Day 8 World Championship Snooker Extra

Welcome to the World Snooker Championships from The Crucible

Theatre in Sheffield. We have Ronnie O'Sullivan against Ali

Carter, a repeat of last year's final. Ronnie has been out of

snooker for almost a year and beat Ali Carter last year by 18 frames

to 11. We join this in the opening frame. Willie Thorne and Ken

As far as Ali Carter is concerned, he has not beat Ronnie O'Sullivan

in the last few times they have played, but Ken, this could be his

best chance? Winning in Germany will give him that extra bit of

confidence. He has been very consistent this season. It is

always nice to have big tournament win under your belt coming into

these championships. 12 times they have played, and Ronnie O'Sullivan

has won every single time. What a fantastic atmosphere from the

players coming into this wonderful arena. There it is, two tables

This is a shot to nothing for Ali Carter, but he will have to screw

it in it. He might not take it on. It looks like he is playing base

safety off the left-hand side of We will get a chance to see how

Ronnie APPLAUSE Long potting is Just about held up for the green.

That is the difference what people like Ronnie, when they play a shot

to nothing, they make it into a shot for something. There is an

early miss! Has he left anything? It is a red pot a ball above the

black, but it is tough. Surprising early miss from Ronnie. I am not

sure what red he was trying to get on. It is fortunate he has not left

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There was a bit of room behind that It is interesting, a lot of people

coming into this World Championships asking questions

about Ronnie O'Sullivan, what kind of form could he be in after not

playing a competitive match for almost 12 months. He looked very

sharp in his first round match. A lot of these guys have played an

awful lot of matches. Could he be more fresh? But it could go against

him. An excellent safety shot from Ali Carter. But what will really be

like when he will be tested for the first time? If ever a match goes

close, it will be interesting to see how his temperament holds up.

That will be the first Test, when it goes close. There is his view.

This is a big shot. It is a tough red. Up decided against it. I

suppose the reason he did that, it was probably too risky. It

definitely would have let Ali He wants to try and make sure he

gets the first frame on the board. I think there is a gap to this red

and the pink is available. This is the first chance in this match so

Played it at a nicely. Not sure if he can get on the red just to the

right of the black. Players have sometimes come to the venue with

new shoes and Riley is saying he I don't know if he has a new shoes

on, but he has slippery souls at the moment. Using the extension out.

That red to the right of the black, if he could get on that red, it

would be nice. Not sure if he can It is hard to screw it with the

Spider. If he misses the kiss it is perfect. Just slowed the white down

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He tried to get on the blue, but overshot it. Red left to the pink

is preference. If he can get on the pink, almost a little bit straight

on the pink, he can certainly run down for the red. I thought he

might try and get on the pink and that red just to the right of the

black is causing him problems at the moment. First chance he could

get, this can certainly opened things up. That was beautifully

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We see the angle he has. If it was going to the blue towards the cue

ball, it would be easier. He is going inside the pink, and it makes

This is unbelievable. He is still not perfect. But those were two

good parts. Sometimes you get yourself into a little hole, and

the harder you try, you cannot get out. But this red is a knock the

greatest of angles. -- not the He has gone all-out for it and it

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is not there. Never quite got the He put a little bit too much into

that. Plenty of room anywhere. Just wanted the cue ball to run a couple

of more inches. He was trying to Same a scenario. Neither player has

the cue ball under control. This was a tough shots with the rest. He

has got the kiss which means the black is available. He is going to

have to get hold of this. He can play to the red closest to the pink.

He will lead to stun it in. -- need. Played for the red in-Baulk. First-

time a player has had the cue ball under control. Now a good chance to

He seems to be getting into the cue ball a lot more than needed. The

blue won't pot off the right-hand jaw. He is going to have to take

the blue because the brown or the That is the view. He can see the

right hand side jaws. He has decided against it. I am surprised

he is not taking that on. I think he could pot that without a problem.

The brown is definitely harder than the blue. The yellow is just as

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Ronnie is reluctant to take this Probably more worried about kissing

Little bit surprised he did take it on. You could see from the position

of the cue ball, not really much to Anywhere but straight. Up he is

blessed with a lot of cue power, Ali Carter. We will see an example

of this cover he is going to need it will stop that was unlucky.

