Semi-Final - Part 1

0:00:34 > 0:00:38This time last week, there were eight tables in action around York's

0:00:38 > 0:00:41Barbican Centre in the early stages of the better United Kingdom

0:00:41 > 0:00:46championship. Then four at the quarterfinal stages. Today, two

0:00:46 > 0:00:50become one, to paraphrase the Spice Girls song, for the semifinals. And

0:00:50 > 0:00:53we have four wannabe winners of the second biggest title in the sport

0:00:53 > 0:00:58this week. It is the coldest weekend for a year. Ice, snow, sleet, either

0:00:58 > 0:01:04with you or on its way. Simple solution - stay indoors and stick

0:01:04 > 0:01:15with us, because couple of semifinal matches that are sure to bring a

0:01:15 > 0:01:18warm front to your weekend. We have had some big shocks and some big

0:01:18 > 0:01:20name Hausding 's after a flurry of incredible matches. However, these

0:01:20 > 0:01:23are the guys who have weathered the storms here in York. -- we have had

0:01:23 > 0:01:29some big ousting is.

0:02:19 > 0:02:25And we would share our memories with Mr John Parrott and a man whose

0:02:25 > 0:02:29outright record of six UK titles might be equalled this weekend

0:02:29 > 0:02:33because Ronnie O'Sullivan is definitely on your tail. He says he

0:02:33 > 0:02:38is not driven by records. How well has he played for you in support of

0:02:38 > 0:02:43a sixth title this week?He is in the type of form that can win it.

0:02:43 > 0:02:47The reason is not that he has been producing astonishing snooker, but

0:02:47 > 0:02:50his shot selection has been great. He has a good game these days. You

0:02:50 > 0:02:54are going to have a couple of scares along the way, but he is best placed

0:02:54 > 0:02:59to win, even though there are some great players left.It will be an

0:02:59 > 0:03:02interesting matchup, this, because Mr O'Sullivan and Mr Maguire have

0:03:02 > 0:03:06always produced a little bit of tension. There is always a crackle

0:03:06 > 0:03:10when they play one another. And Maguire is certainly, unlike many

0:03:10 > 0:03:17players, not afraid of O'Sullivan. Oh, no. He will be punching. I have

0:03:17 > 0:03:21been obsessed with him all week.I always say he hits the ball

0:03:21 > 0:03:24fabulously well, but he has also kept the lid on his occasional

0:03:24 > 0:03:28outbursts of volatility. He has been on an even keel all week and has

0:03:28 > 0:03:31played better for it. The one feature of his game that has been

0:03:31 > 0:03:36very present is that even when he has been behind, he has cleared up a

0:03:36 > 0:03:41lot.All four semifinalists have had to go through at least one final

0:03:41 > 0:03:45frame decider, including O'Sullivan, who almost went out the world about

0:03:45 > 0:03:4984, Sunny Akani. And he was not the only mere casualties of that fella.

0:03:49 > 0:03:54But it has been a very unusual championship in that regard. In the

0:03:54 > 0:03:59four of the top 16 making it to the last 16.You could say it used to be

0:03:59 > 0:04:03the best of 17 and now it is down to the best of 11. You could say that

0:04:03 > 0:04:07is why so many seeds got beaten. But you could also make the case that it

0:04:07 > 0:04:11is because the standard of the lower ranked players is now closer to the

0:04:11 > 0:04:16standard of top players. Whichever, we know it is tough to guarantee

0:04:16 > 0:04:21best of 11s. So Ronnie O'Sullivan gives himself every chance to win

0:04:21 > 0:04:25this match is by playing great competitive match snooker all the

0:04:25 > 0:04:28time, even though he has that specialness in his locker.We are

0:04:28 > 0:04:32looking forward to this one. The evening semifinal will feature world

0:04:32 > 0:04:35number six Sean Murphy, taking on Ryan Bailie, after 19 years in this

0:04:35 > 0:04:40game has managed to get himself into a semifinal in one of the sport's

0:04:40 > 0:04:47major championships, the triple Crown event. But this afternoon, it

0:04:47 > 0:04:58is the Rocket, O'Sullivan, against the maverick, Maguire.

0:05:00 > 0:05:05I am back in the semis again. Two more matches, and the trophy as

0:05:05 > 0:05:12ours, waiting to be picked up. Stephen Maguire was a top player

0:05:12 > 0:05:17coming through, one of the younger guys. I knew I was in for a tough

0:05:17 > 0:05:21match. I remember never just feeling so good every time I came to the

0:05:21 > 0:05:26table, making 90s, 80s, 70s. And I remember pulling away and building

0:05:26 > 0:05:31up a big scoreline.I'm pretty sure I was world number to them. He was

0:05:31 > 0:05:35world number one and he absolutely annihilated me. But we have played

0:05:35 > 0:05:41since and we will play again. It is the semifinal. I have won a lot of

0:05:41 > 0:05:46matches to get here, I must be doing something right. I have played well,

0:05:46 > 0:05:50but I have not fired on all cylinders or anything. I have just

0:05:50 > 0:05:53played good enough to beat who is in front of me. I would like to think I

0:05:53 > 0:05:59can improve again for the semifinals.Maguire, class act. He

0:05:59 > 0:06:05is good enough to beat anybody in the world. He gave me a few good

0:06:05 > 0:06:08tidings when he first came on the circuit. Everyone knows what a great

0:06:08 > 0:06:14player he is. So I have to play well to get a result.The atmosphere is

0:06:14 > 0:06:18different when you play Ronnie. Fair play, he brings a crowd. There is

0:06:18 > 0:06:21nobody that brings a crowd the way he does. That is the difference when

0:06:21 > 0:06:30you play Ronnie. I have been about a few years, so I know what to expect.

0:06:30 > 0:06:33Well, this is the tenth time these guys have squared up in one of

0:06:33 > 0:06:37snooker's triple Crown events over the years, including a UK final

0:06:37 > 0:06:41eight years ago won by O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan also has an emphatic

0:06:41 > 0:06:50strike rate. But that's not tell the whole story, because these fellas

0:06:50 > 0:06:53have produced some electrifying contests. Meetings have been scarce

0:06:53 > 0:06:57in the last five years, so this is definitely want to look forward to,

0:06:57 > 0:07:02from whichever vantage point you have.And talking about vantage

0:07:02 > 0:07:05point, you will not get one better than the commentary box. Dennis and

0:07:05 > 0:07:11Stephen, what do you make of this match?You have a battle of two

0:07:11 > 0:07:14snooker bullies, two players who like to stamp their authority on

0:07:14 > 0:07:21matches and overpower their opponent. Which will be the hardest?

0:07:21 > 0:07:25Dennis, sometimes Stephen's temperament can be volatile. But he

0:07:25 > 0:07:29has done well and played better for it.He certainly has against Joe

0:07:29 > 0:07:33Perry, although Joe didn't perform anywhere near the way he did in the

0:07:33 > 0:07:37previous round. He beat him comfortably. He has not won a

0:07:37 > 0:07:40ranking event for four years, but that will not bother him. He will

0:07:40 > 0:07:47relish playing Ronnie O'Sullivan. I look forward to this.Much has been

0:07:47 > 0:07:51made about the fact that Ronnie has not played a top 16 player, but you

0:07:51 > 0:07:56just turn up and play your matches. What have you made of his form?He

0:07:56 > 0:08:01has breezed through it. He had the match against Akani, which was

0:08:01 > 0:08:05unique. It was almost like a circus. On paper, this is his biggest test

0:08:05 > 0:08:12so far. He needs a draw. He has not played anyone in the top 16 yet.

0:08:12 > 0:08:20Stephen Maguire has not been against a top 16 players.Against Ronnie, it

0:08:20 > 0:08:23is so important to get a good start. You would also think that the fact

0:08:23 > 0:08:28that he has not been in the limelight for a while will be

0:08:28 > 0:08:33massive.He has to get off to a reasonable start. He could do with

0:08:33 > 0:08:38sharing the first session or even leading 3-1. He has a lot of

0:08:38 > 0:08:43support. I am really looking forward to this.We all are. We will hear

0:08:43 > 0:08:48your words later this afternoon. Rob Walker, let's get these players out

0:08:48 > 0:08:53there.Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Semifinal Saturday at

0:08:53 > 0:08:57this year's Betway UK Championships, and what a sense of anticipation

0:08:57 > 0:09:02here in this famous old arena. This match has the makings of an absolute

0:09:02 > 0:09:07classic. Two of the sport's finest, going to do for tomorrow's final,

0:09:07 > 0:09:15it's showtime here at Barbican!

0:09:26 > 0:09:32Please welcome a player who so often produces his best at this

0:09:32 > 0:09:35tournament. Bidding for his third appearance in a UK championship

0:09:35 > 0:09:41final, winner of this title in 2004, five times a ranking event champion

0:09:41 > 0:09:52in all. He is Stephen the Maverick Maguire!

0:10:11 > 0:10:18And his opponent - after 25 years at the top of the sport, he is still

0:10:18 > 0:10:21going strong. He's already won the Shanghai Masters and the English

0:10:21 > 0:10:26open this season and here he is, emerging for a tenth UK championship

0:10:26 > 0:10:30semifinal. Five times a champion of the world, link and you will miss

0:10:30 > 0:10:42him - the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

0:11:03 > 0:11:07So it's the best of 11 frames to sort out whether Ronnie O'Sullivan

0:11:07 > 0:11:11will check in for his third UK final on the trot or whether Stephen

0:11:11 > 0:11:15Maguire can muscle into his third after a decade long wait. Dennis and

0:11:15 > 0:11:17Stephen, or yours.

0:11:19 > 0:11:27COMMENTATOR: Thank you and good afternoon, everyone.First frame,

0:11:27 > 0:11:34Ronnie O'Sullivan to play.Ronnie O'Sullivan won the toss and he will

0:11:34 > 0:11:39break what a reception for both players, a packed Barbican here. The

0:11:39 > 0:11:43crowds have been fabulous all week. That is what they are playing for,

0:11:43 > 0:12:02the trophy there. I hope that was not a photographer. Just making sure

0:12:02 > 0:12:08there is nothing in his line of sight as he breaks off. The players

0:12:08 > 0:12:11are looking at whether the scoreboard is correct or not.

0:12:11 > 0:12:18Meanwhile, Ronnie sits down. Could be the monitor, maybe, that is not

0:12:18 > 0:12:26quite set.I think it is just the screen, Frank.Something to do with

0:12:26 > 0:12:41the screen, just leave it. Let's get on with the action.

0:12:46 > 0:13:00I hope Stephen Maguire can play to his true potential, because if he

0:13:00 > 0:13:13does, he can beat Ronnie O'Sullivan today, no doubt about it. For all

0:13:13 > 0:13:15his talent, it's been a while since Stephen Maguire has been at an

0:13:15 > 0:13:21occasion like this. So he will need to get a good start in this match,

0:13:21 > 0:13:29you feel.And that wasn't the best start. This is an early test for

0:13:29 > 0:13:41Ronnie's cue action.

0:13:42 > 0:13:55That is an early indication of how well is cueing.

0:14:05 > 0:14:16Straightaway, a chance to put a marker down.

0:14:19 > 0:14:25Tremendous start of matches, Ronnie O'Sullivan.As all the great

0:14:25 > 0:14:30champions were, like yourself. All the champions seems to start with a

0:14:30 > 0:14:39big break in the opening frame. But no distractions. We are down to one

0:14:39 > 0:14:46table. That is what the players like. There is that beautiful arena

0:14:46 > 0:14:53now, with just the one table. Has Ronnie ran out of position? I think

0:14:53 > 0:15:07he has.Before the semifinals, the table has been recovered with a

0:15:07 > 0:15:13brand-new set of balls, so the pace might have caught him out of it.

0:15:13 > 0:15:18That is the first shot he has overhit. But he will not be bothered

0:15:18 > 0:15:29by the pace of the table from now on.

0:15:36 > 0:15:44That was much better from Stephen Maguire. You could see the end of

0:15:44 > 0:15:50the cue of Ronnie O'Sullivan tapping the table in appreciation. I don't

0:15:50 > 0:16:00know if he can get around the back of those two reds and black. If the

0:16:00 > 0:16:12white was off the cushion, he would have a chance.

0:16:19 > 0:16:27I am not sure he can get behind that brown.

0:17:09 > 0:17:19This is perfect.

0:17:33 > 0:17:40Stephen Maguire is an excellent tactical and safety player. But

0:17:40 > 0:17:43Ronnie O'Sullivan, when he wants to be, is as good as anyone there has

0:17:43 > 0:17:57ever been in the game. On the safety side of things.If both of these

0:17:57 > 0:18:09players play well, we are in for a classic. If you are a youngster

0:18:09 > 0:18:13taking up the game and wanting to learn Matt Smith, you could do no

0:18:13 > 0:18:21worse than watching this game -- if you want to learn match Mukha. --

0:18:21 > 0:18:23snooker. Looks pretty focused, Stephen Maguire.

0:18:36 > 0:18:50He will not be happy with that one. That was a shocker.

0:18:57 > 0:19:04Once again, that is a much better safety shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

0:19:04 > 0:19:17Not quite a snooker, but pretty good.

0:19:28 > 0:19:31An extra incentive for Stephen Maguire to win this match today that

0:19:31 > 0:19:36if he does, he qualifies for the Masters in January. So a huge

0:19:36 > 0:19:50afternoon for him in many ways.

0:20:11 > 0:20:18No path back down the table on the left side. The black is blocking the

0:20:18 > 0:20:22path to that red near the cushion. He may be forced to taking the pot

0:20:22 > 0:20:30on here, Stephen.Big shot. If he gets it, he will have such a boost

0:20:30 > 0:20:39of confidence.

0:20:43 > 0:20:48Can't do much better than that. If he had missed it, it could have cost

0:20:48 > 0:20:54him the frame.We talk about players with cue power. Look at the distance

0:20:54 > 0:21:00he has had to travel. He not only part of the red backpacking not only

0:21:00 > 0:21:05potted the red, but watch the white. Incredible.

