Quarter-Final - Part 1 UK Snooker Championship

A cold one today with snow showers,

just in time for the run-up to

Christmas but in the Barbican centre

last night it was very sunny, thanks

to the stylish 22-year-old player

from Thailand, Sunny Akani, who

almost toppled The Rocket Ronnie

O'Sullivan taking him through to a

final frame decider and afterwards

Ronnie said he felt like he had

robbed him and yet the Rocket

scrambled over the line and is in

the running to lift the trophy for a

record equalling sixth time and also

in the running are these guys in

today's quarterfinals.

# If you're ready.

# If you're ready.

Not perhaps the line-up for the

quarterfinals we expected?

Not at

all, but we have Mark Joyce in

there. He has been in good form this

season and a vindication of the

modern game, Mark Joyce when he beat

Neil Robertson, and he came back

with more and he was so impressive

and that is the way the game is. I

am still on the tour and I see this

and it is no surprise to me.

A lot

of big seeds out and I was asked

last night with his match against

Sunny Akani, I was asked who could

beat him I said perhaps Shaun Murphy

but it could have been Sunny Akani.

It is well-documented. He does

seven, eight hours a day on the

practice table and he does not do

that to come and views. He was

playing Ronnie, a big hero of his,

but he had no fear. He charmed the

Barbican last night, which was great

to see.

You see the lower ranked

players coming through on the tour

and know how much of a gap there is

between them and top ranked players,

surely the gap is smaller?

It

definitely is. Sunny Akani is ranked

84 and numbers do not mean anything.

You are either a 64 seed or you are

not, so one outside will play one

inside but anyone can beat anyone

and two of the top 16, being in the

last rounds here is almost unheard

of.

Coming up this afternoon...

Ronnie stepping out in his 60s UK

quarterfinal in 25 years. Can Martin

Gould step up against in? The world

number 18 meeting Ronnie for the

first time in a triple crown event

today. 13 years since Stephen

Maguire blazed a trail to this title

but he is smouldering again in York.

Can gentlemen Joe Perry douse his

flames? Joe Perry made the Masters

finals. Another strong run in a

snooker major. We are sitting up

straight today because the gaffer is

in the house, Barry Hearn, welcome.

Did you see Sunny Akani's valiant

attempt against Ronnie O'Sullivan?

I

was dropping off to sleep but it was

so exciting it kept me up. I came

back from Vegas yesterday and could

not take my eyes off it.

I wonder if

Barry Hawkins, who Sunny Akani

thrashed 6-0, he is probably feeling

better today.

Players are selfish

and he will look at that and think,

maybe I was not too bad.

It was not

just Barry Hawkins, Michael Holt and

Fergal O'Brien have felt his raff.

Hopefully we will see more of him on

our screens.

He charmed everyone.

Absolutely superb. More on the

championship shortly but Barry, you

are here also because you have big

news.

I have great news and I am

excited about it. Snooker has done

really well the past few years and

we have had a great time

revitalising the game. We finally

agreed a new extension to the BBC

contract. It has been going for ever

and we are part of the fabric of BBC

Sport and we have announced a new

deal to extend the current contract

by another five years, a minimum of

six and a half years to go. One of

the fastest growing sports in the

world, which is in this age of

linear television, most sports are

seeing declining audiences and we

are bucking the trend. Snooker

audiences, especially with great

events like this, our fabulous. The

numbers do not live. The

relationship between World Snooker

And the BBC is a fundamental part of

our growth plans and it has been the

rock we have built the industry

around and we are happy we will be

with you a lot longer. You are in

the job, I am in a job, the boys get

to work, everybody is happy. The

opportunity created for sports men

and women all over the world has

been strengthened by this

relationship and I am delighted to

be part of it.

It has been on the

BBC since 1969. This is the triple

crown events free to air until 2024.

Ronnie O'Sullivan will be almost 50

and Alan and Steve Davis will be

looking the same. Why was it

important to nail this deal?

It is a

long deal and my feeling is as I get

older, the legacy of what we are

trying to build, to encourage people

to play snooker, to reward those who

are successful and give opportunity

to people from all around the world,

it is not just a British game, it is

a global sport, but you need the

bedrock, the solid foundation and

what we have done is tie-up

long-term deals with chosen

partners. A ten year deal with CCTV

in China. Sport does not get 10-year

deals and we have it. The BBC who

has been there from the beginning,

and when I got involved it was

watching Pot Black on BBC in

black-and-white. When the Nugget

won, the greatest day of my sporting

life, 18 and a half million. It has

created moments we will look back on

our deathbed and remember and now we

have a five-year extension. It is a

friendship, relationship that has

been built on the basis we have both

delivered what each other's needs.

We have delivered ratings, the BBC

have given us the bedrock of the

sport to say to the world these are

the greatest players in the world,

it is free to air and everyone can

access this free of charge on the

BBC and that is where we have built

our business from. It has expanded

around the world and we have seen

prize money Grove. We are getting

500 million for the World Snooker

Championships. This does not come by

mistake. It is a part of the plan

and the integral part of the plan is

the relationship with the BBC and we

wanted to make the statement we are

here to stay, these are our partners

and we will build the sport to

levels we have not seen before.

And

I have to take the side of the fans

sometimes in this argument and that

is, with the profile, 65 network

hours this week for snooker on BBC

Two, something sticks in the crore

of fans, no Mark Selby nominated at

Sports Personality Of The Year and

Ronnie O'Sullivan has never been

nominated. What is going on and what

is your view? It is an independent

panel, not just a BBC decision. Is

it a reflection of the perception of

snooker Amond sporting audience?

I

think you have got to sack the

panel! In any business, if you do

not listen, and as a promoter I have

to listen to my audience. I have to

entertain. I cannot just make

decisions that have no commercial

value or do not entertain people.

This panel, and they are

independent, they must be from

another planet. The fact that a

genius like Ronnie O'Sullivan has

not been nominated means sack the

panel. Because they are not

listening to what the public says.

We are seeing TV audiences decline

in virtually every sport at the

moment, other than the snooker. The

world champion has not been

nominated. I am not criticising

those who have been nominated, they

are there on merit, but you have to

listen. You cannot go off on a

tangent and do what maybe is

politically correct, makes you feel

all look good. I know there are a

lot of deserving cases but you

cannot... We do not produce enough

geniuses in the sporting world to

explore a talent like Ronnie

O'Sullivan. It is stupid beyond

belief. It is not the BBC's fault.

You have three members on a 15 man

panel. My advice, we sack the panel

and start again.

You talk about

Ronnie O'Sullivan as a personality

and he is that. He has had a lot to

say and the last topic, he has

talked about numpties. It has been

tongue in cheek but it has produced

what is called as the numpty

revolution.

