Semi-Final - Part 3

0:00:44 > 0:00:46HAZEL IRVINE: Good evening, an important night for televised

0:00:46 > 0:00:49semifinals.

0:00:49 > 0:00:58All down to two cuemen at the Barbican, and all down to Shaun

0:00:58 > 0:01:05Murphy, one of the entertainers in this game. He is up against Ryan

0:01:05 > 0:01:10Day, 37 years old, and this Welshman has waited 19 years for this chance

0:01:10 > 0:01:20to step into the first major final. I think there is no doubt I am a

0:01:20 > 0:01:26better player than I was last year. Pot scoring and break-building,

0:01:26 > 0:01:29always building, and I am going out there as I say with some confidence,

0:01:29 > 0:01:33enjoying my snigger and enjoying being out there with the crowd, and

0:01:33 > 0:01:39who knows?I am playing OK, close matches, and that is all it takes

0:01:39 > 0:01:47these days. This is a player who has very few weaknesses so if I want to

0:01:47 > 0:01:54compete and to beat Shaun I need to be on top of my game.Is a player I

0:01:54 > 0:02:00have known since I was 11 or 12 years of age on the Junior tour,

0:02:00 > 0:02:03great potter and great break-builder. One of the best on

0:02:03 > 0:02:08the tour. Now he has won his first ranking event.He is a different

0:02:08 > 0:02:11animal, someone who knows how to do it and that makes him very

0:02:11 > 0:02:17dangerous.I have known Shaun different tournament, more than 20

0:02:17 > 0:02:20years, and whatnot, programmes together, and he is a fantastic

0:02:20 > 0:02:23player, and I will be looking forward to playing him in the

0:02:23 > 0:02:27semifinal.It feels as if with each match I have played slightly better

0:02:27 > 0:02:35and I can't wait to out there. HAZEL IRVINE: And Steve and Kendall,

0:02:35 > 0:02:43what, 13 UK finals high new? And, Ken, how do you read this one

0:02:43 > 0:02:52tonight?Not there because he has been in ten of them! -- 13 UK finals

0:02:52 > 0:02:59between you. He has had 365s already, getting used to a new cue

0:02:59 > 0:03:02as well but I think he is a different player than he was 12

0:03:02 > 0:03:04months ago and he has a new confidence and I don't think you

0:03:04 > 0:03:08will be afraid at this stage. Interesting that Ryan is two years

0:03:08 > 0:03:13older than Shaun and yet the experience of the younger man might

0:03:13 > 0:03:17be a bit factor. Shaun, this is his office, and he knows, being at the

0:03:17 > 0:03:22business end of these big events. Yes, and that event earlier in the

0:03:22 > 0:03:26season, the Masters, and it has been mentioned by everybody, including

0:03:26 > 0:03:29Shaun, Ryan Day is a different prospect and comes into this game

0:03:29 > 0:03:34with more credibility, not least in his own mind, so it is fascinating

0:03:34 > 0:03:47to see how he performs. I don't put him down as that much of an underdog

0:03:47 > 0:03:50in this match although I know some people might do.Shaun, rather like

0:03:50 > 0:03:52Ryan, has had a frame decider, in the final round, but since then his

0:03:52 > 0:03:55cueing and power has been prevalent. He has been a revelation in the last

0:03:55 > 0:03:58few rounds. How well do you think he has coped in the last few matches?

0:03:58 > 0:04:02Jacqui accommodated in his last match. His long ball game is second

0:04:02 > 0:04:06to none, all the --well, I commentated in his last match. He

0:04:06 > 0:04:12throws in a simple chance he has missed, when he gets the 40, 50, 60

0:04:12 > 0:04:15points, compared to some of the other really top players. Heathrow

0:04:15 > 0:04:19is wonderful in every now and then. If he cuts him that he will be very

0:04:19 > 0:04:27hard to beat -- he throws one of them in every now and then.How

0:04:27 > 0:04:32significant and evening is best for Welshman?I think it is how you go

0:04:32 > 0:04:36into the event, and if you are enjoying your snigger which it

0:04:36 > 0:04:40appears Ryan Day is, especially to win lots of close matches --

0:04:40 > 0:04:45enjoying your snooker, then you are a more dangerous animal. I know that

0:04:45 > 0:04:48Shaun Murphy does, and that is why I think it will be close tonight. Both

0:04:48 > 0:04:52of these players are on the curve, on their way up, and their form.

0:04:52 > 0:04:57Both playing for the right to face Ronnie O'Sullivan in tomorrow's

0:04:57 > 0:05:01final, and of course the small matter of £75,000 at least because

0:05:01 > 0:05:05this afternoon the Rocket punched his way to a seventh UK final after

0:05:05 > 0:05:09winning a very lively match with Glasgow's Stephen Maguire, who had

0:05:09 > 0:05:16been down, but hit back superbly, 6-4 to O'Sullivan today. It has been

0:05:16 > 0:05:22a bit of a double whammy for Stephen because the result also means the

0:05:22 > 0:05:26Chinese player will feature in the Masters in January. Stephen had to

0:05:26 > 0:05:30win that semifinal today to oust him from the last qualifying spot,

0:05:30 > 0:05:36however Stephen head on with a cheque for £37,000 today. Ronnie

0:05:36 > 0:05:41lying in wait for one of these two, and it is worth noting Shaun and

0:05:41 > 0:05:47Ryan have only met once in the last six years and now it is Murphy who

0:05:47 > 0:05:51bosses there are series. But it is all about tonight, and time for

0:05:51 > 0:05:56action with MC Rob Walker...Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The

0:05:56 > 0:06:01very last session of snooker before tomorrow's Beckley championship

0:06:01 > 0:06:05final. Time to find out who is joining the Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan

0:06:05 > 0:06:15in one of the sport's showpiece showdowns. -- tomorrow's Betway

0:06:15 > 0:06:27championship final. APPLAUSE

0:06:27 > 0:06:34Please welcome a player now back in the world's 16 after a great run in

0:06:34 > 0:06:40York winning six successive five set thriller is for this, his first

0:06:40 > 0:06:50semifinal. His maiden ranking triumph, the pride of Ponty,, Ryan

0:06:50 > 0:07:00Dynamite Day...

0:07:05 > 0:07:15MUSIC: The Passenger by Iggy Pop

0:07:23 > 0:07:29And his opponent, a class act on and off the tables, conceding a single

0:07:29 > 0:07:32act against Mark King, coming out for a sixth UK semifinal, bidding

0:07:32 > 0:07:37for his fourth final of this season alone. He is the reigning champion

0:07:37 > 0:07:45of champions, a former world, UK and Masters winner, he is Shaun, The

0:07:45 > 0:07:55Magician, Murphy! APPLAUSE

0:08:16 > 0:08:24Snooker's Jack Sparrow! It has taken Ryan a Jinha Kim is to get past the

0:08:24 > 0:08:28last 16 stage of this championship, and now he is looking at a final,

0:08:28 > 0:08:31Shaun trying to get there for a third time. In good hands with two

0:08:31 > 0:08:35former world champions in the box, Peter Ebdon and Dennis

0:08:35 > 0:08:38former world champions in the box, Peter Ebdon and Dennis Taylor.

0:08:38 > 0:08:41COMMENTATOR: Good evening here and good evening to everyone watching,

0:08:41 > 0:08:43and what a reception both players received.

0:08:43 > 0:08:50APPLAUSE That is the beautiful trophy they

0:08:50 > 0:08:57are playing for.Thank you. The first frame, Ryan Day to break.It

0:08:57 > 0:09:01is the Welshman Ryan Day who won toss, and he will get the semifinal

0:09:01 > 0:09:11underwear. As I say, both players getting a

0:09:11 > 0:09:17terrific reception -- he will get the semifinal underway. Crowds have

0:09:17 > 0:09:20been fantastic throughout this UK championship at the Barbican Centre

0:09:20 > 0:09:31here. And we have a full house this evening. Can he not in one of his

0:09:31 > 0:09:44trademark long pots? Close. -- can he knock in one of his

0:09:44 > 0:09:48trademark.

0:10:06 > 0:10:09I thought for a minute he had got away with that one but it has gone

0:10:09 > 0:10:22over the middle pocket. A chance for Ryan. We did this game against Mark

0:10:22 > 0:10:27Joyce and towards the end of it, Ryan Day really came on strong,

0:10:27 > 0:10:29didn't he

0:10:29 > 0:10:32Ryan Day really came on strong, didn't he, Peter?Yes, good evening,

0:10:32 > 0:10:37Dennis, and everybody. It is almost as if they are two sides to Ryan Day

0:10:37 > 0:10:41at the moment. There's the player who struggled at times with his

0:10:41 > 0:10:43confidence and concentration, more of his concentration and focus than

0:10:43 > 0:10:47anything else because he is seriously talented player, and now

0:10:47 > 0:10:51we have the Ryan Day that is a tournament winner, so this will be a

0:10:51 > 0:10:56really fascinating encounter. A very very talented player, Ryan Day. And

0:10:56 > 0:10:59Shaun Murphy, of course, has been one of the very best in the business

0:10:59 > 0:11:06for a very long time now. Both very exciting, entertaining and attacking

0:11:06 > 0:11:17players. It should be a cracker.

0:11:40 > 0:11:45Yes, always had the red player, knew that he could bring a few more into

0:11:45 > 0:11:50play and leave himself on this one. Just so entertaining to watch, Shaun

0:11:50 > 0:12:02Murphy. Very fluent around the table. Not the best angle on this

0:12:02 > 0:12:14red, this one through from the back. Will have to use just a little

0:12:14 > 0:12:20cannon. But a good early opportunity, this.

0:12:28 > 0:12:33If he can get to 71 points, as you see there, with the side bar, it

0:12:33 > 0:12:52would leave Ryan Day needing snookers.

0:13:06 > 0:13:11APPLAUSE

0:13:18 > 0:13:22And it has to be said, as we show you that David Magowan near the

0:13:22 > 0:13:28middle pocket, this table is playing beautifully. New cloth, new

0:13:28 > 0:13:37cushions, new snooker balls, and no distractions now we are down to the

0:13:37 > 0:13:42one table, so perfect conditions.

0:14:24 > 0:14:33Just over on the cue ball slightly there.

0:14:50 > 0:14:53That is a very well-controlled recovery shot, using the pink to

0:14:53 > 0:15:01take some pace out of the cue ball. Yes, just the slightest of cannons

0:15:01 > 0:15:10off it. We mentioned about Shaun reaching 50 and 60 and then just

0:15:10 > 0:15:16throwing in the odd careless one. If he starts to clinch the frames with

0:15:16 > 0:15:21one visit, he could take some stopping.

0:15:35 > 0:15:44APPLAUSE Not that many pots away from

0:15:44 > 0:15:55securing this opening frame.

0:15:58 > 0:16:04Just having a look at the angle. That's the sign that he doesn't want

0:16:04 > 0:16:09to just put a careless one in.

0:16:14 > 0:16:24A bit straighter on the pink would have been better here.

0:16:29 > 0:16:37He has been a terrific professional, this player. 1998, he turned pro.

0:16:37 > 0:16:45Always taken great pride in the game, a great ambassador for our

0:16:45 > 0:16:50sport, always has been.

0:16:57 > 0:17:08Well, Dennis, he has made this look easy. Looking very very short.He

0:17:08 > 0:17:19has had two century so far in this year's UK championship. We have had

0:17:19 > 0:17:3292 centuries so far. Shaun has made 439. That's why he's one of the

0:17:32 > 0:17:40great break-builders in our game. He is sending out a message to Ryan

0:17:40 > 0:18:01Day. If you miss, I'm going to clear them up. Ryan with half chance.

0:18:02 > 0:18:05He has made 21 centuries this season so far. And there is another one

0:18:05 > 0:18:13APPLAUSE

0:18:13 > 0:18:20He has made 21 centuries this season so far.

0:18:20 > 0:18:30Doesn't matter about the red. He lifted into the right corner.

0:18:30 > 0:18:35Shaun Murphy, starting this match with that magnificent century break.

0:18:35 > 0:18:371- 02 Shaun Murphy. HAZEL IRVINE: It was very

0:18:37 > 0:18:43interesting to me at the Champion of championss that Shaun Murphy said,

0:18:43 > 0:18:48the only way I know how to win is to just go for an -- 1-0

0:18:48 > 0:18:49the only way I know how to win is to just go for an -- 1-0 two Shaun

0:18:49 > 0:18:54Murphy. He has accepted it and, by goodness, lives up to that.Yes, and

0:18:54 > 0:18:58he has tremendous cue power, as well as as long pot. The way he strikes

0:18:58 > 0:18:59and get the action

0:18:59 > 0:19:00as as long pot. The way he strikes and get the action on the ball, just

0:19:00 > 0:19:04look at this black. It looks pretty straightforward but watch the cue

0:19:04 > 0:19:08ball and the action. It splits the pack lovely. He doesn't have to go

0:19:08 > 0:19:13into the pack there, but the strike he gets on the ball is amazing.Yes,

0:19:13 > 0:19:24he has fantastic cue

0:19:29 > 0:19:31action, has always been wonderful. In the past he has questioned

0:19:31 > 0:19:34whether he has the balance of the game right, has searched for answers

0:19:34 > 0:19:37on whether he has the tactics right, and now just to stick with the way

0:19:37 > 0:19:39he plays, fairly attacking game, not totally open, but that is how he

0:19:39 > 0:19:42likes to play. Very similar to Ryan Day, and I might have to eat my

0:19:42 > 0:19:45words if Shaun keeps up this level, but it will depend what Ryan Day

0:19:45 > 0:19:47turned up tonight.This is Shaun bidding for a fourth final this

0:19:47 > 0:19:52season.

