Judd Trump v Stuart Bingham, 2015 Snooker: World Championship

Hello again. 2015 was a fairytale fortnight for Stuart Bingham.

38 years of age at the time, 20 years in the game,

he was enjoying a fine period of success after many years of trying,

having bagged a handful of trophies over the last few months and years.

And yet there was one piece of the puzzle

that was always missing for him, a performance at the Crucible.

He'd never been past the quarterfinal

stages in all of those years of trying.

Until he managed to beat former champions Graeme Dott

and, famously, Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach the semifinal.

There he would face the prodigiously talented youngster

Judd Trump, in a match which was quite simply sensational.

I am not sort of scared of Judd, you know what he's going to do,

he's going to pot long balls, screw back length of tail,

make breaks, and the crowd is going to be, obviously, on his side,

so I expected all that and I just sort of dealt with it.

And so it was Stuart Bingham, 50-1 outsider before the

championship got underway, who was gradually applying the pressure,

moving out to a 13-9 lead against the young favourite.

And now in frame 23, Bingham was 12 points ahead,

but it's Judd at the table with one red remaining.

WILLIE THORNE: Played the stun, and played it beautifully.

-Has he got on the blue?

-One.

-Now, then.

Does he play this at pace to try get on the yellow?

-JOHN VIRGO:

-If he's straight on the blue, if he hasn't got an angle,

he's got to tuck him up behind the black here.

Yes, the five points, no value, is it?

No value whatsoever, and of course, this is a must win frame now.

Must play the snooker behind the black.

-Judd Trump, one.

-So unlucky, though, you'd be very disappointed.

OK, he's got Bingham in all sorts of trouble, but he'd be

so disappointed, having potted that right in the heart of the pocket,

he didn't have some sort of angle on the blue.

But even though he is 11 points in front, Stuart,

he'll be thinking, if he doesn't hit this yellow or get it safe...

..we'll have a new favourite for the frame.

To be honest, at the pace he's going to have to play it,

it'll be almost a miracle if he gets the yellow safe.

There's bound to be some sort of pot on, however he hits this yellow.

Yeah, and the reason Willie says that, of course,

it's not a one cushion escape. He's that tight to the black.

And going this way, there's plenty of room around this yellow.

Well, he's checked it. Oh, what a shot!

What a shot!

Where's this cue ball going?! Where's the cue ball going?!

APPLAUSE

Unbelievable!

Let's first of all, John, talk about the escape.

That was the only escape, and we see the cue ball arc.

That was the only escape where he could leave

distance between cue ball and object ball.

Just unbelievable. When you saw that check side.

Well, Judd managed to get the swerve,

needs the yellow to run a bit more. It's gone safe.

APPLAUSE

I think, in fairness, John, that's fair.

They both had a bit of luck there.

-And I think now the frame is still live.

-Absolutely.

Don't get me wrong, great hit from Stuart, but to get the snooker,

that was a bonus, so maybe the luck just evened itself out there.

And I'm glad, because at this stage of the game, it would have

-been very unfortunate if somebody wins a frame purely by luck.

-Foul.

And a miss.

Judd Trump, four.

No hesitation, it is a thin contact he's playing for,

and we all know that particularly when the...

Particularly when the object ball is very close to the cushion,

if you don't catch it thin, catch it even quarter ball,

it could back up the table.

But those four points he gave away there by missing it...

Well, when the frame's this close, could be very important.

As you can see there, he can see this quarter ball at least.

So he'll play the same shot again.

Oh, that tells me the table may be just drifting a little bit.

Doesn't want the jaws, though. Might be a free ball. Not this time.

And of course, he won't be warned.

You're only warned if you can hit the object ball full,

and he can't do that.

If he could have hit the yellow full,

then he would be warned now, three misses, you lose the frame.

But these are valuable points he's giving away.

I don't know why he's not clearing this to the right if he

feels that it's drifting a little bit, just to straighten it up.

Just a little bit of right.

If it's drifting slightly to the left,

just play it with a bit of right so it's holding the cue ball.

A bit like one of your golf shots, John,

when you're holding it up into the wind.

Big moments now in this, in this frame and in this match,

to be honest with you.

He's trying to hit this yellow so thin that it hardly moves.

He was in front before this, he's now one point behind.

-No.

-Foul.

And a miss.

Now, does it rattle and leave a free ball?

Does it rattle and leave the free ball?

-It has done.

-Free ball.

What a difference this could make.

He won't be having it replaced any more.

Do you think, John, snookering behind the pink is better,

-because he's going to have to play at least a two cushion escape?

-Yes.

Go of the green and put it tight behind the pink.

Because if he gets the shot right that he's playing, Stuart,

the thin safety, it's easy.

And for those of you who don't know,

when you have a free ball,

the ball you nominate, you cannot snooker behind.

So that's why he played it behind the pink.

Couldn't hit it when he could see it.

Foul and a miss. Judd Trump, four.

Having it put back. And I'll tell you what, these foul points

are accumulating, aren't they?

How many's that? Four, eight, 12, 16,

20 so far, isn't it?

Yeah, you're right, Willie. 20 points.

Now, a bit pacier, doesn't want to run past the yellow.

That's too wide.

And I think Judd will have it replaced because he's no

advantage trying to pot this yellow if he can't get on the green.

What a turnaround.

Stuart seems very bemused at having it...

Seeing it slide off the first cushion the first time.

Played exactly the same shot the second time, it seemed to square up.

OK, Judd?

Hmm.

Hmm.

Foul and a miss. Judd Trump...

Still nothing that would get Judd Trump out of his seat.

I think I might want to have little look there, John.

There may have been a slight angle.

Yeah, but that green is on the baulk line, Willie.

I mean, even if Stuart was to hit this yellow,

Judd would still be in control of this frame.

And the way things are going, he could miss another three times

and he'd want snookers.

28 points been given away, and as you rightly say,

two more misses...

This is a better line.

-Not hit it, but a better line.

