is a little bit tricky. Well played, well played.

Particularly after the pots he missed in the first frame. He must

have been dreading that one. Played it nicely, though.

A little nudge on the red, he may have knocked a plan, there. -- may

have knocked a plant on there. He was trying to bring the black

into play, but, once again, considering he hit it so hard, he

did not get a lot of movement on the cue ball. Just not getting through

the balls he would like. Could be a fourball Plantier!

How about that for a shot? You did say if you shots ago that he knocked

it on to a planned. That is a bit too advanced for me!

Well, another blue, another miss for Marcus Campbell.

When you are playing one of the best players in the world, sometimes you

think you have to play too well, sometimes. It is a strange thing to

say, but you feel you have got to play absolutely... And it puts

pressure on you. You sort of feel it is almost like no missed snooker to

put pressure on these players but it doesn't work out like that. It looks

like that is what Marcus Campbell is doing to himself in these opening

exchanges. Relatively simple shots he is missing. Yes, if they were

difficult, you could understand it, but straightforward, he missed an

easy blue in the first frame, the easy blues are.

The way the balls were, they were very awkward, so not the best chance

for Ronnie to score heavily there, but I did not expecting to miss that

red. -- did not expect him. He knocked in a good long red at the

start of this friend, but, as you alluded to, Ken his long potting is

not really a patch on his safety when he gets in amongst the balls.

Nice shot, queued that well. Is not really a patch on his

Nice shot, queued that well. Is there a gap

Nice shot, queued that well. Is is right behind it and if you are

bit of the pocket. I think if you can drop it in, just

bit of the pocket. I think if you left-hand side of the pocket. He

does not really He did not played that very well,

definitely does slide in and He did not played that very well,

but I would say a fortuitous kiss on the black.

He did not want the knowledge on pocket there. Here is the fortuitous

nudge on the black as you mentioned, John. Could have done

without the little nudge off the middle pocket. Makes this pot a lot

more tricky. I think he is coming glad to have a

look to see if the red close to the left corner is portable. If it is,

he may take the yellow onto the right -- if it is cuttable. Looks

easy enough from that view. You would think, coming from this

angle, he needs to straighten it up slightly. Needs a little bit of

left-hand side. That was an excellent shot. Is it a

advantage to Ronnie That was an excellent shot. Is it a

two ball plant to the right corner? It is like gardeners world at the

moment! He could talk in behind the blue

here, play a snooker behind the blue. Marcus Campbell has got to be

careful here if he comes off the side cushion. The obvious shot... It

will be a bit of a stretch, as well. You might need the spider. It would

be difficult to get at. That type of shot, you are knocking the red over

the whole, if... -- if he hits it with too much pace. This could go

wrong. REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Wally

O'Sullivan four. -- Ronnie O'Sullivan, four.

Little bit surprised he did not have the balls replaced there. He

obviously thought he could get in behind the green, but he misjudged

it. Marcus cannot see enough of this red to pot it. He has got to catch

this mighty thin. The white event.

REFEREE: Foul. Ronnie O'Sullivan, four.

He tried to swerve that and possibly... The red. -- possibly pot

the red. Just six points in it, Ronnie behind. It is anybody's

frame. He has not got the right angle on

the pink. Can he pot the blue, avoid the kiss on the black, can he pot

the blue, avoid the kiss on the black, cannon the red? He can, but

just did not catch them for enough. That is an example with having such

a beautiful cue action. He played the cannon from the blue, hit it so

well, that is why he finished Snooker on both reds. Points all

square. Ronnie favourite for the frame now.

Half a chance for Marcus Campbell but it could have been enough to you

via, no doubt about that. He could screw the cue ball over to the

left-hand side of the table as we look and you would not expecting to

leave the red, should he miss it. He tried to screw in behind the

green and back around, made it a little bit more difficult, but still

a pot you would expect him to get. After the Mrs he made in the first

few frames, you can understand him hedging his bets -- after the

misses. Tremendous pot from Ronnie. As you say, a bit of a sign if he is

starting to knock in long ones. Always makes a lovely sound when it

hits the back of the pocket. He has not left himself good on the green.

He might not be able to hold for the brown and if he is going to go up

and down the table, he has got the colours, the pink particularly and

the black, to avoid. That was a bit PC. -- pacey. But he

only needs the brown, this to go ahead... But it is not there, so

Marcus Campbell is still in this frame, somehow.

Does he play to the corner pocket or the middle?

In looks pretty good. The brown held up. Thought it was going to be a

full-ball snooker. A chance for Marcus Campbell here.

Nice kiss on the pink. Think he has the snooker now. There

it. OK. An easy swerve to hit the brown but the same old story, not

hitting it, can you get it safe? So he is going to nestle up to this

dead weight, you would have thought. No, he is trying to get it off two

cushions. Where is the brown going? Well it could have finished up worst

than that. That is not one of Ronnie's best

shots. The way he played it, it was always going to send the brown to

the corner pocket, you can't bank on guaranteeing a snooker, it wasn't

that kind of situation. So Marcus, he has a chance, he has to fully

commit on the brown. And he did fully commitlet that cue

ball needs to slow up a bit. Now, which pocket the this pink go into?

