2007 888.com World Championship

MATCH BY MATCH LIVE MATCH NOTES [CLICK ON MATCH FOR LIVE COMMENTARY, NEWS, QUOTES]

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IAN McCULLOCH

v

ANTHONY HAMILTON

Round Two - Match 17

(Best of 25 frames, 3 sessions)

Thursday 26 April - 19.00

Friday 27 April - 14.30

Saturday 28  April - 10.00

Match Notes - LIVE information as it happens.....  Good evening, welcome to the Crucible as this second round match gets underway... and it promises to be a fascinating match... Preston v Nottingham... the first chance of the match, and this is of course a best of 25 frames second round match, falls to Ian McCulloch.. he's made only 6... so we'll see what Hamilton can do now... the reds are a bit congested and pink and black tied up, so it's not a straightforward opening.... and he can't negotiate the positional pitfalls... McCulloch's carved his way through the traffic but he's still not got pink or black so it's up for the blue so far in this break... well he's taken a pink but that's disappeared onto the brown spot... the break reaches 22 and he's still going but it's still not an easy opening... this has been excellent by McCulloch, he's done all the hard work now, he's up to 45, the balls are now open for him, two more reds needed... 59 up, 59 on... just the red and in it goes... 1-0 to McCulloch... The break ends at 74, Hamilton's come to the table but just to loosen his arm a bit...

... Hamilton hasn't got himself at all settled yet... having missed some easy balls at the end of the first frame, he's now clattered the blue on his break-off, but he's got away with it... That's a bit better for Hamilton, a red and black but he can't break the reds open... this could be an interesting safety exchange as there's a red on the baulk cushion and Hamilton has left the white tight on the top cushion... well what a fabulous pot from McCulloch to the centre, that solves the safety problem... McCulloch's already taken a couple of very aggressive shot choices tonight, a sure sign he's feeling confident... only 13 as he can't hold position, but Hamilton's faced with a tough safety shot... too tough, he's given McCulloch another chance... McCulloch is still having to go all round the table to get colours and position but he's still going, only 14 so far but he leads 27-8 now and most important he's still at the table... not now he's not, he couldn't keep that going and Hamilton can counter-attack... and he is, only two points behind... 4 reds remain... Hamilton's nicely into the groove now... on paper this pair look very closely matched and it would be a surprise if one player ran away with the match... but Hamilton can't afford to miss blacks off the spot... he's not left a red on for Ian though... Ian's played a very good safety, he's got Hamilton is deep trouble here... Anthony's 7 point lead could disappear very quickly if he leaves a chance on the last two reds... but the chance has fallen to Hamilton so can he take the last two reds, not from there, he's snookered himself on the last red... that cushion bounced again... he's 15 points ahead now and he's managed to get the red pretty safe unless McCulloch fancies a long red down the side rail... he does, great pot... he's missed an easy brown and left it on... frame to Hamilton...

...McCulloch missed red to centre but no damage done... and that's a bit of a wild one from McCulloch, red to corner missed by a long way... a warm welcome to our Global visitors who are watching our coverage from all over the world, from America to Australia, from Brazil to Bangalore... quite a long safety exchange now while both players seek an opportunity... Hamilton's picked out a red, but only the yellow is on its spot now, there are plenty of reds, but position to colours is going to be tough until he can get blue pink or black onto their spots.... a good red keeps the break going, back for yellow or brown to centre... made harder by needing to get the white up the table again... no problem... he's managed to get on the black but it won't go on its spot, it'll have to go up on the blue spot... he's missed a tough red to the corner, first of all disturbed by a spectator but the main problem was cueing the white off the cushion, a chance gone for Hamilton, he leads 28-4, not any more he doesn't as McCulloch's counter-attack sees him take a 43-28 lead, just three reds left now... he's missed the red on 32, after he'd done all the hard work... it's not easy for Hamilton, he'll have to get a good cannon or drop behind the last red and take it to the centre... he has but it's very risky and he's opted to lay a very tight snooker.... the scores is 50-42 in McCulloch's favour... that's a brilliant escape by Ian and it's safe... and now it's his turn to lay the snooker... this is very close now, onto the green and just 4 points in McCulloch's favour... but he's moved ahead now and Hamilton needs snookers on the blue... well he's 23 behind so he could tie with one snooker... he doesn't get it, 2-1 to McCulloch...

... we move into frame four and it has to be said that this match hasn't sparked into life yet... what can Hamilton make of this first opening.... not much, only 9 points.... who will be the first to find his form... a good red to centre by McCulloch but no exactly ideal on a colour... and he's missed the cut back black... so a chance for Hamilton... he's made 24 so far and this looks a very good chance, everything is in the open and colours on their spot... he's making hard work of this but he's still accumulating points, 39 now... this is now his first 50 break of the match and he's secured the frame... they'll both be glad of the interval to maybe loosen their arm on the practice table...