-Foul and a miss.

It's unbelievable, isn't it, this?

Well, what a turnaround in a frame.

Without a ball being potted.

When you consider Judd's definitely

gone a little bit at the minute, he's not in control of his emotions

and things like that, he's really struggling at this stage.

To think that he could win a frame without potting a ball!

This looks better.

But no, it's just sliding off that second cushion.

Have it put back, and if he misses it this time,

he will need a snooker.

Stuart, you need a little glance at the scoreboard.

I'm not sure he's aware of the points,

he's not looked at the scoreboard for some time.

Is that 32 points he's given away?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well...

Stuart throws his arms up in the air.

But...

..all those foul points he gave away,

nothing to celebrate.

LAUGHTER FROM CROWD

Well, this one's easy to hit.

The question is, with this type of shot, if Stuart could get

right in behind the yellow,

he could possibly get the snooker behind

the black, but I'm not certain he can get right in behind it.

And if he hits it half ball, he could leave it.

And remember, Judd Trump is now 25 points in front.

27 remaining.

Yeah, 36...

..foul points.

At a crucial stage of the frame,

John, I don't think I've ever seen that many given away.

Couldn't get right in behind the yellow,

that's why he's played it like that.

Oh, and he might have the snooker with the green.

APPLAUSE

He has.

He'll have to play the swerve here, Judd.

But no guarantee to get the yellow safe.

Well, thinks that... A possibility he could get it safe.

But you're playing this off the side cushion, top cushion.

This is a bit pacey.

-CROWD GROANS

-Foul and a miss.

Stuart Bingham, four.

So, here's a chance for Stuart, but he needs the six remaining colours.

Amazingly enough, John, he's left an angle from this escape to be

able to get the cue ball slightly off the cushion.

He can get on the green nicely from here,

but blue to pink's the problem.

Blue to pink's going to be the problem ball.

-APPLAUSE

-Two.

Five.

Hmm.

Not quite on this brown as he would like.

Straighter, he could have just run it in.

He's got to manoeuvre this cue ball.

He had a look at playing the cannon on the black, just to

hole for the blue, but that's not certain to work out.

Trying to develop the blue. He's hit it too full.

He's not on it.

As you can see, the white's perilously close to the

cushion, that's why he's having to try and dig down.

He's trying to get in behind the black, but

I'm not so sure it's on from being that close to the cushion.

What ever you do, don't leave a pot on the blue, that's the main thing.

Trying to get in behind the black.

Trying to get in behind it.

Got to get that blue safe, and he has done.

So it appears there's no damage done.

Yes, and it has to be said,

he's not left the easiest safety shot for Judd.

OK, you could try and play the blue up and down the table,

but you've got to be careful of the double kiss.

That's the first thing that will enter your mind.

And if he just tried to come thin off the blue

and played across double, he could cannon the pink.

This is not straightforward at all.

I think for frame of mind, John, Judd has to win this frame.

His mind will be the jam jar if he loses this frame.

Oh, that's a good safety shot.

Deserved to find the cushion there.

It'll be good if it keeps running.

That's excellent.

That's as good as he could have hoped for.

Stuart coming down.

This time he will be able to get in behind the blue,

so he'll play cushion first, kick the blue up the table.

As long as you catch it full, it will turn out to be a good

safety shot, because the cue ball will stay where the blue is.

Played it perfectly.

APPLAUSE

COMMENTARY DROWNED OUT BY APPLAUSE

..along this frame, there's 27 minutes in frame 19.

But, boy, we've had some excitement this frame.

Bingham looked certain to win it, then he gave 36 points away.

Looked certain to lose it.

And now it's all down to the final three colours.

Hmm. I was going to say, that's a good safety from Judd,

he was in a spot of bother.

There's always a possibility of the double.

But surely that's going to be too risky.

-You can see, though, John, he's itching to play it, can't you?

-Yes.

No, he didn't play it in the end.

It's not bad, though.

He's got that blue tight to the cushion, so the cross double,

which you'd normally play in this type of shot.

You can't play it because you're bound to get a double kiss.

So it's a case of, I think, really, sending the blue back up

the table, avoid the double kiss and get a good length.

Couldn't have played that any better. Tremendous shot.

Well, we've seen a lot of strange play from Judd in this

morning's session. But the last three safety shots he's played are

right out of the top drawer.

And the ones from Stuart are not too bad either. Look at this.

Look at this!

APPLAUSE

He'll be happy with that.

Are you suggesting he just played the blue in the middle of the top

cushion, John, with that comment?

Well, no, I think he's played a wonderful blue,

but to get it right behind the black is a bonus.

I think Judd has got to come cushion first here.

But it depends how thick he hits the blue.

If he can catch the blue sort of quarter ball,

he may be able to knock the blue into a safe position.

If he's coming off the side cushion,

then he's going to hit it hard, and he's going to hit and hope.

But if he misses it, he's going to leave a free ball.

Yeah, he's obviously worried about...

He can't hit the blue anything more than thin, it would

be just pushing it over the left-hand corner.

That's why he's taking the option of hitting it hard.

Oh, he's playing it slow. This is dangerous.

This is dangerous.

CROWD GROANS

Well, he's hit it. But...

..doesn't give him any advantage.

I don't think Stuart will play the blue here.

What you can do with this shot is just stun

the blue into the jaws, and the blue will go up the table

and you get the snooker behind the black.

Good call, John. Brilliantly played. APPLAUSE

I've got to be honest, John, at first glance, I'd have fancied

rolling the blue in and playing the long pink, but you've called it.

Beautiful shot.

Big, big problem now for Judd.

OK, his opponent will need the blue, pink and black.

But we've seen so many misses in this frame.

Yeah, he's got the same problem, hasn't he?

He's got to hit it hard enough to give him

-a chance of getting it safe, but this is not safe.

-No.

So here's Stuart's chance...

to take a frame which, in all honesty,

it almost looked as though he was until he started missing the yellow.

