Third Round: Afternoon Session - Featuring Ronnie O'Sullivan UK Snooker Championship

Good afternoon. It seems slightly odd having pictures of Neil

Robertson, last year's champion splashed all over the venue here at

York. Last year's champion is long gone. He was beaten in the opening

round long before the cameras even turned up. Hard lines? Well, in a

way, yes. He was beaten by Yorkshire's own Peter Lines,

46-year-old veteran who dropped off the tour last year and is now

officially an amateur. There were more hard lines last night for

another former champion, Judd Trump. The world number three was beaten by

Peter's son, 21-year-old Oliver. So, you could say the Lines boy are the

stars of the UK show so far. It was on TV in front of I'd say my

home crowd because I'm from Leeds. Early on, it didn't really go to

plan, I think. COMMENTATOR: Judd gets the first

frame underway. There was a fluke at 1-0. What a slice of good fort Euan

that is. He couldn't have cued that any better. -- cued that any better.

He played that very well. A good line and a pretty good length. I

felt very clear tonight and I haven't felt like that on previous

matches on TV. At 3-2 he found a plant.

COMMENTATOR: He didn't apologise. So maybe he spotted that? I felt

something clicked. COMMENTATOR: That's perfect. He made

a good clearance. That was a turning point after that. I was very calm.

My brain was working. I was trying not to think any negative thoughts.

COMMENTATOR: Terrific shot. Absolutely plum on the blue. It gets

to the point when the ball's run like that, you feel invincible and

the pressure comes off. COMMENTATOR: In it goes. Does that

black bounce? It does. He's on the black. A chance to win frame and

watch. -- match. I've never really won on TV before. Never against a

world-class player. COMMENTATOR: Oliver's father, Peter,

beat the defending champion Neil Robertson in an earlier round. Now,

his son's following suit. So, another shock. We've seen a few. But

that, to me, is one of the biggest ones. He beats the world number

three, Judd Trump by six frames to two. Very annoying for me. It is the

first big tournament of the season. So that is quite frustrating. And so

the father and son combo march into the last 32 here in York. Dead,

Peter, is in action this afternoon at the start of round three. So too

is the five-time champion of this event Ronnie O'Sullivan who could

match Steve Davies's record totele of six titles this week. He looks

right in the mood as well. Five times champion of the world. Blink

and you'll miss hip, The Rocket, Ronnie O'sullivan.

Presumably Ronnie O'Sullivan will lose a frame in this tournament. It

is always interesting comparing his statistics with Stephen Hendry and

Steve Davis. Matching one, Ronnie O'Sullivan's won 837 but you've won

875. Problem is, he's still playing. You're the governor, son. 921. He

couldn't make a 30 break. When it comes to UK titles Ronny's won 5,

you've won five but the governor... Always a sign of consistency. The

World Championship used to bring up freak results. Doesn't matter how

many world champions is. But UK Championships. Six. Come on! Ronnie

O'Sullivan has five world titles. Steve Davis has six. Should have

been seven. Why? Dennis Taylor commentary box. And you've seven

Stephen? Quite happy with that, yes. Ronnie O'Sullivan's won six and

you've won six. Steve Davis what happened to you? Didn't like the

Sven ewe. It was in London. Maximum breaks, Steve, you made the first,

fantastic. You had a double on the fifth red. You've made 11. What

about Ronnie O'Sullivan? 13. They've opened the pockets up since I

retired. Here's a cracker. Century breaks. Steve Davis 338. What was

that all about? Over a lopping period of time. It was considered

bad sportsmanship to make a century? I made a lot of tournament 100

breaks but no, it wasn't the done thing back then. You, 775 centuries

would be brilliant. But, it has been washed and erased. Ronnie

O'Sullivan's 846. He played 96 tournaments a year. Of course. And

counting. You might as well not have made yours. He will be 100 in front

of me in no time. Not far behind you for centuries made in this event as

well. All right, all right! Ronnie O'Sullivan's coming up this

afternoon. You may even hear from these two prima donna's if you're

lucky! So, engine still warm from yesterday afternoon's 6-0 canter.

The Rocket prepares to power up again. This time, he'll meet world

number 11, Michael Georgiou, a Londoner full of anticipation ahead

of his first match against Ronny. World number one Mark Selby still

moving through the gears here in York as he chases a second UK title.

Now, quick fire rob Milkins. He can be very dangerous on his day. Whilst

the new World Open champion, the ever-classy Ali Carter prepares to

face Stafford vulcher's much improving Dave Gilbert. Feel free to

share your thoughts or question the team through all the usual channels.

So, who's next to try and down the Rocket? It is fellow Londoner

Michael Georgiou. This is not the Michael Georgiou who was eliminated

in bread week in the Great British Bake Off this year. This is

snooker's Michael Georgiou who, like bake-off Michael Georgiou, shares

Cypriot gene algae. Our Georgiou hopes to sent Cyprus one day. He's

very proud of that link. He's had a few bumping landings in this sport.

He's fallen over the World Snooker tour twice and has come through that

nerve-shredding pro veries of the qualifying school in May. -- process

I'm Michael Georgiou, aged 28. This is my story. When I first turned

professional, I don't think I was mature enough. First year as a

professional, I didn't actually win a single match in the whole season.

Because I was working in between tournaments, it was very difficult

to balance practice and work. I decided you can't commit fully to

snooker as well. Because I'd been doing snooker all my life, I didn't

really know, I couldn't really think of another interest I had. It was

very difficult. Some family helped me get some work in recruitment. I

did that for a few years. But it wasn't for me. I wasn't happy.

Squaring up with the juniors I used to compete with week in, week out,

seeing them on TV beating great professionals and thinking, why

can't that be me? I don't think a day passed where I didn't log on to

World Snooker's website to see what was going on. So, to be sitting here

today is a bit of a dream come true, really. I saved a lot of money when

I was working and as I was stopsoring myself getting back into

snooker as an amateur it was very difficult. Sacrificing your time, my

social life's completely gone downhill. I'm always at tournaments

or practising. It's become a priority in my life. It's a bit of a

childhood dream to be playing one of snooker's all-time grates live on

TV. I'll be walking out there with Ronnie O'Sullivan it will be all

worth it. If I do win, I won't know what to say, really. I've packed

enough clothes for a certain amount of days. I'm not anticipating being

here as long. I've run out of clothes. I've had to do some

emergency shopping. I have everything I need and I'll be ready.

So, Michael determined to make a go of his snooker career. This is a

hugely significant day in his life. A first match against a player he's

looked up to for so long. The contrast is stark between them in

terms of snooker experience and earnings. Nearly ?10 million versus

tens of thousands of pounds. In century break Ronny in the 800s.

Michael with ten so far. John, what an opportunity this is for a very

likeable Londoner? It certainly is. I'm here it Dennis Taylor and Steve

Davis. This could be a fairytale. He's very likage. He's been lie a

preying mantis around the corridors. I've seen him so many times. This is

a player who fell off the tour, came back on again. He's been a pro eight

years. What he's done recently is shortened his cue action. He's

getting a lot more results. He has beaten a few of the top players in

earlier rounds. His time might be here. This is a big thing. BBC TV,

out on the main arena and Ronnie O'Sullivan? The importance of start

cand be underestimated. He needs to go out and enjoy himself. Easier

said than done. He needs to give it a go. You've some observations about

Ronnie O'Sullivan? ? On the table, business as usual. Commentary

superlatives, whizzing around. His play is fantastic. Off the table, I

sense when consciously or sub consciously Ronny's trying to

deflect attention away from whether he can win or dominate. He's going a

lot more along the lines, there are other great players out there, I'm

happy doing the commentary. Generally, he's trying to take the

heat out of the equation. Whether that's for his own benefit or

everybody else's attention, it seems to be working. He seems a lot

happier around the scenes. Especially doing interviews with the

media. We'll soon see, Rob Walker, it's all yours. After Sunday's late

night drama, we are back at the Barbican ready to go again here on a

thrilling Monday afternoon. This year's Betway UK Championship is

already becoming one of the most unpredictable editions of this

year's tournament. The crowd cannot wait for the action to start.

Please welcome a player who came through a very tight match against

Hammad Miah. A multiple ranking semi-finalist and shoot-out runner

up, he may be a cider drinker but they call him The Milkman Robert

Milkins # I am a cider drinker

# So long he travels away . #

His opponent, a player of immense talent and mental strength, he never

panics and never knows when he's beaten. Winner here in 2012 and a

runner up a year later, twice victorious, he's the reigning world

champion, the current world number one, he's The Jester From Leicester

Mark Selby. And now, please welcome a player who

after losing his place on tour last year showed real character to bounce

back straight away via cue school. Victories over Matthew sell ton and

Dunn. Born and bred in London, what a moment for Michael Georgiou.

# You know what it is # Yellow pack, yellow pack

# You know what it is # Packing yellow, pack.

# You know what it is And finally, his oi pone ept, a

player who first appeared in this tournament in 1992 at the age of 16

and lifted the title a year later. Yet to concede a single frame this

year. Five times UK champion, five times world champion, blink and

you'll miss him, Ronny "the Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan. We'll catch up

with the Selby Milkins match throughout the afternoon. If you'd

like to watch it from the start, watch it via the red button or

online. For now, we'll see what Ronny and Michael serve up for us.

With Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis. COMMENTATOR: Afternoon everyone. Big

day for Michael Georgiou. As you heard, our referee tell you, Ronny

won the toss. He will get this match underway.

I haven't seen a great deal of Michael. Interested to see how he

starts here. This would be terrific way to start if he could knock this

in. You haven't come across Michael? You

haven't played him, Steve, in qualifying rounds? No, I've not seen

a lot of Michael play. To stay on the tour is tough these days.

Doesn't mean just because you've dropped off on occasions that you

are in any way under spec. I think the biggest problem for players like

Michael Georgiou playing Ronnie O'Sullivan is the fact Ronny's so

used to this scenario and his opponent in on this occasion is not.

So, with all the positive thoughts in the world flying through your

body, it's tough not to have a few worries about being made to look

second class out there. You don't really want to be playing this game

worried about being 'em barred on the table by your opponent. That can

sometimes happen against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Ronny's one of the quickest players in the game. But Michael practices

with Tony Drago who would make Ronnie O'Sullivan look like Steve

Davis! Well, that's a confident way to

start. And nicely on the blue. An early chance.

Yes, discussing earlier about having a shorter cue action. Perhaps a

shorter bridge, stops the cue being pulled back so far on shots like

this. Still a fair amount to pull the cue back for a shot that didn't

require that much speed. Mark Allen would have pulled the cue back a lot

shorter distance in that that even. It's certainly something he has been

working on, he was telling me. Whatever he's doing, it's starting

to work. That would be nice to knock in a sizeable contribution here.

Straight away, looking at his cue action and his head, it's perfectly

still. Oh, that's a careless one. These

tables are so fast and so lively, he can noned into the red. He didn't

intend to do that. He just wanted to slip past it slightly and just

flicked it in. That really has made it a little more difficult for him.

If it pots, he will be opening up reds here, I think.

He has a calmness about him, the way he walks around the table. I like

his style. He's looked at both reds. He feels

the one into the right corner is the better one to regain good position.

He can stun down for the blue. He's come up a little bit short, though.

The ping goes. That may be his choice instead. -- pink. Did play

for the blue there, but. Pink is alternate. The pink spot's occupied.

That side bar shows you if he can get to 68 points, Ronny would need a

snooker. The referee has a tricky spotting to do here with the pink.

Just deciding which red of the two is best position to get the perfect

angle on the blue. Ideally, he'd like to perhaps get into the pack

with this next shot. This shot off the blue, off the colour. Doesn't

have to, obviously. Still four loose reds. Three after this.

Not the correct angle, this shot, to go into the pack.

Doesn't necessarily have to go into the pack from this situation. It

could unfold in a different way. Yeah, he had that red at the back of

the little bunch there available. He could go in this time off the

cushion. He has the other one. Two loose reds still. As Steve said,

it's not 'em per tiff he goes into the pack just yet. -- imperative.

He can't win without opening more reds up. So, he has to be accurate

from now on in. Now's the chance to go into the

pack. He has a good angle on the blue. One good split here and he

could win this opening frame with just one visit. It's not ideal. He

could lose the cue ball if he's not careful or Ian unlucky. Or even that

as an outcome. He did have a chance with a black to go into the pack. It

would have been a more aggressive option. I think he was a bit

straight on the blue to make that shot ideal. So, now, while he has a

52 point advantage, the way the modern game pans out, he's nowhere

near as much a favourite as you would think.

Especially with an opponent like Ronnie O'Sullivan coming behind you

who hasn't dropped a frame yet in this year's Betway UK Championship.

All things considered, a very nice start for Michael Georgiou.

This is another chance, if the red's dead straight. He can hold for the

black. This ask a test of your cue action at this distance.

Now, that is a real confidence booster. How still did he keep his

head on that forcing shot? Well, there was probably more pressure on

that shot than any of the previous ones he's played in the frame. To

hit it as beautifully as that, it was, as you say, a real confidence

booster. It looks like with that outcome, he will clinch this first

frame. And it will be the first frame Ronnie O'Sullivan's lost in

the whole tournament. And there he is. He's reached that

68 points that we showed you earlier with the side bar. And what a start

for the very likeable Michael Georgiou.

I think this sums up how tough snooker is these days. A player

who's fallen off the tour. Had to play in the cue school to get back

on. Playing to a standard like this there just aren't any bad players in

the game, as far as I'm concerned. Yeah, they're playing so many

tournaments these days, it doesn't phase the players when they get to

the televised stage. They are playing all year round. Doesn't

matter about that. The end of a break. But it's also the end of this

opening frame. Will be interesting to see if Ronny stays in his seat or

wants to try to get a little bit of potting practice. He'll probably

just stay in his seat. Or maybe not. If he can see the red,

he'll come for a little bit of practice.

I think even this is a telling sign that Ronnie O'Sullivan comes back to

the table. On many occasions, he would have just got on with the next

frame. But I think he has his mind on the job, Ronny. Regardless of

what he's saying in interviews. He looks very focussed, very relaxed. I

was with him in Northern Ireland last week, he was in great form.

Even when he lost his match to Kyren Wilson after making three century

breaks, he lost a decider. But he was in great form. A very

entertaining opening frame here. The Look what I'm going to do if you

miss. Just a little message planted in his head. You have to see this

fella. You have something smart to say about what happened there? No,

nothing! In terms of the way you must have been feeling, Michael

Georgiou coming out, says a lot about his spirit? He's not been read

reading the script. He's lost one already. Very impressive. His cue

ball control is impressive. If he hadn't that cannon into the pack, he

probably would have cleared up. All in all, very impressive. Let's get

back whilst we calm things down in here, shall we?

There's three loose reds and one at the back of the bunch. Another

chance for Ronny. There's the difference with Ronny clearing up in

the first frame. He'd had enough exposure to the table. Hitting the

balls, that opening shot he had to play was made a lot easier. If he'd

given the game in and had to play that, it was arguably more missable.

I don't think he has quite the judgment of weight on the shot with

his left hand as he has with his right. Very rarely misses a pot

left-handed. An awkward pack to go into. He plays

this type of shot so well. There's one which will go to the

middle pocket. If he drops nicely on to a colour, he's opened enough up

to give himself a great chance. He got a little too much back spin on

that one. Usually, that isn't the shot we recommend these days the

players play as the cue ball can come back to this bottom corner.

Perhaps he felt it was the only way to get a sniff at a red.

Intimated in the studio after his last match, hasn't really been

practising a great deal. But you would not know it yet from his

cueing. He seems to be in fine fashion. -- in fine fettle.

DENNIS TAYLOR: This particular table is playing delightful. We've had

some in the century breaks on it. Fergal O'Brien played on this table

and they made a record-breaking five centuries. That was in the six

frames that Kibrom. It's very, very quick, but when you're cueing well

sites beautiful to play on. Purposely going into the side of the

bunch there. STEVE DAVIS: In between green and

brown, with lots of right-hand side for that loose red to the left of

the pink. Don't hit to be on this server way he plays it. Brilliantly

fluent Key West, it's just amazing to watch. He hasn't got a definite

pause at the end of the backswing, but it looks like he's got some much

time in the transition between the pull-back and the hit. He's making

this look, easy. He's already had five centuries in

this year's championship. Three in the first round, two in the second

round. And what a way ticket back on level terms. Yes, so you're

presented with a loose break-off shot from Michael Georgiou, but the

pack was still tight. And apart from one tricky shot, he's just

annihilated this frame. That was a push shot, but it didn't

really matter. It was a poor break-off shot and Michael had to

sit in his seat and watch Ronnie finish off the frame. Well, that was

just what the doctor ordered from Ronnie O'Sullivan. But it shows the

importance of the break-off shot. Michael, having won the opening

frame, it was his turn to break-off. He just caught it three-quarter

ball, almost full ball. A little bit I'm lucky to leave the between the

green and the brown, though. Yes, you don't really want to be catching

that first red too thick. Still a nice opening shot from Ronnie

O'Sullivan, made it look a lot easier than it was. Yes, and he

would have had another century break just for sticking in the reds at the

end of the break there. If those three had split up, he would have

been certain to make a century. For he looks very relaxed so-called and

calm. 21 minutes and we've had two frames

played. That was a mis-hit break-off shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan as well.

But he has left a bit more of the difficult opening shot for Michael

Georgiou. Had to commit to playing that slow if he was going to play

it. And has left Ronnie O'Sullivan options. None of them guaranteed. Is

looked at the one into the right corner and the one into the left

middle. He goes back to the long red. And he can get back onto the

black from that angle. Oh, he might be able to slot this into the right

middle pocket and stay on the black, because he would not leave a great

deal. So this is a half chance for Michael here. , that was

noncommittal from Ronnie O'Sullivan. The red into the middle perhaps

would have been heard of shots to nothing. If this is dead straight,

it's not too difficult. Dhoni he'll be disappointed with that effort.

