Thursday, Semi-finals, Afternoon Snooker: World Championship

And welcome to cruise at all. Now we've really want it a team of

drops. We manage our brand-new name on that world famous trophy. -- we

might have. Excellent pot. We might have a new favourite for the

tournament. The world number one finishes in

style. It really has been a brilliant championship so far. The

quarterfinals did not disappoint last night either, because Marco Fu

almost blew a neat frame advantage in his match against Barry Hawkins.

Alan McManus had come from behind to beat John Higgins. Coming into the

night I thought, Win 3-1 in the first session and then take it from

there. Fascinating all Scottish battle. Has played is lovely, great

shot. What a shot. Alan McManus is just one frame behind. Lovely

credits to Alan, he played great. Looked like he was really enjoying

it at the end. Can you believe what you're seeing is that he is rolling

back the years and goes ahead of John Higgins, 12-11. One up with two

to play, I thought, right, I'll get a chance. John Mr red in the middle

and bagged six, I don't know how he missed it. Can you believe what

you've just seen? John cannot. This place can you make you crack and I

missed a couple of unforgivable balls in the last session. It was

criminal. McManus has won four frames in a row to knock out before

times champion John Higgins, gets himself into the semifinal for the

first time in 23 years. At the very end I thought I would be playing one

table tomorrow, which will be an enormous thrill. Barry Hawkins has

done so deep, if the cat cannot -- get off to good start there could be

some tension again. Started coming back with a strong and started to

cue the balls beautifully. The brick building of Barry Hawkins has been

out of the top drawer, he claws another one back. Now he only trails

by 10-9. It still was not coming easy but I felt better that like I

was up for the challenge more. I won a key frame to go, 11-9 instead of

ten each. Marco Fu dog as deep as he possibly could to keep a two frame

lead. Every I was one or two shots away from clinching it and could not

that ball under pressure. -- dug as deep. That is the easiest ball he

has missed in this match. Marco missed some unbelievable balls to

fishmeal. -- finish me off. You can miss anything when you're under

pressure. I fancied winning all Day long. Towards the end I was able to

make one of the best clearances of my life to get to the semis.

Fabulous game, standing ovation from this crowd. Marco Fu somehow found

something, the 30-11 Victor, one of the best matches I've ever seen.

Danty nitty-gritty of the Crucible, Yupeng sitting next your opponent

for the first three rounds and suddenly he's over there. Here I am!

It's a long way! Nice to see you. The first thing you notice is the

space. Cramped as to table and now you have so much space, you could

have a couple more rows. I'm not surprised they've not thought of

that. Don't give them any ideas. Seriously, an entirely different

persona. This is where it comes into its own, two gladiators with wooden

sticks smashing it other and for me this venue is superb. No blood and

guts, just a few mental scars. This table can be the best or worst place

for the players. What about the semifinals? Deng versus McManus,

both on qualifiers. Yes, their seventh match in the campaign and

balls are doing quite well considering, their freshers daisies,

Dean has had some more time but Alan McManus is like Peter Pan at the

moment. 300-1 shot at the side of the tournament, unbelievable so far.

Has been fantastic, great to see. Add in the practice room upstairs he

has been looking fresh and great and is up for it. And the semifinal? I

think whoever wins it is a great story, Mark Selby has come through

under the radar to some degree. For a world number one that is

astonishing. Yes, and Marco Fu, what a great story. Whoever wins, it will

be fascinating from now on in. The funny thing is, even though you've

got to this stage, you're only halfway through the number of frames

you need to win, you have to monitor and decline to be champion. Eight

sessions and come along way so far, that is lots of walking around and

quite a long distance from your chair to the table, so it can be

quite draining. A marathon of the mind. They think it's funny, it

isn't. The semifinals get underway the cycling with Ding Junhui taking

on Alan McManus. Both players had to qualify to get to the Crucible,

meaning their achievement in getting this -- to the semifinal is more

incredible. Adding a drop -- dropped out of the talks 16 and has not

three lead players along the way, that McManus started his playing --

campaign three weeks ago. We will have one qualifier in the final. I

will quantify manifests to enjoy it. Play hard and if I play well I will

give him plenty of problems and if I turn up and play my game I will be

happy regardless. Last time we played I played great, had also

lucky shots and had a hand in the match, this time it another chance

to go. He is just arriving, and all some player. When he is on song, he

probably has the best cue ball control on tour. He's coming into

form again and like myself came through quite strongly and

qualifying gave him a good foundation, in -- to come in. I'm

looking forward to playing him. He is a tough player to play. I've

played a few times and he beat me. I think we played a few times in PBC

and once at the Crucible. He has very good safety and put me under a

lot of pressure. Alan McManus, aged 45, makes the last four for the

first time since 1993. They've played each other for times. Dane

leads by 3-1, they played once at the World Championships back in

2013, when in Game one 10-5 in the first round. The Crucible is packed.

Good afternoon, what a match in prospect and what a story for the

two men waiting backstage. One rolling back the years in style, the

other carrying the old and expectations of a nation on a short

list. We cannot wait for this drama to start. Welcome to the semifinals

of this year prospect field World Snooker Championship. -- get freaked

to limit. Please welcome a man who produced

the most sensational story last night, beating John Higgins to book

his first Crucible semifinal for 23 years. He has become the oldest man

to make the one-table set-up here since Ray Reardon in 1985. What an

incredible fortnight for the man who takes it all! In his famous tartan

strides, he is the pride of Glasgow. Raise the Roof, here is Alan at the

Angles McManus. And his opponent, a player peaking

at just the right time. He came through qualifying and reminders us

all why he is an 11th time ranking event winner. This is his first

appearance in the semifinals for five years and an entire nation are

junior and live from back home, ladies and gentlemen, enter the

Chinese Dragon, Ding Junhui. MUSIC: Uptown Funk

by Mark Ronson feat Bruno Mars. Great noise inside this wonderful

arena. Two men who know what is going through the minds of Ding

Junhui and Alan McManus are Dennis Taylor and Stephen Hendry. Good

afternoon. Very good afternoon to everyone. This is when the Crucible

comes into its own. The one table. Thank you, cameras away now free two

please. The first frame. Alan McManus won the toss and he will get

this fresh semifinal underway, quite incredible after 23 years he is back

at the one table. -- first semifinal.

Amazing performance, John and Stephen were saying both of these

guys had incredible qualifiers. This is their seventh match in the World

Championship. I do think that some of the pressure

and expectation from China has been lifted being a qualifier, maybe that

pressure has not been as intense as in previous years. I watched him in

that Chinese tournament where he put himself out of the top 16, he was

under a huge amount of pressure, but here is in the semifinal with as

good a chance as ever to lift the title and be the first Asian player

to do so. There is a lot of snooker to be played before we have a

winner. They are both good tactical players.

Alan McManus against John Higgins, John missed some easy ones, but some

of our's tactical play opened the balls off to limit up as if to say,

do it, and if you cannot, I have the balls for it. -- I can get the balls

to do it. If we look at the tournament pot success, they are

both very close. You would expect Damon to be heavier

scorer. -- Ding. Alan has been knocking them in well.

Very close on their highest breaks as well. Straightaway has a lovely

angle if he wants to go straight into the pink. I think he has too,

not many loose threads available. -- loose reds. Did not quite get the

pink full on the face. It's the left-hand side of the pink, lucky to

avoid the corner pocket with the cue ball.

Good cueing, always test of the action on this type of shot into

these difficult middle pockets. Interesting to see how the table

plays, so much and so many problems at the start of the tournament, they

seems to get better in the quarterfinals. -- they seemed. They

always get to pick one of the tables to use in the semifinals but I think

everyone knows which one it was going to be this time. As we

mentioned, the arena changes completely when you get down to the

one-table situation, changes for the people watching at all because there

is no noise coming from the other table, when you're watching at home

can hear the applause and wonder why they are clapping, because it's not

for the table you're watching, it is the other table, but complete

silence now. Still have got a red to the right corner. No better place to

place and occur -- to play snooker. Everyone says we need to go

somewhere bigger, but it would not have this atmosphere.

It is a bit of a test now. He has not got on the black, long straight

blue. Every player when they turn professional, their ambition is to

become world champion and they want to do it at the Crucible. Long may

that continue, listening to Barry Hearn and Jason Ferguson speaking,

very little chance of moving away from Sheffield.

