Final - Part 2 UK Snooker Championship

I've been in this too long. This is

my destiny, this is my time.

The

champion of the United Kingdom...

There he is with a big smile.

The UK

championship final, one of the best

on record, is over.

Shaking the hand

of young Steven Hendry.

Ronnie

O'Sullivan, ladies and gentlemen!

Unbelievable.

Come on!

The career of Judd Trump.

Welcome to the final day at the

Barbican, the home of the UK

championship.

Barbican, the home of the UK

championship.

A potted history of

this Betway championship, in the

blink of an eye, and in this 40th

anniversary of the event, we have

final well worthy of a special

occasion and one which may rewrite

the record section of the snooker

history books, because Ronnie

O'Sullivan comes out here tonight

chasing a record equalling sixth UK

crown, that would match Steve Davis,

and Steven Hendry equalling 18th

snooker Major. But hold the back

page, don't be making any revisions

just yet because triple Crown

winners Shaun Murphy put the breaks

on O'Sullivan's ambitions and a

fabulous first session this

afternoon.

Shaun Murphy got off to a

flyer in today's's final in the

flyer in today's's final in the

first frame, aided by this

outrageous fluke.

Ten minutes later, a break of 126

and it was 1-0 to Murphy.

Shaun

Murphy looked to be in full flow in

frame two but the hampered cueing

appeared to be his undoing. And

Ronnie mopped up the tears, 1- one.

Murphy split the pack and knocked in

the red in frame three and the

Rocket pounced with a break of 103.

2-1 to O'Sullivan.

Ronnie look to

have the advantage in the frame four

that this fantastic snooker from

Shaun Murphy opened up the frame for

him. Murphy made a gutsy clearance,

2-2.

In frame five Ronnie was forced

into this long red, he couldn't

guarantee position but a little clip

off the black and the white jangling

in the jaws worked out well for the

Rocket and was enough.

Frame six is

anybody's until this magnificent

opportunist positional shot from

Ronnie O'Sullivan meant perfect

position on the pink ball. It made

position on the black so easy, 4-2

to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

In frame

seven, Murphy was left mid range

red. Straight into the heart heart

of the pocket, clean as a whistle,

4-3.

Ronnie O'Sullivan was desperate

to win the last frame of the session

but Shaun Murphy wasn't having any

of it. This fantastic blue to split

the reds was the catalyst to winning

the frame. 4-4.

So our fabulous

final and all to play for this

evening. Let's get them out there!

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

the reigning Champion of Champions,

Shaun Murphy!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And his opponents, the five-time

world and UK champion, Ronnie

O'Sullivan!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

So, Ronnie aiming for a record and

Shaun Murphy aiming to become the

tenth time Anna. In the box seats

this evening we say hello to form

our world champions Ken Doherty and

John Parrott. Do you think we are

set for a close on here?

COMMENTATOR: Could well be on Hazel.

Good evening everyone. Wonderful

atmosphere, wonderful venue and two

wonderful players. What a session it

was this afternoon, Ken.

Yes,

fantastic session, and what an

atmosphere. At this wonderful

Barbican Hall here in York. A

fantastic crowd. I think this could

go all the way, John.

Yes. 4-4. At

4-2 it was looking a bit precarious

for Shaun but he dug in deep. That

last frame was absolutely fabulous

to pinch. Tea Party success you can

see, 94% each, which is very high.

-- pot success. Long pot surprise.

There certainly isn't in the safety.

A big shot to take on for the first

shot of the evening, but he will be

happy with it.

A nice kiss kept the

red and cue ball safe.

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

think the mid-session interval came

at the right time. Particularly for

Ronnie. He was looking, getting a

little bit annoyed with himself. He

bangs the table and he would have

been very disappointed to lose that

last frame. Finished the session all

square instead of having a two frame

lead. An excellent pot from Shaun

Murphy.

And that is extremely unlucky, what

they pot that was, right into the

heart of the pocket. I think the cue

ball sneaked past the green, can't

have the yellow. All he can do is

tuck him up.

Shaun Murphy, one.

I agree with you, I think he's

getting -- he was getting a bit edgy

to win that last frame, Ronnie. It

doesn't matter how successful you

are or how many tournaments you have

won. He played a double in the last

frame in the afternoon. He was

taking a chance, but just forced it

a bit, it went in but ultimately

couldn't win the frame in one visit.

Didn't look too pleased with himself

when he left the auditorium.

Touching ball, so Shaun can just

play away from the red up into pork,

try and cover the pack with the

green. Hasn't done so. Into baulk.

Just be careful. Ronnie has to be a

bit careful here that he doesn't

knock a red towards the bottom

left-hand corner pocket.

He is

wondering whether that yellow, quite

a nice target, if he can get in

behind it, that is his intention. He

getting close.

APPLAUSE

Beautiful shot and paste, as well.

-- and pace. Just puts a little

pressure on these safety shots.

The difference being close to the

cushion and just being a little bit

short of it. Such a big difference

in cueing.

I tell you what, it was a

big shot to take on because it

didn't look like there was a natural

gap, even if he potted it, to get

round there. It had to go in. So,

first good chance to Ronnie

O'Sullivan this evening.

Yes, and

I'm sure after this blew it will be

red and get that black back on its

spot as soon as is.

A little shake of the head tells me

this red is a bit straight. Wanted a

little angle, where he could have

stunned it in and get behind the

black and potted into the middle

pocket. He couldn't do that from

that angle.

In the middle of everything there,

really. The red at the back of the

pack, I think you might flicked off

the red at the bottom of the bunch.

Looking to see if he can drop it in

and come on the pink left-handed,

which of course he is brilliant at.

That is what he is going to play.

I think pink will go on to the black

spot, then. The sport might be

occupied, so that will help.

Pink spot is covered so it goes on

the highest available. Looking to

pot this red for the pink. We'll be

straight into the reds above the

pink, play a nice little cannon

here. Yes, didn't have to hit that

hard, just played a wonderful soft

cannon and it has opened up three or

four reds there.

A lovely touch, the

cannon. It beautiful touch.

Just run slightly too far with that

one. Would have liked to play the

pink and screwed out for the reds

into the same pocket. Might have to

play another cannon now. That's all

right.

Got enough bottom on the cue ball

just to hold it of those two reds.

Played that nicely. I'm sure the

bottom red of the five will pot into

the same pocket he potted that red.

So he doesn't have to disturb any

reds here. Well, decided with the

angle to try and bring everything

into play. Could have been nicer.

40, touching ball.

He is playing away here, so the

touching ball isn't a problem. Just

a tricky little red. And now he's

absolutely lovely. A great

contribution already from Ronnie.

Settled down really well. It took

him a while to totally get the cue

ball in this break but he has it

now. You would be very surprised if

this isn't the first frame on this

evening.

