Day 1 Masters Snooker Extra

A pretty good break a shot from Mark Davis as the plan and to get the

white as close to the ball cushion as possible.

That first shot is not good from the defending champion. He has pushed

the read write to the corner pocket. It bounced off the cushion and is

dead straight. That looks easy but where the cueball is...?

He couldn't do a lot with the cueball.

He'll most followed in. -- he almost.

What a buzz. For the opening session.

Nothing better than playing the second biggest tournament of the

season in front of a full crowd. They say that if you can't play in

this atmosphere, you should not be playing snooker.

He didn't expect that read to, but has gotten away with it. -- red to

come up. I know that Mark Selby wasn't happy with his form at York.

He needed a thin edge that might be OK. It depends on if there is a red

that might pass the pink. And shouldn't be a problem for Mark

Davis to get to safety here. He was disappointed with the UK

Championship. He had been going well and then lost. On the deciding

frame. He will want to make amends here.

From a psychological perspective, when you have never won a match

here, it is added pressure on you. He missed that are read by quite a

big distance. He doesn't have to hit about them.

He has to hit it this time or otherwise he loses the frame.

He left a possible pot but it is not an easy one. He is not even looking

at the red. Just above the pink. Mark Selby at the UK Championship,

he had what we call his B game. Not his top form and still got to the

final. He led Robinson 5-1 and looked like he would win but the

Australian came back and defeated him.

He thought he had died. -- had that. It looked in from here. That read

beside the pinkies on if he misses it.

Nice to see the boys back wearing ordinary tyres. Did they do away

with a bow ties when he turned pro? They had normal ties during the day

but I found it difficult to get comfortable.

I stopped wearing after a fellow commentator fell out and grabbed my

Thai to save himself and nearly strangled me. That was live on

television. Very funny. Couldn't do much. He had to just

rely on that. He tried to hit the pink but may have just rolled into

the brown here. Slightly cagey there. I thought the

blue was on to the right centre. First frame, he doesn't want to take

any undue risks. Has that run far enough? He's taking

a close look. A lot of balls in the way to get the white back around. He

could play it slowly and it would come off the cushion...

I don't think he wants to get tied up in too many frames. That would

suit solely more. Mark Davis is a good tactical player. He would have

to put our consulting slightly ahead in that department. -- Mark Selby.

Mark Davis's tactical play has forced that error. The red jumper a

little bit but he would not have wanted that.

It is not an easy chance. The reds are nicely spread but the colours

are awkward. You could stand in the red and leave the pink but when the

pink is spotted, it would not be put anywhere.

He will be using the blue for the time being.

He has a lot of choices here. Looking at the angle on the blue, it

would help to develop those two reds and the green. It is whether it is

worth the risk. He would certainly finish on a choice of reds if he

took the shot. He doesn't have to play the cannon.

He has played for just about single red but... If he is dead straight on

this, he is just off straight, so the only colour he can really play

forward would be the yellow unless he forces it back towards the pink

and the blue. That is why I thought the cannon on the green and the two

reds would be an option. If those reds go past the yellow into the

corner, there are three reds in the pot.

Even if the black doesn't past yellow, he has the yellow available.

-- pass the yellow. They can't let at risk but quite a good one,

Steven. A good, positive shot. Making the frame win chance easier.

It isn't guaranteed that he did do it really well.

It was a favourable kiss. Did he put it into a potable position? He will

finish in colour. That was quite a thin snick. He

overcut it. He needs our little good luck.

I think even get between the reds to pop it into the left corner.

I did not think that he would go over. That was a bonus, being able

to take that read because it has freed the black up.

Needs to queue this one to get back up the right side of the blue.

A nice angle across the black. That was a good shot.

He does not want to be straight on this one. He has a slight angle.

He has got to easy Reds left in the two difficult ones by the green and

the one near the cushions. Another formality to clinch this opening

frame. After this next shot, it might be iffy cannons the two macro

reads and brings them into play. That is virtually a frame clincher.

He does not need the difficult one near the cushion.

