Semi-Final - Part 1 UK Snooker Championship

This time last week, there were

eight tables in action around York's

Barbican Centre in the early stages

of the better United Kingdom

championship. Then four at the

quarterfinal stages. Today, two

become one, to paraphrase the Spice

Girls song, for the semifinals. And

we have four wannabe winners of the

second biggest title in the sport

this week. It is the coldest weekend

for a year. Ice, snow, sleet, either

with you or on its way. Simple

solution - stay indoors and stick

with us, because couple of semifinal

matches that are sure to bring a

warm front to your weekend. We have

had some big shocks and some big

name Hausding 's after a flurry of

incredible matches. However, these

are the guys who have weathered the

storms here in York. -- we have had

some big ousting is.

And we would share our memories with

Mr John Parrott and a man whose

outright record of six UK titles

might be equalled this weekend

because Ronnie O'Sullivan is

definitely on your tail. He says he

is not driven by records. How well

has he played for you in support of

a sixth title this week?

He is in

the type of form that can win it.

The reason is not that he has been

producing astonishing snooker, but

his shot selection has been great.

He has a good game these days. You

are going to have a couple of scares

along the way, but he is best placed

to win, even though there are some

great players left.

It will be an

interesting matchup, this, because

Mr O'Sullivan and Mr Maguire have

always produced a little bit of

tension. There is always a crackle

when they play one another. And

Maguire is certainly, unlike many

players, not afraid of O'Sullivan.

Oh, no. He will be punching. I have

been obsessed with him all week.

I

always say he hits the ball

fabulously well, but he has also

kept the lid on his occasional

outbursts of volatility. He has been

on an even keel all week and has

played better for it. The one

feature of his game that has been

very present is that even when he

has been behind, he has cleared up a

lot.

All four semifinalists have had

to go through at least one final

frame decider, including O'Sullivan,

who almost went out the world about

84, Sunny Akani. And he was not the

only mere casualties of that fella.

But it has been a very unusual

championship in that regard. In the

four of the top 16 making it to the

last 16.

You could say it used to be

the best of 17 and now it is down to

the best of 11. You could say that

is why so many seeds got beaten. But

you could also make the case that it

is because the standard of the lower

ranked players is now closer to the

standard of top players. Whichever,

we know it is tough to guarantee

best of 11s. So Ronnie O'Sullivan

gives himself every chance to win

this match is by playing great

competitive match snooker all the

time, even though he has that

specialness in his locker.

We are

looking forward to this one. The

evening semifinal will feature world

number six Sean Murphy, taking on

Ryan Bailie, after 19 years in this

game has managed to get himself into

a semifinal in one of the sport's

major championships, the triple

Crown event. But this afternoon, it

is the Rocket, O'Sullivan, against

the maverick, Maguire.

I am back in the semis again. Two

more matches, and the trophy as

ours, waiting to be picked up.

Stephen Maguire was a top player

coming through, one of the younger

guys. I knew I was in for a tough

match. I remember never just feeling

so good every time I came to the

table, making 90s, 80s, 70s. And I

remember pulling away and building

up a big scoreline.

I'm pretty sure

I was world number to them. He was

world number one and he absolutely

annihilated me. But we have played

since and we will play again. It is

the semifinal. I have won a lot of

matches to get here, I must be doing

something right. I have played well,

but I have not fired on all

cylinders or anything. I have just

played good enough to beat who is in

front of me. I would like to think I

can improve again for the

semifinals.

Maguire, class act. He

is good enough to beat anybody in

the world. He gave me a few good

tidings when he first came on the

circuit. Everyone knows what a great

player he is. So I have to play well

to get a result.

The atmosphere is

different when you play Ronnie. Fair

play, he brings a crowd. There is

nobody that brings a crowd the way

he does. That is the difference when

you play Ronnie. I have been about a

few years, so I know what to expect.

Well, this is the tenth time these

guys have squared up in one of

snooker's triple Crown events over

the years, including a UK final

eight years ago won by O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan also has an emphatic

strike rate. But that's not tell the

whole story, because these fellas

have produced some electrifying

contests. Meetings have been scarce

in the last five years, so this is

definitely want to look forward to,

from whichever vantage point you

have.

And talking about vantage

point, you will not get one better

than the commentary box. Dennis and

Stephen, what do you make of this

match?

You have a battle of two

snooker bullies, two players who

like to stamp their authority on

matches and overpower their

opponent. Which will be the hardest?

Dennis, sometimes Stephen's

temperament can be volatile. But he

has done well and played better for

it.

He certainly has against Joe

Perry, although Joe didn't perform

anywhere near the way he did in the

previous round. He beat him

comfortably. He has not won a

ranking event for four years, but

that will not bother him. He will

relish playing Ronnie O'Sullivan. I

look forward to this.

Much has been

made about the fact that Ronnie has

not played a top 16 player, but you

just turn up and play your matches.

What have you made of his form?

He

has breezed through it. He had the

match against Akani, which was

unique. It was almost like a circus.

On paper, this is his biggest test

so far. He needs a draw. He has not

played anyone in the top 16 yet.

Stephen Maguire has not been against

a top 16 players.

Against Ronnie, it

is so important to get a good start.

You would also think that the fact

that he has not been in the

limelight for a while will be

massive.

He has to get off to a

reasonable start. He could do with

sharing the first session or even

leading 3-1. He has a lot of

support. I am really looking forward

to this.

We all are. We will hear

your words later this afternoon. Rob

Walker, let's get these players out

there.

Good afternoon, ladies and

gentlemen. Semifinal Saturday at

this year's Betway UK Championships,

and what a sense of anticipation

here in this famous old arena. This

match has the makings of an absolute

classic. Two of the sport's finest,

going to do for tomorrow's final,

it's showtime here at Barbican!

Please welcome a player who so often

produces his best at this

tournament. Bidding for his third

appearance in a UK championship

final, winner of this title in 2004,

five times a ranking event champion

in all. He is Stephen the Maverick

Maguire!

And his opponent - after 25 years at

the top of the sport, he is still

going strong. He's already won the

Shanghai Masters and the English

open this season and here he is,

emerging for a tenth UK championship

semifinal. Five times a champion of

the world, link and you will miss

him - the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan!

So it's the best of 11 frames to

sort out whether Ronnie O'Sullivan

will check in for his third UK final

on the trot or whether Stephen

Maguire can muscle into his third

after a decade long wait. Dennis and

Stephen, or yours.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you and good

afternoon, everyone.

First frame,

Ronnie O'Sullivan to play.

Ronnie

O'Sullivan won the toss and he will

break what a reception for both

players, a packed Barbican here. The

crowds have been fabulous all week.

That is what they are playing for,

the trophy there. I hope that was

not a photographer. Just making sure

there is nothing in his line of

sight as he breaks off. The players

are looking at whether the

scoreboard is correct or not.

