Day 5 Masters Snooker Extra

Hello again. Thursday marked the start of quarterfinals in this

year's Dafabet Masters 2017. And we have a people's champion, once again

one of the star attractions. Ronnie O'Sullivan. This is the six-time

champion who many consider slightly fortunate to have made it into the

quarters this year after the last gasp effort against Liang Wenbo. He

will certainly hope that the flu remedies have kicked in because

he'll need a clear head if he's to see off Australia's Neil Robertson,

the winner in 2012. We'll share this in the company of John Parrot and

birthday boy, Dennis Taylor. Very difficult to predict the winner

of this one, John? Yes, talking at the top of the show about the

records coming into this. I think probably the main match I'd

concentrate on is the Welsh Open because Robertson was 5-2 ahead in

that before Ronnie put the after burners on to win seven frames in a

trot which I don't think that anybody in the game would win seven

frames on the trot. But then seven frames in the semifinals and Ronnie

beat him 6-0 and made five breaks over 60 in that match. So whether

Neil will be remembering that or this is just a case of another day,

we'll soon find out. Well, he came up short there. That

was interesting because the table has been absolutely flying a very

quick cloth, but this is a new cloth on and even if it is off the same

roll of cloth, it will be interesting to see if this table

plays as quick. It's the same table but if the cloth plays as fast as

the previous one, we'll find out in a couple of shots' time. Good safety

there from Neil. Might be able to get past the yellow and blue from

that red, but looking at that angle, there's no value in taking that on

because he'll be careering into the reds. If it was straight, he could

have a go at it and get on to the black. Apparently, I just found out

that just the cushion clothes have been changed. So the bed of the

table will play it the way it has been. Strange why they would change

the cushion cloth? They weren't really bouncing that much, John? No,

I suppose if anything is going to wear out quickly, it would be there

on the jaws of the pockets. That's probably why that has been done. But

anyway, the best safety from Ronnie there, caught the bump on the middle

pocket. Excellent cueing. From Neil Robertson. Looking straight forward

that. I didn't see much of Neil's match

with Allister Carter, I was on in the afternoon, but apparently he

played very well. Yeah, I was chatting with Neil the other day

before he came out and played and he was saying that scoring wise, he

felt like he was right back to his best. He made 13 century breaks and

in the little mini league thing that he was playing in. You don't do that

unless you're litting the ball properly. But one of the things that

you really do need to do if you're playing Ronnie O'Sullivan in what

can be deemed as back yard, you need to have plenty of character. You

need to stand up to it. Grit comes into it.

Two fabulous players who got... You got the abundance of natural talent

in O'Sullivan. The best player I've ever seen with a cue in the hand and

then the Australian with a laser-like cue action, tremendous

break and an all around match player with that Aussie grit. Great matchen

up. I mean, what this player achieved in

the 2013 and 2014 season has never been done again to make 100

centuries. If you leave the one there. In fact,

there's a couple of them that are available. He'lls coming up a little

bit short, though. Might just be OK. He needs to pull up a little bit.

That's OK. Well, he could play a little cannon into the five reds

there. Because there's a big one on the blue. And this could really open

things up. Went delicately into the reds.

Nicely played that cannon but it could come out a little better. He's

got to play this and avoid the cannon on the red just near the side

cushion when you pot this one. Which he's managed to do. And already it

is there with the break. You can see Neil Robertson knows the importance

of a good start in this match. He looks tuned up and ready to go right

from the off. Started the season off pretty well early on and had a

semifinal. And a couple of disappointing results by his open

standards since then. But as I say, you start to make all of the

centuries in the last couple of weeks and the hard graft he's put in

over Christmas time. If he gets back to his best, he'll take some

stopping, he's that good. I was surprised that he dropped down

to number seven in the world. He certainly, as Stephen Hendry said,

he should be in the top three, you would think. But that is how tough

the game is these days and you can quite easily slip down the rankings

a little bit if you have a bit of a lean spell. Yeah, he's just taking a

bit of time with this one because as you can see there, just over a

minute. But he's just got to try to get the next positional shot because

the red he was looking at, if he can he can get straight on it, he

doesn't want to be playing any cannons. This is not straight

forward. I was surprised that he came up off the shot there.

Well, he didn't want to risk the delicate hold on the black there.

Just forced in and hoping to drop nicely on pink or blue, but it's not

absolutely perfect. You've got to avoid the baulk colours and get back

up into the scoring end of the table.

In and out of the baulk area. I think those two reds near the black

definitely pot. He couldn't have hit that much better. That was a lovely

shot. Really well controlled. Looking in good nick.

Yeah, he got around on those two reds with the aid of a little flick

on the brown here. But you can expect this from these

two players. I think if the other makes a mistake the way that they're

playing, every chance that they'll finish the frame off. Yes, but how

important is it to stick your marker down in a match. You, many of times

in commentary said about Steve Davis, used to be brilliant within

the opening frame. It's very important just to let your opponent

know that you're here to play and you're at your best and this is what

Neil Robertson is doing. This is hugely impressive.

Would be difficult to go with a century break but he's almost over

the winning line in the opening frame.

Will have to wait for the next frame now because Ronnie does need a

snooker regardless of what happens. He's got a chance to move either of

the sets of two reds there. Will have to play a double if he's going

to have a chance of a century. A double but the frame is well and

truly in the bag. Just checking that, looking at the score board. So

he might as well have a go at the double.

A lovely start from the Australian. He got one chance on that and that's

all he needed and that lovely break has given him the opening frame.

It's 1-0 to Neil Robertson. Well, that's a pity. The break off

shot has put a red right next to the black and put it out of commission.

Now the player would have liked to have seen that. It just means that

Ronnie can't take the red on to the left corner because there's no

colour available. Can you believe it, it's 25 years

since Haas came on the scene as a referee. Yeah, one of the very best

and a lovely man. We've all got older together.