First test for Ding Junhui. The tricky thing if he cannot just

stunned the blue in because he will leave himself hampered by the blue

when it is re-spotted. He has to work the cue ball a bit. It makes it

more difficult. I don't know why he was bringing it

all the way to this question, but missed it by a long way. He took a

long time over this shot and in the end he did not even get it in the

jaws of the pocket. Luckily he did not get on his intended red. I can

only presume he was playing for the red. The left-centre. Could you? No

problem. Thank you. There was something on the cloth, maybe a

little fly. The perfect length of the safety

shot. Blue, pink and red are awkward there for coming down that side of

the table. Ding will have to make sure he gets a thin contact or he

will put them into one of those balls. He has hit it much too thin.

But nothing easy for Alan McManus here. Funny, in the match last night

he had a go at a fourball plant when they were congregated over the other

side of the table and misty fourball plant -- and he missed. The next

shot he knocked a three-ball plant in. That is why he is called Angles

McManus. You can see Alan just lifts his head

as he delivers the cue, it is something he has always done.

Probably has the longest pause in the game. Very deliberate style. You

can see the head, slightly, very unusual. Similar to Marco Fu, the

only two players that seem to do that. Another excellent safety shot,

using the cheque to straighten the ball up when it hit the back

cushion. APPLAUSE

Ding raises his hand to acknowledge that fluke. You would expect Alan to

get the better of these exchanges, if the frames go tactical it would

definitely favour Alan. I could not agree more. I think that

is why Ding will try and keep the ball is open and not get involved or

to tactical. Please make sure your phones are

switched off. The referee just telling the audience to make sure

your forms are switched off. -- your mobile phones. You do not get any

forms at the Masters golf, you aren't allowed to take a phone into

a cluster. -- into Augusta. It is confiscated if you have a mobile

phone. I'm talking about Augusta, Andy

Sullivan played in the Masters in the first time, three-time European

tour winner last season, very few players have done that in a season.

But Andy Sullivan is one of them. And two years ago, for a hole in one

he got a flight into space! I don't fancy that one.

This has turned into a good opportunity for Ding Junhui to win

this first frame. The side bar, 65 points. That is what he has got to

get to. You want to win it at this visit, and keep Allen in his seat.

Alan will not wanting to get into his scoring stride because he is an

excellent front runner. But it will not want to Ding. When he gets a

lead he just keeps scoring and scoring, as he has shown before. Big

first session. That is interesting, you talking

about scoring and scoring, he has made for seven centuries in his

career, Marco Fu is around the same number, not many players have made

over 400 centuries, the two of them from Asia.

Every chance you could have an all Asian final at this year APPLAUSE

World Championship. What a story that would be! But that

is a long way off. -- at this year 's World Championship. Ding has made

five and Alan has made three. The frame is safe now, and he will

win the opening frame with one visit. It was not a bad read to

start with. Very fortunate the way he got in for this visit. In this

match Ding will have to concentrate, he wants to make sure the pots and

off both to keep Alan in his seat because if we watch this fluke

again, Alan is so good for playing Ding is, he could have a 15 or 20

minute period at the end of frames. That could knock Ding out of his

rhythm. He has to keep Alan in his seat and cold.

Can he get between the pink and red to leave the possible last red for

the corner? Not bad. Very well played. A bit awkward, we'll have to

just roll the red in. Possible chance now. It is even more

difficult when he's straight on the black. Watch the white, spins right

up the table, pleaded beautifully. Very good shot.

There is nobody better than the man next to me at starting a match with

the century break, they always seem to do it. Doesn't matter if he has

snookered himself. 66 centuries this year, tried to bend it round, does

not matter. It started with a fluke, but everything else was absolutely

perfect. In John Wayne takes the opening frame in style with that

magnificent century break. In his 408 career centuries for Ding

Junhui, what a fantastic start. Brilliant, never really set us down

to get the first frame on the board, Alan hasn't had his hand on the

table yet. Redford in to get a great start and keep him cold. -- good for

Ding. In years gone by Ding has looked apprehensive because he has

had the weight of expectation on his shoulders and looks like a different

player now. He might have timed his performances to perfection this

week, who knows? Snooker is a cruel game, and Ding flute red, McManus

played a decent CV shot, that is how it goes. Things like that can

dictate how a session unfolds. -- safety shot. While it is early days,

if Ding gets his teeth into it, he can destroy a player very early on,

like he did with Mark Williams. It impressed me more than anything is

his attitude. Sometimes which team -- he has never looked like he

wanted to be here before. The pressure, the venue, and his

attitude has been great this time and working with Terry Griffiths has

helped him. Has that had a big effect? Yes, it must have. It's can

be, little bit like a football manager, change of plan. And

regardless of what is being said, Terry would be seeing wise words to

Ding. He has told in to calm down. Ding doesn't look like he gets

agitated but you would never know unless you in the dressing room.

I would think Terry is working with Ding more on the mental side rather

than messing with his cueing action. Never a good thing to do if you are

having good success. A couple of years ago, Ding won five ranking

events, and that was before Terry was with him. Terry would be well

aware not to tinker around with that cueing action. He certainly looks

more calm. Terry's son, Wayne, is working with

Marco Fu. Wayne Griffith has been out in Hong Kong for a fuel years

now, has an academy out there, following in his father's footsteps.

Terry's other son, Darren, is a golf professional who has just moved to

Portugal. Pretty good shot from Alan there.

Not easy to come off the side cushion and land in the pack echoes

of the red either side. That's why he's giving this a bit more thought.

-- in the pack because. Could still leave a pot here, despite coming off

two cushions. Don't think you can get through to the one for the right

middle. Or can he? No, he cannae. CHUCKLES

I like that, Stephen. Finished a little awkward here.

Before play today, the honours board, look at the name from 1986,

Joe Johnson. He arrived at the Crucible still smiling. Doesn't look

any different to when he beat Steve Davis 18-12. What a victory that

was. One of the nicest fellas you could wish to meet. He wanted to sit

in that seat before the start of play this afternoon.

At the moment, Ding is just getting the run of the balls. This is

awkward. Very difficult to strike the cue ball in the centre when you

are bridging down. Played a containing shot because of that.

He's left the red to the middle a little bit. The one to the left of

the pink. Send the cue ball up back to the baulk cushion. These matches,

they tend to even themselves out. Yeah, especially over three, four

sessions, it certainly does. I think some of the tournaments they play

these days, best of seven, luck can play a part. Now this is the first

chance Alan has had. He can take the red into the right-hand corner, stun

off the side cushion, get onto the black, and this would be a

confidence booster. He got on the black but was a long

way off the pot. It will take Alan a while to settle in after his epic

battle with John Higgins yesterday evening. Yes, but he played it in a

slightly negative way. Playing off two cushions. Normally in practice

you would stun of the side cushion but he knew he would leave a red to

the middle if you missed. There was an element of safety. Nice pot to

the middle! APPLAUSE We haven't really seen that through

the tournaments. He's been positive in the way he has played.

I think Ding, Ronnie and John Higgins are the three best

break-builders in the game. Always knows exactly when and how to

go into the bunch with the cannons. Always plays the right shot.

He will be looking for the angle on the blue this time. There is a red

up the other end of the table as well, but we know Ding will go into

the bunch the first chance he gets. He has hit back to thick! And I

thought he had missed. Has to play for the red now. Stun up and leave

the gap between the brown and yellow. That just went in-off the

right jaw as he looked at it. It's a brand-new cloth and cushions on

here. The pockets initially play a bit easier. I think they've been

playing easier the whole tournament, but that's a whole new argument,

Dennis. Certainly looking for an angle on the blue here. He has lost

the cue ball... Has he? Yes. That's the end of break.

He has tried to use the pocket, the circle area would be the only

possible way to get on a red. Can he bend that around the first red to

make the potting angle? I think he's going for it. I don't think he can

hit the cue ball clean to play the safety shot. What a shot this is, a

sign of how confident he is to try. This is far from easy, has to get

lots of right-hand side to swerve around the first red and straighten

up. Perfect picture. No. Didn't get enough on it.

almost missed the red because he had so much side on that and he hasn't

hit it hard enough. This is so tough now. Because if he wants to go into

the bunch, he has to raise the bottom of the cue into the air.

