:00:23. > :00:29.Either way, snooker extra is a long next with the Stevens-Williams
:00:29. > :00:35.first round match. I doubt they will want to see that again. You
:00:35. > :00:42.can if you are so inclined. If you want to keep your viewing on Taouil
:00:42. > :00:52.-- until the quarter-finals, that begins today on BBC Two. Catch you
:00:52. > :00:52.
:00:52. > :02:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:02:35. > :02:39.Morgan to the programme. Tonight we have a cracking match for you. It
:02:39. > :02:43.is the battle of the Welsh Dragons. Mark Williams against Matthew
:02:43. > :02:53.Stevens, who lifted dystrophy 13 years ago, but since then has
:02:53. > :03:14.
:03:14. > :03:18.failed to progress past the first These dapper frames will suit Mark
:03:18. > :03:22.Williams more than Matthew Stevens. I think Stevens is a more forward
:03:22. > :03:31.player. He would like to get in early and when the frames in one
:03:31. > :03:41.Mark Williams is usually really proficient at the scrappy games.
:03:41. > :04:02.
:04:02. > :04:06.Very clever in the safety His in a spot of bother here. He
:04:06. > :04:16.cannot get to the right-hand side of the table. The one on the left-
:04:16. > :04:24.
:04:24. > :04:34.hand side cushion is so close you He could come off the side cushion
:04:34. > :04:44.
:04:44. > :04:49.and go to the red near the top There is the view he has. There is
:04:49. > :04:59.nothing there to get him back to ball. It is the same with the red
:04:59. > :05:08.
:05:08. > :05:18.on the right-hand side as we look. Sometimes if you do not feel there
:05:18. > :05:18.
:05:18. > :05:28.is a safety you go out fighting. The main thing for Mark Williams is
:05:28. > :05:34.
:05:34. > :05:44.to try and get this black back on Would you believe that? He thought
:05:44. > :06:04.
:06:04. > :06:08.He wouldn't want to watch this shot We were talking about this before
:06:08. > :06:14.the match. The age of the players. I think the first thing that goes
:06:14. > :06:24.in the game is your concentration. It is not down to nerves or
:06:24. > :06:31.
:06:31. > :06:41.It just seemed to me that the longer you have been playing the
:06:41. > :06:46.
:06:47. > :06:52.more times you slip into missing a I must admit I found that near the
:06:52. > :06:59.end. You get down and look at where you were to put the cue ball and
:06:59. > :07:09.get ready to play the next shot, but realise you've missed the pot.
:07:09. > :07:20.
:07:20. > :07:28.It is a real shock to the system as This is a decent chance, effete and
:07:28. > :07:31.debt position on the colour. -- if he can get position. He has to be
:07:31. > :07:41.carefully does not overscrew this. He will be playing for the black
:07:41. > :07:49.
:07:49. > :07:56.here. We have seen this cloth is Absolutely right. We have noticed
:07:56. > :08:00.that with a couple of shots from Mark Williams already in this frame.
:08:00. > :08:05.So if we getting a lot of reaction on the cue ball. On a good day you
:08:06. > :08:15.would kiss the red and then be on the black. He has done nothing.
:08:16. > :08:38.
:08:38. > :08:48.Mark Williams will be delighted that shot he Mr Stott cost him the
:08:48. > :08:50.
:08:50. > :09:00.frame. -- shot he missed did not cost him the frame. That was much
:09:00. > :09:18.
:09:18. > :09:26.too thick. That is not like Mark This is his third chance. He has
:09:27. > :09:35.had two big chances before this. The Reds cannot be better situated.
:09:35. > :09:42.The bike is available in both corners. -- black. There is your
:09:42. > :09:48.answer. That is three excellent opportunities and he is not made
:09:48. > :09:58.the most of them. If this road goes to the left corner, which I think
:09:58. > :10:04.
:10:04. > :10:14.it will, what a chance for Mark He would do with it -- he will do
:10:14. > :10:14.
:10:14. > :11:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:11:27. > :11:32.well to win this frame in this Only one colour he can get, and
:11:32. > :11:42.that is the black. That is the one he needs, so it is not a problem. A
:11:42. > :12:04.
:12:04. > :12:14.He will be well led by that stage. He has a nice angle on the black
:12:14. > :12:28.
:12:28. > :12:38.I am surprised he played for that I was just about to say, after that
:12:38. > :12:38.
:12:38. > :12:44.easy read he missed in the frame, that he started to look good. He
:12:44. > :12:54.missed the black of the spot by a long way. The thing is, he needs
:12:54. > :13:00.
:13:00. > :13:10.that read on the right cushion any Matty is red-headed, so the red is
:13:10. > :13:12.
:13:12. > :13:20.not a problem for him. -- Matthew He has parted the red, but he is
:13:20. > :13:26.not perfect, really. Not quite certain what colour he will play
:13:26. > :13:36.for, possibly the blue. Maybe below will give in possession on this
:13:36. > :13:39.
:13:39. > :13:42.awkward last red. -- the yellow. It Tricky to play, but a good job he
:13:43. > :13:52.did play at that pace. A little bit harder and it would not have
:13:53. > :13:57.
:13:57. > :14:01.He used all the pocket. He would like to possibly play for the brown
:14:01. > :14:07.here, because if he doesn't clearing the colours will not be
:14:07. > :14:12.easy. Positional playing from green to brown and browns of blue. A long
:14:12. > :14:20.distance the cue ball would have to cover. If he could get the ground
:14:20. > :14:30.it would make things a lot easier. -- brown. I think he played the
:14:30. > :14:32.
:14:32. > :14:40.cannon on the brown, but he is OK. By potting the blue, it means that
:14:40. > :14:50.yellow, green, brown and the blue will leave him 15 points in front,
:14:50. > :15:10.
:15:10. > :15:14.He is one of the few players, he always tells me does not mind using
:15:14. > :15:24.the rest, but not many players will put a full extension like this on
:15:24. > :15:34.to try and reach this. They will be plenty of Q between the cue ball
:15:34. > :15:53.
:15:53. > :16:03.No heroics, but he needs a good shot and the brown. Brown and blue
:16:03. > :16:05.
