Final - Part 2

0:00:36 > 0:00:41I've been in this too long. This is my destiny, this is my time.The

0:00:41 > 0:00:44champion of the United Kingdom...

0:00:48 > 0:00:54There he is with a big smile.The UK championship final, one of the best

0:00:54 > 0:01:03on record, is over.Shaking the hand of young Steven Hendry.Ronnie

0:01:03 > 0:01:12O'Sullivan, ladies and gentlemen! Unbelievable.

0:01:12 > 0:01:23Come on! The career of Judd Trump.

0:01:23 > 0:01:26Welcome to the final day at the Barbican, the home of the UK

0:01:26 > 0:01:28championship.

0:01:28 > 0:01:31Barbican, the home of the UK championship.A potted history of

0:01:31 > 0:01:34this Betway championship, in the blink of an eye, and in this 40th

0:01:34 > 0:01:39anniversary of the event, we have final well worthy of a special

0:01:39 > 0:01:43occasion and one which may rewrite the record section of the snooker

0:01:43 > 0:01:46history books, because Ronnie O'Sullivan comes out here tonight

0:01:46 > 0:01:54chasing a record equalling sixth UK crown, that would match Steve Davis,

0:01:54 > 0:01:58and Steven Hendry equalling 18th snooker Major. But hold the back

0:01:58 > 0:02:02page, don't be making any revisions just yet because triple Crown

0:02:02 > 0:02:07winners Shaun Murphy put the breaks on O'Sullivan's ambitions and a

0:02:07 > 0:02:13fabulous first session this afternoon.Shaun Murphy got off to a

0:02:13 > 0:02:16flyer in today's's final in the

0:02:16 > 0:02:19flyer in today's's final in the first frame, aided by this

0:02:19 > 0:02:24outrageous fluke. Ten minutes later, a break of 126

0:02:24 > 0:02:34and it was 1-0 to Murphy.Shaun Murphy looked to be in full flow in

0:02:34 > 0:02:41frame two but the hampered cueing appeared to be his undoing. And

0:02:41 > 0:02:49Ronnie mopped up the tears, 1- one. Murphy split the pack and knocked in

0:02:49 > 0:02:55the red in frame three and the Rocket pounced with a break of 103.

0:02:55 > 0:03:012-1 to O'Sullivan.Ronnie look to have the advantage in the frame four

0:03:01 > 0:03:08that this fantastic snooker from Shaun Murphy opened up the frame for

0:03:08 > 0:03:15him. Murphy made a gutsy clearance, 2-2.In frame five Ronnie was forced

0:03:15 > 0:03:19into this long red, he couldn't guarantee position but a little clip

0:03:19 > 0:03:22off the black and the white jangling in the jaws worked out well for the

0:03:22 > 0:03:30Rocket and was enough.Frame six is anybody's until this magnificent

0:03:30 > 0:03:32opportunist positional shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan meant perfect

0:03:32 > 0:03:37position on the pink ball. It made position on the black so easy, 4-2

0:03:37 > 0:03:44to Ronnie O'Sullivan.In frame seven, Murphy was left mid range

0:03:44 > 0:03:50red. Straight into the heart heart of the pocket, clean as a whistle,

0:03:50 > 0:03:554-3.Ronnie O'Sullivan was desperate to win the last frame of the session

0:03:55 > 0:04:00but Shaun Murphy wasn't having any of it. This fantastic blue to split

0:04:00 > 0:04:06the reds was the catalyst to winning the frame. 4-4.So our fabulous

0:04:06 > 0:04:10final and all to play for this evening. Let's get them out there!

0:04:14 > 0:04:18Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the reigning Champion of Champions,

0:04:18 > 0:04:26Shaun Murphy! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:04:38 > 0:04:49CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:05:08 > 0:05:12And his opponents, the five-time world and UK champion, Ronnie

0:05:12 > 0:05:18O'Sullivan!

0:05:20 > 0:05:30CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:05:51 > 0:06:01So, Ronnie aiming for a record and Shaun Murphy aiming to become the

0:06:01 > 0:06:06tenth time Anna. In the box seats this evening we say hello to form

0:06:06 > 0:06:10our world champions Ken Doherty and John Parrott. Do you think we are

0:06:10 > 0:06:14set for a close on here? COMMENTATOR: Could well be on Hazel.

0:06:14 > 0:06:19Good evening everyone. Wonderful atmosphere, wonderful venue and two

0:06:19 > 0:06:26wonderful players. What a session it was this afternoon, Ken.Yes,

0:06:26 > 0:06:31fantastic session, and what an atmosphere. At this wonderful

0:06:31 > 0:06:36Barbican Hall here in York. A fantastic crowd. I think this could

0:06:36 > 0:06:46go all the way, John.Yes. 4-4. At 4-2 it was looking a bit precarious

0:06:46 > 0:06:51for Shaun but he dug in deep. That last frame was absolutely fabulous

0:06:51 > 0:07:04to pinch. Tea Party success you can see, 94% each, which is very high.

0:07:04 > 0:07:18-- pot success. Long pot surprise. There certainly isn't in the safety.

0:07:24 > 0:07:28A big shot to take on for the first shot of the evening, but he will be

0:07:28 > 0:07:35happy with it.A nice kiss kept the red and cue ball safe.

0:07:44 > 0:07:49I don't know about you, John, but I think the mid-session interval came

0:07:49 > 0:07:56at the right time. Particularly for Ronnie. He was looking, getting a

0:07:56 > 0:08:00little bit annoyed with himself. He bangs the table and he would have

0:08:00 > 0:08:07been very disappointed to lose that last frame. Finished the session all

0:08:07 > 0:08:12square instead of having a two frame lead. An excellent pot from Shaun

0:08:12 > 0:08:14Murphy.

0:08:19 > 0:08:24And that is extremely unlucky, what they pot that was, right into the

0:08:24 > 0:08:29heart of the pocket. I think the cue ball sneaked past the green, can't

0:08:29 > 0:08:37have the yellow. All he can do is tuck him up.

0:08:37 > 0:08:45Shaun Murphy, one. I agree with you, I think he's

0:08:45 > 0:08:49getting -- he was getting a bit edgy to win that last frame, Ronnie. It

0:08:49 > 0:08:54doesn't matter how successful you are or how many tournaments you have

0:08:54 > 0:08:59won. He played a double in the last frame in the afternoon. He was

0:08:59 > 0:09:03taking a chance, but just forced it a bit, it went in but ultimately

0:09:03 > 0:09:07couldn't win the frame in one visit. Didn't look too pleased with himself

0:09:07 > 0:09:14when he left the auditorium. Touching ball, so Shaun can just

0:09:14 > 0:09:21play away from the red up into pork, try and cover the pack with the

0:09:21 > 0:09:29green. Hasn't done so. Into baulk. Just be careful. Ronnie has to be a

0:09:29 > 0:09:32bit careful here that he doesn't knock a red towards the bottom

0:09:32 > 0:09:37left-hand corner pocket.He is wondering whether that yellow, quite

0:09:37 > 0:09:42a nice target, if he can get in behind it, that is his intention. He

0:09:42 > 0:09:46getting close. APPLAUSE

0:09:50 > 0:09:58Beautiful shot and paste, as well. -- and pace. Just puts a little

0:09:58 > 0:10:02pressure on these safety shots.

0:10:06 > 0:10:13The difference being close to the cushion and just being a little bit

0:10:13 > 0:10:18short of it. Such a big difference in cueing.I tell you what, it was a

0:10:18 > 0:10:22big shot to take on because it didn't look like there was a natural

0:10:22 > 0:10:29gap, even if he potted it, to get round there. It had to go in. So,

0:10:29 > 0:10:34first good chance to Ronnie O'Sullivan this evening.Yes, and

0:10:34 > 0:10:38I'm sure after this blew it will be red and get that black back on its

0:10:38 > 0:10:41spot as soon as is.

0:10:47 > 0:10:54A little shake of the head tells me this red is a bit straight. Wanted a

0:10:54 > 0:10:58little angle, where he could have stunned it in and get behind the

0:10:58 > 0:11:02black and potted into the middle pocket. He couldn't do that from

0:11:02 > 0:11:05that angle.

0:11:35 > 0:11:40In the middle of everything there, really. The red at the back of the

0:11:40 > 0:11:43pack, I think you might flicked off the red at the bottom of the bunch.

0:11:43 > 0:11:47Looking to see if he can drop it in and come on the pink left-handed,

0:11:47 > 0:11:53which of course he is brilliant at. That is what he is going to play.

0:11:56 > 0:12:02I think pink will go on to the black spot, then. The sport might be

0:12:02 > 0:12:04occupied, so that will help.

0:12:14 > 0:12:22Pink spot is covered so it goes on the highest available. Looking to

0:12:22 > 0:12:29pot this red for the pink. We'll be straight into the reds above the

0:12:29 > 0:12:35pink, play a nice little cannon here. Yes, didn't have to hit that

0:12:35 > 0:12:39hard, just played a wonderful soft cannon and it has opened up three or

0:12:39 > 0:12:47four reds there.A lovely touch, the cannon. It beautiful touch.

0:12:57 > 0:13:02Just run slightly too far with that one. Would have liked to play the

0:13:02 > 0:13:05pink and screwed out for the reds into the same pocket. Might have to

0:13:05 > 0:13:13play another cannon now. That's all right.

0:13:16 > 0:13:24Got enough bottom on the cue ball just to hold it of those two reds.

0:13:42 > 0:13:48Played that nicely. I'm sure the bottom red of the five will pot into

0:13:48 > 0:13:53the same pocket he potted that red. So he doesn't have to disturb any

0:13:53 > 0:13:57reds here. Well, decided with the angle to try and bring everything

0:13:57 > 0:14:03into play. Could have been nicer.

0:14:06 > 0:14:1240, touching ball. He is playing away here, so the

0:14:12 > 0:14:19touching ball isn't a problem. Just a tricky little red. And now he's

0:14:19 > 0:14:25absolutely lovely. A great contribution already from Ronnie.

0:14:25 > 0:14:30Settled down really well. It took him a while to totally get the cue

0:14:30 > 0:14:34ball in this break but he has it now. You would be very surprised if

0:14:34 > 0:14:42this isn't the first frame on this evening.Two lovely little shots

0:14:42 > 0:14:48into both middle pocket is fair, just holding the cue ball. That is

0:14:48 > 0:14:57all about touch and feel. This man has it in abundance. A good start

0:14:57 > 0:15:00for Ronnie, this. Exactly what he needed.

0:15:13 > 0:15:22Yes, this lovely break after Shaun's opening attempt to red, which was

0:15:22 > 0:15:25certainly very attacking. Couldn't see a natural gap through, but he

0:15:25 > 0:15:34missed it by a mile. He will have to use it and suffer. Certainly against

0:15:34 > 0:15:38this man. -- he will have to sit and suffer.