... well here we go again... let's hope for everyone's sake that both players can find more fluency in these four frames... the first four took an hour and 47 minutes... well stalemate after 6 minutes so we'll have a re-rack... the players are having a good laugh in their chairs, it helps to release the tension a bit...  McCulloch's found a plant from the pack and he's got a decent table set up to attack... McCulloch looks very positive around the table, he's made 24 so far... he's missed the pink having made 31 and he has left a red for Hamilton... 16 points for him now but he's pulling faces as the white runs a bit too far for a simple black, but no problem and he's still in position on the reds... well he's missed such an easy black, he's kicking himself... neither player seems able to take a frame at one visit... now this is an easy chance for Ian... four reds in a nice line to centre or corner pockets... and one down in baulk, which he won't need if he takes these next three reds... the lead grown to 29 but he's not ideal on the next red... he'll have to pot it up in the yellow pocket and he does, just the black should be enough... that's in and he's nicely on the last red, he's regained the lead at 3-2.., Hamilton has left the arena and McCulloch loos thoroughly relaxed now, having a laugh and chat with referee Johan Ooman about football...

... Hamilton breaks off in frame six and gets a good white to the baulk cushion... McCulloch is getting up a bit of head of steam, he's made 32 but then runs out of steam and misses black off the spot... Hamilton's split the reds nicely, he can get a good few points here... somehow he's contrived to lose position... you wouldn't back either player tonight to make a frame-winning break in one visit... just 22 there for Hamilton... McCulloch now has Hamilton snookered and he's missed all the reds, far too thin and a free ball, but McCulloch will have it put back I think... a very shot this time by Hamilton, caught the reds thin and got the white back to baulk... Hamilton's found a red and missed another black... but McCulloch's let his safety go awry and Hamilton has yet another chance in this frame... a good shot there to bring a red off the cushion... he's only 1 point behind now and he's on the last red... he's got a kick and he's not nicely on the yellow... a very good recovery with the rest but he couldn't get on the green... he's played the snooker and leads by 8 on the green... McCulloch's got nowhere near the green so it goes back... the lead grows to 12 and to 16 as he misses again... third miss, Ian can't quite find the angle... good hit... there's a pot on for Hamilton who now only needs green... which he misses and leaves on... but only the pink is on its spot so the frame isn't over yet... he's unlucky, he's tried to come all round the table but he's hit the centre pocket knuckle so he's not on the brown... so he's laid the snooker now... Hamilton leads 58-41... Hamilton misses the edge by a whisker... he's caught the pink this time so Ian's only 7 points behind now... all sorts of problems for Johan Ooman to get these balls back... marker Alan Chamberlain is giving advice... at last everyone is happy and Hamilton can have his third try to hit the brown, he's hit the pink again and moved the black again, Johan is laughing, Ian is laughing, the audience is laughing, only Hamilton isn't... and now Hamilton's lead is only one point... he's given away 16 points already... he swerves and hits it no problem at all... I wonder why he didn't do that at the first attempt... this is a very long frame now and the brown is still dead safe... and we've had 42 minutes so far... time to start checking the late night bus time-tables! And we've got two more frames after this tonight... we will be burning the midnight oil in the Crucible tonight... McCulloch gets a double-kiss on the brown, he hasn't left it on but he could be snookered in a minute... Hamilton chose to play the double and it flies in, he's not on the blue though... Hamilton needs blue and pink now, McCulloch also needs the black... this is now the second frame that's last 48 minutes and this still has some mileage in it... McCulloch's left the blue on... he's clipped the pink and this isn't easy now... but it's in... so they're level again... it's nice to see our visitors from around the world staying up late, or getting up early to watch this match... hi there to Canby, Oregon, have a nice day... and G'Day to Applecross, New South Wales... and to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan... and a special hello to all our friends in Doha, Qatar who are staying up very late tonight... GCS was in Doha for the Asian Games last December and what a fabulous event it was, in a city that is sports crazy... GCS will be covering more major events in Doha later in the year as Qatar host the Asian Billiards Championship and the Asian Under 21s and of course the Under 21 winner gains a place on next season's WSA Main Tour... we will return there later in the summer for the IBSF Team Championship, that event was won by an English team last year when it was held in California... I can also see our new friends from the Eurosport Hungary forum online so a chance to say hello to some of the Eurosport commentators who we work closely with... for the UK there is Mike Hallett, David Hendon, Dominic Dale and new summariser Alan McManus... over in Belgium it's hi to Rudy Bauwens, in Germany the redoubtable Rolf Kalb, a mine of snooker information is keeping Germany visitors well informed, while further east Vladimir Sinicin, no mean player himself, is doing Russian commentary for Russia, Latvia, and other Russian speaking nations... and a special hello to Kim Hartmann in Sweden, who has several times received awards for his commentary work on Swedish Eurosport, and perhaps more important has been a driving force for many years to promote snooker in Sweden... and just today we learn that they have a famous new convert to the game as Swedish golfer Nicolas Fasth has taken up snooker as his new hobby...