Two lovely little shots

into both middle pocket is fair,

just holding the cue ball. That is

all about touch and feel. This man

has it in abundance. A good start

for Ronnie, this. Exactly what he

needed.

Yes, this lovely break after Shaun's

opening attempt to red, which was

certainly very attacking. Couldn't

see a natural gap through, but he

missed it by a mile. He will have to

use it and suffer. Certainly against

this man. -- he will have to sit and

suffer.

That is such a fast start, from the

very first frame, ten minute frame,

11 minute frame the second, just

over ten minutes for the next and

the longest frame of the first eight

was 24 minutes. Just coming up to

ten minutes for this frame and...

Will Shaun comeback? He says no. It

puts him back into the lead, takes

this opening frame and leads Shaun

Murphy 5-4.

this opening frame and leads Shaun

Murphy 5-4.

We have two gentleman

with us in the studio who are

slightly nervous because their

records are under threat, as they

have been for some time. If you take

a look at the triple round graphic

it will show you how many majors in

snooker have been won by these guys.

Steven Hendry currently with 18

Ronnie, one behind in the chase and

Steve Davis, his record in this

championship at six could be called

tonight. Ronnie has often protested

this week it is not record that is

driving him on, but how important,

in terms of a legacy and a life and

a career are these records, as far

as you are concerned?

Yes, Steve was

the benchmark for me. You go through

your career and you have targets. I

had targets and never hid the fact I

wanted to beat Steve's records.

Ronnie can say what he likes them

that he doesn't care, when he gets

to the table, doesn't he care? He

wants to win. Perhaps he has other

things in his life, but he's a

winner, he's a sportsman and there's

no doubt in my mind that he knows

how many he's got, he knows how many

he needs to get.

The natural

evolution of things in sport, as in

life, things move on but is Ronnie

going to make it to the 18th major

title tonight?

If he keeps hitting it like you did

in the first bring this evening

every chance of that happening. A

lovely break of 75, effortless.

Wonderful cue ball control.

He lives for these occasions, when

he's out there and focused and

playing well, that's when he is at

his best out in the arena, in front

of a big crowd. Loves nothing more

than competing.

A better safety from Shaun.

I bet he

breathed a sigh of relief when he

got the gaps.

This bottom red does

cut, but very difficult.

Concentrating more on the cue ball,

making sure of a good safety, but he

hasn't got it close to that baulk

cushion. Again, no prize for

guessing what Shaun is going to do

here.

This will tell us something,

won't it? He has had a couple of

goes tonight. The first one went in,

the second one he missed. A big shot

considering he just went a frame

behind. That's as far as he's missed

on all week. -- missed on all

Came right across that, and that's

worrying.

Quite a nice target, that yellow and

brown.

The brown being knocked off

its spot towards the yellow. Pretty

good if you can get the right

contact off the side of the pack.

Just put a line up there, as you

said, it's a pretty good target.

He's played a very good shot indeed.

Mind the gap.

He can get through there. Might just

have too swerve it a little bit to

hit it where he wants. A little bit

unlucky, Shaun. It was a good shot

that he played.

And by deliberately playing down

that side of the table off it,

because the pink is blocking the

edge of the reds, so he's now, he

can't go down one side of the table.

Looks like another long pot attempt.

APPLAUSE

That one didn't miss the pocket.

Great shot. Once again, a little bit

unlucky. Could have had a nicer kiss

than that.

Yes, seeing that red go

in, but for that full kiss on the

pinky would have been nicely on the

blue. That is tremendous, tremendous

shot! Actually, got into the cue

ball too much. Wanted to be on the

bottom of the two reds to the right

of the black spot.

It was some

cueing. He has some work on the cue

ball, to pot that and screw back to

where he is. Not too many players

would be playing that on the

circuit. Just looks like a safety

now.

Oooh, not the best. OK. But the cue

ball close to the baulk cushion but

left red below the pink spot.

Straightforward.

He played the wrong

red, didn't he? Two reds to the

right of the pink spot, if you went

down between green and blue he cuts

off one side of the pack. So he's

not only not done that, he's left a

shot to nothing here.

APPLAUSE

He's not on the brown or yellow, but

no prizes for guessing what Shaun

Murphy's next shot is going to be.

I'm afraid he left himself open for

that one, Shaun. It was a great pot

by Ronnie. A little game of chess

there, played the wrong piece and

the wrong move.

There is a possible shot here, but

he has to be so precise. He has to

get the cue ball off one side

cushion between red and blue, onto

the next side cushion and try and

land on the red behind the black

spot.

A foul and a miss. Ronnie

O'Sullivan, four.

Just needs to square it up a little

bit of the first cushion. Has he

left one of these reds? If he has

left the red on that, there is no

point Ronnie potting him back in.

Yes, the red was on.

I'm afraid he's just been out

thought, or he has out thought

himself, Shaun Murphy, in that

little exchange. By playing off the

wrong red. Yes, he's been severely

punished by Ronnie knocking it in

but it was the chance he had, and

that the level that playing at its

the little things now and then that

can cost you frames.

He's just trying to work out what

his plan of attack is. Not

straightforward, all those reds on

one side of the table. The pink is

off its spot. He has to negotiate

some way he can get the black on its

spot as quickly as possible. He

usually sorts it out.

That is his only concern here, get

on a red, get the black on its spot

and try to win the frame, because he

won't be able to win it played Monty

baulk colours or the blue. --

playing it on the baulk colours or

the blue. That was a bit hard, needs

a bit of luck here. He has been

extremely fortunate there.

And if he

can play a little screw here in be

hind the pink... Well, he screwed

off the red instead. I thought if he

could have played a little screw and

dropped the pink in the middle, not

easy I know, but he would have had

two reds on the right-hand side,

which he could played off on and

been on the black. It obviously

wasn't on, because he would have

played it. He doesn't miss a trick.

APPLAUSE

A good clue. He will need good

cueing on this red and try to screw

back up for the blue or pink. That

is brilliant, great shot.

He's keeping it going. It's hard

work at the moment for him, a really

awkward chance. Going to try and

drop this in and just hold it. Oooh,

just about. Trying to hold the cue

ball there. Certainly hit the jaw.

Yes, just went in off the right-hand

side.

Well, this is just an incredible

break at the moment, because he just

keeps knocking balls in, trying to

keep it going.

That was an amazing

shot, there, to get into the white.

He has blue or pink, pink is quite

tricky... But will be nicely onto

the red into the same pocket. He can

pot the blue. Looking at the red

closest to the pink.

In fact, both reds pot.

Oooh...

Ronnie O'Sullivan, 27.

Well, after all the difficult pots

he has spotted, he has missed a

pretty straight on. --

what can Shaun do here?

He's got a couple of reds he can

play on but he would have loved to

have the cue ball and little higher.

Pot the blue and come down to the

next red. So he has purposely held

the spot, so blue will go on the

black spot on good thinking.

