2007 888.com World Championship

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

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RONNIE O'SULLIVAN v

DING JUNHUI

Round One - Match 8 (Best of 19 frames)

Good afternoon and welcome to Global Cue Sports Centre live coverage of this eagerly anticipated contest between two of the worlds leading players, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui.  The eyes off the world will be watching this match, as this is the first time the players have been in a competitive match, since the final of the Masters Championship in London, when the crowd intimidation, clearly affected Ding. Ronnie, the elder and experienced statesman, did on that occasion take Ding under his wing and supported him through a very visibly emotional experience for the youngster.  We give a particular special welcome to all our Chinese fans who join to follow the match as it develops...... A capacity crowd is busy packing into the arena, ready for the action to commence at 1430 (BST).

The clash of the super-powers gets underway with Ding breaking-off in the first frame.  The players have met on no fewer than five occasions, Ronnie winning two of the meetings, Ding winning one and drawing twice in the Premier League.  There are a lot of Chinese press in the arena to chart the progress of the match.  Ding pots the first red and goes on to make an opening break. Ding is not displaying many nerves in the opening few shots. The crucial shot to open the pack of reds is denied and the break ends on 33.  Ronnie comes to the table and immediately pots a red, playing position onto the yellow to come a take a loose red before slightly loosing position on the black, but continues the frame.  Ronnie plays a cannon to split the reds after potting the pink and leaves himself with a risky thin cut and opts for the safety, ending his break on 26.  After a safety from Ding, Ronnie attempts a safety but catches the blue on the way back to baulk, leaving ding with a nice pot into the corner.  Ronnie is in his chair sipping his hot water while Dink spends some time on the table.  Ding returns to his seat, disappointed to miss the red and ends a very short break of 3.  Ronnie comes to the table with a frame winning chance, quickly making a 16 break to take the lead for the first time in this frame. The break continues and Ronnie works to take the two remaining reds with black to leave the colours, which he clears, making a break of 58 to take the opening frame.

Ding, in one sense, is on familiar turf, as he lives in Sheffield while in the UK, and practices at the World Snooker Academy on the outskirts of the City.  Ronnie O'Sullivan steps up to the table and gets play underway in frame two.  A couple of safety shots by each players following until Ronnie sinks the first red, getting position on the blue, playing a stun run-through shot to bring the cue ball down towards the pack.  The frame score mounts up, as an in-form O'Sullivan looks comfortable as he glides around the table. Ding sits in his chair as he watches a solid performance by one of the world's best players.  As Ronnie reaches the half-century mark, he is forced to play a safety, sending the cue ball into baulk.  Ding replies by playing the cue ball off the top cushion to rest against the pack.  However, leaves a loose red and Ronnie scores a point. Ding is put back into replying to a safety shot,  a good shot splits the pack a little wider and sends the cue ball back into baulk.  Although three reds remain in a cluster, Ronnie manages to pick one of them out and puts it straight into the corner.   Two reds remain near the black very close two the top cushion, which may decide who wins this second frame.  Ding will need both of them if he is to level.  However, Ronnie pots a red and then the blue, leaving him only needing to pot one of the remaining four reds and a colour, with gets with ease as he pots the blue. Ronnie splits the reds and black on the top cushion, compiling a 48 break and taking the second frame.

Ding starts the action off in frame three, certainly having his work cut out, as a very fluent and in-form Ronnie has achieved a 100% potting success average in the first two frames. This extra-ordinary form continues as Ronnie pots a red on his first visit to the table.  The break ends and Ding levels the score but misses the black.  Let's hope that does not affect his confidence. The two-times World Champion is certainly providing a thrilling and exciting chance to see him play at the top of his game, and it will not be long before they see a century.  Providing Ding gets some time at the table to settle, he too, is more than capable of providing us with a 100+ break.  Ronnie continues with his break of 47, getting closer to the winning line in this frame with every shot. With four reds remaining Ding will require snooker if he gets back to the table in this frame.  Ronnie's break is at 70 with two reds remaining. Perfect position on the last red and pink puts Ronnie on a break of 89.  The colours are cleared to the pink and Ronnie not only registering a break of 110, century number 475 in his career, but takes a 3-0 lead.

