Day 4 Masters Snooker Extra

Hello and good evening. And welcome to snooker extra. Extended

highlights of the first round match 29 Liang Wenbo and John Higgins.

Higgins, a winner at the Masters in 2006, but Wenbo makes his debut.

Your commentary team, John Parrott and Stephen

The last 16 match of this year's Masters. If Liang Wenbo is going to

progress today, he has to do something he hasn't managed before,

and that's beat Higgins in a competitive match. 7 matches played,

and the Scott leads 7. 0. What can he do, Stephen? Show the form he

showed at the UK championships. Couldn't pick a much tougher

first-round opponent though. I think he looks more comfortable as

the underdog, John, Liang Wenbo. May be the case. A few players on the

circuit who are like that, don't like the heat on them, as it were.

His form came from nowhere, really, been something of a journeyman on

the circuit for the last couple of years, but the performance at the UK

was pretty special. And the ranking points that he earned got him here,

at the Masters. A very capable scorer. Yeah, talking what he needs

to do to win today, Liang, he want tos start with 3 centuries in the

first 3 frames. That the sort of thing he needs to do to beat John

Higgins. Score very heavily when he does get the opportunity.

They won't go out the near jaw on the tables. A chance for Liang in

the centre pocket. Good if he can knock this one in.

APPLAUSE Nice pot. A little bit slack from

John Higgins to leave the cue ball in the middle of the table, as it

were. So not something you associate with John Higgins, shorts like that

-- shots like that. Can he put a marker down on this

first frame in? That is the cue ball to top. Body language says he is on

the reds to the left corner. Yes, I bet you his heart skipped a beat

there. The cue ball, 1 more quarter ten and he was on nothing.

Tricky little shot. He, if he is playing to hold with the black. He

could strike it positive playing to hold with the black. He

fet the action on the cue ball. Sometimes you decelerate and miss it

to the right-hand side, as we look at it. He misses to the left-hand

side side. A tricky shot, that, wasn't a gimme. One that needed a

wristback. It looked easy on your screen, few hit the jaws on the

championship tables, that's noticeable to me. They looked a bit

softer before, they were dropping in a little bit with the knew cloe.

That's what happens, it's nice and shiny. And the clothes go on. It

just catches the jaw, a little bit too far out. But they slide in,

don't they, the first couple of days. Into the pack here from this

black for John Higgins. He hit that Perth. That was a lovely shot.

Played with stun. Nice and firm, kept hold of the cue ball, didn't

run away. Beautiful shot. , it's been a remarkable turn around

for John Higgins, to be honest with you, I saw him play one of the

matches at the UK you, I saw him play one of the

he was bereft of any confidence. Looked like half the player he was.

To turn it around and win 3 turms this year, it's remarkable at his

age. Are you surprised at the way he's come back, Stephen? Very much

so. I thought a couple of years ago, that John Higgins was comes to

perhaps a crossroads in his career. All the new toorms tournaments where

they -- tournaments where they spend very little time at home. He looked

like he wasn't enjoying it much. This season - very impressive. Yeah,

I think one of the turmss and the matches he played in, he played Mark

Selby in the semifinal, and he beat him 9 frames to four. Anyone

Selby in the semifinal, and he beat beats Mark Selby by that scoreline

is playing good snooker. And he was the only one to give Neil Robertson

a close run at the UK championship. Certainly nothing wrong with the way

he's playing. Good to see him back. Tson a close

A well controlled shot. They didn't have a natural angle. Had to stun

it. And a touch right-hand side, and perfectly played.

It wasn't so long back. He went over the 600 century barrier. Not only is

he one of the game this was greatest match players, he is one of the best

break builders. Such a good scorer with a brilliant all-round game.

Yeah, he never ever plays the wrong shot, hardly ever. Even though the

start of this break, a lot of players, first frame, may not have

gone into bunches. But straight into them. It's produced this

opportunity. A sign of a top, top player.

Yeah, that's the way it should be done, isn't it? Make it easier for

yourself. Those balls in the open, quite a few players have been cherry

picking, taking off the odd red, but John Higgins knew that was a great

chance to split the balls up, and he is getting the due reward.

A cue action that has not changed much over the years. John said he

thought he found something, playing in one of the tournaments abroad. In

a team competition. He said to Stephen Maguire, he found what's

been missing from his game. His cue action has national changed much,

but whatever it was, that minor tweak has made the world of

difference to him. He's full of confidence again. Yes, it's very

repeattive, his cue action. It just two or three waggles and a more

difficult shot. If you watch his address to the plaque, just one or 2

long waggles and then a short one, and hit. Just caught the near jaw

for that. Aiming for the pocket for the red to drop in.

Just the cue action we're talking about. Top class.

You want to copy one, not a bad one to copy.