0:21:24 > 0:21:35This is Stephen Maguire's first scoring opportunity.

0:21:45 > 0:21:58This new cloth looks a lot livelier than the one that was on previously.

0:22:13 > 0:22:27A nice cannon here would keep him on the pink. He is going to take the

0:22:27 > 0:22:32black now, because he is hampered with the pink.Didn't want to play

0:22:32 > 0:22:42the black.

0:22:46 > 0:22:57If he can put those two reds into the right corner, that is handy.

0:23:35 > 0:23:48Gone too far for the baulk colour. Looks very good, Stephen Maguire. He

0:23:48 > 0:23:53has got that angry table, Dennis.I love watching him. He is one of the

0:23:53 > 0:23:57nicest lads you could wish to meet, but sometimes around the snooker

0:23:57 > 0:24:00table, he frightens the snooker balls with the way he looks at them

0:24:00 > 0:24:15at times.That was what I meant when I did the interview with John about

0:24:15 > 0:24:18these players both being snooker bullies. Tremendous authority around

0:24:18 > 0:24:32the table. They really try and intimidate opponents.

0:24:51 > 0:24:56He has won more easy read, and then things will get more tricky to win

0:24:56 > 0:25:02the frame at this visit -- won more easy red.

0:25:39 > 0:25:44That has developed that red. Good thinking on his part. He is fully

0:25:44 > 0:25:57focused. He needs to give this due care and attention. He did all the

0:25:57 > 0:26:03hard work, but I knew that would happen.

0:26:07 > 0:26:20Didn't even get close, really. That is a long way away.

0:26:27 > 0:26:30Ronnie is now looking at the two reds that Stephen looked at to see

0:26:30 > 0:26:38if they could be made into a plant. He could cannon one here if he

0:26:38 > 0:26:58wishes. But it didn't work out.

0:27:19 > 0:27:23I wonder if he will try a cannon on the two reds here.

0:27:28 > 0:27:35No, he chose to play for an open red, but it has not worked out. I am

0:27:35 > 0:27:40a bit surprised that he didn't play that cannon. He had the perfect

0:27:40 > 0:27:51angle on the blue.

0:27:57 > 0:28:00This table is definitely playing a lot quicker, because he has gone too

0:28:00 > 0:28:10far there.

0:28:16 > 0:28:21I think he is just OK.

0:28:35 > 0:28:41This could be a frame-winner if it works out.

0:28:53 > 0:29:02It might have been the new cloth that helped that go in.

0:29:05 > 0:29:0828.

0:29:12 > 0:29:17This needs to be struck well. It is so easy to decelerate on shots like

0:29:17 > 0:29:28this. Beautifully played.It is tight on the cushion, it will help

0:29:28 > 0:29:34this, and it is frozen to the cushion, as you can see. Jowett had

0:29:34 > 0:29:41to drop it in. He played it well. -- just had to drop.

0:29:47 > 0:29:56So, that pink that Stephen Maguire missed good proved to be very costly

0:29:56 > 0:30:01and give Ronnie this opening frame.

0:30:05 > 0:30:0743.

0:30:12 > 0:30:17Just double-checking the score, there.

0:30:22 > 0:30:33As you can see, just needs the brown.50.

0:30:43 > 0:30:47You just can't make a mistake against this man. The number of

0:30:47 > 0:30:51times he punishes you.

0:30:56 > 0:31:0161 and a first frame, Ronnie O'Sullivan.Stephen Maguire had a

0:31:01 > 0:31:04chance, missed the pink and that was his last shot, Ronnie O'Sullivan

0:31:04 > 0:31:10with the break of 61, takes the opening frame, 1-0. STUDIO:

0:31:10 > 0:31:12Brilliantly done by Ronnie O'Sullivan

0:31:12 > 0:31:13Brilliantly done by Ronnie O'Sullivan but I think Stephen

0:31:13 > 0:31:15Maguire realises this fellow is going to pounce on any mistakes and

0:31:15 > 0:31:17it was just the one on

0:31:17 > 0:31:20going to pounce on any mistakes and it was just the one on the pink.

0:31:20 > 0:31:25Crackling opening frame of snooker. -- cracking. It is easy to cue

0:31:25 > 0:31:29across this. If you are being pernickety, it is one of those, you

0:31:29 > 0:31:32might have to stand back and give it a bit because it is not totally

0:31:32 > 0:31:36straightforward but as Stephen 's leading commentary, did not get near

0:31:36 > 0:31:40the corner.It felt like he had a bit of body movement on the shot,

0:31:40 > 0:31:44the screw back that started it off, he kept his body pretty still which

0:31:44 > 0:31:47is the most important thing as a snooker player and that includes

0:31:47 > 0:31:51your head, less body movement means less chance of the cue going through

0:31:51 > 0:31:55on a bad line so that is what the players try to do, getting the

0:31:55 > 0:32:00stance right in the first race.The opening red that Stephen Maguire

0:32:00 > 0:32:06had, you are cueing up to demonstrate that! -- you were lining

0:32:06 > 0:32:09up to demonstrate that. It was an extraordinary opening red. If you

0:32:09 > 0:32:12were watching us yesterday you will have seen during the quarterfinal

0:32:12 > 0:32:15between Martin Gould and Ronnie O'Sullivan, a member of the audience

0:32:15 > 0:32:18had to be taken out and it caused some disruption because she was

0:32:18 > 0:32:23taken to hospital. Happily, I can tell you marry Snell is absolutely

0:32:23 > 0:32:28fine, it turned out she had fallen before coming into the arena and had

0:32:28 > 0:32:33inadvertently broken her hip but such was her determination to come

0:32:33 > 0:32:37and see the snooker for the first time, she came in and put up with a

0:32:37 > 0:32:40painful good few frames before it became too much for her and she

0:32:40 > 0:32:45fainted and had to be taken to hospital. She is due to undergo an

0:32:45 > 0:32:49operation this morning. We wish you all of the very best, Marion. That

0:32:49 > 0:32:53is the kind of commitment we expect and admire in our snooker fans!

0:32:53 > 0:32:59Incredible story. COMMENTATOR: It certainly is. All the very best to

0:32:59 > 0:33:02you, Marian.

0:33:27 > 0:33:34Unintentional kiss on the brown which has not left an easy red, it

0:33:34 > 0:33:42will pot in the middle but it is far from easy.Yeah, will be interesting

0:33:42 > 0:33:47to see if there is any reaction from Stephen Maguire to missing that easy

0:33:47 > 0:33:52pink. Sometimes, it can really put you off.

0:33:58 > 0:34:03Here, we will see it again. He seemed to come as you said, it was a

0:34:03 > 0:34:06tricky shot but he seemed to get down on it pretty quickly, did not

0:34:06 > 0:34:11give it as much attention as he should have. It was a big shot.And

0:34:11 > 0:34:16as Steve Davis said, there was a bit of body movement on it.Yes,

0:34:16 > 0:34:19definitely leaning into it slightly.

0:34:33 > 0:34:38Might have got away with that, Stephen Maguire. The red does cut

0:34:38 > 0:34:42but this is tricky.

0:35:00 > 0:35:08The pot was always on but the position was not straightforward. I

0:35:08 > 0:35:12think, Dennis, if Stephen can get 2-2 at the interval, I think he is

0:35:12 > 0:35:17in this match. Any other scoreline, he is really going to struggle.

0:35:17 > 0:35:21Obviously, 3-1 up would be great, but at the minimum, 2-2, and he is

0:35:21 > 0:35:29very much in it.Couldn't agree more, Stephen. Meanwhile, he is

0:35:29 > 0:35:33faced with an escape route, twice across the table to try to land on

0:35:33 > 0:35:39the red that is near the cushion, there are, but he has to be careful,

0:35:39 > 0:35:43if he slips past that, he will leave it on. He needs a touch of side as

0:35:43 > 0:35:50well. That is a little bit too narrow but better missing it that

0:35:50 > 0:35:56side than the other will stop having said that, it can still be potted

0:35:56 > 0:36:00across the cushion and he can get on the black so he will have a go at

0:36:00 > 0:36:03this.

0:36:11 > 0:36:19GASPS FROM CROWD Amazing now that has worked to

0:36:19 > 0:36:22Stephen Maguire's advantage, the fact he did not escape from the

0:36:22 > 0:36:29snooker but this was not straightforward along the cushion.

0:36:29 > 0:36:34Well, he is in first again. He has got the chance. How many can he

0:36:34 > 0:36:35make?

0:36:45 > 0:36:51Yeah, got a chance to erase the memory of the first frame.

0:36:59 > 0:37:03Into the bunch, here, screw the cue ball back to the left-hand side of

0:37:03 > 0:37:14the table to leave the red, closest to the black to the right corner.

0:37:14 > 0:37:18Oh, you could see the cue ball moved to the left but he has snookered

0:37:18 > 0:37:24himself on the red. He may have one to the left middle. Let's see, that

0:37:24 > 0:37:28is the movement, the cue ball going towards that side of the table,

0:37:28 > 0:37:35but... A little bit unlucky. He has got the red to left middle, just

0:37:35 > 0:37:41seeing if he can stun for the pink to the opposite middle pocket.

0:37:54 > 0:38:0317.APPLAUSE Good recovery, there, because he was

0:38:03 > 0:38:07very unlucky for the White to finish in there but awkward, bridging,

0:38:07 > 0:38:09there, did well.

0:38:12 > 0:38:21Still not straightforward, here. Just has to be careful when he plays

0:38:21 > 0:38:29the cannon, here, that he doesn't hide the cue ball again.

0:38:38 > 0:38:44Oh, he got a kick, what a time to get a kick. He missed the pink in

0:38:44 > 0:38:48the opening frame, he has got himself in here, got the balls at

0:38:48 > 0:38:55his mercy and the pink kicks and straightened up.That is horrific.

0:38:55 > 0:39:07You feel for him, there is, when you look at the balls. -- there, when. I

0:39:07 > 0:39:11said he had to erase the memory of the previous frame and the pink he

0:39:11 > 0:39:14missed and now he's got to erase the memory of getting a kick on that

0:39:14 > 0:39:23pink. A tale of two pinks so far in this match. I will be shocked if it

0:39:23 > 0:39:29does not cost timber frame. -- cost him this frame.

0:39:33 > 0:39:39Yet, you don't mind losing a frame if you miss a ball, but if you get a

0:39:39 > 0:39:46heavy contact, it is just pure bad luck.

0:40:14 > 0:40:18I don't think either of these players, Dennis, are using the new,

0:40:18 > 0:40:21special chalk that some of the players are using that is supposed

0:40:21 > 0:40:25to eradicate kicks. Woe, a reprieve.

0:40:28 > 0:40:38Can you believe where he has ended up, there?Yeah, he was trying to

0:40:38 > 0:40:46get around the back of the black but a bit unlucky to be snookered.

0:40:51 > 0:40:58There's a possible... Couple of reds that Stephen can go for, here, but

0:40:58 > 0:41:05Ronnie had no easy safety shot, there.Massive reprieve for Stephen

0:41:05 > 0:41:16Maguire. If he can pot this red to the right middle. Or is he going to

0:41:16 > 0:41:28the red to the right corner, then cut -- thin got? Good shot, got the

0:41:28 > 0:41:30kiss afterwards.

0:41:43 > 0:41:47Yeah, funny that new chalk that you mentioned there, Stephen, I was in

0:41:47 > 0:41:50the practice from Stephen Maguire the other day and I asked if he was

0:41:50 > 0:41:55using it and he said, no, it is £15 for a little blog of chalk and he is

0:41:55 > 0:41:58quite happy to leave marks on the table, which the new chalk does not.

0:41:58 > 0:42:06He was not interested. A bit expensive, that chalk, Stephen.

0:42:11 > 0:42:17Yeah, Ken Doherty had some and I had a look at it. It is very rough, the

0:42:17 > 0:42:24chalk we normally use is a lot smoother. But a lot of the players

0:42:24 > 0:42:33are convinced it is stopping kicks and bounces off the cushion as well.

0:42:33 > 0:42:40Meanwhile, an opportunity of a red to the far left corner.

0:42:47 > 0:42:59Oh, what is happening here? APPLAUSE Trick shot! Ronnie is trying to

0:42:59 > 0:43:03smile, there, because the white was going in the pocket and suddenly,

0:43:03 > 0:43:12the red appeared. Now, the white was going into the pocket, suddenly, the

0:43:12 > 0:43:19red appears, thank you very much. I think he can avoid hitting the

0:43:19 > 0:43:23yellow, here, when potting the blue.

0:43:27 > 0:43:31Where our, he was thinking more about missing the cannon on the

0:43:31 > 0:43:36yellow, there. -- well, he was thinking. Worrying times for Stephen

0:43:36 > 0:43:39Maguire, that heavy contact on the pink and the missed pink may be

0:43:39 > 0:43:50still at the back of his mind.Yeah, he's not going to have much chance

0:43:50 > 0:43:53of winning this match, if he's not going to take these opportunities,

0:43:53 > 0:44:00Stephen, I'm afraid. At the minute, he is the one starting to look a bit

0:44:00 > 0:44:07intimidated although saying that, Ronnie has just played a shocker.

0:44:13 > 0:44:21Another left off. This is incredible. -- left off. A bit of a

0:44:21 > 0:44:28comedy of errors, this frame, Dennis.Yeah, I don't think it will

0:44:28 > 0:44:38continue, that is for sure. He could do with knocking this in, here,

0:44:38 > 0:44:42giving his confidence a bit of a boost.

0:44:50 > 0:44:55Just a little awkward with the yellow of its spot, as we show you

0:44:55 > 0:44:59this pot that went right in the centre of the pocket. It would have

0:44:59 > 0:45:02been a lot easier if the yellow had been sitting on its spot, to get

0:45:02 > 0:45:09back up to the reds, but I think he is almost straight on this. He needs

0:45:09 > 0:45:16to avoid the brown on the way back. Yeah, he had just enough angle to do

0:45:16 > 0:45:27that. But he has not dropped nicely on a red. So another mistake.