You could take the high

ground and say it is disrespectful

but the numpties, which I do not

believe they are. They have had

their final say. We have seen some

amazing snooker. Sport is about

giving opportunity to everybody and

the only criterion is the ability of

the individual. The players have

spoken. The results are what we see.

Two off the top 16 in the

quarterfinals. This is a great time

to be a snooker player and the

opportunity to change your life is

there if you have the ability. What

we are seeing despite Ronnie's

tongue in cheek comments, as Allen

said earlier, there is no gimmes in

this game. They can all play and we

are seeing it every round of every

event.

Barry, always a pleasure and

fascinating to talk. He always has a

lot to say, doesn't he? Thank you

for keeping snooker free to air.

Thank you for the airtime. Well, it

was Sunny Akani who put the

frighteners on Ronnie O'Sullivan

last night and I wonder if he will

get a scare from Martin Gould. This

is

get a scare from Martin Gould. This

is the head-to-head. Ronnie has won

all previous matches but this is the

first time they have met in one of

the treasured triple crown events.

We have two quarterfinals and we are

looking at Stephen Maguire against

Joe Perry. A lot to get our teeth

into

Joe Perry. A lot to get our teeth

into and it is time for Rob Walker.

Good afternoon, it is quarterfinal

time at the UK Championship and we

are edging towards the business end

of the tournament and we have four

proven ranking event winners waiting

in the wings ready to go toe to toe

for a place in this year's

semifinals.

CHEERING

Please welcome first of all, a

player making his first appearance

in a UK quarterfinal in nine years.

Here after an excellent victory over

Mark Allen in the fourth round. The

players championship winner a couple

of years ago. From Cambridge, he is

the gentleman, Joe Perry.

MUSIC: Happy.

His opponent, a player who often

produces his best in the UK

Championship. He is always so

excited, maybe because he knows

Santa is coming later in the month.

He won this one in 2004. He is

Stephen V Maverick Maguire.

-- Stephen Maguire, the Maverick.

On table one, please welcome a

player making his second

quarterfinal in York in three years,

semifinalist at the international

championship in China last year's

German Masters winner, Martin Gould.

And finally, after 25 years in the

sport, he is still snooker's box

office draw, surviving a spirited

performance from Sunny Akani to book

a 16th UK Championship quarterfinal.

The Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

MUSIC: Rock 'n' Roll Star by Oasis

HAZEL IRVINE: Two watchable

quarterfinals and we will stick with

table one but we will catch up with

the events on the other table this

afternoon but if you want to watch

that match, it is on the red button

and both games are available via the

BBC Sport website. John Parrott and

Stephen Hendry are in the box.

Stephen Hendry, do you have your

breath back after

Stephen Hendry, do you have your

breath back after commentating on

that amazing match last night?

COMMENTATOR: What a match. It is

awhile since I have seen so much

drama in an early round of a major

championship. John, I get the

feeling sometimes, when you almost

went out of the tournament, you

should have gone out possibly, you

tend to play better next day.

You

can look back on tournaments you win

and see the first round matches and

think I should have gone there, my

opponent got a kick at the end and I

managed to win, and you can get a

boost from it. I know you expect him

to fly today. We were talking before

we came on air that we thought we

would get a big performance today.

REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

I have never seen Ronnie as rattled

as last night. At some stages, his

head was gone. He could not buy a

positional shot, which, for him, is

incredible. Interesting to see if

Martin Gould, who did not play well

yesterday, can put him under

pressure.

A change of plan. Did not play on

the loose red at the back. He may

have left a cut in the corner.

Bridging is the problem that there

is a chance. He could play at thin

to the other side and the only reds

you could leave is the one you have

taken.

A nice opening pot. This was

awkward. Martin today has nothing to

lose.

Not many expect him to win.

He is a player who quite enjoys the

big occasion. He enjoys playing top

players.

He has beaten all of them,

I was going to say, but the one he

has not beaten is Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Almost everybody else you care to

mention he has beaten at some point

in his career. He is game, he loves

a battle. People get his snooker cue

out and play anyone. What I would

say about yesterday's match, while

it was not pretty against Xiao

Guodong, he produced his best when

he needed the most.

That always does your confidence a

bit of good.

An obvious thing to say, but this is

not what you want to do against

Ronnie O'Sullivan. Leave him right

in with an easy opener.

It looked like he got pre-possessed

with the cannon rather than

concentrating on the priority which

of course is always knocking the

ball in the hole.

Maybe he will not fly today. I think

you missed two blues last night.

Certainly in the final frame. Off

the spot. Which as I said in

commentary, the one he missed last

night reminded me of Willie

Thorne's.

And that is you getting a

text message!

Neither player has settled down just

yet.

There is huge expectation from

everyone for Ronnie O'Sullivan to

win this UK Championship and

probably from himself. He has yet to

play anyone in the top 16 in the

draw, so every match, the pressure

is on him to play well. Sometimes,

it can force you to not be

concentrating properly. You see the

draw and you think, I should win

this championship. It does not work

out like that.

That was a nice positional shot. He

could play into the bunch from this

blue.

It is the way he thinks about making

breaks that is fabulous. How many

would have screwed back to leave the

gap for the blue and now he has the

cannon and another chip up for a

baulk colour. And what a chance, he

has opened up the reds. Just by

thinking about the shot for the

screw back to the blue. It is just

another level from some of the other

players when it comes to break

building.

And he's got the quiff back today.

He had a flat hairstyle last night.

He has just come slightly awkward.

He would have liked to have been

straight to run through for the

black sews change of plan. Perhaps a

little stun around the back.

You were right, John, the expected

message from Willie Thorne.

I cannot

repeat what he said. It was not too

complimentary will stop I hope you

are well, pal.

He decided to put the cue ball into

an area... Well, he is OK. He cannot

stay on the black.

This break has been made by this

shot earlier. What thinking to come

back and play in the gap for the

blue. Fabulous. It was awkward

start. The balls were in the open

but he was slightly off position.

You might be right comic he may be

flying today. -- he might be right,

he may be flying today.

Martin Gould

had a half chance but sometimes when

you are playing Ronnie O'Sullivan,

those are the ones you have to take,

half chances. If you are sitting in

the chair waiting for easy chances,

you might be there a long time.

Already passed the point, you would

think of winning the frame. Just

making absolutely certain. Very

fluent. A surprising miss early on.

The blue on the spot. I bet he could

not believe he would be back at the

table that quickly. An excellent

break.

Already sending a message to Martin

Gould, if you miss, this is what is

going to happen.

Normally you would say the reds or

in a bad position for right-handed

player, but it does not apply here.

You can drop it in dead weight.

So much for dead weight. He rolled

it in beautifully. What an asset, to

be able to switch to left-handed and

drop it in like that. If he makes a

century it will be the fifth of this

year's championship.

