:00:57. > :01:02.Neil Robertson and Mark Allen Akiko of the most potent snooker players
:01:02. > :01:05.in the modern game. The first round matches the main attraction at
:01:05. > :01:10.Alexandra Palace. We start with a recap of what happened this
:01:10. > :01:15.afternoon between two former title- holders, John Higgins and Matthew
:01:15. > :01:18.Stevens. Sadly for Matthew, his first appearance in five years a
:01:18. > :01:28.disappointing one as he exits in round one. John Higgins is through
:01:28. > :01:29.
:01:29. > :01:35.to the quarterfinals for the first time in three years, winning by 6-2.
:01:35. > :01:42.In the first round, I managed to get the same as a final win. It was
:01:42. > :01:46.a big win, I suppose. John Higgins will play either Ali Carter or
:01:46. > :01:50.Graeme Dott in Thursday quarterfinals. Now we can
:01:50. > :01:55.concentrate on Neil Robertson against Mark Allen. Paul Mark Allen,
:01:55. > :02:00.this is an important tournament for him to build on the championship
:02:00. > :02:10.when he finished runner-up despite argue with Barry Hearn, a situation
:02:10. > :02:12.
:02:12. > :02:18.which has mellowed of late. settled our differences, but they
:02:18. > :02:23.are still a few areas that I am not happy with. But we chatted about it
:02:23. > :02:30.and we have things off our chest. Some of the things he does, I do
:02:30. > :02:34.not agree with. I just have to get on with it and play snooker.
:02:34. > :02:41.way I'm going to work is not going to appeal to everybody. I have to
:02:41. > :02:46.take the view from the sport. But they will take a view from
:02:46. > :02:49.themselves. I can't have that. I have to look at what will take this
:02:49. > :02:55.sport to the global celebration of snooker that I believe it can
:02:55. > :03:00.become. I know the way through but to do that, we have got to be
:03:00. > :03:06.innovated and creative and take some risks. They can come with us
:03:07. > :03:14.screaming for they can eke out a living. Snooker will be one of the
:03:14. > :03:23.fastest exploding sports in the world for the next few years.
:03:23. > :03:28.venue is very good. With the crowds, it should create a good atmosphere.
:03:28. > :03:38.It is going to be a tough match. I beat him in the second round last
:03:38. > :03:38.
:03:38. > :03:42.year. Hopefully I will look back at that match and use it tonight.
:03:42. > :03:45.promised to be a high quality encounter between two terrific
:03:45. > :03:50.break-builders, and they shared the first two frames. The Australian
:03:50. > :04:00.took the opener before Allen struck back in the second with a break of
:04:00. > :04:03.
:04:03. > :04:11.88. We join it in frame three with This position is very tricky at the
:04:11. > :04:15.moment. The blue does not go in the middle and the pink does not go in
:04:15. > :04:22.the other one. He is having a look and has put his hand up to you say
:04:22. > :04:32.sorry because it does go. He did not play anywhere near there. If he
:04:32. > :04:37.
:04:37. > :04:42.can negotiate this pink, he will I would like to make a 60 break and
:04:42. > :04:49.then hold my hand up and say sorry. But it has finished a bit awkward
:04:49. > :04:52.for him, hasn't it? He would like to take that one again. Maybe he
:04:52. > :04:56.was feeling a bit sorry for Neil Robertson, having fluked the
:04:56. > :05:06.position on the pink, that you have to take advantage when you get a
:05:06. > :05:11.
:05:11. > :05:19.good run, because you get enough I don't think it will be a problem
:05:19. > :05:29.to knock this red in, but where is the next ball coming from? It is a
:05:29. > :05:44.
:05:44. > :05:54.It is not ideal for either pocket. That is well done. Next to the pink
:05:54. > :05:59.
:05:59. > :06:09.It looks like he can clip the one in the centre. This is a good
:06:09. > :06:27.
:06:27. > :06:35.This was the shot we were talking about. He flicked the other red
:06:35. > :06:45.unintentionally. Look how he found the gap and dropped on the pink.
:06:45. > :06:51.
:06:52. > :07:01.That is what we call a little greasy bonus. -- Brucey. He has
:07:02. > :07:02.
:07:02. > :07:12.managed to keep going. If the pink goes in the corner, this is not bad.
:07:12. > :07:27.
:07:27. > :07:31.Now he can take the red that is blocking the black spot, and the
:07:31. > :07:41.black might go in the same pocket. Very little to do to get on this
:07:41. > :08:02.
:08:02. > :08:12.next red. This could open things He got nicely onto the black again.