0:20:18 > 0:20:24DENNIS TAYLOR: Did have a go at the pot there. If he can get this it is

0:20:24 > 0:20:29an early chance, but it looks a bit tight there. The fact he is up the

0:20:29 > 0:20:33other end of the table tells me he can't get through to the potting

0:20:33 > 0:20:40angle of that one just above the black.

0:21:01 > 0:21:05PETER EBDON:It was noticeable on his previous match that when he

0:21:05 > 0:21:12played safe Ryan Day caught a lot of safety shots very thin. That time he

0:21:12 > 0:21:19was slightly too thick. And this is a chance for Shaun Murphy. I don't

0:21:19 > 0:21:30think it's possible to play for the black here. So quite a bit of work

0:21:30 > 0:21:44to do with the cue ball. It would be some shot if he could bring this

0:21:44 > 0:21:52back into play here.Looking at cannon Inc this off the top cushion,

0:21:52 > 0:22:03but that would be something very special indeed.

0:22:05 > 0:22:13Found a gap around the back. There wasn't much room there. As you can

0:22:13 > 0:22:18see from that angle, very little room to manoeuvre the cue ball on

0:22:18 > 0:22:30the back of that thread. -- around the back of that red.

0:23:01 > 0:23:06Not the best safety in the world, and if he is not hampered with the

0:23:06 > 0:23:12brown, the chance for Ryan Day to knock a long-running, Shaun's shot

0:23:12 > 0:23:18from the green when he tried to get up the table, to the reds that let

0:23:18 > 0:23:28him down there. This would be a confidence booster.Very difficult

0:23:28 > 0:23:37cueing. He'd like to leave the cue ball

0:23:37 > 0:23:41where the red is. Very difficult to play up our shot and screw back

0:23:41 > 0:23:45here. He has time that so well, what a shot!

0:23:45 > 0:23:50APPLAUSE He claimed it beautifully.To bridge

0:23:50 > 0:23:55over the brown like that and not that red in will certainly boost his

0:23:55 > 0:24:15confidence. -- knock that red in.

0:24:26 > 0:24:32The highest available spot for the pink is the brown, and in fact it's

0:24:32 > 0:24:44the only available spot there. Mm. Looked as if it was going to curl

0:24:44 > 0:24:50in, but it stayed absolutely dead straight. Here, I thought he was

0:24:50 > 0:24:53going to miss this, then all of a sudden it was just curling slightly,

0:24:53 > 0:25:05but not enough. He might only just be able to pick

0:25:05 > 0:25:18the yellow. Or can he see enough of the green?

0:25:18 > 0:25:24Oh, well, maybe they green doesn't even pot if he could see it, so just

0:25:24 > 0:25:26safety.

0:26:03 > 0:26:08Just got to be careful when he plays the safety shot that he covers that

0:26:08 > 0:26:16red that's to the right of the pink and green.

0:26:22 > 0:26:33And it looks as if he has done that. Or is it a gap between brown and

0:26:33 > 0:26:40pink to play the red? Yes, there might be. In a spot of bother here.

0:26:40 > 0:26:49Amazing how he found the gap there.

0:27:00 > 0:27:04Ryan would love to get the cue ball behind the yellow from this safety

0:27:04 > 0:27:14shot. Slightly too thick. APPLAUSE

0:27:14 > 0:27:21Decent length of the cue ball, though. Nice shot.

0:27:21 > 0:27:31It's quite a big target behind the yellow, brown and pink.

0:27:47 > 0:27:53Too thick once again.

0:28:11 > 0:28:23At first glance there is no easy escape back down the table here.

0:28:23 > 0:28:29Certainly awkward down the left side, because of that red near the

0:28:29 > 0:28:34left side cushion.

0:28:38 > 0:28:43Oh, he's brought the red down with the cue ball. You'll be needing a

0:28:43 > 0:28:55little bit of good fortune here. And he has had it.

0:29:29 > 0:29:36No easy safety shot. I'll be surprised if Shaun doesn't have a

0:29:36 > 0:29:41coma on this, into the left corner, with quite a bit of screw on this.

0:29:41 > 0:29:50That's his flock. -- doesn't have a go on this. That is his mark. He hit

0:29:50 > 0:30:02that one all wrong, but he had no easy safety shot on there.

0:30:14 > 0:30:18He is hampered again. This is very tough. Struck that beautifully

0:30:18 > 0:30:36again. He has to be hampered!Yes, once again awkward breach hand but

0:30:36 > 0:30:42cued beautifully. -- bridge hand. It's an awkward sort of table. In

0:30:42 > 0:30:49fact, that black is the only colour on it on the spot. -- it's on the

0:30:49 > 0:30:49spot.

0:31:11 > 0:31:19And all of the sudden, that one cannon there, he has freed up that

0:31:19 > 0:31:24black. It is still a bit congested, if you pots the red and black. This

0:31:24 > 0:31:28was the cannon he played.

0:31:32 > 0:31:36But it's not a good chance just yet.

0:31:43 > 0:31:50Where does the black go? Looks to be something on the black spot so it

0:31:50 > 0:31:56would have to go on possibly be yellow. Because I think the pink

0:31:56 > 0:32:04spot is also covered. The referee will just check with his ball marker

0:32:04 > 0:32:12to see if there is enough room on the pink and there is, just. Has

0:32:12 > 0:32:16that tied the black up? It may be available into the left middle

0:32:16 > 0:32:20pocket but I'm not sure if it goes into the right corner.

0:32:49 > 0:32:53He is back looking at the black but I don't think the black goes. He is

0:32:53 > 0:32:58going to have a look at it from the other side. That is very tight, I

0:32:58 > 0:33:03would forget about that for the time being and concentrate on the blue.

0:33:13 > 0:33:18That's just a little bit careless. He might have to play for the red

0:33:18 > 0:33:22over the left side of the table.

0:33:25 > 0:33:28Needed to get the other side of the blue.

0:33:37 > 0:33:44I think the one the left side of the table is probably slightly easier to

0:33:44 > 0:33:50get on than the one near the cushion just above the yellow. That's the

0:33:50 > 0:33:58one he has played for. Tricky little shots, fees.-- these. Yes, you

0:33:58 > 0:34:01don't want to be playing these with too much pace.

0:34:07 > 0:34:13Played it well.

0:34:32 > 0:34:36Left the red next to the black, that would certainly open the black up,

0:34:36 > 0:34:44and it clearly does. And this time he's perfect on the blue to get onto

0:34:44 > 0:34:49the red that is next to the black. He is just checking out a sea of

0:34:49 > 0:34:54those two on the black spot area are available, that's for a few shots

0:34:54 > 0:34:58time. He could play for it now but he has that easy one next to the

0:34:58 > 0:35:00black.

0:35:12 > 0:35:16Just lost the cue ball slightly there, he would have preferred to

0:35:16 > 0:35:22have been straighter. May have to play a cannon now, and push the

0:35:22 > 0:35:30black towards the centre. That's OK, reduce the black to screw up for the

0:35:30 > 0:35:40blue. -- could use the black to screw up for the blue.

0:35:40 > 0:35:42Psychologically, this would be a terrific frame and it would be a

0:35:42 > 0:35:48great frame to win at this visit. He has to get to 58 points, as you can

0:35:48 > 0:35:50see.

0:36:03 > 0:36:07No, he is running out of position here.

0:36:11 > 0:36:21Wasn't the best shot in the world from Ryan. He didn't get enough stun

0:36:21 > 0:36:23on it.

0:36:28 > 0:36:37But nevertheless, he's put himself in front.

0:36:52 > 0:36:57Well, now that the green has been knocked up there, those three

0:36:57 > 0:37:01colours are in great shape to get a snooker behind. He can take this pot

0:37:01 > 0:37:18on here. Oooh, how close was that last remark! -- was that? ! He would

0:37:18 > 0:37:22have thought that was going in. How many times did it rattle? One, two,

0:37:22 > 0:37:25three, four.

0:37:37 > 0:37:43And there is a Shaun Murphy special. APPLAUSE

0:37:43 > 0:37:49Have a look at where he got that cue ball, from that position. He was

0:37:49 > 0:37:53about nine feet away from that. The white stops then gripped the cloth

0:37:53 > 0:38:00and spins back. It's like he has it on a lump of elastic there.

0:38:39 > 0:38:46It would be a bit of a body blow if Shaun was to pinch this frame

0:38:46 > 0:38:52because Ryan was in pretty good shape until he didn't get on the red

0:38:52 > 0:38:57off the blue. Just a little bit of movement in the background there,

0:38:57 > 0:39:00some late comers.

0:39:33 > 0:39:42Well, it has freed up those two reds. It is a tough shot but you

0:39:42 > 0:39:45automatically finish on brown or blue here.

0:39:49 > 0:39:52Oooh...

0:39:55 > 0:40:02I think that was the new cloth that played it slightly easier but that

0:40:02 > 0:40:06didn't look like it was going to drop.

0:40:09 > 0:40:16And now the brown goes on the highest available, on the black spot

0:40:16 > 0:40:23this time, which helps Shaun. Well, Ryan will be delighted to see the

0:40:23 > 0:40:29cue ball finishing there, but don't think that Shaun Murphy still can't

0:40:29 > 0:40:33get onto the red. Watch this shot, he will go round the angles between

0:40:33 > 0:40:40pink and yellow and back for the red. Here it comes... Oooh, caught

0:40:40 > 0:40:46the yellow. Ryan will be delighted to have seen that White hit the

0:40:46 > 0:40:47yellow.

0:40:58 > 0:41:01If he can get enough side spin on this and hit the cushion, he could

0:41:01 > 0:41:08leave the white wavy red -- where the red is.

0:41:12 > 0:41:17But he's got to be a little careful he doesn't get too much side on it

0:41:17 > 0:41:20or he will send the red into the brown.

0:41:29 > 0:41:35No problem hitting the red, it's just what he's going to do with it

0:41:35 > 0:41:40he is concerned about.I don't think he can get enough side and that

0:41:40 > 0:41:45Kubot to play that red. The sort of contact he would get on the red, the

0:41:45 > 0:41:50cue ball could be heading towards the yellow pocket. He would be

0:41:50 > 0:41:54trusting to luck, really, possibly, leaving a long snooker behind the

0:41:54 > 0:41:58blue because there is every chance it could leave a long red into the

0:41:58 > 0:42:03right-hand pocket. It depends how much side he can get on. Well, the

0:42:03 > 0:42:09answer to that is not enough. Shaun Murphy, 23.

0:42:12 > 0:42:20Ryan is having it replaced. Yes, he's playing to just glance off the

0:42:20 > 0:42:24red when he hits the cushion. As Peter said, the red would head

0:42:24 > 0:42:33towards the left corner pocket, to the left of the referee's glove.

0:42:38 > 0:42:42That looks near enough, to me.

0:42:46 > 0:42:52I mean, he has asked Ryan. Ryan has said, listen, that looks pretty

0:42:52 > 0:42:53good.

0:43:03 > 0:43:07That is amazing. He seems to be hitting the white in the middle with

0:43:07 > 0:43:14side. You need to be playing it down near the bottom of the cue ball to

0:43:14 > 0:43:16get that little bit more side on it.

0:43:21 > 0:43:29I don't know... He's looking at the side cushion now. Surely just play

0:43:29 > 0:43:36it with a bit more side. He doesn't have to play the same shot again. So

0:43:36 > 0:43:40it's two cushions and hopefully get a bit of distance between the white

0:43:40 > 0:43:45and red.If he catches this right this time he could possibly leave a

0:43:45 > 0:43:51snooker behind the brown but he will need to catch it absolutely perfect.

0:43:54 > 0:44:04He likes of brown, doesn't he? -- that brown, doesn't he?A little

0:44:04 > 0:44:08more difficult replacing them this time, because the yellow... Ryan

0:44:08 > 0:44:12coming forward to give him a Braafheid ear wear the yellow was.

0:44:12 > 0:44:15You are not allowed to touch the ball yourself but that is where it

0:44:15 > 0:44:24was before. To -- to give him a hint where the yellow was.

0:44:34 > 0:44:37That is what the marker is looking at.

0:44:42 > 0:44:54Can you mix it?That is getting nearer.Just mix it, put it on mix.