Probably have to go up the table now. Don't think he'll take a chance

on playing the cannon with those 2 Reds behind the pink. And already,

absolutely perfect. I'm sure, he thought it was going to

be a tough match today, but he certainly found out quickly in this

first frame. He had first opportunity. And afraid at the

Masters, some of the best players in the world, a tough skill. You got to

take your chances. He hit it well enough. Just, about that left-hand

side jaw. Look at this for a shot. APPLAUSE

Early on in the frame, could Liang Wenbo put down a marker? Well, John

Higgins certainly has. He played well -- play well, or you'll be

going home, Liang. This is hugely impressive from Higgins.

Just gone into the cue ball a little bit too much there. Going to leave

it for the middle pocket, but well past the winning post in the first

frame here. Nice to make a century though. Never in doubt.

APPLAUSE He seems to have his belief back in

his game. Wonder if he is going to make a

century. He's going to need some pot here.

APPLAUSE Oh, goodness me. What a shot that

was. Very ominous signs already for his

opponent. That was a beautiful pot. Watch this. Never touched the sides.

Brilliant. APPLAUSE

Absolutely brilliant. Wonderful control. And he's had the pace of

the table. It's been exceptional, this break. He is looking right back

to his best. Just this black for a break of 119,

and you can't start much better than that. Superb, lig Higgins. He has to

sit on the chair and watch for the rest of the frame. He takes the

opening frame and leads 1-0. Got a red to the left-hand coverage

pocket. Quite a comfortable shot. A nice angle to get round the black

and back up to the baulk end. The top players will expect to get this,

7 out of 10. Good shot. Tried to stop the cue ball on the power, but

it's going to run too far. Still on the yellow. The red is lined up now.

He can played off the right-hand side side cushion. But it's quite

tricky to judge the pace of this. Yes, the pot itself is not totally

straightforward, and to judge the pace of the cushion, can easily run

away, the cue ball here. APPLAUSE

I think that's what has happened. There was a shot that was a

difficult pot, the cue balls runs that end of the snooker, which was

what happened there. Good The referee just checking where the

cue ball is, in case there's a miss here. He gives him a better

indication. Just wondering here. He gives him a better

he could have snuck past the blue hit the side of the pang, but it's

obviously too tight. The outside red Not the best, again. To

centre... Depends, well, he Not the best, again. To

refusing it, so, that tells you the cue ball

refusing it, so, that tells you the pocket. Playing the red

refusing it, so, that tells you the middle... Maybe

refusing it, so, that tells you the made in the first frame has

refusing it, so, that tells you the a bit wary of taking dodgy shots on.

John Higgins, probably if not in best, in the top two or three at

safety and that was a complete misjudgment.

That was a good shot. APPLAUSE

Just enough on the cue ball to run through past the reds. For a nice

side of the table for a left-hander for to play the black from. So, one

good positional shot here, and the could be a decent

Think he was on it. Cue ball has just pulled up in time. So it's a

very good chance. Pots this, comes through for the ball, a little

cannon on the red to the left of the cue ball now, and those two would be

ideal. He is playing a skewback so the other red goes as well, people

see their breaks being made, I see it slightly differently.

, if this was a boxing match, it's important for Wenbo to get a

counterpunch in, as much for your own confidence, to send a message to

your opponent, "When I get in, I'm going to win the frame in one visit

as well." These are lovely now, a couple of screwbacks and that cannon

into the reds, has opened this up into an excellent chance. The 1

thing he can do, Liang Wenbo, above anything, is score. He played in a

qualifier a few years ago. I was playing in the qualifier and I

walked in and he kaunt believe what he had just done. 3 centuries in a

90 and a maximum in a 3-0 win. Incredible scoring. In

Looks pretty calmed and copomed there. Times in the UK, towards the

end of the tournament, he looked anything but calm and composed. He

was sweating, slapping his face, banging the take. But he looks

focused at the moment. You may be very right with Stephen. It may be a

case of, you know, he got a terrible record with John Higgins, he may go

and play his snooker. He may think, "My record's poor, it can only get

better." It's worked before. Just relax and see what happens. , the

red passes the green so no problem. Off the yellow now, a screw down the

left-hand side of the table, as we look at it. At least 3 reds that go

there. Could be straight down or off the cushion, whatever he chooses.

Always when you're making these breaks, try and leaf yourself in

areas where you've got options. There's at least two that were going

to be good for him. This is an impressivery post. -- an

impressivery post. Played the cannon into the red and pink here. He could

play past it, but it's on. That carries on like this, we are in

for a cracker. Both players looking in great form.

Could see nearly five centuries in this match, if both players continue

like this. This is high-quality break building. Both breaks, both

players have their cue ball on a string.

Yes, it would appear, nothing like winning the 3 matches and doing well

in a tournament to build your confidence up. He was ticking along

the tournaments without doing anything special, Liang, but

reaching that UK final has built up his confidence levels.