0:45:50 > 0:45:54Stephen Maguire, three.

0:46:11 > 0:46:21Just a safety shot, here. The reds are all covering each other near the

0:46:21 > 0:46:24pink spot, there.

0:46:46 > 0:46:58Oh, dear! That was a kick as well. You could hear it.If he does not

0:46:58 > 0:47:01get the kick, there, Ronnie can't see this red to the right of the

0:47:01 > 0:47:07green. He is still not going to play it.

0:47:11 > 0:47:16I think if the cue ball was of the cushion a little bit, he would play

0:47:16 > 0:47:20it because he would be able to get to the bottom of the cue ball, to

0:47:20 > 0:47:24stun, bring it back to the ball cushion, but he cannot do it from

0:47:24 > 0:47:35tight. -- the baulk cushion.I think he is just concerned that he does

0:47:35 > 0:47:39not send the red straight into the pink but he is going to play the

0:47:39 > 0:47:48shocked that you suggested. -- play the shot. It is OK because those

0:47:48 > 0:47:52four reds are all covering each other.

0:48:15 > 0:48:19It is always nice to see the big breaks going in but this sort of

0:48:19 > 0:48:23frame can be very entertaining and exciting to watch. Just two points

0:48:23 > 0:48:29the difference. Quite a low scoring affair.

0:49:11 > 0:49:16Now he's coming up a long way short so this is a bit of a chance for

0:49:16 > 0:49:19Stephen Maguire.

0:49:39 > 0:49:43Needs a good, favourable kiss, here. Well, the fact he slipped past it,

0:49:43 > 0:49:47he might have the yellow to the middle with an angle to get up to

0:49:47 > 0:49:52the red macro to the left of the blue, yes, he's OK. -- up to the red

0:49:52 > 0:49:55to the left of the blue.

0:50:01 > 0:50:05But the other three reds are not ideally placed. They are away from

0:50:05 > 0:50:18the cushion but they are not in an easy position to pot.

0:50:27 > 0:50:32If he's got a good angle on the brown, he might be able to screw up

0:50:32 > 0:50:40between the two reds. Just depends on the angle. No, it is not good on

0:50:40 > 0:50:45the brown but it is on the green.

0:50:51 > 0:50:57That looks pretty good if it pulls up. About the best he could do,

0:50:57 > 0:51:00there.

0:51:19 > 0:51:21Eight.

0:51:44 > 0:51:49Well, this is a tough one up into the corner. Looking to screw back

0:51:49 > 0:52:06for the black, here. Key shot coming up, here. Nope. It was perfect on

0:52:06 > 0:52:09the black as well to get to the last, difficult red if he had potted

0:52:09 > 0:52:12that.

0:52:29 > 0:52:37Another example of Ronnie O'Sullivan, he does take many risks.

0:52:37 > 0:52:42-- doesn't take many risks. Was not even tempted by that straight red to

0:52:42 > 0:52:44the yellow pocket.

0:52:52 > 0:52:56He will be tempted by this one.

0:53:11 > 0:53:19Is it going to pull up in time, it is very, very quick, this cloth. It

0:53:19 > 0:53:28is quite thin. Stephen Maguire has had a good look at it. From that

0:53:28 > 0:53:33picture, it looks like he can cut it in.

0:53:35 > 0:53:47It had to be thin. And that has developed the last red. But there's

0:53:47 > 0:53:56no easy pot available.He is looking at pink but now there is pressure on

0:53:56 > 0:54:09this, now he has brought that red into the open.Pink ball.Has he

0:54:09 > 0:54:19even taken on the pot?Stephen Maguire, one.I could not have

0:54:19 > 0:54:22refused that, Dennis, could not have refused that pink. That is very

0:54:22 > 0:54:27cagey. It just shows the respect he has four Ronnie O'Sullivan, does not

0:54:27 > 0:54:33want to go 2-0 down.Yeah, he pushed the pink safe because he has got a

0:54:33 > 0:54:3614 point advantage.

0:54:41 > 0:54:52And look at this shot.He will be able to take the pink on now. It was

0:54:52 > 0:55:00a very negative shot, I feel. Things like that give your opponent a lift,

0:55:00 > 0:55:06as well, you see that he is not even going to take the pink on and it

0:55:06 > 0:55:13gives you a boost, which is why he is a bit afraid.I remember the

0:55:13 > 0:55:17great John Spencer, three times a world champion, giving me some

0:55:17 > 0:55:21advice, he said, "If you are at the table, you have got a chance, take

0:55:21 > 0:55:25it because if you play a shot like Stephen Bate, you can be in trouble

0:55:25 > 0:55:29when you come back to the table". It is about playing the percentages,

0:55:29 > 0:55:32knowing whether to go for it and there is a little smile on Stephen's

0:55:32 > 0:55:36face because he knows he is in all sorts of bother, here. The green is

0:55:36 > 0:55:40in the way of the one-cushion escape, the brownies in the way of

0:55:40 > 0:55:46the two cushion escape. -- brown is in the way. He will do well to get

0:55:46 > 0:55:55out of this and get it safe. He has had to go so close to the brown.

0:55:55 > 0:56:01That is a brilliant shot, it really is! APPLAUSE

0:56:04 > 0:56:07You can tell that Stephen Maguire just wants to get a frame on the

0:56:07 > 0:56:16board.Ronnie is looking at the shot, here, to stun, take the pink

0:56:16 > 0:56:20off the cushion, if he leaves the cue ball there, puts the red across

0:56:20 > 0:56:25the table, snookers Stephen behind the green and the brown.

0:56:38 > 0:56:43He thinks it is too risky. Worried about getting the red over in that

0:56:43 > 0:56:49left corner. He needs something to come to his rescue. I think Stephen

0:56:49 > 0:56:52Maguire can pot this red.

0:56:57 > 0:57:00Yeah, don't worry about the cue ball, just put everything into the

0:57:00 > 0:57:03pot, here.

0:57:05 > 0:57:13He's overcut it. But he may have... Well, I was going to say he might

0:57:13 > 0:57:17have got away with it but if the white pulls up, Ronnie can take on

0:57:17 > 0:57:21the pot and bring the pink interplay. It might be a bit narrow

0:57:21 > 0:57:23for that.

0:57:31 > 0:57:40Well, he has done that. APPLAUSE And he has knocked the pink up

0:57:40 > 0:57:47towards the left corner pocket and he may have to take it, now. So, one

0:57:47 > 0:57:56good pot, and one good positional shot, it could be 2-0.

0:58:06 > 0:58:11If he gets that far, it is blue to think which is going to be the

0:58:11 > 0:58:15tricky one. -- Bluetooth

0:58:18 > 0:58:21-- blue, to pink.

0:58:33 > 0:58:37At one point, I did not think the cue ball was going to make it there

0:58:37 > 0:58:42because he put the yellow into the right-hand side of the pocket.

0:58:51 > 0:58:55You should have gone for that pink, Stephen.

0:59:09 > 0:59:15This was always going to be the tricky one, blue to pink, and he

0:59:15 > 0:59:26hasn't played as he would have liked.

0:59:56 > 1:00:09If Ronnie O'Sullivan misses a shot, it is normally always thin.

1:00:18 > 1:00:26Avoided the black, no problem. The priority was to get the pink safe.

1:00:26 > 1:00:30As I mentioned earlier, it's nice to see the big breaks going in, but

1:00:30 > 1:00:41this sort of frames can be very exciting.

1:00:54 > 1:01:07That is a pretty good cue ball. It would be ironic if he takes this on,

1:01:07 > 1:01:18which is much more difficult than the one he refused. He is normally

1:01:18 > 1:01:31very attacking, Stephen Maguire, so it's make your mind up time.

1:01:32 > 1:01:59Fabulous shot. Absolutely fantastic. That was brilliant cueing.

1:02:02 > 1:02:06That black was not a gimme. He didn't push the cue through in a

1:02:06 > 1:02:16straight line.

1:02:43 > 1:02:53He has played this well.

1:03:08 > 1:03:14This might turn out to be the longest frame of this semifinal. And

1:03:14 > 1:03:24it's an exciting one.

1:03:38 > 1:03:54He has hit this all wrong. Certainly not as he intended, and it's a very

1:03:54 > 1:04:02thin snick that Stephen has come to have a look at. This is tough.

1:04:12 > 1:04:18Well, he put absolutely everything into the pot, and it looked as if it

1:04:18 > 1:04:29was in, but look where it stopped.

1:04:30 > 1:04:33A fascinating end to the second frame. It ebbed and flowed, but in

1:04:33 > 1:04:39the end Ronnie O'Sullivan knocks the black in.

1:04:39 > 1:04:43HAZEL IRVINE: the Scotsman had two goodbye to that in France and sub

1:04:43 > 1:04:462-0 down. It is a tale of the pink for Stephen Maguire. He missed one,

1:04:46 > 1:04:51got a kick on one and refused one. An amazing friend, lots of twists

1:04:51 > 1:04:55and turns. -- an amazing frame.

1:04:58 > 1:05:01Look at this situation with Stephen Maguire. Stephen Hendry said an

1:05:01 > 1:05:04commentary that he had a great chance to put the pink and win the

1:05:04 > 1:05:09frame. He decides that if he puts the pink safe, then Ronnie

1:05:09 > 1:05:12O'Sullivan leads the pink, so he decides to play a snooker and put

1:05:12 > 1:05:16the pink safe. It's like an old school shot, whereas Stephen Hendry

1:05:16 > 1:05:24was much more going for the attack. Arguably, Stephen Maguire never got

1:05:24 > 1:05:28as good a chance of that one. But you live and die by your shot making

1:05:28 > 1:05:33decisions. It was a fascinating decision.He refused to that one and

1:05:33 > 1:05:44then did pot and unbelievable pink. Damaging from his point of view?

1:05:44 > 1:05:47Extremely. You are playing one of the best players who ever lived. If

1:05:47 > 1:05:52you have a chance like that with the black, you cannot miss it.And he

1:05:52 > 1:05:57hit that black so well that when it does wobble, it stays in the jaws.

1:05:57 > 1:06:04If you miss it by further away, it usually escapes.2-0 to the Rocket.

1:06:04 > 1:06:07It could so easily have been extremely different.

1:06:39 > 1:06:46This is a big ask for Stephen Maguire Nel, 2-0 down, to keep the

1:06:46 > 1:06:53belief that he can win this match. I said earlier that I think he needs

1:06:53 > 1:06:59the two remaining frames of this session. Ronnie has been anything

1:06:59 > 1:07:06but impressive in the first two frames. But Stephen has not been

1:07:06 > 1:07:16able to punish him.

1:07:37 > 1:07:47He put everything into the pot there. Try it to glance off the red

1:07:47 > 1:07:51with the cue ball and hit it to full.

1:08:03 > 1:08:08As you mentioned, he has had chances. It could easily have been

1:08:08 > 1:08:192-0 to Stephen.

1:09:06 > 1:09:18Lovely pot.

1:09:54 > 1:10:03That was a poor shot, Stephen. Very careless. He wants to play for the

1:10:03 > 1:10:07red that is just above the black to left corner. He was hoping for an

1:10:07 > 1:10:19angle on the brown. He will have to play off four-cushion is now --

1:10:19 > 1:10:20offer four cushions.

1:10:32 > 1:10:38The previous shot on the red was the bad one, wasn't it?Absolutely. A

1:10:38 > 1:10:45bit careless.

1:11:11 > 1:11:15The body language is not the same as it was at the start of the match. He

1:11:15 > 1:11:28has taken a few hits in the first two frames.

1:12:07 > 1:12:15He will have to bend this around the brown. That has got the game back to

1:12:15 > 1:12:25normal.

1:12:45 > 1:12:51That is a long way short again with the safety. So he is struggling a

1:12:51 > 1:13:02bit at the moment, Stephen.

1:13:09 > 1:13:12Far from an easy chance, but he is on the right side of the blue to get

1:13:12 > 1:13:16up to the business end of the table. They are all sort of covering each

1:13:16 > 1:13:26other somewhat.

1:14:04 > 1:14:13How different could do match have been if Stephen had part of that

1:14:13 > 1:14:24pink in the first frame? Now the body language is not the same. In

1:14:24 > 1:14:36the best of 11, the first frames can be so important.

1:14:52 > 1:14:54It is fascinating watching Ronnie O'Sullivan when the balls are tied

1:14:54 > 1:15:07up like this, how he goes about the break.

1:15:52 > 1:15:56Much more difficult now that he hasn't got on the blue as he would

1:15:56 > 1:16:05have liked.Matt and has just gone over the hour mark. It's quite slow.

1:16:05 > 1:16:09You would not have expected that from these two players, but the

1:16:09 > 1:16:12first two frames have been quite scrappy.

1:16:41 > 1:17:08How does he play the pink? Not easy. Brilliant shot.

1:17:31 > 1:17:38Look at that shot, played with the opposite hand. Gives himself a

1:17:38 > 1:17:49chance of cutting this red in.Just needs a couple more reds to win this

1:17:49 > 1:18:07third frame. He is not liking this one. And that is why, because the

1:18:07 > 1:18:13cue ball ran wild.If it is touching, he has got to nominate the

1:18:13 > 1:18:22colour. But it's not touching.

1:18:35 > 1:18:39He has got the green safe and he has got the snooker, so he's in the

1:18:39 > 1:18:51driving seat in this third frame.

1:18:53 > 1:18:58He was in a bit of a hole there. All you can do sometimes is hit and

1:18:58 > 1:19:19hope. A tough start for Stephen Maguire.

1:19:26 > 1:19:38You never settle until you get your first frame on the board.

1:19:38 > 1:19:51With 3-1, he would be pleased. 4-0, and he wouldn't be happy.

1:20:05 > 1:20:09There is an argument for saying that 3-0 and the match is over, but if

1:20:09 > 1:20:25Stephen doesn't win the next frame, there is no doubt...

1:20:59 > 1:21:06It is not as easy as it looks, but Ronnie O'Sullivan leads the arena

1:21:06 > 1:21:09needing Stephen Maguire 3-0. -- leaving.

