0:00:51 > 0:01:01# You know my name, you know my name # It took you a lifetime to get
0:01:01 > 0:01:07where you got... # If I had my way, be came for a
0:01:07 > 0:01:13day... HAZEL IRVINE: Evening all! We're on
0:01:13 > 0:01:19the eve of the quarterfinals in the Betfair United Kingdom jumper. Live
0:01:19 > 0:01:29long and prosper is the usual mantra of the top seeds and names in any
0:01:29 > 0:01:36major Championship, but not this one because only two out of the top 16
0:01:36 > 0:01:40have made it through to this point. One of those is Ronnie O'Sullivan
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Huddlestone on course for a record-equalling sixth UK crown. He
0:01:44 > 0:01:48is due out here very shortly in the Barbican centre, and these are the
0:01:48 > 0:01:58guys that he is aiming to join in tomorrow's line-up.
0:01:58 > 0:02:05DENNIS TAYLOR: Joe Perry beats Mark Allen.Mark King goes through to the
0:02:05 > 0:02:19quarterfinal...It's On Fire Stephen Maguire!He's produced the goods
0:02:19 > 0:02:24when it mattered the most.The result is all that matters, and
0:02:24 > 0:02:30Martin Gould wins 6-4...Shaun Murphy, former champion, and he goes
0:02:30 > 0:02:38through to the quarterfinals...So, the two remaining places up for
0:02:38 > 0:02:44grabs this evening in the last eight. Mark choice, the man who
0:02:44 > 0:02:48knocked out Neil Robertson, taking on the world number 82. And the
0:02:48 > 0:02:54lowest ranked player left meets the highest, with Sunny Akani taking on
0:02:54 > 0:03:00the man he calls his idol, Renny O'Sullivan. And Ronnie is trying to
0:03:00 > 0:03:05muscle in on this man she loves record of six titles here. It is an
0:03:05 > 0:03:11extraordinary Championship so far? That's right. When it first to a
0:03:11 > 0:03:16best of 11, people said it would be more of a lottery, but now we are
0:03:16 > 0:03:19seeing some of the lower ranked players coming through to the latter
0:03:19 > 0:03:23stages of a lot of events, but you would not have thought it for the UK
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Championship.You wouldn't. And who is the man who can beat O'Sullivan
0:03:27 > 0:03:32this week?The one who stands out is obviously Shaun Murphy. I think of
0:03:32 > 0:03:36the players I've seen so far who have been playing well, I think
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Stephen Maguire and Ryan Day have looked impressive as well. Anybody
0:03:40 > 0:03:44who is in it can still win as leader best of 11. But I think it would be
0:03:44 > 0:03:49fair to say, Ronnie O'Sullivan, as we currently speak, could win this
0:03:49 > 0:03:53tournament with an average performance. I don't necessarily
0:03:53 > 0:03:55think any of the other players could win the tournament with an average
0:03:55 > 0:04:02performance.And I, on paper, Ronnie's match looks like a bit of a
0:04:02 > 0:04:08mismatch, with the greatest of respect to Sunny Akani. He has been
0:04:08 > 0:04:13in just 1/4-final since turning pro, he's 22, he has done some damage
0:04:13 > 0:04:17this week and he says this is his dream matchup, he's a charming
0:04:17 > 0:04:22individual?What a fantastic event this is for him, he's probably got
0:04:22 > 0:04:27millions of fans back in Thailand. Azizul Awang guy and what a dream
0:04:27 > 0:04:32come true. You never know what a player is capable of. He's got and
0:04:32 > 0:04:36unusual cue action, a bit like a lot of the old time players in the game.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40It will be interesting to see how Ronnie copes with something slightly
0:04:40 > 0:04:44different perhaps.And he turned over the world number eight Barry
0:04:44 > 0:04:49Hawkins 6-0 in the last round, so this guy knows what he's doing. His
0:04:49 > 0:04:54real name is a lot longer. I think the commentary team is a lot happy
0:04:54 > 0:04:57that he goes by his nickname Sunny Akani. And no doubt Rob Walker as
0:04:57 > 0:05:02well!Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. What an atmosphere we
0:05:02 > 0:05:07have in the Barbican centre tonight, as we look to complete the line-up
0:05:07 > 0:05:14for this year's quarterfinals in the UK Championship, a massive blend of
0:05:14 > 0:05:17youth and experience right here, right now in Yorkshire, it's
0:05:17 > 0:05:27Showtime!
