Semi-Final - Part 3 UK Snooker Championship

HAZEL IRVINE: Good evening,

an important night for televised

semifinals.

All down to two cuemen at the

Barbican, and all down to Shaun

Murphy, one of the entertainers in

this game. He is up against Ryan

Day, 37 years old, and this Welshman

has waited 19 years for this chance

to step into the first major final.

I think there is no doubt I am a

better player than I was last year.

Pot scoring and break-building,

always building, and I am going out

there as I say with some confidence,

enjoying my snigger and enjoying

being out there with the crowd, and

who knows?

I am playing OK, close

matches, and that is all it takes

these days. This is a player who has

very few weaknesses so if I want to

compete and to beat Shaun I need to

be on top of my game.

Is a player I

have known since I was 11 or 12

years of age on the Junior tour,

great potter and great

break-builder. One of the best on

the tour. Now he has won his first

ranking event.

He is a different

animal, someone who knows how to do

it and that makes him very

dangerous.

I have known Shaun

different tournament, more than 20

years, and whatnot, programmes

together, and he is a fantastic

player, and I will be looking

forward to playing him in the

semifinal.

It feels as if with each

match I have played slightly better

and I can't wait to out there.

HAZEL IRVINE: And Steve and Kendall,

what, 13 UK finals high new? And,

Ken, how do you read this one

tonight?

Not there because he has

been in ten of them! -- 13 UK finals

between you. He has had 365s

already, getting used to a new cue

as well but I think he is a

different player than he was 12

months ago and he has a new

confidence and I don't think you

will be afraid at this stage.

Interesting that Ryan is two years

older than Shaun and yet the

experience of the younger man might

be a bit factor. Shaun, this is his

office, and he knows, being at the

business end of these big events.

Yes, and that event earlier in the

season, the Masters, and it has been

mentioned by everybody, including

Shaun, Ryan Day is a different

prospect and comes into this game

with more credibility, not least in

his own mind, so it is fascinating

to see how he performs. I don't put

him down as that much of an underdog

in this match although I know some

people might do.

Shaun, rather like

Ryan, has had a frame decider, in

the final round, but since then his

cueing and power has been prevalent.

He has been a revelation in the last

few rounds. How well do you think he

has coped in the last few matches?

Jacqui accommodated in his last

match. His long ball game is second

to none, all the --

well, I

commentated in his last match. He

throws in a simple chance he has

missed, when he gets the 40, 50, 60

points, compared to some of the

other really top players. Heathrow

is wonderful in every now and then.

If he cuts him that he will be very

hard to beat -- he throws one of

them in every now and then.

How

significant and evening is best for

Welshman?

I think it is how you go

into the event, and if you are

enjoying your snigger which it

appears Ryan Day is, especially to

win lots of close matches --

enjoying your snooker, then you are

a more dangerous animal. I know that

Shaun Murphy does, and that is why I

think it will be close tonight. Both

of these players are on the curve,

on their way up, and their form.

Both playing for the right to face

Ronnie O'Sullivan in tomorrow's

final, and of course the small

matter of £75,000 at least because

this afternoon the Rocket punched

his way to a seventh UK final after

winning a very lively match with

Glasgow's Stephen Maguire, who had

been down, but hit back superbly,

6-4 to O'Sullivan today. It has been

a bit of a double whammy for Stephen

because the result also means the

Chinese player will feature in the

Masters in January. Stephen had to

win that semifinal today to oust him

from the last qualifying spot,

however Stephen head on with a

cheque for £37,000 today. Ronnie

lying in wait for one of these two,

and it is worth noting Shaun and

Ryan have only met once in the last

six years and now it is Murphy who

bosses there are series. But it is

all about tonight, and time for

action with MC Rob Walker...

Good

evening, ladies and gentlemen. The

very last session of snooker before

tomorrow's Beckley championship

final. Time to find out who is

joining the Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan

in one of the sport's showpiece

showdowns. -- tomorrow's Betway

championship final.

APPLAUSE

Please welcome a player now back in

the world's 16 after a great run in

York winning six successive five set

thriller is for this, his first

semifinal. His maiden ranking

triumph, the pride of Ponty,, Ryan

Dynamite Day...

MUSIC: The Passenger

by Iggy Pop

And his opponent, a class act on and

off the tables, conceding a single

act against Mark King, coming out

for a sixth UK semifinal, bidding

for his fourth final of this season

alone. He is the reigning champion

of champions, a former world, UK and

Masters winner, he is Shaun, The

Magician, Murphy!

APPLAUSE

Snooker's Jack Sparrow! It has taken

Ryan a Jinha Kim is to get past the

last 16 stage of this championship,

and now he is looking at a final,

Shaun trying to get there for a

third time. In good hands with two

former world champions in the box,

Peter Ebdon and Dennis

former world champions in the box,

Peter Ebdon and Dennis Taylor.

COMMENTATOR: Good evening here and

good evening to everyone watching,

and what a reception both players

received.

APPLAUSE

That is the beautiful trophy they

are playing for.

Thank you. The

first frame, Ryan Day to break.

It

is the Welshman Ryan Day who won

toss, and he will get the semifinal

underwear.

As I say, both players getting a

terrific reception -- he will get

the semifinal underway. Crowds have

been fantastic throughout this UK

championship at the Barbican Centre

here. And we have a full house this

evening. Can he not in one of his

trademark long pots? Close.

-- can he knock in one of his

trademark.

I thought for a minute he had got

away with that one but it has gone

over the middle pocket. A chance for

Ryan. We did this game against Mark

Joyce and towards the end of it,

Ryan Day really came on strong,

didn't he

Ryan Day really came on strong,

didn't he, Peter?

Yes, good evening,

Dennis, and everybody. It is almost

as if they are two sides to Ryan Day

at the moment. There's the player

who struggled at times with his

confidence and concentration, more

of his concentration and focus than

anything else because he is

seriously talented player, and now

we have the Ryan Day that is a

tournament winner, so this will be a

really fascinating encounter. A very

very talented player, Ryan Day. And

Shaun Murphy, of course, has been

one of the very best in the business

for a very long time now. Both very

exciting, entertaining and attacking

players. It should be a cracker.

Yes, always had the red player, knew

that he could bring a few more into

play and leave himself on this one.

Just so entertaining to watch, Shaun

Murphy. Very fluent around the

table. Not the best angle on this

red, this one through from the back.

Will have to use just a little

cannon. But a good early

opportunity, this.

If he can get to 71 points, as you

see there, with the side bar, it

would leave Ryan Day needing

snookers.

APPLAUSE

And it has to be said, as we show

you that David Magowan near the

middle pocket, this table is playing

beautifully. New cloth, new

cushions, new snooker balls, and no

distractions now we are down to the

one table, so perfect conditions.

Just over on the cue ball slightly

there.

