Snooker in 2013 is over!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from me! See u in 2014! Cheers!
Sunday 8 December 2013
Draw for Masters 2014 in January
Full draw for the Masters, starting on 12 January 2014:
Seeding in brackets
Mark Selby (1) v Mark Davis (15)
Stuart Bingham (8) v John Higgins (13)
Judd Trump (5) v Marco Fu (10)
Ding Junhui (4) v Shaun Murphy (9)
Neil Robertson (3) v Mark Allen (11)
Stephen Maguire (6) v Joe Perry (16)
Barry Hawkins (7) v Ricky Walden (12)
Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) v Robert Milkins (14)
Seeding in brackets
Mark Selby (1) v Mark Davis (15)
Stuart Bingham (8) v John Higgins (13)
Judd Trump (5) v Marco Fu (10)
Ding Junhui (4) v Shaun Murphy (9)
Neil Robertson (3) v Mark Allen (11)
Stephen Maguire (6) v Joe Perry (16)
Barry Hawkins (7) v Ricky Walden (12)
Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) v Robert Milkins (14)
Day 13 UK Championships 2013 Final Robertson 10-7 Selby
A superb match the world number 1 pulls of a magnificent final session, 5-1 down at one point, wins it by 3 frames fantastic final.
Thanks for reading & following this with me, Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year see u in January for the 2014 Masters good night! Frame 1: Mark Selby the defending champ breaks off in a great reception at the Barbican in York, a beauty of a long red to get the Aussie Robertson going, Neil goes behind the green for a snooker, Mark rolls into the pack, great long red for Selby as well, gets the blue in the centre the defending champ could be in with the first chance, good start 27 with the latest black & looking composed, gets the blue but the red almost went in the pocket for a foul, good recovery gets a 2 ball plant could be a frame winner this break, brings up the half century 4 reds in a little cluster in the centre of the table beautifully played! Tough red from the cushion in the centre pocket potted, frame sealed now for the century, cannons are working nicely here lost position on 80 fabulous black deservedly applauded, CENTURY! Well played Mark Selby, a brilliant 130 1-0 Selby.
Frame 2: Early safety battle in this frame, poor safety from Robertson & Selby may have a chance, everything is covered by the looks of it, plays safe does Selby, Robertson almost fluked a red into the middle pocket, neither player giving a inch at the moment, looks like Robertson may have a chance, middle distance red dispatched, 12 made currently a nice start, may need a long pink to keep break going, but he turned it down, both players playing good safety shots, Mark misses a long red & Neil looking to take advantage, Neil cannons the 4 reds on the bottom cushion black now available, blues after the reds in the early part of this break, 31 & black on now, pots it we could be heading for a level game, nice long red to ensure the frame can Neil respond with a century of his own? Cracking red along the cushion, 63 break we are level 1-1.
Frame 3: Fabulous long red position went awry for Mark Selby, Robertson misplaced a safety & Selby is in the balls, 49 for Selby missed red in green pocket, Robertson misses a red by a fair distance, and so does Selby, Neil pots a red can still win this frame, only gathers the blue & then a red is missed from the Aussie, good safety play from both players here, Mark just misses a red whilst swerving foul called, gets it 2nd time around, a good red by Selby going for green beautiful position, double attempt missed good effort though, poor safety from Neil, frame ball red potted! Gratefully applauded looking like the defending champion will re-take the lead & he does. 2-1 Selby
Frame 4: Middle distance red which Neil missed he should have potted chance for Selby, nice split on the pack for Mark, pink & black are out of action so blue is the colour of choice, 39 and position is lost, not a wonderful safety from Neil & Mark Selby has a chance to go into the interval 2 frames ahead but position has deserted him, he has recovered baulk colour brown potted, back in position to win frame, hasn't won it yet, Selby behind the black Neil can see a red on the side cushion, tried to bring reds into play a little messy that, Selby seals the frame next pot, a break of 35 up to the blue 3-1 Selby at mid session interval.
Frame 5: Reds tightly bunched in the opening exchanges, two reds hanging over the corner pocket, white goes in that same pocket very unfortunate though, scrappy frame at the moment, Mark over-cuts a red, Neil could be in, he isn't missed blue, a 57 break from Selby puts him in pole position for a bigger lead. Selby leads 4-1.
Frame 6: Robertson's confidence isn't there at the moment for me, Selby back in the balls, 18 for the defending champ, Robertson takes his eye off the pot, Selby back in, 9 points in the frame Robertson tried to come back in this frame but lost position after a break of 30, green to black left, good long green from Selby frame won, 5-1 to the defending champ.
Frame 7: Robertson in the balls, choosing blues at the moment after reds, position awry for Neil pots the awkward blue though 36 break now, 54 break now looking good for the frame a really key one too, Neil fouls the pink just (the red went in didn't matter), Selby misses a red, great long red in to the yellow pocket, Selby needs to clear up to win this frame, not a good safety from Mark, Neil clinches the frame after a little tactical battle he badly needed it, frame clinched with a lovely red to the green pocket. 5-2 to Selby.
Frame 8: Neil in the balls 38 break at the moment reds in a cluster good chance, a frame winning break 86 red struggled in to the pocket, great long blue to get to 99, red into the middle CENTURY! 114 colours left, 123 break in the end, cracking break 5-3 Selby see u tonight!
RECAP: Mark Selby got into a 5-1 session lead with some fabulous play, Robertson took the last two 5-3.
Thanks for reading & following this with me, Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year see u in January for the 2014 Masters good night! Frame 1: Mark Selby the defending champ breaks off in a great reception at the Barbican in York, a beauty of a long red to get the Aussie Robertson going, Neil goes behind the green for a snooker, Mark rolls into the pack, great long red for Selby as well, gets the blue in the centre the defending champ could be in with the first chance, good start 27 with the latest black & looking composed, gets the blue but the red almost went in the pocket for a foul, good recovery gets a 2 ball plant could be a frame winner this break, brings up the half century 4 reds in a little cluster in the centre of the table beautifully played! Tough red from the cushion in the centre pocket potted, frame sealed now for the century, cannons are working nicely here lost position on 80 fabulous black deservedly applauded, CENTURY! Well played Mark Selby, a brilliant 130 1-0 Selby.
Frame 2: Early safety battle in this frame, poor safety from Robertson & Selby may have a chance, everything is covered by the looks of it, plays safe does Selby, Robertson almost fluked a red into the middle pocket, neither player giving a inch at the moment, looks like Robertson may have a chance, middle distance red dispatched, 12 made currently a nice start, may need a long pink to keep break going, but he turned it down, both players playing good safety shots, Mark misses a long red & Neil looking to take advantage, Neil cannons the 4 reds on the bottom cushion black now available, blues after the reds in the early part of this break, 31 & black on now, pots it we could be heading for a level game, nice long red to ensure the frame can Neil respond with a century of his own? Cracking red along the cushion, 63 break we are level 1-1.
Frame 3: Fabulous long red position went awry for Mark Selby, Robertson misplaced a safety & Selby is in the balls, 49 for Selby missed red in green pocket, Robertson misses a red by a fair distance, and so does Selby, Neil pots a red can still win this frame, only gathers the blue & then a red is missed from the Aussie, good safety play from both players here, Mark just misses a red whilst swerving foul called, gets it 2nd time around, a good red by Selby going for green beautiful position, double attempt missed good effort though, poor safety from Neil, frame ball red potted! Gratefully applauded looking like the defending champion will re-take the lead & he does. 2-1 Selby
Frame 4: Middle distance red which Neil missed he should have potted chance for Selby, nice split on the pack for Mark, pink & black are out of action so blue is the colour of choice, 39 and position is lost, not a wonderful safety from Neil & Mark Selby has a chance to go into the interval 2 frames ahead but position has deserted him, he has recovered baulk colour brown potted, back in position to win frame, hasn't won it yet, Selby behind the black Neil can see a red on the side cushion, tried to bring reds into play a little messy that, Selby seals the frame next pot, a break of 35 up to the blue 3-1 Selby at mid session interval.
Frame 5: Reds tightly bunched in the opening exchanges, two reds hanging over the corner pocket, white goes in that same pocket very unfortunate though, scrappy frame at the moment, Mark over-cuts a red, Neil could be in, he isn't missed blue, a 57 break from Selby puts him in pole position for a bigger lead. Selby leads 4-1.
