Day 3 Masters Snooker Extra

Hello again. Day three of the data that Masters. With it came one of

the juiciest tie of the opening round. -- Day three of The Masters.

Ding Junhui has had a fantastic season, winning three major titles

in the row. That has not been done since the Stephen Hendry 20 years

ago. He took on Shaun Murphy, a runner-up in this event a few years

ago. Sean is the slimline version, after shedding three stones over the

past few months. There was a way to go after an hour and 20 minutes of

delay after a power cut here at Alexandra Palace. And they got

going, it was worth the wait. Let's enjoy this in the company of our

commentators. This should be an absolutely

cracking match. They are so evenly matched. First shot on the table and

his judgement is good. He has the white ball almost typed on the

cushion. Ding Junhui is informed this year. Three ranking titles in a

row. The first one since Stephen Hendry 20 years ago. And the lean

machine, Shaun Murphy. He attempted this long hot. It looks very fit,

doesn't he? Yes and his game is in good order as well. The maximum

break last week in the championship league. That YouTube is certainly

working to him. -- new cue. This is a brilliant round. This one and the

Robinson game should be a classic. Other games are good but these two

stood out. He would rather not catch the middle

pocket because he was coming nicely for the black. A good cue. Just

hitting the pocket there. He has left the wrong side of the blue.

That is just the five points and a safety shot.

The crowd is... They have been fantastic. While we had the power

outage, they were still in great form. They had to leave the arena

and Bree brought back in again. That reminded me, to me back to the 70s.

-- and be brought back in. It reminds me when it was all lands

that the working men's club. Nobody knew how many breaks were made.

That has opened up the reds nicely. It looks like the black is

available. Not an easy shot. One of those shots that could define a

match. Not this one in smoothly and get yourself in the black. He looks

good on top of the table but he will get some confidence from it.

Decided to screw back for the blue. There really the length that he was

faced with. It was that if he did not knock the white back, he would

be safe. It has worked out perfectly in the blue. He could not play that

won any better. It is a great chance this. I don't

know if he has the angle to play that raid. He screwed back and it

didn't hit it hard. This red went right down at six o'clock if you use

the cue ball as a clock face. The black and white ball showing you

as it stops and picks up pace and keeps on spinning. He has gotten rid

of that raid. He looks like he is in fine fettle

full of a good touch. This is a good chance.

They have played on 15 occasions, these two. Shaun Murphy was one draw

in the lead but it is five times since 2012 that he has fought Ding

Junhui. He started poorly against Shaun Murphy that has had the upper

hand in the last matches. They have only played once in The

Masters and that was 2009. Ding Junhui one that six - four. That was

at the same stage as this match. It was interestingly played their

last shot. I thought he might have played that low and opened it out

and he has done it differently. He needs a good tanning. It is a shop

where you need to stump up into these.

That is very clever. He used to the left side of the bunch. They had

that red as insurance. A better shot than mine. He has left himself

perfect on the red in the middle and opened up to reds in the back of the

cluster. Very well thought out. Is one of the greatest break

builders now. 57 centuries last season. He is already on 39 this

season. That is the textbook stands that he has stopped more

traditional. He is very simplistic, isn't it? When done well, it looks

simple. Might make good stamps, good cue action and he keeps the head

still. His brakes have the cue ball closer

to the object ball than most players. It makes all the pots

easier. There is his stand. White stance.

Like Joe Davis. He keeps his head so still on this

shot. Great champions seem to start well. We mentioned that if you knock

those in it gives you confidence. Here is an example of it. He has

been exceptional in this break. He is exceptional on his shots. He

really is, the way he goes about his break building.

Coming up to seven minutes for this frame winning effort.

He just needs to keep Shaun Murphy sitting in his chair. Shaun Murphy

is playing well. He is keeping cold. Not all the balls in.

He might have an angle here to screw back and dislodge the red. He can do

this. Playing up the reverse side. Does the red pass on the yellow? Or

does he cut it into the other corner. He has had to cut into the

other corner. What a shame. No century break but what a way to

start! He knocked in a long red and had a match for a frame winning

break of 99 and leaves 1-0. -- leads.

This is a superb shot to leave himself perfectly on the blue.

He had to win his winning matches from the knee. Fantastic performance

just to win one ranking events these days. He is very special.

That was the view of the opening raid which he had. That was the shot

where he screwed back to get back towards the blue.