And he hasn't left it safe - he can this in an open bunch. -- and open

the bunch. That last shot from Michael was pretty poor, because he

should have screwed the white back a few more inches and that red would

not have been available for Ronnie. That was a fantastic shot from

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Was only just off straight. He was able to actually

pot the black into the right-hand half of the pocket and generate more

of an angle. It was superbly played to get onto the red as well. , easy

to miss those. A bit further away from the black than he would of

liked, this one. Yes, he was almost straight on that black son he did

well to force the angle. Oh, his cueing beautifully. That type of

shot, is just made that look ridiculously easy.

And when you sing Ronnie O'Sullivan playing like this, it's no supply is

that the general snooker fan considers him by far the best player

in the world, regardless of the ranking positions. When he plays at

this standard, if he keeps it up for the whole tournament solely has the

ability to make the rest of the look pedestrian. It's getting harder for

him to do that, because the standard of the top players is

ever-increasing, but it's just great to watch. Yes, that was a lovely

little piece at the top of the show with you, Stephen Hendry and John

Parrott, drilling you about all your wins and breaks... Was a fascinating

little piece, and I think this man has made 846 centuries. Every chance

that he could reach 1000 before he decides to call it a day. I mean,

there's no reason why Ronnie can't carry on for another four or five

years. A very fit young man, keeps himself a very fit, does a lot of

running. Yes, it's tough to know whether he can make 1000 in a season

if he's not playing in every tournament. And how long his

motivation will carry on for well, he would make 1001 season, I can

tell you that Steve! Sorry, in his career! The record for that is Neil

Robertson, 100 in a season. Should get this...

STEVE DAVIS: Not too sure how many century breaks Ronnie

O'SullivanAPPLAUSE made last season. But it is going to take a few years

to get to that 1000. He made 30 last season and he's already made 22 this

season. Three or four more seasons. Contact he can still open up the

reds off this shot. And he pleaded with the left-hand, made it look,

easy. 90 98%, he's missed one ball! What a shame. But once again he only

needed one chance. And that has quickly taken Ronnie O'Sullivan into

the lead. Two very big breaks in rapid

succession from The Rocket. John, you did mention the fact that he was

looking in good form, and he seems to have carried it on beautifully?

It's funny, you're playing Ronnie, and Michael is playing really

nicely, and in the blink of an eye, he's 2-1 behind. O'Sullivan is in

fantastic form. He played one shot in that break off the black. This

was an absolute peach. To put that there, you could not put it better

with your hand. What does that do to your opponent, Stephen? It was

disappointing, Michael Mr really easy year the middle. He played some

well in the first frame and then he misses that easy red - that will not

make him feel good. When Ronnie gets in amongst them, if he's playing

anywhere near his best, he's still going to score. Qui go to the last

before the interval. -- act we go. Paul Collingwood off just reminding

the audience to keep their phones switched off.

The has gone into quite an interesting position. -- yellow.

A chance to get behind the brown now. He had the line, Steve, he just

needed to hit it a little bit harder and he would have been in behind

that brown that you mentioned. Not the best safety shot that Ronnie

has ever played. There may be a long straight red but there's no colour.

The yellow is over the pocket, that's one bonus. He has got a

slight angle to get up towards the blue. Well, considering he's been

effectively kept off the table for the last two frames and had his

momentum halted, that was an excellent shot. But can he make

anything from this position? It's not easy. Oh, that might be good!

Little bonus there! , black and pink are out of commission here. Can he

screw back for the blue? The flick-on the blue was not helpful. I

cannot see many more points from this position. I think the red to

the right of the pink might go in the left corner. If he screws back

he might be able to have a go at that one of. That's the only one he

can possibly get on, I think. Cued it beautifully. And he keeps

his head, I'll say it once again,, still on the shot. He's ended up in

no mans land a bit here. That's asking for trouble, that type of

shot. Very committed. Did not like that shot. Trying to keep the break

going. If Ronnie O'Sullivan can knock this red in, perhaps he can

develop the black. Perhaps he's got other plans. Michael Georgiou gets

away with it. And a chance. Yes, he can get out on to the blue, but just

looking at the angle there, if he screws, he's going over towards the

reds... He's still OK. Now, he could this

in. I'm not sure, it might come twice across the table, there's

every chance he might even hit the reds next to the pink and bring it

into play. It depends how thin the blue is as to whether he will

attempt at. Yes, not an easy position to try and win the frame

from. He's got quite a lot to do. Is he

going to try and bring the black into play here? You are right never

going to BEC. Ronnie might have a bit of a chance here. If you just

drops the red in... That black definitely goes along the cushion -

and he would be on the red next to it. Well,, and no better player than

Ronnie O'Sullivan in making what looks like an awkward situation into

a frame-winning chance. Well, maybe the black did not go past the red to

the other corner. He made that shot look a lot easier than it felt.

Ronnie O'Sullivan will probably be looking to get this pink into the

open play off the blue. Unless he can get to the back cushion. So,

correct side of the blue - and then open the pink up.

Yes, thanks, Ron! And that's why Ronnie O'Sullivan has perhaps made

far more century breaks than me! He normally would do that, go straight

into them to you never know with Ronnie! Sometimes he likes to change

things around. I remember he went through a spell when he was working

with the great Ray Reardon than he was not going into the bunch, he was

knocking them out the couple at a time, and that was the way the old

players used to do because the cloths were quite thick and it was

not easy to open the bunch. But Ronnie really enjoyed playing that

way for half a season. STEVE DAVIS: I've just got to say,

I'm taking no delight in the fact that he's lost position here. Ronnie

O'Sullivan does not like going into the pack if he doesn't know whether

cue ball is going. He thinks that's a risk.

Well, he's keeping this going quite nicely, even though the cue ball has

done quite a lot of mileage! DENNIS TAYLOR: He's having to work

really hard for these. Nothing available around the pink. Those

three are all tied up. This time he would does go into them, maybe he

should have taken Steve Davis's advice and gone into the pink off

that blue. This was the shot where he thought

he would open them up and go on and take the frame.

Top that much too soon but the pot that he's left, don't think Ronnie

can avoid cannon ink into the black and red. If it's a plain ball, he

will, that's why he's taking the other one into the right corner, he

can get back up the table off that. What a useful nudge on the brown and

that was. It was going out of position, could have played snooker

but once he flicked the brown that was a nice little bonus.

Outside chance of winning the frame, getting over the line in this visit.

Needs one of those reds on the side cushion, the top cushion.

Looks to have a nice angle to shift this red, should he so desire.

APPLAUSE Perfect judgment of weight, the

positional shot was perfect. It was the position shot, to leave himself

on the pink the way to cannon the rent out, that was pinpoint

accuracy. -- can that makes the frame more or less

safe. Going just over 42 minutes. The average frame time, nine minutes

24 seconds. A few players used to take that long to break off.

Considering how well Michael Georgiou started this match off,

he's been totally put on the back foot by Ronnie O'Sullivan, in

imperious form. You psych yourself up and get off to such a great start

and you've got to be proud of yourself on the big stage. Not even

half the battle against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Like holding wild horses

back. Doesn't matter about the green. Michael just looks to the

referee and he concedes the frame. Got off to a great start but it's

been all the Rocket for the last three and he goes to the mid-session

interval leading 3-1. Ronnie Berry firmly in command in this match,

have we seen anything else about Michael Georgiou's game that gives

you cause for optimism? No, I don't think so. He got a great start,

looked good the first frame and now it's just more of the same from the

first two groans from Ronnie, looks like he's going to steam-roll

through the rest of this match pretty comfortably and he's yet to

be put under any pressure in this tournament. That's the point, John,

you made a point he conceded one frame but the longer he goes in,

he's not having a work-out as yet and with the greatest of respect

everybody who's been up against in so far, he's not funded going

difficult. I'm more impressed with that this afternoon, he's had to

play more this afternoon in the opening session that he had in the

opening two games. Good start, 1-0 down, little test at the start. He's

turned that around to go 3-1 and played much better in the other

matches, even though he's made centuries but his overall play is

much better. Hugely impressed and it's a funny thing playing against

them because Michael will go back to the dressing room and think he has

played too badly, missed one ball early on but this is the level

you're playing against him. Words of encouragement if you were to offer

anybody like Michael something to hold onto at this point, what would

it be? You just have to concentrate on one shot at a time. But as much

concentration and effort into every single shot. It's unforced errors

that Ronnie pounces on and he got in there from Michael Georgiou missing

quite a comfortable red to the bottom right pocket to try to ring

the black into play. If you can't just give us much concentration as

possible and if he can go through the rest of the match and not miss

any easy ball, he'll be amazed how well he'll do. Those chances become

magnified because you know there are less of them coming away and your

focus has got to be there but you just know that when they come there

are so important because you get less of them. You two have scared

the living daylights out of players over the years, you'd been an

Ronnie's position are some youngster is going to come in and play you,

it's very daunting. Can you see it from the other perspective, how did

you feel knowing this is someone that you're supposed to beat? Ronnie

will know inside that Michael can't beat him, you have that superiority,

that's what it is, you think this guy can't beat me. But Ronnie still

has to keep his attitude right and get them respect and played the game

properly but deep down he will think Michael can't beat me today. It's a

tough situation for players coming in against the top boys. We're going

to concentrate on events on the other side on table one, table two

today. Mark Selby the world number one is up against Robert Milkins.