:16:05. > :16:15.He is very good at the shots. I must admit I will be surprised if
:16:15. > :16:23.
:16:23. > :16:26.There is definitely a bit of tension in this first frame. Yes,
:16:26. > :16:36.Matthew Stevens has said four good chances in this frame and still not
:16:36. > :16:38.
:16:38. > :16:43.Six points the difference, so Mark Williams needs brown, blue and the
:16:43. > :16:53.difficult pink. He could play a double here. He always tells me
:16:53. > :17:02.
:17:02. > :17:07.he's the best in the game at Dublin. Not buy that evidence. -- doubling.
:17:07. > :17:12.Playing at that pace, you could see how the brown left of -- leapt off
:17:12. > :17:22.the cushion. The 5th chance for him to seal this first frame. Surely he
:17:22. > :17:41.
:17:41. > :17:51.will not miss this one. Well, he Heavy contact there. He would like
:17:51. > :18:00.
:18:00. > :18:09.to have been slow -- he would have Now he has an angle on the blue and
:18:09. > :18:19.it is not so easy. Booking to another double possibly to the
:18:19. > :18:28.
:18:28. > :18:34.Yes, and if he has the right angle there is the possibility he could
:18:34. > :18:40.stay on the cue ball behind the black. I think he has played for
:18:40. > :18:43.the double but he might have run a little bit too far down the table.
:18:43. > :18:47.Maybe think again -- may be thinking he cannot get the double
:18:47. > :18:57.now. It looks as though it could be made. It is not tight against the
:18:57. > :19:11.
:19:11. > :19:21.Just the pink needed. Matthew has And still the frame is and the
:19:21. > :19:50.
:19:50. > :20:00.A little bit too hard. This is a chance. With the shots, if you miss
:20:00. > :20:22.
:20:22. > :20:27.it, you miss it in. -- it thin. Obviously Matthew would like to put
:20:27. > :20:37.Mark in trouble here by playing a snooker, but with Mark Williams
:20:37. > :20:38.
:20:38. > :20:48.just beating the pink, he needs to He needs to get this pink safe. It
:20:48. > :20:53.
:20:54. > :21:03.Well, it's not easy, but it is a pot. The reason I say it is not
:21:04. > :21:07.
:21:07. > :21:16.easy, it has just come down the jaw. With good straight cueing... Never
:21:16. > :21:26.easy, those. Chance number six for Matthew. He has a nice angle, I
:21:26. > :21:49.
:21:49. > :21:58.He needs a doubts. -- bounce. He needs he needs to -- he needs to
:21:58. > :22:04.pick up the sport. That you can pick - McIlroy you can play left-
:22:04. > :22:09.handed. He had plenty of chances. He'll be disappointed he did not
:22:09. > :22:19.take most of them. In the end, he got over the line on the black and
:22:19. > :22:42.
:22:42. > :22:52.There is a nice little flick. You can pot this red, but where the
:22:52. > :22:59.
:22:59. > :23:04.That was another unexpected miss. He usually pushes the cue through
:23:04. > :23:14.so straight, but you could see the back can come out there. There is
:23:14. > :23:25.
:23:25. > :23:33.If you just watch his backhand here, it just comes out slyly. That tells
:23:33. > :23:43.me but there is a bit of anxiety in the shot when he was playing it.
:23:43. > :23:50.is just pure and simple lack of confidence. Many try to steer it --
:23:50. > :23:59.you are trying to steer it. Then what happens, you start trying too
:23:59. > :24:09.hard. You should be concentrating, but you should be relaxed as well.
:24:09. > :24:25.
:24:25. > :24:35.These balls are everywhere. Whoever knocks the first read him could get
:24:35. > :24:45.
:24:45. > :24:55.Obviously the fact that Mark Williams did not have a good cue
:24:55. > :25:00.
:25:00. > :25:07.ball makes this read us lucky more It's Matthew Stevens who gets the
:25:07. > :25:17.first chance, and it is a good one. These pots are a lot easier when
:25:17. > :25:34.
:25:34. > :25:44.One of the situations where you think all you need to do is keep
:25:44. > :26:01.
:26:01. > :26:06.It is very easy to get tempted into playing areas when the reds are
:26:06. > :26:16.spread like this. Then you can get in trouble. Still important to get
:26:16. > :26:35.
:26:35. > :26:45.Matej Vanko he would like that one It may be OK if that part is
:26:45. > :26:50.
:26:50. > :26:55.Having a close look from behind the That was a poor shot, now he has
:26:55. > :27:02.the red to the left middle. It may be OK if the pink goes to the right
:27:02. > :27:07.That is what I meant earlier. He played that shot thinking he would
:27:07. > :27:17.be on a red, but unless you play for a proper positional shot, this
:27:17. > :27:20.
:27:20. > :27:27.is what happens. You end up awkward. He thinks this pink will pot, but I
:27:27. > :27:37.tell you what, it is tight. It is one of those, if you're straight
:27:37. > :27:48.
:27:48. > :27:58.behind, it is a slowly blind pocket. At it is not perfect yet. He does
:27:58. > :28:17.
:28:18. > :28:21.I think this would make it to the Played it nicely. Now he is on the
:28:21. > :28:31.pink. By his Yumi is cos he is going around to see where the next
:28:31. > :28:31.
:28:31. > :29:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:29:21. > :29:31.rent comes from. -- I assume he is It was a heavy contact. I think he
:29:31. > :29:31.
:29:31. > :30:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:30:43. > :30:50.else difficult for minor play. You Stevens let go there. An hour
:30:50. > :30:56.playing, so they should have warmed up, but still a little bit scrappy.
:30:56. > :31:00.That only just went in. To be fair, Tom, that was not a pad shot. Was
:31:00. > :31:09.another heavy contact. When they play these follow-through shots
:31:09. > :31:19.there is a lot of heavy contact today. We can forgive him that one.
:31:19. > :31:25.
:31:25. > :31:31.That was struck nicely. (APPLAUSE) Know I it is in the context of the
:31:31. > :31:41.match, Martin needs to win the frame at this visit. Not only to
:31:41. > :31:46.