... Frame 7 is underway and Hamilton makes 14 before losing position... Now then, McCulloch has a chance... can he impose some authority on this match... three times he's led by a frame and three times Hamilton has levelled the scores... no that's gone all wrong, only 17 points and he's forced to play safe... with round one finished we are getting a clearer pictures of the rankings position... both Joe Perry and Barry Hawkins end the season outside the top 16... Mark Selby has moved up to 19 with power to add points to his tally in round two... John Higgins' win today takes him up to number two, and he leads the chase for the number one spot, which Graeme Dott will lose after his early exit... both John Parrott and Fergal O'Brien have secured their places in the top 32... Matthew Stevens still needs to win two more matches to assure himself of a top 16 seeding next season.... On the one year list Neil Robertson occupies top spot just ahead of Ronnie O'Sullivan so the winner of their second round match will open a bit of a gap on that list... McCulloch has spotted a plant in the pack to get back amongst the balls... both black and pink are tied up again... this is so frustrating for both players... they want a nice clean open chance to get a good break going and it's been very hard work so far tonight... for both them and the spectators... McCulloch's got the pink open now at least.... he's stretch too far for that red and gone right across the ball... he leads 37-19 and there's a good opening red from Hamilton... but the balls aren't sitting nicely... this could be another long, protracted frame... and there have been a few tonight... well an amazing thin red by Hamilton, I'm not sure he even played that... the blue follows and Hamilton has the last two reds to clear... he should clear here to take the lead for the first time... a sixteen point lead and he's on the yellow... he's got that but missed an easy green.. 55-37... McCulloch gets the green, he's not perfect on this brown to get onto the blue though... he's waving his hands about, thinks he got a kick, but he's nicely on the blue anyway... still needs pink and black... that's a good shot on the pink to come right round the table but the white is on the top cushion, and he's missed black to centre with a lot of safety in mind... Hamilton's left the black near yellow pocket, this will cut... and it does and he avoids the in-off... McCulloch leads 4-3...there's a stampede as most of the audience make good their escape...

... well this is the last frame of the night... can Hamilton level again or can McCulloch open a two frame gap for the first time... a good opening red by Hamilton, he's on the black but where is it going to be re-spotted, it goes on its spot but there will be reds covering it then... another good shot by Hamilton as he moves the red out of the black's path to corner pocket... this is now a very nice opening indeed, and had it not been for what has gone before tonight, you'd say it was a frame-winning chance and a big break could be on here... he's made 25 so far... another red and black disappear, he's got to take the next one with extended rest... he moves along to 40 and still open reds before he needs to split the bunch... he's taken blue to hold position, three more open reds, he seems in no hurry to split the pack... he's loosened some more reds off the pink but cue ball has stuck to the cushion... as he climbs to 53 points... 61 and this is now Hamilton's best break of the night... ooh he's left the red in the jaws and he hasn't secured the frame yet... he's kicking himself... there's still 83 on the table... McCulloch's misses the black... how lucky has he been, nothing easy on for Hamilton... he's found one to the centre, the black should put the frame safe.... in it goes, it will be 4-4 overnight... and McCulloch concedes...

... A very good afternoon to everyone, welcome back to the second session of this second round match... The players are deadlocked at 4-4 after last night's session... can one of them break the shackles in this afternoon's eight frames and take a lead into the final session... Well here we go as all four players receive a wonderful reception from the audience... Over on the other table this afternoon we have Mark Allen v Matthew Stevens and what a treat that could be for spectators... the first chance here falls to Anthony Hamilton, can he bring his renowned break-building prowess to bear in this match... he's stopped in his tracks by a thudding kick on the black when he's made 32... so very unlucky for him and a let-off for McCulloch... He's found an opening red but will have to split the pack to make any further progress... he has but he's missed a perfectly simple red on 20... another good chance for Hamilton... and he's well on the way to the winning line in this frame... a 45 point lead and only two reds left... so Hamilton leads for the first time in the match...