E-readers Alarcon he comes on, his walk on music. Much more about

points than pints during the match and racked up quite a few of those

over the years, a prolific brick builder and he never ever likes to

hang about. -- he raises a bit of a laugh when he comes on.

In our circle he's a legend. We call him no thrills. No airs and graces,

just funny. His own little TV show. He can chop his cue and he just

walks around and knocks the ball is on. Been there for a while. He's

very clever, seems a bit of a slapdash kind of player but he does

think about it and play some clever shots. When he's on song you'll get

to the latter stages of tournament. Devastating attacking player,

doesn't appear there as a ball said on the table. Walking around with

not a care in the world and that's how he plays the game, very

dangerous, one of the most dangerous players on the tour. Scores very

quickly and can beat anyone on his day. Another streaky player, when he

plays well he's given me some very good hiding is over the years where

you just don't see a ball, goes for all his shots, usually gets them off

and then wanders round the table and clears up. He's a world-beater when

things right, I like him, he saw easy come easy go in life, it's a

good thing to have sometimes. There you are, universally liked in

the snooker cycles and up against Mark Selby. This is a repeat of a

match which was in the first round of this year's Crucible campaign

which Mark Selby went on to win. It was Selby who led 7-2 but back came

Milkins 6-7 and Mark Selby won the last three and he was in Hoover

economic mode. This match a few months later and Selby has taken the

opening frame, Whether he got a bad contact, I'm

not sure. But he has a nice angle on the yellow. He can swing this round

three cushion is to get onto that red. So, round the back of the

green. cue ball needs to travel a little

bit more. A little bit straight on the blue. Is the pink available into

this corner pocket pocket? I think it's not quite available, Ken. I

think the only way here is to pop the blue and leave the double.

Three reds around the pink all appear to be covering one another.

He's not out of the woods yet. I think what he can do, he can bounce

it in. The top one may just sneak in, Ken? , But if he gets directly

behind it, he may be able to get it in. Did not want to kiss, but it's

still OK. Every now and again, he just throws

in a little quick one. As we talked about at the top of this match, it's

been his Achilles heel. When he gets going, he's hard to stop, but just

every now and again, there's the occasional ball that you think he's

going to pot and uncharacteristically misses.

It's just off the cushion, Ken - a lot easier when they're tight. Yes,

it's all about pace here. Perfect. He has a nice angle on the black to

disturb these three reds around pink. -- around the pink. He had

some screw on that, didn't he, goodness me?! Blessed with an awful

lot of cue power, gets through the ball really well. Even though his 20

points behind, he's just gone favourite to win the frame. In a few

shots' time he will try and get on the pink. And he would like to do it

off this shot, it he can. -- if he can.

But if it was a direct line to screw back off the cushion, he would play

that shot - but it's not. It will be interesting to see how he goes about

moving that red now. Has he got in off-side on?

He will try and leave this half-ball, so he can come off the

top cushion. So, he's coming round now to try and

leave the half-ball blue. Not quite right. , who are have to play a

little bit of check side on this, Ken? , he will have to play a little

bit of check side and try and straighten the cue ball up off this

top cushion. With it being where it is, would you not play it a little

bit harder? He could do that. But I think he's got a better chance just

trying to rest it over the middle. In fact he probably put a little bit

too much aside on it. Robert Milkins is going to be only

two points behind as he comes back to the table. He's having a look at

this pot down the cush. It's very, very difficult, but he could lay it

with safety in mind. He's certainly blessed with enough

power to be able to have got this one, Willie.

WILLIE THORNE: He's going to put the red on the other cushioned the white

in behind the green. But he has not played it well. Sooner Robert can

take this on. Really surprised Robert did not take

that on. He's such a good potter. He might not get a better chance than

that in this frame now. He needs a bit of luck here, Robert

- and he's got it! That flew into the pocket, and how about that for

position?! NICK Doherty: Hasn't given this

enough. But he could still went this yellow into the top left-hand corner

pocket. He is judged it very nicely. But

he's still going to need an excellent shot from green to brown.

You need up to the blue to secure this frame. -- he will need.

working ground in the middle. He has played it very well indeed. That was

an excellent shot, lots of cute power. Anywhere on the blue and he's

fine. That was a very welcome fluke of

that red into the corner pocket. Well played Robert Milkins.

Need a frame with a big break. Due to that flukey levels and 1-1. One

piece there and there are of course another couple of matches going on

this afternoon in the last 32. Let's drop in on table three because Ali

Carter, the reigning World Open champion, great to see him back in

very good form taking on Dave Gilbert, 14th season for the

Staffordshire player, very good player. Gilbert needs a snooker in

this frame, already 2-0 down and looks like Carter going 3-0 up at

this point. At the moment, on paper it had the makings of a pretty close

match because Dave Gilbert's form has been good of late, making

improvements but Ali Carter clearly a class act, has been for a very

long time, former runner-up in the United Kingdom at the Crucible at

the World Championship. And the man who is now racking up even more

world ranking Victor Ruiz as well. Got a book coming out shortly as

well, I understand. Any match, Liam Highfield and Peter Lines who

knocked out the defending champion, Neil Robertson, in the first round

and Peter has made 65 to 2-1 up. Lim Highfield, one of the up-and-coming

players had a century to reduce the arrears to just one frame so that's

your right up to date. Back we go to events on the main table this

afternoon Ronnie O'Sullivan has quickly sprinted into that 3-1

advantage over Michael Georgiou, the 28-year-old Londoner playing his

first match against Ronnie and one of the biggest matches of his career

under the television lights in the UK championship and we go back to

Dennis and Steve to see if Michael can reduce the arrears and inflict a

little bit of pain upon running this afternoon.

COMMENTATOR: He dearly love to do that in this frame but Ronnie will

have other ideas. I was having a chat with Michael

Georgiou in the tournament office and he says he's loving every minute

out there. Didn't get much chance in the second and third frame, that's

for sure. Certainly living the experience. Got

off to a great start and just mis-hit the red into the middle

pocket that he didn't hit correctly. Had to sit down for the rest of that

second frame. Not a two all planned into the green pocket? He's given it

a couple of looks. -- client plant. He's got to make it. And he has.

He's made it into a plant. Michael Georgiou was a long way out with

that red but the type of shot most times you get away with it.

This time going into the pack. Perhaps can consider himself a

little unlucky that he hasn't got a better split but this is, whilst

tricky, relatively gettable. And if he hits the pack correctly and pots

the red he did finish on the black candle can quite a few reds.

He was on the black but he didn't putter the red. This is a type of

opportunity that Michael Georgiou will have green.

Now got converted. Not easy with shot get in on the blue weight. More

to do now to pot the blue and retain position. The pink goes, that helps.

If you get it. There's no question that you had to play it in the

pocket you play for as long as you get it in. I was just about to say

she head that the hard and have a look at that. He's got to capitalise

on it, just hit it harder than he intended to.

Presented in full pupil has been found wanting a bit. Straight after

the interval. You'll be disappointed at difference in the very top

players and players further down the rankings, out of the convert very

easy looking chance. As I've mentioned on a number of

occasions, the table, and they feed. You able and not in full evening of

shots. Even the first shot of Michael Georgiou thing to get on the

blue, in hindsight, arguably didn't seem to be the right thing to do,

perhaps pots read and use that to get one of the business end of the

table. Not such critical position required.

One O'Sullivan just pointing out exactly that when he's going to

attempt so that should keep mis-hit, the referee will know exactly where

to put the cue ball back. Let's drop and constantly have a

look to see where it was. Could get past the blue. Ronnie is looking

over. Like a little game back and forwards

there. I think the pupils. We can show you for it was, that's

where it was. Ronnie will not take any advantage, he knows he could

only see the edge of the red. I think he was trying to play to catch

enough of the red that he could swing the cue ball around before the

red on the right-hand side cushion. Looks tough to do. This red on the

right-hand side cushion, he can see a lot more of it than I thought. Is

this another chance for Michael Georgiou or has Ronnie O'Sullivan

got away with it? It's a thin one. Surely he can sneak this end. --

this in. He thinks it's a lot thinner than us on our picture. If

he goes for it he must think it's certain but no guarantee of

position, that's for sure. Had a little laugh with each other

there, has he done the same thing? Maybe Ronnie can't cut it in now but

there is one to the middle but that's so tough. This one looks much

too thin, a lot closer than Michael was, and amazing how it finished

there. He could have hit it thinner than that. Amazing little sequence

there, good couple of shots and this is not easy as I mentioned. He was

up and walking round as soon as he hit it he knew he'd struck that

perfectly. He really is cueing so well and when ye not that type of

shot in, he's on his way up, he knows it's in there.

Arguably that last record was a big pressure shot in a tournament as big

as the UK championship but Ronnie O'Sullivan seems immune from the

pressure. On most occasions. Just plays very naturally.

