Day 2 Masters Snooker Extra

We have further highlights from the Extra highlights from the snooker

On day two terrific match in prospect between number 1 John

Higgins and former world No.1 Ali Carter. Higgins as two-time

champion but Carter expected to be a real handful today best of 11,

deny Chris Taylor and Stephen deny Chris Taylor and Stephen

Hendry on duty in the box. A pretty good break-off shot from John. His

very first shot this year. Another fascinating match, as they all are

when you get the top 16 players together. Yeah, and probably two of

the toughest match-players we have out there, these days. I would

expect the all-round standard of play to be the highest class this

afternoon. That is not a great start from Carter, who has come up

a long way short. He has left Higgins an easy starter. A black

available, but a long way short of landing on the back of the back of

reds there. Yes, first shot on this table. Tkphr could not do a great

deal with that because it was dead- straight so it needs a good

positional shot here. The table yesterday looked to be playing

beautifully. John got a great angle to go into the pink. Does not seem

to be any plant-on, so could develop quite a few here. He has

freed the black as well. (APPLAUSE) That turned out quite nice. Even

though he did not hit the pink full Strange the record John has had in

the Masters because he is one of the top 16 players in the world for

the last 15, 16 years, so you would have expected him to have had more

success. One of the greatest centres was at the new London

Theatre in Drury Lane, and that was a terrific venue. This is the start

you dream of. The first frame w the reds placed like a practice session.

Once you get into your rhythm, as soon as possible, would not bother

with the black just now. The pink is in the open. Can you wait until

he has played the shot, please? Did not have a good UK championship,

John Higgins. Went out earlier than he would have expected, so I think

this week he will be really determined to do well. You are

always looking to get a good starbgts aren't you? This is his

first - - start. He is snookered. He came up a long way short. He did

not want to think it reds too hard, but this has been the result. Furs

Yeah, this is the thing about this tournament being the top 16 players

in the world. Fit were a normal tournament, one of the lower-ranked

players, they might have got away that mistake. But you have the be

on your A-game right if the start in this tournament. - - right from

the start. We had four centuries yesterday. Mark Allen with the

highest, a total clearance of 136. Wow! He took his eye off the pot,

there you know. It is just a lack of concentration. I cannot believe

I. Scone cannot believe he missed that. He just took his eye off the

pot. Mind you t black jumped a little bit there. Maybe it did

throw it offline slightly. The slow-motion showed you there t

black jumping slightly. There is enough there for Ali to pin much

frame. Let's have another look. I'm sure the black just left the bed a

little bit. Yeah, just jumped a little touch. Maybe that was not

John's fault. A slightly careless shot by Ali. If he does not want to

put one on the cushion. That first position shot he did not get on the

cover. That is why he is having to struggle a little pit here. You

have to be a bit careful. That is the problem when you have to play

the canon. He is now slightly out of position. He needs a good pot to

recover here. The black is the one that might get him onto the red. If

he takes the pink off the middle pocket, he has come around two

cushions but could have dropped on the red, but it could have been a

lot easier than this. Mmmm - just! (APPLAUSE) It looked as if it was

going to go onto the corner of the pocket there, but good recovery.

Yeah, the good thing about that shot is that you could just

concentrate on the pot, because it was a natural angle to land on this

red. I think at that stage I thought it was going to go straight

on, and think it jaw of the pocket. It just curved slightly. What a

chance for an early psychological blow in this match. Higgins was

cruising the first frame. He has a nice angle here, so he can just

stand in behind red. I think Peter Ebden is here this afternoon with

Ali. He has been doing a little bit of coaching with Ali. And there he

is, always immaculate, Peter. In fact, Peter looks a bit like a bank

manager there. A bit different to the early days when he had the old

ponytail. Yeah, very smart. He can look after my money any time! If I

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straightforward now. Lots of left, now to come back on the pink. He

might be able to hold it. I'm not sure. He has the use the cushion

and half the pace. Just about perfect. (APPLAUSE) John Higgins

Stephen Hendry said was cruising on this frame. If it was a bit of a

bad contact, we are not sure. I think it was. But hasn't he done

well here, Ali Carter? What an opening frame! John Higgins with a

break of 59. Looked as if he was going to take the frame then Ali

Carter clears World Cup that fantastic 64. Whole, we want plenty

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Needs to be a little bit careful there just a slight distraction.