Definitely missable. Brilliant. This red next to the blue goes into the

left corner. See how positively he plays, cannoning the blue to leave

the options, as an element of safety about it.

And there is the element of safety. I always feel if you have that in

the back of your mind you never fully commit to the pot, don't give

it 100%. Alan is just a bit edgy to get the first frame on the board.

Obviously knows how dangerous an opponent he's got. The thing is, if

Ding Junhui cuts this in, Alan will be thinking he should have gone

full-blooded for the last one. And he has done.

The little flick on the yellow could have been better.

He's OK, you know. You can get past the blue. Looked like he would

snooker himself behind the brown. Can get through to the potting

angle. Great shot. To the right side of the

blue. He has just let the cue ball drift

again. Not a problem, he can still pot it, but to play for the black,

he has to go back up the table now. In potting this red he might disturb

another couple of them. Yeah, that's OK. When you are

playing the cannon, as Stephen suggested, not easy to control the

cue ball. But it's pretty good, near the cushion. At far enough away to

be comfortable. -- but far enough away. And now, a great chance to

take the second frame. Alan might be thinking of that red Stephen

suggested he should have gone full-blooded four, and had an

element of safety in his mind. He has to maybe just change how he's

thinking at the moment. Why not play the positive shot again? He played

it previously. Easier said than done. His first appearance in a

semifinal for more than 20 years. At the Crucible. He will be feeling it

out there, Alan, he will be desperate to get the first frame on

the board. Yeah, not easy to come straight out after a match like the

one he had against John Higgins. We saw it with Barry Hawkins after he

knocked Ronnie O'Sullivan out. A bit of a reaction there. And Barry had a

terrific fightback. But Alan needs to get in on the balls with a decent

chance, just to settle down here. 53 ahead, he only needs one more

red. You can see enough of the cue ball. The pink is a little bit

action, but shouldn't affect him. And that is frame number two. --

little bit of a distraction. He's looking good here, Stephen.

Yeah, looks very relaxed. You would have to say he's had the

run of the balls so far, but when he has got in, he looks like he will

clear the table every time. He started with a century. There is

every chance he could clear the remaining colours here.

Very early days in this semifinal, but the best possible start for this

very likeable Chinese player. Just over 17 minutes for this frame.

The first frame was just over 16 minutes.

APPLAUSE Well, you can't do much better than

that. Starting with a century break, following it up with a break of 84.

In general we leading Alan McManus 2-0. STUDIO: Ding going past the

thousand mark, 1072 balls potted in this Crucible event. Looking

fantastic. Hitting the ball beautifully when he's in. This one

was superb. He's had a high tariff of difficulty. Ding Junhui out of

position on the blue and he decides the only way to keep the break going

is to pot the blue, use the jaws of the middle pocket and screw back.

There was no danger in the shot, if you messed up, he could still go

safe, and even if he went in-off it would not trouble the frame. This

could be the Ding Junhui show if we are not careful this afternoon. The

cueing, the shot he plays, he gets so much work on the cue ball,

hitting through the middle of the white. Beautiful work on it, and it

comes back like it's on elastic. Chatting to Terry Griffiths say few

days ago in the players lounge, and he said Taiwan Mack decided to take

six months off to get his mind right. -- and said Ding. Does he

look like a different beast? If a player feels like that and it's the

best thing for him, then do it. There's nobody better than yourself

for knowing what you like. Working with Terry Griffiths. Stephen said

in commentary, there might be no pressure on him this year. Every

year in China there is pressure on him to win, but this year he came

through as a qualifier. It might be a big factor.

COMMENTATOR: Another big factor, Stephen, I think he has his own cue

back. The old one that the won five events with. He did swap, but he has

an original one back that's had a bit of work done to it. Being

comfortable with the cue is so important for a snooker player. It's

like an extension of your arm. It was like the cue you won seven

world titles with, Stephen. And then an airline company managed to break

it in four places when you were not allowed to take the queues on board.

You used to be, but it was put in the hold. It wasn't even an

expensive cue, but certainly expensive for you.

Yeah, it's a snooker player's worst nightmare. When you're cue breaks.

So close with that long red, Alan, and with the pace, he's left the red

over the pocket. Playing this with lots of right-hand side.

That cue ball has just left a lovely angle on the brown if he wants to go

one cushion and into the bunch. There it is. APPLAUSE

Fantastic shot. Yeah, well predicted, Stephen. And

he couldn't have hit it any better. When you are playing well, this is

the sort of thing that happens, a red over either corner pocket, and

deserved it. His heart must have been in his mouth there. I thought

he would lose the cue ball and end up touching the pink, but it stops

in time. When Alan is in his seat sometimes you can see him chatting

away to himself. Can't do much about this at the moment. Although he had

a half chance there. Steve Davis might not be far wrong, if Ding

Junhui carries on like this, it could be his show here this

afternoon. Yeah, he just scores so heavily,

that's his biggest asset. As we said, probably will not get

the best of the tactical exchanges, but when you are doing this, who

needs safety? Did you ever practice safety shots,

Stephen? Never. Just think, you could have won another seven world

titles if you'd been a good safety player as well!

One nice little cannon here and he would really opened things up. There

is one red he could cannon onto and it would be absolutely perfect.

Yeah, just a gentle cannon, or he can play at pace, and he will be

guaranteed to be on a couple of reds and it would really open up the

game. Didn't have to hit too hard. He's off and raining running again.

The only one I can think you missed, just came off the jaws of the

pocket. Since then, it's been immaculate. And such is his control

of the cue ball, you don't expect him to miss because he's not having

to play a difficult pot. 96% success so far. Hard to see him keeping it

that high in a best of 33, but if it's there or thereabouts, he will

be very hard to stop. He really does keep so still on the shot, Ding.

Doesn't matter how hard he hits the ball, the head keeps almost

perfectly still. Just potted the pink into the

left-hand side of the pocket, that's why he has just lost the cue ball is

likely. Might have to play a cannon for the pink to left middle here.

Screwing back for the pink to the same pocket. He has nudged the red

in the way. Amazing, half an inch out of position, and it can take you

a few shots to get it back. Would still expect him to pot this blue

but he knows in his mind, it's not the shot he should have been

playing. APPLAUSE

The blue safely negotiated. He has another medium-range pot on this

red. Right in the centre of the pocket.

That's when you can tell a player is doing well. Sometimes they go in-off

the angles, but when you are playing really well, they go right in the

heart of the pocket. Doesn't play many roles through

shots. Likes to play a stun. APPLAUSE

The round of applause telling you the frame has been won. Certainly

wouldn't bet against another century.

Well, the table looks to be playing absolutely beautifully. Well, it is

for one player at the moment. Alan, he's not sure how the table is

playing, because he hasn't had a chance. Sat in his chair, far too

experienced to be panicking at this stage. But he will be worried a

little bit. Because when you're opponent is at the table making

sentries every time, you wonder, what can I do to stop this?

This is all looking very, very easy. It's like a practice session at the

moment for Ding Junhui. There are a few players in the game who can do

that, take out their practice game to the match arena, and he's one of

them. APPLAUSE Magnificent stuff from this Chinese

sensation. Tonne up. That's his seventh, and he's now the

frontrunner, overtaking John Higgins, who had six.

One more frame to be played before the mid-session interval. We say a

player never settles until he gets his first frame on the board. Alan

will be doing his utmost to try to take that frame, but will he get the

chance? And amazing start from Ding Junhui.

Has had to century breaks and an 84 and Leeds Alan McManus 3-0. It is

tough out there at the moment. Make that 409 career centuries for him.

If you wonder where he is in the practice room and has picked

something up for us. Good afternoon. Ding is in imperious form and also,

he played one shot, look at this. Set them up for the wonderful

century break of receipt he is in a confident mood, what a beautiful

split on the reds from the brown. From the initial position, lots of

players on the brown, had an open red, some players like to go in the

blue but had I wonderful angle of the brown so instead of tracking the

loose red getting on a good smashing the pack, he's feeling good, smashes

the pack open and the red goes over to the left pocket and over the

right pocket, beautiful, set up the century. Are you watching Mark

Selby? Mark Selby in the practice room, we get access to that room,

we've seen in-off a lot of the Ding Junhui this year. That was a takes

seven, I bet he missed six browns before he did that. That is the best

I've ever seen him in a Demel. I'm overawed. More overawed with Ding,

he looks like a machine. It will be tough. Very early in his semifinal

for McManus but it is damage limitation for the rest of the

session and he has really had his hand at the table. Did he not get

the pink shirt memo that did you not get the pink shirt memo today? Thank

you! People -- fourth frame. Ding Junhui to break. I think Steve

Davies has been wearing some lovely shirts at this year APPLAUSE

World Championship, for a change. -- at this year's. Alan McManus

somehow has to try and get himself a chance.

