Neil Robertson v Mark Selby, 2014 Snooker: World Championship

In 2014 at the Crucible, Neil Robertson of Australia

was a man on a mission.

And by the time he reached the semifinals,

he'd achieved at least part of that mission,

because he had fired in a remarkable 100 century of the season

in the earlier round, in the quarterfinal against Judd Trump.

It had elevated him to the world's number one spot

and now he was preparing to take on England's Mark Selby

in that semifinal.

This was by now a pretty familiar rivalry.

Only in December, the two had squared up in the

United Kingdom championship final - it had been won by the Aussie.

Best out of 33 with Mark Selby, you know, it's not going to be,

you know... There's going to be large parts of the match where you

have to sort of really compete with him tactically.

But, you know, I was on such a high after the quarterfinal

that I thought that I would just be able to kind of outpot him,

outscore him and, you know, I thought that sooner or later

I'd click in the session and I'd be able to maybe get on top of him.

I sort of expected it,

a really, really tough match which it turned out to be.

I mean, Neil's all-round game is second to none

and a lot of the time,

you leave him a long ball, more times than not, he pots it.

Now, by his own high standards, the former Masters and

United Kingdom champion Mark Selby was having a pretty quiet season.

He had reached two ranking finals but had yet to lift a trophy.

Well, the match was being contested by the world number one

and the world number two - it really doesn't get much better than that.

And it didn't disappoint.

Early on, Robertson sneaked ahead 2-1

and we're going to pick up the match

with Mark at the table in frame three.

COMMENTATOR: Ooh, it needs to run, that, and it has.

He can get to the black.

That was a pretty good shot.

Well, it goes without saying, this is missable.

APPLAUSE

We've seen two reds, Dennis, stop when they've hit the near jaw,

that's hit the far jaw.

There is Mark's wife, Vikki, giving him a round of applause because

I think they thought he possibly had missed this one as well.

And there's Vikki...

Give us a smile, Vikki.

-9.

-Well, he's got a terrific chance, that red,

it's to the left of the black.

If he could get that out of the way, well...

They're all sitting up there

and this is the frame before the mid-session interval.

A fascinating semifinal so far.

Yes, the young boy next to Vikki is Bobby,

he's come all the way from Hong Kong to watch this match,

he's been with Mark all week.

He used to live in Leicester.

70.

And this is an opportunity that Mark will be very,

very disappointed if he doesn't score 60 or above from here.

24.

25.

Oh, he's gone a little awkward.

-He's still...

-32.

-..got an alternate red to the right middle

but he just wanted to nudge those two

and he'd have an easy red into the left corner

but he's got to be a bit careful. That's awkward.

The two reds and the red that is next to the cue ball.

-Oh, well-played.

-32.

-APPLAUSE

And he had a perfect picture there, Dennis.

And any harder, I'm not sure this would have gone in.

I think one of the reasons these boys are at the top of their

world ranking is they can play tactical and safety battles,

and then when they get the chance, they haven't lost their rhythm.

-They can still score heavily.

-41.

Give himself a little bit more to do than he wanted here though.

He'd much rather not go in and out,

because those colours are always a bit tricky to get through.

And a nice capping between the yellow and brown

to play two cushions for choice of red.

Anywhere past there is perfect, and that's pretty good.

47.

Just have a look where he's put the cue ball.

He was putting that in an area where it's going to give himself

a choice of about four or five reds, believe it or not.

That's kicked. But it hasn't affected the shot this time.

This is on the pink and the red went in the pocket.

It's one of those kicks that can do you a favour sometimes.

That's actually slowed the cue ball down

and is absolutely perfect on the pink.

Without the kick it may have run through an extra two inches,

which would have been slightly more difficult.

He's made it absolutely straightforward for the red

on the left-hand side.

54.

55.

Yeah, the last frame he made a 54 break and should have won it.

He's sitting pretty here at the moment.

-That's OK. No problem.

-62.

Just needs red and a black to make absolutely certain.

63.

He's made 46 centuries this season.

That's going a little bit, but it just shows what Neil Robertson

achieved making 100 in a season.

70.

Yes, we haven't had the abundance of centuries

we normally have at the World Championships.

We've only had 45 in the Championship so far.

I think this is Mark Selby's third, should he go on to clear.

Amazingly, there was only 55 last year.

I mean, I think 80 is the record. 80 or 81.

78.

This all came from Neil Robertson's poor safety shot

when he misjudged the snooker he was trying to get out of.

Left with a very easy red.

When I say "easy", he played an aggressive shot into the pack

to try and bring the pink into play

and he was faced with a very difficult black.

Potted that and the rest has been pretty straightforward so far.

85.

He's made 335 centuries in his illustrious career.

92.

And this one coming just at the right time for Mark Selby.

I'm with you, I think two each is a true reflection of

the first four frames, you'd have to say.

100.

Very, very good. Selby adds to his tally of centuries.

And O'Kane might be a little disappointed

he didn't win the second frame to go 2-0 in front.

MAN SHOUTS

He's still there - that lone shouter.

Of course, Neil Robertson still holds the highest break

in this year's World Championship. That magnificent 140.

111.

115.

120.

One of the game's very, very best break-builders,

and this is a prime example of how to make a break from nothing.

126.

Well, what a fabulous first four frames we've had

in this second semifinal.

Both players appear to be in excellent form.

Selby clears with 133 to level the match at 2-2.

Yes, a fantastic century from the Englishman,

and he would go on to win the next three frames in a row

and open up a 5-2 advantage in this early stage of the contest.

Thank you. The final frame of this session.

Neil Robertson to break.

-COMMENTATOR:

-We all say, "You can't win a match in the first session

"but you can go a long way to losing it,"

and that's already the case here.

It's going to be tough to get back into a match

with someone like Selby if you go four frames behind early.

Neil Robertson breaking off in the final frame of this session.

Did it in the previous round, of course,

he lost the first session 6-2 and still came back to beat Judd.

Yeah, look where the red's finished up.

He thought, "I might just pop this and get myself on the black,"

but he didn't envisage pushing it over the middle pocket.