Very good.

High on the red by the

cue ball and then he can play onto

the black.

That was very good thinking from

Shaun, holding that sport. -- spot.

If he can stay on the black... No,

obviously didn't have the angle on

it. That would have been handy.

Still in a good position here.

It's just trying to promote that red

a little bit closer to the pocket,

make it a little bit easier. He knew

he had the option of the red that is

closest to the black spot as well.

It's available.

Excellent shot. Points all level.

Four reds, four blacks would do it.

Or three blacks and the blue.

He's

just checking the scoreline, you're

quite right, NEC 's four reds and he

has negotiated these ones well. This

chance will be annoying Ronnie

because he did so much of the hard

work to get the ball is better

positions. In some ways he has half

tidy the table up for Shaun to come

in. Even though he has taken these

very well.

He does not want to

finish low on this black. Needs to

leave himself a nice angle. Good

shot.

It is interesting because with

an angle he could play for the one

on the right side cushion if he

wanted. He doesn't have to. He

decided to take that one. Sometimes

in those situations you get the

perfect angle the first time.

Decided to play the red the other

way.

It is playing ball, but should be

dead weight so that the cue ball

runs tight to the side cushion. This

has been an excellent break so far.

Just one red and black or blue will

do it.

This is the important shot of

the frame. Excellent.

This is another frame that will put

Ronnie. There have been a couple

frames in this final that he should

have won, and it may be the

difference when he gets down to the

latter stages of this match. That

remains to be seen. As you said,

John,... And then goes the black.

Today it has been the opposite. He's

had a few chances from Ronnie,

Shaun, and he has been well up to

the task. This has been a superb

break.

His concentration has been

spot on.

Lots of great finals in the UK

Championship over the years. This is

already proving to be another one.

Not much between both players here.

You miss a ball, and you are going

to sit in your chair.

Sure not too bothered about the

black. What a wonderful response

that was. Ronnie was in first,

looked like he was going to take the

frame but it is Shaun Murphy with a

break of 80, and we are all square

again.

break of 80, and we are all square

again. It is 5-5. Ronnie is not

shaping -- shaking off this fellow

tonight, is the Chris macro Shaun

Murphy is a different proposition to

the players he's played in this

event so far.

With that confidence

from the Champion of Champions I

think he fancies it.

Is there an

element of avenging that defeat,

because that one hurt him?

There

have been times when Ronnie would

have made a century there, but he

doesn't look as clinical amongst the

balls for me today. I don't know

whether he's trying too hard to beat

Shaun, I don't know. Shaun seems to

be more clinical in his positional

play when he comes to the table.

Ronnie is just smashing balls into

pockets, and the balls are going

everywhere. That is not normally his

way.

Shaun seems to be in a mood to

punish any mistakes Ronnie is

making. And that'll be very much on

his here.

It is all to play for. I

can't see, the way it is going, the

pattern of the game, that it is ever

going to change. It'll be like this

all the way the end.

Metz hope, and

we have another cracking Sunday

night final. -- let's hope.

JOHN PARROTT: Both players are

playing some really good stuff.

Usually impressive, Murphy, in that

last frame. Wonderful break. --

hugely impressive. He has looked

confident all week. In some of the

earlier rounds you don't have to be

quite

But whilst you are still in, you can

win and he has improved in every

round. He certainly did in the

semifinal. His concentration was

much better. It has been really good

today. When he is at his peak, he's

a handful, as Ronnie is finding out.

An excellent aggressive safety shot

therefrom Shaun. A difficult

position here, these two reds. He

needs to bring the cue ball down the

left-hand side of the table.

That is a cracking shot. That was

absolutely brilliant. There wasn't

much margin for error. Fantastic

shot. No margin for error

whatsoever. Played it to perfection.

Just have a look at this. Just had

to miss that red. And back up

towards the baulk. Fantastic.

It

Shaun can see the red on the

right-hand side past the yellow but

the problem are going up and down is

to try not to get a cannon on the

red below it. He's looking at it

now. That is the shot he would be

playing straightaway. Just got to

make sure you get the right contact.

A little bit thicker than the shot

you would be playing normally. You

don't want to get the cannon on the

other red. That is why he is

deliberating. Over a minute of

thinking time. Don't blame him. If

he misses this he's going to be

sitting down for a while.

Well, whatever shot he was going to

play he's got to play it better than

that. Stuck in the jaw. He had a

fair margin for error.

He certainly

did. This is missable, but he has

played it well. Never easy going

into a blind pocket. He just cued it

beautifully.

If he's on that red to the left of

the pack then it's over. Which he

is. That is a lovely little shot he

has played there. He got it right in

the gap and it looks like a good

chance to make a better break than

if he hadn't been on it. That was a

really good link shot he played.

Should be OK just to drop this red

in. And all of sudden from nothing

promising, he's got the black out in

the open. Superb.

We saw from the previous camera

angle, the bottom red of the bunch

does pot. Decided to go into them

knowing that he would always be on

this red on the right-hand side.

Clever shot. That forward momentum

on the cue ball took into the

right-hand side, lovely little shot,

opened a few balls are. -- out.

Guaranteeing himself the positional

shot. It has been an absolutely

wonderful little break so far.

Another lovely little shot. Didn't

have too played out with pace, he

just judge the cannon, knowing full

well that he was on the red into

this left-hand corner pocket.

Stephen in the studio said he didn't

think his break-building was up to

much today. Well, it is, here. This

has been wonderful. Lovely touch.

I'm going to go right back to the

green. It was perfectly played.

Just a beautiful weight on this cue

ball. Let's have a look at this

pinpoint accuracy.

I just like the safety shot he this

up. Shaun and Ronnie in a lot of

trouble.

He played a wonderful

safety shot to get out of it and put

Shaun back in a lot of trouble, and

he couldn't get out of it. And these

are the fruits of his labour.

Absolutely brilliant. Such

knowledge.

Some great economy of

effort in this break. He's hardly

touched the cue ball. He's had it on

a string. He makes it look so

simple. And we all know that it is

much more difficult than that. It

really has been wonderful. He is up

for a fight, that is for sure. I'm

enjoying every minute of this.

This could possibly go, if he takes

blacks with all of these reds. He's

not interested.

How easy and fluent and deft touch

has he had in this break? The cue

ball has hardly moved.

Neil Robertson has made eight

centuries, Ronnie has made eight

this week, this will be number nine,

and also number 98 at this year's UK

Championship. Absolutely fantastic.

Absolutely brilliant.

Well, he won't be bothered about the

red, a century break from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He goes back into the

lead once more in this match. Eugh!

It is now Ronnie O'Sullivan

lead once more in this match. Eugh!

It is now Ronnie O'Sullivan six,

Shaun Murphy five.