1:22:06 > 1:22:09Yes, Stephen Maguire still sitting in the arena as Ronnie goes out for

1:22:09 > 1:22:13a bit. And even more time to ponder what might be the key moment of the

1:22:13 > 1:22:20entire match in the frame before the last one, limits on the black.

1:22:22 > 1:22:27When you play against the top players like my right honourable

1:22:27 > 1:22:29friend here and Stephen in the commentary box, when you make a

1:22:29 > 1:22:33mistake as big as that, you can bet your bottom dollar in the next

1:22:33 > 1:22:36frame, they will make you remember it. Ronnie played a brilliant frame

1:22:36 > 1:22:39of snooker and kept him in his chapter most of it. He has had a bit

1:22:39 > 1:22:43of a walk out there to compose himself at 3-0 to let Stephen know

1:22:43 > 1:22:55what the scorers.Do you agree that the next one is key if this match is

1:22:55 > 1:22:58to yeah.Every frame is important, but sometimes it feels like there is

1:22:58 > 1:23:00a significant insert and friends. The problem for Stephen Maguire,

1:23:00 > 1:23:03like a lot of players who play against Ronnie is, he's starting to

1:23:03 > 1:23:09try too hard to not make mistakes. You know the significance of trying

1:23:09 > 1:23:13to clinch your chances. That is not how you play your best snooker. You

1:23:13 > 1:23:17play at your best when you are just competing and enjoying the

1:23:17 > 1:23:21competition. The moment you start to try even more a fraction than you

1:23:21 > 1:23:25would normally, that is when the errors start to creep in.

1:23:30 > 1:23:37COMMENTATOR: And when you try too hard, you concentrate so hard on the

1:23:37 > 1:23:47pot that your position goes awry. Nothing comes automatic. The worst

1:23:47 > 1:23:50thing about coming from behind to beat Ronnie is that he never plays a

1:23:50 > 1:24:00wrong shot! So he doesn't give you a chance.What were you saying?!

1:24:00 > 1:24:10Well...That was amazing. He needed such a thin snick on this, and he

1:24:10 > 1:24:14hit it too thick. He would have gotten away with it if the red had

1:24:14 > 1:24:25not gone in the yellow corner.

1:24:43 > 1:24:46He has already stopped in his tracks a little bit. Shouldn't be a

1:24:46 > 1:24:56problem.

1:25:30 > 1:25:33You see the shake of the head. He overscrewed the ball by about two

1:25:33 > 1:25:41inches. I don't know if he can get as much action on the cue ball from

1:25:41 > 1:25:48this angle. But he still played it, just couldn't generate the same

1:25:48 > 1:25:54pace. He is concentrating so much for making sure he puts the ball is

1:25:54 > 1:26:01that the perfect position is lacking.He was a bit unlucky,

1:26:01 > 1:26:06because this red doesn't pass the other red, by the looks of things. A

1:26:06 > 1:26:17bit unfortunate.

1:26:31 > 1:26:40That was a bit careless. But that 54 break that money made, the balls

1:26:40 > 1:26:44were very awkward -- the breakdown Ronnie made.

1:26:54 > 1:26:58You have got to keep this fella on the cushion. You can't keep leaving

1:26:58 > 1:27:03him with these sorts of chances.

1:27:14 > 1:27:31Hit it absolutely perfectly. Brilliant shot.

1:27:43 > 1:27:51That wasn't easy. He had a straight red, but it was no good for him. He

1:27:51 > 1:28:03can see enough of the green, I think.

1:28:04 > 1:28:17This is quite a rarity, Ronnie O'Sullivan using the rest.

1:28:20 > 1:28:31Right in the middle of the pocket.

1:28:31 > 1:28:36That has left him a choice of one to the yellow pocket. Because he plays

1:28:36 > 1:28:39every shot with his left hand as well, he never seems to use the

1:28:39 > 1:28:48rest. He is not bad when he does. That was a strange position all shot

1:28:48 > 1:28:54from Ronnie. I don't think he had made his mind up where he was going

1:28:54 > 1:29:03to leave the cue ball.

1:29:03 > 1:29:10Astute watch that red, that is why he's back with the rest again. The

1:29:10 > 1:29:16green was hampering him slightly.

1:29:22 > 1:29:27So, terrific with his right hand, brilliant with his left hand, and

1:29:27 > 1:29:30pretty good with a rest.

1:29:57 > 1:30:04Yeah, he's OK. He's got enough angle to get that onto the black, here.

1:30:04 > 1:30:14Lots of left-hand side. He was pretty straight.Another one of

1:30:14 > 1:30:24those pinks that you have two sort of stun in -- have to sort. They are

1:30:24 > 1:30:27not easy, believe you me but sometimes, he makes them look so

1:30:27 > 1:30:30easy.

1:30:42 > 1:30:46I know in his interviews with Hazel, he sometimes says he is not that

1:30:46 > 1:30:51bothered about records, but make no mistake, Ronnie O'Sullivan will want

1:30:51 > 1:30:57to beat every record set in the game. He has overtaken my colleague,

1:30:57 > 1:31:01here, Stephen Hendry, in quite a few of them with regards to century

1:31:01 > 1:31:13breaks, maximum breaks made, and hundred breaks made in the UK

1:31:13 > 1:31:18championship, something he did just yesterday. The only record he has

1:31:18 > 1:31:25not overtaken, he has won five world titles to your seven.

1:31:48 > 1:31:53And he puts an awful lot of practice in. Don't think he just turns up.

1:31:53 > 1:31:57That he's a natural player, he just turns up and plays like this, he

1:31:57 > 1:32:05puts powers and hours of hard into the game. -- puts hours and hours of

1:32:05 > 1:32:08hard work.

1:32:18 > 1:32:24He is going to need one of those reds, near either cushion, after

1:32:24 > 1:32:29this one, to win the frame at this visit. He's had a look to see if

1:32:29 > 1:32:34that red to the left side can be ported. You would have to be right

1:32:34 > 1:32:42behind it, perhaps it looks easy on the screen but it's not. He would

1:32:42 > 1:32:46like to have been maybe a little bit closer than this. I don't expect him

1:32:46 > 1:32:58to miss it. It could have been missed, and he wanted to be a little

1:32:58 > 1:33:00closer to that red.

1:33:05 > 1:33:10Well, if this red drops, it is 4-0. They are very sharp, these middle

1:33:10 > 1:33:20pocket. So a little bit of hope in this frame before the mid-session

1:33:20 > 1:33:24interval, for Stephen Maguire.

1:33:54 > 1:33:58The 36 point lead does not really mean anything, the way the balls are

1:33:58 > 1:34:03sitting, here, one mistake and the frame will be over, either way.

1:34:18 > 1:34:29And... Not quite as he played it. This is a big shot but you know,

1:34:29 > 1:34:34Stephen Maguire won't shy away from it. Well, he won't shy away from

1:34:34 > 1:34:37most chances.

1:34:50 > 1:34:57APPLAUSE GASPS FROM CROWD

1:34:57 > 1:35:04You cannot get your breath. He has conceded the frame. That was an

1:35:04 > 1:35:08unbelievable bit of misfortune there for Stephen Maguire and they head

1:35:08 > 1:35:13off to the mid-session interval and it is 4-0 to Ronnie O'Sullivan, what

1:35:13 > 1:35:18a way to lose the brain. STUDIO: Stephen Maguire would probably have

1:35:18 > 1:35:21a case to say that he might be cursed at the moment and he's

1:35:21 > 1:35:26probably feeling like it at the moment, Steve.Well, yeah, you can't

1:35:26 > 1:35:30account for bad luck, that is part of the game, isn't it? But

1:35:30 > 1:35:34sometimes, as we said yesterday, it seems like the balls don't forgive

1:35:34 > 1:35:40you. It is a stupid thing to say, so stupid, they obviously can't think

1:35:40 > 1:35:44but they punish you severely! We are all mentally scarred by these balls.

1:35:44 > 1:35:50This comes up a lot, you talk about this but it is almost like, you are

1:35:50 > 1:35:56talking about.The snooker gods never stop watching and if you have

1:35:56 > 1:36:00the chance after he missed that brilliant pink in frame two, and you

1:36:00 > 1:36:05don't take it, that is your lot, they don't forgive you, and the rest

1:36:05 > 1:36:08of the afternoon, nothing goes for him, and he's up against one of the

1:36:08 > 1:36:11best players who ever lived, so things tend to go a bit wrong. We've

1:36:11 > 1:36:13mentioned it many times, it is just

1:36:13 > 1:36:15mentioned it many times, it is just strange.It is quite laughable to

1:36:15 > 1:36:18say it. We are supposed to be experts but we are coming out with

1:36:18 > 1:36:21stupidities like that but you can't operate and Ronnie puts a lot of

1:36:21 > 1:36:24pressure on you, even though he has not cleared in one visit all the

1:36:24 > 1:36:32time, he keeps knocking balls in, couple of pink in the middle pocket,

1:36:32 > 1:36:35running them in.Stephen made a good point earlier, in terms of Maguire's

1:36:35 > 1:36:38response to this, you have two bullies out there and one is running

1:36:38 > 1:36:43away with this, so how does the other one respond?The only good

1:36:43 > 1:36:47thing is, the interval has come because if they had carried on, it

1:36:47 > 1:36:52might have been 6-0. I think he's got a good chance to come out, clear

1:36:52 > 1:36:56his head, may become an hit a few balls if he wants to and the fact he

1:36:56 > 1:36:59has got a few more frames, it is not like best of nine so he's got a bit

1:36:59 > 1:37:04more of a cherry to bite but he needs to get out and pot a few

1:37:04 > 1:37:13balls.Yeah, I mean, in a way, the tables are currently empty, you

1:37:13 > 1:37:16don't get that Lonmin interval and if you are in the right frame of

1:37:16 > 1:37:19mind, you come to the practice table. If you've already given up,

1:37:19 > 1:37:21there's an argument to say you don't come to the British table.Who

1:37:21 > 1:37:24knows? You might come in shortly but Stephen Maguire certainly has a lot

1:37:24 > 1:37:28to think about this afternoon, 4-0 down in a first six semifinal. The

1:37:28 > 1:37:31second semifinal this evening at 7pm sees world

1:37:31 > 1:37:33second semifinal this evening at 7pm sees world number six, Sean Murphy,

1:37:33 > 1:37:37taking on Welshman Ryan Day. Shaun Murphy won this event in 2008 and

1:37:37 > 1:37:48Ryan Day is the Riga Masters winner and that was his first trophy after

1:37:48 > 1:37:51many years of misses. He's come through three final point decided in

1:37:51 > 1:37:54a row to get this far and it's the first time he's made it to the

1:37:54 > 1:37:57semifinal of one of the sport's triple grand events, it will be

1:37:57 > 1:38:00quite an occasion for the Welshman this evening.

1:38:04 > 1:38:10I think there is no doubt that I'm a better player than I was last year.

1:38:10 > 1:38:13My potting, scoring, break-building has always been and as I say, I'm

1:38:13 > 1:38:17going out there with some confidence, enjoying my snooker,

1:38:17 > 1:38:22enjoying being out there with the crowd and who knows?I'm playing OK

1:38:22 > 1:38:25and I've won a couple of close matches and that is all it takes

1:38:25 > 1:38:31these days. He's a fantastic player. He's got very few weaknesses. If I

1:38:31 > 1:38:35want to compete and beat Shaun

1:38:35 > 1:38:36He's got very few weaknesses. If I want to compete and beat Shaun, I'm

1:38:36 > 1:38:41going to have to up my game.Ryan Day, a player I've known since we

1:38:41 > 1:38:46were 11 or 12 when we met first on the Junior tour, great at potting

1:38:46 > 1:38:49and break-building, I don't think there's many better break-builders

1:38:49 > 1:38:53on the tour and now he has won his first ranking event, he's a

1:38:53 > 1:38:56different animal, someone who now knows how to do it. That makes him

1:38:56 > 1:39:01very dangerous and got my hands full.We are talking more than 20

1:39:01 > 1:39:05years, I have known Shaun two different tournaments and whatnot,

1:39:05 > 1:39:10came through the pro ranks, he has won reachable ground but we looking

1:39:10 > 1:39:14forward to the semifinal. Ryder it feels as if with each match, I've

1:39:14 > 1:39:20played slightly better and I can't wait to get out there.Shaun Murphy

1:39:20 > 1:39:24survived a bit of a scare in the second round, coming through a final

1:39:24 > 1:39:27frame decider that Davidse Liam Highfield, and we were sitting there

1:39:27 > 1:39:32listening to him breaking himself about not having control of the

1:39:32 > 1:39:36white ball but he seems to have gone a roll since then, some of his

1:39:36 > 1:39:40cueing has been fantastic.His long potting is as good as anywhere in

1:39:40 > 1:39:44the game, last night you could have done top ten, it was ridiculous, one

1:39:44 > 1:39:47of the bottom cushion that he potted and run-up to the blue was the best

1:39:47 > 1:39:51shot I've seen all week. He's giving his fine form he got away with it a

1:39:51 > 1:39:54bit against Ricky Walden, winning 6-1 when it was not that scoreline,

1:39:54 > 1:39:58gave a few lifelines, did not give quite as many against Mark King

1:39:58 > 1:40:06which was a good sign but there's the occasional glitch where he gives

1:40:06 > 1:40:08the opponent a chance he should not which is the only thing stopping him

1:40:08 > 1:40:10from winning consistently the top ones.'S confidence is high, three

1:40:10 > 1:40:12big finals already this season, winning the champion of champions

1:40:12 > 1:40:18against Ronnie a few weeks ago, how do you assess a challenge this year?

1:40:18 > 1:40:21It is significant, should that be the final. Anyone who thinks Ronnie

1:40:21 > 1:40:28is going to walk away with it, could look at that match. I think we have

1:40:28 > 1:40:31got, arguably, the four most consistent players this week in the

1:40:31 > 1:40:34semifinals. There have been some bad performances from players who have

1:40:34 > 1:40:38not followed it up but I think these lads have been on it most of the

1:40:38 > 1:40:41time. You can't guarantee every match is going to be a breeze.

