:00:33. > :00:38.Hello and welcome to Alexandra Palace and the 2014 Masters tonight
:00:39. > :00:44.features world number one, Neil Robertson taking on Northern
:00:45. > :00:46.Ireland's Mark Allen. He is in fine form having worn the championship in
:00:47. > :01:05.York in December. It should be a cracking match, John.
:01:06. > :01:14.Absolutely. Interesting to see how Mark Allen starts. No one doubts his
:01:15. > :01:21.ability. A little bit hot and cold. Just having a quiet word with the
:01:22. > :01:30.referee. Everything seems to be in order. Two left-handers as well,
:01:31. > :01:38.that is unusual. They are also fantastic pot builders as well.
:01:39. > :01:51.Not sure if he's going to have a possible go at this red here. He was
:01:52. > :02:00.always possibly bearing on the side of safety. What a fantastic pot.
:02:01. > :02:05.Just did not come off the back cushion high enough to have a go at
:02:06. > :02:12.the black. A great start, that is for sure.
:02:13. > :02:32.Let's have a look at this. Beautiful.
:02:33. > :02:44.A missed call. Probably expecting the cue ball to slide a little bit
:02:45. > :02:48.more after the cushion. It seemed to come off a little bit straight after
:02:49. > :02:54.the middle pocket. Making a minor adjustment here. You can make too
:02:55. > :03:02.much of an adjustment and it just slide off the back. You have to be a
:03:03. > :03:08.little bit careful here. You can over adjust. And that is the case. I
:03:09. > :03:14.think he has left a red on. You are dead right. Not only that, he has
:03:15. > :03:23.left a lovely angle for Robertson here. He can pot is read and start
:03:24. > :03:29.on a few others as well. From that angle there he has a wonderful angle
:03:30. > :03:36.off this red. Watch whether reds are going to go.
:03:37. > :03:46.He would be disappointed with that, he did not get enough side. The
:03:47. > :03:56.right hand side on, right on the angle of the cue ball. They are
:03:57. > :04:00.always tricky, these types of shots. Especially when the cue ball is so
:04:01. > :04:05.close to the blue. A couple of inches down the table towards the
:04:06. > :04:12.peak and you would expect him to pot that. But it is just that it more
:04:13. > :04:14.difficult to judge. I would be surprised if he does not take this
:04:15. > :04:49.blue on. Well he did not take it on, he
:04:50. > :04:55.played a safety. Honestly because he took the red to the right corner
:04:56. > :05:14.here. He may regret not going for the pot here. Well, clothes, but not
:05:15. > :05:25.quite there. It did not cost Neil Robertson anything. If it was later
:05:26. > :05:36.on the match, he probably feels first frame, he will settle in. A
:05:37. > :05:44.little bit nervy, this opening frame. Well he can have a go at this
:05:45. > :05:50.rate and then he can leave the cue ball exactly where he put it. And he
:05:51. > :05:51.wouldn't be leaving anything and would still have the pink to the
:05:52. > :06:10.left centre. He made the pot, just a little bit
:06:11. > :06:26.more difficult by using that kind of pace.
:06:27. > :06:38.Well it is not bad, is it? That is second prize.
:06:39. > :07:02.Never easy, those type of shot. Trying to hold for the black.
:07:03. > :07:15.It is difficult to know if he can get in to play the red, on the left
:07:16. > :07:43.tied down the Mac if he can just get through to it.
:07:44. > :07:52.I think this is an important visit for Mark Allen. If he could make a
:07:53. > :07:58.frame winning contribution on this visit, it would really settle him
:07:59. > :08:08.down for the rest of the match. He has got the chance, can he take it?
:08:09. > :08:18.The reds are wonderfully spread as well. He doesn't have to worry about
:08:19. > :08:34.going into the pack, at least for a few shots. Of course he always has
:08:35. > :08:41.that insurance of the red over in the right centre as well. That
:08:42. > :08:51.always helps. You can see the red in the middle of the bunch is directly
:08:52. > :09:05.above the red -- black. Plenty of -- to work with here.
:09:06. > :09:23.The highest available was the yellow spot. Blue on its spot, no problems.
:09:24. > :09:36.So far, it is nice and settled. Striking the ball crisply.
:09:37. > :09:44.First poor shot, a little bit straight. He wanted to make a little
:09:45. > :09:54.cannon on one of those reds in the bunch. That is good recovery.
:09:55. > :10:10.If he's straight enough, he can just rolled down. The angle is not what
:10:11. > :10:16.he would like. He still always has this red up in the right centre.
:10:17. > :10:20.Just looking from behind the popping he needs to get the right side of
:10:21. > :10:29.the blue. He needs to play it was quite a bit of side. A lot of
:10:30. > :10:40.players don't really like using the sides. He is trying to get the right
:10:41. > :10:43.angle. He has judged it well. It just shows you that careless shot
:10:44. > :10:53.when he should have had a good angle on the black. It has just no bald.
:10:54. > :11:12.It is not getting any easier. He has just got a slight angle. Obviously
:11:13. > :11:18.Mark did not think so. This is a big shot for Mark Allen. If he can get
:11:19. > :11:21.the shot he should win the frame. A bit of pressure on this one. A good
:11:22. > :11:36.part. A little grimace will tell us that
:11:37. > :11:44.it is not the ideal angle but can he force it?
