0:00:35 > 0:00:39Good evening and welcome to Snooker Extra, extended highlights of the
0:00:39 > 0:00:48fourth day of the 20 18th Dafabet Masters. It is a first round meeting
0:00:48 > 0:00:52between Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter, who has a very good record against
0:00:52 > 0:00:59Murphy.
0:01:05 > 0:01:17COMMENTATOR: It is Ali Carter, to get the match underway.
0:01:17 > 0:01:25get the match underway. The Paul Hunter Trophy. In memory of the
0:01:25 > 0:01:32young star who won this on three occasions. Wonderful player.
0:01:42 > 0:01:53He was quite a way away with that shot.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59shot.Bit lucky to get away with that, I think. There is a
0:01:59 > 0:02:05long-range, 2-ball plans into the corner pocket, but not risking that
0:02:05 > 0:02:18at this stage. Poor safety. I think the yellow has come to his rescue.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Although there is a red into the right middle. Can he screw back into
0:02:22 > 0:02:35the safe area, just past the middle pocket? Yes.'S horrific.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38pocket? Yes.'S horrific. Couldn't get his bridge hand exactly where he
0:02:38 > 0:02:50wanted to, but played it well and perfect on the blue.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Very early chance in this match. We saw Ronnie O'Sullivan getting off to
0:02:55 > 0:03:01a blistering start yesterday. Players in form can do that and
0:03:01 > 0:03:08Shaun Murphy is a player in form.
0:03:17 > 0:03:23That red was always a big problem, acting as a goalkeeper. Has he got
0:03:23 > 0:03:31on the black? It is tight. I don't think he has.He will be
0:03:31 > 0:03:44disappointed. Just a safety shot to play.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58He was aware the red would be a problem. He couldn't overhit it,
0:03:58 > 0:04:06otherwise he would have left the black.
0:04:16 > 0:04:25Couple of shots hit thick. From Ali Carter.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55Didn't have the perfect angle on the blue. But confident enough, tight
0:04:55 > 0:05:01onto the cushion. The doesn't make this pot any easier. He couldn't
0:05:01 > 0:05:18have played it better. Good shot. Confident, he got down on that shot.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26Lovely rhythm to his cue action, Shaun Murphy. Both players would
0:05:26 > 0:05:32have been on the practice table in the build-up to the walk-out, trying
0:05:32 > 0:05:38to get that rhythm going, should they get an early chance. That one
0:05:38 > 0:05:43is going to stray, it seems. Could have hoped for a better split of the
0:05:43 > 0:05:48reds than that.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55reds than that.I suppose he had to play it. He didn't have to play the
0:05:55 > 0:05:59cannon, but he felt as though he was bound to be on one. But he could
0:05:59 > 0:06:11have stunned and this is a careless safety. That is very careless. From
0:06:11 > 0:06:15playing a couple of bad safety shots, Ali Carter, he gets a good
0:06:15 > 0:06:22chance, from nowhere.
0:07:06 > 0:07:15As you can see a couple of reds go into the corner. But he has got an
0:07:15 > 0:07:21angle on the blue, should he wish to disturb the reds now. I think that
0:07:21 > 0:07:23is probably the right shots.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Would like to have that one game. Could have gone into the pink, for a
0:07:36 > 0:07:41better result. Perhaps he was playing to go into the pink and just
0:07:41 > 0:07:51misjudged it by a fraction?
0:07:58 > 0:08:02As with Shaun Murphy before him, didn't make the most of that
0:08:02 > 0:08:09opportunity.
0:08:09 > 0:08:16opportunity. Just sends a little bit of first frame nerds here.
0:08:18 > 0:08:24of first frame nerds here. -- nerves. Ali Carter, ranked number 13
0:08:24 > 0:08:29in the world, Shaun Murphy is six. But in the head to heads, Ali Carter
0:08:29 > 0:08:38is ahead.It will be interesting to see how this match unfolds, in as
0:08:38 > 0:08:42much as Ali Carter's record in the Masters, for a player of his
0:08:42 > 0:08:48ability, is very poor. He will be very frustrated over the years, not
0:08:48 > 0:08:53to have put in a great performance here. But he is playing somebody he
0:08:53 > 0:08:59has had the better of, so how will that pan out?
0:09:04 > 0:09:12That is a better safety. APPLAUSE
0:09:16 > 0:09:29I think he may be able to bend it left hand side and played the pot.
0:09:38 > 0:09:45Ramrod straight chewing, Shaun Murphy. If there was a player in the
0:09:45 > 0:09:51game for a young player to try and mimic, you wouldn't go much wrong
0:09:51 > 0:10:02trying to mimic this guy. Only the pace of that kept it out. Just
0:10:02 > 0:10:08caught that in the jaws.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12caught that in the jaws.You could question whether he should have
0:10:12 > 0:10:17played the reds.
0:10:26 > 0:10:35But that is the nature of the modern game. One thing in mind, can I win
0:10:35 > 0:10:41the frame at this visit. That is what is going to Ali Carter's mine
0:10:41 > 0:10:48now. Not perfect on this pink.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Played the cannon. This time it has worked out OK.Shaun Murphy could
0:10:53 > 0:10:59have gone up behind the Green using the brown, but I think he felt the
0:10:59 > 0:11:08yellow was a certainty, even with power.
0:11:25 > 0:11:31One read on the side push on nearest the blue pocket is the only problem
0:11:31 > 0:11:47for Ali Carter. Shaun Murphy will be hoping he doesn't get that far.
0:11:57 > 0:12:06He will need all the remaining reds.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15He could try to shift the red out using another red, earlier rather
0:12:15 > 0:12:30than later. Leaving it to the last shot, isn't so guaranteed.
0:12:39 > 0:12:48That is assuming he's done the maths.
0:12:55 > 0:13:06In an ideal world, if you get an angle on the black, late, just
0:13:06 > 0:13:10arriving... If he could have played for the black in the same pocket of
0:13:10 > 0:13:16the red, the chances of knocking that red away. That isn't an option
0:13:16 > 0:13:20now come he needs to make certain he gets on the red closest to the right
0:13:20 > 0:13:30corner.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56This black and the awkward red to leave Shaun Murphy needing a
0:13:56 > 0:14:00snooker.
0:14:16 > 0:14:22No attempt to try and get behind it. You have always got to be wary with
0:14:22 > 0:14:27the double.
0:14:27 > 0:14:42the double. Gone in. 29 points the lead, just 27 remaining.
0:14:51 > 0:14:59Still got to be careful here. Only one snooker. Still danger here.
0:14:59 > 0:15:05Might be worth putting a ball said, instead of playing the role up. But
0:15:05 > 0:15:09the roll-up is desirable. In one respect, you will probably get a
0:15:09 > 0:15:15snooker on the other. Could he play the pink to the side cushion? Or
0:15:15 > 0:15:31just pot the pink as a safety shot. Not as a safety shot, as an option.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42All the balls are live and should Shaun Murphy get out of this
0:15:42 > 0:15:53snooker, he's still in with a chance. Excellent shot.
0:15:58 > 0:16:06He is an out of this frame just yet, Shaun Murphy.I did like putting a
0:16:06 > 0:16:14ball safe on that shot. It would have been insurance. He really wants
0:16:14 > 0:16:19to keep the green and the brown, but he could play snooker is behind the
0:16:19 > 0:16:29black. That is in a nice place.
0:16:33 > 0:16:42And now, so is the cue ball. Good shot.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49shot. And the way Ali Carter is shaking his head, it isn't unnatural
0:16:49 > 0:16:57one-cushion escape.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02one-cushion escape. If he has to play with a bit of side, he could
0:17:02 > 0:17:07miss this.Definitely the sliding doors scenario that snooker throws
0:17:07 > 0:17:15up. Getting a colour sometimes and sacrificing getting a snooker, can
0:17:15 > 0:17:27sometimes work for you. There is no right or wrong way. That missed.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32right or wrong way. That missed.We are in the snookers required stage.