Obviously Mark Davis did the hard work for Mark Selby by bringing the

black into the open. Mark Selby looks very comfortable now. He loves

this tournament, Mark Selby. Mark Davis, he can only sit and I'm sure

he knows this frame has slipped away. But he had his chances. That

has come off the cushion quite quick.

He needs this read. Should not be a problem. -- red. Just a little bit

of background noise putting mark off there.

Always nice to start with a decent break. This looks like a frame from

the defending champion. Does not matter about the green.

That was a pretty good effort. It goes to the defending champion with

that rate of 59. Giving him the first frame.

That was such a key shot in the modern game. A player that can knock

those in. It gives you an early chance. It is a shot the players

Pratt was as well. -- practice. It can give you such an early chance

that you can not that type of pot in. The colour amongst the Reds.

Still keeping it tight, even though he is leading.

He will make mark service work for every pop. Mark Davis has to take

more risks. Maybe take on the odd 50-50 ball to make something happen

to get back into this match. If things go the way it has been before

the interval, he is going to lose. Bat Ben Cousins on the left side of

the table is a bit of a distraction. -- bat Ben Cousins.

Swimming the right away from the red. Has the green come to his

rescue, I think it has. Got to be careful with this because of that

red, the one between blue and brown. Has to try to get a cue between

three blue and brown. He never likes playing those shots,

he need -- never seems to get an advantage from.

That is a bonus if he can get past the black to play that on the left

side of the table. Nice little gap there.

He did not attempt that pops, but it was pottable. Didn't even look at

it. A total mishit from Mark Selby. He

may have got away with it. There might be a gap through to red for

the right corner. He mishit that one completely. At least one red is

available. Not a direct plants but he can make it and get on the black

but he wishes. He has to play the first reared to the left of the pot.

-- red. A bad misjudgement. He needed to get that little bit more

thought. Not just a natural plant. He played at in such a way as if it

was in a direct line. He did not adjust enough. A bit of pressure on

this one. He can cut in near the left corner.

Has he screwed it back far enough to leave it. Will it be safe? I think

he has. This is just a safety shot. A good length of the cue ball, he

snookered on that red. Everything is safe.

Might not reach. Might not reach. Did not.

He frame scorers for -- nil. The match is for -- nil.

The Canon did not help there. Left a path through for the one to the left

and the red. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. A good pot but not the Canon he

desired. A full ball cannon would have left on the black.

Quite a thin snack. He may cannon the other red if he pops it. He did

cannon the red. He has his luck. That is the last red Mark Davis

bought Mark Selby would finish on but the Canon worked out well for

him. When you are confident, you get

these things happen for you. -- you let.

Has he left a long red, that is the thing? That is the first time he has

lost concentration because that is all that was. The first obvious pot

that he has lost in a match, didn't even get close. Perhaps he is not as

sharp, lost a little focus. Sometimes when you are four - zero

up, you relax a bit and think that the job is done. -- 4-0 up.

Come on, Mark, can you knock in a few here.

Played for the red at the bottom of the pack in the left corner. This is

not easy. He split on the right-hand side to get the blue and that is a

good shot to get the far side of the blue.

There must be a couple of reds available, the way he is walking

around the table. Yes. You might be able to run the white

through that gap. He could do with a sizeable

contribution here, get a bit of confidence going.

When he pots is red, it will get it into the right corner.

It is the first time he has been around the blackspot area with a

chance. Sometimes you can go frame after frame and never get a chance.

In this one, you need it and you have got -- he has got it this time.

Two more obvious reds are pottable. For reds and the pink.

Into shots time, he can play a cannon.

He wanted to be playing for the black from this red but he will have

to go for the blue. He might be straight enough to follow through

for the black. Four reds at the same time.

I am just wondering if there is a possible plans on but if not he can

cannon straight into the pink and bring those reds into play. If he

shot works out, he could give himself the first frame.

You wanted it to hit the pink and little more full than that.

A good recovery there. Never easy when you are coming into other reds

but he played it well. He is marching around the table now. He

knows he is only a few pots away from getting this first frame on the

board. You always feel that when your

opponent need to frames, you are in their chance. This is the beginning

of comeback. -- you are in with a chance.

We talked about missing that ball and he was being punished for it.