Needs to pull up.

1.

Make such a difference getting the correct side of the blue,

as we show you the white come back up the table

and needed to stop just about there.

And it kept on going,

but we know the sort of cue power that he possess,

so just have a look at the cue ball here.

It might split the reds even.

Have a look at that.

What a shot. He deserves to be on something here.

Brilliant shot.

I totally agree with you.

How he developed off the angle he had on that blue,

the pace to get into that pack -

that just shows you the cue power.

7.

14.

15.

Going into them here you would feel, if he can just arc round

and split them, he's got this red as a bit of insurance.

Just watch the power with this.

Yes.

I say "yes" - I hope the black's not covering the red.

No, he's OK. Just show you that spinning back.

23.

There's a very old saying, and I still love that saying,

you know,

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

And that's what Neil...

He's marching around the table at the moment.

Yes, he knows this is his best chance since the third frame

where he scored a few points to get a frame on the board.

And, as we've already mentioned, a massive frame for Robertson fans.

Played that nicely. Red at the back of the pack will pot.

28.

Needs an angle on the next black to get nice run on

the last remaining red at the back of the pack.

He's played that very nicely indeed.

He can screw that for the one red.

He can go into them, he can play for the one in the middle pocket.

-29.

-Three options here.

He also had a glance at the two reds,

just to make sure that they're not a plant.

And two reds to the right, he had a look at those on the way around.

He's got the angle to go straight into them.

He's got that easy red to play on.

The only thing is, if he takes this red

-and then decided to cannon into them...

-36.

..he's got no red as a bit of insurance.

Maybe the plant's on, you know.

It looks as if it's going to the left of the pocket,

but he's glanced at that on a couple of occasions.

37.

Now, as I say, if he risks going into the reds here...

he'll have to get lots of top spin,

arc the white to bring them into play.

He's usually pretty good at this type of shot.

I think he's just OK.

He's on this one for the left corner.

-44.

-Look at the white.

You can see the white arc into the reds.

Been better if he wasn't quite as close as this.

I think he's OK, though.

-Yeah, just about.

-45.

Any closer and he could have pushed that, but he played it well.

What a time to produce your highest break of the match so far.

Up until this frame, it was only 46.

He's come up a wee bit short here, though.

Can't avoid cannoning the other red there.

So he's got to give this a little bit of care and attention.

He's just looking to see when he cannons the other red.

Wants to make sure he leaves himself on the pink.

53.

-Just a few more pots needed.

-59.

-60.

-The blue will put him 65 in front.

So another red and colour after the blue would be enough.

Yeah, you hit the nail right on the head, didn't you?

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going,"

because this has been brilliant.

Been kept off the table for the last four frames.

And, at his first opportunity, closes the gap to within 2.

Just one more red needed.

That's the frame safe.

I'm going to ask you a little question after this red.

How many century breaks has Neil made this season?

Could be 101 in a minute.

And, in fairness, the way he's gone about this, he deserves 100.

-Selby made 133 in frame four.

-79.

To be fair, we've had everything in this session.

We've had some fabulous tactical play

that we seen in the early part of the match.

We've seen that magnificent 133 from Mark Selby, and now this.

It's building up nicely,

and it's still difficult to pick a winner of this one.

This is his possibly eighth century of the tournament, should he get it.

95.

96.

-APPLAUSE

-Very well done, Neil Robertson.

104.

You'd expect one of the players to win 5-3 at least in every session,

so it's not a problem, this.

110.

I think these boys won't have any problem sleeping this evening.

A good night's rest and back again tomorrow afternoon.

115.

As you rightly say, this has been a first-class session of snooker.

To produce this, having lost the previous four frames,

without really having a scoring chance.

Too much side, is it?

-Oh, no. He's OK.

-124.

Exhibition time.

APPLAUSE

Whoa! He couldn't quite reach it.

What a fantastic session of snooker from these two great players.

The number one,

the number three in the world have entertained this crowd.

They get a standing ovation for the first session.

Selby's done the important thing,

he takes a lead into the second session and that is by 5-3 frames.

Yes, Robertson's 101st century of the season reduced

the deficit to just two frames at the end of the opening session -

a session in which in truth had been dominated by his opponent, Selby.

But Robertson struck back again, winning the ninth,

and he's put his opponent in a bit of trouble here in the 10th.

He's hampered.

That will probably put him off playing the pot.

But striking down like that and he doesn't want this to sneak up behind

the yellow, otherwise it's a free ball for certainty.

Oh! Can you believe what's happening here?

Mark Selby must be thinking, "What have I done wrong?"

He found a gap earlier on that didn't look possible.

And there, he just missed the red, caught the bump of the middle pocket

and that's what drifted the cue ball behind the yellow.

That brown counts as a red, as we all know, with a free ball.

Colour to follow.

If you just watch this...

When he's missed it, it wouldn't have been a problem,

but it just caught that little angle and it just threw it out into

the middle of the table and nestled up behind the yellow.

Can't believe it.

Well, immediately, he tried to get onto the one to the right of

the black, but it's not quite come down far enough.

He's still on one at the back of the pack.

Just making sure that there might be another one.

Just having another look at the plant.

If the plant's a certainty he can just get on the pink

and that will help,

or maybe get up to the blue this time cos

the red is in the way of the pink.

That plant was always there, wasn't it?

But where Mark Selby had a look before, as we look at Neil,

he's come very straight on this blue.

But the blue's an easier pot than the pink.

I'm not certain about the availability of

the black to the right corner.

But pink in the middle of the table, no problem playing for that.

That tells me that the black doesn't go to the right corner.

And, once again, he's come up a little short on this blue.

I'm really surprised he doesn't just play it slow with check side here,

the cue ball, there you can see the angle on the blue,

but play for the pink in the middle.

Gave himself a little bit to do now for the next shot.

This was the shot. He had a perfect angle, little bit of left-hand side.

It would have been within 18 inch of the pink.

Yeah, and if you're just too hard on the pink, you'd be on the blue,

but just played it plain ball.

This is why he's finished closer to the cushion.