And in the tournament so far, there

has been 85. As you would expect

with the best players and lovely

conditions and the extended run out

of best of 11s, the boys are

certainly knocking in plenty of

balls. Just this blue for century

908 11 in in his career. -- 911 stop

there it is.

The crowd enjoying that.

He will not take the black, that is

enough. Despite missing the blue, he

makes a century of 107 and takes a

1-0 lead over Martin Gould.

makes a century of 107 and takes a

1-0 lead over Martin Gould.

Highly significant because that is

his 105th century in this

championship over the past 25 years,

equalling the record held by Stephen

Hendry, sale he is equalling and

indeed going beyond records in his

career. A gift for Martin

indeed going beyond records in his

career. A gift for Martin.

indeed going beyond records in his

career. A gift for Martin.

He

struggled at time. He had no

business playing this red, Martin

Gould. He wants to settle into the

match. That is probably a one intend

to get back. Do not leave Ronnie

Casey setup. We know how quickly he

gets into his cueing. -- do not

leave Ronnie O'Sullivan a setup. He

played the blue, beautiful angle.

Stephen Hendry said he would be into

the pack. Without hesitating. They

split beautifully. The point is not

to give him encouragement. Martin

Gould has got to tighten

to give him encouragement. Martin

Gould has got to tighten up.

Is

Martin potentially to feel the

backlash from Ronnie O'Sullivan

after last night's win.

Possibly.

Martin Gould plays an aggressive

game and perhaps that was not the

time to do it. But the work-out

Ronnie got against Sunny Akani, and

straight back on the table, means he

is in stroke.

Back to the play, and frame two.

Back to the play, and frame two.

COMMENTATOR: Both of those matches,

Michael Georgiou, and Michael White,

Ronnie didn't get anything too

strenuous in those matches, not

playing as good as they are capable

of.

Obviously Martin didn't hear Alan.

He has obviously decided to come out

and attack, go for his shots, Martin

Gould, and I am not going to see

that as a bad way of playing. I

mean, he could come out and try to

keep Ronnie it and still get beat

6-0, so what is the right way to

play? Do you want to go out

attacking?

The only right way, when

you play against O'Sullivan, don't

miss, simple as that. I don't blame

him taking on a couple. Certainly

with Alan for the first one, that

middle pocket was always fraught

with danger if you didn't knock it

in so early in the match. Such a

test against O'Sullivan. If you play

good safety, he can match you. If

you score well, you can match you.

The only real solution to it all,

you just can't afford to miss. That

is the level he plays it. When your

chance comes, you have to go to

work, and it is tough to do.

Already looks more focused, more

calm, almost subdued in his manner

around the table. Last night, his

opponent definitely got him at it,

he was very agitated. A lot of

headshaking going on.

Going into these here?

I don't think

so.

But I think definitely do the right

of these two reds, the blue, then

full in the face into the pink.

Maybe he feels like going into the

black. There are a couple of reds

below the pink, a couple that look

they are going towards the corner,

Eddie he has already seen those and

doesn't want to go into the pack

from the blue. Definitely going into

the here. -- perhaps he has already

seen those. You always want to go

into the pack when at least one of

those reds can give you a bit of

insurance.

That is the one he is on.

Never

quite understand players, and

talking about some professionals,

who cherry pick out all the reds and

don't give themselves any option. If

you take away the loose reds getaway

and open up the pack, and there is a

lose red available, giving yourself

a better chance to make a break. A

little low on this, probably what he

wants just to move a few more reds

out.

It sounded a little heavy, but it is

OK.

I see what you mean about his look,

Stephen, he is in his office today,

that's for sure. He looks very

focused.

Now, starting to look inevitable. It

will be two centuries out of the

first two frames.

If there was not a great deal of

pressure on Martin Gould, there is

now. Already, you know, 2-0 behind,

hardly had his hand on the table.

One poor choice of shot in the

middle in the first frame, and

that's about it. Given that loose

red he started his frame with, but

in no time at all you don't feel you

are involved in a match and you are

too- zero behind.

Yes, I suppose the

only positive way Martin Gould can

look at it, this is exactly what you

expect Ronnie to do. It is not as if

it is a shot. Coming to the end,

thinking if I let Ronnie in the

balls, you will clear up. And as you

said, when he gets a chance, he has

to take it.

You can come up with all the

theories you like on how to beat

Ronnie, but the only solution is you

just have to play exceptionally

well, like Mark Selby did in the

final last year, beating him 10-8 in

an absolute classic.

Boy, did Mark Selby play well in

that match. But that is what you

have to do if you're going to beat

him.

A possible 145, will be

difficult, with this red, the way

the last two reds our position. 142

to beat. Michael White, who Ronnie

beat earlier on in the tournament,

holds that record at the moment.

Yes, on how to beat Ronnie, and

other way is to do something

different.

APPLAUSE

The century comes up. Awesome start.

Sunny Akani's shot choice was very

unorthodox, the shots he was going

for an plane, his style of play, and

I think it knocked Ronnie out of his

comfort zone. If Martin is just

going to take on pots and miss, it

will be a very quick afternoon.

APPLAUSE

This is tremendous stuff.

Well, no total clearance...

APPLAUSE

He leads Martin Gould two frames to

nil.

HAZEL IRVINE: Stephen Hendry waves

goodbye to another of his records,

because Benitez, the all-time

century maker in this official

championship is Ronnie O'Sullivan

and let's be honest, Steve, Martin

Gould not making much headway with

this all-out attack plan?

Everyday

is a different day from

this all-out attack plan?

Everyday

is a different day from Ronnie's

perspective but Martin Gould would

have hoped to get off to better

start than his last match, where it

was a pretty poor standard yesterday

but as Alan said, half from him, but

the half chances Martin Gould will

get, he has to take, as Stephen

mentioned, and if he misses them he

knows he is dead and buried. Ronnie

O'Sullivan looks a different animal

today.

Absolutely, I was going to

say. Completely different from last

May?

Absolutely, but as I said at

the end of the first frame you just

can't give him a gift like that,

early doors. Make him work for it.

Don't play a red where you are only

going to pot one in ten. Two down,

they will be feeling terrible and

Ronnie has his dander up.

It was

interesting last night because

Ronnie did look a little out of

sorts and uncomfortable out there

when an unknown quantity, a younger

player coming onto the scene,

started to cause them problems.

Someone in a hurry!

The situation he

found himself in was one of getting

over the line for the crowd got

behind him. Today is different. He

is playing Martin Gould and he knows

what Martin Gould is capable of and

I don't think Martin Gould scares

him much.

It is interesting because

Stephen Hendry made a good point in

commentary last night, it is all

very well clearing up to win

silverware, but different pressure

when you're clearing up to stay in a

match against the world number 84, a

position he is not used to, let's be

honest?