Already 155 points scored in this frame, with another 18 to come.

So, certainly with the highest points

total in a frame in this championship this year.

Without any stretch of the imagination.

But who's going to win it? Bingham now favourite.

APPLAUSE

-Hmm.

-Five.

Not the best position on the pink.

Not by a long chalk.

And of course the problem with this, he's going to have to play

still on the right-hand side, which could make him hit this thick.

And hit it thick he did. So hard.

Where's the pink going?!

-Right over the hole.

-Bingham, five.

So Judd Trump glances at the scoreboard,

he's two points in front.

Pot the pink, you win the frame, and what a frame this has been.

Well, that will be a mighty relief.

Judd Trump, I don't blame him, for going out the arena.

Well, Stuart looked at Judd and he had a wry smile.

You can't give that many foul points away and win it.

He nearly did, but Judd Trump desperately needed that.

And now he's just three behind.

Well, Judd, as expected, kept up the pressure.

Breaks of 65, 88 and 50 were enough to win three of the next four

frames. The score now, 13 frames to Judd, 14 to Bingham,

as we head into the next.

APPLAUSE

DENNIS TAYLOR: Just got into that too much, but, well...

..he could go into the red, but I think he's got to make sure

and pot this and just let the white do what it's going to do.

Yeah, that was the best option.

No point in trying anything difficult there

-because the black wasn't all that easy.

-Eight.

But he's got a long, straight red, and if he comes back,

he's got a good angle to get into the bunch then.

Well, it looks as if he's playing for the pink.

CROWD GROANS

Well, that's a bad miss. That is a poor shot from Judd.

-STEVE DAVIS:

-That can only tell me that he's just flicking a bit of

side on, Dennis. It was like a black off the spot, wasn't it?

It was dead straight.

Must have put some unwanted side on that to turn that red over.

Hmm, Stuart's finding it now, Dennis, isn't he?

The tension's arriving, but the yellow just passed the blue

and he certainly didn't play for it in the middle.

He just didn't hit that as he intended.

He would have been on the blue nicely.

But he's got an angle to get up towards the red.

APPLAUSE

Three.

Now, the angle is on this red. If he's going to play for the black,

he has to just drop it in dead weight.

He wouldn't really want to do that.

I don't know whether you can run round the back of the black

if he plays it firm.

-I think if he runs it in...

-Your camera, can you turn it off, please?

Yeah, just a distraction there.

If he runs it in, he might cannon the black and leave it on,

just looking at that angle.

Hmm. Not the best. APPLAUSE

Four.

He'd like that shot again, wouldn't he?

OK, the seven points is nice

but there is no way he can get onto a red

so whether he will play a safe off a bought colour...

or just take the seven points.

Sometimes that happens, you know, you're not playing for any position,

you lose a bit of concentration,

and you're just playing for the extra seven points there.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

Just making sure there's no plants on, always worth looking

at the pack of reds.

He's got an easy safety shot.

Now he's looking to see if he's going to push a red

over the corner pocket so...

Well, there is...

A possible plant on there but can he get to that?

APPLAUSE

-Er, yeah.

-HE CHUCKLES

He certainly did get to it!

Well, Judd had a plant in the previous frame

and almost won the frame off the plant

until he got that terrible kick on the red.

How many is Stuart going to score from this plant?

Four.

Five.

Well, he's been awesome throughout this championship

with this type of shot but the scenario is

it's 14-13 in the semifinal.

And he's still awesome with them.

APPLAUSE That was a terrific shot.

12.

It's hard to explain how difficult they are normally

when you're cutting it back into a blind pocket.

Ask Steve Davis.

Now, just going to mind his work now, the next three or four reds

and colours should be OK.

If he plays that for the blue or a bought colour,

make sure you finish topside of the blue.

-APPLAUSE

-That was the key thing,

getting topside of the blue.

He's perfect on the blue.

The red in between black and that little cluster of four

is the one he'd like to get onto now.

He's not got onto it perfect but he's got a second choice.

This red's nice and he can, I think, run-through for the black.

18.

-Oh, that didn't go clean.

-19.

Just needs it just to take a deep breath here,

he knows this is a chance once again to level the mini session.

Never been behind in any session.

CROWD GASPS, APPLAUSE

You can just feel the tension out there,

you can feel it in the room.

Well...

-I don't know if he got a kick, let's have a look.

-26.

Didn't seem to kick but he's having the white clean,

maybe that's just to give himself a breather.

There's a couple that's wiped their feet on the way in

but that one...

Well, maybe he did have a slight kick.

It didn't look as if it kicked on that last picture but...

it's back on its spot and he's still on the table,

that's the main thing from his point of view.

27.

As we said earlier the mid-session interval coming up.

Stuart's going along nicely here.

Potting this next red is going to clear the two reds to the right

of it. The little triangle of reds behind the pink there.

Just a little glance to see whether the pink would pot in the middle.

Cos he hasn't got the ideal angle on this red.

And if the pink doesn't pot,

he's got a little bit of work to do with the cue ball.

I don't think the pink pots.

He's coming around to have another look now.

I mean, that would be the easiest positional shot

but he should be able to get himself onto the blue or run through.

Well, it looks as if it might just go.

If he's not absolutely sure...

..he'll play for the blue or black.

He's not made up his mind, Dennis.

That's the troubling thing, isn't it? You've got to clear your mind.

-Decided the pink was too dangerous to play for.

-35.

-APPLAUSE

-I think he judged this perfectly.

That red was almost straight, and look where he's got the cue ball.

I mean, that shows you the cue power that Stuart has.

He really powered that in to get the white there.

He's 31 points in front.

Has to be said there's a pretty clear run...

-40.

-..to the winning line in this frame

but we've seen that black wobble, we've seen a red wobble.

But he's held himself together throughout this championship and

in the final session against Ronnie O'Sullivan he hardly made a mistake.

He's used to the winning line in tournaments now.