0:15:52 > 0:15:59That is such a fast start, from the very first frame, ten minute frame,

0:15:59 > 0:16:0411 minute frame the second, just over ten minutes for the next and

0:16:04 > 0:16:12the longest frame of the first eight was 24 minutes. Just coming up to

0:16:12 > 0:16:19ten minutes for this frame and... Will Shaun comeback? He says no. It

0:16:19 > 0:16:26puts him back into the lead, takes this opening frame and leads Shaun

0:16:26 > 0:16:28Murphy 5-4.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31this opening frame and leads Shaun Murphy 5-4.We have two gentleman

0:16:31 > 0:16:34with us in the studio who are slightly nervous because their

0:16:34 > 0:16:37records are under threat, as they have been for some time. If you take

0:16:37 > 0:16:42a look at the triple round graphic it will show you how many majors in

0:16:42 > 0:16:51snooker have been won by these guys. Steven Hendry currently with 18

0:16:51 > 0:16:55Ronnie, one behind in the chase and Steve Davis, his record in this

0:16:55 > 0:16:59championship at six could be called tonight. Ronnie has often protested

0:16:59 > 0:17:04this week it is not record that is driving him on, but how important,

0:17:04 > 0:17:09in terms of a legacy and a life and a career are these records, as far

0:17:09 > 0:17:17as you are concerned?Yes, Steve was the benchmark for me. You go through

0:17:17 > 0:17:21your career and you have targets. I had targets and never hid the fact I

0:17:21 > 0:17:26wanted to beat Steve's records. Ronnie can say what he likes them

0:17:26 > 0:17:30that he doesn't care, when he gets to the table, doesn't he care? He

0:17:30 > 0:17:33wants to win. Perhaps he has other things in his life, but he's a

0:17:33 > 0:17:38winner, he's a sportsman and there's no doubt in my mind that he knows

0:17:38 > 0:17:42how many he's got, he knows how many he needs to get.The natural

0:17:42 > 0:17:46evolution of things in sport, as in life, things move on but is Ronnie

0:17:46 > 0:17:50going to make it to the 18th major title tonight?

0:17:53 > 0:17:56If he keeps hitting it like you did in the first bring this evening

0:17:56 > 0:18:01every chance of that happening. A lovely break of 75, effortless.

0:18:01 > 0:18:04Wonderful cue ball control.

0:18:15 > 0:18:19He lives for these occasions, when he's out there and focused and

0:18:19 > 0:18:23playing well, that's when he is at his best out in the arena, in front

0:18:23 > 0:18:30of a big crowd. Loves nothing more than competing.

0:18:41 > 0:18:47A better safety from Shaun.I bet he breathed a sigh of relief when he

0:18:47 > 0:18:57got the gaps.This bottom red does cut, but very difficult.

0:18:57 > 0:19:03Concentrating more on the cue ball, making sure of a good safety, but he

0:19:03 > 0:19:09hasn't got it close to that baulk cushion. Again, no prize for

0:19:09 > 0:19:14guessing what Shaun is going to do here.This will tell us something,

0:19:14 > 0:19:18won't it? He has had a couple of goes tonight. The first one went in,

0:19:18 > 0:19:22the second one he missed. A big shot considering he just went a frame

0:19:22 > 0:19:32behind. That's as far as he's missed on all week. -- missed on all

0:19:38 > 0:19:42Came right across that, and that's worrying.

0:20:04 > 0:20:07Quite a nice target, that yellow and brown.The brown being knocked off

0:20:07 > 0:20:11its spot towards the yellow. Pretty good if you can get the right

0:20:11 > 0:20:19contact off the side of the pack. Just put a line up there, as you

0:20:19 > 0:20:25said, it's a pretty good target. He's played a very good shot indeed.

0:20:30 > 0:20:33Mind the gap.

0:20:38 > 0:20:43He can get through there. Might just have too swerve it a little bit to

0:20:43 > 0:20:48hit it where he wants. A little bit unlucky, Shaun. It was a good shot

0:20:48 > 0:20:50that he played.

0:21:01 > 0:21:07And by deliberately playing down that side of the table off it,

0:21:07 > 0:21:12because the pink is blocking the edge of the reds, so he's now, he

0:21:12 > 0:21:17can't go down one side of the table.

0:21:25 > 0:21:33Looks like another long pot attempt. APPLAUSE

0:21:33 > 0:21:39That one didn't miss the pocket. Great shot. Once again, a little bit

0:21:39 > 0:21:48unlucky. Could have had a nicer kiss than that.Yes, seeing that red go

0:21:48 > 0:21:51in, but for that full kiss on the pinky would have been nicely on the

0:21:51 > 0:22:01blue. That is tremendous, tremendous shot! Actually, got into the cue

0:22:01 > 0:22:05ball too much. Wanted to be on the bottom of the two reds to the right

0:22:05 > 0:22:12of the black spot.It was some cueing. He has some work on the cue

0:22:12 > 0:22:15ball, to pot that and screw back to where he is. Not too many players

0:22:15 > 0:22:21would be playing that on the circuit. Just looks like a safety

0:22:21 > 0:22:23now.

0:22:42 > 0:22:49Oooh, not the best. OK. But the cue ball close to the baulk cushion but

0:22:49 > 0:22:56left red below the pink spot. Straightforward.He played the wrong

0:22:56 > 0:23:00red, didn't he? Two reds to the right of the pink spot, if you went

0:23:00 > 0:23:04down between green and blue he cuts off one side of the pack. So he's

0:23:04 > 0:23:09not only not done that, he's left a shot to nothing here.

0:23:11 > 0:23:13APPLAUSE

0:23:18 > 0:23:25He's not on the brown or yellow, but no prizes for guessing what Shaun

0:23:25 > 0:23:28Murphy's next shot is going to be.

0:23:31 > 0:23:35I'm afraid he left himself open for that one, Shaun. It was a great pot

0:23:35 > 0:23:43by Ronnie. A little game of chess there, played the wrong piece and

0:23:43 > 0:23:45the wrong move.

0:23:53 > 0:23:57There is a possible shot here, but he has to be so precise. He has to

0:23:57 > 0:24:02get the cue ball off one side cushion between red and blue, onto

0:24:02 > 0:24:06the next side cushion and try and land on the red behind the black

0:24:06 > 0:24:14spot.A foul and a miss. Ronnie O'Sullivan, four.

0:24:14 > 0:24:20Just needs to square it up a little bit of the first cushion. Has he

0:24:20 > 0:24:26left one of these reds? If he has left the red on that, there is no

0:24:26 > 0:24:36point Ronnie potting him back in. Yes, the red was on.

0:24:36 > 0:24:41I'm afraid he's just been out thought, or he has out thought

0:24:41 > 0:24:46himself, Shaun Murphy, in that little exchange. By playing off the

0:24:46 > 0:24:51wrong red. Yes, he's been severely punished by Ronnie knocking it in

0:24:51 > 0:24:54but it was the chance he had, and that the level that playing at its

0:24:54 > 0:24:59the little things now and then that can cost you frames.

0:25:16 > 0:25:22He's just trying to work out what his plan of attack is. Not

0:25:22 > 0:25:26straightforward, all those reds on one side of the table. The pink is

0:25:26 > 0:25:32off its spot. He has to negotiate some way he can get the black on its

0:25:32 > 0:25:37spot as quickly as possible. He usually sorts it out.

0:25:40 > 0:25:45That is his only concern here, get on a red, get the black on its spot

0:25:45 > 0:25:52and try to win the frame, because he won't be able to win it played Monty

0:25:52 > 0:25:58baulk colours or the blue. -- playing it on the baulk colours or

0:25:58 > 0:26:04the blue. That was a bit hard, needs a bit of luck here. He has been

0:26:04 > 0:26:10extremely fortunate there.And if he can play a little screw here in be

0:26:10 > 0:26:16hind the pink... Well, he screwed off the red instead. I thought if he

0:26:16 > 0:26:20could have played a little screw and dropped the pink in the middle, not

0:26:20 > 0:26:25easy I know, but he would have had two reds on the right-hand side,

0:26:25 > 0:26:28which he could played off on and been on the black. It obviously

0:26:28 > 0:26:34wasn't on, because he would have played it. He doesn't miss a trick.

0:26:42 > 0:26:45APPLAUSE

0:26:51 > 0:26:57A good clue. He will need good cueing on this red and try to screw

0:26:57 > 0:27:04back up for the blue or pink. That is brilliant, great shot.

0:27:18 > 0:27:24He's keeping it going. It's hard work at the moment for him, a really

0:27:24 > 0:27:30awkward chance. Going to try and drop this in and just hold it. Oooh,

0:27:30 > 0:27:39just about. Trying to hold the cue ball there. Certainly hit the jaw.

0:27:39 > 0:27:43Yes, just went in off the right-hand side.

0:27:53 > 0:27:57Well, this is just an incredible break at the moment, because he just

0:27:57 > 0:28:03keeps knocking balls in, trying to keep it going.That was an amazing

0:28:03 > 0:28:06shot, there, to get into the white.

0:28:10 > 0:28:17He has blue or pink, pink is quite tricky... But will be nicely onto

0:28:17 > 0:28:24the red into the same pocket. He can pot the blue. Looking at the red

0:28:24 > 0:28:27closest to the pink.

0:28:30 > 0:28:35In fact, both reds pot.

0:28:47 > 0:28:53Oooh... Ronnie O'Sullivan, 27.

0:28:53 > 0:28:59Well, after all the difficult pots he has spotted, he has missed a

0:28:59 > 0:29:03pretty straight on. --

0:29:09 > 0:29:12what can Shaun do here?

0:29:25 > 0:29:29He's got a couple of reds he can play on but he would have loved to

0:29:29 > 0:29:34have the cue ball and little higher. Pot the blue and come down to the

0:29:34 > 0:29:42next red. So he has purposely held the spot, so blue will go on the

0:29:42 > 0:29:47black spot on good thinking.

0:29:55 > 0:30:03Very good.High on the red by the cue ball and then he can play onto

0:30:03 > 0:30:05the black.

0:30:10 > 0:30:28That was very good thinking from Shaun, holding that sport. -- spot.

0:30:28 > 0:30:32If he can stay on the black... No, obviously didn't have the angle on

0:30:32 > 0:30:39it. That would have been handy. Still in a good position here.

0:30:52 > 0:30:56It's just trying to promote that red a little bit closer to the pocket,

0:30:56 > 0:31:03make it a little bit easier. He knew he had the option of the red that is

0:31:03 > 0:31:05closest to the black spot as well. It's available.

0:31:24 > 0:31:39Excellent shot. Points all level. Four reds, four blacks would do it.

0:31:39 > 0:31:49Or three blacks and the blue.He's just checking the scoreline, you're

0:31:49 > 0:31:55quite right, NEC 's four reds and he has negotiated these ones well. This

0:31:55 > 0:31:58chance will be annoying Ronnie because he did so much of the hard

0:31:58 > 0:32:11work to get the ball is better positions. In some ways he has half

0:32:11 > 0:32:14tidy the table up for Shaun to come in. Even though he has taken these

0:32:14 > 0:32:32very well.He does not want to finish low on this black. Needs to

0:32:32 > 0:32:36leave himself a nice angle. Good shot.It is interesting because with

0:32:36 > 0:32:40an angle he could play for the one on the right side cushion if he

0:32:40 > 0:32:45wanted. He doesn't have to. He decided to take that one. Sometimes

0:32:45 > 0:32:48in those situations you get the perfect angle the first time.

0:32:48 > 0:33:00Decided to play the red the other way.

0:33:03 > 0:33:07It is playing ball, but should be dead weight so that the cue ball

0:33:07 > 0:33:17runs tight to the side cushion. This has been an excellent break so far.

0:33:17 > 0:33:22Just one red and black or blue will do it.This is the important shot of

0:33:22 > 0:33:37the frame. Excellent.

0:33:40 > 0:33:45This is another frame that will put Ronnie. There have been a couple

0:33:45 > 0:33:49frames in this final that he should have won, and it may be the

0:33:49 > 0:33:52difference when he gets down to the latter stages of this match. That

0:33:52 > 0:34:09remains to be seen. As you said, John,... And then goes the black.