Frame 6: Robertson's confidence isn't there at the moment for me, Selby back in the balls, 18 for the defending champ, Robertson takes his eye off the pot, Selby back in, 9 points in the frame Robertson tried to come back in this frame but lost position after a break of 30, green to black left, good long green from Selby frame won, 5-1 to the defending champ.
Frame 7: Robertson in the balls, choosing blues at the moment after reds, position awry for Neil pots the awkward blue though 36 break now, 54 break now looking good for the frame a really key one too, Neil fouls the pink just (the red went in didn't matter), Selby misses a red, great long red in to the yellow pocket, Selby needs to clear up to win this frame, not a good safety from Mark, Neil clinches the frame after a little tactical battle he badly needed it, frame clinched with a lovely red to the green pocket. 5-2 to Selby.
Frame 8: Neil in the balls 38 break at the moment reds in a cluster good chance, a frame winning break 86 red struggled in to the pocket, great long blue to get to 99, red into the middle CENTURY! 114 colours left, 123 break in the end, cracking break 5-3 Selby see u tonight!
RECAP: Mark Selby got into a 5-1 session lead with some fabulous play, Robertson took the last two 5-3.
Saturday 7 December 2013
Day 12 UK Championships 2013 Semi Final 2
Result Mark Selby (Eng) 9-5 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Defending champion Selby, 30, led 4-2 at the time in the best-of-17 match.
He lost position after potting the final pink but managed to roll the black into the middle pocket to complete his second maximum clearance.
Englishman Selby looked to be cruising at 6-2 up at the interval, despite not playing at his best, and edged to within a frame of victory by winning the first two on resumption as Walden missed a host of regulation pots.
But Walden finally found some form with a break of 50 to end a losing run of five frames and followed that up with a 62 in the next to make it 8-4.
Selby looked to have the match won when he reached 58, but an error let Walden back onto the table and the 31-year-old won his third straight frame with a superb clearance of 85.
However his run came to an end as Selby hit a sparkling century to seal the match at the fourth time of asking.
"I didn't think I played fantastic at all," Selby told BBC Sport. "The 147 came out of nowhere. I was struggling.
"Ricky had chances but he didn't take them and I was just picking up the pieces.
"If you take away the 147, Mark will probably be disappointed in the way he
played. He'll be disappointed to get to 8-2 and then see the match last so long.
But that said, he'll be delighted to get into the final to defend his title."
Steve Davis made the first competitive 147 in 1982, while Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry have both made 11 during their careers.
Selby will pocket £55,000 for his feat, in addition to the tournament's high break prize of £4,000, as long as nobody else makes a perfect clearance.
The Leicester player made his first 147 at the Jiangsu Classic in China in 2009.
Earlier this year he missed the final black of an attempted maximum clearance in the second round of the China Open.
Selby, who needed a brilliant shot on the brown to get down for the blue during his 147, admitted that the memory of that miss in China had gone through his mind as he got towards the sharp end of his record break.
"It did, once I ran out of position on the green," he added. "Then when I potted pink, I automatically thought I'd be on black so when I wasn't I thought to myself, 'Oh not again,' but thankfully I potted it.
"To do it in a big tournament like the UK makes it a special moment."
Looking ahead to Sunday's final against Robertson, who held off an impressive fightback from Stuart Bingham on Friday to progress, Selby said: "Neil is a great player, he's number one.
"He's been so consistent over the last two years. It'll be a tough game so I'll need to perform better than I have done."
Mark Selby
made the 100th 147 break in the history of professional snooker on his way to
beating Ricky Walden 9-5 in his UK Championship semi-final.
Defending champion Selby, 30, led 4-2 at the time in the best-of-17 match.
He lost position after potting the final pink but managed to roll the black into the middle pocket to complete his second maximum clearance.
History of the 147
- First (and first televised): Steve Davis (Eng), The Classic, 1982 (v John Spencer)
- First World Championship: Cliff Thorburn (Can), 1983 (v Terry Griffiths)
- Most: Stephen Hendry (Sco) & Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng), 11
- Fastest: O'Sullivan, five minutes, 20 seconds, World Championship first round, 1997
Selby can reclaim the world number one ranking from Neil
Robertson if he beats the Australian in Sunday's final.
Englishman Selby looked to be cruising at 6-2 up at the interval, despite not playing at his best, and edged to within a frame of victory by winning the first two on resumption as Walden missed a host of regulation pots.
But Walden finally found some form with a break of 50 to end a losing run of five frames and followed that up with a 62 in the next to make it 8-4.
Selby looked to have the match won when he reached 58, but an error let Walden back onto the table and the 31-year-old won his third straight frame with a superb clearance of 85.
However his run came to an end as Selby hit a sparkling century to seal the match at the fourth time of asking.
"I didn't think I played fantastic at all," Selby told BBC Sport. "The 147 came out of nowhere. I was struggling.
"Ricky had chances but he didn't take them and I was just picking up the pieces.
Analysis
"I probably played at 50-60% and missed balls with some
amateurish play. I don't know why, perhaps it was about concentration, but I
can't afford to make those mistakes against Neil."
Steve Davis made the first competitive 147 in 1982, while Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry have both made 11 during their careers.
Selby will pocket £55,000 for his feat, in addition to the tournament's high break prize of £4,000, as long as nobody else makes a perfect clearance.
The Leicester player made his first 147 at the Jiangsu Classic in China in 2009.
Earlier this year he missed the final black of an attempted maximum clearance in the second round of the China Open.
Selby, who needed a brilliant shot on the brown to get down for the blue during his 147, admitted that the memory of that miss in China had gone through his mind as he got towards the sharp end of his record break.
"It did, once I ran out of position on the green," he added. "Then when I potted pink, I automatically thought I'd be on black so when I wasn't I thought to myself, 'Oh not again,' but thankfully I potted it.
"To do it in a big tournament like the UK makes it a special moment."
Looking ahead to Sunday's final against Robertson, who held off an impressive fightback from Stuart Bingham on Friday to progress, Selby said: "Neil is a great player, he's number one.
"He's been so consistent over the last two years. It'll be a tough game so I'll need to perform better than I have done."
Friday 6 December 2013
Day 11 UK Chamionships 2013 Semi Final 1
Neil Robertson (Aus) 9-8 Stuart Bingham (Eng) Result
Australian Robertson, 31, had the better of the opening session, taking a 5-3 lead into the interval in York.
He then rattled off the next three to move to within a frame of victory, before a Bingham revival saw the Englishman take five successive frames.
But Robertson held his nerve to win the decider and claim a thrilling 9-8 win.
It was a brave performance from Bingham, who had led from the front in his defeat of world champion O'Sullivan in the quarter-final on Friday.
But in the semi-final, the Englishman, 37, was kept off the table as Robertson blitzed into a 5-2 lead in the best-of-17 frame match.
Bingham won the last frame before the interval, but still looked in trouble as Robertson won the next three to move to within a frame of his first UK Championship final.
However, Bingham edged the next two and then punished mistakes from Robertson, winning the 16th frame with a century to force a decider.
Both players had opportunities early on, but it was Robertson who capitalised first to snatch victory and set up a final against defending champion Mark Selby or Ricky Walden, who play their last four encounter on Saturday.
World number
one Neil Robertson fended off a brilliant late fightback from Stuart Bingham to
reach the final of the UK Championship for the first time.
Australian Robertson, 31, had the better of the opening session, taking a 5-3 lead into the interval in York.
He then rattled off the next three to move to within a frame of victory, before a Bingham revival saw the Englishman take five successive frames.
But Robertson held his nerve to win the decider and claim a thrilling 9-8 win.
It was a brave performance from Bingham, who had led from the front in his defeat of world champion O'Sullivan in the quarter-final on Friday.
But in the semi-final, the Englishman, 37, was kept off the table as Robertson blitzed into a 5-2 lead in the best-of-17 frame match.
Bingham won the last frame before the interval, but still looked in trouble as Robertson won the next three to move to within a frame of his first UK Championship final.