:08:12. > :08:15.
:08:15. > :08:25.He is on his way in this third frame, Mark Allen. Very little
:08:25. > :09:01.
:09:01. > :09:06.being missed so far this evening. He is a very compact player, his
:09:06. > :09:14.cue action. He is not the tallest player in the game, around five
:09:14. > :09:24.feet 8 inches. But he has a very compact style. He just looks so
:09:24. > :09:25.
:09:25. > :09:35.comfortable on the shot. Yes, there is one certainly more ways than one
:09:35. > :09:37.
:09:37. > :09:43.to do it. He does it very well. There are no Q2 players alike. And
:09:43. > :09:49.it certainly works for him. -- two players. It is like setting a
:09:49. > :09:52.piston up on the table. Win it up, that is why you are looking for -
:09:52. > :10:02.to deliver the cue in a straight line.
:10:02. > :10:15.
:10:15. > :10:25.It is virtually safe. Neil Robertson already requiring a
:10:25. > :10:32.
:10:32. > :10:42.He is deliberately trying to lead himself off straight on the pink so
:10:42. > :10:46.
:10:46. > :10:56.that he can cannon the reds out. Great touch. He really does look
:10:56. > :11:02.
:11:02. > :11:10.He had a 31 Centre's last season. He has already made 22 this season.
:11:10. > :11:20.-- centuries. Of course, with having these PTC events, century
:11:20. > :11:24.
:11:24. > :11:31.breaks are becoming more common. Yes. He has had eight already this
:11:31. > :11:41.season, which is some achievement. If this goes in, you would think he
:11:41. > :11:44.
:11:44. > :11:53.I think he thought he had missed that, because I also thought it had
:11:53. > :12:03.hit the cushion but it turned back into the pocket. Let's have a look
:12:03. > :12:27.
:12:27. > :12:32.That is 134 centuries for Mark Allen in his career. He has got
:12:32. > :12:42.everything but a major title, but it is only a matter of time when he
:12:42. > :12:55.
:12:55. > :13:05.The highest break here is held by Shaun Murphy, 139 last night. But
:13:05. > :13:10.
:13:10. > :13:15.this is still great stuff. That is one way! It only takes one chance
:13:15. > :13:20.and the play is winning the frame. That was a fabulous 124 break. He
:13:20. > :13:26.That was a fabulous 124 break. He now leads 2-1. Mark takes the lead.
:13:26. > :13:32.We can now move on to frame four. Neil Robertson is trailing by 51
:13:33. > :13:42.points and is caught up in a safety battle with his opponents. --
:13:43. > :13:45.
:13:45. > :13:51.He might be able to take the pot on, the one near the pink spot. He did,
:13:51. > :14:01.but he did not avoid the red. He has virtually handed the frame now
:14:01. > :14:06.
:14:06. > :14:11.that he has Korea into that red to Mark Allen. -- careered. Or has he?
:14:11. > :14:19.What has he done there? He would like to play that one again. He may
:14:19. > :14:23.be forced into taking on a difficult blue. At first look, I
:14:23. > :14:29.think you might be right. What else can he do? He can't play in the
:14:29. > :14:39.baulk terrier or the centre pocket. He has put himself right under
:14:39. > :14:45.
:14:45. > :14:55.He cannot really clip off the black to the top of the table. It is a
:14:55. > :15:00.
:15:00. > :15:07.He spent some time building up the 52 point advantage, and he knows
:15:07. > :15:11.that that if he takes this blue on, he has got to get it. He might as
:15:11. > :15:17.well have a go at the pot because he -- if he tries to cover that red,
:15:17. > :15:27.he could make a mess. It is one of those situations where you off
:15:27. > :15:32.
:15:32. > :15:38.forced into the pot. -- you are. you said, Dennis, he would love to
:15:38. > :15:42.have that one again. He could screw that anywhere. If he was a
:15:42. > :15:48.billiards player, he would flick of the black and land on the red near
:15:48. > :15:56.the cushion, and you would not lead that is a possibility. It is a
:15:57. > :16:06.delicate little flick off the black and everything would be pretty safe.
:16:07. > :16:39.
:16:39. > :16:49.This one is not straightforward for -- straightforward. He did well
:16:49. > :16:52.
:16:53. > :17:02.with it. Neil Robertson could get himself back into this frame. So
:17:03. > :17:07.
:17:08. > :17:12.not all is lost just yet. He could He is straight to this red in the
:17:12. > :17:17.middle but I don't think the black goes, but the pink despair. It is a
:17:17. > :17:27.good chance. I don't know whether that red is covering the pink spot.