:11:45. > :11:57.Yes he can! That is very very good. Excellent shot. He just down the cue
:11:58. > :12:15.ball and forced the angle. So the blue opening or to nine
:12:16. > :12:24.points in front. Still 67 remaining. This blue, a couple more reds and
:12:25. > :12:26.colours, playing a little cannon. He has got the red to the right middle
:12:27. > :12:49.but it could have been better. As it turned out, he was perfect
:12:50. > :12:54.just to play a little screw back for the black. When he came to the
:12:55. > :13:02.table, this was just what he needed. This red, will bring 58 points a
:13:03. > :13:25.head with just 51 remaining. Well played. This has been a really good
:13:26. > :13:31.break. He was in trouble a couple of times and could have had some really
:13:32. > :13:36.good pot. He was just looking at his sleeve there, looks like his
:13:37. > :13:41.cufflinks have come undone. This could take a while, this is awkward.
:13:42. > :13:47.When you have a cue under the other arm. He might need some help from
:13:48. > :14:02.the referee. What a pro. He has found the gap.
:14:03. > :14:08.Now this red he would like to play up for the pink. If he gets on the
:14:09. > :14:19.pink, it will be easier to get on the yellow. A nice rake as he passes
:14:20. > :14:27.so far. ?10,000 for the highest break. It can't be bettered here but
:14:28. > :14:43.it would be a start for Mark Allen to make a century.
:14:44. > :14:49.Never doubt, was their? Excellent break from Mark Allen. A great
:14:50. > :14:58.start. Certainly putting down a marker. As
:14:59. > :15:23.he plays an exhibition shot. He has played the double. But not
:15:24. > :15:29.got it. Neil Robertson a little bit tentative in that first frame. But
:15:30. > :15:31.Mark Allen got his chance. He wins the frame with a wonderful break the
:15:32. > :15:56.114. A decent break of shot just by
:15:57. > :16:05.virtue of the fact he has not left a pot in. He has just stepped out,
:16:06. > :16:10.Mark Allen. Can he just slipped past the blue and catch the thin edge of
:16:11. > :16:15.the red on the right-hand side of the table? That is what he is
:16:16. > :16:19.looking at. If he cannot do that then he will have to play some kind
:16:20. > :16:23.of swerve because I don't know if he can get to the edge of the reds to
:16:24. > :16:34.play safely down the left-hand side of the table. Can he get to the edge
:16:35. > :16:46.of that read past the blue? He may be able to swerve it slightly.
:16:47. > :16:58.Couldn't have played it better. Good shot. Sadly, nothing wrong with his
:16:59. > :17:03.eyesight, John. That was a good shot.
:17:04. > :17:24.This is an excellent return. He has to be careful here, Mark Allen,
:17:25. > :17:29.because the obvious shot would to be lead the cue ball down on this lack
:17:30. > :17:35.cushion. But because the red is so close to the rack, Neil Robertson
:17:36. > :17:39.could play some very simple snooker. Particularly if he leads the cue
:17:40. > :17:44.ball down the left-hand corner pocket.
:17:45. > :17:47.The one that is just next to the black. He has to be very careful
:17:48. > :18:16.with the shot. This red does pot now. Can he hold
:18:17. > :18:35.for the black? I'm not quite sure what the angle is there. It was not
:18:36. > :18:38.the best containing safety was it? That would have been a lot more
:18:39. > :18:44.difficult if the cue ball had been against the top cushion, which was
:18:45. > :18:49.the aim. This is not the best chance with the black tied up at the moment
:18:50. > :18:55.and the pink out of commission. Just glad to get his hand on the table
:18:56. > :19:01.after seeing Mark makes a wonderful break in the last round. This looks
:19:02. > :19:11.good. Play for the red just below the black. Canon fit into that two
:19:12. > :19:12.rates to the right. If this goes right, it is an excellent
:19:13. > :19:28.opportunity. A good shot. Maybe a bit more
:19:29. > :19:37.backspin. To pull it away from the black. He should still pot this.
:19:38. > :19:48.When the balls are close, they are more difficult to judge. That's the
:19:49. > :19:57.problem. It is hard to see the angle when it is so close to the object
:19:58. > :20:15.ball. Didn't get enough backspin. Always miserable. --. Whether he
:20:16. > :20:27.doesn't like using the rest so much, I don't know. He has been let off
:20:28. > :20:31.the hook. That is something you can't afford to do at this level.
:20:32. > :20:43.When your opponent misses, you have to punish him. He would be very
:20:44. > :20:53.disappointed to miss that. A good opportunity. Again, as you said, an
:20:54. > :21:14.excellent chance. He went to be happy with that contact. A little
:21:15. > :21:26.bit heavy. May have to take the blue. Must hit the pink full ball
:21:27. > :21:43.here. Looks it is not going to go into the rates. K. Didn't have to go
:21:44. > :22:18.into the rates because there were some loose reds available.
:22:19. > :22:44.A little bit short, but the red goes through the gap. He could play for
:22:45. > :22:46.the black. Judged fit nicely. Just coming round to see if the red is
:22:47. > :23:05.available for the top corner. Then he can just roll it in, the blue. He
:23:06. > :23:08.has overdone it. He is still on the red, but a little shorter so he
:23:09. > :23:38.could play for the black. Where is the cue ball going? ! Oh,
:23:39. > :23:56.that was close. Is he on the black? Obviously not. Well, that was a
:23:57. > :24:07.wonderful shots. He just stretch them in. That is pure confidence in
:24:08. > :24:19.your cue action. A lot of lawyers would be stunned. He just cued it
:24:20. > :24:27.wonderfully. He has to be low on the black care. That was the
:24:28. > :24:36.difference. He was concentrating so much on position for the black that
:24:37. > :24:58.he made it a little more difficult. He would be disappointed with that.