0:17:32 > 0:17:39But no longer 25 behind, 27 remaining.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Couldn't keep the yellow ball totally safe, but hoping for a good
0:18:17 > 0:18:23cue ball. It is a chance for Shaun Murphy. He can play the green into
0:18:23 > 0:18:32the yellow pocket. He has great cue ball control.
0:18:38 > 0:18:47If the green goes past into the green pocket, that was easier.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51green pocket, that was easier.He will be sitting down kicking
0:18:51 > 0:18:57himself. That was a chance. You don't win many frames when you need
0:18:57 > 0:19:02a snooker. That could have been a body blow to Ali Carter. He just
0:19:02 > 0:19:09needs this yellow. He will take it on. I am surprised he played it so
0:19:09 > 0:19:22hard. Now he needs the yellow to run safe. It has done.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26safe. It has done.He got an awful contact on the yellow with the cue
0:19:26 > 0:19:32ball. Took all the backspin out of the shot.
0:19:41 > 0:19:47Another chance for Ali Carter. Has it just gone behind.The blue in the
0:19:47 > 0:19:54middle of the table just seems to get bigger and bigger.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59get bigger and bigger.It is amazing the amount of times players return
0:19:59 > 0:20:06with a snooker. Can Ali Carter get in behind the black?Got to avoid
0:20:06 > 0:20:12the double-kiss. Just!
0:20:12 > 0:20:16the double-kiss. Just!Bit hard with the cue ball. Perhaps he was hoping
0:20:16 > 0:20:25to get the yellow further up the table?
0:20:25 > 0:20:34table?There is a chance. Needs some smooth cueing. Doesn't have too
0:20:34 > 0:20:38played the pot. But it is normally the way he plays the game. Likes to
0:20:38 > 0:20:48go for his shots. Andy went for it. Flicked the pink. We have a new
0:20:48 > 0:20:57favourite for the frame now. Wonderful pot. Kept everything as
0:20:57 > 0:21:06still as a rock. Head stayed down all the time. Once again...
0:21:06 > 0:21:16Beautifully struck. This could be won but slipped away from Ali Carter
0:21:16 > 0:21:21here.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33Yes, it looks a formality. He doesn't want to be straight on the
0:21:33 > 0:21:43pink. He wants the cue ball as close to the black as he can get it. It
0:21:43 > 0:21:50looked like it was Ali Carter's frame. To reflect pot on the yellow
0:21:50 > 0:21:57and Shaun Murphy clinches it on the black. How will Ali Carter respond
0:21:57 > 0:22:07to that?
0:22:21 > 0:22:29Ali Carter hasn't had the best of seasons so far. Although he did get
0:22:29 > 0:22:36some success in the Champions League recently, beating Shaun Murphy 3-1
0:22:36 > 0:22:41to go through to the final stages of that league. But this is a big
0:22:41 > 0:22:49occasion.
0:22:49 > 0:22:58occasion. A lot of flies this week. Is it the same one?
0:22:58 > 0:23:09Is it the same one? Well if it was, it won't be back.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14it won't be back. Where is the cue ball going... Tried to screw across
0:23:14 > 0:23:20the face of it. If he had a button, you would have been on the black
0:23:20 > 0:23:28nicely. No value in playing the black because when it is re-spotted,
0:23:28 > 0:23:36the red just above the black wouldn't be available.
0:24:04 > 0:24:12Ali Carter is left with awkward cueing. Has turned out to be a
0:24:12 > 0:24:19problematic shot.
0:24:19 > 0:24:29problematic shot. Very close to the brown. Well struck.
0:24:29 > 0:24:36brown. Well struck. He did avoid the pack, which was a bonus.
0:24:36 > 0:24:44Lovely shot. It was going to be tough, John, to actually getting of
0:24:44 > 0:24:50power into the cue ball to really disturb the reds. He did as well as
0:24:50 > 0:24:58he could have done. Bit unlucky.I was wondering, there was a couple of
0:24:58 > 0:25:03loose reds. Maybe get the black on its spot. Maybe he was thinking I
0:25:03 > 0:25:07will at least bring the pink into play. You always trust a little bit
0:25:07 > 0:25:17to look and the fact is, he is on nothing.
0:25:17 > 0:25:23nothing.In some situations these days, not that Ronnie O'Sullivan
0:25:23 > 0:25:28needs pigging up, I always wonder, what would Ronnie have done there?
0:25:28 > 0:25:33Sometimes he doesn't risk Ronnie, the chance that bad luck can happen
0:25:33 > 0:25:38might this.
0:25:38 > 0:25:50might this.If you can avoid it, try not to rely on good luck. Ali Carter
0:25:50 > 0:26:00has opened the reds, but now they are at the mercy of Shaun Murphy.
0:26:02 > 0:26:11Once again, the choice from Ali Carter, you couldn't criticise,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Carter, you couldn't criticise, a top-class level. Very cruel to start
0:26:13 > 0:26:24ripping a player to pieces for playing the aggressive shots.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27playing the aggressive shots. As people always say, we are always
0:26:27 > 0:26:35wise after the event. I don't think Ronnie would have gone into them. He
0:26:35 > 0:26:40got the black back on its own spot. Then he would have thought about
0:26:40 > 0:26:50bringing the other reds into play.
0:26:51 > 0:27:02Lovely shot with the rest. He is an excellent rest player, Shaun Murphy.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Just making certain the pink goes to the left corner. Won't be too
0:27:13 > 0:27:18interested in the black at the moment because there is a red
0:27:18 > 0:27:28occupying the black spot. But he has got the pink available, got the blue
0:27:28 > 0:27:37on its spot. It is a decent chance.
0:28:25 > 0:28:35and Shaun still not a clear-cut chance, albeit a good one.
0:28:36 > 0:28:41A bit out of position. This is a bit more of a cut than it looks on the
0:28:41 > 0:28:53TV screen. Played it very well.
0:28:56 > 0:29:08A good judge of pace you were, Steve.
0:29:08 > 0:29:15He played that nicely. That has really opened it up.
0:29:24 > 0:29:29Still going to need one of the awkward reds but there is one of the
0:29:29 > 0:29:36cushion that is available. Will not need the one to the right of the
0:29:36 > 0:29:45black or the two together to clinch this frame at this visit.
0:30:17 > 0:30:30Not perfect on this pink. Just trying to pinch a bit. How costly
0:30:30 > 0:30:35could that be?Did not expect him to breakdown so easily. A couple of
0:30:35 > 0:30:48balls before that had not gone in the middle of the pocket.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56It was funny, the natural instinct for me, I thought he was not perfect
0:30:56 > 0:31:04on the pink but he got down quickly, as if he was. Should have given it
0:31:04 > 0:31:12more due care and attention. If he had been straight, he could have
0:31:12 > 0:31:18rolled it in and played for the red in the opposite corner but the
0:31:18 > 0:31:23problem for Ali are the two reds either side of the black. He needs
0:31:23 > 0:31:33of those. He will have to get them into place sooner rather than later.
0:31:33 > 0:31:39He has played the more aggressive shot. People tried to shift the reds
0:31:39 > 0:31:44off the shot, perhaps with back spin, to make something happen. He
0:31:44 > 0:31:54could play with top, but he needs luck with the position.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57luck with the position. If he had not played it that way, he would
0:31:57 > 0:32:02have had a difficult position all shot off the last pink. Not a
0:32:02 > 0:32:07clear-cut chance.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11clear-cut chance.I do not know how the cue ball finished there, it is
0:32:11 > 0:32:22amazing.Top spin. It forced it forward.A little bit of side on the
0:32:22 > 0:32:27cue but the way it came across and back to the top.Ali Carter was
0:32:27 > 0:32:33hoping to collide with two of the balls on the top rail, the power he
0:32:33 > 0:32:39put into the shot made the cue ball go wide.