Won all his tournaments, as Dennis mentioned in commentary,

in Asia and that.

Six tournaments he's won now.

But every player, when they turn professional,

they dream about lifting the

-World Championship trophy at the Crucible.

-47.

Stuart has been dreaming about that for the 20 years he's been

a professional.

This, of course, clears the other red for this pocket.

So now, Dennis mentioned, a clear run to the line.

It is definitely a clear run to the line now.

44 points in front. Pink, red, colour.

And once again he will not have lost a mini-session in this match.

54.

55.

And it all started with this terrific plant that he picked out.

Just the black needed.

APPLAUSE

62.

63.

Stuart's highest break in this match has been 89.

He has a chance of eclipsing that here.

He's only had four centuries so far in the tournament.

He is one of the game's great break-builders.

He's had three maximums in tournament play.

Not too sure whether he can hold it.

If he can't he'll play a cannon into the pink.

He could hold it.

APPLAUSE

Well, he has made 38 centuries this season.

263 in total for his career.

86.

The green to beat his highest break.

-88.

-The century, if it comes, will be the 77th.

And every time Judd asks him

the question he keeps coming up with the answer, Willie.

Yeah, you couldn't be more impressed if you are a Bingham supporter.

He hasn't lost one mini-session in this whole match.

This is the first time he's been put under pressure

and he looked like he could possibly lose a mini-session.

APPLAUSE

This morning when he was 2-0 behind he won the next two.

Very well played. The crowd deserve a century.

And the century they have.

Remarkable from Stuart Bingham.

Back against the wall, produced again a break of 106.

Takes him two clear again at 15-13.

This is a key shot early on in this frame.

Is it there?

-APPLAUSE

-One.

He had to get this. He was sticking a red up next to the black.

-Eight.

-Not a good pack to go into from the black.

And that's the reason. He's headed up for the blue, OK.

Didn't matter which side of the blue he got on there.

But it will be blue, red, blue and into the pink.

14.

-15.

-Key shot coming up.

Full onto the pink.

Pot the blue, scatter the reds.

And how's your luck?

APPLAUSE

-He's just about OK. There's one that will go into the right corner.

-20.

Show you that again.

Judd has been in the practice room throughout the interval,

knocking balls in.

All the players seem to play that shot well.

Pretty well into the pink

but I think Trump plays it better than most.

Very rarely does he not generate the full ball kiss on the pink

and generate the spin to keep the cue ball in the middle of the table.

And because of that shot...

..he'd be disappointed if he doesn't score 50 or above from here.

26.

27.

32.

33.

The standard in the last three frames of Judd's had a break of 88.

And then he had a break of 50 and 44 to get one behind.

And then Stuart had that magnificent century.

So the standard has been superb.

APPLAUSE

Every chance, in about five minutes' time,

it will be just one frame the difference again.

41.

Obviously Stuart thought the plant was a certainty,

otherwise he wouldn't have taken it on, but the problem was where

he left the cue ball.

He needed to finish low on the black and he didn't.

-48.

-Hit it a little bit too hard, the plant.

Judd's knocked the first red in the middle nicely.

And the rest now are in a perfect position.

49.

APPLAUSE

Perfect positional shot. That's the shots he'd not been playing well.

He's been losing the cue ball by either playing them

-too hard or too soft. That time, played perfectly.

-53.

-60 points ahead.

-60.

Red, colour, red...

..would be enough.

61.

APPLAUSE

You would think as we get near the winning post of this semifinal,

the players would be getting a little nervous.

Missing a few, but that's not the case. The standard has got better

as we get closer to that winning line.

Just been going over seven minutes, and the frame is more or less over.

Doesn't matter about that. Stuart will stay in his seat, I think.

So he only needed one chance, Judd Trump, and he took it.

And he's only one frame behind again. It's 15-14.

Yes, he's not going to refuse anything now,

Judd Trump won the first frame of this match, he won the third

frame of this match and ever since then he's been playing catch-up.

That's what he's got to do again.

Foul.

Misjudged safety from Stuart.

Judd Trump, four.

Judd's already had a look to see if the black was available

if he was to take this red onto the left corner, but sometimes,

he makes these look easy but they're quite tough, I can tell you.

APPLAUSE

One.

Quite tough.

THEY CHUCKLE

How well did he hit that? Obviously the black won't go.

He was dead straight and look at that screw back he got on that.

And in a few shots' time the red that's next to the black

might be available.

He's already thinking about that where he's placing the cue.

Yes, at first glance,

Dennis, I can't see a red he can get onto easily.

So he may decide to play for that red

but that would be a hell of a positional shot.

-He's played for it.

-Oh. I'll tell you what...

What an effort.

-Four.

-Now is it time to risk...?

He's got himself back into the match again now.

If he plays this red into the yellow pocket

and stays for the black there's so much pressure on it

because he's going to leave the red just above the black.

I don't think the black goes, Willie.

Well, it does go, so, yeah.

That's a great shot.

APPLAUSE

Where is that cue ball?

Five.

What a shot that was, Willie.

I didn't think he could see the red to pot it!

He's decided, I think, to go for his shots now.

He's now looking for red,

the one that's on the far left-hand side.

Does that pass the black?

That's the red he's looking

at and I think he can see the centre of the pocket, Dennis.

He would need to be right in behind it, though.

Pretty tight, that.

He's only got the slightest of angles on the blue,

but we know he's got lots of cue power.

And look at the angle he created there from almost

straight on the blue.

APPLAUSE

-10.

-That's amazing. He's actually hit it too well.

Now, I think he can miss the black, and go round the back of the black.

He couldn't miss the black.

11.

Stuart Bingham made a very similar shot in one of the earlier frames,

and kissed into the black and didn't make it into a pottable position.

Judd's not thinking of cutting this in, surely?

He played to push the black on, and just caught it a little

bit on the right side rather than full ball or slightly to the

left would have been better.

It's a very thin one if he wants to get back down the table.