Too thick. Or safety. Pretty sure he can get past this red, can he? If

not, the one above the pink which would definitely get into the pot.

He needs to get safety shots better than that.

He was close to the cushion but then would be better than thicker --

thinner. The fact that the other wasn't over the big pocket, it would

be difficult... Ding Junhui is in with a good

-- good chance. It is funny game. He had a good shot and then one shot

later, he was at mercy. Sometimes you can play the best shot of a

match and then lose a frame from it. A strange game, at times.

He used thinking quite a few shots, Ding Junhui. He is walking around

the blackspot area and what he can do for those shots.

Get this red away from the corner pocket. He may eventually be able to

get on a red and get away from the left of the black to get it

available into the pocket he is clearing when he pops this one.

It would be interesting to see how we gets about this. They might look

all but are not ideal at the moment. -- all right. Clever shot in the

last frame. A sure that there will be a few more in this. He will get

over the line. He might just tie the pink up now. I

think that it will only be available into the left pocket.

Can he bring this black interplay now? He seems to have a good angle

on this. A little good fortune. He didn't get it. They say he didn't

get it but if it is straight, he might be able to get on it. It

knocked the black away, so I understand why he did what he did.

This will have to be good. It was so easy to push this one.

They were so close together. He did it well.

He is now in business. That was a good shot.

If he cues like it in the first frame, I feel the worst for Shaun

Murphy. This could be 2-0 in a blink. As you mentioned, he played a

poor safety shot but he covered the red over the pocket and Shaun was

forced to try the other pot. Shan wobbled it in the jaws. This is

where psychology plays such a big part in the game. Shaun would have

been expecting to pot over the pocket. He knew he had to get that.

It is all about positive thinking. Easier said than done. When working

with a sports psychologist, he can tell you what to do but when you get

into the bearpit as they used to say, it is not always used -- Nottle

is easy to pull it off. -- not always.

He just needs to make sure he is on the next read here.

He should be fine on the bottom one. He also got it into the centre here.

He has got two choices. That is what a top professional

does. They are thinking five or six shots ahead. They are putting

themselves in a position that you mentioned, John, they do have a

choice to change their mind and have the alternative. Just looking that

if he goes to raid on the right, the advantage is that he would clear the

path for the pink. That means he could get the pink. The pink will go

after this is removed. That is another help. Straight through the

gap. A fact. He missed a trick once, Denis, but I

don't know what your was. -- what year it was.

His break building is best described as an economy of effort. The ball

travels less distant than anyone else. He slightly overscrew that

one. He got a bit of extra side on that. He pleaded with quite a bit of

side as you can see when it hits of the cushion. Instead of coming

straight off, it comes off at an angle. It should be OK but he wanted

it to be straighter, I think. Is he on anything other than the one

he just cannoned? I am praising his break building but that previous

shot was not up to his usual standards and it left a miss. You

have to trust a little luck with the cannon which you get. It is as if he

wants to cut this into the middle pocket rather than in the corner.

Quite a thin snake, that one. That has worked out. OK, he has an angle

on the yellow. We have often said that if you play well, you get to go

for other balls. To hit the yellow like that and leave an angle to come

down the table, that is a massive slice. It could easily have entered

the break. This is a bit hefty. Playing for the red at the back,

isn't he? He has an alternate shot, though. This was the one where he

cut it in at an acute angle, right up in the corner. The cannon on the

yellow work to perfection. That is a good shot. Somebody has

the cue ball back down. No real reason he shouldn't clean up

this frame. Some shops went slightly awry but he is in prime position

now. He came up one point short of the century in the opening frame.

Another great chance. Make sure the frame first and then

concentrate on the possible century. An excellent start from the Chinese

sensation. Shaun Murphy has had one go at a pot and that is about it,

really. It is about 50 balls to nil. You know that that is what happens

at this level. One player playing as well as he can do and you just sit

and watch. It is not like golf where if someone makes a birdie and you

can make your own. You just have to sit and watch. He is perfectly

capable and knows that when his chance comes, he will score. That is

where the temperament comes in. When you are sitting in your seat and

watching your opponent make framing breaks, you have to get yourself

psyched up. And hope that you can do the same. Keep him in his seat. At

the moment, he has not had an easy chance, Shaun.

A delicate shot into the left middle pocket now. It goes in and he holds

onto the black or pink, he will get the century. Once again, very

unlucky with regards to the century break. One chance was all he needed

and he made a break of 84 and Ding Junhui now leads 2-0.