:24:59. > :25:14.He's played that nicely. Didn't want to risk it, so imperative that he
:25:15. > :25:15.got a good length for the cue ball. He never discount Neil Robertson
:25:16. > :26:04.from putting anything. Well, he can't see the two rates
:26:05. > :26:23.that are left of the pink. -- read this -- reds. Very well judged. The
:26:24. > :26:32.red has popped out. If you take it on, you are going into the red ink.
:26:33. > :26:42.Not sure where the cue ball is going. He played the pot. Still on
:26:43. > :27:05.the way up. Nicely played. Didn't have to do
:27:06. > :27:53.much with the cue ball. This is a frame winning chance.
:27:54. > :27:58.When he missed the black with the rest earlier in this frame, he may
:27:59. > :28:07.have feared the worst. His opponent didn't capitalise on it. He would be
:28:08. > :28:09.mighty relieved with a couple of pots to get his first frame on the
:28:10. > :28:38.board. 56 ahead. Red, would suffice. Overall assessment, both players are
:28:39. > :28:48.looking pretty good. He looked to be doing quite nicely. It looks to be
:28:49. > :28:53.the match we expect to. But safety. Both players looking like they can
:28:54. > :29:11.win the frame if they get the opportunity. Just trying to nudge
:29:12. > :29:25.the red into play. There is no way Mark Allen will continue. An
:29:26. > :29:34.attempt, but it doesn't really matter. There you go. Neil Robertson
:29:35. > :29:38.has his first frame on the board. All set for a good match. A
:29:39. > :30:49.wonderful venue, isn't it? Another two reds. He has decided
:30:50. > :31:08.against... He did have a bit of luck. Just coming to have a look at
:31:09. > :31:16.the same couple of reds. He probably can't even make it from the single.
:31:17. > :31:24.That was careless. So close. You have to be aware of how the reds are
:31:25. > :31:26.going to finish. He may be fortunate that the black doesn't go to the
:31:27. > :31:54.opposite corner is the red. You see on the black? That's a
:31:55. > :31:59.wonderful shot. That's unique he felt he could get on. Well played. A
:32:00. > :32:32.lovely angle on the black. The cue ball should be nowhere near
:32:33. > :32:54.the black. Natural angle to go into the reds. These are a very tricky.
:32:55. > :33:16.I was a bit surprised he played it that way. This looks like you need
:33:17. > :33:28.distance red. Neil Robertson put his hand up to apologise with that one.
:33:29. > :33:31.The good thing for Mark Allen is that he was so close to cushion he
:33:32. > :34:51.had to go for the blue. Couldn't go for the reds.
:34:52. > :34:56.too bad. Maybe able to play a little suave. -- swerve. Catching the jaw.
:34:57. > :35:36.Safe enough. Excellent link again from Neil
:35:37. > :35:40.Robertson. If you can get that lengthen the keyboard makes so much
:35:41. > :35:50.more difficult for opponent. This looks like a good reply. That's one
:35:51. > :36:01.time you would have wanted it to bounce and exchange or two. -- extra
:36:02. > :36:12.inch. Have a look at the cue ball here. That is a great asset to have.
:36:13. > :36:14.Look at the distance he has on the cue ball. His first priority was
:36:15. > :36:41.getting at lack onto the cushion. That was an excellent safety shot.
:36:42. > :36:58.At first glance, it is an excellent nudge off the green. Maybe able to
:36:59. > :37:05.get past the blue. He caught it too thick. It's one of the hardest
:37:06. > :37:28.things when the object ball is to close. Will he take this pot on? It
:37:29. > :37:35.is risky. It's been 25 minutes since he last potted a ball. This is a
:37:36. > :37:44.risky pot. Percentagewise, worth going for. It could go for the red
:37:45. > :38:08.down the left-hand side of the table. Well, he went full-blooded.
:38:09. > :38:34.Not sure if Neil can get through the gap to the red. It's pretty close.
:38:35. > :39:03.Neil can suddenly popped it to the right. -- certainly pot. It makes
:39:04. > :39:10.the pot so much more difficult. He may try and play a good safety
:39:11. > :39:20.shot. The red closest to the bottom left corner pocket, he may be able
:39:21. > :39:28.to popped it. He is playing to plants. An awful lot of distance
:39:29. > :39:39.between the reds. I'm not sure whether that was the right choice.
:39:40. > :39:45.He certainly doesn't look it now. If the red didn't go in, he didn't know
:39:46. > :39:51.where it was going to finish up. You have to keep an eye on the object
:39:52. > :40:09.ball. This is a nice easy starter for Mac. -- Mark. You can set up for
:40:10. > :40:27.half an hour, and the Synergy get a chance, everything will click
:40:28. > :40:32.together. The black is available. When it goes on the spot, it will
:40:33. > :40:42.certainly be available for the left corner pocket, and maybe the right.
:40:43. > :41:15.Couldn't ask for a better opportunity than this.
:41:16. > :41:24.I'm not sure what is on, but he would be disappointed with that. He
:41:25. > :41:40.will have to play a simple cannon on the red. You can't see it, he may be
:41:41. > :41:55.able to do a small swerve. A good recovery. He would be relieved. They
:41:56. > :42:07.say it is all about fractions here. Just managed to do the swerve to get
:42:08. > :42:22.to the red. Well, he has messed it up again. This time he is not on the
:42:23. > :42:31.red. He had so much room for error, he just wanted to hit that the three
:42:32. > :42:48.quarters ball. It decelerated a little bit. Just didn't get the
:42:49. > :42:59.action on the cue ball. He knows how to play it. After that a bright
:43:00. > :43:06.start, he has been a bit disappointing since then. Had half a
:43:07. > :43:07.chance in the last frame and didn't make the most of the opportunity.