Still on the reds, but much tougher, so close to the right hand side

When you are digging down on the cue ball, it doesn't make it even

And both players have been on the balls on two occasions. An edgy

start. They are both showing a bit Black, red, black. He is going to

need one of the reds on the left- arm side of the table. Ronnie come

player left handed, and these would be that of a good shot far right

Unlike Ronnie to make such an error as that. I can only presume he got

the angle would take him on to the red. I think he wanted to be play

Decided it was worth the risk of What appears to be missing is

Ronnie and his long game. That is about the third long shot he has

That was an excellent pot. I think that will secure the frame. The

black would have put that beyond doubt. Ali Carter will play on.

It is interesting to see the way Ronnie played this shot. He would

have been leaving the red on had he have missed it. How far away was

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The fact that Black has now gone over the brown spot... Well, he

tried to get in behind the yellow. That is definitely the end of the

frame now, you would feel. It has been a bit scrappy. Not the best

opening frame, but that won't bother Ronnie, I am sure. It is

always nice to win that first frame. He has missed the yellow.

Carter stays in his chair. It is Ronnie O'Sullivan, the defending

Both players needed a few chances, eventually Ronnie took the extra

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We may have the situation shortly where we may have to re-rack the

Fame may look at each other, and say, let set them up and start

again. Can you believe it, he miscued! He has left the gap for

this red over the corner pocket. much for the re-rack, but I agree

with you, I have never seen a player list cueing like that. He

was coming in high over the reds. Ali Carter will now be pleased he

A little unlucky, trying to bring will other reds into play. He hit

them well, but they have stuck together. Tried to push the reds

towards the middle pocket. Got the cue ball movement, but not the red

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That is looking pretty straight. That is support he would expect Ali

Not settle down just yet. He has missed a few that you would not

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Yes, Ronnie is just having a look at the black spot. Just to see

where the black will go. Directly behind that red, in line with the

cushion. The fact that the red is to the left of that black spot, it

means that when the black goes behind this red, the red should

still pot. That is what he was going in to check. He has to put it

directly in line. I am sure that red will pot into the bottom left-

The black will not pot, but the red Ronnie is just having a look up the

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Yes, it was not the best positional Nothing appears to be straight

forward for body at the moment. -- He will be able to come down for

that red. He is on it now. If you can get the cue ball somewhere

around that position, the first chance available, all was attacking

The reason he is done that is that he knows that once the black is in

the open, it becomes an obvious a frame-winning opportunity. It makes

And positions like this, it does not look as if it has had any

effect on him taking that your out. 46 points in front, so he needs

another two reds up to be sure. Place the cannon. That was a lovely

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What a shame. He did what he had to Ronnie O'Sullivan breaks off. When

you see those statistics, really The referee has cold a miss. Ronnie

O'Sullivan can have the balls replaced. -- has called. Look down

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the line of this shot. He is He may be wishing he had had a go

at that red when it was in the open. Yes, Ali Carter had him in a bit of

trouble there. He has forced a These are the type of situations

that Ali Carter has to make the most of. If he has any ambitions of

winning this match, he has to take his chances and put a bit of

pressure on Ronnie O'Sullivan. has only had a couple of half

chances. Very unlucky there. He could not have played that shot

better. Once you see that white gather speed, it was a free flight,

it looks like there was nothing I think he would have been better

of just letting that run them. He has been a little unfortunate. He

has played a couple of good shots and not been rewarded for it.

that is still a pot you would expect him to get. An easy start

Got a very big bounce off the cushion, but there is one that he

I think he is the best player of the cushion that I have ever seen

in my life. A lot of players do not trust their cue action, but Ronnie

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There is every possibility it could Played on a couple of reds there.

He would dearly have liked to be on the one just below the pink spot.

Needs an extension and rest for He can obviously go for the loose

one in the middle. He will need one more cannon to bring the reds into

That is so clever to bit its so simple. -- it to make it is so

simple. Just one little cannon, that is all it took. That is a

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He would love to get this couple of reds, back on to the black. He has

just overhit that slightly. He wanted to try to leave that to last.

I am not quite sure weather Mikey Just worrying about the position.

That will certainly put an end to this frame. 55 ahead mayor, 43

Yes, Ali Carter says that is enough once again. It is all Ronnie

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O'Sullivan at the moment. He takes I wonder how much of that place on