But the fact he's straight on the blue...

..doesn't have much room to manoeuvre, maybe that's why

he's looking at the red on the right-hand side of the table.

15.

Be playing for the pink this time.

He'd like to be straight on the pink so he can just roll it in

and then play the red to the right of the black

because there's plenty of room.

I think the red that's two down from the pink

will pot in the corner as well. He's just having a look at that one.

He's played for that one first.

-22.

-That's the red he's played for.

Yeah, and we know he's got to play for the pink,

or the blue, but the black at the moment is not available.

-So still in for the pink.

-23.

Just got an angle.

Now, you'd think the red, he'd like to play,

and he's just pointing there.

And potting this red.

-And obviously...

-29.

..in a few shot's time, the black will be available into this corner.

30.

And that looks absolutely inch-perfect on the pink.

-36.

-39 points to lead.

-It's not a straightforward run to the line.

-37.

This pink will put him 46 points in front, but still 75 remaining.

One or two precise positional shots still needed.

Now, this may be a little pacy.

Don't know whether he can get through to the one that's nearest

the pocket, in-between the black and the red.

The other one pots, obviously, but it's not a nice angle.

Looks like he can get through to that one

and that will open the black into both pockets.

And now I think he's going to win the frame with this.

The one three down from the pink

will pot in the left-hand side as well.

If he gets perfect on that, it will be end of frame.

Yeah, but when his cue ball is travelling distances,

never guaranteed perfect position on the next ball.

He looks to have played this very well.

-That's perfectly played.

-46.

This red, the black.

And one more red. That's all that's required.

This black will put him 57 points in front,

with a possible 59 remaining.

Mark's not had a lot of luck in this frame, but he has had the chance.

He'll know.

He's got to be pretty concerned

at having the lost the first two frames,

or possibly going to lose the first two frames,

but hasn't done an awful lot wrong, to be fair.

When you're playing against a world-class player, you can expect

to have times where you're going to be sat there for quite some time.

Have to wait. Looks pretty good, he's on the red.

54.

And just this red to go 58 ahead with only 51 remaining.

-55.

-Perfect angle on the black now.

Just to flick the left-hand of the two reds towards the middle

and bound to be the one in the corner.

Now he can concentrate on making century number 102 for the season.

62.

63.

Looks a bit bemused there, the bounce he had off the top cushion,

but I've got to be fair, this table's played a lot better than...

the tables that were at the quarterfinal stage.

Off the top cushion.

Those kind of shots were bouncing nearly all the time.

Just keeps so still on every shot, doesn't he?

Gets through the ball, that piston-like action he's got.

78.

If the red goes in, you would expect a century.

79.

He's a century machine, this boy, at the moment.

86.

88.

If he gets this, this will be his ninth century

at this year's World Championship.

-91.

-That's the number that Ronnie O'Sullivan's on.

When he got the 100, of course, everything now he's going to set

the standard for everybody to try and beat.

The blue goes in.

Well, another flawless break. Needed a second chance.

He was given a second chance by Selby.

But the rest was perfect.

Neil Robertson wins the first two frames to level the match at 5-5.

'Yes, it's all square.'

And despite that onslaught of heavy scoring from the Australian,

Selby has summoned all that trademark grit and fight

and in fact won three of the next four frames

to lead 9-6 as we head into the 16th.

Mark Selby, even though he's in front,

his safety has got to improve.

He hasn't been finding the baulk line.

Until now. This looks perfect.

That's the best safety shot he's played for the afternoon.

He thought when he played that red it wasn't a lot of danger,

but as I say, take nothing for granted at this game, and that red

he played has somehow found its way over the middle pocket.

And he was able to control it.

So, nicely on you'd think the green.

Just gives you a better angle to get the cue ball back to this end.

This looks inch perfect.

Well, it goes without saying, it's not a great pack to go into from

the black, but he possesses a wonderful amount of cue power.

You'll see this cue ball arc.

Once again, needs a half ball kiss,

not a full ball kiss on these bottom reds.

This time he's got the half ball kiss.

Just on the arc he gets on this as well.

Suddenly takes off and kisses exactly half-ball.

Couldn't have turned out better.

13.

Potting angle for the blue, but once again, nicely on the green.

And he'll know the magnitude of this frame.

He's won the first session 5-3. If he can win this frame...

..then he'll have won this session 5-3.

And that 93% pot success is exactly the type of pot success

that Ronnie O'Sullivan is producing in the other semifinal.

Doesn't appear like that watching it, does it?

Whenever he's played safe, he's obviously not taking a pot on.

Yeah, I don't think he's missed many easy balls,

it's just he's ran out of position a few times.

And, of course, when you run out of position, it's not a mispot,

you play safe.

25.

He'll play the kiss on the outside red,

the red in the middle of those three above the black pot.

If not, he'll go into them.

It's a lot of screw back, and I think he may have a result here.

-The red pot's in the yellow pocket.

-32.

-You made it sound easy...

-No, I didn't say that.

Look at the spin he had on the ball there.

But he's taking it on.

And it's there.

He had enough to do a lot with the cue ball.

But the pot was difficult.

And good set up.

A frame-winning chance.

Hasn't done it in one frame all afternoon.

There's every chance he can do it here,

right at the right time.

What a kick that was.

Luckily for Mark, with such a terrible kick,

it's not too bad, if he just pot the blue,

but if that red wasn't over the middle pocket,

you see that ball bouncing all over the place, it would now be

almost out of position and not be able to continue the break.

I think he can just roll this in.

Yeah, sometimes you get those kicks and, as you say,

it could be end of break.

But just going to drop this blue in,

doesn't have to do anything with the cue ball.

Was able to do that, so still on track...

..to have a four-frame advantage at the end of this second session.

And a night off to recuperate as well,

-because this has been a tough battle this afternoon.

-47.

Oh, it's been hard-match snooker.

And spare a thought for the referee, our referee Olivier Marteel.

I mean, he's got to concentrate on every shot.

He doesn't have little times sat down.

I was talking to him mid-session break and...

he said, "I really got to have my wits about me because there's

"a lot of safety,"

and a lot of things that he's got to keep his eye on.