Does this pink go into. He is looking. It goes in this pocket,

certainly. Needs a lot of power to get through

this one. Dumb. Think it is covered. The only

possibility is playing a little snooker. But, delicate little shot

this. But he would be disappointed, it was

straightforward. That is pretty good.

Well, a chance for the black into the far right corner. He was looking

for something easier than this. Not really close.

Well, how many chances has he had to pinch this frame?

Where is black? Well, I tell you that double kiss on the black has

done Ronnie a favour. Because that black looked to me as it was going

to go over the corner. Ronnie, half apologised to Marcus

there, lucky boy! It has left him almost straight on

the black. I am not sure whether he can double it up and leave it at the

middle of the cushion. Marcus may try to chip it on to the right side

cushion, over the green spot. Cue ball over on the left hand side of

the table. Three cushions into the middle

pocket? No, just the safety. Would you be tempted? He is looking

at the potting angle. Well that bump off the middle pocket

has made it safe, at least. Well, that is a bit pacy. But he has

left another chance for Marcus Campbell.

if you get close to the pot and it doesn't go in, they stay in the jaw,

it is a risky shot if he is playing it.

That is the problem for me, when you playing them thin like that, you

don't have a lot of pace on a the object ball. If you miss it you can

leave it, and he has. Well, he has missed it.

Would you believe it? ! He has got away with it as well.

I think if I was Marcus I would be happy to still be in this frame.

Well, possibility here, it is a slim one, but he may try and double this

off this cushion into the top right hand corner pocket.

He did go for it, quite a long way away. Concentrating on getting a

good cue ball. He has done. A better pace than Ronnie, -- from

Ronnie. It is not a bad cue ball but Marcus

will be going for this one. Ronnie just hit that a bit too

thick, I think he was trying to play it off the top cushion, side cushion

and back to the top cushion, but catching it a bit thick as he did.

He has left this pot on, or possible pot.

it's safe. Ronnie won't be potting this.

He will have to be careful he doesn't get a double kiss and go in

off. Heart in the mouth stuff. Excellent

stuff that was. Well, this is... If someone asked

for a rerack I am not going to be in favour!

He has missed it. He has missed it. How has Marcus won that, he gives a

little punch. He missed and missed and still wins it. So there you are

Marcus, anything can happen, it is one apiece.

I have to say we are flabbergasted. We have John Higgins and Stephen

Maguire and they were gluing to that. Everyone is in shock. John?

Gobsmacked. I cannot believe, I have never seen that before ever. It is

unusual situation with, for the black ball to finish in that

position. To come off the side cushion, he is wondering where to

go. You are saying he could have played it harder. If he played it

off a bit of side and knocks the black up and leaves the cue ball on

the cushion, but I never saw that coming. Before that miss there was a

call from John Higgins rerack, as John Virgo said, have you ever

witnessed anything like that? No, not at all. But, and saying that,

before the match started Marcus probably thought, I might get half a

dozen good chances in the match. He has had six or seven in each of the

frames, it has been poor stuff from Ronnie. Suddenly we have a situation

where we are even Stevens and has changed the momentum of the match.

The big thing is Marcus doesn't seem to be settled. Sometimes getting

that many chances, you hope to get that many, sometimes it puts more

pressure, you keep coming to the table and you are not making the

most of them. You generally think you won't get that many and if you

don't take the first few you get the pressure builds up on you. The score

line in the World Championship when they played is mislead, it was 10-4

but there were three frames where O'Sullivan made brilliant clearances

and it would have been seven each. He has always given him a decent

game but he has not settled down yet. John Virgo made a point about

trying too hard and trying to raise your game to a level you haven't

achieved so far in the season to play Ronnie. If you came into the

match and never missed and easy ball how well you would do, it the easy

ones that make the difference, if he can cut out the easy misses he will

do well. Ronnie doesn't look on it to me. Back to frame three.

I have never seen a black ball game finish like that before, but, that

is the one thing with Ronnie, that you never know what you are going to

get, do you? Here it S look. One jaw and hit the other and he has punched

the air, even Ronnie can see the funny side of it.

Steven made a very valid point in the studio that Ronnie doesn't look

on it. His concentration is wavering, he has watched the other

match the other side of the table. He has potted another nice long red

and this time he has had a nice result. Black on to the left middle.

Well! Did that black just seem to go straight on, just for a split second

when he hit it. Whatever, it never went in, so, good chance for Marcus

now, at the start of this third frame.

Can he make the sizeable contribution? Nothing settles you

down more. This of course will help him,

getting rid of this red. He won't be able to get on the black from here.

He doesn't want to be straight. I am looking at Marcus's face and that

grimace saying that, it tells you a story he may have to force this in a

bit. He played that very well. Excellent shot.

It is quite easy when you play that shot to put a bit of unintentional

side but he kept a true line with the cue ball and he has finished up

in perfect position. wouldn't expect him to and he won't

ex. But I think he is OK. Well, he has not left anything for his

opponent. But he is getting a few scars here

of balls missed. It doesn't help your confidence when you are praying

somebody like Ronnie O'Sullivan you need your confidence to be on a

high. -- you are playing somebody like

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Where is the cue ball going? He

found a good path back to the baulk end, I suppose you could say a bit

unlucky to go in off. If hadn't gone into the jaws, it may have come back

and left Marcus a chance, so it is cue ball in hand, straight red,

doesn't have to do anything with it. If he pots the red automatically on

the blue, just got to push that cue through straight.

