Day 3 Masters Snooker Highlights

Neil Robertson and Mark Allen Akiko of the most potent snooker players

in the modern game. The first round matches the main attraction at

Alexandra Palace. We start with a recap of what happened this

afternoon between two former title- holders, John Higgins and Matthew

Stevens. Sadly for Matthew, his first appearance in five years a

disappointing one as he exits in round one. John Higgins is through

to the quarterfinals for the first time in three years, winning by 6-2.

In the first round, I managed to get the same as a final win. It was

a big win, I suppose. John Higgins will play either Ali Carter or

Graeme Dott in Thursday quarterfinals. Now we can

concentrate on Neil Robertson against Mark Allen. Paul Mark Allen,

this is an important tournament for him to build on the championship

when he finished runner-up despite argue with Barry Hearn, a situation

which has mellowed of late. settled our differences, but they

are still a few areas that I am not happy with. But we chatted about it

and we have things off our chest. Some of the things he does, I do

not agree with. I just have to get on with it and play snooker.

way I'm going to work is not going to appeal to everybody. I have to

take the view from the sport. But they will take a view from

themselves. I can't have that. I have to look at what will take this

sport to the global celebration of snooker that I believe it can

become. I know the way through but to do that, we have got to be

innovated and creative and take some risks. They can come with us

screaming for they can eke out a living. Snooker will be one of the

fastest exploding sports in the world for the next few years.

venue is very good. With the crowds, it should create a good atmosphere.

It is going to be a tough match. I beat him in the second round last

year. Hopefully I will look back at that match and use it tonight.

promised to be a high quality encounter between two terrific

break-builders, and they shared the first two frames. The Australian

took the opener before Allen struck back in the second with a break of

88. We join it in frame three with This position is very tricky at the

moment. The blue does not go in the middle and the pink does not go in

the other one. He is having a look and has put his hand up to you say

sorry because it does go. He did not play anywhere near there. If he

can negotiate this pink, he will I would like to make a 60 break and

then hold my hand up and say sorry. But it has finished a bit awkward

for him, hasn't it? He would like to take that one again. Maybe he

was feeling a bit sorry for Neil Robertson, having fluked the

position on the pink, that you have to take advantage when you get a

good run, because you get enough I don't think it will be a problem

to knock this red in, but where is the next ball coming from? It is a

It is not ideal for either pocket. That is well done. Next to the pink

It looks like he can clip the one in the centre. This is a good

This was the shot we were talking about. He flicked the other red

unintentionally. Look how he found the gap and dropped on the pink.

That is what we call a little greasy bonus. -- Brucey. He has

managed to keep going. If the pink goes in the corner, this is not bad.

Now he can take the red that is blocking the black spot, and the

black might go in the same pocket. Very little to do to get on this

next red. This could open things He got nicely onto the black again.

He is on his way in this third frame, Mark Allen. Very little

being missed so far this evening. He is a very compact player, his

cue action. He is not the tallest player in the game, around five

feet 8 inches. But he has a very compact style. He just looks so

comfortable on the shot. Yes, there is one certainly more ways than one

to do it. He does it very well. There are no Q2 players alike. And

it certainly works for him. -- two players. It is like setting a

piston up on the table. Win it up, that is why you are looking for -

to deliver the cue in a straight line.

It is virtually safe. Neil Robertson already requiring a

He is deliberately trying to lead himself off straight on the pink so

that he can cannon the reds out. Great touch. He really does look

He had a 31 Centre's last season. He has already made 22 this season.

-- centuries. Of course, with having these PTC events, century

breaks are becoming more common. Yes. He has had eight already this

season, which is some achievement. If this goes in, you would think he

I think he thought he had missed that, because I also thought it had

hit the cushion but it turned back into the pocket. Let's have a look

That is 134 centuries for Mark Allen in his career. He has got

everything but a major title, but it is only a matter of time when he

The highest break here is held by Shaun Murphy, 139 last night. But

this is still great stuff. That is one way! It only takes one chance

and the play is winning the frame. That was a fabulous 124 break. He

That was a fabulous 124 break. He now leads 2-1. Mark takes the lead.

We can now move on to frame four. Neil Robertson is trailing by 51

points and is caught up in a safety battle with his opponents. --

He might be able to take the pot on, the one near the pink spot. He did,

but he did not avoid the red. He has virtually handed the frame now

that he has Korea into that red to Mark Allen. -- careered. Or has he?

What has he done there? He would like to play that one again. He may

be forced into taking on a difficult blue. At first look, I

think you might be right. What else can he do? He can't play in the

baulk terrier or the centre pocket. He has put himself right under

He cannot really clip off the black to the top of the table. It is a

He spent some time building up the 52 point advantage, and he knows

that that if he takes this blue on, he has got to get it. He might as

well have a go at the pot because he -- if he tries to cover that red,

he could make a mess. It is one of those situations where you off

forced into the pot. -- you are. you said, Dennis, he would love to

have that one again. He could screw that anywhere. If he was a

billiards player, he would flick of the black and land on the red near

the cushion, and you would not lead that is a possibility. It is a

delicate little flick off the black and everything would be pretty safe.