It would not be a bad thing just to have attacked goal frame to perhaps

not Ding out of his stride. Noes a tactical. Look at the success rate,

it's gone to 97 and we've had three frames. 131 four Alan McManus,

eight, but he hasn't had a chance. He is left with a shot, we were

clocking about it and one of the best shots in the match was a red

similar to this from the top end of the table into the middle pocket,

Allen said it was one of the best shots he played the match. He is

looking at the two reds banged the pink -- behind. They're going to the

left of the pocket and I don't think he can make it from there. It would

squeeze the second red away from the pocket rather than into which, but

maybe he can squeeze this one. He would need date it a very thin. He

is refusing the one in the middle and will scatter everything, taking

this plant on. To me, that club was not on.

Strange choice, but I'm surprised he didn't just try and roll the rate in

and get on the blue. It was certainly a risky shot. You have to

give him the benefit of the doubt, he thought it was a certainty. When

you've been and called for three frames, striking the cue ball at

that distance where you're aiming becomes difficult. I agree with the

straightforward red was probably the shot. Looks amused by what is

happening at the moment. -- per amused. -- per amused -- bermused.

The plant he took an opened all the game up and as we show you this,

very nice of red. Ding Junhui is in straightaway with a decent

opportunity. Another example of how he's getting

another lovely run of the balls. On another Day that cannon could have

blocked the black. Still available to the left, possibly to the right.

When you are struggling little things go wrong. It is amazing, he

played the cannon and it didn't tie anything up. As he flicks the red,

it knocks the other red and when things are not going well, you will

tie black up. But it is not the perfect angle to

roll the same. He might catch the other red slightly. But not a

problem. What a position he has the reds in.

Doesn't need to move the tube or any distance at all. Just keep potting

them, you are bound to be an red. -- to move the cue ball. He was warming

up, this is how he would have them. You mentioned earlier about these

little screw shops, this is the perfect example. It all looks so

easy. But it takes years of practice to perfect.

Did not quite get the white as far as he wanted. Might need a change of

plan. The pink goes into the left corner, so it wasn't imperative he

stayed on the black. He is looking for 71 to give himself all four

frames in this first session. I'm sure Alan, well, he's got to

head straight to the practice room because he has not had any practice

here, that is for sure. If we go back to the previous frames when he

played those middle-distance parts and screen back for safety to take

on such an attacking shot like in this frame, seems contradicted the

way he was going to Dott -- the way he was going before. This session

for McManus, just get out of it what you can.

Is it a reprieve? Looking at Ding Junhui's face as he walked around, I

think he is just OK. He can get in-off the right

jaw. From our position it looks like there is plenty of room and as if he

can force it to get onto the black. He can just roll it. Hang on. Seems

to be plenty of room. And a big cheer from the Crucible crowd as we

show you that shot where he sent the red onto the other red. If the red

wasn't there it would have been in the middle of the pocket, but he

needed to put it off the left-hand side. Now, Allen with a chance.

Nothing is easy at the moment, the way he is feeling. He will be very

tense and very tight. He got a lot of encouragement from

the crowd there as he came to the table.

The obvious problem in making this a frame-winning chance is that red on

the left cushion. Might not be thinking about that just now, to get

back in the frame, pop some balls -- pot some balls and get your arm

moving. That is a sign of tension, the black did not go in the middle

of the pocket and he missed the cannon. Still on this bread. --

still on this red. Tries to skew -- screw the cue ball

back, he might play for the blue to avoid leaving himself awkward in the

red closest to the right middle. I don't expect it to cause much of a

problem. He could do without the distraction.

You are absolutely right. It is a little awkward, but did not have a

great deal to do with the cue ball. It is a very early in this

semifinal, but this is a key frame from Alan's point of view.

He finished awkward again. I still expected him to part of that but he

had to force it to get position. Each time he was having to bridge

over balls, and he got a bit of the right-hand side that was unwanted

and it threw the ball off line. Just was not able to have the cue ball

under complete control on a break. That is purely a sign of tension.

Let's see, from this angle you cannot see if he has got bit of size

that he did not intend. When you're striking down on the cue ball like

that it can happen. I have just detected there, just as

he delivered the cue he is slightly right of centre.

If he decelerates on the way through, that is what will happen.

They will be a lawful lots to think about in the mid-session -- Allen

will have a lot to think about in the mid-session break and what he

wants to think about is a positive thoughts on how he played with John

Higgins and will work to forget these four frames quickly. He is

going to be behind. It is damage limitation. The difference between

losing 6-2 or 5-3. It could be massive in the context of the match.

Even 6-2 and 7-1 could mean a lot. He still wants to put them all, even

though we are going to the mid-session interval. Just over one

hour for these first four frames. As Steve Davies said, the moment it

is the Ding Junhui show. Maybe interval can change things around.

Allen had no chance in the three opening frames, the only chance on

that one, and he made a mess bridging over the pink and Ding

Junhui, well, he is playing superbly well. He takes all four frames and

Leeds 4-0. Solid style by Ding Junhui, he joked on Tuesday night

that after eating Mark Williams that he did not win the slick with a

session to spare so here it looks like you can have a Day off and it

looks like that headspace has worked a tree full Shaun Murphy won the

first three frames of his semifinal against Barry Hawkins and went on to

win the match and reach the final. It goes to show you need a really

good start in the semifinal like this. Myself and Steve were cocky

about the fluke in the first frame. It sounds ridiculous to say the

distance they will play over but the first frame is important. Noes were

speaking about. Even in the second frame he got luck and lost position

which could just squeeze past the red and potted the great red we

spoke about. He has capitalised on his before urging early on but looks

so clinical you can see this ending with a session to spare. I don't

know how McManus can dig himself out of the hole because he tried to but

he hasn't had any table time, he has got a goodly practice table and

tried kick-start things today. I know we laughed about Ding Junhui

finishing the match with Mike Williams was one session to spare

and he said I'm looking forward to having a Day off, cannot have a

massive effect when you're about to play one of the biggest matches of

your life? I think it can, you will want breathing space. You must have

had sessions which you want to spare. Wonderful when you do it, you

feel like you are one up on your opponent because you're fresh and it

is draining. The year I won the championship, I won one as a session

to spare but I got the best team talk ever, so I went racing the next

Day. The rub is that OK, I'm not sure how the sessions planned out,

I'm not sure if Dean would finish in the afternoon on the Saturday, but

if he was to win without having to play that last session he would get

all of Saturday off in preparation for the final. That is how important

it could be. There's lots of ifs. We have seen intervals that have

changed managers and people come back and Allen has got to get to

frames of the next four, at least a 6- did get a foothold in and at

least John Higgins and Ali Carter, he was behind in both of those

comeback to win them. One of the big problems is doing is one of the best

front runners there is. You use the words Billy but when he is on the

table it is all him. He is clinical. How you turn around it is clinical.

He needs some chances and a few mistakes from Ding at the base of

help. Thank you both. The players will be out shortly. In the

meantime, let's have some fun in the interval. We would love to hear from

you on today's UI. -- cue I. Hello, it's time for our daily dose of smog

related fun. I celebrity cue is including Alan and Steve are all set

for today's question. I trust you are as well. Rats, owls and

aardvarks all suffer from daunting is that is what is it and why might

that be tricky? Get involved in social media and I shall return.

Thank you to Mr Stephen Fry. Get in touch with us and use the hashtag

BBC snooker. Weeping having fun over the last 15 days with our wonderful

pop quiz. Is have been. Today our Vic Tim, I mean,

contestant is 11 times ladies world champion, Rhiannon Evans. Thank you.