:17:27. > :17:35.
:17:35. > :17:45.If it is, that would be ideal. The This is a very good chance. There
:17:45. > :17:55.is not really a ball safe if Neil Robertson is on his not here. --
:17:55. > :18:17.
:18:17. > :18:24.knock. I thought the pink spot was He played that nicely. He left
:18:24. > :18:30.himself virtually dead straight on this black. Maybe a soft stun for
:18:30. > :18:40.the red to the right. If this goes in, this is a great chance for a
:18:40. > :19:04.
:19:04. > :19:14.Just the red below the black is the only one I can seat being a problem
:19:14. > :19:25.
:19:25. > :19:35.for Neil Robertson. He has left That was good thinking to get the
:19:35. > :19:42.
:19:42. > :19:47.Just going back to Mark when he was led by 51, and he played the little
:19:47. > :19:52.snooker behind the pink. It is so important to have a colour safe.
:19:52. > :19:58.John suggested that he pushed the green safe. I thought he would play
:19:58. > :20:03.a safety and knock the pink safe. It is just how the player sees it
:20:03. > :20:08.at that particular time. It comes with experience. He is a very
:20:08. > :20:18.experienced player. He was looking a strong favourite when he led by
:20:18. > :20:20.
:20:20. > :20:26.51. In fairness to him, what happened afterwards was under his
:20:26. > :20:36.own control. He should have been in position on either pink, black or
:20:36. > :20:43.
:20:43. > :20:51.blue. He left himself in no man's Green, brown, blue and pink
:20:51. > :21:01.required. The tricky one is always the brown to the blue, to make sure
:21:01. > :21:18.
:21:18. > :21:26.you get a good angle for an easy What a standard we have had
:21:26. > :21:33.deceiving. Very little missed, very few mistakes. -- this evening. Neil
:21:33. > :21:43.Robertson opened with a break of 74 and finishes with 77 frames to take
:21:43. > :21:49.us to the mid-session interval all It was predicted to be a close
:21:49. > :21:59.encounter between these two top players. It soon became 3-3. We
:21:59. > :22:03.
:22:04. > :22:10.will rejoin the action in frame That was a mistake. He left one to
:22:10. > :22:20.the left of the black. If that ball is open, what a chance for Neil
:22:20. > :22:47.
:22:47. > :22:57.He knocked a long pot keen earlier On this occasion, it could have
:22:57. > :23:20.
:23:20. > :23:30.But to read balls, he would want to He has the cue ball in a prime
:23:30. > :24:09.
:24:09. > :24:19.He's having trouble with the long That was not what he initially went
:24:19. > :24:22.
:24:22. > :24:32.That won't make any difference to Mark Allen had some good luck
:24:32. > :24:32.
:24:32. > :25:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds
:25:15. > :25:25.The pink would be available into the left four to the right. If he
:25:25. > :25:33.
:25:33. > :25:43.cannot get he black he will play There are five red balls there.
:25:43. > :25:49.
:25:49. > :25:59.They are not together that they are They are kind of blocking each
:25:59. > :25:59.
:25:59. > :26:46.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds
:26:46. > :26:56.other into the corner. He will try The last few shots have not enabled
:26:56. > :27:34.
:27:34. > :27:38.I'm sure that Mark will be sitting He just has to take it on.
:27:38. > :27:48.Unfortunately you do not always knock them all in it and at this
:27:48. > :27:50.
:27:50. > :28:00.Neil Robertson did not win the world champion because he is a bad
:28:00. > :28:19.
:28:19. > :28:26.player, take it from me, he is top It least that did not spoil things.
:28:26. > :28:36.A little bit of pace was taken out of the cue ball. They've both
:28:36. > :28:39.
:28:39. > :28:49.jumped slightly. It did not spoil Some times they keep like a mule.
:28:49. > :29:07.
:29:07. > :29:17.Thankfully there has not been too This is excellent match play
:29:17. > :29:32.
:29:32. > :29:42.He's been playing some clever He has already made 33 centuries
:29:42. > :30:06.
:30:06. > :30:16.The red is available next to the blue into the middle pocket. He
:30:16. > :30:31.
:30:31. > :30:41.If he can knock the pink in he will get his century. He does not really
:30:41. > :30:56.
:30:56. > :31:06.Shaun Murphy has the highest break He needs a little kangaroo shot to
:31:06. > :31:27.
