Day 5 Masters Snooker Extra

Hello again from Alexander Palace in North London. We have the first of

this year's quarterfinals in the Masters for you. And a line-up with

which we've become very familiar at the business end of major events

because it is Shaun Murphy of England against Marco Fu of Hong

Kong. And this is a repeat of a classic final in the United Kingdom

championships some six years ago which was won by Murphy. It went the

distance. Would this one? Let's find out in the company of John Virgo and

Stephen Hendry. So Shaun Murphy getting the first

frame under way. Still best of 11 in the quarterfinal matches.

Marco Fu looked like he was on the way out of the match in a few

stages, but he would be mighty relieved to be playing.

He doesn't seem to do a lot, but he scores so heavily, sometimes. When

he's really on his game. Yes, he's probably not one of the marquee

players that people at home would recognise, but as you said before,

when you talk to Steve, he scores as heavily as anybody when he gets

going. Just looking at the two reds. Are

they in line for the right corner? Well, he's not looking at them. It

wouldn't be far off the plant, ienl' sure. There you go. But he didn't

think that it was worth risking. Because even if he potted it, he

wasn't guaranteed to be on a colour, but the reds are spread far and wide

now. But the black is tied up. So it's not going to be a great

opportunity. But a mistake here could cost...

They'll be looking for Shaun to impose himself in this match. No

doubt that he's the far more attacking player of the two. Ooking

for Shaun to impose himself in this match. No

Well, that's not quite as clean. He's left the pot on the red. But

with the black being tied up, Marco may not attempt it. The red nearest

the blue will put to the left middle, but that's a thin cut. The

cue ball running loose. Looking straight down the gun

barrel. Just a fraction short there. And it

makes such a difference. It makes cueing just that little bit easier

for Shaun. If it had been tight, this would have been a tough safety

shot to have to play. Once again, he's left him a chance

in the red to the left corner. Yes, the shot that you see like that

for that. Even to pot it to the the left corner. The left-hand side got

towards the colour. But I don't know whether Marco has got that shot in

the armoury. Maybe a little bit straight, but these tables are so

fast and so reactive - the shot is on. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you

could envisage one of the top players potting that and then going

up for the blue! But when we see marco's gun action, it doesn't

generate that type of power. It was important that he covered the

red in there to go for the table, which appears to have done. So he's

calling the shots so to speak at the moment.

Well, he's gone for the red. I think he'd have to get it.

Just playing one red on to the other. Couldn't be missed. Usually

we say - it needs to be right side of the blue. But with that red being

in the other half of the table, it wasn't that important.

The way the reds are situated, doesn't have to do much with the cue

ball. He'd love to have that there. The black is not so important. I

think the left pot to the corner there.

This is a nice opportunity to get your cue going. Yeah, I don't think

that the pink goes to the left corner, but it certainly might go to

the right middle. It doesn't go to the corner pocket but it will go to

the right centre. Or he could pot the blue and play a cannon on the

pink and release it. Playing the cannon - I think he did

anyway. Maybe not. Maybe he did play for the red. Because maybe him

potting the red, he released the black for the right corner pocket.

Yeah, you see that he will. Very good in and around the balls, as we

were saying earlier. Good break there for Marco. He's not someone

that you want to leave in at the table with the red situated like

this. He could win a frame in one visit as good as anyone.

Yeah, in the situation where he don't have to play the power shots

in to the pack and stuff. You fancy him winning a frame in one visit. He

usually keeps that cue ball in a pretty tight leash. Yeah, he's still

on the red just to the right of the black, but he would have liked to

haven straighter and just rolls it in and plays for the black in the

opposite corner. He may still go for the black. Just a gentle cannon off

the second red. But didn't want to risk that. Went for the blue. Got

the perfect angle. This is neat and tidy when in

amongst the balls. Yeah, and as we were say, he's got a nice touch. And

if he can keep control of the cue ball, as you say - keep it on a

tight leash, every shot is easy. They're the best breaks when people

watching can say, "Oh, I could have potted that and I could have potted

that." And that's all because of good cue ball control.

This black would have been 54 points in front. So after this black,

probably needs three of the remaining reds. But the way he's

gone about it so far - you wouldn't expect him not to make the most of

the opportunity. Won the safety exchange with Shaun

and he's got this chance. As I say - he's got such good control of the

cue ball. Making every shot look very easy. Although having said that

- he would be a little bit annoyed not to have more angle on the black.