As it is, Ronnie may as well stay where he is because he's going into

a similar position. This time Ronnie can play down again

at the end of the table. You can see the edge of the pack there.

Ronnie's God friend, Damian Hirst, renowned artist. He didn't think

that he would be back because he thought that Liang Wenbo would be

back and knock Ronnie out. And a very easy black to knock the six

times former champion out. It can leave a free ball here. He's left a

long pot on. I wonder how Neil will take this. Will he go around the

back here. We'll just show you here. He can play around on the ball or he

could play it to nuch the red away from the black.

It's the first time in a while that he's going across the ball there.

Usually a feature of the cue action that it goes straight through. But

definitely hit across that one. Yeah, this can develop the pink and

reds because the black is tied up as well at the moment. So, how hard

will he hit this? Might just be able to get through. It's tight, though.

Very tight. In fact, I don't think that he can get through to it. A bit

unlucky there with the split. Yeah, it wasn't totally ideal with the

blue. He couldn't get loads of power into that. But he'd be very

disappointed if he doesn't cover it with the blue if he's planning to

leave the red there. Just caught the pink half ball. Full

ball contact would have been better but he was still a little bit

unlucky there. The difficult thing here for Neil is

that he's playing off the side of the pack but the red on the

left-hand side of the pack is the one that he's got to keep covered.

Cue ballually in the same place that he played from. Should be ideal.

Well, he hasn't done that and if Ronnie can pot this red and manage

to get the cue ball out, then it's a chance. He could finish on the pink

here if he hits the reds. Can't get through to that, the main

part of the shot. Normally very reliable with this

type of shot but he hasn't had much table time.

Obviously the black is out of commission and the pink is going to

get tied up on-the-spot, it looks like.

Now, is there enough room? That's the ball marker that will tell the

referee whether there's spots and as John mentioned, the peng now tied up

so he'll have to play up for the blue. He had to look to see if the

pink would go into the left corner. But we find out the way that he

plays the positional side of the shot and if it pots or not. Well, it

does. The pink does pass that red by the looks of things. Well, maybe

not. Otherwise he would have played it.

He did look at it. So Ronnie would have known whether the pink would

go, but once the red has been removed, it could develop it. I

don't know where the pink would go now.

Just can't quite get the position this he likes at the moment.

Slightly off with each shot and the bump doesn't help there because it

actually puts him straight on the blue. Might have been top side. So

another good medium range pot to screw back and back for the blue

again. Oh, this is tough. But going close to the left middle pocket.

He'll have to be careful here. And hit it lovely. Hit it beautifully.

Really well struck and the best thing there is with the position

that you see, there's three below the pink but two of the bottom ones

are definitely there. So he's got an area to play in there. Straightaway.

That's where he is. Well, there didn't look to be many

points available to him when he came to the table. The balls were all

tied up and he's making a terrific job of this. Always nice to see the

big breaks going in when they're all sitting nicely, but when you see

them having to work hard like this, it's very skilful, indeed. Now, if

he's straight. Now he's got a slight angle. So he can force this in.

Yeah, and I think that both of the reds might pot. The one next to the

pink and the one below it may do so. Hasn't he taken these well. I mean,

the table when he first came to it wasn't brilliant, but so far, this

has been superb. Both players in good nick, Dennis. And that's what

everybody wanted. The packed house at the Alexander Palace and everyone

watching at home. We just wanted to see both of the players playing well

and it looks as if we're going to see that.

There's always something a bit special about England playing

Australia. At any sport. I'll just make sure of this

yesterday. The other players that I can think

of who would have come here to win this frame from there, O'Sullivan

has. Absolutely brilliant break. Ronnie O'Sullivan has returned the

compliment, he got a chance and he returned it enough to win the frame.

One each. Goodness me. That's a long way off.

I don't think that I've seen him miss by that far before. Hmmm. A

little worrying. Well, it's not an easy starter for

Ronnie. The pot is not so difficult. The position is more difficult.

Well, that was a better shot than it looked to have to screw that. So

still needs another good positional shot. See the way that it comes off

the position here. Watch it straighten up and keep it away from

the reds. He made sure of the pot there. But

didn't avoid the yellow. Has he potted the yellow? Almost.

Wasn't an easy chance that. But Robertson would be delighted that he

got six points off of it. He must have thought when he missed that

long pot by a mile he was going to be in big trouble.

If he can get up and down on the yellow, he needs to get plenty of

side on it to at least get up past the blue spot area. He'd like to get

a bit closer to the reds. And he's got to avoid the middle pockets when

he plays this. Yeah, big shot this, really, just to get position.

Well, he is on one. But can he get any position off the red that he's

landed on. Pretty tight to the cushion.

No good, that one. To have to play something a bit special to get on to

the pink from that red. Very awkward.

I'll tell you what, what an effort that is. I mean, that... Is... As

good a positional shot as you'll ever see. Loads of top spin there.

That was a bit special. Well, you won't see a better shot played today

than that one. That was absolutely fabulous.

Played that just to try to clear the black spot. But to confirm, the red

is still covering it. A really brilliant shot that was. He

might need another one here looking at this. Has he got a bit of angle

to work with here? Just a slight angle. So in a perfect world, he'd

like to get a half ball off the blue and come down and split the pack up

with the black. He's just the wrong side there. And you can see, taking

the weight towards the baulk area. Well, just look at the cue power of

the Australian there. Loads of top spin and left-hand side, but he's

going to finish to the cushion. That could be the end of break. And there

you can see all covering each other. In fact, the way they finished, it's

very awkward to get a good safety shot in. He's just nestling on to

the black here. Yeah, the last two frails, the balls

have just gone a little awkward, that's why the previous frame lasted

just over 29 minutes. The first frame was just over 10 minutes and

the second just over 11. But sometimes, the balls dictate what

happens and we're back to tipping and tapping again.