:43:08. > :43:58.You can see they had shake. -- head. Very surprised that he missed it
:43:59. > :44:28.first time around. Now it is Mark Allen with the problem.
:44:29. > :44:38.There is the possible escape to verify the right centre and train
:44:39. > :44:55.now with a reds behind the black. The difficulty is that... He has
:44:56. > :44:56.decided to go the other side. That was the problem of leaving the red
:44:57. > :45:27.open. I'm sure he would love to reds under
:45:28. > :46:01.the pink. A decent opportunity for Neil Robertson here.
:46:02. > :46:30.Whale! -- wow! A thought wow, he nearly missed that one. Wasn't too
:46:31. > :46:36.interested in being on the black. He should have nudged the red to the
:46:37. > :46:44.left of the black. Shouldn't have left the black on its spot there. An
:46:45. > :46:53.unexpected opportunity. It is imperative he gets it possibly off
:46:54. > :46:56.the pink. That red that is in the open and is available for the left
:46:57. > :47:00.corner, he wants to be in this situation where he can bring the
:47:01. > :47:04.three reds into play and play the black. His next few shots are
:47:05. > :47:15.critical in this frame. A good angle on the pink. If he is straight, that
:47:16. > :47:23.is very careless. If it is straight, that is a very poor shot.
:47:24. > :47:28.He is dead straight. He can't possibly get on the red closest to
:47:29. > :47:36.the black spot. That was extremely careless. A shake of the head, he
:47:37. > :47:43.would be very disappointed. Because no red goes in the right corner
:47:44. > :47:50.pocket. He could have played for the red into the left corner. You can't
:47:51. > :47:53.do that now so it is just pop the pink for the six points and play it
:47:54. > :48:31.safe -- pot. Good links with the safety. --
:48:32. > :48:37.length. This is a tricky shot here. If he tries to get the cue ball back
:48:38. > :48:46.to baulk, the problem is the two reds that are... The three reds,
:48:47. > :48:51.should he hit the first red on the way down it is knocking the second
:48:52. > :48:59.red on the way down so you want to avoid that. He may try and lay into
:49:00. > :49:07.these reds, just drop a dead weight. The three reds on the top
:49:08. > :49:09.cushion, if he tries to get back the ball with the cue ball, it could go
:49:10. > :49:14.wrong That ran straight as a die, didn't
:49:15. > :50:15.it? I don't blame mark for that. He did
:50:16. > :50:22.not want a snooker meal on these three reds because he wants him to
:50:23. > :50:29.hit them and if he does, as Ken was alluding to, maybe leave one, for a
:50:30. > :50:36.pot, you can't drop dead weight here you have to try and get back to
:50:37. > :50:48.baulk. He is trying dead weight. As it reached? It hasn't. What is worse
:50:49. > :50:58.is he have -- has left it to the right centre. Hot this red -- pot,
:50:59. > :51:10.to get to the cluster near the top cushion and he could win the frame.
:51:11. > :51:20.No problem putting the red, but it is the angle. That is why he wants
:51:21. > :51:26.to put it out. I am surprised. Even if he doesn't get an angle he could
:51:27. > :51:35.pot the red and black and get an extra eight points. He is not going
:51:36. > :51:38.to gain much advantage here will stop I am absolutely amazed he has
:51:39. > :51:44.not played the red, absolutely amazed. You have a chance to
:51:45. > :51:49.possibly win the frame and you turn it down and have the ball replaced.
:51:50. > :51:59.All Neil Robertson will do is play the same shot but a little harder.
:52:00. > :52:09.It has turned a little bit. You said it was dead straight but that helped
:52:10. > :52:15.it drift a little and have a look at this again. The cue ball looks like
:52:16. > :52:24.it will hit the first red, but then you see it turn a little. It did not
:52:25. > :52:32.run over a finger mark or something. But I thought he hit more
:52:33. > :52:40.of the red than that. I'm not quite sure why he can see this full ball.
:52:41. > :52:45.If you can see the full ball, then the referee has to warn him. I think
:52:46. > :52:51.he has said that he did not think he could hit a full ball also... That
:52:52. > :52:55.position looks as though you could hit the red as close to the position
:52:56. > :52:59.of full ball. He is allowing a bit of drift. It may have run over a
:53:00. > :53:08.finger mark. Mark Allen may still win this frame
:53:09. > :53:36.but I think he has missed the trick.
:53:37. > :53:48.This red pots from the potting angle, he will be void the reds near
:53:49. > :54:00.the top cushion. He is one of the best long pot is Mac in the game. --
:54:01. > :54:05.potters. I think it is forcing him to take this on.
:54:06. > :54:11.He was quite a way away with it from that far away. He has left of the
:54:12. > :54:38.red. -- left the red. That was nice, tight on the cushion.
:54:39. > :54:43.Potting the red gave him the perfect angle to come around for the black,
:54:44. > :54:46.with the choice of luck or pink. You would favour the pink I would
:54:47. > :54:51.suppose because you have more control of the cue ball. That he is
:54:52. > :55:04.playing the black. Either or, really. -- But. He would like it to
:55:05. > :55:21.be straight on this red. He needs red, yellow, red.
:55:22. > :55:38.Plays it nicely. A nice angle on the black. One more red needed.
:55:39. > :55:48.This is frame ball. A little bit tricky.
:55:49. > :56:02.His played it nicely. -- he has played it nicely and Neil
:56:03. > :56:51.Robinson... This frame, going up to the 30
:56:52. > :56:58.minute mark, whereas the first frame took less than 15 minute. The second
:56:59. > :57:05.frame just less than 40 minute. At it does not matter to Mark Allen who
:57:06. > :57:32.has a two brains to one lead. -- two frames.