It shouldn't cause a problem. But a little bit more angle, then he'd

have been certain to be nicely on the next red.

He played for an era where it would be nice to be there. Even to the

right to left corner or the left to right corner or even the red to the

centre. A little bit there. The red to the right corner, he can cannon

off the other pink and perhaps live himself on the pink.

I think he's left himself high on the black with a tricky centre. How

about if we just look at the score board. If he pots the pink, he'll

have 69 points in front with just 67 remaining. So it's not that

important. But as I said, when he came just a little bit too straight

on the black, he made things a little bit awkward. But he'll be

aware of the score, so just consent and potting the pink.

He played it constantly considering that that was frame ball. Didn't

hold back on it. So Shaun Murphy is seeing this first frame slip away.

And not much of an opportunity. OK, you could say that it was wreckless.

But sometimes, if you've not got a safety shot on, you've got to try to

pot your way out of trouble. It didn't work this time.

Just quietly and efficiently, Marco goes about his business.

Well, he's missed, but the frame is well and truly over. Shaun Murphy

will probably come to the table, not with an idea of winning the frame,

but just for a bit of potting practice, but well played Marco Fu.

Just overscrewed it slightly. But as I say, just a bit of practice. Well,

he's tried the snooker. So he just wants a bit of table time. No!

Thoughts of winning the frame. I don't see the point of that myself.

Why not just go for the pot. And he was talking yesterday, wasn't

he? Shaun, about sometimes he thinks, like you do at tennis, they

have a warm-up, that there should be a little practice on the table. And

maybe that's what he's doing. Just checking the role of the yellow down

the side there. Yeah, I think the first frame, you can get your arm

going on the table. Well, there's probably some nice

balls. I mean, the frame is well and truly over, but he's had his bit of

practice. And settled in. But for all of the balls that he potted in

the end there, it was Marco Fu with a nice break of 76 that clinched

that first frame. Well, missed the pot and he's erring

on the side of caution. Because he flicked the second red. Called the

bump in the middle pocket. But for the cheeks, he can't believe that's

happened. So first chance to Shaun. Had the first chance in the last

frame! Didn't make the most of it. What can he do with this one?

Well, the way that Shaun has played that, I assume that the red to the

left of the pink goes in to the opposite corner and the pink won't

go on its own spot. Wow! I'm thinking about all of those

things... Maybe Shaun was, but boy, you don't miss pinks like that!

And as I say, the way he's played it, amazing to see him miss it. But

that top red must go in to the left corner. There, you see, that's the

red he's played for. What would you do here, Steve? Would you play pink

and then go in to the reds? That looks the obvious way. And that's

what he's played. It's not as simple as it looks, because the pink is so

far in to the jaws of the pocket, he has to pot the pink quite thing.

Obviously lots of right-hand side stun. Let's see how hard he hits

this. Played it well. Just caught the

pack. A little bit thin. That's why the cue ball is knocked there.

He just catches the side of the red. Hit it well, though.

He's got too difficult a red to the right-hand corner, but is getting

position on the colour that's going to be the problem. Not guaranteed.

Where's the cue ball gone? But that is the problem. And we keep saying

about the problem with the cue action, and when he tries to inject

that type of power, he seems to lose all rhythm, doesn't he? Yeah, I

think that players like Murphy, oh Sullivan, Trump and Walden, could

have played the black in to the same pocket here. Lots of bottom on the

white and slow screw underneath the black. But it's just a shot. Or a

style of play that Marco doesn't have.

He's not done bad with it, though, has he? Absolutely not.

The game is all about score, as we heard before. He scores very heavily

in terms of sent wrury breaks. -- century breaks. And the fact that

Shaun Murphy had to play a safety shot there. He was fortunate, Marco

Fu, not to leave a pot on. R He may try to pot the red to the

left centre. And leave it tight to the cushion. He's playing a contain

and safety. But I suppose, if the black doesn't

pot to the left corner, it's a bit difficult to take a red on.

We could clearly see - the black didn't go in to that corner. It

nearly went in the middle. Desperate to get the first frame on

the score board, as any player would be.

Good line, and well, I didn't think that he was going to get there. But

what a beautiful lens. Apart from that last pot, which he

missed by quite a distance, he's hardly put a foot wrong here, Marco.