0:32:44 > 0:32:51go wide.43 points remaining. And an excellent safety shot. I think Ali
0:32:51 > 0:32:56is snookered on both reds.Not great to end up with the yellow on the
0:32:56 > 0:33:02side cushion. He is the one playing catch up.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19He will settle for that. I say settle for it, it bounced a
0:33:19 > 0:33:25fraction. A mighty fine shot, but Shaun is looking at the potting
0:33:25 > 0:33:32angle. He will still need the two reds to win the frame. So this is a
0:33:32 > 0:33:43tough pot. But a good one. He will still need the last red. I think a
0:33:43 > 0:33:49trickle up behind the yellow will be the order of the day here.Or he
0:33:49 > 0:33:56could get a bigger colour safe.
0:34:02 > 0:34:10A little bit of insurance. He made the snooker easier to hit.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15the snooker easier to hit.Well, he could have just dropped on it.
0:34:15 > 0:34:24Contained the situation.Decided to play it with pace, but it has cost
0:34:24 > 0:34:31him the frame. This red is pottable and the red is all he needs.I think
0:34:31 > 0:34:37the story of the match so far has been what would have happened if Ali
0:34:37 > 0:34:41Carter had made different decisions? I am not saying they are wrong, but
0:34:41 > 0:34:55the anomalies of the game of snooker sometimes...
0:35:08 > 0:35:152-0 to Shaun Murphy and Ali might be thinking, it could have been 2-0 the
0:35:15 > 0:35:22other way, but the scoreboard does not lie.
0:35:28 > 0:35:37Ali Carter breaks off in frame three.
0:35:37 > 0:35:49three. He would dearly like to get a frame on the board.
0:35:54 > 0:36:01Excellent length of safety by Shaun Murphy.
0:36:08 > 0:36:18Needs to miss the yellow and did not.OK, may not have left a pot
0:36:18 > 0:36:21that would tempt Shaun. Easier when you can get your hand on the table
0:36:21 > 0:36:25to play a better safety than that. It would be great to get in behind
0:36:25 > 0:36:32the yellow. Not easy. But will pay dividends. Not the best of safety
0:36:32 > 0:36:44shots by Shaun Murphy. It is a tempter for Ali Carter, he has great
0:36:44 > 0:36:55cue power. Good safety options here. The yellow is very inviting.
0:37:03 > 0:37:10He has cut off path is back down the table. What can Shaun work out? This
0:37:10 > 0:37:19could go wrong.You have to be accurate. Played it nicely. Very
0:37:19 > 0:37:27well.Made it look easy than it actually was. He played it
0:37:27 > 0:37:33confidently.
0:37:35 > 0:37:46Got to be careful of balls going to the right corner.
0:37:46 > 0:37:54the right corner.This looks like a good line. Just a little bit overhit
0:37:54 > 0:38:00and only a fraction. And that wry smile, he knows he has left a pot
0:38:00 > 0:38:06on.
0:38:14 > 0:38:19What a great pot. A great shot to avoid collision with any of the
0:38:19 > 0:38:24reds, from the length of the table, being able to stun around the back
0:38:24 > 0:38:30of them, and now the yellow will give Ali Carter problems. That was a
0:38:30 > 0:38:36poor shot, very poor. What was that? It was too casual. Unless it rolled
0:38:36 > 0:38:45off. From a finger mark. You never know.
0:38:46 > 0:38:58Just looked to hit it too hard. Or much to thick.
0:39:01 > 0:39:09That is not a good shot, particularly someone of Shaun's
0:39:09 > 0:39:14potting cue power. Might be tempted to play the red onto the right
0:39:14 > 0:39:19corner.It was the third safety shot down that side of the table Ali has
0:39:19 > 0:39:25hit a bit thick. The first couple you could put down to nerves. Shaun
0:39:25 > 0:39:33could play a trademark long deep screw back, should he so wish.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46What a strike that was. His head stayed absolutely still, his body
0:39:46 > 0:39:54stayed still, he rammed the cue through. What cue power.
0:39:58 > 0:40:06It is all about fractions. Ali Carter, a few shots ago, almost got
0:40:06 > 0:40:16the snooker behind the yellow. Did not manage to do it.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18not manage to do it. And the slightly thick safety left half a
0:40:18 > 0:40:26chance for Shaun and now it could be a frame-winner.
0:40:26 > 0:40:31a frame-winner.And what a difference competitive confidence
0:40:31 > 0:40:35makes. These two great players have played at the highest level but one
0:40:35 > 0:40:41of them is in good form and the other is struggling for form and it
0:40:41 > 0:40:48is showing.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53is showing.Yes. I see what you mean. There is a confidence about
0:40:53 > 0:40:58Shaun when he is walking around the table. OK, he has not played perfect
0:40:58 > 0:41:03snooker but he looks confident, the way he is walking around and
0:41:03 > 0:41:10knocking the ball is in. You just feel that he could get stronger now.
0:41:10 > 0:41:19Particularly if he were to take this frame at this visit.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41I would say it is difference between looking to win a match and hoping to
0:41:41 > 0:41:47win a match.
0:41:47 > 0:41:58win a match. Especially on the big stage.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Not wasting any time around the table but still balking at a good
0:42:29 > 0:42:36pace.
0:42:36 > 0:42:41pace. And even though Shaun Murphy is playing fast snooker, every shot,
0:42:41 > 0:42:46he stands behind and sets himself in position before getting down, so not
0:42:46 > 0:42:52running around the table in that respect. Walking around the table
0:42:52 > 0:43:04speedily, get behind the shot and make your approach.
0:43:27 > 0:43:41A good opening red. To be honest, the rest has looked a formality.
0:43:53 > 0:44:07The record for the Masters is 31 centuries. We have already had 17.
0:44:13 > 0:44:26I'm lucky. They could get through to the red to the right middle. Not as
0:44:26 > 0:44:37unlucky as I thought. I thought he had gone tight to the red.
0:44:37 > 0:44:43had gone tight to the red. It may be the table is playing easier than
0:44:43 > 0:44:46previous years but it looks like the century breaks total is going to get
0:44:46 > 0:44:54slaughtered. I said last evening we might get up to 40, which would be
0:44:54 > 0:45:01remarkable.
0:45:16 > 0:45:2730 is an average of two per match.
0:45:35 > 0:45:45You would expect them, but you cannot guarantee them in best of 11
0:45:45 > 0:45:51matches.
0:45:51 > 0:45:57matches.The highest break of the tournament so far is 139 from Liang
0:45:57 > 0:46:06Wenbo. That will not be beaten here. He has snookered himself.He hit it
0:46:06 > 0:46:17so well. He is striking the ball so well.
0:46:17 > 0:46:22well.A marvellous break from Shaun Murphy. Now 3-0 in front and one
0:46:22 > 0:46:33more to play before the mid-session interval.
0:46:43 > 0:46:48Ali Carter breaking off in frame five, hoping the interval will
0:46:48 > 0:46:57change things for him.
0:47:09 > 0:47:13He could play an aggressive safety shot but it looks like Shaun Murphy
0:47:13 > 0:47:18has spotted the gap. He turned it down for the more containing safety.
0:47:18 > 0:47:25I thought he was getting down to try to pot that.
0:47:48 > 0:47:53Has not really done too much damage to Shaun Murphy by that safety. It
0:47:53 > 0:48:03will always be difficult to put his opponent under pressure.