:57:33. > :57:49.Not the best rate from them by any means. -- break. He will finish on
:57:50. > :59:03.blue. First chance goes to Mark Allen.
:59:04. > :59:06.Don't think he is on the red to the left of the pink. He needs an angle
:59:07. > :59:21.on the blue. He wants to be high. Must hit the pink full ball here. A
:59:22. > :59:40.bit of luck. Is he on this red into the left-hand
:59:41. > :00:01.corner pocket? Not the best wet but he may be just about on this red. --
:00:02. > :00:35.red. A good pot. Not many reds moved.
:00:36. > :00:39.Just passes the two-hour mark for this match. A and turns. A few
:00:40. > :00:58.misses. A few good shots. I don't blame him playing the cannon
:00:59. > :01:02.at the red he hit him needed to hit full ball to keep the cue ball in
:01:03. > :01:19.the middle of the table. He had a chance, but he missed it.
:01:20. > :01:20.And of course when you are amongst the balls, it is unlikely you will
:01:21. > :01:49.leave it safe. He felt it was worth the risk,
:01:50. > :01:53.taking the red on. He felt it was worth it and it could have -- he
:01:54. > :02:00.could have won the frame from that position. He has left an opportunity
:02:01. > :02:04.for them. If ever he needed a good rate it was now because he has not
:02:05. > :02:14.looked settled at all in this match. -- break. As John Part said in the
:02:15. > :02:21.studio, if he gets a good rate he could get going again. --break. A
:02:22. > :02:58.good opportunity here now. It is noticeable that he is starting
:02:59. > :03:03.to pick up the place. He still has this red to the left corner. But he
:03:04. > :03:10.did not want to be going after the blue. If he can stay in position for
:03:11. > :03:13.the black on the inside, he could just -- he is just beginning to pick
:03:14. > :03:24.up the pace which I feel he needs to do. And he does fluctuate in shot
:03:25. > :03:31.time, which is normal for him. Maybe 20 seconds normally, but with Neil
:03:32. > :03:36.sometimes it can be 20, sometimes up to 28 seconds in matches. His
:03:37. > :03:42.average shot time has been very quick and it is quite noticeable.
:03:43. > :03:47.Not more than ten seconds per shot at the moment so maybe he feels as
:03:48. > :03:50.though he wants to pick up the pace to get something going. He has been
:03:51. > :03:56.stopping and starting throughout this match. This -- missing that
:03:57. > :04:02.pink in the last round was certainly disappointing.
:04:03. > :04:12.As you said John, sometimes he overcomplicate things like taking
:04:13. > :04:16.too much time and is looking at too many shots instead of forced
:04:17. > :04:28.instinct, first shot you see, it you play. I don't blame him taking time
:04:29. > :04:38.over this now because, he is up to three minutes with this rate.
:04:39. > :04:44.--break. OK he has not got the right side of the blue but with the red on
:04:45. > :04:54.the baulk line, there is no problem. This loo will put him 23 points
:04:55. > :05:05.ahead. --blue. He is going to need to map read, two colours, not high
:05:06. > :05:22.value colours. --two reds. Not a formality at all. It is a bit tidy
:05:23. > :05:26.between either of those reds but anywhere between those reds between
:05:27. > :05:35.the cushion there he will certainly have a go. Just cut the red. As soon
:05:36. > :05:40.as this goes into the yellow pocket or the left of centre, he is 29
:05:41. > :05:50.ahead, so red and blue or red and black would be enough for him to
:05:51. > :05:55.lead in the Snuka. --snooker. Sorry, red and black king needs
:05:56. > :06:07.because red and blue would not be enough. Excellent shot. There will
:06:08. > :06:12.be no heroics on the black here. Just pop the black and you are 37
:06:13. > :06:15.and head. Drops the black in and play a double on the red. Well
:06:16. > :06:57.played, then. He can make a century now . It
:06:58. > :07:03.didn't look likely when the loan pots were not going in but he took a
:07:04. > :07:11.risk which I don't blame him for doing. He is a great potter. But
:07:12. > :07:21.when you miss when you are in, you do not get away with it. Blue, pink
:07:22. > :07:35.and black for his first century of the match.
:07:36. > :07:45.Just what the doctor ordered, isn't it, for Neil Robertson here? Yes,
:07:46. > :08:03.nice shot. Well played. That will make him feel
:08:04. > :08:08.better, he certainly got going there, got a nice rhythm. Mark Allen
:08:09. > :08:10.disappointed he missed the red in the middle. Now the Australian
:08:11. > :10:54.levels, at 3-3. It was a lot better. A little thin, and the blue will not
:10:55. > :11:00.come to his rescue. A chance for this red, of course, be black is not
:11:01. > :11:10.on its lot. It does not make it an easy opportunity to score heavily.
:11:11. > :11:14.But he forced it to and he finished nicely on the blue. Normally I would
:11:15. > :11:20.suggest the cannon but the pink is separated slightly from the red. You
:11:21. > :11:27.would have to catch the pink perfect to open the reds up. In the end, he
:11:28. > :11:38.played just past the pink. I did not like that shot. He could have hit it
:11:39. > :11:46.a lot harder than this. You would expect him to at least hit one red,
:11:47. > :11:55.but there was plenty of room to hit that an awful lot harder.