No, just thinking that. Shaun was 2-0 down in the first round against

the likes of Deng. He's higher ranked than Marco. You think you'll

always get chances. Against stun like Marco Fu, it's tough. Because

he does everything so well and he's never going to take risks.

If you go against the attacking players, at least they'll give you

shots and go for the chances. He's in a spot of bother here. The reds

are spread and he's not got an easy return to baulk. If he has a return

to baulk. Play the containing safety. Play it as intended and he's

left a pot on to the right corner. Couldn't have played that much

better. Played it with sufficient pace for the cue ball to come in and

out of baulk. You can always tell when a player is

cueing well when the ball goes right in to the heart of the pocket. As

that brown did there. Yeah, when the ball goes in the centre pocket,

they're always in a perfect position. When you go in and the

baulk is there, you lose the cue ball.

I'm not certain whether the black one needs respoting. It's not going

to be tied up here. So there's no other spots available.

Now the black and the pink are out of commission.

But, as we're alluding to, some players, that would bother them. But

it won't bother Marco. He'll just keep chipping away and come up for

the blue. Yeah, and in a way it's quite frustrating when you're sat in

your chair. Because you're waiting to are him to take risks that you

might get to the table - but no, he's just going to take care of

everything that's there. And all of a sudden, you come to the table and

you're 50 or 60 behind. Yeah, and Shaun is sat in his chair there and

already knows that if Marco did make a mistake, the black is tied up. So

unlikely to have a frame-winning opportunity. Oh, well, he's missed

one! Just playing that little soft stun and if you just deaccelerate as

going through the cue ball, it can just slide off. And that's why he

caught the red just a fraction too thin causing him to miss it.

It's amazing this game, sometimes. You miss an easy ball and next thing

you know - you're sat down thinking - how did I miss that and you're

straight back at the table. This left-hand part of three.

Obviously will pot. And in potting the black in to play. So if he gets

the colour off this red, this is a frame-winning chance.

It's a bit tricky. The black won't be back in its own spot and go there

closest to the top cushion. An absolute automatic position here.

May choose to play a cannon on the red in the black spot.

Yes, it's gone wrong. No other spot available. Black has to go as close

to its own spot as it can in a direct line with the top cushion. So

that red is not available. And not really one to the right middle, so

it looks like that is end of break. Well, he's left the red on the baulk

cushion. If Shaun could knock this in - he won't try to get on a

colour, but knock it in and roll up behind one of the baulk colours.

Marco thought - well, nothing else to play.

Maybe Shaun didn't go for the pot there. Purposely played it in to the

jaws and send it up the table and leave the cue ball near the baulk

cushion. Yeah, he didn't play the pot. You

can see he purposely played it in to the wide jaw.

Got it too thick. But just avoid the double kiss.

Well, he didn't see a safety. And he look on a very difficult pot. And he

missed it! But what was worse than missing it - he's left it up and

also he's brought the black in to play.

Oh, chance missed! Now... Well, it's not the easiest starter for Shaun.

But at least it's a chance. Marco had a good opportunity there.

Was a little bit surprised he missed that.

I can understand him not going for the pot. Because he might have

thought - well, I can't get a position on the colour. But I can't

believe that he would play it like that. The reds would have to be

coming back up the table. Far be it for me to give advice on

safety, but that was a poor one! A pot and kettle springs to mind!

But no, it was a very strange choice of shot. It really was. And it looks

as though it is going to cost him this frame!

Worrying times for Shaun and his supporters.

Yeah, sometimes you think when Shaun is play, the first choice of shot,

he wanted to pot that. And then seems to outthink himself and think

- I better not go for it. And then you just play the wrong shot.

Marco Marco. If he pots the red to go 55 ahead with only 51 remaining.

It's a simple red to clinch the third frame.

Well, it just right there. I don't think that he was happy with the

content because he's not the right side of the blue. But once he rolls

the blue in, it will be three snookers needed for his opponent.

It didn't come out of any book that I've read.

And Shaun decides that that is enough. He'll be very disappointed.

Had chances in the last two frames but the ball went to Marco and he

leads 3-0 frames. He needs to get something going,

Shaun. As I said, Marco is not going to gift you chances a lot of the

times. He's going to do everything pretty well. He's not going to take

many risks. That's good opening pot. Could have

had a more add vant ageous kiss on the blue. -- advantageous kiss on

the blue. He's excellent with the rest,

though, you have to say. If there's anyone better, I haven't seen them.