0:05:27 > 0:05:32Please welcome first of all, a young player brimming with confidence
0:05:32 > 0:05:36after making his first banking event semifinal in Northern Ireland last
0:05:36 > 0:05:43month as a teenager. Already beaten Marco Fu and Peter Ebdon en route to
0:05:43 > 0:05:51this fourth-round appearance in York - can he rise to the occasion once
0:05:51 > 0:05:57more, it's Lyu!
0:06:07 > 0:06:11And his opponent, enjoying the best season of his career so far, bidding
0:06:11 > 0:06:15for his third quarterfinal of the current campaign and his first at a
0:06:15 > 0:06:20UK jump Egypt in seven years. Knocking out two-time winner Neil
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Robertson in the third round, this is a tournament that tends to bring
0:06:22 > 0:06:38out the best in Mark Joyce!
0:06:40 > 0:06:47And on table one, please raise the roof for a player in merging for the
0:06:47 > 0:06:51biggest match of his life and the biggest individual payday of his
0:06:51 > 0:06:55career so far. Here after whitewashing multiple ranking event
0:06:55 > 0:06:59winner Barry Hawkins, he is about to face his boyhood hero. So, take the
0:06:59 > 0:07:13roof off for the man proudly flying the flag for Thailand, Sunny Akani!
0:07:14 > 0:07:18APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:07:18 > 0:07:24APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:07:25 > 0:07:29And finally, to the man who has been thrilling snooker crowds for a
0:07:29 > 0:07:37quarter of a century. First lifting this trophy in typically, he has
0:07:37 > 0:07:41since gone on to amass a record seven Masters crowns among many
0:07:41 > 0:07:48others. Ronnie O'Sullivan!
0:07:50 > 0:07:55APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:07:55 > 0:07:58APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:07:58 > 0:08:04HAZEL IRVINE: A fantastic crowd in tonight to see this match, and both
0:08:04 > 0:08:13matches live on the website. As Storm Caroline sweeps across the
0:08:13 > 0:08:18country, let's see how sunny it gets in the Barbican centre! Dennis
0:08:18 > 0:08:19Taylor, over to you.
0:08:19 > 0:08:26in the Barbican centre! Dennis Taylor, over to you.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28DENNIS TAYLOR: Welcome to the Barbican for this intriguing
0:08:28 > 0:08:41encounter between Ronnie O'Sullivan, who's breaking off, and his young
0:08:41 > 0:08:47opponent, Sunny Akani. What a welcome they all got, but especially
0:08:47 > 0:08:53for this delightful young player from Thailand.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56STEPHEN HENDRY: Yeah, when they shook hands, he almost looked
0:08:56 > 0:09:04apologetic when he shook Ronnie's hand.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Just hit that a little bit too hard. This was the handshake that Stephen
0:09:28 > 0:09:36was talking about. A very modest young man indeed.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15APPLAUSE
0:10:55 > 0:11:03He's a long way off this attempt, Ronnie O'Sullivan. It will be a test
0:11:03 > 0:11:06for Ronnie's focus and concentration tonight, because playing somebody
0:11:06 > 0:11:13ranked 84 in the world, and someone that everyone probably expects
0:11:13 > 0:11:22Ronnie to win, even perhaps his opponent. That's nice, for Sunny to
0:11:22 > 0:11:28get his first pot in before Ronnie got his. Just unfortunately
0:11:28 > 0:11:33travelled the wrong side of the blue. But he's on the pink, I think.