That is a very well-controlled

recovery shot, using the pink to

take some pace out of the cue ball.

Yes, just the slightest of cannons

off it. We mentioned about Shaun

reaching 50 and 60 and then just

throwing in the odd careless one. If

he starts to clinch the frames with

one visit, he could take some

stopping.

APPLAUSE

Not that many pots away from

securing this opening frame.

Just having a look at the angle.

That's the sign that he doesn't want

to just put a careless one in.

A bit straighter on the pink would

have been better here.

He has been a terrific professional,

this player. 1998, he turned pro.

Always taken great pride in the

game, a great ambassador for our

sport, always has been.

Well, Dennis, he has made this look

easy. Looking very very short.

He

has had two century so far in this

year's UK championship. We have had

92 centuries so far. Shaun has made

439. That's why he's one of the

great break-builders in our game. He

is sending out a message to Ryan

Day. If you miss, I'm going to clear

them up. Ryan with half chance.

He has made 21 centuries this season

so far. And there is another one

APPLAUSE

He has made 21 centuries

this season so far.

Doesn't matter about the red.

He lifted into the right corner.

Shaun Murphy, starting this match

with that magnificent century break.

1- 02 Shaun Murphy.

HAZEL IRVINE: It was very

interesting to me at the Champion of

championss that Shaun Murphy said,

the only way I know how to win is to

just go for an -- 1-0

the only way I know how to win is to

just go for an -- 1-0 two Shaun

Murphy. He has accepted it and, by

goodness, lives up to that.

Yes, and

he has tremendous cue power, as well

as as long pot. The way he strikes

and get the action

as as long pot. The way he strikes

and get the action on the ball, just

look at this black. It looks pretty

straightforward but watch the cue

ball and the action. It splits the

pack lovely. He doesn't have to go

into the pack there, but the strike

he gets on the ball is amazing.

Yes,

he has fantastic cue

action, has always been wonderful.

In the past he has questioned

whether he has the balance of the

game right, has searched for answers

on whether he has the tactics right,

and now just to stick with the way

he plays, fairly attacking game, not

totally open, but that is how he

likes to play. Very similar to Ryan

Day, and I might have to eat my

words if Shaun keeps up this level,

but it will depend what Ryan Day

turned up tonight.

This is Shaun

bidding for a fourth final this

season.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Did have a go at the

pot there. If he can get this it is

an early chance, but it looks a bit

tight there. The fact he is up the

other end of the table tells me he

can't get through to the potting

angle of that one just above the

black.

PETER EBDON:

It was noticeable on

his previous match that when he

played safe Ryan Day caught a lot of

safety shots very thin. That time he

was slightly too thick. And this is

a chance for Shaun Murphy. I don't

think it's possible to play for the

black here. So quite a bit of work

to do with the cue ball. It would be

some shot if he could bring this

back into play here.

Looking at

cannon Inc this off the top cushion,

but that would be something very

special indeed.

Found a gap around the back. There

wasn't much room there. As you can

see from that angle, very little

room to manoeuvre the cue ball on

the back of that thread. -- around

the back of that red.

Not the best safety in the world,

and if he is not hampered with the

brown, the chance for Ryan Day to

knock a long-running, Shaun's shot

from the green when he tried to get

up the table, to the reds that let

him down there. This would be a

confidence booster.

Very difficult

cueing.

He'd like to leave the cue ball

where the red is. Very difficult to

play up our shot and screw back

here. He has time that so well, what

a shot!

APPLAUSE

He claimed it beautifully.

To bridge

over the brown like that and not

that red in will certainly boost his

confidence. -- knock that red in.

The highest available spot for the

pink is the brown, and in fact it's

the only available spot there. Mm.

Looked as if it was going to curl

in, but it stayed absolutely dead

straight. Here, I thought he was

going to miss this, then all of a

sudden it was just curling slightly,

but not enough.

He might only just be able to pick

the yellow. Or can he see enough of

the green?

Oh, well, maybe they green doesn't

even pot if he could see it, so just

safety.

Just got to be careful when he plays

the safety shot that he covers that

red that's to the right of the pink

and green.

And it looks as if he has done that.

Or is it a gap between brown and

pink to play the red? Yes, there

might be. In a spot of bother here.

Amazing how he found the gap there.

Ryan would love to get the cue ball

behind the yellow from this safety

shot. Slightly too thick.

APPLAUSE

Decent length of the cue ball,

though. Nice shot.

It's quite a big target behind the

yellow, brown and pink.

Too thick once again.

At first glance there is no easy

escape back down the table here.

Certainly awkward down the left

side, because of that red near the

left side cushion.

Oh, he's brought the red down with

the cue ball. You'll be needing a

little bit of good fortune here.

And he has had it.

No easy safety shot. I'll be

surprised if Shaun doesn't have a

coma on this, into the left corner,

with quite a bit of screw on this.

That's his flock. -- doesn't have a

go on this. That is his mark. He hit

that one all wrong, but he had no

easy safety shot on there.

He is hampered again. This is very

tough. Struck that beautifully

again. He has to be hampered!

Yes,

once again awkward breach hand but

cued beautifully. -- bridge hand.

It's an awkward sort of table. In

fact, that black is the only colour

on it on the spot. -- it's on the

spot.

And all of the sudden, that one

cannon there, he has freed up that

black. It is still a bit congested,

if you pots the red and black. This

was the cannon he played.

But it's not a good chance just yet.

Where does the black go? Looks to be

something on the black spot so it

would have to go on possibly be

yellow. Because I think the pink

spot is also covered. The referee

will just check with his ball marker

to see if there is enough room on

the pink and there is, just. Has

that tied the black up? It may be

available into the left middle

pocket but I'm not sure if it goes

into the right corner.

He is back looking at the black but

I don't think the black goes. He is

going to have a look at it from the

other side. That is very tight, I

would forget about that for the time

being and concentrate on the blue.

That's just a little bit careless.

He might have to play for the red

over the left side of the table.

Needed to get the other side of the

blue.

I think the one the left side of the

table is probably slightly easier to

get on than the one near the cushion

just above the yellow. That's the

one he has played for. Tricky little

shots, fees.

-- these. Yes, you

don't want to be playing these with

too much pace.

Played it well.

Left the red next to the black, that

would certainly open the black up,

and it clearly does. And this time

he's perfect on the blue to get onto

the red that is next to the black.

He is just checking out a sea of

those two on the black spot area are

available, that's for a few shots

time. He could play for it now but

he has that easy one next to the

black.

Just lost the cue ball slightly

there, he would have preferred to

have been straighter. May have to

play a cannon now, and push the

black towards the centre. That's OK,

reduce the black to screw up for the

blue. -- could use the black to

screw up for the blue.

