Second round: Afternoon session - Featuring Ronnie O'Sullivan UK Snooker Championship

A big crowd is coming in from the cold in the beautiful city of York

to watch Ronnie O'Sullivan's first televised match since he last won

the title in 2014. He was on an 8.5 month sabbatical this time last year

and chose not to defend the title so no wonder there is an extra degree

of excitement about his appearance today. This is the Championship that

launched him into our consciousness as one of Great Britain's most

mesmerising sportsmen. He plays snooker the way that it is meant to

be played. He is now the people's champion. He is the most naturally

talented snooker player I've ever seen in my career. Enigma, genius,

he is here today. I truly believe Ronnie O'Sullivan

was born with a cue in his hand. Let's hope he walks out with a cue

in his hand, the crowd always turns out for Ronnie O'Sullivan. There's

always an atmosphere. There always abuzz even behind-the-scenes. You

don't know what to expect from him. He will play sublime snooker one

minute, shake your hand and walk out. We've seen some fantastic

snooker but it's not just about the shot but he plays. There's an era of

electricity every time he's in the building. Just the way he plays is

so natural. He was definitely born with a cue in his hand and there's

no doubt about that but he does have that buzz about him. Some other top

players are playing here, let's have a look at what is on the menu. From

boy to man. Now he's a pro, you will hope to their far better. We will

see Ding Junhui. It is five years since Mark Allen appeared. He is on

show in the main arena. As is Liang Wenbo. He is fizzing after landing

his first Championship last month. John Parrott got his hand on this

trophy 25 years ago. Some exciting names out there. How do you rate

Ronnie's season so far. By most people's standards he has had a good

one, but when you talk about Rory O'Sullivan, you expect him to do

that. He started, 56 minutes it took him to beat his opponent. He looks

sharp. That is incredible. Next time you play best of 11 in the club, see

what the score is after 56 minutes. I guarantee it will not be 6-0. He's

in unbelievable form but the happiest years is when he is out in

the auditorium. Finding work life balance is difficult for everybody,

there are a couple of quotes, it is a bit of a distraction, getting my

cue out is a pleasure. It was all that I had to do. I felt like I was

trapped in a prison, now it is exciting. It is great for him.

Sometimes you have seen that he has not been comfortable but it looks

like at the moment, worryingly for his opponents, he is up for it. Rhys

Clark is up against him. He has been a professional racer. He has some

competitive experience under his belt. Ronnie has 25 years in the

game. Rhys Clark only now beginning to cash some checks. Has beaten some

very strong players. What a test this will be. When he first came on,

what a daunting test. You can have easier assignments than that. Let's

see how much he has progressed. Indeed. The players are waiting. Rob

Walker, it is all yours. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

What a sense of anticipation we have building at the Barbican. One of the

most anticipated sessions of snooker so far. You can expect the sparks to

fly in Yorkshire. Please welcome our player emerging

for one of the biggest matches of his career so far. He came from 5-2

down to beat Joe Swail in the first round. After Goodwins on the Asian

tour he is ready for the challenge. From Russell Borough -- muscle

Borough, Ross Muir. His opponent is right back to his

best after temporarily dropping out of the top 16. In September he won

the Shanghai Masters. Twice winner of this UK Championship and a

national hero in China. Enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui.

On table one, a player who qualified for the first time last year. Here

after a thrilling 6-5 victory in the first round. What an occasion for

this proud young Scot, here he comes, Rhys Clark.

Finally, his opponent, a man whose epic journey to the top of this

sport began when he won this title in 1993. Since then he has produced

some of snooker's most memorable moments. Five times champion of the

world, blink and you will miss him, the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

We are intrigued to see what Ronnie and Rhys Clark have in store for us.

You can find coverage of Ding Junhui against Ross Muir on the red button.

For now we are joining John Parrott and John Virgo. Good afternoon.

Always an air of expectancy when Ronnie O'Sullivan enters the arena.

I saw the young Rhys Clark waiting to go on. You know those last five

minutes. He looked a bit red in the cheeks but as I said to him, this is

what you practice for. Looking at his record this season he's done

pretty well. I think he's on the upgrade.

Somebody trying to turn the lights off.

I'm really interested to see how this young fellow has progressed.

When he first came on the television it was all a bit too much for him

and obviously you're playing Ronnie O'Sullivan, that is not much help.

He's had plenty of experience in the last few years, eat some good

players. Hopefully now getting used to it. He's reached the last 16 of

the China open, the European Masters and the English open.

Anyway, looks like we've sorted out the light problem and it is Ronnie

O'Sullivan who's going to get this match under way.

Got a nice pace with the cue ball, break off that shot. I think Rhys

Clark can see the red but doesn't fancy playing that. He makes have

left a chance here. To the price of one. Two for the

price of one. He didn't hit the red as he wanted

to but he will settle for that. It is not a brilliant chance but with

that shot, flicking the red away from the black. What this. He flicks

that one away. Doesn't go in five which can help. That can happen

sometimes with that shot. This is a good chance.

That claim in his last match, 56 minutes. That is ridiculous. It is

amazing. When he's in full flow. It is brought about by positional play.

I can only think of one person who could compare with something like

that. You're not talking about Arak

amateur but a top professional. -- a rank amateur.

That could have worked out better. Thin cut on the black.

Played that nicely but now one of these tricky red balls along the top

cushion. This has got to be accurate.

Beautifully played. BR had shots. That they are had shots. That was

made to ridiculously easy. Not straightforward for the position

unless he can force an angle. It wasn't totally straightforward,

that. But he's playing the planned. He's been doing incredibly well to

keep this break going at the moment. Straight in the middle of the

pocket. He can only sit and watch. Well...

That was unexpected. I thought that would have been his

shot but decided he went for the pot. We could have a match here.

You see the pace. Don't they bounce about? Here is a chance for Rhys.

He needs a kiss on the black to be on a colour. Not quite. Just got

into it a little bit too much with the cue ball.

He could tuck up behind the black. In his heart, he knows he will not

get much from it. Should be an easy escape for Ronnie.

It will be interesting to see what his approach will be today.

Unfortunately, he may have left him a chance into the corner pocket. And

it is there. It shows you, I thought he would not

get much out of that snooker but Ronnie overhit it slightly. This

black is missable. Good chart. -- good shot. You look

do that shot he played recently, he will have thought, I might as well

go full-blooded, see what happens. As I say, he's been to the last 16

of the tournament is in his rookie season, so to speak. He's certainly

got the game. But this is a test of it. Playing in front of the

television cameras. A big crowd which generates a great atmosphere.

The referee seeing if you can get the yellow on his spot. They cannot

be touching. Well... That will be disappointing

for him to miss that. As we know, when you are a little

bit tense, anything can be missed. In an ideal world, Ronnie would have

liked to avoid the red on the side cushion. This is a tough shot.

He's as good as you're to get off the cushion. For anybody watching,

he's got plenty of cue, takes it back a good distance and let it do

the work. When he was sighting the cushion, he

had to make certain of the pot so this blink is not a gimme. Another

terrific pot. 40 points to lead, just this red and the back and you

get to the snooker required state. -- the black.

Rhys will not need me to tell him that if he gets a chance like that

he cannot miss. That was a shocker. Thinking how he played the yellow,

he played it to perfection. Could not have played any better. Just

waiting may be interrupted his concentration. The one thing you

cannot do at this level, you cannot miss when you are in.

The Green didn't matter. You cannot mess easy part is when your end.

That gifted the first frame to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

It is always busy and there is always lots of bars in here. We are

focusing on this one specifically, your observations of his progress in

the first frame? He needed a couple of chances, Rhys gave him that. When

he got his second chance, this was not easy by any means. Could have

easily missed that. The scorers, still enough points. How easy did he

make this work? It was fantastic. Even the shot he was cueing off the

cushion, this was wonderful. Beautifully controlled. Killed the

frame. There were a couple of chances he missed. Possibly lacking

concentration. The left-handed one, he could have got it in one visit.

We assume he's not as good left-handed as he is right. In terms

of Rhys, you know how he plays because he's played you, Ken. What

would you say are the hallmarks of his game? He's a very good player,

but don't try to beat him tactically, you will not. He's too

experienced. Play your game and try and play the way that you can. He is

good if he gets a chance. Lets see if he gets one in the second frame.

The break shot from Rhys Clark left the red on. Ronnie went into it a

little too much. In the last frame, cannot leave

anything off this. We're always talking about how

important it is to get a good start in these matches but you feel it is

important for Rhys Clark to get a foothold in it. You don't want to

see the scoreboard changing quickly. The tournament running away from

you. That can happen. We know how good he is. Get a frame on the

board. I think that is the perfect word. Feeling comfortable out there.

We know Ronnie is comfortable. It is his home. It is the office for him.

But these are the moments when he puts all the hard work in fourth. To

test himself against the rest. I think there may be a red to the

right middle that body can play and possibly get position on the black.