And he's done well this afternoon.

53.

This black will bring 60 points in front, with 75 remaining.

THEY GASP

Didn't see that one coming.

-Mark Selby - 53.

-Didn't see that.

I can only think he changed his mind there.

He's was thinking about playing for the loose red

and all of a sudden thought, "Well, I can't miss the black.

"I will just play to get the four reds into play."

Yeah, as you say, when he pots the black, gets on the loose red,

pots that and another black, he'd have been snookers-required.

What's he left?

Well, the key thing is he's got the black safe.

I mean, he's been very fortunate there, hasn't he?

Well, I think he's got a choice of reds.

I think he can get through to the one to the left middle...

..which would offer him easy position on the pink.

Plenty of points to play with.

1.

Doesn't need a black off any of these reds.

But to win it at this visit...

..he'll need the black to win the frame,

if he gets that far.

Yeah, that's been Mark Selby's Achilles heel this season.

We know he's been playing great snooker.

When he gets to a frame ball sometimes, he's just not...

He just gets a little clinchers disease. He never used to have that.

He used to always clear up when the balls were in this position.

But he's just got that little bit of doubt when he knew it was

an important frame, just quit on that a little bit.

While we were looking at Mark and that black he missed,

Neil Robertson wasn't having a worrying moment because

the referee was trying to get the pink on its spot,

it just wouldn't go on.

It's back on the black spot.

If it had gone on its own spot, he may have been on nothing.

8.

Played that well.

Just wants to get through the gap.

Doesn't want to risk any kisses here.

The right-hand gap of the three reds would be the better one.

Somebody just moving in the crowd.

Will you please sit still in the crowd?

He does notice this a lot more than any other players,

Neil Robertson, I've got to be honest.

-NEIL SIGHS

-Come on.

Jesus.

The lady just putting something in her handbag.

That was the problem there. But she's stopped now.

Yeah, I mean, that's what creates the atmosphere

of the theatre of snooker.

You've got to be very careful and frightened to breathe sometimes.

But it all adds to the atmosphere.

No place like the Crucible.

Semifinal of the World Championship, one table.

15.

Would have liked another two inches of pace there

to get a little bit closer to the pink,

but could nudge that red into play here if he wants to.

That's what he's tried. And hasn't...

Oh, he has! He's suddenly gone favourite in this frame.

21.

32 points behind.

Three reds, three pinks.

Up from 11 points behind, so he can win this frame without the black.

22.

If he was to take pinks with his reds, he would not need the black.

28.

29.

35.

36.

Well, this will really be a body blow for Mark Selby.

He was right in the balls.

He's still going to be reasonably pleased to have got level

out of this session, but...

46.

Yes, I usually say position from brown to blue is important,

but he only needs up to and including the pink.

50.

A little bit straighter on this blue would have been ideal,

but he's down quick, so he's happy with it.

55.

Well, what a pinch that was.

Selby was 52 points in front.

Missed a very easy black, as we've shown you a couple of times.

Robertson replies with 61 to close within 2.

He's delighted. Selby disappointed.

It's 9-7.

I remember him missing the black.

It was pretty much frame ball and then I did a really good

clearance because obviously 10-6 and 9-7 is a massive difference.

That was to end the evening session as well,

so 9-7 going into the next day, I felt very, very confident.

It was a big difference.

I've had two-frame lead or four-frame lead

and especially in the occasion, what it was.

You're sort of, after staying in the moment, I mean, if somebody had

said to me, "You'd be 9-7 up after two sessions," you'd have took that.

That's why I was trying to stay positive, even though

at the same time, I know I had a couple of chances probably to

go 10-6, but I was still happy with 9-7.

30-year-old Selby's strength of character

and determination was shining through.

Remember, this is the man who seven years earlier had got to a

Crucible final, only to lose it to John Higgins.

Well, as we went into the afternoon's session,

Selby opened up with a break of 104 to take him 10-7 in front.

It looked good, but back came the Australian.

10-10. 12-12,

until finally in frame 26 the Australian

had his nose in front for the first time since the third frame.

It will be interesting, whoever does win this semifinal

and particularly if it goes right to the wire,

how much will it take out of them going into that final tomorrow.

In fact, Ronnie is already in there waiting the winner.

He'll be nice and refreshed,

but these guys could be here quite late, playing to a finish here.

It would be very interesting.

At least there's no morning session tomorrow,

so they can have a little lie in and hopefully get a good night's sleep.

Because whoever wins this match, they know they're going to have to

play at their very best, the way O'Sullivan's playing.

O'Sullivan yet to have a bad session. Now, normally in a

World Championship, very rarely do you go through

the whole session... Another fabulous pot.

And that's another example of Ken and I saying,

"Well, one of them is going to have to push the boat out."

Looks like Robertson's decided to do that.

4.

5.

The first red, as you can see,

sticking out of the bottom of the pack.

Doesn't have to go into them.

12.

13.

Playing a nice shot there. Actually played it on both reds.

One into the left corner, if he overscrewed it.

And this one into the right corner.

Now, can he just stun that red in and miss the pack

and stay on the black?

He has a nice angle on this red. OK, he's using the rest,

but the red that's open to the left corner pocket, he has a nice angle.

He'll be using the rest and a little bit more difficult,

but he does have a nice angle here.

Screw back up for the blue, try and bring some more reds into play.

21.

Brought another couple of reds to the right of the pink here.

-25.

-Let's have a look. Watch the cue ball spin.

Wonderful slow motion camera.

All throughout the Championship, Neil has obviously had the ability

and obviously the temperament just to turn the switch now and again.

He did it against Mark Allen when he was trailing 9-7 frames

and 11-9, he just played flawless snooker.

Did it again in his next round when he was against Trump.

He never missed the ball in the last four frames.

And Judd must have been absolutely dumbfounded to sit

and not have a shot for four games.

He looks like he's in that frame of mind again at the moment,

so Mark Selby is going to probably just have to push the boat out

a little bit cos he's not winning the safety battle at the moment.