The 100 million or show Chinese fans who follow Ding, will be hoping that he can get the fourth frame back, although a bad safety shot allows Ronnie to get back to the table.  It is a shame that the draw put these two together so early, as the standard in this match and the excitement that it is attracting, could easily make it similar to that of a final.  Ronnie misses an early pot and the break ends on a lowly 11.  Ding gets a chance, but really needs to get some table time to settle his nerves and gain his confidence in opening his account. An in-off by Ronnie gets some points onto the board for Ding, who has only recorded 43 points so far in the match compared to Ronnie's 293.  The referee for the match, is the golden man of snooker referees, the much admired and respected Dutchman, Jan Verhass.  He is certainly working off his Sunday lunch at the speed the match is being played and has not had to make any decisions against either of the players, and certainly looks to also be enjoying the game.  Ding is starting to look a little frustrated at missing the few opportunities he has been given to score points, and again, returns to his chair while Ronnie is at the table, extending his lead in this frame.  Ronnie ends his visit to the table after scoring 24 points, brining his lead to 35 points.  Ding, desperate to get some table time, again only gets the chance to play a safety shot, although it proves to be a tough shot for Ronnie as he misses all the reds. This frame is embroiled in a safety exchange and has become the longest frame of the first four frames.   Ronnie is at the table, rapidly heading towards the interval break, with a break currently at 24, leading by 53 with 61 left on the table, although an in-off white ball, ends the break on frame ball and keeps the frame alive. Ding is getting some table time as he starts building a break, a chance to take a frame. The break ends on 24 after a poor shot, leaves Ding snookered on the yellow.  Ronnie pots the yellow, gets on the green and then the brown, blue and pink before swiftly leaving the arena to go for his interval.

As we get our breath back after that fast-paced first four frames, we will return to this match when it recommences.  We are also providing live coverage of two former world champions in the remaining frames of the match between Steve Davis and John Parrott.  You can also join the debate and let us know what you think by posting a comment to the Global Cue Sports Centre Forum.

Both players and the referee return to the arena, and it's over to Ding to get us started in frame 5.  With a provisional ranking of 9, only 6 places behind O'Sullivan, Ding will need to register as many frames as possible from the remaining 5 frames of this afternoon's session if he wishes to progress to the next round.  With Ronnie being is such outstanding form, it will be a very difficult task to accomplish. Whilst Ding admires and respects Ronnie, lets hope that he does not emulate his hero by raising the white flag and concede the match, as Ronnie did in spectacular style at the UK Championships, earlier this season. In real terms, Ding cannot be ignored as he certainly does have the potential, which he clearly demonstrated at the SAGA Insurance Masters when he compiled a fabulous maximum 147, the only other player in the Masters to achieve one, since Kirk Stevens managed it way back in 1984.  After a couple of safety shots by each player, Ding returns to his chair, his body language clearly saying that he looks despondent as Ronnie starts to make the opening break in frame 5, and is still looking for a challenge from the youngster, and in no time at all has the break already at 60 before losing position and opting to play a safety shot off two cushions to put the cue ball into the back of the pack of reds.  After a short exchange of safety play, Ding attempts a long diagonal red into the corner, misses the pot and opens all the reds.  Ronnie should easily clear the table from this point and does so in a solid and fluent display of demonstrating his snooker playing skills, knocking in a break of 63, winning the match 123-0, knocking that whatever from this point, he will start the next session at least one frame ahead.

Ding opens frame six after rifling in a long red, only to catch a red on the way back up the table and does not play a good shot on the blue, once again allowing Ronnie the opportunity to get the table and start another fine display of break building.  An error in trying to split the pack eventually cost Ronnie the chance of progressing past the 32 mark.  Ding replies immediately with a red and black and then plays an excellent plant to pot a red into the middle to to continue at the table, splitting the pack and getting a real chance of a frame winning opportunity.  Already he passes O'Sullivan's score of 32 and will record his highest break of the game so far.  Having cleared all of the reds, to score a break at 77 and moves on to the colours, which he clears with considerable ease to register his first frame win along with a 103 break.  Keep up to date with all the century breaks on our Sizzler board.