Yes, I agree with Doctor

Mackie knows what Martin Gould has

got the tools he has, and Martin

Gould will not handle him, giving

gifts like that, as I see -- I agree

with Stephen, he knows what Martin

Gould has got. When he is in this

mood it is dangerous times.

Watch

out, Martin. Back we go...

mood it is dangerous times.

Watch

out, Martin. Back we go... John JOHN

PARROTT: All big frames, we know, in

this championship, but this one is a

massive one.

He has a shot to nothing here,

Martin. Wasn't close, certainly

wasn't with the one he attempted in

the last frame. Has to get closer

than this, and he has it that far

too thick. -- hit that far too

thick.

APPLAUSE

Once again Martin's made a cardinal

sin there, just not in any trouble,

unforced error, got Ronnie straight

back in again, just far too thick on

that attempted red. STEPHEN HENDRY:

These are the sort of visits

that attempted red. STEPHEN HENDRY:

These are the sort of visits to

table with Ronnie O'Sullivan. Great

to see how he will eventually get

that back on the spot and carry it

on and make the century break. I

think the record amount for

centuries was by one player, Fergal

brown, last year, definitely made

four, possibly five.

I think he did.

I was calling him five-ton Fergal

for the rest of the week. It was

definitely that.

You can see Ronnie

making three or four.

Just got

passed, straight on the blue. He can

open some reds up here.

Pretty much perfect.

Maybe an inch to the right would

have been ideal, but he has to get

into this cue ball a bit more, more

angle on it, make sure and political

act towards the blue. -- make sure

and pull it back towards the blue.

Would be handy to get the pink, on

the black spot, I think, and that is

taken by that red.

Can't do too much with this so just

a little pull-back off the pink and

try to read the red in the corner --

leave the red in the corner. Just a

chip, top pocket.

It is all about the judgment now, to

make sure he is a collar up by

the blue.

I would say 90% of the

shots Ronnie O'Sullivan misses, he

misses them, and it is just a tiny

bit of deceleration. It will annoy

him, that little miss, because he

was flying.

It might look easy, but

this is a bit smelly...

APPLAUSE

One of those shots, when you haven't

had your hand on the table, easy to

miss those, and it wasn't

particularly close, not settled.

Just played that of little cannon,

the option of two reds. Just need a

little bit of attention, these.

There have been one or two of these

shots missed, along the top cushion.

They'd like to Mr two reds

immediately above the pink, screw

into the right-hand side of this

bunch. And he did exactly that. The

cue ball arc misses the two, and the

ball keeps living to the left. --

they'd like to miss the two reds

immediately

above the pink.

Red at the top of that cluster of

three is obviously available. Why he

has played that. And you can be sure

he will be trying to win the frame

on this visit and keep Martin even

more cold than he already is. Hasn't

had his hand on the table with a

decent chance yet. Can't really get

into this particular match this

afternoon, so keep him away from the

table and it'll help. Mm. But that

might have gone wrong.

Yeah, hit the

wrong red first. Play the cannon

into the two reds that are touching,

leaving one to the right middle.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, 26.

APPLAUSE

Nice time, just half an hour. It is

great when he plays, isn't it? --

the match time. One positional shot

going all right, Martin has a squeak

in this frame if he can get in --

one positional shot going awry.

Under pressure, 2-0 down.

Yes,

safety, not a recipe for winning

this match.

Yes, he missed it, but not the worst

result. The side cushion as well, so

when you are 54 points behind you

want all the balls in the middle of

the table for potential counter

clearance, but I suppose at the

moment all Martin needs is to just

knock in some balls, get involved.

Pretty close to this, the pace kept

it out. Unfortunately for him. Just

have to be careful here not to get

the red over the left corner pocket.

He just keeps tempting, just not

quite there, not quite in this

afternoon at the moment, just can't

quite get involved.

Going to cue these well, off the

side cushion. Easy to put a bit of

side on. Not Mr O'Sullivan cueing

that.

Yes, lovely town, ball hitting

the middle of the back of the

pocket. Normally a sign of supreme

cueing and timing, when the ball

it's the middle.

-- hits the middle.

So red, to win this third frame. I'm

thinking Martin Gould's club, John,

it is

nicknamed, and he will have to be to

win this.

Depressing frame, can't

get his hand on the table. First two

frames, being left half chances, but

unfortunately the level you play at,

you have to make some of those half

chances, and they haven't gone in

for him, and in the blink of an IKEA

's 3- down. -- in the blink of an

eye he is 3-0 down.

Well, no century

break this time. Martin Gould, I was

going to say you don't expect him to

come back to the table. He obviously

wants to pot something. Hasn't

scored a point in this frame, just

wants to get his hand on the table,

pot a few balls. And I admit the way

the reds are, I wouldn't be

bothering. OK, if they were open,

fine.

Martin Gould, eight.

Well, normally

you come to the table to get your

arm moving, but as I was saying I

don't see the point, with that last

shot.

Yeah, decided against it.

APPLAUSE

He still wins the frame easily, 3-0.

John JOHN PARROTT: Ronnie

O'Sullivan, flying this afternoon,

and as you rightly said, Stephen,

you expected it to be happening.

And for Martin Gould, this is one

enormous frame. If he goes 4-0 down

going into the interval there is no

way back. Got to score in this frame

somehow.

Oh, at the moment it is a massive

struggle. Every shot he has taken is

well away, and that was just far too

thick, and because it is Victor cue

ball can't get up the table. --

because it is thick, the cue ball.

He is definitely feeling it.

That is an excellent shot. Very good

safety. Not quite trapped Ronnie,

the red to the rate of the blue. He

can play half and back into the area

right of the blue. This is an

interesting part of the frame coming

up. Is he going to take this shot

again? It is not natural to get

down, and if you take this on, and

he has not had a good success rate

so far today, he will get very lucky

if he doesn't clatter into

something. So if you're taking this

on, Martin, it has to go in.

APPLAUSE

STEPHEN HENDRY:

Nobody could accuse

Martin Gould of being negative

today, there is no doubt about that.

Fabulous pot. He is going to need

another one here. Blue to far right

corner, the red to the left of it.

But he is potting himself under the

cosh, in this situation when you are

a 3-0 down, do you go for it? Big

decision.

Why hit it so hard?

I think he was

under so much pressure.

Just trying to work out if he can

play the cannon. Just trying to get

the black out, and that is class.

Absolutely wonderful touch. To have

the side, hit the cushion and flick

the red out.

That is the shot of the

week, so far, for me, that one. Very

few if any of the professionals in

the game could have played that.

Just the touch. Phenomenal.

The way he played it, most people

would think, that was an easy shot.

To get through the cue ball enough

to get the work on. The only thing

is, as he made a positional mistake?

And followed it up with that.

Incredible. You do not see that

often.