got a kick, but he is OK. He has choice of shots now. He can play a

nice little can, so n here, as we show you the kick again. He is

finished on the black. He could play a canon onto that red and it

would open a few more up. He has to lose red, and that could hold. But

that may be worth a risk. L he might just play it for the single

red, but that is an option for him. Played for the single red on this

occasion. There is not that much more available, so his going to

have to go in for those four Reds at some stage. Find a pink pot for

that and who can now canon those four reds, if that helps. Played

with topspin here to make sure the white runs on through. Played

beautifully. That red he has purchased to the left of the black

might just be blowing the black so up for the blue, but all off a

fluke now. Is all John Higgins would need after what happened in

the opening frame. He is in with 36. A bit unlucky the run out of

position and then Ali gets a fluke. Just thinking amazing balls do not

forgive you, Dennis, isn't it? A careless shot in the first frame,

in first and second frame, then Ali gets on with a fluke. Don't know if

that red pass as brown into the yellow pocket. But that looks the

Stephen, John Higgins pushed the red over here. This is here, he

just pushed the red, tried to get it safe. That was a bit careless to

canon into the pink, so he has not taken full advantage of his fortune

there. He gets a round of applause for that, another fluke. He put his

hand up to apologise. He got a good cue ball. Look where he put if

white. But it might even be worse for John Higgins after this shot.

If there is a gap he can get back down towards the brown and pink.

Got to be careful he does not push a red over the corner. A little bit

of pressure with this red. He is bound to leave something if he

misses it. As you said, Stephen, if he missed it, he was almost certain

to leave a pot on, and that is what happened. And he can run through to

finish on that angle and finish on the black to the opposite corner.

He has come up a little bit short. Head for the one near the cushion.

He still may take that but he is going to need the extended rest.

Does not need the difficult brown, he is already 10 points in front. A

couple of Reds and blacks and the towards the red, he mites head

towards the blue, which makes it much easier to get onto the yellow.

It just depends how he feels. He will play for the blue on this

occasion, which makes it pretty straightforward to get to the

yellow then. And he will be mighty relieved to get this frame on the

board. A great opportunity to pinch the second film as well, but looks

like we are back level at one each. The sign of a real champion, isn't

it, when you come back like this after what happen in the opening

frame. There is a lot of experience under his belt, John Higgins. 29

the difference. Not quite over the line but two snookers required, so

it should be one each. The pink is in a good spot though to get those

snookers. That's bit unlucky. Got a good cue ball, but the brown coming

back across the table. Helped John Higgins on that occasion. Got to be

careful here. If he tries to get behind the pink he can double-kiss

the brown. Not the best effort he has ever made at a pot. No pressure

on it w his opponent needing a couple of snookers. I expected John

to knock that brown in. That is a cushion makes it quite difficult to

escape from. It is so easy to go round the back of the brown an even

catch the pink, which would not make a great deal of difference. He

is just looking at the scoreboard to think, "If I mist pink, what

would happen?" but he would still need a snooker. He would not want

to put the cue ball close to the brown if he misses it, to leave Ali

Carter an easy line on the pink. Ali Carter slips. All of a sudden

Ali Carter is back in with a chance. 23 the difference, that is why John

looked at the scoreboard before hand. Sometimes your opponent can

need two snookers but if you had a high-value colour, it is only one

snooker that is needed, and another chance to get a snooker behind the

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pink here. Not quite. John hinges with his good experience there. He

does not want to give Ali an easy chance. Keep Ding cue ball and an

object ball and keeping brown as far apart as possible. The pink

still in a pretty good spot for snooker. It was even better before

John Higgins just nudged it, but very difficult the way he has left

the balls here. He tried to get him by on the pink almost, but got the

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snooker behind the blue. When you are in this situation you have to

try to keep the object ball safe as well. Ali knew this as no chance of

getting a snooker there, but he just concentrated on getting brown

safe. A bit of a chance now, a dull kiss has given A li a chance.

Probably from this position in behind the black would be better.

Just come up a little bit short. A snooker, but I think he might be

just able to swerve around the black. Too much. He has got into it

too much and all of a sudden it is anyone's second frame. Amazing!