It was very difficult. That was all he could do there, really.

Judd Trump, 11.

APPLAUSE

Not the best safety shot from Stuart.

Just over-hit that, and this red might pot.

He'll be playing the safety shot, but he did have a look at it.

That's a better length from Judd.

Although there is a gap... APPLAUSE

..for Stuart. He can come down...

..that right side of the table as we look at it.

He hit that a bit thick. It's going to come up short.

And Judd might be able to take this red on to the right corner.

He can get round the back of the red that's sitting on the black spot.

Well, looks like he's just going to play the safety shot.

APPLAUSE

He's covered the right-hand side of the table up

so he can only play the safe down the left.

The two reds he can see, neither of which are easy to get

back into baulk without pushing a red over the corner.

There goes the red but he's played it pretty well.

A bit pacey with the cue ball.

We know what kind of shot Judd played in the previous shot.

If he can cue this he'll be taking this on.

He hit that far too thin, Stuart.

Where is that red going to finish?

It's amazing, isn't it?

He played it as a shot to nothing, he could have potted that

and played on the pink. He thought, "I'll screw back.

"If I get it I'm on a baulk colour."

Thinking he wouldn't leave the red but watch the red.

As it wobbles it just heads up over the other corner.

Yes, more often than not you cover them with the baulk colour

but that time it's finished...

It's an easy pot for Stuart.

APPLAUSE

The two reds that are just to the right of the black definitely

pot on the right-hand side but he's just looking about playing

a little cannon, just missing the pink and just pushing

one of those two reds to the left of the pink towards the corner.

And, of course, if the kiss doesn't go right the white should hopefully

push through and be on the two reds just below the black spot.

So there's a little bit of value in playing that cannon.

That might have turned out to be perfect

because I think he's got a perfect angle on this red.

He didn't play this cannon, he played in between the gap

there for those reds he's just kissed there.

But he's finished in such a way that he can just drop this in

and get on the black.

Seven.

Yeah, that last shot couldn't have worked out better

but as you say, Willie, he didn't get the cannon

he intended. And it worked out much better for Stuart.

And all of a sudden...it's developing into

a very good opportunity.

He's just two frames away from the final.

14.

The black's tied up at the moment,

won't go into either corner pocket but

when he removes either of the reds, it will free up one of the pockets.

He's doing the right thing here. He's not just rushing into it.

He's making sure he plays the correct shot.

-APPLAUSE

-15.

You could see the action he got on that.

Because if he hits the other two reds he's on absolutely nothing.

He played that to perfection.

As I mentioned before, the standard as we get towards

the end of this semifinal has been superb.

22.

That was a good shot but I was holding my breath because I thought,

"This is certainly playing the more difficult of the two reds."

And when he played that little screw shot off the side

of the pack I thought it had played up for the pink.

So he's determined to make this a frame-winning chance now.

He's played all the right shots to get the balls in play.

Can he complete the job?

30.

Very, very impressed with Stuart Bingham.

This is the biggest match of his career.

OK, he's won two world ranking titles

but this is the daddy of them all.

This is the big one.

All of a sudden you could hear a pin drop in the Crucible.

-They know the importance of this frame.

-38.

And you mentioned, Dennis, I wasn't commentating on it

but you were, the way he played in the final

session against Ronnie O'Sullivan where he never missed a ball.

Is this going to be the case here?

You can see there he's playing into an area where he was going to

leave himself a choice of reds.

46.

47.

Look at that shot there. Isn't that magnificent?

As Stuart glances at the scoreboard.

And has the cue ball cleaned.

Working out how many he needs.

Sometimes you're concentrating that hard you find it difficult

just to reckon the score up.

You don't have a running total.

He's come up just a little bit short, but he'll free the other

-three reds, so as long as he's got a nice angle to...

-54.

He can screw back if he wishes. There you can see it.

-Didn't have to play that cannon.

-55.

Won't need...those three difficult reds.

The pink, red and another colour...

..would leave Judd needing a snooker and this is superb from Bingham.

It has to be said.

Every time he's been asked the question, as we said before,

-he's coming up with the correct answer.

-61.

He's made many breaks over 60 in this tournament so far.

This, for me, has been the best one because of the pressure he's under.

Perfect angle on the pink.

Just to flick another couple of reds into play.

Excellent. Deserves a century now.

APPLAUSE

68.

He's had five centuries

so far in this year's Betfred World Championship.

We've had 77. 83 is the record number of centuries.

-Made way back in 2009.

-69.

Doesn't have to do anything with the cue ball here, just stun up

and down, finish with the two reds just below the pink into the...

He's able to play it slow enough.

Judd Trump is going to have to win the three remaining frames.

We've seen him

come back against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the UK Championship.

This is even bigger. He'll have to do it again.

Yes, he's very capable,

but Bingham knows he only needs one chance in any of those three

remaining frames to go on to reach his first World Championship final.

This break has been absolutely perfect.

Had to play a lot of little cannons earlier on in the break.

88.

He just looks so comfortable and so relaxed out there.

90.

93.

Little glance up there we noticed when he was walking around.

Probably to his wife who is sitting up in the top there.

Yeah, Michelle's here.

She was in tears the other night when he beat Ronnie.

Or he was in tears speaking to her, but she'll be

so proud of her husband, I can tell you.

In goes the century.

APPLAUSE

Absolutely first class. Ton Up signs around the audience go up.

Massive kick there, but that won't worry Stuart Bingham.

Absolutely tremendous break, Bingham wins it. He goes 16-14 in front.

One away from a place in the final.

Oh, a long way off that, and he's put the red on.

Long way off the attempt there. An early chance for Stuart.

APPLAUSE

One.

Look at that bunch of reds.

As Willie, said that's a flatback pack,

and it's difficult to bring them into play,

but if anyone can it's Stuart Bingham with his cue power.

But that's not a good angle, he might have to leave it.

Yep, lots of reverse side. Look at the spin he got on that.