HAZEL IRVINE: The first century

break of the final -- third, 24

Ronnie and Walter Shaun, so far.

The

cue ball was all over the place. I

know that the balls that they'd

sometimes, but he has made me look a

little bit stupid, there. The frame

before, obviously, the balls were

going everywhere, but that was just

a lesson in cue ball control, for

anybody.

He seems to have recovered

its focus beautifully.

At the end of

the session this afternoon it seemed

like he was pushing everything to

try to get that frame under wraps,

and he has come out today a

different player. If he keeps on

potting his nose in front he's

asking bigger questions Shaun Murphy

all the time. It is a race to ten,

so six is nowhere near the finishing

line, but Shaun Murphy would be

running out of time if he is or was

playing catch up.

Six frames on the

board, 6-5 to Ronnie O'Sullivan,

this, the last before the interval

and, the longer this goes on the

more enjoyable becomes for everybody

watching at home and in the Barbican

Centre here. Is this an occasion,

when it is close like this, and

enjoyable experience for players of

your stature?

It is hard to say that

you enjoy it while you are in it,

but yes, this is what you are a

snooker player for, these are the

kinds of things that I miss.

You

become over the years of playing

this game an adrenaline junkie, this

is what you plate. All of your

senses would be heightened when you

are out there.

JOHN PARROTT: No joy there are four

Ronnie with a long pot. The cue ball

has gone stuck on the green, so it

is only a safety shot. I agree with

Steve. A good point that he made

about if you keep asking the

question and you go one ahead all

the time, it is potting on more and

more pressure, certainly, as you get

nearer to the winning post.

Shaun

has been coming up with all the

questions, the answers to the

questions that he has been asked. It

is poised so nicely, this match. It

really is. Engrossing, for both the

players, I'm sure, as well as the

audience.

It would be nice for him

to get his nose in front somewhere

in the match and put the pressure on

Ronnie for the next frame. Such an

incredibly high standard. Way up in

the 90s for pot success. Safety is

not bad, either. It has been an

excellent final, it really has, so

far. A bit short with the cue ball,

but at least he didn't knock a red

towards the corner.

Looking to get

beyond the green here on the baulk

cushion. The man -- he wants to

avoid that brown, if he can. If

Shaun can get his hand on the table

and there is a red that's possible,

he generally takes it on.

As for

this one, where is the colour coming

from?

APPLAUSE

He took that so well. For it to go

into the middle pocket... A little

bit unlucky. Wonderful strike again.

APPLAUSE

Excellent safety from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. His safety so far

tonight has been spot on. And this

is trouble. I don't know where they

can get past the brown on the right

and even if he can see the red army

camp with a shot because of the cue

ball up here, this is the red on the

left that will pot.

Yes, he's in all

sorts here. He might be taking a

while to think about this one.

I've just put a line up there. I'm

not sure if he can get to this. It's

very difficult. It might be the only

thing he's got. And it was.

It could

have come out worse.

He's had a bit

of a result, there. Anywhere off

that cushions and there's a chance

for Ronnie O'Sullivan but the cueing

is so difficult.

Henoch two rates up

in the baulk area, which is even

worse, because he can only play safe

onto one of them. Still got the

other one. That is what he has

decided he can do, is dropped onto

that. He certainly had a result

there, Shaun.

Because of the yellow and brown he

can't really play that shot well

used on the first red into the

second one and send them both up the

table. He can't really play that. If

the yellow and brown were not there,

you could play that shot, stun at

home and both reds would end up on

the table. Got to be careful that

you don't catch the baulk commerce.

There you go. It's still all right.

But there was no way that both reds

were going to get down the table.

For a couple of shots Ronnie can

leave the cue ball behind the

yellow, or try to get that cue ball

tight behind the green and knock the

red back up towards the bunch.

He hasn't played that too well. Has

he left this red? He may have.

That's tight. It's going very close

to the balloon, this cue ball, very

close. This is why he's looking at

maybe swerving it. The last couple

of shots, Shaun has been in a fair

bit of bother.

Is it going to go in the pocket if

it does? If it does, he's gone to

leave him a shot.

REFEREE:

Foul, and a miss, Ronnie

O'Sullivan four.

If that had gone in

that would have been big trouble. It

gets about two thirds of the way

down the table and then indicates

right. This is a real problem now to

get this back in exactly the right

place that it was before. I suppose

it's all right if he's going to play

the same shot.

But the likelihood,

at that pace, the cue ball can tend

to roll. Unless he plays the red on

the way down. To try to play the

bump shot.

I suppose you play this

to allow for it rolling that we do

next time.

He's going to play the

bump shot. As long as he doesn't get

the double-kiss. That's the problem.

That was always the problem.

I'm not sure if Monica on hold for

the pink into the left centre. If

not he could go after the blue. You

can just about hold. The red left of

the pink spot will pot when the

bingo is back on its spot and clear

the pink a little bit. -- Wendy pink

is back on its spot.

And have been tempted if I had been

shorn to play the same shot. I know

it rolled a little bit, but... It

was awkward.

This is just the

perfect situation for Ronnie

O'Sullivan. A series of little screw

and stun shots around the pink spot.

We saw how good he was in the last

frame. He doesn't have too much work

to do with the cue ball here. Just

stay around the pink.

One of those

practice routines you used to when

you were learning to take the game.

You take the blue and black of their

spots and just put the pink on and

through a load of reds round and it

teaches you to play position, just

on the one colour.

It's never a bad ball. There are

four pockets that it can go in.

Just overscrewed that cue ball,

slightly. Was playing for the red

into this bottom right-hand corner

pocket. It is still on, the red, but

he can hold for the pink this time.

APPLAUSE

Just losing the cue ball, and

scrapping to get it back. Lovely

little screw shot the angle to run

inside. He has come up a little bit

short for the blue.

APPLAUSE

He is almost hitting the ball to

roll at the moment. Getting so much

work in it. He screwed back a little

bit too far off the tank, a little

bit too far, there. He's just

hitting it so good. -- off the pink.

APPLAUSE

Even left-handed, he's hitting it to

good!

This is tricky. Could stay on

the black here. He has played it

with a bit of pace to go for the

pink.

This is marvellous. Back in prime

position, now.

He's desperate to get

a two frame lead, going into the

interval.

From the minute Shaun made that

mistake there's been an

inevitability about this break. You

can see his focus. The way he struck

it. He had to go up and come around

for the blue. But he negotiated

that. He's just hitting the ball

like a dream now.

APPLAUSE

Does come up a little bit short.

He thought he had a little bit more

on the cue ball to come back.

May

play a plant. Plenty of value in it.

Lovely shot.

APPLAUSE

Beautiful.

You just knew when he came to the

table, the way with the situation

with the red and the pink, just out

of position once but once he was

back in, there was an inevitability

about it. Great break.

Great break.

It looked like for a small moment

this afternoon he lost his focus.