APPLAUSE Coming out of back to pack centuries

to start this match. That red on the side cushion is not too bad for him,

being left-handed. He gets in behind that, he can drop it down the

cushion. Could have done with another couple

of inches on the cue ball there, just to get behind it with his own

cue, not having to use the exception. The cue ball is going to

a perfect angle for the next colour. It's not there.

APPLAUSE John Higgins knows he's in a match

now. And Liang Wenbo with a brilliant break levels it at 1-all.

Got to make sure if you're going to pot this, you stagger the cue ball

through, past the red on the right that's blocking the black. This is

not straightforward, this shot. APPLAUSE

Good pot. Just that a little bit of extra run through required after he

stunned it and made it more difficult. This black coming up is

massive. Plenty of pressure on this. APPLAUSE

Well, that was in a different way, as difficult as the red. He is

leaving everything on there, should he miss the black. Did it very

confidently. No, a great chance. He couldn't have

the reds much better for the ultimate prize, John. May be a bit

early to predict. Gone for one of those. I can't believe it: I know

it's your birthday... Just tried to leave an angle there,

to flick the red away, from the other one. And the whole black area

opened up after the next shot. A leavely little sequence of stunned

cannons he played. He deserves everything he guess. The 2 shots at

the start of this break were excellent.

the start of this break were plenty of nerve.

Just let that coo ball run. Just to make the blacks missable. If you're

keeping your eye on the positional side, you can take the other pot

here. No problem. He just bunched the reds up a bit, after playing

that cannon. priority, he'll be starting to have

thoughts at the back of his mind. He knows how well the reds are placed.

Well, this is going beautifully so far. He's got a choice of rid, one

he can play through the pack, and one he can

he can play through the pack, and the right-hand side. He is taking

these beautifully so far. Yep, that

another red out. He played that in a way, he left

himself opportunity, 2 pots, 1 in the middle or one in the corner.

Can take it from me, he is after the maximum. He knows full well that

it's on. Just slightly hampered cueingwise

with that red on the side cushion. Just a little bit awkward. Yeah, and

and this will show us his intentions. Yep. I

and this will show us his playing for there. Very easy to

follow that through for the blue there.

That's all right through the gap there. The rest are perfectly down

for the black again. It's looking like that red on the

side cushion... Is going to be the stumbling block. Moment, the ones in

the open look like they are going to go.

I think he played that beautifully. He has. Screwback for the black, no

problem. He could play for the loose red now,

the red that's on the left-hand cushion now, if he got the perfect

angle. Would you play it, Stephen? You got to. You may never get the

chance again to drop nicely on it. He could have put that cue ball

anywhere on the red there. You got to pot the red eventually. A little

bit surprised there. Still in perfect position on these reds.

Not got the angle now to get on the red and he's gone slightly the wrong

side of the black. Bet he wished he played for that red now.

Well, he chucked the cue ball off the side cushion and we mentions

that he probably should have done it 3 shots ago. He will be kicking

himself. He was perfect on that 3 shots ago. Hardly ever, I would

disagree with a shot that John Higgins plays on the balls... Oh,

got a kick. The rights and wrongs of whether he

should have played that shot, but nevertheless, a brilliant century

break from John Higgins. 2-2 at the interval. Good try.

A bit of barman duties going on, the other side. Thankfully, he is better

with his cue than he is with the ice cubes.

LAUGHTER He's gone back to the quality of the

opening session. Superb. Put the best 16 players in the world in a

melting pot, you are going to get good matches. So far, this is

looking one them. The best of the opening round, both players playing

well. Good scoring, good tactical play.

One player just trying to edge ahead.

That can make a safety a little bit more difficult. Obviously, you need

to cover it. That may be a case of just bringing the cue ball back to

the top of the table. Yes, I think that he could have played thin off

the left-hand side of the pack there. And left a cue ball up near

the yellow pocket. Didn't look too difficult to snooker John on the

red. He chose to play the more conservative shot.

I thinkty probably know the answer to this before I ask you, I suppose

you don't like these frames too much, did you? No, when esee a

player play the shot that John played, I know he didn't have an

option, it's never a good start to a frame. You always end up with a kind

of nonsense. Tool early to be calling a potential

rerack, I would think. Wurn afternoon, 23 minutes played in a

frame before we got a rerack. It was the right decision to make, the pall

had gone very awkward with no end in sight. This hasn't quite taken on a

rerack just yet. Looking at, there's a red just outside the edge of the

bunch, that goes up to the green pocket. Don't think he can play it

as a slight shot to nothing. Yep, there it is. And he's got it.

APPLAUSE Probably was never going to have a

nice pot on the black. He's had one of those ones, hard to be totally

committed. Those shots I could never play with,

the bottom of the cue ball. That's one, well, on these cloth, there are

a little easier. Not an easy shot to play.

So very tactical at the moment. I suppose, Liang can push the red to

the baulk area. He can push that up and down, and move the cue ball on

the bottom cushion, if he wants, or he may take the pot. This will tell

us what he's feeling like. I preassume it was a spot. But he

got it pretty thick. The cueing was always going to be difficult there.