0:48:10 > 0:48:18Get a good cue ball. You can get rewarded, sometimes.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22rewarded, sometimes. Much like Shaun Murphy's last safety shot. Did not
0:48:22 > 0:48:26get the cue ball close enough to the cushion to pose his opponent any
0:48:26 > 0:48:31problems.
0:48:31 > 0:48:41This is better.
0:49:03 > 0:49:09On a fast cloth, the thinner the
0:49:11 > 0:49:16safety, it does tend to be the way a lot of safety shots played these
0:49:16 > 0:49:19days, not to do any damage with the object balls.
0:49:26 > 0:49:33He has let that one go. We have to hope the blue comes to his rescue. I
0:49:33 > 0:49:42do not think it has.
0:50:02 > 0:50:11Quite low on the safety success for Ali Carter. Shaun risked playing for
0:50:11 > 0:50:16the black, but not much of a risk.
0:50:27 > 0:50:32If Shaun Murphy can get back into his stride after the interval, and
0:50:32 > 0:50:37win
0:50:37 > 0:50:42win this frame, he is turning Ali Carter's campaign at the Masters
0:50:42 > 0:50:44into a disappointing one.
0:50:55 > 0:51:04He has to develop a few reds soon.
0:51:06 > 0:51:10Three reds, three blacks.
0:51:27 > 0:51:33He tried to force it in. I thought he could have rolled it in and
0:51:33 > 0:51:37played for the black into the opposite corner, so that is a let
0:51:37 > 0:51:40off for Ali.
0:51:43 > 0:51:50There is a possible pot on. He did not feel as if he was in position to
0:51:50 > 0:51:56risk it. He is at the position now where he has to somehow get a
0:51:56 > 0:52:02foothold in the match. He probably will not get that by taking too many
0:52:02 > 0:52:08risks.
0:52:18 > 0:52:30It is a tempter for Ali Carter into the middle pocket but when you miss
0:52:30 > 0:52:42these, you never know where they will go.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47He played it positively and made sure he got position. There was no
0:52:47 > 0:52:56point in playing that get that cue ball on the bottom rail.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00ball on the bottom rail. It is a nice starter for Ali Carter. He has
0:53:00 > 0:53:12to get going here. Start to flow. It has not been easy.
0:53:13 > 0:53:20That is not wonderful. He has a red but he has to trust to luck. Getting
0:53:20 > 0:53:27the cue ball out into open play.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30the cue ball out into open play. He was unlucky the way that came out.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33That is unfortunate. You cannot guarantee you will not collide with
0:53:33 > 0:53:40the pink. Then he would have been on the blue.He played it with pace, he
0:53:40 > 0:53:45did not want to stick in amongst them.And then had a bad kiss on the
0:53:45 > 0:53:51yellow.They tough yellow. Tempting to go for, but as Steve said, this
0:53:51 > 0:54:04is tough. Oh, he played it nicely. Sometimes you do not get what you
0:54:04 > 0:54:09deserve but the one he is closest to he can pot to the middle, so it is
0:54:09 > 0:54:16not all bad.
0:54:18 > 0:54:24He should be able to play a deft stun shot for the blue in the same
0:54:24 > 0:54:31pocket. But awkward cueing.
0:54:39 > 0:54:42So, a clear-cut chance for Ali Carter to get his first frame on the
0:54:42 > 0:54:48board.
0:55:08 > 0:55:15Not right in the heart of the pocket that red.
0:55:27 > 0:55:34He nudged that red and if he has far enough he could get through to the
0:55:34 > 0:55:44red for the black. Can he hold for the pink? He could do comfortably.
0:55:58 > 0:56:06If you shots and it will open up quite nicely. -- a few shots.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19Getting low on the black would have been a nice option but he has lots
0:56:19 > 0:56:25of choices here.
0:56:29 > 0:56:34You always feel in these situations you have to focus on one shot at a
0:56:34 > 0:56:41time and forget the scoreline. Just make the most of every opportunity
0:56:41 > 0:56:48you get. He has a slight angle on the black. He would have preferred
0:56:48 > 0:56:55more of an angle but it should not cause a problem.
0:56:56 > 0:57:05It is OK. If he cannot run through for the black, he can stun up for
0:57:05 > 0:57:13the pink into the opposite corner but he decided he could run through
0:57:13 > 0:57:19for the black. A nice angle this time to come off the top cushion for
0:57:19 > 0:57:26a red into the opposite corner.
0:57:40 > 0:57:44They always say you do not settle until you get your first frame on
0:57:44 > 0:57:47the scoreboard. It will make him feel better if you can do it in one
0:57:47 > 0:57:57visit. And a century would be the icing on the cake.
0:57:57 > 0:58:04icing on the cake. Red, colour, red required.
0:58:08 > 0:58:16He just about got the right angle on the blue.
0:58:21 > 0:58:26Well, I can only assume he played to put some side on the cue ball and
0:58:26 > 0:58:34did not get any.It seems like he overhit it and he knew he had
0:58:34 > 0:58:41overheated immediately. He should get this.
0:58:52 > 0:59:02Job done by Ali Carter. He will be relieved, but he is also pleased he
0:59:02 > 0:59:09has converted the chance.
0:59:09 > 0:59:11has converted the chance.Perfect on the blue. Could be another century
0:59:11 > 0:59:28to add to the list. At this year's Dafabet Masters. 18 so far.
0:59:41 > 0:59:48Obviously it is going to go to 4-1 now, but amazingly he is ahead in
0:59:48 > 0:59:51the pot success.
1:00:23 > 1:00:33Full stretch. What a pity. What a pity.
1:00:33 > 1:00:40pity. Shaun Murphy didn't make the most of it. A few mistakes from him,
1:00:40 > 1:00:51but now he has a frame on the board now, something to build on.
1:01:04 > 1:01:10Thumbs up. I think it was an ironic thing, mainly to himself. How did he
1:01:10 > 1:01:19not make the century, you will be thinking. 99 isn't far off. This
1:01:19 > 1:01:26looks like a good cue ball.
1:01:26 > 1:01:31looks like a good cue ball. He has left the pot on.
1:01:38 > 1:01:45This time, Shaun Murphy's long potting lets him down. I suppose,
1:01:45 > 1:01:50from the point of view of safety, neither player has been finding the
1:01:50 > 1:01:55baulk cushion with regularity?
1:01:55 > 1:01:58baulk cushion with regularity?No, there is an element of shot to
1:01:58 > 1:02:02nothing from the shot from Shaun Murphy. When you are playing a shot
1:02:02 > 1:02:07to nothing, in one respect, if you do actually pot the ball, you would
1:02:07 > 1:02:13like to be on a colour. So on that particular type of shots, you don't
1:02:13 > 1:02:18want to play for the baulk cushion. Perhaps play for baulk, into the
1:02:18 > 1:02:27middle pockets, perhaps is the best way to play those.
1:02:55 > 1:02:59Once again, as we have seen many times during this match, Ali Carter
1:02:59 > 1:03:11keeps catching them a little bit thick.
1:03:26 > 1:03:35Retained perfect control with the cue ball.
1:03:38 > 1:03:46That is where finding the bottom cushion, as Ali Carter failed to do,
1:03:46 > 1:03:54can be so important against a top-class player like Shaun Murphy.
1:03:56 > 1:04:02When you get the cue ball tight across the question, you can only
1:04:02 > 1:04:09get the top part of it. It is a harder shots.