0:44:54 > 0:45:02He is getting there. Perfect. That is it.Yet?

0:45:14 > 0:45:23Shaun is now having a look, just to see. CHUCKLES

0:45:23 > 0:45:29Happy with it? Thanks.Is he going to go back to his original choice? I

0:45:29 > 0:45:37think the first Choice with a lot of bottom would be OK. But here we go,

0:45:37 > 0:45:41his second attempt at this side cushion escape. APPLAUSE

0:45:41 > 0:45:52Where is the cue ball? That is the worst possible outcome. Unlucky to

0:45:52 > 0:46:02go in but it looks like it will be a free ball. It is a free ball.Pink.

0:46:02 > 0:46:0733 the difference, they pink will count as one point. 34.

0:46:12 > 0:46:21So just the black to leave Shaun at the snooker 's required stage. This

0:46:21 > 0:46:25was a very important frame from Ryan Day. It looked like he was going to

0:46:25 > 0:46:27clinch it with one visit.

0:46:36 > 0:46:38APPLAUSE

0:46:43 > 0:46:50Certainly not one of his best position shots, that's for sure. But

0:46:50 > 0:46:53two snookers needed.

0:47:09 > 0:47:18Ryan Day, eight. So, barring a couple of snookers, he

0:47:18 > 0:47:21has this second frame.

0:47:23 > 0:47:28The balls are not too badly placed for those snookers.

0:48:07 > 0:48:15He has a chance here is getting a snooker, a thin one of the red. That

0:48:15 > 0:48:20will keep the red safe and a good chance to get in behind... He can

0:48:20 > 0:48:23just pick the colour he likes.

0:48:27 > 0:48:32I think he has found the gap, has he?

0:49:54 > 0:49:58That is a pretty good effort. APPLAUSE

0:50:07 > 0:50:12Always nice to see that.

0:50:26 > 0:50:32Shaun tried to bring the green into play there, believe it or not.

0:50:35 > 0:50:41So, another opportunity for Ryan Day just to push the red in or over the

0:50:41 > 0:50:48yellow pocket. Oh, I'm very surprised at his shot selection

0:50:48 > 0:50:53there. He has played a good safety shot but why not put the red over

0:50:53 > 0:50:55the pocket?

0:51:01 > 0:51:07He could have done without this, Ryan Day. He potted the black to

0:51:07 > 0:51:11leave Shaun needing a couple of snookers snookered himself on the

0:51:11 > 0:51:17last red was available. -- that was available.

0:51:41 > 0:51:44Taking a red and black still leaves him in the same situation. You

0:51:44 > 0:51:50always would like to keep the red on the table, if you could.

0:52:14 > 0:52:17Shaun Murphy, eight.

0:52:35 > 0:52:41Just a little bit careless to get the double-kiss. He has left Shaun a

0:52:41 > 0:52:45chance of one of the two snookers that he needs.

0:52:52 > 0:52:57But didn't get in behind the black for a chance to put this second

0:52:57 > 0:53:05frame to bed, so to speak. I would just play this easy, I wouldn't be

0:53:05 > 0:53:09forcing this. Even if he hits the cushion first, give the pocket a

0:53:09 > 0:53:18chance... If he hits it had, he can miss it. That's all he needs.

0:53:20 > 0:53:22CHUCKLES

0:53:29 > 0:53:32Almost double-kissed it into the pocket.

0:53:42 > 0:53:49Just look at this. If he had hit it slightly harder, the white would

0:53:49 > 0:53:55have gone through and knocked in the yellow. This looks good. APPLAUSE

0:54:03 > 0:54:07Slightly more difficult to hit this time. Two cushions, just off the

0:54:07 > 0:54:14left side of the table would be the way to go. Could go once a cross,

0:54:14 > 0:54:20but the players prefer to hit two cushions, with not a lot of pace.

0:54:22 > 0:54:27Well played. APPLAUSE

0:54:45 > 0:54:51Shaun can play the snooker behind the brown here...Well, that's a

0:54:51 > 0:54:54surprising choice of shot for me.

0:55:01 > 0:55:05Very surprised he potted the green.

0:55:13 > 0:55:18It seemed like a really good opportunity, Dennis, to play the

0:55:18 > 0:55:23snooker there.Yes, it was a strange choice.

0:55:27 > 0:55:36I mean, if he potted the brown and blue, he could tie with one snooker.

0:55:36 > 0:55:40Six penalty points available but only the one ball to snooker behind.

0:55:44 > 0:55:52That could be the end. That's a poor shot from Shaun.

0:55:59 > 0:56:02APPLAUSE

0:56:14 > 0:56:19It doesn't matter about the blue. Ryan Day wins the frame and it is

0:56:19 > 0:56:221-1.

0:56:26 > 0:56:30All the importance of that one from the point of view of Ryan settling

0:56:30 > 0:56:34in this match, how important do you think it was?Hard-fought but he is

0:56:34 > 0:56:39over the line. He could have got back into it, Shaun, but lost

0:56:39 > 0:56:42position on that second last red and snookered himself and then Brian got

0:56:42 > 0:56:48a few points from that. Ryan will be relieved.And surely will. Shaun

0:56:48 > 0:56:53snookering himself caused a whole myriad of problems.Tried to swerve

0:56:53 > 0:56:56it a couple of times. I thought the first time he could have gone the

0:56:56 > 0:57:00other side of the table, I thought if he went round by the yellow it

0:57:00 > 0:57:05would be a better choice of shot. I think Ryan will be more delighted.

0:57:05 > 0:57:11Potted a few balls, settled in and it is match on.So important for

0:57:11 > 0:57:15Ryan to settle down in this first of his triple Crown semifinals here.

0:57:15 > 0:57:20Even in the last match against choice in the quarterfinal, gave him

0:57:20 > 0:57:24so much to do and was chasing from the start.Fantastic to come back to

0:57:24 > 0:57:28win that match. I think the confidence of winning the first

0:57:28 > 0:57:33ranking tournament, he has lost in three finals, so to win that is like

0:57:33 > 0:57:37a monkey off your back. It gives you that air of confidence. Just like

0:57:37 > 0:57:40Shaun looks winning the champions champions against Ronnie O'Sullivan,

0:57:40 > 0:57:45he's a different player to the one he was 12 months ago. I think both

0:57:45 > 0:57:50players are in both form, potting well, good long pots. I did this

0:57:50 > 0:57:53game will get better. It opened up with a great century from Shaun but

0:57:53 > 0:57:59I think it will go better as it goes on.I know Shaun is the vastly more

0:57:59 > 0:58:02experienced player, but Ryan has had enough experience in the game, I

0:58:02 > 0:58:07don't think he's that much of a newcomer to this big stage. He's

0:58:07 > 0:58:10been at the World Championships. Once you have played the Crucible...

0:58:10 > 0:58:17Quarterfinalist.It's not like it's a rabbit in the headlights stuff. I

0:58:17 > 0:58:21expect him to play pretty well, if you get another table time.Let's

0:58:21 > 0:58:26get back to table on because this is the third frame as Ryan comes back

0:58:26 > 0:58:30on - one. It looks like we are going to be in for a pretty open and

0:58:30 > 0:58:32exciting game tonight.

0:58:38 > 0:58:46COMMENTATOR: Absolutely, Hazel. That was quite a long second frame. The

0:58:46 > 0:58:54first frame was under ten minutes, the century break. Ryan won't mind

0:58:54 > 0:58:59how long the frame takes as long as he wins it. Can Shaun get back into

0:58:59 > 0:59:03stroke here, early on?

0:59:08 > 0:59:16Well, he was on the black. Had this long red have gone in.

0:59:22 > 0:59:27Ryan has a tough red into the yellow pocket here. He would love to get

0:59:27 > 0:59:32the cue ball back into a similar position that it's in now. No,

0:59:32 > 0:59:40slightly wide. Shaun Murphy is a very attacking player. I wouldn't be

0:59:40 > 0:59:47surprised if he took this red on. Lots of top spin. And depending on

0:59:47 > 0:59:51what pace he placed it at, either to stay on the black or possibly go

0:59:51 > 1:00:00right through the reds for the blue. A fantastic pot.

1:00:06 > 1:00:13Yes, I would tip to very gently passed that white.

1:00:16 > 1:00:20That would have been unlucky, had that cue ball have dropped.

1:00:20 > 1:00:25Incidentally, if it was to fall in after three or four seconds, it

1:00:25 > 1:00:28would be replaced over the pocket.

1:00:30 > 1:00:39It's not like a pot, you're allowed a little bit longer. If it drops in,

1:00:39 > 1:00:43it's OK, if it snooker, it would have to go back.

1:00:59 > 1:01:05Shaun Murphy is one of the very best rest players in the game, he rarely

1:01:05 > 1:01:08misses with the rest.

1:01:16 > 1:01:20That positional shot really needed to be very accurate, and that was

1:01:20 > 1:01:35poor, cannoning into the yellow dear.Yes. As I say, this course is

1:01:35 > 1:01:42playing very lively -- the yellow there. The percentages against

1:01:42 > 1:01:51knocking this planned in our pretty low. You got to be so accurate. --

1:01:51 > 1:01:53knocking this plant in. Didn't fancy that one little bit.Very difficult

1:01:53 > 1:01:58shot, with the distance between those two Matt reds, as you quite

1:01:58 > 1:02:04rightly say, Dennis. Surprised he played it, to be honest. Having

1:02:04 > 1:02:17missed it. The reds could have gone everywhere. This is a test of

1:02:17 > 1:02:29cueing. That's very good. Well played.General, I think Shaun

1:02:29 > 1:02:34Murphy, showing you this long pot again, he was so disgusted with the

1:02:34 > 1:02:43position -- you know, I think Shaun Murphy. He just went for the plant.

1:02:43 > 1:02:47Oh, well, here's looking at the tip there. Played that right-hand side,

1:02:47 > 1:02:52but what has he done there? Peter has been talking about the new cue

1:02:52 > 1:03:01that Ryan has. It will certainly take a bit of getting used to it,

1:03:01 > 1:03:08but this one, it can't be that bad, the cue has gotten through to the

1:03:08 > 1:03:12semifinal of his first big three. Yes, it was just very noticeable

1:03:12 > 1:03:17yesterday that in his match almost every ball he missed with side he

1:03:17 > 1:03:25pulled them. You certainly wouldn't expect him to miss that sort of pot

1:03:25 > 1:03:30over that distance. But he played it on the side and his new cue is

1:03:30 > 1:03:38obviously throwing off side for less than his old one. Misjudgement. --

1:03:38 > 1:03:48for far less.

1:04:17 > 1:04:22Pretty good chance, this, and there are a few more reds available before

1:04:22 > 1:04:37you have to go on to that little bunch of six reds.

1:05:12 > 1:05:15Just the one red available so he might decide to bring a few more

1:05:15 > 1:05:23into play here, but it hasn't worked out, at first glance. He was unlucky

1:05:23 > 1:05:32there. Didn't need to hit it very hard.I

1:05:32 > 1:05:38think Shaun may be able to take this red into the left-centre and almost

1:05:38 > 1:05:45play it as a shot to nothing. Ah, beautifully cued.

1:05:45 > 1:05:56APPLAUSE He will have to go into it again.

1:05:56 > 1:06:05And this time it is perfect. That's a frame when there you are just

1:06:05 > 1:06:17looking at. -- a frame winner. And you have to say he is certainly

1:06:17 > 1:06:23punishing Ryan Day for that mistake. Screwing through the reds, he gets

1:06:23 > 1:06:33so much spin. The cue ball spins and then spins again.

1:06:46 > 1:06:57Already 61 points in front. Snooker's now required. So a frame

1:06:57 > 1:07:06that hasn't been going in minutes, but like the opening frame, the last

1:07:06 > 1:07:14frame, and the ball has gone a little awkward, over 56 minutes.

1:07:36 > 1:07:45APPLAUSE Some century, with the last two

1:07:45 > 1:07:57reds, as they are situated. Just look at that shot. But unlucky. You

1:07:57 > 1:08:01would have to knock a cracking red, into this left corner pocket. You

1:08:01 > 1:08:08wouldn't put it past him... Well, any pocket will do. It might go in

1:08:08 > 1:08:19the pocket he played it in. He sat on his seat and watched Shaun Murphy

1:08:19 > 1:08:34make that break of 73. The now reads 2-1. -- and he now leads 2-1.

1:09:22 > 1:09:29Shaun Murphy to break. PETER EBDON:Shaun Murphy breaking

1:09:29 > 1:09:35off in frame format, leading by two frames to one -- in frame for. That

1:09:35 > 1:09:50is very cueable. Nice break.

1:09:57 > 1:10:04DENNIS TAYLOR: Mid-session interval, not after this frame. He is coming

1:10:04 > 1:10:13round to see the situation, and would have to be very careful not to

1:10:13 > 1:10:25leave the red that is closest to the black.