He just overscrewed it.

To be fair,

those were the kinds of shots he was

playing last night. Today, it is

very unusual.

He is taking his time, because he

wants to play down the baulk area.

If he cannot guarantee hiding the

two reds on the right. He has played

a safety, cleverly, to move them.

It was a shame he did not go on to

make a century because the opening

red was wonderful. Playing the

cannon. Fabulous shot.

That is the best shot of the match

from Martin Gould. Excellent. The

last red was good. That one is

better. Excellent cueing. Now,

Martin, you have got to score. If

you want any involvement in the

match today, these are the chances

you have to score points from. Not

straightforward, but you have got to

knock them in.

It was nicely played that he ran an

inch too far.

This is a horrible

shot. Can he land on anything

playing it plain ball? If he could

drop in the blue dead weight and

play on the red, it might be OK.

Watch this reaction, an electric

shock from the table. It does

happen.

It was always a problem. Just too

much of an angle on that blue.

Ronnie is inspecting the back. I am

not sure if he is trying to make a

plant. If he considers it to be on,

he will take it. He does not like

the look of it, so it is a safety.

Playing it this way, you have a

chance to clip a red over the

corner, which is why he has thought

about it.

While it is far from easy, it is a

chance, particular whether blue is.

A mistake.

I think the red is too straight to

play the red and go into the bunch.

I do not think he has the angle. It

will basically be getting the cue

ball out. Well, he did have the

angle. I did not think he did. It

looks straight. Is he on a pink? He

is looking at the potting angle, so

it is on.

What a great pot with the check

side. To land on a red after that is

a great shot. He could not be

entirely sure where he would finish.

But, oh.

This is what the championship tables

are like. If you catch the near jaw,

they do not go in. A couple of

chances have gone begging.

It was a good try, and he played it

in a way he thinks the red is not

cuttable. Ronnie is having a look at

it. If it clips in, it was not so

clever.

No damage done, really. I suppose

the only bad thing is he will

probably get put back in.

Ronnie has looked at the potting

angle. Trying to get the cue ball to

somewhere where it is now.

What a pot.

That is just madness.

What a pot will -- what a pot. That

is ridiculous.

This may be a big

pocket with the red there. He will

be taking this black on. Massive

pocket.

I cannot blame Martin Gould.

What has happened to him is daylight

robbery. The pot in the middle

pocket, that is obscene.

1 million miles the best shot of the

match.

I still prefer the little cannon for

the black.

You can have that one. I

will have that.

The difference is my shot will get

him to 4-0.

Has that gone wrong? Judging by the

body language the first red goes to

the middle.

That was missable. You can see what

Ronnie thinks about it. Furious.

Always on the right-hand jaw. What a

chance for Martin Gould. 3-0 down,

27 points down, it is anything but

easy, no matter where the reds are.

He needs all the character and

believe he has to win this frame

from this visit.

Going back to the point you made

about the shots you prefer. He will

not get to 4-0 on it at the moment

but he has played two of the best

shots I have seen all week and at

the moment he could be losing this

frame.

Martin has to think, how much

will this irritate my opponent if I

cleared up?

Ronnie's temperament is so good it

will probably not stop him from

winning this match. But it will

mildly irritate him. Enough to put a

little doubt in his mind.

Already in this break, Martin's cue

ball has not been great. You should

not have to take this so early. But

it was a good pot. He has redeemed

himself. It is one of those breaks,

if you make it, you are back in the

match, but if you do not take it,

you will sit in the chair, after the

interval, 4-0 down, absolutely

kicking yourself. So it is a big

contribution at the moment in the

context of the match.

For all the world it looks like the

red up towards the baulk area will

be the important ball in the area

because he should not have any

problem with the next three.

He has to be careful. Not to snooker

himself. That is why he played it

lower. Could have run behind the red

the cue ball is closest to, so well

played.

Under the circumstances, so far this

is a good effort. He had to take the

mid range red up into the middle

pocket when he lost position.

Which

would you play for? If he plays to

the left middle there is an argument

to come off the baulk cushion,

right-hand side and try to play a

cannon on the red and if you missed

the cannon, you will still be on

something.

He has an opportunity to play the

red to the same pocket.

I have to be honest, I did not like

him playing the blue. It is harder

to get in behind that with control

whereas you can do it off the brown

and green more easily.

The path the

cue ball went it was ideal to screw

for the red to the same pocket.

That was very tricky. I think he has

decided to go for everything when he

gets the chance, which is

understandable.

I think that shot

shows you. He had a simple safety.

There is pressure on this.

And the good news for Ronnie, he has

a snooker. The almost does not seem

fair when you are that good to get a

run of the balls.

As ever with snooker is, no matter

the difficulty, not hitting them...

Martin is looking to see if he can

swerve around the black and hit the

red from behind. He is going side

cushion and try to hit the red off

the two cushions instead.

Yes, that is as good as he can do.

He is not fully snookered. He is

having a good run.

He has a nice target in the baulk

area, of the green and the brown.

He played the think -- think clip.

Going back to last night's match,

Sunny Akani potted the blue when

potting the green. When he needed a

snooker, Ronnie could have gone

in-off off the pink. Sometimes, your

name is on the trophy.

The last

couple of shots he has played he has

had some lovely little rubs. He had

a very good hit to get out of a

snooker he was in and he will need

another one.

Brilliant shot. He has left pot on

but that was great. A little bit

unlucky for the cue ball to travel

so far away from the cushion.

It has gone awkward enough to keep

him honest with this shot.

He did not play it.

If he gets the snooker, it is

because he has played a good shot.

Which he has. Excellent. Not

snooker, but what do you do with

that?

If you hit it thick, it is danger.

Well, that is a fabulous shot. He

has done ever so well.

A great

effort. But, unfortunately, the last

role on the cue ball has just come

out and given Ronnie a chance to

snick the red in.

How do you like them apples?

Unbelievable. Nowhere near the pot

by his own standards. Once again,

Martin Gould is in all sorts of

bother.

He could play it as a shot

to nothing. You have no idea where

the red will end up when you go for

a pot.

It looks like he will come off two

cushions. It is a difficult hit.

Also you will be promoting the red

to the middle or a corner. You will

do well to hit this and get out of

it without leaving a pot.

REFEREE:

Foul and a miss. .

The only good thing is it is not a

free ball.

And the reds in the middle of the

table, it is harder to get safe if

you hit it.

APPLAUSE

Another excellent shot.

He has been in all sorts of bother

and two hits that and not leave it

up is excellent. -- to hit it. I am

not sure how he is managing to do

it, but he is still in the frame.

Another fabulous safety shot.

He has had a run at the end of the

frame but that was not a run, it was

a superb shot. A little bit of run

inside to help the cue ball. I will

not believe it if Martin Gould wins

this frame. He has been in so much

trouble, how could he possibly win

it?