:11:56. > :12:01.Sometimes, particularly with the black knot on its spot, maybe play
:12:02. > :12:07.for the loose red. He has played for the tight and he has got it! I was
:12:08. > :12:12.thinking if he played for the open red, got the black on its spot and
:12:13. > :12:25.then open up the red. This was out of the blue. But no luck. A nice a
:12:26. > :12:30.snooker, but... While I say it should be easy to come off the side
:12:31. > :12:38.cushion but Neil has played a few of these shot and underhit them. He
:12:39. > :12:45.does not want to underhit this one. -- shots. You are right, he has
:12:46. > :13:49.underhit it again. A couple of nice kisses as their.
:13:50. > :14:22.--kisses there. A nice angle on the red just below
:14:23. > :14:34.the black. He wants to break some more red into play here. --reds.
:14:35. > :14:47.This will open things are up. --things up. Just making sure he is
:14:48. > :14:51.connecting with those red. --reds. From a straightforward as gate you
:14:52. > :15:08.would have to add meat from Neil Robertson that he left the cue ball
:15:09. > :15:22.short. --position. --admit. There was the swerve from the beginning.
:15:23. > :15:29.Right side of the blue, maybe for the red that is close to the pink
:15:30. > :15:42.spot. Not absolutely inch perfect with his
:15:43. > :15:46.positional play and he does not really want to be playing for the
:15:47. > :15:51.black because the black will be Mr Bull and he wants to concentrate on
:15:52. > :16:02.blue and pink IT he is not getting inch perfect position on the red
:16:03. > :16:08.will . He should be able to hold this for the blue will stop if you
:16:09. > :16:26.go for the blue you need the right angle, and he has done that .
:16:27. > :16:34.Again, short of pace. He would have loved to have been closer to this
:16:35. > :16:38.red. He would want to be closer to the cue ball -- with the cue ball.
:16:39. > :16:57.It is not straightforward. It is OK and he has a slight angle
:16:58. > :17:05.on the pink. It is just past the three hour mark now for this match.
:17:06. > :17:10.The standard, as we have said, a little below what we expected I
:17:11. > :17:12.think there might be a few more twists and turns before we know who
:17:13. > :17:23.the winner is. And whoever loses this match will be
:17:24. > :17:30.very disappointed with their performance. Neal obviously will not
:17:31. > :17:39.be happy at all. Some of the pots he has missed... Amazing. If this
:17:40. > :17:43.stops, it is a perfect positional shot. That is the shot of the
:17:44. > :18:09.match. Inch perfect. As you said, this didn't look like
:18:10. > :18:33.it was much trouble. You couldn't have left anything. This has been
:18:34. > :18:40.the result. 68 points ahead. Bit of a bash on the red. Shouldn't make
:18:41. > :18:47.any difference. Neil Robertson is looking at the scoreboard thinking,
:18:48. > :18:57.is it worth carrying on? Still thinking. He is decided to have a
:18:58. > :19:10.go. At the moment, it is five snooker is needed. If he knocks this
:19:11. > :19:25.into the corner from which it can get through to, that will be and a
:19:26. > :19:31.friend. -- frame. He will be preparing for the next frame it now.
:19:32. > :20:10.It will see him through to the second round. Begrudgingly potting
:20:11. > :20:23.these balls. That's what happens. You don't want it, and then they go
:20:24. > :20:37.in. If only it was like there's while the frame was alive. If only
:20:38. > :20:52.it was this easy. Amazing when there is no pressure, how easy it looks.
:20:53. > :20:56.It went in any way! He knew the frame was well over, and he is just
:20:57. > :21:31.one frame away from a place in the second round as he leads by a
:21:32. > :21:52.friend. -- frame. Not a great break. Good opener. It is in the mid-
:21:53. > :22:18.distance this time. Good shot. He could have been
:22:19. > :22:29.forgiven, but it went in. He has a nice angle on the black. He is going
:22:30. > :23:16.to get chances, but you have to take them. No excuse for missing that. He
:23:17. > :23:20.has to play this with a lot of pace. The red has come out into the
:23:21. > :23:28.middle. For a minute I thought he wouldn't be on anything. Look at the
:23:29. > :23:29.amount of peace he put into that. The red coming over the right centre
:23:30. > :23:59.has come to his rescue. He would love to get the black back
:24:00. > :24:23.on its spot at some stage, wouldn't he? He could play for the red, but
:24:24. > :24:47.knew he wouldn't be at the perfect angle for it. It's not a
:24:48. > :24:59.straightforward positional shot. Did pretty well though. Lots of
:25:00. > :25:07.right-hand side to keep it away from the cushion. He might be able to
:25:08. > :25:22.drop the blue in otherwise you will have to look at options. He has come
:25:23. > :25:28.into a bit of luck here. The red is close. If the pink is not
:25:29. > :25:48.available, where does the colour come from? If he can pot the red and
:25:49. > :26:08.leave the cue ball where it is now, the pink will go to the right
:26:09. > :26:11.centre. Has he hit it hard enough? When the balls are so close
:26:12. > :26:23.together, it makes the pots difficult. How many balls as he
:26:24. > :26:28.underhit? He hasn't been with it. It's as though his arm is just not
:26:29. > :26:42.insuring with the rest of his body today. It can happen to the best of
:26:43. > :26:45.them. If the black was on its spot and the frame would have a
:26:46. > :26:57.match-winning opportunity. There would be a chance to build a
:26:58. > :27:12.sizeable lead. How many chances do you need? How many chances are you
:27:13. > :27:21.going to get? That's surprising. Great opportunity for Mark Allen.