0:11:33 > 0:11:42Which would be a good ball to play. A little cannon on the two reds that
0:11:42 > 0:11:47are touching each other.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Chance to score a few points here.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41The green tape around the bottom of his cue. Sometimes when you're
0:12:41 > 0:12:51starting of it gives you a guide as to where to grip the cue. It's a
0:12:51 > 0:12:56decent start for the man from Thailand. He looks pretty composed
0:12:56 > 0:13:00around the table. We said he looked apologetic when he shook Ronnie's
0:13:00 > 0:13:07Han Solo he looks up for business now that he's on the table. -- when
0:13:07 > 0:13:13he shook Ronnie's hand, but he now looks up for business.
0:13:24 > 0:13:36Coming across the table to could have done with just another 6-8
0:13:36 > 0:13:41inches, would have made it much easier. He's just got to be careful
0:13:41 > 0:13:46of the red that he's leaning over. That green tape that Stephen was
0:13:46 > 0:13:56talking about. Very good.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06I was on the other table when he was playing Barry Hawkins, but to beat a
0:14:06 > 0:14:15player of his standard 6-0, must be very talented.Yeah, I don't think
0:14:15 > 0:14:19we've had a top player since James Wattana I think got into the top
0:14:19 > 0:14:33four the rankings 20 years ago. There's not been many. Lots of
0:14:33 > 0:14:40players are coming from China. It's great to see different nationalities
0:14:40 > 0:14:44in the latter stages of these tournaments.
0:14:50 > 0:14:58Yeah, when Steve Davis and myself went to mainland China back in 1985,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02there were no Chinese players, we played a couple of amateurs and they
0:15:02 > 0:15:06couldn't even make a 20 break. Who would have thought that just over 30
0:15:06 > 0:15:10years later, there are so many top players from that part of the world?
0:15:10 > 0:15:15Meanwhile he's just got slightly out of position here. But a very
0:15:15 > 0:15:21difficult plant if he's going to take but one. With that distance
0:15:21 > 0:15:33between them, this is far from easy. Very well played. Very well played
0:15:33 > 0:15:44indeed. Cool as a cucumber so far. Absolutely. Why not go for these
0:15:44 > 0:15:57shots?
0:15:57 > 0:15:58Speaking shots?
0:15:58 > 0:15:58Speaking to shots?
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Speaking to some shots?
0:16:00 > 0:16:00Speaking to some of shots?
0:16:00 > 0:16:00Speaking to some of the shots?
0:16:00 > 0:16:01Speaking to some of the players, shots?
0:16:01 > 0:16:02Speaking to some of the players, everyone got the impression that he
0:16:02 > 0:16:09was a very slow player, but... When the game gets bogged down you can
0:16:09 > 0:16:15perhaps slow up, but at the moment it's a pretty decent pace he's
0:16:15 > 0:16:25playing at. Wrong side of the blue. Baulk cushion, touch of left-hand
0:16:25 > 0:16:28side.
0:16:35 > 0:16:45REFEREE: Foul. Sunny Akani, 34. Ronnie O'Sullivan, four.He'll feel
0:16:45 > 0:16:52a lot better, having had that visit to the table.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Played that as a shot to nothing. He's got a good cue ball, as you can
0:17:11 > 0:17:18see there. And he's covered the one that's near the right corner pocket.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22So, if he plays a safety shot here, he's got to make sure he covers
0:17:22 > 0:17:28that, so that Ronnie can't get to it.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42Well, that's a bit unlucky, because he had covered it, but he's knocked
0:17:42 > 0:17:50another one over the pocket, which Ronnie can get through to.Ronnie's
0:17:50 > 0:17:54been paying some attention to his cue tip for the last couple of
0:17:54 > 0:17:57minutes.
0:18:08 > 0:18:14He lost control of the cue ball there.
0:18:32 > 0:18:39Hike can't see there being a problem with Ronnie's cue tip, he was in the
0:18:39 > 0:18:44practice room for well over an hour this afternoon. That's looks like a
0:18:44 > 0:18:48beautiful tip to me.