his mind, every time he plays Ronnie O'Sullivan, the fact that he

has never beaten him, on 12 occasions now. In matches like this,

as you get further behind, how much does that come into his mind? It

has to have some sort of effect on you. Just a matter of how strong

you are to put it to the back of your mind and take each game as

they come along. He has spells of three he gets annoyed round the

table and looked like he is giving him. But he is such a fighter and

has such a great Crucible record. I am a great fan of his game. He has

got all the attributes to play well here at the Crucible. But that

record against Ronnie O'Sullivan, it is always hard when you are

playing against someone you have not beaten before, but I felt this

was his best chance. I thought he That was a good example of how good

Ronnie O'Sullivan's safety can be. Played it a bit harder and brought

some reds into play. That is a good He will be happy with that. A

little tap on the table from Roy Jail Sullivan -- and Ronnie

Very fortunate to get the kiss on the red because he was playing into

baulk. As you can see there, look where the cue ball ended up,

absolutely plumb on the pink. That is not going to make Ali Carter

That look tells a story. He felt Ronnie O'Sullivan was fortunate to

get onto the pink. He could have been in all sorts of trouble, but

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managed to swing the cue ball -- down. Everything is a little bit

the -- a little bit betwixt and If that wait does not slow down, he

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is on nothing. -- white. But it is He wanted to the top side of the

Good pot. He wants it to be top side of the blue here. Try and get

an angle so he can go into the red It looks like he has a nice angle.

It is one of those where you are almost better off playing it hard

He can work on the black at the moment. He knows it is risky to

play on the black, but you cannot win the frame without getting these

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This is a chance to take the frame. Not easy however. We both suggested

that he could have brought the pink into play. But the trouble the pink

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What angle has he got on the black? Can he get to the reds on the side

cushion? He will screw up towards the Baulk-line. The needs the rest

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and he will do well to get on to a That was clever. He has been

fortunate he got the double-kiss. He tried to either plant at the red

or knock it away from the corner pocket. Then bring the pink into

He can pot the black this time and once again he has not got the angle

to move the red. It is a little He has decided to play for the one

on the Baulk-line again, and we Just contemplating if it is worth

the risk. Just needs the red to leave Ronnie needing snookers, but

it is risky. The only reason I thought he may attempt the pot is

because of the two reds on the left-hand side of the table. It

might have been worth the risk just A little bit unlucky from Ronnie.

But he was entitled to have a go at the red. On reflection, the chances

Ali Carter has had, he will be pretty pleased with 3-1, to be

Not sure Ronnie will be making his Ronnie still found it -- fancies

this. Unlike Ronnie to carry on with the frame just before the

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That was be nice, long pot. Still has a lot of work to do here. He

will be hoping to keep his red on the table. There is the possibility

of getting a free ball. Red behind the yellow, white behind the pink.

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He has over shot that. It seemed to The balls are in a good position

for snookers at the moment, that is why Ronnie is carrying on. Quite a

considerable gap between black and Clever shot from Ali Carter, well

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done. Once again I think there is a I'm sure that is going to be the

end of the blame. Both players can have a cup of tea. Ronnie, the

gentleman that he is, is letting alec Carter take the red. -- Ali

He is getting a bit of potting practice. Series of decent breaks

from Ronnie O'Sullivan. 53 from Ali Carter. A decent standard although

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both players are having a couple of He played with top spin it rather

than stunning it. It is just about the first long shot Ronnie has got.

He played that one perfectly. Lovely shot, wasn't it? Nice little

nudge on the blue as well, gives him a perfect angle. Lovely

He has brought some more reds into Very fit, young man up, or Ronnie.

He likes to run and keep himself pretty fit. Any sort of kiss on the

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He will have to decide when to go Underhit it. It is a good recovery.

He is OK, he can take this brown Not quite sure if it is ideal

getting an angle off the blue, here. Doesn't look like he has the angle

He was trying to get on to the red that is closest to the pink. Gone

slightly wrong. It is more difficult when you are bridging

That would have been tough if he could not have played that left

handed. Generated enough spin to get nicely onto a colour. This is

the best break as far as cue ball control is concerned, in the match

so far. It is the first time he has been hitting the ball sweetly.

Eight frames in this session, of Stephen Hendry said yesterday, his

mind sets is in these eight frame session as he always wanted to win

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This has been more like Ronnie O'Sullivan. This breaks started

with an excellent long red. He actually played that with top spin

and managed to pot it as clean as a whistle. The other one as he missed,

he was sitting down and on the cue ball, stunning the cue ball. Of

course, when he hit it with a bit more pace, the more difficult pot.

But this has been an excellent break. He has played a couple of

wonderful cannons and positional shots. Holding of the cue ball.

Up that is what is great to watch when Ronnie is on form, even for

fellow professionals, the way he goes about making breaks. He made a

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Excellent shot from Ronnie He is not bothered about potting of

the black for a total clearance. But the crowd really enjoyed that.

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Ali Carter decided to play an attacking shot. Not the

conventional way, but he has got back into ball. Two more frames in

this session. -- Baulk. Ali Carter can do with winning both of them.