Cues them just exactly the same way that he cues with his hand on the

table. Session interval after this frame.

Desperate he will be to get his first frame on the score board.

And it goes without saying - two frames behind or four. And that's

what it could be. #12k34r purposely played that red so

he could -- purposely played that red so he could screw in to the

cluster. Bringing reds in to play. It just bounced off the cushion

enough but he doesn't want to be too straight on the black.

Just be able to force a little bit of an angle, but striking down.

Played it nicely. Played it beautifully.

Yeah, that was a very confident stroke. Going from 3-0 down.

Played for the red to the right of the black. And this is beginning to

follow through and play a cannon. Going to play for the red now.

He's on the red just to the right of black. But I think that there may

also be one to the right middle. It all depends on the potting angle,

really. The main reason that he played that

- he didn't have to do anything with the cue ball. Just by the fact of

potting at the angle that he had - he was bound to be on the pink. I

mean, in an ideal world, you'd like to be closer to the pink than this,

because he has missed a few pots. So he'll be taking nothing for granted.

Just a little bit short of pace. Now, I don't think that he can pop

the red without moving the black. A little bit further down and just

rolled the red in. Play have to play the cannon and didn't want to risk

playing for the black. So went up the table and it's worked out

nicely. He won't be disappointed with that.

Didn't get in to the cue ball enough there. And a little bit mystified by

the reaction there off the cue ball, and as we say, there's so much cue

power, it's a surprise it didn't get far enough in to the top cushion.

Can't understand that one. 49 points the lead. But there's still 91

remaining. Well again, brought down in the 40s,

John. Careless positional shot. What is it going to cost them again?

This red cut thin. A thin one. So you're not certain where the cue

ball is going to finish. But make certain of the pot. Well, cutting it

thin, it's much worse, actually. OK, the black goes to the right corner.

But I don't know if it is a case of just dropping the black in and being

on the red. It's got quite a bit to do with being on the cue ball.

Cued it nicely, but he's not out of the woods yet.

When he pots this, 65 in front with 75 remaining. Still looking for two

more reds, which is probably why he didn't want to risk playing the

cannon. He's played a good positional shot there. And Steven

was singing his praises. His use of the rest - he's certainly not got

the commentator's curse. He needs to roll this in. Right in the heart of

the pocket. And this black in fact will put him 60 points in front with

just 67 remaining. So it looks as though that first frame is going to

go on the score board. Again, Shaun's name. And he'll be mightily

relieved. As we always say, you're never really relaxed. Until you get

your first frame on the score board. He's needed a couple of chances.

That's the worrying thing, I suppose. But he got there in the

end. He'll be quite pleased with the

first four frames, Marco. Or should be.

And that would certainly mean that the next time that Marco gets out of

his seat, he'll be going to his dressing room.

So, he'll be mightily relieved. So mid-session interval - Shaun Murphy

at least got something out of the first four frames. It's 3-1 to Marco

Fu. Decent enough break of shot there.

Got a decent helped with the cue ball. A red to the left corner. But

if Marco did play that, he wouldn't be certain to be on a colour and

it's a very risky pot to go for. So just depends if he can get past the

brown. If he can get past the brown to the middle pocket, then he can

come up two curbs, but I don't know if that's an option. It's not. So

he's going to try to play the return to baulk, but he'll be wary of not

trying to leave that red to the left corner.

That's an excellent, excellent shot. A little tap on the table there. I

think that as long as the red isn't straight, he'll be taking it on.

It's a shot that he's really good at, normally. Following through.

Complete on the wrong side of the red there. Played to cut it to his

right and end up hitting it towards the left.

Yes, and the red has come up and down the table and left Marco with a

nice easy starter. So not the start to the fifth frame that Shaun was

looking for. And we've seen, so far in this match, how good Marco is

with these opportunities. Black available in to both corners.

Doesn't have to open the reds because there's enough in the open

to work on. Didn't want to be playing the red to

the right middle, but looks like that's the one he's gonna have to

play. Just got a slight angle so he can

get the right side of the blue. He's OK. If he had nestled on that

Red Bull ball, he'd have been very awkward, but he's nicely there and

can cue easily enough to the cue ball.

In an ideal world, he wouldn't want to play for the red near the top

cushion, but I think that's the one he's going to have to play for.