But he's got it back tonight.

Shaun says that the matter. Another

break of 76 from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

He goes into the mid session leading

7-5.

STUDIO: How significant is that

going to be? He has been trying so

hard, such a focus and determination

with Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last

couple of frames showing through.

He

is regrouping very well. From that

disappointment at the end of the

last session of play, he has his

mind back on the job perfectly. Good

tactics and fluent amongst the

balls.

25 years since Ronnie first

played in the UK championship. Came

in 1992, won it as a 17-year-old the

following year. 24 years after that,

he is on the verge of yet another

title, record equalling sixth. What

does it say about this man's

longevity? We were discussing how

long into your own career you were

winning titles. 28 year professional

career, the last year, 20 years in.

He is still doing it 25 years in.

career, the last year, 20 years in.

He is still doing it 25 years in.

One of the big bonuses with Ronnie,

he does a lot away from the table.

He does a lot of different things.

In my career, it was just snooker.

In terms of my career. Ronnie is

talking about doing the jungle, all

sorts. He is writing books, he is

doing all sorts. With me, it was

just snooker. In some ways, I didn't

have anything to get away from

snooker.

It must be a reason. But he has

lasted so long. He has taken years

off.

What is your view on that,

Steve, what counts for his

longevity?

He's a great player. It

does come into how good you are.

Yes. But to be right at the top of

the game?

If you are Matt Goode, you

can sometimes withstand next

generation is coming along -- that

good. John Higgins, Mark Williams,

Ronnie O'Sullivan, they have

withstood the new breed of players

coming through and produced the

goods. Somewhere down the line, you

get overtaken, swamped by another

level of play. It seems to be the

case in sport. Especially in

something with longevity, you can

play snooker all golf for a long

period of time. Ronnie O'Sullivan,

we all say he is the biggest genius

we have ever seen on the snooker

table. Perhaps it is natural he will

last as long. If you look at the

80s, the biggest genius... Not

Higgins, the biggest genius in the

80s was Jimmy White. He has lasted

the longest of all of us and is

still in the game.

Indeed. It says

something about his motivation

levels. Ronnie protests he is just

trying to get along and enable him

to do all the other things he wants

to do in his life. There must be a

fire still burning in him as a

competitor?

We are watching it now.

As I say, again, you know, watching

him play, there's no way he doesn't

care, he is there to win. Tonight,

his whole mindset, his safety has

been absolutely on the bottom

tonight. He has but Shaun in so much

trouble. -- on the button.

You need

to practice. You need to be fit for

purpose. He is still the fittest of

the players in his 40s.

He is and he

still runs every day. He joins

running clubs wherever he goes. That

is the way he relaxes away from the

table. Ronnie has been playing in

this since 1992 but the championship

itself has been going since 1977.

That was the year Virginia Wade won

Wimbledon and red Rum won the Grand

National for the third time. Jim

Callaghan was Prime Minister.

Morecambe and Wise' Christmas

special was watched by 28 million

people. Steve Davies had just left

his teenage years. It really was a

very, very long time ago!

1977, the year of the Silver

Jubilee. Star Wars, Saturday night

Fever, the death of Elvis and the

birth of the UK Snooker

championship.

For someone like Patsy Fagan, a

young Irish pro, more used to

hustling in and dingy London London

clubs, victory in Blackpool was a

life changing experience.

I bought a

house for £14,500 in 1977. It was

quite a big house as well! That was

a lot of money!

Prize money was on Terry Griffiths'

mind when he face the final.

He was

10-6 in front of me in the interval

and he came back late. It was the

first time anybody had been docked

frames in one of the major

tournaments. That bothered me a bit,

to be honest. I said, if you want to

share the prize money or something

like that, and he said, you haven't

won yet!

LAUGHTER

1980 and a certain someone claimed

the first of his six UK titles. Can

we called the day this error? -- can

we call it the Davis era.

There he

is with a big smile.

From London, Steve Davis.

He won it

six times, didn't it? I don't like

him any more. Now he's miserable,

ugly. The more he beat me, the

uglier he got.

Mirror, mirror, on

the wall, who has won the most UKs

most of all? 16-3 in that 81 final.

Despite all of those wins, it is

sometimes the defeats that linger

the longest. After being 7-0 up on

Alex Higgins, to losing the deciding

frame, that still hurts to this day.

Third time lucky for Alex Hurricane

Higgins.

And Alex Higgins is the UK champion,

1983.

And I'm sure that Willie Thorne

feels the same about the mist blue

against me in the 1980s final. --

missed blue.

That is unbelievable.

But all good things must come to an

end. Yet, I'm looking at you!

As

much as it pains me to say it, you

actually won more UK titles than me,

too many losses in finals for me.

Like my first final when my opponent

took a second UK title ten years

after his first and 46 years young.

APPLAUSE

Those two wins against Steve in 89

and 90 were very satisfying,

especially at the 16-15.

Oh dear.

For sheer quality, I think this is

the supreme game.

APPLAUSE

Steve Davis congratulate Stephen

Hendry.

This young man has really created

history.

Then, of course, there were the two

years I didn't even make it to the

final thanks to that bloke.

Yet, the John and Jimmy show, 1991

and 1992 on a shirt.

APPLAUSE

Just listen to that applause for a

really wonderful champion.

The main reason the UK championship

was so difficult to win was the fact

that it was 17 frame and 31 frame

format, only the watch a picture

proved a bigger challenge. All that

changed in 93 when it became best of

19. And I was in the other chair

when Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first

UK title that year at the tender age

of 17. That was when I knew how

Steve must have felt when I turned

up.

APPLAUSE

I never expected to win it, ended up

winning it and when I watched it

back, I thought it was amazing, I

had my mum there, celebrating. It

was a hard time for me, my dad had

just gone away. It was difficult for

me. To get that win was a massive

boost.

The next three finals I beat

Doherty, editing and Higgins, that

was pretty much it for me. In 98,

the UK moved to Bournemouth and it

was John's turn to rule the roost.

I can't really remember any of those

finals, really. The match against

Steve, I just remember we had a good

party, we danced, we have a right

good drink. 2000 I beat Mark

Williams. I beat him pretty

convincingly, which was good.

In

2001, the UK championship forced me

off to the Barbican centre in York

and I managed to get to the first

couple of finals. The first one

against Ronnie O'Sullivan I lost

heavily 10-1. I was lucky to get

one. The second one was heartbreak

at 10-9, defeated Mark Williams. One

of nine final frame decided that the

UK championship.

APPLAUSE

-- final frame deciders.

The naughties was all about

first-time winners, Matthew Stevens,

Stephen Maguire, Ding Junhui and

then, me, and I definitely enjoyed

that one. Come on! ,

, on!

In 2007, the Telford International

centre became the fifth and to host

the championships. That 30th

anniversary was all about Ronnie.