-- are a victim. In case you don't know the rules, five questions,

every one you get right you can take a read of the table, then you put

all the reds and finish with the black and to let you know and the

crowd know that Rhiannon is sporting an injury. What happened? I sprained

my ankle. No interesting story. A good excuse for getting the lowest

time and making me feel better with two minutes 11 seconds? It should

not make you feel better. One minute is the best time I Mark Allen. Who

was runner-up to Alison Fisher in the ladies Snooker World

Championship the year you were born, 1985? Stacey. Stacey Hilliard,

correct. You played in the prequalifying round of this season's

event in Gibraltar. Who went on to win the title? Did you take an

interest after you lost that stop I went home. I have no idea. Marco Fu?

Where did that come from? Correct. It is on his green in front of me.

You came close to beating Ken Doherty in the qualifying rounds

last year in the World Championship. What was the score? 10-8. That is

not the question. Who was the referee? My life... It is so hard

sometimes. You do not notice a good referee is there. No idea. Tatiana

Woollaston. Tatiana! Who won the ladies World Championship under 20

wonderment earlier this month. Joanna Shute. The sharper Sanjiv.

The Indian girl! She must have been playing the same time.

Multiple-choice. Vera Selby, who won the first ever women's World

Championship, she won it in what city? It is a multiple-choice

question, so the whole, Brixham, Middlesbrough or London? Michelle?

Crowd? Solihull. Middlesbrough. Even with help! You can take to the reds.

It is not the world. And your time starts when you strike the cue ball.

We are off and running, nice first read. Very fluent amongst the bowls.

The art of this is making sure you get the cue ball under control and

not walking too far, especially with a limp today. This is very good so

far. A little bit! A bit of Ronnie O'Sullivan, switching hands at the

top of a hat. Things are going very well. Time so far is very good. 40

seconds so far. Back for the red in the middle, gone a little far but

still controlling it. Has not even talk show cue, there is the first

mistake. That will be difficult to beat one minute now. Two minutes 11

seconds. That is looking we are on one minutes now. Plenty of time. Ken

Doherty. He was at one minute 55. And now

just the black. This is a good score. A good time! 130, and that

will be time. The time is one minute 34, putting you above Kyren Wilson

but job -- below John Parrott. Congratulations. That was all about

getting reds. Let's throw to another red, to Ken Doherty. Thank you, I'm

in the practice room, we've had lots of e-mails about the break off,

which has become very important these days because so many good

players are so good at the long pot. With a conventional break off you

are always wary of the bottom to reds, this one which sometimes comes

and lands in this position or sometimes this rare here, which

lands in this position, leaving your opponent with a possible break to

pot, however Darren Hindley from Lancashire has asked why don't

players break off from this position, cue ball as close to the

green as possible, try and break off between the blue and pink is try and

use the right-hand side to bring it around the ankles. The problem with

this is that you have less of a target to hit and what happens when

you're breaking off from here, you got to hit this red, and it is

sometimes more difficult. We will try it now, lots of right-hand side.

That wasn't too bad. And it's brought plenty of reds into play. It

might be the new break, well done. There you go. Thank you, any views

on breaking off? Did he hit the pink? You got to catch it quite

accurately. I think that break was first played by Steve James in the

90s, he did it for a while. It puts your opponent in lots of trouble

sometimes but every cable breaks differently, and no two referees set

the balls up exactly the same. A lot of ex-factors in that. Let's tell

you about a wonderful programme on BBC radio six music that is to

refit. We did this last year. It is on Monday at 9pm on six music.

Terrific programme and what they will do is they will use a song

title or band with a red in followed by a black and all of the colours.

Weeping asking the players for their suggestions. 99 red balloons. Read

by Daniel Merriweather. Yellow, yellow. Coldplay, yellow. Earl

Green, I like him. Pretty green eyes by Ultra beet. That is a little bit

more modern. James brown. Brown eyed girl. Golden brown. California blue.

Blue suede shoes. Blue dabber di dabber die. Pretty in pink. Pink, I

went to see her in concert, and she was... Nice. Black and Gold, Sam

Smith. The black album, was there a black album?

None of them mentioned shaking Stevens, Green door. Showing my age!

One track that reminds me of being on holiday, Blue by simply red,

lovely. Yellow, a six twin, the Richard Dean James album.

Aphex Twin. We are asking you what Mark Williams and an aardvark have

in common. They are both sufferers from Daltonism. What is that? I have

no idea. The fear of watching Timothy in movies. He wasn't a very

good James Bond! Can't let go of the cue? What's that called? Can't let

go of the cue itis. It never really caught on as a name. It is like the

yips? It could be colour-blind. Peter Ebdon and Mark Williams,

sometimes they have to ask the referee if a brown get s moved up

towards the reds. Let's go for colour blindness. Funnily enough, if

you were watching television of mine in the Hotel room, there is no brown

on the table. There are 16 reds. It wouldn't be colour blindness, would

it? Peter Ebdon has that. That would make sense. I think we would have to

say colour blindness. I think it might be something to do with the

nervous system. I don't know, but colour blindness seems the obvious

one. BELL Let's go with that. We know the

popularity of snooker rocketed in the 1970s with the advent of colour

television. But when not all households had colour TV sets, and

it was once said in commentary, from those of you watching in

black-and-white, the pink is next to the green. Daltonism is colour

blindness, discovered by John Dalton in the 1700s. He inadvertently

bought his mother a pair of racy stockings for her birthday, and they

were bright scarlet, an act that scandalised his deeply Quaker

family. Dalton thought they were blue. The red - green variety is

predominantly a genetic condition inherited from your mother, and it

affects one in 12 men, including at least three of the top players in

the snooker, Mark Allen, and two world champions, Peter Ebdon and

Mark Williams. That it doesn't seem to have held them back! Mark

realised he was colour-blind as a youngster, and wasn't sure whether

it was a red man or Green man on traffic lights until he was hit by a

purple bus! He says that he's had to learn a sequence of what the balls

lookalike to me, and work it out from there. After the grey, red,

orange, yellow, page, chocolate, lilac and back. That's how he sees

it. I fear a rather different version of snooker loopy is on the

way. We have learned an awful lot over

the last week. Well done to Aaron Wood, Chris Smedley, Esther Aubry

and Samantha Remund, all four of you among the many of you getting it

right. I assume you didn't use an Internet search engine. I trust you.

What's the problem with Timothy Dalton? One of the best James Bond

films of all time. The Living Daylights. It's not that bad, but

Daniel Craig takes a bit of beating. Who will scare the living daylights

out of Alan McManus? How important is this frame? Massive. He needs to

get a foothold in this match. Actor Dennis Taylor and Stephen Hendry.

COMMENTATOR: It's all very interesting. I love Stephen Fry,

he's brilliant. A foothold in the match, he just wants a frame on the

board. That's what Alan McManus is looking for.

Played with lots of side there, didn't want to career into the red

's. Very interesting at the interval,

mentioned Alan should go to the practice table, but Ding Junhui went

as well. Wouldn't have thought he wanted practice, but he doesn't want

to interrupt that rhythm at all. A typical example, when you are

struggling a little bit, you always catch the baulk colour with your

safety shot. When you are playing well you always seem to slide past

and finish on the cushion. The brown is a good target to get behind. Ding

will not want to push the boat out. He will carry on playing. I don't

know if he wants to try to quit this in again with side. Exactly the same

shot as he played previously. What he could do with Alan here is

just a good old grinding frame. There was a player up in the

Champion's lounge who was pretty good at that. Cliff Thorburn has

arrived with Alan Robidoux. Great to see both of those players over from

Canada. And that's a pretty good shot from Alan McManus.

That's telling you what he was thinking about, quickly changed his

mind. Was going to have a go at the red down the right-hand side, but he

will nestle onto the two reds near the cushion.

A little bit narrow, doesn't quite reach. Foul and a miss, Alan McManus

four. Alan Cumming to the table. Quickly backed away. -- Alan, coming

to the table. As long as Ding members the path to the cue ball,

with a bit more pace, you will be safe. -- remembers the path.

That's a better pace. In fact, it is coming narrow. Foul and a miss, Alan

McManus, four. Alan will have a good look this time, but everything is

safe. I think what Alan is hoping would happen, if he hits the first

red in such a way, it might leave on a possible pot. Ding doesn't have to

play the same shot, the first shot he looked at was to try to pot the

red down the right-hand side of the table. Maybe get on the black. He's

got to hit it this time, otherwise he loses the frame. Three misses and

you are out. One of these days it will happen where the player miscues

on the third attempt. APPLAUSE

Well, he was forced into it. It was the first shot he thought about, and

then he thought to play safe. He had two attempts, then had to hit a red.