:31:46. > :31:51.avoiding go 3-nil in but to get his confidence back. Well... There you
:31:51. > :31:56.go! We talk about concentration, and there was another example. Just
:31:56. > :32:05.not there. He was walking around. I do not think he even looked at the
:32:05. > :32:08.pot, he just assumed it was going in. He was on his way around.
:32:08. > :32:14.have had a few drifts in the table this week, a few shots run-off. I
:32:15. > :32:24.do not know if that happened there. But there we go. No, I do not think
:32:25. > :32:25.
:32:25. > :32:32.it ever looked in. It was always left, wasn't it, John? Yes. It just
:32:32. > :32:36.gets from bad to worse for Mark. Bless wdz such a marvellous
:32:36. > :32:41.temperament, he will be tested to the full this afternoon, you feel.
:32:41. > :32:48.Some of the pots he is missing. Some players heads would be down
:32:48. > :32:53.now and they would be bright red, their shoulders would be slumping
:32:53. > :33:03.but he has never been counted out but he has lost at bit of his game
:33:03. > :33:11.
:33:11. > :33:21.somewhat. In fact, quite a lot! 72%, well below what is required. A long
:33:21. > :33:27.
:33:27. > :33:37.pot. 14%. Nowhere near good enough. shot. Again, using this extension
:33:37. > :33:46.of his rather than the rest. It is a fair reach. A Longbridge, you
:33:46. > :33:51.lose control of the cue. Did that very well. I think he is one of the
:33:51. > :34:01.few players in the world can reply that. As you say, look at the
:34:01. > :34:10.
:34:10. > :34:20.distance from the A 17-point lead. The reds are nicely available to
:34:20. > :34:36.
:34:37. > :34:41.win the frame at this visit. He decided to play for the red closest
:34:41. > :34:45.to the top cushion. It would not necessarily be my choice, but he is
:34:45. > :34:53.looking for two reds, two colours. If he potted the brown, this red t
:34:53. > :35:03.brown and one more red would be sufficient. That looks as though
:35:03. > :35:21.
:35:21. > :35:26.that will be the choice. So still looking sparkling for Matthew
:35:26. > :35:32.Stevens, but as we said at the start of the frame, he does not
:35:32. > :35:42.have to produce anything sparkling. His opponents not with it yet, and
:35:42. > :35:50.
:35:50. > :35:55.the chances just keep coming and was not bothering him in any
:35:55. > :35:58.position, because he knew by potting that red there was every
:35:58. > :36:08.likelihood his opponent would come back to the table. Now it
:36:08. > :36:08.
:36:08. > :36:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:36:55. > :37:00.definitely won't be. This is Mathew's highest break of the match.
:37:00. > :37:03.He has an opponent in Mark Williams. He seems to be lacking in
:37:03. > :37:13.confidence and concentration and he is taking full advantage of it and
:37:13. > :37:43.
:37:43. > :37:53.was only because he did not see a good safety. It was never going to
:37:53. > :37:59.
:37:59. > :38:04.be on the cover with the black tied do not fancy winning from 3-nil
:38:04. > :38:11.down, but certainly 4-nil down. It would be a lost cause. A huge frame
:38:11. > :38:17.for Williams. It would a mid- session interests Val after this
:38:17. > :38:25.frame, so at least if he went down just two frames behind, he could
:38:25. > :38:30.get into the practice room and start potting a few pals. He would
:38:30. > :38:35.have a few positive thoughts to take out of these first four frames,
:38:35. > :38:41.but if he loses it, I agree with you, Stephen, it is very hard to
:38:41. > :38:51.see your way back. You could always see a way back if you had not done
:38:51. > :39:00.
:39:00. > :39:10.much wrong but he has done a lot wrong. If he does not win this
:39:10. > :39:29.
:39:29. > :39:33.frame, he will be on his way back, it will be to Wales! Fall toss
:39:33. > :39:43.Mathew. A nice angle on the blue, a choice of red, one above the cross
:39:43. > :39:54.
:39:54. > :40:00.and there is one just above the black that is available. You would
:40:00. > :40:05.think this early on he would be looking for a black, because after
:40:05. > :40:09.he pots this there is only one lose red. So sooner rather than later
:40:09. > :40:14.bring the reds into play. Yes, I think it is always best to go into
:40:15. > :40:18.the back when they do have at least one or two lose reds. So you have
:40:18. > :40:28.that little bit of insurance so hopefully if the split does not
:40:28. > :40:34.
:40:34. > :40:39.work out. Le could not have struck that much better. The cue ball has
:40:39. > :40:44.gone straight bank across the table, amazing. And the red it stuck to
:40:44. > :40:54.has made it awkward cuing for the red he would have been on in the
:40:54. > :41:11.
:41:11. > :41:17.right corner. Unlucky there. Always difficult. The more pace you put
:41:17. > :41:26.into it the harder they are. Unlucky not to be on an easier red
:41:26. > :41:36.than that. This red's tricky. When you have not been playing well.
:41:36. > :41:49.
:41:49. > :41:59.Tricky when you are playing well. Not the type opening shot Mark
:41:59. > :42:05.
:42:05. > :42:10.needs at the moment. He needs something a bit easier than that.
:42:10. > :42:18.That was a poor shot. The last thing wanted to do was to kiss the
:42:18. > :42:28.yellow. He just about put this green in, but it should have been
:42:28. > :42:29.
:42:29. > :42:34.easier than this. It look likely has the angle he can just make sure
:42:34. > :42:43.he will pot the green. The red on the right cushion, he will use that
:42:43. > :42:53.to cue the pace of the cue ball and almost on the yellow next to the
:42:53. > :43:02.
:43:02. > :43:06.left centre. If he had potted the green there would have been a
:43:06. > :43:16.different ca from on but the fact he over-cut the green with the
:43:16. > :43:23.
:43:23. > :43:33.angle for path the cue ball will take, took differently. Trying to
:43:33. > :43:34.
:43:34. > :43:39.get behind Mark, and good pot. But not the best positional shop just
:43:39. > :43:44.carved the jaw of the middle pocket, straightened the cue ball up.
:43:44. > :43:54.Wanted to be on the red, he is closest to the opposite middle.
:43:54. > :44:01.