1:10:26 > 1:10:30If those two reds weren't there he would have to go with this one on

1:10:30 > 1:10:33them to the left corner, trying to get onto the black. That is why he's

1:10:33 > 1:10:39thinking about it for almost a minute. He has to get this right.

1:10:39 > 1:10:47That red on the right side of the table is a little awkward. And that

1:10:47 > 1:10:58was his concern. He was frightened of cannon into that. That is why he

1:10:58 > 1:11:10missed it completely. What a result he has had here if there is nothing

1:11:10 > 1:11:15available to Shaun.

1:11:21 > 1:11:27Mm, he has got away with it.

1:12:20 > 1:12:25That's a big mistake there. He's just looking to see, well, to the

1:12:25 > 1:12:30white drift a little bit? But whatever happened he has put you on

1:12:30 > 1:12:36right in amongst them here.

1:12:52 > 1:13:00Didn't play the cannon, as he intended. Just wanted to hit the red

1:13:00 > 1:13:11a little bit fuller. Already a change of plan.

1:13:17 > 1:13:25Good shot at that pace. He had to play with that speed to get on the

1:13:25 > 1:13:33blue. And there are a few available here to him. Just show him bridging

1:13:33 > 1:13:48over the red... Have a little look, coming back out again. So he has had

1:13:48 > 1:13:58breaks of 104 and 73. And there are a few still available here.

1:14:07 > 1:14:15He played that shot very well indeed. Always into the left-centre,

1:14:15 > 1:14:22if he didn't get that correctly, but played a wonderful shot. He doesn't

1:14:22 > 1:14:28need to go into the reds here but he is very attacking, Shaun Murphy, and

1:14:28 > 1:14:36you just never know. He may well do. After this next red, though. He

1:14:36 > 1:14:40likes to get the pack open as soon as he possibly can, to give himself

1:14:40 > 1:14:49a frame-winning opportunity. Now, he is not high enough on the political

1:14:49 > 1:14:57into the red. That is probably what he played for.

1:14:57 > 1:15:04-- high enough on the blue to go into the reds.And the reason he

1:15:04 > 1:15:07played that shot, if he had got nicely on the blue he would have

1:15:07 > 1:15:11gone into the reds. That one was always going to be a bit of

1:15:11 > 1:15:20insurance. Now, he has got to get this just right.

1:15:24 > 1:15:33Blake for the loose one -- he played for the loose one. Last chance to

1:15:33 > 1:15:40get a good angle. APPLAUSE

1:15:40 > 1:15:44And they are not a great bunch to go into but with the cue power he has

1:15:44 > 1:15:49and the action gets on the cue ball, he plays it well, but it still

1:15:49 > 1:15:57requires a good shot, this. It was never going to be easy. Has this one

1:15:57 > 1:16:14past the pink? If it does, he's OK. Yes, he can play for blue. It's a

1:16:14 > 1:16:18couple of times, and I know there are a lot of people who have called

1:16:18 > 1:16:27going down, a few coughs, Shaun just back-up from that shot there. --

1:16:27 > 1:16:35there are a lot of people who have colds going around.Is not hanging

1:16:35 > 1:16:39about, is he, Dennis?The first frame was under ten minutes, as was

1:16:39 > 1:16:58the third. And a frame winner coming up an average short time is just 21

1:16:58 > 1:17:06seconds. What is available? Is there a plant on? It is a nice little

1:17:06 > 1:17:12bonus if that's on, and you can see it, but he would have to hit it on

1:17:12 > 1:17:15the white side, as we look at it, to squeeze it into the pocket.

1:17:15 > 1:17:24APPLAUSE It's amazing. I was doing the game

1:17:24 > 1:17:28with Sunny Akani against Ronnie O'Sullivan and he misjudged a plant

1:17:28 > 1:17:31like that, just couldn't see you had to hit it on the other side, and

1:17:31 > 1:17:41believe it or not... If he had a very entertaining Thai player would

1:17:41 > 1:17:49have knocked out the Rocket. -- the very entertaining. This is just

1:17:49 > 1:17:55fabulous stuff from Shaun Murphy, it really is.

1:18:05 > 1:18:08Perhaps Shaun has a table book at the restaurant across the road,

1:18:08 > 1:18:20Dennis, this evening.He has had four centuries, Shaun, well, this

1:18:20 > 1:18:33would be his fourth, if it goes in. 93 so far now in the tournament. And

1:18:33 > 1:18:39if this short works out this could be another century. No. He has

1:18:39 > 1:18:45overcome that. No century. APPLAUSE

1:18:45 > 1:18:51He won three very quick frames. He goes into the mid-session interval

1:18:51 > 1:18:58leading Ryan Day by 3-1. HAZEL IRVINE: Yes, he ambles out of

1:18:58 > 1:19:00the arena but you're right, Dennis, you looks and something of a hurry

1:19:00 > 1:19:04tonight. Your impression so far, the way he has gone about business in

1:19:04 > 1:19:08the fourth frame?I think Shaun Murphy looks excellent on the shot,

1:19:08 > 1:19:12seems to be comparable amongst the balls, and a top prospect for

1:19:12 > 1:19:16anybody, even the champion of champions. I think it is tough for

1:19:16 > 1:19:20Ryan Day. Especially because there is still a possibility even though

1:19:20 > 1:19:26he is in the semifinals, the UK championship, that he hasn't

1:19:26 > 1:19:29absolutely got used to his new cue and that shows up most when you are

1:19:29 > 1:19:33playing on the side of him. You see the pink Kemalist, effectively the

1:19:33 > 1:19:37cue did not push... The ball did not push into the pink as much as it

1:19:37 > 1:19:40would have done without outside side spin, and this next one, the red

1:19:40 > 1:19:44into the corner that lets in Shaun Murphy, what actually happened, he

1:19:44 > 1:19:48did it with a fraction of left-hand side spin and it seems he hit

1:19:48 > 1:19:51fractionally across the ball. We may be reading too much into it, I don't

1:19:51 > 1:19:57know.You did have a chat with them? Before he went out I met him

1:19:57 > 1:20:02backstage, I just said, you've had some really tough matches. The head

1:20:02 > 1:20:08and 65s. He was just joking, he said, still trying to get used to

1:20:08 > 1:20:11this cue, so obviously there is still something in his mind. As

1:20:11 > 1:20:17Steve said, it is only exaggerating when you're potting a little bit of

1:20:17 > 1:20:20that on the ball, and it is only fractions in this game and if you

1:20:20 > 1:20:27are a fraction off, as he was, and you miss the ball, in the very first

1:20:27 > 1:20:31shot, coming across it and across the miscue as well, so the fractions

1:20:31 > 1:20:35have cost him. It may be the cue, maybe not.You said it earlier on.

1:20:35 > 1:20:39Tough matches but also some tough luck. After waiting years for a

1:20:39 > 1:20:45world ranking title that came in the Latvian capital of Riga over the

1:20:45 > 1:20:50summer, after a few days, his cue was snapped when information repair,

1:20:50 > 1:20:53and you would think you must have been an absolute despair at that

1:20:53 > 1:20:58point?Yes, I have had my cue all my life so I don't know what it is like

1:20:58 > 1:21:03to play with a new one, but Stephen Hendry's cue, I was on the flight

1:21:03 > 1:21:06with him and when he found out it was smashed coming back from

1:21:06 > 1:21:09Thailand it took a long time and he possibly never got over it, his

1:21:09 > 1:21:13smashed cue, so players change cues all the time but it does take some

1:21:13 > 1:21:19time to get used to.Had that happen to you?No, but I have played with

1:21:19 > 1:21:21different cues and they all have different characteristics, mainly

1:21:21 > 1:21:26when potting side spin on it, so it when you hit the ball with centre

1:21:26 > 1:21:31ball striking it should go along the cue but with side spin the cue ball

1:21:31 > 1:21:34will deflect away from the side spin you're potting on and you have to

1:21:34 > 1:21:37know the shape of how the cue ball then comes back online and every cue

1:21:37 > 1:21:43will have its own distinct characteristics, and until you can

1:21:43 > 1:21:46trust it like it is an old friend you're always second-guessing

1:21:46 > 1:21:50yourself.But how long does that process takes? Adaptability in your

1:21:50 > 1:21:55own head as much as anything?Some can be better than others but if you

1:21:55 > 1:21:58can get the cue to be made as close to the characteristics as possible,

1:21:58 > 1:22:03but every piece of wood is different so it is tough.Even if you have the

1:22:03 > 1:22:09exact specifications, as two cues together, both of them will perhaps

1:22:09 > 1:22:15react differently.OK, so let's see how Ryan fears after the interval.

1:22:15 > 1:22:18We will reflect on the first semifinal, a match that became even

1:22:18 > 1:22:22more intriguing the longer it went on. It looked for a well liked

1:22:22 > 1:22:25Ronnie O'Sullivan would run away with it because he went to a 4-0

1:22:25 > 1:22:33lead but after the interval the game absolutely burst into life when the

1:22:33 > 1:22:36Scot, Maguire, launched a comeback, winning four of the next five

1:22:36 > 1:22:44frames, and was just one behind at 4-5. How would O'Sullivan respond?

1:22:44 > 1:22:54This was frame ten, watched by Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor.

1:22:54 > 1:23:07Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Frame ten. Stephen Maguire to break.

1:23:22 > 1:23:25STEPHEN HENDRY:4-0 and it looks like Ronnie O'Sullivan was cruising

1:23:25 > 1:23:32to the final. Anything but now.

1:23:41 > 1:23:47Yes, he did well to get the cue ball back,but there is a red to the

1:23:47 > 1:23:53right corner. There are pressure on these now, Dennis. When you have

1:23:53 > 1:23:57nothing to lose and you go for them you relax, but now he could win the

1:23:57 > 1:24:04match.DENNIS TAYLOR: There is a bit of a gap but a few obstacles here on

1:24:04 > 1:24:17the table. Yes. It was a good effort. And there is no easy one for

1:24:17 > 1:24:20Ronnie O'Sullivan, that's for sure. We will show you this red wobble in

1:24:20 > 1:24:28the jaws.Yes, the pressure switches back again from just being relaxed

1:24:28 > 1:24:34with not much to lose, and all of a sudden you're back in it.Well, this

1:24:34 > 1:24:41will get him onto the black. Not a sitter, that's for sure.

1:24:41 > 1:24:45APPLAUSE

1:24:53 > 1:24:59Yes, he has missed two or three long balls since the interval, when he

1:24:59 > 1:25:02made that netizen century. Some he has not cued well, but that was

1:25:02 > 1:25:11perfection. -- that magnificent century.

1:25:26 > 1:25:31But this man has seen every scenario in the game of snooker. Over his

1:25:31 > 1:25:37career. So there is no way he is going to panic even when losing four

1:25:37 > 1:25:43frames out of five.

1:25:56 > 1:26:00I think there's every chance Stephen Maguire might have played his last

1:26:00 > 1:26:17shot in this match. He will be fearing the worst.

1:26:19 > 1:26:24Ronnie O'Sullivan always manages to find an extra gear when required.

1:26:27 > 1:26:38He has let that one go a little bit. Played for the blue. That was loose.

1:26:38 > 1:26:49There's not many more available to him. Just a couple of pottable reds.

1:26:49 > 1:26:53Amazing what can happen in this game. Just going slightly out of

1:26:53 > 1:27:00position, took the very aggressive route, and was very unlucky to pot

1:27:00 > 1:27:14the pink when he had knocked theblew in. Amazing what can happen in this

1:27:14 > 1:27:31game at times -- knocked the blue in.Yes, here is a shot that Ronnie

1:27:31 > 1:27:35is playing, straight off the blue. He has overheads that by about a

1:27:35 > 1:27:41foot. A very loose shot. And you see the consequences. He has to play a

1:27:41 > 1:27:46difficult blue to go into the bunch. The pot wasn't so difficult but

1:27:46 > 1:27:48getting the right contact was very tough because he had such an acute

1:27:48 > 1:27:58angle.That is an awkward little position for the referee to be in,

1:27:58 > 1:28:03to get the pink in a straight line, directly in line with the blue and

1:28:03 > 1:28:09black. And this time it had to go behind the white, there wasn't

1:28:09 > 1:28:15enough room to get it behind the reds.

1:28:28 > 1:28:35Well, he has purposely opened the reds up there, Stephen Maguire. A

1:28:35 > 1:28:37lot of players would have just glanced off that but he played that

1:28:37 > 1:28:44in such a way he has opened up the game. Is this to acute into the

1:28:44 > 1:28:47middle pocket?

1:28:47 > 1:28:55Is this too acute into the middle pocket?

1:28:55 > 1:29:01Oh, what a pot that is. APPLAUSE

1:29:01 > 1:29:04And now, well, it was a very positive shot, Dennis, but he might

1:29:04 > 1:29:07be regretting it now. LAUGHTER

1:29:07 > 1:29:13Yes, didn't think he was going to leave that one, that's for sure.