Again. And a tap on the table from

Ronnie O'Sullivan. He knows how

great that shot was. Great escapes.

The last two have been brilliant. I

would not begrudge him luck to get

the snooker back. The problem here,

two cushions, hit the red from

behind, you do not want to hit the

yellow with the red. Just try to

avoid a cannon on the yellow.

This is just unbelievable, this

frame.

I told you, he cannot win this

frame, it is impossible.

Every credit to Martin Gould. He has

given the shots full attention. He

could be excused for headshaking.

No, he is battling. Ten minutes

since a ball was potted.

Fascinating.

Absolutely brilliant again. He will

settle for about.

Not straight forward on the safety

here.

Not unless you are a genius. What a

shot bat is. Absolutely superb. Yes,

it was on, but boy, did you have to

hit it well.

He is giving us the full repertoire

today, Ronald.

If he gets this day, I will say he

will win the frame, Martin Gould. --

if he gets it safe. He has done.

Ronnie has thrown everything at him.

This might be one of the best ends

to a frame I have seen. What has

happened is incredible. The

standard. OK, a little bit of luck,

but to keep getting out of them and

leaving them safe, I have not seen a

frame like it. You see it happening

once or twice but this is seven,

eight, nine times. 20 shots since a

pot. Incredible.

Well, another excellent shot, but

the way it has been going in this

frame kiss Martin, you can guarantee

there is a gap. -- in this frame for

Martin. Shaking his head, and I

don't blame you!

Just made it, and it is another

great shot, another great safety

shot. ...

By Martin is surprised. He

has come to the table thinking,

maybe it is not -- I don't know why

Martin is surprised. An excellent

shot from Ronnie.

Got to be a little careful with this

if he hits it. Oh. I wasn't thinking

that side of it. I suppose that's

about as good as he could have got

out of it, once it has hit that

side, and lots of pressure on pot,

particularly when you haven't been

playing any for quite well,

approaching 15 minutes since pot, so

this is a test of your cue action.

20 minutes since the last one

actually, so good luck with this

one.

APPLAUSE

A great pot.

Ideal, on a colour.

Pink, you would say, left-handed, on

the angles. The blue into the green

pocket, a couple of options. As you

say, John, after that amount of

time, to still plot that ball --

still pot the ball is very good,

still focused.

Yes, you could see

when he was going about that, he was

loving the tactical battle, how to

get the smokers, and I think he was

absolutely engrossed in it. Why

shouldn't he be? It is the UK

championship, but nevertheless he

was loving every part of that and

that was a fascinating part of the

frame.

Lovely shot left-handed, lovely

touch, and I had to look before, as

I say, Stephen, I looked at Martin

Gould sitting in his chair, and I

feel for him because this never

looked like a frame he was going to

win. The way the run of the balls

went, and also the way Ronnie's

safety has been. It just looked like

4-0 Jimmy.

Yes, you had that chance

earlier on in the frame, Martin

Gould, one of the balls, possibly

made an error, went for the blue

rather than the ball colour, in

clearing up. In the end it all

counts for nothing. Just the pink.

APPLAUSE

Convincing. Leeds Martin Gould 4-0.

HAZEL IRVINE: And we have seen the

best of indeed both Ronnie's

attacking and defensive game,

defending about game. The

possibility of outgunning Ronnie

O'Sullivan? It is just not going to

happen here and there was a good

example of him trying to do that in

that frame.

example of him trying to do that in

that frame.

Martin Gould has been

attacking but that is no good if

you're throwing yourself of my edge

of a cliff. This shot is one in 20.

Trying to

of a cliff. This shot is one in 20.

Trying to pot, keep the breaks

going, trying to win a frame, but

that is like desperation, and the

problem is if you miss you will

probably leave Ronnie O'Sullivan

with the tactical advantage, so from

that perspective I think it was the

wrong shot, but then a little later

on Ronnie O'Sullivan has a chance,

doesn't the?

I think with that shot

Martin Gould could still be out

there trying to pot it right now and

he still wouldn't have made it. I

don't know why he played it. He has

cue ball near red, the initiative

for the safety battle, straight

shot.

However Ronnie O'Sullivan has

one red left, very gettable, but he

plays a defensive shot in a

situation when you think you would

attack from in front, and the shot

selection and how to keep the

pressure on your opponent, and

Martin Gould's decision to go for at

that red in the middle pocket, at

professional level, is indefensible,

unless he thinks he can get away

with it safe somehow.

We spoke about

that aggression level he has come

out with, going for things, but do

you have to be judicious about

implementing a game plan when you go

out there?

There is a

implementing a game plan when you go

out there?

There is a fine line,

yes, between recklessness and just

taking on your shots. You can't play

shots that don't go. I just don't

think that red went in the middle,

but going back to the first frame,

and we sure that after the first

frame, the red he took on, and the

other red he took on on the opposite

middle, this game doesn't forgive

you. It is as if the balls have a

memory at times. If you play the

wrong shot it is as if they know and

say, look, fellow, you will be

sitting down this afternoon. Martin

Gould has not set out his stall to

compete with Ronnie O'Sullivan. I

think he has made a dressing room

decision to go out and go for

anything he sees, but you have to

think on your feet out there. You

make your decision at the table, not

in the dressing room.

It is close to Christmas and he has

been gifting Ronnie, he has

put, a

lot of the shots. I like it! Well,

it might be a late birthday present,

it was his birthday a couple of days

ago. We will be back to that game

after the interval, but let me bring

you up to date and up to speed with

the other quarterfinal this

afternoon. This one features two

fellows who have been around a lot

in this game. A couple of true

snooker star works, former world

number two Stephen Maguire, former

winner of this, and another proven

Trophy winner in Joe Perry, who made

the Masters final this year, still

playing strong stagger into his 40s.

Given their respective experience

and think it is a bit surprising

Maguire has such a dominant record.

Eight wins to one and the

significant events, and taking in

all the other ones, Maguire has 14

wins to Joe's two, although Perry

won perhaps the biggest one they

have played so far, a Crucible final

in 2008 which went down to a

decider. This is what these guys

make of this contest today...

First part of the season, I was

still practising but not hard

enough, and I wasn't getting the

results. Smoker is tough with always

travelling all over the place,

winning a game here and there, and

you don't get any confidence from

just a match in the qualifiers, but

I just felt the last few

tournaments, I have been practising

a little harder, moving around,

playing a few other players I

haven't played before, travelling

about a bit, getting out of my club,

and it seems to have made a

difference, got me a little sharper

coming into the tournaments, and

even though I haven't gone deep or

anything, I feel my game is slowly

coming back.