He pushed it through straight just a fraction out.

Cued it nicely. you have to trust the table. Just

roll into the middle red of the top three. He is coming off the side

cushion, he feels as though he can get it safe here, but he has to be

careful. He could leave a red to the far left corner.

Perhaps he could leave a red to the left corner as well. Maybe not.

Trying to get this cue ball tight behind the green here.

that cue ball over on to the left hand side of the table as we look,

just makes Ronnise next shot a lot more difficult. -- Ronnie's next

shot that bit more difficult. Somewhere behind the yellow if you

can. That is pretty good. Excellent shot.

A bit careless that from Ronnie. OK, play that red, but you are trying to

drop on it dead weight. Too much pace, just flicked it, and that is

why the cue ball wandered up the table and left a nice easy starter

for Marcus. you go.

-- have a look at this black. There you go.

What a chance this is for Marcus Campbell now.

27 point lead. You would have to say doesn't have a lot of work to do to

build up a, enough of a lead to leave Ronnie in a snooker required

stage here. Think he would have liked to have

been straighter on the black so he could play for the red there. I

don't think he wanted to be playing into that cluster of four, playing

the canon, but I think that is the only shot he has got.

He needs this to go right. Well, it gives him a s thety pot

here. He knows it will be a frame winner should he get it. A bit of

pressure on this one. -- testy pot here. Red colour red is

what is required. In is the type of shot you have to

fully commit to. Took a bit of pressure off the shot.

He knew the green was up near the baulk cushion, he has a nice angle

on the green. He needs a kiss here to stop this

cue ball. He will settle for that. He will settle for that. 62 points

in front at the moment, 67 remaining so just this red required.

But for the kiss he may well have been on nothing.

Just making certain of the frame ball red.

If he pots the black, I don't think Ronnie will bother coming back to

the table in this frame. So that should be enough for

concession from Ronnie, one more frame after this before the

mid-session interval. He needs to get his act together, really.

And that is enough for Ronnie. So, Marcus Campbell, without really

doing much, finds himself 2-1 in front. HAZEL IRVINE: Steven said he

didn't think Ron was was on it and that possibly is the case, early on

in this match. It is Campbell who has the 2-1 advantage. Mind you, he

was behind twice against Duffy last night and still came through, so

intriguing afternoon to come. Let me update you with what is happening in

the other matches. Gp Mark Selby has take en a lead

over Stuart Carrington, they are playing for the right to play Graeme

Dott in the last 16. So Selby looking comfortable. More

than he has done in the first couple of matches here, and so to Wendi

Deng, because he too has take en a 4--- -- Deng.

He has made hard work of it, the he looks much happier about things

so far today, so that is the situation in those other matches. We

will bring in the new Robertson match. Back we go. And we are all

getting ready for the last one before their interval.

COMMENTATOR: Yes, Ronnie, when he was watching Marcus finish that

frame, he undid his waistcoat. Big frame this.

To go into the mid-session interval, Kent, with a 3-1 lead, if

it was for Marcus Campbell, with the balls he has missed, he will be over

the moon. Absolutely. I just think Ronnie has

to steady the ship here. His concentration is pretty poor. You

see the port success rate, 77% for Ronnie O'Sullivan, 74% for Marcus

Campbell. That is pretty low. You really want it in the mid to high

90s. It would have been quite a long time since we have seen a pot

success rate for Ronnie O'Sullivan down at 77%.

Well, that was an excellent pot. Maybe Marcus's confidence is just

beginning to rise a little. That was OK, he has won to the left

middle. -- he has a red. He has a nice split here, red to

left middle, pink or possibly blue to follow here.

He will be disappointed with that, betwixt and between little bit. A

little surprised he did not try to screw red in and take the pink to

the opposite middle. Certainly an easy shot. Will he take this green

on? That is a good shot, nice pot for

Marcus Campbell, and that tells a story in itself of how much his

confidence has grown in the last couple of frames.

Well, he has fluked it, but I am not quite sure why he was scoring all

the way back to a baulk colour, it made that pot so much more

difficult. Yes, you look at where the cue ball finished and he didn't

play it with any confidence whatsoever.

Clinging along the top cushion, we see it happen so many times.

That is not the one he wanted to hit, he will leave a pot on.

I said he would leave a pot on, it looks like it is. Safety success,

81% Marcus Campbell, as low as 69% for Ronnie.

It looks like he should be able to get through to this red.

Comfortably. Now, nicely on the black. Just don't want any easy pot

so missed here. Not perfect. The reason I say that,

he has the red to the left corner, but I don't think the black goes

into the left corner, so it is not just a case of rolling the red in.

He has a little bit of work to do with the cue ball. When you have to

do that it makes the pot miscible, any pot. -- miscible.

He managed to find the gap. I was going to CE could not have finished

any better on the blue, but he has run on a fraction. But no problem.