1:29:13 > 1:29:18But he has opened up the reds and now Stephen has to sit in his seat

1:29:18 > 1:29:21and see how many Ronnie can knock in, as we show you that very

1:29:21 > 1:29:27delicate shot. Ronnie O'Sullivan straightaway

1:29:27 > 1:29:36playing for the red covering the black spot.

1:29:36 > 1:29:43That's where the pink is going to go, after the pots it. Great chance

1:29:43 > 1:29:54to get into the final.

1:30:27 > 1:30:33I think just forget about the black and concentrate on the pink here.

1:30:40 > 1:30:42Not absolutely perfect.

1:30:56 > 1:31:07Very delicately played. Back in prime position again. Just that on

1:31:07 > 1:31:14safety shot he played, a bit aggressive it was. He wanted to open

1:31:14 > 1:31:18up the reds but didn't get the cue ball where he wanted. He could have

1:31:18 > 1:31:22just glanced off them but he wanted that white tights on the baulk

1:31:22 > 1:31:30cushion and it came away from it. -- wanted that white tight.

1:31:52 > 1:31:58Looked like it was all going to be one-way traffic when Ronnie led 4-0.

1:31:58 > 1:32:02Stephen Maguire could have won a couple of those first four frames,

1:32:02 > 1:32:11didn't manage it. But he played some brilliant snooker to get right back

1:32:11 > 1:32:17in this match, winning four frames out of five, but a few more pots and

1:32:17 > 1:32:24it's all over for this year for Stephen Maguire. Ronnie O'Sullivan

1:32:24 > 1:32:28keeping himself on track take equal Steve Davis' record of six UK

1:32:28 > 1:32:31titles.

1:32:37 > 1:32:44Yes, he has always been able to find something when it's been needed.

1:32:47 > 1:32:53When Stephen came back from 4-0 to 4-2, Ronnie knocked in a century

1:32:53 > 1:32:55break. So...

1:33:05 > 1:33:12Started the match with a break of 61 and is finishing the match in style.

1:33:17 > 1:33:19APPLAUSE

1:33:32 > 1:33:39Well, not a century about what a way to finish. Great comeback from

1:33:39 > 1:33:48Stephen Maguire, but it was a bit too much and in the end Ronnie Rob

1:33:48 > 1:33:52O'Sullivan -- Ronnie O'Sullivan winning 6-4.

1:33:52 > 1:33:57Congratulations, yet another UK championship final.Yes... He was

1:33:57 > 1:34:03coming back at me and I was lucky to be 4-0 up. Stephen didn't capitalise

1:34:03 > 1:34:07on the chances in the first four frames, so I got away with it and I

1:34:07 > 1:34:09just tried to stay ahead after that.

1:34:09 > 1:34:10frames, so I got away with it and I just tried to stay ahead after that.

1:34:10 > 1:34:14Pleased to be in another UK final. From a neutral's point of view it

1:34:14 > 1:34:17was an interesting match, at one with stage it looked like you would

1:34:17 > 1:34:22railroad him and then he showed his class to give himself the chance.I

1:34:22 > 1:34:28knew he was playing well because I'd seen the results and watched a bit

1:34:28 > 1:34:31of him playing on TV. He looked to be doing pretty good. I knew I had

1:34:31 > 1:34:35to play pretty decent today and luckily enough for me I was able to

1:34:35 > 1:34:40just do enough, really.Great stuff, we will see tomorrow, lovely Ronnie.

1:34:40 > 1:34:45Rodney threw to a third successive final and a seventh in total. That

1:34:45 > 1:34:51final starts at one o'clock here on BBC Two. But who will Ronnie

1:34:51 > 1:34:56O'Sullivan be facing? At the moment Shaun Murphy has a 3-1 lead over

1:34:56 > 1:35:01Ryan Day in his semifinal. He looks in a hurry to get there. I wonder if

1:35:01 > 1:35:06he can cross the line or Ryan Day will still have a major say in this

1:35:06 > 1:35:07semifinal? Back to Peter and Dennis.

1:35:12 > 1:35:18COMMENTATOR: Thank you. Ryan Day as he was walking back in had a little

1:35:18 > 1:35:23smile on his face, so that is always a good sign. He knows he is up

1:35:23 > 1:35:26against a player at the top of his form.

1:35:33 > 1:35:38Make sure mobiles are switched off or an silent please, thank you.

1:35:38 > 1:35:41The audience back in again and someone forgot to put their phone on

1:35:41 > 1:35:44silent.

1:35:45 > 1:35:47APPLAUSE

1:35:53 > 1:35:58That's what we call a Shaun Murphy special. Brilliant at this type of

1:35:58 > 1:36:00shot.

1:36:09 > 1:36:17And with that long pink he has got himself in early in this fifth

1:36:17 > 1:36:23frame. It might take a little bit of sporting here, deep pink. -- a bit

1:36:23 > 1:36:36of spotting. Not enough room in between the reds so he will have to

1:36:36 > 1:36:41get it in a straight line. Get it in a straight line and roll the pink

1:36:41 > 1:36:43forward.

1:36:51 > 1:36:58Just rocking back a little bit, the pink, as you can see. But that is

1:36:58 > 1:37:00spot on.

1:37:05 > 1:37:12Just looking at three of Shaun's frames, all under ten minutes.

1:37:15 > 1:37:22With breaks of 104, 73 and 80 nine. He is flying at the moment.

1:37:49 > 1:38:00That is not absolutely ideal. Very good recovery, though. Now, he's so

1:38:00 > 1:38:08attacking. Will he play into the reds with pace? Deep screw shot.

1:38:08 > 1:38:18Wow! How was that for a shot?! Wow. He couldn't have hit it any better.

1:38:18 > 1:38:22I think he blocked the pocket. You can't catch a breath, watch the

1:38:22 > 1:38:27white, stops and then spins back. Not many players could have pulled

1:38:27 > 1:38:33that shot off but look how the red has come out and blocked the pocket.

1:38:33 > 1:38:39Amazing. Still a couple of pots to go at, but with the way he opened

1:38:39 > 1:38:43them up, he should have had something a lot easier than this.

1:38:55 > 1:38:57APPLAUSE

1:39:02 > 1:39:05This is awesome at the moment.

1:39:14 > 1:39:25Having to bridge over the red and pink there. 94% pot success rate.

1:39:25 > 1:39:27That might even go up.

1:39:32 > 1:39:36This frame could be over in a matter of minutes.

1:40:16 > 1:40:21Just let the white run a bit further than he intended there.

1:40:40 > 1:40:44Well, even that shot to get the right side of the blue, he hardly

1:40:44 > 1:40:50hit that and look at the action he got on it. Up to 95 now.

1:40:54 > 1:40:58At the moment, Shaun Murphy is playing the semifinal of the UK

1:40:58 > 1:41:01championship like he would play in his club. He is just enjoying

1:41:01 > 1:41:05knocking in the balls.

1:41:19 > 1:41:25Steve Davis very famously once said that the art of playing snooker is

1:41:25 > 1:41:31to play as if it means nothing, when it actually means everything. And

1:41:31 > 1:41:36Shaun Murphy is certainly doing that. He has been incredibly

1:41:36 > 1:41:39impressive so far this evening. Cueing the ball beautifully, getting

1:41:39 > 1:41:44on with it, playing at a fantastic pace. Playing very entertaining and

1:41:44 > 1:41:50exciting snooker. This is just fabulous.

1:41:58 > 1:41:59APPLAUSE

1:42:06 > 1:42:09He has already had one century in this semifinal.

1:42:22 > 1:42:30At 93 -- we have had 93 centuries so far. This could be Shaun's fourth.

1:42:30 > 1:42:40Just the black needed. Stunning snooker from the Magician.

1:42:41 > 1:42:50His nickname is the Magician, that one and he is waving, a lot of magic

1:42:50 > 1:42:54out there. And look at that shot with the rest.

1:42:59 > 1:43:06Surely he can't pot this yellow and come off two cushions and in behind

1:43:06 > 1:43:08the green...

1:43:11 > 1:43:13Brilliant!

1:43:20 > 1:43:29Talking about in the zone. Well, that's nice to see. Ryan Day just

1:43:29 > 1:43:34nodding, as if to say, can't do anything about this, and he can't.

1:43:46 > 1:43:56Well... Everything going right in the centre of the pocket. Absolutely

1:43:56 > 1:44:01incredible snooker from the Magician, Shaun Murphy. Once again,

1:44:01 > 1:44:07one chance and he cleared the table with that magnificent break, 135. He

1:44:07 > 1:44:13leads Ryan Day 4-1. The sixth century of the

1:44:13 > 1:44:18championship, the second of this match. Ken and Steve watching on in

1:44:18 > 1:44:22real appreciation, particularly the statistics we are looking at. 95%

1:44:22 > 1:44:31pot success, 54% long pot success and that is significant.Ryan can't

1:44:31 > 1:44:35do much, leaving him distance from -- balls from distance and he is

1:44:35 > 1:44:38knocking them all. It is also the pace around the table. He is

1:44:38 > 1:44:44averaging less than 20 seconds, 19 seconds, but interesting how long

1:44:44 > 1:44:49the long ball success over the whole tournament... But at the moment, 64%

1:44:49 > 1:44:55is very high.I've been told that over the four four TV matches, his

1:44:55 > 1:45:04long pot success is 71%.Incredible. You would have to say, on the form,

1:45:04 > 1:45:08Shaun Murphy is looking the best player in the tournament, as they

1:45:08 > 1:45:12currently speak. Ronnie O'Sullivan as yet hasn't played this standard,

1:45:12 > 1:45:17even though Ronnie great in his own way. If Shaun Murphy gets to the

1:45:17 > 1:45:22final, I think we will be in for a treat.At the moment for Ryan Day

1:45:22 > 1:45:25not much is safe out there for his opponent.

1:45:31 > 1:45:39COMMENTATOR:A good break-off shot from Shaun Murphy.

1:45:46 > 1:45:51Just a containing safety shot from Ryan Day. He must be wondering what

1:45:51 > 1:45:56has hit him tonight so far. Shaun Murphy has been in fabulous form.

1:46:01 > 1:46:05Things could turn round, Dennis, but the way Shaun is playing, you just

1:46:05 > 1:46:10can't see it at the moment.Yes, we normally save the interval can

1:46:10 > 1:46:17change things round, it didn't on this occasion. -- we normally say

1:46:17 > 1:46:19that the interval can change things round.

1:46:22 > 1:46:34Not the double-kiss... Oh dear! That is what I call a DDK, the dreaded

1:46:34 > 1:46:36double-kiss.

1:46:40 > 1:46:45That break of Shaun 135, it was his highest.

1:46:51 > 1:46:57Michael White has got the high break at the moment, a break of 142. A

1:46:57 > 1:47:02prize of £5,000, and that will take a bit of beating, but the way this

1:47:02 > 1:47:08man is playing, who's to say that break is safe.

1:47:58 > 1:48:06301 points without reply. Meanwhile, that last positional shot was not

1:48:06 > 1:48:15the best from Shaun, but he has his potting boots on. The black is not a

1:48:15 > 1:48:16give me.

1:48:20 > 1:48:26But everything, as I say, for Shaun is going in the centre of the

1:48:26 > 1:48:33pocket. Not touching the sides.

1:48:37 > 1:48:42Not nicely on the red.

1:49:12 > 1:49:18Phone the police, Shaun Murphy has missed one of the reds!

1:49:48 > 1:49:55As you can see, that is Ryan's first pot for almost half an hour.

1:50:03 > 1:50:08Quite simply, he has to take this frame, 5-1 behind and you wouldn't

1:50:08 > 1:50:15give him much of a chance the way Shaun Murphy is playing. But 4-2 and

1:50:15 > 1:50:19he can get himself back into this semifinal.

1:51:49 > 1:51:54He has just overscrewed that slightly. Should be OK. Should be

1:51:54 > 1:51:57able to avoid the cannon into the pink and get the right side of the

1:51:57 > 1:52:07blue. But he is short and he is straight. OK, he can screw back the

1:52:07 > 1:52:14cue ball about 8-10 inches and leave a red into the left black pocket.

1:52:28 > 1:52:32That is a very good recovery shot. Well played.

1:52:40 > 1:52:45Well controlled there. So far, so good.

1:53:08 > 1:53:13Just coming round to have a look at the situation round the black spot

1:53:13 > 1:53:14area.

1:53:26 > 1:53:32Has finished a little awkward to get nicely onto the pink, so that is why

1:53:32 > 1:53:40he is having a look at the black.If he gets the right angle on the

1:53:40 > 1:53:46black, he may be able to play a stun run through shot and move the red

1:53:46 > 1:53:51away from the black and stay on the red to the left of it. Looks a

1:53:51 > 1:53:55little bit straight to play that shot now.

1:54:02 > 1:54:07So, a deep screw with lots of right-hand side, the red into the

1:54:07 > 1:54:12same pocket. Didn't quite get enough side on. These can be quite tricky

1:54:12 > 1:54:18to judge sometimes, when you are quite close to the red.