My best? Adult doll. I think it is

for everybody else to say, but I

feel a lot better this week -- I

don't know, I think it is for

everybody else. I feel a lot better

this week that I have done. Latvia,

the start of the season, it felt

good. Then everything just went and

I lost, whatever, just lost

everything, but I start to feel good

at this tournament. Feel as if I am

hitting the ball pretty good.

Yes, another game to look forward

to. Former winner, one of the best

out there, also looks like he's

coming into some good form. For him

he has been out of the winner's

circle for some time and he is the

sort of player you expect to be

there competing, winning trophies,

season in, the snout, but I have

watched him. He is playing good. I

am sure he will fancy it because his

record against me as very positive

in his favour but it is another game

and we haven't played for a little

while. I am in good form, so I will

need to get my best to get a win or

compete but I am looking forward to

it.

HAZEL IRVINE: Indeed, Joe, we

looking forward to it as well.

Giving you a feel for this in the

first frame. Maguire's named

quarterfinal at the UK championship

and he really enjoys this one. He

has work to do in the opening frame,

55-12 behind, and we have a couple

of former world champions

commentating for your...

commentating for you...

COMMENTATOR: I can't believe that.

That the cue ball went in. I'm sure

Stephen Maguire thought it was frame

over, now all of a sudden there is

chance.

APPLAUSE

I wonder how much of an important

role that Green will play in this

frame now.

Joe Perry refused to take the pink

into centre pocket, played the

safety of the krhin, may be his only

hope of staying in this frame.

-- played the safety on the green.

This red and the other two shouldn't

be a problem.

Doesn't want the cue ball going too

far. Just travelled a little further

than he would have liked.

That was a much better shot than it

looked. The cue raised in the error.

So easy to put unintentional side

on, especially when you're playing

with power.

That's OK.

If he chooses to, Stephen may be

able to leave himself an angle on

this last red, to move the green.

foal he hasn't got -- but he hasn't

got that angle now. if he plays the

cannon on the brown, it is a

delicate cannon that could go wrong.

maybe try to push the brown towards

the yellow pocket. played nicely.

Yes, so he only has one more chance.

He needs a good angle after potting

this yellow, to get on the girl

again.

Now he has had a quick look. As soon

as he potted the yellow he was

looking at that angle on the cue

ball, and it looks like he has a

perfect angle.

He has to hit the green of the right

side, the inside of the green, to

try to knock it towards the middle.

If he hits it on the outside, the

cue ball will go dangerously close

to the middle pocket.

He has been quite aggressive

already, Peter, but I really can't

see him taking on the screen, but

you never know with Stephen Maguire.

-- taking on this green. The other

straight up and down with the green,

sizing it up.

He has already looked

at it, hasn't he? That is a really

tough shot. Can't take this on,

surely.

Foul. Stephen Maguire, 33,

Joe Perry 34.

If he has left a free

ball, it could be game over.

Well, I'm not quite sure. Has the

referee looked at it? Oh, no, it's

not. From this angle in the

commentary box is looks pretty

close, but I'm not even sure...

Bull-mac, not from that angle, it's

not a free ball.

-- No, not from that angle,

it's not a free ball.

APPLAUSE

If the cue ball is a couple of

inches away from the side cushion

you would expect Joe Perry to pot

it, but it looks very straight, and

it is so hard, the cue as well.

It's a difficult shot.

Yes, even in

practice you would probably miss

this at least format, five times out

of ten. It requires incredible

cueing.

Well, he could be in a bit of

trouble, if something comes to the

table.

Stephen will be disappointed with

that.

Poor safety shot from Joe Perry

there.

Fortunate to get away with that,

under the circumstances.

Stephen's got a good opportunity to

take the cue ball around the ankles

here, with lots of right-hand side,

played snooker the black.

He could also play it thin as well,

but it looks like he's electing to

play the snooker behind the brown.

Yes, just a little bit short of

pace. Really wanted to have a full

ball smoker there, and he's left Joe

on the green, but I don't think

you'll be taking it on. Just a

little concerning, the green off the

top cushion backs, and be careful of

the double kiss, and has to play

that shot now.

Taking this on, deep screw. What a

shot! That was fantastic cueing.

APPLAUSE

Grapeshot, wasn't it? Fantastic --

great shot. It is OK when you are

dropping these browns, but playing

with a little bit of pace and they

could go for the blue. Just about...

It is OK. The wrong side of the

blue, but leaving the cue ball in

the middle of the table, or he can

go round the angles.

Has he got the pace of the cue ball,

and angle to get back on the black?

Looks OK.

The cue ball needs to slow down a

little bit. Black for the frame, and

what a steal this would be for

Stephen Maguire. Ah, what a

fantastic clearance from Stephen

Maguire. He was 54 points behind in

that frame, and he eventually wins

it on the black, and Stephen Maguire

pinches the first frame and leaves

Joe

pinches the first frame and leaves

Joe Perry 1-0. Hazel Irvine grand

larceny! Terrific start from Stephen

Maguire. He was a runner-up to

Ronnie O'Sullivan a couple of years

back in Telfer, and a winner of this

event. Now it is frame two and Joe

Perry

event. Now it is frame two and Joe

Perry ahead, but he will not be

wanting his feet whipped from him

now.

COMMENTATOR: Not only has he Mr red,

he has taken the black. -- not only

has he missed the red. Can't believe

he missed that red, Peter. Played it

so hard.

Amazing, the things that go

through your mind sometimes when

you're sitting in that chair,

thinking, I can't believe I have put

black into play, but he will be

bitterly disappointed to have

missed. An unexpected miss, that's

for sure.

It has been noticeable in these

first couple of frames how both

players have struggled with the pace

at the table to the extent they both

finished on the wrong side of the

blue a few locations, and both

finished straight. Having to hit the

ball quite hard to move the white

around.

Finish low on this blue, after

potting the brown. You always feel

when you are clearing up the

colours, that is the shot, the

crucial one. A nice angle on the

blue.

APPLAUSE

And this is for another steel, a

frame that he shouldn't have won.

And this is

for another steal, a

frame that he shouldn't have won.

So it is Stephen Maguire that takes

their two frame lead, leading 2-0.

So it is Stephen Maguire that takes

their two frame lead, leading 2-0.

HAZEL IRVINE: That one continues on

the red button and we will probably

return to it later in the afternoon

but that match has seen a dominant

start for Stephen be an end rather

larcenous circumstances, as I say,

but it is Ronnie O'Sullivan who has

been absolutely flying today. 4-0

lead over Martin Gould, former

German Masters winner of course, and

the all-out attack has not worked so

far kiss Martin. Let's get back to

it to see whether Ronnie will wrap

it up in quickfire fashion, or

whether Martin has something to say.

Back to John and Stephen.

STEPHEN

Back to John and Stephen.

STEPHEN HENDRY:

The cue ball close

to the green to try to get a nice

contact... John JOHN PARROTT:

You

tried all-out attack and he is 4-0

down.