It has been an amazing turnaround, hasn't it? He had for micro chances

in the first frame, didn't take one of them. -- he had for micro

chances. -- he had four chances. Ever since Ronnie missed that shot

things have turnaround in this match.

Yes, this is where the match had a complete turnaround, when he missed

that black and gave the frame to Marcus Campbell. He did have a smile

about it, but it has certainly changed the whole complexion of this

match so far. It needs to run. That is a poor

shot. He will be very disappointed with that. Not quite sure whether he

can get on the pink. I don't think he can. But from that position he

will be very disappointed he did not win the frame from there.

Yes, and particularly with that table shot, you have this done it on

and off the cushion rather than run it round. Even if you are not on the

black, then at least you have a chance at the pink. He put all of

his eggs in one basket there. Years on nothing, end of break. -- he is

on nothing. Is this a plant? He is certainly

looking at it with enthusiasm. No. Nice safety shot, though, good

length with the cue ball. I think he played that as a two ball planned,

not a three ball plant. That is a bit thick from Ronnie! He needs the

green to come to his rescue, and it hasn't. There is a cut on the red

here to the left middle. The only thing is, the cue ball is running

loose. It could carry into another read. Make certain of the pot.

I know that Marcus has missed a few shots, but I cannot remember a

player getting so many opportunities from Ronnie O'Sullivan in a match as

we have seen in these first four frames. Quite incredible.

As they said in the studio, sometimes it is quite off-putting

when the other games are going on, as well. We have seen it with a lot

of players, the concentration has wavered. Certainly, Ronnie, as we

look at the form tables, -- the four tables, Ronnie has concentrated on

the matches on the other tables more than he has on his own at the

moment. He needs to get his concentration back.

I am not quite sure whether he was totally confident and going for that

shot. What can Ronnie do? He just came a little bit too

straight on the pink and was trying to force it. By forcing it and

playing with a trace of site he has just overrun it slightly. -- trace

of side. This is fully committed, tremendous

shot. Tremendous shot. It really was, he went all out for it and

didn't think about missing it. Just too straight on this red. In

trying to screw back he has miscued. Do you know? I think he has got away

with it. Amazing. When you are into mains like this

you have to get up, and he didn't. He stopped, then he thought about

it, then he thought, I will leave this screw with reverse side, he

just never prepared for the shot. Sometimes, Ken, as we all know, it

is one of those situations where do I not getting in, you're not getting

any fluency, and every time you get in you don't get the right angles.

As I say, too straight on this red. Yes, everything comes a little bit

awkward, but he is dipping down on his back arm, that is exactly why he

jumped the cue ball there. But, again, he has given Marcus

another chance. He didn't have a good safety, he

just tried to roll that red in then he should be thinking of safety

shot, but this is an for Marcus. 19 point scum of the lead. -- 19

points, the lead. Well, he tends to do that quite a

lot, Marcus, he plays quite a lot of shot 's with safety in mind. Instead

of fully committing for the shot he has tried to get on the pink to the

right centre. Certainly a chance to get into the pocket. He is just

making it much more difficult, hitting it at that pace.

I could not agree with you more. When you get the opportunities come

and they have been coming thick and fast, you want to concentrate on

taking them admitting the most of it. He has missed a trick here. It

will not be easy for a mackerel to win the frame at this visit because

the brown is not on its sport. -- it will not be easy for me micro to win

the frame. But you would be surprised if he is not reading near

the business end of the frame. -- not easy for Ronnie.

Just trying to work out, hang on, nine points behind, three reds,

three pinks, 21, that will put him 13... No, he will need the brown. It

is not as if he can play for the black. I suppose the way he plays

left-handed the brown might not be a problem if he gets on it nicely. It

is a great advantage, being ambidextrous as he is, and so

proficient with it, as well. He is quite lucky there, he could

have been snickered. -- snookered. He is trying to work out a way to

get there and just need the brown. You know, if he is to get from brown

to blue, that could be tricky. Potting the pink, he will need

yellow, green and brown to clinch the frame.

Beautiful shot. That was absolutely magnificent.

Believe me, on these superfine cloths.

Just as he ordered that brown with his left hand, Marcus Campbell shook

his head in the corner. He could not believe he was taking that one

left-handed and it never touched the side is, what I shot. It was the

shot from the green, wasn't it? That was magnificent duelling. A

little bit of magic has appeared and it was needed before this

mid-session interval. All square, Marcus Campbell had his chances, but

Ronnie came to the plate. STUDIO: And from the miscued earlier

on in the frame to beautiful stuff. He pulled it out, didn't eat? He was

definitely looking like 3-1 behind. Not many people could have made it

clearance like that. Has concentration been part of the

problem? I think he gets... Board is probably

too strong a word but he gets not up for it. This is what separates him

from the rest. It is almost like an exhibition -- clearance, the shots

he was playing. The yellow to green was superb around the angles, then

the green to brown, these are shots you play in exhibitions. Yes, and as

you are finishing off, let's play left-handed on the brown while we

are at it. And that is what Marcus is up

against, because every time he seems to make progress he can wallop you

like that. Yes, all of a sudden he pulls that

out and when you are in the chair you are pulling your hair out.