I'll tell you what, that was nearly a little bit too hard. But his heart

was in his mouth for a second there. Yeah, nothing that you can do when

it's like this. Neither player can get the cue ball back into the baulk

area. So you have to keep playing until an opportunity arises to do

so. Scoo he thinks that he can screw

down this with some side and get it back into the baulk area. You've got

to be careful with these that you don't play a push shot.

Yeah, a push shot is where the tip of the cue ball and the object ball

are all in contact at the same time. Tough for the referee to decide.

What is a push shot. But the player normally would walk away from the

table and declare it. You know yourself if you pushed it. But look

at this for a safety. Nothing too appetising either side

so Ronnie was looking to see if he could drop on the red that's nearest

the top cushion. He tried something a bit special

there to swing the cue around the angles but it was very, very

difficult. He's just looking to see if the black goes into the pocket

that he's going to take the red here. Not sure if it is available.

It would be a big advantage if the black goes.

He's the wrong side of the blue. So maybe the black was just that little

bit too tight. And that looks like if you were in

behind the black, that you'd be able to pot it. We might have to see a

Neil Robertson special here. We talk about cue power. If he takes this

red to the right corner, he's going to get a lot of action on this. Just

have a look at this. Well, he had an angle so he didn't have to screw it

back. He's just scrapping for position there at the moment Neil

Robertson. He can't quite get them how he wants them. And slightly

wrong all the time. Having to play the cue ball around the table all

the time so this is a hard work break at the moment.

A little bit coming up after this frame. I mean the first two frames,

both players had a chance and made enough to make the frame but the

last two, the balls have gone so awkward.

Should leave the other red available. A big chance. That's in.

And there's no real easing now from this position. Going for a kick or

something to win this frame. This is really good for Neil Robertson. It's

a good effort because he missed one or two shots in this frame and lost

the cue ball a couple of times. One attempt at a long pot was a long way

away. If he can get out at the interval 2-2, he'll be delighted.

He won't be coming back to the table here. El a he be heading straight

off for the mid-session interval. And sometimes the interval can

change things around and as I say, the last two frames have been very

awkward. And I suppose, 2-2 is a pretty fair reflection? Yeah, I

would think so. As you say, just because it is awkward frames doesn't

mean it's not important, does it? They're all the same. They all count

for one. Doesn't matter about that. Ronnie is

on his way out of the arena so a couple of awkward frames. Two very

good opening frames and we go to the mid-session interval two frames

each. Have a look at that for an opening

pot. That was normal service resumed at the Neil Robertson action. Do you

think that he could drop next to the black? That would open things up and

he might have an angle on the brown to play up on to that. Yeah, it just

depends on what angle he has on the brown and which shot he decides to

play. It's a natural angle to split the pack but I'm sure that he won't

play that. That's pretty good. He got on the

red and this opens the black up for the blue this time.

Still available, but if he wants to, it will go into the play. The sort

of shot that Ronnie would play himself but other players tend to do

it slightly different. It just depends how he feels. As I say, he

has a couple of loose reds but he might go straight into the pink. No,

he's going to play for the loose ones. The one at the back of the

pack, if he gets on that in a few shots time, then he can open the

reds. Yes, Dennis. He may play for that when he leaves the cue ball low

and pots the red and screws off the pack and you bring the reds into

play. And you take position. So it all depends on how he goes about it.

There's the shot he's got now. He has a choice. He can generally power

it through but generally they go back for the black and hopefully

bring a few more reds into play. A lot more pressure on this shot than

there should have been. Excellent, must have read your book

there. John Parrot was probably the best in the game when he was potting

there. Should have had better positional play, shouldn't I! You

can only just see the top of the ball. Thinking about that first

session, I think if there were two players going into it 2-2, I would

have been slightly happy with Neil Robertson. Obviously he was 2-1 down

in the match so it goes without saying just to level it is great.

But I just think on the balance of play, I think that Ronnie was

slightly better than him in the opening session. But what you've

done with O'Sullivan is establish yourself in the match that you

aren't going to let him run away and you kept the crowd fairly quiet. So

2-2 at the interval for Neil would have been a pretty decent score. And

he's starting this frame like he started the match.

Still a couple more reds available after this one.

Just to the left on the back of that little bunch of reds, there's also

one that's potable. And the one that he's dropping on. And then, he might

leave himself on the black to cannon into the reds because he's not that

many pots away from securing the frame with one visit - a visit that

started with a Neil Robertson special.

He's got the angle to play the cannon now. This will determine

whether he's going to win the frame at this visit. He wants to cannon

the red that's in the middle there. But he wanted to play that with a

bit of screw. He's done that in there. Needed to have a bit of screw

on it so when he cannoned that, he came ae towards the left-hand side

of the table, but he just put it in there. He must have thought when he

played it, he was bound to be on one. But if he played the screw

shot, he was virtually guaranteed he would have been. Yeah, and now he's

only 59 points a very healthy lead. But not with the way that the ball

was situated. That was far from being safe against an opponent like

Ronnie O'Sullivan. So he could do with putting something on to a

cushion if he's playing a safety shot here just as a little bit of

insurance. But it's not going to be easy po put the red safe and

guarantee a good position for the cue ball.

I mean, he could possibly take the pot on but he's going to need a bit

of help. He's going to need the swan neck, I think he's asking for. We've

got three types of spider under the table there. With the extended

spider. I mean, he can play this as a shot to nothing but it's awkward

cueing. He's going to need the extension on the cue. He won't be

able to really see the shot because he's so far away from it. His eye

line, he'll just have to judge it because the cue will be so far up in

the air. I mean, it helps that he's just over six feet tall. So he'll

play the pot and play the safety shot also. Awkward.