...good safety from both players at the start of frame ten... Hamilton finds a red and he's taken the opportunity to break more out of the pack... his next red isn't easy with the white under the cushion... he's missed it... McCulloch has got the white tight behind the green, a tad lucky and Hamilton is in a spot of bother now... superb escape by Anthony keeps everything safe... well they looked safe but Ian has found an excellent red along the top rail at pace... how has he missed that pink to centre.... this match may come down to who makes fewer unforced errors... Hamilton's accumulated a 23 point lead but with black and pink out of the game he couldn't retain position so another frame that won't be won in one visit... Ian has done absolutely everything but pot that red, I have no idea how it stayed out as it's hanging on the edge of the pocket, so another chance for Hamilton to stretch his lead in this frame and in the match... oh dear oh dear oh dear, a simple red missed by Hamilton... neither player can find their true form or rhythm at all in this match... but someone has to win it and book a place in the quarter finals... You can enter our new Exclusive Competition to win a cue signed by 1991 World Champion John Parrott and visit John Parrott Sports website to find the answer to one of the questions... Meanwhile Hamilton has gained a 52-14 lead in this frame and there are 4 reds still on the table, he needs two of them... he's got a 54 point lead with 43 on, McCulloch needs three snookers...

... it's not going the way McCulloch would wish... he's got in here, made 20 and missed again... Hamilton is making the most of this chance so far with 27 points... he's got a kick again and the break ends at 28... and by missing the black it's a big pocket for the red for McCulloch... but it's only 9 points, the pockets aren't big enough for him today, he's beginning to really struggle... it's gone very scrappy again in this frame as Hamilton can't impose himself and McCulloch is back at the table... it's a big frame in the context of the match.. McCulloch's missed a dolly red... and so has Hamilton.... now there is one red left can someone pot, McCulloch can he leads by ten point now... no one deserves to win this frame but one of eventually will... Hamilton needs a snooker on the blue... he's 21 behind... and McCulloch has eventually won the frame...

...last frame before the interval and McCulloch starts by going in-off... and now a mis-cue by McCulloch and this has given Anthony a chance... Hamilton's made 34 but we're back to safety now, or rather snookers as Anthony traps Ian behind the black... good escape but there's a red on... he's stretched his lead to 53-7 but McCulloch can still retrieve the situation at this visit... he's back to 53-30 behind and can clear up here... this is a brave effort by Ian, he's definitely not cueing well but he's battling on every shot... just brown-pink to draw level again... and he has, an excellent 64 break there.... join us after their 15 minute interval...

the players have completed their interval and McCulloch will get us under way at 6-6... four more frames this afternoon and still all to play for... McCulloch misses a red with 20 points on the scoreboard and Hamilton can counter-attack... of the two payers McCulloch will be delighted to be level when obviously not in good form, while Hamilton may feel he's let Ian off the hook a bit... neither will be happy with their form though... as Hamilton missed long blue to yellow pocket.... both players will be acutely aware that if they could find anything like their true form they could run out several frames on the spin... unless of course their opponent also finds his form... here's another chance for McCulloch and he's opened a 54point lead with six reds left, he's looking better now... he can't quite clinch the frame, there could be another twist as Hamilton comes back to the table... 37 behind with 43 on... and a brilliant 64 clearance by Hamilton....

...so a great boost to Hamilton and another set back for McCulloch and Hamilton has an early chance in the fourteenth frame of this close, tense, gruelling match... position is impossible at this visit so just 9 points for Hamilton... but a bit careless as he's left a red for McCulloch to the centre... he needs to break some reds open off the brown... he's opted to play for the only open red... but it's not happening for McCulloch, only 5 points, and now only 12 for Hamilton as he misses a nasty cut back red to a blind pocket... yet another chance for McCulloch... the pack is still tightly bunched... yet another miss.... is this a concentration problem for McCulloch or bad cueing or nerves... something is just not right at all with him, hard as he's trying, maybe too hard.... he's not left anything... a horrible shot for Hamilton with extended rest and spiders right over the pack, that's a very good red, he's on the pink and the reds have spred a little now so he can put more pressure onto McCulloch... so far so good, the break reaches 21 and the lead goes to 42-14... he's not over the line and he's missed and McCulloch could still win the frame... he's  14 points behind on the yellow now... and he's cleared them up... superb effort...

... it's all level again, two more frames this afternoon, can someone gain the upper hand... It's Hamilton turn to get the first chance in a frame... the pink has hampered his further progress, so he plays safe, a meagre 18 point lead... a bit more tit for tat from both players and McCulloch leads 49-26 and he's on the green now... and he's cleared with 56 to lead 8-7... one more frame this afternoon, can Hamilton level again...