So maybe have to just be tempted with a long one

that he normally wouldn't take.

32.

33.

Lots of top spin here on the cue ball.

Needs a good split.

Has he got it?

Has this red available.

-40.

-No.

What's worse, the red is gone close to the middle pocket.

Nice arc, but just didn't get enough top spin on the cue ball.

Neil Robertson - 40.

Good length with the cue ball.

That little nudge on the brown.

Half a chance now for Mark.

Oh, that's a nice shot.

That's a better pot.

That will give him a bit of confidence.

Needs the cue ball to slow up, and it has. Excellent shot.

Bar from the little flick on the black there,

that's the first bit of luck Mark's had this evening. It's a great pot,

but just watch the way it just kisses into the black.

And that's just slowed the cue ball down.

Just flicked the black.

If that hadn't have happened, the cue ball would have been in baulk

and he would have been playing a safety shot,

so there's a marvellous angle on the yellow to go into them.

Ken has put a line up there. That's the one he'll be playing.

And this looks perfect. Got to be on a red here, surely.

Nothing nice.

3.

Well, he's unlucky.

He's on this red into the right centre,

but the pace he played that yellow,

as we see the yellow again, I mean...

You would have to say you'd think he'd have something

a little bit easier than this.

-Good pot.

-4.

Nice little kiss on the blue.

He would love to take that red away, the one that's close to

the right-hand corner pocket, really wants to get that one out of the way

and get the black back on its spot.

The beauty of the shot of the yellow, he must have been

a little bit downhearted that he potted a great red in the middle.

And he deserves exactly what he gets from here which...

should be a frame opportunity, but he's 31 points behind.

If it wasn't at such a crucial stage of the game,

we'd say he would be favourite to win the frame, but I'm a bit

reluctant to say that at the moment till Mark just settles a little.

10.

Just playing for choice of reds here.

The one that Ken mentioned he'd love to get rid of,

but if he's not, he's on the one...

He can play on the pink and the blue at the moment,

but he will get rid of that red row very soon.

Decided to be now.

Just going to make sure he gets high on the black.

He doesn't want to be playing the black and going away from the reds.

He wants to be high on the black here.

Yeah, he'd rather risk hitting it too hard.

16.

Not too bad. He can just roll his black in

and take the red just to the right of the black spot

into the opposite corner pocket, if he wishes.

This will open the black up to both pockets now.

23.

24.

Well, isn't that amazing, Ken?

Having played 25 frames, they've scored exactly 1389 points each.

But the key stat is that Robertson is one frame in front.

Yes, and what a big frame this would be for Mark Selby to steal.

32.

This undoubtedly is the best that Mark Selby has played all season,

and that's tough to say

when you consider he's got to a couple of finals,

but he's not been scoring his normal way until this World Championship.

When he's looked like winning a frame,

he's had all season where he's been missing crucial balls.

This week he's looked a lot more like his old self.

That's what he's played for.

The one in the middle, and what a beautiful shot.

Cued that...

He would have been playing that with disappointment,

the disappointment of the kick in the previous shot.

But to play that was perfect.

This is the biggest shot of the frame.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Well, it doesn't get better than this.

Robertson needed one chance in the previous frame, made 74.

-Needed two chances here and didn't take them.

-53.

And this break from Selby has been right out of the top drawer.

54.

Decided to go for blue.

In fact, the brown is off the spot as well.

I'm not quite sure. He might be able to just hole it.

Yeah. Just about holed it.

Now, 19 ahead.

Yellow and green to leave Neil Robertson needing a snooker.

What an excellent break this has been.

Similar in a way to Neil Robertson, as you said. Fantastic long red.

Well, he's made 48 centuries this season.

And this break has been as good as any one of those centuries.

And it won't be a century, there's a possible 86 on.

But the key thing here is just potting green and brown

and making sure, and this has been, for me, one of the best breaks

he's had all season. Excellent.

68.

73.

Will certainly be feeling a lot better

winning frames like this for Mark Selby.

-Just what he needed.

-79.

Black goes in for a wonderful break of 86.

And the cue ball goes in as well.

A total clearance.

But more importantly, Mark Selby wins the frame.

And we're level all again.

13 frames all.

Frame 27 was long and drawn out,

but it was Selby who prevailed to lead once more. 14-13.

Into the next we go, the Englishman 20 points in arrears here.

He was half an inch away from getting past the blue spot.

Now, Neil, you're going to have to dig deep again.

He's only 20 points in front.

He's blessed with unbelievable bottle, this young man.

It will be interesting to see where the pink goes.

The pink spot is definitely covered, but is there room on the black spot?

He's just having a look.

If the pink goes on the black spot he may have...

Well, it does, so he may not take the pink here.

Problem is he doesn't have much of a choice. The blue...

Does he the natural angle to go inside the yellow

and around the back of it?

I think at the pace he's playing, he's probably thinking,

"I'm going to throw the white wide and probably kiss into the yellow."

If he plays just at a natural pace I can't see him kissing the yellow.

I think if he had a look at the black spot before he actually took

the red on he may have hit that cue ball a lot harder

and be up the other side of the blue.

Just going to have on the blue only at the minute now

because pink and black are going to be out of play.

-7.

-I'm just wondering, this black may still be potable into this

bottom right-hand corner pocket.

There may be a gap between those two reds.

8.

It's not nice on the blue.

He didn't have a look at the black and it does pot.

He could have got on the black that time.

At the moment he's just not fully concentrating.

He's concentrated on no missnooker, hasn't he?

Didn't have a look at all the options that time.

Blessed with a lot of cue power.

If he bounces this in he should be able to miss the in-off.

Probably see the white bounce here just to alter the line.

Played it well.

13.

Yeah, there you see the cue ball bounce.

It's amazing, Ken, isn't it, how much you can move them

by playing it that way? If you don't get the white bouncing there

it obviously goes in a straight line.

He's played it that way so it could just come off a straight line.

Couldn't have played it better.

-14.

-Just a little bit short.

Would love to have been a bit straighter on this black.

This is one of those that you either win the frame or lose the frame

with this kind of shot.

It's there.