You've got to fancy 4-1 here. There's a few reds clustered on the

left, but Ronnie will be able to get those out.

Lovely to watch all these little shots.

STEVE DAVIS:, Dennis. I wonder if there is some kind of statistics

which shows the distance the cue ball moves during players' breaks,

and how economic all they are. DENNIS TAYLOR: He's got to get in

behind those four reds. He's hampered slightly. This might

just be a little bit awkward. No problem. Made that one look easy.

Woman from the O'Sullivan's greatest strengths is having such a quick

thinking brain, from a positional aspect. -- one-off Ronnie O'Sullivan

Nielsen greatest strengths. It does not destroy the flow of his killing.

We have seen him look at the scoreboard a couple of times, just

to calculate the score, but it still does not stop his flow. And snooker

is very much a game of rhythm. Already 60 ahead. The frame is

certainly safe. I think Michael will come back to the table, but barring

snookers, it's going to be 4-1. Ten foul points needed - that's

three snookers. Michael Georgiou will be looking to try and pot two

reds and then get a free ball situation. That's if he gets a

chance. And he's not going to get that chance. He will stay in his

seat this time delay of Ronnie misses. -- this time, even if Ronnie

misses. He's tried a bit of an exhibition

shot. That break of 67P the way to him taking that frame. He now leads

4-1. We were just talking about help for the cue ball moves. We have got

a little sequence that we can show you here. He stand the first red.

He's not too far away from the blue, it's just a series of stone shots.

He's just not moving the white very far. His next shot, he's just not

very far away from it. Now, that's nearly as quick as Tony Drago, the

way Ronnie is clearing up here! It's always within a couple of feet or so

of his next pot. It takes years to perfect this, doesn't it, Steve, the

number of hours of practice you've got to put in to be able to control

the cue ball like that? Yes. If you do keep that cue ball close in

public more or less guarantees the pot. It takes a lot of heat out of

the situation. Michael Georgiou could do with

another frame here. This is a must-win frame for him. First to

six. It is amounting to climb as it is, but 5-1, well, definitely all

over. 4-2 - stranger things have happened.

Now, is that possible guide? To may be knocking this red in?

Funnily enough, I mentioned the other day about cleaning the table.

Ronnie is playing a shot, and you've got the man sweeping away! It used

to be like that at The Crucible, even though there is a petition

there. But here, is there is no partition, he can see everything.

He's just stopped at the moment, while Ronnie knocks this in the

middle pocket. And he hasn't. He's smiling about it. Carry on sweeping!

Yes. It's a trade-off, the open plan table set up we now have, between

the crowd getting a lot of access to me watching different matches, and

sometimes the players being put off by unusual movements. Steve, if that

had happened in Ray Reardon's day, there is no way he would have played

the shot while that was going on! Yes, there was a lot of criticism of

the open plan table situation for this particular reason, that the

table fitters have to come out and brush the tables, which is a

dramatic thing to be doing whilst there is play on the other table.

Ronnie O'Sullivan tried to get things under control in his brain,

but the trouble was, the concentration had been snapped. I

know it is a tough one, isn't it, Dennis? The open plan table set up

is quite nice from the viewers' perspective.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Well, very aggressive, and he's a little

unfortunate. STEVE DAVIS: That shot is tough to

perfect, with backspin on the cue ball. What a great recovery there.

Got to be pleased with that - that's as good as it gets. Now, the chance

to go into the pack if he wants to. , he has three loose reds, but I'm

with you, he did not have to hit them too hard, he would have opened

everything up. From this position now, you would

think he would go into the pack and play for the loose two reds. I think

he needed to go into them a little bit harder there. He can consider

himself arguably a little bit unlucky. But these days, you look

over the season at your choices of positional shots, when and when not

to go into the pack, you do not always get it right. Perhaps he

might have chosen a different way. I think he wanted to hit the reds on

the right side, and he would have been OK. He hit them on the wrong

side. Yes, if he had cannoned into them just on the right side as we

look at it, it would have been perfect. Dennis, we have an expert

break-builder in the studio, and it will be interesting to get his

thoughts on that. Make him do a bit of work! I thought you were talking

about Hazel for a while there! Hazel's break-building and shot

selection is fantastic these days. Tried a very delicate pot there. Has

he left one to the left middle? It must be tight. Yes, he can just get

through to that one. Might be able to have a choice of

reds here. We know that one goes, the other one is a little bit the

tight side. Beautiful. Their all of a sudden, that advantage that

Michael has at the moment could disappear very quickly indeed. Yes,

excellent shot. And he was leaving reds if he missed. There was no way

of getting that is shot to nothing. Chance now for Ronnie O'Sullivan. --

of getting that as a shot to nothing. You certainly feel like

he's going to get back in the frame here. Just does Rieff reds on the

side cushion, and perhaps the one to the left side, will cause him

problems later. From Michael Georgiou's perspective, he's hanging

on to a string, hoping that those reds will be too much of a problem

for Ronnie O'Sullivan. Once again, the cue ball doing very

little. It is just ultimate control. I know it's a situation where all

the reds are in a small area at the top of the table, you would expect

that. But he very rarely gets the wrong side of a red. The first small

mistake, you could argue, with that shot. But the yellow is an easy

option to get back down the table for that loose red. And then Michael

Georgiou has just got to hope Ronnie O'Sullivan does not convert this

chance. What sort of angle has he got on this? A little bit further

up, he might have attempted to move those two. Oh, he has. The only

problem is, you're not guaranteed good position on the colour. He

decided to bring them into play, and it's finished rather awkward. He

thought about it for a while and decided, let's bring them into play.

He thought he would be guaranteed to be on the blue. Yes, I think it was

the wrong shot. He needed to have hit it harder. So, 13 points in

front. He's just trying to work out the maths, and how to go about this.

He might be thinking if he can put a colour safe, it gives him a little

bit of insurance. There's the insurance policy, onto

the side cushion with the green. Making it hard for Michael Georgiou

to clear up in one visit. As I mentioned at the start of this

frame so that it's a must-win frame for Michael Georgiou, it really is.

5-1, very little chance. 4-2, a glimmer of hope for him.

Ronnie O'Sullivan will not be too upset with that outcome.

Poor safety effort there from Michael Georgiou - should have got

that tubal a little bit better. -- that cue ball.

He looks to have snookered Michael on the red on the right side of the

table. He's got to be careful that he doesn't catch the other red here.

And it looks as if the black is going to come to his rescue also -

or has it? Can he get past the black? He can. This would be a

fantastic shot if he could pot, screw right back. Fantastic!

Who cannot hit the ball any better than that. That's probably perfect

chewing, to pot that shot and screw back. -- perfect chewing. -- cueing.

That could have worked out better. Unlucky.

No attempt to pot the red there. Keeping his opponent under wraps.

Michael Georgiou's last safety shot was a good line. A little bit

heavy-handed. He's got another very difficult one now. He's more or less

forced to push the red into the corner. Perhaps he will try and get

it on the side cushion. Played very well.

Using a little touch of side and swerve there. That was an awkward

safety, when you've got a red close to the cushioned.

I was going to say, that's a bit unlucky, catching the jewel of the

middle pocket. This is where the left-hand comes into play for

Ronnie. If he can pot this, it just shows you how useful it can be.

That's just fantastic. That was just such a difficult shot, with your

normal hand, never mind the opposite hand.

It is going to win him the frame, that, Steve. Yes, I mean, he got a

lot of screw back on that shot with very little effort - and

left-handed. And you'd have to think he's secured the frame.

Quick glance at the scoreboard for Ronnie. He's quite comfortable now

in this frame. Even Ronnie O'Sullivan can't pot

this mean, surely, left-handed? Not about effort, but it was the red

with the left hand down the cushion which paved the way for Ronnie to

take that frame. And he now extends his lead, and he just needs one

more. There was a little bit of discussion

about break-building. I could not show you, honestly, I don't want to

show you up! But in all honesty, what was the point about the

break-building? Was just one shot. I'm sure he did look, he just never

played it right. You just have to make sure you go into the pack the

right way. You cannot just go into the bunch and hope something

happens. Fewer reds there are, the more important it comes to make

contact with the correct ball in the right place. That was Dennis's

point. Experience on this couch. It is

interesting because I know you give some advice if you years ago about

break-building. Is it something that you can learn from, just hearing

advice and not just watching other people? Is it something that you can

discuss? Absolutely. Stephen is one of the first players where he came

of the blue and then hit the pack. He was one of the first players to

play a full shot. No one had done that before. There are ways and

means of doing it. What in the commentary box, people go in the

pack at the last minute. They are giving themselves less chance. You

see all Sullivan and Stephen play. They go in when they land on the

ball in the correct manner. The pack can be gone, it is gone

straightaway. Obviously, some players do better than others. They

get to the table and there are 13 or 14 reds and they can just visualise

the situation and now when the right time is going to be and before you

start the break, you will think something and that is the time to

get on the black or the blue. That is something that perhaps you cannot

learn. You have to have that knowledge. Everyone plays

differently. But Michael will learn so much today. From playing against

Ronnie. He is watching one of the best out there. And sometimes they

will be trying to get it on the angle with the black to split the

pack up and they might have two or three goes to get there. The

position might be right, and then they will go at the right time. Back

with you for another masterclass. Bonnie has been fortunate to cover

with the brown in the second frame. A gap was left between the green and

the brown when he brought the red up and he sat in his seat for the remit

of that frame. If he hits this to heart... Flight misjudgement. Just

got the red. We have not seen much tactical play

in this match. Ronnie is one of the best there has ever been in the

safety Department of the game. Glancing at the other table there.