Ronnie O'Sullivan struck the ball That is on the brink. He will have

to walk very gently otherwise it or dropping! He will have to tiptoe

around. -- drop in. Don't breathe out, what every you do. It has been

there so long now, it would be replaced, it wouldn't be a foul

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I am surprised with his last shot, he did not play into the pack a

little harder. He has to play on and off the cushion, which makes it

Does he have an angle to get into the reds? The five reds are but the

cue ball, he would like to get into those five. He doesn't have the

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angle to do that this time, so That was a lot better than it

looked. He would like to arc the cue ball into the bunch and try and

hit the four reds behind the pink. If he can get it into the gap. I am

surprised he has played for this loose red. He only has one chance

to get a nice angle on the colour. If he doesn't get it perfect this

time, he is going to struggle. He has had two great chances to go

He has forced the black in there. The bottom red of the four below

the pink pots. When he pots this, it will open another red at behind

He was forced into playing. He didn't have a perfect angle. He had

the perfect angle on a couple of Good shot. He has had to work

You have to say, this has been a classic break for Ali Carter,

considering the state of the match His highest break of the match so

If he can come out of this session 5-3, he would almost feel like he

had won the session, wouldn't he? Absolutely. He would be delighted

This will certainly do him the world of good, this break.

Particularly if he goes on to make a century as well. Elects your

opponent know, when you get the chance you will take it. -- it lets

your opponent. He has not done that up to now. He will be delighted

with the 82 break and delighted to get another frame on the board.

Ronnie O'Sullivan still leads, but That is not true. Players have to

be very careful what they say and Everyone outside the top 16 will be

It is not our job to promote the I am fit enough to be a sportsman,

No, I think I will. I know that I will. That is one of my goals, I

I am not intense. Mind you, my I do not particularly. I mix with

Peter Ebdon and little bit. But I do not tend to mix with the other

It is a brilliant met name -- nickname. The best nickname out of

REFEREE: The final frame of the The final frame of the session.

This would be a really good result Once again, a shot played with

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power. Ronnie O'Sullivan has yet to Ali Carter is coming around to have

a look at this red, to see if it He would be playing it in such a

way that he would be missing the He decided to take it on into the

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corner pocket. That is an excellent That is a poor this. -- miss.

he got away with it? It does not look as if he has. He has played

The red that is in between it the green and brown is causing a

I think he could possibly get that. But he may have to play through

brown and yellow to have a possible chance other red. -- at the red. I

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do not know if he thinks it is a He will be very disappointed with

that. It over Van by quite some distance. No margin for error there.

That is a careless one. He has left a possible transfer Ali Carter

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It is not easy because it will be difficult on the left hand side.

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This will have to be as fine as you He has been lucky there. He has

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covered that red. It could have That looks pretty close. Three-ball

Ali Carter's turn to have a look now. Just to the left hand side of

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The safety zone is exactly the same If that red was tight to the

cushion, he may have a go at it. But it is a little bit harder. Has

he knocked it over the hole? That is an excellent shot. Excellent

That is a fantastic safety shot. Ali Carter is almost forced to take

That is brilliant. That is so good. He can just roll up to the brown to

Ali Carter is worried that the cue ball could just run through. He has

A very, very good. Very good. Ali Carter might knock this red in. He

would do well to get on to a colour. It is one of those where you have

to just pop the red rather than try to get on to a colour. Yes, it

might be a good idea just to pot the red. My goodness. That is

exactly what he did. Can you believe that? How can he not be on

a colour after a pot like that? Look at this. I think that is what

are the best shots I have seen under pressure. -- one of the best

It is hard to believe that he was not on the green or the blue.

just laughing up to as in the commentary box. That was an

unbelievable red. -- up to us. But he is still in this frame. He does

Yes, this red is probably an easier shot. Normally quite good at this

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That was a slight misjudgement there from Ronnie O'Sullivan. I

just wonder weather he will play There is precious little room

I think that shot is on. He just has to this the red. -- miss. But

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Pink is the better choice of shot. This is just perfect... That was

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Never easy when your playing across the nap of the table in a frame

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that you must win. 17 points in He will not be too concerned that

that red has come into a safe position. 21 points ahead. This

frame has been pretty good for Ali Carter. To come out of this session

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5-3 is not bad. This is virtually Well, Ali Carter misses the red,

but Barry Moss snookers from Ronnie O'Sullivan, he should win the frame.

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Yes, and eyes clearance for Ali Carter. He will be delighted with