A very simple push up and down on the red if he didn't want to take

the pot on. Yes, the percentage shot again. He

didn't look it coming off the bunch. It's brought the cue ball somewhere

up around the yellow It's brought the cue ball somewhere

it was too risky. Wondering whether that's a good shot at all. The cue

ball needed to be tight on the cushion. I think that Liang will

have a go at the red that's near the have a go at the red that's near the

black. Shouldn't have been available, this one.

He went for it. And I don't blame him in the slightest, because that

was a chance. He just didn't pot it. Really good kug, that was. --

cueing, that was. RANSMIT To be important to know

that... Trying to establish a lead in this match. Seeing his opponent

hitting the pall very well, chances like this, you need to make the most

of them. Around this four reds in the open before he has to do any

work amongst the pack. I know you didn't fail many maximum

attempts but on the odd I know you didn't fail many maximum

you done that, would it affect you much? I think, it was the frame

before the interval as well, he had 15 minutes or so to get it out of

his mind. John is too experienced, he would have forgotten about it

now. He made 2 centuries already. These are the type of openings,

again, he'll be looking to... Win Yes, took the opportunity to develop

a few reds. Thinking that when he is straight off the pack, he'll leave

the 1 in the middle. I would expect him to pot this, we tricky when the

balls are all close together. Difficult to work the angle

sometimes. John is having a look down the line of the shots. Three

are not absolute gimmes, these types of shots.

Well played. Couldn't do much with the cue ball there, it was all about

the pot. He's got a natural angle to drop the blue in, and cue ball to

the top cushion for the load red, to the right of the black. -- for the

loose red, to the right of the black. Possibly the angle, if he was

playing it harder, it would have frightened him off. But a bit of

work to be done here for position. May have an anging to come down --

an angle to come down for the black. He played a more guaranteed

positional shot. Yeah, I think with that red being in the baulk area,

also an insurance policy if he didn't quite get on the blue

properly. Still too much to play for it.

Obviously that red is occupying the most of it. The 1 that's available.

Couldn't have prayed that any better.

For scrapping around for position for a few shots, he got the cue ball

back on a Centrelink. String. -- back on a string. Straightforward

for a few shots there. High quality stuff at the moment.

And tough to play against. Yeah, don't forsee, when he is in the

palls, he doesn't like, "Missing. -- doesn't look like missing.

Probably have to play a cannon into the four reds here. He played just a

little red to goes into the bottom of the four. This will open up the

other three. Cue ball control implaque late here.

And you don't need to miss too much in this school. Over the years, one

visit stuff at the moment. With whether they are in. That's the

level they are playing at. John has never had to may a difficult shot

when he's in. His positional play has been so, well, how he found that

gap... He could play that shot again 100 times, he'll go through that

gap. Yeah, amazing, isn't it? Any flick on the pink, flick on the red

He was going to be OK. He is 66 points ahead, with only 59 on, but

he would have liked to have got this frame out of the way.

He has to roll on the back of his red, he rolls up to the back of it,

that will do for the time being. Doesn't have to play the plants, of

course. APPLAUSE

Is that a break? If he can do that, why not? What a shot that was.

Slight grimmas there. He finished dead straight on the red. Have to

stun it and leave the brown to the left centre. D. Have to

It's not there. But 75 from John Higgins. Beautifully constructed. To

establish himself in the match. He takes a three-2 lead.

This time, the shot we've been mentioning in the safety shot,

leaving the cue ball on the black cushion, don't think it's on now.

It's a decent break there, from John Yeah, a feature of this match as

well, it's been free-flowing and open, the and boys have been able to

score because the black hasn't been tied off. It seems to eye off the

black when you break off. It hasn't happened today so far. They have

been able to score. Well, he played a shot. Where is the

red going in? Past the middle? Just. Don't think it's pottable.

Been playing there red off the jaw of the pocket, leaf the cue ball in

the baulk area. It was about as good as he could do. It was nearly past

the red, wasn't it? He did well to get it right towards the pink.

All the time when you are play against John, safety on your play as

well. You know it's -- pressure on your safety play as well. You know

his is going to be so good. Very difficult to outfox him. I don't

think that's difficult to outfox him. I don't

shot. Lucky difficult to outfox him. I don't

with the cue ball there. A little bit too

That's what John Higgins is looking at, which is taking a bit of time to

think out his safety shot. Probably just a bit of checkside up and down.

Always trying to make sure you get the cue ball as tight as possible to

the baulk cushion, because you could knock a red out towards the corner.

John thinks he's left him a little bit of a chance. Tough pot, this,

though. Did that beautifully. Really good.

Straight into the heart of the pocket. Excellent.