However, Bingham edged the next two and then punished mistakes from Robertson, winning the 16th frame with a century to force a decider.
Both players had opportunities early on, but it was Robertson who capitalised first to snatch victory and set up a final against defending champion Mark Selby or Ricky Walden, who play their last four encounter on Saturday.
Thursday 5 December 2013
Day 10 UK Championships 2013 1/4 finals
Quarter-finals (best of
11 frames)
Mark Selby (Eng) 6-5 Barry Hawkins (Eng)
Mark Allen (NI) 2-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-2 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-4 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Wednesday 4 December 2013
Day 9 UK Championships 2013 Round 4
Last 16
09:30
David Morris (Ire) 1-6 Stuart Bingham (Eng)
Ricky Walden (Eng) 6-4 Ding Junhui (Chn)
13:00
Judd Trump (Eng) 4-6 Mark Allen (NI)
Mark Selby (Eng) 6-2 Graeme Dott (Sco)
19:00
Robert Milkins (Eng) 0-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-1 Joe Perry (Eng)
Tuesday 3 December 2013
Day 8 UK Championships 2013 Rounds 3+4
Third round latest's
1300: Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 1-6 Ding Junhui (Chn)
1300: Mark Selby (Eng) 6-0 Stuart Carrington (Eng)
1300: Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-3 Li Hang (Chn)
1300: Marcus Campbell (Sco) 2-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Third round results
Mark Allen (NI) 6-5 Michael Holt (Eng)
Mark Williams (Wal) 5-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Mitchell Travis (Eng) 1-6 David Morris (Ire)
Matthew Stevens (Wal) 2-6 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Fourth Round
1900: Barry Hawkins (Eng) 6-5 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
1900: John Higgins (Sco) 3-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
1300: Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 1-6 Ding Junhui (Chn)
1300: Mark Selby (Eng) 6-0 Stuart Carrington (Eng)
1300: Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-3 Li Hang (Chn)
1300: Marcus Campbell (Sco) 2-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Third round results
Mark Allen (NI) 6-5 Michael Holt (Eng)
Mark Williams (Wal) 5-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Mitchell Travis (Eng) 1-6 David Morris (Ire)
Matthew Stevens (Wal) 2-6 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Fourth Round
1900: Barry Hawkins (Eng) 6-5 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
1900: John Higgins (Sco) 3-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Monday 2 December 2013
Day 7 UK Championships 2013 Rounds 2+3
2nd round
19:00
Adam Duffy (Eng) 3-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Third round (best of 11 frames)
19:00
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-3 Ali Carter (Eng)
Liang Wenbo (Chn) 5-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-2 Xiao Guodong (Chn)
Third round
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 4-6 John Higgins (Sco)
Noppon Saengkham (Tha) 2-6 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Scott Donaldson (Sco) 3-6 Joe Perry (Eng)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-2 Anthony McGill (Sco)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 4-6 Barry Hawkins (Eng)
Second round
Mark Selby (Eng) 6-3 Tian Pengfei (Chn)
Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-1 Robbie Williams (Eng)
Mitchell Travis (Eng) 6-4 Kurt Maflin (Nor)
Peter Lines (Eng) 2-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Mark Davis (Eng) 5-6 Scott Donaldson (Sco)
Luca Brecel (Bel) 5-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Yu De Lu (Chn) 5-6 Matthew Stevens (Wal)
Andrew Higginson (Eng) 4-6 Li Hang (Chn)
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 6-5 Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Chris Norbury (Eng) 0-6 Anthony McGill (Sco)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-2 Jimmy White (Eng)
Rory McLeod (Eng) 3-6 Mark Williams (Wal)
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-0 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)
Liu Chuang (Chn) 5-6 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Rod Lawler (Eng) 1-6 John Higgins (Sco)
Mark Allen (NI) 6-3 Dave Harold (Eng)
Joe Perry (Eng) 6-3 Daniel Wells (Wal)
James Wattana (Tha) 1-6 Ding Junhui (Chn)
John J Astley (Eng) 1-6 Stuart Carrington (Eng)
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-5 Nigel Bond (Eng)
Ali Carter (Eng) 6-0 Jimmy Robertson (Eng)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 6-3 Vinnie Calabrese (Aus)
Zhang Anda (Chn) 3-6 Barry Hawkins (Eng)
Sean O'Sullivan (Eng) 4-6 Noppon Saengkham (Tha)
Paul S Davison (Eng) 3-6 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Xiao Guodong (Chn) 6-2 Jamie O'Neill (Eng)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 1-6 David Morris (Ire)
Michael Holt (Eng) 6-4 Alan McManus (Sco)
Michael White (Wal) 4-6 Marcus Campbell (Sco)
Michael Leslie (Sco) 3-6 Liang Wenbo (Chn)
Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 6-3 Mark King (Eng)
19:00
Adam Duffy (Eng) 3-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
Third round (best of 11 frames)
19:00
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-3 Ali Carter (Eng)
Liang Wenbo (Chn) 5-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-2 Xiao Guodong (Chn)
Third round
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 4-6 John Higgins (Sco)
Noppon Saengkham (Tha) 2-6 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Scott Donaldson (Sco) 3-6 Joe Perry (Eng)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-2 Anthony McGill (Sco)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 4-6 Barry Hawkins (Eng)
Second round
Mark Selby (Eng) 6-3 Tian Pengfei (Chn)
Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-1 Robbie Williams (Eng)
Mitchell Travis (Eng) 6-4 Kurt Maflin (Nor)
Peter Lines (Eng) 2-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Mark Davis (Eng) 5-6 Scott Donaldson (Sco)
Luca Brecel (Bel) 5-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Yu De Lu (Chn) 5-6 Matthew Stevens (Wal)
Andrew Higginson (Eng) 4-6 Li Hang (Chn)
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 6-5 Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Chris Norbury (Eng) 0-6 Anthony McGill (Sco)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-2 Jimmy White (Eng)
Rory McLeod (Eng) 3-6 Mark Williams (Wal)
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-0 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)
Liu Chuang (Chn) 5-6 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Rod Lawler (Eng) 1-6 John Higgins (Sco)
Mark Allen (NI) 6-3 Dave Harold (Eng)
Joe Perry (Eng) 6-3 Daniel Wells (Wal)
James Wattana (Tha) 1-6 Ding Junhui (Chn)
John J Astley (Eng) 1-6 Stuart Carrington (Eng)
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-5 Nigel Bond (Eng)
Ali Carter (Eng) 6-0 Jimmy Robertson (Eng)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 6-3 Vinnie Calabrese (Aus)
Zhang Anda (Chn) 3-6 Barry Hawkins (Eng)
Sean O'Sullivan (Eng) 4-6 Noppon Saengkham (Tha)
Paul S Davison (Eng) 3-6 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Xiao Guodong (Chn) 6-2 Jamie O'Neill (Eng)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 1-6 David Morris (Ire)
Michael Holt (Eng) 6-4 Alan McManus (Sco)
Michael White (Wal) 4-6 Marcus Campbell (Sco)
Michael Leslie (Sco) 3-6 Liang Wenbo (Chn)
Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 6-3 Mark King (Eng)
Sunday 1 December 2013
Day 6 UK Championships 2013 Morning & Afternoon Sessions
09:30
Peter Lines (Eng) 2-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Mark Davis (Eng) 5-6 Scott Donaldson (Sco)
Luca Brecel (Bel) 5-6 Stephen Maguire (Eng)
Yu De Lu (Chn) 5-6 Matthew Stevens (Wal)
13:00
Andrew Higginson (Eng) 4-6 Li Hang (Chn)
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 6-5 Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Chris Norbury (Eng) 0-6 Anthony McGill (Sco)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-2 Jimmy White (Eng)