Psychologically, this would be a

terrific frame and it would be a

great frame to win at this visit. He

has to get to 58 points, as you can

see.

No, he is running out of position

here.

Wasn't the best shot in the world

from Ryan. He didn't get enough stun

on it.

But nevertheless, he's put himself

in front.

Well, now that the green has been

knocked up there, those three

colours are in great shape to get a

snooker behind. He can take this pot

on here. Oooh, how close was that

last remark! -- was that? ! He would

have thought that was going in. How

many times did it rattle? One, two,

three, four.

And there is a Shaun Murphy special.

APPLAUSE

Have a look at where he got that cue

ball, from that position. He was

about nine feet away from that. The

white stops then gripped the cloth

and spins back. It's like he has it

on a lump of elastic there.

It would be a bit of a body blow if

Shaun was to pinch this frame

because Ryan was in pretty good

shape until he didn't get on the red

off the blue. Just a little bit of

movement in the background there,

some late comers.

Well, it has freed up those two

reds. It is a tough shot but you

automatically finish on brown or

blue here.

Oooh...

I think that was the new cloth that

played it slightly easier but that

didn't look like it was going to

drop.

And now the brown goes on the

highest available, on the black spot

this time, which helps Shaun. Well,

Ryan will be delighted to see the

cue ball finishing there, but don't

think that Shaun Murphy still can't

get onto the red. Watch this shot,

he will go round the angles between

pink and yellow and back for the

red. Here it comes... Oooh, caught

the yellow. Ryan will be delighted

to have seen that White hit the

yellow.

If he can get enough side spin on

this and hit the cushion, he could

leave the white wavy red -- where

the red is.

But he's got to be a little careful

he doesn't get too much side on it

or he will send the red into the

brown.

No problem hitting the red, it's

just what he's going to do with it

he is concerned about.

I don't think

he can get enough side and that

Kubot to play that red. The sort of

contact he would get on the red, the

cue ball could be heading towards

the yellow pocket. He would be

trusting to luck, really, possibly,

leaving a long snooker behind the

blue because there is every chance

it could leave a long red into the

right-hand pocket. It depends how

much side he can get on. Well, the

answer to that is not enough.

Shaun Murphy, 23.

Ryan is having it replaced. Yes,

he's playing to just glance off the

red when he hits the cushion. As

Peter said, the red would head

towards the left corner pocket, to

the left of the referee's glove.

That looks near enough, to me.

I mean, he has asked Ryan. Ryan has

said, listen, that looks pretty

good.

That is amazing. He seems to be

hitting the white in the middle with

side. You need to be playing it down

near the bottom of the cue ball to

get that little bit more side on it.

I don't know... He's looking at the

side cushion now. Surely just play

it with a bit more side. He doesn't

have to play the same shot again. So

it's two cushions and hopefully get

a bit of distance between the white

and red.

If he catches this right

this time he could possibly leave a

snooker behind the brown but he will

need to catch it absolutely perfect.

He likes of brown, doesn't he? --

that brown, doesn't he?

A little

more difficult replacing them this

time, because the yellow... Ryan

coming forward to give him a

Braafheid ear wear the yellow was.

You are not allowed to touch the

ball yourself but that is where it

was before. To -- to give him a hint

where the yellow was.

That is what the marker is looking

at.

Can you mix it?

That is getting

nearer.

Just mix it, put it on mix.

He is getting there. Perfect. That

is it.

Yet?

Shaun is now having a look, just to

see. CHUCKLES

Happy with it? Thanks.

Is he going

to go back to his original choice? I

think the first Choice with a lot of

bottom would be OK. But here we go,

his second attempt at this side

cushion escape. APPLAUSE

Where is the cue ball? That is the

worst possible outcome. Unlucky to

go in but it looks like it will be a

free ball. It is a free ball.

Pink.

33 the difference, they pink will

count as one point. 34.

So just the black to leave Shaun at

the snooker 's required stage. This

was a very important frame from Ryan

Day. It looked like he was going to

clinch it with one visit.

APPLAUSE

Certainly not one of his best

position shots, that's for sure. But

two snookers needed.

Ryan Day, eight.

So, barring a couple of snookers, he

has this second frame.

The balls are not too badly placed

for those snookers.

He has a chance here is getting a

snooker, a thin one of the red. That

will keep the red safe and a good

chance to get in behind... He can

just pick the colour he likes.

I think he has found the gap, has

he?

That is a pretty good effort.

APPLAUSE

Always nice to see that.

Shaun tried to bring the green into

play there, believe it or not.

So, another opportunity for Ryan Day

just to push the red in or over the

yellow pocket. Oh, I'm very

surprised at his shot selection

there. He has played a good safety

shot but why not put the red over

the pocket?

He could have done without this,

Ryan Day. He potted the black to

leave Shaun needing a couple of

snookers snookered himself on the

last red was available. -- that was

available.

Taking a red and black still leaves

him in the same situation. You

always would like to keep the red on

the table, if you could.

Shaun Murphy, eight.

Just a little bit careless to get

the double-kiss. He has left Shaun a

chance of one of the two snookers

that he needs.

But didn't get in behind the black

for a chance to put this second

frame to bed, so to speak. I would

just play this easy, I wouldn't be

forcing this. Even if he hits the

cushion first, give the pocket a

chance... If he hits it had, he can

miss it. That's all he needs.

CHUCKLES

Almost double-kissed it into the

pocket.

Just look at this. If he had hit it

slightly harder, the white would

have gone through and knocked in the

yellow. This looks good. APPLAUSE

Slightly more difficult to hit this

time. Two cushions, just off the

left side of the table would be the

way to go. Could go once a cross,

but the players prefer to hit two

cushions, with not a lot of pace.

Well played.

APPLAUSE

Shaun can play the snooker behind

the brown here...

Well, that's a

surprising choice of shot for me.

Very surprised he potted the green.

It seemed like a really good

opportunity, Dennis, to play the

snooker there.

Yes, it was a strange

choice.

I mean, if he potted the brown and

blue, he could tie with one snooker.

Six penalty points available but

only the one ball to snooker behind.

That could be the end. That's a poor

shot from Shaun.

APPLAUSE

It doesn't matter about the blue.

Ryan Day wins the frame and it is

1-1.

All the importance of that one from

the point of view of Ryan settling

in this match, how important do you

think it was?

Hard-fought but he is

over the line. He could have got

back into it, Shaun, but lost

position on that second last red and

snookered himself and then Brian got

a few points from that. Ryan will be

relieved.

And surely will. Shaun

snookering himself caused a whole

myriad of problems.

Tried to swerve

it a couple of times. I thought the

first time he could have gone the

other side of the table, I thought

if he went round by the yellow it

would be a better choice of shot. I

think Ryan will be more delighted.

Potted a few balls, settled in and

it is match on.