...Hamilton is at the table, the reds are spread but black is covered... this frame is following the pattern of its predecessors, good pot, bad pot and another mis-cue from McCulloch, that's three this afternoon, he must be wrecking his tip... this is a very important frame to both players and it's gone very scrappy... five reds remain and Hamilton leads 42-18... they've reached virtual stalemate  but it's too far into the frame to consider a re-rack.... and Hamilton has broken the deadlock, he's moved 41 ahead with 43 left, he's favourite now to level the match... 60-18 now, 42 up 35 on, can McCulloch get a snooker... no and Hamilton pots the red, it's 8-8 and they play to a finish on Saturday morning... Join us again at 19.00 BST for the conclusion of the very exciting match between John Parrott and Shaun Murphy and the second session of Maguire and Swail...

... Good Morning, you join us for the final session of this tight tense match... The start at 8-8 and as the drama unfolds we'll see who can get to 13 fame and books a quarter final place... McCulloch is the first to get his hand on the table and pots the first red of the day... and he's moved along to 39 so far, before the cue-ball ends up touching ball on the black, and has to play a safety shot away...Hamilton is not getting much in the way of chances as he is forced to play another safety.  McCulloch looks a little tense as he misses a red into the middle pocket...Hamilton is at the table and the break is at 14, it is not going to be easy to keep it going, put he can pick off the loose reds, until a good shot splits three reds, knocking the middle red clean to leave either red into either middle pocket...it now becomes a frame winning chance...The break reaches the half-century, and the brown, blue and pink give Hamilton a 9-8. McCulloch is left sitting in his chair pondering how he lost the frame...

McCulloch has overnight expressed his unhappiness at the height of the table at the Crucible, and it has caused considerable debate around the Crucible today.  He feels that the table is fractionally higher than normal, meaning his stance and position is not right...affecting his performance...Hamilton gets us underway in frame 18.  As the players exchange safety shots, it is a good chance to remind you to visit our gallery, which has pictures of all the on-and-off table action form Sheffield...Ian overcuts a red into the black corner, leaving it for Anthony to come to the table and pot it...the break gets to 32, and a gesture of disappointment signals that Anthony is not happy with the position of the cue-ball for the black... he does recover as the break reaches 40 and continues...As with the last frame, Anthony gets the break past the half-century and this could be a frame winning visit...he pots the tenth red... Ian now requires snooker, but he wont return to the table.  Anthony looks in good form as he takes the second frame of the morning, with a break of 111.

Apart from a good break, Anthony get sizzling snooker started today to become the 27th player to register a break of 100 or more, as we return to the match, Anthony has rolled short of the reds, the miss being called and Ian having the cue-ball replaced...Attempt two is successful...McCulloch has a couple of chances to make breaks, although with the scoreline of 17-0 in his favour, he has not made anything much of them...Both players are trying to pot the reds, both also making certain they get the cue-ball safe in case they fail to pot the red...so, a mixture of attacking safety shots now dominates the frame, although both have picked off the odd ball, with the frame score 18-8 to McCulloch...a long exchange eventually ends as Hamilton gets the upper hand in the frame with a break of thirteen, to lead 21-18, although he does leave Ian with a red to middle to start what could be a good break...The break comes to an end on 25, after Ian misses the black...Anthony pots the last red and takes the blue, getting a good position on the yellow and then takes the green and brown and blue, before slightly losing position on the pink...he now trails by only two points at 41-43, with two balls left...Disappointed Anthony returns to his chair after a bad mis-cue leave Ian to have a go at the pink, but McCulloch misses the frame ball...Anthony pots the pink, and the black to win the frame and go 11-8 in front.

Ian needs to take this frame, if he wants any real chance of staying in the match, although, having taken the first three frames and witnessed some of the below par standard shots from his opponent, Anthony is rapidly becoming favourite to take the not only the frame before the interval, but get within one frame of crossing the winning line...Anthony breaks of in frame 20, as both players execute some fine safety shots. The Mark Allen/Matthew Stevens match is on their interval break as we head their too after this frame.

FRAME SCORES

1. 75(68)-8

2. 42-68

3. 79-55

4. 9-69(60)

5. 69(38)-21

6. 57-68

7. 62-55

8. 1-70(61)

FRAME SCORES

9. 20-71(32,39)

10. 15-72(40)

11. 58-32

12. 64(64)-53

13. 62-64(64)

14. 62-51.

15. 74(56)-20

16. 18-61

FRAME SCORES

17. 40(40)-65(65)

18. 0-111(111)

19. 43-54

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

QUOTES

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