:44:01. > :44:07.Just caught the bump of the pocket. He has to make the moss - the most
:44:07. > :44:17.of this, you feel. This is a golden opportunity. He will play some sort
:44:17. > :44:22.
:44:22. > :44:27.of canon here, either red to the left corner. Good shot. More
:44:27. > :44:31.comfortable stunning balls in than playing follow-throughs. At least
:44:31. > :44:41.when you play a stun shot you have to play positive action through the
:44:41. > :45:06.
:45:07. > :45:10.ball. This did not go into the middle of the pocket. That is why
:45:10. > :45:20.he is not perfect on the blue and the pink. I'm not sure which one he
:45:20. > :45:28.
:45:28. > :45:34.plays for. But he has recovered the situation nicely. I assume there is
:45:34. > :45:37.a lose red in the corner, because he cannot run through for anything
:45:37. > :45:47.because the pink is blocking that path. Has he run far enough? I
:45:47. > :46:19.
:46:19. > :46:23.think these two reds might be but there is a lose red to the left
:46:23. > :46:27.which he will probably play for. I do not think he is confident enough
:46:27. > :46:37.to go into bunch there. He seems to be taking everything that is
:46:37. > :46:44.
:46:44. > :46:54.available first. Gravity took over intend. How did that drop? The
:46:54. > :47:01.
:47:01. > :47:05.black will put him 40 points in front. Missed the canon. So this
:47:05. > :47:15.frame not over yesterday. 40 point in the lead but still a possible 59
:47:15. > :47:33.
:47:33. > :47:39.remaining. I think he is a bit concerned here. The obvious ball is
:47:39. > :47:43.the left-hand one as we look. But he could go for the second one in
:47:43. > :47:51.the right corner if he is not careful. It was heading that way,
:47:51. > :48:01.wasn't it? He may have left a bit on it. So that was not the best
:48:01. > :48:24.
:48:24. > :48:34.safety. Never easy when the object pal is in the jaw of the pocket. It
:48:34. > :48:38.
:48:38. > :48:48.will take a good shot to get good position here. Good line, but just
:48:48. > :49:04.
:49:04. > :49:08.a bit short of pace. He is not too bad on the green. A quick glance at
:49:08. > :49:16.the scoreboard - 35 points behind. There is a possible 43 remaining,
:49:16. > :49:26.so he has got point to play with. Does not need high-value colours
:49:26. > :49:27.
:49:27. > :49:33.off these remaining reds. Just needs to slow up. He has done,
:49:33. > :49:43.perfect. So say is all going to be down to that awkward last red, you
:49:43. > :49:51.
:49:51. > :49:56.feel. Left himself an angle on the black. So they could to be key. I
:49:56. > :50:01.know the brown is close but he is just off it enough that it should
:50:01. > :50:11.not be too difficult, if he gets good position on it. It is all down
:50:11. > :50:21.
:50:21. > :50:31.to potting this red, it seems to me. That extension has seen a bit of
:50:31. > :50:34.
:50:34. > :50:42.wear, hasn't it? Yeah, nicely played. Just enough angle. To be
:50:42. > :50:47.able to hold for the yellow. But the key shot is going to be
:50:47. > :50:53.positioned from green to Brown. As I say t brown is just far enough
:50:53. > :51:01.off the cushion to make it an easier pot. But only if you have
:51:01. > :51:11.got a good angle. It should not potter Mathew a bit short, but as
:51:11. > :51:13.
:51:13. > :51:19.you say, a few times he is pretty spot-on left-handed. 24. Now he did
:51:19. > :51:27.not want to be too state on this green. He needs a slight angle so
:51:27. > :51:37.he can stun down towards the brown. 16 point behind still, so he needs
:51:37. > :51:58.
:51:58. > :52:05.these five remaining colours. John has mentioned the important
:52:05. > :52:15.shot to be winning this frame. The fact he has the cue ball clean
:52:15. > :52:18.
:52:18. > :52:22.suggests he is playing the topspin, yeah. Matt new Stevens, 27. What a
:52:22. > :52:29.reprieve from mad Williams. Considering he is-nil in front. I
:52:29. > :52:34.mean that was very, very edgy the way he played that -- Matt Williams.
:52:34. > :52:44.I think Mark said to Mathew, "Fancy clearing up from here!". He did or
:52:44. > :52:48.
:52:48. > :52:58.he didn't. He got his first frame than the scoreboard. Turned out in
:52:58. > :53:01.
:53:01. > :53:11.the end it was a gift from Matthew Stevens. That was gifted to him,
:53:11. > :53:50.
:53:50. > :53:55.and he knowsthat. He should have far enough. You would usually
:53:55. > :54:00.expect Williams to knock that one in, but he is not tee far into this
:54:00. > :54:10.match so far, but that was a cracker. Only just had enough angle.
:54:10. > :54:29.
:54:29. > :54:39.57%, just below what was required. the pink is in the open t blue is
:54:39. > :54:56.
:54:56. > :55:01.in the open. Straighter would have been better but I think he is OK. I
:55:01. > :55:06.think he can swing across with the thinking in the middle. Straight
:55:06. > :55:16.enough to play that shots we want risk playing for the black here,
:55:16. > :55:47.
:55:47. > :55:50.well you don't want to, he could go wrong. It would be a nice
:55:50. > :56:00.confidence pot. I think if he thought he found the gap he would
:56:00. > :56:01.
:56:01. > :56:05.have a choice of reds for this corner pocket. Maybe losing that
:56:05. > :56:09.last frame before the mid-section has just made him concentrate a
:56:09. > :56:14.little bit more, Mathew. I know he has been getting frames given to
:56:14. > :56:18.him, but he has not really made his best, but he was going into that
:56:18. > :56:28.interval kicking himself he did not have a 4-nil lead, so maybe that
:56:28. > :56:35.
:56:35. > :56:40.would just focus his mine a little bit more. Stevens has not been in
:56:40. > :56:50.top form. He has been making last mistake in each frame which has
:56:50. > :56:55.