What does he do now, Stephen?

If it

is possible for him to go through

the second session without missing a

single pot, it is the only chance

he's got.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is one of the best

front runners, probably the best, in

the game.

This is tricky, this red, that he is

trying to clip here, because he has

to swerve round the blue. He has

played it superbly well. That was an

excellent shot, swerved it just

enough to get round the blue.

Superb.

When he is in this focused mood he

is in this afternoon, Ronnie, every

shot is like a challenge. It is not

like a problem. It is just like a

challenge, to see how well he can

play the shot.

Yes, it is funny when players, you

know, Alan was saying, in the

dressing room, they think, I'm going

to go for all-out attack, but

snooker is not like that. You have

to play the balls the way they are.

If the game opens up and it is all

open and you can attack, that's

fine, but the right shot is always

the right shot, no matter how you

play it. He has certainly played a

few very strange ones today. I agree

with the boys talking about the red

in the middle pocket that Martin

tried to clip in, when he didn't get

on it, that was never really the

right shot.

Desperation, wasn't it?

Disappointment as well, sometimes,

when you know you have a chance like

that played such a poor positional

shot like he did off the blue, you

just try and force it.

You can see Ronnie's miles ahead in

the points scored today. Of course

pot success as well, apart 94%,

which is excellent. -- up at 94%.

Ronnie's in the position in this

match that he doesn't need to take

any risks. He doesn't anyway

generally. He always plays the right

shot, just forces the mistakes out

of his opponent, but it is Martin

now who has to take on these risky

long pots.

APPLAUSE

Obviously when you need at kiss, you

never get one. OK, the cue ball

shouldn't even have been going near

the pack of reds, to be fair. I

don't think that is what he was

playing, but still unfortunate not

to be on anything.

He didn't seem to get any Czech side

on that cue ball, so it avoided the

cannon and a bunch of reds.

I think

it was a case of the red, and I

don't blame him- he is 4-0 down, but

you need a bit of check if you are

going to avoid the pack. You just

need a good length of cue ball here,

off the back, a bit of right-hand

side. Mm. That is not great, unless

he gets an angle. Oh, he nearly did.

A poor shot, really. But it still

takes a bit of cueing, this one, but

you would expect him to knock it in.

Yes, and he will be trusting what a

little bit with position. When you

are going into the reds...

How is the luck?

Body language

suggests no. The blue is tricky,

bridging over the red. Nothing to do

with the cue ball, make sure of the

pot. It is

missable.

This is tricky with the

bridging over.

In the end, he was a long way off.

It was not easy.

When he misses, he misses thin. So,

Martin, what can you do with this

chance?

All he can do is to keep potting.

Trying to play for police red. --

the loose red. Not totally

straightforward for him. The pink is

only available in the top left-hand

pocket and the opposite middle. Not

a lot of options for Martin.

Not the best shot on the pink to

leave himself this angle. He could

have done with screwing back a

little bit more.

That was a decent shot. The angle he

had on the red.

He is starting to find it more

difficult to keep in perfect

position. He is running out of loose

reds. This is tricky. He cannot

avoid cannons on the other reds.

He can stun the cue ball across.

Yes, nice shot. Controlled it

nicely. And now he has played that,

he can play this red into the corner

and hold the cue ball fair and he

has a chance to cannon into the pink

and five reds. I do not think there

is anything available so a nice

clean pot on the red. And you can

come down and hopefully get a

cannon.

It is not the easiest bunch to hit

because there is distance between

the pink and the red.

If he is to go into the pink, he

must hit it full ball. He has played

a controlled cannon. Cut the red on

the left.

He hit it too full in the face.

A

decent effort. It have to be

extremely accurate. It was almost

one of those with the cue ball dying

on its last breath to get the

cannon. All he can do is play safe.

Up somewhere near the green.

APPLAUSE

It was a decent break.

He would have loved to do it in one

visit. He has put a red towards the

corner. All the time he will be

thinking about a counter clearance,

if it is coming from Ronnie, and

making it difficult by potting the

reds close to the cushion.

Very dangerous situation for Martin.

OK, he has 46 points in front, but

Ronnie is capable of clearing up and

four of the six reds are in open

play. He does not want to make any

more mistakes and that was a good

shot.

He is looking at the two reds. He

might be able to take least one off

the cushion. He had to avoid that.

That was on the cards. What a

result.

He is playing well and getting a

good run of the ball. Once he got

the double-kiss, it looks like it

was trouble.

Playing the thick contact.

It is a tough combination to play

against. Ronnie O'Sullivan playing

well and getting the run of the

balls into the bargain.

Still very much anyone's frame. If

Ronnie gets in with the chance, he

almost goes favourite, the way the

reds are.

There will be club snooker players

all over the country going, are you

mad, I would love to have a 46 point

lead. But not with Ronnie sitting in

the chair. One mistake, it could all

be gone. Just the red on the

left-hand side, but as you

mentioned, that is not a problem

when you are good with the

left-hand, as well.

I am wondering whether the one on

the left he could have pushed up and

down and left the cue ball tight

here and left the reds in the open

but he does not fancy because he

thinks he will leave one in the

middle. He will wait for another

opportunity.

Martin Gould has had a

policy of going for everything you

could see this afternoon, but it

changes now, because he knows it

could cost him the frame.

If he were behind he would have

taken the red on but now he has gone

into protect the lead mode.

He would love to get this red from

the side cushion. You can see him

thinking about it all the time.

Not quite how he played it. If he

sits on the blue, I will never

believe it. I will never believe it.

Well, Martin Gould, you do not want

to be backing any horses over the

weekend because that is

unbelievable. A total mis-hit come

up and down the table and the one

spot that is a nightmare. He has had

some today.

You see, total mis-hit, too much on

the cue ball and we saw it

immediately and we both went over,

no. I am sure Martin thought worse

than that.

Even though Martin Gould is 46

points ahead, who is favourite to

win the frame? It is pretty close.

And to add insult to injury, what

shot can he play? It looks like a

hit and hope. Give it a smack, hope

you hit something and then end up

safe.

You have two lads in the studio who

know how to get out of snooker 's,

but I am sure they would be

struggling here. -- snookers. And

there we go.

Well, he will be absolutely

delighted with that.

He actually tried to play the pot,

which was very clever. He was in

that much trouble he thought, I

might as well have a go at it. He

almost got it, but well done him to

get the cue ball there.

He has

forced Ronnie into taking the pot

on. Cannot see a safety shot this

time. I cannot tell you how tough

this is.

Oh, dear.

No, that is scary. What a pot that

was. Some things have happened in

this match today, Martin Gould, all

you can do is laugh about it.

Yes, it is more of those days. Your

opponent is playing brilliantly

well, striking the ball great,