Yes, very difficult that shot. Certainly striking down as well and

also trying to get some safety with it. It's one of those shots that if

you play all out for the pot, you've got a better chance. If you try to

get a two in one shot, sometimes you don't get the safety and you don't

get the pot. So, can Ronnie make a counterpunch? And after all the hard

work at the start of the frame from Neil Robertson... Will he have set

the frame up for Ronnie O'Sullivan to come and steal it? The way that

the reds are, Dennis, they're lovely, aren't they! Couldn't be

better, John. Even the one next to the pink will be available because

as he pots the head, they're clearing the path for another.

Straight on the black but that doesn't matter. No problem. A little

bit of reverse side here. Just to spin off the cushion to the right.

Oh, hang on! What has he played there? I was going to say, it was a

careless shot the one before. I know for a player with visibility, a

straight shot with a little bit of side shouldn't be a problem but he

shouldn't have been straight. But there's such a margin for error here

and just over hit that. It's a lively cloth but that was... Very

poor. Now, can he cut this one in? I mean, what a shot this would be. No.

So that... Excellent opportunity has disappeared rapidly.

Neil Robertson can't contain his excitement. He must have thought

that the frame was going. Ball all in the open the way that Ronnie had

been hitting it this afternoon when he had chances and he'd been cueing

beautifully. I was amazed that he was back at the table.

It would be very interesting to see how that affects Ronnie O'Sullivan.

He's looked very focused this afternoon. But inside, he will be

seething at what he's just done. If you want to give your opponent any

more confidence, keep doing what you've just done. And they'll be

feeding off that. This has been going less than 12

minutes. A little bit of an exhibition shot

there. So much there. Looked like the white was going to stop near the

cushion behind the black and inside, just spun it up the table.

And there's another exhibition shot from the Australian.

And is that in? Two visits, Neil Robertson. An earlier break of 59.

Ronnie had a chance to counterattack. He didn't take it and

nearly cleared up with 62. The Australian leads 3-2 frames.

And that's a pretty good break off shot. I mean, if the red wasn't near

the black, he would have a go at the long red in the left-hand corner and

play it as a shot to nothing, but because of the red next to the

black, he can't. He would leave that on. So he's just containing the

escape off the side cushion. Which could have been judged a little

better. Doesn't want to be leaving any sort of pot for Neil. I know

it's awkward bridging so he's not even contemplating that red to the

left of the blue. Well, he holds his hand up. A nice

little flick. And that is another careless one

from Ronnie. You can't just keep presenting

opportunities. Well, you can if he misses them. Started to look

worrying for Ronnie in that frame. Like he was losing momentum. He can

go between the red and the black there. Well, he decided that was a

little bit risky. On the wrong side of the bl. Possibly could have held

for the black. Six. Going to have to swing this

around again. 7. Such a good shot. Controlled that you'd unclear. --

beautifully. Played that really well. Well, how does that look?

Pretty good. 13. Just OK. I thought that red

would block the blue. But it is easily possible. Just wondering,

even that little shot Rob missed. How important that is. The first

opportunity. It is little things like that in these matches that make

all the difference. Hanging with the top boys. 18. 19. There's the shot

in the little pocket. It has gone to Ronnie. Will it be

costly? 22. 23. Pink, out of commission. The black is awkward.

May be in the right corner. Perfect angle on the blue. The black is

available but needs to be straight on this red so he can roll it in. No

threat on the red. Has to wait for another chance. Back into the blue

again here. A slight change of plan again. 1 of those shots where you

err on the side of being pacey just in case. Oh. You don't want to be

missing the green. Ronnie O'Sullivan. 29. I put that to a

lapse in concentration. Maybe a little of the previous frame in his

mind. If he has not got position he has been very lucky. Neil Robertson

is looking at that right in the back. Does it pot? It is difficult

to know. Well, that was your answer. Didn't

expect him to make such a poor attempt at

That. He is giving Ronnie an easy comeback. You cannot leave him these

longshots. He is good at them. That is a useful cannon on the blue.

Let us show you this terrific long pot again. He has got an angle on

the brown to get back up to the reds.

You have to say, one or two worrying signs that Ronnie is looking second

best in the match. Careen off the spot which you would not expect him

to miss ever. -- green. 6. Make no mistake about it, the Australian,

Robertson, will pick up on those. That will give him a little extra

boost. As a competitor, you can remember as

well as anybody, when you see a weakness in your partner, it is up

to you to make the most of it. That is what Neil Robertson is doing. 14.

21. Can he bring any reds out? He has to force them through and bring

the single red out. That was a good shot.

A little bit more on that. He may have to go up the table. Is the blue

is available he could play on that. It would be nice to get it back but

not essential. That is what he has in mind, to pop the red and get back

onto the blue and get back to the scoring end of the tabe. -- table.

Having a look to see if there were three reds behind the pink. I do not

think that is on. What do you do hear? Play for the single red? He

has a natural angle to play a cannon into the pink and three reds, but it

is not a big target. That is the angle he has. If he wants to play

into the pink. He is looking at the single red. He is looking at the

options here. Yeah, I do not blame him there. If he can pop this red...

But the cue ball has gone further. It is quite an easy cannon into the

pink and blue reds. It was awkward for him. He did not want to risk

potting the blue and disturb the three reds and pink. He did not cue

that well. Neil Robertson, 35. Just cued across that one slightly. For a

Potter like Neil Robertson, you would have to say that is a poor

miss. A nice little half ball on the blue.

This is all about the cannon here. Need do is to open up and land on 1.