Off we go then with frame and number three.

You can see that Shaun Murphy had to score, not that he has had any

chances. A bit on the thin side. He needs the

brown to come to his rescue here. It is not going to.

I hate to say that this is a chance. The way things have been playing the

balls, there are plenty of red is available already at the top of the

table. At least five available other than the one he has taken. Another

chance could be on its way. He felt that the only one he could

take on is the one he took. The first chance for the magician, Shaun

Murphy. His first shot is not a good one. He

wanted to be further out into the table. To have a better black than

this. He is now going to have to rely on a cannon. And example of the

shot catching the jaws and going across in the upper.

He needed his first shot to be higher in the table but he played

that beautifully. It is even worse this time. Mr

urging that cannon and hitting it too hard.

Is judgement that. He has played the tweaks to and between the shots.

Lots to be done with the cue ball here.

Just trying to hold for the red to the right of the bunch just by

dropping the black in but it was not an easy pot by any means. It was a

bit thick. To the far jaw, what he is thinking here is a chance because

if he's done that in, you can play this with bottom and right hand side

straight into the back of the pack and splatter the red everywhere. One

good pot, still in the red and he has a great chance to split up the

pack if he wants to. He cued right across that. He was playing your

shot but he missed the plot by a long way. That is the sort of shot

that saps a little bit of confidence are way. He did not push the cue

through on a straight-line. And now Shaun Murphy can do what John said.

Pot the black off the cushion into the bench. And how is your? It has

certainly opened up the reds. He played that nicely and that, as I

say, is a massive -- massive let off for Shaun Murphy. As you say Dennis,

hit across that red, that is absolutely lovely. That was a big

part of the frame and the match, really. He is definitely on top

that, Ding, but he has let it go. It is very early on but there are

points in the match that can turn it all around. Maybe as JP mention,

that will be one of the shots. It is imperative that Shaun Murphy

capitalises on that mistake there. He has been playing with a new cue

this season, Shaun Murphy. He said there is nothing wrong with the cue,

it has just been me. He said I have not been playing as well as I can do

but there is nothing wrong with the cue, he is really happy with it. He

has been working with Chris Henry for the last few months, factors in

hard and working on the technique. I remember practising with Shaun

Murphy when he first came on the scene and I thought he had some of

the best cue action in the game. A lovely player to watch when he is

flowing. And when he is in a month the balls,

he certainly does not hang around, very quick around the table. 20

seconds and 21 that will probably come down the way Sean is going

around the table at the moment. He may have had a late start here today

but these boys are making up for it, Dennis. Four frames to be played

before the mid-session interval. It is coming up to 32 minutes.

I think if you are starting off playing snooker and wanted to look

at a few of the players and how they go about it and how they cue, I am

pretty sure Shaun Murphy would be on top of your list. A nice pause,

through the ball, a beautiful strike.

Sean made 33 centuries last year and he is going to have to pull a good

pot out here if he is going to give himself a chance for a century. Not

quite. But he will not be concerned about that. Ding made that careless

mistake and Shaun Murphy punished him for it.

What we expected here this afternoon, really, to top-class

players who have both been in excellent form. It looks like it was

going to be a great match and so far it is living up to the billing.

May not be on the collar, but I tell you what, marking that red, Ding

quickly forgot about the one he missed in the previous round. That

will restore his confidence, without a doubt. A bit awkward, reaching

over the pack here. He does not much to do with the blue.

Don't blame him. In this awkward bridging. There was the distance

from that opening pot. It is a safety shot you have to be

careful with. A few reds are going to open, make sure you don't promote

one of them to a corner. He did that really well.

That is the second one down at side of the table that Ding was hitting

the thick side. I don't think it is too much damage he is not really

putting much pressure on Shaun Murphy by putting the cue on that

bottom rail. The cue ball is closed. -- close it

will only really cost him four points because Ding was playing a

safety shot here. He can play this one round the angles that he wants

inside the blue or he could clip a fair and, just how he sees it.

A good shot, this. He had eight league target but that is the right

way to play it around the angles. As long as he got the cue ball there,

he knew it was going to be safe. He has got to be so precise with this.

That looks pretty good, this is a to Rick Victor shot. A superb safety

shot. That is fabulous. They could not be a better safety shot played

in this match. What a good shot that was. He has turned a very dangerous

position there into his advantage. And just looking at the situation,

Shaun Murphy cannot come off the back cushion and land on the red

because the black is in the way. That is what he is faced with there.