0:19:53 > 0:20:04This is a beautiful shot, it really is.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19It's very, very tight as to whether he can get past the yellow just to
0:20:19 > 0:20:24snake this red. He's had a look from both ends. Just that little bit
0:20:24 > 0:20:37sticking out, by the looks of it. Yeah, well played. Very well played.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Just a little bit more pace and he would have had the snooker behind
0:20:40 > 0:20:46the yellow. With the green off its spot, there's nothing over the right
0:20:46 > 0:20:53side of the table as we look at it.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Well, Sunny has got a red if he plays a shot-to-nothing to the
0:21:19 > 0:21:22corner. But he has to be careful he doesn't leave one to the other
0:21:22 > 0:21:30corner. He needs to get a good few ball here.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48He's keeping it pretty tight. Ronnie's not had anything to go for.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Similar shot here...
0:22:01 > 0:22:06DENNIS TAYLOR: It's quite unusual the way Sunny Akani gets down into
0:22:06 > 0:22:09the striking position. It's quite deliberate. I've never seen a player
0:22:09 > 0:22:14do this. He is not slow by any means, but it's just when he's
0:22:14 > 0:22:16getting down into the striking position, watch his little
0:22:16 > 0:22:20mannerism.
0:22:27 > 0:22:35Where is that red bowing to finish?
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Where is that red bowing to finish? STEPHEN HENDRY: Yeah, it's almost
0:22:36 > 0:22:41like when he first took up snooker, coach told him to do that, and he's
0:22:41 > 0:22:50just kept on doing it.If he takes that pot on to the right middle
0:22:50 > 0:22:57pocket, he's going to come up and cannon into the pink, that's what
0:22:57 > 0:23:02he's concerned about, otherwise he would have already taken it on.
0:23:09 > 0:23:21Just keeping things tight.I'm not sure what he played there. Whatever
0:23:21 > 0:23:28it was, I'm sure he wasn't planning to leave the cue ball there.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Now, have been told when he uses this extension, he holds the cue
0:23:37 > 0:23:47rather unorthodox. Now, that looks very unusual. Never, ever seen that
0:23:47 > 0:23:50before.
0:23:59 > 0:24:07Itched just like the same grip that you would normally hold the cue
0:24:07 > 0:24:16with.Whether Ronnie is not concentrating, or he's edgy or
0:24:16 > 0:24:26whatever, but he's yet to get post to any pot he's taken on so far. --
0:24:26 > 0:24:34yet to get close.Yeah, maybe lost a little bit of focus, because it's a
0:24:34 > 0:24:43very scrappy opening frame, the way the reds have finish up.
0:24:48 > 0:24:59That's cost him a four points, ye hasn't left anything, but...
0:25:07 > 0:25:14He needs a thin contact. Wouldn't want to hit it on the thick side, so
0:25:14 > 0:25:20he doesn't mind giving four away with the first attempt to.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46The way this frame has panned out, it's not a bad thing for Sunny
0:25:46 > 0:25:56Akani. It's given him a chance to acclimatise. This time, Ronnie DOES
0:25:56 > 0:26:01hit it far too thick. And he can take this red and get on the brown
0:26:01 > 0:26:07and then back up for the red. So, in a couple of shots' time, this Thai
0:26:07 > 0:26:16player could have a decent opening. Yeah, he's got an angle on the brown
0:26:16 > 0:26:22to come off the side cushioned hopefully disturb a few reds and the
0:26:22 > 0:26:28black.Yeah, the mannerisms he's got, things like playing the rest
0:26:28 > 0:26:32the way does, it can frustrate you if you're sat in your chair watching
0:26:32 > 0:26:37him, if you're not properly focused on what you're there to do. That's
0:26:37 > 0:26:45what happened with Barry Hawkins. I think that's what Sunny Akani does,
0:26:45 > 0:26:53speaking to the players - he makes frames awkward.Yeah, he wasn't too
0:26:53 > 0:27:00far away from opening up the reds and the there. Backer -- and the
0:27:00 > 0:27:10black there. Again, most unusual. When you think about it, you would
0:27:10 > 0:27:13think it is quite sensible, because you're playing the same way as when
0:27:13 > 0:27:20you play a normal shot.Well, I was the worst in the world using the
0:27:20 > 0:27:25rest - never even dreamt about trying it that way!