So important for

Ryan to settle down in this first of

his triple Crown semifinals here.

Even in the last match against

choice in the quarterfinal, gave him

so much to do and was chasing from

the start.

Fantastic to come back to

win that match. I think the

confidence of winning the first

ranking tournament, he has lost in

three finals, so to win that is like

a monkey off your back. It gives you

that air of confidence. Just like

Shaun looks winning the champions

champions against Ronnie O'Sullivan,

he's a different player to the one

he was 12 months ago. I think both

players are in both form, potting

well, good long pots. I did this

game will get better. It opened up

with a great century from Shaun but

I think it will go better as it goes

on.

I know Shaun is the vastly more

experienced player, but Ryan has had

enough experience in the game, I

don't think he's that much of a

newcomer to this big stage. He's

been at the World Championships.

Once you have played the Crucible...

Quarterfinalist.

It's not like it's

a rabbit in the headlights stuff. I

expect him to play pretty well, if

you get another table time.

Let's

get back to table on because this is

the third frame as Ryan comes back

on - one. It looks like we are going

to be in for a pretty open and

exciting game tonight.

COMMENTATOR: Absolutely, Hazel. That

was quite a long second frame. The

first frame was under ten minutes,

the century break. Ryan won't mind

how long the frame takes as long as

he wins it. Can Shaun get back into

stroke here, early on?

Well, he was on the black. Had this

long red have gone in.

Ryan has a tough red into the yellow

pocket here. He would love to get

the cue ball back into a similar

position that it's in now. No,

slightly wide. Shaun Murphy is a

very attacking player. I wouldn't be

surprised if he took this red on.

Lots of top spin. And depending on

what pace he placed it at, either to

stay on the black or possibly go

right through the reds for the blue.

A fantastic pot.

Yes, I would tip to very gently

passed that white.

That would have been unlucky, had

that cue ball have dropped.

Incidentally, if it was to fall in

after three or four seconds, it

would be replaced over the pocket.

It's not like a pot, you're allowed

a little bit longer. If it drops in,

it's OK, if it snooker, it would

have to go back.

Shaun Murphy is one of the very best

rest players in the game, he rarely

misses with the rest.

That positional shot really needed

to be very accurate, and that was

poor, cannoning into the yellow

dear.

Yes. As I say, this course is

playing very lively -- the yellow

there. The percentages against

knocking this planned in our pretty

low. You got to be so accurate. --

knocking this plant in. Didn't fancy

that one little bit.

Very difficult

shot, with the distance between

those two Matt reds, as you quite

rightly say, Dennis. Surprised he

played it, to be honest. Having

missed it. The reds could have gone

everywhere. This is a test of

cueing. That's very good. Well

played.

General, I think Shaun

Murphy, showing you this long pot

again, he was so disgusted with the

position -- you know, I think Shaun

Murphy. He just went for the plant.

Oh, well, here's looking at the tip

there. Played that right-hand side,

but what has he done there? Peter

has been talking about the new cue

that Ryan has. It will certainly

take a bit of getting used to it,

but this one, it can't be that bad,

the cue has gotten through to the

semifinal of his first big three.

Yes, it was just very noticeable

yesterday that in his match almost

every ball he missed with side he

pulled them. You certainly wouldn't

expect him to miss that sort of pot

over that distance. But he played it

on the side and his new cue is

obviously throwing off side for less

than his old one. Misjudgement. --

for far less.

Pretty good chance, this, and there

are a few more reds available before

you have to go on to that little

bunch of six reds.

Just the one red available so he

might decide to bring a few more

into play here, but it hasn't worked

out, at first glance. He was unlucky

there.

Didn't need to hit it very hard.

I

think Shaun may be able to take this

red into the left-centre and almost

play it as a shot to nothing. Ah,

beautifully cued.

APPLAUSE

He will have to go into it again.

And this time it is perfect. That's

a frame when there you are just

looking at. -- a frame winner. And

you have to say he is certainly

punishing Ryan Day for that mistake.

Screwing through the reds, he gets

so much spin. The cue ball spins and

then spins again.

Already 61 points in front.

Snooker's now required. So a frame

that hasn't been going in minutes,

but like the opening frame, the last

frame, and the ball has gone a

little awkward, over 56 minutes.

APPLAUSE

Some century, with the last two

reds, as they are situated. Just

look at that shot. But unlucky. You

would have to knock a cracking red,

into this left corner pocket. You

wouldn't put it past him... Well,

any pocket will do. It might go in

the pocket he played it in. He sat

on his seat and watched Shaun Murphy

make that break of 73. The now reads

2-1. -- and he now leads 2-1.

Shaun Murphy to break.

PETER EBDON:

Shaun Murphy breaking

off in frame format, leading by two

frames to one -- in frame for. That

is very cueable. Nice break.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Mid-session interval,

not after this frame. He is coming

round to see the situation, and

would have to be very careful not to

leave the red that is closest to the

black.

If those two reds weren't there he

would have to go with this one on

them to the left corner, trying to

get onto the black. That is why he's

thinking about it for almost a

minute. He has to get this right.

That red on the right side of the

table is a little awkward. And that

was his concern. He was frightened

of cannon into that. That is why he

missed it completely. What a result

he has had here if there is nothing

available to Shaun.

Mm, he has got away with it.

That's a big mistake there. He's

just looking to see, well, to the

white drift a little bit? But

whatever happened he has put you on

right in amongst them here.

Didn't play the cannon, as he

intended. Just wanted to hit the red

a little bit fuller. Already a

change of plan.

Good shot at that pace. He had to

play with that speed to get on the

blue. And there are a few available

here to him. Just show him bridging

over the red... Have a little look,

coming back out again. So he has had

breaks of 104 and 73. And there are

a few still available here.

He played that shot very well

indeed. Always into the left-centre,

if he didn't get that correctly, but

played a wonderful shot. He doesn't

need to go into the reds here but he

is very attacking, Shaun Murphy, and

you just never know. He may well do.

After this next red, though. He

likes to get the pack open as soon

as he possibly can, to give himself

a frame-winning opportunity. Now, he

is not high enough on the political

into the red. That is probably what

he played for.

-- high enough on the blue to go

into the reds.

And the reason he

played that shot, if he had got

nicely on the blue he would have

gone into the reds. That one was

always going to be a bit of

insurance. Now, he has got to get

this just right.

Blake for the loose one -- he played

for the loose one. Last chance to

get a good angle.

APPLAUSE

And they are not a great bunch to go

into but with the cue power he has

and the action gets on the cue ball,

he plays it well, but it still

requires a good shot, this. It was

never going to be easy. Has this one

past the pink? If it does, he's OK.

Yes, he can play for blue. It's a

couple of times, and I know there

are a lot of people who have called

going down, a few coughs, Shaun just

back-up from that shot there. --

there are a lot of people who have

colds going around.