1:54:23 > 1:54:28Yes, I think he can avoid Canning into the pink. He can play up for

1:54:28 > 1:54:32the blue here. It just depends on the angle. -- I think he can avoid

1:54:32 > 1:54:38the cannon into the pink. Yes, he could, and he is the right side of

1:54:38 > 1:54:44the blue. There is at least one red available into the left corner. The

1:54:44 > 1:54:47others are covering each other somewhat.

1:54:52 > 1:54:59But the way he has finished, he will be able to develop a few reds. This

1:54:59 > 1:55:12is a key shot coming up. Oh dear, he took his eye off that... Well, what

1:55:12 > 1:55:17a fluke he has had there. His concentration on he took his eye off

1:55:17 > 1:55:27the pot. But he can't get onto a red from that position. Well, if he's

1:55:27 > 1:55:34taken the pink, wow, what a shot this is, taking it on from that

1:55:34 > 1:55:43position. Terrific! Terrific cueing there.

1:55:59 > 1:56:04Sometimes you need a little bit of good Fortuna. And the way Shaun

1:56:04 > 1:56:07Murphy is playing, he needed a little bit of luck.

1:56:13 > 1:56:18Oooh, he doesn't want to go in behind the red...

1:56:21 > 1:56:27And look at that, 50 ahead, still 51 on the table, and look where the cue

1:56:27 > 1:56:28ball has finished up.

1:56:38 > 1:56:42Ryan Day, 61. APPLAUSE

1:56:50 > 1:56:56Shaun Murphy needs three reds, three blacks and all the colours to pinch

1:56:56 > 1:56:59the frame by a point.

1:57:05 > 1:57:09That was a very clever shot from Shaun Murphy.

1:57:20 > 1:57:25And that is an excellent reply. From Ryan Day.APPLAUSE

1:57:40 > 1:57:45Shaun needs to be careful not to push the red over the left corner

1:57:45 > 1:57:48here. That is pretty good.

1:57:53 > 1:57:58Yes, although he is 50 points behind, the way the balls are

1:57:58 > 1:58:08situated here, if he gets a chance, he can make it. -- nick it. And if

1:58:08 > 1:58:13this bounces along way... Can't hold for the black if he takes the pot

1:58:13 > 1:58:16on.

1:58:23 > 1:58:30The only possible way he could get on the black is to cannon it.

1:58:37 > 1:58:41Ritchie played to do. -- which he played to do.

1:58:45 > 1:58:50Well, he may be 50 points in front, but there is an awful lot of

1:58:50 > 1:58:58pressure on this pot and this is really tough. He knows that if he

1:58:58 > 1:59:01misses it, it could well cost him the frame.

1:59:11 > 1:59:16What a shot, what a shot! He played as a shot to nothing, but what a

1:59:16 > 1:59:18fantastic pot.

1:59:28 > 1:59:33Ryan Day, 1. Shaun Cummings back to the table but

1:59:33 > 1:59:40it looks like Ryan has this one in the bag and you'd have to say. --

1:59:40 > 1:59:44Shaun is coming back to the table.

1:59:47 > 1:59:51Look at this for an outcome... I thought he was going to slide past

1:59:51 > 1:59:53the brown.

2:00:14 > 2:00:16APPLAUSE

2:00:21 > 2:00:30Shaun at the moment needs two four point snookers to tie. I think he

2:00:30 > 2:00:37will concede now to stop my just look round at Ryan. Yes, he does. He

2:00:37 > 2:00:43concedes, so Ryan Day got a frame back that he needed and it is a

2:00:43 > 2:00:48frame he did win. He keeps himself in this match, but still trails 4-2.

2:00:52 > 2:00:55HAZEL IRVINE: Ryan possibly thought he may be due a bit of luck Andy got

2:00:55 > 2:01:06some with that extraordinary fluke. Yes, he missed this, and you kind of

2:01:06 > 2:01:10expect him to dot-macro this finishes up. The cue ball almost

2:01:10 > 2:01:15goes in as well. -- and he got some with that extraordinary fluke. He

2:01:15 > 2:01:19needed something, needed that to keep his hopes alive.And he is

2:01:19 > 2:01:23still in it.Yes, and apart from the Klutke was still pretty impressive

2:01:23 > 2:01:28in that frame, I thought, so good news for Ryan Day fans, that he is

2:01:28 > 2:01:32not letting his game suffer because he has not had that much table time.

2:01:32 > 2:01:39It is nice when you get your chance to be fluent amongst the balls --

2:01:39 > 2:01:43apart from the fluke. No suggestion the match will slow down. A lot of

2:01:43 > 2:01:47bravado out there I think, but not stupid bravado.Absolutely not what

2:01:47 > 2:01:51how much and do you think you might have been feeling? It was clear

2:01:51 > 2:01:54Shaun Murphy was certainly on a roll and the danger steam-rolling your

2:01:54 > 2:01:58opponent right there?Yes, giving yourself a little bit of

2:01:58 > 2:02:01reassurance, little bit of confidence, potted some nice balls,

2:02:01 > 2:02:07made a nice break, but for the misread and the fluke, and as long

2:02:07 > 2:02:11as your opponent needs two, you are well in this match. If you can make

2:02:11 > 2:02:17this next frame, a massive frame coming up, and if you can manage to

2:02:17 > 2:02:22nick this and that the little seeds of doubt in Shaun's mind.There is

2:02:22 > 2:02:25always a point where Shaun Murphy fans are slightly worried because he

2:02:25 > 2:02:28does call for things and occasionally he misses and sometimes

2:02:28 > 2:02:31there is the odd shot where you think, was that a judicious thing to

2:02:31 > 2:02:36have done or not? I guess that is part of his charm, by his form and

2:02:36 > 2:02:44style is very much admired?Yes, and I don't think you can really use the

2:02:44 > 2:02:46yardstick of previous generations of players and how they played to try

2:02:46 > 2:02:50to judge how to play now in the modern-day game. If you look at,

2:02:50 > 2:02:57say, the world of golf, how it feels like the players have to attack the

2:02:57 > 2:02:59pin more often otherwise someone else will be done to the trophy.

2:02:59 > 2:03:03Perhaps that is the way snooker is going. You have to be more and more

2:03:03 > 2:03:07aggressive. As long as you don't go just over the edge on it. It is a

2:03:07 > 2:03:14tough one to get the balance right. Certainly enjoyable watching it.

2:03:33 > 2:03:38DENNIS TAYLOR: Interesting to see how he plays this one. If he was

2:03:38 > 2:03:43going to have a go at this wouldn't leave a great deal, only the one

2:03:43 > 2:03:49who's trying. Order will he end up with the one he missed, try to put

2:03:49 > 2:03:59it on for the corner? -- or will he. Thank you.I thought he might have

2:03:59 > 2:04:06just ruled that in for the black, because he wasn't leaving a great

2:04:06 > 2:04:14deal. Later shot to nothing, and it hasn't worked. -- he played a shot

2:04:14 > 2:04:26to nothing. 'S PETER EBDON:Ryan played the aggressive shot there.

2:04:26 > 2:04:37The drag shot was very difficult.

2:04:37 > 2:04:47Oh, well played. Lovely cannon. Purposely played that, and he played

2:04:47 > 2:04:54it perfectly. I noticed the way he played it

2:04:54 > 2:04:57Peter, didn't put a lot of side on it, and that is a good thing because

2:04:57 > 2:05:01the balls he has missed is when he plays with a lot of side with that

2:05:01 > 2:05:05new cue we have been talking about, and that was just plain ball

2:05:05 > 2:05:16striking, and he picked out the cannon lovely.

2:06:59 > 2:07:07He has the perfect angle on the black here. Hasn't dropped on one,

2:07:07 > 2:07:11though, and I don't think you can get one into the right middle. One

2:07:11 > 2:07:17possible pot I will show you, the cannon here, did get the back spin.

2:07:17 > 2:07:22The only possible pot is a very very difficult one.Wasn't really a good

2:07:22 > 2:07:28pack to play the screenshot. Would have been better playing the

2:07:28 > 2:07:33stunner shot -- to play the screw shot. Unbelievable. How small our

2:07:33 > 2:07:36these middle pockets? That is incredible.I mean, everyone thought

2:07:36 > 2:08:00that was in. From here that looks perfect. Wow.

2:08:08 > 2:08:16APPLAUSE And he made it look easy.

2:08:16 > 2:08:28That wasn't an easy angle either. And just look at that now.

2:08:28 > 2:08:38One can and there has opened the game up completely. -- one cannon.

2:09:14 > 2:09:25Just a little awkwardly. As to get the extended rest out, the extended

2:09:25 > 2:09:29cue. He is thinking quite a few shot ahead. Shouldn't be a problem for

2:09:29 > 2:09:47pin-mac. -- shouldn't be a problem for Shaun.

2:09:58 > 2:10:09Hampered slightly here.

2:10:15 > 2:10:19Might have to take a difficult black here because he has covered the

2:10:19 > 2:10:27pink. Slightly hampered his bridge. Looking at the yellow now.He has

2:10:27 > 2:10:32been unfortunate in the last shot he has played. This is a really tough

2:10:32 > 2:10:41black. Oh, well played.

2:11:05 > 2:11:09This is as well as I have seen Shaun Murphy play for quite some time,

2:11:09 > 2:11:14Dennis. He has been very impressive this evening.Well, I think the way

2:11:14 > 2:11:18he has played this season, especially beating Ronnie

2:11:18 > 2:11:21O'Sullivan, the champion of champions, it has given him such a

2:11:21 > 2:11:28confidence boost. I mean, he has been playing like this for quite a

2:11:28 > 2:11:33number of years, but he is back at his brilliant best, it has to be

2:11:33 > 2:11:38said.

2:12:15 > 2:12:26That is very well played. Tried to develop the red, just caught it a

2:12:26 > 2:12:36little bit thin. He looked at this one over the

2:12:36 > 2:12:41pocket a long time ago. That's how far he was thinking, Shaun. He still

2:12:41 > 2:12:50has the one past the pink. He is 20 in front.

2:13:04 > 2:13:10Has choices now. To screw over with the one on the right corner, or just

2:13:10 > 2:13:17flick that one slightly into a pottable position, but it is so easy

2:13:17 > 2:13:24to knock it a bit too far. He feels he can drop that one in as well.

2:13:24 > 2:13:32The fact he could get right in behind it, but... Yes, just gently

2:13:32 > 2:13:37does it.

2:13:46 > 2:13:55And as he looks at the scoreboard, pink would be enough. 34, or any

2:13:55 > 2:14:04colour you would be enough with this red to leave Ryan leading snooker.

2:14:04 > 2:14:14-- needing a smoker. And once again -- to make a frame-winning break, it

2:14:14 > 2:14:26has been an awesome display -- to leave Ryan needing a snooker.

2:14:43 > 2:14:53Two snookers needed at the moment. APPLAUSE

2:14:53 > 2:15:01Ryan Constable table but it is going to be a tall order. -- Ryan comes to

2:15:01 > 2:15:04the table. Always the chance of a free ball, though, with one red on

2:15:04 > 2:15:18the table. No. Total misjudgement there, the cannon the black.

2:15:18 > 2:15:22Total misjudgement there, to cannon the black.

2:16:15 > 2:16:21Lost a little bit of focus, but just be a little bit careful, Shaun. I've

2:16:21 > 2:16:28seen friends won before with two smokers needed -- I've seen frames

2:16:28 > 2:16:33one before.I think on that occasion, Dennis, it would be fair

2:16:33 > 2:16:45to say that was a horrendous cake, going very thick -- two snookers

2:16:45 > 2:16:50needed.Let's have a look to see if he did get a kick here. It seemed to

2:16:50 > 2:17:04leave the bed, red.

2:17:10 > 2:17:13See, the black's in a good spot to get in behind, not from this

2:17:13 > 2:17:17position but when you're looking for stuff you'd rather have the black

2:17:17 > 2:17:23over there, than in the middle of the table.

2:17:46 > 2:17:59The Shaun Murphy special, to make absolutely sure. Oh.