Meanwhile, Ronnie sits down. Could

be the monitor, maybe, that is not

quite set.

I think it is just the

screen, Frank.

Something to do with

the screen, just leave it. Let's get

on with the action.

I hope Stephen Maguire can play to

his true potential, because if he

does, he can beat Ronnie O'Sullivan

today, no doubt about it. For all

his talent, it's been a while since

Stephen Maguire has been at an

occasion like this. So he will need

to get a good start in this match,

you feel.

And that wasn't the best

start. This is an early test for

Ronnie's cue action.

That is an early indication of how

well is cueing.

Straightaway, a chance to put a

marker down.

Tremendous start of matches, Ronnie

O'Sullivan.

As all the great

champions were, like yourself. All

the champions seems to start with a

big break in the opening frame. But

no distractions. We are down to one

table. That is what the players

like. There is that beautiful arena

now, with just the one table. Has

Ronnie ran out of position? I think

he has.

Before the semifinals, the

table has been recovered with a

brand-new set of balls, so the pace

might have caught him out of it.

That is the first shot he has

overhit. But he will not be bothered

by the pace of the table from now

on.

That was much better from Stephen

Maguire. You could see the end of

the cue of Ronnie O'Sullivan tapping

the table in appreciation. I don't

know if he can get around the back

of those two reds and black. If the

white was off the cushion, he would

have a chance.

I am not sure he can get behind that

brown.

This is perfect.

Stephen Maguire is an excellent

tactical and safety player. But

Ronnie O'Sullivan, when he wants to

be, is as good as anyone there has

ever been in the game. On the safety

side of things.

If both of these

players play well, we are in for a

classic. If you are a youngster

taking up the game and wanting to

learn Matt Smith, you could do no

worse than watching this game -- if

you want to learn match Mukha. --

snooker. Looks pretty focused,

Stephen Maguire.

He will not be happy with that one.

That was a shocker.

Once again, that is a much better

safety shot from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Not quite a snooker, but pretty

good.

An extra incentive for Stephen

Maguire to win this match today that

if he does, he qualifies for the

Masters in January. So a huge

afternoon for him in many ways.

No path back down the table on the

left side. The black is blocking the

path to that red near the cushion.

He may be forced to taking the pot

on here, Stephen.

Big shot. If he

gets it, he will have such a boost

of confidence.

Can't do much better than that. If

he had missed it, it could have cost

him the frame.

We talk about players

with cue power. Look at the distance

he has had to travel. He not only

part of the red backpacking not only

potted the red, but watch the white.

Incredible.

This is Stephen Maguire's first

scoring opportunity.

This new cloth looks a lot livelier

than the one that was on previously.

A nice cannon here would keep him on

the pink. He is going to take the

black now, because he is hampered

with the pink.

Didn't want to play

the black.

If he can put those two reds into

the right corner, that is handy.

Gone too far for the baulk colour.

Looks very good, Stephen Maguire. He

has got that angry table, Dennis.

I

love watching him. He is one of the

nicest lads you could wish to meet,

but sometimes around the snooker

table, he frightens the snooker

balls with the way he looks at them

at times.

That was what I meant when

I did the interview with John about

these players both being snooker

bullies. Tremendous authority around

the table. They really try and

intimidate opponents.

He has won more easy read, and then

things will get more tricky to win

the frame at this visit -- won more

easy red.

That has developed that red. Good

thinking on his part. He is fully

focused. He needs to give this due

care and attention. He did all the

hard work, but I knew that would

happen.

Didn't even get close, really. That

is a long way away.

Ronnie is now looking at the two

reds that Stephen looked at to see

if they could be made into a plant.

He could cannon one here if he

wishes. But it didn't work out.

I wonder if he will try a cannon on

the two reds here.

No, he chose to play for an open

red, but it has not worked out. I am

a bit surprised that he didn't play

that cannon. He had the perfect

angle on the blue.

This table is definitely playing a

lot quicker, because he has gone too

far there.

I think he is just OK.

This could be a frame-winner if it

works out.

It might have been the new cloth

that helped that go in.

28.

This needs to be struck well. It is

so easy to decelerate on shots like

this. Beautifully played.

It is

tight on the cushion, it will help

this, and it is frozen to the

cushion, as you can see. Jowett had

to drop it in. He played it well. --

just had to drop.

So, that pink that Stephen Maguire

missed good proved to be very costly

and give Ronnie this opening frame.

43.

Just double-checking the score,

there.

As you can see, just needs the

brown.

50.

You just can't make a mistake

against this man. The number of

times he punishes you.

61 and a first frame, Ronnie

O'Sullivan.

Stephen Maguire had a

chance, missed the pink and that was

his last shot, Ronnie O'Sullivan

with the break of 61, takes the

opening frame, 1-0. STUDIO:

Brilliantly done by Ronnie

O'Sullivan

Brilliantly done by Ronnie

O'Sullivan but I think Stephen

Maguire realises this fellow is

going to pounce on any mistakes and

it was just the one on

going to pounce on any mistakes and

it was just the one on the pink.

Crackling opening frame of snooker.

-- cracking. It is easy to cue

across this. If you are being

pernickety, it is one of those, you

might have to stand back and give it

a bit because it is not totally

straightforward but as Stephen 's

leading commentary, did not get near

the corner.

It felt like he had a

bit of body movement on the shot,

the screw back that started it off,

he kept his body pretty still which

is the most important thing as a

snooker player and that includes

your head, less body movement means

less chance of the cue going through

on a bad line so that is what the

players try to do, getting the

stance right in the first race.

The

opening red that Stephen Maguire

had, you are cueing up to

demonstrate that! -- you were lining

up to demonstrate that. It was an

extraordinary opening red. If you

were watching us yesterday you will

have seen during the quarterfinal

between Martin Gould and Ronnie

O'Sullivan, a member of the audience

had to be taken out and it caused

some disruption because she was

taken to hospital. Happily, I can

tell you marry Snell is absolutely

fine, it turned out she had fallen

before coming into the arena and had

inadvertently broken her hip but

such was her determination to come

and see the snooker for the first

time, she came in and put up with a

painful good few frames before it

became too much for her and she

fainted and had to be taken to

hospital. She is due to undergo an

operation this morning. We wish you

all of the very best, Marion. That

is the kind of commitment we expect

and admire in our snooker fans!

Incredible story. COMMENTATOR: It

certainly is. All the very best to

you, Marian.

Unintentional kiss on the brown

which has not left an easy red, it

will pot in the middle but it is far

from easy.

Yeah, will be interesting

to see if there is any reaction from

Stephen Maguire to missing that easy

pink. Sometimes, it can really put

you off.

Here, we will see it again. He

seemed to come as you said, it was a

tricky shot but he seemed to get

down on it pretty quickly, did not

give it as much attention as he

should have. It was a big shot.