That would be a massive favour. APPLAUSE

. Six. Yes, nice to have plenty of

enthusiasm. But just shouting out at the wrong time can put the player

off. I mentioned earlier it would be seriously worrying times if he does

not get this 1. These are absolutely lovely now. Levelling the match at

three each. OK. Green to brown could be the only slight problem, but you

wouldn't expect it. Certainly 4. Another 1 of those that might go all

the way, John. Yeah. Neil Robertson will be sitting in his chair and

kicking himself about the red that he missed. It was not easy. But he

was in command in the frame. Would not fancy knocking that 1 in. Just

needs to make sure of the green. 24 is the difference. This is to secure

the frame. APPLAUSE. Did not have to play position on the brown, but he

did. And a good response from Ronnie. And once again, all square.

Great match. 42. 48. Well, the Australian, Robertson, a

chance to open up a two-frame advantage but did not take it.

Ronnie O'Sullivan took his chance. All square, three frames each.

Now, what is the angle like that he has left for Neil? Has he got a pot?

Yep. There it goes. You never know where the red that you play is going

to go. But that has finished up OK. A very attacking shot on here.

Whether he will take it, I don't know. No, he has decided to play the

safety shot. There's a pot with the red on the

right-hand side. He was not having any of that. He has taken the pot

on, but look at the cue ball. It will go to the black and reds. Where

will it finished up? Finding a gap. Has he got a shot on the green? If

he had the green, he is right-handed, over 6 feet tall, he

has got quite a stretch. But even then, he would have to force this.

And he could miss the pot if he tried to hit it too hard. It looks

tight on the cushion. He has cued it well. Just to make

the pot. He'd just misjudged it slightly. A similar sort of shot for

Ronnie. Neil Robertson found the gap. Where will the cue ball go this

time? This is a little hard. He has to power this. Brilliantly struck

and controlled. 8. Perfect. Just feel with this

match, the way it has been going, the boys mentioned in the studio

that one player could step up and grab hold of the match with scoring.

They could run away with it. 21s. 22. 1 red at the back of the bunch.

Let us see how he gets on to that red.

He has left it in such a way he can develop a few more. Does not help

his position, though. 13. Stumbling through. Getting the cue ball

running through it. One good cue in here. That is exactly what you got.

Beautifully struck as well. 37. He did the right thing like a

golfer. He had not made up his mind and got up on the shot and went back

down again. That is the worst thing you can do, change your mind and

then continue. A lot better. Had to strike down on that. It had to be

straight through the middle of the white. Very well cued. 43. Striking

down on it, right the way through, then back up for the brown.

A lot better than it looked. He can obviously play some sort of cannon

of the blue into the reds. But he is worried about losing the cue ball.

Thinking about coming off the angle with the brown. It is time to

guarantee position here as opposed to taking a chance. He took too long

on that. Is he going to fluke it. Surely not! No reaction from me but

that is one of the biggest is flukes you could ever see. Did not make up

his mind. Did not want to risk the cannon. Then missed the brown by a

long way. But how did he fluke it into the corner? He has just played

a few strange... 47. It is as if he lost his concentration somewhat. I

mean, he just got down on the plant. If that is down you do not just get

down and hammer it like that. It is as if he felt guilty for getting the

fluke. Well, it might come back to haunt

him, the way he played that plant there. But, I mean, just to hit it

that hard, did not give it a chance. But this was amazing. He just could

not make up his mind. And in the end, he missed it by a long way. And

then to see it go in-off the red. Meanwhile, this is not a

straightforward chance for Neil Robertson. Left-handed. Those 2 reds

on the left-hand side cushion will be as much a problem for him as a

right-hander. Nevertheless, these are not ideally situated. APPLAUSE.

13. 14. As the option, he could play

this firmly and click the red out. He could have played it firmly, as

if he missed the cannon... Well, he chose not to do it that way.

30. Not the best position he has ever played. He is probably already

thinking about the two awkward reds. One very much so. The other not too

badly placed. Before the break, on the black, he could have tried to

flick that. I know he is left-handed, but that is a tricky

shot, where that is. That is to be negotiated later. We will soon find

out. APPLAUSE. 33. He has got a slight handle on the black. He is

left-handed. He can play a drop in behind it. Or he can try and get it

out. Not be perfect angle. He would have to really try and power this

in. And he certainly powered this in. But not quite far enough. It

looks like it will be a safety. And Ronnie O'Sullivan will be relieved

because I think he felt that he might have messed up. But that was a

great effort to bring that into play. Neil Robertson, 40. So, still

in the balance in this frame. When Ronnie missed the brown. He had an

alternative shot that we might be able to show you. I thought he could

take the blue and get the cannon on the two reds. But it could not make

up his mind. He got the brown and missed it. This is a little bit

pacey. Oh, the blue, the blue has come to his rescue there. Yeah. Neil

Robertson raises his eyebrows slightly walking towards the com

box. Thinking that was going to be a chance. The greenies in the corner.

-- green is. There you go. Yep. Nice blue, he is saying. Because if it

slips past the blue, the red, he might have a chance, maybe not to

pot the red, but certainly to put Ronnie in trouble. He has to

negotiate the swerve. He could be knocking it towards the other

pocket. So, he was in a lot of trouble there. And he will take

that. He might not like the next shot. Trying to get in behind the

black here. . He has not hit it hard enough. He has missed a trick there.

I see the ties, they are wearing normal ones, you can see him pulling

at it. That is why we used to wear bowties, because a normal 1 gets in

your way slightly. Oh. I am a massive fan of Neil Robertson, I

really am, but he has played 2 was 3 shots today that are totally out of

character for him. He never usually does that.