9 foot, 10, cued right through the middle. Great shot. If Liang can get

a half ball angle on in black, that red over the centre pocket is a

massive insurance policy. He can get on there, split the pack up.

massive insurance policy. He can get don't land on one, you've got the

one over the centre pocket. Very tempted to get the half ball on the

black as soon as possible. Get the pack open. If it doesn't go right,

you have still got the red. When you go into the bunch, go into them

whether there's still a couple of loads reds. You have to insurance

you are talking about. It's always wrong the play all the loose reds

first. Couldn't agree with you more. Geant go into them with as much

conviction -- don't go into them with as much conviction as you

thought. That could have gone wrong. If he got a thick contact on the

pack. He is taking the red we mentioned. So it did come in handy

after you'll. -- after all. There's one good positional shot

away from an excellent chance here, Liang.

Might be OK, but one thing he didn't want to be was hampered by the blue.

Think he should be able to cue it OK. Just about.

The best bit of cueing I've seen. A little flick at that one. Maybe he

was worried about his follow-through. The cue going

through the bridge hand that it make the blue. A little bit flicky.

Compared who what else he's done today, his cueing has been very

Right, a gap there, the let tot to the #r50i9 of the pink. And in -- to

the right of the pink. In practice, he got into the bunch there at pace.

Perhaps, trying to pick off the loose reds first. A little bit

negative. I'm with you - the shot early in the frame, when he had the

half ball into the pack, he had to hit them harder and thicker. And the

balls would have been everywhere. He didn't do it so a 36-opponent lead

is what he's left with. He is looking at this red, up to the

far right-hand corner. I think he's thinking the cue ball is going to go

through the gap. A great pot. APPLAUSE

That's the kind of shot to nothing. So long as he made the gap between

the red and the black. A great pot. Just finished on the yellow here,

don't know whether he can avoid the cannon on the brown. If he can, it's

a good chance. Always looked like being a little

bit of a problem, if you get a flick off the brown there. Take the pace

out of the cue ball. Often, 3 ball colours in one shot,

but he did there. A choice of 2 reds here, a red at

the bottom of bunch, or the left corner. Too far, a red to the left

centre. Nicely played. Wush good positional shot on the black and you

think he has to win this sixth frame.

He seems a lot more in control of his emotions today. With the UK

Championship you mentioned early, he was having a few historionics.

Patting himself on the head to make himself concentrate more. Today he

seems to be in total control of everything. Playing very well but

more importantly, in control of himself. He is definitely, a

big-occasion player. He enjoys the big occasions. He is much more

comfortable when he is not expected to win. He is the underdog. He can

relax a bit more. And so I suppose, what we're saying, it may be

interesting whether he gets near the winning post. What happens here. But

it's a fair way away at the moment. All to be revealed.

A big shot. That really should be the frame winner. Stun off the

black, the bottom red pots, should be 3 apiece.

Yeah, this is all the more impressive when you mention before,

John, it's 7 for zero against John Higgins.

He lost 7 times in a row to him. Yeah, I think he may have put a few

other people... Well played, great shot.

APPLAUSE When you see him playing lies thick,

you think, "Where have you been?" I thought, he could be the next big

thing, that good. But for a few seasons, he was moderate by his own

standards. You see him play like this, he is a top, top player.

Planned to go around the back of the red, I wouldn't put it past him to

knock this in. The opening red was an absolute cracker for this break.

Well, it's not there this time. But nevertheless, Liang Wenbo... He has

a 61 break. He levels the match. 3 frames all.

Liang made a brilliant 88 in the second frame, and then 36 and 31 in

the last. There's the highest breaks. Really good stuff. And

Liang's long-potting has been superb. He is currently at 100%. See

if he can keep it up here. He sure can. , I haven't seen him play this

well. He is playing better here than he did at the UK.

Well, that shot was as a the first one was good. It's the first one I

have seen him, have a bit of body movement on. He played that a little

bit like he was playing the shots at the UK, with a little bit anxious.

And that's the first one, because for a

Mind you, lose position there, is pretty poor.

Mind you, it may not be under a break.

, yep, that's From how bad the shot previously

was. Just was not concentrating on that pot at all. You can see it in

his face. We haven't seen a lot of reaction from him today, but that's

the first time. Very poor shot on the block. Black. -- on the black.

The worst thing about that, he is in it now. If he was in the club, you

can never play a shot that bad all day. It was as if he played such a

good shot, he forgot to concentrate on the second one.

There's just so many options there from that position. To do that,

well..very poor. And the one thing you know, when you

play John Higgins, he is not going to let you off the hook if you make

mistakes like that. He knows how much those situations hurt and he'll

try to make maximum opportunity on your misfortune. He'll be fearing

the worst there, Liang. Yeah, it's 4-3. Especially the way

that John's scored, when he's been in the balls today.

I'll be shocked if it's not 4-3 after this visit. Yes, I always

thought he was the toughest player to play on the circuit. You are in

for an afternoon of tough, tough match play. And someone who scored

brilliantly and always played the right shot. Which is why that

maximum attempt before, was strange, as we mentioned. The cannon to split

the reds up at all the time, moving a couple of reds out, making the

break easier. Got nothing easy against John Higgins.