And

as Steve Davis said, there was a bit

of body movement on it.

Yes,

definitely leaning into it slightly.

Might have got away with that,

Stephen Maguire. The red does cut

but this is tricky.

The pot was always on but the

position was not straightforward. I

think, Dennis, if Stephen can get

2-2 at the interval, I think he is

in this match. Any other scoreline,

he is really going to struggle.

Obviously, 3-1 up would be great,

but at the minimum, 2-2, and he is

very much in it.

Couldn't agree

more, Stephen. Meanwhile, he is

faced with an escape route, twice

across the table to try to land on

the red that is near the cushion,

there are, but he has to be careful,

if he slips past that, he will leave

it on. He needs a touch of side as

well. That is a little bit too

narrow but better missing it that

side than the other will stop having

said that, it can still be potted

across the cushion and he can get on

the black so he will have a go at

this.

GASPS FROM CROWD

Amazing now that has worked to

Stephen Maguire's advantage, the

fact he did not escape from the

snooker but this was not

straightforward along the cushion.

Well, he is in first again. He has

got the chance. How many can he

make?

Yeah, got a chance to erase the

memory of the first frame.

Into the bunch, here, screw the cue

ball back to the left-hand side of

the table to leave the red, closest

to the black to the right corner.

Oh, you could see the cue ball moved

to the left but he has snookered

himself on the red. He may have one

to the left middle. Let's see, that

is the movement, the cue ball going

towards that side of the table,

but... A little bit unlucky. He has

got the red to left middle, just

seeing if he can stun for the pink

to the opposite middle pocket.

17.

APPLAUSE

Good recovery, there, because he was

very unlucky for the White to finish

in there but awkward, bridging,

there, did well.

Still not straightforward, here.

Just has to be careful when he plays

the cannon, here, that he doesn't

hide the cue ball again.

Oh, he got a kick, what a time to

get a kick. He missed the pink in

the opening frame, he has got

himself in here, got the balls at

his mercy and the pink kicks and

straightened up.

That is horrific.

You feel for him, there is, when you

look at the balls. -- there, when. I

said he had to erase the memory of

the previous frame and the pink he

missed and now he's got to erase the

memory of getting a kick on that

pink. A tale of two pinks so far in

this match. I will be shocked if it

does not cost timber frame. -- cost

him this frame.

Yet, you don't mind losing a frame

if you miss a ball, but if you get a

heavy contact, it is just pure bad

luck.

I don't think either of these

players, Dennis, are using the new,

special chalk that some of the

players are using that is supposed

to eradicate kicks. Woe, a reprieve.

Can you believe where he has ended

up, there?

Yeah, he was trying to

get around the back of the black but

a bit unlucky to be snookered.

There's a possible... Couple of reds

that Stephen can go for, here, but

Ronnie had no easy safety shot,

there.

Massive reprieve for Stephen

Maguire. If he can pot this red to

the right middle. Or is he going to

the red to the right corner, then

cut -- thin got? Good shot, got the

kiss afterwards.

Yeah, funny that new chalk that you

mentioned there, Stephen, I was in

the practice from Stephen Maguire

the other day and I asked if he was

using it and he said, no, it is £15

for a little blog of chalk and he is

quite happy to leave marks on the

table, which the new chalk does not.

He was not interested. A bit

expensive, that chalk, Stephen.

Yeah, Ken Doherty had some and I had

a look at it. It is very rough, the

chalk we normally use is a lot

smoother. But a lot of the players

are convinced it is stopping kicks

and bounces off the cushion as well.

Meanwhile, an opportunity of a red

to the far left corner.

Oh, what is happening here? APPLAUSE

Trick shot! Ronnie is trying to

smile, there, because the white was

going in the pocket and suddenly,

the red appeared. Now, the white was

going into the pocket, suddenly, the

red appears, thank you very much. I

think he can avoid hitting the

yellow, here, when potting the blue.

Where our, he was thinking more

about missing the cannon on the

yellow, there. -- well, he was

thinking. Worrying times for Stephen

Maguire, that heavy contact on the

pink and the missed pink may be

still at the back of his mind.

Yeah,

he's not going to have much chance

of winning this match, if he's not

going to take these opportunities,

Stephen, I'm afraid. At the minute,

he is the one starting to look a bit

intimidated although saying that,

Ronnie has just played a shocker.

Another left off. This is

incredible. -- left off. A bit of a

comedy of errors, this frame,

Dennis.

Yeah, I don't think it will

continue, that is for sure. He could

do with knocking this in, here,

giving his confidence a bit of a

boost.

Just a little awkward with the

yellow of its spot, as we show you

this pot that went right in the

centre of the pocket. It would have

been a lot easier if the yellow had

been sitting on its spot, to get

back up to the reds, but I think he

is almost straight on this. He needs

to avoid the brown on the way back.

Yeah, he had just enough angle to do

that. But he has not dropped nicely

on a red. So another mistake.

Stephen Maguire, three.

Just a safety shot, here. The reds

are all covering each other near the

pink spot, there.

Oh, dear! That was a kick as well.

You could hear it.

If he does not

get the kick, there, Ronnie can't

see this red to the right of the

green. He is still not going to play

it.

I think if the cue ball was of the

cushion a little bit, he would play

it because he would be able to get

to the bottom of the cue ball, to

stun, bring it back to the ball

cushion, but he cannot do it from

tight. -- the baulk cushion.

I think

he is just concerned that he does

not send the red straight into the

pink but he is going to play the

shocked that you suggested. -- play

the shot. It is OK because those

four reds are all covering each

other.

It is always nice to see the big

breaks going in but this sort of

frame can be very entertaining and

exciting to watch. Just two points

the difference. Quite a low scoring

affair.

Now he's coming up a long way short

so this is a bit of a chance for

Stephen Maguire.

Needs a good, favourable kiss, here.

Well, the fact he slipped past it,

he might have the yellow to the

middle with an angle to get up to

the red macro to the left of the

blue, yes, he's OK. -- up to the red

to the left of the blue.

But the other three reds are not

ideally placed. They are away from

the cushion but they are not in an

easy position to pot.

If he's got a good angle on the

brown, he might be able to screw up

between the two reds. Just depends

on the angle. No, it is not good on

the brown but it is on the green.

That looks pretty good if it pulls

up. About the best he could do,

there.

Eight.

Well, this is a tough one up into

the corner. Looking to screw back

for the black, here. Key shot coming

up, here. Nope. It was perfect on

the black as well to get to the

last, difficult red if he had potted

that.

Another example of Ronnie

O'Sullivan, he does take many risks.

-- doesn't take many risks. Was not

even tempted by that straight red to

the yellow pocket.

He will be tempted by this one.

Is it going to pull up in time, it

is very, very quick, this cloth. It

is quite thin. Stephen Maguire has

had a good look at it. From that

picture, it looks like he can cut it

in.