One. For him to play that, obviously, do not put the object

ball over the pocket. He has overhit that and now it will

be awkward because he needs the brown also. He is having a quick

look at the scoreboard there. 15 ahead. Green and brown, and he will

need assistance. I do not know if he can get it with the rest. He may

just be able to get it passed the blue. But if he gets it too card. --

hard. You can try to flick it in. That was the good news about that

shot. Well, one could long pot, and we are right down the line of the

shot. It is there. 16. APPLAUSE. Ronnie O'Sullivan, 16. A lapse in

concentration, but Neil needs... Settle down, please. He needs a

snooker, as you can see. Did that previously in the match when he

missed a pink in the middle and had to wait another 10 minutes. This is

the blue again. Looks like nothing, but it stops your momentum. You

think you are going to win the frame but it is all over. It gives you 10-

15 minutes of complete aggravation for no reason at all.

It's been a funny frame this. It's had a little bit of everything.

Only needing the one snooker, there is no way he will be potting the

blue if he had a chance. More chance of the snooker with pink and black

on the table. But as well as playing for the snooker, you have the try

and keep the object ball safe. Well, he didn't mean to pot that!

LAUGHS He's looking down... Didn't plan to

pot that. But he might be able to get by with the black here. More

difficult now with just the one Snookering ball on the table. And

more difficult, Dennis, because the black is off the spot. The cushion

for the black - easier to get a snooker behind. But where it is

now... You have got to be absolutely perfect. You they would he would

have to get it right tight behind. He has one real good shot left at it

and it's not great, what he's got left anyway. So, good luck with this

one. I will tell you what - it's a pretty

good effort if the pink holds up. Just ran a bit too far.

APPLAUSE Not a bad effort.

In or over is how you may that shot. CHEERING

That's in! It's a frame either play would have won, but in the end

Ronnie O'Sullivan. He will be absolutely delighted. He gets himg

into a four frames to 3 lead. A good length with the cue ball, but

there is a bit of a free pot for Ronnie. He can go around the back of

the black and take this on. An interesting part in that last

frame, Dennis. It ultimately went down to the last red. There was a

shot where I was saying Roberts could have potted the red. If he

plays it nice and firm and plays that, knocks it out, he could end up

going on to win the frame F he missed it he was a red baulk. So a

bit of a shot to nothing really. I think he may have missed a trick

there. Ultimately that red was the last one he had to get and he

couldn't get on it. CHEERING

Well, that was what we call an Aussie special! I mean, one of the

greatest long potters the game's ever seen, without a doubt.

Tremendous cuing. I mean, such a hard pot anyway. But to knock it in

with a top spin Yan get back on the correct side of the blue is just a

wonderful shot. Yeah. I think I mentioned at the

start of the tournament how many great left-handers there are in the

game and what great potters they are. Going way back, there was only

a few. There was a great potter from South Africa.

But now there's... I mean, there's so many great left-landed players.

Then Jimmy White came on the seen, Barry Hawkins...

Well, he knocked in an unbelievable opening red. How do you see a

missing one like that? I know. If anything, I was looking at Neil

Robertson today and haven't seen him play much this season other than

when we ump # -- we bumped into him. His concentration is never as high

as it usually is, that's the only thing you can say, because he would

never miss a shot like that. CHEERING

Great pot from Ronnie. Did well to avoid the cannon on that red there.

So, # -- Ronnie's turn to sense weakness in his opponent. Can he

make the most of it? I agree with Stephen Hendry -

standard-wise probably one of the worst matches. Although it's still

very, very exciting. But no century break, highest 74, Ronnie's highest

63. But fascinating stuff. Yeah. Interpret similar to yesterday's

match with Mark Selby and Mark Williams. It doesn't have to be one

with the snooker all the time to make it fascinating. A brilliant

match yesterday and Mark Williams desperately unlucky. He played some

fantastic match play. What is going on here at the minute?

What is going on? Are we now at the stage where both players are maybe

trying to that little bit too hard? Well, he got a heavy contact there.

The red's gone in, but it's spoiled the position outside of the shot.

Supposed to be fair, in this year's Masters there hasn't been a great

deal of kicks. Less than there has been for quite some time, I think.

Unfortunately when it happened, look it did yesterday -- like it did

yesterday for Mark Williams on the blue. Neil Robertson having to take

on here, it was magnified. But this is a big shot to take on. . Wow!

APPLAUSE What a pot! To do it after the

disappointment of the kick and the loss of position is fabulous.

Think he is still keen on winning this match after that shot? As I

say, they both want it so badly. But it has to be said, Ronnie was in

the balls and he was looking good and... He will have just gone to

clean hi # -- clean his hands. A little bit sticky maybe.

That's gone wrong. It is amazing. I was just about to say with these

players, you normally expect to them a win with one visit. But what's

been happening - there is all sorts of hitting things going on. There is

another one, when it ran on to the red and out of position. I don't

think it is December Pratt. He has the one insurance policy in the

baulk area. May have lost position there, but the way his long

potting's been, this will be going in.

APPLAUSE Not all bad news there. Got a chance

here. He can pot the yellow off the said cushion and into the pack, if

he wants to. The red over the middle pocket would be there as well.

That's what he played. But he hit that so badly he was nowhere near

it! I don't know about how, John, but you just sense... Normally you

would say they are in, they are going to win the frame you sense

with what's going on, they are not confident of winning the frame with

one visit. If there is a three-ball plant what a bonus that is. I don't

think it will go in... Unless there is a gap between the two reds. P

those two reds are close together it will squeeze it away from the

pocket. Well, let's see. The first two to the left... Close together,

the angle he's got, he won't make - he will squeeze it away from the

pocket, I think. Well, from that angle maybe he could

possibly make it, because there is a little gap between the reds. But

still doesn't fan it is. -- fancy it . Well...

CHEERING 25. He would be kicking himself.

Such a margin for error there. Comes off there, the side of the cushion,

goes into the pack with the balls, red over the middle. Looking like a

frame-winning chance but it's gone now.

