The Rocket - masters the game

What can I say. Coming down from 6-3 and perforing 147 in deciding frame. Not many players can do that.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his Maplin UK Championship semi-final with Mark Selby in magnificent fashion with a 147 break in the deciding frame WS

Having tied the scores at eight frames all, 32-year-old O'Sullivan showed all the skills that have made him a two-time world champion as he produced a maximum break when the chips were down to power through.

O'Sullivan will play Stephen Maguire in the final. ES

5 centuries in 9 frames from Stephen Hendry

Legends of Snooker Tour

It live now!!!

And the first magnificent play was made.

Stephen Hendry recorded five centuries in nine frames in an exhibition match against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The Scot defeated the Rocket 6-3 in the first of six matches comprising the Legends of Snooker Tour.

It was the first time the two players have met since since O'Sullivan walked out midway through their UK Championship quarter-final in December.

Robertson on fire

Yesterday:
The Australian stormed to a four frame lead over Hendry and recorded a career best tournament break of 140 in the process. But Robertson was made to sweat for his victory after Hendry won three successive frames to make the score 4-3. In the seventh frame order was restored and Robertson progressed to the last 16.

Today:
Neil Robertson took a tight last frame to pinch a high-quality quarter-final against Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-4 and move through to the last four of the Welsh Open in Newport.

We must admit this boy is on the run, good tactical play. Although I`m a fan of Hendry`s still, i got to admit, yesterdays game was very good. For a moment i hoped that Hendry can come back and turn the game in his favor, but the concentration was not on the desired level

Losers in Malta: Ronnie O'Sullivan, Matthew Stevens, John Higgins,

Michael Holt pulled off the best win of his career with a 5-3 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan to move through to the last 16 of the Malta Cup. Holt - who had never previously beaten O'Sullivan - held his nerve to move through to a clash against Mark King.

Ryan Day moved in to the last 16 of the Malta Cup with a 5-3 win over friend and countryman Matthew Stevens. Day, ranked 17 in the world, had moved in to a 2-0 lead before Stevens had even got going.

World number one John Higgins went crashing out of round one of the Malta Cup 5-3, after a fine display by Marco Fu. The Wizard of Wishaw began well having potted the black to win a tight first frame, but soon found himself 4-1 down to Fu.

Maguire sends Ding home

Ding knocked in a break of 68 in the first frame after the mid-session interval to bring the match to 2-3, but Maguire dominated the final two frames to progress.

Stephen Maguire booked his place in the last 16 of the Malta Cup with an excellent 5-2 victory over Ding Junhui. He meets Peter Ebdon in the next round after seeing off the challenge of the provisional world number five.

The Rocket crush Ding Junhui in the Masters final at Wembley

Ronnie O'Sullivan produced a vintage display of snooker to crush Ding Junhui 10-3 in the Masters final at Wembley.

There were doubts over the troubled star's participation at the prestigious invitational event after he was widely criticised after walking out of his quarter-final against Stephen Hendry in last month's UK Championship in York.

But the 31-year-old silenced the critics with a resounding victory over the Chinese teenager in which he scored four century breaks.

The 19-year-old took a 2-0 lead with runs of 77 and 109.

But then the Essex star took control, winning four frames in a row thanks to breaks of 55, 99, 128 and 101.

Ding pulled one back by edging a tight seventh frame only for O'Sullivan to hold a 5-3 lead after a fascinating afternoon session following a 116 break.

And the two-time world champion was unstoppable in the evening with a 96 break followed by a 65 clearance to snatch frame ten.

The Rocket was well on his way to his third Masters title, following his victories in 1995 and 2005, when he hammered home a 143 break in frame 11 and following runs of 48 and 49 in frame 12, Ding left the arena with his opponent consoling the visibly upset provisional world number five.

But things got no better for the youngster as O'Sullivan wrapped up victory in quick time before receiving the trophy from Steve Davis.

Ding, who appeared upset by remarks from a member of the audience, said: "I thought he had won the ninth frame of 17 and the match was over.

"It is very different to events like the China Open because the fans go in groups and I felt very alone here. I was a bit annoyed with the man's comments because I couldn't concentrate."

O'Sullivan said: "Ding is one of the rarest talents that I have seen and there is no doubt in my mind that he will become a multiple winner."

147 at 19 , Ding Junhui

Ding Junhui became the youngest player to score a maximum 147 break live on television on Sunday, beating the previous record set by Ronnie O'Sullivan by almost three years.

The Chinese player, aged 19 years and nine months, set the record as he swept aside fellow wildcard entry Anthony Hamilton 6-3 on the first day of the Masters Tournament.

There have been 27 other televised maximum breaks in the history of the sport, the first going back to 1982 when Briton Steve Davis achieved the feat.

"I didn't realise I was the youngest and I am very happy to go into the record books for the youngest scorer of a 147 break - I am feeling really special," Ding said.

"I felt the nerves on the last red to the middle pocket and the final black."

O'Sullivan scored his televised 147 at the world championships in 1997 when he was 22.

Source: Eurosport

Ronnie O'Sullivan is ready

The star met World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker on Wednesday to discuss his actions at York's Barbican Centre.

A spokesman for the governing body described as the meeting as "informal talks, not a disciplinary hearing".

And Walker told Five Live: "I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch with (Ronnie) today. He was relaxed and happy and I think is looking forward to doing as well as he can at the Masters.

"As chairman of World Snooker, I very much see Ronnie O'Sullivan as being an important part of the future."

O'Sullivan added another chapter to his controversial career by walking out while trailing 4-1 to Stephen Hendry in the UK Championship quarter-finals last month.

He later apologised through Doyle's 110sport Management company, but may still face disciplinary action by World Snooker.

Walker told Five Live he will write to the disciplinary committee on O'Sullivan's behalf.

More: BBCSport/snooker

Crucible highs and lows in 2006

It's been a rollercoaster ride of drama and emotion at this year's World Snooker Championship.

So we asked celebrities, fans and our users to pick out their highs, lows and their most memorable moments from the last two weeks at The Crucible.

Dennis Taylor, BBC commentator, at The Crucible

Simon Hickman, from Dudley, at The Crucible

Q-double-T-P from the 606 messageboards

Alex Ananstasiou, aged 14, Derby, at The Crucible

Sonny Varma, from Nottingham, at The Crucible

Wildsnooker_loopy from the 606 messageboards

Former England cricketer Jack Russell painting The Crucible stage

More on BBC/Snooker

WIN TICKETS

Worldsnooker.com has two pairs of tickets to give away to the final of the SAGA Insurance Masters.

Find out more here: WIN TICKETS TO THE SAGA INSURANCE MASTERS FINAL (free reg. req.)

The 2007 SAGA Insurance Masters Snooker

The 2007 SAGA Insurance Masters Snooker comes to Wembley Arena. Masters Snooker has been staged at Wembley since 1975 however after loosing its traditional home at the Conference Centre last year it makes the short journey across the road to Wembley Arena.

Last year’s tournament was a thrilling event with John Higgins finally winning the title in a dramatic 10-9 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan. The world’s top 16 players qualify automatically, including the likes of Higgins, O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty, Steve Davis and 888.com World Champion Graeme Dott.

However, this year the usual two wildcards are increased to three with the hugely popular Jimmy White being awarded one, Ding Junhui confirmed as the second and the third being Stuart Bingham.