On to the far corner. He missed that and has left a chance. That may have

made it even better. There you go. He's that good... That

was lucky not to leave an easy starter. Most unusual for Ronnie,

the cueing was right across the ball. That was another indication of

how badly he'd hit it. He's got one in the middle but this is more

tricky than it could have been. We say that it's all about

fractions. He would have had a nice easy start if that had not come back

down the table. Missing the red in the middle has presented a Ronnie

with an easy start. I don't know if the black is available into both

corner pockets. Probably not. There is a good chance. I don't know

about you but whenever you play the top layer is it always felt like a

good run of balls on top of it. When the ball started running for them,

you're trying to hold back the tide. That was a whopping piece of luck he

had there. That was clever, purposely using the

jaw of the middle pockets to get position on the red.

He'd love to get that read closest to the top cushion which is stopping

the black going in both corners. Lovely positional shot and now a

chance to play the black and get rid of that red that is blocking the

black for the opposite corner. As we said earlier, it is all about cue

ball control, positional shot from brown to that red. If you picked it

with your hand you could not have played it any better. It was inch

perfect. Certainly, the one on the right hand

side... You need to be plum behind it but this will tell us.

He will want an angle of this one because it looks like you will need

to manoeuvre the red out. He's left the perfect angle. If he feels as

though he's got to go into it. And he did have to go into them.

Could not have hit them much better. The one to the right middle, he has

hampered. Thankfully for him, there is the one that's to the left

middle. That is blue. One more red. That's all that is required.

A lesson for release. This is not the ideal start, obviously. He's

trying to get a foothold in this and get comfortable, but the bit of luck

that Ronnie O'Sullivan had early in the frame did not help. Also, this

is what it is like when you play the top boys. Make a mistake, sit and

watch. Toth school. -- Toth school. Just about got the angle on the

blue. Looking like it could be century

number 845, John. He is wonderful to watch. The control of that white

ball is something to admire. And, of course, he had the three

centuries in his first match. This is his fourth century. Well, he

missed the pink, but it a career century. Rhys Clark might be upset

that he did not get an opportunity early on, but Ronnie has run away

with the ball and he leaves 2-0. It's a bit of a career. Setting the

balls up. Frame three, Ronnie O'Sullivan to play.

And in less than 23 minutes actual playing time, Ronnie breaks off in

frame three. You mentioned there, a bit of a career. I can remember the

first time I ever saw him play in a tournament early in the 90s, 1992.

It was in Birmingham. I saw two young lads playing in the final. One

was John Higgins, the other was Ronnie O'Sullivan. I saw them

playing and I thought, I better get some prize money quickly. Yes,

strike while the iron is hot. Once again, he'll have to work for this

opening, Ronnie. A decent break off. He will be disappointed with that.

Did he get a bounce off of the top cushion? He will be kicking himself

he is not on the black. That difficult blue mist. That

mistake from Rhys has not cost him. Can he now make the most the

opportunity? That was a funny little shop. It was half of a stumble

through. He did not get low enough on the cue ball and lost it

slightly. Well, he has come to work. Is he any good the other way? Not

bad at all. It makes me wonder whether or not the wrist rests will

be extinct. Everyone seems able to switch hands. This will be the

second good chance, you could say. Well played. Purposely went into the

reds to get them open. The only thing is he is not good on the black

and the pink is a little bit tricky. Well played. Bit of pressure on

there, too- zero down. Not the easiest of shots. Got that in

beautifully. -- 2-0 down. He played the cannon nicely. Now this could

really settle him down if he can make a sizeable contribution at this

visit. Quite frankly, John, he has got to school here. He doesn't want

to give Ronnie O'Sullivan a three frame start.

Just overrun it slightly, but he's OK. I think this red will go to be

left corner. There's one to the right corner. If he can get to the

one nearest to the pocket, even better. A little bit careless about

positional shot. A little bit low on the black. You need more options.

Where he has played it, he's stunned it a little bit too much. Yes, and

the UC. Wrong angle. He had to screw back. He did not pot it cleanly and

he has lost the cue ball. He has played the side. When you play with

side, it depends on how hard you hit the ball and whether it will throw

one way or another. He still got this red to the middle. Oh, that has

ruined the position somewhat. Will he play the yellow all the brown? Is

he in an attacking position? Whichever one he plays, he has got

to pozz it. -- to pot it. Well played. I think he's OK. He would've

liked to have been on the rates to the left of the cluster around the

pink. -- on the red. Its more difficult than the one he would've

liked. That is always a problem with that shop. If you hit it too hard,

the left-hand side pushes the cue ball into the red and that is why he

caught it too thick. He has potted some nice balls there. It could

settle him down. A little bit twixt them between

numbers. He's thinking if he plays the blue... He'll give himself

options. He is likely hampered on the blue, but you wouldn't expect

him to miss it and he wouldn't have to do much on the cue ball. Quite a

clever little shop. A chance of blue or pink. He has played the cannon

bed, took a chance on it. Does it go? I think it's one of those. If

you are right behind it, you wouldn't miss it, but he is into a

semi-blind pocket here. This is no gimmick, this is tough. Played it

well. Played it very well. Already you can see in this match, and it's

understandable, he's arguably the best player that has ever play the

game, but the quality of cue ball control is a difference. I might be

giving it the commentator's urs, but with Rhys, it wasn't quite there and

with Ronnie so far it has been immaculate. It's basically the

difference between the two players at the moment, just having hold of

that cue ball. Now, where does the pink go? Does it

stop the pot on the red just below the pink? If it does, it might not

be on anything. Maybe the red he is closest to is a fine cant. -- fine

cant. He plays a lot of right-hand side. Now in perfect position. When

he pots the black he will be eight behind. This is why he has made 845

centuries. His cue ball control is so good. It is the art of

break-making. Always making it look simple, giving yourself options.

When you see Ronnie played, it look simple and you think, I could do

that myself. That's what we always used to say about the best breaks.

You say, I could have potted that. It's not about the potting, it's

about the movement of the cue ball. He needed to be straight on the

green to drop that in and leave himself on the red in the middle

pocket. I think the camera is in his line of sight. Ideally he would have

been on the green for the stun shot, so a change of plan.

A glance at the scoreboard. He's got a 5-point lead. And now that's gone

in, it looks a formality. Can't really have any complaints, Rhys, in

this frame. He was in, in a good position, but he just lost the cue

ball. In the second frame me had a chance as well. More chances than

the first time he played Ronnie previously a few years ago. It's

harsh to say, that this is the level he is playing up. Absolutely. When

he potted the brown, he wanted to be on the blue, but it was the black

early on in the break that should have come low. It's all of those

things that make a difference. The blues in France with 13 remaining.

-- the blue is in front with 13 remaining.

As we said, it's a friend that could have gone either way, but it's gone

like the first two, two Ronnie O'Sullivan. Ms Clark up against it.

He trails 3-0. It's a tough call out there against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

That check can be lonely. When you are out there you are playing

arguably the best player who has ever played the game. Certainly the

most naturally gifted. It's so difficult. The crowd are all about

Ronnie and he does not have the experience that Ronnie has and

Ronnie is making the game look simple. He has had chances, but he

hasn't taken them. Three years ago he came here as an amateur, his

first match on television. He was 19 years of age and a bit of a rabbit

in the headlights, I'm sure he would've that. He will be expecting

more of himself this time, that is adding to the pressure, I'm sure? It

is going in The Deep end playing on the match table in Ronnie's office

effectively. There is a possibility that you don't get a lot of

experience playing on the TV tables and they played differently to the

outside tables. There is more heat and they are slicker. From his

perspective, it is a learning curve. Perhaps playing in two Ronnie's

hands in as much as he is a fast attacking player. If he does not pot

those balls, you have a problem because Ronnie will mop them up.

Ronnie is having a nice work-out today. The trails considerably in

his previous match, but he is a good cue man and he's making progress

this season. He will make progress and even sometimes bad experiences

like this will stand him down the road because when he plays in the

qualifiers against someone of a lower rank, he will have a bit more

confidence about him, you know? But at the moment he's finding it tough.

The chances are very few and far between and if you don't take

advantage of them when you do get them, you are in trouble. If you

could have a wedding is a, what would you say? You can only play the

shots you see, but long-term, a match like this, when he plays in

the smaller events on the outside tables, it doesn't matter what is

thrown at him, he won't be so overwhelmed because it's a learning

curve. It certainly is. Last frame before the interval.

Ronnie has not a red towards the corner pocket. I'm sure that Rhys

will take this on. He was up and out of it. Halfway there he knew he was

going to catch it a bit fall. He has left Ronnie this red along the top

cushion. Not easy. It is just a case for Rhys of trying to gather his

thoughts. Every miss is magnified out of all proportion now because of

who you're playing. And even more so when you are pre-0 down. -- 3-0

down. Not easy on these tables those shots. They might look it, but they

really aren't on those tournament tables.

Not quite. The red has run over the corner. Will the blue come to his

rescue? Well, maybe he could bend it a little bit to the right-hand side.

Or maybe come to cushion first. You try to bend it a little bit.