What can happen to this game, Stephen. That is incredible. Just

putting red next to the brown now. If he can hit the red next to the

bounce, it is not free ball. You have to be able to hit the bun on

both sides. Is why Ali has put the ball next to the brown. Look at

this for a result, is he going to fall in behind the blue? He has had

a few slices of good fortune, but I will tell you what, that is as good

as it gets, dropping in behind the blue there! Look at this, he is

going to finish on the blue. Well, I cannot believe what is going on

there! All of a sudden John Higgins has had a pit of good fortune. - a

bit of good fortune. He is going to finish the frame with that snooker,

look at that. How amazing. And Joan Higgins thinks, "How unlucky have I

been" -- John Higgins. Well, even that is a God angle there. To catch

the angle has made it much better for Ali, because the white would

have gone up chose to the cushion. I bet John is still having a little

thought about that black in the first frame. If he had potted that,

none of this would be happening. (APPLAUSE) Well, it is going to

have to be very good cuinga long straight black or just off straight.

It is all about. Delivering a cue in a straight-line. There is what

he is faced with. Push the cue in a 'Stateline', get yourself settled,

and you are 2-nil up. I don't know why he hit it like that. I still

think he got away with it. Look how the black has finished. Why did he

hit it so hard? That was a little bit of tension, I think there.

is the perfect word, "Tension". Well, that is a pretty good shot

under the circumstances. This is one are you end the black around

the angles still there is a chance you can fluke it in to the middle.

It is called a cock hat double. But if the white was a little off the

cushion he might be able to have a go atthat. He is like at the

cutting angle of the black, but that does not look on. What did he

play there? I think he played the President and has completely missed

pot was hard and he could have taken the pot. And John popped

along black. Look where he has put the cue ball. That is telling you

that right, just in case I missed the black I'm going to get a good

cue ball. And I suppose when you put that little thought in your

mind, it takes a little bit of confidence away from the pot.

excitement here. In this match between these two great players.

The black into the green pocket here. You want to tend to over-cut

to it, to leave the black in the cushion.

You do not want to miss a 6 but ideally you want to pot it of

course. As you said, Stephen, that was the worst possible outcome for

John or Ali, as another chance. Just a little touch aside will make

sure he does not go off into the middle pocket. Keep the white well

away from that. That is what it is all about.. It is all about. The

black, here. John Higgins looked comfortable when Ali needed two

snookers but it is amazing what can happen in this game. All of a

sudden Ali Carter could be 2-nil thing little tactical battle which

is very good play indeed, as Stephen said at the start of this

match. Though are both good all- round players. They have a tactical

game that is spot-on. The success rate, Ali Carter well ahead in that

department at the moment. John looking for a path through to that

red that is near the left corner pocket. It is not going to be easy,

Stephen. No, just waiting to see where you were going to draw your

line this time, Dennis. There is a line there that is very, very

awkward. He could hit the line all the way back up the top of the

table. Cannot play for the bunch of reds because he would be very lucky

to get away with it. He was in a bit of a whole there, not easy to

get it absolutely safe. Obviously this red pots into the right corner

and he should be able to get himself onto the black. A little

stun shot. If he negotiates the pot and the position, he has a great

chance. Perfect. Absolutely perfect! What a chance now, two or

three just up. You would not want to place the black into both corner

pockets! But it should not be too difficult. He maybe has over-

screwed that slightly. He may have to play a little kanon here, but

that should not be likely, to play a canon at this stage. But it is

amazing what can happen when you start having to canon into other

balls but just because he did not get onto black as he intended, now

he has made things a little awkward the position the cue ball is in now,

after a couple of shots ago, looking as if it was in a perfect

position. Amazing. He has let a golden opportunity slip past there.

This is just a little awkward for John. I do not think he can hold

for the black. Might be able to. Yes, delicately played. Now the

chance fall toss John hiingings. As you say, -- Higgins. Stephen, as

you say a great test of his them pre meant. Ali has to sit there to

see what develops. It is one of these shots that if your opponent

had left it there... It is not difficult pot. But the fact he is

annoyed with himself he knows it should have been in a much easier

the left of the black and clear the black from both corner pockets.

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Might be able to play on that off the black here. 16. Sad he did not

play for this red to the right middle. He will take it. You just

want to keep things as simple as possible when you are 2-nil down.