It had to be thin. And that has

developed the last red. But there's

no easy pot available.

He is looking

at pink but now there is pressure on

this, now he has brought that red

into the open.

Pink ball.

Has he

even taken on the pot?

Stephen

Maguire, one.

I could not have

refused that, Dennis, could not have

refused that pink. That is very

cagey. It just shows the respect he

has four Ronnie O'Sullivan, does not

want to go 2-0 down.

Yeah, he pushed

the pink safe because he has got a

14 point advantage.

And look at this shot.

He will be

able to take the pink on now. It was

a very negative shot, I feel. Things

like that give your opponent a lift,

as well, you see that he is not even

going to take the pink on and it

gives you a boost, which is why he

is a bit afraid.

I remember the

great John Spencer, three times a

world champion, giving me some

advice, he said, "If you are at the

table, you have got a chance, take

it because if you play a shot like

Stephen Bate, you can be in trouble

when you come back to the table". It

is about playing the percentages,

knowing whether to go for it and

there is a little smile on Stephen's

face because he knows he is in all

sorts of bother, here. The green is

in the way of the one-cushion

escape, the brownies in the way of

the two cushion escape. -- brown is

in the way. He will do well to get

out of this and get it safe. He has

had to go so close to the brown.

That is a brilliant shot, it really

is! APPLAUSE

You can tell that Stephen Maguire

just wants to get a frame on the

board.

Ronnie is looking at the

shot, here, to stun, take the pink

off the cushion, if he leaves the

cue ball there, puts the red across

the table, snookers Stephen behind

the green and the brown.

He thinks it is too risky. Worried

about getting the red over in that

left corner. He needs something to

come to his rescue. I think Stephen

Maguire can pot this red.

Yeah, don't worry about the cue

ball, just put everything into the

pot, here.

He's overcut it. But he may have...

Well, I was going to say he might

have got away with it but if the

white pulls up, Ronnie can take on

the pot and bring the pink

interplay. It might be a bit narrow

for that.

Well, he has done that. APPLAUSE

And he has knocked the pink up

towards the left corner pocket and

he may have to take it, now. So, one

good pot, and one good positional

shot, it could be 2-0.

If he gets that far, it is blue to

think which is going to be the

tricky one. -- Bluetooth

-- blue, to pink.

At one point, I did not think the

cue ball was going to make it there

because he put the yellow into the

right-hand side of the pocket.

You should have gone for that pink,

Stephen.

This was always going to be the

tricky one, blue to pink, and he

hasn't played as he would have

liked.

If Ronnie O'Sullivan misses a shot,

it is normally always thin.

Avoided the black, no problem. The

priority was to get the pink safe.

As I mentioned earlier, it's nice to

see the big breaks going in, but

this sort of frames can be very

exciting.

That is a pretty good cue ball. It

would be ironic if he takes this on,

which is much more difficult than

the one he refused. He is normally

very attacking, Stephen Maguire, so

it's make your mind up time.

Fabulous shot. Absolutely fantastic.

That was brilliant cueing.

That black was not a gimme. He

didn't push the cue through in a

straight line.

He has played this well.

This might turn out to be the

longest frame of this semifinal. And

it's an exciting one.

He has hit this all wrong. Certainly

not as he intended, and it's a very

thin snick that Stephen has come to

have a look at. This is tough.

Well, he put absolutely everything

into the pot, and it looked as if it

was in, but look where it stopped.

A fascinating end to the second

frame. It ebbed and flowed, but in

the end Ronnie O'Sullivan knocks the

black in.

HAZEL IRVINE: the Scotsman had two

goodbye to that in France and sub

2-0 down. It is a tale of the pink

for Stephen Maguire. He missed one,

got a kick on one and refused one.

An amazing friend, lots of twists

and turns. -- an amazing frame.

Look at this situation with Stephen

Maguire. Stephen Hendry said an

commentary that he had a great

chance to put the pink and win the

frame. He decides that if he puts

the pink safe, then Ronnie

O'Sullivan leads the pink, so he

decides to play a snooker and put

the pink safe. It's like an old

school shot, whereas Stephen Hendry

was much more going for the attack.

Arguably, Stephen Maguire never got

as good a chance of that one. But

you live and die by your shot making

decisions. It was a fascinating

decision.

He refused to that one and

then did pot and unbelievable pink.

Damaging from his point of view?

Extremely. You are playing one of

the best players who ever lived. If

you have a chance like that with the

black, you cannot miss it.

And he

hit that black so well that when it

does wobble, it stays in the jaws.

If you miss it by further away, it

usually escapes.

2-0 to the Rocket.

It could so easily have been

extremely different.

This is a big ask for Stephen

Maguire Nel, 2-0 down, to keep the

belief that he can win this match. I

said earlier that I think he needs

the two remaining frames of this

session. Ronnie has been anything

but impressive in the first two

frames. But Stephen has not been

able to punish him.

He put everything into the pot

there. Try it to glance off the red

with the cue ball and hit it to

full.

As you mentioned, he has had

chances. It could easily have been

2-0 to Stephen.

Lovely pot.

That was a poor shot, Stephen. Very

careless. He wants to play for the

red that is just above the black to

left corner. He was hoping for an

angle on the brown. He will have to

play off four-cushion is now --

offer four cushions.

The previous shot on the red was the

bad one, wasn't it?

Absolutely. A

bit careless.

The body language is not the same as

it was at the start of the match. He

has taken a few hits in the first

two frames.

He will have to bend this around the

brown. That has got the game back to

normal.

That is a long way short again with

the safety. So he is struggling a

bit at the moment, Stephen.

Far from an easy chance, but he is

on the right side of the blue to get

up to the business end of the table.

They are all sort of covering each

other somewhat.

How different could do match have

been if Stephen had part of that

pink in the first frame? Now the

body language is not the same. In

the best of 11, the first frames can

be so important.

It is fascinating watching Ronnie

O'Sullivan when the balls are tied

up like this, how he goes about the

break.

Much more difficult now that he

hasn't got on the blue as he would

have liked.

Matt and has just gone

over the hour mark. It's quite slow.

You would not have expected that

from these two players, but the

first two frames have been quite

scrappy.

How does he play the pink? Not easy.

Brilliant shot.

Look at that shot, played with the

opposite hand. Gives himself a

chance of cutting this red in.

Just

needs a couple more reds to win this

third frame. He is not liking this

one. And that is why, because the

cue ball ran wild.

If it is

touching, he has got to nominate the

colour. But it's not touching.

He has got the green safe and he has

got the snooker, so he's in the

driving seat in this third frame.

He was in a bit of a hole there. All

you can do sometimes is hit and

hope. A tough start for Stephen

Maguire.

You never settle until you get your

first frame on the board.