He might have to take this pot on because there is no safety.

What a pot that was. That is a Shaun Murphy special. That is one of the

reasons that he is called the Magician. He certainly waved his

magic wand there. That was the length of the pot -- pot. Close on

the cushion, that was a little beauty.

He is just checking to see where he leaves the cue ball to cover the red

on that right hand side. For the next shot, Ding may have the

opportunity to play behind the green again. That was a brilliant shot he

played last time. Shaun Murphy is taking the opportunity here now.

They realise they are putting the cue ball on the left-hand side is no

good, and what a good job he made of it. This time, Ding can come off

that side mission that Shaun Murphy could have cleared but the black was

in the way, this time it is not. But he will have to be very precise. If

it comes off the side cushion he could just nestle in the red.

Deadweight would be good. He did not follow your lined their, Dennis,

see. So close, that. Just a slight adjustment, just skidding a little

bit off the first cushion. You can see the lined their, it is just a

case, really of playing contained safety and getting out of trouble.

You should not be leaving your opponent in the balls after this

one. I think if you just went slightly above that first one. He

has not hit it hard enough this time. It got the lion this time.

One thing he had to do was make sure there was enough pace on the cue

ball. As you can see, that is a big mistake. From what should have been

an easy shot for someone of Ding's expertise.

The black won't be tied up, it will still be available in one corner

pocket and he decided to get the pink and red in the open there but

it did not bite get enough screw on it. He can drop this in and get on

the black, I think. The other one closest to the pocket is available

too, it would be lovely from this drag shot here. He just dragged it,

held the cue ball. The drag shot is when you hit the white on the bottom

and you can play with a little bit more pace and it does take the pace

out of it. It is a lovely shot to watch. It looks straightforward, a

lot of people would not even know it has happened, really.

Interesting that, I am pretty sure if he splits those two reds above

those reds. He decided not to play those cards. It seemed an ideal

opportunity just to flip those two reds open. He is going to come to

those a little later. This is a delicate little cannon

required. In between the two reds would be perfect rather than hitting

one red. He has played it nicely. We thought this was going to be a great

match, it is turning out to be a terrific battle.

Another little cannon required here. Can he finished this frame with one

visit? It just shows, you don't need to make too many mistakes at this

level. He certainly made one there, not reaching over the cue ball. The

last frame he had that medium red, he just had to stun and hope for the

black which he did not get. He made those two mistakes, that is it. For

all the world, it looks like it might even go to a deciding frame

the way these two players are playing. I think he has run out of

position. He is quickly looking at the scoreboard. That spoiled the

chance of a century. There are still 67 possible points on the board.

Lucky for Shaun Murphy, he is ahead. He would be kicking himself, he

wants to get this over as quickly as possible. He will give himself the

mental anguish here if he is not careful. If you they don't pay you

for overtime in this sport. A good break of 64 though.

How would you know about overtime? Your last job was a school prefect.

I was good at it though. If he can not be as Reading then we

can all go to the intermission interval.

When Ding was up, he had Shaun Murphy on the rack. It was looking

like three nil and big trouble. But he did not. Shaun Murphy has been in

the ascendancy since then. They are both in the 90s. That is a

good standing. Ding was the slight favourite for

this but, as I said at the beginning, it is difficult to pick a

winner. It does not matter about the red. The players go off for the

interval and they are in fine form. It is too each, game on.

No real problem that he is on the wrong side of the blue because there

are plenty of reds available. Any position on the right side of the

table, as long as he is past the blue. He has a wide margin for error

here. See the side there, right hand side swinging it off. Baulk and site

cushion. He could have been a little bit closer to the next red though. I

suppose when you have such a good cue action, it does not bother you

so much. But it did. You are absolutely right. There is no reason

why he should not have got closer. It is all about trying to make it as

easy as possible for yourself. I think this is a very important visit

for Ding here. He needs to re-establish himself in this match.

He needs to make a nice frame winning contribution if he can. Just

to tell himself he is playing well again. Straightaway, he has come up

short so it is a change of plan up for the blue. Which might not be a

bad thing. In fact, looking at that bunch, that to go at them the blue

rather than the black. He has a red available at he may go for those

reds just behind the pink spot. If he wants to, just thinking about

it, he does not have to do that. It would open up the game.

He did not get to the cannon as he wanted, he hit the wrong red. If you

are playing the cannon, you need to be hitting the middle red. He has

found the red in the centre that sticks through. And it is there.