Look what he does. You don't see them any better than that. Yeah,

excellent cueing from underneath the baulk cushion.

Just dropping the black in, automatically on the red into the

right-hand corner. What a sickener for Alan McManus,

Dennis, wasn't it? What's the old saying, it never rains, but it

pours. All depends on how many he makes from this.

That's not as planned, played the cue ball to get through the gap to

the red to the left corner. Now it looks I could will be the red to the

far left corner pocket, the yellow pocket. If he can screw the cue ball

back for the black, should he miss, you will not leave anything.

He might even take it onto the left middle. No, left corner. APPLAUSE

I think there's quite a few of those reds available. There's at least

three available after this one. Yeah, perfect on the black, so he

can come back past whether White is at the moment and he will have the

choice of reds. We'll probably see that when he's down potting the

black. And there you can see them, three of them lined up. In fact,

when he... Could have done with another couple of inches. Might have

to play for the pink now. As he removes this, it's clearing the path

for another read into the opposite corner. -- another red.

Is there enough room for the pink? If not, it will have to be the brown

spot, the highest available. In fact, the only spot available at the

moment. Hit that a little bit harder than

intended, but no problem. On another day, if you are struggling, that

white wood, another inch or so and it would be awkward. But having

missed the escaped twice, he decided he might as will take on the pot.

And what a pot it was. Looks like it will be a frame-winner. 89% long pot

success. Alan has only had a go at two long pots and missed both of

them. In between yellow and pink with left-hand side, come off two

cushions. The cue ball needed to be closer to the pink. That's why the

cue ball has come to the middle of the table. This is now a tricky shot

to go on to the black. There is a chance he could get on

the black here. If he screws this in. Would go near the left corner

pocket, but could come onto the black through a couple of cushions.

Rolled it in, and perfect. I say perfect, as we show you the shot

again, I think he's just the correct side of the blue. Yes.

It just looks inevitable when he gets in, that another frame will be

over. APPLAUSE John Pulman, seven times world

champion and BBC commentator used to say when somebody was like this,

"He's playing like a symphony or guest out there".

This will be his third century in this semifinal. Eight in this year's

World Championships. He's a potting machine. Doesn't matter about the

red. He's unstoppable at the moment, is Ding Junhui. He takes another

frame with a century break. It's now 4-0. In fact, it's 5-0! Absolutely

amazing. He first thought about taking the shots down the right side

of the table, then thought to keep it tight and come off the side

cushion. The first attempt was so close, Stephen. Yeah, eventually

parted the red and I was surprised he didn't go for it it in the first

place. -- potted the red. Hit this one a bit harder, and it took a

slightly different angle, missing by a long way. Covered his eyes, what

have I done?! And that was probably the best shot of the match, without

a doubt. Not only potted it, but got on the black and made the century.

You have to say, from then on it looked inevitable that he would win

the frame. It's also easy for Ding Junhui at

the moment, under no pressure whatsoever from his opponent. Having

a lovely time, coming to the table and making century breaks.

Believe it or not, as Ding Junhui breaks off, it's his 100th frame in

this year's World Championship, including the three qualifying

rounds he had to win to get here. Alan McManus has played 114 frames,

but he still looks fresh. It's just that he can't get in on the balls.

-- in a among the balls. It's amazing the difference a Day

makes. Well, he got a flick on the red, but

Alan can take this red on to the right-hand corner. It's a bit of a

free shot and he's being urged on by this Crucible crowd. Many Ding

Junhui supporters in here, but they are a fair crowd and don't want to

see everything one side. They would love to see Alan get started and

this might be the one to get him going.

Excellent pot, and played at an excellent pace. Could easily have

rattled in the jaws of the pocket and stayed there.

That's OK. I thought he was taking a slight risk going into the bunch

there because he didn't have the best angle, but he will be delighted

with the outcome. The red above the black at the

bottom of the bunch goes to the left corner. You will have to play this

with a touch of left side to get the cue ball to the right-hand side of

the table. It's quite it have shot, he could go into the bunch. Yellow

McKee could do, the first shot was aggressive of the black. He has

played the one inside shot, and that was well hit. He could do. Well hit

shot. Might even be one to the left of the pink.

I think you will go into the bunch this time. No, you will screw off

two cushions for the reds I was talking about into the left corner.

The one on the right is definitely available.

He's looking at this red now in the bunch... He's gone back, that would

have been an aggressive shot to open up the reds. Changed his mind again.

He had options on three reds there. I think just a bit of adrenaline

kicked in. Played for the blue but has the baulk colour is available

for him. I think he's just OK. Wants to be

fairly straight on this. He thought he had missed that one.

Went in-off the jaw, and back in prime position again. The red

touches the left jaw as we look at it. Perfect angle on the black this

time. Having a look at the bunch. Not a good pack to go into if he

screws it. Better stunning into it. And he has played that screw shot

and is nothing. Got more screw than stun there.

It wasn't the easiest pack to go into directly from the black. Debtor

being high on the black and using the cushion. -- better being.

Little bit of an awkward frame with that red over the middle pocket. The

safety zone is back behind the black and close to the cushion.

That's pretty good. Might be forced into taking a tough pot on here.

Because there's nowhere you can get back with the cue ball near the

cushion. But there are a couple of possible cuts. He's looking at the

one into the right middle pocket. Not quite a big pocket, I don't

think it will go in-off the red close to the pocket, that it's a

very thin one. Also a very thin one, if he can see enough of it, to the

left middle pocket. Well played. But he hasn't dropped

nicely on a colour. Put everything on the pot, and hoped he would have

a bit of luck with positioning. This time he hasn't.

Just thinking if he rolled to the yellow all the brown. He can snooker

him on that red on the pocket. I think he has left a path through to

this one. I wonder if he tries to flick it away. I thought that even

using big yellow, to cue behind the brown. I think the better option.

He did try to knock the red away. You see that lovely smile that he

has that you see now and again. Slight movement up and down, someone

in the first few rows. Of course, the crowd are further away from the

table now when you have got two tables, if you are striking from the

cushion people on the front row could almost grab your cue. Not now,

plenty of room around the table. And it makes it much easier, and the

cameraman can get around, two tables, fantastic job with very

little room and now plenty of room in the Crucible. Every player's

ambition is to play a one-table situation. It is amazing, a lot of

great players have never managed to play at a one-table situation at the

Crucible. He will be feeling a little bit

better now, will Alan. 64 ahead. Sorry, he only needs this red.

APPLAUSE So Alan McManus's semifinal has at

last got underway. Well, did he catch that? A little

trick catch. He is 71 in front with 59 on the table. He got an awkward

kiss, there. He has changed his mind, he didn't catch it.

Backhanded. James coming back to the table, but

the final snooker and Alan McManus has got a frame on the board.

Alan knocking this long read in to make absolutely certain.

Being will be trying to get three reds and three

blacks, and the snooker that is needed. The pink, just, might

eventually, mean he needs an extra snooker.

Little surprises carrying on, it is four snookers at the moment that is

required. I can't think of many more difficult

opponents in the game to get for snookers against and Alan McManus.

Angles, as he is known. Especially the way that thing is scoring,

scoring heavily, just get on with the next frame. Showing how

determined he is. He is not letting McManus have the frames easily.

That is the first snooker, Alan just has too be careful, that he does not

leave a free ball. It is not a bad opening snooker. If he misses the

red and hits it with any pace, he will have a free ball. If he plays

it softly and misses the red, he will leave a chance to get the

snooker behind the yellow again. Let us see if he can live up to his

nickname, angles. Foul, Ding Junhui four. He made sure

that he did not leave a free ball. He had a great shot Pharaoh for the

long pause, that Alan McManus had in the free delivery is of the cue.

Just watch, as he pulls the cue back, and he stops and then through.

I suppose there is a joke there somewhere, why the long pause?

I'm with you Stephen, the way that Dean was playing, I would not have

wanted a tactical battle, to knock yourself out of a rhythm. That is

what is happening at the moment. That was a thunderous kick but it

might have worked to his advantage. He has got the snooker, and a big

smile. They are talking about the cushion, and how that bounce, yes,

an explosion, Alan. Sometimes Alan is very animated.

He might pop this, Alan. He might pot this.