With 3-1, he would be pleased. 4-0,

and he wouldn't be happy.

There is an argument for saying that

3-0 and the match is over, but if

Stephen doesn't win the next frame,

there is no doubt...

It is not as easy as it looks, but

Ronnie O'Sullivan leads the arena

needing Stephen Maguire 3-0. --

leaving.

Yes, Stephen Maguire still sitting

in the arena as Ronnie goes out for

a bit. And even more time to ponder

what might be the key moment of the

entire match in the frame before the

last one, limits on the black.

When you play against the top

players like my right honourable

friend here and Stephen in the

commentary box, when you make a

mistake as big as that, you can bet

your bottom dollar in the next

frame, they will make you remember

it. Ronnie played a brilliant frame

of snooker and kept him in his

chapter most of it. He has had a bit

of a walk out there to compose

himself at 3-0 to let Stephen know

what the scorers.

Do you agree that

the next one is key if this match is

to yeah.

Every frame is important,

but sometimes it feels like there is

a significant insert and friends.

The problem for Stephen Maguire,

like a lot of players who play

against Ronnie is, he's starting to

try too hard to not make mistakes.

You know the significance of trying

to clinch your chances. That is not

how you play your best snooker. You

play at your best when you are just

competing and enjoying the

competition. The moment you start to

try even more a fraction than you

would normally, that is when the

errors start to creep in.

COMMENTATOR: And when you try too

hard, you concentrate so hard on the

pot that your position goes awry.

Nothing comes automatic. The worst

thing about coming from behind to

beat Ronnie is that he never plays a

wrong shot! So he doesn't give you a

chance.

What were you saying?!

Well...

That was amazing. He needed

such a thin snick on this, and he

hit it too thick. He would have

gotten away with it if the red had

not gone in the yellow corner.

He has already stopped in his tracks

a little bit. Shouldn't be a

problem.

You see the shake of the head. He

overscrewed the ball by about two

inches. I don't know if he can get

as much action on the cue ball from

this angle. But he still played it,

just couldn't generate the same

pace. He is concentrating so much

for making sure he puts the ball is

that the perfect position is

lacking.

He was a bit unlucky,

because this red doesn't pass the

other red, by the looks of things. A

bit unfortunate.

That was a bit careless. But that 54

break that money made, the balls

were very awkward -- the breakdown

Ronnie made.

You have got to keep this fella on

the cushion. You can't keep leaving

him with these sorts of chances.

Hit it absolutely perfectly.

Brilliant shot.

That wasn't easy. He had a straight

red, but it was no good for him. He

can see enough of the green, I

think.

This is quite a rarity, Ronnie

O'Sullivan using the rest.

Right in the middle of the pocket.

That has left him a choice of one to

the yellow pocket. Because he plays

every shot with his left hand as

well, he never seems to use the

rest. He is not bad when he does.

That was a strange position all shot

from Ronnie. I don't think he had

made his mind up where he was going

to leave the cue ball.

Astute watch that red, that is why

he's back with the rest again. The

green was hampering him slightly.

So, terrific with his right hand,

brilliant with his left hand, and

pretty good with a rest.

Yeah, he's OK. He's got enough angle

to get that onto the black, here.

Lots of left-hand side. He was

pretty straight.

Another one of

those pinks that you have two sort

of stun in -- have to sort. They are

not easy, believe you me but

sometimes, he makes them look so

easy.

I know in his interviews with Hazel,

he sometimes says he is not that

bothered about records, but make no

mistake, Ronnie O'Sullivan will want

to beat every record set in the

game. He has overtaken my colleague,

here, Stephen Hendry, in quite a few

of them with regards to century

breaks, maximum breaks made, and

hundred breaks made in the UK

championship, something he did just

yesterday. The only record he has

not overtaken, he has won five world

titles to your seven.

And he puts an awful lot of practice

in. Don't think he just turns up.

That he's a natural player, he just

turns up and plays like this, he

puts powers and hours of hard into

the game. -- puts hours and hours of

hard work.

He is going to need one of those

reds, near either cushion, after

this one, to win the frame at this

visit. He's had a look to see if

that red to the left side can be

ported. You would have to be right

behind it, perhaps it looks easy on

the screen but it's not. He would

like to have been maybe a little bit

closer than this. I don't expect him

to miss it. It could have been

missed, and he wanted to be a little

closer to that red.

Well, if this red drops, it is 4-0.

They are very sharp, these middle

pocket. So a little bit of hope in

this frame before the mid-session

interval, for Stephen Maguire.

The 36 point lead does not really

mean anything, the way the balls are

sitting, here, one mistake and the

frame will be over, either way.

And... Not quite as he played it.

This is a big shot but you know,

Stephen Maguire won't shy away from

it. Well, he won't shy away from

most chances.

APPLAUSE

GASPS FROM CROWD

You cannot get your breath. He has

conceded the frame. That was an

unbelievable bit of misfortune there

for Stephen Maguire and they head

off to the mid-session interval and

it is 4-0 to Ronnie O'Sullivan, what

a way to lose the brain. STUDIO:

Stephen Maguire would probably have

a case to say that he might be

cursed at the moment and he's

probably feeling like it at the

moment, Steve.

Well, yeah, you can't

account for bad luck, that is part

of the game, isn't it? But

sometimes, as we said yesterday, it

seems like the balls don't forgive

you. It is a stupid thing to say, so

stupid, they obviously can't think

but they punish you severely! We are

all mentally scarred by these balls.

This comes up a lot, you talk about

this but it is almost like, you are

talking about.

The snooker gods

never stop watching and if you have

the chance after he missed that

brilliant pink in frame two, and you

don't take it, that is your lot,

they don't forgive you, and the rest

of the afternoon, nothing goes for

him, and he's up against one of the

best players who ever lived, so

things tend to go a bit wrong. We've

mentioned it many times, it is just

mentioned it many times, it is just

strange.

It is quite laughable to

say it. We are supposed to be

experts but we are coming out with

stupidities like that but you can't

operate and Ronnie puts a lot of

pressure on you, even though he has

not cleared in one visit all the

time, he keeps knocking balls in,

couple of pink in the middle pocket,

running them in.

Stephen made a good

point earlier, in terms of Maguire's

response to this, you have two

bullies out there and one is running

away with this, so how does the

other one respond?

The only good

thing is, the interval has come

because if they had carried on, it

might have been 6-0. I think he's

got a good chance to come out, clear

his head, may become an hit a few

balls if he wants to and the fact he

has got a few more frames, it is not

like best of nine so he's got a bit

more of a cherry to bite but he

needs to get out and pot a few

balls.

Yeah, I mean, in a way, the

tables are currently empty, you

don't get that Lonmin interval and

if you are in the right frame of

mind, you come to the practice

table. If you've already given up,

there's an argument to say you don't

come to the British table.