Couldn't get enough on the red. He doesn't seem to have left anything

too easy. A funny situation here, John. It takes it on and misses it

and it looks like a rash shot, but he has got that one in the baulk

area. I combine him taking that on, he has just missed it. He didn't

have a great deal of alternatives there.

This red that is just above the black, I don't know if Ronnie can

knock it onto the red towards the middle. No he couldn't. He is just

clearing the middle pocket. It could have stopped near the baulk cushion

and gone over the corner pocket. He is going to have quite a bit of

safety at dissent. The key to the safety exchange is trying to find

the top cushion. Leave it tight. He could not play that any better.

Excellent shot. Very well played. It's his best shot of the match so

far. Certainly not an easy safety shot

over here, and it's not one of those situations where you can think that

Ronnie might be able to pot his way out of trouble. There is a red that

cuts to the right middle, but it is risky. He may be forced to take it

on. I don't know if the pig is stopping the red, but he could come

off the site cushion and drop down on the red. He is taking the one in

the middle. Good pots. -- potter. The kiss on the second red has not

left anything easy. There is no real safety. He is having a look to see

if he left the cue ball down at this end of the table. He could play the

pink. Push the pink up and down and try to leave the cue ball at the

other end. He has got the choice. You'll probably played the pink.

He only got one point, but it was a good visit from Ronnie. A good pot.

He could control of himself. He could have played the yellow all the

brown, but keeping it tight. Yes, and if he has covered the red on the

right-hand side that Rhys would love to play, I think the black is in the

way. It's an even better shot than he thought. That's why he probably

came down to this end. It looked insignificant at the time, but it's

very important. It makes it more difficult for Rhys to find the

safety. Can he find a pot to get himself out of trouble? The red to

the far right corner? He has gone for it. It's not a mile away. Oh,

did that drift slightly to the right jaw? I thought it was in there.

Maybe it was always favouring the right jaw.

A couple of shots ago Ronnie O'Sullivan looked like he was

serious trouble the. Rhys Clarke played his best shot of the match.

He's got himself out of that position on the bottom cushion and

now he has got a chance. Looks like he's come a little bit thin on the

blue, so it may be the brown. Back to the blue. I think he's OK. He

just can't get through to the red that over the right corner. He has

got another red to go at, but a little bit more to do with the cue

ball. The black is available to the opposite corner. The grimace. He's

on the blue, right on it. That was a funny little shop there. We had to

dig down into the ball. Another one coming up here. Very easy to play a

push with those. You need to jab it and take your cue back as quick as

you can. And this is looking very ominous in frame four.

I don't know if it is any advantage to get the pink back on its spot. I

don't know if it is clear. He doesn't want it tying reds up.

That's why he's decided to play for the green. Always thinking, Ronnie.

You have to go back up for the blue again here. You'd love to get that

read away from the near right corner. He hit that a little bit

fall. He didn't go through with that. Another example. He's playing

the right-hand side. He didn't hit it smooth, the right-hand side

pushed into the red and he nearly missed the pot. It could've been

perfect the blue. He didn't cue it smooth. That straight on this one.

We'll see the cueing here. Never in doubt. He has got these in a lovely

position now. It looks like someone's told Ronnie

he is not getting paid for overtime. 6-0 in his first match. Could be the

same in this one. Lovely frame time. Just under 11 and

a half minutes. He just overrun that slightly, but I wouldn't think it

would be a problem with those two reds in the middle of the table.

Having said that, he has stopped and thought about it. If you were forced

into it, you could play a little cannon in the middle of the table,

but that could go wrong. A screw to avoid it and he just about managed

it. Red and a colour, that is what is required. Just a little screw

back on the left-hand side to make it look even more easy. Nobody even

blinks when it does that now. When he first started doing it was a

tremendous furore. Being disrespectful.

That's absolutely inch perfect. Most people would like to use a cushion

there. My dad used to see it was like shelling peas. Playing an

exhibition shot on the green. No joy, he goes back to the dressing

room, Ronnie O'Sullivan, it has been all about the Rocket. He leads 4-0.

He looks entirely comfortable. His first televised match since winning

the final two years ago. Such is the way that careers ebb and flow, you

for get he took nine months off. I think he enjoys playing when he

wants to play. He can do it without worrying about the result too much,

and that's why he very rarely has scrappy matches. You see the other

players get on the table and really struggled to get their form. He

gives himself every chance to find his form every match. He has a great

knack of bringing his practice came to the table. If everybody could do

that they would win more practices. He's already 4-0 in less than an

hour. It's like he has the cooking on and a chicken in the oven. He

said he's been having some big conversations with himself over the

last few weeks and feels more confident about getting that

balance. Do you sense there is a more content Ronnie O'Sullivan? You

see the media stuff, years writing books, best sellers. Even around the

tournament, he is not so much. There is a tough balance. If you have your

finger on the pulse and then take it off and are not totally committed,

somebody else will beat you. Talent usually get him through in that

respect but if he goes too far back then he has a problem. Getting the

balance is right. Plenty more going on in York. The other match is

available via the online matches. -- online options. Plenty more in the

main arena. A very interesting match between Yan Bingtao and Liang Wenbo.

He was this amazing UK finalist last year. He pushed Judd Trump all the

way. He's in a very good match and this fellow is going places. It is

his first season on the tour. He could not get a Visa last year and

now is beginning to make headway. This is an interesting match. That

is on the go. There are other matches on the go in the sports

hall. Robert Milkins is 1-1 against Hammad Miah.

David Gilbert is enjoying a resurgence in his career.

We never tire of watching Ronnie O'Sullivan knocking a century after

century but it is not something we say about a veteran. It has been 26

years for him in this sport but he produced this. This had the makings

of a very hard match, they are very experienced, they give nothing away.

Look at this. Fergal went 3-1 behind. Then he got three on the

trot, to go 5-4 ahead. Barry took it into a decider and Fergal is in the

balls again. If he decides to screw back he must

be very precise with the position. The break goes to 58. If it goes

then he has the frame and the match at its mercy. Possible chance for

the fifth century. Very well played. The idea.

He's had breaks of 74, 95... And he is going out of the Championship.

Not that many shots away from leading 5-2. After that, he's been

sensational. Coming into the UK Championship

having reached the final. He certainly wasn't expecting this.

Straight on the black so he will need to play with a lot of reverse

side. That is maybe slightly easier. I've enjoyed every shot in this

match. Without doubt one of the best matches. What a match we've

witnessed here. Must be absolutely buzzing inside hoping he can make

the fifth century. All the century breaks he's made,

his positional play has been superb. Absolutely incredible. It really is

very special. He's coming round to take the black as well. Barry

Hawkins, one of the nicest people you could hope to meet, comes

forward to congratulate Fergal O'Brien on a stunning performance.

He is saying well done for one of the best matches I've seen for quite

a while. Look at that big smile. No wonder he beats Barry Hawkins.

The big Irish mail is still on his faced. Where did that come from? I

don't know. It's a new record. I can only remember five being done.

Reminded me. Fantastic. Had it been coming? Had there been any sign of

that sort of form? Not that but this season I've been practising very

hard. The last month I've played a lot more matches, accessing hard.

Going into matches and there was not much flow. I was getting some good

results but nothing great. Recently it has been more getting into the

flow. The five is extraordinary but what

about three in a row? In a tournament I've never done it. Maybe

the last time was against this fellow 15 years ago.

Even three in a row... He played fantastic as well. We did expect a

Battle Royale between you. I don't think any of you expected the high

level of scoring in that match. It's an incredible record. We know how

hard he works and how hard he practices and how much practice he

puts into the game. It's fantastic to see it. Can you keep it going?

There is a feeling that you've done this, you know it's there, can you

call upon it and how difficult is it to call upon it again? As much of

the next match, but it gives you confidence to be in that kind of

form that the tournament. We will be going from there. It is a tough

match. He is quaking in his boots. Your nickname has always been

fearless Fergal. It is now five tonne Fergal. It is usually

different F words. Look forward to seeing you again. We saw Mark Selby

struggling yesterday afternoon. Then came Stuart Bingham last night. He

was involved in a real scrap as well and this time it didn't work out

quite so well for a former world champion. He was up against the

world number 62 and had grafted his way to lead 4-3. But the 29-year-old

won the next three frames in a row to nip this one from Stuart Bingham,

who becomes the highest ranked player to head out of it so far.

Great performance from this young fellow. He's vetted all sorts of

things over the last few seasons. Watch the session at 1pm. Has been

an hour before I had to get ready. I dropped off to sleep. It took me 2-3

minutes to focus on the phone. I went on the practice table. I took

it to the table. I had little spurts where I was trying to gee myself up.

Everything was hard work tonight. Absolutely gutted. If I had another

cue I would snap it. You've got to take it on the chin and get on with

it. Living proof that if you snooze, you lose, and he has gone home. Give

us your reaction. That was going on at the same time you were playing.