2:18:17 > 2:18:21He had a chance of the snooker there, if it hadn't got the job the

2:18:21 > 2:18:32middle pocket. -- caught the jaw.He might well find themselves snookered

2:18:32 > 2:18:38here himself. That is an excellent shot from Shaun Murphy. -- he might

2:18:38 > 2:18:50well find he is snookered here, himself.Yes, I figure will cover it

2:18:50 > 2:18:57Shaun, and not said. Shaun Murphy, with the help of that seven-day

2:18:57 > 2:19:00break, just one frame away from our place in tomorrow's final. It is

2:19:00 > 2:19:055-2. HAZEL IRVINE: For so long in that

2:19:05 > 2:19:09frame it looked like Ryan would get in there, but that Mr the middle

2:19:09 > 2:19:15really was the catalyst to the success from Shaun.Look at this, he

2:19:15 > 2:19:24plays it just almost dead weight, and it looks like it'll just curl

2:19:24 > 2:19:30in, and as was said, that could have been Ryan's mess, but Shaun made a

2:19:30 > 2:19:33wonderful century break there, as good as any century, and he will be

2:19:33 > 2:19:40very pleased. Great shots there. It was fantastic.It is interesting. We

2:19:40 > 2:19:44talk about balls going in corner pocket easier, and some from the

2:19:44 > 2:19:48camera angle looked like they should not have awning, brand-new cloth,

2:19:48 > 2:19:51easier to going, but we are asked if the tables are tighter or easier

2:19:51 > 2:19:56than they were in the 1980s on 90s, but certainly the medals are far

2:19:56 > 2:20:01tighter than they used to be.It means Shaun Murphy is just one frame

2:20:01 > 2:20:04away from booking a place in the UK final against the man who is

2:20:04 > 2:20:07practising in this practice room right now. Ronnie O'Sullivan is

2:20:07 > 2:20:12quietly getting on with his business as these two fight it out for the

2:20:12 > 2:20:20right to face him. PETER EBDON:Shaun Murphy breaks off

2:20:20 > 2:20:24leading by 5-2, it really has been a wonderful performance from him this

2:20:24 > 2:20:27evening. Very attacking, entertaining, very fluid. It has

2:20:27 > 2:20:34been wonderful to watch. Ryan Day really has his back against the wall

2:20:34 > 2:20:39now. What can he produce.

2:20:39 > 2:20:44What can he produce?

2:20:44 > 2:20:47Under the most extreme pressure. This is a very tough red if he is

2:20:47 > 2:20:52taking this on.

2:20:57 > 2:21:00DENNIS TAYLOR: Yes, I think he made up his mind that he was going to

2:21:00 > 2:21:07have a go. 5-2 down, back right against the wall. Has he left that

2:21:07 > 2:21:11red? No, he hasn't, and has the other past it? It is very tight.

2:21:11 > 2:21:18Let's have a look... Just enough room.

2:21:28 > 2:21:34Is he playing this? No, he didn't want to risk that other one.

2:21:48 > 2:21:59Is Shaun Murphy allowed to play safe, Dennis?

2:22:32 > 2:22:39That was very very well judged.

2:22:41 > 2:22:49It has put a bit of pressure on the safety shot. That is far too thin.

2:22:55 > 2:22:58Might just have covered everything into that left-hand corner. There is

2:22:58 > 2:23:02one to the right.

2:23:06 > 2:23:16Yes, just that one with the pink and reds that will pot.

2:23:16 > 2:23:20Slightly easier than the one to the right corner.

2:23:20 > 2:23:22He is cutting the one into the middle.

2:23:22 > 2:23:31APPLAUSE And he has a chance at the black.

2:23:31 > 2:23:38That was quite a thin snick there. The cannon worked out quite nicely.

2:23:38 > 2:23:49This is not easy. Especially at that pace.

2:24:08 > 2:24:15Well, what he would give for a 50 or 60 break here.

2:26:05 > 2:26:18Still three or four might lose reds. That you would like to take the --

2:26:18 > 2:26:22before risking a cannon. If you can get on the one closest to the black,

2:26:22 > 2:26:26it would clear the path for another red into the right corner. There are

2:26:26 > 2:26:44other options there, available to him. That's the one he has played

2:26:44 > 2:26:46for. When he removes this, it opens

2:26:46 > 2:26:51things up.

2:27:00 > 2:27:08A little straight on the black, but no problem for Ryan, with his cue

2:27:08 > 2:27:13power. Oh, he kicked. That is unlucky. Look where the white has

2:27:13 > 2:27:17finished up. OK, it still managed to pot the black, but that was

2:27:17 > 2:27:31horrendous, that contact. Look at that.

2:27:33 > 2:27:42APPLAUSE Well, that was a good recovery pot.

2:27:42 > 2:27:48He lost the cue ball.

2:27:53 > 2:28:01Yes, that is all you need against an opponent. Like Shaun Murphy. We will

2:28:01 > 2:28:04show you the cake again. The way Shaun is playing you need a little

2:28:04 > 2:28:08bit of good luck, and he did have that when he flipped at red, but he

2:28:08 > 2:28:20is taking this on. -- when he fluked a red. Oh! Nearly broke the back of

2:28:20 > 2:28:27it. Everything was jumping around there, and the white nearly went in

2:28:27 > 2:28:40as well!The green certainly didn't roll off it, did it? Ah, that is

2:28:40 > 2:28:46magnificent! Well played. What a shot.I think even Shaun Murphy

2:28:46 > 2:28:57would have appreciated that one.

2:28:58 > 2:29:05Fabulous. I said he was looking for 50 or 60 break at the start of this.

2:29:05 > 2:29:11He's now looking for enough to clinch the frame.

2:29:18 > 2:29:23And he would have loved a slight angle on that red, just to flick

2:29:23 > 2:29:56another red out. That's OK.Just needs the one red.

2:30:03 > 2:30:10APPLAUSE Very well played Ryan Day. But that

2:30:10 > 2:30:14new type of chalk that has dropped out of his pocket a few times onto

2:30:14 > 2:30:18the floor. I tell you what, this break is superb. The green at the

2:30:18 > 2:30:22pace he played it into the middle was astounding.

2:30:28 > 2:30:32I mean, this was incredible, the pace he hit this act. It bounced

2:30:32 > 2:30:36about five times.

2:30:46 > 2:30:53Ryan has had four centuries already in this year's UK championship. We

2:30:53 > 2:30:57had 94, so far.

2:31:20 > 2:31:26It has finished a little awkward. He will need that long pink. To get the

2:31:26 > 2:31:29century.

2:31:33 > 2:31:37Get in there. It looks good to me. APPLAUSE

2:31:45 > 2:31:52What a response from the Welshman, here. To keep himself in this year's

2:31:52 > 2:32:00Betway UK Championship. Absolutely brilliant from Ryan Day. APPLAUSE

2:32:52 > 2:32:54Well played.

2:32:56 > 2:33:02A truly magnificent break of 128. Ryan Day closes the gap to 5-3. Well

2:33:02 > 2:33:03played.

2:33:03 > 2:33:08Ryan Day closes the gap to 5-3. Well played.STUDIO: What a fantastic

2:33:08 > 2:33:12purpose and character from Ryan Day to come back at him. Some great

2:33:12 > 2:33:15shots, the green and red.When we talked about how tight the medals

2:33:15 > 2:33:17are, lots of power.

2:33:19 > 2:33:24Almost in the yellow pocket but have a look at this next shot, fantastic.

2:33:24 > 2:33:28Great long red and to hold the black to keep the break on. Ryan Day

2:33:28 > 2:33:32showed a lot of character. He has been kept out by extreme long

2:33:32 > 2:33:37Cutting and breaking but he is still in there.Brilliant response. We saw

2:33:37 > 2:33:41him early in the championship as far as scoring is concerned. His first

2:33:41 > 2:33:45match, he was on a maximum and broke down on the green. We know he can

2:33:45 > 2:33:52pot.Three centuries is massive. This has been superb. Ryan Day is

2:33:52 > 2:33:55fighting rearguard action. This brinkmanship throughout this

2:33:55 > 2:33:59tournament, winning three best of 11 6-5, who is to say he won't win

2:33:59 > 2:34:03another one? That would be astonishing.It would be an

2:34:03 > 2:34:05interesting Saturday night.You can only play the balls that are in

2:34:05 > 2:34:10front of you. You can try and pot, that is all you can do, wait for

2:34:10 > 2:34:13your chance. The few frames he hasn't had chances, yet had to sit

2:34:13 > 2:34:18down and look at Shaun Murphy. That was a real show, a sign of current

2:34:18 > 2:34:23in a man who is confident in his own game.We have seen how much

2:34:23 > 2:34:26confidence Shaun Murphy has at the table. We were talking early on

2:34:26 > 2:34:30about how this guy doesn't seem to be breaking down as often in the

2:34:30 > 2:34:3440-50 mark. It was a bit of a tick in his game that was prevalent for

2:34:34 > 2:34:37quite a while but it seems to have all but disappeared.I haven't

2:34:37 > 2:34:41noticed it at all tonight. It's almost like he has sharpened up.

2:34:41 > 2:34:47He's probably heard about it a lot this week. It's sort of a common

2:34:47 > 2:34:51practice with Shaun. 40-50, from no where he would miss the easiest ball

2:34:51 > 2:34:56but tonight he hasn't done that at all. He has been so prolific.If

2:34:56 > 2:34:59that's saying something of his concentration? Is that a sign he is

2:34:59 > 2:35:02getting better focus around the table these days?I don't know.

2:35:02 > 2:35:08There was a time... It applies to both these players, Ryan Day and

2:35:08 > 2:35:11Shaun Murphy. They both sometimes seem to not know when there is a bit

2:35:11 > 2:35:16of danger. They need to sharpen up, went to play a safer shot and when

2:35:16 > 2:35:21to attack. They have both improved in that department. So much match

2:35:21 > 2:35:24play these days. Perhaps all the players are learning their trades. I

2:35:24 > 2:35:30am sure Shaun Murphy is getting more mature as a player.Here we go. It

2:35:30 > 2:35:33is frame nine.

2:35:36 > 2:35:39COMMENTATOR: It is. Ryan Day gets it underway with a pretty good

2:35:39 > 2:35:41break-off shot.

2:35:42 > 2:35:51Opened at least four reds up.

2:35:57 > 2:36:00There is one possible red he could take on.

2:36:02 > 2:36:09But, no, it looks like it's just a safety shot, here.

2:36:39 > 2:36:45I'm surprised he has taken this one on, this is really tough. Well, he

2:36:45 > 2:36:49didn't take it on. He actually played the safety shot. Shaun Murphy

2:36:49 > 2:36:54tapped the table. It was a very clever shot. Didn't take the potted

2:36:54 > 2:37:07on, there. -- didn't take the pot on. A good chance for Shaun Murphy

2:37:07 > 2:37:15to put him in trouble here. A bit too pacey.

2:37:38 > 2:37:44Played it as a shot to nothing.It was quite an ambitious attempt. He

2:37:44 > 2:37:49knew he wasn't leaving anything up this end of the table.

2:38:35 > 2:38:41Some good tactical play, here. Who will make the first mistake in this

2:38:41 > 2:38:45exchange? The way both players are cueing, one mistake is all that

2:38:45 > 2:38:52takes. And then the frame is over.

2:38:56 > 2:38:58APPLAUSE

2:39:04 > 2:39:08Perhaps some brilliant break-building. And now it's time to

2:39:08 > 2:39:11watch some extremely good tactical play.One needs to be a bit careful

2:39:11 > 2:39:17not to push the red over the left corner. He played that very well.

2:39:17 > 2:39:21Good shot.

2:39:38 > 2:39:44Not the easiest of safety shots, here. If Shaun Murphy plays the red

2:39:44 > 2:39:50that he's pointing to with his cue, he needs to make sure he avoids the

2:39:50 > 2:39:55red which is closest to the left-hand middle pocket. Is he

2:39:55 > 2:39:58taking this on?

2:40:04 > 2:40:08He was a long, long way from that and he's been very, very fortunate,

2:40:08 > 2:40:13there.Yeah. He was just trying to screw the white back into the safety

2:40:13 > 2:40:24area. Either pop the red or wobble it. That he double-kissed the cue

2:40:24 > 2:40:27ball. He's having a go, here.

2:40:29 > 2:40:33What a shot. APPLAUSE Brilliant.

2:40:35 > 2:40:42Brilliant cueing from that position. To roll that in and get the black.

2:40:42 > 2:40:49He was up on his way round. He knew he hit that sweetly.

2:40:54 > 2:41:01He's been unlucky. He had a red to the middle and the red has come out

2:41:01 > 2:41:08and blocked the path. He played that very well. Can he get through to

2:41:08 > 2:41:10one?

2:41:10 > 2:41:12Maybe.

2:41:16 > 2:41:21He could. APPLAUSE

2:41:36 > 2:41:41APPLAUSE

2:41:51 > 2:41:53He plays like this against Mark Joyce when his back was against the

2:41:53 > 2:42:03war. He won that 6-5. -- Loan His was against the wall.

2:42:18 > 2:42:26He is marching round the table at the moment.Yes. Very positive

2:42:26 > 2:42:30signs, I believe, for Ryan Day, for the rest of his career.

2:42:33 > 2:42:37He's no longer playing like the Ryan Day that loses concentration and

2:42:37 > 2:42:44focus and throws matches, sometimes. This is the new model. This is Ryan

2:42:44 > 2:42:50Day, the tournament winner. -- throws away matches.

2:43:00 > 2:43:05Tried to bring a few more interplay, there. Didn't quite work out. Got

2:43:05 > 2:43:10this one to the middle pocket, though. -- tried to bring a few more

2:43:10 > 2:43:12into play.

2:43:15 > 2:43:20That's the problem. When you run slightly out of position. That

2:43:20 > 2:43:25unlucky with the cannon when he went into the reds. If you're not

2:43:25 > 2:43:35absolutely spot on with middle pocket, that's what happens.