Is not hanging

about, is he, Dennis?

The first

frame was under ten minutes, as was

the third. And a frame winner coming

up an average short time is just 21

seconds. What is available? Is there

a plant on? It is a nice little

bonus if that's on, and you can see

it, but he would have to hit it on

the white side, as we look at it, to

squeeze it into the pocket.

APPLAUSE

It's amazing. I was doing the game

with Sunny Akani against Ronnie

O'Sullivan and he misjudged a plant

like that, just couldn't see you had

to hit it on the other side, and

believe it or not... If he had a

very entertaining Thai player would

have knocked out the Rocket. -- the

very entertaining. This is just

fabulous stuff from Shaun Murphy, it

really is.

Perhaps Shaun has a table book at

the restaurant across the road,

Dennis, this evening.

He has had

four centuries, Shaun, well, this

would be his fourth, if it goes in.

93 so far now in the tournament. And

if this short works out this could

be another century. No. He has

overcome that. No century.

APPLAUSE

He won three very quick frames. He

goes into the mid-session interval

leading Ryan Day by 3-1.

HAZEL IRVINE: Yes, he ambles out of

the arena but you're right, Dennis,

you looks and something of a hurry

tonight. Your impression so far, the

way he has gone about business in

the fourth frame?

I think Shaun

Murphy looks excellent on the shot,

seems to be comparable amongst the

balls, and a top prospect for

anybody, even the champion of

champions. I think it is tough for

Ryan Day. Especially because there

is still a possibility even though

he is in the semifinals, the UK

championship, that he hasn't

absolutely got used to his new cue

and that shows up most when you are

playing on the side of him. You see

the pink Kemalist, effectively the

cue did not push... The ball did not

push into the pink as much as it

would have done without outside side

spin, and this next one, the red

into the corner that lets in Shaun

Murphy, what actually happened, he

did it with a fraction of left-hand

side spin and it seems he hit

fractionally across the ball. We may

be reading too much into it, I don't

know.

You did have a chat with them?

Before he went out I met him

backstage, I just said, you've had

some really tough matches. The head

and 65s. He was just joking, he

said, still trying to get used to

this cue, so obviously there is

still something in his mind. As

Steve said, it is only exaggerating

when you're potting a little bit of

that on the ball, and it is only

fractions in this game and if you

are a fraction off, as he was, and

you miss the ball, in the very first

shot, coming across it and across

the miscue as well, so the fractions

have cost him. It may be the cue,

maybe not.

You said it earlier on.

Tough matches but also some tough

luck. After waiting years for a

world ranking title that came in the

Latvian capital of Riga over the

summer, after a few days, his cue

was snapped when information repair,

and you would think you must have

been an absolute despair at that

point?

Yes, I have had my cue all my

life so I don't know what it is like

to play with a new one, but Stephen

Hendry's cue, I was on the flight

with him and when he found out it

was smashed coming back from

Thailand it took a long time and he

possibly never got over it, his

smashed cue, so players change cues

all the time but it does take some

time to get used to.

Had that happen

to you?

No, but I have played with

different cues and they all have

different characteristics, mainly

when potting side spin on it, so it

when you hit the ball with centre

ball striking it should go along the

cue but with side spin the cue ball

will deflect away from the side spin

you're potting on and you have to

know the shape of how the cue ball

then comes back online and every cue

will have its own distinct

characteristics, and until you can

trust it like it is an old friend

you're always second-guessing

yourself.

But how long does that

process takes? Adaptability in your

own head as much as anything?

Some

can be better than others but if you

can get the cue to be made as close

to the characteristics as possible,

but every piece of wood is different

so it is tough.

Even if you have the

exact specifications, as two cues

together, both of them will perhaps

react differently.

OK, so let's see

how Ryan fears after the interval.

We will reflect on the first

semifinal, a match that became even

more intriguing the longer it went

on. It looked for a well liked

Ronnie O'Sullivan would run away

with it because he went to a 4-0

lead but after the interval the game

absolutely burst into life when the

Scot, Maguire, launched a comeback,

winning four of the next five

frames, and was just one behind at

4-5. How would O'Sullivan respond?

This was frame ten, watched by

Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Frame ten. Stephen Maguire to break.

STEPHEN HENDRY:

4-0 and it looks

like Ronnie O'Sullivan was cruising

to the final. Anything but now.

Yes, he did well to get the cue ball

back,

but there is a red to the

right corner. There are pressure on

these now, Dennis. When you have

nothing to lose and you go for them

you relax, but now he could win the

match.

DENNIS TAYLOR: There is a bit

of a gap but a few obstacles here on

the table. Yes. It was a good

effort. And there is no easy one for

Ronnie O'Sullivan, that's for sure.

We will show you this red wobble in

the jaws.

Yes, the pressure switches

back again from just being relaxed

with not much to lose, and all of a

sudden you're back in it.

Well, this

will get him onto the black. Not a

sitter, that's for sure.

APPLAUSE

Yes, he has missed two or three long

balls since the interval, when he

made that netizen century. Some he

has not cued well, but that was

perfection. -- that magnificent

century.

But this man has seen every scenario

in the game of snooker. Over his

career. So there is no way he is

going to panic even when losing four

frames out of five.

I think there's every chance Stephen

Maguire might have played his last

shot in this match. He will be

fearing the worst.

Ronnie O'Sullivan always manages to

find an extra gear when required.

He has let that one go a little bit.

Played for the blue. That was loose.

There's not many more available to

him. Just a couple of pottable reds.

Amazing what can happen in this

game. Just going slightly out of

position, took the very aggressive

route, and was very unlucky to pot

the pink when he had knocked theblew

in. Amazing what can happen in this

game at times -- knocked the blue

in.

Yes, here is a shot that Ronnie

is playing, straight off the blue.

He has overheads that by about a

foot. A very loose shot. And you see

the consequences. He has to play a

difficult blue to go into the bunch.

The pot wasn't so difficult but

getting the right contact was very

tough because he had such an acute

angle.

That is an awkward little

position for the referee to be in,

to get the pink in a straight line,

directly in line with the blue and

black. And this time it had to go

behind the white, there wasn't

enough room to get it behind the

reds.

Well, he has purposely opened the

reds up there, Stephen Maguire. A

lot of players would have just

glanced off that but he played that

in such a way he has opened up the

game. Is this to acute into the

middle pocket?

Is this too acute

into the middle pocket?

Oh, what a pot that is.

APPLAUSE

And now, well, it was a very

positive shot, Dennis, but he might

be regretting it now.

LAUGHTER

Yes, didn't think he was going to

leave that one, that's for sure.

But he has opened up the reds and

now Stephen has to sit in his seat

and see how many Ronnie can knock

in, as we show you that very

delicate shot.