In terms of the shock factor, that's a big one. Being world champion, one

of the most consistent performers on the circuit. He's taken some scalps

but you could not see that coming over the best of 11. You would think

it would come true. Particularly the way that he's been playing. So it's

a big shock. Suddenly it seems like China's strength in depth is coming

to the fore. We heard about him even before he came over. He's one of the

lads who won the World Cup. There's plenty others like them. To come

through. There is a feeding off that. Great times ahead for Chinese

snigger. Thank you again. You will notice Steve Davis is not with us.

Having announced his retirement from professional snooker, apart from

chin wagging with us on the sofa, what else do you do as a retired

snooker player? We might have found the answer.

Even though he might not be the same animal, if you were considered that

way, we've had so much excitement from the game, perhaps we need a

buzz. Paddy beans? -- have you been skiing? Never been skiing. You

should do it. Running a marathon might be my thing when I slow down

with snooker. What is the most you've done? S the way I will do it

is live in Kenny ever-6-mac is, train properly, come back and try

and win it. I would like to do under three hours. I would want to go

under three hours. Try and break that. That's something. S you

stand on the corner of the street, there will be 30 runners coming

along, current Olympic champions, sit on the back of them, hang on as

long as you can, gradually get faster and stronger. I've read a

book on some guy that done that and that is me. I want to do that. That

is definitely a bucket list of mine, to go to Kenya. I can vouch for

parachute jump. If you want to scare the living daylights out of

yourself. Not good with heights. How did you get into that? I had to

because of a programme I was on. The jungle? I've always fancied the

brother. This is just around the M25. You could just decide you'd had

enough. Do you think you would fit the bill? S if you go on those

programmes, you've got to see a psychologist. I would fly through

them, I know the right answers for that. I've seen so many

psychiatrists I know exactly what to say. I would be fine with that one.

We both do a radio show. At the same radio station, Phoenix FM. I'm just

following in your footsteps. I'm copying everything you've done. I'm

actually a stalker. I cannot do the boring bit. Even that I think is

quite good, to have that character. I think after a while you would

think, I've done it now. That is the problem long-term, how do you

replicate the excitement? It is so much of a buzz. Turn up for the

World Championship. Is it? I find it a lot of stress and pressure. You've

got to wait around for those odd moments. Then you get that fleeting

moment when you win it and you're in the zone and you're flying and that

is an amazing feeling but 17 days of it, it is a war of attrition. Yes,

but towards the back end of it, you are playing every other day. I've

been in the semifinals thinking, this could go wrong. That is not

nice. Join the real world. I am six or seven up and I am thinking, this

could still go wrong. The Crucible does that to you. Snooker players go

slowly mad. I've got to get you out. I've got others.

Brilliant. Who else has he had in the? Watch this space. Ronnie's

bucket list, six months of training in Kenya. I love that line about the

psychologist, I know all the answers. He certainly has the

answers here. It will possibly be rapid end to this. Back we go.

What a lovely insight that was. At least he was looking at the road.

You watch these movies and they are not looking at the road. I don't

imagine he is the quickest driver. He called that too thick and called

the blue. Success for Ronnie. You've got to be at this level.

Watch how he queues this, there's plenty of cue, the way that he hands

it back, plenty of cue. One of the best I've seen of occasion. -- of a

cushion. Let me down there. With that type of shot and the pace he

was playing, just been dropping in on it easy. I was expecting him to

get that but he's not let anything. He's a very good runner, Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He was waxing lyrical about it. So he went to watch some

running yesterday. That is the one thing you've got to

remember. People say, how many years have you got left in the game. Fair

play to him. This puts a little bit of pressure

on him. He's got to cover a path to that red. Cannot play safe at this

end. Covering the red with the brown, I

think he's just about done it. Some interesting spectators as ever.

Not everyone comes with the same mode of transport. He's a legend in

the art world. No doubt about that. Very good at keeping Ronnie's feet

on the ground. He said that OK but to hide, much to hide. A nice easy

starter for Ronnie. We mentioned he was going all out attack. His cue

ball has not been taken off, Rhys Clark. Beer is the culmination of a

safety battle. Not going his way today. Make no mistake, this is a

big learning curve. A lot more about it after this afternoon. In very

exalted company here. It is a little bit congested. I

don't think it will go in any other corner pockets. It is nice to see

how he works out a break. It isn't straightforward. Will need care and

attention. As you mention, John, definitely not

straight forward. The black is not imposition. He has chosen to go

around the reds. He's come up a little bit short. A few shots away

from having this as a brilliant chance.

He is again playing for the pink, but just a little bit short. There

is a red at the top, around the pink spot area, that he could play for.

Just entered that a little bit too much. That is not as desired. Not

sure if he can get a grip on the pink off of this. Well, it is a nice

kiss on the pink, but even if he had not kissed the pink, he would've

been on a baulk colour. He played it well. When you consider most of the

time that he plays right and left handed... Oh, that is a foul. Ronnie

must have leaned down. He touched the red. Schoolboy error. Probably

just as he was delivering the cue. It's not something you would feel,

obviously. Just your waistcoat touching it. That is what the

referee is therefore. An unexpected opportunity for Rhys. What can he do

with it? Writes, come on young man. We know

you're a good player. You would not be at this stage of this tournament

if you weren't. You got to go to work here. Keep the cue ball nice

and tight. It's your last chance saloon.

He had to be precise on this black, but it's a little bit short of

perfect. The reason I say that is if you have the Pele Oblak with a trace

of right-hand side, if he's going to play for one of those two reds. In

the end he played the plane pot with the cannon and it's worked out all

right. As we know, you have to be accurate with this. And that was the

problem there. He had to play that one with the right-hand side and

once you play with side, you have got to allow for the throw. And with

that other red being close to the cue ball, it may be took his eye off

of the pot. He might not get another chance this frame, I'm afraid.

I don't think he will now. Lovely cannon. Beautiful little shocked.

I'll be very surprised if he makes a mistake from here.

34 ahead. 59 remaining at the moment, but don't think that will be

for long. So this black and one more red and a colour. 42 ahead. 43

remaining. So just the pink to go 49 in front with 43 left.

Once again, beautifully cute left-handed. Absolute class. Aside

from what the experience in years he's been around, John, I think it

is very noticeable the difference in the quality of cue ball control. If

the young man is going to progress in this game, and I think he has got

plenty of talent, he's just going to have to tighten up with that cue

ball. It's a bit loose. If I was giving him any advice it would be

work on that and tighten it up a little bit. It's difficult of

course. He's against the maestro here, but that's what he's got to

improve that. Well, that was like a double banana shot! Finish nicely on

the pink. Put the cue through straight. No problem. He is a joy to

watch and that is why people pack in to see him. Brilliant! Brilliant!

Ronnie O'Sullivan just marches on. Rhys Clark had a chance, although it

wasn't the best of chances. Tricky red at the top. 5-0. I've done quite

a few shows with runny. I don't play him, I just compared the evening and

the look on people's faces when he is playing, it is just jaw-dropping

sometimes. The people who have turned up to watch or play the game

or had a go at it, realised how difficult it is and he just stands

there and makes it look so easy. He is an extremely talented man and to

pave the way he does left-handed, I think he is the most naturally

talented sports man I have seen in our sport. Absolutely. The config of

anyone he swaps hands like he does. And of course this season he has

played in most of the tournaments. He has had seasons where he has

played in a lot of tournaments, but he is playing in lots of tournaments

because he wants to avoid having to qualify for the Crucible. When you

think of what he has done at that venue, it will be crazy if he had to

qualify. He looks as if he is in good nick. I think he will have a

good run this week. Make no mistake, it will take someone playing really

well to beat him. So, young Rees gets the sixth frame under way.

He'll be hoping it's not the last time he breaks off this afternoon.

Much time is just over an hour 45 frames. -- match time. Well, just

about OK. If it had caught the green Fuller, it would have left a pot on

here. He had a little tap on the table

there from runny because Rees did not play the pot there. He was just

finding a path for the cue ball back to the baulk end.

That shot of made a difference to the frame. This ended up in the

baulk area. Com play safe down there any more, so I think a tap is coming

up. I don't know about you, John, but I

hated these frames. They are just so messy, aren't they? Yes. You just

know there would be a chance, or you would expect a chance for around

five minutes and then all the other balls finish up at the end of the

table. You've just got to be patient.

But I think that is something that Ronnie is prepared to do now, be

patient. Not push the boat out too much. I always felt that I was very

patient when I was 5-0 up as well! No need to panic. Well, he might

have left a pot on here. A red to the far left corner. Funny looking

to see if the black can pass the red to the corner at this end. It looks

like it does. Just. And wondering if he can plate in a way to screw back

here and cover the red. It might be a shock to nothing if you use it

properly. -- shot to nothing if you use it properly.

Close, but not quite the. I think he has played it in such a way that he

felt the anyone he could leave is the one that he was playing.

That's a bad mistake. Much too thin. OK, he hasn't shall we say lift

anything easy, but he should have got it safer than this. Yes, he'll

take the red up into the green pocket and try to hold the cue ball.