APPLAUSE

Played it well.

21.

Held it nicely for the red into the opposite corner pocket.

-Now, proud of his top side of the blue.

-22.

Considering the frames have been a little bit messy, Ken,

the standard of potting has been quiet remarkable in this frame.

You think having been kept out a lot of safety play,

your cue action would disappear a little bit.

Boy, they're both playing at the top of their game.

Yeah, they certainly are.

Just a little heavy contact, but he's OK.

Just took a bit of the pace of the cue ball.

-And the fact he's got a 47 point lead, he can concentrate...

-27.

..on reds and blues here.

28.

He can play a little cannon on the three reds next to the pink spot.

No.

The top one obviously pots but it's not the best shot he's ever played.

Still OK, but...

..just a little bit more awkward.

Good pot.

Once again, not perfect, with that little flick on the red,

may have brought the red into play. He could have played in the middle.

He didn't play the kiss. He played to go around the back of those.

If he gets this and gets on a colour he can get the two reds, two colours

he needs to be enough in front in this frame...

..to level again at 14 all.

That's high, isn't it?

It's turned a little bit.

Wow!

When he set off, it was high.

Very rarely on these super-fine cloths... Look at that.

These super fine cloths - very rare do they pull in.

It seemed to pull in a bit there, Ken.

Yeah, just with the pace.

Still going to need a good pot on the black.

Just got back a few shots ago when he didn't take the blue,

-come into those three reds.

-47.

The top one was on, but he didn't play that blue well.

He's been struggling ever since but he's getting near the winning line.

Just this red.

67 ahead.

65 left, so this red will put him 68 ahead with 67 left on the table.

It's in.

-And this has been good stuff from both players.

-48.

Very, very high standards. Neither player giving an inch.

And another super long pot that may make Mark Selby not continue.

53.

Neil Robertson, 53.

Well, Mark's come to the table, but a tall order.

73 points behind. 76 remaining.

Should be able to hit this.

All these reds, still enough to swing it around two cushions

and get in behind the green.

Maybe he feels... Can he miss the pink here?

Hmm, that's different.

GROANING

APPLAUSE

Look at that little beauty.

Easy escape.

Big target, the four reds.

If he can miss the kiss on the red,

he should get very close to get in the behind the green this time.

Needs it tight.

GROANING

Excellent queueing again from Neil Robertson

and that will certainly secure the frame.

Watch it again. Look how still his head stayed.

-Six.

-Well, we said many times this match,

that all the hallmarks are going right down to the wire.

-Seven.

-And at the moment, it's proving to do so.

Great match snooker from both players this evening.

Good safety, good long pots, and some good breaks under pressure.

12.

Well, he's missed the red, but Mark Selby gives the nod.

Neil Robertson takes the frame, and once again both players are level,

as they go off for the mid-session interval. It's 14 frames apiece.

-That's enough now.

-The final session of this match.

Frame 29, Mark Selby to break.

Obviously Mark Selby hopes it's only three frames,

as does Neil Robertson,

but you can see this match going all the way.

Match time, ten hours 50.

Not the best break-off from Mark Selby. He'll be disappointed.

He's seen Neil Robertson take a lot of these similar pots on

this evening, and get them.

I have to say, this is a half chance for Neil Robertson already.

Excellent shot.

He just doesn't miss many of those type of pots.

And have a look at the angle he has on the black - absolutely perfect.

Straight into the pack. Hold for the red into...

..one of the corner pockets.

Oh, well...

Wow. What happened there?

SHOUTING

That was very strange.

Let's have a look at this again.

He just seemed to stun it.

And look at the spin he had on the cue ball.

It's like an arc having hit the pack, after the fact.

Usually you get the arc before you go into the pack.

That time he got that time he got the arc having hit the pack.

Just a little movement in the crowd.

Mark's obviously going to play a stun shot onto the blue -

push the blue a little bit closer to the middle.

He decided not to nudge the blue.

Exactly the same thing,

just getting onto the blue to either pocket is good enough.

Again, another clean pot, right into the heart of the pocket.

Look at this.

It's always that wonderful noise when it hits the leather,

right in the centre of the pocket. It's got that lovely clicking sound.

Long-pot success. Mark Selby, 69%.

Neil Robertson just ahead, 72%.

Seven.

Just have a look at this. I'm not sure what exactly happened there.

Amazingly, he had that much spin on it,

when it hit the pack it arced and went in.

It's lucky to go in-off, obviously,

but I don't think I've ever seen a white

go in-off from a stun into the pack, I don't think I've ever seen

a white screw back off the pack for the stun and go in the corner.

Now, Mark Selby once again has got a chance to get a sizeable lead,

or even win the frame at this visit.

Can he take the lead again?

22.

He's so good at that shot as well, isn't he?

He gets a lot of backspin on it. Let's watch the cue ball here.

I've got to be honest,

only O'Sullivan plays that shot as good as Mark. That is his best shot.

He gets through the ball as good as any player in the game,

and it's still pushing those reds, pushing them out.

23.

He made a century in frame 17...

to go 10-7 in front.

-This is an excellent chance of possibly...

-28.

..get a frame-winning break at least from here.

What an auditorium this is.

No better place to watch. No better place to play.

No better place to commentate.

36.

37.

Just look at those four reds,

lined up nicely into the right-hand corner pocket.

Doesn't have to do much with the cue ball.

-The red into the left-hand corner pocket would just...

-44.

..open things up.

And even more, just gets that out of the way.

Still on a red into the right-hand corner, if he wishes.

45.

He wants to be almost straight on this red,

and I think he's just about OK.

He wants to hold it,

almost keep the cue ball where the red is now, that he's about to pot.

48.

Well, the good standard of this evening's session continues.

Neil Robertson started off with a fantastic red.

Very unlucky to go in-off and having the contact there.

-54.

-This has been a brilliant break from Mark Selby.

The applause from the crowd telling us he is 67 in front, with 67 on.

Needs the red to once again take the lead in this incredible match,

in this incredible final session. It's like a boxing match, isn't it?

It is blow for a blow.