Whether counting dots on spoons...

I

just counted dots on the spoon and

every time I miss count-out I would

go back to the beginning. It got me

through, mentally, to be able to

focus. I counted 108. I might be

wrong but I am sure it was 108.

All

knocking in a 147 in the semifinal

against Mark Selby.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Rocket was a man on a mission, four

UK titles and counting. The

following year, Shaun Murphy won his

first UK title, thanks to a very

generous slice of luck.

He has fluked it can you believe it?

I missed it by a mile. It went round

the table and then a the middle

pocket like a rat up a drainpipe, is

never touched the side.

Some players win this all the time,

for then it is normal but for

mortals like me, winning these

majors is out of the ordinary.

You've got to enjoy them when they

happen.

In 2010, one of the snooker gods,

John Higgins, did the unthinkable,

coming back from 9-5 down to defeat

Mark one point leading a snooker and

then in the decider with all to play

for, this...

He's played a double! He's played a

double!

And enclose the blue! -- in goes the

blue!

It'll all be forgotten now if he

gets the pink. A remarkable

comeback.

The following year, the UK

championship returned to York and

it's been here ever since. We

witnessed some royal battles and

historic moments. Who can forget

Neil Robertson's 147 in the 2015

final against Liang Wenbo? The first

ever maximum in a triple Crown

final. The first ever final between

two non-UK players.

Absolutely sensational! We can hear

the Thunder from Down Under

Absolutely sensational! We can hear

the Thunder from Down Under!

We have

also seen the emergence of Mark

Selby as a real force in this event.

Twice a winner in the last five

years as well as being a beaten

finalists. With Ronnie O'Sullivan's

victory in 2014 against Judd Trump

elevating him alongside Stephen

Hendry as a five-time winner, only

Steve Davis now stands above him

with six UK titles. We are yet to

see whether the Rocket can equal

that record. At the stature of this

championship remains the same. It is

without doubt the second most

important tournament in the snooker

calendar. Just as the Crucible is

synonymous with the worlds, surely

now the Barbican in December is the

home of the UK championship.

It sure

feels like home. What about this

2017 edition? This afternoon we

asked you to cast your eye over some

of the shots of the championship and

to pick York one, two, three and to

see whether you would agree with our

panel of experts. Let's see if you

are thinking what they are thinking.

-- to pick your number one.

Well,

Well, that's an attacking shot,

that's a brilliant shot. Absolutely

stunning shot.

APPLAUSE

From Akani.

I thought Ronnie had played that.

They will raving about it.

Just trying to work out... If he can

play that little cannon, just to

Flickr red away from the black or

whether he has the angle to do that.

He is, just trying to get the black

out. That is pure class. Absolutely

wonderful touch. To screw down the

table, the side on, just to hit the

cushion and flick it out.

That is

shot of the week so far for me.

APPLAUSE

Goodness me.

Wonderful cueing.

There you have it. Before you know

it, we will be heading into the

second major of the season at the

Masters in Alexandra Palace. Just

after the New Year. It's always a

special event. Last January, Ronnie

took sole ownership of the record

number of wins. His seven, passing

Stevens' total and returns as

defending champion. This afternoon,

the draw was made for the opening

round. The event is getting underway

on Sunday the 14th of January.

This is what we can look forward to.

Six former champions in the line-up

and on the opening afternoon, Mark

Selby and Mark Williams, five

Masters titles between them. One of

the new boys. A debutante from

Belgian will be up against Mark

Allen, Luca Brecel. Another

champion, danger and we on Monday

against Ryan Day. Ronnie O'Sullivan

kicks things off as defending

champion, 1pm on Tuesday. On

Wednesday, Shaun Murphy against Ali

Carter. John Higgins and Anthony

McGill, all Scottish confrontation.

Anthony is the second debutante.

Masters to tickets are on sale. The

website has all the details. Get

them quickly because they go very

fast.

Of those ties, which really appealed

to you? Steve?

You go first.

I like the look of the last day,

Wednesday, Shaun Murphy against Ali

Carter and then the Scottish battle,

John Higgins against Anthony McGill.

In terms of those who are there and

those who are not there, Neil

Robertson didn't make it this time,

one of the biggest surprise is not

in the Masters line-up.

It is tough

to it in the top let alone play the

event. Mark Selby against Mark

Williams will be a great match.

Hopefully Mark is OK, I hope

everything is cared him.

Danger away

and Ryan Day, we have not seen a

huge amount of danger and way.

Exited this championship very early,

even before the TV stages. There is

something special about the Masters.

Why does it differ from everything

else you play?

My approach is always

the World Championship, then the

Masters and then this. When you are

the best player you have the best 16

players in the world and you want to

prove it up against the other 15

players.

Just one table. Every match

feels like a final and looks like

it.

It is and you don't necessarily

get too much... Straight in the deep

end against a great player. You

don't get a couple of matches to get

going in the event under your belt.

You can be like a very experienced

player.

Stephen is about to hop into

the commentary box for the

conclusion of this match. John Part

is going to seamlessly go into that

seat in the studio. Ronnie

O'Sullivan needs three more for a

record equalling sixth UK crown.

What, if anything, can Shaun Murphy

do in the closing stages of this

year's final? Let's find out. Dennis

Taylor, Stephen is on his way to

join you.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you Hazel he is a

fast mover, it won't take long.

Ronnie spotted something on the

white.

Paul Collier, the revelry, has

cleaned it and we are ready.

Red coming up this time.

Has the green covered it? I think it

has. There is still one to the right

corner. You can see that one is

blocked off.

Can Shaun Murphy not in one of his

specials?

APPLAUSE

-- can Shaun Murphy knock in.

Great start for Shaun of the

mid-session interval. It can do with

this opening frame, here. He drops

three frames behind Ronnie

O'Sullivan. It would be a tall

order.

They had a brilliant final in the

champion of champions. Shaun winning

10-8. That could well be the score

again, but for whom, that is the

question?

Not quite enough room, I don't

think. It's a bit of an awkward

spotting of the pink. It looks to be

enough room between the reds, but

obviously not. On a direct line

behind the black and blue spot. Not

touching the red.

APPLAUSE

Is not often you get a round of

applause for re-spotting a ball.

It is developing into a good chance,

here. Got to be careful with the

cannon on the pink but should be

guaranteed position. Should be

guaranteed position but is he on

this one?

That's amazing. That was a little

lapse in concentration, that can

that he played. End of break. --

that cannon that he played.

APPLAUSE

He just needed a full-ball contact

and guaranteed to be on a couple of

reds that he just slipped off the

pink. Very disappointing from

Shaun's point of view.

APPLAUSE

Stephen Hendry has just made it to

the commentary box, little bit out

of breath.

APPLAUSE

Yeah, really looking forward to this

final session.