They're OK, these, as long as you don't have to play it with too much

pails. I was just about to say - they're

going to need an angle on the black soonerer and start disturbing

something. There's one obvious loose red to the right of the pack. But

looking now - there's a plant that goes to the left corner. It's pretty

close! I think that's what he's played for.

Yeah, it looks as though he's just going to the left jaw. And I don't

think that they're close enough where you can play what we call the

reverse plan. Where there is the first red on the left-hand side and

it pushes the second red. There's just that little bit of distance

between them that he's playing the one there. He's found a gap from one

to the left corner. Oh, he didn't play for that. That is a bonus. That

was a bonus. Overrun slightly with a position.

But certainly not the red that he played on.

The red that's just to the right of the pink spot, the one that he's

playing now, I think. Yes, he must be on it because his

body language tells me that he's not covered by the pink.

He'll be a little bit disappointed that he's come straight on the blue.

So he's just cueing now to show you where he wants to leave the cue

ball. Absolutely plum. Maybe could have done with running

through an inch or two more. Can he reach this? He's at full stretch.

Excellent move on the black there. And that cue ball just in the gap

between the six reds immediately above the black. Moving that cue

ball through the black. It will open up perfectly.

Yeah, I think that's the shot that most players would have put in to

the gap. But Marco, because he doesn't possess that type of cue

power, he's just trying to weave them out one at a time here. I

suppose the fact that he's got a 62-point lead here, he doesn't want

to open up too much. But I think that you still have to have the

positive shot. That's what we were saying before the interval. That's

why he's a frustrating player to play. You know, he doesn't take too

many risks, if he doesn't have to. He's playing this to the far left

corner. Going to the heart again. And this

black will put him 70 points in front. With just 67 remaining.

It just shows you the way that players score there. Virtually

without disturbing the pack. He's just picked everything off one at a

time. Well, he'll be a bit disappointed

with that positional shot. But the frame looks to be well and truly

over. 71 points the lead. A bit of a bounce there. Maybe that affected

the positional side. But Shaun, who has seen this frame slip away...

Well, he went for the yellow. But the 71-point lead, just 59

remaining. That's more than enough. So not the start that Shaun Murphy

needed in the second-half of the match. Marco Fu mamps on. He's now

4-1 the lead. -- marches. The cue ball needs to slow up. Just

about! Stop short of the line which gives him a choice of yellow or

green. Nice opening red. But he's done that a few times in this match.

Put in a nice opening ball at first opportunity. But not made the most

of them. Well, he played the cannon there on

the reds and... OK, but there was a couple of loose reds that he could

have played on. And that green was a little bit thinner than was ideal to

play the cannon. A long way off with that one, Marco,

and the receipt to the left middle. Well, decided to play in to the far

left corner. Nicely on the black to go in to there.

Well, he went in to them and it could have worked out better. There

are a couple of reds that he can pot, but a little bit of work to do

with the cue ball. Played it nicely. He's got a nice

angle on the blue here and he seems determined, as Steve was saying,

that maybe he should tighten up a bit. From the choice of the shot off

the green where he went in often, to the shot on the black where you feel

certain he's going to go in to the reds now. I think that's his

thought, how he's going to change it. He's going to have a go here.

Every chance that he gets, I think he's going to attack. Has to win the

frame at this visit, I feel. In the context of this match.

A come of inches in the cue ball there. Again, he's just never had

complete control of the cue ball this afternoon.

Probably play a cannon on the two reds above the black.

In an ideal world, he would like to get rid of the red closest to the

left corner, and that would make the black available in to both corner

pockets. But as Stephen so rightly said, he must win the frame at this

visit, you feel. Just for his own self-belief. This match is slipping

away from him. Well, now, can get the red out of

wait and make the black available to both corners.

It's the first break over 50. The breaks of 48 in the second frame.

Didn't win that one. 49 in the fourth, which was in that fourth

frame. But now his first contribution over 50. And at this

level, that's just falling short slightly. But this is more like it.

Controlled that nicely. A quick glance at the score board tells him

to pot the red and go in front with 59 remaining. So it's the snooker

needed now for Marco Fu. So it was the second chance here,

Shaun, but at least he's made it a frame-winning one. That's what he

needs to do more often. Pity we're not going to see the

century, but that was better from Shaun Murphy, and Marco Fu didn't do

a lot wrong, but Shaun looked as though he's got his attack mode on

there and introduces the arrears once again to two frames.