He knocks one to the canvas, then he gets up

and knocks you to the canvas.

Well, he deserves it from here.

He was a little unlucky, when he went into the pack,

I don't know how he went in-off.

But once again, neither player would have had a chance to win a

frame this evening. They've took the bull by the horns and gone for it.

Nine out of ten times they've done it.

That's the first time either player has played a bad shot.

He's brought that red into play, and missed the kiss.

What a magnificent break of 77.

A little bit unlucky, Neil Robertson,

but Selby came to the table and made a frame winning break of 77,

and once again takes the lead at 15-14.

I know I was a little bit unlucky in patches.

It was low on the black to screw into the pack,

and he screwed into the pack and the white came off the pack

and went in one of the black pockets.

I think I managed to pot a good long red and seemed to win the frame,

and if Neil gets a good split, he probably wins the frame

and it could be a different result at the end of it.

Just one slip could cost him the match.

And that's exactly what I'm talking about.

One little shot like that and half a chance for Mark Selby.

GROANING

Yes, Neil managed to get the cue ball

near enough the cushion to make a difficult pot.

Well, there's another mistake.

You see, every shot he's playing now,

there's a bit more pressure on it.

And this is the chance Mark Selby was waiting for.

Could that be his last shot he's played

in this year's championship, Neil Robertson?

He needs a kiss on the blue.

It's not bad.

Is there a red, maybe the one just above the black?

The only one he looks like he can get on, and of course

the angle he's screwing this blue in, the white's going to come pretty

close to the cushion, so he's not going to be faced with an easy red.

Maybe screw two cushions to get to the one below the black,

that might be a better choice.

He's developed an angle. He did very well there.

This is a magnificent chance to get a few points on the board.

Six.

I would have loved to have been dead straight on this red,

he could just roll the red in,

and stay for the black into the opposite corner, but you see the

angle, he's running into the other red, so he can't play that shot.

I was expecting a little kiss off the red. He's still OK,

he's going to miss this red behind the black.

He needs it to slow down.

-14.

-He put so much into the black, it was a difficult black,

to be fair, in this situation, the way the frame was.

And he put so much concentration into the black,

he just let the white run free.

He was playing for that red that pots in the middle of them.

-He can't hit enough of it now.

-It's pure adrenaline, isn't it?

Absolutely. Ken, you've been there many times,

and you've got to make sure you don't miss the black,

that's the first thing, but he just caught the red, which may have

taken the pace off the white as far as going off two cushions.

Can't really get in behind the green, but at least he can find

the cushion right behind the brown.

This might kiss the brown. This is not good.

That's a poor safety. He couldn't get behind the green.

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

What a shot that was.

Under the pressure, and fully committed.

Have a look at this.

Played it with lots of bottom, just to control the pace of it,

and hold for the black.

Well, if he could hold for the pink into the opposite middle,

he may like to do so.

Still another couple of reds available after this...

red he's going to pot into the bottom-right corner pocket.

He decided to go off the blue, and that's not good. That's a poor shot.

As long as he leaves this red so he can reach it without using the rest,

the way he pots, you would expect him to knock this red in.

But he hasn't got the best.

He can run it in and get on the black,

but that may be a little bit too tense to play that.

He may decide to play for the blue, but he's playing with topspin.

Very good.

There was a bit of pressure in that one.

And this will certainly help matters,

getting rid of this red behind the black spot.

-23.

-Two reds either side of the pack of reds

pot into both corner pockets,

so he won't be going into the pack of reds here.

Showing a lot of character here at the moment, Neil Robertson.

-A nice angle on this red now.

-30.

Can disturb the bunch and bring some more into play.

-That's a great shot. Fantastic.

-APPLAUSE

A little bit lucky, Ken, he hasn't got topside of the blue.

The red next to the pink will pot, and he's going to have to leave that

at distance - well, a distance he doesn't really want to,

but he's got no choice.

36.

-37.

-This is good stuff.

43.

Just one missed snooker. If you miss, you find yourself struggling.

He's gone 30 points in front,

and just a glance at the scoreboard, to be sure, four reds, four colours.

Three reds, three colours is close to being enough.

Good effort, this, from Neil because he's been frozen

out in the last two frames, and he's scored 30 points.

What a time to rediscover your potting boots.

They both have a 90% pot success rate at this stage of the match.

-It's going to go 16-15 here.

-58.

Usually you can almost guarantee winning the match

if you have over 90%. One of these is going to have over 90% and lose.

Getting close to the winning line now, in this frame.

50 points ahead.

59 remaining.

65.

That's the frame now.

And this has been a wonderful effort from Neil Robertson. Has to be said.

-72.

-Shown a lot of courage, like a true champion.

What he's doing as well, of course, is making Mark Selby think,

you know, "How can I get rid of this man?"

You know, Mark had first chance in that frame, lost position.

73.

79.

80.

As we know, he's passed the 100 century mark. Now on 102.

Half a chance to get one more.

Half a chance to make his 10th of this tournament.

86.

Well, I know O'Sullivan has been the player of the tournament,

without any question, but either of these two players

surely are going to get very, very close against Ronnie.

This has been such a good standard.

94.

96.

The century-breaking machine just needs the brown.

APPLAUSE

Absolutely brilliant, and how this Crucible crowd love a century.

Under the circumstances, Willie, this is his 103rd century,

but under the circumstances this would be possibly one of his best.

He certainly enjoyed this one more because he's got it

under the utmost of pressure.

He was facing match against him there,

and he produced that magnificent break of 108

to close again within one. Are we going to go all the way?

It's now 16-15.

Thank you. Thank you.

Do you think this packed Crucible Theatre want a final frame?

You betcha.

But Mark Selby and his legion of supporters, who have just

travelled 70 miles up the motorway, they'd love it to be over here.

What an incredible session it has been, it really has.

And just looking down the line of the shot.

I'm just wondering will he take it on or just play the containing

safety shot?

Probably just wasn't straight enough...to have a go at it.

Now, then. Has the brown come to his rescue?

It certainly looks like it has.

If it hadn't, he'd be taking this pot on

with the yellow and blue being there.