Oh, I fancied him for that. I thought he'd get it. Yes, I think it

was just slightly awkward cueing. It's funny the way he played that

shot, Ronnie. He hasn't left him anything particularly easy here for

the safety. He can play a safety shop, obviously, but it's not

totally straightforward. -- safety shot.

Has he left enough for this red so Ronnie can pot it into the middle?

Well, he had. Now the bread just to the left of the blue, he can get

through to this. -- the red just to the left of the blue. It went in, so

he has got a chance to get a frame on the scoreboard.

Does it drop? No, it may have done with a little bit more pace.

It just didn't have the pace to just flick off of the cushion and drop

in. It was another good chance. Just looking at the red in the middle,

Ronnie, but he also has got the option of coming off of the side

cushion. He can play this. If he gets the pace right, he can end up

on the back. He has potted it, which is the

objective, but it's a really difficult shot on the back. --

black. Terrific pot, and maybe that shot from Rhys on the pocket, it may

be his last shot. As I say, he's had a good start to his career and Steve

Davis was saying in the studio, it's all about a learning curve.

He's gone into an area where he can give himself options. Perfect on

this red. Rhys Clark is talented, if he was that he wouldn't be at this

stage in the tournament. He is only 22. He can put this in the category

marked a day at school. He is playing against the maestro here and

now he'll know what is required from him at the top level. He will have

easier matches than playing against Ronnie O'Sullivan live on TV. He can

use this and come back to fight another day. Never easy sitting in

that chair watching someone pot all the balls. It can feel like you have

not done yourself any justice, but we know he can play. This will

helping to prepare for his next event. -- help him.

So, just over one hour and 11 minutes. We're not far from the end

here. He's slowing down in his old age. It was 56 minutes the other

day. Yes. To be fair, he has missed a few. He is only human and Rhys

definitely had a chance to win one frame, but now 65 points the lead.

Just this red needed. And that's it. 66 points the lead, just 59

remaining. Seven to -- 72 points the lead now. No way back to the table

for young 20-macro. First time I have seen in playing. I have looked

at the record. Three last 16 is in the first season, that is good. So

an end to remember for the future. There is no doubt that he has got

talent. Absolutely. You'll just have to tap into the experience and as I

said, tight knot with his cube ball and he will be a very, very good

player. Needs a kiss on the red. He hasn't got it. You'll have two

result to be doubled. Well, not quite. Yes, yes! Now, missed the

brown, come off the side cushion, notched the red. Superb! We might

see century break 846. We will do! Oh, he thought he missed it.

On the second last bread is when he didn't get the double, Rhys was out

off his seat. -- the last red. He hasn't suffered. If you don't enjoy

playing centre stage against one of the top players in the world, then

do something else, but honestly he would've liked to have played

better. One or two shots he will look at and think, he could've

played it better. A few little exhibition shots from Ronnie. And

there is another one. Give us a clue, which pocket! You can hear

from the roar of the crowd how much they enjoyed that. Well played,

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Sympathy for Rhys Clark, but believe me, he will be

back. He is a talent, but so is that man, who rockets off a winner, 6-0.

And that incidentally it was Ronnie's 95th century in the UK

Championship. He is now only ten shy of Stephen Hendry record of 105 in

this particular championship, the second most prestigious in the game.

He is closing in on a tonne of times. It looked as if he was

enjoying himself out there in the latter stages of the match. All the

great snooker players who have played the game are bullies and they

like it the way. Everyone likes to dominate the table and he was not

giving much resistance today. As it has turned out, what could be

construed as a good work-out for him. Rhys will consider himself

unfortunate to not even get a couple of frames on the board. Yes. He

probably built himself up big time for the match and would've expected

to pay better. Unfortunately as it turned out it has not been a good

day for him. But you can't get too upset about things sometimes. Even

put it down to experience, but it hurts at the time, I'm sure? He will

be disappointed. He had a chance on television, it hasn't gone right any

hasn't shown his potential. It's a case of licking your wounds, going

back to the grind the match table in the practice table. The good thing

is there are good players who are struggling, people like Mark King,

and it gives you hope and inspiration. And John Virgo

mentioned he has had good results this season. Not the last that we

will see of this fellow. It was as if you are enjoying yourself there?

Yes, try to enjoy it and enjoy the moment. Have a bit of fun. That is

your 95th century. Your ten shy of Stephen Hendry's Corp. I'll get

there. How do you rate your workload this week? I have been in bed for

three days, chilling out, relaxing. I just fancy it watching TV. I

thought you said you were going marathon running. I have fractured

my foot, so the running is on the back burner. I am relaxing between

matches and my busy workload. It's nice to chill out. We were talking

before the match that you're trying to get this worklife balance and

you've been having some big conversations with yourself and you

seem to have found a balance. Does it feel like that to you? Yes. If I

lose here, I'll go back to London. I couldn't get on with my other

work. I went through a phase where I thought if I can stop putting

pressure on myself to win and do well, I would enjoy it. Is it

because you have been in the game so long that you have to find different

ways to enjoy? Not really. There are probably only two or three

tournaments I enjoy playing and the rest are just about going through

and hitting a few balls. For me, all the investment are put into snooker,

I'm not getting any rewards. I've tried a few things now and snooker

has become a bit of a hobby. If I lose, I won't be thinking I have to

wait for the next tournament. Our you spotting other things now? You

do. Positional shots? Just everything. On TV you don't get to

see the whole thing. When you are watching it, you watch the body

language, how they strike the ball, what they are right when they are in

front and behind and under pressure. Not that it helps me when I play

them, but it is good fun to watch. You put a lot of work in this

season. You've played seven out of 12. Has it been hard? It has. I

accepted that my game is in great shape. A lot of the tournaments I

was contracted to go. I did my best with the preparation that I have

done, but as each tournament has gone on, I've had a few days at

home, sometime practising. I need that. I'm not one that can go from

tournament to tournament and by my game. I feel my form is coming back

a little bit, but it's not the be all and end all any more. If I do

lose, it's not like I'm waiting for the next event. How are you enjoying

being here? When you won in 2014, you didn't defend it in 2015. Did

you in hindsight missed it last year? Not really. I was writing a

book. You proud of it? It's your new novel. Yes. Was it the Labour of

love? Yes. From start to finish, it took two years. I am over the moon

with it. It is but then my autobiographies. With this we have

been able to have fun with it and put some twists in it that aren't

true, but a lot of it is true. It is a hybrid book. Are you really the

main character Frankie? Or, if you know what I've been through in my

life and you followed it a bit and know a bit about me, you will read

it and the character will remind you of what I have been through and

situations that I haven't been able to elaborate on. You can read in

between the lines. The second book is the one. Well, it's gone so well,

they're talking about doing another one. I'll have to find time in my

schedule. Let's talk about the schedule here. Going forward, you

only have five of these UK titles. You're trying to match him on six.

Unhappy with five, if another one does, Lonard take it. I'm not greedy

like this guy. We are different animals. Will you be happy to equal

his efforts? Are you in the kind of form but you think you could? I need

to be thinking I want it. If you don't have that kind of ambition and

drive, you won't win. It's finding that balance of being carefree, but

also being competitive. The longer you stay in the tournament, there is

a chance you can find your form both. That is the good thing. I'm

playing all right, and if it comes it comes, if it doesn't it doesn't.

I'm not there to bash myself up. A few top players dropping out will

help? I'm not really following the snooker. Someone is always on form.

You're not going to get to the semis of the finals and you'll be playing

numpties. You have two in all types of players. There are no numpties in

this game. There are a few. They will remain nameless. I need to keep

my mouth shut! At would you allow this fellow with

his driving press... He's not bad, he is a bit cautious. Keep it up. It

is time to talk about Ding Junhui, the man who was runner-up in the

World Championships. He made seven in his semifinals. He's got a

technique that has the fellow pros drooling.

The art of making anything look brilliant is making it look simple.

If anything is simple it is long gone away with that cue ball

control. It is the best I've ever seen. I remember Steve Davis saying

that through the 80s he was always the correct side of a ball and for

me, he has taken that to the next level. Getting from a to B always

seems so simple. There are never any complications. He's always in the

right place. Players always have a cue ball that is further away. That

looks like it is making it as easy as possible. It looks like he grew

up on a table that was the third of the size and is always used to being

up there. When I was a young player, growing up, we would draw a line

about halfway in and this was the gutter. Not allowed to finish in

this area. I don't know if he's done the same thing but his cue ball

makes the game look ridiculously easy because there are so simple.

You've noticed something about his practice routine. I have not seen

him practice at his practice facility. He does it at the venues

where we do line-ups. Any variation. He will practice scenarios. He will

be practising shots that come up in games and if you think about it that

is how we should be practising. We are practising line-ups whereas we

should be practising actual scenarios. He's very good at that.

The other thing to say is if he's trying to play the red for the blue

he always finishes the correct side to be able to go where he wants to.

Imagine a straight line, he's always on the correct side of that line.

He's always on the black with the correct angle to play where he once.

When he does that correctly he's almost unbeatable. Precision player.