APPLAUSE Good stuff, though. I don't know

what's going to happen next! LAUGHS

What happened next? That used to be a programme. How many years were you

the captain? What happened next? Well, he thought he could pot that.

And the white needs to keep running, otherwise he's left it. Yeah. I

think he can get past the blue. CHEERING

Just someone shouted out there, "Get in." Before the white got near the

red. We don't need anyone like that shouting while the player is playing

the shot because it will put the player he's supporting off.

Once again, though, the position... Not ideal for Ronnie. This - the

choice of it up into the yellow pocket, which is what he's doing,

but he played for it in the centre. CROWD: Oh!

CHEERING He should be taking this one! Quiet

please! Listen, you get enough bad luck at

times in a game. If you get a fluke like this, why not take full

advantage? Left of the cushion. Then seemed to come back in. I think

there was a bit of swerve on it, hitting the angle. Yep. Arced it

around into the pocket. I'm with you - you get a fluke, you

make sure you get the most of it. You see it's the jaws, and then it

hits the caution and... Flick off the brown? Wow! That brown's been

pretty good, hasn't it? It should have been in the other one, but of

course he played the plant afterwards with not a lot of care.

But what a fluke that was! He didn't play that too well. That's

a bit careless there. Miss challenged the cannon completely.

He's just battling himself a little bit at the moment. You can see the

about jebt disappointment on -- abject disappointment on his face

when he losses position. Welcome to our world Ronnie. That's what

happens to most players. APPLAUSE

Welcome back to Ronnie's world! LAUGHS

Yeah. For all the great play and misses and bad safeties Yan # --

safeties Yan great safeties, you can't beat a little bit of luck.

What a fluke that was! CHEERING

Very focused. Great temperament, but that was hard to take. Because it

means now that he's going to have to win the last three frames. He's

quite a while capable of doing that, as Ronnie overscrews the yellow. But

that doesn't matter. He will stay in the seat. Or he might leave the

arena just to compose himself, but it doesn't matter about the green.

That was an unbelievable fluke for Ronnie O'Sullivan!

CHEERING No wonder he's leaving the arena.

He's now just one frame away from the place in the semifinal. It's 5-3

to The Rocket. Ronnie, a bit short with the

break-off shot. Could do with a long pot here.

Given the cue a clean there, just to make sure it's nice and smooth. He

could do with a couple of Robertson specials. He's at the stage now

where he knows he can't afford many more misses.

Just having a look there to see if that red at the back of the black is

pottable. At some stage... Obviously not playing on it there, but he's

just seeing if he can pot that and get it away are the black. It will

free it. But... I don't know about that one.

Here he is again, checking just to see. All those ones you have to keep

the qubl high, so -- cue ball high so when you get the natural angle

you can screw off for the black. It is a tough angle for the black,

certainly on these tables. And he would be disgusted with that. You

can see him turn his head away because the one thing he didn't want

to do was come low. Just got into that a bit too much.

Not even sure that pots. It's very tight.

Yeah. Not from angle. Had the white been near and to the right he would

have been OK. He worked that out an if you shots ago. Stephen mentioned

in the studio that struggling for positional play today. A good

example. A very good example. A good opening pot. Played as a shot

to nothing. Because if the red doesn't go in - have a look where

the cue ball was. The fact he potted it, he knew he was always going to

have a chance of the brown. CROWD: Oh! Boy, to hit it that hard

and expect the pocket to accept the brown was asking something.

Foul! Oh, he fouled it. He was looking and he may have thought he

was OK, but he touched it with his sleeve. Yeah. Bad news on the foul.

Good news was - that red came across and hit the black and didn't leave

one on. Could have been all bad for Neil there.

APPLAUSE Interesting, though, Ronnie tapped

the table a few times. He tapped the table before the white got anywhere

near the cushion. He knew where it was going to finish up.

Don't mind him missing altogether with the first attempt... Much

better doing that than hitting the red thick. He will have another go

at it. He will want to really make contact this time, because three

misses from this situation and you lose the frame. So, can he get a

thin enough contact here? No. The referee will now warn

Ronnie. I said earlier anything else going to happen in this match?

Certainly he won't lose a frame from missing the reds she times?

UMPIRE: I have to warn you this time. Put plenty on chalk of the

tip. The last thing you want to do is miscue.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Well! In the end it was a terrific

safety shot he played. But... He hasn't reacted, but he couldn't stop

smiling there. It looked, from that... He must have tried to plant!

LAUGHS I will tell you what - this is a big

shot to take on. Well, you were right, John. It was a

big shot. Don't be giving too many chances to

someone like Neil Robertson. He was in the jaws of the pocket. So close.

But very tough shot he took on there.

Yes. Not a brilliance chance this. Blackcurrantly is out of commission

-- black currently out of commission. Pink certainly is. Brown

on the side cushion. Not perfect on the blue. I suppose

he could take the green, being left-handed. It might actually be a

natural angle back at the red at the bottom of the cluster, because that

will pot. But is he hampered with his cuing? Mmm. Looks like it.

He is looking at the blue to the middle pocket. This is a thin cut.

He will go into the pink and reads and it will open the game up. Foul.

That's a bit unlucky. It was a very thin snick required. He got the main

part of the shot. Didn't quite enough get screw on it. But to go in

off was very unfortunate indeed. Yeah. Added unfortunate part of that

shot - I think he's opened the pink into a pottable position as well. I

think the pink now goes - the red removed from the side of the pink -

if Ronnie can pot this and come through, then he's got pink or blue

that's available. What he needs to do is get his focus

back that he had at the start of the match.