:56:55. > :57:01.been costly, Williams. He is on the pink so he is unfort narbgts I do
:57:01. > :57:05.not think he would play the canon on the red like that. No way. I
:57:05. > :57:09.thought he was going to have missed the reds having missed them. He
:57:09. > :57:15.does not have to do much with the cue ball. If he rolls the pink in,
:57:15. > :57:21.there is a red their available closest the the right corner pocket.
:57:21. > :57:31.People say, "How do you line up the pots?" and if you watch Mathew
:57:31. > :57:31.
:57:31. > :58:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:58:13. > :58:19.Stevens, he always looks at the Sometimes you are more focused.
:58:19. > :58:23.Going into the final stage cess of the match, 3-up, the win in line is
:58:23. > :58:33.close, so... He knows Williams is not playing well, so keep the
:58:33. > :58:35.
:58:35. > :58:40.pressure on. You see him trying to pick out the spot on the red, so
:58:40. > :58:44.needs 60 with the cue ball to pot it. He is on the pocket, but he
:58:44. > :58:54.just 3. Crept in. And that could be the fame-winner. He has a nice
:58:54. > :59:18.
:59:18. > :59:22.angle on the blue. Any more pace, I do not think that is dropped.
:59:22. > :59:26.54 points the lead, so he does not want to miss those two reds near
:59:26. > :59:34.the cushion. He does not want to bring them out, he does not really
:59:34. > :59:38.need them. But this is probably the key shot coming out. He has a nice
:59:38. > :59:43.angle on the blue. It is worth playing a little canon into these
:59:43. > :59:48.three reds. If you catch the middle one, he should be alright. The end
:59:48. > :59:55.one is not too bad either. But he would have been very unlucky there
:59:55. > :00:03.for some things to go wrong. A good job it flicked the other red near
:00:03. > :00:08.the top cushion. 0 point the lead, 75 remaining. Red and the black.
:00:08. > :00:12.Would mean he would be in the snookers required stage. This is
:00:12. > :00:17.his highest break of the match, so now he plays for the pink. He is
:00:17. > :00:27.going to need one more red. This pink puts him 67 point in front
:00:27. > :00:55.
:00:55. > :01:04.with 67 remaining. It is only the red needed and could it have been
:01:04. > :01:13.easier than this it's not, there is tonight Matthew Stevens, 67. It is
:01:13. > :01:23.a very good lead. Of course, any red that Mark Williams pots he has
:01:23. > :01:58.
:01:58. > :02:02.to get on the black, otherwise a intention, of course, he has the
:02:02. > :02:12.insurance of those two reds closest to that cushion, which obviously
:02:12. > :02:20.
:02:20. > :02:24.Mark Williams will try to bring in the play now. It might be worth
:02:24. > :02:34.taking this red on, if he pots the red, his opponent will need three
:02:34. > :02:51.
:02:51. > :02:55.snookers. Don't blame him for taking that on, there is half a
:02:55. > :03:05.chance for Mark to make inroads if he can pot that different red.
:03:05. > :03:32.
:03:32. > :03:37.Whole, not three times, but he needs the password. A good pot. Now
:03:37. > :03:47.he has got it down pretty quick, so he must have just at slight angle
:03:47. > :03:53.
:03:53. > :04:03.to stun over for those two reds. Every red must be followed with a
:04:03. > :04:08.
:04:08. > :04:18.black. I think this red is on. If Mathew rolls this in he will go 52
:04:18. > :04:34.
:04:34. > :04:38.point in front, which is 4 remaining. That will confirm that
:04:38. > :04:42.Mark Williams will not get to the table in this frame, so he is going
:04:42. > :04:47.to trail four frames to one. Mathew Stevens did not win the frame in
:04:48. > :04:51.one visit, but he did make his highest break of 67. So he has come
:04:51. > :05:01.out after the interval, business as usual. Mark Williams still with a
:05:01. > :05:20.
:05:20. > :05:30.lot to think about. He trails four absolutely pre-sented to him on a
:05:30. > :05:30.
:05:30. > :06:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:06:15. > :06:21.plate. You just can't by a pot still. He has a huge lift from that
:06:21. > :06:27.last frame, winning it. Misss the first chance, there you go. These
:06:27. > :06:31.are pots you would have seen Mark Williams pot 10 at least. You can
:06:31. > :06:38.see his disappointment this he missed it. One thing that always
:06:38. > :06:42.seems to come into play in snooker, to me, as well, Mathew Stevens has
:06:42. > :06:46.had so many chances. This match could quite easily have been over
:06:46. > :06:50.6-nil in his favour. Sometimes the ball does not forgive you. You
:06:50. > :06:53.never know now, the balancings might fail to run and favour Mark,
:06:53. > :07:03.but he missed the long red there but did not lose anything. A little
:07:03. > :07:06.
:07:06. > :07:10.bit of run on the ball can help. 2 down, he knows he has had plenty
:07:10. > :07:20.of chances in every frame. Not as if he has been comprehensively
:07:20. > :07:31.
:07:31. > :07:37.outplayed. I thought of Matthews looking at the possibility of a
:07:37. > :07:41.three-ball plant t Redbee low the pink could be making it in but boy
:07:41. > :07:47.this is dangerous. Decided against it, don't blame him. A bit thin on
:07:47. > :07:57.the contact, but he could have a bonus. Behind the yellow. Not quite,
:07:57. > :08:08.
:08:08. > :08:18.I don't think. I think Mark can just get through to this red.
:08:18. > :08:43.
:08:43. > :08:53.Perfect on the black. Not the best of kisses, probably up for the
:08:53. > :09:03.
:09:03. > :09:13.yellow now. That is a better positional shot W the red at the
:09:13. > :09:27.
:09:27. > :09:37.bottom of the back, will go to the right corner. Only just caught the
:09:37. > :09:41.
:09:41. > :09:51.jaw of the pocket. 89% for Matthew which is high considering some of
:09:51. > :10:21.
:10:21. > :10:31.the balls he has missed. One wiped his feet, justaled in. This is an
:10:31. > :10:39.
:10:39. > :10:45.attacking shot. He will definitely be opening the reds up here. Didn't
:10:45. > :10:49.expect him to miss that. But having missed it, over all the reds, it is
:10:49. > :10:59.a chance for Mark Williams. Had he is playing well enough to take it
:10:59. > :11:31.