He won the title as an 18-year-old in 2005, followed it with another

win in 2009. His Edinburgh opponent is trying to tame the dragon today.

We join them in frame one. I think he may be able to do this

and get up to the reds. Is it going to be hard enough? It is perfect.

Fergal O'Brien gave one of the finest displays I've ever seen.

I love watching Ding Junhui. Really is superb.

Took the bait. A lot of the great players, John Higgins, Mark Selby,

different category, but sometimes use the white little bit. When he's

in full control, wonderful to watch. Talking about the match, I don't

think he went out once. That takes some doing. It is nice when you're

cueing. Didn't want that kiss, but just make

the OK. Not hampered at all. You could see him hit the cue ball with

left-hand side. Swinging it off the cushion.

Trying to avoid the kiss and going through the gap. You can see that

he's hampered now. Not past the winning line just yet. No problem,

excellent shot. Hadn't hit that hard enough but the

weight keeps rolling. He's still got a possible chance. There was one

there, the little triangular red, one point of that was available. He

can still get through to that one. He could see that all the way. He

can play for that. Just a matter of whether he can go

on to make a century break. Something Steve Davis bid on many

occasions throughout the 1980s. He is going to need the cushion if

he's going to make a century. Not as tricky as it was before but

still needs a good shot. No century break but what a great

start from Ding Junhui. He takes the opening frame and he leads 1-0.

That start promises much. But Ross Muir, in his fourth season as a pro.

He beat Joe Swail two are in this chance. He showed no fear and he's

got himself on the scoreboard. Here we are, the third frame, 9-9.

He's hit a couple of them on the fixate. -- thick side. This is a

reasonable chance. Unlucky not to make a century and

since then he has looked all at sea. These young players will get plenty

of chances. Can he take this one to get the lead?

Under normal circumstances, would expect to make 50 or 60 from here.

Not enough to win the frame. He should be OK. He wanted the

angle. Maybe he has a slight angle. This shows how much he can make the

cue ball swing away from almost being straight just by powering the

shot. The only problem from here it is you cannot just drop this red and

give in on the backside. He's not hit that hard enough.

He's got a long way to travel. Should not be a problem.

That is a disappointing end to that effort. He had a great chance to

take that frame. costly I thought he would look all

at sea. Definitely got off the ball. That was a golden opportunity. Not

listen. I'm sure he wasn't expecting to come

back to the table as quickly as this so can he take full advantage?

That should have been further up the table. This is still possible.

Should have been a lot easier than this.

I'm not too sure whether this is easy or not.

The Reg to the left of the pink would be enough to leave being John

Reid needing a smoker. -- leave home needing a snooker. That is just

about perfect. Very good shot. Dead straight. Almost on the red. Just

needs a quick glance at the scoreboard to confirm that.

Delighted, he knows he started off with a very good 99 but he has

missed a few since then. That has put the frame beyond any

doubt at all. A little bit concerning for fans of Ding Junhui.

He looks a little bit at sea. At the minute he is not doing it. Sometimes

he gets a little bit down on himself when he is missing shots that he

knows he should not mess. His body language is much better. He used to

slump in his chair but he does not do that any more. Very nicely

played. Doesn't matter even if the white

goes in which it doesn't. Has had another break and he now leads 2-1.

That has put Ross in the lead. In his dead you season he actually beat

his opponent so he will not be overawed at the thought of playing

this guy. In we go to the last frame for the mid-session interval and it

is Ding at the table. Maybe he is going to keep missing him. Not

looking happy with his game at the moment.

This is his second chance in this frame. He knows himself he's got him

feeling very down on himself. This is where experience comes in. He

must win this frame at this visit. He is doing his best to make it hard

worker at the moment. Not sure if that will go back onto its own spot

when it is potted. The blue is available, but he'd like to keep the

black on its spot. Borno in a moment whether or not that response. He has

really missed a trick so far. OK, he might go on and win the frame, but

he might go into the interval thinking, how on earth am I not

leading 3-1? I do think the black will go back on

its spot. It will be on the blue spot, which will be OK for Ding

Junhui. We'll find out shortly. A lot of room there. Maybe it does.

Possibly touching the red. It still pops the back. It would be better to

be on the blue spot. The pink is out of commission at the moment. It

might go into the left middle pocket or up into the corner, but the reds

around the pink are making it awkward.

A clever little shop there, just to nudge the red out of the way,

knowing that he can still get back onto the black from the cushion. The

pink is available into the middle as well.

Could just do with an angle on the black, just to flick the red away

from the black spot. He has got the angled to do that. He'll be thinking

thank goodness for Ross giving me these chances because I'm not

playing well at the moment. It looks as if he has got every chance of

winning the frame at this visit and bringing things level by the

interval at 2-2. As we said, one of the other frames

should not be a problem. He missed a fairly comfortable pot. It's the

same situation here. There's no reason why he should not go on and

take the frame. Disappointed he did not get enough

side when he played for the red at the side of the pink there. He could

always play for two red at a time. -- two reds.

Just needs this red and he can go to the mid-session interval. He can

then go to the practice table and work on his cue action because it

clearly hasn't been there. It was in the opening frame, but since then it

has been messy for him. Ross has missed a bit of a trick because he

could quite easily be leading 3-1. He has had a few chances, but maybe

just a bit inexperienced. Playing on BBC television, it's not as easy as

it will be on one of the outside tables. Ross coming back to the

table. Ding Junhui am not going into the interval are very happy man at

all. Ding Junhui does not look as if he is in a happy place out there at

all. You know, Steve, he just scraped through the first round

against the Brazilian. At one point he was 67 points ahead. We had a

chance to close the match out with one red. There was a miraculous

clearance to win on the black and heavy years now. At times he looks

fantastic and at times it looks as if his concentration is out the

window. He had an interesting international in China. He got all

the way to the final hours playing great and Mark Selby destroyed him.

It as if Ding Junhui through the towel in at 4-1. It felt like he

would not get back any frames and Mark Selby was playing decent stuff

at the time. Maybe he has reached a barrier of enthusiasm. Maybe he

needs to get that back on the grid. The irony is that he has already won

the Shanghai Masters, beat Mark Selby just before this. At the

Crucible he was 6-0 down and had to claw his way back. Maybe it's too

much of an ask? It could be the ups and downs of a season. You can't

always be up and positive. You will have peaks and troughs. Hopefully

you peek for the right events. It's nice to peak for the right events,

but it's easier said than done. You can't count on it. You can't skip

that one and then concentrate on the UK. It doesn't work like that.

Sometimes his concentration wavers a lot more than the other top players.

His body language is not great. He lets people know. He's very

readable. And that gives confidence to your opponent. Neil Robertson hit

a wall. He came back and and unfortunately lost though. I see

that you and Ding Junhui are both channelling your cheque vib? Yes,

because it's Sunday. Now, this young man is only 16 years

of age. He has already beaten Liang Wenbo, he was our runner-up here in

York 12 months ago. He beat him when he was 14, 15 years of age. He has

been threatening to burst onto the scene for a long time. And the

update on the other matches, because we have had eight of them under way

this afternoon, with another eight in the second round to complete this

evening. Mark Allen is 3-2 in front of Rod Lawler. Hamid Mia dropped off

the tour and clawed his way back. Martin Gould is now 4-3 down.

They've Gilbert is looking more comfortable now at 4-1 up against

Mark Joyce. We are going back to the Ross Muir and Ding Junhui match.

Will join them after the mid-session interval. -- we will join them. I

think the one next to the pink will go.

Straightaway he has left himself the wrong angle on the pink to get that

triangle of reds. His first shot was not the best. It should be OK and

screwing back. It's as if his focus is not quite there.

No disrespect to Ross to eet is playing, but he of the came into the

match thinking he could have it his own way and Ross has played pretty

well in the match so far. Ding is not playing anywhere near his best

at the moment. He just can't keep on making safety mistakes like he just

did. He needs to get his confidence back again. We know what a fantastic

break Ding is. It's going to be difficult now for him to win this

match. 38 points in front. This is 44. He

needs at least four more rates. The others are quite tricky, so he's not

bound to win the frame at this visit. -- four more reds.

Oh, that wobbled a bit, but safely in. Just one more red needed.

Oh, that kicked. The red jumped a mile. So it's 67 ahead with still 67

on the table. As you can see, he needs five reds

and five blacks to time. The first black is no problem.

That's pretty good. That's brought at least, well, you can make him

seeing -- you can see him making the five blacks he needs.

It is very difficult of course when you need blacks off of every red.

You have to make sure you get the right angle off of the red to get

back onto the back. Now, he should play for the one on the cushion here

this time because he has a perfect angle to get on it, rather than

risking getting onto the one made the middle pocket. -- near the

middle pocket. Slowly but surely he is getting himself back into the

frame. That is a poor shot. It had a bit of

a chance to get a re-spotted black the, Ross. That was the tricky one

that he played for first. Still expected him to knock that in.