2:43:40 > 2:43:45He will be very disappointed to have broken down. He was looking so good.

2:43:45 > 2:43:49As you quite rightly say, he was very unfortunate with a cannon into

2:43:49 > 2:43:57the reds. That red was very tricky into the centre.

2:44:08 > 2:44:13This needs to pull up. This could be going over the middle. It did pull

2:44:13 > 2:44:15up.

2:44:17 > 2:44:20That was a pretty good safety shot from Shaun Murphy.

2:44:23 > 2:44:26Normally so aggressive. I was a bit surprised he refused the red onto

2:44:26 > 2:44:30the yellow pocket. He could have played that. He has lots of cue

2:44:30 > 2:44:35power, he could have played that on the right-hand side. Trying to keep

2:44:35 > 2:44:39things tight at the moment and you can understand that.

2:44:41 > 2:44:50What's he done here? That's a shocker. Hit that all wrong. I was

2:44:50 > 2:44:55just about to say, Shaun Murphy is biding his time, waiting to get a

2:44:55 > 2:44:59chance to take the frame that will get him into the final. This is the

2:44:59 > 2:45:02chance here and now.

2:45:09 > 2:45:14That is a phone going off, you can't get your breath.

2:45:20 > 2:45:26It's not... An easy table just yet.

2:45:28 > 2:45:33But he can soon leave himself a good opportunity.

2:45:36 > 2:45:39Most of the frames... All of the friends that he's won this evening

2:45:39 > 2:45:46with just one visit, can he do it? -- all of the frames. The frame that

2:45:46 > 2:45:49will take him into the final.

2:46:12 > 2:46:17Doesn't want to be dead straight on this. Doesn't want to be playing

2:46:17 > 2:46:24this with pace. He has seen what has happened to Ryan Day's. Well played,

2:46:24 > 2:46:27though. APPLAUSE

2:46:45 > 2:46:51Has he covered it Leicester is he just about OK? I think he's just

2:46:51 > 2:46:54about OK -- has he covered it?

2:46:55 > 2:46:58As you can clearly see.

2:46:59 > 2:47:06You can see his plan of attack, off the red, good angle on the black,

2:47:06 > 2:47:14bring those four Kruses into play. -- four Mac reds. Making sure he

2:47:14 > 2:47:19gets the correct angle on the black.

2:47:24 > 2:47:31This could be the key shot coming up.

2:47:33 > 2:47:37Look how well he's played that. APPLAUSE

2:47:41 > 2:47:47One of the best in the business at that type of shot.

2:47:56 > 2:48:01He plays it much like the gentleman we were watching practising, Ronnie

2:48:01 > 2:48:07O'Sullivan. He is waiting in the final. Shows you how much this means

2:48:07 > 2:48:11to Ronnie, he is in there, the practice room.

2:48:20 > 2:48:27We've only seen a few mistakes from Ryan Day this evening. The form he's

2:48:27 > 2:48:31in, himself, probably would have been enough to beat most players,

2:48:31 > 2:48:33this evening.

2:48:35 > 2:48:39But Shaun Murphy has really been in wonderful form. So good to see him

2:48:39 > 2:48:44playing like this, again.

2:48:46 > 2:48:56These string of breaks is incredible, 104, 73, 89, 135, 70.

2:49:17 > 2:49:20Glancing at the scoreboard. Every frame he has won this evening has

2:49:20 > 2:49:23been with one visit.

2:49:39 > 2:49:45He can clinch the match with those two reds at the right of the table.

2:49:45 > 2:49:50It would be a difficult one. On the left side.

2:50:02 > 2:50:03Hmm.

2:50:03 > 2:50:03Needs

2:50:09 > 2:50:15. It hasn't. Gone a bit too far. Unless it takes a double, and it

2:50:15 > 2:50:17rarely does.

2:50:19 > 2:50:23Rarely takes a risky double. But this may be an occasion where he can

2:50:23 > 2:50:28play on the black, take on the double. It could be a match

2:50:28 > 2:50:34clincher.He can certainly play as a shot to nothing, that's for sure.

2:50:36 > 2:50:42You would think that the only way he could possibly leave this red if it

2:50:42 > 2:50:47hits the far knuckle and comes back. It's hit the other knuckle and

2:50:47 > 2:50:52bought that red into play.

2:51:22 > 2:51:26If he takes this red on in the middle, this is really tough. Huge

2:51:26 > 2:51:29pressure on this.

2:51:43 > 2:51:46Yeah, that was very, very difficult.

2:51:48 > 2:51:55It is portable.

2:51:57 > 2:52:01It is right in the centre of the pocket.

2:52:01 > 2:52:03APPLAUSE

2:52:08 > 2:52:14Another glance at the scoreboard. The blue and one more red would be

2:52:14 > 2:52:26enough. There's the blue. He's perfect on the red. Brilliant

2:52:26 > 2:52:30positional shot from Murphy.

2:52:32 > 2:52:35APPLAUSE

2:52:37 > 2:52:45Ryan Day, played superbly well. Back from 4-1 down to 5-3.

2:52:49 > 2:52:54With that magnificent break of 128 he had to keep him in the match.

2:52:54 > 2:53:02Shaun Murphy has been brilliant this evening.

2:53:05 > 2:53:10What an incredible final we've got to look forward to, now.

2:53:11 > 2:53:19Yeah. Can't wait for tomorrow. You don't want to miss that one.

2:53:21 > 2:53:27Doesn't matter about taking the black.

2:53:33 > 2:53:35APPLAUSE

2:53:37 > 2:53:41Ryan Day has a big smile and congratulate Shaun Murphy. What a

2:53:41 > 2:53:45century of snooker Shaun Murphy has played in this semifinal. He

2:53:45 > 2:53:51acknowledges the crowd. Magician has certainly waved his magic wand this

2:53:51 > 2:53:57evening. It beats Ryan Day in the end by 6-3. -- he beats.

2:53:59 > 2:54:04STUDIO: Congratulations to Shaun Murphy, some wonder. Played by both

2:54:04 > 2:54:08men but the third UK final for the magician and a first in five years

2:54:08 > 2:54:12for the man who owns three major titles. A triple Crown winner, the

2:54:12 > 2:54:17most recent member of the triple Crown club, those players who has

2:54:17 > 2:54:21won the UK, Masters and world titles. He is one of the greats and

2:54:21 > 2:54:25is through to play Ronnie O'Sullivan, what a final in

2:54:25 > 2:54:29prospect. We've enjoyed that. It is worth saying we will see a lot more

2:54:29 > 2:54:32of Ryan Day because he has cemented his place in the Masters line-up for

2:54:32 > 2:54:38Alexandra Palace for the first time since 2010. Brilliant for him. He

2:54:38 > 2:54:41played his part tonight.He gave it his all but came up against a guy

2:54:41 > 2:54:42who was flying.

2:54:42 > 2:54:46his all but came up against a guy who was flying. He played at the top

2:54:46 > 2:54:49of his game. Ryan put up a brave fight and came back really strong.

2:54:49 > 2:54:53There will be plenty other days for Ryan Day, today wasn't going to be

2:54:53 > 2:54:57his. It was always going to be Shaun Murphy's. Set up for a fantastic

2:54:57 > 2:55:02final. You can't pick a winner, the way the whole week has gone and the

2:55:02 > 2:55:05way they played.We have seen Shaun in this kind of for many times

2:55:05 > 2:55:09before, how does this streak of form compare with his best before?As

2:55:09 > 2:55:14good as any if not better. Perhaps he is even a more mature player.

2:55:14 > 2:55:17Difficult to get rivalries in the world of snooker because there are

2:55:17 > 2:55:22so many good players. Summing so quickly off the back of the champion

2:55:22 > 2:55:26of champions, here he is.-- coming so quickly. Congratulations, well

2:55:26 > 2:55:31done. Eighth triple Crown final, your first for a couple of years, it

2:55:31 > 2:55:36must feel great.It is what you we play for. I said it's like

2:55:36 > 2:55:39yesterday, trying to lose weight from a specific area, you can't peek

2:55:39 > 2:55:44for these events. It is hard to make sure you play well any given week.

2:55:44 > 2:55:48Probably riding the crest of the wave of winning a few weeks ago. It

2:55:48 > 2:55:54has lasted longer than it usually does.93% potted success. We were

2:55:54 > 2:56:00talking about your long potting, 66% for the tournament so far. That

2:56:00 > 2:56:05seems to give you an edge, you are flying out there at times tonight.I

2:56:05 > 2:56:09was enjoying it. I have grown up a lot recently, it sounds funny saying

2:56:09 > 2:56:15that at 35. I Fielding that 22-year-old that won the World

2:56:15 > 2:56:19Championship 12 years ago. I enjoy being out there and I play with a

2:56:19 > 2:56:22smile on my face.It seems like you were enjoying it. I remember my

2:56:22 > 2:56:27prime. I would not worry about the outcome. Not worry about the

2:56:27 > 2:56:30results, not fearing losing, just enjoying the challenge. That was

2:56:30 > 2:56:36made even stronger as a player.Once you understand, this sounds a bit

2:56:36 > 2:56:38strange, but when you understand that you are not in control of

2:56:38 > 2:56:42whether you win or lose, there's another guy out there, things happen

2:56:42 > 2:56:46and all you are in control of his you and your preparation. What shot

2:56:46 > 2:56:51you play. You think I am going to give it my best and see where it

2:56:51 > 2:56:56goes. This week it has brought me here.It was fantastic tonight, your

2:56:56 > 2:57:01concentration. It was spot on. Normally you throw one in here or

2:57:01 > 2:57:05there. But tonight you were spot on for every frame. We couldn't count

2:57:05 > 2:57:07many at all.Make a note of it! LAUGHTER

2:57:07 > 2:57:13We did!Make a note of it in the diary.What was the difference?

2:57:13 > 2:57:21Between Shaun Murphy now and maybe 12 months ago?At 5-2 I potted a red

2:57:21 > 2:57:24in the middle and it finished awkwardly on the black and I hadn't

2:57:24 > 2:57:28paid for a black and I saw it as a chance to win and I missed it. I sat

2:57:28 > 2:57:32down for the rest of the frame and I started to think I haven't done a

2:57:32 > 2:57:35great deal wrong. In previous matches I would have beaten myself

2:57:35 > 2:57:40up about that. Not killing off the match early. In all honesty I didn't

2:57:40 > 2:57:43do a great deal wrong.We talked about the confidence levels you must

2:57:43 > 2:57:49have gotten from beating Ronnie in the Champion of champions final last

2:57:49 > 2:57:52month. This is the first time you will meet in a triple Crown final,

2:57:52 > 2:57:56how much have you taken from that? The longest match I beat him in was

2:57:56 > 2:58:00the Premier League first 27. To do that was great. It was a long time

2:58:00 > 2:58:04since I beat him again in between victories. There had been some tough

2:58:04 > 2:58:08defeat at the Crucible especially. To play him over distance in an

2:58:08 > 2:58:13event that he has dominated over the years, like he did the Premier

2:58:13 > 2:58:17League, and to get to ten first was a feather in my cap. It has given me

2:58:17 > 2:58:22a lot of confidence. It counts for absolutely nothing.LAUGHTER

2:58:22 > 2:58:27As we know, he can...It counts for a lot of things. You are already

2:58:27 > 2:58:30there. You had beaten him over a longer distance. You are going out

2:58:30 > 2:58:35there with a different personality and attitude.Absolutely. As we have

2:58:35 > 2:58:39seen with Mark King this week and Ryan Day, they are players that have

2:58:39 > 2:58:47just won their first events. They now know how to do it. It is not

2:58:47 > 2:58:50that long ago since I played Bonnie and beat him. But as we have seen

2:58:50 > 2:58:52throughout his career, that can account for zero if he turns up and

2:58:52 > 2:58:56plays his best -- I played Ronnie. The chat has been positive from both

2:58:56 > 2:59:01of you, it has not been any sniping in any way. The newspapers have had

2:59:01 > 2:59:05no chance to do any sniping.I apologised after winning Champion of

2:59:05 > 2:59:08champions in the press because I had been very critical of Ronnie over

2:59:08 > 2:59:15the years. Having witnessed and see what he has to go through, how he

2:59:15 > 2:59:20carries himself and the sport, I think it's been wrong of me to do

2:59:20 > 2:59:23that. I've tried to give that a miss.We are looking forward to

2:59:23 > 2:59:27doing all the old talking on the table and it promises to be a

2:59:27 > 2:59:30fantastic occasion. Great match tonight and great play from Ryan

2:59:30 > 2:59:35Day. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow. This is going to be the

2:59:35 > 2:59:4140th anniversary final. First one was 1977. O'Sullivan- Murphy, two of

2:59:41 > 2:59:48the game's great entertainers. Sure to be brisk, open and we are looking

2:59:48 > 2:59:50forward to being with you. Goodbye for now. We will catch you at 1pm

2:59:50 > 2:59:56tomorrow.