Difficult not to when you are right next to it. Not the best. Can't

afford to leave Ronnie O'Sullivan with this type of shot. Needs to be

tight on the cushion. Really cute one on the previous frame. He does

not have to hit this as hard. APPLAUSE

Superb. If Ronnie O'Sullivan was to come out firing in this frame and

the scoreline was to be 6-1, I am sure Michael Georgiou will be going

back to his dressing room saying he played a lot of matches worse and

one. That is what Stephen Hendrie was talking about in the studio.

First chance Ronnie got he was straight into the bunch of the

green. Would have been unlucky not to finish on one. Yet, because he

went in with what you could have considered sufficient pace.

Pretty easy path for Michael Georgiou. This is all about the

pace. And making sure you do not collide with the ball colour. Well,

that plant helps. He did have a quick look at it so he must have

played it and it was not a certainty otherwise he would not have played

not to get on a colour. We will just show you the plant again. It looks

easy to roll up tight behind the colour but on the very fast cloth,

difficult to judge this. You do not want to leave it short. He certainly

did not leave it short. He has left enough of the red to the left

corner. For Ronnie to take the pot on. He was just scared of not

reaching the brown there, and he never hit it.

On occasions in the past, Ronnie O'Sullivan said his long game is not

up to scratch. Doesn't look to be much wrong with it today. Regardless

of the fact that he has intimated he has not really been practising a

great deal this season, using the matches as a way of practising. His

cue action looks superb. 6-1. This visit. What do you reckon? It is a

great chance, isn't it? Just talking about the practice here. Are member

the early days when I turned professional, you would go to play

the champions and they would say they had not played all summer and

they had not practised and they would go on the table and just play

mind games. Not saying that Ronnie is doing that but there are so many

matches these days. But I think you are not far wrong in saying that 6-1

is the target. Just going just over a minute and 23

seconds. There hasn't been much tactical play and that just shows

you with the average frame time under 15 minutes. Yes, Ronnie

O'Sullivan doesn't seem to get bogged down in tactical matches.

Perhaps it's a mix of the fact that he plays good safety himself and

forces the issue and also he is such a good scorer. May be the case that

perhaps his opponents have a slightly different mindset against

him and they feel like they have got to be a bit more aggressive than

they would normally be. Not absolutely sure of the equation but

Ronnie O'Sullivan's frame times, regardless of how fast he placed

himself, its match times come he always seems to be finished before

the rest of the players around him. And in very little time indeed. The

frame is more or less over. When this red goes in. I must admit, I

enjoyed the little we have seen of Michael Georgiou. He started off so

well. I like his cue action. He keeps his head still. And I think

this will give him quite a bit of confidence. He will lose 6-1, but he

has done well here. All over the table now. His highest break has

been 84 and 83. He has been very fluent, very consistent. And just

trying a little exhibition shot. He congratulates Ronnie. He got off to

a great start, winning the opening frame, but after that it was all The

Rocket. He gets through to the next and with a very comfortable win by

six frames to one. Well, it is the first spring he has lost in the last

three games but Michael Georgiou can take that sort of consolation.

Ronnie will be playing either Matthew Stevens or Joe Perry in the

last 16. Was that a harder work-out over all today? He does makes it

look easy. It could be a match that other players may struggle a little

but more web but he just steps up and looked a bit more focus in this

match today than he did in the other one. He has played well and he has

played 19 frames of snooker this week and he has lost one. We saw

some absolutely fantastic pots from him, particularly in the last few

frames. Yes, there was a point in a game where obviously you realise

that you can't win and you just completely relax and towards the end

it was basically just almost like a practice session. He was under no

pressure whatsoever. It looked like frame over. So it was bread and

butter stuff but you have still got to go out there and do it. It is

very easy if you know you're going to win to let your concentration

slip and then you start to miss all over the place but to keep your

focus, that is a good thing. He potted a lot of difficult balls,

certainly the left-hand screw back down the cushion that ultimately won

him the match. There were a lot of awkward shot that he could easily

have missed but his cueing was spot on. How much of an enjoyable moment

is it when you realise that your opponent is not going to beat you

and you have got a couple of friends almost to relax and show off? Is it

a nice place to be? Absolutely. It is the best place to be. When you're

feeling totally invincible and it does not matter what your opponent

does, you know you're winning the match. It is a nice place to be. But

there will be a lot of tougher matches to come. Here years. Well

done. We are just talking about the work out. Was that harder than

Europe at the last couple of days? Yes, first spring he got in and

scored an potted some good ones and I felt a bit under pressure, to be

honest. I am not used to this. So I had to try and get into the game. It

was all right in the end. And what was a really big moment for him

because obviously he has looked up to you and re-admired what you have

done over the years will stop but it was a special moment for him. Were

you aware? Could you sense that beer or excitement in the other player?

No, not at all. If I had missed balls, you would probably have

punished me. I don't think anyone cares about reputations. I think it

was probably thinking it was a great occasion but if I would not have

been on it, he would have beaten me. Your long game looking good as well.

It was all right. Some awkward ones as well. Good stuff in there. Yes,

it is all right. I am just trying to enjoy it. You get a little bit older

and you think you just want to enjoy it. I don't want to be playing any

long drawn out matches or get dragged down. I don't want to think

it was hard work. I does want to enjoy it and that I get beaten, I

get beaten and that I win, great. If not, I am not going to put any more

miles on the clock. You've got to preserve yourself as you get a

little bit older. How enjoyable was that for you today? Great. Now I

have two days and I will be bored out of my head. Now I have got to

kill some time, I don't know what to do. Will you go home? Don't know. I

could probably get a train, I suppose. I can't run because I have

a fractured heel. I don't know. I will have to go to an AA meeting or

something. I tell you what I do want to ask you about, Bonnie. Lions

gate, Hunger Games producers. They are talking about potentially making

a film about you. What is the latest? I have sounded over. It is

up to whether they want to make it or not. You have read the article in

the mag new Yorker. I got a phone call and then I got if Eddie the

capping eagle could make a film, so can I. Who would you like to play

you? Properly it is hard. Because I am secretly in the closet. Did not

expect to hear that. -- Eddie Izzard. I do not want to be on my

deathbed and wishing I had done something. We live in this reality

TV world and I have done our bit and other things and I just get really

bored playing this game so it can be brain damaging. Stephen will tell

you. It is a tough sport. I think sometimes I just need to lighten up

and have as many distractions as I can. We have spoken about work- life

balance. Is it hard to achieve? To get the balance right between what

you want to do in the game and actually having a life away from it.

Yes, it is. When you get the enjoyment from winning, when that

stops happening, that is when the problem started for me. But I think

there are only drawn it is these days as well. You do not get any

time of. Every week there is a tournament. There is probably a

tournament starting now while this is on. There are so many. It is hard

for the top players you have got to work out which ones you want to play

in. The great thing is, now you can pick and choose add it. Well, look

at the players who missed Belfast. I don't think anyone is good enough to

pick and choose at the moment. There are so many players who can beat

each other. When Stephen was in his prime, he could have picked and

choose to but now the gap is not that big so it goes to prove I may

have been better going to Belfast and having some matches and learning

to pace myself. Just getting to the last 16 and then coming to the UK

and then thinking... Because that is what I used to do. I used to think I

only had so many wins in me but you have to go to them to get the match

practice and stay in touch. So how have you chosen this year? Last

year, you did not come back until December anyway. Compared with

previous seasons, you have done a reasonable amount. I think I am

about 18 in the world now and I need to try and get a little bit up so I

don't have to qualify for the World Championships. I did not play any a

lot of tournaments and I've had to work out as well even when I have

got beaten. So two trips to China. That is the weeks just for two

tournaments. And is constant. But when you enter, you have to go. I

just thought I needed to place the matches because I did not place are

many and you lose that competitive edge, I think. One of the things I

wanted to talk about what you said the other week about playing any a

lot of ex-division matches. I think you did about 60 in the last year.

An awful lot, in other words. If there are a danger when you're doing

that that your technique loosens up a little bit? Do you become a bit

ragged? The tables are really slow and heavy so you end up comping the

ball about instead of hitting the ball Sweet and on these tables you

need to strike it well. If you strike it poorly, it is like trying

to putt on a bust up for people like us. You have to be able to strike it

well. Anyway, that is history now. But it does affect your game. But I

will still do some. Absolutely. It is all part of the game, isn't it?