Even better, Dennis, a little cannon up into the three and these are

going to be there for the taking. It was interesting to wait Ding

playback. He played that very slowly and it has turned out all right. I

thought he would have played that a little firmer just to guarantee that

it wasn't stuck behind there but it turned out all right.

They are all clearing each other, as he was a red he is clearing another

one. Maybe that is why he is taking the risk with the cannon. Sometimes,

you can get a little nudge and just run out of position. He knows he can

clear the path for a number red as he pots one.

This time he will have to play a cannon on the way through, important

that he does get enough pace on it. It will be interesting to see if he

puts another one on here and what angle he has got. If he thinks he is

only going to favour the red. It looks all right. That was a little

thicker than I thought but it was perfect. He will kick himself if he

does not win the frame from here. Two very easy read is available to

Ding which would be enough to leave Shaun Murphy at the snookers

required stage. I think earlier in this frame when Ding tried to drop

the blue in and left it short in the middle pocket, he felt that he had

made a terrible mistake but... Shaun Murphy also made a mistake. I think

it is pulling a pattern. Despite them following superbly well, it is

often... It is always the same. If you can

lessen your mistakes, you have a better chance of winning. Another

frame virtually one with a single visit.

Shaun Murphy is coming back to the table but with a lot of snookers in

the pocket of the Ding Junhui. There are several four point snookers. I

am surprised that Shaun is carrying on. From Ding's point of view, this

is what the doctor ordered. He breaks with highpoints in the first

friends. -- in the first two frames. Shaun is still in the big match.

Does not a bad colours. From the right side of the table, this is

slightly more difficult. -- of those are not the bad colours.

We call a Shaun Murphy and magician. He will need to be to win this

frame. Behind with one red up. Suppose that it has been done before

but percentagewise, one or two in the 100, maybe?

He needs to win several four point snookers to win. If the player

misses all the slippers... If they hit 50% of them, it would be more

than four sneakers needed. This should be the end.

Ding will have some potting practice now.

Ding will clear them up in a straightforward way. Some players

like to play exhibition chops to finish off. That is not in Ding's

nature. There is the lot gone in. If you

miss shots from both players but in the end, Ding Junhui has a break of

70 and it taken another frame with one visit and leads 3-2.

You can't play a better shot than that. That was superb from Ding.

Time to put all that has gone before at the back of your mind. Just the

one here to clinch the frame. The white is awkward. Pot that and to

get on the black was brilliant. It seems that the ones that were

difficult where he needed concentration, he has not those in.

Some of the easy shots, he has missed.

He has been a professional for just over nine years. He has this focus

back with him again. No substitute for experience.

I can't help thinking that that last chance that Shaun Murphy had will be

very costly indeed. You can feel as if the momentum had swung his way

and if he could just mind his work as they used to say. If he had

scored within two shots but the cue ball had gone again.

His mind must be scrambled at the moment.

That wasn't pressure. That was just a lapse in concentration.

Not a straightforward run to the winning line, the fact that all of

the winning colours are offered those spots with the exception of

the pink and black. -- are off those spots. It does mean that you have a

little more work to do with the positional side of things on this

clearance. In an ideal world, he would be playing on the brown. The

brown would go near the green and yellow would be simple. Keeping it

simple might be a good idea. He has looked at the brown but it

just means he would be further away from the yellow. If he takes the

pink, he could get close to the yellow. It depends on how he feels.

The brown would be better, as John said. That is what he has decided

on. But when the object ball is as close to the pocket, it is always

tricky to control the cue ball. This is the key shot, whether he could

finish four square. In a perfect world, it looks like he would be low

on that brown. He could go from the ball cushion to play this yellow

but... Brown, blue, and pink, we would be

all square and problems for Ding. He has got a strong favourite in this

match. Just think that he is in better control in his cue action and

he is scoring. What an amazing match we have on our

hands here! Ding has lost his way at the moment and Shaun Murphy is back

in it. He is all square with Ding Junhui. Four each.

It is great to see the big breaks and the frames are one with a single

visit. Those at home enjoyed watching this sort of snooker

because they think that they could have missed that. This is not as

easy as it looks. Superb! It really was. To dig down

on the cue ball from that position and control the pot was excellent.