This is the one where he lost to some concentration, focusing more on

the position. Frame for Mark Davis and he has died

in style. It is always nice if you can win a frame and always better if

you can win it with one visit. He can be feeling a little bit better

but it is only the start of the long haul back. It doesn't matter about

that. Mark Selby may have won this set.

Mark Davis took full advantage. He has finished up here, right tight

against the yellow. Obviously didn't play that break to put the cue ball

in the ball cushion. He doesn't have an easy out where he

can leave it safe. If you could guarantee to get the shot everytime,

you are tried. Trying to get the white on the

cushion... With the reds open, it is difficult to land on anything and

leave it safe, as you say. No raid near a cushion that he can play to

land on. If he goes to the side of the pack, he would leave that red to

the right of the blacks and red. You are absolutely right, Steven. He

didn't have a get out shot about. Just hit that one little harder he

intended. A slight change of plan. He will have to leave the red to the

right corner pocket. That want to the left of the three reds are

there, just above the blackspot but he overheated slightly.

He doesn't fancy that so years back looking at the red he originally

played for. It was a slightly difficult pot but

he did have his mind on it. The difficult part and he has lifted so

he is stuck up. An unexpected chance for Mark Davis who couldn't wait to

get out of his chair. I thought that was a red into either corner pocket

that he missed. That one was more difficult than the one he missed in

the previous frame. He will have to strike this shot

well, going off the site cushion. This has to be struck well on the

left-hand side. He has hit it too well. He has

overrun that by about 12 inches, 18 inches. He is still on the red but

it shouldn't be a problem, drop it in with the rest. He had a choice of

reds to play on. He overscrew did but it shouldn't be a problem.

He wants to punish Mark Selby. He had that break of 80 and could do

and other sizeable break here and make Mark Selby pay for that.

You has to hit the red and the right. A half ball.

He just jabbed a little bit of that one and didn't get the action. Still

OK but he was so close to the red, he had to be more careful. A bit

more screw and he would have been perfect on the black.

He was hoping that the white would slip past the red but it hasn't. If

he finds the gap, he has a choice of reds in the left corner. This is

awkward. I think that he can hold for the

black if he can take it on but he is having to bridge over the three reds

he is bridging over. A good recovery. Will it reach? Well

played. One of Mark Davis's great strength.

He has a great temperament. It is standing him in good stead here. He

is giving himself a chance here. He's not that far in front in this

frame but he is doing well here. 41. One loose red. There is the pot

success rate, he has gone up to 92%. He didn't have any chances earlier

on. Now he is over the 90 mark. Needs a bit of luck. The red has

come off the cushion and block the path to the pocket. Cleared the shot

as well as he could. He did not get the run of the ball. He needs to

plant one on the other. He could not have played that much better. Very

unlucky to finish like that. He did play that perfectly. That is

painful when that happens. Another tricky one bridging over the reds.

He pulled one off into the middle pocket. Not this time. Very

unfortunate. All of a sudden, Mark Selby, surely

it has not landed tight on the brown and covered everything? There is a

red to the right corner pocket. How close is he to the brown? He has

covered that. Have a look at that. Mark Selby in Mr Nutt asserted

there. -- missed another sitter there. He was neither cushion, but

he would have knocked that in eight out of 10 times. It was an easy pot.

Under the circumstances, he should have had a much easier one since the

White landed on the brown. If there were no other pots on, he would have

landed it no problem. But something was preying on his mind. He knew he

should have had an easier shot than the one he had to play.

That might be the big turning point in this match. He had a great chance

to get just two behind. Show you the must again. He should not have been

playing this year. There were some easier options until Mark landed on

the brown. This is probably what Mark Selby

needed after the few misses. An easy opportunity.

There is only the one red that is slightly awkward, to the right of a

pink. But for a right-hander it is not too difficult.

Did not make that one well. Directed to the left-hand side of the pocket.

Still no problem. It just depends on angle he has

here. The red to the right of the bank, he has to get a position, I

would put the other white up, it would be perfect. But he has other

options. He has to decide where he will place the cue ball after the

spot. He needs to play through another few inches to play that

shot. It is a big target from this red. Too straight to do here.