Not quite. How would you describe a kick if you asked Alan McManus to

describe a kick? Alan is going to describe, that is

what a kick is and I have never seen it quite described like that before.

Well done, Alan. APPLAUSE Well, he is having a little whistle

to himself Alan, he has got a frame on the board. Doesn't matter about

missing the green. He has had to wait an awful long time, but at

last, Alan McManus has got the frame on the board that he has been

looking for but he still trails 5-1. STUDIO: Relief all round in the

theatre 14 McManus? Delighted to get the first frame on the board, two

very big frames coming up and if he could win one of those it would be

great. There was a funny shot Steve, it is interesting, you are playing a

shot like this, doing is trying to get a snooker and he's trying to

flick the red away with a brown and it is amazing when you think there

are two parts of it hammy times you don't get one of them right. As long

as he gets the cue tight yellow, but because he's trying to do things? He

had a couple of options for shots, he tried to play a very aggressive

snooker, he could have rolled in behind the ground, but he was

worried that Alan McManus, potting into a pocket. He needs a bit of

help as we said earlier. A couple more things going awry like that and

you never know, whether you could get up a session 5-3. Interesting to

hear the boys in commentary, talking about going for a couple of

snookers. What is your view, would you almost conceded the frame and

crack on? The one thing about doing, is scoring, I would have said OK pal

that is enough. Some players you might think you might have a chance

with but not Alan McManus, you won't get for snookers against him.

Allen gets frame seven underway. A good length of the cue ball for the

length of, but it has not covered the reds.

He is a bit concerned about knocking a red over the left corner if he

plays off the pack. Off the side cushion.

Touching ball would help Alan's cause here.

The referee saying that it is touching ball, one of the top

referees now from Belgium. A very good one as well, and he is a

nurse, he manages to get time off to referee some of the major events.

Very likeable man. Well of course, he is a good friend

of the young Belgian player, that didn't qualify this year, but we

have seen him over the last couple of seasons, one to watch is Luca.

Interesting to see if he plays a positive safety shot around the

angles, opens it up. No, it is more of a containing safety shot. I was

talking early in the match, it is a great length, against John Higgins

he was playing it totally different. Opening the reds up, this time he is

trying to keep them tighter. He is a very, very clever matchplay

Alan McManus, and you could probably sense that he could put John under

pressure like that. In, I think the last thing that he wanted to do was

get the reds in the open. Much too thick. There is a red for

the right corner, the only problem for Alan, is it is going to be

awkward because he has cannoned the red behind the black bear. As he put

the eggs in the basket, hoping that he gets a good cannon on the red and

possibly finishes on the black. He could stun it in, and finds the gap.

That is what he is attempting, finishing on the blue, or the

colour. He hit it too thin, didn't intend to cannon the red. Where is

this red going to finish? Very awkward frame now. There is a

possible pot to the left corner, and the way that he is lining himself

up, he will take it on. What a shot this would be. Maybe not. The way he

got down, I thought he would immediately have a go at it but he

knew if he had a tubal there, that red was not cuttable. I'm just

wondering Steve, do you think he can possibly take one into the middle

pocket into the black as a free shot? As I said earlier players very

rarely get the cue ball team to play a safety shot. He is taking this

read on. Simulating the cue ball, close to the bunch.

He could have left something a bit easier, this, having to bridge over

the bunch. The reds almost straight, that is awkward.

Very difficult to control the cue ball from that position.

Well, a great pot. As we show you it again, and the white bouncing all

over the table. Does this read, go between the dots reds. -- the other

two reds. It might, look at that for a gap and he has found it! A couple

of fabulous pots from Alan McManus. It is going to make him feel much

better. The crowd urged that all of the way,

they thought he had not hit it hard enough. As a player, you know this

will be going, don't you? He has kept that rest because if he

takes it away and just catches the blue, it is a foul. You cannot leave

it there, Alan. That was a bit tricky. And look how close it is to

the red as well. LAUGHTER APPLAUSE

Do you know Stephen, the great Fred Davis, ten times champion of the

world, he would have expected the referee to take it away!

That is one for the rules, could you ask the referee, you have played the

shot, could you ask in to remove the rest? We will have to find out after

this session. Oh dear, Alan, Alan, he missed that by a mile. That was a

very poor strike. Again, that is massive to separation, delivering

the cue there. -- massive deceleration.

Things just going off the boil a little bit. In that ten minutes that

he wasted, going for snookers in the last frame, it has not affected his

rhythm. A little birdie has whispered in my ear, that players

responsible for taking the rest away but I remember back in the old days,

Fred used to leave the rest there, and the referee used to lift it off

the table. It's just got an extra little flick,

that red which has left it cuttable. Well, has he blocked the pocket?

That might be the end of the break? That would have happened in the

first four frames, on the yellow and the brown. Off the green hand in

behind the blue seems to be the only shot here. Well he has got plenty of

other shots part he wouldn't mind putting the cue ball behind the

blue. It looks natural from the green.

Look where the black has gone. Slip up from Dean, the blue is over the

pocket but he has pushed the black into the bunch. Alan will settle for

any sort of chance. Can he pot this read, get an angle on the blue and

then somehow, get up into the bunch? He might be able to, I think that he

can miss the brown here. Take it back up to the reds. There is one

thereat the back. A little bunch of reds and pinks and black. As long as

he does not cannon the brown, he can drop on that. And a couple of others

are available. Has long as he misses the brown. And he hasn't. Still a

possible one to the right of the black spot. Which should have been

better. Very unlucky. Opens the reds and the

black up, but it has not finished nicely on a red, and unfortunate

affair. This is quite a thin one. Not as thin as I thought. Another

one in-off the jaw of the pocket. It seemed to run straight, I thought

it was in initially, but... If you touch the jar, this is what happens.

You hit both of the jars, it was the little cannon that he played on the

pink, that went slightly straight. APPLAUSE

He's given himself a good telling off there.

That meant that he could not control the cue ball. As well.

Long on the right-hand side... That caused the White to finish up where

it has. Now then! No rhythm to that short.

Just going back to read, as we mentioned, the time when you did,

what was he doing playing for four sneakers? He's lost some rhythm.

That did not help, when he was messing around. He should have just

got on with it. He is going to win this match by playing to his

strengths, not by trying to outfox McManus in the safety Department.

Concentrating his own strength, winning the frames in one visit, if

he gets dragged into a tactical battle, what can go wrong?

He can win this frame without having to play any cannons.

These three reds are in pretty good shape. He might be able to get on

the one that is nearest the pocket from here, that will free the other

one for the same pocket. Just make sure that you do not Snooker

yourself, if you will pay for that one -- play for that one.

He just needs one more rate, then he has his second frame on the board --

one more red. Just two hours and counting, McManus

will be a lot happier than we are looking at now. It does not matter

what happens, Ding Junhui will stay in his seat this time.

Alan McManus with his highest break of the match so far, that break of

46. It gives him a second frame, she closes the gap. It is 5-2.

Let's have a look at this, Alan McManus is the fifth oldest

semifinalist in Crucible history at 45 years, 98 days. Eddie Charlton

made the last four. 52 years old, John Pullman. Fred Davies made the

semifinals at the age of 64. That was way back in 1978.

I know how much you love your music, especially you, Steve, I'm looking

at what was number one the last time McManus reached the semifinal at the

Crucible, in 1993... Think Britpop. Cadge a good go? That was the 1980s!

It was George Michael, and Queen. They did a live EP. Let's go back to

the snooker. If Alan McManus can get 5-3 into the next session, he's in

with a chance. Bizarrely, Ding Junhui will be kicking himself, for

the most part, as the dominant player, I agree with the

commentators, I don't know what he was playing around, you should have

continue doing what he has done, the game is changing, is not kept that

rhythm, Alan has a foothold in the match. If he gets out of it 5-3 we

will be delighted. Sometimes you see long frames, and matches, people win

frames in blocks. It is difficult for the player in front to maintain

the level of relentlessness that you sometimes need, even if you are 5-0

in front, to win 8-0, it gets harder and harder. He is letting him off of

the her, this is a big frame. Dennis, I remember you saying when

Judd Trump beat Ding Junhui in the semifinals 2011, is you said it was

one of the best semifinals you'd ever seen, are we looking at another

epic today? Well, McManus is on his way back, that was an incredible

semifinal. I thought Ding Junhui would be the world champion...