1:04:09 > 1:04:12harder shots. If you are catching the ball thick or thin, length of
1:04:12 > 1:04:21the table with your safety shots, it doesn't help your confidence unless
1:04:21 > 1:04:26the table is rolling off over distance and it's usually the case,
1:04:26 > 1:04:30you have a cueing deficiency and you are not striking the middle of the
1:04:30 > 1:04:37cue ball on delivery. Shaun Murphy underhit that shot. Certainly no
1:04:37 > 1:04:47backspin on that one. He may have got a contact.There was certainly a
1:04:47 > 1:04:55bounce when the cue ball met the object ball.Took all the spin off
1:04:55 > 1:04:59the cue ball.The thing is about this blue, if he had the right angle
1:04:59 > 1:05:03on the blue, he wouldn't have any hesitation in playing it. But he
1:05:03 > 1:05:09doesn't have the right
1:05:09 > 1:05:13doesn't have the right angle. This red, closest to the cue ball at the
1:05:13 > 1:05:18moment is only available into the left corner. That is why he is
1:05:18 > 1:05:26turning the blue down and playing it safe. As in the last frame, Shaun
1:05:26 > 1:05:31Murphy didn't make the most of a good opportunity.I don't think it
1:05:31 > 1:05:39was his faults, he got a kick. It wasn't a massive one, but sometimes
1:05:39 > 1:05:46a kick can destroy the path of the object ball. Other times, the cue
1:05:46 > 1:05:53ball.
1:06:24 > 1:06:30Not too sure what Shaun Murphy is looking at. A three-ball plant into
1:06:30 > 1:06:38the middle pocket? That looks on. He isn't even playing it. I thought it
1:06:38 > 1:06:46was on.May be because he cannot get to the first red? But from behind it
1:06:46 > 1:06:55looked a certainty.It looks like a three-ball plant into the middle. He
1:06:55 > 1:07:02didn't give it much of a look. Maybe it is lined up to the job. Ali
1:07:02 > 1:07:08Carter is looking to see if it is a three-ball plant the other way. Into
1:07:08 > 1:07:13both middle pockets. Middle and corner. I wonder why Shaun Murphy
1:07:13 > 1:07:21didn't give that more attention.You can see better when you are right
1:07:21 > 1:07:24behind the shot. But I don't think Ali Carter will be turning this
1:07:24 > 1:07:31town.It is poor from Shaun Murphy not to have spotted it is a
1:07:31 > 1:07:37three-ball plant from the other way. He's definitely going.He needed to
1:07:37 > 1:07:53get that. The cue ball went close to the corner. He is on the blue.
1:07:53 > 1:07:58the corner. He is on the blue.Got the cue ball out into open play.
1:07:58 > 1:08:03Unforgivable from Shaun Murphy.
1:08:14 > 1:08:21Am giving it a steely eye, Shaun Murphy, sat in his chair. Ali Carter
1:08:21 > 1:08:35needs to miss the kiss on the second red. Just as well.
1:08:35 > 1:08:39red. Just as well. Great chance, this.
1:08:48 > 1:08:54He was forced into playing the cannon. If he had been better on the
1:08:54 > 1:08:58black, he could have controlled the cue ball better. He had to play that
1:08:58 > 1:09:07little cannon.
1:09:25 > 1:09:33Played that nicely.
1:09:57 > 1:10:04Another 46 points required from this position to get to snookers required
1:10:04 > 1:10:11stage the fact he is hesitating, means it is a little bit awkward. As
1:10:11 > 1:10:21you can see, very straight. Will it be worth the risk to screw back?He
1:10:21 > 1:10:28made a mistake with the red, he didn't pot it into the middle pocket
1:10:28 > 1:10:37so he lost the cue ball a bit. But as you said, it was worth the risk.
1:10:37 > 1:10:48He committed to that nicely. Back in prime position.
1:11:09 > 1:11:15Overdone it slightly, but he will be using the extension. He can get past
1:11:15 > 1:11:28the red closest to the cue ball, so it's not too awkward cueing.
1:12:13 > 1:12:16And now Ali Carter is looking like a different player. Got a spring in
1:12:16 > 1:12:22his step.
1:12:22 > 1:12:30his step. Bit more of the eye of the Tiger.
1:12:56 > 1:13:02Just overdone it slightly. He has the pink to the right corner. But it
1:13:02 > 1:13:09shouldn't cause a problem.
1:13:09 > 1:13:18shouldn't cause a problem. He used all the pocket, but in it went.
1:13:18 > 1:13:22Perhaps because it didn't go into the middle of the pocket that is why
1:13:22 > 1:13:27he is a little bit thinner than he would like. But no problem, able to
1:13:27 > 1:13:35drop it in and this red is all he needs to go 52 points ahead with 43
1:13:35 > 1:13:44remaining.
1:13:49 > 1:13:54This is a very good response. It could be said that Shaun Murphy, in
1:13:54 > 1:14:01the last two frames, has got in first. OK, on this particular
1:14:01 > 1:14:06occasion he was unlucky with the heavy contact. But what Ali Carter
1:14:06 > 1:14:13had to do, when he was presented by these opportunities, was to take
1:14:13 > 1:14:22them. He did in the last and he has done so in this. And the last frame,
1:14:22 > 1:14:35he just didn't make the century, he made 99.
1:14:35 > 1:14:40made 99. Once again, in the mode where he doesn't want to miss
1:14:40 > 1:14:49anything.
1:15:39 > 1:15:44And the blue for the tunnel. Well played. Very well played indeed.
1:15:44 > 1:15:50APPLAUSE Sometimes Ali Carter's temperament
1:15:50 > 1:15:56can be questioned. It can be a little brittle, but I liked the way
1:15:56 > 1:16:02he's come out in this second half. He had a chance in the last two
1:16:02 > 1:16:06frames and has grabbed them with both hands. Putting pressure on
1:16:06 > 1:16:19Shaun Murphy, he was leading 4-0 and it is now 4-2.
1:16:27 > 1:16:32Yes, he will be pleased with the way the last two frames have gone. No
1:16:32 > 1:16:37margin of error for Ali Carter, and he knows that. You always feel,
1:16:37 > 1:16:43Steve, as long as your opponents still needs two frames, you have a
1:16:43 > 1:16:50bit more wriggle room, so to speak? Even in the best of 11, there is a
1:16:50 > 1:16:57bit of breathing space.
1:16:57 > 1:17:02bit of breathing space. UK championship best of 11 in the early
1:17:02 > 1:17:08stages, dropped from the best of 17. It is a shorter, sharper event. But
1:17:08 > 1:17:16the Masters has always been, I think it has always been, going back in
1:17:16 > 1:17:22history, certainly been a true test, anyway.I think the true test has
1:17:22 > 1:17:27always been, you are not going to get an easy match. But I think it
1:17:27 > 1:17:38has always been the best of 11.
1:17:38 > 1:17:42has always been the best of 11.Bit thinner than he wanted on that side
1:17:42 > 1:17:48of the table.
1:17:55 > 1:18:01Has been catching the safety shots a bit wrong, Ali Carter. Thick down
1:18:01 > 1:18:06the left-hand side as we look and thin down the right-hand side. By a
1:18:06 > 1:18:14fraction, that is.As you say, it is usually a sign he's not finding the
1:18:14 > 1:18:20centre of the cue ball. Looks like he can sneak past the brown to find
1:18:20 > 1:18:28a thin edge. But once again, a fraction too thick.
1:18:34 > 1:18:43Long part success, Shaun Murphy, but average, 67%. Quite high for Ali
1:18:43 > 1:18:51Carter. Five out of six, that equates to.
1:18:57 > 1:19:04Great long pot. Didn't screw it back as well as he might have done on
1:19:04 > 1:19:07some occasions. Perhaps not great contact either, but around the red
1:19:07 > 1:19:11in. -- ramps.
1:19:18 > 1:19:24Choices of blue into the middle of the corner, played the shot which
1:19:24 > 1:19:34guaranteed position.
1:19:37 > 1:19:42In the third frame running, first in, first chance. Hasn't made the
1:19:42 > 1:19:52most of the last two frames. Will be desperate to make this one counts.
1:19:52 > 1:19:54desperate to make this one counts.I would say Shaun Murphy's recent good
1:19:54 > 1:20:01form playing in some major finals, could be holding him in good stead.