That is the distance he had. Over ten feet. To get that control, he

pushed that cue through on a perfectly straight line. A difficult

shot with lots of concentration and straight to the middle of the

pocket. The strength performance. He has had to summon up a lot of

concentration for difficult shots and found the answer. Those haven't

been the problem. It has been the simple ones, today. Like that.

He may have taken his eye off it. Look at the reaction. You can see

what he is thinking. He is in turmoil at the moment.

Beautifully struck. I'm not surprised because if he isn't one of

the best players, I don't know who is. He cued that beautifully. Look

at the work on that. 89% is his success. A must have

missed the one that he missed. He has been very good with it. ?

The black is tied up. He could do with the blue back on the spot.

This will get the blue back onto the spot. He could have the pink has an

open play in a few shots' time. Don't think he is on the ball here.

He decided to play a cavern. -- play a cavern.

A poor shot from Ding. Whether he can hold about and get onto the

black. If not, it is difficult to get onto a another colour from that.

If he can play a delicate shot and doesn't finish on the black, he

would have the pink to the middle. He has the gap and is on the pink.

He is OK. And Shaun Murphy took a deep breath.

He managed to play that long red and get through the gap. Here is his

chance to lead 5-4. It is so much right-hand side on the

last shot. To slip past the red. It was magical to cannon into them. He

judges this so well. A couple of inches thereon the cue

ball to leave himself an easy black a little stunner for the reds. An

angle on this now. Looking at that, the inside read,

the one inside the pink goes. It just requires peacetime across into

the black. -- a stun. The opening pot was a cracker. The

left-hand side, it was, to avoid the cannon down. There is still an

authority strike happening today. Both he and his opponent have lost a

lot of balls. He was actually striking the ball. Sean is actually

hitting it better. -- Shaun. It has come down to temperament, the match,

with what is going on. Shaun has a slightly better temperament, you

would have to say. He has the one closest to the corner

pocket available. If he does go on to take this frame,

it would be interesting because I think that Ding has quite a bit

left. He might just come out. He could do what he did in the opening

frames. He would have to really change. I think he is bang up

against it. I don't know from where he will find form. He has had a lot

of chances. He will need a little help from Shaun.

Is that the little bit of help you are talking about? That was

carelessly played. He needed to get that from the other

side to make the plan. Absolutely. He completely hit the wrong side. It

is strange for someone of his quality to do that. Is squeezed it

from the pocket. They were close together. If this had been after the

first two frames, I would have fancied Ding Junhui making a

contribution. He will have to drag something up from his boots. Shaun

Murphy had to play the other side of that planned to make that can win.

He lost judgement today. -- make that go in. That nearly went

on to the near jaw. These are the occasions where you

find out about yourself. You do it right and get under pressure.

Stephen Hendry has done it many times. He was a six times Masters

winner. He used to clear up 70 times in this situation. -- so many times.

Builder what it's like. You just have to sit and suffer -- we all

know what it is like. This will truly be a massive one.

There is not a ball say. This could be slightly awkward. -- safe. He has

left about awkward for an cell. -- left this awkward for himself. This

is a Test. The white slightly to the left would have been easier.

It will be a screw back for the raid on the right-hand side here. He has

one positional shot. Away from having a very big steel. If he does

clear up here, every credit for him. He has overscrew to that, hasn't

he? He should be OK. Where he wanted to be, he would have

played the other whitening and has now overdone it. He has to drop this

in. There was good news and bad news

with his shot. Well played. It has been good stuff so far in

this break. The yellow is just off its spot which makes it slightly

more difficult. Would be playing the brown or green

from this. Get as close as you can to a ball corner. Angle to go up the

table. You could play for blue as well, that would be a problem. He is

going up the table. He might even take the yellow now

and then the yellow again because he is nicely on the blue. He has a long

way to travel. He would have to be very precise. If he had pleaded

further up the table... A key shot coming up here. -- played it

further. That is not the best shot in the world. He may need the

spider. It has all gone wrong. Why did he not play on green or brown?

This was foolproof. Don't understand it. He comes off

the side cushion and could play anywhere. It is right next to the

yellow. Why not take the yellow and be back onto the spot for the yellow

again? Whatever he did, he had choices and he made the wrong one

day. -- the wrong one there. He will be disappointed not to make the blue

there but it was a good effort. I bet Shaun Murphy can't believe his

luck, coming back to the table. A debt that he thought the frame was

all over. He would like to be able to knock the pink if he could. -- I

bet that he thought. And that is a pretty good shot. The

blue is covering the yellow. He did try to knock the pink safe

but they will settle for that. Fortunate to get the snooker behind

the blue because he thought the yellow would finish near the pink

spot. He would have to do well to get this one safe, Ding. It is very

difficult indeed. Well, that was fantastic. A great

shot to get the swerve. He brought it around just to clip it. To miss

the cannon on the way back was even better.