1:40:41 > 1:40:47Disappointing for Stephen Maguire but I expect the match tonight to be

1:40:47 > 1:40:50very hard-fought.Ryan Day arguably has had possibly the toughest time

1:40:50 > 1:40:54because he's come through three final frame decider in a row to get

1:40:54 > 1:41:00there.You cannot say he has not had enough practice! He was saying that

1:41:00 > 1:41:03he likes to use it up and we were having a laugh about it before. In a

1:41:03 > 1:41:08perfect world, you would like to be winning 6-1, 6-2 but you know now

1:41:08 > 1:41:11that if it comes down to the Di Grassi, you can get over the line.

1:41:11 > 1:41:15We are looking forward to that one at 7pm on BBC Two, we hope you can

1:41:15 > 1:41:20join us but let's get back to the man who has been pre-eminent for us,

1:41:20 > 1:41:23you might say because Ronnie O'Sullivan has been in four big

1:41:23 > 1:41:27titles, winning two titles already and as Dennis was saying, he has

1:41:27 > 1:41:32surpassed Stephen Hendry's total of maximums and indeed centuries in

1:41:32 > 1:41:35this particular championship. But as he has consistently shown as he has

1:41:35 > 1:41:38come in for interviews and talking to people around the venue, it is

1:41:38 > 1:41:41not snooker that controls his life these days. He's a much happier

1:41:41 > 1:41:45person away from the table and Steve had an interesting chat with him

1:41:45 > 1:41:49when he talked about the numpty factor and also about following this

1:41:49 > 1:41:54fellow into the celebrity jungle at some point.Ladies and gentlemen, to

1:41:54 > 1:42:04night belongs to 17-year-old Ronnie O'Sullivan!Ronnie, have a look at

1:42:04 > 1:42:08this, 1993, UK Championship, just press play.Play?

1:42:11 > 1:42:17Baqer Greenhow excited are you? It has not really sunk in yet but the

1:42:17 > 1:42:20reception was unbelievable. I can't believe it. I've got a cold sore on

1:42:20 > 1:42:29my lip!You just wanted more of it? Was that after I had won? Really?

1:42:29 > 1:42:33Fantastic moments for you but saying, you just wanted more of it,

1:42:33 > 1:42:36at that time you were eager to play smoother and after this many years

1:42:36 > 1:42:39in the game of course it is a different type of motivation,

1:42:39 > 1:42:46surely?I think I just play more for fun, now, you know? I learned from

1:42:46 > 1:42:51you and Stephen Baxter, you know, probably not to expect too much of

1:42:51 > 1:42:55myself but I enjoy being at tournaments, I enjoy travelling and

1:42:55 > 1:43:01that kind of stuff. You know, without snooker, then I would not

1:43:01 > 1:43:07get the benefits of that, I'd be stuck at home. I like to be busy. I

1:43:07 > 1:43:11think snooker gives me that opportunity to have a purpose in

1:43:11 > 1:43:14life, really.It is a long season and if you play every tournament, it

1:43:14 > 1:43:18is quite tough so probably wisely, you have been picking and choosing

1:43:18 > 1:43:23which in its own way has perhaps improved your longevity in the game.

1:43:23 > 1:43:28Yeah, maybe. I don't really know. I enjoy competing and playing. I don't

1:43:28 > 1:43:32take the game too seriously in many ways. I looked at tournaments

1:43:32 > 1:43:37sometimes just as practice sessions sometimes, go in there and treat it

1:43:37 > 1:43:41like an exhibition, try not to put too much meaning into it but you

1:43:41 > 1:43:44know deep down you are trying because that is your natural

1:43:44 > 1:43:49competitiveness. But you know, I make going to tournaments beneficial

1:43:49 > 1:43:54for myself, you know. When I'm going, I know that I am happy with

1:43:54 > 1:44:00everything when I get there. It makes it a lot more enjoyable.It is

1:44:00 > 1:44:03a competitive game, motivation for competition comes into the equation

1:44:03 > 1:44:07and there's always the record books. You know, I'm trying not to put

1:44:07 > 1:44:12words in your mouth, you are not really worried about the sixth UK

1:44:12 > 1:44:17championship, are you?No, I'm not. You don't want to equal anybody's

1:44:17 > 1:44:25record? Radradra no, I don't you feel about records but I got the

1:44:25 > 1:44:28Masters one, I thought it was quite nice but it is not something... It

1:44:28 > 1:44:30does not interest me. I would much rather somebody offered me five

1:44:30 > 1:44:34years of playing at the top of my game.You might not win everything

1:44:34 > 1:44:37but you would enjoy every minute. I would take that over records all day

1:44:37 > 1:44:40long. Maybe some people are more about the records and I'm all about

1:44:40 > 1:44:45getting the feeling and the buzz for the game.To do that, sometimes you

1:44:45 > 1:44:48have to make the game interesting and keep your freshness so lots of

1:44:48 > 1:44:52things off the table and that is something I try to do, we all tried

1:44:52 > 1:44:57to do. You have had lots of hobbies off the table which I think our help

1:44:57 > 1:45:02to you?Yeah, yeah.Certainly running.Yeah, always, every

1:45:02 > 1:45:06tournament I go to, I link up with the local running club, made most of

1:45:06 > 1:45:10my best friends that way because we have that thing in common. Yeah,

1:45:10 > 1:45:17that's been fantastic for me. You know, yeah, I thought if I just play

1:45:17 > 1:45:21snooker, it will drive me mad, you know, I need distractions. If I've

1:45:21 > 1:45:26got a distraction going on in my life, then snooker is the easy part

1:45:26 > 1:45:29in a way.As long as it doesn't distract too much, writing a book

1:45:29 > 1:45:36takes a lot of time.No, the more destruction...Do better? Put it

1:45:36 > 1:45:41here.Yeah, seriously, lots of players go down that superstition

1:45:41 > 1:45:47route, but I have none of that, I was having breakfast at like

1:45:47 > 1:45:5112:30pm, you know, just chilling out with my mate and I'm playing at 1pm.

1:45:51 > 1:45:56I honestly just think there is no point taking it too serious.What

1:45:56 > 1:45:59about the distraction of winding up people on the tour, winding up the

1:45:59 > 1:46:06occasional numpty? Were you sitting out there, thinking about those

1:46:06 > 1:46:10words? Thinking it was coming back to bite you and you should never

1:46:10 > 1:46:14have said that?Numpties can beat you, that is their problem because

1:46:14 > 1:46:18their thinking is, they are very positive people, normally, quite

1:46:18 > 1:46:21deluded, they think they are a lot better than they are and if they are

1:46:21 > 1:46:24having a good day, they can take you out. Listen, I've been beaten by a

1:46:24 > 1:46:27lot of numpties before and there will be a lot of numpties that beat

1:46:27 > 1:46:33me but sometimes, you just think, "Not another one!" But I do like

1:46:33 > 1:46:39them.Next year, obviously, it seems like, from what we are hearing, that

1:46:39 > 1:46:44you may not be in the UK Championship. If the jungle

1:46:44 > 1:46:49beckoning?I don't know, yeah. I said to my agent, as much work as

1:46:49 > 1:46:54you can get me away from snooker. You can't get further away than

1:46:54 > 1:46:58that!Exactly, you can't pick and choose when they are, obviously it

1:46:58 > 1:47:01clashes with this tournament, I'm not saying I'm definitely going to

1:47:01 > 1:47:07do it but if the offer is there, I think at this stage in my career, it

1:47:07 > 1:47:10is more important to enjoy things and grab life by the scruff of the

1:47:10 > 1:47:14neck and make the most of these opportunities. I think if a lot of

1:47:14 > 1:47:17other snooker players have the option, they would probably do it,

1:47:17 > 1:47:22too.Parachute jump? Radradra get, I don't mind a bit of that. Spiders?

1:47:22 > 1:47:29Yeah, fine, I'll eat them.Snakes?I will get comfortable with snakes

1:47:29 > 1:47:35before I go. I'm going to start loving snakes, walking with a big

1:47:35 > 1:47:39part around my neck, King of the jungle!I would not put it past him,

1:47:39 > 1:47:43life according to Ronnie. We were talking about numpties and there's a

1:47:43 > 1:47:46couple of them out in the Fourier, there's certainly a chance to make

1:47:46 > 1:47:51yourself a numpty out there with crazy snooker, John and Steve, how

1:47:51 > 1:47:54are you doing? Crazy snooker, happened as to give

1:47:54 > 1:48:01this?All this stuff on the table. The first hole, take the cue ball

1:48:01 > 1:48:01down there,

1:48:01 > 1:48:03The first hole, take the cue ball

1:48:03 > 1:48:07pot the yellow. It is called fun. But it is not snooker.It's there,

1:48:07 > 1:48:08come

1:48:08 > 1:48:09But it is not snooker.

1:48:09 > 1:48:10on baby. He's missed

1:48:10 > 1:48:10on baby. He's missed the

1:48:10 > 1:48:11He's It's there, come

1:48:11 > 1:48:16yellow, it is impossible, now we will go on to two, down here. Take

1:48:16 > 1:48:20the cue ball right round there, pot the green.Had a bit help your

1:48:20 > 1:48:24technique? What is the point.This is fantastic, brilliant, number

1:48:24 > 1:48:29three, this is superb. You will want a go in a minute, honestly. Got to

1:48:29 > 1:48:34go all the way down there, through the gap, through the tunnel.Great

1:48:34 > 1:48:40shot, fantastic.Now you want a go. Wears number four?Go up there,

1:48:40 > 1:48:45chipped the blue and popped it in the middle pocket.Do I have to do

1:48:45 > 1:48:51hit the blue?He's missed!Surely I hit that? I'll have another go.It's

1:48:51 > 1:48:58got to be coming down the right-hand side...I know that!LAUGHTER

1:48:58 > 1:49:04I'll take my chewing gum away.I think I got -- I got a kick. One

1:49:04 > 1:49:15more go. It's impossible!It's touched it! Where is number five? It

1:49:15 > 1:49:19is your go again. This is brilliant, you just go up and it comes down,

1:49:19 > 1:49:25popped the ball up and goes over there.Get in there.That is the

1:49:25 > 1:49:29link and find one, it has to be clever there are three holes and you

1:49:29 > 1:49:33don't know which one it is. Not that one!LAUGHTER

1:49:33 > 1:49:41Your go!OK.I've got a funny feeling I know which one it is. It

1:49:41 > 1:49:49might be... That one! The commie you can have fun, Steve Davis having

1:49:49 > 1:49:56fun, would you believe it? -- yeah, you can have fun.I did not like

1:49:56 > 1:50:00that much.Numpties! Anyway, no shortage of technique in there, and

1:50:00 > 1:50:00no

1:50:00 > 1:50:02shortage of technique in there, and no shortage of technique where

1:50:02 > 1:50:05Stephen Maguire is concerned. He won this great championship 13 years

1:50:05 > 1:50:08ago, right here in York.

1:50:15 > 1:50:19If I was to ask Peter what he would say would be your biggest strengths,

1:50:19 > 1:50:30what do you think he would say?I think he would probably say, long

1:50:30 > 1:50:40potting, break-building and rest play.Peter?I think...Obviously,

1:50:40 > 1:50:44we are talking about Shaun Murphy, and Shaun Murphy's semifinal is

1:50:44 > 1:50:46deceiving against Ryan Day and we will be talking more about that

1:50:46 > 1:50:52later but let's talk now about what we were originally supposed to be

1:50:52 > 1:50:55talking about, Stephen Maguire!

1:51:00 > 1:51:03Wherein we are doing these character assassination... Analysis pieces, I

1:51:03 > 1:51:08think probably Stephen Maguire thinks he cannot win because you are

1:51:08 > 1:51:14asking a player to fire in determination but if they go a

1:51:14 > 1:51:18fraction of, they are hot-headed and it is ruining their game.I think

1:51:18 > 1:51:23Steven is one of those players that the fire in the belly, the hunger to

1:51:23 > 1:51:26succeed, the wheel helps him and I think his best performances have

1:51:26 > 1:51:31coincided with when he has been like that, when you see him wanting to

1:51:31 > 1:51:36win so badly.But then we rip into pieces.Listen, you won't hear me

1:51:36 > 1:51:40doing that, I think it helps him and spurred him on. It gets him up for

1:51:40 > 1:51:44the match and when he gets in that frame of mind, you can beat anybody,

1:51:44 > 1:51:47slaughter anybody.I've been for Stephen, I agree, I think he needs

1:51:47 > 1:51:51that and if you think back to the days when Stephen Hendry was at his

1:51:51 > 1:51:55absolute best, if he missed and he was absolutely distraught with

1:51:55 > 1:51:59himself, he would put its head down and look at the floor but if the

1:51:59 > 1:52:02opponent made the mistake of thinking that they had got him, one

1:52:02 > 1:52:07more chance and that was it, he would clear up. I think in that

1:52:07 > 1:52:11respect, Stephen Maguire is quite similar to Stephen Hendry. They are

1:52:11 > 1:52:14setting themselves such a high standard. Most people just want to

1:52:14 > 1:52:18win but for players like Stephen Hendry, yourself, yourself, Steve,

1:52:18 > 1:52:24and Stephen Maguire, it is not just about winning, it is a level of

1:52:24 > 1:52:27expectation that they have to meet otherwise there's major

1:52:27 > 1:52:31disappointment.So let's be slightly critical, what is lacking then? What

1:52:31 > 1:52:35has stopped him, he did him? Personally, sometimes I think you

1:52:35 > 1:52:38can be too aggressive in his shot selection because you can't keep on

1:52:38 > 1:52:43getting those kind of balls. If I were to advise anybody playing

1:52:43 > 1:52:47Stephen Maguire in a big match, it would be to wait for your chances,

1:52:47 > 1:52:50play the right game, play a sensible game. Let him be dominant and

1:52:50 > 1:52:55aggressive because he can't keep on being that aggressive and keep

1:52:55 > 1:52:58getting away with it. He can't keep potting the ball is so that would be

1:52:58 > 1:53:01my advice for anyone who wanted to beat him over a long match.What

1:53:01 > 1:53:06does he do from now on? How does the approach the rest of his career with

1:53:06 > 1:53:10a view to improvement or will he be happy with his lot? Surely not?I

1:53:10 > 1:53:14think he has to keep going, keep potting in the hours and the time. I

1:53:14 > 1:53:19am sure he would agree if he was sat here that he would have liked to

1:53:19 > 1:53:22have won more tournaments and dominated in the major championships

1:53:22 > 1:53:26but I don't think his career is finished by any stretch. I think he

1:53:26 > 1:53:30might just be halfway. I think he's got plenty more to give. I think the

1:53:30 > 1:53:37game has got plenty more to give him back, too.