It is pretty soul destroying. Is he quite hard to read as an opponent

when you are sitting in the other chair?

You think, I might have a chance because maybe his concentration is

wondering what he does not look at the races, then he does that.

Absolutely. But as I said earlier, if Marcus does not miss anything

easy he has a great chance, but he keeps missing easy shots and playing

bad positional shots, giving Marcus -- Ronnie lifelines. You have to

keep pressure on him all the time. When the opportunities come, you

have to score heavily. If you start missing two or three

and think they are not going to win anyway, they will steam-roll you.

But Johnny can play one good shot then it just figures him to go and

make a clearance like that. They are in their interval, but in snookered

as in every single sport we admired different facets of games and

players. If you want to take the best bits of

everyone and put them together to make some kind of turbo-charged

snooker player, which bits would you use two that is what we have asking

many of the top stars now, we started with the world number one,

Neil Robertson. Mine.

I think probably if you were to look at Ronnie's frame winning rate to

frame ratio it would be better than anyone else's.

Mine. Ding Junhui, his cue ball control is

probably the best in the game at the moment.

I would say John Higgins. All-rounder safety play.

Shaun Murphy? Yes, the best rest player I have ever seen.

Ken Doherty is very good at that, good activity coming of the

cushions. Ronnie O'Sullivan, by a long way. He

is by far and away the best I have ever seen.

He is the worst player to be behind against, for sure.

Tactical awareness, I would say John Higgins.

John Higgins is a worst player to have a big lead against, I would

say. Well, I would say there is a fair

ratio of Neil Robertson in that perfect player of Neil Robertson!

And why not? At least you got in on one of the categories. That was

quite nice. I would have said a lot of mine, as well. You don't get to

world number one without that, do you?

Is Neil Robertson's opponent this afternoon? 20 -- 23-year-old Chinese

student Li Hang. He has had some notable successes, not least a win

over Judd Trump. But he lost a big match in Chengdu and Robertson fired

in four centuries against him on that day. How will he fared today?

Let's have a quick look, because this is a situation as we join them

with commentary from Willie Thorne and Dennis Taylor in frame one.

DENNIS TAYLOR: not a bad chance here, still another three reds that

are portable. -- pottable. He has only lost one frame so far

this year in the UK Championship, Willy. 6-0 against Dylan Mitchell

and then 6-1 against Robbie Williams.

It has been a favourable draw, to be fair, two players that have had not

much television exposure. But the key thing is he has been making

massive amounts of centuries, he has already had 52 this season. Scoring

has been fabulous and he may well get a couple of centuries in this

match if he goes on to win it, you never know.

Very powerful player, Neil, he gets through the ball as good as anyone

in the game. He will have to play a tearful shot to get into the pack,

because it is pretty closely knitted. -- careful shot. He will

need a good angle on this next black. He has not got it this time,

I don't think. He has done well there to have any

sort of shot nothing mackerel. That has finished perfect. -- any sort of

shot on a red. It is amazing down the years, all

the great players, people like Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, the

always seem to start a match with a big rate. -- with a big break.

Yes, greater chances now to not only win the frame at one visit, but to

add to the amazing number of centuries he has already made this

season, he has a chance of beating Judd Trump's record, which I think

is 61. Should be OK, he has come up a

little bit short, the cannon pushed the cue ball on through.

In fact, it has afflicted the plank -- pink into play, also. If he

popped the pink he would have to go behind of those reds, also. That is

why he is taking the black and playing for the red to the right of

the three. Now the frame is obviously beyond

any doubt, so now he can try and make that a century in the first

frame. He has not had too much television

time, Li Hang, so obviously playing someone like the world number one on

television is a big ordeal for him. Our British viewers have not seen

much of Li Hang, but he is a very good player. Not the quickest

player, as you will see later on in the map. -- in the match.

Well, if Neil carries on playing like this we might not see too much

of Li. Just doing a little bit of mental

arithmetic here to see if he can beat the highest rate. -- rate.

Amazingly enough, with all of the century is so far, the highest is

137. He is so disappointed. He would not think he needs the extra few

grand! It shows you how hard meal is trying

to improve on the 52 centuries -- Neil Robertson. I think he will not

hit the pink and red at the same time. Well played. But it will not

be easy to make the century. He would have to try to move the red

because the one to the left of the black, they are not quite on. A

cannon required. He has had to come back across the

table. He is timing the ball beautifully at the moment, Neil

Robertson. This red for a century in the opening frame. Very well played.

He is taking the pink which is as difficult as the Black would have

been. How well is he cueing at the moment?

All the way around the houses to get on the black.

What a start from the world number one. He got one chance. What a

clearance, magnificent. The highest break of this years UK

Championship, his third century of the last couple of days. He is right

at the top. Judd Trump made three last night. That is the situation.

You would have thought that was the pro viewed to him taking a lead. It

is not quite how it turned out. The young man from China has pushed his

way back into this match, Li Hang. He levelled it at the interval. If

you want to continue to watch the match, feel free to do so on the red

button and online. We will keep you up-to-date with everything today. It

has been a remarkable few months for Ronnie O'Sullivan taking the year

off and coming back to win back-to-back world champions. If you

weeks ago, in his autobiography, he feels it is exercised away from the

table that has played a crucial part in his recent success.