0:34:09 > 0:34:14Today it has been the opposite. He's had a few chances from Ronnie,

0:34:14 > 0:34:18Shaun, and he has been well up to the task. This has been a superb

0:34:18 > 0:34:30break.His concentration has been spot on.

0:34:32 > 0:34:38Lots of great finals in the UK Championship over the years. This is

0:34:38 > 0:34:52already proving to be another one. Not much between both players here.

0:34:52 > 0:35:04You miss a ball, and you are going to sit in your chair.

0:35:05 > 0:35:08Sure not too bothered about the black. What a wonderful response

0:35:08 > 0:35:12that was. Ronnie was in first, looked like he was going to take the

0:35:12 > 0:35:16frame but it is Shaun Murphy with a break of 80, and we are all square

0:35:16 > 0:35:16again.

0:35:16 > 0:35:22break of 80, and we are all square again. It is 5-5. Ronnie is not

0:35:22 > 0:35:26shaping -- shaking off this fellow tonight, is the Chris macro Shaun

0:35:26 > 0:35:29Murphy is a different proposition to the players he's played in this

0:35:29 > 0:35:33event so far.With that confidence from the Champion of Champions I

0:35:33 > 0:35:39think he fancies it.Is there an element of avenging that defeat,

0:35:39 > 0:35:46because that one hurt him?There have been times when Ronnie would

0:35:46 > 0:35:51have made a century there, but he doesn't look as clinical amongst the

0:35:51 > 0:35:55balls for me today. I don't know whether he's trying too hard to beat

0:35:55 > 0:35:59Shaun, I don't know. Shaun seems to be more clinical in his positional

0:35:59 > 0:36:04play when he comes to the table. Ronnie is just smashing balls into

0:36:04 > 0:36:07pockets, and the balls are going everywhere. That is not normally his

0:36:07 > 0:36:13way.Shaun seems to be in a mood to punish any mistakes Ronnie is

0:36:13 > 0:36:21making. And that'll be very much on his here.It is all to play for. I

0:36:21 > 0:36:24can't see, the way it is going, the pattern of the game, that it is ever

0:36:24 > 0:36:32going to change. It'll be like this all the way the end.Metz hope, and

0:36:32 > 0:36:35we have another cracking Sunday night final. -- let's hope.

0:36:43 > 0:36:47JOHN PARROTT: Both players are playing some really good stuff.

0:36:47 > 0:36:53Usually impressive, Murphy, in that last frame. Wonderful break. --

0:36:53 > 0:37:05hugely impressive. He has looked confident all week. In some of the

0:37:05 > 0:37:06earlier rounds you don't have to be quite

0:37:10 > 0:37:14But whilst you are still in, you can win and he has improved in every

0:37:14 > 0:37:20round. He certainly did in the semifinal. His concentration was

0:37:20 > 0:37:25much better. It has been really good today. When he is at his peak, he's

0:37:25 > 0:37:35a handful, as Ronnie is finding out. An excellent aggressive safety shot

0:37:35 > 0:37:43therefrom Shaun. A difficult position here, these two reds. He

0:37:43 > 0:37:46needs to bring the cue ball down the left-hand side of the table.

0:37:50 > 0:37:57That is a cracking shot. That was absolutely brilliant. There wasn't

0:37:57 > 0:38:02much margin for error. Fantastic shot. No margin for error

0:38:02 > 0:38:12whatsoever. Played it to perfection. Just have a look at this. Just had

0:38:12 > 0:38:26to miss that red. And back up towards the baulk. Fantastic.It

0:38:26 > 0:38:29Shaun can see the red on the right-hand side past the yellow but

0:38:29 > 0:38:33the problem are going up and down is to try not to get a cannon on the

0:38:33 > 0:38:38red below it. He's looking at it now. That is the shot he would be

0:38:38 > 0:38:42playing straightaway. Just got to make sure you get the right contact.

0:38:42 > 0:38:45A little bit thicker than the shot you would be playing normally. You

0:38:45 > 0:38:52don't want to get the cannon on the other red. That is why he is

0:38:52 > 0:39:03deliberating. Over a minute of thinking time. Don't blame him. If

0:39:03 > 0:39:15he misses this he's going to be sitting down for a while.

0:39:22 > 0:39:26Well, whatever shot he was going to play he's got to play it better than

0:39:26 > 0:39:38that. Stuck in the jaw. He had a fair margin for error.He certainly

0:39:38 > 0:39:47did. This is missable, but he has played it well. Never easy going

0:39:47 > 0:39:58into a blind pocket. He just cued it beautifully.

0:40:19 > 0:40:26If he's on that red to the left of the pack then it's over. Which he

0:40:26 > 0:40:31is. That is a lovely little shot he has played there. He got it right in

0:40:31 > 0:40:35the gap and it looks like a good chance to make a better break than

0:40:35 > 0:40:48if he hadn't been on it. That was a really good link shot he played.

0:40:49 > 0:40:57Should be OK just to drop this red in. And all of sudden from nothing

0:40:57 > 0:41:04promising, he's got the black out in the open. Superb.

0:41:23 > 0:41:27We saw from the previous camera angle, the bottom red of the bunch

0:41:27 > 0:41:40does pot. Decided to go into them knowing that he would always be on

0:41:40 > 0:41:47this red on the right-hand side. Clever shot. That forward momentum

0:41:47 > 0:41:52on the cue ball took into the right-hand side, lovely little shot,

0:41:52 > 0:42:01opened a few balls are. -- out. Guaranteeing himself the positional

0:42:01 > 0:42:06shot. It has been an absolutely wonderful little break so far.

0:42:06 > 0:42:12Another lovely little shot. Didn't have too played out with pace, he

0:42:12 > 0:42:17just judge the cannon, knowing full well that he was on the red into

0:42:17 > 0:42:25this left-hand corner pocket. Stephen in the studio said he didn't

0:42:25 > 0:42:31think his break-building was up to much today. Well, it is, here. This

0:42:31 > 0:42:36has been wonderful. Lovely touch. I'm going to go right back to the

0:42:36 > 0:42:41green. It was perfectly played.

0:42:46 > 0:42:55Just a beautiful weight on this cue ball. Let's have a look at this

0:42:55 > 0:42:59pinpoint accuracy.

0:43:17 > 0:43:21I just like the safety shot he this up. Shaun and Ronnie in a lot of

0:43:21 > 0:43:29trouble.He played a wonderful safety shot to get out of it and put

0:43:29 > 0:43:32Shaun back in a lot of trouble, and he couldn't get out of it. And these

0:43:32 > 0:43:37are the fruits of his labour. Absolutely brilliant. Such

0:43:37 > 0:43:53knowledge.Some great economy of effort in this break. He's hardly

0:43:53 > 0:43:57touched the cue ball. He's had it on a string. He makes it look so

0:43:57 > 0:44:04simple. And we all know that it is much more difficult than that. It

0:44:04 > 0:44:10really has been wonderful. He is up for a fight, that is for sure. I'm

0:44:10 > 0:44:21enjoying every minute of this.

0:44:22 > 0:44:27This could possibly go, if he takes blacks with all of these reds. He's

0:44:27 > 0:44:30not interested.

0:44:36 > 0:44:43How easy and fluent and deft touch has he had in this break? The cue

0:44:43 > 0:44:47ball has hardly moved.

0:45:06 > 0:45:10Neil Robertson has made eight centuries, Ronnie has made eight

0:45:10 > 0:45:17this week, this will be number nine, and also number 98 at this year's UK

0:45:17 > 0:45:23Championship. Absolutely fantastic. Absolutely brilliant.

0:45:40 > 0:45:45Well, he won't be bothered about the red, a century break from Ronnie

0:45:45 > 0:45:50O'Sullivan. He goes back into the lead once more in this match. Eugh!

0:45:50 > 0:45:52It is now Ronnie O'Sullivan

0:45:52 > 0:45:52lead once more in this match. Eugh! It is now Ronnie O'Sullivan six,

0:45:52 > 0:45:55Shaun Murphy five. HAZEL IRVINE: The first century

0:45:55 > 0:46:03break of the final -- third, 24 Ronnie and Walter Shaun, so far.The

0:46:03 > 0:46:07cue ball was all over the place. I know that the balls that they'd

0:46:07 > 0:46:10sometimes, but he has made me look a little bit stupid, there. The frame

0:46:10 > 0:46:16before, obviously, the balls were going everywhere, but that was just

0:46:16 > 0:46:22a lesson in cue ball control, for anybody.He seems to have recovered

0:46:22 > 0:46:26its focus beautifully.At the end of the session this afternoon it seemed

0:46:26 > 0:46:30like he was pushing everything to try to get that frame under wraps,

0:46:30 > 0:46:35and he has come out today a different player. If he keeps on

0:46:35 > 0:46:38potting his nose in front he's asking bigger questions Shaun Murphy

0:46:38 > 0:46:43all the time. It is a race to ten, so six is nowhere near the finishing

0:46:43 > 0:46:47line, but Shaun Murphy would be running out of time if he is or was

0:46:47 > 0:46:52playing catch up.Six frames on the board, 6-5 to Ronnie O'Sullivan,

0:46:52 > 0:46:57this, the last before the interval and, the longer this goes on the

0:46:57 > 0:47:00more enjoyable becomes for everybody watching at home and in the Barbican

0:47:00 > 0:47:06Centre here. Is this an occasion, when it is close like this, and

0:47:06 > 0:47:11enjoyable experience for players of your stature?It is hard to say that

0:47:11 > 0:47:16you enjoy it while you are in it, but yes, this is what you are a

0:47:16 > 0:47:22snooker player for, these are the kinds of things that I miss.You

0:47:22 > 0:47:25become over the years of playing this game an adrenaline junkie, this

0:47:25 > 0:47:28is what you plate. All of your senses would be heightened when you

0:47:28 > 0:47:30are out there.

0:47:39 > 0:47:50JOHN PARROTT: No joy there are four Ronnie with a long pot. The cue ball

0:47:50 > 0:47:56has gone stuck on the green, so it is only a safety shot. I agree with

0:47:56 > 0:48:01Steve. A good point that he made about if you keep asking the

0:48:01 > 0:48:05question and you go one ahead all the time, it is potting on more and

0:48:05 > 0:48:14more pressure, certainly, as you get nearer to the winning post.Shaun

0:48:14 > 0:48:18has been coming up with all the questions, the answers to the

0:48:18 > 0:48:27questions that he has been asked. It is poised so nicely, this match. It

0:48:27 > 0:48:35really is. Engrossing, for both the players, I'm sure, as well as the

0:48:35 > 0:48:42audience.It would be nice for him to get his nose in front somewhere

0:48:42 > 0:48:46in the match and put the pressure on Ronnie for the next frame. Such an

0:48:46 > 0:48:57incredibly high standard. Way up in the 90s for pot success. Safety is

0:48:57 > 0:49:03not bad, either. It has been an excellent final, it really has, so

0:49:03 > 0:49:09far. A bit short with the cue ball, but at least he didn't knock a red

0:49:09 > 0:49:19towards the corner.Looking to get beyond the green here on the baulk

0:49:19 > 0:49:32cushion. The man -- he wants to avoid that brown, if he can. If

0:49:32 > 0:49:38Shaun can get his hand on the table and there is a red that's possible,

0:49:38 > 0:49:46he generally takes it on.As for this one, where is the colour coming

0:49:46 > 0:49:50from? APPLAUSE

0:49:50 > 0:49:58He took that so well. For it to go into the middle pocket... A little

0:49:58 > 0:50:04bit unlucky. Wonderful strike again.

