Day 4 Masters Snooker Extra

Good evening and welcome to Snooker

Extra, extended highlights of the

fourth day of the 20 18th Dafabet

Masters. It is a first round meeting

between Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter,

who has a very good record against

Murphy.

COMMENTATOR: It is Ali Carter, to

get the match underway.

get the match underway. The Paul

Hunter Trophy. In memory of the

young star who won this on three

occasions. Wonderful player.

He was quite a way away with that

shot.

shot.

Bit lucky to get away with

that, I think. There is a

long-range, 2-ball plans into the

corner pocket, but not risking that

at this stage. Poor safety. I think

the yellow has come to his rescue.

Although there is a red into the

right middle. Can he screw back into

the safe area, just past the middle

pocket? Yes.

'S horrific.

pocket? Yes.

'S horrific. Couldn't

get his bridge hand exactly where he

wanted to, but played it well and

perfect on the blue.

Very early chance in this match. We

saw Ronnie O'Sullivan getting off to

a blistering start yesterday.

Players in form can do that and

Shaun Murphy is a player in form.

That red was always a big problem,

acting as a goalkeeper. Has he got

on the black? It is tight. I don't

think he has.

He will be

disappointed. Just a safety shot to

play.

He was aware the red would be a

problem. He couldn't overhit it,

otherwise he would have left the

black.

Couple of shots hit thick. From Ali

Carter.

Didn't have the perfect angle on the

blue. But confident enough, tight

onto the cushion. The doesn't make

this pot any easier. He couldn't

have played it better. Good shot.

Confident, he got down on that shot.

Lovely rhythm to his cue action,

Shaun Murphy. Both players would

have been on the practice table in

the build-up to the walk-out, trying

to get that rhythm going, should

they get an early chance. That one

is going to stray, it seems. Could

have hoped for a better split of the

reds than that.

reds than that.

I suppose he had to

play it. He didn't have to play the

cannon, but he felt as though he was

bound to be on one. But he could

have stunned and this is a careless

safety. That is very careless. From

playing a couple of bad safety

shots, Ali Carter, he gets a good

chance, from nowhere.

As you can see a couple of reds go

into the corner. But he has got an

angle on the blue, should he wish to

disturb the reds now. I think that

is probably the right shots.

Would like to have that one game.

Could have gone into the pink, for a

better result. Perhaps he was

playing to go into the pink and just

misjudged it by a fraction?

As with Shaun Murphy before him,

didn't make the most of that

opportunity.

opportunity. Just sends a little bit

of first frame nerds here.

of first frame nerds here. --

nerves. Ali Carter, ranked number 13

in the world, Shaun Murphy is six.

But in the head to heads, Ali Carter

is ahead.

It will be interesting to

see how this match unfolds, in as

much as Ali Carter's record in the

Masters, for a player of his

ability, is very poor. He will be

very frustrated over the years, not

to have put in a great performance

here. But he is playing somebody he

has had the better of, so how will

that pan out?

That is a better safety.

APPLAUSE

I think he may be able to bend it

left hand side and played the pot.

Ramrod straight chewing, Shaun

Murphy. If there was a player in the

game for a young player to try and

mimic, you wouldn't go much wrong

trying to mimic this guy. Only the

pace of that kept it out. Just

caught that in the jaws.

caught that in the jaws.

You could

question whether he should have

played the reds.

But that is the nature of the modern

game. One thing in mind, can I win

the frame at this visit. That is

what is going to Ali Carter's mine

now. Not perfect on this pink.

Played the cannon. This time it has

worked out OK.

Shaun Murphy could

have gone up behind the Green using

the brown, but I think he felt the

yellow was a certainty, even with

power.

One read on the side push on nearest

the blue pocket is the only problem

for Ali Carter. Shaun Murphy will be

hoping he doesn't get that far.

He will need all the remaining reds.

He could try to shift the red out

using another red, earlier rather

than later. Leaving it to the last

shot, isn't so guaranteed.

That is assuming he's done the

maths.

In an ideal world, if you get an

angle on the black, late, just

arriving... If he could have played

for the black in the same pocket of

the red, the chances of knocking

that red away. That isn't an option

now come he needs to make certain he

gets on the red closest to the right

corner.

This black and the awkward red to

leave Shaun Murphy needing a

snooker.

No attempt to try and get behind it.

You have always got to be wary with

the double.

the double. Gone in. 29 points the

lead, just 27 remaining.

Still got to be careful here. Only

one snooker. Still danger here.

Might be worth putting a ball said,

instead of playing the role up. But

the roll-up is desirable. In one

respect, you will probably get a

snooker on the other. Could he play

the pink to the side cushion? Or

just pot the pink as a safety shot.

Not as a safety shot, as an option.

All the balls are live and should

Shaun Murphy get out of this

snooker, he's still in with a

chance. Excellent shot.

He is an out of this frame just yet,

Shaun Murphy.

I did like putting a

ball safe on that shot. It would

have been insurance. He really wants

to keep the green and the brown, but

he could play snooker is behind the

black. That is in a nice place.