1:53:37 > 1:53:42It's going to be a long way back for Stephen Maguire today, 4-0 down

1:53:42 > 1:53:45against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Does the Scots still believe he can make it

1:53:45 > 1:53:50to a third UK final? Let's find out with Dennis and Stephen.

1:53:50 > 1:53:51COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel.

1:53:51 > 1:53:53with Dennis and Stephen. COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel. Don't

1:53:53 > 1:53:58make any mistake about it, Stephen Maguire won't be thinking he is out

1:53:58 > 1:54:03of this year's UK championship just yet. As long as your opponent needs

1:54:03 > 1:54:08to map your friends you always feel you are in with a chance.Thank you,

1:54:08 > 1:54:12frame five, Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.Ronnie to get the fifth frame

1:54:12 > 1:54:13under way.

1:54:29 > 1:54:33I might question whether he believes he can win it at this point but if

1:54:33 > 1:54:36he could win maybe a couple of frames, then the belief might come

1:54:36 > 1:54:40back. At 4-0, he won't be feeling great.

1:54:45 > 1:54:49Let's see how positively he plays this red. Can he stop the cue ball

1:54:49 > 1:54:58short of the baulk colours? Yes. That is a good start.

1:55:02 > 1:55:05Very positively played.

1:55:24 > 1:55:29Just gone a little bit further than he intended.

1:55:46 > 1:55:51He will want to get up near the black spot area as soon as possible,

1:55:51 > 1:56:02he can do that in a few shots time. Yeah, in Ronnie's previous round, he

1:56:02 > 1:56:05led 5-0 against Martin Gould and Martin came out and won three in a

1:56:05 > 1:56:14row. That is what Stephen Maguire has got to do, here. And now he is

1:56:14 > 1:56:18back at the high-scoring end of the table.

1:56:46 > 1:56:54So it looks like there is just one more red available. I don't know if

1:56:54 > 1:56:59the two to the right of the pack, I don't know if the bottom one pots to

1:56:59 > 1:57:10the left corner. He will land flat on the black, here, level. That is a

1:57:10 > 1:57:13big target, because of those two loose threads, he can screw the cue

1:57:13 > 1:57:18ball into the joint of the bottom red and the pack and bring the cue

1:57:18 > 1:57:21ball to the right-hand side of the table. It is a nice pack to into,

1:57:21 > 1:57:29please. Oh, he did not get into the right part of the pack.

1:57:33 > 1:57:40Hitting it too far to the left of the bunch. That is a disappointing

1:57:40 > 1:57:43end to the break.

1:57:54 > 1:58:01Well, it was a nice start from Stephen, a bit unlucky with the

1:58:01 > 1:58:05split but as Stephen said, he did not quite get the cannon as he

1:58:05 > 1:58:07intended.

1:58:23 > 1:58:28Yeah, you always need a little bit of good luck in snooker and when he

1:58:28 > 1:58:31played the cannon, he did not get much luck and he didn't have much

1:58:31 > 1:58:36luck before the mid-session interval. He had a chance here and

1:58:36 > 1:58:39he cut this beautiful red, and for the white to drop in the middle

1:58:39 > 1:58:42pocket, as the crowd were all applauding, they could not believe

1:58:42 > 1:58:46the white went in, none of us could.

1:58:52 > 1:58:56And he has underhit that by a long way.

1:59:39 > 1:59:45Now, Stephen, what a chance. Ronnie's turn to be a long way away

1:59:45 > 1:59:55from the pot.

2:00:02 > 2:00:11A wry smile from Stephen. He put everything into potting the red and

2:00:11 > 2:00:14forgot about the position.I think he is struggling a bit with the pace

2:00:14 > 2:00:19of the table. It is certainly playing a lot quicker than they were

2:00:19 > 2:00:31earlier in the week. New cloth on there.

2:00:51 > 2:01:02Don't hit it too hard. That is the problem.

2:01:23 > 2:01:26At the moment, the interval has certainly affected Ronnie

2:01:26 > 2:01:36O'Sullivan's concentration.

2:01:39 > 2:01:47If he takes this red on, he could drop on the black. He is just

2:01:47 > 2:01:56looking to see if he comes across the table. There is every chance he

2:01:56 > 2:02:10could finish on pink or black. He is perfectly on the black hair. --

2:02:10 > 2:02:12here.

2:02:39 > 2:02:43You have to get that first frame on the board to give yourself any

2:02:43 > 2:02:53chance.

2:03:31 > 2:03:34Just a quick glance at the scoreboard to work out how many more

2:03:34 > 2:03:48he needs. A few more pots, and the frame is safe.

2:04:11 > 2:04:17He is looking at the scoreboard again. And he is now looking at the

2:04:17 > 2:04:32more difficult pink. He has got to get on a red.

2:04:38 > 2:04:48He hasn't made it easy for himself. It ran 12 inches further than he was

2:04:48 > 2:04:55hoping. Should have been a nice, easy red into the middle to secure

2:04:55 > 2:05:01the frame. At the moment, Ronnie could tie it with one good pot into

2:05:01 > 2:05:19the corner. He will be feeling a little better now.

2:05:33 > 2:05:41Ronnie has nodded to the referee. Stephen Maguire has his first frame

2:05:41 > 2:05:46on the board, but he is still 4-1 behind.

2:05:46 > 2:05:49That is what you would hope from Stephen Maguire, to come out

2:05:49 > 2:05:53fighting. The aggressive intent was clear from ball one.It took him a

2:05:53 > 2:05:58couple of bites of the cherry to win the frame, at the opening red showed

2:05:58 > 2:06:05his attitude.He hit it like a shot to nothing, and the cue ball goes

2:06:05 > 2:06:10back into the bog area. Stephen Maguire was thinking, I am potting

2:06:10 > 2:06:16this. It looked like a positive attempt.And it will definitely help

2:06:16 > 2:06:20him feel more positive about the task in hand.That's right. Going

2:06:20 > 2:06:23back to the point we made after the interval started, Stephen Maguire

2:06:23 > 2:06:28didn't come in the room to practise. So I don't know if his general way

2:06:28 > 2:06:31of doing it is to always sit in the dressing room, regardless of how the

2:06:31 > 2:06:35game has gone, but you would expect someone who had not had that much

2:06:35 > 2:06:39table time and missed a few shots to come in and get their arm going. To

2:06:39 > 2:06:47knock the ball in the first frame 20 minutes later is amazing.He needs

2:06:47 > 2:06:50the crampons now, he has got a bit of a climb against Ronnie

2:06:50 > 2:06:54O'Sullivan. That he has a frame on the board and we have a semifinal

2:06:54 > 2:07:01that is back in competitive mode once again.

2:07:07 > 2:07:11So Stephen breaks off after winning his first frame. He needs to get a

2:07:11 > 2:07:31bit of momentum going. He needs to win a few frames in a row.

2:08:17 > 2:08:19A lackadaisical shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He doesn't look focused

2:08:19 > 2:08:34at all since the interval. Stephen Maguire recognised that.

2:08:39 > 2:08:44That was the typical Stephen Maguire. A very attacking shots. He

2:08:44 > 2:08:51was a bit unlucky. Played with lots of right-hand side and didn't quite

2:08:51 > 2:09:00hit the pink. It was a thin one, but it free of the black. -- it freed

2:09:00 > 2:09:13the black. A very aggressive shot, and he was a bit unlucky again. But

2:09:13 > 2:09:17Stephen Maguire has one thing on his mind at the moment, and that is

2:09:17 > 2:09:29all-out attack. These are so difficult. When you are this close

2:09:29 > 2:09:46to the object ball, you have to be careful. Well played.

2:10:28 > 2:10:35He took a bit of a risk there, going into the bunch. It has not worked

2:10:35 > 2:10:48out great. This is awkward.

2:10:50 > 2:11:04Well done. The cue ball just stopped in time to have a pot on the brown

2:11:04 > 2:11:21or the green. Another role, and he would have had a pot on.

2:11:40 > 2:11:55Just hampered slightly here with the green. Well played. He has had a bit

2:11:55 > 2:12:06of good luck for a change.

2:12:28 > 2:12:32We always say the mid-session interval can turn things around.

2:12:32 > 2:12:43That is certainly the case at the moment.

2:13:30 > 2:13:36Stephen on his highest break of the match. Not surprising, considering

2:13:36 > 2:13:43that he was 4-0 behind. If he starts winning frames in one visit, that

2:13:43 > 2:13:50will really give him confidence. If he is scrapping frames, it doesn't

2:13:50 > 2:14:01give you the same confidence.

2:14:02 > 2:14:13Nice positional shot.

2:14:15 > 2:14:28Just needs a bit of assistance to get to this one.

2:14:32 > 2:14:42Played it well.

2:14:56 > 2:15:01He could play for the loose red and anything from the brown upwards, and

2:15:01 > 2:15:12leave Ronnie needing a snooker.

2:15:30 > 2:15:34He has done well here. As Stephen said, if he can win the frame with

2:15:34 > 2:15:48one visit, that will certainly boost the old confidence.

2:15:58 > 2:16:11This red will keep Ronnie in his seat.

2:16:22 > 2:16:31This is more like it from Stephen Maguire. He is a very powerful

2:16:31 > 2:16:36snooker player. The way he started this break, the blue into the bunch

2:16:36 > 2:16:49and then the red into the bunch, got things into the open straightaway.

2:17:15 > 2:17:27He will need a good pot here.

2:17:27 > 2:17:39No century, but that was just what Stephen Hendry needed, a one visit

2:17:39 > 2:17:47when. -- win. Yes, excellent recovery from Stephen Maguire,

2:17:47 > 2:17:51helped no end by a tricky blue. Remember the blue and white that

2:17:51 > 2:17:57were close together ) is the type of shot many players have trouble with.

2:17:57 > 2:18:01If that the cue goes through and hits the red and that it follows

2:18:01 > 2:18:05through, you are effectively double hitting it. In the effort to get the

2:18:05 > 2:18:08ball to the pocket, that cue ball goes through like that. The other

2:18:08 > 2:18:12side of the coin is, if you don't hit the ball hard enough and you

2:18:12 > 2:18:16quit on the shot and you try and pull the cue backwards afterwards,

2:18:16 > 2:18:21you don't even hit it with enough pace. So a little tip and something

2:18:21 > 2:18:24you can try if you have trouble with this shot when the balls are close

2:18:24 > 2:18:29is, there are no guarantees it will work, but when the balls are close,

2:18:29 > 2:18:35don't look at the cue ball. Look at the object ball. And you will get a

2:18:35 > 2:18:44better hit because of that.Ronnie O'Sullivan to break.

2:18:49 > 2:18:55He is just so interesting, Isner, Steve Davis? -- isn't he? He is a

2:18:55 > 2:19:13very interesting DJ as well. What a nickname, DJ Thundermuscle.

2:19:32 > 2:19:37Ronnie has looked at this red, but it's too thin, so he is playing the

2:19:37 > 2:19:47safety shot.

2:19:51 > 2:20:02Doesn't want to hit the yellow. Once again, chance of a long pot for

2:20:02 > 2:20:12Stephen Maguire.

2:20:25 > 2:20:31The black is not going to go back on its own spot. But he is starting to

2:20:31 > 2:20:38gain a bit of momentum in this match. He has got that look about

2:20:38 > 2:20:42him again that he had in the first frame, before he missed that easy

2:20:42 > 2:20:57pink. He overscrewed that by a long way. It looks like the pink is still

2:20:57 > 2:21:07available.

2:21:19 > 2:21:28It's amazing that there are just two points difference, but he's 4-2

2:21:28 > 2:21:35behind.

2:21:47 > 2:22:00A bit unlucky for the black to go almost tight on the cushion.

2:22:04 > 2:22:16He is in aggressive attacking mode at the moment, Stephen Maguire. He

2:22:16 > 2:22:30has played that beautifully. He has got to be on something there.

2:22:35 > 2:22:38Played it perfectly, but he was a bit unlucky, because if he drops

2:22:38 > 2:22:52this red in the middle pocket, the blue won't go past the other red.

2:22:53 > 2:22:57That was the best he could do, so another good shot is required to get

2:22:57 > 2:23:11from yellow to red.

2:23:29 > 2:23:35That was a tough shot to try and power that cue ball with top spin

2:23:35 > 2:23:44off two conditions. -- cushions.He was unlucky when he scattered the

2:23:44 > 2:23:56reds not to finish better.

2:24:14 > 2:24:23It is not an easy chance until he gets the black back on its spot.

2:24:23 > 2:24:35Black is just a little awkward.I wonder if money will be tempted to

2:24:35 > 2:24:41go into the cluster of reds -- if Ronnie will be tempted.

2:25:00 > 2:25:03As long as he doesn't leave himself straight. Stephen Hendry finished

2:25:03 > 2:25:13the previous frame on a red.

2:25:43 > 2:25:49The red to the middle is tricky. That is the one he played for. Great

2:25:49 > 2:26:01recovery shot.

2:26:01 > 2:26:04He made that red look as if it was hanging over the pocket. It was

2:26:04 > 2:26:23anything but. That was an acute angle.

2:26:36 > 2:26:47He was always going to be OK there because of the reds.