0:50:22 > 0:50:32APPLAUSE Excellent safety from Ronnie

0:50:32 > 0:50:37O'Sullivan. His safety so far tonight has been spot on. And this

0:50:37 > 0:50:45is trouble. I don't know where they can get past the brown on the right

0:50:45 > 0:50:49and even if he can see the red army camp with a shot because of the cue

0:50:49 > 0:50:55ball up here, this is the red on the left that will pot.Yes, he's in all

0:50:55 > 0:51:03sorts here. He might be taking a while to think about this one.

0:51:14 > 0:51:23I've just put a line up there. I'm not sure if he can get to this. It's

0:51:23 > 0:51:31very difficult. It might be the only thing he's got. And it was.It could

0:51:31 > 0:51:42have come out worse.He's had a bit of a result, there. Anywhere off

0:51:42 > 0:51:49that cushions and there's a chance for Ronnie O'Sullivan but the cueing

0:51:49 > 0:51:57is so difficult.Henoch two rates up in the baulk area, which is even

0:51:57 > 0:52:01worse, because he can only play safe onto one of them. Still got the

0:52:01 > 0:52:07other one. That is what he has decided he can do, is dropped onto

0:52:07 > 0:52:20that. He certainly had a result there, Shaun.

0:52:23 > 0:52:27Because of the yellow and brown he can't really play that shot well

0:52:27 > 0:52:31used on the first red into the second one and send them both up the

0:52:31 > 0:52:38table. He can't really play that. If the yellow and brown were not there,

0:52:38 > 0:52:44you could play that shot, stun at home and both reds would end up on

0:52:44 > 0:52:48the table. Got to be careful that you don't catch the baulk commerce.

0:52:48 > 0:52:54There you go. It's still all right. But there was no way that both reds

0:52:54 > 0:53:03were going to get down the table. For a couple of shots Ronnie can

0:53:03 > 0:53:08leave the cue ball behind the yellow, or try to get that cue ball

0:53:08 > 0:53:21tight behind the green and knock the red back up towards the bunch.

0:53:21 > 0:53:31He hasn't played that too well. Has he left this red? He may have.

0:53:36 > 0:53:45That's tight. It's going very close to the balloon, this cue ball, very

0:53:45 > 0:53:59close. This is why he's looking at maybe swerving it. The last couple

0:53:59 > 0:54:04of shots, Shaun has been in a fair bit of bother.

0:54:19 > 0:54:23Is it going to go in the pocket if it does? If it does, he's gone to

0:54:23 > 0:54:29leave him a shot. REFEREE:Foul, and a miss, Ronnie

0:54:29 > 0:54:37O'Sullivan four.If that had gone in that would have been big trouble. It

0:54:37 > 0:54:40gets about two thirds of the way down the table and then indicates

0:54:40 > 0:54:49right. This is a real problem now to get this back in exactly the right

0:54:49 > 0:54:57place that it was before. I suppose it's all right if he's going to play

0:54:57 > 0:55:07the same shot.But the likelihood, at that pace, the cue ball can tend

0:55:07 > 0:55:16to roll. Unless he plays the red on the way down. To try to play the

0:55:16 > 0:55:24bump shot.I suppose you play this to allow for it rolling that we do

0:55:24 > 0:55:32next time.He's going to play the bump shot. As long as he doesn't get

0:55:32 > 0:55:38the double-kiss. That's the problem. That was always the problem.

0:55:50 > 0:55:53I'm not sure if Monica on hold for the pink into the left centre. If

0:55:53 > 0:55:59not he could go after the blue. You can just about hold. The red left of

0:55:59 > 0:56:02the pink spot will pot when the bingo is back on its spot and clear

0:56:02 > 0:56:09the pink a little bit. -- Wendy pink is back on its spot.

0:56:17 > 0:56:24And have been tempted if I had been shorn to play the same shot. I know

0:56:24 > 0:56:39it rolled a little bit, but... It was awkward.This is just the

0:56:39 > 0:56:45perfect situation for Ronnie O'Sullivan. A series of little screw

0:56:45 > 0:56:51and stun shots around the pink spot. We saw how good he was in the last

0:56:51 > 0:56:55frame. He doesn't have too much work to do with the cue ball here. Just

0:56:55 > 0:57:02stay around the pink.One of those practice routines you used to when

0:57:02 > 0:57:07you were learning to take the game. You take the blue and black of their

0:57:07 > 0:57:11spots and just put the pink on and through a load of reds round and it

0:57:11 > 0:57:23teaches you to play position, just on the one colour.

0:57:23 > 0:57:37It's never a bad ball. There are four pockets that it can go in.

0:57:38 > 0:57:46Just overscrewed that cue ball, slightly. Was playing for the red

0:57:46 > 0:57:51into this bottom right-hand corner pocket. It is still on, the red, but

0:57:51 > 0:58:07he can hold for the pink this time. APPLAUSE

0:58:13 > 0:58:17Just losing the cue ball, and scrapping to get it back. Lovely

0:58:17 > 0:58:24little screw shot the angle to run inside. He has come up a little bit

0:58:24 > 0:58:29short for the blue.

0:58:32 > 0:58:38APPLAUSE

0:58:55 > 0:59:01He is almost hitting the ball to roll at the moment. Getting so much

0:59:01 > 0:59:05work in it. He screwed back a little bit too far off the tank, a little

0:59:05 > 0:59:10bit too far, there. He's just hitting it so good. -- off the pink.

0:59:13 > 0:59:20APPLAUSE Even left-handed, he's hitting it to

0:59:20 > 0:59:35good!This is tricky. Could stay on the black here. He has played it

0:59:35 > 0:59:41with a bit of pace to go for the pink.

0:59:50 > 0:59:57This is marvellous. Back in prime position, now.He's desperate to get

0:59:57 > 1:00:01a two frame lead, going into the interval.

1:00:12 > 1:00:14From the minute Shaun made that mistake there's been an

1:00:14 > 1:00:20inevitability about this break. You can see his focus. The way he struck

1:00:20 > 1:00:24it. He had to go up and come around for the blue. But he negotiated

1:00:24 > 1:00:36that. He's just hitting the ball like a dream now.

1:00:38 > 1:00:40APPLAUSE

1:00:46 > 1:00:50Does come up a little bit short.

1:00:52 > 1:00:59He thought he had a little bit more on the cue ball to come back.May

1:00:59 > 1:01:02play a plant. Plenty of value in it. Lovely shot.

1:01:02 > 1:01:04APPLAUSE

1:01:06 > 1:01:10Beautiful.

1:01:13 > 1:01:18You just knew when he came to the table, the way with the situation

1:01:18 > 1:01:24with the red and the pink, just out of position once but once he was

1:01:24 > 1:01:30back in, there was an inevitability about it. Great break.

1:01:30 > 1:01:32Great break.

1:01:37 > 1:01:41It looked like for a small moment this afternoon he lost his focus.

1:01:41 > 1:01:46But he's got it back tonight.

1:01:49 > 1:01:54Shaun says that the matter. Another break of 76 from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

1:01:54 > 1:01:59He goes into the mid session leading 7-5.

1:02:00 > 1:02:04STUDIO: How significant is that going to be? He has been trying so

1:02:04 > 1:02:08hard, such a focus and determination with Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last

1:02:08 > 1:02:12couple of frames showing through.He is regrouping very well. From that

1:02:12 > 1:02:16disappointment at the end of the last session of play, he has his

1:02:16 > 1:02:20mind back on the job perfectly. Good tactics and fluent amongst the

1:02:20 > 1:02:25balls.25 years since Ronnie first played in the UK championship. Came

1:02:25 > 1:02:33in 1992, won it as a 17-year-old the following year. 24 years after that,

1:02:33 > 1:02:35he is on the verge of yet another title, record equalling sixth. What

1:02:35 > 1:02:38does it say about this man's longevity? We were discussing how

1:02:38 > 1:02:43long into your own career you were winning titles. 28 year professional

1:02:43 > 1:02:49career, the last year, 20 years in. He is still doing it 25 years in.

1:02:49 > 1:02:50career, the last year, 20 years in. He is still doing it 25 years in.

1:02:50 > 1:02:54One of the big bonuses with Ronnie, he does a lot away from the table.

1:02:54 > 1:03:00He does a lot of different things. In my career, it was just snooker.

1:03:00 > 1:03:05In terms of my career. Ronnie is talking about doing the jungle, all

1:03:05 > 1:03:10sorts. He is writing books, he is doing all sorts. With me, it was

1:03:10 > 1:03:14just snooker. In some ways, I didn't have anything to get away from

1:03:14 > 1:03:15snooker.

1:03:17 > 1:03:24It must be a reason. But he has lasted so long. He has taken years

1:03:24 > 1:03:28off.What is your view on that, Steve, what counts for his

1:03:28 > 1:03:34longevity?He's a great player. It does come into how good you are.

1:03:34 > 1:03:40Yes. But to be right at the top of the game?If you are Matt Goode, you

1:03:40 > 1:03:43can sometimes withstand next generation is coming along -- that

1:03:43 > 1:03:47good. John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, they have

1:03:47 > 1:03:50withstood the new breed of players coming through and produced the

1:03:50 > 1:03:53goods. Somewhere down the line, you get overtaken, swamped by another

1:03:53 > 1:03:57level of play. It seems to be the case in sport. Especially in

1:03:57 > 1:04:01something with longevity, you can play snooker all golf for a long

1:04:01 > 1:04:08period of time. Ronnie O'Sullivan, we all say he is the biggest genius

1:04:08 > 1:04:11we have ever seen on the snooker table. Perhaps it is natural he will

1:04:11 > 1:04:15last as long. If you look at the 80s, the biggest genius... Not

1:04:15 > 1:04:20Higgins, the biggest genius in the 80s was Jimmy White. He has lasted

1:04:20 > 1:04:23the longest of all of us and is still in the game.Indeed. It says

1:04:23 > 1:04:27something about his motivation levels. Ronnie protests he is just

1:04:27 > 1:04:31trying to get along and enable him to do all the other things he wants

1:04:31 > 1:04:36to do in his life. There must be a fire still burning in him as a

1:04:36 > 1:04:41competitor?We are watching it now. As I say, again, you know, watching

1:04:41 > 1:04:46him play, there's no way he doesn't care, he is there to win. Tonight,

1:04:46 > 1:04:49his whole mindset, his safety has been absolutely on the bottom

1:04:49 > 1:04:55tonight. He has but Shaun in so much trouble. -- on the button.You need

1:04:55 > 1:04:59to practice. You need to be fit for purpose. He is still the fittest of

1:04:59 > 1:05:03the players in his 40s.He is and he still runs every day. He joins

1:05:03 > 1:05:08running clubs wherever he goes. That is the way he relaxes away from the

1:05:08 > 1:05:12table. Ronnie has been playing in this since 1992 but the championship

1:05:12 > 1:05:17itself has been going since 1977. That was the year Virginia Wade won

1:05:17 > 1:05:22Wimbledon and red Rum won the Grand National for the third time. Jim

1:05:22 > 1:05:26Callaghan was Prime Minister. Morecambe and Wise' Christmas

1:05:26 > 1:05:30special was watched by 28 million people. Steve Davies had just left

1:05:30 > 1:05:35his teenage years. It really was a very, very long time ago!