Beautiful little cannon that was. Just made a massive difference to

that break. Opened up a couple more reds.

Just below the pink pot is ideal. Pot that run through, and he'll open

up - well it's gone dead straight. He doesn't need to worry about

flicking off the pink. This is brilliant stuff.

And just to widen there angle. Don't know whether he is on the outside

red. Just to zip A season or so ago, he was a shadow.

But, he turned it around and no uncertain terms and we mentioned

early, 3 times a calendar year a winner. He is just playing some

great stuff. His cue ball control has been

absolutely superb. Left himself a tough black here from

tight cushion. But obviously the frame is won, but that takes the

pressure off. Just a matter of potting the black. Automatically

going to be the red in the right corner.

He finished low on the reds, so be able to nudge that red away from the

pink. 2 pots away from century number 3

today for John Higgins. APPLAUSE

The perfect angle, he got the black in, up for the yellow, and no reason

why it wouldn't be the total clearance.

A wonderful trophy, made of crystal, that they'll be praying for this

week. -- playing for this week. If he keeps playing like this, it may

be his. Who knows? A sign of a player at the top of

their game. A little bit disappointed he didn't hit that

green as well as he wanted. But the frame is over. Sets himself very

high standards. And definitely maintaining them today. Brilliant

stuff. This for 133 and his third century of the match. Fantastic.

Absolutely brilliant, John Higgins. A wonderful break. Liang Wenbo lost

the vision and that was enough to sit down and watch the rest of the

frame. He now leads 4' 3. -- 4-3. This will be interesting frame,

this, from Liang Wenbo's point of view. He would be kicking himself

while that break was being made, he was first in, on an excellent

opportunity, lost position that he would never do if he was practitions

in a club, and subsequently, failed the long red and he had to sit and

watch. But it was his chance There's a collector' item. John

Higgins hit the baulk on a safety shot like that. Didn't see that one

coming. Not easy, of course, the shot he's been left, Liang, but he

has amazed himself he got a pot at a red here.

Did that nicely. Kept very still on that shot.

So, already is this match going to follow the pattern so far. John

Higgins get as frame ahead and Liang Wenbo comes straight back. A lot of

snookers Wenbo comes straight back. A lot of

before that is obvious. But it's happened

It wasn't the cleanest of pots. He played for the blue bl and put the

red to the left-hand side of the pocket. He is not perfect now. A

slight bit of movement there. Wasn't the cleanest of cue actions. You can

see his back elbow behind his head. Yeaheding looked to make some sort

of contact. Once he pots the back here, he may be tied up. Still could

go past the back corner. If the red goes past the black, it was a

leavely shot. Sure did. Thinking like you, he had a lot of angle on

that, did well to hold that. Couldn't have played that any

better. Looking nice now. Two box reds on

the cluster are definitely going to pot. He turned it into a decent

chance, Liang. R Wasn't the best positional shoxt

he is playing for top -- shot. He is playing for top spin. It was all

caused by a similar shot to the last frame, not hitting it strong enough

on the black. Careless. For top -- shot. He is playing for top spin. It

was all caused by a similar shot to the last frame, not hitting it

strong enough on the black. Careless. Kicking himself there.

Goodness me, he was in perfect position 2 shots ago. The 2 reds

available, didn't think he was going to fall down there.

This one has to be hit a lot firmer. He knew he was going to contact them

pretty thick. More top spin required. One or two signs of Liang

feeling the pink. -- the Wary of leaving that. Looking to see

if there's a 3-ball plant. And it's pretty close. He's going to play off

the red on the side cushion and safety, and make sure he covers that

up. Which he's done.

APPLAUSE Yeah, it's OK. Would have liked to

have covered the left-hand side of the pack here. He's got a

comfortable safety shot. John got the cue ball in behind the

yellow, in all sorts of trouble. He was a bit weak with the cue ball

there, Liang. One of those ones where it's more trouble been shorter

than right down to the baulk cushion. He has to play it with a

little bit of check side here. He missed the bump on the middle

pocket, which he's done. Good shot. Obviously with the brown being off

the spot as well, 1 less ball you can behind the cue ball behind.

So... The green and yellow are down there, not always the biggest

targets. Quite a clever shot that. A shot to

nothing there. APPLAUSE

Yeah, got quite a good shot. He covered the right-hand side of the

pack with the blue, the brown is covering the left-hand red, and the

one that he can see directly in a line with a cue ball, you can't play

off that. He'll get a cannon on the left-hand red.

There is the dreaded cannon. He didn't get that wafer thin, you are

you were in trouble. -- he was in trouble.

Although autofirst look, he was quite fortunate to leave it where he

has, Liang. Could have left it a lot easier than this.