APPLAUSE

Right down the left side of the cue ball striking there.

And here we go again. If this works, have a look.

Make sure there's no plants. Straight into the pink.

How are these going to finish here?

He played it well, but has he stuck on that red?

He's been unlucky, I think.

-Ooh, look at the face Stuart's pulling!

-14.

LAUGHTER

The crowd respond to that grimace there.

Oh! He knew that was just a fraction off being absolutely perfect.

Wanted to cry, didn't he? I don't blame him

because bar it being touching ball no problem, just pot it,

screw back for the pink, another 40 or 50 points there for the waiting.

Not now, though. Has to play a telling safety shot.

Somehow it's never that easy, is it, that frame you need.

It's amazing the things that can go wrong and that was very unfortunate.

So it is a touching ball, so can he find an awkward spot?

Stuart Bingham, 14.

APPLAUSE

I tell you what, there's nothing wrong with his touch.

Look where he found...

the cue ball, right on the cushion.

And that's a nice gesture, Judd Trump tapped the table there...

..to acknowledge that last shot from Stuart.

Must find the gap between those two reds. The left side of the table.

He hasn't found the gap. And there's a long... straight red.

Now, what a test this will be for Bingham's cue action.

Either of those reds are a big test at this stage.

Surely he's going to have to play the left of the two reds.

But he's not.

Foul.

-Why has he not played the left of the two?

-Judd Trump, six.

That was just pure tension because he hit it a lot harder

and I think he threw the white into the pink before he got there.

But he thought, "If I can get this

"and leave the pink for the left middle I'm right in amongst them."

-That is tension, Willie.

-Absolutely. Couldn't agree with you more,

but he could have got onto the pink in the right middle.

It's amazing what tension does for you, pressure.

Now, Judd, can you do it from here?

APPLAUSE

One.

I don't know about you watching at home,

my hands are starting to perspire here in the commentary box.

This is...

a chance. Look at the reds.

Can Judd hold himself together and knock in a sizeable break here?

Cos one mistake, one careless shot and it could be all over for Judd.

This black must be extremely tight

into the right hand corner,

that's why he's trying to free the black into the left hand corner.

Probably play it for the blue from here.

That's not good. Almost...

Unless he plays the yellow he can't go onto a red easy here.

The yellow's the only ball that gets him

onto a red, or obviously the blue, but the blue is very tricky.

APPLAUSE

-14.

-Prolonged round of applause for that shot but...

..the black has gone near the cushion.

I think he can get the one on the black spot

and drop in behind the black.

He would have very little to do with it to leave the other red

that's to the right of the black.

15.

Well played.

APPLAUSE

That was a better shot than it looked

because he wanted to be straight on that black to leave the red that's

to the right side of the black there but he coped well with that.

This looks a bit pacey to me.

23.

He's OK. Because there is reds near the pink spot.

I think he's got a slight angle on the blue.

I think Judd stopped in his tracks because he thought he'd got

a bounce off the cushion but it's absolutely finished perfect.

He thought he was going to come top side of the blue there.

28.

29.

34.

35.

Still in perfect position here.

42.

43.

50.

-Get a wipe?

-Sure.

51.

He's had a kick which means he's a little straighter on the black

than he would have been.

He's 43 in front, black will make 50.

Just a few more pots needed to keep himself in this year's

World Championship.

Yes, in the previous frame we were waxing lyrical about Bingham

under pressure, compiling that wonderful break of 102.

What will we be saying in a few minutes' time if Trump makes this a

frame-winning opportunity from here, which it looks like he will do now?

-This has been fabulous, this break.

-59.

Just one more pot needed to leave Stuart

at the snookers required stage.

64.

APPLAUSE

65.

Willie, that red that Stuart took on and hit the pink when you

thought he could take the other red has proven to be very costly.

That was just pure tension.

-73.

-But this is superb, it really is.

-Just ran slightly out of position there.

-80.

-He's had eight centuries so far this year.

-81.

APPLAUSE

86.

87.

Needs to pull up now, and it's perfect.

APPLAUSE

Dennis, this could be three centuries in four frames.

-Right at the nitty gritty stage of the match. Amazing snooker.

-96.

You've got to give both players credit, it really is...

..a fabulous display these two

players are putting on here this evening.

Well played, Judd Trump! Ton Up, great shot.

You had everything in that.

-Let's have a naughty pink...

-108.

..from Judd, this might jump off the table.

Well, nearly jumped off the table.

The standard continues.

What an unbelievable 108 break,

and it keeps Judd Trump in this semifinal.

There's the scoreline, 16-15.

Sort of relieved after the frame,

the chance to smack the balls around and see what happens.

I feel like it's such...

Some of the games are so intense,

and you spend 20-30 minutes in silence during the frame.

I think it's nice for the last minute or two, the crowd get

the chance to be talking and buzzing before the end of the frame.

And they're more involved

when people are smashing the balls in and have a little

chat to themselves, seeing if they could play that or not.

Stuff like that.

I don't think Judd could see the one up to the right of the green.

I don't know if he can see enough to take the pot on.

Might be able to send it back up the table.

This was the one that cost him the last frame.

The one to the left, if he had took the one to the left

he would have been perfect on the pink in the right-hand middle.

This is a good safety shot.

I say that, I thought it was going to roll to the baulk cushion.

Red's not along the left-hand side, but surely too dangerous to

take the one down the right, because you'd be screwing into reds.

Safety shot coming up.

I'll tell you what, that was a good safety shot.

APPLAUSE

Acknowledged by Stuart because he got so close to that red.

He judged that to perfection.

You watch the side he has on this,

and watch how close he goes to that red on the right side.

Oh, well judged.

The crowd are deeply involved in this game as you'd expect and they

would love to see 16-all but Bingham fans wouldn't want to go there.

The Theatre of Dreams, it's here again.

The black is OK.

It's available into the left corner pocket,

so it's not out of commission, the pink is.