Ronnie O'Sullivan straightaway

playing for the red covering the

black spot.

That's where the pink is going to

go, after the pots it. Great chance

to get into the final.

I think just forget about the black

and concentrate on the pink here.

Not absolutely perfect.

Very delicately played. Back in

prime position again. Just that on

safety shot he played, a bit

aggressive it was. He wanted to open

up the reds but didn't get the cue

ball where he wanted. He could have

just glanced off them but he wanted

that white tights on the baulk

cushion and it came away from it. --

wanted that white tight.

Looked like it was all going to be

one-way traffic when Ronnie led 4-0.

Stephen Maguire could have won a

couple of those first four frames,

didn't manage it. But he played some

brilliant snooker to get right back

in this match, winning four frames

out of five, but a few more pots and

it's all over for this year for

Stephen Maguire. Ronnie O'Sullivan

keeping himself on track take equal

Steve Davis' record of six UK

titles.

Yes, he has always been able to find

something when it's been needed.

When Stephen came back from 4-0 to

4-2, Ronnie knocked in a century

break. So...

Started the match with a break of 61

and is finishing the match in style.

APPLAUSE

Well, not a century about what a way

to finish. Great comeback from

Stephen Maguire, but it was a bit

too much and in the end Ronnie Rob

O'Sullivan -- Ronnie O'Sullivan

winning 6-4.

Congratulations, yet another UK

championship final.

Yes... He was

coming back at me and I was lucky to

be 4-0 up. Stephen didn't capitalise

on the chances in the first four

frames, so I got away with it and I

just tried to stay ahead after that.

frames, so I got away with it and I

just tried to stay ahead after that.

Pleased to be in another UK final.

From a neutral's point of view it

was an interesting match, at one

with stage it looked like you would

railroad him and then he showed his

class to give himself the chance.

I

knew he was playing well because I'd

seen the results and watched a bit

of him playing on TV. He looked to

be doing pretty good. I knew I had

to play pretty decent today and

luckily enough for me I was able to

just do enough, really.

Great stuff,

we will see tomorrow, lovely Ronnie.

Rodney threw to a third successive

final and a seventh in total. That

final starts at one o'clock here on

BBC Two. But who will Ronnie

O'Sullivan be facing? At the moment

Shaun Murphy has a 3-1 lead over

Ryan Day in his semifinal. He looks

in a hurry to get there. I wonder if

he can cross the line or Ryan Day

will still have a major say in this

semifinal? Back to Peter and Dennis.

COMMENTATOR: Thank you. Ryan Day as

he was walking back in had a little

smile on his face, so that is always

a good sign. He knows he is up

against a player at the top of his

form.

Make sure mobiles are switched off

or an silent please, thank you.

The audience back in again and

someone forgot to put their phone on

silent.

APPLAUSE

That's what we call a Shaun Murphy

special. Brilliant at this type of

shot.

And with that long pink he has got

himself in early in this fifth

frame. It might take a little bit of

sporting here, deep pink. -- a bit

of spotting. Not enough room in

between the reds so he will have to

get it in a straight line. Get it in

a straight line and roll the pink

forward.

Just rocking back a little bit, the

pink, as you can see. But that is

spot on.

Just looking at three of Shaun's

frames, all under ten minutes.

With breaks of 104, 73 and 80 nine.

He is flying at the moment.

That is not absolutely ideal. Very

good recovery, though. Now, he's so

attacking. Will he play into the

reds with pace? Deep screw shot.

Wow! How was that for a shot?! Wow.

He couldn't have hit it any better.

I think he blocked the pocket. You

can't catch a breath, watch the

white, stops and then spins back.

Not many players could have pulled

that shot off but look how the red

has come out and blocked the pocket.

Amazing. Still a couple of pots to

go at, but with the way he opened

them up, he should have had

something a lot easier than this.

APPLAUSE

This is awesome at the moment.

Having to bridge over the red and

pink there. 94% pot success rate.

That might even go up.

This frame could be over in a matter

of minutes.

Just let the white run a bit further

than he intended there.

Well, even that shot to get the

right side of the blue, he hardly

hit that and look at the action he

got on it. Up to 95 now.

At the moment, Shaun Murphy is

playing the semifinal of the UK

championship like he would play in

his club. He is just enjoying

knocking in the balls.

Steve Davis very famously once said

that the art of playing snooker is

to play as if it means nothing, when

it actually means everything. And

Shaun Murphy is certainly doing

that. He has been incredibly

impressive so far this evening.

Cueing the ball beautifully, getting

on with it, playing at a fantastic

pace. Playing very entertaining and

exciting snooker. This is just

fabulous.

APPLAUSE

He has already had one century in

this semifinal.

At 93 -- we have had 93 centuries so

far. This could be Shaun's fourth.

Just the black needed. Stunning

snooker from the Magician.

His nickname is the Magician, that

one and he is waving, a lot of magic

out there. And look at that shot

with the rest.

Surely he can't pot this yellow and

come off two cushions and in behind

the green...

Brilliant!

Talking about in the zone. Well,

that's nice to see. Ryan Day just

nodding, as if to say, can't do

anything about this, and he can't.

Well... Everything going right in

the centre of the pocket. Absolutely

incredible snooker from the

Magician, Shaun Murphy. Once again,

one chance and he cleared the table

with that magnificent break, 135. He

leads Ryan Day 4-1.

The sixth century of the

championship, the second of this

match. Ken and Steve watching on in

real appreciation, particularly the

statistics we are looking at. 95%

pot success, 54% long pot success

and that is significant.

Ryan can't

do much, leaving him distance from

-- balls from distance and he is

knocking them all. It is also the

pace around the table. He is

averaging less than 20 seconds, 19

seconds, but interesting how long

the long ball success over the whole

tournament... But at the moment, 64%

is very high.

I've been told that

over the four four TV matches, his

long pot success is 71%.

Incredible.

You would have to say, on the form,

Shaun Murphy is looking the best

player in the tournament, as they

currently speak. Ronnie O'Sullivan

as yet hasn't played this standard,

even though Ronnie great in his own

way. If Shaun Murphy gets to the

final, I think we will be in for a

treat.

At the moment for Ryan Day

not much is safe out there for his

opponent.

COMMENTATOR:

A good break-off shot

from Shaun Murphy.

Just a containing safety shot from

Ryan Day. He must be wondering what

has hit him tonight so far. Shaun

Murphy has been in fabulous form.

Things could turn round, Dennis, but

the way Shaun is playing, you just

can't see it at the moment.

Yes, we

normally save the interval can

change things round, it didn't on

this occasion. -- we normally say

that the interval can change things

round.

Not the double-kiss... Oh dear! That

is what I call a DDK, the dreaded

double-kiss.

That break of Shaun 135, it was his

highest.