Can Ronnie O'Sullivan keep the

hammer down?

Just before you came

you were on your way up, Shaun was

in amongst them and he played a very

careless positional shot. Played a

bit of a cannon on the pink when you

on your way back to the commentary

box. A look at this. -- when you

well on your way.

A wee bit unlucky.

Another careless safety shot. In the

last couple of friends, you have to

say, Ronnie O'Sullivan is starting

to get on top -- last couple of

frames. In every department.

He hasn't missed many of those,

that's for sure.

Well, he doesn't need me to tell him

that he cannot afford to throw away

these chances.

Playing that with drag, a touch of

right-hand side, to just push the

cue ball over to the left.

Well, that was a strange one.

I don't think he was expecting to

screw off the cushioning in behind

that red off the cushion.

Looks like setting up this red for

this brown.

It would be a bonus if he got

through the gaps in the blue but it

doesn't look like it.

Far from easy at the moment. Got a

bit of work to do to get a few more

in play. In a few shots' time.

Well, that's his intention.

He is looking at the black and he's

now looking at the pink. He can play

for either colour to then disturb

the reds.

He won't be happy with that. He can

screw off the cushioning for the

loose red that he wanted to go into

the bunch while the red was there.

Just has to be careful, the three

reds in the line above the black, if

he hits that dreadful ball, he could

stick on that, and then have

nothing. -- if he hits that red full

ball.

Never an easy pack to go into.

Even with his terrific cue power.

This one might just go to the middle

pocket.

APPLAUSE

Would be easier now to play the

cannon, not quite as awkward.

Worrying times for Shaun Murphy, it

has to be said. This is the biggest

lead any player has had. If Ronnie

was to go on and win this frame.

Three frames.

APPLAUSE

One more good positional shot and

the frame should be his. And the

lead should be three frames.

And it's not perfect. One glance at

the scoreboard. He's still well

short. He's going to have two head

up the table again.

APPLAUSE

A little awkward now these three

reds. He's looking at the

possibility of a plant. That would

be a bonus, because they are

blocking each other into the right

corner, and the pink is stopping one

from potting into the left corner.

The plant is there. And within being

close together, he needs to make

sure he gets the correct contact on

the first red, he could squeeze it

slightly, so he must be spot-on with

this.

APPLAUSE

That's another frame safe.

He's

found a gear, hasn't he, Dennis? An

extra gear, just to pull away.

This looks like this going to be

Ronnie O'Sullivan's tenth century in

this year's Betway UK Championship.

And if he does make the century, it

would be number 99 in this year's

UK.

Absolutely brilliant from Ronnie

O'Sullivan! Five frames all, and

suddenly he's produced a 76 and two

century breaks and he now leads by

eight frames to five, just two away.

century breaks and he now leads by

eight frames to five, just two away.

Really, the damage was done when

Shaun Murphy left that red in the

jaws of the pocket.

Just after John

had missed one. Playing a slow

little drag shot. And he has just

flicked a bit of side on it. I'm

just wondering whether that is the

beginning of the end for him.

Because that really was a good

chance to get into the frame.

Brilliantly taken by O'Sullivan.

World-class. Do you agree that there

are now worrying signs for Shaun?

He's not been able to keep up with

Ronnie like he did earlier. The

level of relentlessness that Ronnie

O'Sullivan puts on his opponent is

quite amazing, I think. It is down

to the ability he has got to make

breaks and have the cue ball under

control all the time. He makes more

from situations than any other

player. Whether they are open

amongst the balls, once he should

get, he never goes wrong, never gets

into a trap. When the balls are

tricky he finds it a challenge to

try and make a break that no other

player would be able to see his way

through. He is the ultimate

break-building machine.

Has Shaun's

levels dropped or has Ronnie 's

increased in this evening session?

Absolutely, it is both. Ronnie has

gone up two or three gears. We are

being ultra-critical where Shaun is

concerned, it is just one shot here

and there. It is just the level of

opponent he's playing against. He

just can't make a mistake.

Ronnie

coming to the table now needing two

more frames with a win.

-- for the win.

STEPHEN HENDRY: Is Shaun going to

continue to attack? He literally

cannot afford to miss any more pots

from this final if he wants to win.

Good start. Good start.

It can be a silly game at times.

Thinking about the readiness than

the previous frame, and then he gets

down and knocks that beautiful long

one end, to give himself a chance

here. Brilliant cueing. There's one

at the back that might be available,

because he's fairly straight on this

black.

It obviously doesn't pot, because

he's playing this long road to get

back on the black, into the yellow

pocket. Good cueing.

APPLAUSE

He's got a good angle on the black

to screw for these reds.

APPLAUSE

The red at the back of the bunch

goes to the same pocket.

He'll be looking for an angle on the

black again, because he has a huge

target if he gets level with the

black. He's always got that red to

the middle for a bit of insurance.

He has a right to the left corner to

follow through off two cushions. --

he has red to the left corner.

And

this, his fifth black. And with that

red over the middle pocket if he

goes into the bunch, that's a little

bit of insurers. -- insurance. A key

shortcoming up.

Top spin, a touch of

right-hand side. Into those two

reds, above the black. I don't think

he's on any of them, unless that red

squeezes into the left middle.

It

must be tight. Would it go? There is

a slight angle.

APPLAUSE

Is a choice of the red into the

right corner or the red over the

left middle. I don't see any other

reds that go. He has missed the

black. Oh, dear, Shaun, Shaun. Was

he possibly thinking about the 147

too much?

He definitely had that in

the back of his mind from the way

that he played a red into the

middle. He rarely misses with the

rest, but how costly is that miss

going to be?

I would say one word, Dennis, very!

You may well be right, Stephen.

He

may be 40 points behind but he's the

new favourite for this frame.

I

think that one near the middle

pocket on the right side of the

table, it's not that easy, really.

Quite a long way to go before he

gets to that. He's already had a

little glance at that red. That

shows how many shots ahead he's

thinking.

If he gets right behind

it, you can just drop it in for the

blue. But from any distance, it will

be a very tough pot. He will

probably leave that red until last.

Dropping onto the blue, easy to get

up for the yellow.

He has just overscrewed that by a

couple of inches. It's no problem.

In a few shots' time, he would love

to put the red in the middle of

that.

He has taken the opportunity to

bring it into play. And that is just

enough.

It's much easier now. Funny

how he changed his plan with being

straight on that red, he took the

opportunity to screw right back and

just flick it out at touch.

He's

always thinking, the Snicko brain,

he realised the ankle he had on the

red was perfect just to flick the

other red. He knew exactly how he

was going to contact that red. He

knew the angle, he recognised it,

and executed the shot perfectly. It

never looked in doubt, this

clearance.

This is just perfect

snooker that he's playing at the

moment, from 5-5.

As we said

earlier, he's going through the

gears now.