Who

knows? You might come in shortly but

Stephen Maguire certainly has a lot

to think about this afternoon, 4-0

down in a first six semifinal. The

second semifinal this evening at 7pm

sees world

second semifinal this evening at 7pm

sees world number six, Sean Murphy,

taking on Welshman Ryan Day. Shaun

Murphy won this event in 2008 and

Ryan Day is the Riga Masters winner

and that was his first trophy after

many years of misses. He's come

through three final point decided in

a row to get this far and it's the

first time he's made it to the

semifinal of one of the sport's

triple grand events, it will be

quite an occasion for the Welshman

this evening.

I think there is no doubt that I'm a

better player than I was last year.

My potting, scoring, break-building

has always been and as I say, I'm

going out there with some

confidence, enjoying my snooker,

enjoying being out there with the

crowd and who knows?

I'm playing OK

and I've won a couple of close

matches and that is all it takes

these days. He's a fantastic player.

He's got very few weaknesses. If I

want to compete and beat Shaun

He's got very few weaknesses. If I

want to compete and beat Shaun, I'm

going to have to up my game.

Ryan

Day, a player I've known since we

were 11 or 12 when we met first on

the Junior tour, great at potting

and break-building, I don't think

there's many better break-builders

on the tour and now he has won his

first ranking event, he's a

different animal, someone who now

knows how to do it. That makes him

very dangerous and got my hands

full.

We are talking more than 20

years, I have known Shaun two

different tournaments and whatnot,

came through the pro ranks, he has

won reachable ground but we looking

forward to the semifinal. Ryder it

feels as if with each match, I've

played slightly better and I can't

wait to get out there.

Shaun Murphy

survived a bit of a scare in the

second round, coming through a final

frame decider that Davidse Liam

Highfield, and we were sitting there

listening to him breaking himself

about not having control of the

white ball but he seems to have gone

a roll since then, some of his

cueing has been fantastic.

His long

potting is as good as anywhere in

the game, last night you could have

done top ten, it was ridiculous, one

of the bottom cushion that he potted

and run-up to the blue was the best

shot I've seen all week. He's giving

his fine form he got away with it a

bit against Ricky Walden, winning

6-1 when it was not that scoreline,

gave a few lifelines, did not give

quite as many against Mark King

which was a good sign but there's

the occasional glitch where he gives

the opponent a chance he should not

which is the only thing stopping him

from winning consistently the top

ones.

'S confidence is high, three

big finals already this season,

winning the champion of champions

against Ronnie a few weeks ago, how

do you assess a challenge this year?

It is significant, should that be

the final. Anyone who thinks Ronnie

is going to walk away with it, could

look at that match. I think we have

got, arguably, the four most

consistent players this week in the

semifinals. There have been some bad

performances from players who have

not followed it up but I think these

lads have been on it most of the

time. You can't guarantee every

match is going to be a breeze.

Disappointing for Stephen Maguire

but I expect the match tonight to be

very hard-fought.

Ryan Day arguably

has had possibly the toughest time

because he's come through three

final frame decider in a row to get

there.

You cannot say he has not had

enough practice! He was saying that

he likes to use it up and we were

having a laugh about it before. In a

perfect world, you would like to be

winning 6-1, 6-2 but you know now

that if it comes down to the Di

Grassi, you can get over the line.

We are looking forward to that one

at 7pm on BBC Two, we hope you can

join us but let's get back to the

man who has been pre-eminent for us,

you might say because Ronnie

O'Sullivan has been in four big

titles, winning two titles already

and as Dennis was saying, he has

surpassed Stephen Hendry's total of

maximums and indeed centuries in

this particular championship. But as

he has consistently shown as he has

come in for interviews and talking

to people around the venue, it is

not snooker that controls his life

these days. He's a much happier

person away from the table and Steve

had an interesting chat with him

when he talked about the numpty

factor and also about following this

fellow into the celebrity jungle at

some point.

Ladies and gentlemen, to

night belongs to 17-year-old Ronnie

O'Sullivan!

Ronnie, have a look at

this, 1993, UK Championship, just

press play.

Play?

Baqer Greenhow excited are you? It

has not really sunk in yet but the

reception was unbelievable. I can't

believe it. I've got a cold sore on

my lip!

You just wanted more of it?

Was that after I had won? Really?

Fantastic moments for you but

saying, you just wanted more of it,

at that time you were eager to play

smoother and after this many years

in the game of course it is a

different type of motivation,

surely?

I think I just play more for

fun, now, you know? I learned from

you and Stephen Baxter, you know,

probably not to expect too much of

myself but I enjoy being at

tournaments, I enjoy travelling and

that kind of stuff. You know,

without snooker, then I would not

get the benefits of that, I'd be

stuck at home. I like to be busy. I

think snooker gives me that

opportunity to have a purpose in

life, really.

It is a long season

and if you play every tournament, it

is quite tough so probably wisely,

you have been picking and choosing

which in its own way has perhaps

improved your longevity in the game.

Yeah, maybe. I don't really know. I

enjoy competing and playing. I don't

take the game too seriously in many

ways. I looked at tournaments

sometimes just as practice sessions

sometimes, go in there and treat it

like an exhibition, try not to put

too much meaning into it but you

know deep down you are trying

because that is your natural

competitiveness. But you know, I

make going to tournaments beneficial

for myself, you know. When I'm

going, I know that I am happy with

everything when I get there. It

makes it a lot more enjoyable.

It is

a competitive game, motivation for

competition comes into the equation

and there's always the record books.

You know, I'm trying not to put

words in your mouth, you are not

really worried about the sixth UK

championship, are you?

No, I'm not.

You don't want to equal anybody's

record? Radradra no, I don't you

feel about records but I got the

Masters one, I thought it was quite

nice but it is not something... It

does not interest me. I would much

rather somebody offered me five

years of playing at the top of my

game.

You might not win everything

but you would enjoy every minute. I

would take that over records all day

long. Maybe some people are more

about the records and I'm all about

getting the feeling and the buzz for

the game.

To do that, sometimes you

have to make the game interesting

and keep your freshness so lots of

things off the table and that is

something I try to do, we all tried

to do. You have had lots of hobbies

off the table which I think our help

to you?

Yeah, yeah.

Certainly

running.

Yeah, always, every

tournament I go to, I link up with

the local running club, made most of

my best friends that way because we

have that thing in common. Yeah,

that's been fantastic for me. You

know, yeah, I thought if I just play

snooker, it will drive me mad, you

know, I need distractions. If I've

got a distraction going on in my

life, then snooker is the easy part

in a way.

As long as it doesn't

distract too much, writing a book

takes a lot of time.

No, the more

destruction...

Do better? Put it

here.

Yeah, seriously, lots of

players go down that superstition

route, but I have none of that, I

was having breakfast at like

12:30pm, you know, just chilling out

with my mate and I'm playing at 1pm.