He's left a pot on on this time. Not certain about that choice of shot,

but he didn't want to risk getting back to the baulk end, but he's left

a chance for Shaun. Cue ball close to the cushion doesn't make the pot

any easier. But sometimes, half a chance is all you can expect.

Played it nicely. Ifiesly on the brown.

But with all that safety that was gone on, they never loosened the

pink or black. So it's still not the best chance. Oh, that would help!

That will help. The pink is now free, somewhat.

Purposely played the cannon there because he wants to free the pink

spot. Doesn't want to be playing for the pink until it goes on its spot

and is available in to at least both middles.

It's understandable. He's given this plenty of thought because it is just

a tricky situation at the moment and shot selection is of paramount

importance. Well, I think he's just about at a

slight angle on this blue. And obviously that red just below

the pink is available to the right corner. And this will really clear

the pink spot. So now is a good time to play for the pink.

Could have done with screwing back another inch. I know you think -

well, what difference? But it could have been a little bit straighter on

the pink. Then he would be able to control the cue ball better. I don't

expect any mistakes, but... It's amazing how you just run out of

position slightly and it can snow ball. But he had no problem.

, now he can play for the red that's blocking the pink to the left

corner. And this really is an opportunity where he should should

for frame. Yeah, it has to be said that he's

played these really well. From the first red he potted, he played the

brown. Probably purposely tried to nudge the pink in to play, or just

free it slightly. And he's had to work hard and needed pin point

position, and he's got that. And this has been an excellent visit.

Yeah, looks a bit more focused around the table now. I think it's

important to be relaxed when you play matches, but sometimes, I think

that Shaun looks too relaxed. You wouldn't like to wait until

you're 4-1 down all the time to do it. No. Doesn't leave much margin

for error, does it? So this pink will put him 73 points

in front. With just 67 remaining. So another frame where he's just

need the the one visit. To win it and it didn't look that much on.

They were saying that the pink and black were tied up while the black

has never come in to play. But a couple of good shots early on to get

that pink. On to the open and he's made the most of it. Very good.

Wouldn't normally play for the black, but once the frame is over,

you think the opportunity. Once the black is in, he may be able to make

the century. (APPLAUSE). Oh, it's a pity. It's a pity. But it

was an excellent break of 81, it really was. Didn't look that much

on. But well played Shaun Murphy. Leaving arena. Marco Fu, now his

lead reduced to one. Well, Shaun played the thick safety

there. You would expect more than one way to come out. I think that he

was trying to open up the cluster. He hasn't opened them. And catching

the yellow, he's left a pot on. This to me has been the key in the last

two frames. Marco Fu has had slim chances and long pots. The long pot

success, as we alluded to, is very low. Can he knock this one in?

Close, but it didn't go in. And that, to me, has been the

difference. He's not been getting in amongst the balls, but he's had a

chance of a couple of long pots in the frames and he's not been able to

knock them in. And his long pot success now is down to 25%.

Fobbed that one in, but needs the cue -- knocked that one in but needs

the cue ball to slow up. Now, unless he's got a good angle on the brown,

well, he's got a slight angle. He's just looking at this angle to see if

the reft is available to the left-hand corner.

If he goes for the brown, there must be a red on. Because otherwise, you

just touch up behind the yellow. Mmm. This red - you can see that it

just goes. It's one of those if you're right behind it, you couldn't

miss it. But the angle that he's at... It will look a lot tighter

than it is. You would think that he would be

playing it with top spin back up. Hopefully on a nice angle on the

blue to go in to the bunch. It didn't go far enough to do that.

The pink may pot to the left corner. Yeah, so it's going to be disturbing

reds here. These are not easy. Well, as we saw, the pink didn't go

in the middle of the pocket and as we allowed to before, sometimes that

can make the difference between being on the next ball or not. And

when they go in the heart of the pocket, the cue ball goes where you

intended it. And then you have to say - a little bit unlucky, but he

would be relieved that the pink went in after the wobbling that it did.

So just a safety shot left. Trying to get it in behind that yellow.

(APPLAUSE). And he's made a pretty good fist of

it! The whole shaded area is the part

that he can't get to. Because of the yellow.

That was dangerous to me. And he's left the red. I don't think that

that is the red that he intended to hit, you know. I think that he tried

to hit one of the ones in the main cluster. Probably quarter ball.

Got punished. So it's gone slightly off the boil here, Marco.

He was punishing Shaun. In the early stage of the match. Every mistake...