2:27:03 > 2:27:08Normal service resumes for Ronnie O'Sullivan.Just shows the

2:27:08 > 2:27:12difficulty when you are chasing someone who is frames ahead. You

2:27:12 > 2:27:20can't afford to miss. Although won the first two friends, you can't

2:27:20 > 2:27:25keep Ronnie out forever. Looks as if he's going to win this frame and be

2:27:25 > 2:27:36one away from victory. That first session is so important. Stephen had

2:27:36 > 2:27:45to stay with him in the first session.No really big breaks so far

2:27:45 > 2:27:53in this semifinal. Ronnie's highest was a break of 64 in frame four. He

2:27:53 > 2:28:06had a 61 in the opening frame.

2:28:10 > 2:28:16You have to say Stephen Maguire was unlucky going into the pack. Not

2:28:16 > 2:28:27having an easy shot to play position.

2:28:35 > 2:28:47He only needed the one chance.

2:28:50 > 2:28:56That is an unbelievable red he has just potted. Absolutely incredible

2:28:56 > 2:29:15pot. Stunning.

2:29:18 > 2:29:24Jos Buttler one nutrition will do. He can take the pink off here with

2:29:24 > 2:29:32this brown, just to nudge the pink over the left middle pocket.Oh,

2:29:32 > 2:29:36beautifully played!

2:29:39 > 2:29:45He needed that pink off the cushion to make the century. This will be

2:29:45 > 2:29:52his seventh in this years Betway Championship. And his 91st of the

2:29:52 > 2:30:02tournament. And that is now 913 for Ronnie O'Sullivan, centuries.

2:30:02 > 2:30:07Absolutely incredible. He did not score a point of two frames, and

2:30:07 > 2:30:13when he got a chance, a break of 111 and now he is just one away from the

2:30:13 > 2:30:17place in the final, 5-2 to the Rocket. STUDIO: Well, no wonder

2:30:17 > 2:30:21Stephen is brooding in his chair, bumped, absolutely pounced upon that

2:30:21 > 2:30:25mistake, tried to power the yellow in earlier but why am!

2:30:25 > 2:30:26mistake, tried to power the yellow in earlier but why am!Unbelievable

2:30:26 > 2:30:34and he looks like, nice word, by the way, whammo, new one, he's lost

2:30:34 > 2:30:38position and you think this is the end of the break but the red he pots

2:30:38 > 2:30:38in

2:30:38 > 2:30:40end of the break but the red he pots in the middle pocket, you would be

2:30:40 > 2:30:46struggling to drop that in but he screws it with left-hand side.

2:30:46 > 2:30:49Whammo!It comes right round and straight on the black and then the

2:30:49 > 2:30:52red to make the century but the frame was already over but never

2:30:52 > 2:31:01mind, what a pot!Kapow! Extraordinary break.To make

2:31:01 > 2:31:01mind, what a pot!Kapow! Extraordinary break.To make

2:31:01 > 2:31:03essentially break from something that was not guaranteed was the

2:31:03 > 2:31:09reason why a use bordering on 1000 century breaks. It is not when as

2:31:09 > 2:31:19long as he keeps playing, ... Sorry, when.We know what you mean.Before

2:31:19 > 2:31:25his 44th birthday, a present?You reckon another couple of years, all

2:31:25 > 2:31:28right but in terms of the psychological blow to Stephen

2:31:28 > 2:31:32Maguire's hopes because he really was in the groove, there.He was

2:31:32 > 2:31:35just getting a foothold in a match, you could see he was playing well,

2:31:35 > 2:31:38there was a positivity to him, the way he was walking around the table

2:31:38 > 2:31:43and striking the ball, but just cued through the -- cued around the

2:31:43 > 2:31:46yellow when you have to do it straight through. It was a body blow

2:31:46 > 2:31:49because he was just starting to get involved in the match but of course

2:31:49 > 2:31:54the great champions turn up when you make a mistake.91 from Stephen

2:31:54 > 2:31:56Maguire in the

2:31:56 > 2:31:58make a mistake.91 from Stephen Maguire in the sixth frame, 111 from

2:31:58 > 2:32:02Ronnie, there, and suddenly, Ronnie is on the verge of yet another place

2:32:02 > 2:32:09in a seven UK final. -- seventh UK final.

2:32:22 > 2:32:27COMMENTATOR:Back to square one for Stephen Maguire. From when he came

2:32:27 > 2:32:29out at 4-0.

2:32:39 > 2:32:50How did that not go in? That is what you call a wide, Dennis.Yes, he was

2:32:50 > 2:32:56trying to screw the white up to the safety zone. Missed it by the

2:32:56 > 2:32:59proverbial.

2:33:16 > 2:33:21It goes without saying, Stephen is that the point of no return now, 5-2

2:33:21 > 2:33:24down, no room for margin, now.

2:33:31 > 2:33:39He has just got to not miss. He is capable of running three or four

2:33:39 > 2:33:46frames in a row without missing. But doing it in this situation, against

2:33:46 > 2:33:51the calibre of opponent he is playing is a different matter.

2:34:00 > 2:34:04That normal chalk that Stephen Maguire uses.

2:34:15 > 2:34:18And this barbican crowd giving him a round of applause. I think they

2:34:18 > 2:34:23would like this semifinal to go on a bit longer.

2:34:28 > 2:34:33He can't go into the bunch, here, it is too awkward with where the open

2:34:33 > 2:34:37red is just to the left of the pink.

2:34:44 > 2:34:48If he was going... The red that I mentioned, if he hits the right hand

2:34:48 > 2:34:53side of it as we look, in between it and the pink, just glance that red,

2:34:53 > 2:35:02that is the way to play it and that is what he did. Not bad.Well, you

2:35:02 > 2:35:06don't often see it played that way. Have a look at this, he's got top

2:35:06 > 2:35:11spin on it. Usually, it comes back quickly but look at how the white

2:35:11 > 2:35:17got out of that awkward position. That was very well played.

2:35:19 > 2:35:24He was very unlucky in the previous frame, Stephen mentioned, when he

2:35:24 > 2:35:29went into the pack, he split them up and was very unlucky, he had to drop

2:35:29 > 2:35:32a red and then missed forcing the yellow in.

2:35:54 > 2:35:58He is certainly going to give it his best shot, that is for sure. He

2:35:58 > 2:36:02looks in a bit of a determined mood, I am just watching his body language

2:36:02 > 2:36:05around the table.

2:36:15 > 2:36:19There might just be a little bit left in the tank for Stephen Maguire

2:36:19 > 2:36:23because as I said, he is looking pretty positive.

2:36:44 > 2:36:51He can be a dangerous animal when his back is against the wall.

2:36:51 > 2:36:56Sometimes you can just go in relaxed mode and your arm loosens up, and

2:36:56 > 2:37:05you are 5-2 behind, nowhere to go. You can see that he is speeding up a

2:37:05 > 2:37:07little bit.

2:37:15 > 2:37:18Still six seconds behind his opponent.

2:37:25 > 2:37:31He knows that any missed shot could be his last in this match.

2:37:57 > 2:38:01Well he did not hit that as he intended, in fact, I think he

2:38:01 > 2:38:05thought he might have missed it, he groaned, there. Oh, well, look at

2:38:05 > 2:38:13the jump. I mean, the red left the bed of the table, there, and that is

2:38:13 > 2:38:16why he is not on the black as nicely as he would have been without that

2:38:16 > 2:38:19heavy contact.

2:38:28 > 2:38:34It was difficult to keep the white at this end and that was all caused

2:38:34 > 2:38:39by that kick on the red and he did not get on the black as he would

2:38:39 > 2:38:47have done normally. He could see the red jumping, there. And it just

2:38:47 > 2:38:50meant he had a difficult cannon to play and it just slid off the side

2:38:50 > 2:38:53of the reds.

2:39:07 > 2:39:10He is keeping the attack going.

2:39:13 > 2:39:22GASPS FROM CROWD Stephen Maguire, 51.You can see his

2:39:22 > 2:39:26reaction. It is pretty close.

2:39:47 > 2:39:51Well, this is certainly not the easiest chance to win the match from

2:39:51 > 2:39:57here. It would be an incredible effort.

2:40:02 > 2:40:09He may be tempted to take that red into the far right corner, the green

2:40:09 > 2:40:13pocket. That is the one where he can get his hand on the table. Well,

2:40:13 > 2:40:16looking at this one.

2:40:20 > 2:40:26GASPS FROM CROWD Ronnie O'Sullivan, six. That should

2:40:26 > 2:40:28be 5-3.

2:40:53 > 2:40:58Already 53 points ahead.

2:41:13 > 2:41:17Just this red to make absolutely sure of the frame.

2:41:33 > 2:41:36But he has looked pretty good since the mid-session interval, it has to

2:41:36 > 2:41:40be said, he could not do much about the last frame. He was unlucky in

2:41:40 > 2:41:43that as well although Ronnie had a magnificent century, Stephen Maguire

2:41:43 > 2:41:49was in first. Certainly since the mid-session interval, he is back

2:41:49 > 2:41:54playing the way he did all week, here.

2:41:59 > 2:42:05He's gone into the 90s, now, 91 with his pot success rate, Roddy sitting

2:42:05 > 2:42:16at 93 which is very good. -- Ronnie sitting at. Ronnie nods to the

2:42:16 > 2:42:21referee so Stephen Maguire is not finished just yet. He has got

2:42:21 > 2:42:25another frame back but there is still a long way to go, 5-3, Ronnie

2:42:25 > 2:42:28O'Sullivan. STUDIO: Still some mileage in this semi-funny yet.

2:42:28 > 2:42:29O'Sullivan. STUDIO: Still some mileage in this semi-funny yet. Now

2:42:29 > 2:42:33we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of this great

2:42:33 > 2:42:36championship -- semifinal yet. But this weekend also sees the

2:42:36 > 2:42:39celebrations marking the 40th season of a real sporting institution, very

2:42:39 > 2:42:42proud to have done ten years on this programme itself, it is officially

2:42:42 > 2:42:52winter when Ski SUnday scores -- Ski Sunday calls the tune.

2:42:52 > 2:42:56It is back, the theme tune, the mountain vistas, the action and

2:42:56 > 2:43:00adrenaline, as anticipation builds ahead of the biggest Winter Olympics

2:43:00 > 2:43:07ever. Ski Sunday returns this Sunday on BBC Two.

2:43:07 > 2:43:13Graham and Ed will be an holes, skis and snowboards, looking forward to

2:43:13 > 2:43:18seeing them but is it downhill fast for Stephen Maguire or has he still

2:43:18 > 2:43:21got some mileage?Oh, no, he is still in there, punching way, we

2:43:21 > 2:43:25keep harking back to the frame when he missed the black, totally

2:43:25 > 2:43:27different match if he doesn't but he still punching in there and he won't

2:43:27 > 2:43:30give up, that is one thing about income he still looks positive

2:43:30 > 2:43:35around the table and he will believe he can win.He really put the work

2:43:35 > 2:43:38in this summer. He made it to the Regal Masters final in the first

2:43:38 > 2:43:41event of the season and for the first time in a long time, he did

2:43:41 > 2:43:45not really take a summer holiday, he said he worked right through and has

2:43:45 > 2:43:48begun to graft after having dropped out of the top 16 which was a bit of

2:43:48 > 2:43:52a shock to the system for him.If you are going to be a professional

2:43:52 > 2:43:56and stay on tour, you have do work and graft, interesting what Stephen

2:43:56 > 2:44:01Hendry said it felt like Stephen Maguire suddenly upped his pace.

2:44:01 > 2:44:04Really, you should play at the pace which is best for

2:44:04 > 2:44:05Really, you should play at the pace which is best for you all the time,

2:44:05 > 2:44:09not change it. That is why Ronnie O'Sullivan is so good, he never

2:44:09 > 2:44:13changes, he plays the same, win or lose, behind or in front, his pace

2:44:13 > 2:44:17is always the same.It is an intriguing semifinal and it is not

2:44:17 > 2:44:20done yet.

2:44:24 > 2:44:29COMMENTATOR:This match has mirrored slightly yesterday's match between

2:44:29 > 2:44:32Ronnie O'Sullivan and Martin Gould when he went 5-0 up and Martin Gould

2:44:32 > 2:44:35relaxed because he had nothing to lose and started playing his best

2:44:35 > 2:44:40snooker. Slightly similar situation.

2:44:42 > 2:44:47LAUGHTER

2:44:49 > 2:44:57I don't know what the spectator said but Stephen offered him his cue,

2:44:57 > 2:45:03maybe someone in the audience is a better long potter than he is. That

2:45:03 > 2:45:05was a nice bit of light relief.

2:45:11 > 2:45:16Someone said something, so, yeah, you have a go!

2:45:27 > 2:45:39APPLAUSE Excellent pace on the cue ball. But

2:45:39 > 2:45:45he has put this red over the left corner. It all depends on how strict

2:45:45 > 2:45:51it is. If Ronnie can get the cue ball out of there. -- house

2:45:52 > 2:45:57-- how straight it is. A little bit of angle.

2:46:09 > 2:46:12Well, I thought he had got a way with it for a moment but that red

2:46:12 > 2:46:18has come back up the table. There might be a pot on but where is the

2:46:18 > 2:46:23position. He did well to get away with that, Ronnie, once he missed

2:46:23 > 2:46:28that pot and went into the reds. He could have left something easier but

2:46:28 > 2:46:34this one came all the way back up the table. Awkward bridging. To get

2:46:34 > 2:46:37to a colour is going to be very tough.

2:46:46 > 2:46:54That is pretty well played. From that awkward position. Once you

2:46:54 > 2:46:57reach the baulk line, you know the pot is not going to be

2:46:57 > 2:47:06straightforward.Well, he is on this brown but I am trying to see a red

2:47:06 > 2:47:10that he can just drop on with the natural angle. Maybe the one to the

2:47:10 > 2:47:13left corner.

2:47:20 > 2:47:26He has played positive, into the bunch. How is your luck?

2:47:36 > 2:47:39The body language is not good.