I honestly just think there is no

point taking it too serious.

What

about the distraction of winding up

people on the tour, winding up the

occasional numpty? Were you sitting

out there, thinking about those

words? Thinking it was coming back

to bite you and you should never

have said that?

Numpties can beat

you, that is their problem because

their thinking is, they are very

positive people, normally, quite

deluded, they think they are a lot

better than they are and if they are

having a good day, they can take you

out. Listen, I've been beaten by a

lot of numpties before and there

will be a lot of numpties that beat

me but sometimes, you just think,

"Not another one!" But I do like

them.

Next year, obviously, it seems

like, from what we are hearing, that

you may not be in the UK

Championship. If the jungle

beckoning?

I don't know, yeah. I

said to my agent, as much work as

you can get me away from snooker.

You can't get further away than

that!

Exactly, you can't pick and

choose when they are, obviously it

clashes with this tournament, I'm

not saying I'm definitely going to

do it but if the offer is there, I

think at this stage in my career, it

is more important to enjoy things

and grab life by the scruff of the

neck and make the most of these

opportunities. I think if a lot of

other snooker players have the

option, they would probably do it,

too.

Parachute jump? Radradra get, I

don't mind a bit of that. Spiders?

Yeah, fine, I'll eat them.

Snakes?

I

will get comfortable with snakes

before I go. I'm going to start

loving snakes, walking with a big

part around my neck, King of the

jungle!

I would not put it past him,

life according to Ronnie. We were

talking about numpties and there's a

couple of them out in the Fourier,

there's certainly a chance to make

yourself a numpty out there with

crazy snooker, John and Steve, how

are you doing?

Crazy snooker, happened as to give

this?

All this stuff on the table.

The first hole, take the cue ball

down there,

The first hole, take the cue ball

pot the yellow. It is called fun.

But it is not snooker.

It's there,

come

But it is not snooker.

on baby. He's missed

on baby. He's missed the

He's It's there, come

yellow, it is impossible, now we

will go on to two, down here. Take

the cue ball right round there, pot

the green.

Had a bit help your

technique? What is the point.

This

is fantastic, brilliant, number

three, this is superb. You will want

a go in a minute, honestly. Got to

go all the way down there, through

the gap, through the tunnel.

Great

shot, fantastic.

Now you want a go.

Wears number four?

Go up there,

chipped the blue and popped it in

the middle pocket.

Do I have to do

hit the blue?

He's missed!

Surely I

hit that? I'll have another go.

It's

got to be coming down the right-hand

side...

I know that!

LAUGHTER

I'll take my chewing gum away.

I

think I got -- I got a kick. One

more go. It's impossible!

It's

touched it! Where is number five? It

is your go again. This is brilliant,

you just go up and it comes down,

popped the ball up and goes over

there.

Get in there.

That is the

link and find one, it has to be

clever there are three holes and you

don't know which one it is. Not that

one!

LAUGHTER

Your go!

OK.

I've got a funny

feeling I know which one it is. It

might be... That one! The commie you

can have fun, Steve Davis having

fun, would you believe it? -- yeah,

you can have fun.

I did not like

that much.

Numpties! Anyway, no

shortage of technique in there, and

no

shortage of technique in there, and

no shortage of technique where

Stephen Maguire is concerned. He won

this great championship 13 years

ago, right here in York.

If I was to ask Peter what he would

say would be your biggest strengths,

what do you think he would say?

I

think he would probably say, long

potting, break-building and rest

play.

Peter?

I think...

Obviously,

we are talking about Shaun Murphy,

and Shaun Murphy's semifinal is

deceiving against Ryan Day and we

will be talking more about that

later but let's talk now about what

we were originally supposed to be

talking about, Stephen Maguire!

Wherein we are doing these character

assassination... Analysis pieces, I

think probably Stephen Maguire

thinks he cannot win because you are

asking a player to fire in

determination but if they go a

fraction of, they are hot-headed and

it is ruining their game.

I think

Steven is one of those players that

the fire in the belly, the hunger to

succeed, the wheel helps him and I

think his best performances have

coincided with when he has been like

that, when you see him wanting to

win so badly.

But then we rip into

pieces.

Listen, you won't hear me

doing that, I think it helps him and

spurred him on. It gets him up for

the match and when he gets in that

frame of mind, you can beat anybody,

slaughter anybody.

I've been for

Stephen, I agree, I think he needs

that and if you think back to the

days when Stephen Hendry was at his

absolute best, if he missed and he

was absolutely distraught with

himself, he would put its head down

and look at the floor but if the

opponent made the mistake of

thinking that they had got him, one

more chance and that was it, he

would clear up. I think in that

respect, Stephen Maguire is quite

similar to Stephen Hendry. They are

setting themselves such a high

standard. Most people just want to

win but for players like Stephen

Hendry, yourself, yourself, Steve,

and Stephen Maguire, it is not just

about winning, it is a level of

expectation that they have to meet

otherwise there's major

disappointment.

So let's be slightly

critical, what is lacking then? What

has stopped him, he did him?

Personally, sometimes I think you

can be too aggressive in his shot

selection because you can't keep on

getting those kind of balls. If I

were to advise anybody playing

Stephen Maguire in a big match, it

would be to wait for your chances,

play the right game, play a sensible

game. Let him be dominant and

aggressive because he can't keep on

being that aggressive and keep

getting away with it. He can't keep

potting the ball is so that would be

my advice for anyone who wanted to

beat him over a long match.

What

does he do from now on? How does the

approach the rest of his career with

a view to improvement or will he be

happy with his lot? Surely not?

I

think he has to keep going, keep

potting in the hours and the time. I

am sure he would agree if he was sat

here that he would have liked to

have won more tournaments and

dominated in the major championships

but I don't think his career is

finished by any stretch. I think he

might just be halfway. I think he's

got plenty more to give. I think the

game has got plenty more to give him

back, too.

It's going to be a long way back for

Stephen Maguire today, 4-0 down

against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Does the

Scots still believe he can make it

to a third UK final? Let's find out

with Dennis and Stephen.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel.

with Dennis and Stephen.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Hazel. Don't

make any mistake about it, Stephen

Maguire won't be thinking he is out

of this year's UK championship just

yet. As long as your opponent needs

to map your friends you always feel

you are in with a chance.

Thank you,

frame five, Ronnie O'Sullivan to

break.

Ronnie to get the fifth frame

under way.

I might question whether he believes

he can win it at this point but if

he could win maybe a couple of

frames, then the belief might come

back. At 4-0, he won't be feeling

great.

Let's see how positively he plays

this red. Can he stop the cue ball

short of the baulk colours? Yes.

That is a good start.

Very positively played.

Just gone a little bit further than

he intended.

He will want to get up near the

black spot area as soon as possible,

he can do that in a few shots time.