Michael White has got the high break

at the moment, a break of 142. A

prize of £5,000, and that will take

a bit of beating, but the way this

man is playing, who's to say that

break is safe.

301 points without reply. Meanwhile,

that last positional shot was not

the best from Shaun, but he has his

potting boots on. The black is not a

give me.

But everything, as I say, for Shaun

is going in the centre of the

pocket. Not touching the sides.

Not nicely on the red.

Phone the police, Shaun Murphy has

missed one of the reds!

As you can see, that is Ryan's first

pot for almost half an hour.

Quite simply, he has to take this

frame, 5-1 behind and you wouldn't

give him much of a chance the way

Shaun Murphy is playing. But 4-2 and

he can get himself back into this

semifinal.

He has just overscrewed that

slightly. Should be OK. Should be

able to avoid the cannon into the

pink and get the right side of the

blue. But he is short and he is

straight. OK, he can screw back the

cue ball about 8-10 inches and leave

a red into the left black pocket.

That is a very good recovery shot.

Well played.

Well controlled there. So far, so

good.

Just coming round to have a look at

the situation round the black spot

area.

Has finished a little awkward to get

nicely onto the pink, so that is why

he is having a look at the black.

If

he gets the right angle on the

black, he may be able to play a stun

run through shot and move the red

away from the black and stay on the

red to the left of it. Looks a

little bit straight to play that

shot now.

So, a deep screw with lots of

right-hand side, the red into the

same pocket. Didn't quite get enough

side on. These can be quite tricky

to judge sometimes, when you are

quite close to the red.

Yes, I think he can avoid Canning

into the pink. He can play up for

the blue here. It just depends on

the angle. -- I think he can avoid

the cannon into the pink. Yes, he

could, and he is the right side of

the blue. There is at least one red

available into the left corner. The

others are covering each other

somewhat.

But the way he has finished, he will

be able to develop a few reds. This

is a key shot coming up. Oh dear, he

took his eye off that... Well, what

a fluke he has had there. His

concentration on he took his eye off

the pot. But he can't get onto a red

from that position. Well, if he's

taken the pink, wow, what a shot

this is, taking it on from that

position. Terrific! Terrific cueing

there.

Sometimes you need a little bit of

good Fortuna. And the way Shaun

Murphy is playing, he needed a

little bit of luck.

Oooh, he doesn't want to go in

behind the red...

And look at that, 50 ahead, still 51

on the table, and look where the cue

ball has finished up.

Ryan Day, 61.

APPLAUSE

Shaun Murphy needs three reds, three

blacks and all the colours to pinch

the frame by a point.

That was a very clever shot from

Shaun Murphy.

And that is an excellent reply. From

Ryan Day.

APPLAUSE

Shaun needs to be careful not to

push the red over the left corner

here. That is pretty good.

Yes, although he is 50 points

behind, the way the balls are

situated here, if he gets a chance,

he can make it. -- nick it. And if

this bounces along way... Can't hold

for the black if he takes the pot

on.

The only possible way he could get

on the black is to cannon it.

Ritchie played to do. -- which he

played to do.

Well, he may be 50 points in front,

but there is an awful lot of

pressure on this pot and this is

really tough. He knows that if he

misses it, it could well cost him

the frame.

What a shot, what a shot! He played

as a shot to nothing, but what a

fantastic pot.

Ryan Day, 1.

Shaun Cummings back to the table but

it looks like Ryan has this one in

the bag and you'd have to say. --

Shaun is coming back to the table.

Look at this for an outcome... I

thought he was going to slide past

the brown.

APPLAUSE

Shaun at the moment needs two four

point snookers to tie. I think he

will concede now to stop my just

look round at Ryan. Yes, he does. He

concedes, so Ryan Day got a frame

back that he needed and it is a

frame he did win. He keeps himself

in this match, but still trails 4-2.

HAZEL IRVINE: Ryan possibly thought

he may be due a bit of luck Andy got

some with that extraordinary fluke.

Yes, he missed this, and you kind of

expect him to dot-macro this

finishes up. The cue ball almost

goes in as well. -- and he got some

with that extraordinary fluke. He

needed something, needed that to

keep his hopes alive.

And he is

still in it.

Yes, and apart from the

Klutke was still pretty impressive

in that frame, I thought, so good

news for Ryan Day fans, that he is

not letting his game suffer because

he has not had that much table time.

It is nice when you get your chance

to be fluent amongst the balls --

apart from the fluke. No suggestion

the match will slow down. A lot of

bravado out there I think, but not

stupid bravado.

Absolutely not what

how much and do you think you might

have been feeling? It was clear

Shaun Murphy was certainly on a roll

and the danger steam-rolling your

opponent right there?

Yes, giving

yourself a little bit of

reassurance, little bit of

confidence, potted some nice balls,

made a nice break, but for the

misread and the fluke, and as long

as your opponent needs two, you are

well in this match. If you can make

this next frame, a massive frame

coming up, and if you can manage to

nick this and that the little seeds

of doubt in Shaun's mind.

There is

always a point where Shaun Murphy

fans are slightly worried because he

does call for things and

occasionally he misses and sometimes

there is the odd shot where you

think, was that a judicious thing to

have done or not? I guess that is

part of his charm, by his form and

style is very much admired?

Yes, and

I don't think you can really use the

yardstick of previous generations of

players and how they played to try

to judge how to play now in the

modern-day game. If you look at,

say, the world of golf, how it feels

like the players have to attack the

pin more often otherwise someone

else will be done to the trophy.

Perhaps that is the way snooker is

going. You have to be more and more

aggressive. As long as you don't go

just over the edge on it. It is a

tough one to get the balance right.

Certainly enjoyable watching it.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Interesting to see

how he plays this one. If he was

going to have a go at this wouldn't

leave a great deal, only the one

who's trying. Order will he end up

with the one he missed, try to put

it on for the corner? -- or will he.

Thank you.

I thought he might have

just ruled that in for the black,

because he wasn't leaving a great

deal. Later shot to nothing, and it

hasn't worked. -- he played a shot

to nothing. 'S PETER EBDON:

Ryan

played the aggressive shot there.

The drag shot was very difficult.

Oh, well played. Lovely cannon.

Purposely played that, and he played

it perfectly.

I noticed the way he played it

Peter, didn't put a lot of side on

it, and that is a good thing because

the balls he has missed is when he

plays with a lot of side with that

new cue we have been talking about,

and that was just plain ball

striking, and he picked out the

cannon lovely.

He has the perfect angle on the

black here. Hasn't dropped on one,

though, and I don't think you can

get one into the right middle. One

possible pot I will show you, the

cannon here, did get the back spin.

The only possible pot is a very very

difficult one.

Wasn't really a good

pack to play the screenshot.

Would have been better playing the

stunner shot -- to play the screw

shot. Unbelievable. How small our

these middle pockets? That is

incredible.