1:05:39 > 1:05:431977, the year of the Silver Jubilee. Star Wars, Saturday night

1:05:43 > 1:05:45Fever, the death of Elvis and the birth of the UK Snooker

1:05:45 > 1:05:47championship.

1:05:50 > 1:05:54For someone like Patsy Fagan, a young Irish pro, more used to

1:05:54 > 1:06:00hustling in and dingy London London clubs, victory in Blackpool was a

1:06:00 > 1:06:07life changing experience.I bought a house for £14,500 in 1977. It was

1:06:07 > 1:06:11quite a big house as well! That was a lot of money!

1:06:13 > 1:06:21Prize money was on Terry Griffiths' mind when he face the final.He was

1:06:21 > 1:06:2510-6 in front of me in the interval and he came back late. It was the

1:06:25 > 1:06:28first time anybody had been docked frames in one of the major

1:06:28 > 1:06:33tournaments. That bothered me a bit, to be honest. I said, if you want to

1:06:33 > 1:06:36share the prize money or something like that, and he said, you haven't

1:06:36 > 1:06:38won yet!LAUGHTER

1:06:41 > 1:06:461980 and a certain someone claimed the first of his six UK titles. Can

1:06:46 > 1:06:54we called the day this error? -- can we call it the Davis era.There he

1:06:54 > 1:06:56is with a big smile.

1:06:58 > 1:07:03From London, Steve Davis.He won it six times, didn't it? I don't like

1:07:03 > 1:07:08him any more. Now he's miserable, ugly. The more he beat me, the

1:07:08 > 1:07:14uglier he got.Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who has won the most UKs

1:07:14 > 1:07:19most of all? 16-3 in that 81 final. Despite all of those wins, it is

1:07:19 > 1:07:24sometimes the defeats that linger the longest. After being 7-0 up on

1:07:24 > 1:07:29Alex Higgins, to losing the deciding frame, that still hurts to this day.

1:07:34 > 1:07:40Third time lucky for Alex Hurricane Higgins.

1:07:44 > 1:07:47And Alex Higgins is the UK champion, 1983.

1:07:50 > 1:07:53And I'm sure that Willie Thorne feels the same about the mist blue

1:07:53 > 1:08:05against me in the 1980s final. -- missed blue.That is unbelievable.

1:08:09 > 1:08:14But all good things must come to an end. Yet, I'm looking at you!As

1:08:14 > 1:08:19much as it pains me to say it, you actually won more UK titles than me,

1:08:19 > 1:08:26too many losses in finals for me. Like my first final when my opponent

1:08:26 > 1:08:30took a second UK title ten years after his first and 46 years young.

1:08:30 > 1:08:33APPLAUSE

1:08:36 > 1:08:40Those two wins against Steve in 89 and 90 were very satisfying,

1:08:40 > 1:08:46especially at the 16-15.Oh dear.

1:08:48 > 1:08:52For sheer quality, I think this is the supreme game.

1:08:56 > 1:08:58APPLAUSE Steve Davis congratulate Stephen

1:08:58 > 1:08:59Hendry.

1:09:01 > 1:09:04This young man has really created history.

1:09:07 > 1:09:10Then, of course, there were the two years I didn't even make it to the

1:09:10 > 1:09:12final thanks to that bloke.

1:09:14 > 1:09:19Yet, the John and Jimmy show, 1991 and 1992 on a shirt.

1:09:22 > 1:09:24APPLAUSE

1:09:26 > 1:09:31Just listen to that applause for a really wonderful champion.

1:09:33 > 1:09:36The main reason the UK championship was so difficult to win was the fact

1:09:36 > 1:09:40that it was 17 frame and 31 frame format, only the watch a picture

1:09:40 > 1:09:44proved a bigger challenge. All that changed in 93 when it became best of

1:09:44 > 1:09:4919. And I was in the other chair when Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first

1:09:49 > 1:09:54UK title that year at the tender age of 17. That was when I knew how

1:09:54 > 1:09:56Steve must have felt when I turned up.

1:09:56 > 1:09:58APPLAUSE

1:10:01 > 1:10:05I never expected to win it, ended up winning it and when I watched it

1:10:05 > 1:10:09back, I thought it was amazing, I had my mum there, celebrating. It

1:10:09 > 1:10:13was a hard time for me, my dad had just gone away. It was difficult for

1:10:13 > 1:10:18me. To get that win was a massive boost.

1:10:20 > 1:10:23The next three finals I beat Doherty, editing and Higgins, that

1:10:23 > 1:10:28was pretty much it for me. In 98, the UK moved to Bournemouth and it

1:10:28 > 1:10:32was John's turn to rule the roost.

1:10:37 > 1:10:42I can't really remember any of those finals, really. The match against

1:10:42 > 1:10:46Steve, I just remember we had a good party, we danced, we have a right

1:10:46 > 1:10:49good drink. 2000 I beat Mark Williams. I beat him pretty

1:10:49 > 1:10:55convincingly, which was good.In 2001, the UK championship forced me

1:10:55 > 1:10:59off to the Barbican centre in York and I managed to get to the first

1:10:59 > 1:11:02couple of finals. The first one against Ronnie O'Sullivan I lost

1:11:02 > 1:11:07heavily 10-1. I was lucky to get one. The second one was heartbreak

1:11:07 > 1:11:12at 10-9, defeated Mark Williams. One of nine final frame decided that the

1:11:12 > 1:11:16UK championship. APPLAUSE

1:11:16 > 1:11:18-- final frame deciders.

1:11:19 > 1:11:24The naughties was all about first-time winners, Matthew Stevens,

1:11:24 > 1:11:28Stephen Maguire, Ding Junhui and then, me, and I definitely enjoyed

1:11:28 > 1:11:33that one. Come on! ,

1:11:34 > 1:11:34, on!

1:11:42 > 1:11:47In 2007, the Telford International centre became the fifth and to host

1:11:47 > 1:11:52the championships. That 30th anniversary was all about Ronnie.

1:11:52 > 1:11:59Whether counting dots on spoons...I just counted dots on the spoon and

1:11:59 > 1:12:02every time I miss count-out I would go back to the beginning. It got me

1:12:02 > 1:12:07through, mentally, to be able to focus. I counted 108. I might be

1:12:07 > 1:12:17wrong but I am sure it was 108.All knocking in a 147 in the semifinal

1:12:17 > 1:12:20against Mark Selby.

1:12:33 > 1:12:36Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

1:12:44 > 1:12:48Rocket was a man on a mission, four UK titles and counting. The

1:12:48 > 1:12:52following year, Shaun Murphy won his first UK title, thanks to a very

1:12:52 > 1:12:53generous slice of luck.

1:13:01 > 1:13:07He has fluked it can you believe it? I missed it by a mile. It went round

1:13:07 > 1:13:12the table and then a the middle pocket like a rat up a drainpipe, is

1:13:12 > 1:13:14never touched the side.

1:13:16 > 1:13:20Some players win this all the time, for then it is normal but for

1:13:20 > 1:13:23mortals like me, winning these majors is out of the ordinary.

1:13:23 > 1:13:27You've got to enjoy them when they happen.

1:13:31 > 1:13:35In 2010, one of the snooker gods, John Higgins, did the unthinkable,

1:13:35 > 1:13:39coming back from 9-5 down to defeat Mark one point leading a snooker and

1:13:39 > 1:13:44then in the decider with all to play for, this...

1:13:51 > 1:13:55He's played a double! He's played a double!

1:14:02 > 1:14:12And enclose the blue! -- in goes the blue!

1:14:15 > 1:14:19It'll all be forgotten now if he gets the pink. A remarkable

1:14:19 > 1:14:21comeback.

1:14:25 > 1:14:28The following year, the UK championship returned to York and

1:14:28 > 1:14:35it's been here ever since. We witnessed some royal battles and

1:14:35 > 1:14:41historic moments. Who can forget Neil Robertson's 147 in the 2015

1:14:41 > 1:14:44final against Liang Wenbo? The first ever maximum in a triple Crown

1:14:44 > 1:14:51final. The first ever final between two non-UK players.

1:14:54 > 1:14:59Absolutely sensational! We can hear the Thunder from Down Under

1:14:59 > 1:15:00Absolutely sensational! We can hear the Thunder from Down Under!We have

1:15:00 > 1:15:04also seen the emergence of Mark Selby as a real force in this event.

1:15:04 > 1:15:09Twice a winner in the last five years as well as being a beaten

1:15:09 > 1:15:15finalists. With Ronnie O'Sullivan's victory in 2014 against Judd Trump

1:15:15 > 1:15:18elevating him alongside Stephen Hendry as a five-time winner, only

1:15:18 > 1:15:24Steve Davis now stands above him with six UK titles. We are yet to

1:15:24 > 1:15:30see whether the Rocket can equal that record. At the stature of this

1:15:30 > 1:15:35championship remains the same. It is without doubt the second most

1:15:35 > 1:15:39important tournament in the snooker calendar. Just as the Crucible is

1:15:39 > 1:15:45synonymous with the worlds, surely now the Barbican in December is the

1:15:45 > 1:15:52home of the UK championship.It sure feels like home. What about this

1:15:52 > 1:15:552017 edition? This afternoon we asked you to cast your eye over some

1:15:55 > 1:15:59of the shots of the championship and to pick York one, two, three and to

1:15:59 > 1:16:03see whether you would agree with our panel of experts. Let's see if you

1:16:03 > 1:16:07are thinking what they are thinking. -- to pick your number one.

1:16:15 > 1:16:16Well,

1:16:16 > 1:16:20Well, that's an attacking shot, that's a brilliant shot. Absolutely

1:16:20 > 1:16:21stunning shot. APPLAUSE

1:16:21 > 1:16:24From Akani.

1:16:26 > 1:16:31I thought Ronnie had played that. They will raving about it.

1:16:35 > 1:16:41Just trying to work out... If he can play that little cannon, just to

1:16:41 > 1:16:46Flickr red away from the black or whether he has the angle to do that.

1:16:46 > 1:16:51He is, just trying to get the black out. That is pure class. Absolutely

1:16:51 > 1:16:57wonderful touch. To screw down the table, the side on, just to hit the

1:16:57 > 1:17:02cushion and flick it out.That is shot of the week so far for me.

1:17:05 > 1:17:07APPLAUSE

1:17:08 > 1:17:10Goodness me.

1:17:11 > 1:17:12Wonderful cueing.

1:17:17 > 1:17:22There you have it. Before you know it, we will be heading into the

1:17:22 > 1:17:25second major of the season at the Masters in Alexandra Palace. Just

1:17:25 > 1:17:30after the New Year. It's always a special event. Last January, Ronnie

1:17:30 > 1:17:35took sole ownership of the record number of wins. His seven, passing

1:17:35 > 1:17:39Stevens' total and returns as defending champion. This afternoon,

1:17:39 > 1:17:43the draw was made for the opening round. The event is getting underway

1:17:43 > 1:17:45on Sunday the 14th of January.

1:17:46 > 1:17:50This is what we can look forward to. Six former champions in the line-up

1:17:50 > 1:17:55and on the opening afternoon, Mark Selby and Mark Williams, five

1:17:55 > 1:18:00Masters titles between them. One of the new boys. A debutante from

1:18:00 > 1:18:03Belgian will be up against Mark Allen, Luca Brecel. Another

1:18:03 > 1:18:07champion, danger and we on Monday against Ryan Day. Ronnie O'Sullivan

1:18:07 > 1:18:14kicks things off as defending champion, 1pm on Tuesday. On

1:18:14 > 1:18:19Wednesday, Shaun Murphy against Ali Carter. John Higgins and Anthony

1:18:19 > 1:18:21McGill, all Scottish confrontation. Anthony is the second debutante.