0:27:43 > 0:27:50REFEREE: Foul, and a miss, Sunny Akani, four.
0:28:17 > 0:28:26Well, the pot is on, but can he get himself onto a colour? He could play
0:28:26 > 0:28:29a screw back but he's not guaranteed to be nicely on one. He's just
0:28:29 > 0:28:37dropping it in. All this will do will be to give him six extra
0:28:37 > 0:28:40points.
0:28:44 > 0:28:50He didn't even bother taking the six points. He's got that nice
0:28:50 > 0:28:58advantage, and he's decided just to play it safe. He was even very
0:28:58 > 0:29:03modest the way he turned around and said to the referee, I'm playing the
0:29:03 > 0:29:11pink. Well, this is going over the corner pocket, but blew me come to
0:29:11 > 0:29:25his rescue. -- the blue may come to his rescue.Even shots like refusing
0:29:25 > 0:29:29that pink, it was an extra six points for him, just those
0:29:29 > 0:29:34unorthodox shots can just put your opponent out of his comfort zone a
0:29:34 > 0:29:39wee bit.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Can he see enough of this red?
0:29:57 > 0:30:02Can he see enough of this red? I think he might be able to.
0:30:12 > 0:30:22He's a bit closer to the cushion for comfort, but he can stun this in and
0:30:22 > 0:30:34cannon on the black even would do. Well played. He knocked the black
0:30:34 > 0:30:37safe, but it's still an excellent shot.
0:30:45 > 0:30:54This green and the loose red would leave Ronnie needing a snooker.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04Doesn't want to force this.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32And that has pushed the blue rather awkward.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53But just the one snooker needed.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02APPLAUSE
0:32:07 > 0:32:12That's the opening frame, that terrific long pot.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30And a nice little nudge on the red, although it didn't really matter
0:32:30 > 0:32:33with the frame well and truly over.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59You have to say, Dennis, it's a very impressive first frame. Hasn't
0:32:59 > 0:33:05looked nervous at all.Doesn't matter about missing that red.
0:33:05 > 0:33:14Ronnie stays in his seat. He did very well, it was an awkward frame,
0:33:14 > 0:33:16but he won it, leading Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-0.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23STUDIO: A cool customer, the 24-year-old from Thailand. Ronnie
0:33:23 > 0:33:29had won the opening frames of all his previous matches here at York.
0:33:29 > 0:33:34But interesting alignment positions from Sunny in the frame.Nothing
0:33:34 > 0:33:39wrong with these shots selection or unorthodox about the selection. But
0:33:39 > 0:33:43he puts out his bridge hand to line up the cue before he gets into his
0:33:43 > 0:33:47down position. He lines up the cue very early in the position. Some
0:33:47 > 0:33:50players don't get lined up until they are down on the shop. That's
0:33:50 > 0:33:55interesting is that the second thing, he was close to the side
0:33:55 > 0:33:59question. Was going to play a stunning shot. He lined up as if
0:33:59 > 0:34:04hitting the middle of the law and then jacked up into the air. He got
0:34:04 > 0:34:08into position first and then came up to hit the bottom of the ball.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11Sometimes you find it difficult to get the middle of the line if you're
0:34:11 > 0:34:16looking down. So he lined up and then jacked up into the air. The
0:34:16 > 0:34:20idea of the rest, he is using the same cueing action, but the only
0:34:20 > 0:34:25thing is, if he puts side spin on, the cue has a lot more side spin on
0:34:25 > 0:34:33it. That can be a bit difficult to judge.We go back. The forecast is
0:34:33 > 0:34:37Sunny so far!
0:34:37 > 0:34:45DENNIS TAYLOR: I love that, Hazel. Delightful young man, and what a
0:34:45 > 0:34:48start for him.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06STEPHEN HENDRY:it's a long time since I have seen Ronnie O'Sullivan
0:35:06 > 0:35:10make such an uncertain start to match. Can't play a shot right at
0:35:10 > 0:35:13the moment.