Rory McLeod (Eng) 3-6 Mark Williams (Wal)
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-0 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)
Liu Chuang (Chn) 5-6 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Rod Lawler (Eng) 1-6 John Higgins (Sco)
Peter Lines (Eng) 2-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Mark Davis (Eng) 5-6 Scott Donaldson (Sco)
Luca Brecel (Bel) 5-6 Stephen Maguire (Eng)
Yu De Lu (Chn) 5-6 Matthew Stevens (Wal)
13:00
Andrew Higginson (Eng) 4-6 Li Hang (Chn)
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 6-5 Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Chris Norbury (Eng) 0-6 Anthony McGill (Sco)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-2 Jimmy White (Eng)
Rory McLeod (Eng) 3-6 Mark Williams (Wal)
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-0 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)
Liu Chuang (Chn) 5-6 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Rod Lawler (Eng) 1-6 John Higgins (Sco)
Saturday 30 November 2013
Day 5 UK Championships 2013 Rounds 1 & 2
First round
13:00
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 6-0 Rhys Clark (Sco)
Ding Junhui (Chn) 6-3 Antony Parsons (Eng)
19:00
Mark Selby (Eng) 6-4 Shane Castle (Eng)
Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-0 Dylan Mitchell (Eng)
Second round
13:00
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-5 Nigel Bond (Eng)
Ali Carter (Eng) 6-0 Jimmy Robertson (Eng)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 6-3 Vinnie Calabrese (Aus)
Zhang Anda (Chn) 3-6 Barry Hawkins (Eng)
Paul S Davison (Eng) 3-6 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Xiao Guodong (Chn) 6-2 Jamie O'Neill (Eng)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 1-6 David Morris (Eng)
13:00
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 6-0 Rhys Clark (Sco)
Ding Junhui (Chn) 6-3 Antony Parsons (Eng)
19:00
Mark Selby (Eng) 6-4 Shane Castle (Eng)
Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-0 Dylan Mitchell (Eng)
Second round
13:00
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-5 Nigel Bond (Eng)
Ali Carter (Eng) 6-0 Jimmy Robertson (Eng)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 6-3 Vinnie Calabrese (Aus)
Zhang Anda (Chn) 3-6 Barry Hawkins (Eng)
Paul S Davison (Eng) 3-6 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Xiao Guodong (Chn) 6-2 Jamie O'Neill (Eng)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 1-6 David Morris (Eng)
Friday 29 November 2013
Day 4 UK Championships 2013 All Sessions
Ricky Walden (Eng) 6-0 Cao Xin Long (Chn)
Mark Davis (Eng) 6-2 Robin Hull (Eng)
Marco Fu (HK) 5-6 Mitchell Travis (Eng)
Robert Milkins (Eng) 6-3 Patrick Einsle (Ger)
Tian Pengfei (Chn) 6-1 Pankaj Advani (Ind)
Matthew Selt (Eng) 4-6 Scott Donaldson (Sco)
Rod Lawler (Eng) 6-3 Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon (Tha)
Kurt Maflin (Nor) 6-4 Liam Highfield (Eng)
14:30
John Higgins (Sco) 6-2 Alex Borg (Mal)
Stephen Maguire (Eng) 6-2 Sanderson Lam (Eng)
Matthew Stevens (Wal) 6-4 Ryan Clark (Eng)
Joe Perry (Eng) 6-3 James Cahill (Eng)
Alfie Burden (Eng) 4-6 Daniel Wells (Wal)
Mike Dunn (Eng) 4-6 Luca Brecel (Bel)
James Wattana (Tha) 6-2 Ian Burns (Eng)
Aditya Mehta (Ind) 2-6 Robbie Williams (Eng)
Mark Davis (Eng) 6-2 Robin Hull (Eng)
Marco Fu (HK) 5-6 Mitchell Travis (Eng)
Robert Milkins (Eng) 6-3 Patrick Einsle (Ger)
Tian Pengfei (Chn) 6-1 Pankaj Advani (Ind)
Matthew Selt (Eng) 4-6 Scott Donaldson (Sco)
Rod Lawler (Eng) 6-3 Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon (Tha)
Kurt Maflin (Nor) 6-4 Liam Highfield (Eng)
14:30
John Higgins (Sco) 6-2 Alex Borg (Mal)
Stephen Maguire (Eng) 6-2 Sanderson Lam (Eng)
Matthew Stevens (Wal) 6-4 Ryan Clark (Eng)
Joe Perry (Eng) 6-3 James Cahill (Eng)
Alfie Burden (Eng) 4-6 Daniel Wells (Wal)
Mike Dunn (Eng) 4-6 Luca Brecel (Bel)
James Wattana (Tha) 6-2 Ian Burns (Eng)
Aditya Mehta (Ind) 2-6 Robbie Williams (Eng)
Thursday 28 November 2013
Day 3 UK Championships 2013 All Sessions
Ken Doherty (Ire) 5-6 John J Astley (Eng)
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-2 Fraser Patrick (Sco)
Ali Carter (Eng) 6-1 Ratchayothin Yotharuck (Tha)
Michael Holt (Eng) 6-1 Lee Page (Eng)
Nigel Bond (Eng) 6-3 Craig Steadman (Eng)
Ben Woollaston (Eng) 2-6 Stuart Carrington (Eng)
Jamie Cope (Eng) 4-6 David Morris (Eng)
Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 6-3 Li Yan (Chn)
14:30
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 6-0 Alexander Ursenbacher (Swi)
Shaun Murphy (Eng) w/o Lee Spick (Eng)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-0 Ahmed Saif (Qat)
Jimmy White (Eng) 6-4 Michael Wasley (Eng)
Cao Yupeng (Chn) 3-6 Zhang Anda (Chn)
Gerard Greene (NI) 4-6 Paul S Davison (Eng)
Rory McLeod (Eng) 6-3 Martin O'Donnell (Eng)
Dave Harold (Eng) 6-1 Chen Zhe (Chn)
19:30
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-2 Gareth Green (Eng)
Mark Allen (NI) 6-1 Jak Jones (Wal)
Mark Williams (Wal) 6-2 Allan Taylor (Eng)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 6-1 Andrew Norman (Eng)
Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha) 6-5 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
Adam Duffy (Eng) 6-5 Barry Pinches (Eng)
Peter Lines (Eng) 6-2 Sam Baird (Eng)
Liu Chuang (Chn) 6-1 Tony Drago (Mlt)
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-2 Fraser Patrick (Sco)
Ali Carter (Eng) 6-1 Ratchayothin Yotharuck (Tha)
Michael Holt (Eng) 6-1 Lee Page (Eng)
Nigel Bond (Eng) 6-3 Craig Steadman (Eng)
Ben Woollaston (Eng) 2-6 Stuart Carrington (Eng)
Jamie Cope (Eng) 4-6 David Morris (Eng)
Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 6-3 Li Yan (Chn)
14:30
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 6-0 Alexander Ursenbacher (Swi)
Shaun Murphy (Eng) w/o Lee Spick (Eng)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-0 Ahmed Saif (Qat)
Jimmy White (Eng) 6-4 Michael Wasley (Eng)
Cao Yupeng (Chn) 3-6 Zhang Anda (Chn)
Gerard Greene (NI) 4-6 Paul S Davison (Eng)
Rory McLeod (Eng) 6-3 Martin O'Donnell (Eng)
Dave Harold (Eng) 6-1 Chen Zhe (Chn)
19:30
Judd Trump (Eng) 6-2 Gareth Green (Eng)
Mark Allen (NI) 6-1 Jak Jones (Wal)
Mark Williams (Wal) 6-2 Allan Taylor (Eng)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 6-1 Andrew Norman (Eng)
Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha) 6-5 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
Adam Duffy (Eng) 6-5 Barry Pinches (Eng)
Peter Lines (Eng) 6-2 Sam Baird (Eng)
Liu Chuang (Chn) 6-1 Tony Drago (Mlt)
Wednesday 27 November 2013
Day 2 UK Championships 2013 Evening Session
Martin Gould (Eng) 3-6 Chris Norbury (Eng)
Anthony McGill (Sco) 6-5 Kyren Wilson (Eng)
Yu De Lu (Chn) 6-3 David Grace (Eng)
Alan McManus (Sco) 6-5 Joel Walker (Eng)
Anthony McGill (Sco) 6-5 Kyren Wilson (Eng)
Yu De Lu (Chn) 6-3 David Grace (Eng)
Alan McManus (Sco) 6-5 Joel Walker (Eng)
Day 2 UK Championships 2013 Morning & Afternoon Results
Andrew Higginson (Eng) 6-2 Hammad Miah (Eng)
David Gilbert (Eng) 4-6 Li Hang (Chn)
Michael White (Wal) 6-0 Joe Swail (NI)
Marcus Campbell (Sco) 6-5 Lyu Haotian (Chn)
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 6-4 Simon Bedford (Eng)
Ryan Day (Wal) 5-6 Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Jack Lisowski (Eng) 4-6 Michael Leslie (Sco)
Liang Wenbo (Chn) 6-2 Elliot Slessor (Eng)
David Gilbert (Eng) 4-6 Li Hang (Chn)
Michael White (Wal) 6-0 Joe Swail (NI)
Marcus Campbell (Sco) 6-5 Lyu Haotian (Chn)
Jamie Burnett (Sco) 6-4 Simon Bedford (Eng)
Ryan Day (Wal) 5-6 Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Jack Lisowski (Eng) 4-6 Michael Leslie (Sco)
Liang Wenbo (Chn) 6-2 Elliot Slessor (Eng)
Tuesday 26 November 2013
Day 1 UK Championship 2013 Evening Session
Tonight: Xiao Guodong (Chn) 6-1 Andrew Pagett (Wal)
Mark Joyce (Eng) 2-6 Jamie O'Neill (Eng)
Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 6-2 Alex Davies (Eng)
Mark King (Eng) 6-1 Ross Muir (Sco)
This end's day 1 three session's tomorrow night!