APPLAUSE It has to be said, just a few little

signs that he is getting a little frustrated with himself. He sets

himself such high standards, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

That was a good shot that Neil played there. Knew he would be

clipping the red towards the corner, but as long as he could use the

yellow, green or blue to cover it up, it was OK. Similar shot for

Ronnie here, but Ronnie has to be careful with... Don't want to hit

the pump in the middle pocket either. Has he covered it?

He's covered the one closest to the pocket. And the one on the left-hand

side he is hampered by the yellow. So, not great for Neil.

I just noticed, John, something with Ronnie when down on the shot. It is

as if he's moving around a little bit. He never used to do that. Rock

solid. But detected just a little bit of movement while he was getting

ready to deliver the cue. That was just a containing safety.

A tough shot, these. Yeah. Not surprised he missed it actually. One

of the ones... That is on the thin side. Ronnie isn't looking to see

about the red on the right-hand side. He doesn't fancy that. Well,

that, I suppose... He normally he could have potted that and got on

the pink. Didn't even look at it, did he?

Just while they are replacing it there, just... You see, there's

where it is, nearly on the brown spot. Mmm. Looked as if he could

take it on. Wouldn't have left a great deal but he had it replaced.

Now! It's Robertson's turn to be warned. He won't even look at the

red this time. Of course, if he did it and missed it three times then

this would be frame and match. Do you know what I think happened? It

happened in the Irish Masters, and I think Ken was playing Steve Davis.

Was it Steve who lost the match with three consecutive misses? Yep. Yep.

You're dead right. That's what happened.

REFEREE: I have to warn you this time Neil. This will be too thick

now. Needs to be very careful here. APPLAUSE

Yep. Too thick. But I tell you what - he will be glad when it's finished

T -- finished. The blue's come to his rescue.

Played that with a loaded check side. Just to straighten the cue

ball up. APPLAUSE

He's played it very well. Where the reds have turned out, he's had a

little bit of luck, of course. He's covered those two red near the

corner pocket. Little bit of luck with one of the balls, but it was

well played. On first glance, looks like a fair bit of trouble.

Well, that is what he is faced with there. As you can see, a very

difficult situation. He will have to give this one a

little bit of thought, because he knows one mistake here and he could

be out of this year's Masters. Yeah T two reds that are near the top

corner, the bottom one, Neil was looking at trying to roll up and

drop on. But if you don't get that right you are leaving a red into the

middle pocket. That's what he's had a look at. If he can just come up

dead weight and rest on it. But you have to get that right.

Well, this is very delicate. It isn't going to reach. Foul.

Oh that was the way he was trying to get in behind that red. Ronnie's not

having the one in the middle pocket. So, obviously the... That pot isn't

something he fancies. But he's got Neil in a right load of trouble

here. Same shot, is it? Has he done the same thing again?

And then... REFEREE: Foul. And a miss. Yep. He

will have to be warned again. For the second time... That doesn't

happen very often where a player is warned twice in one frame.

REFEREE: I have to warn you again, Neil. You played a miss. You will

lose the frame. Yeah. And the match. Oh! Well! He's given a foul away. 7

points. But the... Black, will it go on its own spot! I think it's the

ultimate whammy. I think everything pots.

REFEREE: Settle down, please. Quiet now. Thank you! He is so many

trouble. He thought he had to take on that pottable pot. There was no

pocket to go in. But some of the balls were very awkward, but have a

lack at how they have split up. For those to finish like that, and

forget the black on the spot, with everything in the open, you couldn't

ask for anything more. The only thing is... The way it's gone this

afternoon, will it be over? They have played each other twice in

the Masters. Neil one 6-1 in the semifinal 2015. Ronnie won 6-4 in

Round 2 in 2010. Even that shot wasn't played up to

his usual standards. You could see him down in shot, he was in two

minds, the way he played. Obviously to knock the black he should be

knocking this in. But just little unpositional blips from Ronnie

O'Sullivan that you don't normally see. These are just spread lovely.

No excuses now. Before this match started, we

were... Thought we were going to be in for century breaks flying in all

over the place. But... Ronnie's highest break had been 63. Neil's

74. But... I will tell you what - there's been lots of 50s and 40s and

misses. We've had a bit of everything. Yep. It's been great

theatre this afternoon, that's for sure. You know, this audience this

afternoon, OK, as you say, not centuries rolling off every frame,

but it's been fascinating right the way through. It's been difficult to

commentate on because we know what was going to happen. On occasions

people looking like they are going to clear up, pole positions, and a

few missed pots you wouldn't get. But fascinating nonetheless.

APPLAUSE That's the frame and the match

secure. Neil Robertson had a chance to go 4-2 in front. And for me, that

was the big, big turning point in the match.

The crowd here at Alexandra Palace have been very fair to both players.

A lot of Ronnie fans here, but Neil Robertson's had terrific support

also. But it's not going to be his year.

Just looked as if he had lost a little bit of focus. He was very up

for it. The start at match, but just seemed to lose his way towards the

end, and... Probably because he set such a high standard.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 61. He's had a few flukes here and

there which always help. APPLAUSE

Interesting... Well, he will be delighted, Damien Hurst, his good

friend. It will be interesting to hear what Ronnie has to say about

the match. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Both players big smiles for each other. It's been a fascinating

tussle between these two great players. There Ronnie acknowledges

the crowd. He will be delighted. In the end a comfortable win, 6-3, for

the Rocket. Curious match. But Ronnie O'Sullivan is over the line

and into a 13th Masters semifinal. He's only ever lost one of those and

ironically that was a couple of years ago to the very same Neil

Robertson. He aadvantaged that one. We will be back with more live

snooker in yet another quarterfinal. It is Mark Selby, the world number

1, and threetime winner of the great event, against the runner-up, Barry

Hawkins. We will catch you for 1:00pm BBC Two.

Goodnight. Why would James Delaney hate

the India so?