Not sure if the path of the cue has to bridge over the pink here. If it

doesn't, it's quite a comfortable shot to may off 2 cushions for the

plaque to the right corner. -- for the black to the right coverage. Or

he could play the pink to the same pocket. He could have a choice of

two or three colours here. Sometimes it's being a distraction. You need

20 make sure you concentrate fully on the shot you're playing.

APPLAUSE Millimetre. Could have had a -- MM.

Cooed have had a better kiss, I suppose. Just lot the cue ball a bit

there. Wondering if he can get to the

green. Might be a shot for him. Back to the reds. The finish is pretty

awkward for everything. If there's a red at the back of the cluster

that's all right. He would get down and stun the black for it. But there

isn't. Good pot from Liang. Unlucky with

that cannon. Has a chance to put John in a fair bit of trouble here.

Just looking to see whether this cue, whether around the baulk there,

I would think, there's the worst for John to reply.

That's pretty comfortable, off two cushions down the back of the bunch

for five reds. Just getting the pace right. Looks like a fair margin of

error not to leave anything. Huh. A chance to get up, back behind

the yellow, if Liang want it. He is looking at the angle of the plant

there. He would run inside, not behind the yellow again. Just

slightly overhit it. Liang has a 29 point lead in this

frame. Especially when you were playing Higgins and the form he has

been in. That -- if he has got away with that he has been very

fortunate. It is not very often that you see that, his safety game has

been the worst aspect of his game today. 82%, it is usually higher

than for John. -- than that. Play that specifically to the pink

there. The rate is below the pink spot and that is available. He will

heat up the other corner for another red -- it -- he will hit up the

other corner for another red. A tiny bit of frustration in Higgins

at the moment. He has played so well. And yet, it looks like it will

be 4-4. Normally when you play as well and as heavy as Higgins has

played, you expect them to be well ahead. A lot of credit to Liang the

keeping his focus in this match -- for.

That kind of went wrong. Just try to flick it out a little bit but it got

stuck on the other one. 56 ahead with 59 remaining. You'll never

really comfortable when you playing against Higgins. Looking at where

the balls are, the black is obviously out of commission. I still

fancy Liang winning this frame. Higgins things that might have been

a push. He asks the referee. . I think he may have a case by the

way. It seemed to strike the cue ball

twice there. Difficult to judge from a distance. And John will absolutely

love that shot because he has flicked the black hacking to play --

love that shot because he has back into. APPLAUSE. That did not

work out in John's favour. That was a fantastic shot from Liang. And a

great long pot from Liang. Liang does take Higgins back again. And we

are all square, it is 4-4. We can show you this as John comes to the

table. Just before that he looked at the referee and said that was not

the right call. It did not make that much of a difference. Effectively

the best-of-3 now. The long pot has been excellent from both players.

Normally we say that 65 or 75% is very good but both are in the 80s.

That was a much better shot than it looked. In between both colours and

what you don't want to do is hit both of those with that shot. Just

past the brown. Perfect. Not a bad chance, this. Three or four Mac red

the available -- three or four red balls available.

Everytime he has had first chance in a frame, he has made his opponent

pay. I bet it will go in the same pocket. A little screw shot. Just

deliberately leaving it low. Which way would you play this? Would you

always favour the topspin? Perfect. Sometimes you have a choice with

those but it comes with experience looking at the pack where the red

Czar and -- where the red balls are. I am not surprised he is having

that cue ball cleaned. At first glance it doesn't look like

there is much else so he will need a good angle on the blue. Or he could

play for another colour. A half ball on the green would be ideal to go

into the bunch. There is a gap between the pink and red. He has

played for the blue. It looks to be too straight to going directly. He

needs to get it in that gap between the pink and the red on the right.

Just go in there and hope you get some thing from that. And that will

do. Absolutely perfect. He must have been delighted to see that. This is

really top-class stuff. Opportunity to play a little cannon. If he plays

on that one he will be on the loose red on the right. That is the one.

Just come back a couple of inches. It has just gone slightly wrong,

that cannon. Both of the race that he is on is slightly left and just

off straight. He is taking the more difficult one. APPLAUSE. And that

should be the shot that wincing the frame. The balls are beautifully

spread now and the way he scored this afternoon you would have to be

thinking for all the world it will be 5-4 to John Higgins. Absolutely

superb cue ball control, all afternoon. Heavy duty scoring and by

far the best match of the tournament. The frames that he is

losing other ones where safety is involved and they are a bit

scrappy. Whenever John get in first in a frame it has been game over.

I said at the start of the match that could be three or four

centuries. I was expecting them to come from the same player. It looks

like it could happen. APPLAUSE. Just a wonderful player with such a high

standard today. The quality of the break and the scoring is absolutely

exemplary. No reason why he will not go on to make another century.