1:20:01 > 1:20:05You can take a few on the chin, if you know you are confident enough to
1:20:05 > 1:20:13strike back.
1:20:26 > 1:20:30Hebe Ronnie O'Sullivan in the champion of champions. Lost in the
1:20:30 > 1:20:38final of the UK championship. -- he beat. One read in the open but an
1:20:38 > 1:20:48angle on the black should he so wish to go into the cluster. Well, it has
1:20:48 > 1:20:55come out OK. Not absolutely inch perfect.He hit that so well. He
1:20:55 > 1:21:00didn't put too much back spent on, so the cue ball didn't stick in the
1:21:00 > 1:21:05pack. Just enough backspin to grip the cue ball and keep it in the
1:21:05 > 1:21:17middle of the table. Couldn't have hit it any better.
1:21:18 > 1:21:25Always risky, because you are going closer to the black. This time, he
1:21:25 > 1:21:29has judged it perfectly. It is a tough shot to get right on these
1:21:29 > 1:21:37tables. Flying off the second cushion. Would have liked to have
1:21:37 > 1:21:44been on the red to the right corner.
1:21:50 > 1:21:56There is a pack of reds that still has to be opened at some stage.
1:21:56 > 1:22:02Loose one as well. He won't be pleased with that. He let the cue
1:22:02 > 1:22:09ball go, but looks like he has got away with it.
1:22:12 > 1:22:15away with it.Just missed Ali Carter looking away and puffing out his
1:22:15 > 1:22:23cheeks. He knows Shaun Murphy was fortunate there. He could have been
1:22:23 > 1:22:25on nothing.
1:22:30 > 1:22:36Sensibly not trying to get on the blue perfectly. It wasn't easy to
1:22:36 > 1:22:43control, so going down for a Paul Cole gives you options. -- baulk
1:22:43 > 1:22:51colour. Would be a bit unlucky in potting the green this group that
1:22:51 > 1:22:58line is to the middle pocket. It is always a bit of a trap. Has got to
1:22:58 > 1:23:03avoid that.
1:23:04 > 1:23:08avoid that. I think it perhaps was. I don't know.Whatever, he could
1:23:08 > 1:23:18have played it better.
1:23:18 > 1:23:21have played it better. But no problem. He is online to win the
1:23:21 > 1:23:28frame now at this visit.I don't think he had the right angle on the
1:23:28 > 1:23:35green. Played a confident shot to leave distance. He does look good
1:23:35 > 1:23:45the balls. -- and monks at the balls. You wouldn't put it past him
1:23:45 > 1:23:53here to knock in another century. He looks in that type of form.
1:24:00 > 1:24:04Just the black needed to go 70 points in France, with just 67
1:24:04 > 1:24:21remaining. -- in front. Stopping the Ali Carter comeback.
1:24:26 > 1:24:30This time, he did take advantage of getting in first, which he didn't in
1:24:30 > 1:24:38the last two frames.
1:25:14 > 1:25:21You said before, to get to 30 centuries during the tournament,
1:25:21 > 1:25:28averages about two a match. Already had two, looks like this is the
1:25:28 > 1:25:35third one coming up.
1:25:35 > 1:25:42third one coming up.Ali Carter failed on 99.
1:25:42 > 1:25:52Potentially could have been for centuries.
1:25:52 > 1:26:01centuries. Sean just misses that black. Shaun
1:26:02 > 1:26:06black. Shaun Murphy 5-2 in front. It will be tough for Ali Carter to get
1:26:06 > 1:26:14back in this match.
1:26:34 > 1:26:40Another big pot from Shaun Murphy.
1:26:42 > 1:26:50He will be on the green or brown. Well, Shaun Murphy, regardless of
1:26:50 > 1:26:53choices of shots, will always be tough to beat when he is knocking
1:26:53 > 1:27:02those in.
1:27:05 > 1:27:12Long pot success, 75%. When you are playing somebody like Shaun Murphy,
1:27:12 > 1:27:20you don't expect him to miss any long pot. But, he has been in first
1:27:20 > 1:27:26a few times in the last few frames and not made the most of it. This is
1:27:26 > 1:27:33for the match, this opportunity. Couldn't help but nudge that read
1:27:33 > 1:27:42back into the pack. If he could get nicely on the blue, there is a
1:27:42 > 1:27:46chance to open the reds that way. He has checked if the pink goes to the
1:27:46 > 1:27:56right corner. Once again, not a clear-cut opportunity here. He could
1:27:56 > 1:28:00go down for the green, perhaps? Maybe he cannot get past the red
1:28:00 > 1:28:06rash to mark perhaps use the green to smash into the pack. Perhaps he
1:28:06 > 1:28:13cannot get there.In a funny way, that is the red he is concerned
1:28:13 > 1:28:19about.
1:28:19 > 1:28:23about.He can play across the face of the blue. That looks like a
1:28:23 > 1:28:31natural angle.
1:28:32 > 1:28:40Kept on the black. Wasn't a problem. The problem could be the next red.I
1:28:40 > 1:28:47think he can play to this left-hand cushion. Took a bit of time to work
1:28:47 > 1:28:51that one out, Shaun Murphy. Obviously straighter on the red than
1:28:51 > 1:28:53it looks from the commentary box.
1:28:59 > 1:29:07No clues here as to what he will be doing. He will try to open the reds,
1:29:07 > 1:29:12but keep the cue ball under control. He was forced into playing this. He
1:29:12 > 1:29:22could not have played it better. That's worked out perfect. The
1:29:22 > 1:29:30chance is there, can he take it?
1:29:44 > 1:29:51I think both reds go into the right middle. Did not really want to be
1:29:51 > 1:29:55straight on this black.Has given himself a small problem, perhaps.
1:29:59 > 1:30:04He has made it more difficult now he is straight on the black. The longer
1:30:04 > 1:30:08he thinks over this, the worse the position is.
1:30:27 > 1:30:31Well, he has the red to the left middle or far left corner, but he
1:30:31 > 1:30:39was looking for something easier.
1:30:43 > 1:30:51He is looking brittle. It was looking like a clear-cut opportunity
1:30:51 > 1:30:55until he played that red and left himself straight on the black. Then
1:30:55 > 1:31:04the problem magnified the next positional shot. Ali Carter's tale
1:31:04 > 1:31:16will be up. Can he get the important red in? If he did, yes...A
1:31:16 > 1:31:21tremendous shot. Because the pressure was there. If I miss it, it
1:31:21 > 1:31:27could be my last shot in the tournament. Well played.It is nice
1:31:27 > 1:31:34to see the underdog responding, the person behind, it makes for a great
1:31:34 > 1:31:39match.
1:31:39 > 1:31:46match. Yesterday afternoon we saw a one-sided event going on.
1:31:46 > 1:31:51one-sided event going on. He would hope for a better split.I think if
1:31:51 > 1:31:56he had his time over, he would have played the same shot, but maybe not
1:31:56 > 1:32:05with as much pace. He is hampered by three reds.Also, I am not sure he
1:32:05 > 1:32:12can escape from the jaws of the yellow pocket.
1:32:12 > 1:32:20yellow pocket. A bit unfortunate. A thin red cut into the middle.It is
1:32:20 > 1:32:26one of those you overclocked? Or hitting it thinner to avoid the
1:32:26 > 1:32:32in-off. Keep your eye on the cue ball. Played it well, all things
1:32:32 > 1:32:39considered. If he had his hand on the table I think he would have
1:32:39 > 1:32:45played a stun shot but in the end, he overcut it slightly to avoid the
1:32:45 > 1:32:58in-off.Even though it hit the jaws, he could escape from the jaws.
1:32:58 > 1:33:04he could escape from the jaws. You have to be careful with this.