Next, Matthew Stevens and Joe Perry. Listen, the last 16 and I had one of

my hardest matches last year was Joe Perry so if it is him, it will be a

mega- tough match. Matthew Stevens, also world-class. He has never lost

it and if he performed, here's a really fine player. So I have to

bring my game. But I am just happy to still be in, I suppose. Good

performance today. Thank you for coming in to chat to as. Listed

quickly update you on what is going on on the other tables right now.

This is an table three. We have Dave Gilbert who is gnashing his teeth at

the moment because Carter 62-45 up in frame five and he has that 3-1

advantage. I should tell you that in the other match Peter lines against

the Highfield, it is 3-2 now. That has been turned around with breaks

of 110-86 to go level and he has just got the last one. We will speak

about another player who does not give up and does not know when he is

beating, but does he have a technical advantage as well? Let's

find out. I think it is said to say that if you become world champion

and world number one, you know your way around the snooker table and

Mark Selby certainly does. I think he knows his way around the table

better than anyone currently playing the game. Someone who has played in

more than anyone on tour, I have had my fair share with him and you just

don't know what to do half the time. When he joined the circuit, he had a

different bridge hand. He is to have a massive link the bridge between

the tip and the back of it, and now he has gone in more compact like

that. Similar to you, I think. I think a lot of us came on the tour

as juniors and young players, we were used to playing on tables that

were not as fast and not as good. And that technic citadels. But when

you're playing on the super fast cloth and in television arenas

around the world, you have got to have ultimate control of that ball.

Being near and gives you that. It means there is less that can go

wrong with your action and your action becomes shorter and that

means that less can go wrong. But it takes a little bit of getting used

to. He'll soon as the strange characteristic of his head moves

from side to side as he comes into the shot. He definitely does that

less than he used to but there is move there. As he is down on the

shot, there is definite head movement backwards and forwards or

from side to side sometimes, but at the moment of strike, he is always

in the right position. I think, among many strong suits, shots

selection is definitely one. I think it is this strongest suit. I perhaps

personally go for the odd shot to many, whereas Mark never over

exposes himself. He is always playing a shot, thinking about what

happens if it goes wrong, what happens if this does not white work

out, whereas someone like me is always thinking, what happens if it

works? He tends to lean towards what happens if it goes wrong and that

enables him to play any slightly different way. Does not take on too

much damage. Means he is always there or thereabouts. Do you think

that enabled his beat game to beat so good? Why he when so many matches

when he is not quite on it? Yet, we can all win when we are playing at

or best. When we are making great clearances. It is easy to do well.

But when you are struggling, if you can have that extra sort of string

to your bow, where you have got a B, C, or a deep game sometimes comic

means you can relax, you know you do not have to keep clearing the table

and you will always do well. It makes incredibly difficult to beat.

There are the thoughts of two former world champion about the current

Crucible king. We left this matter of Mark Selby against Robert

Milkins, former world number 13, now into the 30s. We will head back into

this. One frame a piece. Brain three from the start. Back to our taters.

-- back to commentators. Not a good weight.

APPLAUSE Tremendous pot from Mark Selby.

Nicely on the brown or green here. He could try and take the green and

go into the pack of reds, just to the right of the pink, tried to

bring the paint into play because the black is not completely out of

commission but difficult. Decided against going into the pack.

Back up for the blue. Well, that was a complete list hit.

He meant to brush by that pack of reds there. It would be a bonus if

that Eddie Izzard ports now, I am sure.

-- red. He has judged that nicely. That was a bonus. He probably put

his hand up there to say that that was lucky. He played that one to the

left of the black previously, which he will play now. That is where he

played before. Just there. So now a chance with that black on the spot.

If he gets just behind it, he could drop it in and the red just to the

right of the black spot will be his next choice. After the black, of

course. Does not want to be too straight on this black.

Nice angled is to get out for that red. Good chance to win the frame

from this visit. You running out of loose reds now.

Needs to get back on the colour to bring the reds back into play.

Essential either to get top side of the blue or even on the half green

to play into the bunch. Decided to play on the half ball green. He

could play for the loose red that is on the cushion. I presume that maybe

the bottom red of that five pops into the right hand corner. Yes, it

clearly does. He does not have to play into the bunch yet. He is also

now looking at the plant. From this position, it does not look like you

can get a red and there are three to pot. It looks pretty OK, the plant

as well. Let's see what he decides to do. He is trying to get on the

one just at the bottom of the pack now. He has come up short. He is

having a look at the plant again. That is it. He did not take that

very well. He has gone slightly towards the right-hand side of this

pocket. Maybe just going towards that right knuckle but seems OK.

APPLAUSE Nicely judged shot on the right-hand

side. That red at the bottom of the pack

is still available. Also the red have the right hand side cushion as

well. The lead goes to 53 points. He will need red, black, red to secure

this frame. And leave his wallet needing a snooker at least. -- open

it. Looks just about perfect. Nice angle

on the black. Just a stun up for the red. It's available into the

opposite right hand corner pocket. Typical Selby this, just picking

them off one by one. This is an already framed ball.

Good kiss here, we could see the first century of the match.

Just got enough of that red, didn't he, to push it out of the way and

leave this spot and red on. Oh, just missed a cannon on the red,

so there won't be a century unless he hits and hopes and the red finds

a way into a pocket somewhere. Calling all pockets! Nothing went

in, and Robert Milkins sits in his chair and says, that's enough. A

nice 77 break from Mark Selby and he goes back into the lead once more.

He leads Robert Milkins by two frames to one. The world number one

Mark Selby has beaten Robert Milkins in the last five of the eight times

that they've played, so he knows he has a very good record over this

guy. Two frames to one then and we are going into frame four, the last

before the interval. Just two points in it and Milkins is two adrift.

That was a very good positional shot. Now, will he risk trying to

get on the black in the middle? He could stun the rid off the top

cushion and leave a black into left-centre. No, doesn't like it.

Possibly try to win the friend this visit he's going to need that. That

black on the spot. He has a chance now, pot the yellow, try and come

down and maybe go into those two or three reds to the left of the black

here. Bring some reds into play. Surely has to be on one red.

Watch the cue ball. If he had hit that with a bit more pace, it was

perfect line definitely on this red into the bottom right hand corner

pocket, but just didn't hit it hard enough. He's not on it.

REFEREE: Foul. Well, that was very sportsman like from Robert. He

falled a foul on himself there and the referee didn't see it. Mark

Selby having a little laugh, because he hasn't hit any of these reds into

the corn pocket. He fouled the black actually, so it is seven away.

That's the one great thing about our sport. Even when the referee doesn't

spot the foul, the player generally will own up to it. You can feel it

in your arm can't you when you misjudge the ball, sometimes it's

hard for the referee to spot. Good news for Robert Milkins, he never

left it easy. Albeit Mark Selby potted the red but it will only cost

him one point, unless he wants to risk the yellow.

This big target, the three reds sit together, he's worried about pushing

the red over to the right hand corner but that's the angle off the

Mildred into the three to get back into that Europe. He can't get back

to it from the extreme left of the table. That's a good line. It's hard

enough, it's a great line. Another inch could have had him snookered.

That excellent safety shot Robert played at the previous visit to the

table that developed this half chance.

He's one of those players, Mark Selby is an excellent frontrunner.

Robert, oh, dear, played the cannon on the brown and missed it. He's not

feeling too good at the moment. We had a fluke from Robert Milkins

in the second frame. And there's one from Mark Selby. A little kiss on

the green has given him a chance of this brown into the top left-hand

corner pocket. Didn't expect him to miss that one.

And now, what a chance for Robert Milkins.

It really is essential with a position like this to win the frame

at this visit. It will make Mark Selby realise that Robert, if he

wins this frame who he'll be the more pleased of the two, to be

honest. To come out of this session 2-2, he'll be absolutely delighted.

He has played a delightful little cannon to push the red away. When he

putts this, it will bring the black into play as well.

Just a couple of reds and high value colours here. Pink and black will be

enough. I'm with you, it seems that... Oh wow, wow, wow! Can't

afford to miss them, aim afraid. That was unmissable wasn't it? He's

distraught there. But that's it, isn't it, he gets into such a mood

when he's running around so quickly around the table, every now and

again he'll throw a quick one in and miss an easy ball you don't expect

him to miss. You would be surprised if Robert

Milkins comes back to the table. OK, there's a bit of work to do, but

Mark Selby is at his best winning frames on positions like this.

Especially when he knows how much it's going to hurt his opponent if

he clears up. Sometimes you put an extra bit of concentration in don't

you, just to know it is going to sicken your opponent.

Needs the cue ball to slow up. It's OK. If he can get on the green, I

think the only difficulty from brown to blue and from blue to pink.

This is the key shot coming up. May go in around the back of the blue

here. Keeps his options open. Left centre pocket. This is his choice

and he's played it pretty well. Two points ahead, Mark Selby. Blue and

pink required to win this frame. It could be a key moment in the

match already that miss on the pink for Robert Milkins. Looked like he

was going to tie the match at two frames all and he is hurting in his

chair at the moment. He doesn't want to look. Pink for a 3-1 lead. And

it's there! APPLAUSE. And that will certainly

hurt Robert Milkins. Mark Selby pinches the frame and goes into the

mid-session interval, leading by three frames to one. And that

half-time cup of tea will taste rather good. 3-1 in the lead at the

moment for the world number one. It is not just been head down all

practise here at the Barbican Centre for Mark and indeed for Dominic.