A couple of tempters, Dennis.

The one into the middle and the one into the corner,

but not at this stage, maybe.

That's brought the pink into play,

and Judd is not going to take anything reckless at this stage.

He's going to try to play some good tactical and safety play

until he gets a proper chance.

There's one thing for certain, Stuart Bingham would have never

played a safety shot under this much pressure.

Just a little bit pacey.

And as I said, that black goes, what a shot this would be...

..for Judd Trump to take on. There's a red into the right corner pocket.

The pink's on. The black's on.

He's steadying himself up. He's walking into the shot.

He's going for it.

APPLAUSE

One.

If he stops the white where the red is he's on the pink or black.

But he played it in such a way that he might get a bit of safety,

but how well did he hit that?

And if he's got an angle on the yellow he can get up to the reds.

And the chance is now there.

-Six or seven loose reds.

-Three.

Four.

He's striking the ball as well now as he has throughout this semifinal.

Can he keep it going, though?

-Just a little bit of adrenaline there, he's over-screwed that.

-Nine.

As he looks away.

He can still pot it but I don't know if he can screw past the reds.

He might have to go straight into them here.

APPLAUSE

10.

That's a terrific shot,

but the next one, he's going to need a little bit of help.

He's going to need the spider. He's going to need...

Well, the extended spider to get over those reds and pink.

That is awkward.

That is very awkward.

That looks a lot higher than the spiders we used to play with,

Dennis, doesn't it? Having to cue really right down on it.

Well played.

-That was horrible.

-APPLAUSE

Judd uses the wrist and the spider with his right hand.

17.

-APPLAUSE

-18.

Well, just look at those reds.

Absolutely amazing, this semifinal.

I thought the Robertson-Hawkins game was unbelievable that went to 13-12.

The standard was...every time somebody got in they got 70 or 80.

-This, under this pressure, is amazing.

-25.

Judd's hit 108 in the last frame.

He's had a 76,

-and Stuart Bingham's had two centuries.

-31.

32.

And Stuart knows that he could be going into a deciding frame.

He's showing so much character here, is Judd Trump.

39.

40.

It's as if the great players have an inner strength

that kicks in under these conditions.

47.

What a run of high breaks we've had in this match.

Well, it would have been a worthy final, wouldn't it?

And I'm sure Sean Murphy will be somewhere watching this.

54.

Well, I've just heard in my ear, believe it or not,

Sean Murphy is in the practice room.

I'm sure keeping an eye on the big screen we have in there.

Just got into that too much.

-He wanted to be straighter on this red.

-61.

Safely in the centre of the pocket, though.

-APPLAUSE

-62.

Well, just look at the focus on Judd Trump's face there.

-Just a little cut back on this red...

-67.

..and we're going to be into a deciding frame.

What a match!

-And it's there.

-It's in!

-APPLAUSE

68.

The crowd determined and wanting to see another frame.

And barring snookers, it looks like

they're going to get that deciding frame.

Yeah, a quick glance at the scoreboard.

-Blue.

-Blue ball.

-CHEERING

-Wahey!

Stuart might have come back to the table,

but after that fantastic blue he'll stay in his seat.

This is awesome at the moment from the Juddernaut.

74.

-Oh, that might just spoil the century.

-81.

But that doesn't really matter.

In goes the plant. CHEERING

-82.

-Could we possibly have four centuries in five frames?

Well, I've never known it at this stage of the World Championship

for four centuries in five frames to be made.

-It's still going to be difficult, but it's still a possibility.

-88.

It's there.

CHEERING

-89.

-Unbelievable.

Absolutely unbelievable.

CHEERING Very well done, Judd Trump.

You couldn't have been under more pressure

at any stage in your career

-than you have been in the last half an hour or so.

-96.

And what have you done?

-You've made back-to-back centuries if this next colour goes in.

-97.

Remarkable.

Go on.

-CHEERING

-Absolutely incredible.

Ton up again.

-They've seen four tons in five frames.

-102.

-104.

-Willie, we'll have to fasten our seatbelts for the final frame.

107.

I'm almost having to pinch myself

to think what's happening in this match.

Stuart Bingham must have just thought,

-"Well, I'm surely going to get a good chance."

-111.

Well, that's a good point.

Because that's all Stuart will want in the final frame.

-You just want one chance.

-116.

Will he get it?

-122.

-This for a 15-red clearance.

Keep an eye on the cue ball.

-Come on!

-CHEERING

Absolutely top drawer.

A magnificent break of 129.

We're in for a decider in the semifinal of this year's

Betfred World Championship.

Both players leave the auditorium for a breather.

We need a breather in the commentary box. Quite fantastic.

Unbelievable.

Yes, an incredible four centuries in five frames.

Two from each man.

And it had all come down to

a pulsating decider on that Saturday evening.

The Crucible crowd enraptured

by the efforts of both men.

That's coming up a little bit short.

But there's nothing easy there for Judd to go at.

Well, could we possibly,

after having four centuries in five frames,

have a tactical deciding frame?

It doesn't matter what sort of frame we get.

It's going to be exciting.

He's just itching to take this red on,

but there is no path back into baulk.

He's just looking here if there is a gap.

There is a slight gap there.

But it's one of those gaps, if you get the pot, you get the gap.

But is it worth the risk?

Cos if you miss the pot, you're going to career into reds.

Well, look at that.

Beautiful Crucible Theatre.

And look at how the balls are situated.

He is having another look at that gap

I talked about a few moments ago.

But if he goes through the gap,

I'm not too sure that he could miss

the two reds that are on the cushion.

Well, the yellow's slightly in the way.

It's hampering his cue action there.

-CROWD GASPS

-Foul.

-Well, it's not all that bad.

-Stuart Bingham, four.

He wanted a thinner contact on that.

But he's got everything safe.

That's one way of getting that cue ball back up the table.

He wanted a thin snick on this.

But he'd rather have it in the pocket

than wobble in the jaws and stay there.