Mark Joyce (Eng) 2-6 Jamie O'Neill (Eng)
Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 6-2 Alex Davies (Eng)
Mark King (Eng) 6-1 Ross Muir (Sco)
This end's day 1 three session's tomorrow night!
Day 1 UK Championship 2013 Afternoon Session
Hi folks a very good afternoon, the UK Championships has a new format this year all 128 players start from round 1 here are today's afternoon session results.
Jamie Jones (Wal) 0-6 Gary Wilson (Eng)
Dominic Dale (Wal) 5-6 Vinnie Calabrese (Aus)
Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 4-6 Sean O'Sullivan (Eng)
Tom Ford (Eng) 2-6 Noppon Saengkham (Tha)
Jamie Jones (Wal) 0-6 Gary Wilson (Eng)
Dominic Dale (Wal) 5-6 Vinnie Calabrese (Aus)
Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 4-6 Sean O'Sullivan (Eng)
Tom Ford (Eng) 2-6 Noppon Saengkham (Tha)
Wednesday 25 September 2013
Stephen Lee banned for 12 years
Snooker player Stephen Lee has been banned for 12 years after being found guilty of seven match-fixing charges.
Lee, 38, of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, has also been told to pay £40,000 costs.
The former world number five cannot play in any game sanctioned by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).
He denied the allegations, which included a match at the World Snooker Championship in 2009, and intends to appeal.
Snooker's governing body says it is "the worst case of corruption" it has ever seen, and the longest ban imposed on a player by the organisation.
"The WPBSA has a zero tolerance approach to match fixing and this is further evidence of our uncompromising approach to dealing with such issues," said a spokesman.
The ban is calculated from 12 October 2012, when an interim suspension was imposed, and means Lee will not be able to compete as a professional snooker player before 12 October 2024, the date of his 50th birthday.
He was ordered to pay costs to help cover legal and other expenses of the WPBSA in bringing the case.
Lee has the right to appeal against the verdict and sentence, and would be required to submit any such appeal within a fortnight.
Independent tribunal chairman Adam Lewis QC had warned the player he faced "a significant sanction" following a hearing in Bristol earlier in September.
In the tribunal's findings published on Wednesday, Lewis said the player was taken advantage of by others. His earlier 35-page summary of the case concluded three groups of gamblers made a total profit of nearly £100,000 from betting on his matches.
"These breaches occurred when Mr Lee was in a financially perilous state not entirely of his own making and was finding it difficult to obtain entry to enough tournaments," he said.
"As a weak man in a vulnerable position he succumbed to temptation. I consider it unlikely that he was the prime mover or instigator of the activity. It seems to me likely that advantage was taken of him."
Lee, who has been a professional for more than 20 years and the winner of five ranking titles, was found to have fixed the outcome in seven matches in 2008 and 2009.
The tribunal ruled he deliberately lost matches against Ken Doherty and Marco Fu at the 2008 Malta Cup and agreed to lose the first frame against both Stephen Hendry and Mark King at the 2008 UK Championship.
In addition, Lee lost matches by a predetermined score to Neil Robertson at the 2008 Malta Cup and to Mark Selby at the 2009 China Open.
Lee similarly conspired to lose his 2009 World Championship first round match to Ryan Day, going on to be defeated 10-4.
If his offences had taken place more recently, he would have been given a mandatory lifetime ban under a tougher new disciplinary regime aimed at countering corruption, but his case was dealt with under the rules which applied at the time of the matches in question.
Fellow professional Joe Jogia was given a two-year ban in July 2012 for "lower-end" offences after an investigation into suspicious betting patterns on a match from which he withdrew with a leg injury.
Four-time world champion John Higgins was found guilty of "giving the impression" he would breach betting rules, and of failing to report an approach in 2010. He was banned for six months.
Australian Quinten Hann was banned for eight years in 2006 for match-fixing offences after a newspaper sting in which he accepted a proposal to lose a China Open match.
While Hann remains suspended, South African Peter Francisco has returned to the game at a low level after serving a five-year match-fixing ban handed down in 1995, following his 10-2 loss to Jimmy White at the World Championship.
WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: "We take no pride in having to deal with such serious issues.
"However, this demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that snooker is free from corruption.
"It is an important part of our anti-corruption approach that players found to be involved in fixing matches or any aspect of a match are severely dealt with. We work closely with partners globally and the message we are sending is that if you get involved in match fixing you will be found out and removed from the sport."
Monday 16 September 2013
Stephen Lee Guilty of Match Fixing
Snooker player Stephen Lee has been found guilty of match-fixing charges.
The former world number five faces a career-ending ban following the verdict at an independent tribunal held in Bristol last week.
Lee, 38, denied the allegations, which concerned seven matches played in 2008 and 2009, including one at the World Championship.
His penalty will be announced on 24 September, with snooker's governing body expected to push for a life ban.
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) chairman Jason Ferguson said in a statement: "His future participation in the sport is now in real doubt as he will face a significant sanction."
Lee, the winner of five ranking titles, has been suspended since October 2012, when he was ranked eighth in the world.
The tribunal concluded that Lee deliberately lost matches against Ken Doherty and Marco Fu at the 2008 Malta Cup and conceded the first frame against both Stephen Hendry and Mark King at the 2008 UK Championship.
In addition, Lee lost matches by a pre-determined score to Neil Robertson at the 2008 Malta Cup and to Mark Selby at the 2009 China Open.
Lee similarly conspired to lose his 2009 World Championship first round match to Ryan Day, going on to be defeated 10-4.
"This is the worst case of snooker corruption that we've seen," WPBSA disciplinary chairman Nigel Mawer told BBC Radio 5 live.
"Stephen Lee was working with three different groups who were betting on multiple platforms and the exact score and frame outcomes for matches he played in those tournaments.
"The worst case is the World Championship because that is an iconic event. To think that someone could play in that and to arrange the outcome is more than shocking."
In a full ruling, Sports Resolutions, an independent body specialising in sports arbitration, said the bets placed on the seven matches were "substantially successful".
One group associated to Lee earned towards £60,000 and another £35,000 on internet gambling alone, although these figures are likely to be higher as a result of bets placed with high-street bookmakers.
According to the WPBSA, payments of £40,000 were paid into Lee's wife's bank account between January 2008 and April 2009, while other deposits of £600, £1,000 and £2,000 are also known. Potential cash payments have not been identified.
World number three Judd Trump, speaking before the Lee verdict was announced, said that any player found guilty of match-fixing should be banned for life.
"If anybody is found guilty, they should be chucked out of the game," he told BBC Points West. "There's no time for it in any sport. It is ruining the game.
"It's going to push away sponsors and money coming into the game. People are going to look at it differently so anybody found guilty should be punished with a lifetime ban."
Lee's fellow professional Joe Jogia was given a two-year ban in July 2012 for "lower-end" offences after an investigation into suspicious betting patterns on a match in which he played.