:11:31. > :11:35.or not, is another matter. This is what happens when you not timing
:11:35. > :11:40.ball right. It is very, very tough to get perfect position, especially
:11:40. > :11:50.on these first tables. Again this is a thinner angle than he would
:11:50. > :12:21.
:12:21. > :12:25.have liked. He thought he had missed that. It is a terrible place,
:12:25. > :12:30.John. You have to try very hard on the easy shots. Absolutely, where
:12:30. > :12:37.you can take nothing for granted. I'm sure everybody in the audience
:12:37. > :12:41.and people at home will have tried it sometime or other in a game of
:12:41. > :12:45.shooker, and know how difficult it is, particularly controlling cue
:12:45. > :12:55.ball. But when you have a few scars as Mark Williams has this afternoon
:12:55. > :12:57.
:12:57. > :13:00.with so balls he has missed, it gets harder. You cannot concentrate
:13:00. > :13:04.too much on the pot, you have to get position on the first ball, but
:13:04. > :13:09.this at the moment seems to be his problem. But in potting this he
:13:09. > :13:19.will bring those two reds into play. He has finished World Cup a nice
:13:19. > :13:41.
:13:41. > :13:51.angle on the blue. Not too happy with the contact but it is OK. Cue
:13:51. > :13:51.
:13:51. > :14:38.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:14:38. > :14:46.ball did not run through as far as he would have liked. He has won a
:14:46. > :14:56.fame on his own, for the first time. His previous two frames were gifted
:14:56. > :15:00.
:15:00. > :15:05.to him when Matthews missed the brown. I'm sure Mathew Stevens will
:15:05. > :15:09.play on. Surprise, just two snookers needed. But he has had
:15:09. > :15:14.enough of it! He made a bad mistake there, but fair play to Mark
:15:14. > :15:23.Williams. He dug in. As I say, there is a bit of snooker left thin
:15:23. > :15:33.match yet. Just one behind now 4-3. There will be a little bit of
:15:33. > :15:44.
:15:44. > :15:54.reversal pressure here I would have thought. One thing is how badly
:15:54. > :16:21.
:16:21. > :16:31.Mark Williams has played and it is only 4-3. A bit too thick, of
:16:31. > :16:34.
:16:34. > :16:39.course. Is why the cue ball stayed in the middle of the table. He has
:16:39. > :16:42.a red to the opposite corner pocket, which - I don't know, would have
:16:42. > :16:52.thought maybe better to get position if he is going back up for
:16:52. > :17:00.
:17:00. > :17:04.the blue. But it is his choice. think I would have preferred just
:17:04. > :17:08.at follow-through for the black there I know it was dead straight
:17:08. > :17:18.and some players do prefer to hit the ball a bit harder when I is a
:17:18. > :17:22.
:17:22. > :17:32.straight shot rather than a dead- waibl shot. A chance for Mark. --
:17:32. > :17:50.
:17:50. > :17:56.dead-weight. Could the tide be turning in this match? In the last
:17:56. > :18:04.frame when he made his break of 59, that was his highest of the match.
:18:04. > :18:10.A break for both of them. Not really frame-winning breaks. That
:18:10. > :18:20.is what these players look for - winning frame. But there is a good
:18:20. > :18:20.
:18:20. > :19:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:19:09. > :19:18.chance now though. Like to play canon here and just maybe catch the
:19:18. > :19:26.left-hand side of the mini triangle of reds here. Just caught them too
:19:26. > :19:36.thin, that is why he has lost a cue ball. Just want it to be thicker on
:19:36. > :19:36.
:19:36. > :20:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:20:33. > :20:38.that edge of the back. Could have done without the kiss on the yellow,
:20:38. > :20:48.but now he has flicked it in such a way tcue ball tight on the ball
:20:48. > :20:48.
:20:48. > :21:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:21:44. > :21:49.cushion. He will be happy with that. Good return. We will see if he has
:21:49. > :21:55.a baulk here, so just a little containing safety. Probably the red
:21:55. > :22:05.just above the pink and drop down to the jaws of this pocket, but it
:22:05. > :22:40.
:22:40. > :22:47.is he trying to Ben this with the right-hand side? He did. And that
:22:47. > :22:51.little flick than on the green has helped slightly. But if this red is
:22:51. > :23:00.straight, the one on the left-hand side of the table t black not being
:23:00. > :23:09.available. No value in going for the pot. There was slight angle but
:23:09. > :23:14.it is very risky. Of course they are not take take red on, he leaves
:23:14. > :23:23.it for Matthew here if he do is not play a good safety. It looks pretty
:23:23. > :23:28.good though. He has pushed another red over the corner pocket. Mmmm,
:23:28. > :23:33.well the way Mathew is looking can he - yeah, he can get through to
:23:33. > :23:43.pot it. He still that problem of avoiding kiss on the second red.
:23:43. > :24:03.
:24:03. > :24:13.That could stop him from getting good position on a colour. This cue
:24:13. > :24:18.
:24:18. > :24:28.ball needs to slow up, it feeds to slow up. A good pot. E think he may
:24:28. > :24:33.
:24:33. > :24:43.have had half in mind to try to play canon on that black. Looks as
:24:43. > :25:00.
:25:00. > :25:07.though he will finish nicely on the blue. I'm a little surprised we did
:25:07. > :25:11.not play the blue, but having said that, you would never expected him
:25:11. > :25:21.to this is brown under normal circumstances. But these have not
:25:21. > :25:21.
:25:21. > :26:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:26:32. > :26:42.been normal circumstances today, it has to be said. Getting on the spot
:26:42. > :26:57.
:26:57. > :27:07.will make this break, obviously a lot easier. Needs a real good
:27:07. > :27:33.
:27:33. > :27:40.chance to miss that to make it four each, to miss that brown. As he
:27:40. > :27:47.traces it from this red to leave the pink in the middle. O, no
:27:47. > :27:57.problem. Just roll this thing into the left centre. Two reds available
:27:57. > :28:02.
:28:02. > :28:11.into the right corner pocket. 16 point behind now, risd in the open.
:28:11. > :28:21.Four really. Going to need the awkward red just near the plaque.