0:35:21 > 0:35:30Good pot. Just letting the cue ball drift. Solid pot. This black is
0:35:30 > 0:35:32dangerous.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39He's aiming down on the cue ball, so we'll be making contact with the
0:35:39 > 0:35:50reds. It's there.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11They have never played each other, these two players. I suppose Ronnie
0:36:11 > 0:36:17wouldn't know that much about his opponent. He certainly knows quite a
0:36:17 > 0:36:20bit now.
0:36:32 > 0:36:39That an attacking shop. Brilliant. Absolutely stunning shot.
0:36:43 > 0:36:50If Ronnie had played that, everybody would be raving about it, saying,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53what a player. Sunny knows the shots.
0:36:56 > 0:37:02What they can see has given himself to win this second frame. -- what a
0:37:02 > 0:37:07chance he has given himself.
0:37:55 > 0:38:02Can bring the cue ball back for a choice of pink or blue.
0:38:22 > 0:38:28I think before this match started, Dennis, most people were thinking
0:38:28 > 0:38:366-0, 6-1. Doesn't look like that at the moment. I suppose 6-0, 6-1 the
0:38:36 > 0:38:45other way!As we mentioned, beat Barry Hawkins 6-0.
0:38:50 > 0:38:57It makes this match even more intriguing now.
0:39:10 > 0:39:15Doesn't do that routine at every shot. I don't know what the criteria
0:39:15 > 0:39:20was for them to do it. Certainly not every shot where he does his
0:39:20 > 0:39:25pre-shot routine.
0:39:38 > 0:39:43He is cueing superbly well.That was a very delicate little touch there
0:39:43 > 0:39:48to stay on the black.
0:39:52 > 0:39:58And we've got a packed audience here at the Barbican. The crowds have
0:39:58 > 0:40:03been fantastic since the television started on Saturday. They really
0:40:03 > 0:40:12have come out in their droves here. Most of them will not have seen this
0:40:12 > 0:40:16young man play before. He got a terrific reception when he was
0:40:16 > 0:40:20introduced. He joined his hands together, the Thailand tradition to
0:40:20 > 0:40:36say hello. That's lovely to see.
0:41:36 > 0:41:43Always looked to have a bit too much angle on the blue to be able to
0:41:43 > 0:41:50hold.He has this red to the left middle. Looks like he would need a
0:41:50 > 0:41:59cushion, use a cushion in that shot to gain good position. Just gets on
0:41:59 > 0:42:06with it.
0:42:12 > 0:42:21Terrific shot, it really was. Had to find the gap and play this at pace.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25Missed the red and found the gap between yellow and brown. Excellent
0:42:25 > 0:42:30positional shot.
0:42:46 > 0:42:53His highest break in this year's Betway UK championship was a break
0:42:53 > 0:42:58of 79.
0:43:03 > 0:43:09There is still a possible 67 on the table. This medium pot on the red
0:43:09 > 0:43:13will secure the second frame.
0:43:40 > 0:43:49I keep on waiting for him to hit a shot badly. The first frame or two
0:43:49 > 0:43:55you might play above yourself, but he looks so calm.
0:43:59 > 0:44:08Faced with a tough red. What a start for this young player from Thailand.
0:44:08 > 0:44:18He takes the second frame. 2-0 to Sunny Akani. HAZEL IRVINE: what a
0:44:18 > 0:44:22story. Hector Nunn, all of the great snooker writers, tweeted the other
0:44:22 > 0:44:25day, on the first couple of impressions, it's difficult not to
0:44:25 > 0:44:30like Sunny Akani. Respectful and calm, but also confident and very
0:44:30 > 0:44:35cool.He has what a lot of players is imported, a pre-shot routine to
0:44:35 > 0:44:39go through that makes every shot the same. That's what you're trying to
0:44:39 > 0:44:44do, really. You don't want to make every shot different. It's the same
0:44:44 > 0:44:48process of getting there. This pre-shot routine might come even
0:44:48 > 0:44:52more important. Line up the cue and get down. Perhaps the next
0:44:52 > 0:44:56generation will all stand up, then go like that and have a little hair
0:44:56 > 0:45:01clip.That's the fashion, definitely. We have seen it in other
0:45:01 > 0:45:05sports. You mentioned Jason Day in golf, a definite set routine before
0:45:05 > 0:45:09he hits the ball. And somebody like Marco Fu has always been deliberate
0:45:09 > 0:45:14in how he addresses the shot.You want to have people who can play
0:45:14 > 0:45:20with flair. And when players have this pre-shot routine it looks more
0:45:20 > 0:45:26like you are trying to be like a machine, a robot. Unfortunately the
0:45:26 > 0:45:29games of snooker and golf are robotic games where you try to
0:45:29 > 0:45:34compete all the time. Fortunately, players off the table have some
0:45:34 > 0:45:40personality, but when you play the shots, for the people who like
0:45:40 > 0:45:44watching snooker, they don't like the players who seem methodical, but
0:45:44 > 0:45:48the game lends itself to that.It is fascinating and its workings so far.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51Back we go.