And Mark can be a very aggressive safety player as well.

I don't know whether he can see enough of this red to play

the red into the pink.

Then screw the white back. Cos it's not easy to get back into baulk.

Maybe... Does he have an angle to screw it into the blue?

Yes, that's a thought, isn't it? He can't quite see enough of it,

but he can certainly see enough of it to screw into the blue.

That's what he's playing, Ken, I think. Let's have a look again.

It's too risky just to play the thin cut and leaving the white

at this end of the table because the red above the black will clip in.

I think he might have to play your choice, Ken, do you think?

I think he has enough of the ball to just screw into the blue.

The only problem is, should the blue go down into the pack of reds,

it may knock a red over either the corner pocket,

and that's probably what he's a little bit scared of.

He won't have much idea where the red's going to end up

if he does play into the blue.

Can't quite tell from that picture

whether he's playing into the blue or thin one.

Into the blue.

Ken's choice and, boy, has he hit that absolutely perfect.

A good shot.

I would love to have got the cue ball tighter to this baulk cushion.

I think this is a little bit too risky to have a go at.

If he stuns it in powerfully, then comes round

the back of the black for the black in the left-hand corner,

he could get away with it if he plays a shot to nothing,

but he's looking at the pack of reds

and doesn't appear to fancy the long pot at all.

Normally this shot would be a stun off one cushion for the black in the

same pocket as he is playing the red in, but that would be too dangerous.

Well, he's playing the pot, I think.

Yes, he played to come round the back of the black.

In that side of the table there's not a lot on.

But where he's finished, this may be attempted to cut this red in,

just above the black, I don't know whether he can see enough of it.

Obviously not.

A few murmurs from the crowd,

because you know when Robertson's faced with a long pot, he would

normally take it on, but he can't this time, can't get past the blue.

He'd be kissing into the red, should he pot it.

So he'll be playing a safety shot here.

Those three balls are lined up at the back of the pack.

Will he push one over the corner here?

He played it superfine, so he didn't.

Excellent safety shot.

APPLAUSE

Yep. Pretty good.

Again, same scenario for Mark Selby.

He'll be coming down to have a look to see

if any of these reds are going to go over the left-hand corner pocket.

Great shot, Selby.

Thank you.

It was pretty good, all right.

That little flick on the brown helped as well.

Because it covered the red down the right-hand side of the table.

Is there an edge of the pack... either side?

He can hit them extremely thin on the left-hand side of the pink,

but the red that's tight on the cushion, that might come into play.

Coming up to a minute very shortly on this shot,

and this is a tough safety shot to play.

The red on the cushion, he's got to miss that.

Oh, dear. And at first glance it's not an easy opener.

That's unusual to see a poor safety shot.

Mark Selby just looked to his friends

and family in one of the balconies to say,

"I'm a little bit unlucky not to have an easier pot than this,"

but it's a lot better playing from here

than it would be tight on the top cushion.

It was always going to be tough to get through that gap.

Going to have to go full-blooded at this,

knowing that if you miss it you're going to leave it on.

Well, he can play it in such a way that the yellow is always

over the left-centre pocket.

He'll be playing this with a bit of safety in mind.

That certainly worked. Is he on the yellow?

Has the green blocked his path? I think he's OK.

Looks just about OK.

-Brown is pottable as well.

-Brown ball.

-Well, he likes the brown.

Just watch this red.

Can he get onto the two reds just above the black?

If he does, it's a great chance for frame and match.

If he gets on those reds above the black.

He hasn't.

If he can just cut that one in, Ken, the top one of the two.

Well, we spoke about fractions, didn't we, in the last frame?

Fractionally just on this red.

A good shot.

-Wants the cue ball to slow up.

-Six.

He's having to work for this break.

Again, red left of the black.

That will be his target, or even the one just above it.

-He's got to be careful.

-Not easy, Ken.

A little bit of tension in the air.

He can flick a bit of side onto this.

It's there.

Now, how's the cue ball? How's the cue ball?

Needs a nice kiss on the red.

It's still not perfect! It's unbelievable,

talking about fractions.

I don't think you can get through the gap of the black

and the red to get onto the black in the same pocket.

Well, Viks, it doesn't get any tighter than this, love.

Can he get the gap?

He has done. Can he get a bounce just to make the black easy?

Still not perfect.

Still needs a good shot to get onto the next red comfortably.

There is only about a quarter of a ball of the red.

The red just to the left of the two reds above the black, there is

just a fraction of room here.

He can play it in such a way, if he misses the kiss,

he's on the red in the middle.

But he's only got a quarter ball to hit.

Doesn't want to kiss the front two reds.

Needs to drift by those.

And he has done.

Oh, lost the white there. But it's OK, there is one in the middle.

And he has an angle just to get up...

..top side of the blue, or the pink is on as well.

Again, a bit short of pace.

Well, he's not even looked down there. OK, the pink's no problem,

but the blue is absolutely perfect to get on three reds.

But decided on the pink.

Has he gone high enough?

Just about.

25.

The two reds just above the black,

they don't pot into the left-hand corner pocket.

He'll be going up for...possibly yellow here.

Now, does he have an angle to go into them? If nothing pots...

I think the bottom red of the two just above the black,

the bottom red will pot.

And when he gets rid of those two reds, then the red at the edge

of the bunch... Here's the circle

where he'd like to get on that bottom red.

When he gets rid of those two reds,

the red to the right of that group of five,

those two reds will be out of the way, that will pot in the corner,

Ken, so he's got a chance to get 50 or 60 in front

without playing a cannon.

29.

-Just coming around just to have a look to see.

-36.

The red at his extreme right of that bunch of five,

does it pot into the left corner?

I don't think it does. So he may need a cannon now.

You would think one of those two groups of two, there is

likely to be a plant in the left-hand corner as well,

so he will definitely play the angle. Won't need to play a cannon.

But he may have another look after he's potted this next red

and the angle he has on the black to see whether there's a plant on.

-37.

-Right, there's no plant on.

He will play the kiss on the right-hand red,

it'll push the red over the middle.