1:18:21 > 1:18:28Masters to tickets are on sale. The website has all the details. Get

1:18:28 > 1:18:31them quickly because they go very fast.

1:18:33 > 1:18:39Of those ties, which really appealed to you? Steve?You go first.

1:18:41 > 1:18:45I like the look of the last day, Wednesday, Shaun Murphy against Ali

1:18:45 > 1:18:50Carter and then the Scottish battle, John Higgins against Anthony McGill.

1:18:50 > 1:18:53In terms of those who are there and those who are not there, Neil

1:18:53 > 1:18:57Robertson didn't make it this time, one of the biggest surprise is not

1:18:57 > 1:19:02in the Masters line-up.It is tough to it in the top let alone play the

1:19:02 > 1:19:07event. Mark Selby against Mark Williams will be a great match.

1:19:07 > 1:19:14Hopefully Mark is OK, I hope everything is cared him.Danger away

1:19:14 > 1:19:18and Ryan Day, we have not seen a huge amount of danger and way.

1:19:18 > 1:19:23Exited this championship very early, even before the TV stages. There is

1:19:23 > 1:19:27something special about the Masters. Why does it differ from everything

1:19:27 > 1:19:32else you play?My approach is always the World Championship, then the

1:19:32 > 1:19:36Masters and then this. When you are the best player you have the best 16

1:19:36 > 1:19:39players in the world and you want to prove it up against the other 15

1:19:39 > 1:19:44players.Just one table. Every match feels like a final and looks like

1:19:44 > 1:19:48it.It is and you don't necessarily get too much... Straight in the deep

1:19:48 > 1:19:52end against a great player. You don't get a couple of matches to get

1:19:52 > 1:19:59going in the event under your belt. You can be like a very experienced

1:19:59 > 1:20:05player.Stephen is about to hop into the commentary box for the

1:20:05 > 1:20:10conclusion of this match. John Part is going to seamlessly go into that

1:20:10 > 1:20:14seat in the studio. Ronnie O'Sullivan needs three more for a

1:20:14 > 1:20:18record equalling sixth UK crown. What, if anything, can Shaun Murphy

1:20:18 > 1:20:22do in the closing stages of this year's final? Let's find out. Dennis

1:20:22 > 1:20:25Taylor, Stephen is on his way to join you.

1:20:26 > 1:20:33COMMENTATOR: Thank you Hazel he is a fast mover, it won't take long.

1:20:33 > 1:20:36Ronnie spotted something on the white.

1:20:39 > 1:20:45Paul Collier, the revelry, has cleaned it and we are ready.

1:20:52 > 1:20:56Red coming up this time.

1:20:58 > 1:21:02Has the green covered it? I think it has. There is still one to the right

1:21:02 > 1:21:07corner. You can see that one is blocked off.

1:21:10 > 1:21:13Can Shaun Murphy not in one of his specials?

1:21:13 > 1:21:20APPLAUSE -- can Shaun Murphy knock in.

1:21:29 > 1:21:34Great start for Shaun of the mid-session interval. It can do with

1:21:34 > 1:21:41this opening frame, here. He drops three frames behind Ronnie

1:21:41 > 1:21:44O'Sullivan. It would be a tall order.

1:21:51 > 1:21:55They had a brilliant final in the champion of champions. Shaun winning

1:21:55 > 1:22:0610-8. That could well be the score again, but for whom, that is the

1:22:06 > 1:22:09question?

1:22:34 > 1:22:43Not quite enough room, I don't think. It's a bit of an awkward

1:22:43 > 1:22:48spotting of the pink. It looks to be enough room between the reds, but

1:22:48 > 1:22:54obviously not. On a direct line behind the black and blue spot. Not

1:22:54 > 1:22:57touching the red.

1:23:04 > 1:23:06APPLAUSE

1:23:08 > 1:23:15Is not often you get a round of applause for re-spotting a ball.

1:23:25 > 1:23:31It is developing into a good chance, here. Got to be careful with the

1:23:31 > 1:23:39cannon on the pink but should be guaranteed position. Should be

1:23:39 > 1:23:42guaranteed position but is he on this one?

1:23:43 > 1:23:49That's amazing. That was a little lapse in concentration, that can

1:23:49 > 1:23:55that he played. End of break. -- that cannon that he played.

1:24:01 > 1:24:06APPLAUSE

1:24:09 > 1:24:13He just needed a full-ball contact and guaranteed to be on a couple of

1:24:13 > 1:24:17reds that he just slipped off the pink. Very disappointing from

1:24:17 > 1:24:21Shaun's point of view.

1:24:26 > 1:24:29APPLAUSE

1:24:43 > 1:24:47Stephen Hendry has just made it to the commentary box, little bit out

1:24:47 > 1:24:50of breath. APPLAUSE

1:24:53 > 1:24:58Yeah, really looking forward to this final session.

1:25:01 > 1:25:06Can Ronnie O'Sullivan keep the hammer down?Just before you came

1:25:06 > 1:25:10you were on your way up, Shaun was in amongst them and he played a very

1:25:10 > 1:25:14careless positional shot. Played a bit of a cannon on the pink when you

1:25:14 > 1:25:18on your way back to the commentary box. A look at this. -- when you

1:25:18 > 1:25:21well on your way.

1:25:23 > 1:25:26A wee bit unlucky.

1:25:29 > 1:25:33Another careless safety shot. In the last couple of friends, you have to

1:25:33 > 1:25:36say, Ronnie O'Sullivan is starting to get on top -- last couple of

1:25:36 > 1:25:41frames. In every department.

1:25:59 > 1:26:02He hasn't missed many of those, that's for sure.

1:26:28 > 1:26:32Well, he doesn't need me to tell him that he cannot afford to throw away

1:26:32 > 1:26:36these chances.

1:26:39 > 1:26:43Playing that with drag, a touch of right-hand side, to just push the

1:26:43 > 1:26:46cue ball over to the left.

1:27:35 > 1:27:38Well, that was a strange one.

1:27:40 > 1:27:45I don't think he was expecting to screw off the cushioning in behind

1:27:45 > 1:27:48that red off the cushion.

1:27:54 > 1:28:03Looks like setting up this red for this brown.

1:28:06 > 1:28:10It would be a bonus if he got through the gaps in the blue but it

1:28:10 > 1:28:12doesn't look like it.

1:28:27 > 1:28:32Far from easy at the moment. Got a bit of work to do to get a few more

1:28:32 > 1:28:37in play. In a few shots' time.

1:28:59 > 1:29:02Well, that's his intention.

1:29:04 > 1:29:08He is looking at the black and he's now looking at the pink. He can play

1:29:08 > 1:29:13for either colour to then disturb the reds.

1:29:16 > 1:29:24He won't be happy with that. He can screw off the cushioning for the

1:29:24 > 1:29:30loose red that he wanted to go into the bunch while the red was there.

1:29:43 > 1:29:48Just has to be careful, the three reds in the line above the black, if

1:29:48 > 1:29:51he hits that dreadful ball, he could stick on that, and then have

1:29:51 > 1:30:10nothing. -- if he hits that red full ball.Never an easy pack to go into.

1:30:10 > 1:30:13Even with his terrific cue power. This one might just go to the middle

1:30:13 > 1:30:28pocket. APPLAUSE

1:30:28 > 1:30:41Would be easier now to play the cannon, not quite as awkward.

1:30:49 > 1:30:56Worrying times for Shaun Murphy, it has to be said. This is the biggest

1:30:56 > 1:31:00lead any player has had. If Ronnie was to go on and win this frame.

1:31:00 > 1:31:07Three frames. APPLAUSE

1:32:11 > 1:32:16One more good positional shot and the frame should be his. And the

1:32:16 > 1:32:28lead should be three frames.

1:32:29 > 1:32:37And it's not perfect. One glance at the scoreboard. He's still well

1:32:37 > 1:32:48short. He's going to have two head up the table again.

1:32:48 > 1:32:57APPLAUSE A little awkward now these three

1:32:57 > 1:33:00reds. He's looking at the possibility of a plant. That would

1:33:00 > 1:33:04be a bonus, because they are blocking each other into the right

1:33:04 > 1:33:13corner, and the pink is stopping one from potting into the left corner.

1:33:13 > 1:33:22The plant is there. And within being close together, he needs to make

1:33:22 > 1:33:27sure he gets the correct contact on the first red, he could squeeze it

1:33:27 > 1:33:31slightly, so he must be spot-on with this.

1:33:31 > 1:33:40APPLAUSE

1:33:49 > 1:33:59That's another frame safe.He's found a gear, hasn't he, Dennis? An

1:33:59 > 1:34:06extra gear, just to pull away.

1:34:56 > 1:35:03This looks like this going to be Ronnie O'Sullivan's tenth century in

1:35:03 > 1:35:13this year's Betway UK Championship. And if he does make the century, it

1:35:13 > 1:35:19would be number 99 in this year's UK.

1:35:47 > 1:35:53Absolutely brilliant from Ronnie O'Sullivan! Five frames all, and

1:35:53 > 1:35:58suddenly he's produced a 76 and two century breaks and he now leads by

1:35:58 > 1:36:01eight frames to five, just two away.

1:36:01 > 1:36:06century breaks and he now leads by eight frames to five, just two away.

1:36:06 > 1:36:09Really, the damage was done when Shaun Murphy left that red in the

1:36:09 > 1:36:15jaws of the pocket.Just after John had missed one. Playing a slow

1:36:15 > 1:36:19little drag shot. And he has just flicked a bit of side on it. I'm

1:36:19 > 1:36:22just wondering whether that is the beginning of the end for him.

1:36:22 > 1:36:29Because that really was a good chance to get into the frame.

1:36:29 > 1:36:35Brilliantly taken by O'Sullivan. World-class. Do you agree that there

1:36:35 > 1:36:39are now worrying signs for Shaun? He's not been able to keep up with

1:36:39 > 1:36:42Ronnie like he did earlier. The level of relentlessness that Ronnie

1:36:42 > 1:36:47O'Sullivan puts on his opponent is quite amazing, I think. It is down

1:36:47 > 1:36:52to the ability he has got to make breaks and have the cue ball under

1:36:52 > 1:36:54control all the time. He makes more from situations than any other

1:36:54 > 1:36:59player. Whether they are open amongst the balls, once he should

1:36:59 > 1:37:03get, he never goes wrong, never gets into a trap. When the balls are

1:37:03 > 1:37:07tricky he finds it a challenge to try and make a break that no other

1:37:07 > 1:37:12player would be able to see his way through. He is the ultimate

1:37:12 > 1:37:17break-building machine.Has Shaun's levels dropped or has Ronnie 's

1:37:17 > 1:37:23increased in this evening session? Absolutely, it is both. Ronnie has

1:37:23 > 1:37:28gone up two or three gears. We are being ultra-critical where Shaun is

1:37:28 > 1:37:31concerned, it is just one shot here and there. It is just the level of

1:37:31 > 1:37:37opponent he's playing against. He just can't make a mistake.Ronnie

1:37:37 > 1:37:41coming to the table now needing two more frames with a win.