1:33:06 > 1:33:08have to be careful with this. Not an easy positional shot to get right,
1:33:08 > 1:33:23but he has played it well. OK, he may be hampered by the blue.
1:33:23 > 1:33:28may be hampered by the blue.It is a big thing, if he could cue past the
1:33:28 > 1:33:35blue, no, he is hampered. Which makes the pot more difficult. But
1:33:35 > 1:33:42well played.
1:33:42 > 1:33:47well played. A little shake of the head. He knew immediately he had
1:33:47 > 1:33:55come to straight on the black. But the pot was difficult. He cannot
1:33:55 > 1:34:08reproach himself for about. -- for that. Was that a nice
1:34:11 > 1:34:16that. Was that a nice nudge? Obviously not. He has got a shot. He
1:34:16 > 1:34:21hoped for something better. The problems of getting straight on the
1:34:21 > 1:34:24black, it limits the type of positional shot you can play
1:34:24 > 1:34:35severely. He cannot run through. You can only screw back. This is tough.
1:34:35 > 1:34:48But they must get. It is there, good shot. He had to put all his
1:34:48 > 1:34:54attention to the pot. That is when positional play can go wrong. Ten
1:34:54 > 1:35:03points behind. Fighting to stay in the match. I do believe, if he can
1:35:03 > 1:35:12win this frame, I would not like to name the winner.
1:35:18 > 1:35:22And another terrific, brave pot from Ali Carter. Showing all of his
1:35:22 > 1:35:30battling qualities.A wonderful shot.
1:35:37 > 1:35:46And well judged. That have to be confidently played. Not knowing how
1:35:46 > 1:35:55the cue ball would collide from that red to keep on the pink.Pink would
1:35:55 > 1:36:04put him two points in front. Which equates to the fact he will need
1:36:04 > 1:36:12these five remaining reds.Even though it looks relatively easy into
1:36:12 > 1:36:16the middle pocket for the red on the side cushion, it is probably more
1:36:16 > 1:36:23difficult than it looks on the TV screen.
1:36:23 > 1:36:26screen. If he got in nicely behind it, maybe drop it into the middle
1:36:26 > 1:36:39pocket. It makes a big difference of the red goes into the middle.
1:36:56 > 1:37:02He could play a cannon on the pink. The red by the pink does go, but it
1:37:02 > 1:37:14would open it more. It makes it available now. As Steve said, it
1:37:14 > 1:37:19will be the key one, the one near the right centre.
1:37:24 > 1:37:34And as you can see from the side shot, that red is not as easy as it
1:37:34 > 1:37:41looks from the overhead shot.
1:37:52 > 1:37:59Ali must think when the pink is put back the red is still available, and
1:37:59 > 1:38:10he is right. Perfectly on the red to stun for the opposite corner.He has
1:38:10 > 1:38:15not had a look at the red yet. Perhaps this is the first little
1:38:15 > 1:38:22look he has had. He fancies it goes in the middle quite nicely. At least
1:38:22 > 1:38:32I think so. Once again, from this angle, it looks pretty acute.Can he
1:38:32 > 1:38:38nudge it out?He may be thinking that. Guaranteed to be on pink or
1:38:38 > 1:38:43blue if he does. Has to be the right shot, the way he has played it.I
1:38:43 > 1:38:50think so, he could not wish for a better potting angle.Oh, no.
1:38:50 > 1:38:59Well...He has had a second prize. He has landed on the green. But he
1:38:59 > 1:39:05should not have missed the cannon. He has not had a look at the red.
1:39:05 > 1:39:10Perhaps it is a more difficult shot to the middle pocket than I am
1:39:10 > 1:39:19thinking. We will soon find out.He is lucky to be on the green, which
1:39:19 > 1:39:24could put 28 points in front but there are still 35 remaining. Green
1:39:24 > 1:39:29and this red. If he had picked it up with his hand, he could not have
1:39:29 > 1:39:39placed it better. What a judge of pace. This red to go 29 points in
1:39:39 > 1:39:46front with just 27 remaining.
1:39:47 > 1:39:55Well played. Well played.
1:40:11 > 1:40:17Both of these players are fantastic adverts for the game of snooker.
1:40:17 > 1:40:26They played marvellously and it is nice to see a great close match.
1:40:28 > 1:40:35Shaun has obviously had the best of the chances, but, as yet, he has not
1:40:35 > 1:40:41killed off Ali Carter. What is install for the rest of match? As
1:40:41 > 1:40:44you say, John, no predictions now. Anything can happen.
1:40:51 > 1:41:00-- in store for the rest of the match?Just the red in the middle.
1:41:00 > 1:41:06He has had ample
1:41:06 > 1:41:10He has had ample opportunity... He could have finished his press
1:41:10 > 1:41:14conference by now but he is still in the arena and Ali Carter is picking
1:41:14 > 1:41:21up pieces. And Shaun Murphy is vulnerable. He is only one behind.
1:41:40 > 1:41:50I think that is a fair point. It will not be remiss in Shaun Murphy's
1:41:50 > 1:41:58mind. You get bogey players. And what they start. He flicked the
1:41:58 > 1:42:04black. You say the game is about fractures. If he had just missed the
1:42:04 > 1:42:09black, he would have been on it perfectly. Even hitting it thicker
1:42:09 > 1:42:19he would have developed it. Just a fraction out.
1:42:19 > 1:42:25fraction out. The extended spider, we do not see that used often. He
1:42:25 > 1:42:30has had a lot to bridge over. Trying to get the cue ball back to the
1:42:30 > 1:42:42baulk end.
1:42:44 > 1:42:51I can forgive him for hitting the blue.It is safe enough. The
1:42:51 > 1:42:55extended spider looks massive. It is very high.
1:43:01 > 1:43:07It does. I thought it was extended lengthways, not heights. It must be
1:43:07 > 1:43:16a new design.I spoke to Paul Collier about the rest heads. They
1:43:16 > 1:43:28have changed the design of those. They used to have
1:43:28 > 1:43:35They used to have a low X and a high X and now it is bang on both ways.
1:43:35 > 1:43:40The players were not consulted and the referees are upset as well. They
1:43:40 > 1:43:46have taken the plastic off the ends but it is nice to have a low or high
1:43:46 > 1:43:52X when you are choosing to play low or high on the ball. Great shot.
1:43:52 > 1:43:59Played it positively to keep on the black.Thinking the only red he
1:43:59 > 1:44:06could leave was the one he was playing.We'll Shaun be tempted into
1:44:06 > 1:44:12the green pocket with the red? Blue is begging to be potted. He would
1:44:12 > 1:44:23only leave that red on if he missed it.Where is the cue ball going?
1:44:23 > 1:44:33REFEREE:Fouls.Ali Carter, four. More importantly for Shaun, the red
1:44:33 > 1:44:40he played ran safe. Every shot now has a consequence.
1:44:53 > 1:44:57Ali has the option to ask Shaun to play again and he can put the cue
1:44:57 > 1:45:03ball anywhere in the D.
1:45:08 > 1:45:11ball anywhere in the D. Ali did not fancy playing the shot. Would you
1:45:11 > 1:45:19ask your opponent to play the shot? I am not certain I would have done.
1:45:19 > 1:45:25It may end up there is no value either way. I suppose if Shaun
1:45:25 > 1:45:31played a poor safety, Ali would get first crack.And he almost did play
1:45:31 > 1:45:37a poor safety. The black came to his rescue. He could've left the red
1:45:37 > 1:45:43just below the black quite easily.
1:45:52 > 1:46:00This should keep them safe.