There is always pressure to do well and I have learnt to play with the

pressure, ever since I was a junior. I was used to winning tournaments

and if anything winning was like a relief at the end, a bit of a

come-down. You have won the World Championships, for me, I was thank

God it is over. I was buzzing after a race. It was the first race I

did, I came 100 out of 200 and in six years I won. I was pretty

chuffed with myself. In some ways, there's more of a sense of

achievement from the running than snooker. If I didn't win, it was

seen as I had not fulfilled my true potential and expectations. I think

I got more satisfaction from running than snooker.

I used to be miserable and I connected with running clubs where

tournaments were. Snooker tournaments became a chance to

explore different running clubs and meeting running friends. Snooker

became a hobby for me in 2004 because as long as I had my burning

kit, the running came first. It got me to the snooker tournaments, in a

way. Playing at the top level, if you don't perform then someone, a

top player will take you out. Whether it is Usain Bolt, Tiger

Woods, they come with a reputation but if he doesn't run nine points

six, they are still running nine points seven. I still believe you

have to produce the goods. There is a place him on the athletics team!

He loves it and likes playing. He is not running away with this match so

far. Marcus Campbell has been around for a very long time. Over 20 years,

a good pro, great results, a winner of one of the PDC events. It has

been patchy at times. Yes, the mid-session interval is

over and now we played to a finish. First to 6, remember. Interesting to

see what sort of Ronnie O'Sullivan comes out.

The clearance may inspire him. We will wait and see. I saw him at the

interval and he said he did not feel he was getting through the ball

correctly. It is little things like that that can give you the

confidence. A well played shot from Marcus. It

wasn't easy. Excellent return from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. If the cue ball... This is more

difficult. He was more concerned about bringing

the black into play. He has to avoid the black. This

could go wrong. Not bad. A problem to contend with

but he has made a good fist of it. Another excellent safety shock from

Ronnie. If you find the cushion, you make it difficult for your opponent.

He will be disappointed to have missed that. He had enough angle to

not really causing much of a problem.

He has a nice angle on the black if you want to disturb those couple of

rides. He really wants the black spot completely clear. He might be

taking a chance to go into the reds. He needs a lot of pace.

He needed to be harder than that. He cleared the black spot but... The

big question is what is he on? Will he be tempted with this plant,

a lot of distance between the two reds.

It was a good pot. He avoided the case. If the Green goes, there's no

reason why he shouldn't take it on. The natural potting angle will bring

him on to the reds. He did not want to risk it. He should have got

snooker. to risk it. He should have got

him on to the reds. He did not want to

him on to the reds. He did not want as you say.

This is where it was. The green has to go back a little bit and out from

the cushion. A possible 2-ball plants in the

reds. I didn't see that one! How perfect

is that? Wow! A wry smile from Ronnie. He completely mishit that.

After the stroke of luck that he had not to take advantage of it is

unforgivable. Why hit it so hard? I don't understand.

He has played it well. He cannot believe he is back at the table

after that Farouk of Marcus's. -- fluke.

He managed to hold it. That was good cueing.

Quite happy playing for the pink. A 36 point lead now.

A quick glance at the scoreboard. He needs three of these remaining reds.

Well, the next after the pink will be OK.

I try to add the extra red because that keeps your opponent off the

table. Ronnie knows that. No heroics.

He has taken these well but he has gift -- he was gifted this chance.

He did not make his mind up on matte black. -- make up his mind on that

black. Marcus Campbell will be very

disappointed. The first opportunity.

It is unusual to see a century without the black being potted. The

pink for the 100. That is inch perfect.

Beautifully taken. He was given an opportunity. And he did the rest in

style. Marcus Campbell will be kicking himself. What HRT had. But

you have to pop the balls. Ronnie leads by three frames to two. Mark

Selby has completed his victory today over Stuart Carrington.

Selby, his high break was here in the last frame. That puts him

through to play Graham dot, that would be a really good match.

That is a repeat of the semifinal of the Masters. A bit of a pattern

emerging. Yes, his opponents cannot argue. Marcus missed a black he

would never miss against anybody else but he missed it today. They

are not taking the chances. It is the luxury have of being the best

player in the world. People cannot play their best game against you and

you can relax. Marcus has missed so many easy balls. He will be

horrified. Is that an aura, is that a mystique one has? Yes, you are

getting a two or three frames start. You know players cannot beat you and

it's a lovely position to be in. Who else has the advantage? When they

play as good as they can, Selby, Robertson, you sit and watch him and

cannot think that is good but there is an intimidation factor. Well,

there is some work to do. Campbell falls behind.