With his hand on the table, though, Stuart has the first chance

of playing a very telling safety shot here.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

It's all about missing the blue and brown,

him playing this next safety shot.

He'll be playing thin off this red he's closest to.

He'd like to get in between the gap of the brown and green.

Suppose you could play the one just below the pink.

But then of course you'd have to miss the kiss on the green,

if you play that one.

Whichever red he decides, can't afford to hit a baulk colour.

We could finish up

with quite a long, tactical frame, as I mentioned earlier.

After all the fireworks and both players having two century breaks,

but you never know how the frame is going to pan out.

This could be tension all the way.

It seems a pretty straightforward shot just to run up...

..between the green and brown.

I know he's trying to find a very awkward spot, but...

..it's pretty straightforward, you'll have to say.

And in the end he's hit the green, after thinking for so long about it.

Just the four points on the score

from the in-off that Judd had.

I mean, the last frames, they were all very quick frames.

The last four or five.

These two reds he's looking at, I don't think they're a plant.

He's having a glance.

That's the two that Stuart was looking at.

I'll tell you what, they go into the left of the pocket,

but he'd have to hit the left side of the first red

to be able to squeeze that.

So, it's not on from where he's sitting.

Well, what has he spotted?

Because he's marching round the table there.

Can he make that plant, do you think?

APPLAUSE

And that is very unlucky because he did pick out a little beauty there.

Wow. How did he get through that gap?

And he's unlucky to finish where he has.

-So, it's...

-The brown will cut back in.

Sorry, Dennis, yes, I was just going to say,

it's Stuart who's got the first chance.

But not a great scoring chance where the pink and black are.

There's a little bit of mileage in playing the brown into the pocket

and trying to just play the little cannon into the red and pink.

It's on from there.

Mmm. It's all about the brown here.

Right in the centre of the pocket.

How's the cue ball?

Oh, I think he's unlucky, you know.

I don't think he's dropped on anything.

Now, what does he see into that corner pocket?

Well, if he takes that on, he's going to screw back

with a little bit of safety in mind.

I mean, we've seen two frames.

One with plants...

-..and there's another.

-APPLAUSE

Six.

Slightly the wrong side of the blue,

but has a very good angle on this blue

to play in between green and brown.

Two cushions for those reds to the left of the pink.

Until he gets the pink or black into play, this is not ideal.

Well, how's your luck this time, Stuart?

Might be on the one to the right of the black spot.

Where does the colour come from?

He might just have a gap, you know.

If he pots this red... He's looking at it.

That's the gap that he's looking at.

So he might be able to get back up towards pink or blue.

The pink's tied up, but the white'll be coming towards that red and pink.

If he plays it plain ball, Den,

I think he can kiss into the red and pink.

Is that worth the risk?

He doesn't want to put any side on it

at this stage of the game, do you? When you're playing with the rest.

If he pots this plain-ball, he'll find the gap

and every chance that he could go through the other little gap

near where the cue ball is.

Or cannon into the red and pink.

But make sure of the pot.

He's played it with side.

Which made the pot more difficult.

12.

He still looks pretty calm and collected, does Stuart Bingham.

It has to be said.

He's looked like that throughout the whole

of this year's World Championship.

The biggest frame of his life.

The blue's available into the corner, or the middle.

Middle is his choice.

CROWD GASPS

-CROWD CHEERS

-Stuart Bingham, 12.

It's amazing.

The crowd knew that that blue wasn't in.

The crowd that were in line with the middle pocket knew before we did.

Stuart's had one chance.

Judd now has his chance.

APPLAUSE

-Well, what a bounce he's had off that cushion there.

-One.

He didn't expect the white to come this far up the table.

He's asking for the cue ball.

He's just looking at the cushion there.

He did get a fast bounce off it.

It wasn't the baulk cushion, it was the side cushion it flew off.

Look at that.

But he can get onto a red from the blue without any problem.

Can he get onto this red with an angle to bring the pink into play?

Mmm. That doesn't look like any good. Is it?

Tell you what, Willie, that was just pure adrenaline.

Because there's a couple of reds

that will go into the left corner pocket

and he just hit that far too hard.

Those reds to the left of the pink were available.

That was just pure adrenaline...

..that caused that.

Stuart's sitting in his chair.

He would imagine that he's going to come back to the table

after the next shot, unless Judd decides to play

this very dangerous red.

He's got a kick.

-He's got a horrendous kick.

-Judd Trump, six.

Let's have a look at this.

Yeah, the red jumped and straightened up.

And worse still, the pink's now available

into the right-hand, middle pocket.

But I don't think he's got an angle on the red

to be able to get onto that.

He may have to play up for blue or baulk colour.

Off the red in the middle.

It's all about the red next to the pink.

If he can go red, colour and then get on to that red

next to the pink, he'll have a chance to win frame and match.

APPLAUSE

-The wrong side of the blue, though.

-One.

But at least with those two reds to the left of the pink,

he can still leave a medium-length pot.

I'm not sure if they'll both pot.

One of them certainly will.

So, which of those two reds are available?

Six.

Well, he's coming round to see if he can get on the pink.

Just looks like he can play a little stun run-through

to get onto the pink in the middle.

-He's played it nicely.

-Seven.

-APPLAUSE

And this will just flick the other red away from there.

There's still three or four reds available.

Just the gentlest of flicks on that red.

Pink having to go on the black spot.

13.

Not a bad thing.

It's still available into the right corner.

Steve Davis came up with a great point in the studio

when he was saying that Stuart Bingham is so match-hardened,

he's played in every single tournament.

Yeah, but he hasn't played in anything like this,

the semifinal of the World Championship.

He's waited 20 years for this chance.

One of the best-liked players on the circuit.

Another example of tension there.

Played for the blue in the middle, look how far he's over-screwed it.

And you were right down the cue action there.

And it's gone wrong.

-Now he's looking at the cushion as well.

-18.

Just because of the red, Dennis,