1:46:00 > 1:46:07Did not want the red to poke out past the pink. Is there a gap into
1:46:07 > 1:46:15the left corner? Perhaps not. If there is, it is effectively a shot
1:46:15 > 1:46:25to nothing. I do not think there is. No and for once, down that side of
1:46:25 > 1:46:37the table, Ali did not catch the safety two thick. Certainly a
1:46:37 > 1:46:40difference in the body language of Shaun. He is starting to think more
1:46:40 > 1:46:47and more about every shot.
1:46:47 > 1:46:50and more about every shot. And you can see problems that do not exist
1:46:50 > 1:46:55sometimes, when you do that.
1:46:56 > 1:47:00sometimes, when you do that. The crowd understandably cheering the
1:47:00 > 1:47:09early underdog in this match. It is always nice to see a comeback.
1:47:09 > 1:47:14Nothing against Shaun, I think the crowd are appreciative of both
1:47:14 > 1:47:20players, whoever gets through to the next round is a bonus for the event.
1:47:20 > 1:47:27It is a win - win situation for snooker.
1:47:43 > 1:47:51Pretty good but there is no escape route down the right-hand side. The
1:47:51 > 1:47:59red below the pink, you have to catch it thin.
1:47:59 > 1:48:00catch it thin. Rattling it in the jaws would be the worst scenario.
1:48:00 > 1:48:08You have to catch it just right, and he did. This is as good a safety
1:48:08 > 1:48:16shot he has played the last few frames. Nice to see Ali Carter
1:48:16 > 1:48:25appreciated with a few taps on the table. -- appreciate it. Well, there
1:48:25 > 1:48:33is a gap. He will have to play it with a trace of side. The last thing
1:48:33 > 1:48:39he needs to do is
1:48:39 > 1:48:43he needs to do is hit it too thick. He will have to put left-hand side
1:48:43 > 1:48:48on this. Trying to play safe down the left-hand side of the table is
1:48:48 > 1:48:56very risky.That is a tough safety shot. Fractionally having to swerve
1:48:56 > 1:49:02past the yellow.
1:49:04 > 1:49:11The big shot to take on.
1:49:18 > 1:49:24He could risk a swerving fractionally later hopefully catch
1:49:24 > 1:49:33this safety shot right. Is he going for this? Has he spotted a
1:49:33 > 1:49:39containing shot?
1:49:39 > 1:49:46containing shot? He will be settling for that. Shaun has got a chance of
1:49:46 > 1:49:53the red. It is probably the best Ali Carter could hope for, putting it on
1:49:53 > 1:50:08the side cushion. It is unmissable. -- it is missable. He hits a ball
1:50:08 > 1:50:13well off the cushion, Shaun Murphy. He made it look easier than it was.
1:50:13 > 1:50:18An excellent pot and the chance created from an excellent safety. So
1:50:18 > 1:50:23he is getting his chance. He has had them before now. And not made the
1:50:23 > 1:50:29most of them.
1:50:50 > 1:50:59It would be nice to get the black back on the spot here.
1:50:59 > 1:51:05back on the spot here. I think he'd tried to get on the black and he has
1:51:05 > 1:51:08overhit it. He certainly was not playing to be wrong sided on the
1:51:08 > 1:51:16blue. A positional
1:51:16 > 1:51:20blue. A positional mistake and one that could end up in a trap. Can he
1:51:20 > 1:51:25get back on a red?
1:51:25 > 1:51:30get back on a red? He has some mileage to do with the cue ball.If
1:51:30 > 1:51:37he cuts it in the middle, he is looking to get near that circle. In
1:51:37 > 1:51:44the end, he decided to trust to luck.
1:51:44 > 1:51:47luck. There was an air of desperation about that. There was
1:51:47 > 1:51:56nothing controlled about that.
1:51:58 > 1:52:04I know people rate him the best rest player in the game but he needs to
1:52:04 > 1:52:14be good with this.
1:52:20 > 1:52:25He hid it well and should he wish to, he could play an aggressive shot
1:52:25 > 1:52:36here, go into the pink. OK, he does not have to. He has loose reds. It
1:52:36 > 1:52:45is a tempter to go into the pink and spread the reds far and wide. Not
1:52:45 > 1:52:52necessarily the right thing to do. There are other options. But it is
1:52:52 > 1:52:57tempting. I think he would get a good split, powering it into the
1:52:57 > 1:53:03pink with back spin.
1:53:07 > 1:53:11pink with back spin.Everybody is laughing as Shaun decides what to
1:53:11 > 1:53:15blame. Ali Carter is sitting there hoping he can get back to the table.
1:53:15 > 1:53:21-- what to play.
1:53:23 > 1:53:25-- what to play.Needs to play more accurate positional play than
1:53:25 > 1:53:36trusting to luck.
1:53:36 > 1:53:39trusting to luck. An excellent shot, because he did open up the pack. He
1:53:39 > 1:53:45has got to be happy with that.
1:53:45 > 1:53:49has got to be happy with that.He is a dangerous man using the rest. 100%
1:53:49 > 1:53:56with it in this match, nine out of nine, or eight out of eight.A
1:53:56 > 1:54:02fantastic chance again for Shaun Murphy. He is back on track after a
1:54:02 > 1:54:08hick up in positional play and this is a chance to wrap up the match.
1:54:08 > 1:54:13Looking at the position of the table and black available to both corner
1:54:13 > 1:54:19pockets. Needing another 41 points from this position, it is hard to
1:54:19 > 1:54:26see where it can go wrong. But we know there are moments in matches
1:54:26 > 1:54:37like these where things are not as black and white as they look.
1:55:05 > 1:55:12He came off that cushion a fraction harder than he wanted. He can just
1:55:12 > 1:55:20about hold for the red. REFEREE:Just give me a moment,
1:55:20 > 1:55:25please, Shaun.
1:55:39 > 1:55:46Very close to getting over the line here, Shaun Murphy. A couple of good
1:55:46 > 1:55:53positional shots away from doing it. A nice angle on the blue would be
1:55:53 > 1:56:07helpful. I do not think he can play for the he can.
1:56:07 > 1:56:13for the he can. -- plague for -- play for the black.
1:56:20 > 1:56:28I am pretty sure reds go into the right corner.
1:56:28 > 1:56:40right corner.No great difficulties. That is not good, unless he can just
1:56:40 > 1:57:01about force the angle from this blue.The outside red goes.
1:57:10 > 1:57:14Nice if he does not have to shift any reds and at least one obviously
1:57:14 > 1:57:20goes and it looks like Shaun Murphy, although having a couple of bites of
1:57:20 > 1:57:31the cherry, is over the line.
1:57:32 > 1:57:43Ali Carter's comeback looks to be no more.
1:57:43 > 1:57:46more. In the end coming out second best in this match, but he should
1:57:46 > 1:57:56take a lot out of it. 4-0 down, battled, produced tremendous breaks
1:57:56 > 1:58:03at vital times. And as far as Shaun Murphy is concerned, when he went
1:58:03 > 1:58:08into the mid-session interval 4-0 in front, a tough work-out than he
1:58:08 > 1:58:12expected. Not the best positional shot but with the lead, it should
1:58:12 > 1:58:21not matter. I do not think Ali will carry on and he is not. They shake
1:58:21 > 1:58:32hands. They are good friends. Shaun Murphy. Ali Carter, 4-0 down,
1:58:32 > 1:58:38fallback. Shaun Murphy made mistakes but in the end, this might stand him
1:58:38 > 1:58:42in good stead for the rest of the tournament. He wins and this through
1:58:42 > 1:58:42to the quarterfinals.
1:58:42 > 1:58:47tournament. He wins and this through to the quarterfinals.
1:58:47 > 1:58:51STUDIO: A tremendous fightback from Ali Carter but Shaun Murphy sets up
1:58:51 > 1:58:57a quarterfinal meeting with Judd Trump. We are back at 1pm. Ronnie
1:58:57 > 1:58:58O'Sullivan takes on Mark Allen.