1:38:01 > 1:38:02-- for the win.

1:38:06 > 1:38:15STEPHEN HENDRY: Is Shaun going to continue to attack? He literally

1:38:15 > 1:38:18cannot afford to miss any more pots from this final if he wants to win.

1:38:23 > 1:38:31Good start. Good start.

1:38:44 > 1:38:49It can be a silly game at times. Thinking about the readiness than

1:38:49 > 1:38:55the previous frame, and then he gets down and knocks that beautiful long

1:38:55 > 1:39:03one end, to give himself a chance here. Brilliant cueing. There's one

1:39:03 > 1:39:08at the back that might be available, because he's fairly straight on this

1:39:08 > 1:39:12black.

1:39:20 > 1:39:23It obviously doesn't pot, because he's playing this long road to get

1:39:23 > 1:39:29back on the black, into the yellow pocket. Good cueing.

1:39:29 > 1:39:36APPLAUSE He's got a good angle on the black

1:39:36 > 1:39:52to screw for these reds. APPLAUSE

1:40:09 > 1:40:15The red at the back of the bunch goes to the same pocket.

1:40:19 > 1:40:25He'll be looking for an angle on the black again, because he has a huge

1:40:25 > 1:40:29target if he gets level with the black. He's always got that red to

1:40:29 > 1:40:41the middle for a bit of insurance. He has a right to the left corner to

1:40:41 > 1:40:49follow through off two cushions. -- he has red to the left corner.And

1:40:49 > 1:40:59this, his fifth black. And with that red over the middle pocket if he

1:40:59 > 1:41:08goes into the bunch, that's a little bit of insurers. -- insurance. A key

1:41:08 > 1:41:17shortcoming up.Top spin, a touch of right-hand side. Into those two

1:41:17 > 1:41:26reds, above the black. I don't think he's on any of them, unless that red

1:41:26 > 1:41:39squeezes into the left middle.It must be tight. Would it go? There is

1:41:39 > 1:41:43a slight angle.

1:41:49 > 1:41:59APPLAUSE

1:42:00 > 1:42:04Is a choice of the red into the right corner or the red over the

1:42:04 > 1:42:14left middle. I don't see any other reds that go. He has missed the

1:42:14 > 1:42:24black. Oh, dear, Shaun, Shaun. Was he possibly thinking about the 147

1:42:24 > 1:42:31too much?He definitely had that in the back of his mind from the way

1:42:31 > 1:42:36that he played a red into the middle. He rarely misses with the

1:42:36 > 1:42:43rest, but how costly is that miss going to be?

1:42:55 > 1:43:13I would say one word, Dennis, very! You may well be right, Stephen.He

1:43:13 > 1:43:20may be 40 points behind but he's the new favourite for this frame.I

1:43:20 > 1:43:29think that one near the middle pocket on the right side of the

1:43:29 > 1:43:33table, it's not that easy, really. Quite a long way to go before he

1:43:33 > 1:43:38gets to that. He's already had a little glance at that red. That

1:43:38 > 1:43:48shows how many shots ahead he's thinking.If he gets right behind

1:43:48 > 1:43:53it, you can just drop it in for the blue. But from any distance, it will

1:43:53 > 1:44:01be a very tough pot. He will probably leave that red until last.

1:44:01 > 1:44:05Dropping onto the blue, easy to get up for the yellow.

1:44:34 > 1:44:46He has just overscrewed that by a couple of inches. It's no problem.

1:44:46 > 1:44:50In a few shots' time, he would love to put the red in the middle of

1:44:50 > 1:44:54that.

1:45:13 > 1:45:16He has taken the opportunity to bring it into play. And that is just

1:45:16 > 1:45:26enough.It's much easier now. Funny how he changed his plan with being

1:45:26 > 1:45:30straight on that red, he took the opportunity to screw right back and

1:45:30 > 1:45:39just flick it out at touch.He's always thinking, the Snicko brain,

1:45:39 > 1:45:42he realised the ankle he had on the red was perfect just to flick the

1:45:42 > 1:45:46other red. He knew exactly how he was going to contact that red. He

1:45:46 > 1:45:54knew the angle, he recognised it, and executed the shot perfectly. It

1:45:54 > 1:46:06never looked in doubt, this clearance.This is just perfect

1:46:06 > 1:46:13snooker that he's playing at the moment, from 5-5.As we said

1:46:13 > 1:46:19earlier, he's going through the gears now.

1:46:39 > 1:46:43He's done very little wrong. A couple of small errors. But that was

1:46:43 > 1:46:51all it took. APPLAUSE

1:47:09 > 1:47:19Well, you can't do much about this. This is just no-miss snooker he's

1:47:19 > 1:47:22playing at the moment, four in a row from Ronnie O'Sullivan and he's just

1:47:22 > 1:47:27a little -- he's one frame away from a little bit of history. He leads

1:47:27 > 1:47:29Shaun Murphy, 9-5.

1:47:29 > 1:47:33a little bit of history. He leads Shaun Murphy, 9-5.Looking at a

1:47:33 > 1:47:36potential maximum break from Shaun Murphy and it has completely changed

1:47:36 > 1:47:42around in one shot.I don't blame him for going for the maximum. What

1:47:42 > 1:47:46other shot was going to play? He's a very good with the rest. He is

1:47:46 > 1:47:50unfortunate that he's taken back and missed. That is the only thing you

1:47:50 > 1:47:55can say about it. And there is an inevitability about it. Because you

1:47:55 > 1:47:58know that somewhere through the break is going to flick the red of

1:47:58 > 1:48:01depression, and of course it turned up and he did it. He's playing at

1:48:01 > 1:48:07the peak of his powers at the moment.I think it was the right

1:48:07 > 1:48:13thing to do for Shaun because of the 147 is on, then it is on but he is

1:48:13 > 1:48:20up against a great of the game. And I would say that Ronnie O'Sullivan

1:48:20 > 1:48:23is, is a better sportsperson in the UK with a better temperament for

1:48:23 > 1:48:27match play them Ronnie O'Sullivan? He's one of the best people ever

1:48:27 > 1:48:33produced in the UK.Extraordinary clarity focus he seems to have

1:48:33 > 1:48:37achieved. The longer the match goes on, the more dialled in he becomes.

1:48:37 > 1:48:42He's totally focus. It is scary sitting in the other chair. You're

1:48:42 > 1:48:45just walking on eggshells. You don't know what you're going to do. Every

1:48:45 > 1:48:50time that you make a mistake the frame is over. If you get in when

1:48:50 > 1:48:52the balls in the open, they are going to go. It is a scary

1:48:52 > 1:48:57proposition playing him when he is like this, he's playing well as well

1:48:57 > 1:49:03as he can play.He's a philosophical person, Shaun Murphy, but if you're

1:49:03 > 1:49:06in his position right now, what other option do you have other than

1:49:06 > 1:49:12to grow and have a go?He's been in this position any more. You doesn't

1:49:12 > 1:49:15have any pressure on him like you did at the start of the session when

1:49:15 > 1:49:19he was 1-0 down, you would expect them to play some decent stuff from

1:49:19 > 1:49:24here on in, but Ronnie O'Sullivan is very good at closing up matches. The

1:49:24 > 1:49:27record books beckon again for Ronnie O'Sullivan.

1:49:41 > 1:49:46It is plain and simple. What Shaun Murphy has to do is do what he did

1:49:46 > 1:49:52against Ryan Day. He won five frames in one visit and that that many

1:49:52 > 1:50:02frames he needs here, five frames. Ronnie, just needing won victory. --

1:50:02 > 1:50:11one frame for victory. That's an incredible stat. 96% pot success,

1:50:11 > 1:50:17with Shaun at 93. And he's certainly opened the game up with that safety

1:50:17 > 1:50:22shot, there.

1:51:06 > 1:51:10Shaun is eyeing up this red the corner. Every shot could be his last

1:51:10 > 1:51:21now in this UK Championship final.

1:51:21 > 1:51:31This red does pot the corner but the following cue ball is the issue.

1:51:31 > 1:51:33REFEREE:All right, thank you.

1:51:44 > 1:51:49He really is focusing on this one. He knows that it's all about the cue

1:51:49 > 1:52:00ball as well as the pot. If he's on the pink for the middle pocket that

1:52:00 > 1:52:05is a big bonus, but maybe it doesn't go. Maybe it does, and what a result

1:52:05 > 1:52:15he has had there, Stephen.When it is your night, it is your night. But

1:52:15 > 1:52:21when you play this well, things do happen for you.

1:52:21 > 1:52:28APPLAUSE This could be the beginning of the

1:52:28 > 1:52:28end.

1:52:33 > 1:52:42The way he's played the last four frames, I would expect the title to

1:52:42 > 1:52:50be one that this visit. -- to be won.

1:52:54 > 1:52:58They always say the toughest frame to win is the one that gets you past

1:52:58 > 1:53:03the winning post, but that's not the case with the top of the tree

1:53:03 > 1:53:08players like Ronnie O'Sullivan and the gentleman next to me, Stephen

1:53:08 > 1:53:13Hendry, Steve Davis in the studio. Never had a problem closing a match

1:53:13 > 1:53:20out.

1:53:47 > 1:53:52He could have to play a cannon of both of these reds. It is just

1:53:52 > 1:54:00awkward. It's not often Ronnie O'Sullivan takes this long over a

1:54:00 > 1:54:06pot. You can see him in safety shot still a lot of thinking at foreign

1:54:06 > 1:54:18actual pot, this is very unusual for him.

1:54:22 > 1:54:25-- but for an actual pot.He thought for a minute and played it with

1:54:25 > 1:54:31left-handed and pushed the black one. He knew that he had to make

1:54:31 > 1:54:41certain of that. That is why he thought about that for so long. 76,

1:54:41 > 1:54:4986 and two centuries in the last four frames. Incredible.

1:55:07 > 1:55:16Does anyone in any sport displays more genius than Ronnie does at

1:55:16 > 1:55:22snooker, I've yet to see it. The best player I've ever seen.They're

1:55:22 > 1:55:25was a debate, who was the greatest of all time? And I know that you're

1:55:25 > 1:55:30sitting next to me, but I thought Ronnie overtook you a couple of

1:55:30 > 1:55:35seasons ago. That is my personal opinion. But he's still two world

1:55:35 > 1:55:39titles behind you.

1:56:02 > 1:56:10He's given his opponent a lesson tonight. It has to be said.

1:56:23 > 1:56:32APPLAUSE Service cannon, if he needs to play

1:56:32 > 1:56:36a cannon, if it goes right, I think it's all over. -- so, this cannon.

1:56:43 > 1:56:46Maybe it hasn't gone right, the cannon. It has finished rather

1:56:46 > 1:57:06awkward.Well, if he can't win at this visit, it will irritate him.

1:57:28 > 1:57:39APPLAUSE A terrific round of applause but

1:57:39 > 1:57:44it's not quite there, yet. He's got one hand on the trophy, you would

1:57:44 > 1:57:53have to say. And with Shaun 59 points behead and three reds of the

1:57:53 > 1:58:04other end of the table, that doesn't help his cause, if he gets a chance.

1:58:04 > 1:58:11He's the ultimate professional, this man. He will appreciate the standard

1:58:11 > 1:58:16that Ronnie has produced here this evening. But he's not finished just

1:58:16 > 1:58:20yet.

1:58:30 > 1:58:37One long pot up into the right corner pocket, and this could be the

1:58:37 > 1:58:45winning shot. He's just looking to see what he would leave if he takes

1:58:45 > 1:58:58it on. Is it their? Of course it's there!