And now, so is the cue ball. Good

shot.

shot. And the way Ali Carter is

shaking his head, it isn't unnatural

one-cushion escape.

one-cushion escape. If he has to

play with a bit of side, he could

miss this.

Definitely the sliding

doors scenario that snooker throws

up. Getting a colour sometimes and

sacrificing getting a snooker, can

sometimes work for you. There is no

right or wrong way. That missed.

right or wrong way. That missed.

We

are in the snookers required stage.

But no longer 25 behind, 27

remaining.

Couldn't keep the yellow ball

totally safe, but hoping for a good

cue ball. It is a chance for Shaun

Murphy. He can play the green into

the yellow pocket. He has great cue

ball control.

If the green goes past into the

green pocket, that was easier.

green pocket, that was easier.

He

will be sitting down kicking

himself. That was a chance. You

don't win many frames when you need

a snooker. That could have been a

body blow to Ali Carter. He just

needs this yellow. He will take it

on. I am surprised he played it so

hard. Now he needs the yellow to run

safe. It has done.

safe. It has done.

He got an awful

contact on the yellow with the cue

ball. Took all the backspin out of

the shot.

Another chance for Ali Carter. Has

it just gone behind.

The blue in the

middle of the table just seems to

get bigger and bigger.

get bigger and bigger.

It is amazing

the amount of times players return

with a snooker. Can Ali Carter get

in behind the black?

Got to avoid

the double-kiss. Just!

the double-kiss. Just!

Bit hard with

the cue ball. Perhaps he was hoping

to get the yellow further up the

table?

table?

There is a chance. Needs some

smooth cueing. Doesn't have too

played the pot. But it is normally

the way he plays the game. Likes to

go for his shots. Andy went for it.

Flicked the pink. We have a new

favourite for the frame now.

Wonderful pot. Kept everything as

still as a rock. Head stayed down

all the time. Once again...

Beautifully struck. This could be

won but slipped away from Ali Carter

here.

Yes, it looks a formality. He

doesn't want to be straight on the

pink. He wants the cue ball as close

to the black as he can get it. It

looked like it was Ali Carter's

frame. To reflect pot on the yellow

and Shaun Murphy clinches it on the

black. How will Ali Carter respond

to that?

Ali Carter hasn't had the best of

seasons so far. Although he did get

some success in the Champions League

recently, beating Shaun Murphy 3-1

to go through to the final stages of

that league. But this is a big

occasion.

occasion. A lot of flies this week.

Is it the same one?

Is it the same one? Well if it was,

it won't be back.

it won't be back. Where is the cue

ball going... Tried to screw across

the face of it. If he had a button,

you would have been on the black

nicely. No value in playing the

black because when it is re-spotted,

the red just above the black

wouldn't be available.

Ali Carter is left with awkward

cueing. Has turned out to be a

problematic shot.

problematic shot. Very close to the

brown. Well struck.

brown. Well struck. He did avoid the

pack, which was a bonus.

Lovely shot. It was going to be

tough, John, to actually getting of

power into the cue ball to really

disturb the reds. He did as well as

he could have done. Bit unlucky.

I

was wondering, there was a couple of

loose reds. Maybe get the black on

its spot. Maybe he was thinking I

will at least bring the pink into

play. You always trust a little bit

to look and the fact is, he is on

nothing.

nothing.

In some situations these

days, not that Ronnie O'Sullivan

needs pigging up, I always wonder,

what would Ronnie have done there?

Sometimes he doesn't risk Ronnie,

the chance that bad luck can happen

might this.

might this.

If you can avoid it, try

not to rely on good luck. Ali Carter

has opened the reds, but now they

are at the mercy of Shaun Murphy.

Once again, the choice from Ali

Carter, you couldn't criticise,

Carter, you couldn't criticise, a

top-class level. Very cruel to start

ripping a player to pieces for

playing the aggressive shots.

playing the aggressive shots. As

people always say, we are always

wise after the event. I don't think

Ronnie would have gone into them. He

got the black back on its own spot.

Then he would have thought about

bringing the other reds into play.

Lovely shot with the rest. He is an

excellent rest player, Shaun Murphy.

Just making certain the pink goes to

the left corner. Won't be too

interested in the black at the

moment because there is a red

occupying the black spot. But he has

got the pink available, got the blue

on its spot. It is a decent chance.

and Shaun still not a clear-cut

chance, albeit a good one.

A bit out of position. This is a bit

more of a cut than it looks on the

TV screen. Played it very well.

A good judge of pace you were,

Steve.

He played that nicely. That has

really opened it up.

Still going to need one of the

awkward reds but there is one of the

cushion that is available. Will not

need the one to the right of the

black or the two together to clinch

this frame at this visit.

Not perfect on this pink. Just

trying to pinch a bit. How costly

could that be?

Did not expect him to

breakdown so easily. A couple of

balls before that had not gone in

the middle of the pocket.

It was funny, the natural instinct

for me, I thought he was not perfect

on the pink but he got down quickly,

as if he was. Should have given it

more due care and attention. If he

had been straight, he could have

rolled it in and played for the red

in the opposite corner but the

problem for Ali are the two reds

either side of the black. He needs

of those. He will have to get them

into place sooner rather than later.