Yes, Marcus Campbell will be so disappointed with the chances he has

had. Sometimes it is strange, you don't mind when someone plays well

but when you have had chances, chance after chance as Marcus

Campbell has had, that is more disappointing. And it goes back to

what I said earlier, you put pressure on yourself because he is

expecting Ronnie Knotts and miss. It has not worked out that way. When

you are in the arena, you cannot see that would for the trees. He has to

stop missing the easy balls. If you pop the ball long, at least to play

the next shot. He has got the game, it is the easy

balls that have cost him. Yes, good long pot, he knew he was

going to be running into the black. Was hoping he was going to be

getting a better result than this. If he hits it right, he could get

the snooker. He will be pleased that he hit it,

because we know that with them this rule -- Miss rule you can give quite

a few points away. He will be wary of leaving the red

over the corner pocket. He knew he was sending one towards

the corner pocket so played with a little bit of extra pace to make

certain he came on and off the side cushion. He didn't really get a good

length with the cue ball, it should be easy for Ronnie to pay -- play a

better safety than that. Having said that, it is Ronnie's

turned to not read over the corner. Is there a gap between the green and

pink? -- it is Ronnie's turn to knock a red over the corner.

There is the pot success, 77% is low. Can he get position on the

colour? Is he on the black humour to if he

is not, -- cat -- is he on the black? He is on nothing.

Well, surely he has not covered the red to the middle? Know. I know what

he was trying to do, he was trying to play the run-through. And almost

impossible pot, but he was trying to get the cue ball close. Of course,

he headed the wrong side of the red. He would have been lucky to get

away with it, and he hasn't. He definitely did not play for the

gap there. He always knew he would have the pink there.

He just overshot the cue ball little bit, he wanted to be straight on

this loo. -- he wanted to be more straight on this blue.

I shot like that, Ken, he made it look so easy, but he just had to

find a gap and have enough pace on the cue ball. He played absolutely

perfectly. And immediately he wants the Black

back on its spot, of course. In another couple of shots it will be

open in both pocket 's and the frame will be at his mercy. -- in both

pockets. I know it is early days, but, again,

as in the last frame, you would expect Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the

frame from this visit. He has up his pace a little bit. -- he has upped

his case. There you go, 16 seconds for Ronnie

O'Sullivan, average short time, 29 seconds for Marcus Campbell.

As the boys said in the studio, if you don't take your chances, the

longer the match goes on against players like Ronnie O'Sullivan, they

get stronger. Yes, if there opponent is not

punishing them it takes a little bit of pressure off them, if they are

struggling a little bit. As I said, Ronnie did not seem as if he was

getting through the balls as he would like, but now he is getting

the opportunity, years getting the arm flowing, he is not being put

under any pressure from his opponent. Just this red and it is

snooker is required. -- snookers required.

A lovely touch, isn't it? He made a 108 break in the last frame. Apart

from the red along the top cushion, you would not bet long odds against

it being back-to-back centuries here.

That was an excellent shot. So difficult those, along the top

cushion, and particularly with pace. Another wonderful century from

Ronnie O'Sullivan. 66 of the tournament so far.

He has missed the yellow but it is back-to-back centuries and you just

get the feeling that Marcus Campbell may have missed the boat. Ronnie

O'Sullivan two frames ahead at 4-2. STUDIO: Breaks of over 100 in the

last two frames, and Ding Junhui has just tied up a 6-1 victory over

Fergal O'Brien of Ireland. He will go on to play Ricky Walden

in the last 16. He has made a bit of work for himself in the last couple

of matches against Anthony Parsons and James Wattana, but it looked a

whole lot more straightforward for him today. Ding Junhui is through,

as is Mark Selby. Just a quick word on that, he has not looked as fluent

early in this tournament as we have seen in the last couple of

tournament 's, but do you see signs he is warming up? As I said at the

start of the tournament, those first few rounds are a bit of an

inconvenience for the top players, their concentration did not need to

be 100%, but now at the business end of the tournament you are seeing all

of the top players and the last 16 will be the top players of the

world. Definitely the way to go, start off slowly and build up. With

better players coming along you will have to plenty of petrol left in the

tank for the best players. I am sure that Mark Selby will be relieved

because he particularly seemed jaded in the first few matches. He looked

a bit heel yesterday, he said he was all right, but then again that may

be because he practices in doors everyday! As you say, it is a little

bit of an inconvenience, they consider it that way. On this match,

I agree with John Virgo, I think Marcus Campbell has missed the boat.

The boat is sailing and sailing fast and he will have to jump on board,

Marcus Campbell, if he is too slow O'Sullivan up.

JOHN VIRGO: he should be pleased with the way he is cueing now. But

it has been mainly due to his opponent not punishing him.

Touching ball? Mill. -- know. If it had been, the

referee would have called it. That is why Ronnie could not play

the escape up to the baulk end. He is looking at a three ball

plant. The last red, directly behind the pink, into the right centre, but

very, very risky. It looks pretty much like it is on, but it is just

too risky to take on. You are going into other reds. Just a safety.

He does not want that cue ball going into the pocket, though. That is

careless. That is extremely careless.

A three shot for Ronnie O'Sullivan there. -- free shot.

It is just the one part of his game, it is just not up to the standards

he would like it to be, that is for sure. Yes, he started off OK, he

knocked in a few good long ones, but, as you say, that has been his

Achilles heel. Long potting.

There you see it, 57% for Ronnie O'Sullivan, 53% for Marcus Campbell.