:27:22. > :27:26.Great play. Finishing the ghost of a corner. This is tougher Neil
:27:27. > :27:37.Robertson. I don't think he is happy playing with the rest. He played
:27:38. > :27:44.that one nicely. Will probably play the yellow. He could play the
:27:45. > :28:16.black, but not guaranteed to get good position. If that pink goes
:28:17. > :28:18.into the left centre, he might get it at the cue to whether reds are
:28:19. > :29:00.now. Canon wasn't on the red. Cleverly held the spot there. Used
:29:01. > :29:01.the cue ball to hold the pink spot. The pink should go on the black spot
:29:02. > :29:18.now. Ideally, he would like to be on the
:29:19. > :29:25.pink to the left corner. He has to use a bit of the left-hand side. He
:29:26. > :29:30.didn't do that. The reason I say that is it would have been easy to
:29:31. > :29:36.move one of the reds out of the way for his next pot. He is having a
:29:37. > :29:45.look at the red directly above the pink. If it pockets, it is OK. The
:29:46. > :30:15.pink spot will now be available. Wrong side of the blue. The pink
:30:16. > :30:27.does go. Right in the heart of the pocket. He is still on this red. It
:30:28. > :30:41.is a must get. If he plays this well, he could win the frame from
:30:42. > :30:50.this position. It hasn't worked out the way he would have liked. Can't
:30:51. > :30:57.believe he played the runthrough. At least with screw, you don't come to
:30:58. > :31:03.the top cushion. He has a 30 point lead. He can look at the bright side
:31:04. > :31:10.and say at least he has the pink safe. He may have an opportunity to
:31:11. > :31:22.make the yellow safe as well. It can make the 30 point lead a little
:31:23. > :31:28.bigger. He is trying to knock the green on the side cushion. The only
:31:29. > :31:34.problem I would have let that shot is that Mark Allen is a left-handed
:31:35. > :31:37.player. Putting the green on the right-hand side is on his side. I
:31:38. > :32:17.would rather have made the yellow safe. For a left-hander, it is more
:32:18. > :32:26.difficult. Looks too thin. Not a lot of pressure, it has to be said. The
:32:27. > :32:45.red to the right corner is the one he has chosen. In the heart of the
:32:46. > :32:54.pockets. He is looking for this column. One more red in the colour
:32:55. > :32:58.and he will be into a decider. And you got the feeling it was always
:32:59. > :33:06.going to go that way. Particularly when they went in at two a piece. It
:33:07. > :33:14.was hard to pick a winner from the outset of the match. I always
:33:15. > :33:23.thought it was any gas six single dash for Mac.
:33:24. > :33:49.51 remaining. He still needs one more red. I think the reason why am
:33:50. > :33:52.saying that it will go to a decider is because they don't play that
:33:53. > :33:59.consistently and don't assert themselves. Mark Allen has always
:34:00. > :34:08.been one frame in front but hasn't capitalised on it. I have found that
:34:09. > :34:23.quite strange. This red will take us to the decider frame. He missed it.
:34:24. > :34:35.Mark Allen can still win the frame without needing snooker. Does he
:34:36. > :34:41.have the opportunity here? He needs to get behind the pink. If he can
:34:42. > :34:59.get the cue behind the pink, it will be ideal. The one thing you don't
:35:00. > :35:18.want to do is leave him a chance of a pot. That is what he has done. He
:35:19. > :35:28.didn't play it. He had the pink and green as insurance, and yet he
:35:29. > :35:35.refused a frame ball. That to me tells me that he isn't very
:35:36. > :35:55.confident. And with some of the balls he has missed, why would he
:35:56. > :36:05.be? He will go for this one. It is certain now. It will go to a
:36:06. > :36:19.deciding frame. That is enough for Mark Allen. Neil Robertson keeps
:36:20. > :36:30.picking him back. Final should a coming up -- shootout coming up.
:36:31. > :36:49.Just over three hours and 20 minutes of the match time. The perfect
:36:50. > :37:20.climax. We all love a decider. That is a poor safety shot. A long way
:37:21. > :37:28.away from that. Tried to drag it on. Of the two players, Robertson would
:37:29. > :37:34.be a little more confident. Particularly after the last round.
:37:35. > :38:00.He really should have put this much to bed. The first chance for Neil
:38:01. > :38:10.Robertson. Quite a good pot because you put it into a blind pocket. This
:38:11. > :38:35.is the ideal opportunity. You have a couple of open rounds and rates. --
:38:36. > :38:53.reds. He is not world number one and reigning UK champion. A lot of
:38:54. > :39:03.things going for him, Neil. First opportunity to bring some more reds
:39:04. > :39:14.into play. He needs the cue ball to slow down. He wanted the cue ball
:39:15. > :39:34.out in the middle of the table. He went into it too much. Needless to
:39:35. > :39:41.say, there is pressure. The yellow is difficult enough in itself. That
:39:42. > :39:55.middle pocket is enough to put you off the shot. It take your eye off
:39:56. > :40:01.it a little bit. Been looking to make the most of this opportunity.
:40:02. > :40:20.He didn't want to play the safety shot, and yet he is looking at it.
:40:21. > :40:32.Very disappointed if he stops now. Playing safe. He doesn't want the
:40:33. > :40:34.yellow to go in. It's a safety, but he will be disappointed he didn't
:40:35. > :41:31.make more from that opportunity. That is marks of view. Any ideas,
:41:32. > :41:45.Ken? Just wondering whether this is possible. To fight the cushion and
:41:46. > :41:56.backup table. -- divide. It is a way out. If you do read that thing, you
:41:57. > :42:02.might not get to the wrong corner. That red will be going into the pack
:42:03. > :42:19.of reds. He is looking at a possible plant. It has to be a three ball
:42:20. > :42:25.plant. As you say, it will have to be a three ball plant. He has
:42:26. > :42:41.thought of something else. A tough shot, this. Trade to pot his way out
:42:42. > :42:59.of trouble. A red will cut to the right. Could have been a lot worse.