Australian Quinten Hann was banned for eight years in 2006 for match-fixing offences after a newspaper sting in which he accepted a proposal to lose a China Open match.
While Hann remains suspended, South African Peter Francisco has returned to the game at a low level after serving a five-year match-fixing ban handed down in 1995, following his 10-2 loss to Jimmy White at the World Championship.
Monday 6 May 2013
Thanks
What a 17 days thanks for reading guys good night from me hope u enjoyed that as much as I did!
Sunday 5 May 2013
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Barry Hawkins The Final
Good afternoon it's final time!
Latest: Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-3 Barry Hawkins
Frame 1: 74 from Ronnie 1-0
Frame 2: 92 from the Rocket 2-0
Frame 3: Break of 88 from Hawkins 2-1.
Frame 4: 81 break good standard 2-2.
Frame 5: Hawkins with a 45 break missed yellow but back in for a 50 break 3-2 Hawkins
Frame 6: Ronnie with a fabulous break of 76 3-3.
Frame 7: Frame winning century from Ronnie 113 4-3 to the Rocket.
Frame 8: Another frame to Ronnie in double quick time 100 exactly 5-3 Ronnie
Four-time and defending champion O'Sullivan, who is a huge favourite against
the world number 14, had not trailed in the tournament before Sunday.
But Hawkins was 3-2 ahead at one point, before O'Sullivan hit back.
O'Sullivan, 37, made consecutive breaks of 113 and 100 to lead by two frames
heading into the second session, which starts at 1900 BST.
"We were thinking Barry could take a lead out of the session but all of a
sudden Ronnie changed gears, one of the few players who can do that and won the
last three frames in around 20 minutes to hold the advantage."
However, Hawkins, who had never progressed beyond the second round
at the Crucible before this year, was understandably nervous in the opening
frame.
Twice in the opening frame the 34-year-old Kent player allowed O'Sullivan to
get among the balls and O'Sullivan made no mistakes second time round, gaining
the lead courtesy of a break of 74.
O'Sullivan followed up with a break of 92 before Hawkins settled, rattling in
runs of 88 and 81 to level things.
Hawkins nicked the lead after the mid-session interval with a break of 50,
only for O'Sullivan to take the next three frames and draw level with seven-time
world champion Stephen Hendry's record of 127 centuries at the venue.
Latest: Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-3 Barry Hawkins
Frame 1: 74 from Ronnie 1-0
Frame 2: 92 from the Rocket 2-0
Frame 3: Break of 88 from Hawkins 2-1.
Frame 4: 81 break good standard 2-2.
Frame 5: Hawkins with a 45 break missed yellow but back in for a 50 break 3-2 Hawkins
Frame 6: Ronnie with a fabulous break of 76 3-3.
Frame 7: Frame winning century from Ronnie 113 4-3 to the Rocket.
Frame 8: Another frame to Ronnie in double quick time 100 exactly 5-3 Ronnie
Ronnie
O'Sullivan leads Barry Hawkins 5-3 after the first session of the World
Championship final at the Crucible.
Both players appeared to be unhappy with the cloth on
the table but that did not affect the quality of play, with six breaks above 50
in the session and two centuries.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-7 Barry Hawkins Session 2 (Session 5-4)
Frame 9: 27 from Barry at the start of this first frame, then won a safety battle and got 22
49 ahead, 24 from Barry to confirm the frame 5-4.
Frame 10: 24 from Hawkins then he declared a foul on himself good sportsmanship, 12 from Ronnie, goes on to make 49, and wins the frame 6-4.
Frame 11: 30 + break from Barry Ronnie gets only 8 points as he plays safe, Hawkins goes on to win the frame 6-5.
Frame 12: Ronnie got to 48 missed the red, another red & pink, Ronnie 69pts ahead,
6 reds left, Barry leaves a red over the middle the Rocket pots it 7-5.
Frame 13: Hawkins responds well after the interval, frame winning break of 83 7-6.
Frame 14: Another lovely break from Barry 133 levels the match at 7-7
Frame 15: Counter-punch from the Rocket frame winning break 103 8-7
Frame 16: A tight frame! A rarity in this final so far, not for much longer Ronnie goes on and wins the frame, 106 what a standard! 9-7
Frame 17: A good 42 from Barry Ronnie in now, black ball frame after some quite unbelievable snooker safety at it's best, Ronnie pots the black! 10-7 see u tomorrow.
But so far it has not been the walkover many had predicted, with Hawkins making the defending champion sweat for the first time in the tournament.
Four-time winner O'Sullivan, 37, made four century breaks to surpass Stephen Hendry's previous record of 127 at the venue.
But world number 14 Hawkins was not overawed, making four half-centuries and one century of his own.
Asked beforehand what chance Kent left-hander Hawkins, 34, had of winning the final, seven-time world champion Hendry answered: "None."
"That was a massive final frame. At 7-7, Barry was looking good but Ronnie
pulled out two centuries and then tried so hard and potted a great black.
"Hawkins has competed well, his game is solid."
However, Hawkins, who had never progressed beyond the second round at the Crucible before this year and who was an 80-1 shot before the tournament started, hit back with runs of 88 and 81 to level.
And when Hawkins nicked the next frame to take a 3-2 lead into the mid-session interval it was the first time O'Sullivan had trailed in the tournament.
But O'Sullivan soon regained his poise, reeling off the next three frames and drawing level with Hendry's record with consecutive runs of 113 and 100.
Both players were unhappy with the cloth during the first session but that did not affect the quality of play, with six breaks above 50 and two centuries. That being the case, no alterations were made.
Hawkins took the first frame of the evening session but O'Sullivan, who has never lost a Crucible final, had restored his two-frame cushion by the mid-session interval. However, the rest did Hawkins good.
Indeed, when Hawkins knocked in breaks of 83 and 133 to draw level at 7-7 O'Sullivan, who has barely played any competitive snooker since last year's Crucible triumph, looked rattled for the first time in this year's event.
But O'Sullivan stayed calm under fire, retaliating with back-to-back breaks of 103 and 106. Of the 52 century breaks made in this year's tournament so far, O'Sullivan has made 11 of them.
And the final frame of the evening could prove to be a crucial one, with Hawkins having chances to win it only for O'Sullivan to nick it on the black and increase his overnight lead to three frames.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 15-10 Barry Hawkins Session 3 (5-3 session score)
Frame 18: Barry Hawkins grabs the first frame of day 2, 36-71 10-8 now.
Frame 19: 134-0 (54, 76) Ronnie on the board this afternoon and leads 11-8.
Frame 20: Ronnie grabs a tight frame 12-8
Frame 21: 90 from Hawkins 12-9
Frame 22: A 133 gets Ronnie 4 clear 13-9
Frame 23: 67 break 14-9 to the Rocket
Frame 24: 38-87 Hawkins gets a frame 14-10
Frame 25: 124 break from Ronnie 3 from the title! 15-10
The four-time champion led 10-7 overnight and opened the gap to five frames on Monday afternoon.
World number 14 Hawkins did not play badly but was unable to contain his more illustrious opponent, who made four 50-plus breaks and two centuries.
His second, in the final frame, set a new record of six for a Crucible final.
"Ronnie, in this event, has not lost a session yet. The best anyone has done
is hold him level, and they had to play their brains out just to do that. He
only has to share the frames tonight to get over the line."
But O'Sullivan played some of his most fluent snooker of the tournament, making four century breaks to surpass seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry's previous record of 127 at the Crucible.
Hawkins nicked the first frame on Monday but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, O'Sullivan immediately responded, rattling in a break of 76 to make it 11-8.
The next frame was key, a superb clearance of 55 putting O'Sullivan 12-8 up, although Hawkins rallied with a break of 90 to make it 12-9.
A run of 133 saw O'Sullivan become only the fourth player, after Hendry (1997), John Higgins (1998) and Matthew Stevens (2000), to make five tons in a Crucible final.
And when O'Sullivan won frame 23 to go 14-9 ahead it appeared that Hawkins's resolve was wilting.
Hawkins, who had never been beyond the second round before this year, made it 14-10 courtesy of a break of 67, only for O'Sullivan to hit back with a record-breaking clearance of 124.
49 ahead, 24 from Barry to confirm the frame 5-4.