:28:21. > :29:00.
:29:00. > :29:08.He is not going to be able to win A chance to screw the white to
:29:08. > :29:18.cannon the red and black together. He would have left himself on this
:29:18. > :29:20.
:29:20. > :29:30.red that he is going to play now. He is still two points in arrears,
:29:30. > :29:39.
:29:39. > :29:49.but it is going to get more It looks as though he has got a
:29:49. > :29:51.
:29:51. > :30:01.nice angle on the pink. It looks perfect to me. Has he decided to
:30:01. > :30:01.
:30:01. > :30:11.play for the loose a red? I do feel that if you keep refusing these
:30:11. > :30:11.
:30:11. > :30:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:30:55. > :31:04.opportunities, will you get a APPLAUSE I do not think there will
:31:04. > :31:14.be any heroics on this red in the top cushion. He will just roll it
:31:14. > :31:41.
:31:41. > :31:51.He was only ever going to get a car -- colour afterwards. He was not
:31:51. > :31:51.
:31:51. > :32:01.going on the red into the black. should just pot the pink and played
:32:01. > :32:07.
:32:07. > :32:17.a good safety. -- play. A possible snooker. Four points behind but
:32:17. > :32:37.
:32:37. > :32:46.Just looking to see if he can leave Matthew hampered by the black. He
:32:46. > :32:55.has got to be careful. He does not want to knock the red over a pocket.
:32:55. > :33:02.Well, he has made this red difficult. But it is a pot and he
:33:02. > :33:07.should not have left one. He is the last person you would expect to
:33:07. > :33:16.make an elementary mistake like that. A lot of margin for error to
:33:16. > :33:21.get the red safe. This is one of the most difficult shots. You are
:33:21. > :33:31.looking down to strike the pupil, the reds are in your byeline. --
:33:31. > :33:43.
:33:43. > :33:53.He has miscued and gone over the top of the white. I do not know why
:33:53. > :34:03.he hit it so hard, it looked like he was playing with a lot of pace.
:34:03. > :34:15.
:34:15. > :34:25.He definitely had to lift the bridge Hand a vital bit higher to
:34:25. > :34:28.
:34:28. > :34:38.get into the middle of the cue ball. -- little bit. He tried to dig at
:34:38. > :34:40.
:34:40. > :34:50.the end. He just went over the top. That was a terrific pot. That
:34:50. > :34:58.
:34:58. > :35:08.Not bad for a left-hander. Brown and blue needed to square the match.
:35:08. > :35:16.
:35:16. > :35:25.I did not think I would be saying That is going to be the case.
:35:25. > :35:35.Remarkable. Absolutely remarkable what has happened here. We may have
:35:35. > :35:43.
:35:43. > :35:53.He trailed 3-0. Matthew Stevens missed an easy brown. Now, it is
:35:53. > :36:12.
:36:12. > :36:22.His plight success of 81% Mark Williams has got to improve for him
:36:22. > :36:26.
:36:26. > :36:36.to win the match. -- pot. But he still in it and he can still win it.
:36:36. > :37:09.
:37:09. > :37:18.It seems very simple to say, but the player who can stop missing
:37:18. > :37:24.easy balls is the player who is going to win this match. That is
:37:24. > :37:34.what they used to say in the amateur days. If you do not miss
:37:34. > :37:36.
:37:36. > :37:40.easy balls you will not lose matches. Normally today, in this
:37:40. > :37:49.one and that's all. But today chances are coming thick and fast.
:37:49. > :37:58.You have got to admire Mark Williams for being in this match.
:37:58. > :38:03.Great attitude. A lot of players missing the bourse he had done, you
:38:03. > :38:13.would have seen him in the chair, head shaking, shoulders drooped,
:38:13. > :38:31.
:38:31. > :38:41.but we have not had much of that It had a lot of run on the left-
:38:41. > :38:48.
:38:48. > :38:52.hand side to make contact with the Yes, when you go back to your seat
:38:52. > :39:00.and you have played the right shot you do not feel too bad. It is when
:39:00. > :39:05.you have missed a sitter, which he has had to do a few times today. He
:39:05. > :39:15.knows he is right back in this match. I think there might be a gap
:39:15. > :39:31.
:39:31. > :39:37.for this red. Yes, there is. If he had not been hampered by the
:39:37. > :39:46.green I do not think there would have been any problem whatsoever.
:39:46. > :39:56.It made it all that more difficult that he had to strike down on the
:39:56. > :39:57.
:39:57. > :40:38.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:40:38. > :40:44.What is happening? What is It is definitely Williams who looks
:40:44. > :40:54.the stronger now. I think Matthews's cannot get over the fact
:40:54. > :40:55.
:40:55. > :41:01.he has not won this match already. -- Matthews. I agree. The two
:41:01. > :41:10.browns he has missed could have given him a 6-0 victory. I think he
:41:10. > :41:20.is a bit bemused by what has happened. Mark Williams, two points
:41:20. > :41:34.
:41:34. > :41:44.He cannot believe he has finished straight on the blue. Either side
:41:44. > :41:44.
:41:44. > :41:53.of the blue would have been OK. May be able to force a slight angle.
:41:53. > :42:03.But you take all the pace out of the cue ball. I think he might have
:42:03. > :42:08.
:42:08. > :42:18.a red here. He needs to get this. He did. He is starting to look the
:42:18. > :42:33.
:42:34. > :42:42.That pupils should not have been this close. -- cue ball. He has
:42:42. > :42:47.good to be careful. Straight enough on the red to control the cue ball.
:42:47. > :42:57.This black is not comfortable. The red below it is in his way for
:42:57. > :42:57.
:42:57. > :43:47.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:43:47. > :43:57.position. He had to settle for a Just this black and one more Jurgen
:43:57. > :44:24.
:44:24. > :44:34.van den Broeck and it looks a This again is looking a lot easier
:44:34. > :44:47.
:44:47. > :44:56.for Mark Williams now. What a turn This is the highest break of the
:44:56. > :45:06.match, it supersedes the 67 Matthews made in frame five.
:45:06. > :45:08.