You just want to get this frame won. A tricky little positional shot

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here playing for the black on the in a way. He could play the two

reds near the black but he could not do it from that position

because he clears the other two best shot he played in the brick up

to that point. Does not have to play any canos here, he can score

enough with the way the reds are sitting. Ali Carter has missed a

golden opportunity of leading 3-nil. This was the one where he got

slightly out of position, but as Stephen said f it had have been

just his first shot, he would have knocked it in probably. The best of

11, this has been a important frame and still is for John. A great

chance to go-nil. He has taken this chance well. You - through the

importance of it in the context of the match. A great shot there, a

screw in the right-hand side. Created the angle for the cue ball

to go up to the red. He won't be taking anything for granted here.

Ali needing two snookers, so he will make absolutely certain here.

Yeah, you still feel this is going to be a close encounter her. Both

players look to be in pretty good form. Is a mentioned earlier, we

have had four centuries so far. John Higgins one of the greatest

break-builders the game has ever seen. He has 51 centuries in his

professional career. Still a few hundred centuries behind my

colleague, Stephen Hendry, who is way out in front with something

like 150 centuries, I think it is. Made 25 centuries last season, John.

Made 17 centuries so far this season, but this is going to be one

of the most important ones you would have to say, two opening

frames. That is the sign of a true champion, there John Higgins making

a magnificent century break, the fifth of this year's Masters. Just

a little exhibition positional shot here to finish it all off!

(APPLAUSE) That was the last shot he had of this frame f closes the

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advantage of that for the good fortune. I expected him to knock

that one in Yes, one of those shots you do not really want to take it

on but you feel you have to. Such an all-or-nothing shot. I never

thought you would say that, Stephen, you always rolled um in your career

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might need a bit of assistance. I do not know if he can stretch over

to reach all the reds, or if he is going to need the spider. He has

very little to to with the cue ball, but boy, has he left it awkward. I

do not know if he can get over it with the normal spider. He is going

to need the Swan-neck or the extended spider. Yes, I think this

is really reactive. If Anything the times John Higgins has played shots

today, he has over-screwed. Thinking back to the second frame

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though. He has a sought to go in if he wants. Choosing to may for the

open red. Surprised there. A nice an fell he had. Running inside off

two cushions. Is there a plant there? Possibly. Would be a little

bonus if that plant is on. He has had a good look at it. It is not

but he can screw back and leave the red, that is to the right of the

bunch. He hit that very, very well. I think he is OK. Yeah t white

jumped a little pit there and maybe that took a little bit of the pace

out of it. But, as you say, he is just about OK. 36! A little bit

more difficult now though, the fact that he canoned another ball. It

has left him a bit closer to the cushion than he intended, so...

Just slightly out of position now. I don't know what sort of angle he

has. Might be no value in it. It is dead-straight, isn't it? He cannot

believe the cue ball went through that gap. I think he was expecting

the some sort of canon in potting between the pink an the red. Could

do with a colour safe here! Sacrifice that, but he has a red,

so that is a little bit of insurance. Yes, that was amazing.

He was certainly going to canyon the red or the pink, but to find

that gap, as you say, Stephen, absolutely amazing. Worth another

look at that. You could try to shoot the white between that. And

not find it! That will also help John, the other red going safe. Is

total points there. John Higgins well ahead, but he is-1 down at the

moment. Well, he has potted nearly twice as many, well, more than

twice the amounts of ball that Ali Carter has popped. Only 2-1 behind.

He is looking at the two reds to see if they are a possible plant.

If they are close together, and they are not in line, he might be

able to make it. Yeah, he could make this. It is going to the right

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of the pocket, but he could A delightfully good play of the

shot to free the red off the side It shows you when the pressure is

off, it's funny, the pockets seem to become bigger.

He's so relieved now, after the way this match started.

Doesn't matter about that. A very entertaining four frames.

While this could have gone 3-1 either way, but they're 2-2, I

before but the black wasn't open then, so he couldn't take it on.

It's possible now. John Higgins looks to see where he

can leave the cue ball. If he does miss the red, this is

Terrific shot. Terrific cueing. Almost dead straight. That was the

distance he had there. A stun run through, one of the toughest shots

it's the easiest positional shot because he just needs to screw back

from the black. He's hampered by the black.

So easy to control the kue ball couldn't hit the centre of the cue

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Great to see one of our best referees back in action who had a

rough time since June, he sliped in the bathroom at home, had an

operation, did his vertebrae in. And he went off to China for

refereeing and finished up with DVT. Deep Vein thrombosis and couldn't

fly back from China. He was in China for four of five weeks all on

his own. Not all on his own, there's plenty of people in China!