Frame 10: 24 from Hawkins then he declared a foul on himself good sportsmanship, 12 from Ronnie, goes on to make 49, and wins the frame 6-4.
Frame 11: 30 + break from Barry Ronnie gets only 8 points as he plays safe, Hawkins goes on to win the frame 6-5.
Frame 12: Ronnie got to 48 missed the red, another red & pink, Ronnie 69pts ahead,
6 reds left, Barry leaves a red over the middle the Rocket pots it 7-5.
Frame 13: Hawkins responds well after the interval, frame winning break of 83 7-6.
Frame 14: Another lovely break from Barry 133 levels the match at 7-7
Frame 15: Counter-punch from the Rocket frame winning break 103 8-7
Frame 16: A tight frame! A rarity in this final so far, not for much longer Ronnie goes on and wins the frame, 106 what a standard! 9-7
Frame 17: A good 42 from Barry Ronnie in now, black ball frame after some quite unbelievable snooker safety at it's best, Ronnie pots the black! 10-7 see u tomorrow.
Ronnie
O'Sullivan leads Barry Hawkins 10-7 after the first day of the World
Championship final at the Crucible.
But so far it has not been the walkover many had predicted, with Hawkins making the defending champion sweat for the first time in the tournament.
Four-time winner O'Sullivan, 37, made four century breaks to surpass Stephen Hendry's previous record of 127 at the venue.
But world number 14 Hawkins was not overawed, making four half-centuries and one century of his own.
Asked beforehand what chance Kent left-hander Hawkins, 34, had of winning the final, seven-time world champion Hendry answered: "None."
Analysis
"Hawkins has competed well, his game is solid."
And when O'Sullivan won the first two frames with breaks
of 74 and 92, it looked like the procession that Hendry had predicted might
transpire.
However, Hawkins, who had never progressed beyond the second round at the Crucible before this year and who was an 80-1 shot before the tournament started, hit back with runs of 88 and 81 to level.
And when Hawkins nicked the next frame to take a 3-2 lead into the mid-session interval it was the first time O'Sullivan had trailed in the tournament.
But O'Sullivan soon regained his poise, reeling off the next three frames and drawing level with Hendry's record with consecutive runs of 113 and 100.
Both players were unhappy with the cloth during the first session but that did not affect the quality of play, with six breaks above 50 and two centuries. That being the case, no alterations were made.
Hawkins took the first frame of the evening session but O'Sullivan, who has never lost a Crucible final, had restored his two-frame cushion by the mid-session interval. However, the rest did Hawkins good.
Indeed, when Hawkins knocked in breaks of 83 and 133 to draw level at 7-7 O'Sullivan, who has barely played any competitive snooker since last year's Crucible triumph, looked rattled for the first time in this year's event.
But O'Sullivan stayed calm under fire, retaliating with back-to-back breaks of 103 and 106. Of the 52 century breaks made in this year's tournament so far, O'Sullivan has made 11 of them.
And the final frame of the evening could prove to be a crucial one, with Hawkins having chances to win it only for O'Sullivan to nick it on the black and increase his overnight lead to three frames.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 15-10 Barry Hawkins Session 3 (5-3 session score)
Frame 18: Barry Hawkins grabs the first frame of day 2, 36-71 10-8 now.
Frame 19: 134-0 (54, 76) Ronnie on the board this afternoon and leads 11-8.
Frame 20: Ronnie grabs a tight frame 12-8
Frame 21: 90 from Hawkins 12-9
Frame 22: A 133 gets Ronnie 4 clear 13-9
Frame 23: 67 break 14-9 to the Rocket
Frame 24: 38-87 Hawkins gets a frame 14-10
Frame 25: 124 break from Ronnie 3 from the title! 15-10
Ronnie
O'Sullivan leads Barry Hawkins 15-10 heading into the final session of the World
Championship final and needs three more frames to retain his crown.
The four-time champion led 10-7 overnight and opened the gap to five frames on Monday afternoon.
World number 14 Hawkins did not play badly but was unable to contain his more illustrious opponent, who made four 50-plus breaks and two centuries.
His second, in the final frame, set a new record of six for a Crucible final.
Kent left-hander Hawkins, 34, was a huge underdog before
the match started but was not overawed on Sunday, playing his part in a
high-quality encounter.
But O'Sullivan played some of his most fluent snooker of the tournament, making four century breaks to surpass seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry's previous record of 127 at the Crucible.
Hawkins nicked the first frame on Monday but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, O'Sullivan immediately responded, rattling in a break of 76 to make it 11-8.
The next frame was key, a superb clearance of 55 putting O'Sullivan 12-8 up, although Hawkins rallied with a break of 90 to make it 12-9.
A run of 133 saw O'Sullivan become only the fourth player, after Hendry (1997), John Higgins (1998) and Matthew Stevens (2000), to make five tons in a Crucible final.
And when O'Sullivan won frame 23 to go 14-9 ahead it appeared that Hawkins's resolve was wilting.
Hawkins, who had never been beyond the second round before this year, made it 14-10 courtesy of a break of 67, only for O'Sullivan to hit back with a record-breaking clearance of 124.
Thursday 2 May 2013
Semi final 2 Ricky Walden 14-17 Barry Hawkins
Ricky Walden (Eng) 6-2 Barry Hawkins (Eng) end of first session
121-2 (91), 116-0 (105), 17-64, 76-21 (60), 27-90, 127-1 (119), 70-47, 73-16
Walden scored a century as he dominated the opening four frames to lead 3-1.
The 30-year-old from Chester made another impressive ton in the fifth frame before 34-year-old Hawkins recovered to take the sixth.
But Walden nicked the next and won the last to go into Friday's second session (14:30 BST) four frames ahead.
The winner will face Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump in the final.
"6-2 is a fair reflection of the unfortunate way that Barry has played. He
will play better when he gets his mind together, but that is just about the best
he could have got out of this session. Ricky has scored very heavily, but when
he has not been in the balls, he has struggled too."
Despite making their debuts in the final four at Sheffield, both Walden - who won the Wuxi Classic - and Hawkins - who was victorious at the Australian Open - have experience of competing in the latter stages of a ranking event.
But it was Walden who settled quickest, showing his speed while in amongst the balls, stroking in quick-fire breaks of 91, 105 and 60 as he raced into a two-frame lead at the mid-session interval.
World number 14 Hawkins, meanwhile, seemed to be overawed by the occasion as he missed several chances.
Walden - who defeated O'Sullivan in the final of the Shanghai Masters in 2008 - struck a 119 clearance and took the eighth to wrap up a highly satisfactory opening session's work.
Ricky Walden (Eng) 9-7 Barry Hawkins (Eng) 3-5 session score
Session 2: Afternoon welcome to the 2nd session of this semi
Frame 9: Barry has started well in this frame stalls on 23, back in though, 26 this time, 8 points in it now, red & all colours, brown to black left, Barry looks favourite, and he takes it 6-3 Walden.
Frame 10: 29 then misses easy red does Barry, frame has turned scrappy, but he wins it 6-4.
Frame 11: Scrappy 32-7 to Barry reds on bottom cushion, Ricky amongst the balls, black needed for the frame for Ricky gets it 7-4.
Frame 12: Hawkins 52-0 up in this frame, 28 points back for Ricky probably the scrappiest session of the tournament for me, Barry wins it 7-5.
Frame 13: Much better from Ricky a frame winning break 106 8-5 Walden.
Frame 14: 40-25 Hawkins fouls being given away a lot at the moment, a nice 30 from Barry 8-6.
Frame 15: 47 Barry's highest break of the match 1 behind now 8-7.
Frame 16: Opening break of 13 from Barry, Ricky in now, he takes the frame leads 9-7 they're back in the morning at 1000.
Resuming at 6-2 down, Hawkins won three of the first four frames without a break of any significance to trail 7-5.
Walden won the next with a break of 106 but Hawkins took the next two to close to within one before a break of 53 saw Walden restore his two-frame lead.
The pair resume at 10:00 BST on Saturday with the winner facing Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump in the final.
Both Walden and Hawkins have come through a tough bottom half of the draw which included world number one Mark Selby, 2010 champion Neil Robertson and China's number one Ding Junhui.