He certainly looks much sharper after the mid-session interval. He

got a kick and Ross had a chance, but he didn't take it. Ding Junhui

now leads 3-2. Ding Junhui has had a torrid relationship with this

tournament. He has had early exits in the last couple of years so any

fluency is greatly welcomed. He's in front as we head into frame six now.

When you have the part of the cue and you are striking down on a shot

like that, it is so difficult, but once again, he has been a bit

unlucky. The one thing he -- the one he has tried to pot has come over

the middle pocket. He would like to get the red away to

the left of the black, but he doesn't have the angle. He will need

some sort of a cannon here. Maybe he will just hit them hard and hope for

the best. He has done. It has worked out pretty well. The my best to just

screw between the reds the. He can run through and leave it for the

middle. It's his choice. Just wondering if the pink will be tied

up somewhat when it goes back onto its spot. So he has got a little bit

of work to do for that good chance. Pecan stunt in between the gap of

the red and the black. He can get rid of them in both pockets. He's

playing top spin though. He must be playing for one of the loose reds on

the side of the table. And maybe the pink is available. He is looking

long and hard at it to see if it goes in the right corner. We'll find

out shortly by the way he plays the shot. If it's not the pink, he will

play for the blue. That is a bit tight, that. It looks as if it will

go, but it is a bit tight. That's why he decided on the blue.

Just about OK. It's still not straightforward just yet. He's got

the pink, but a little bit to do with the cue ball just get back that

loose red. You'll have two notch another red. He has played that

nicely. As I said, the black were the left corner that's why at some

stage he'll need to get on red. I'm not sure with the angle he has got

on the red that he can get on the pink softball. Getting on the next

red is going to be very difficult. There is no problem with the red and

pink, but the one after that could be. He needs to get the cue ball

somewhere where the black is. He could screw back and try to get

straight on the red. He may think it is too risky. So anywhere near where

he is now is not too bad. He has gone for the gap. Has he got the

Gap? What a great shot that is. Well done.

Yes, if anything, he overscrewed it slightly. He may have to go for the

blue was looking for the cot on the red. A good shot coming up if he can

pot the blue. He doesn't want to hit them hard because the white ball can

go towards the left corner pocket. This is the key shop maybe to go on

and take the frame. No, not quite. He's going to have to wait for

another opportunity. All very difficult to return the cue

ball back down if he plays the red behind the pink and catches one of

the reds on the right-hand side of the table. On the other side he has

got to find a gap as well. In the end, that was all he could do. Just

roll up to the red. There weren't many choices for him there.

Schoolboy error. Massive target to miss the blue there. A

straightforward safety shop. We has to be careful because what he has

been doing has been concentrating on the cue ball. The Pacers brought it

back into them the middle of the table. -- the pace. Good shot.

Excellent shot. You are better off missing it and

giving four points away. Rather than hitting the red on the thick side.

Make the judgment terry-macro adjustment and catch it, as he

intends to. Amazing that when you miss the ball,

you always hit it the second time. This red will cut. He is planning to

cut into the left-hand corner. The cue ball is going very close to the

yellow pocket. Needs to be careful about where the cue ball is

travelling to. Just being a little bit cautious with this shot at the

moment. He will be very disappointed by how

much he missed that by. I don't think that red next to the

pink goes. If it does, it is easy. If not, he will have to play a

cannon. He feels it passes the pink to the middle. It must be quite

tight. Plenty of room. Oh... kick. That was

a bad kick. Just as he was about to clinch the

frame, he gets a heavy contact. It just straightened up a little

bit. It is going to be very tough to get

right back into the frame from here. Just make sure you make 20-30 here,

just get close to him. Just looking to get to the

left-hander of the three reds. He can also get onto the black and get

ready to play. He does not want to be straight on this next red.

He decided he could not get onto the red three away from the black. He

played that well, though. No problem getting on the choice of

pink or black. He would like to bring the three reds into play.

Surely he is not thinking of putting the red and cannoning into the reds

on this shot. That would rely on luck. Looking at the angle, what do

you think? He did have the angle to play the

cannon, but as you can see there, the tables are so fast.

Now he has to pop a black and go between green and brown, into the

red on the left-hand side of the table.

He is just struggling to get into good position. As I say, when you

are not at the top of your form, on these very fast tables, it is

difficult to control the cue ball. I don't know if he can get down

behind the blue. Maybe a cannon onto the blue. He has put it behind the

yellow, which is just as good. I was surprised Ding played that last shot

the way he did. He would rather missed the ball on

his first attempt and hit it too fig. So he will have two hit a thin

one here. He doesn't want to bring the three reds into play.

He did catch it. Ross can bring the three reds into play with his next

shot. There is no worry whether black is. The black should cover it.

OK, you can't get a good white. He will try to get the White in the

jaws of the green pocket. Somewhere near the green pocket, bring all the

reds into play. He played the thin one. He missed a

trick there, he could have got them all into play there. Poor shot.

53 ahead, just 51 on the table. 4-2 four certain.

It is getting away from him, the match, Ross. He only has himself to

blame if he goes on to lose the match. Fabulous experience playing

one of the top players on a TV table.

Ding, slowly but surely getting his cue action back again. He seemed to

have lost it in frames three and four.

Started this frame with a break of 45, he will finish it with a break

of 46. -- 56. Ding Junhui is getting control of this match now. He goes

two clear. He leads 4-2. HAZEL IRVINE: Something less

comfortable and far more exciting happening at the table right beside

them. Mark Allen, the Northern Ireland schmo who has been a UK

championship finalist here the last couple of balls and this is a

potential maximum for the man who is a real combustible player, a sixth

of the season. The first of Mark Allen's rear. What a milestone.

?10,000 bonus. If anyone else makes one, but congratulations Mark Allen,

a fantastic achievement. It takes 4-3 up against Rod Lawler. He is in

command of the match. Back we go to the Ding and Ross Muir match. It is

COMMENTATOR: He really could do with locking in a sizeable break here. If

he falls 5-2 behind, you wouldn't give him much of a chance. At 4-3,

he is right in this match. Important minutes coming up for the young

Scot. One very interesting stat about

Ross, because they place a mini tournaments in China now, he has

actually learned Mandarin. Whether he will go to live in China, I'm not

sure. I have enough trouble speaking English.... Some people would say I

struggle with that! He is just looking to see if he can

get onto this bottom red. If he can't, he has the perfect angle on

the black to bring reds into play. He does not have to play for that

one loose red. Took too much time, didn't he,

making sure the cue ball. You cannot afford to miss blacks off the spot

at any standard. Just a little bit of lack of

experience on the big occasion for Ross. Normally, he would never miss

the black off the spotlight that. This could open the game right up

here. He has played for the individual one, but didn't play it

well. I thought he would screw back into the red and open them all up.

This will open a fume or up. He is not on the red as he intended. -- a

few more. He will have to rely on a bit of luck. It is a case of getting

the white in open play here. You don't necessarily know if you will

be on the blue, pink or black. But he has played it nicely. He played

it very nicely, and he does that very well.

OK, he has pushed a couple of reds onto the side cushion, but he won't

need those if he keeps potting reds with pinks. Enough there to leave

the frame say. Does the pink spot? If not, it will

have to go behind the red. I will show you the shot here. He played it

well. The referee making sure that the

pink is near to the red in a direct line behind the spot.

This is the key shot coming up. I don't think the reds are available.

He will need a cannon into the triangle of reds there. It is stuck

on the red. You could play that another ten times and it wouldn't

finish in that position. He will have to wait for another chance.

He doesn't really want to bring one of the reds of the cushion. But he

has to, because it is the easier safety shot.

In the last frame, it Ding led by 50 odd points.

Top-class safety shot their from Ross. Just over the two hours, six

frames played. Ross needs that black into play as

well. He has got to get in. The black tied up is not helping his

cause. He has brought the black into play,

so he will be happy with that shot. It is worth another look.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Ding attempting the two cushion escape,

and he will have to have another go at it.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss. Ross Muir, four.

A third attempt coming on. Of course, he is smooth good. So he can

have as many attempts as he won. Missed three times and you lose the

frame doesn't apply. -- he is snookered. It looks as if the yellow

is slightly in the way. The green slightly more to the Right

here. He might have two changes escape

route here, because I think the yellow in the way of the two

cushion. He has tried it three times and the angle is not there.

Looking at the angle, I think he can play on one cushion and rest on the

right-hand side of the table in the middle of the right-hand side

cushion. He would be very unlucky to leave

anything easy should he play that way.

That wouldn't be a bad choice if the red closest to the pink doesn't go

into the left corner there. One between the pink and black spot, the

blue, he is going to have to get a lot of side on this.

Well, I don't know what that was. I just cannot understand what he has

just played. What was he trying to hit?!

He just seemed to play as if he hadn't quite made his mind up. If he

lands on that correct, he sticks the one up that Ross spotted. It was a

strange choice. That's so careless. Those three reds

were all available. All he had to do was miss the colour on the way back

and he will be fairly disappointed with that last shot.