Incredible stuff. He will not be too bothered about that. He has

established himself and it is Higgins who wins it and goes 5-4

ahead. APPLAUSE. It has been a wonderful afternoon's display of top

class break-building. You can sit with the boys are saying about how

it is very exciting down to the final frame. Every match is a

different story, doesn't it? Can he cut that into the middle pocket. It

will be pretty thin if he can. Yes, he is taking it on. No guarantee

with the cue ball will finish. He will settle for that. APPLAUSE. What

a shot that was! No idea where the cue ball was going to finish but it

has a beautiful angled down to the red -- angle. Obviously a long way

to go in the rest of this frame but it is nice to get the first chance.

Slightly overscrewed that one. A testament to how good his cue ball

is. We thought that was a bad shot. Off and you follow one bad shot with

another. The good thing is that the pink has gone up to the green spot

and teasing get an angle on the blue here with a huge target on the

reds. Absolutely perfect. He could not have picked up the cue ball and

placed it with his hand any better. A little bit of luck required. And

that is just wondrous play. He has hit that beautifully with great

control and that could not have gone any better. Open up like a bunch of

flowers -- opened. There has been a few times when ever he has got into

first visit he has won the frame. The way these reds have opened up he

will be very disappointed not to win the match at this visit. Can see all

of his wonderful qualities -- you can. Another one to top off the list

is his way of finishing matches. He is particularly adept at that. Give

him a sniff of the winning line and he is usually straight across it.

Just slightly lost the cue ball there. If he can run through and

missed that rate it will be all right. He could not but just had a

little flick on the red as it hit the cue ball. No problem with the

pot of course but he has to get through that gap of the five reds.

He got an absolute monster kick. Can you believe it? This was practically

game over if he got the black ear. You can see it jump off the table --

here. APPLAUSE. That is the view that

Liang has. He has played a nice shot there with those two reds on the

right-hand side. Could not have hit that any better. He must've been

fearing the worst when he was sitting in the chair watching John

Higgins go about that break. Sometimes with a little bit of luck

and that was it with his opponent getting that horrendous kick. Here

you go it just jumped in the air and takes the ball wide. And it has left

a chance Liang. We are right near the business end of this match and

there is a lot more treasure then there was a moment before. --

pressure. He has taken the opportunity to flip those three

rents because they were in a line and none of them were pottable. Good

thinking there. He finished at a slightly awkward

angle. The pink is straight and it is just a matter of good cueing with

the cue ball. Not as easy with the rest, though. We will watch that

left a middle pocket but he hit that good. He had batted very well. He

secured that one. He could not have set that up any better. Right away

through this match, John has gone ahead and Liang is paid him back. --

has. Is going to need one of the treaty

reds if he is going to win this frame in this visit -- tricky.

Not the best angle on the black here. He

Not the best angle on the black to the right centre just next to the

pink. It will be interesting to see how he

goes about getting into this position. Sometimes you can't think

straight and add up in the situations. He will know that it

should give him the frame. There is an interesting shot he has played.

Is much more difficult now with this pink -- it is. He did not quite

clear it 100%. A chance for John to play a really good safety here. If

they can get the red somewhere in the middle of the table. Not his

best. This thread goes to that corner -- red. The way his long

potting shots of gone to date, Liang, you would not put it past

him. Now here is a test. Guaranteed to be on the black. APPLAUSE. He may

follow that cue ball little bit too far past that red. You can certainly

be in the driving seat here. Look at the cueing on this. He will maybe

try to take the green off the cushion here. Great shot. He has the

upper hand in this frame again. Here is a swerve coming up. APPLAUSE. He

almost got away with that. I don't think John can pot this. If he can

bring the rate up and down and put the ball in. I did not think that

was cut a ball from my point of view. No prizes for guessing where

it would they after this one. That was some thin cut. Some hesitation

from John. I was surprised he didn't even look at potting the yellow

there. I suppose he would have any easier chance and Liang could get

away with this. Is not just about hitting them, it is about can you

get them safe? -- it is. I would not be too disappointed. It is a natural

angle to take the cue ball up towards the green. With a bit of

topspin. There was a chance. APPLAUSE. He needs to make sure that

he does not contact the blue. That is why he played a little bit to the

side. APPLAUSE. That was a great pot and I think he has come absolutely

old straight on the green and there is nothing he can do with this other

than drop it in and stand for a very tough round. But you cannot miss the

green! What a chant the John Higgins. -- chance. He needs an

angle on the blue to get back onto the pink and an angle on the pink to

get ack to the black. In fact, he does not need the black, so one good

shot here and he has come a lovely angle. A nice screw back here, it

will just screw right back onto the ball cushion. And John Higgins has

finally gone over the line. Brilliant scoring and an amazing

result for John Higgins. Liang played fantastically well. It was

John Higgins who got through and he won six frames to four in a

classic. Many congratulations to John Higgins, what a fantastic

match. He will now play the current Crucible champion on Friday evening.

That is it from us and we're back on one o'clock. What a great match we

have for you. By for now.