Frame seven begins with Ronnie getting immediately into the balls. The century in the last frame should give Ding some much needed confidence, and as a matter of interest is his 19th century break this season out of a career total of 90.  Ronnie, seems unflustered by the break in the previous frame, and manages a 32 in this visit to re-emphasise his dominance in the game. A poor shot by Ronnie gives Junhui the opportunity to get back to the table, allow does not get past 6 points.  Ronnie attempts a tough pot along the top cushion, but cannot pocket the red and as the cue ball is cleaned Ding sees what his options are.  Increasing in confidence, Ding downs a red to start making a break and finds his stride as he compiles a 45 break. With the frame poised to go in either players favour, it will certainly be the one who pots the next red to get the best chance to end the frame. Ding gets the remaining reds in scoring an 18 and leaves Ronnie requiring at least one snooker, who comes to the table and pots the red and then a pink, before the break ends.  Ronnie lays consecutive snookers, with Ding missing the second snooker and going in-off.  Ronnie has the cue ball in hand and leaves Ding with a difficult shot.  Ding leaves the green ball hanging over the the yellow pocket, which Ronnie pots, and then goes to clear the remaining balls to win the frame by one point.  While it increases the lead for Ronnie, it must be a major hammer-blow to Ding, who is making his debut at the Crucible, who looked set to win the frame for the majority of the frame.   

The penultimate frame of the session begins with Ronnie taking advantage of Ding's opening stroke to start a break.  Ding sits and looks on with his head resting on his fist.  He must be wondering what he needs to do to catch the Ronnie's tail. Within a matter of a couple of minutes, Ronnie has a break of 37 with the reds nicely open and a golden opportunity to make a one visit frame-winning break, which translates into 63 points.  Ding has a slim chance to win the frame, trailing 63 points with a possible 75 remaining, although cannot do anything to get a break going.  Ronnie is back at the table and scores a clearance of 70 to win the frame 133-0 and go 7-1 in front in a two break visit, similar to frame 5.

Frame 9, the final frame of the session commences, with Ronnie only requiring 3 of the possible remaining 11 frames.  Ding opens the scoring in this frame after a red wobbles in the jaws of the pocket before dropping.  Ding manages to amass a break of 26 before having to resort to playing a safety shot.  An exchange of tactical shots are exchanged between the two, although Ronnie looks like he his planning what he is doing after the match rather than focusing on the task in hand, in the way he is not controlling the cue ball, as you would expect.  It may just be because it is the last frame.  However, Ding is not capitalising on Ronnie's spell of apathy.  Ding needs to draw strength from his experiences and positive aspects such as being one of only three players to have won three ranking titles before his 20th birthday - a clear demonstration of his ability. Ronnie comes to the table trailing 33-8 but does have a good chance to clear the deficit at the very least.  It could be the last break in this first session. Ronnie cannot believe his luck as on 45 with three reds left, he misses a fairly easy red into the corner.  Ding cannot score any points on his visit and Ronnie pots a red and gets onto the pink, and gets 22 ahead with the last red on the table, ending the break with a safety.  Ronnie sinks the last red followed by a pink and the colours until he misses the blue.  A deflated Ding rises from his seat, shakes hands with Ronnie and referee Jan Verhaas before leaving the arena.  Ronnie ends the session needing only two more frames to progress into round two to meet the victor in the match between Ryan Day and Neil Robertson.

The match resumes, being played to its conclusion tomorrow afternoon (Monday) starting at 1430 (BST) and we will be providing live coverage.  Why not drop us an email with your thoughts on the match and we will share them with our viewers when play starts again...