1:59:01 > 1:59:11APPLAUSE What a final we have had here. It

1:59:11 > 1:59:15looked like it was going to go all the way, the way both players were

1:59:15 > 1:59:23playing. The standard was unbelievable. He's just steadied

1:59:23 > 1:59:35himself. APPLAUSE

1:59:42 > 1:59:47That's the one he wanted. That makes absolutely certain of the final.

1:59:47 > 1:59:56What a performance. I know he says he's not all that bothered about

1:59:56 > 2:00:00records, but make no mistake, he's put so much hard work and practice

2:00:00 > 2:00:08in for this year's UK Championship...

2:00:23 > 2:00:27It's been a great championship. The crowds have been absolutely

2:00:27 > 2:00:31fantastic throughout the televised stages.

2:00:33 > 2:00:37They have been treated to some wonderful snooker.

2:00:38 > 2:00:40APPLAUSE

2:00:49 > 2:00:54Just clearing the balls up. When you have won a major championship,

2:00:54 > 2:00:58that's what you do.

2:01:01 > 2:01:03Yes, Ronald!

2:01:06 > 2:01:12Someone said, "Yes, Ronald! Those

2:01:15 > 2:01:18. Well, have a look at that for a shot.

2:01:21 > 2:01:30Even Shaun Murphy was smiling in his seat.

2:01:33 > 2:01:37Doesn't matter about the yellow. APPLAUSE

2:01:39 > 2:01:47Being congratulated by Shaun Murphy. He produced some real magic at 5-5.

2:01:47 > 2:01:56Ronnie O'Sullivan has six UK titles. He is the 2017 Betway UK champion.

2:01:56 > 2:02:02APPLAUSE

2:02:06 > 2:02:11STUDIO: Congratulations to both players. Let's have a quick word

2:02:11 > 2:02:16with Shaun. Commiserations. Both the came out of the blocks this

2:02:16 > 2:02:22afternoon -- both of you. The most credible opening session. 2-4 behind

2:02:22 > 2:02:2724-4, what kind of confidence levels did you bring into this evening?I

2:02:27 > 2:02:30was looking forward to the game. I came into the match knowing I would

2:02:30 > 2:02:33have to be at my absolute best to beat Ronnie over the distance and in

2:02:33 > 2:02:35a tournament that is so big.

2:02:35 > 2:02:36beat Ronnie over the distance and in a tournament that is so big.

2:02:36 > 2:02:40Unfortunately wasn't good enough in the second session. Congratulations

2:02:40 > 2:02:45to Ronnie, equalling six titles with Steve Davis for this tournament.

2:02:45 > 2:02:48It's a phenomenal achievement. APPLAUSE

2:02:50 > 2:02:54Is not the end I wanted to the fortnight I have had. I have had a

2:02:54 > 2:02:58phenomenal 12 days in York but the guys here have made it and the fans

2:02:58 > 2:03:02have made every moment so special. They have been great all week.

2:03:02 > 2:03:04APPLAUSE Ana my friends and family had been

2:03:04 > 2:03:08with me the whole time and made a very special.-- and my friends. Not

2:03:08 > 2:03:13the ending I wanted but a great time.The triple Crown, the fourth

2:03:13 > 2:03:17final this season, plenty more to come from you this term. Our

2:03:17 > 2:03:19runner-up, Shaun Murphy. APPLAUSE

2:03:19 > 2:03:23Thank you.

2:03:28 > 2:03:33Ronnie O'Sullivan. A record equalling 60 UK crown, record

2:03:33 > 2:03:39equalling 18th major title, both must sound very good to you tonight.

2:03:41 > 2:03:45I just want to say well done to Shaun, he's had a great tournament.

2:03:45 > 2:03:48Been playing fantastic all season. He had a great final in Coventry.

2:03:48 > 2:03:51Well done to Shaun. APPLAUSE

2:03:51 > 2:03:56The record is great and to equal it, like Shaun said, the fans this week

2:03:56 > 2:04:00have been unbelievable. I just want to say a massive thank you to them.

2:04:00 > 2:04:05I just tried my best all week. There's nothing left. I give

2:04:05 > 2:04:12everything varies. -- everything there is. I'm over the moon to win

2:04:12 > 2:04:16any tournament let alone the UK Championships.We talked about how

2:04:16 > 2:04:18Shaun contested so Brittany this afternoon, a wonderful first session

2:04:18 > 2:04:22but how pleased were you with the way you went through the gears from

2:04:22 > 2:04:285-5? -- contested so brilliantly.I think we can both play better. Shaun

2:04:28 > 2:04:33missed some easy balls. A bit of bad luck as well. That's all it takes

2:04:33 > 2:04:38sometimes. If the other guy gets a bit of momentum, the modern game, I

2:04:38 > 2:04:43know a lot of players that can get five frames on the bounce. That is

2:04:43 > 2:04:48how snooker is these days. It is tough.24 years ago this gentleman

2:04:48 > 2:04:55came to the UK championship at the age of 17 and won this one. LAUGHTER

2:04:55 > 2:04:5924 years, you're still winning. When you look back, what does the Ronnie

2:04:59 > 2:05:04of now think of the Ronnie of then in terms of how you play the game?I

2:05:04 > 2:05:09don't think I'm much different, really. You know, I've just right to

2:05:09 > 2:05:13enjoy the game. I try to express myself. I try to attack the game.

2:05:13 > 2:05:17Play the game how I think it should be played. When you get some battle

2:05:17 > 2:05:21scars, you learn that maybe you can't attack as much all the time. I

2:05:21 > 2:05:26love playing, I love competing. I just can't believe I'm still playing

2:05:26 > 2:05:30at 42. All these grey hairs and all that.LAUGHTER

2:05:30 > 2:05:36I am old enough to be most people doubt's on the tour.You are playing

2:05:36 > 2:05:40and winning. Champion once again for a sixth time, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

2:05:40 > 2:05:46APPLAUSE

2:05:53 > 2:05:57Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your presentation party, Steve

2:05:57 > 2:06:00Dawson, chief exec of World Snooker and the head of PR at Betway.

2:06:00 > 2:06:05APPLAUSE

2:06:09 > 2:06:13The runner-up receiving a silver medal and a cheque for £75,000. What

2:06:13 > 2:06:15a great ambassador for snooker, Shaun Murphy.

2:06:15 > 2:06:24APPLAUSE

2:06:31 > 2:06:39And the winner, receiving a cheque for £170,000, the trophy and the

2:06:39 > 2:06:43title of 2017 Betway UK champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

2:06:43 > 2:06:46APPLAUSE

2:06:48 > 2:06:53Your champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

2:06:53 > 2:07:03APPLAUSE

2:07:06 > 2:07:12STUDIO: Ronnie O'Sullivan claims two of the three majors in snooker in

2:07:12 > 2:07:182017. He smashed the 900 century mark this season and has claimed a

2:07:18 > 2:07:22record equalling 18th major title. He is one of the greatest

2:07:22 > 2:07:25personality is not just in this game but in any game. Once again, Steve

2:07:25 > 2:07:33Davis and John parrot, he has underlined that.He was magnificent.

2:07:33 > 2:07:37From 5-5, two 10-5, as close to perfection as you are likely to see.

2:07:37 > 2:07:41He lost one ball, one positional shot in the five frames he played.

2:07:41 > 2:07:45Shaun Murphy ran into a genius of a juggernaut.Steve, you are now the

2:07:45 > 2:07:52joint all know of the UK record with six titles.I am sure delighted.

2:07:52 > 2:07:56Ronnie O'Sullivan has pushed the bar at.

2:07:57 > 2:08:02He is not just the most amazing player we've ever seen, but he is

2:08:02 > 2:08:07also one of the greatest winning machines we have ever had. I agree,

2:08:07 > 2:08:09one of the greatest sporting personalities this country has ever

2:08:09 > 2:08:13produced. APPLAUSE

2:08:13 > 2:08:18At the age of 42, Ronnie is still winning major titles. We talked

2:08:18 > 2:08:22about majors in this sport but that obviously brings him level with

2:08:22 > 2:08:28Stephen Hendry. Jack Nicklaus on 18. You are looking at the likes of Pete

2:08:28 > 2:08:35Sampras, Rafa Nadal and yourself on 15. So it goes on. There is a direct

2:08:35 > 2:08:39correlation between golf and tennis with this sport.Absolutely.

2:08:39 > 2:08:43Amazing. Who would have thought when he was 17 when he entered for the

2:08:43 > 2:08:46first time he would have been here all these years later still doing

2:08:46 > 2:08:52it. They have had careers, other players, they up off the circuit. He

2:08:52 > 2:08:56is still here. Everyone who thinks they have a game of snooker to play,

2:08:56 > 2:09:01he is a match for them. He is still the best.How much longer, how many

2:09:01 > 2:09:06more majors can he win?When you see him in this form, he's not going to

2:09:06 > 2:09:11go off the boil. He has two or three more years, as long as he is

2:09:11 > 2:09:17focused. He will be there fighting. 1000 centuries he has nailed on.

2:09:17 > 2:09:20Perhaps even another World Championship. A lot of players have

2:09:20 > 2:09:24their say but Ronnie O'Sullivan in good form, not just in his best form

2:09:24 > 2:09:29but in good form he can win events. Astonishing how well he plays.Roger

2:09:29 > 2:09:32Federer is on 19 major championships. He has a good chance

2:09:32 > 2:09:38of equalising them.He is made for it. He is in his hometown, he has a

2:09:38 > 2:09:44sleep in his own bed. Wins his next match and usually wins the trophy.

2:09:44 > 2:09:51He has won how many times?Seven.A very good chance it will be eight.

2:09:51 > 2:09:56Honestly, do you think he will go for the seven world titles? Stephen

2:09:56 > 2:10:01is there but this is the biggest ask them all in terms of world title,

2:10:01 > 2:10:05another two to match it.It is tough. Only one tournament of the

2:10:05 > 2:10:08year. You can focus and identified tours but it doesn't necessarily

2:10:08 > 2:10:12work out that way. All he can do is get himself in the right frame of

2:10:12 > 2:10:16mind to turn up for the tournament and see how it goes. If he can win

2:10:16 > 2:10:20two out of the next four years, that is a fantastic achievement with all

2:10:20 > 2:10:26of the great players including Mark Selby.It is going to be difficult.

2:10:26 > 2:10:28Briefly. Shaun Murphy. This is an exceptional season. Surely there is

2:10:28 > 2:10:33more to come from the magician? Absolutely. He can look back at this

2:10:33 > 2:10:36match and say what can I do? Missed one or two balls but the standard he

2:10:36 > 2:10:40was playing against was almost impossible to beat, played really

2:10:40 > 2:10:44well.We talk about the Masters and that is where we will be heading in

2:10:44 > 2:10:48the New Year. Ronnie will be defending the title that he won in

2:10:48 > 2:10:53great style last January. He beat Joe Perry. He will be defending that

2:10:53 > 2:10:58title when the Masters gets underway from Sunday the 14th of January.

2:10:59 > 2:11:04That will be live on the BBC. The tickets for next year's UK

2:11:04 > 2:11:09championship go on sale tomorrow. Get them fast, they go very fast.

2:11:09 > 2:11:12Have a fantastic Christmas, we will see you in the New Year and thanks

2:11:12 > 2:11:17for being with us. Goodbye for now.