He has played the more aggressive

shot. People tried to shift the reds

off the shot, perhaps with back

spin, to make something happen. He

could play with top, but he needs

luck with the position.

luck with the position. If he had

not played it that way, he would

have had a difficult position all

shot off the last pink. Not a

clear-cut chance.

clear-cut chance.

I do not know how

the cue ball finished there, it is

amazing.

Top spin. It forced it

forward.

A little bit of side on the

cue but the way it came across and

back to the top.

Ali Carter was

hoping to collide with two of the

balls on the top rail, the power he

put into the shot made the cue ball

go wide.

go wide.

43 points remaining. And an

excellent safety shot. I think Ali

is snookered on both reds.

Not great

to end up with the yellow on the

side cushion. He is the one playing

catch up.

He will settle for that. I say

settle for it, it bounced a

fraction. A mighty fine shot, but

Shaun is looking at the potting

angle. He will still need the two

reds to win the frame. So this is a

tough pot. But a good one. He will

still need the last red. I think a

trickle up behind the yellow will be

the order of the day here.

Or he

could get a bigger colour safe.

A little bit of insurance. He made

the snooker easier to hit.

the snooker easier to hit.

Well, he

could have just dropped on it.

Contained the situation.

Decided to

play it with pace, but it has cost

him the frame. This red is pottable

and the red is all he needs.

I think

the story of the match so far has

been what would have happened if Ali

Carter had made different decisions?

I am not saying they are wrong, but

the anomalies of the game of snooker

sometimes...

2-0 to Shaun Murphy and Ali might be

thinking, it could have been 2-0 the

other way, but the scoreboard does

not lie.

Ali Carter breaks off in frame

three.

three. He would dearly like to get a

frame on the board.

Excellent length of safety by Shaun

Murphy.

Needs to miss the yellow and did

not.

OK, may not have left a pot

that would tempt Shaun. Easier when

you can get your hand on the table

to play a better safety than that.

It would be great to get in behind

the yellow. Not easy. But will pay

dividends. Not the best of safety

shots by Shaun Murphy. It is a

tempter for Ali Carter, he has great

cue power. Good safety options here.

The yellow is very inviting.

He has cut off path is back down the

table. What can Shaun work out? This

could go wrong.

You have to be

accurate. Played it nicely. Very

well.

Made it look easy than it

actually was. He played it

confidently.

Got to be careful of balls going to

the right corner.

the right corner.

This looks like a

good line. Just a little bit overhit

and only a fraction. And that wry

smile, he knows he has left a pot

on.

What a great pot. A great shot to

avoid collision with any of the

reds, from the length of the table,

being able to stun around the back

of them, and now the yellow will

give Ali Carter problems. That was a

poor shot, very poor. What was that?

It was too casual. Unless it rolled

off. From a finger mark. You never

know.

Just looked to hit it too hard. Or

much to thick.

That is not a good shot,

particularly someone of Shaun's

potting cue power. Might be tempted

to play the red onto the right

corner.

It was the third safety shot

down that side of the table Ali has

hit a bit thick. The first couple

you could put down to nerves. Shaun

could play a trademark long deep

screw back, should he so wish.

What a strike that was. His head

stayed absolutely still, his body

stayed still, he rammed the cue

through. What cue power.

It is all about fractions. Ali

Carter, a few shots ago, almost got

the snooker behind the yellow. Did

not manage to do it.

not manage to do it. And the

slightly thick safety left half a

chance for Shaun and now it could be

a frame-winner.

a frame-winner.

And what a

difference competitive confidence

makes. These two great players have

played at the highest level but one

of them is in good form and the

other is struggling for form and it

is showing.

is showing.

Yes. I see what you

mean. There is a confidence about

Shaun when he is walking around the

table. OK, he has not played perfect

snooker but he looks confident, the

way he is walking around and

knocking the ball is in. You just

feel that he could get stronger now.

Particularly if he were to take this

frame at this visit.

I would say it is difference between

looking to win a match and hoping to

win a match.

win a match. Especially on the big

stage.

Not wasting any time around the

table but still balking at a good

pace.

pace. And even though Shaun Murphy

is playing fast snooker, every shot,

he stands behind and sets himself in

position before getting down, so not

running around the table in that

respect. Walking around the table

speedily, get behind the shot and

make your approach.

A good opening red. To be honest,

the rest has looked a formality.

The record for the Masters is 31

centuries. We have already had 17.

I'm lucky. They could get through to

the red to the right middle. Not as

unlucky as I thought. I thought he

had gone tight to the red.

had gone tight to the red. It may be

the table is playing easier than

previous years but it looks like the

century breaks total is going to get

slaughtered. I said last evening we

might get up to 40, which would be

remarkable.

30 is an average of two per match.

You would expect them, but you

cannot guarantee them in best of 11

matches.

matches.

The highest break of the

tournament so far is 139 from Liang

Wenbo. That will not be beaten here.

He has snookered himself.

He hit it

so well. He is striking the ball so

well.

well.