:31:27. > :31:33.He was behind and it all the sudden The Australian reclaiming the lead
:31:33. > :31:43.for the first time. Thanks to his century. Mark Allen has built up a
:31:43. > :32:06.
:32:06. > :32:16.This is the situation where neither can get the yellow. That was a
:32:16. > :32:18.
:32:18. > :32:28.The problem here is the position. I'm certain he can get the red.
:32:28. > :32:28.
:32:29. > :32:38.What will he do? The pink is tied up. He may have to come back for
:32:39. > :32:44.
:32:44. > :32:54.If he gets the blue will it be put back on its spot or will it go to
:32:54. > :33:05.
:33:05. > :33:09.That will be interesting. The brown will go OK but if the blue spot is
:33:09. > :33:19.occupied, what a great chance to mark the blue and get the black on
:33:19. > :33:36.
:33:36. > :33:46.the black spot. You need to judge That has not quite worked as he
:33:46. > :33:46.
:33:46. > :34:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds
:34:32. > :34:41.the top. You just want to drop them in. The black is away from its spot
:34:42. > :35:18.
:35:18. > :35:28.reds, plus the difficult red due to the blackball not being on the spot,
:35:28. > :35:28.
:35:28. > :36:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds
:36:11. > :36:21.it will be a tough position. If he keep running. If he can get this
:36:21. > :36:37.
:36:37. > :36:43.far I think. He may still take it. And least he's gone a little bit
:36:43. > :36:53.further. They should be enough pace to get to the pink. It will be
:36:53. > :37:29.
:37:29. > :37:39.quite hard to pot. This is the middle pocket. He may hold it.
:37:39. > :37:39.
:37:39. > :37:46.It was well controlled. A nice touch. So far, this has been an
:37:46. > :37:56.excellent break. The circumstances for what it is, under pressure for
:37:56. > :38:19.
:38:19. > :38:29.cost him the chance to go forward century. This may be a killer blow
:38:29. > :38:54.
:38:54. > :39:04.frames you should win it is about at this level and this has been
:39:04. > :39:36.
:39:36. > :39:40.but he has won this, the Australian, putting himself into the lead 5-3.
:39:40. > :39:44.He just needs one more to going to the final. Mark Allen has never
:39:44. > :39:54.the final. Mark Allen has never failed to get past the first round.
:39:54. > :40:24.
:40:24. > :40:34.black but will he missed the Reds priority is the pot. His long game
:40:34. > :40:56.
:40:56. > :41:06.did think about it. It makes it more difficult but this is a key
:41:06. > :41:24.
:41:24. > :41:34.to play it. Full-blooded he played it. He gave it every chance. He's a
:41:34. > :42:12.
:42:12. > :42:22.man with confidence. That shot available but he needs to be
:42:22. > :42:22.
:42:22. > :43:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds
:43:06. > :43:16.little bit concerned as to whether enough pace. The chances now here
:43:16. > :43:16.
:43:16. > :44:49.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds
:44:49. > :44:53.game port, but more for his short spoke about his 18-year-old son. He
:44:53. > :45:03.had a nice Christmas. He has worked so hard since turning professional.
:45:03. > :45:09.
:45:09. > :45:19.He deserves everything he gets. He him. It's nice when you get success
:45:19. > :45:26.
:45:26. > :45:30.with a story like this. He has done there were doubts as to whether he
:45:30. > :45:40.would be a top-class professional. Hard work game dedication and the
:45:40. > :46:03.
:46:04. > :46:09.Mark Allen produced 88. It looked as if he would take control. A few
:46:09. > :46:19.little errors here and there, that's all it takes at this
:46:19. > :46:19.
:46:19. > :47:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds
:47:42. > :47:48.the one everybody wants to win. tournament one day and win a world
:47:49. > :47:54.title. That's the only thing missing. It's the first delusive
:47:54. > :48:04.win. I'm sure he will get that. He will grow even stronger. It's
:48:04. > :48:12.
:48:12. > :48:22.always difficult to win the first strong for Mark Allen and he
:48:22. > :48:28.
:48:28. > :48:35.We both played fantastically. There was a break in every frame. I made
:48:35. > :48:40.a good clearance. The next few frames were a bit scrappy. I have
:48:40. > :48:47.my momentum now making a century and that was the turning point with
:48:47. > :48:52.a great clearance going 5-3. The last frame continued with over 80
:48:52. > :48:56.and I cannot fault my form. I may have missed a few long ones but
:48:56. > :49:01.they were very difficult shot. I had no alternatives. I was very
:49:01. > :49:07.pleased. For graduation is to Neil Robertson. He will play Mark