On this fine cloth, as you said, you have to get more swerve on it. It is

easier to swerve on a thick cloth. Nothing to grip upon. Happy with

that result. Shaun Murphy need to yellow, green

and brown. Ding needs all the colours. It is still exciting to

watch, isn't it? When you have had all sorts of Mrs in this match. It

never looked like missing before that.

You could try to double the yellow up and get the snooker behind the

brown. It would have to be pretty accurate further. -- for that.

It is not bad. He is taking the pot on here because he is running up to

the other end of the table. This is not totally straightforward.

He could bring the yellow down and have a white space across the table.

He has pleaded this one and it is all about the pace. Has he got it?

Interval you cannot pot that. So safety required.

And that was a useful cannon on the brown, otherwise it would not have

been a snooker so remember the ball has turned around. It was Ding who

was getting all the flicks and good fortune. It was a good shot to get

the yellow where he did. A kiss on the brown was a bonus. That is a

free ball as well. 23 is the difference. If there is no easy pot

on, he can have it replaced. He is asking for it to be replaced. Good

decision. If you are in a situation when the yellow was over the pocket,

you would not have taken it. Being where they are, no value. He was

trying their shot, being the Ding. And as I say, the run of the ball

has totally changed. I thought the first attempt he might just try and

nestle on the yellow. He only needs the yellow to leave

Ding at the snookers required stage. Well played. He just needs to get

good killing here. He'll need the green to make absolutely sure.

Because Ding could tie there. He can have no complaints, Ding. A good

asset up to the red. But the last shot was a stinker, it has to be

said. He could have played off the green or brown but whatever he did,

it was the wrong shot. Ding needed to slip is here. The one

thing in his favour is a very detailed it to get behind. He could

not play from that particular position, he needed to wait for in

other chance. They are big targets. It might be a chance here. To get in

behind the black. Do you really want to get as close to the black as

well. If you can get really tight in behind it.

He has got a choice, he can take the double or tried a snooker behind the

black. A decent shot from Shaun Murphy. He

moved the black from out of the commission's way. -- cushions way.

Although this is a pretty good attempt. Excellent.

He has made a bit of a hash of that one. He has flipped the brown, in

fact. He might be able to get in behind the pink. If he could do, it

would be a tough one to escape from. Great effort! Fantastic effort!

Unfortunately, the blue has come up the table which makes it a fairly

easy escape. The blue anywhere else on the table would have made it

difficult. Would you have been tempted to have

potted the blue there and looked for the one snooker! Where the black

ears, is not beyond the bounds of possibility. Of course, if you do

get snookered on the pick and black it is a 6-point penalty, you can

draw in the frame and go to a Rees baht. --

this is now the longest frame in the match, just over 33 minutes.

I think Shaun Murphy won't mind moving the blue from that position

because it is in a good spot for snooker so a could be to his

advantage to get it out into the middle of the table.

Decisions, decisions. Do you try and get the snooker off the pink?

I definitely would have potted the blue. So difficult to get to snooker

's. One is hard enough. All purely academic now. Shaun

Murphy tries a long double into the corner pocket, a little trick shot.

Ding stays in his seat. What a turnaround for Shaun Murphy. He has

won three frames in a row. Shaun Murphy now leads.

What can Ding pull out of the fire here? Can he turn this match around

in his favour again? A good opening pot, not a favourable

flick though. If he hits that Brad half ball, he is on the black.

A good target now, trying to get behind the brown. A bit too thin.

You know yourself, that is a big opportunity missed there. He gets

behind the brown properly. He just felt the last bit there.

Shaun Murphy can definitely speak past the yellow. -- sneak.

This has got to be thin. So then he missed it.

It is fraught with danger, really. If you get it anywhere thicker than

you need it you get it in the jaws and it stays down the top end. A

fair degree of difficulty with this. He can have as many goes as he wants

at this because he is snookered on all the other balls. Third time

lucky? Fourth time lucky. He is better at

missing it then hitting it thick. He would not mind even if the white

went into the pocket. The last thing he wants is to draw the white corner

pocket and leave it amongst the reds. Trying number four coming up.