A marvellous break from Shaun

Murphy. Now 3-0 in front and one

more to play before the mid-session

interval.

Ali Carter breaking off in frame

five, hoping the interval will

change things for him.

He could play an aggressive safety

shot but it looks like Shaun Murphy

has spotted the gap. He turned it

down for the more containing safety.

I thought he was getting down to try

to pot that.

Has not really done too much damage

to Shaun Murphy by that safety. It

will always be difficult to put his

opponent under pressure.

Get a good cue ball. You can get

rewarded, sometimes.

rewarded, sometimes. Much like Shaun

Murphy's last safety shot. Did not

get the cue ball close enough to the

cushion to pose his opponent any

problems.

This is better.

On a fast cloth, the thinner the

safety, it does tend to be the way a

lot of safety shots played these

days, not to do any damage with the

object balls.

He has let that one go. We have to

hope the blue comes to his rescue. I

do not think it has.

Quite low on the safety success for

Ali Carter. Shaun risked playing for

the black, but not much of a risk.

If Shaun Murphy can get back into

his stride after the interval, and

win

win this frame, he is turning Ali

Carter's campaign at the Masters

into a disappointing one.

He has to develop a few reds soon.

Three reds, three blacks.

He tried to force it in. I thought

he could have rolled it in and

played for the black into the

opposite corner, so that is a let

off for Ali.

There is a possible pot on. He did

not feel as if he was in position to

risk it. He is at the position now

where he has to somehow get a

foothold in the match. He probably

will not get that by taking too many

risks.

It is a tempter for Ali Carter into

the middle pocket but when you miss

these, you never know where they

will go.

He played it positively and made

sure he got position. There was no

point in playing that get that cue

ball on the bottom rail.

ball on the bottom rail. It is a

nice starter for Ali Carter. He has

to get going here. Start to flow. It

has not been easy.

That is not wonderful. He has a red

but he has to trust to luck. Getting

the cue ball out into open play.

the cue ball out into open play. He

was unlucky the way that came out.

That is unfortunate. You cannot

guarantee you will not collide with

the pink. Then he would have been on

the blue.

He played it with pace, he

did not want to stick in amongst

them.

And then had a bad kiss on the

yellow.

They tough yellow. Tempting

to go for, but as Steve said, this

is tough. Oh, he played it nicely.

Sometimes you do not get what you

deserve but the one he is closest to

he can pot to the middle, so it is

not all bad.

He should be able to play a deft

stun shot for the blue in the same

pocket. But awkward cueing.

So, a clear-cut chance for Ali

Carter to get his first frame on the

board.

Not right in the heart of the pocket

that red.

He nudged that red and if he has far

enough he could get through to the

red for the black. Can he hold for

the pink? He could do comfortably.

If you shots and it will open up

quite nicely. -- a few shots.

Getting low on the black would have

been a nice option but he has lots

of choices here.

You always feel in these situations

you have to focus on one shot at a

time and forget the scoreline. Just

make the most of every opportunity

you get. He has a slight angle on

the black. He would have preferred

more of an angle but it should not

cause a problem.

It is OK. If he cannot run through

for the black, he can stun up for

the pink into the opposite corner

but he decided he could run through

for the black. A nice angle this

time to come off the top cushion for

a red into the opposite corner.

They always say you do not settle

until you get your first frame on

the scoreboard. It will make him

feel better if you can do it in one

visit. And a century would be the

icing on the cake.

icing on the cake. Red, colour, red

required.

He just about got the right angle on

the blue.

Well, I can only assume he played to

put some side on the cue ball and

did not get any.

It seems like he

overhit it and he knew he had

overheated immediately. He should

get this.

Job done by Ali Carter. He will be

relieved, but he is also pleased he

has converted the chance.

has converted the chance.

Perfect on

the blue. Could be another century

to add to the list. At this year's

Dafabet Masters. 18 so far.

Obviously it is going to go to 4-1

now, but amazingly he is ahead in

the pot success.

Full stretch. What a pity. What a

pity.

pity. Shaun Murphy didn't make the

most of it. A few mistakes from him,

but now he has a frame on the board

now, something to build on.

Thumbs up. I think it was an ironic

thing, mainly to himself. How did he

not make the century, you will be

thinking. 99 isn't far off. This

looks like a good cue ball.

looks like a good cue ball. He has

left the pot on.

This time, Shaun Murphy's long

potting lets him down. I suppose,

from the point of view of safety,

neither player has been finding the

baulk cushion with regularity?

baulk cushion with regularity?

No,

there is an element of shot to

nothing from the shot from Shaun

Murphy. When you are playing a shot

to nothing, in one respect, if you

do actually pot the ball, you would

like to be on a colour. So on that

particular type of shots, you don't

want to play for the baulk cushion.

Perhaps play for baulk, into the

middle pockets, perhaps is the best

way to play those.

Once again, as we have seen many

times during this match, Ali Carter

keeps catching them a little bit

thick.

Retained perfect control with the

cue ball.

That is where finding the bottom

cushion, as Ali Carter failed to do,

can be so important against a

top-class player like Shaun Murphy.