0:45:53 > 0:45:58DENNIS TAYLOR: the break of shot put the reds next to the black and it
0:45:58 > 0:46:08has tied it up. As a potted a ball for more than 25 minutes. -- hasn't
0:46:08 > 0:46:09plotted a ball.
0:46:14 > 0:46:20That's not a bad one to start with.
0:46:20 > 0:46:29That's not a bad one to start with. I was watching Sunny when his red
0:46:29 > 0:46:34went in the middle. He was shaking it, disappointed to have left it.
0:46:34 > 0:46:38First scoring opportunity for Ronnie O'Sullivan.
0:46:46 > 0:46:51GROANS FROM CROWD
0:46:51 > 0:46:54GROANS FROM CROWD Unexpected miss. He had the perfect
0:46:54 > 0:46:59angle on the blue to then try to bring some more reds into play. The
0:46:59 > 0:47:10red catching the right to the jaw.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17That was quite an attacking shop. Just played a safety shot, but
0:47:17 > 0:47:24wanted to bring the black into play. Didn't envisage leaving this red.
0:47:32 > 0:47:38If this runs on and he is on the yellow, knowing Ronnie O'Sullivan,
0:47:38 > 0:47:42he would go straight into the bunch of reds and open the game up as much
0:47:42 > 0:47:52as possible here. He caught the pink first. Can still pot the red near
0:47:52 > 0:47:57the right-hand corner. I think he has a slight angle.
0:48:11 > 0:48:24He's got enough angle. He can go to the same pocket.
0:48:31 > 0:48:37The two reds above the pink, stun to the left one.
0:48:45 > 0:48:53Played this to perfection.Was very unlucky. As we show you how the reds
0:48:53 > 0:48:57ended up. The White went a little off, but this was a stretch for
0:48:57 > 0:49:04Ronnie and he needs a bit of action on the cue ball. And he's got it.
0:49:08 > 0:49:13All of a sudden, a great chance.
0:49:22 > 0:49:29It takes a while, but The Rocket has lifted off.
0:49:36 > 0:49:40If you are Sunny Akani, this is what you expect will happen when Ronnie
0:49:40 > 0:49:48gets in. No point dwelling on it. You are expecting to just look
0:49:48 > 0:49:54forward to the next frame. Get ready to take any chance that comes your
0:49:54 > 0:49:58way.
0:50:06 > 0:50:11A bit like the 80s and 90s, playing Steve Davis, you make a mistake, sit
0:50:11 > 0:50:16down and get ready for the next frame. Same thing with Stephen
0:50:16 > 0:50:21Hendrie in the 90s. One mistake, and the number of times you sit out and
0:50:21 > 0:50:24just get ready for the next frame.
0:51:07 > 0:51:12Certainly doesn't take him long to win a frame, does it? Already 53
0:51:12 > 0:51:21ahead. Not that many more pots away from getting his first frame on the
0:51:21 > 0:51:25board.
0:52:22 > 0:52:28Not going to be easy to make the century break. Playing on to the
0:52:28 > 0:52:37difficult red this time. He has had three so far this year in the UK
0:52:37 > 0:52:50Championship. 132 is his highest. Made 50 centuries last season. He is
0:52:50 > 0:52:59some 35 this season. 909 in his career.