I think Shaun Murphy is quite happy to there.

The first attempt here at this shot. It shows the importance of it. Ding

knows he have to hit is so fine. He tried to play its lower. Shaun

Murphy is having a little look at this time. There might be a red that

will go and if he is straight on he can roll it on through the reds and

finished on the black. Look at that little beauty sitting out there.

And he played it very comfortably writes Ruby Gap.

He may as well have tried the same shot again. He got a little bit

lucky they are, he did not hit that shot as he intended. Here is Ding's

attempt here. He misjudged it. That could have done with a little

bit more on the cue ball there, just topside of the blue.

He is looking pretty cool now. He has kept fairly cool. He lost a

little bit of composure but he has kept his patient and it is paying

off because Ding has lost his way completely in this match.

To get himself into the quarter-final, these are wonderful

feelings you have a very professional snooker player. You can

practice all you like on the table at home but there is nothing like

being out there. All the attention and pressure that comes with it.

Anyone can make a break in the club, it is making the 60 or 70 that

means everything to you. They have only played each other once in the

Masters and that was in 2009 and Ding won that one.

But it is looking pretty bleak for Ding at the moment. A match that he

should have had over here let everything slip. Shaun Murphy has

stuck in there, he has won the last three flame... -- frames. When it

went 4-4 I really fancied him to win this match. There is no doubt that

Ding had an unbelievable chance to make the frame but did not make it.

Even when things have not been going Shaun Murphy's way it just looks

like he has been playing better than Ding. A slight problem for him now,

that has not finished as he would have liked.

He took his eye off the pot. Surely we could not have another twist in

this? A bit of a bizarre match it has turned out to be.

I did not expect to see that happen. Once again, he has thrown

Ding Junhui a lifeline. He will need to take it here or he will be going

home. Just ignoring the two difficult reds

are near the questions there. Concentrating on the loose ones.

Putting the cue ball in position to have a choice of frames there.

You could hear a pin drop at Alexandra Palace at the moment. They

have witnessed all types of snooker today. All big breaks, all sorts of

misses. And this is a big, big shot coming up to drop this red in a

longer cushion. This is, what we say, do or die. I suppose the one

advantage here is that it is virtually stuck. I would fancy him

to pot this. He is pretty good at these, Ding. That is one of the

difficult reds removed. He has missed the cannon. He has played a

cannon on the pink. Look where he has finished. You do not often see a

smile from Ding but he has missed that cannon. Let's have a look at

this. Had he hit it a little easier, it would not have mattered. It is a

massive area, the pink, isn't it? Any sort of contact on it would have

been fine but such a mistake. He has played that very well though. Good

shot. Just a delicate little cannon on to the pink. Full ball, half

ball, anything. Following the pattern of the last frame as well.

That is what he got in the last frame. He has looked at the potting

angle and he is going to try and sneak this in past the other red. He

has a chance, by the way, of a good safety with this as well. Maybe the

yellow and brown will come to his rescue if he does not knock it in.

The red is in! And even though he missed on the brown, Ding will be in

all sorts of trouble here. I do not know whether that was a

good move on the ground though. I could see Ding hitting it from here.

The other one would have been more difficult with the pink in the way.

He left this slightly easier escape. He didn't really give that as much

thought as he needed to. He should definitely have had that angle cut

off. Beauty, by the looks of it. Well, not quite. Almost. Almost got

it in behind the black. What a shot this would be because if he pot

this, he could finish on the black and the white will come right around

the table. Well he did cannon the pink and he

has let Shaun Murphy with the chance now. One good clean pot, Shaun

Murphy. It is all about knocking the red in. Putting yourself in the

drivers seat. It is there. Beautifully controlled as well. It

is a bit straight but he has the cue part to pot this and get up for the

yellow. It is not going to be straightforward. Normally, it would

not be a problem but you watch the white when it hits the cushion. He

did not quite get enough side on that. That is a tricky little cut

back. Past the green, he is 20 in front and he only needs the yellow

and green. It will be a terrific victory for the Magician. It is

their! Well Ding, I don't think he can

believe what has happened. From being in front, it has all slipped

away. He could not believe it but every credit to Shaun Murphy, he

stuck in there. He will be absolutely over the moon, Shaun

Murphy. That is all over. Ding comes forward. Ding looks like he was

going to dominate the match but Shaun Murphy has taken the last four

frames for victory and he goes through to the quarter-final.