That was quite a clever little shot, that, using the yellow to

block the red. The brown was always in the way and

that a simple little shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan has created have a

chance here. -- half a chance. He did not expect that, he did not

get into the cue ball enough. Nicely spotted three ball plant from

Marcus Campbell there. Just having a look to see, does the

pink ball to the right corner? No, he is just not with it today,

Marcus Campbell. As we said, he needed a good start and he didn't

get it. The game is looking very difficult for him at the moment,

isn't it? It happens that way. He has just flicked off them, and he

will be on the green. Well, if he could pot this red and

try and leave a nice angle on the green or yellow, he could possibly

go into the bunch of reds in a couple of shots' time. He has an

angle on the yellow, but he will be hampered by the brown.

Of course, the red that is on the blackspot, it is always there

available for him. He may be forced into taking this loo here, because

the yellow is a little bit awkward. -- this blue.

It looks as though he has run through too far and he is nothing.

There a bit of pressure on that blue. He has just run through too

far. Or not far enough, whichever you prefer.

He just can't get going and to score heavily when he gets the chances.

That is a good shot, it was like a magnet taking it to the baulk

pollution. -- cushion. He is doing this right, because there is every

chance he could knock one towards the corner pocket here.

Well, it has gone in! That is not what he played. He does apologise to

Ronnie, but you take what you can. Well, it is all right having a bit

of luck, but you have to try and take advantage it. And not for the

first time. He has had a few flukes in this match, just not making the

most of them. He did not want to play for the

black, if he had knocked that red he would have played for the black.

Being along the top cushion, there is no way he would have missed it.

He just can't get to that bottom red, can't see enough of it.

Obviously, the red does not pass the blue to the left middle. He cannot

play into the baulk end so he will play a little trickle of the red and

leave the cue ball near the top cushion.

He would like to try and get the cue ball back to the top cushion. He is

slightly hampered by the black, so just another role in I would have

thought. There will not be a re-rack here.

Maybe a chance for Ronnie now to get the cue ball back to the top

cushion. Now the shoe is on the other foot,

so to speak. Well, that was risky. Too risky. It

is as though Marcus got a little bit impatient there.

Yes, that is not what you would expect from Marcus.

Slowly but surely, he is seeing this match fall away from him.

He led 2-1, looked like he was going to go into the mid-session interval

3-1 ahead. But since that frame it has been all Ronnie. And he has had

chances, Marcus Campbell. He certainly can't grumble. But he just

didn't take certainly can't grumble. But he just

generate a lot of pace due to the amount of

cushion. That is why he tried to get the

cushion. That is why he tried to get He just cue that in beautifully,

didn't he? You did not expect him to miss that

one. Well, it is going from bad to worse

for Marcus. That was a thin cut, but not that thin. Ronnie will cannon

into the pink, two disturbs events. -- to disturb the reds. Now the

frame is at his mercy. Well, that was a little bit closer

than he would have liked. I thought he had missed that for a second.

The pace helped that into the pocket.

This red does not go past the green, so back-up for these two reds to the

right of the pink. No applause, but what a wonderful

positional shot that once. A bit careless and there, though, to be

the wrong side of the blue. He will be annoyed at that. That red does

not pass the green, he will have to play for the red to the right of the

pink. It is a little bit too swift. He is

not winning the frame at this visit. 33 points ahead, but still 43

remaining. Ronnie is looking for a red and

colour. The colour now is all he needs. The

pink is ready and waiting. Ronnie made breaks of 108 and 100

but nothing like that in this. Both players put their queues on the

table. Ronnie O'Sullivan looks in complete control now, one frame away

from a place in the last 16. Do you see a way back for Marcus? His

resolve has dissolved. He has played a red in the middle pocket. He is

playing shots he would not play against anyone else. There can only

be one victor. I agree. Ronnie is just doing enough, mopping up what

is left. Marcus is a much better player than what he has played

today. He will be disappointed. I think he is demoralised now. It

looks like you want to be out of there soon. You have played against

him many times. What happened? I don't want to get into it. Let's

talk about this match. I enjoyed every bit of it. It was the 1998 UK

Championship. It was a very unusual scoreline. It went from bad to

worse. When it got to four and five and six, I wanted to get out of

there. He can play but there is something about O'Sullivan that is

blocking him. It is easy shots. He's had so many chances. The occasion is

intimidating. You get embarrassed by your own performance and it

accumulates. We have all been out there and had a shocking afternoon.

He is a much better player. A great result against Michael White so we

know he can do it but not today. Let's see if there is any resolve

left in Marcus Campbell. It can be the loneliest place out

there. There is a loose red button may go

into the pack from the blue. He decided against.

If he makes a century from this visit, he would have made three

centuries and not played his best form. He has looked good in patches

but given some chances away. His standard will have to improve on the

next round. The Pops Access is 88%. Everyday in the game of snooker is a

different day. Yes, and he has had help from his opponent. As you say,

with the two centuries he has made and the possibility of another one

here. We know this is in the locker. If you seasons ago, if he started

off badly, he may have dropped his head but there was none of that, to

be fair. He has missed the red. 68 points in front. One snooker

required for Marcus. He still needs to get reds, blacks

and one snooker. How disappointing for Marcus. He

never brought his game to it and Ronnie, not at his best, comfortably

through to the last 16. Yes, comfortable in the end. Your

verdict? I agree, it was patchy. He made a couple of centuries,