2:47:44 > 2:47:48There might be one to the left middle. It is very tight. He is

2:47:48 > 2:47:52having a long, hard look at it.

2:48:03 > 2:48:12APPLAUSE Great shock because you have to say,

2:48:12 > 2:48:20to Dennis, today he has not had much luck going into the bunch.I was

2:48:20 > 2:48:25thinking exactly the same. He has not had a run of the ball, usually

2:48:25 > 2:48:29it evens itself out over the longer matches, you think, but he has not

2:48:29 > 2:48:36had a particularly good run, here. And even there, he was awkward over

2:48:36 > 2:48:44the reds. Has not got as far up the table as he wanted.

2:48:54 > 2:49:04Good shot. Good, solid pot. Now there's five or six reds around the

2:49:04 > 2:49:08black, they are all blocking each other.

2:49:13 > 2:49:19It looks like he will just have to stay on blues and pinks for a while,

2:49:19 > 2:49:25until he can clear a path to start moving those reds around the black.

2:49:37 > 2:49:46He looks like he believes he can do it, to me, he has got that more

2:49:46 > 2:49:53positive look around the table. Well, he has won three of the last

2:49:53 > 2:49:58four frames, no reason why he can't keep it going. But he knows he can't

2:49:58 > 2:50:02make a mistake.

2:50:39 > 2:50:44This was a good red to get out of the way, the one he is going to play

2:50:44 > 2:50:53now. This will open everything up. Just screw the cue ball, Canonbury

2:50:53 > 2:51:02red to the left of the black. -- can the red. It is therefore taking,

2:51:02 > 2:51:10now. -- it is their for the taking, now. Well, what have you done there,

2:51:10 > 2:51:14Stephen?

2:51:18 > 2:51:22I mean, surely he was playing for the red closest to the left corner

2:51:22 > 2:51:24pocket.

2:51:28 > 2:51:33He would love to have another go at that last shot. Have a look at this,

2:51:33 > 2:51:37you just thought, the way the reds are, he is bound to be an one but he

2:51:37 > 2:51:40finished in the most awkward position. This is very tricky with

2:51:40 > 2:51:48the rest.Just watching a replay, he might have got a bit of a big

2:51:48 > 2:51:50bounce, there.

2:51:55 > 2:52:03Yeah, rescued the situation well. Just going the right side of the

2:52:03 > 2:52:07blue as well so it is a matter of dropping this in and he is back in

2:52:07 > 2:52:09good position.

2:52:58 > 2:53:06Yeah, this is brilliant stuff from the battling Stephen Maguire, here.

2:53:14 > 2:53:17This is the fourth time they have played each other in the UK

2:53:17 > 2:53:19championship.

2:53:24 > 2:53:32Stephen defeated Ronnie in 2004, the year he won it, Ronnie in 2006 and

2:53:32 > 2:53:352007 beat Stephen.

2:53:40 > 2:53:44It is just interesting, again, any young players watching, trying to

2:53:44 > 2:53:48learn something today, Ronnie O'Sullivan is just sat in his chair,

2:53:48 > 2:53:56you know, completely emotionless. Completely calm. That is what you

2:53:56 > 2:54:00have to be because just in case Stephen Maguire misses, you have to

2:54:00 > 2:54:03be ready to pounce.

2:54:24 > 2:54:28Excellent stuff, though, from Stephen Maguire, you have to say.

2:54:39 > 2:54:42He's not just scrapping the frames out, he's winning them in one visit.

2:54:42 > 2:54:48He is doing what he has to do. A look of disgust from Stephen Maguire

2:54:48 > 2:54:53because he had to use the rest again. He has played some careless

2:54:53 > 2:54:56positional shots.

2:55:08 > 2:55:11He's had to play a couple of cracking shots with the rest and he

2:55:11 > 2:55:19is back in prime position again. You have got to admire this play here

2:55:19 > 2:55:23from Stephen Maguire, you really have, this will be four frames out

2:55:23 > 2:55:26of five.

2:56:32 > 2:56:36Stephen Maguire made 32 centuries last season. He is on 17 this

2:56:36 > 2:56:41season, he has already made four this year in the UK. His highest was

2:56:41 > 2:56:52128. He had a 91 break in frame six.

2:56:57 > 2:57:0391 century so far this year and if this width goes in, it will be

2:57:03 > 2:57:12another. -- if this red goes in. Absolutely brilliant from Stephen

2:57:12 > 2:57:14Maguire.

2:57:21 > 2:57:30Century number 372 of his career. And this probably will be as good as

2:57:30 > 2:57:33any of them, coming at just the right time to keep himself in this

2:57:33 > 2:57:37year's championship.

2:57:53 > 2:57:58If he popped the pink and the black, he will beat his highest break --

2:57:58 > 2:58:02pots the pink.

2:58:10 > 2:58:17From 4-0 down, suddenly, Stephen Maguire is right back in it. He is

2:58:17 > 2:58:22still one frame behind, though, it is 5-4, Ronnie O'Sullivan. STUDIO:

2:58:22 > 2:58:22Well

2:58:22 > 2:58:24is 5-4, Ronnie O'Sullivan. STUDIO: Well I don't know what he said to

2:58:24 > 2:58:27himself in the interval or indeed what kind of conversation he had

2:58:27 > 2:58:30with his dad, Pat, who is down here but a different player and the guys

2:58:30 > 2:58:33were talking about the speed at which is going round the table now,

2:58:33 > 2:58:38has that had been -- a big impact in your mind?He just looks very

2:58:38 > 2:58:43positive and we said, sometimes the things can change matches, I'm

2:58:43 > 2:58:46pretty sure if he carried on without an interval, the match might have

2:58:46 > 2:58:49been over because it was one-way traffic, he missed the black in the

2:58:49 > 2:58:52second frame which did not put him in a good frame of mind and using

2:58:52 > 2:58:55the matches ever but sometimes going out and having a word with yourself,

2:58:55 > 2:58:59which is probably what he did, with a few expletives in there, I would

2:58:59 > 2:59:02imagine, he's given himself the proverbial kick up the backside and

2:59:02 > 2:59:09played so much better at the interval.It would have been so easy

2:59:09 > 2:59:12for him to have cursed is luck and said it was not going to be his day

2:59:12 > 2:59:15at 4-0 down.As I said, he did not come into practice in the interval

2:59:15 > 2:59:19and I don't know if he does normally so let's take it as he does not

2:59:19 > 2:59:22usually, but there is an element of the fact it is not so much throwing

2:59:22 > 2:59:26caution to the wind but there is no pressure on you when you 4-0 behind,

2:59:26 > 2:59:29you have less to lose but now we are getting to the nitty-gritty, you he

2:59:29 > 2:59:36might start to try a bit harder and see how it goes, from that

2:59:36 > 2:59:39perspective, he does not want to full-back and if he can continue to

2:59:39 > 2:59:42keep up this rhythm and take it to Ronnie, it is an interesting

2:59:42 > 2:59:43proposition.

2:59:47 > 2:59:54They have only played twice in the last five years and Stephen has not

2:59:54 > 3:00:01beaten Ronnie for five years. They have played a UK championship final,

3:00:01 > 3:00:07and they have always put up some great scraps.And he announced

3:00:07 > 3:00:15himself on the big stage. He's not of playing him. Stephen used a good

3:00:15 > 3:00:20expression, he is a snooker bully. He's good enough to beat anyone, and

3:00:20 > 3:00:24he is trying like mad this afternoon.He sure is. A possible

3:00:24 > 3:00:31two further frames in this semifinal.

3:00:35 > 3:00:38At 4-0, it looked like Ronnie O'Sullivan was cruising to the

3:00:38 > 3:00:49final. Anything but now.

3:00:57 > 3:01:06Did well to get the cue ball back to the baulk. There is pressure on this

3:01:06 > 3:01:09now, Dennis. When you have nothing to lose and you go for them, you

3:01:09 > 3:01:15relax. But now he could win the match.There is a bit of a gap, but

3:01:15 > 3:01:30there are a few obstacles in the way. Good effort. There is no easy

3:01:30 > 3:01:40starter for Ronnie O'Sullivan.Yeah, the pressure switches back again

3:01:40 > 3:01:44from being relaxed with not much to lose, then all of a sudden you are

3:01:44 > 3:01:57back in it.This will get him onto the black. Great cheering. --

3:01:57 > 3:02:07cueing.

3:02:08 > 3:02:15He has missed two or three long balls since the interval. But that

3:02:15 > 3:02:25was perfection.

3:02:40 > 3:02:44This man has seen every scenario in the game of snooker in his long and

3:02:44 > 3:02:58illustrious career. There is no way he is going to panic.

3:03:15 > 3:03:17There is every chance that Stephen Maguire might have played his last

3:03:17 > 3:03:32shot in this match. He will be fearing the worst.

3:03:34 > 3:03:43Ronnie O'Sullivan always manages to find an extra gear when required. He

3:03:43 > 3:03:53let that one go a bit. That was loose.There are not many more

3:03:53 > 3:04:08available to him. Amazing what can happen in this game. Went slightly

3:04:08 > 3:04:11out of position, took the aggressive route and was very unlucky to pop

3:04:11 > 3:04:18the pink when he knocked to the blue in.

3:04:51 > 3:04:55Ronnie overhit that by about a foot. Very loose shot. The consequence was

3:04:55 > 3:05:08that he had to play a difficult blue.

3:05:08 > 3:05:12That is an awkward position for the referee to be in to get the pink in

3:05:12 > 3:05:28a straight line, direct in line with the blue and black.

3:05:45 > 3:05:50He has purposely opened up the reds. A lot of players would have glanced

3:05:50 > 3:06:03off that, but he played that in such a way that it opened the game up.

3:06:10 > 3:06:16That was far more difficult than it looked on the screen. It was a

3:06:16 > 3:06:22positive shot, but he might be regretting opening the reds up.He

3:06:22 > 3:06:33didn't think he was going to leave that one. Now Stephen has to sit and

3:06:33 > 3:06:39see how many Ronnie cannot in -- how many he can knock in.

3:06:56 > 3:07:08Great chance to get into the final.

3:07:44 > 3:07:55I think he will forget about the black and concentrate on the pink.

3:07:55 > 3:08:05Not absolutely perfect.

3:08:16 > 3:08:25Very delicately played, back in prime position again. Just that one

3:08:25 > 3:08:30safety shot that he played. He wanted to open the reds up, but he

3:08:30 > 3:08:41didn't get the cue ball where he wanted.

3:09:08 > 3:09:13It looked like it was all going to be one-way traffic when Ronnie led

3:09:13 > 3:09:264-0. Stephen played some brilliant snooker to get right back in this

3:09:26 > 3:09:33match, winning four frames out of five. But a few more pots, and it's

3:09:33 > 3:09:39all over for this year for Stephen Maguire. Ronnie O'Sullivan keeping

3:09:39 > 3:09:51himself on track to equal Steve Davis' record of six UK titles.You

3:09:51 > 3:09:54wouldn't say he has been at his brilliant best, but he has always

3:09:54 > 3:10:05been able to find something when it has been needed.When Stephen came

3:10:05 > 3:10:19back from 4-0 to 4-2, Ronnie knocked in the century break.

3:10:24 > 3:10:35He is finishing the match in style.

3:10:48 > 3:10:56No century, but smiles all around. A great comeback from Stephen Maguire,

3:10:56 > 3:11:03but in the end, Ronnie O'Sullivan to the final.

3:11:07 > 3:11:11O'Sullivan into a seventh UK final and a third in a row. Stephen

3:11:11 > 3:11:17Maguire, we thought it would be a runaway by Ronnie in the end. But

3:11:17 > 3:11:22Stephen reeled him in.Every time he has been asked the question, he has

3:11:22 > 3:11:29produced a little bit of a better standard. From Stephen Maguire's

3:11:29 > 3:11:34perspective, disappointing to get off to a poor start, I suppose.But

3:11:34 > 3:11:38a great response in the end to make a proper game of it.Absolutely. You

3:11:38 > 3:11:50expect him to try. But ultimately, it costs him. Fantastic match, but

3:11:50 > 3:11:56class came through in the end. Ronnie is talking with Rob Walker.

3:11:56 > 3:12:01Ronnie, congratulations, yet another UK championship final.Yeah. He was

3:12:01 > 3:12:06coming back at me there and I was lucky to be 4-0 up. Stephen didn't

3:12:06 > 3:12:11capitalise on the chances in the first four frames, so I got away

3:12:11 > 3:12:14with it and just tried to stay ahead after that. Pleased to be in another

3:12:14 > 3:12:18UK final.From a neutral point of view, it became a really interesting

3:12:18 > 3:12:21match because at one stage, it looked like you were going to

3:12:21 > 3:12:24railroad him and then he showed his class to give himself a chance.

3:12:24 > 3:12:28Yeah, I knew he was playing well because I have watched him playing

3:12:28 > 3:12:34on TV and he looked to be doing pretty good. So I knew I had to play

3:12:34 > 3:12:44decent today and luckily, I was able to do enough.See you tomorrow. Well

3:12:44 > 3:12:47done, Ronnie. The second semifinal will be on this

3:12:47 > 3:12:51evening at seven o'clock. We have the world number six, Sean Murphy,

3:12:51 > 3:12:55taking on Ryan Day. It is a huge evening for Ryan, because it is the

3:12:55 > 3:13:00first time he has been in a semifinal of a Triple Crown event.

3:13:00 > 3:13:04So we look forward to that. Guys, thank you for your contribution to

3:13:04 > 3:13:06what has been an interesting afternoon. I hope you have enjoyed

3:13:06 > 3:13:13it. It's a big evening of semifinals tonight on the telly. No need for

3:13:13 > 3:13:16judges or indeed for votes on BBC Two, because that is where we will

3:13:16 > 3:13:20be at seven o'clock, where it will all be down to Shaun Murphy and Ryan

3:13:20 > 3:13:25Day. I had to cut you down. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the

3:13:25 > 3:13:31afternoon. -- I hope to catch you then. Bye for now.