When you get the cue ball tight

across the question, you can only

get the top part of it. It is a

harder shots.

harder shots. If you are catching

the ball thick or thin, length of

the table with your safety shots, it

doesn't help your confidence unless

the table is rolling off over

distance and it's usually the case,

you have a cueing deficiency and you

are not striking the middle of the

cue ball on delivery. Shaun Murphy

underhit that shot. Certainly no

backspin on that one. He may have

got a contact.

There was certainly a

bounce when the cue ball met the

object ball.

Took all the spin off

the cue ball.

The thing is about

this blue, if he had the right angle

on the blue, he wouldn't have any

hesitation in playing it. But he

doesn't have the right

doesn't have the right angle. This

red, closest to the cue ball at the

moment is only available into the

left corner. That is why he is

turning the blue down and playing it

safe. As in the last frame, Shaun

Murphy didn't make the most of a

good opportunity.

I don't think it

was his faults, he got a kick. It

wasn't a massive one, but sometimes

a kick can destroy the path of the

object ball. Other times, the cue

ball.

Not too sure what Shaun Murphy is

looking at. A three-ball plant into

the middle pocket? That looks on. He

isn't even playing it. I thought it

was on.

May be because he cannot get

to the first red? But from behind it

looked a certainty.

It looks like a

three-ball plant into the middle. He

didn't give it much of a look. Maybe

it is lined up to the job. Ali

Carter is looking to see if it is a

three-ball plant the other way. Into

both middle pockets. Middle and

corner. I wonder why Shaun Murphy

didn't give that more attention.

You

can see better when you are right

behind the shot. But I don't think

Ali Carter will be turning this

town.

It is poor from Shaun Murphy

not to have spotted it is a

three-ball plant from the other way.

He's definitely going.

He needed to

get that. The cue ball went close to

the corner. He is on the blue.

the corner. He is on the blue.

Got

the cue ball out into open play.

Unforgivable from Shaun Murphy.

Am giving it a steely eye, Shaun

Murphy, sat in his chair. Ali Carter

needs to miss the kiss on the second

red. Just as well.

red. Just as well. Great chance,

this.

He was forced into playing the

cannon. If he had been better on the

black, he could have controlled the

cue ball better. He had to play that

little cannon.

Played that nicely.

Another 46 points required from this

position to get to snookers required

stage the fact he is hesitating,

means it is a little bit awkward. As

you can see, very straight. Will it

be worth the risk to screw back?

He

made a mistake with the red, he

didn't pot it into the middle pocket

so he lost the cue ball a bit. But

as you said, it was worth the risk.

He committed to that nicely. Back in

prime position.

Overdone it slightly, but he will be

using the extension. He can get past

the red closest to the cue ball, so

it's not too awkward cueing.

And now Ali Carter is looking like a

different player. Got a spring in

his step.

his step. Bit more of the eye of the

Tiger.

Just overdone it slightly. He has

the pink to the right corner. But it

shouldn't cause a problem.

shouldn't cause a problem. He used

all the pocket, but in it went.

Perhaps because it didn't go into

the middle of the pocket that is why

he is a little bit thinner than he

would like. But no problem, able to

drop it in and this red is all he

needs to go 52 points ahead with 43

remaining.

This is a very good response. It

could be said that Shaun Murphy, in

the last two frames, has got in

first. OK, on this particular

occasion he was unlucky with the

heavy contact. But what Ali Carter

had to do, when he was presented by

these opportunities, was to take

them. He did in the last and he has

done so in this. And the last frame,

he just didn't make the century, he

made 99.

made 99. Once again, in the mode

where he doesn't want to miss

anything.

And the blue for the tunnel. Well

played. Very well played indeed.

APPLAUSE

Sometimes Ali Carter's temperament

can be questioned. It can be a

little brittle, but I liked the way

he's come out in this second half.

He had a chance in the last two

frames and has grabbed them with

both hands. Putting pressure on

Shaun Murphy, he was leading 4-0 and

it is now 4-2.

Yes, he will be pleased with the way

the last two frames have gone. No

margin of error for Ali Carter, and

he knows that. You always feel,

Steve, as long as your opponents

still needs two frames, you have a

bit more wriggle room, so to speak?

Even in the best of 11, there is a

bit of breathing space.

bit of breathing space. UK

championship best of 11 in the early

stages, dropped from the best of 17.

It is a shorter, sharper event. But

the Masters has always been, I think

it has always been, going back in

history, certainly been a true test,

anyway.

I think the true test has

always been, you are not going to

get an easy match. But I think it

has always been the best of 11.

has always been the best of 11.

Bit

thinner than he wanted on that side

of the table.

Has been catching the safety shots a

bit wrong, Ali Carter. Thick down

the left-hand side as we look and

thin down the right-hand side. By a

fraction, that is.

As you say, it is

usually a sign he's not finding the

centre of the cue ball. Looks like

he can sneak past the brown to find

a thin edge. But once again, a

fraction too thick.

Long part success, Shaun Murphy, but

average, 67%. Quite high for Ali

Carter. Five out of six, that

equates to.

Great long pot. Didn't screw it back

as well as he might have done on

some occasions. Perhaps not great

contact either, but around the red

in. -- ramps.