Play for an angle on green or brown to go in to the pack. In fact, he's

put a bit more pace there. And the reason that I say that is if you go

in to the pack off the blue, the pink is a fair distance away from

the bunch, but he loose a loose red there that he could play for here.

Just coming around to see the angle that he wants on the black. So

sending the cue ball right through that gap in between the pink and the

black and up on the reds. Hasn't hit that hard enough! If he's

straight on the black, that's a poor shot.

Well, tried toll create the the angle, but, of course, when you do

that, you don't really get the pace in the cue ball that you would if

you had the perfect angle on the black. He's got the red to the right

middle, but I'm not quite certain if he can get easy position on a

colour. So, he couldn't do much else but

leave himself the thin cut on the black. This is a little bit tricky.

And using the cue power here to screw in to the reds.

Couldn't have done much better than that.

You can see the acceleration of the cue ball when it hits the reds!

Great timing. Well, it's taken a while but he

looks to be in full stride now. Nice control of the cue ball.

If he nestles on the red that he is closest to their. He could and the

break. He has just come into it a little bit too much. He is OK.

I suppose what he has to do now is concentrate on lead a nice angle.

So 55 points to lead and just 59 remaining.

That is the highest break of the match. At frame six he had an 86

break. He is starting to score now. But you need a little bit of help

from your opponent sometimes. And Marco Fu did have a chance. He has

been sat in his seat in a sense. It is now going to be all square. Well

played! Very well played, indeed! He took his time to get going. But he

is putting down a marker to his opponent. If you make a mistake, I

am the one who is going to punish you. It was the other way it around

in the first four frames. The first three, particularly.

World playing the exhibition shot. Not quite there but that was a to

restrict break. Marco Fu has a chance. He did not punish Shaun

Murphy but Shaun Murphy punished him. They are now square at four

apiece. Just a fraction out of getting a

snooker. That was quite a good shot. The

important thing is getting the object all safe. -- ball. There will

be a pot left here though. A good pot. I don't know whether the

bump on the middle pocket helped him or not there. Now can he developed

this yellow? Good effort. But it is not getting easier. Ten points

behind. Is this yellow too risky to take on into the far left corner?

He has played the safety. As the yellow slows up, it could be a good

one. He has got a snooker. Shaun Murphy is ten points behind, I

suggest he is not the favourite for the frame.

A good hit. And he will be happy with the outcome. Shaun can get

through to the yellow but he cannot pot it.

I think there is a little bit of left-hand side he can get through.

He is going to play left-hand side. I suppose if you were to absolutely

covert like that you could. There was no raised hand from Marco Fu.

There was probally a chance of one or two in ten that you could

probably achieve it. He is like a poker player, Marco Fu.

You never know what is going on in his head. This is a tough one. If

you played it off the cushion then you have a problem. He wants to play

it with pace, really. Playing at this pace, it could be a good hit.

Unless! -- a little bit harder on that lion.

The problem that playing at this pace, even if he hits it, he is

going to be in trouble. It is absolutely amazing! I don't know why

it marker keeps walking up. -- Marco Fu.

So that is aligned he is looking for. He does not want to leave too

much distance between the cue ball and the yellow. If he gets it close

to the yellow it restricts what Marco can do. He has hit it this

time. I think this yellow may go against

the cushion. If it did go, I am surprised he did

not play it. If you did, you can have the green at the left centre.

It didn't look very straight but it was straight I am even more

surprised that he did not weigh the pot. He has just gone into his

shell, Marco Fu, hasn't he? You play to your ability. If you keep waiting

for the perfect chance to win, to your ability. If you keep waiting

lined up for the yellow. It is a good one. And he will do nicely on

the green. I bet Marco Fu wished he had that yellow back now. Once these

for remaining colours are the problem. And he gets a good angle on

the blue. He just about got the angle. But he does not want to be

too straight on this pink. I think he met to hit the other

cushion. You can only assume that he has tried to force the angle and he

has forced it to much. Is he going to take this pink on? But it goes!

And now a good kiss on the black. Shaun Murphy! Marco Fu has let it

slip because he now trails Shaun Murphy.

Straightaway, a chance of a red for Shaun.

Not everybody has your ability, Stephen. But yes I think that Marco

Fu is in this tournament because he is a great player and he does have

the ability. All of a sudden if you spurn those opportunities you are

not playing to your ability. Why would you do that? Why would you try

and take the easy way out all the time? You can't wait for chances.