He recovered and great to see him The red near the left corner pocket

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the blue there. Still got a couple cushions for the red that's next to

have played it better. The red was just blocking the black

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on the red. There was every chance he could

slip away off the reds because of the angle on the black. We will

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red in the right corner and get himself on the black.

A free shot. The only one he could leave is the

that type of shot. You're not aggressive way. It was easy to roll

off the side of the reds but chose from Ali.

He could have taken the other red and decided not to take that on.

I'm sure the plant was more this frame. John Higgins is already

35 ahead and the ball sitting like this.

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Could be three in a row for John UK championship, but didn't he play

well in the Shanghai Masters to defeat Geoff Trump? He played well

in that. Looked like he was going to kick on from there.

He didn't have a good year. from winning the frame.

66 up, 67 on the table. Heard you talking to John at the

interval. That little canon, so lively. He

wanted to play that, hit it full ball, three quarter ball and so

lively. It plays as if the white ball, the

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the table was playing heavy, I would give a little polish on the

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white and it would play like a that fairly easy red.

APPLAUSE John Higgins will have another

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interval, but he's done well, won would certainly have taken on, the

one up ininto the right corner John Higgins, not with with the

regards the safety shot. The green now near the yellow,

meaning it's a target to try to get Not quite as big a target now, he's

knocked the green near the cushion. He'd want something easier than

back of the black, so not entertaining that one I mentioned.

Not far off 40 minutes now since pace, I thought he could have

dropped it two cushions for the black to the right corner. It's

obviously making the pot more difficult the harder he hit those.

Just look at the way the reds are situated here.

A chance for John Higgins. Has he gone far enough to pot the

red that's blocking the black to the left corner? He certainly has.

He's got them all nicely situated to make a maximum, you couldn't put

the reds in a better position than this. Maybe early to suggest?

That's what he'll be thinking. It too much.

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45 minutes now. He's not getting any chances. He had a half chance

and he missed the long red and that was his last shot.

He seemed to force it in. Stephen mentioned he could have played it

easier to mold for the black, but he wanted to make something happen

because he's been frozen out. He will have to wait for the next

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there too, and John had one at Frame 3. Every chance of another

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middle pocket and hole for the Looking at the pink now. He played

for the blue, but he's gone a bit too far.

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He think s it's the better ball for a bit awkward. He will still be

able to screw back off the cushion. He has a slight angle.

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which he's full of. He is a little Good time to make your highest

break in the match. A terrific clearance to pinch that

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but it's one of those situations - does Ali take the red into the

white corner, there's a gap around the back of the black. He had a

little bit of safety in mind also. APPLAUSE

Very good, excellent shot. It was played with confidence,

because he didn't play to get the cue ball on to the back cushion. He

deserves to knock a sizeable break in here. We will show you this long

pot. He's nine feet from the object ball.

It's the sort of shot that the players practice as it is a shot

that if they can knock in, it can positive way.

You could clearly tell with the pace he played that shot, he wasn't

going to try to get the cue ball back behiepbtd the bulk colours.

He wanted to be on something had he potted it.

I think that's the only way he can win this match is by taking the

bull by the horns and playing a positive game, going for the shots.

Snooker is probably one of the most difficult sports to play. Golf, if

your opponent is playing well, you can play well F you play well, your

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difficult, but it will go. Well played.

world but sometimes he remiepblds me of my good friend Ian Woosnam.

In gosm, when he was playing well, little went wrong with his swing in

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missed a careless black. He won't Higginbottom Sig is normally

tremendous at match--- John Higgins is normally tremendous at match-

blue? Looks like it from his body

language. Now what a great chance to take the

It sounds easy but that's the way you've got to think. Ali Carter

knows now that John Higgins has the opportunity - can he convert this

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He's having to struggle because he can't get into prime position. He

will have to go for one of the bulk colours because he's over done that

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slightly. would be comfortable. He's used to

There's one. This's the third cushion coming up.

Just as Stephen Henry predicted! problem that I mentioned previously

with the pink being up the other end of the table. Now it's a

poor positional shot. He's going to have to take the green in the

middle pocket. It shows you what That will hopefully get a kick at

Carter - it looked like he was going to get back to one frame

behind, but in the end, John Higgins comes through.

APPLAUSE That is fantastic.

A clearance of 65. He must be pleased with the way he performed

after losing the two opening frames. It's John Higgins that goes through

to the quarter finals. He wins the match six frames to