Choices of blue into the middle of

the corner, played the shot which

guaranteed position.

In the third frame running, first

in, first chance. Hasn't made the

most of the last two frames. Will be

desperate to make this one counts.

desperate to make this one counts.

I

would say Shaun Murphy's recent good

form playing in some major finals,

could be holding him in good stead.

You can take a few on the chin, if

you know you are confident enough to

strike back.

Hebe Ronnie O'Sullivan in the

champion of champions. Lost in the

final of the UK championship. -- he

beat. One read in the open but an

angle on the black should he so wish

to go into the cluster. Well, it has

come out OK. Not absolutely inch

perfect.

He hit that so well. He

didn't put too much back spent on,

so the cue ball didn't stick in the

pack. Just enough backspin to grip

the cue ball and keep it in the

middle of the table. Couldn't have

hit it any better.

Always risky, because you are going

closer to the black. This time, he

has judged it perfectly. It is a

tough shot to get right on these

tables. Flying off the second

cushion. Would have liked to have

been on the red to the right corner.

There is a pack of reds that still

has to be opened at some stage.

Loose one as well. He won't be

pleased with that. He let the cue

ball go, but looks like he has got

away with it.

away with it.

Just missed Ali Carter

looking away and puffing out his

cheeks. He knows Shaun Murphy was

fortunate there. He could have been

on nothing.

Sensibly not trying to get on the

blue perfectly. It wasn't easy to

control, so going down for a Paul

Cole gives you options. -- baulk

colour. Would be a bit unlucky in

potting the green this group that

line is to the middle pocket. It is

always a bit of a trap. Has got to

avoid that.

avoid that. I think it perhaps was.

I don't know.

Whatever, he could

have played it better.

have played it better. But no

problem. He is online to win the

frame now at this visit.

I don't

think he had the right angle on the

green. Played a confident shot to

leave distance. He does look good

the balls. -- and monks at the

balls. You wouldn't put it past him

here to knock in another century. He

looks in that type of form.

Just the black needed to go 70

points in France, with just 67

remaining. -- in front. Stopping the

Ali Carter comeback.

This time, he did take advantage of

getting in first, which he didn't in

the last two frames.

You said before, to get to 30

centuries during the tournament,

averages about two a match. Already

had two, looks like this is the

third one coming up.

third one coming up.

Ali Carter

failed on 99.

Potentially could have been for

centuries.

centuries. Sean just misses that

black. Shaun

black. Shaun Murphy 5-2 in front. It

will be tough for Ali Carter to get

back in this match.

Another big pot from Shaun Murphy.

He will be on the green or brown.

Well, Shaun Murphy, regardless of

choices of shots, will always be

tough to beat when he is knocking

those in.

Long pot success, 75%. When you are

playing somebody like Shaun Murphy,

you don't expect him to miss any

long pot. But, he has been in first

a few times in the last few frames

and not made the most of it. This is

for the match, this opportunity.

Couldn't help but nudge that read

back into the pack. If he could get

nicely on the blue, there is a

chance to open the reds that way. He

has checked if the pink goes to the

right corner. Once again, not a

clear-cut opportunity here. He could

go down for the green, perhaps?

Maybe he cannot get past the red

rash to mark perhaps use the green

to smash into the pack. Perhaps he

cannot get there.

In a funny way,

that is the red he is concerned

about.

about.

He can play across the face

of the blue. That looks like a

natural angle.

Kept on the black. Wasn't a problem.

The problem could be the next red.

I

think he can play to this left-hand

cushion. Took a bit of time to work

that one out, Shaun Murphy.

Obviously straighter on the red than

it looks from the commentary box.

No clues here as to what he will be

doing. He will try to open the reds,

but keep the cue ball under control.

He was forced into playing this. He

could not have played it better.

That's worked out perfect. The

chance is there, can he take it?

I think both reds go into the right

middle. Did not really want to be

straight on this black.

Has given

himself a small problem, perhaps.

He has made it more difficult now he

is straight on the black. The longer

he thinks over this, the worse the

position is.

Well, he has the red to the left

middle or far left corner, but he

was looking for something easier.

He is looking brittle. It was

looking like a clear-cut opportunity

until he played that red and left

himself straight on the black. Then

the problem magnified the next

positional shot. Ali Carter's tale

will be up. Can he get the important

red in? If he did, yes...

A

tremendous shot. Because the

pressure was there. If I miss it, it

could be my last shot in the

tournament. Well played.

It is nice

to see the underdog responding, the

person behind, it makes for a great

match.

match. Yesterday afternoon we saw a

one-sided event going on.

one-sided event going on. He would

hope for a better split.

I think if

he had his time over, he would have

played the same shot, but maybe not

with as much pace. He is hampered by

three reds.

Also, I am not sure he

can escape from the jaws of the

yellow pocket.

yellow pocket. A bit unfortunate. A

thin red cut into the middle.

It is

one of those you overclocked? Or

hitting it thinner to avoid the

in-off. Keep your eye on the cue

ball. Played it well, all things

considered. If he had his hand on

the table I think he would have

played a stun shot but in the end,

he overcut it slightly to avoid the

in-off.