They were lucky. They went along to the big RAF base here near York to

try something that most mere mortals like you and me never get the chance

to do, and that's to have a go in an RAF flight simulator. There was a

price to play, he they had some official duties to perform too. Just

a short distance from the Barbican the village of Lynton on Ous

section, where the RAF train tomorrow's FastJet pilots. True

intrepid players were more than willing to find out what's all

about. This is the second stage of training

for the pilots. First stage is elementary flying training. This is

basic fast Jet training. All the guys train in a simulator before

flying in an aircraft. They do about 36 hours in the sim out of a course

of 100 live flying hours. That's good. Looking down the far end of

the runway. Push with the right foot, push with the right foot, the

push with the right foot, mull back on the control column. That's good.

OK, now just lower the nose slightly. Night was a good

experience. We came here today myself and Dom to have a go in the

flight simulator to see how it works. Different experience to what

we are used to, playing snooker, but it was fun. His break-off is better

than his takeoff! As for Dominic, his own version of loop the loop...

You have control. Roll quicker. Quicker! A bit more. Keep rolling.

This is a very tough skill. It's been a lovely, enjoyable experience

having a go on the flight simulator. The joystick and the pedals and what

have you were just as sensitive as aimagined them to be. Controlling

the aircraft was difficult. Full of variety. But it wouldn't be a

snooker field trip if there wasn't a new club to met them. He shook the

Station Commander's hand. It was all official at this point. And who

better the make the club's first break-off than the world number one.

Two or three years ago the Sergeant's mess was a changing their

snooker room into a coffee ante room, so the snooker table was going

beg being. We asked if we could have it. We got it set up and six months

ago we got in touch with the Nuffield Trust who got the table

reclothed and recushioned. A couple of new cues and new balls and we are

now in a position to open the club. It is like an old-style billiards

hall, with the high ceiling and the 1920s Riley table. It is a lovely

facility and I hope it gets well used. It was good to see Mark.

Thanks for them coming down. It is massively appreciated. Is there a

future in fast jets for our budding Top Guns? They are perhaps a long

way from maverick status but flying high in the UK Championship will do

for now. Both are through to the last 32 and they are cleared for

takeoff again in the Barbican Centre once more.

What a fantastic thing to be able to do. I wouldn't mind that. I live not

far from an airfield. I'm always tempted to have a couple of lessons.

I find it fascinating. You are not scared of heights are you? Don't

think so. Would you have a go at this? It looks quite interesting to

know what's involved. It is a massive departure from what we do,

isn't it? It is. I've been very lucky in my life, because about 20

years ago I went up in a Tornado jet at RAF Leuchars when it was still

going at the time. Wow! I did a proper loop the loop. Did you keep

your lunch down? No, I did not! But it was a privilege. Was this before

you came a wonderful break-builder or afterwards? Let's not go there.

Even to have that sensation or the feeling of it again would be

wonderful. Going out over the North Sea and breaking the speed of sound,

wow! Are you feeling the freed for speed? Something like that. Mark got

a taste of it in that flight simulator. We are from the top of

frame 5, Mark with the 3-1 advantage today.

Robert Milkins wouldn't have enjoyed his 15 minute interval. He didn't

play well enough to be tall but that was the equation. It was an easy

pink when he was certain to win the frame.

An excellent shot. I'm not sure if he played to kiss the red first and

stay on the black, but kissing the black like he did, I would give limb

the benefit of the doubt. I imagine he wanted to free the red away.

He's helping that red next to the black potted into this bottom right

hand corner pocket but it doesn't, so trying to power the cue ball

through the reds. Not good. Seemed to play that shot without any

left-hand side. Normally a lot of players would have played that with

a lot of left-hand side. Side. Once it touches the right-hand side

cushion it would go up towards the blue to the middle of the table.

Didn't seem to get any side on it whatsoever. Try to hit the yellow

here just off one cushion. Looks like he's been tempted. It's

going to have to go in. There is an example of his cue power. Hardly

touched that and manage to do so screw back to baulk. Look at where

the red is going. Just past the middle pocket.

That's cueing at its finest. He couldn't have played that much

better. Look at the lovely angle on the blue. Just come around to check

the black pots, taking a few shots ahead here. If the black pots into

this bottom right hand corner pocket it will try to get back on the red.

Looks like it goes. It's got to be high enough on the black to pot the

black in a couple of shots' time, if and move the red just to the left of

the black away and into an open position. Putt this red and make the

cue ball probably just a couple of inches lower than where the red is

right now and a nice angle on the black.

When he putts this black he wants to try and make sure when he hits the

red he wants to bounce it off the top cushion here, or even hit it

towards this bottom right hand corner pocket. He's played it

nicely. Sometimes you can play that shot and if you don't play it hard

enough, it will not come off this top cushion enough to make it an

easier putt. He couldn't have played that much better.

Trying to clear up the right hand centre pocket now, I'm sure. After

putting this green. A couple of reds over the right middle. Try to free

up the blue and to both pockets. In the previous frames Mark Selby's

been in first in virtually every frame. He is still only 28 and

that's just not good enough at this level.

Cannon the two reds on to the pink spot to hold the cue ball. Didn't do

it that time but that was an option. Nice little cannon into the red. A

gentle cannon as it was, but it was perfect on this red, which he just

pot there and brings the other reds into play. Play. Always got the red

over the right centre as well. 58 points in the lead, so red colour

red here will be enough. Again another frame on the board.

A certain century there for Mark Selby, a series of little stunt

shots. I suppose in fairness just getting on the yellow would be a

slight problem but may play that if the baulk is off the last red. You

would expect him to hit a century now he's settled.

Six blacks, one pink, to green. Not the initial red as well. When he

brought the black into play, that is when he could win the frame from

this particular visit. And that is what we call the art of brick

building. Getting the balls into position. Without a doubt. And

getting the big colours into position. Something and eight red

break of six greens and things like that, that is why you see these top

players always tried to bring the black or pink back into play at the

earliest possibility. This looks almost certain to be 442 consecutive

centuries. He is certainly tall and of that he

does not need the rest on that particular shot. He has pleaded very

well. -- he has played it very well. It has been a masterclass of brick

building. Already had 23 centuries already this season. This is his

24th. Plenty more to come from this young man. Shows you how important a

fourth frame was when he missed the pink.

APPLAUSE This time he leads by four frames

one. Mark Selby breaks off. 4-1 lead.

Which essentially means that his opponent Robert Milkins must win

five. Five out of six, if possible. To try to win this match. It is a

tall order against a world champion. But he has had his chances.

Nice to see Robert getting into a bit of a group here. He hasn't

really made any decent breaks. Maybe just a bit of noise coming

from the other table just disturbed his concentration a little bit. He

was down and he got back up but missed some of those.

He has had a good look at this pack of reds. I don't think he is going

to make it planned by the ready possible plant at the back of the

pack but he can't get to them. There are the balls he is looking at but

how does he get to that last red. I think it makes a reverse planned

because I think it will push towards the right-hand side and he will

stick and right that the baulk of the misses it. There's got to be

careful. He has got to avoid the red that is on the top cushion as well.

Because he has hit that's and he has just gifted Mark Selby an

opportunity here. There is a bit of frustration from Robert Milkins.

Interesting to see now. Will he tried to nudge into the pack and

beyond the two reds to the left-hand corner packet -- pocket? He could

have nudged into them and maybe brought another one into play.

Decided against it on that occasion. He has got the same shot here.

Again, there are plenty of Liz reds. He may not take the opportunity to

go into the pack here. Well, you did, now he is properly sorry that

he has done. Did not get the normal sort of reaction from the cue ball

than he usually does. Usually hits the reds and then side spin off the

bottom of the cue ball and then take shape and then comes through the

reds again. Well, it did not happen there. Maybe just a safety shot now.

Well, this is a great shot. A fantastic shot from Robert Milkins.

He could not have tools that much better. -- he could not have chosen

that better. Might be able to do is nestle into

these reds. He has got to judge this dead weight.

Always keen to find the cushion when you play that shot, to stop your

open and being able to screw back to the same place. Just needed to get

closer to the cushion to make it difficult for Robert.

Nice support. And where all the reds are. Up in the top of the table.

Just going to have to concentrate on a possibly green or brown here. The

only couple of ball colours that will pot. The brown can go into the

left-hand corner pocket. Green if he gets it on to the spot after this

red will pot as well right into the corner pocket.

Just a matter of keeping control of the cue ball here, isn't it?

So far, it is been a typical Mark Selby performance. We spoke about

his matchplay and his the game and he has not been on his a game, it

has to be said. He had one nice break of 120. But he certainly has

not played anywhere near his best. But his second-best is so good and

so consistent that he still plays well and can still win. It is always

a good sign. It is most likely paces himself at

times. Yes, absolutely. He is doing all the scoring but he is not that

into it today. He has not had to play as tight as he is had to win