Despite making their first appearances in the semi-finals at the Crucible, Walden - who won the Wuxi Classic - and Hawkins - who was victorious at the Australian Open have experience of competing in the latter stages of a ranking event.
However both players have been inconsistent during the opening 16 frames despite world number 13 Walden compiling two century breaks on Thursday evening to open a four-frame advantage.
Hawkins, 34, has appeared nervous throughout, prompting BBC pundit and 1991 champion John Parrott to state that the world number 14 looked like he was already "running on empty, mentally".
However, the man from Kent managed to nick three of the first four frames in Friday afternoon's session, despite making a highest break of just 36, to reduce the deficit.
Walden, who defeated O'Sullivan in the final of the Shanghai Masters in 2008, regained some confidence after the mid-session interval, compiling a 106 to lead 8-5.
But Hawkins knocked in a 47, which was cheered by the crowd, as he pegged back two more frames, before Walden replied with a half-century in the last to keep him in front.
Ricky Walden (Eng) 12-12 Barry Hawkins (Eng) 3-5 session score
Morning all the final Saturday of the tournament 3rd session of this one
Frame 17: Walden 11 points ahead at the moment reds in bottom half of the table, Hawkins had a half chance missed black to keep break going, Walden back in now, and he goes on to win the frame 10-7.
Frame 18: 62 break from Hawkins much better but Ricky on a charge to steal this frame, 63 break to steal it! 11-7.
Frame 19: Great response from Barry a century 114 brilliant 11-8.
Frame 20: Break of 78 from Ricky 12-8 mid session interval.
Frame 21: 104 from Barry 2nd in the session 12-9
Frame 22: 53-63, Hawkins gets one back 12-10
Frame 23: 16-55 Within one now at 12-11. 3 frames in a row.
Frame 24: A 66 break we are level 12-12 what a comeback!
Walden was 9-7 ahead after two sessions of their match but the Saturday morning session belonged to Hawkins.
The world number 14 trailed 12-8 at one stage but had the second of his two century breaks in the session to cut the gap to three frames.
He then dug deep to level it ahead of Saturday evening's final session.
The winner will face Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump in the final.
Hawkins made a break of 114 in frame 19 before returning from the interval to fire a 104 two frames later.
A gruelling 56-minute frame went the way of the 34-year-old from Kent as he pinched it by driving in a long pink and adding a simple black.
And after narrowing Walden's lead to a single frame, Hawkins swept to a break of 66 to end the session with the match in stalemate.
121-2 (91), 116-0 (105), 17-64, 76-21 (60), 27-90, 127-1 (119), 70-47, 73-16
Ricky Walden
opened up a 6-2 lead over Barry Hawkins in the first session of their World
Snooker Championship semi-final at the Crucible.
Walden scored a century as he dominated the opening four frames to lead 3-1.
The 30-year-old from Chester made another impressive ton in the fifth frame before 34-year-old Hawkins recovered to take the sixth.
But Walden nicked the next and won the last to go into Friday's second session (14:30 BST) four frames ahead.
The winner will face Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump in the final.
Both Walden and Hawkins have come through a tough bottom
half of the draw which included world number one Mark Selby, 2010 champion Neil
Robertson and China's number one Ding Junhui.
Despite making their debuts in the final four at Sheffield, both Walden - who won the Wuxi Classic - and Hawkins - who was victorious at the Australian Open - have experience of competing in the latter stages of a ranking event.
But it was Walden who settled quickest, showing his speed while in amongst the balls, stroking in quick-fire breaks of 91, 105 and 60 as he raced into a two-frame lead at the mid-session interval.
World number 14 Hawkins, meanwhile, seemed to be overawed by the occasion as he missed several chances.
Walden - who defeated O'Sullivan in the final of the Shanghai Masters in 2008 - struck a 119 clearance and took the eighth to wrap up a highly satisfactory opening session's work.
Ricky Walden (Eng) 9-7 Barry Hawkins (Eng) 3-5 session score
Session 2: Afternoon welcome to the 2nd session of this semi
Frame 9: Barry has started well in this frame stalls on 23, back in though, 26 this time, 8 points in it now, red & all colours, brown to black left, Barry looks favourite, and he takes it 6-3 Walden.
Frame 10: 29 then misses easy red does Barry, frame has turned scrappy, but he wins it 6-4.
Frame 11: Scrappy 32-7 to Barry reds on bottom cushion, Ricky amongst the balls, black needed for the frame for Ricky gets it 7-4.
Frame 12: Hawkins 52-0 up in this frame, 28 points back for Ricky probably the scrappiest session of the tournament for me, Barry wins it 7-5.
Frame 13: Much better from Ricky a frame winning break 106 8-5 Walden.
Frame 14: 40-25 Hawkins fouls being given away a lot at the moment, a nice 30 from Barry 8-6.
Frame 15: 47 Barry's highest break of the match 1 behind now 8-7.
Frame 16: Opening break of 13 from Barry, Ricky in now, he takes the frame leads 9-7 they're back in the morning at 1000.
Ricky Walden
leads Barry Hawkins 9-7 after two sessions of their World Championship
semi-final in Sheffield.
Resuming at 6-2 down, Hawkins won three of the first four frames without a break of any significance to trail 7-5.
Walden won the next with a break of 106 but Hawkins took the next two to close to within one before a break of 53 saw Walden restore his two-frame lead.
The pair resume at 10:00 BST on Saturday with the winner facing Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump in the final.
Both Walden and Hawkins have come through a tough bottom half of the draw which included world number one Mark Selby, 2010 champion Neil Robertson and China's number one Ding Junhui.
Despite making their first appearances in the semi-finals at the Crucible, Walden - who won the Wuxi Classic - and Hawkins - who was victorious at the Australian Open have experience of competing in the latter stages of a ranking event.
However both players have been inconsistent during the opening 16 frames despite world number 13 Walden compiling two century breaks on Thursday evening to open a four-frame advantage.
Hawkins, 34, has appeared nervous throughout, prompting BBC pundit and 1991 champion John Parrott to state that the world number 14 looked like he was already "running on empty, mentally".
However, the man from Kent managed to nick three of the first four frames in Friday afternoon's session, despite making a highest break of just 36, to reduce the deficit.
Walden, who defeated O'Sullivan in the final of the Shanghai Masters in 2008, regained some confidence after the mid-session interval, compiling a 106 to lead 8-5.
But Hawkins knocked in a 47, which was cheered by the crowd, as he pegged back two more frames, before Walden replied with a half-century in the last to keep him in front.
Ricky Walden (Eng) 12-12 Barry Hawkins (Eng) 3-5 session score
Morning all the final Saturday of the tournament 3rd session of this one
Frame 17: Walden 11 points ahead at the moment reds in bottom half of the table, Hawkins had a half chance missed black to keep break going, Walden back in now, and he goes on to win the frame 10-7.
Frame 18: 62 break from Hawkins much better but Ricky on a charge to steal this frame, 63 break to steal it! 11-7.
Frame 19: Great response from Barry a century 114 brilliant 11-8.
Frame 20: Break of 78 from Ricky 12-8 mid session interval.
Frame 21: 104 from Barry 2nd in the session 12-9
Frame 22: 53-63, Hawkins gets one back 12-10
Frame 23: 16-55 Within one now at 12-11. 3 frames in a row.
Frame 24: A 66 break we are level 12-12 what a comeback!
Barry Hawkins
reeled off four frames in a row to move level at 12-12 with Ricky Walden in
their World Championship semi-final in Sheffield.
Walden was 9-7 ahead after two sessions of their match but the Saturday morning session belonged to Hawkins.
The world number 14 trailed 12-8 at one stage but had the second of his two century breaks in the session to cut the gap to three frames.
He then dug deep to level it ahead of Saturday evening's final session.
The winner will face Ronnie O'Sullivan or Judd Trump in the final.
Hawkins made a break of 114 in frame 19 before returning from the interval to fire a 104 two frames later.
A gruelling 56-minute frame went the way of the 34-year-old from Kent as he pinched it by driving in a long pink and adding a simple black.
And after narrowing Walden's lead to a single frame, Hawkins swept to a break of 66 to end the session with the match in stalemate.
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