:45:08. > :45:18.Matthew Stevens bemused to say the least. He is one frame away from
:45:18. > :45:18.
:45:18. > :46:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:46:12. > :46:19.He is hoping this red will cut into That is an attacking safety shot by
:46:19. > :46:29.it Matthew Stevens. There is always a risk in that shot. He has not
:46:29. > :46:47.
:46:47. > :46:57.halted a lot of these today. Can he Not like Mark Williams dog he does
:46:57. > :46:57.
:46:57. > :47:05.What can Matthew Stevens make of this chance? It is a good one.
:47:05. > :47:10.Black is available into both corner pockets. Can he get rid of the
:47:10. > :47:20.demons and focus on the shots ahead? It does not look like he
:47:20. > :47:28.
:47:28. > :47:38.can! Amazing. What this game can do I think I will get my cue back out,
:47:38. > :47:39.
:47:39. > :47:44.John. As we see the black missed again. Just unbelievable what has
:47:44. > :47:53.happened. This will take some getting over it if Matthew loses
:47:53. > :48:03.this match. I know he is a lovely lad, but this will really hurt. As
:48:03. > :48:05.
:48:05. > :48:12.I mentioned at the beginning of the match, in 2000 Mark Williams robbed
:48:12. > :48:22.him of the title despite him looking the winner. There is always
:48:22. > :48:24.
:48:24. > :48:32.a competitiveness when the two meet. He had his opponent on the ropes
:48:32. > :48:38.and he let it slip away. It will really hurt. He played that shot
:48:38. > :48:48.really nicely. Never as easy as it looks. Just done to perfection.
:48:48. > :49:15.
:49:15. > :49:23.What a chance. I would have liked to see what odds Mark Williams was
:49:23. > :49:33.when he was 4-0. Big odds. Now he is a very short-priced favourite to
:49:33. > :49:33.
:49:33. > :50:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 103 seconds
:50:21. > :50:30.He has not gone far enough. This will be the Jurgen van den Broeck
:50:30. > :50:40.into the left-hand corner. -- the red. He has got the pink to the
:50:40. > :51:00.
:51:00. > :51:04.left of it, position is not an He has got the line between the
:51:04. > :51:14.yellow and brown. We have seen him play this shot before on the left-
:51:14. > :51:17.
:51:17. > :51:23.hand side. Does it run past the cluster or stick on them? He did
:51:23. > :51:33.not play it off three cushions, he played it off two cushions. He has
:51:33. > :51:40.
:51:40. > :51:46.got a nice lead, 47 points. There is a possible 83 remaining. He
:51:46. > :51:56.needs to concentrate on getting a good safety, a good length with the
:51:56. > :52:12.
:52:12. > :52:22.cue ball. REFEREE: Mark Williams 48. It looks like she can definitely
:52:22. > :52:32.get to the edge of this red. He cannot afford to leave another ball
:52:32. > :52:35.
:52:35. > :52:39.here. He has left the chance of a pot. This is the kind of shot you
:52:39. > :52:49.would expect Mark Williams to go for and get in. I'm sure he will
:52:49. > :53:00.
:53:00. > :53:10.take it on. It could be the match- winner. Close. Closer a second time
:53:10. > :53:13.
:53:13. > :53:20.around. I do not think he has left anything. I think Matthew will play
:53:20. > :53:30.the safety. He needs to play a good safety to try and force a mistake
:53:30. > :53:40.from Mark. Mark Williams knows his way around the table. 47 points is
:53:40. > :53:44.
:53:45. > :53:49.his lead, he knows how to hold on He decided to try and sneak behind
:53:49. > :53:59.the brown. It would not have been my choice but he nearly got it
:53:59. > :54:07.
:54:07. > :54:17.there. Good reply from Mark. You make the safety shot that much
:54:17. > :54:20.
:54:20. > :54:30.Just looking at that, Mark Williams has scored 101 points more than
:54:30. > :54:45.
:54:45. > :54:55.I do not think it cuts into the left middle. That is not to say it
:54:55. > :55:04.
:55:04. > :55:14.He played the deep screw to get the cue ball back to the ball -- baulk
:55:14. > :55:29.
:55:29. > :55:36.end. As I say, Mark Williams is Much too thick. He is looking at
:55:36. > :55:46.those two reds on the right-hand side. This one will cut to the
:55:46. > :55:49.
:55:49. > :55:59.right-hand corner. He is in! He is on the green. This is a match-
:55:59. > :56:36.
:56:36. > :56:44.So this pink and one more red required for an amazing result.
:56:44. > :56:54.There is no other word in my mind. If he gets the red he will be 59
:56:54. > :56:57.
:56:57. > :57:04.points in front. 59 remaining. In it goes. This will really hurt
:57:04. > :57:14.Matthew Stevens. The yellow to go 61 points in front with 59
:57:14. > :57:22.
:57:22. > :57:30.remaining. So close to the middle pocket. Matthew Stevens, how has he
:57:30. > :57:40.lost this? He has lost it now for certain. He will not be coming back
:57:40. > :57:44.
:57:44. > :57:52.to the table. Incredible victory this is. 4-1 down, Matthew Stevens
:57:52. > :57:58.has got a brown pot to go 5-1 up. One of the biggest victories of his
:57:58. > :58:08.career I would suggest. Yes, particularly because he has not
:58:08. > :58:24.
:58:24. > :58:32.played. Not the last couple of frames. 83% heart -- pot success.
:58:32. > :58:41.Remarkable. As you say, every credit to him. OK, he had quite a
:58:41. > :58:45.lot of help from his opponent, but you have still got to pot the balls.
:58:45. > :58:55.He is probably the only player in the world who could have turned
:58:55. > :58:59.
:58:59. > :59:07.this match around. Yes, I could not agree with you more. It did not
:59:07. > :59:16.matter about the green. Matthew Stevens will be saying, how did he
:59:16. > :59:23.beat me there? Matthew Stevens was in front 3-1, it should have been
:59:23. > :59:29.5-1. He has lost 6-4. The two times champion put his place in the
:59:29. > :59:37.champion put his place in the quarterfinal. Amazing. Towards the
:59:37. > :59:44.end I left him a relatively easy brown. He needed that to go 5-1. It