What a fluke that is. And that could give him this frame. Have a look at

this. It will come back, flick the white back across the table. Wow. At

least two reds and two colours would have brought him back into the

frame. But as you say, this will cost him the frame now. An

unbelievable fluke. What a difference that is, 5-2 or 4-3,

incredible. 34 ahead. He needs this red and any

colour will do. You have got to feel a little bit sorry for Ross. A bit

of a chance to get back to just one frame behind. But to see the red fly

into the middle pocket. Once the double went in, that was it

all over. Any sport, you can't beat a bit of

luck. He certainly had a slice of good fortune there.

Well, a very nice 58 clearance, but we have to say he was helped by an

unbelievable fluke in the middle pocket. He is looking very

comfortable now, Ding Junhui. He leads 5-2.

HAZEL IRVINE: Refereeing today in that match, Tatiana Willison, whose

husband Ben Woollaston is playing in the sports hall. Very much a family

affair for those two. She has two concentrate on matters in frame

eight. Played that shot quite cleverly

knowing that the red appeared to be going in the right-hand corner. He

could screw in behind the brown here on this shot. Ross is looking at the

one red just above the black. It will pass. That is the one, there.

Tight, though, isn't it. You have got to play it, don't you.

He has had a really good look at it. Scratching his head, but our picture

showed you that it potted. But he's but behind it. It definitely pots.

Dear me. Coming around the other side now, but it definitely does. He

can play the choice of pink or blue, leaving the White six inches further

down the table on two further colours. But it clearly pots.

Yes, clearly available. And as we thought, he has the choice of blue

or pink. He would like the pink pack on the back spot, I can't see

clearly whether the pink spot is available. -- black spot.

Just one more good positional shot from Ross here to make the break a

little easier. He needs to be straight on this red in the middle,

or he will have to play a cannon of some sort.

He is certainly not straight. He played that nicely. The pink will go

back onto its spot now. He has to be careful where the next red is coming

from. At first glance, I can't see a trade forward way of getting onto

it, actually. -- straightforward way. There must be one that pots

somewhere. From this position, I can't see where.

He will have a very difficult one to play in the middle. Looking at the

angle, he might be able to roll this one and then came the red and then

he will be on the black all the pink -- and then cannon. It is not quite

the acute angle. 54 in front. He doesn't want to just attempt

something that he doesn't fancy. And put Ding in.

Just wondering if Ding will take this along the cushion, because he

can get onto the pink. 54 behind. He has had a look at this. He's looking

at this again. If this goes in, from that angle, leave the pink for the

middle pocket, but now he is digging right into it. He did that to play

the red up the table. That was a bit dangerous, playing

that pot. Does not appear to have left anything easy but Ding can

bring the reds into play. He would like to get them opened a bit, even

though he is playing the safety shot. -- open a bit. Those two reds

are open but he has left a pot in the corner. Two more reds he needs

to make the frame safe. He thought, if I can knock this in,

I will win the frame, but he has missed it. There's enough there for

Ding. It is a tall order. But when you are this far behind you tend to

concentrate a bit harder. His focus has not been 100% this afternoon in

this match. He has looked good in spells and then has missed

relatively easy shots. Could he make a clearance when it is needed to

shut out the match? I would not be surprised. Just one good positional

shot needed. To get onto Ping or black and opened the red away from

the black. -- to get onto pink. As Dennis said, no surprise if he goes

on to clear from here. The reds are all him play but he has got to get

the white amongst them. -- in play. He has come up a little bit short.

That red to the side of the blue is not available into this corner. Not

the ideal position just yet. He needs to be dead straight on this

red to leave himself the pink and then he can open things up. He is

absolutely dead straight. This is a good chance after this goes in. He

can now develop the red and the black. Just a gentle nudge will do.

And they are there for the taking. Yes, just one shot away from making

that they frame-winning chance and that was the one just there. -- from

making that a frame-winning chance. Ross can only sit and hope that he

loses position. It is all about experience for

player like Ross. He has had chances here. He could have led 3-1. If you

were in his corner, what would you take away from this match? Mind you,

that could be the end of the break. It is the end. Amazing, absolutely

amazing, they were there for the taking, but then suddenly with a

little cannon he has messed it up. What I would say to Ross, you are

not out of this match yet. LAUGHTER Elegant little shot. Amazing. That

was purely careless. He needed to kiss the red half ball. Well,

another chance. He will have to take the green if

he's going to win the match at this visit. That was a very poor

positional shot that Ding played. Amazing, these top players normally,

when they see the winning post, they go by it very quickly. Ding seems to

be struggling to get past the winning post. His track record in

the UK in the last couple of years, he has lost to a player outside the

top 64 in both of his last visits to the Barbican centre and he is not

open the line yet in this match. That is the red. Amazing. Just needs

to pot a colour. If the pink pots, he should take it on, would you take

it on? As a shot to nothing. Or play the snooker. He could do with

knocking the pink into the right-hand corner. I would

definitely go for that. He is not done quite yet. But that

was a good pressure pot from Ross. Pressure pot on the pink, barring

snookers, Ross will get a frame back, but he will still be trailing

5-3. A great chance of snookers the way

the balls are sitting. He should have had the match done and dusted

with the chances he had. Can't just roll a he would have to

play a stun shot, so maybe a slight change of play. -- can't just roll

it, he will have to play a stun shot. Not bad, but an easy escape.

How did he miss that one? Sometimes when you miss a shot like that, and

that is a sitter he has missed... He could lose this match now. Yes, Ding

was hoping to play the green onto the brown to leave the green where

the brown is and it would have been a snooker. But it is not a snooker

because of the kiss on the brown. Just trying to be too careful, don't

you think? Yes, it would not be a bad idea for Ding to pot the green

and get the brown off the cushion because it is out of the game at the

moment. I think there is a gap for the green. Maybe not. Maybe not.

He can certainly hit it off the side cushion but has got to be careful he

doesn't go in-off it. Ideally Ding would like to pot the

pink and brown and then there is the chance to get the snooker. Ross

needs to pot one of these green or brown very quickly otherwise he

could be sweating in a few moments. That is bit unlucky, when you are

playing a swerve, but that is the last thing you want to do, take the

brown towards the corner. Obviously Ding can't do this now, though.

There is a way of playing with lots of left-hand side, trying to wrest

the cue ball between the blue and the black, but he wants to keep them

together. You are kidding. I thought for a

second he had gone behind the brown. That would have been a shot.

This is the longest frame of the match so far. The mentioned that

Ding had a couple of chances to shut the match out but played a couple of

careless ones. Interesting to see if he has a go at

this cut. And then misses it and leaves it on. Ding could get the

snooker on blue blue which is next to the black. -- on the blue.

Another bit of a chance, this. Clever shot, to use the jaws. He has

got to play this with a lot of side. Needs to be careful if he hits the

green towards that pink, though. You don't want to be knocking the pink

in. Well, now then. Does Ding pot the green and the brown? No, did not

play to pot it. He went to get the Stoker, but I would have been

tempted to have a guaranteed snooker -- he went to get the snooker. In a

heartbeat. I cannot believe he refused the green. Very strange

choice, especially if he moves the Greenaway now. -- green away now.

He's doing his best to put himself under pressure. Only one snooker

needed. Another two inches and that would

have been a very tough one to hit. The blue is now in a better spot to

get a snooker behind but maybe not from this position. It is better,

closer to the cushion than out in the middle of the table.

You can't get your breath. He almost missed the green, but to hit that

thin and not the pink in, and this is a free ball. -- knock. That is

incredible. You could stand there for a month of Sundays and you could

never make that shot. How unlucky? But he has missed so many easy balls

to clinch the frame. As Ross. -- has. Is he going to bring the blue

into play? Very good effort. Great positional shot from Ding bringing

the blue interplay, but he needs a good shot on the green. Natural

angle is coming up on the brown. He has hit that too hard. Great pot but

look where the white is finishing. Maybe there is value in taking the

brown into the middle. Because you can then take the blue into the

corner. It is technically worth the risk. Decided against it. -- it is

definitely worth the risk. You wonder what is going on at the

moment. Amazing how the pink ended up going in there. He might have got

the sticker back. -- snooker. He deserved a bit of good fortune after

what happened previously when he accidentally knocked the pink in. Is

the pink coming to the rescue? I think it might. Can he get through

to it? I don't think so. He is going to knock it safe again. He has hit

and hoped. Hit that a little harder than I thought he would do. He

hasn't stuck the brown up. It is a brown bull fight, you would have to

say. Who ever pots the brown, wins the frame. -- it is a brown ball

fight. He is struggling at the moment,

Ross, the cue ball should have been typed on the baulk cushion. He just

decelerated. -- should have been typed. You can see the Burmese and

on his face, he can't believe how badly he hit that -- you can see the

amusement. Oh! Look at this shot. I thought he

was going to drop in behind the black. Come on, Ross, you have

mistake you easy frame-winning balls. Almost 50 minutes ago he had

an easy green into the pocket -- 15. He missed a sitter. Can he knock a

more difficult one in? He can avoid the middle and corner

pocket if he pots this spring. He will automatically add up towards