He's done very little wrong. A

couple of small errors. But that was

all it took.

APPLAUSE

Well, you can't do much about this.

This is just no-miss snooker he's

playing at the moment, four in a row

from Ronnie O'Sullivan and he's just

a little -- he's one frame away from

a little bit of history. He leads

Shaun Murphy, 9-5.

a little bit of history. He leads

Shaun Murphy, 9-5.

Looking at a

potential maximum break from Shaun

Murphy and it has completely changed

around in one shot.

I don't blame

him for going for the maximum. What

other shot was going to play? He's a

very good with the rest. He is

unfortunate that he's taken back and

missed. That is the only thing you

can say about it. And there is an

inevitability about it. Because you

know that somewhere through the

break is going to flick the red of

depression, and of course it turned

up and he did it. He's playing at

the peak of his powers at the

moment.

I think it was the right

thing to do for Shaun because of the

147 is on, then it is on but he is

up against a great of the game. And

I would say that Ronnie O'Sullivan

is, is a better sportsperson in the

UK with a better temperament for

match play them Ronnie O'Sullivan?

He's one of the best people ever

produced in the UK.

Extraordinary

clarity focus he seems to have

achieved. The longer the match goes

on, the more dialled in he becomes.

He's totally focus. It is scary

sitting in the other chair. You're

just walking on eggshells. You don't

know what you're going to do. Every

time that you make a mistake the

frame is over. If you get in when

the balls in the open, they are

going to go. It is a scary

proposition playing him when he is

like this, he's playing well as well

as he can play.

He's a philosophical

person, Shaun Murphy, but if you're

in his position right now, what

other option do you have other than

to grow and have a go?

He's been in

this position any more. You doesn't

have any pressure on him like you

did at the start of the session when

he was 1-0 down, you would expect

them to play some decent stuff from

here on in, but Ronnie O'Sullivan is

very good at closing up matches. The

record books beckon again for Ronnie

O'Sullivan.

It is plain and simple. What Shaun

Murphy has to do is do what he did

against Ryan Day. He won five frames

in one visit and that that many

frames he needs here, five frames.

Ronnie, just needing won victory. --

one frame for victory. That's an

incredible stat. 96% pot success,

with Shaun at 93. And he's certainly

opened the game up with that safety

shot, there.

Shaun is eyeing up this red the

corner. Every shot could be his last

now in this UK Championship final.

This red does pot the corner but the

following cue ball is the issue.

REFEREE:

All right, thank you.

He really is focusing on this one.

He knows that it's all about the cue

ball as well as the pot. If he's on

the pink for the middle pocket that

is a big bonus, but maybe it doesn't

go. Maybe it does, and what a result

he has had there, Stephen.

When it

is your night, it is your night. But

when you play this well, things do

happen for you.

APPLAUSE

This could be the beginning of the

end.

The way he's played the last four

frames, I would expect the title to

be one that this visit. -- to be

won.

They always say the toughest frame

to win is the one that gets you past

the winning post, but that's not the

case with the top of the tree

players like Ronnie O'Sullivan and

the gentleman next to me, Stephen

Hendry, Steve Davis in the studio.

Never had a problem closing a match

out.

He could have to play a cannon of

both of these reds. It is just

awkward. It's not often Ronnie

O'Sullivan takes this long over a

pot. You can see him in safety shot

still a lot of thinking at foreign

actual pot, this is very unusual for

him.

-- but for an actual pot.

He thought

for a minute and played it with

left-handed and pushed the black

one. He knew that he had to make

certain of that. That is why he

thought about that for so long. 76,

86 and two centuries in the last

four frames. Incredible.

Does anyone in any sport displays

more genius than Ronnie does at

snooker, I've yet to see it. The

best player I've ever seen.

They're

was a debate, who was the greatest

of all time? And I know that you're

sitting next to me, but I thought

Ronnie overtook you a couple of

seasons ago. That is my personal

opinion. But he's still two world

titles behind you.

He's given his opponent a lesson

tonight. It has to be said.

APPLAUSE

Service cannon, if he needs to play

a cannon, if it goes right, I think

it's all over. -- so, this cannon.

Maybe it hasn't gone right, the

cannon. It has finished rather

awkward.

Well, if he can't win at

this visit, it will irritate him.

APPLAUSE

A terrific round of applause but

it's not quite there, yet. He's got

one hand on the trophy, you would

have to say. And with Shaun 59

points behead and three reds of the

other end of the table, that doesn't

help his cause, if he gets a chance.

He's the ultimate professional, this

man. He will appreciate the standard

that Ronnie has produced here this

evening. But he's not finished just

yet.

One long pot up into the right

corner pocket, and this could be the

winning shot. He's just looking to

see what he would leave if he takes

it on. Is it their? Of course it's

there!

APPLAUSE

What a final we have had here. It

looked like it was going to go all

the way, the way both players were

playing. The standard was

unbelievable. He's just steadied

himself.

APPLAUSE

That's the one he wanted. That makes

absolutely certain of the final.

What a performance. I know he says

he's not all that bothered about

records, but make no mistake, he's

put so much hard work and practice

in for this year's UK

Championship...

It's been a great championship. The

crowds have been absolutely

fantastic throughout the televised

stages.

They have been treated to some

wonderful snooker.

APPLAUSE

Just clearing the balls up. When you

have won a major championship,

that's what you do.

Yes, Ronald!

Someone said, "Yes, Ronald! Those

. Well, have a look at that for a

shot.

Even Shaun Murphy was smiling in his

seat.

Doesn't matter about the yellow.

APPLAUSE

Being congratulated by Shaun Murphy.

He produced some real magic at 5-5.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has six UK titles.

He is the 2017 Betway UK champion.

APPLAUSE

STUDIO: Congratulations to both

players. Let's have a quick word

with Shaun. Commiserations. Both the

came out of the blocks this

afternoon -- both of you. The most

credible opening session. 2-4 behind

24-4, what kind of confidence levels

did you bring into this evening?

I

was looking forward to the game. I

came into the match knowing I would

have to be at my absolute best to

beat Ronnie over the distance and in

a tournament that is so big.

beat Ronnie over the distance and in

a tournament that is so big.

Unfortunately wasn't good enough in

the second session. Congratulations

to Ronnie, equalling six titles with

Steve Davis for this tournament.

It's a phenomenal achievement.

APPLAUSE

Is not the end I wanted to the

fortnight I have had. I have had a

phenomenal 12 days in York but the

guys here have made it and the fans

have made every moment so special.

They have been great all week.

APPLAUSE

Ana my friends and family had been

with me the whole time and made a

very special.

-- and my friends. Not

the ending I wanted but a great

time.

The triple Crown, the fourth

final this season, plenty more to

come from you this term. Our

runner-up, Shaun Murphy.

APPLAUSE

Thank you.

Ronnie O'Sullivan. A record