Yeah, in Ronnie's previous round, he

led 5-0 against Martin Gould and

Martin came out and won three in a

row. That is what Stephen Maguire

has got to do, here. And now he is

back at the high-scoring end of the

table.

So it looks like there is just one

more red available. I don't know if

the two to the right of the pack, I

don't know if the bottom one pots to

the left corner. He will land flat

on the black, here, level. That is a

big target, because of those two

loose threads, he can screw the cue

ball into the joint of the bottom

red and the pack and bring the cue

ball to the right-hand side of the

table. It is a nice pack to into,

please. Oh, he did not get into the

right part of the pack.

Hitting it too far to the left of

the bunch. That is a disappointing

end to the break.

Well, it was a nice start from

Stephen, a bit unlucky with the

split but as Stephen said, he did

not quite get the cannon as he

intended.

Yeah, you always need a little bit

of good luck in snooker and when he

played the cannon, he did not get

much luck and he didn't have much

luck before the mid-session

interval. He had a chance here and

he cut this beautiful red, and for

the white to drop in the middle

pocket, as the crowd were all

applauding, they could not believe

the white went in, none of us could.

And he has underhit that by a long

way.

Now, Stephen, what a chance.

Ronnie's turn to be a long way away

from the pot.

A wry smile from Stephen. He put

everything into potting the red and

forgot about the position.

I think

he is struggling a bit with the pace

of the table. It is certainly

playing a lot quicker than they were

earlier in the week. New cloth on

there.

Don't hit it too hard. That is the

problem.

At the moment, the interval has

certainly affected Ronnie

O'Sullivan's concentration.

If he takes this red on, he could

drop on the black. He is just

looking to see if he comes across

the table. There is every chance he

could finish on pink or black. He is

perfectly on the black hair. --

here.

You have to get that first frame on

the board to give yourself any

chance.

Just a quick glance at the

scoreboard to work out how many more

he needs. A few more pots, and the

frame is safe.

He is looking at the scoreboard

again. And he is now looking at the

more difficult pink. He has got to

get on a red.

He hasn't made it easy for himself.

It ran 12 inches further than he was

hoping. Should have been a nice,

easy red into the middle to secure

the frame. At the moment, Ronnie

could tie it with one good pot into

the corner. He will be feeling a

little better now.

Ronnie has nodded to the referee.

Stephen Maguire has his first frame

on the board, but he is still 4-1

behind.

That is what you would hope from

Stephen Maguire, to come out

fighting. The aggressive intent was

clear from ball one.

It took him a

couple of bites of the cherry to win

the frame, at the opening red showed

his attitude.

He hit it like a shot

to nothing, and the cue ball goes

back into the bog area. Stephen

Maguire was thinking, I am potting

this. It looked like a positive

attempt.

And it will definitely help

him feel more positive about the

task in hand.

That's right. Going

back to the point we made after the

interval started, Stephen Maguire

didn't come in the room to practise.

So I don't know if his general way

of doing it is to always sit in the

dressing room, regardless of how the

game has gone, but you would expect

someone who had not had that much

table time and missed a few shots to

come in and get their arm going. To

knock the ball in the first frame 20

minutes later is amazing.

He needs

the crampons now, he has got a bit

of a climb against Ronnie

O'Sullivan. That he has a frame on

the board and we have a semifinal

that is back in competitive mode

once again.

So Stephen breaks off after winning

his first frame. He needs to get a

bit of momentum going. He needs to

win a few frames in a row.

A lackadaisical shot from Ronnie

O'Sullivan. He doesn't look focused

at all since the interval. Stephen

Maguire recognised that.

That was the typical Stephen

Maguire. A very attacking shots. He

was a bit unlucky. Played with lots

of right-hand side and didn't quite

hit the pink. It was a thin one, but

it free of the black. -- it freed

the black. A very aggressive shot,

and he was a bit unlucky again. But

Stephen Maguire has one thing on his

mind at the moment, and that is

all-out attack. These are so

difficult. When you are this close

to the object ball, you have to be

careful. Well played.

He took a bit of a risk there, going

into the bunch. It has not worked

out great. This is awkward.

Well done. The cue ball just stopped

in time to have a pot on the brown

or the green. Another role, and he

would have had a pot on.

Just hampered slightly here with the

green. Well played. He has had a bit

of good luck for a change.

We always say the mid-session

interval can turn things around.

That is certainly the case at the

moment.

Stephen on his highest break of the

match. Not surprising, considering

that he was 4-0 behind. If he starts

winning frames in one visit, that

will really give him confidence. If

he is scrapping frames, it doesn't

give you the same confidence.

Nice positional shot.

Just needs a bit of assistance to

get to this one.

Played it well.

He could play for the loose red and

anything from the brown upwards, and

leave Ronnie needing a snooker.

He has done well here. As Stephen

said, if he can win the frame with

one visit, that will certainly boost

the old confidence.

This red will keep Ronnie in his

seat.

This is more like it from Stephen

Maguire. He is a very powerful

snooker player. The way he started

this break, the blue into the bunch

and then the red into the bunch, got

things into the open straightaway.

He will need a good pot here.

No century, but that was just what

Stephen Hendry needed, a one visit

when. -- win. Yes, excellent

recovery from Stephen Maguire,

helped no end by a tricky blue.

Remember the blue and white that

were close together ) is the type of

shot many players have trouble with.

If that the cue goes through and

hits the red and that it follows

through, you are effectively double

hitting it. In the effort to get the

ball to the pocket, that cue ball

goes through like that. The other

side of the coin is, if you don't

hit the ball hard enough and you

quit on the shot and you try and

pull the cue backwards afterwards,

you don't even hit it with enough

pace. So a little tip and something

you can try if you have trouble with

this shot when the balls are close

is, there are no guarantees it will

work, but when the balls are close,

don't look at the cue ball. Look at

the object ball. And you will get a

better hit because of that.

Ronnie

O'Sullivan to break.

He is just so interesting, Isner,

Steve Davis? -- isn't he? He is a

very interesting DJ as well. What a

nickname, DJ Thundermuscle.

Ronnie has looked at this red, but

it's too thin, so he is playing the

safety shot.

Doesn't want to hit the yellow. Once

again, chance of a long pot for

Stephen Maguire.

The black is not going to go back on

its own spot. But he is starting to

gain a bit of momentum in this

match. He has got that look about

him again that he had in the first

frame, before he missed that easy

pink. He overscrewed that by a long

way. It looks like the pink is still

available.

It's amazing that there are just two

points difference, but he's 4-2

behind.

A bit unlucky for the black to go

almost tight on the cushion.

He is in aggressive attacking mode

at the moment, Stephen Maguire. He

has played that beautifully. He has

got to be on something there.

Played it perfectly, but he was a

bit unlucky, because if he drops

this red in the middle pocket, the

blue won't go past the other red.