Sorry, Judd Trump would be the champion. He played unbelievable

snooker but he lost to John Higgins. But, Alan McManus, he is as fresh as

a daisy out there. That is what he is looking at, no

easy return to the safety area. It might be the slightest gap between

the yellow and blue, but it looks very tight. You have to get back

down the table. That is OK, as long as it does not bounce too far. Well

judged. I'm just looking at the frame times for the match so far,

Denis. These frames that Ding Junhui has been winning, they are all

around 11, 14, minutes. The others are over 22 minutes. That shows what

will happen if these frames go tactical for a majority of the time.

Good safety from Ding Junhui. The reds are up, but he has left one.

But what a test for Alan McManus, which ever side of the table he

goes. There is one to the left, another to the right.

He has taken one around the back of the black. That is a poor attempt,

did not fully commit there. He is decelerating badly on a lot of

shots, it is the long cue action, that's what happens when you

decelerate, you miss it thin. Doing that rarely has that problem,

he has a shot with a impact cue action -- Ding Junhui rarely has

that problem. This is not what he wanted to see in the last frame.

Ding Junhui is back in amongst the balls. Just a little careless

positional shot there. Two or three inches too far with the cue ball,

you want it to roll through for the black.

Yes, it is amazing, the difference in the cue actions, as Stephen was

saying, Ding Junhui does not bring the cue back very far at all before

delivering. Alan has the deliberate long poles, quite a way back before

he delivers the cue, Ding Junhui is more compact. -- pulls. No two cue

actions the same in the game, it is all about knocking the ball into the

pockets. As John used to say those years ago, part as many balls as you

can. Big Break, used to love that show!

It is incredible, how close Ding Junhui's tip gets to the cue ball,

when he is addressing it. Not even a shadow on the cue ball when his tip

approaches it, watch this... Look at that stop I suppose if you

thought about it, you would not be able to do that, it's automatic, all

of those years of practice. Another left-hander, Jimmy White, a player

who addresses, sometimes he will further the white and play a foul

shot but he's like that. He has the tip of the cue right on the cue

ball. Could have worked out a lot better. Yes, this was never

guaranteed, because the reds are so close to the black ball. Possibly

did not need to play that with more pace and top spin to carry the cue

ball through the reds. Screwing the cue ball off the

cushion, and on again, for the black. A good shot. APPLAUSE

I don't know whether Alan is saying "Good shot". He does talk away to

himself. I think that he just thought, perhaps, Ding Junhui had

lost position? He would come back to the table, and then he produces that

excellent read to the middle. He tells little stories in the chair,

Denis. Possibly not for repeating during the day... But what is it

about the Asian players? It is amazing, the middle pocket, they are

so good. James Watson, he would pot some fantastic balls into the middle

pockets. Ding Junhui is right up there, he never appears to miss. The

middle pockets. The reds next to the pink, potting

into the left corner, let's see this short again. Excellent cue ball

control. As has been the pattern in this match, whenever Ding Junhui

gets in, it is frame over. The two frames that he has not, he has lost.

He has made three century breaks, and 84 and a 64, has Ding Junhui. I

suppose that, when you think about it, 5-0 behind, Alan McManus, he

would have loved to have got out of it 5-3, but at 6-2, he would

probably take it when he was 5-0 behind. 96%, that is terrific. A

high break of 131. APPLAUSE Wouldn't that be something?

If he made four centuries in his first session? It is going to be

difficult, but it is a possibility. He has already made eighth

centuries, we've had 68 in this years Bedford World Championship, 86

is the record number centuries made at the Crucible. -- BetFred. And the

highest number of centuries ever made at the Crucible in the World

Championship, Stephen was just asking me... It is 16. John Higgins

has had 14. I'm surprised you did not notice that.

He would have to think, with that record, if Ding Junhui was to make

the final... It would be in jeopardy.

Plenty of tonne ups there, what a session.

I didn't know Kevin was in. What a player. And what a pundit. And what

a session we have had here from Ding Junhui. Yes, he has been a machine

today. He has had a 132, his highest so far

this year. Can have the evening off, they will be back at ten o'clock

tomorrow for the second session, this has been a delight to watch.

APPLAUSE It does not matter about the black,

it has been the Ding Junhui show here this afternoon. Alan McManus

would be too disappointed, he got two frames out of it but in the end

after that magnificent display, Ding Junhui takes the session 6-2.

STUDIO: Four centuries for Ding Junhui in this match, this has been

brilliant from that young man? Superb, we've been entertained this

afternoon, his matchplay has been fantastic and to be honest I think

he needed to win the last frame, the way he dominated, if he did not come

out 6-2, he would have been kicking himself. After an excellent start

from Ding Junhui, with the help of a bit of fortune, I think Alan McManus

would say, fair play. I have a couple of frames, that's the best I

could have expected. He was shaking his head in the last when he thought

that Ding Junhui had lost position, but it was a fair reflection on this

afternoon 's play? Yes, I think Alan has been unlucky, coming back in the

first session after John Higgins last night, that was hard fought. He

can rest this evening and come back tomorrow fresh. I think he will play

better. There were times when I was watching that, I was reminded, do

you remember sitting in the studio in Alexandra Palace when Ronnie

O'Sullivan strode Ricky Walden in the Masters semifinal? Yes. It was

really into -- destroyed. That match was over in about 47 minutes? The

most bizarre statistic ever, Ronnie had a 97% pot rate, Ricky Walden was

100%. Ronnie won 6-0. He is clinical, after Ding Junhui went to

the interval, we said that he would split the atom in his dressing room,

everything was going right. Let's look at this evening's match, that

begins at seven o'clock. World number one Mark Selby takes on Marco

Fu. FUNKY MUSIC

He hasn't got a weakness, I don't think.

He is a very good matchplay. Everyone would understand. He's been

here for a long time. He is very comfortable playing at the Crucible,

especially the one-table set-up. It will be a big challenge for me.

There's not going to be any favourites as such, I won't go out

there believing that I'm one of the favourites, I will go out there and

play one frame at a time and stay focused, see what happens. It's

going to be a very tough game. I'm still a long way to go, with two

matches, but it is a long way to go. Just take it one

matches, but it is a long way to go. Just take it one match at a time,

one ball at a time. Sitting in the semifinal, I feel like I've played

all season and not had a day off. That is what the tournament does to

you, it is so long, mentally and physically draining, but it is the

same for everyone else. Whoever is the last man standing is strongest.

You cannot predict the nerves you will feel when you go out there so

hopefully I can stay calm and relaxed and play good snooker. Nine

wins to Marco Fu's two. Selby leads the head to head. They've played

each other in semifinals in the 2006 Masters qualifying, they met the

first time in 2006. Mark Selby won that one. In the World Open in 2014.

They also met. Very much going the way of Mark Selby when you look at

those way of Mark Selby when you look at

those graphics? World number one, we way of Mark Selby when you look at

said that those graphics? World number one, we

said that he's come under the radar considering he's world number one,

when you play matchplay like he does, I Debaty 's been at his best

but it's the semifinal. But Marco held his own last night? He's been

in excellent form. The scoreline of nine matches to two, it seems that

Mark Selby gets the better of Marco Fu, but you could argue and three

the record books out for this situation, judging by the way that

Marco is playing, he is buoyed up by that. Mark Selby is a very clinical

player in the same way that Ding Junhui is. Marco was possibly that

kind of style, if you have two players with a similar style but one

is slightly better than the other, it is harder for the lesser

fractionally. Do you believe, Steve, given that Mark Selby was pushed in

the first and second rounds, especially by Sam Baird late on

Saturday evening, that he's coming into the quarterfinals and the

semifinal in better shape? He's been up and down, he's not been dominant

in all sessions but I think he is happy that he's got here with

relatively little fuss. His experience showed in the last match,

I think he outmatched Kyren Wilson. He outmatched played him. Mark

Selby, to be honest, that has gotten through so far. Marco Fu was under a

lot of pressure, Barry Hawkins, last night? And what has it taken out of

him? We will find out tonight. If Mark Selby wins the title and

Leicester City wins the Premier League on Sunday... My phone will be

horrendous! I've enjoyed your company, thank you very much. Hazel

will be back at seven o'clock with further coverage. We will see you

then, goodbye for now.