Even though it hit the jaws,

he could escape from the jaws.

he could escape from the jaws. You

have to be careful with this.

have to be careful with this. Not an

easy positional shot to get right,

but he has played it well. OK, he

may be hampered by the blue.

may be hampered by the blue.

It is a

big thing, if he could cue past the

blue, no, he is hampered. Which

makes the pot more difficult. But

well played.

well played. A little shake of the

head. He knew immediately he had

come to straight on the black. But

the pot was difficult. He cannot

reproach himself for about. -- for

that. Was that a nice

that. Was that a nice nudge?

Obviously not. He has got a shot. He

hoped for something better. The

problems of getting straight on the

black, it limits the type of

positional shot you can play

severely. He cannot run through. You

can only screw back. This is tough.

But they must get. It is there, good

shot. He had to put all his

attention to the pot. That is when

positional play can go wrong. Ten

points behind. Fighting to stay in

the match. I do believe, if he can

win this frame, I would not like to

name the winner.

And another terrific, brave pot from

Ali Carter. Showing all of his

battling qualities.

A wonderful

shot.

And well judged. That have to be

confidently played. Not knowing how

the cue ball would collide from that

red to keep on the pink.

Pink would

put him two points in front. Which

equates to the fact he will need

these five remaining reds.

Even

though it looks relatively easy into

the middle pocket for the red on the

side cushion, it is probably more

difficult than it looks on the TV

screen.

screen. If he got in nicely behind

it, maybe drop it into the middle

pocket. It makes a big difference of

the red goes into the middle.

He could play a cannon on the pink.

The red by the pink does go, but it

would open it more. It makes it

available now. As Steve said, it

will be the key one, the one near

the right centre.

And as you can see from the side

shot, that red is not as easy as it

looks from the overhead shot.

Ali must think when the pink is put

back the red is still available, and

he is right. Perfectly on the red to

stun for the opposite corner.

He has

not had a look at the red yet.

Perhaps this is the first little

look he has had. He fancies it goes

in the middle quite nicely. At least

I think so. Once again, from this

angle, it looks pretty acute.

Can he

nudge it out?

He may be thinking

that. Guaranteed to be on pink or

blue if he does. Has to be the right

shot, the way he has played it.

I

think so, he could not wish for a

better potting angle.

Oh, no.

Well...

He has had a second prize.

He has landed on the green. But he

should not have missed the cannon.

He has not had a look at the red.

Perhaps it is a more difficult shot

to the middle pocket than I am

thinking. We will soon find out.

He

is lucky to be on the green, which

could put 28 points in front but

there are still 35 remaining. Green

and this red. If he had picked it up

with his hand, he could not have

placed it better. What a judge of

pace. This red to go 29 points in

front with just 27 remaining.

Well played. Well played.

Both of these players are fantastic

adverts for the game of snooker.

They played marvellously and it is

nice to see a great close match.

Shaun has obviously had the best of

the chances, but, as yet, he has not

killed off Ali Carter. What is

install for the rest of match? As

you say, John, no predictions now.

Anything can happen.

-- in store for the rest of the

match?

Just the red in the middle.

He has had ample

He has had ample opportunity... He

could have finished his press

conference by now but he is still in

the arena and Ali Carter is picking

up pieces. And Shaun Murphy is

vulnerable. He is only one behind.

I think that is a fair point. It

will not be remiss in Shaun Murphy's

mind. You get bogey players. And

what they start. He flicked the

black. You say the game is about

fractures. If he had just missed the

black, he would have been on it

perfectly. Even hitting it thicker

he would have developed it. Just a

fraction out.

fraction out. The extended spider,

we do not see that used often. He

has had a lot to bridge over. Trying

to get the cue ball back to the

baulk end.

I can forgive him for hitting the

blue.

It is safe enough. The

extended spider looks massive. It is

very high.

It does. I thought it was extended

lengthways, not heights. It must be

a new design.

I spoke to Paul

Collier about the rest heads. They

have changed the design of those.

They used to have

They used to have a low X and a high

X and now it is bang on both ways.

The players were not consulted and

the referees are upset as well. They

have taken the plastic off the ends

but it is nice to have a low or high

X when you are choosing to play low

or high on the ball. Great shot.

Played it positively to keep on the

black.

Thinking the only red he

could leave was the one he was

playing.

We'll Shaun be tempted into

the green pocket with the red? Blue

is begging to be potted. He would

only leave that red on if he missed

it.

Where is the cue ball going?

REFEREE:

Fouls.

Ali Carter, four.

More importantly for Shaun, the red

he played ran safe. Every shot now

has a consequence.

Ali has the option to ask Shaun to

play again and he can put the cue

ball anywhere in the D.

ball anywhere in the D. Ali did not

fancy playing the shot. Would you

ask your opponent to play the shot?

I am not certain I would have done.

It may end up there is no value

either way. I suppose if Shaun

played a poor safety, Ali would get

first crack.

And he almost did play

a poor safety. The black came to his

rescue. He could've left the red

just below the black quite easily.