I mean, everyone thought

that was in. From here that looks

perfect. Wow.

APPLAUSE

And he made it look easy.

That wasn't an easy angle either.

And just look at that now.

One can and there has opened the

game up completely. -- one cannon.

Just a little awkwardly. As to get

the extended rest out, the extended

cue. He is thinking quite a few shot

ahead. Shouldn't be a problem for

pin-mac. -- shouldn't be a problem

for Shaun.

Hampered slightly here.

Might have to take a difficult black

here because he has covered the

pink. Slightly hampered his bridge.

Looking at the yellow now.

He has

been unfortunate in the last shot he

has played. This is a really tough

black.

Oh, well played.

This is as well as I have seen Shaun

Murphy play for quite some time,

Dennis. He has been very impressive

this evening.

Well, I think the way

he has played this season,

especially beating Ronnie

O'Sullivan, the champion of

champions, it has given him such a

confidence boost. I mean, he has

been playing like this for quite a

number of years, but he is back at

his brilliant best, it has to be

said.

That is very well played. Tried to

develop the red, just caught it a

little bit thin.

He looked at this one over the

pocket a long time ago. That's how

far he was thinking, Shaun. He still

has the one past the pink.

He is 20 in front.

Has choices now. To screw over with

the one on the right corner, or just

flick that one slightly into a

pottable position, but it is so easy

to knock it a bit too far. He feels

he can drop that one in as well.

The fact he could get right in

behind it, but... Yes, just gently

does it.

And as he looks at the scoreboard,

pink would be enough. 34, or any

colour you would be enough with this

red to leave Ryan leading snooker.

-- needing a smoker. And once again

-- to make a frame-winning break, it

has been an awesome display -- to

leave Ryan needing a snooker.

Two snookers needed at the moment.

APPLAUSE

Ryan Constable table but it is going

to be a tall order. -- Ryan comes to

the table. Always the chance of a

free ball, though, with one red on

the table. No. Total misjudgement

there, the cannon the black.

Total misjudgement there,

to cannon the black.

Lost a little bit of focus, but just

be a little bit careful, Shaun. I've

seen friends won before with two

smokers needed -- I've seen frames

one before.

I think on that

occasion, Dennis, it would be fair

to say that was a horrendous cake,

going very thick -- two snookers

needed.

Let's have a look to see if

he did get a kick here. It seemed to

leave the bed, red.

See, the black's in a good spot to

get in behind, not from this

position but when you're looking for

stuff you'd rather have the black

over there, than in the middle of

the table.

The Shaun Murphy special, to make

absolutely sure. Oh.

He had a chance of the snooker

there, if it hadn't got the job the

middle pocket. -- caught the jaw.

He

might well find themselves snookered

here himself. That is an excellent

shot from Shaun Murphy. -- he might

well find he is snookered here,

himself.

Yes, I figure will cover it

Shaun, and not said. Shaun Murphy,

with the help of that seven-day

break, just one frame away from our

place in tomorrow's final. It is

5-2.

HAZEL IRVINE: For so long in that

frame it looked like Ryan would get

in there, but that Mr the middle

really was the catalyst to the

success from Shaun.

Look at this, he

plays it just almost dead weight,

and it looks like it'll just curl

in, and as was said, that could have

been Ryan's mess, but Shaun made a

wonderful century break there, as

good as any century, and he will be

very pleased. Great shots there. It

was fantastic.

It is interesting. We

talk about balls going in corner

pocket easier, and some from the

camera angle looked like they should

not have awning, brand-new cloth,

easier to going, but we are asked if

the tables are tighter or easier

than they were in the 1980s on 90s,

but certainly the medals are far

tighter than they used to be.

It

means Shaun Murphy is just one frame

away from booking a place in the UK

final against the man who is

practising in this practice room

right now. Ronnie O'Sullivan is

quietly getting on with his business

as these two fight it out for the

right to face him.

PETER EBDON:

Shaun Murphy breaks off

leading by 5-2, it really has been a

wonderful performance from him this

evening. Very attacking,

entertaining, very fluid. It has

been wonderful to watch. Ryan Day

really has his back against the wall

now. What can he produce.

What can he produce?

Under the most extreme pressure.

This is a very tough red if he is

taking this on.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Yes, I think he made

up his mind that he was going to

have a go. 5-2 down, back right

against the wall. Has he left that

red? No, he hasn't, and has the

other past it? It is very tight.

Let's have a look... Just enough

room.

Is he playing this? No, he didn't

want to risk that other one.

Is Shaun Murphy allowed to play

safe, Dennis?

That was very very well judged.

It has put a bit of pressure on the

safety shot. That is far too thin.

Might just have covered everything

into that left-hand corner. There is

one to the right.

Yes, just that one with the pink and

reds that will pot.

Slightly easier than the one to the

right corner.

He is cutting the one into the

middle.

APPLAUSE

And he has a chance at the black.

That was quite a thin snick there.

The cannon worked out quite nicely.

This is not easy.

Especially at that pace.

Well, what he would give for a 50 or

60 break here.

Still three or four might lose reds.

That you would like to take the --

before risking a cannon. If you can

get on the one closest to the black,

it would clear the path for another

red into the right corner. There are

other options there, available to

him. That's the one he has played

for.

When he removes this, it opens

things up.

A little straight on the black, but

no problem for Ryan, with his cue

power. Oh, he kicked. That is

unlucky. Look where the white has

finished up. OK, it still managed to

pot the black, but that was

horrendous, that contact. Look at

that.

APPLAUSE

Well, that was a good recovery pot.

He lost the cue ball.

Yes, that is all you need against an

opponent. Like Shaun Murphy. We will

show you the cake again. The way

Shaun is playing you need a little

bit of good luck, and he did have

that when he flipped at red, but he

is taking this on. -- when he fluked

a red. Oh! Nearly broke the back of

it. Everything was jumping around

there, and the white nearly went in

as well!

The green certainly didn't

roll off it, did it? Ah, that is

magnificent! Well played. What a

shot.

I think even Shaun Murphy

would have appreciated that one.

Fabulous. I said he was looking for

50 or 60 break at the start of this.

He's now looking for enough to

clinch the frame.

And he would have loved a slight

angle on that red, just to flick

another red out. That's OK.

Just

needs the one red.

APPLAUSE

Very well played Ryan Day. But that

new type of chalk that has dropped

out of his pocket a few times onto

the floor. I tell you what, this

break is superb. The green at the

pace he played it into the middle

was astounding.

I mean, this was incredible, the

pace he hit this act. It bounced

about five times.

Ryan has had four centuries already

in this year's UK championship. We

had 94, so far.

It has finished a little awkward. He

will need that long pink. To get the

century.

Get in there. It looks good to me.

APPLAUSE