0:53:04 > 0:53:11This has just looked inevitable from almost the first shot. As soon as he
0:53:11 > 0:53:22got that pack opened. We knew what was going to happen.
0:53:31 > 0:53:37I don't think Ronnie can believe that yellow went in.
0:53:52 > 0:53:56The 84th century in this year's Betway UK Championship, coming just
0:53:56 > 0:54:03at the right time because the young player from Thailand asked a big
0:54:03 > 0:54:06question of Ronnie O'Sullivan, winning the two opening frames. This
0:54:06 > 0:54:14has been his response. Typical Ronnie O'Sullivan.
0:54:18 > 0:54:24Very entertaining stuff indeed.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27Very entertaining stuff indeed.
0:54:33 > 0:54:39STUDIO: The 104th century Ronnie has made in the UK championship, just
0:54:39 > 0:54:45one behind the all-time record held by a certain Stephen Hendry. 124
0:54:45 > 0:54:49centuries in 25 years of playing. Another record in jeopardy. As
0:54:49 > 0:54:55indeed are other records held by you and Stephen Hendry. He's trying to
0:54:55 > 0:55:05equal your tally of six UK titles. He's getting there now.Who can
0:55:05 > 0:55:11judge? Possibly Ronnie's five in the UK championship in the modern-day
0:55:11 > 0:55:15game is stronger than my six in the 80s. The overall standard is higher,
0:55:15 > 0:55:20that's my personal opinion and not everyone agrees. And Ronnie has five
0:55:20 > 0:55:24World Championships in a crowded marketplace. He's just a brilliant
0:55:24 > 0:55:29player. A good frame to win. Doesn't matter how much the other guy may
0:55:29 > 0:55:33not be able to get over the line, we don't know how that will pan out,
0:55:33 > 0:55:40but he has put paid to a lot of great players' chances so far this
0:55:40 > 0:55:44tournament, including Barry Hawkins, Fergal O'Brien, Michael Holt. They
0:55:44 > 0:55:47are great scallops. This would be another one.We will be going off
0:55:47 > 0:55:53the air at eight o'clock. We will be carrying on behind the red button.
0:55:53 > 0:55:57But we will enjoy the last few minutes of the on air transmission
0:55:57 > 0:56:01this evening. It's been a really interesting start to the match so
0:56:01 > 0:56:04far, hasn't it, boys?
0:56:07 > 0:56:16far, hasn't it, boys? STEPHEN HENDRY:absolutely, Hazel. The
0:56:16 > 0:56:23contrast in the two styles has been very interesting. The one player at
0:56:23 > 0:56:27the table, totally natural. The player sitting down, Sunny Akani,
0:56:27 > 0:56:32has obviously been heavily coached in his technique.
0:56:43 > 0:56:48Taking his time here. Three or four reds available.
0:56:57 > 0:57:04Just left it a little awkward. Having to cut it back now. Nicely
0:57:04 > 0:57:15played. A little bit too far to take on the yellow and into the reds like
0:57:15 > 0:57:22he did in the previous frame. Went on to make a magnificent break. But
0:57:22 > 0:57:27he has a couple of loose reds here. That's a nice want to get on, the
0:57:27 > 0:57:34one behind the black.Fabulous positional shot there. Made it look
0:57:34 > 0:57:44so easy. Deliberately finished low on this red. It's between the black
0:57:44 > 0:57:51and the pack. Choice of playing this with top spin or screw. I think he
0:57:51 > 0:57:57will probably play the screw back. Easier to control the cue ball, I
0:57:57 > 0:58:01feel.
0:58:30 > 0:58:38STUDIO: The scores might be heading to 2-2. A little taster tonight with
0:58:38 > 0:58:43quarterfinal places on the line. Coverage continuing on the website
0:58:43 > 0:58:49and behind the red button. Mark Joyce from Walsall is carried 2-0 up
0:58:49 > 0:58:53on Lyu Haotian on the other table. We will be back with highlights
0:58:53 > 0:58:58later. From Steve Davis and myself, catch you again soon.