Going to be awkward now. Can't take the green and screw the cue ball off

to cushions. He is going to avoid the yellow and

the blue. He has to find the path between them if he pots this. A

great effort. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. 23 is the difference. As we show you

the shot he played, the one Stephen mentioned. They then snack this. --

-- a thin snick this. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. He played it

with a bit of place and he only needs the blue. Not imperative he

gets on to the yellow. Mark Davis seeing this frame slip away. A frame

it looks like he was going to take. He has left himself a longer show

shallow. 19 in front. He needs the yellow and green. A similar shock to

the one he played previously. He has to pop this yellow and screwed two

cautions out on to the green. A chance. A chance for Mark Davis.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Psychologically, this would be a

great frame for Mark Davies to take. He has been unlucky. Thrown it

away when he was lucky when he went into the pack. All that will be

forgotten that he can clear up and win the frame. -- if he can. To have

any chance in this match, he has to win the first two frames to get

himself back into it. Has to play a slightly longer pink and a White to

get back to the black. This is the one. Little bit of

screw, right-hand side. Needs to keep coming. Coming up

quite short. He potted the pink into the bright side of the pocket. That

is the reason he did not get onto the black. Was far too thick, almost

missed it. I would have tried to stun that cue

ball off two cautions. You will always give yourself a pop. -- two

cautions. That is a pretty good pace. CHEERING

AND APPLAUSE. You cannot beat the excitement of a

blackball finish. If he tries to play the same shot,

he has to be careful of the double curse. He might have two double it

up to the right corner pocket. That is what he has done. He has played

world. Made a very good job of that. Just watch this blackball go all --

all the way round the angles and finish somewhere near the cushion.

That is near the middle pocket. He played at round behind the

blackspot area. Misfits that slightly. Can mark cups the black

in. Cut shot for the player here. Well done, Mike Davis. It looked as

if Mark Selby was going to take that frame but he did not. Four -- two to

Mark Selby. Mark just use -- mark just has to

give it his best shot. Hopefully not it in. -- not it then. His back is

against the wall. All he can do is go out and give it his best shot.

Sometimes the arm frees up a little bit and you start cueing the way you

can. As you can see, there is still

another red available at the back of the bunch. It doesn't necessarily

have to go into it. In fact, it left an angle so this is

a key shot coming up. He would be coming into other reds, making sure

he gets enough action on the white to come away from the reds. I do is

feel that it is better scrolling back from this shot. You have a

choice of three colours. Always difficult to judge when you

play that sort of shot. He got in very well. You can see he is hitting

the cue ball at the bottom and he really did get hold of that, in

fact, too well. He opened the reds beautifully and

he dropped the colour there at the end of the frame. This is such a

delicate shot, so close to the pink. He knows that this could be

the last shot in this year's Masters.

So difficult to judge when you are so close to the ball like that. This

is great stuff from Mark Davis after what happened in the previous frame.

It looked like he had a chance to get back to just one behind and he

missed that easy read but he has loosened up here and this is the way

he has been playing for the past few seasons. This is the reason he is

number 15 in the world. Both players, the highest break in

the match is 80 at the moment. This could supersede that. Might even get

the first century in the Masters this year. Make sure that the frame

first of all... Is taking this really well though.

That one hiccup in the middle when he opened the reds and had to play a

tricky pink... As you say, sometimes when your back is against the wall,

you relax a bit and play a natural game.

After being four down, he must be a little embarrassed. He is now

showing us what is capable of. Very fluent, a Break builder who gets

amongst the balls. You can't do any more than this, can

you? Perfect snooker. It would be nice if he could make a century. A

great way to keep yourself in the match, isn't it? A century.

A great reception from this big crowd here at the Alexandra Palace

for the first century in the Masters this year. Coming just at the right

time. Mark Davis is marching around the

table now. They would think that he was leading 5-2. Another small step

and another comeback. Mark Selby is still a strong favourite but you

never know with this game. That's a fabulous clearance from

Mark Davis! If he keeps himself in this year 's Masters, that was a

superb century break. Clear the table with 136 but is still 5-3,

behind. He is still here, Mark Davis, but

for how much longer? That is the big