This match is due to start at 1430 Monday but due to the dramatic conclusion of the match between Fergal O'Brien and Barry Hawkins, where Hawkins has fought back from 6-9 to 9-9, there will be a delayed start to this afternoon match... but read our live commentary on the final frame shoot out as Hawkins or O'Brien will clinch a place in round two

 Richard Beare, the Master of Ceremony welcomes the players into the arena for the conclusion of this entertaining match.  Referee Jan Verhaas announces frame 10, Ronnie O'Sullivan to break, who comes to the table and breaks off with a looped bridge hand.  Ding attempts a pot into the corner, but the shot does not work out as he expects and Ronnie pots the first red. Ronnie takes pink, and momentarily walks round the table to remove a speck of dust. Before playing the red then a blue, which he sends the cue-ball in to split the pack, although cannot develop the cue-ball after a slight kick, and is forced to play a safety shot into baulk, and returns to his chair to take a drink of hot water as Ding comes to the table and confidently knocks in his first red. There may be many mountains in China, but Ding has his own mountain to climb in Sheffield, if he is to recoup some of the frames.  Ding's break passes Ronnie's 13, and the young star looks to be in a more confident mood today.  With the break at 29, the cue-ball slightly over-runs and ding is forced to play a safety, sending the cue-ball to rest against the bottom cushion, behind the yellow spot. Ronnie takes a moment to see what he can hit, and plays a safety, although he leaves another opportunity for Ding. Ronnie returns to the table, attempting a thin cut into the middle pocket, which stops short.  Ding pots the red and plays for the brown to bring the white down the table to get on the next red and play a good position for the black.  This could be a good chance. The break climbs up to 45 with one red remaining and the frame now safe. Ronnie remains in his chair as the table is set up for the next frame.

Ding breaks off in frame 11.  Ronnie plays an excellent shot to nothing, put the cue ball just behind the spotted yellow.  Ding plays a slow shot, to nudge a red back into the pack.  Ronnie asks referee to go to the photographers booth which is behind the top cushion at the back of the arena, to ask them to keep the noise down as it is too much a distraction to both players as they are trying to take their shots. Jan Verhaas returns to the arena and play continues. Ding plays an excellent shot to pot the first red in this frame and gets good position on the pink, but spends some time in assessing his options.  The break continues but ends on 21 as the black wobbles in the jaws of the corner pocket.  Ronnie has an easy opener, although will have to consider how best to split the reds.  He will be able to consider this for a little longer as he opts to play the safety instead, getting 8 points on the board.  Ronnie gets back to the table and has a better chance this time to build a decent frame.  As Ronnie gains the points, his game speeds up and he looks very fluent, although the games grounds to a halt as Jan Verhaas has to again go and speak to the photographers.  Although a temporary distraction, does not stop Ronnie making an 87 break to get within one frame of progressing to the next round.

Frame 12 gets underway and Ding's mountain suddenly become a great deal steeper.  Ding takes the opportunity to pot the first red in this frame, plays the brown, a red and the black, before hardly believing his eyes as the white end up in between two reds, with no option at all to continue the break. Ronnie replies with a safety and Ding attempts a pot, which turns out in Ronnie's favour as Ronnie comes to the table and pots it to his advantage. Ronnie does have a frame winning opportunity with this visit and the break quickly becomes 28 and then continues to climb, using either hand as he chooses for cueing.  Ding is sitting watching, and looks on as he sees the match ebbing away.  Ronnie's potting success average remains at 95% over the course of the 12 frames. The break passes the half-century and continues.  The one visit break of 72, ends the frame and match, and Ronnie marches on in to the next round.  Both players leave the arena, heading to the press conference.

Although this match has now ended, you can join our commentary of the match on the other table, which looks a thrilling match, with a possible major shock in store as Northern Ireland's debutant, has stormed 3-0 ahead, with breaks of 92, 95 and a 43 clearance in  the opening three frames of the match against the Darlin' of Dublin Town.  Click the link to go straight to the Mark Allen/Ken Doherty match.

FRAME SCORES

1. 84(58)- 36

2. 99(50,48)-3

3. 110(109)-1

4. 84-41

5. 123(60,63)-0

6. 32(32)-104(103)

7. 70-69(45)

8. 133(63,70)-0

9. 71(45)-33

WINNER

FRAME SCORES

10. 13-74(45)

11. 95(87)-21

12. 72(72)-13

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QUOTES

In commenting on the match Ronnie said " It was a tough draw but obviously I'm delighted to have got through.  I can be my own worst critic, but I have to say that I played okay in the match and that is all that matters."

Ronnie went to speak about Ding saying "........I'm a big fan of his and I just hope that this match holds him in good stead for next year, as everyone agrees he is a fantastic player and great for the game."