This one is not straightforward for -- straightforward. He did well

with it. Neil Robertson could get himself back into this frame. So

not all is lost just yet. He could He is straight to this red in the

middle but I don't think the black goes, but the pink despair. It is a

good chance. I don't know whether that red is covering the pink spot.

If it is, that would be ideal. The This is a very good chance. There

is not really a ball safe if Neil Robertson is on his not here. --

knock. I thought the pink spot was He played that nicely. He left

himself virtually dead straight on this black. Maybe a soft stun for

the red to the right. If this goes in, this is a great chance for a

Just the red below the black is the only one I can seat being a problem

for Neil Robertson. He has left That was good thinking to get the

Just going back to Mark when he was led by 51, and he played the little

snooker behind the pink. It is so important to have a colour safe.

John suggested that he pushed the green safe. I thought he would play

a safety and knock the pink safe. It is just how the player sees it

at that particular time. It comes with experience. He is a very

experienced player. He was looking a strong favourite when he led by

51. In fairness to him, what happened afterwards was under his

own control. He should have been in position on either pink, black or

blue. He left himself in no man's Green, brown, blue and pink

required. The tricky one is always the brown to the blue, to make sure

you get a good angle for an easy What a standard we have had

deceiving. Very little missed, very few mistakes. -- this evening. Neil

Robertson opened with a break of 74 and finishes with 77 frames to take

us to the mid-session interval all It was predicted to be a close

encounter between these two top players. It soon became 3-3. We

will rejoin the action in frame That was a mistake. He left one to

the left of the black. If that ball is open, what a chance for Neil

He knocked a long pot keen earlier On this occasion, it could have

But to read balls, he would want to He has the cue ball in a prime

He's having trouble with the long That was not what he initially went

That won't make any difference to Mark Allen had some good luck

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds

The pink would be available into the left four to the right. If he

cannot get he black he will play There are five red balls there.

They are not together that they are They are kind of blocking each

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds

other into the corner. He will try The last few shots have not enabled

I'm sure that Mark will be sitting He just has to take it on.

Unfortunately you do not always knock them all in it and at this

Neil Robertson did not win the world champion because he is a bad

player, take it from me, he is top It least that did not spoil things.

A little bit of pace was taken out of the cue ball. They've both

jumped slightly. It did not spoil Some times they keep like a mule.

Thankfully there has not been too This is excellent match play

He's been playing some clever He has already made 33 centuries

The red is available next to the blue into the middle pocket. He

If he can knock the pink in he will get his century. He does not really

Shaun Murphy has the highest break He needs a little kangaroo shot to

He was behind and it all the sudden The Australian reclaiming the lead

for the first time. Thanks to his century. Mark Allen has built up a

This is the situation where neither can get the yellow. That was a

The problem here is the position. I'm certain he can get the red.

What will he do? The pink is tied up. He may have to come back for

If he gets the blue will it be put back on its spot or will it go to

That will be interesting. The brown will go OK but if the blue spot is

occupied, what a great chance to mark the blue and get the black on

the black spot. You need to judge That has not quite worked as he

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds

the top. You just want to drop them in. The black is away from its spot

reds, plus the difficult red due to the blackball not being on the spot,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds

it will be a tough position. If he keep running. If he can get this

far I think. He may still take it. And least he's gone a little bit

further. They should be enough pace to get to the pink. It will be

quite hard to pot. This is the middle pocket. He may hold it.

It was well controlled. A nice touch. So far, this has been an

excellent break. The circumstances for what it is, under pressure for

cost him the chance to go forward century. This may be a killer blow

frames you should win it is about at this level and this has been

but he has won this, the Australian, putting himself into the lead 5-3.

He just needs one more to going to the final. Mark Allen has never

the final. Mark Allen has never failed to get past the first round.

black but will he missed the Reds priority is the pot. His long game

did think about it. It makes it more difficult but this is a key

to play it. Full-blooded he played it. He gave it every chance. He's a

man with confidence. That shot available but he needs to be

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds

little bit concerned as to whether enough pace. The chances now here

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds

game port, but more for his short spoke about his 18-year-old son. He

had a nice Christmas. He has worked so hard since turning professional.

He deserves everything he gets. He him. It's nice when you get success

with a story like this. He has done there were doubts as to whether he

would be a top-class professional. Hard work game dedication and the

Mark Allen produced 88. It looked as if he would take control. A few

little errors here and there, that's all it takes at this

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 43 seconds

the one everybody wants to win. tournament one day and win a world

title. That's the only thing missing. It's the first delusive

win. I'm sure he will get that. He will grow even stronger. It's

always difficult to win the first strong for Mark Allen and he

We both played fantastically. There was a break in every frame. I made

a good clearance. The next few frames were a bit scrappy. I have

my momentum now making a century and that was the turning point with

a great clearance going 5-3. The last frame continued with over 80

and I cannot fault my form. I may have missed a few long ones but

they were very difficult shot. I had no alternatives. I was very

pleased. For graduation is to Neil Robertson. He will play Mark