This should keep them safe.

Did not want the red to poke out

past the pink. Is there a gap into

the left corner? Perhaps not. If

there is, it is effectively a shot

to nothing. I do not think there is.

No and for once, down that side of

the table, Ali did not catch the

safety two thick. Certainly a

difference in the body language of

Shaun. He is starting to think more

and more about every shot.

and more about every shot. And you

can see problems that do not exist

sometimes, when you do that.

sometimes, when you do that. The

crowd understandably cheering the

early underdog in this match. It is

always nice to see a comeback.

Nothing against Shaun, I think the

crowd are appreciative of both

players, whoever gets through to the

next round is a bonus for the event.

It is a win - win situation for

snooker.

Pretty good but there is no escape

route down the right-hand side. The

red below the pink, you have to

catch it thin.

catch it thin. Rattling it in the

jaws would be the worst scenario.

You have to catch it just right, and

he did. This is as good a safety

shot he has played the last few

frames. Nice to see Ali Carter

appreciated with a few taps on the

table. -- appreciate it. Well, there

is a gap. He will have to play it

with a trace of side. The last thing

he needs to do is

he needs to do is hit it too thick.

He will have to put left-hand side

on this. Trying to play safe down

the left-hand side of the table is

very risky.

That is a tough safety

shot. Fractionally having to swerve

past the yellow.

The big shot to take on.

He could risk a swerving

fractionally later hopefully catch

this safety shot right. Is he going

for this? Has he spotted a

containing shot?

containing shot? He will be settling

for that. Shaun has got a chance of

the red. It is probably the best Ali

Carter could hope for, putting it on

the side cushion. It is unmissable.

-- it is missable. He hits a ball

well off the cushion, Shaun Murphy.

He made it look easier than it was.

An excellent pot and the chance

created from an excellent safety. So

he is getting his chance. He has had

them before now. And not made the

most of them.

It would be nice to get the black

back on the spot here.

back on the spot here. I think he'd

tried to get on the black and he has

overhit it. He certainly was not

playing to be wrong sided on the

blue. A positional

blue. A positional mistake and one

that could end up in a trap. Can he

get back on a red?

get back on a red? He has some

mileage to do with the cue ball.

If

he cuts it in the middle, he is

looking to get near that circle. In

the end, he decided to trust to

luck.

luck. There was an air of

desperation about that. There was

nothing controlled about that.

I know people rate him the best rest

player in the game but he needs to

be good with this.

He hid it well and should he wish

to, he could play an aggressive shot

here, go into the pink. OK, he does

not have to. He has loose reds. It

is a tempter to go into the pink and

spread the reds far and wide. Not

necessarily the right thing to do.

There are other options. But it is

tempting. I think he would get a

good split, powering it into the

pink with back spin.

pink with back spin.

Everybody is

laughing as Shaun decides what to

blame. Ali Carter is sitting there

hoping he can get back to the table.

-- what to play.

-- what to play.

Needs to play more

accurate positional play than

trusting to luck.

trusting to luck. An excellent shot,

because he did open up the pack. He

has got to be happy with that.

has got to be happy with that.

He is

a dangerous man using the rest. 100%

with it in this match, nine out of

nine, or eight out of eight.

A

fantastic chance again for Shaun

Murphy. He is back on track after a

hick up in positional play and this

is a chance to wrap up the match.

Looking at the position of the table

and black available to both corner

pockets. Needing another 41 points

from this position, it is hard to

see where it can go wrong. But we

know there are moments in matches

like these where things are not as

black and white as they look.

He came off that cushion a fraction

harder than he wanted. He can just

about hold for the red.

REFEREE:

Just give me a moment,

please, Shaun.

Very close to getting over the line

here, Shaun Murphy. A couple of good

positional shots away from doing it.

A nice angle on the blue would be

helpful. I do not think he can play

for the he can.

for the he can. -- plague for --

play for the black.

I am pretty sure reds go into the

right corner.

right corner.

No great difficulties.

That is not good, unless he can just

about force the angle from this

blue.

The outside red goes.

Nice if he does not have to shift

any reds and at least one obviously

goes and it looks like Shaun Murphy,

although having a couple of bites of

the cherry, is over the line.

Ali Carter's comeback looks to be no

more.

more. In the end coming out second

best in this match, but he should

take a lot out of it. 4-0 down,

battled, produced tremendous breaks

at vital times. And as far as Shaun

Murphy is concerned, when he went

into the mid-session interval 4-0 in

front, a tough work-out than he

expected. Not the best positional

shot but with the lead, it should

not matter. I do not think Ali will

carry on and he is not. They shake

hands. They are good friends. Shaun

Murphy. Ali Carter, 4-0 down,

fallback. Shaun Murphy made mistakes

but in the end, this might stand him

in good stead for the rest of the

tournament. He wins and this through

to the quarterfinals.

tournament. He wins and this through

to the quarterfinals.

STUDIO: A tremendous fightback from

Ali Carter but Shaun Murphy sets up

a quarterfinal meeting with Judd

Trump. We are back at 1pm. Ronnie

O'Sullivan takes on Mark Allen.