:43:00. > :43:06.The fact that the red has gone over to the left-hand pocket. Where is
:43:07. > :43:12.his colour going to come from? If he screws it directly back, it will
:43:13. > :43:14.look like it's going to the outside cushion. You could take the one to
:43:15. > :43:26.the outside cushion. You could take the want of that. Again, it makes
:43:27. > :43:36.the plant a little more difficult. He might just trade its cushions and
:43:37. > :43:40.go for the pink. Mark Allen could have left something easier than
:43:41. > :43:49.this. Just tried to pot his way out of trouble.
:43:50. > :43:56.He could take the red and try make the plant because it is much more
:43:57. > :44:19.straightforward to get your position on the next colour. The dead
:44:20. > :44:24.straight red, it's not. Talk about putting all your eggs in one
:44:25. > :44:30.basket. I thought it wasn't a bad idea if you played with some pace.
:44:31. > :44:38.To play for the pink, that was risking it all. A bit of good
:44:39. > :44:42.fortune for Mark Allen. It could win him this match. Like the role of a
:44:43. > :45:12.dice. -- roll. Well, just when you thought you had
:45:13. > :45:16.seen everything in this match. Forgive me for saying so, he didn't
:45:17. > :45:23.have to screw that. He could have used the side cushion. When you get
:45:24. > :45:33.cushion, you have a bit more control. He had the angle to use the
:45:34. > :45:44.cushion. Sometimes when you screw back, that's what can happen. We
:45:45. > :45:50.can't be too critical because a place in the quarter-final is at
:45:51. > :46:08.stake. The thinking isn't always clear with what has happened earlier
:46:09. > :46:20.on in the match. This is exactly what he did. A bit more control
:46:21. > :46:35.there. He is going to cover it and be very careful. He has gone for the
:46:36. > :47:11.ball. What a shot that was! What a pot that was. Unbelievable.
:47:12. > :47:36.After a pot like that, he deserves it. It's just about on this red. If
:47:37. > :48:03.he swerves it, a slight swerve will get it into the centre. While
:48:04. > :48:16.played. Just wondering will the pot and to this pocket. If it doesn't,
:48:17. > :49:30.he may hold it. Put the blue on the blackspot.
:49:31. > :49:51.That wasn't a position shot. There are nerves out there. Doesn't want
:49:52. > :49:59.to kiss the yellow ball. He is nothing if he does. It was a
:50:00. > :50:04.positional shot off the pink which I just can't believe he did. Didn't
:50:05. > :50:11.lead himself straight onto the red. It is nerves though. We sometimes
:50:12. > :50:25.forget because we have said in a commentary box. Vicinity played the
:50:26. > :50:35.shot -- as soon as he. He has to cover the red. Over the left-hand
:50:36. > :51:03.corner pocket. He will lead the cue ball close to the red.
:51:04. > :51:26.I assume he means touching ball on the red. He won't have the balls
:51:27. > :51:32.replaced. I would make him play from the position it was. It was touching
:51:33. > :51:44.ball, so what was he going to do? He has to play away from the red. The
:51:45. > :52:07.mind doesn't automatically think as it should. No way should he have
:52:08. > :52:11.this replaced. The fact that it was touching the red. Mark Allen would
:52:12. > :53:29.have to play away because it would be a push shot. Now it's touching
:53:30. > :53:43.ball. Can you get past the pink. He can get through to it. An
:53:44. > :54:23.outstanding on the pink. Unbelievable turnaround. Slightly
:54:24. > :54:44.hampered by the black. Pink goes into the bottom right-hand corner
:54:45. > :54:59.pocket as well as the centre. This blue will tie the scores. It's all
:55:00. > :55:16.level. Mark Allen will have to hope that something goes wrong from Neil
:55:17. > :55:20.Robertson. That was a major kick, and maybe a lifeline for Mark Allen.
:55:21. > :55:29.Everything is happening in the scheme. -- in this game. Puts a bit
:55:30. > :56:24.of pressure on the shot. Just about OK on this pink. That one
:56:25. > :56:31.is right in the heart of the pocket. I don't think the black will come
:56:32. > :56:53.into the equation. The chances he has had. A bit at Pearl to swallow.
:56:54. > :56:59.Because the yellow is adjacent to the left middle, he won't be too
:57:00. > :57:17.bothered about thinking about putting the lack now to get 28
:57:18. > :57:30.points in front. Red and a black will put him in front. It is
:57:31. > :57:39.absolutely and. Perfect. Mark Allen has played his last shot in this
:57:40. > :57:48.year 's Masters. It is a cruel game sometimes. He potted a green that
:57:49. > :57:59.looked like he would win the match. And then just a lapse of
:58:00. > :58:13.concentration and easy middle. Neil Robertson got his chance. The Brown
:58:14. > :58:18.now means 48. It's a repeat of last year in the quarter-final. Neil
:58:19. > :58:28.Robertson beat Mark Allen. It is deja vu. Mark Allen will be
:58:29. > :58:34.absolutely distraught. Neil Robertson did the same, but he can
:58:35. > :58:41.move onwards and upwards, because the world number one somehow is in
:58:42. > :58:45.the second round. He wins. It is Neil Robertson makes it to the
:58:46. > :58:51.quarter-final where he will meet Stephen Maguire. That is it from
:58:52. > :58:52.us, but we will have more coverage later today as we concentrate on
:58:53. > :58:57.Shaun Murphy.