You have to create them for yourself. That is a poor safety.

Now let's see what Marco Fu has got left. This is a chance and he have

to start taking them now. He will be playing this off to

cushion for red. He might try and hit two reds by sending this off to

cushions. Is he going to get past the blue? I bet his heart was in his

mouth. It looked as though he was not going to get past the blue. If

he had not have got past the blue he would have been snookered. He is

looking at something there that is probably three or four shots away.

Obviously the pink goes to the right corner. It is a bit late to look at

it after you have played it. The pink spot is not available in

the yellow is the second highest available.

There is a red at the end. He will just get this black in and then aim

for the red in the same pocket. There is a gap between the 1st-line

of red. That was amazing. You would have

thought with the angle he had on the red that he would be trying to nudge

off the other reds rather than avoid them.

You can see it visibly as Marco Fu lifts his head to try and generate

power. Definitely plenty of movement before the tip of the cue hit the

white ball. But Shaun in the meantime is low on

this black. The black is the problem. A tricky pot.

He did not hit it thin enough. There is no problem with the position on

the next red but to pop the black first.

Looking for an angle on the blue. He just about got one. Before when he

was having a close look at the red... We'll see how he plays this

now. He is definitely on one and he did not get through to the one on

the right corner. He will be happy with that, just about on it.

He was not missing that type of shot earlier on in the match. That has

been the difference. Early on, every time Shaun made a mistake, it has

not quite happened in the second half of this match. He is falling

behind. Shaun Murphy is not good on the

blue. A chance to perhaps go into the bunch there.

Now here is a perfect angle. Maybe a red at the top of the barge will go

into the left corner. -- bunch. You always need a bit of luck. It is not

add. I am a little bit disappointed that he got that red to the

right-hand side cushion. There was no need for that.

I think he has a choice of red into this left corner.

As I say, when he opened them up and got the red to the right-hand side

cushion, that will be the problem ball.

At some stage he will have to start thinking about moving that red. He

is looking at the store to see if he does need it.

I am a bit surprised he did not take the chance there.

He creeps into the front now by two points.

Just a little bit too much angle on the black. It was not the time to

play with science. But nicely played! And that might leave himself

into the position where he could play the second last red, he's just

looking. Somewhere near that cue ball that they put that on that

lion. And now he can pot this. He might have left a little bit more

angle than this but I think he has enough to pot this red and lead the

red away from the right-hand side cushion. He has done it but as we

always say, when you move red, you have to pot red.

He never had an ideal angle on the red, that is why he had to force it

and take it off the cushion. I don't know whether dropping the blue in

will help. But in it went! And Marco Fu must be fearing the

worst now. Great performances though by Shaun Murphy. He has been a

different player since then. As you said at the time, it is not the

ideal thing to be points down. Every credit, just the black needed.

Snooker required. Marco Fu has had so many missed opportunities. It may

have cost him dear. Misses the yellow. To snooker is required.

Marco Fu will obviously played on. He will disappointed, Shaun Murphy

that he did not pot that. But to four point snooker 's

needed. There is one of them. If you can get the object ball in the

middle of the table, there is plenty of room to go around it.

This was the yellow, if it had have gone in it would have been framed

and match over. It looks like a straight forward escape, going

through the brown. And it looks as though he can get to that. That is

the one. No problem. A little bit of pressure on it.

So Marco Fu has had a look at the scoreboard and seen their art to

snooker 's needed. If he could pot of green and brown, he won't miss

the opportunity to screw the green and brown in. He tried to screw in

behind the brown there. While that has not turned out too

bad. The problem for Marco Fu is he could knock it on to the far left

corner. But no he has not tipped towards the far left corner. And he

has not knocked the snooker. So if Shaun knocks this in, it is the end

of the match In it goes. And he has done really

well here, Shaun Murphy. Marco Fu will be disappointed. He was in the

ascendancy but his long game let him down. Because it was letting him

down he started to refusing shots that he should have gone for. His

race is run. In goes the black! Marco Fu comes

across, gentlemen as ever and shakes his hand. Well played, good

sportsmanship but it is Shaun Murphy. He goes through to the

semi-final. Another great win for Shaun Murphy. He goes through to

Saturday's semi-final. We will return with more of the

quarter-final action this afternoon from 1pm. As Ronnie O'Sullivan takes

on Ricky Walden. We will catch again.