:00:36. > :00:43.You've got to play well from the start. Playing one table is a great
:00:43. > :00:48.crowd, which makes it the second biggest tournament we've got by
:00:48. > :00:53.some distance. I give myself a good chance. There's no-one in the
:00:53. > :00:58.tournament I have not beaten before. There's no reason why I cannot beat
:00:58. > :01:06.them again. It's the elite beating each other up for the week. It has
:01:06. > :01:13.produced some of the best matches in history. 1999, the first time
:01:13. > :01:21.2006. 2013 - it will sound good to do the hat trick. When you are
:01:21. > :01:26.winning it is good. It's a tournament I've never done well in.
:01:26. > :01:32.Most years I done bad in it. Hopefully this may be the year that
:01:32. > :01:37.I play better. Obviously I would love to win this. I definitely know
:01:37. > :01:41.there's a tournament or two left in me. It is a huge tournament. It is
:01:41. > :01:47.one of the biggest we play in. It would have been disappointing to go
:01:47. > :01:52.out in the first round. I still have a chance.
:01:52. > :01:58.Hello. It is quarter-finals time at the Betfair Masters here in London,
:01:58. > :02:02.the most exclusive event in snooker. Since 1975 has had the happy habit
:02:02. > :02:07.of producing some of the most memorable matches we have ever seen
:02:07. > :02:14.in this sport. We had another one in the first of our quarters
:02:14. > :02:17.between Neil Robertson and Mark Allen, of Northern Ireland.
:02:17. > :02:27.Could be in for another thrilling match here with these two left-
:02:27. > :02:31.
:02:31. > :02:41.handers. He had a chance to pinch that frame
:02:41. > :02:52.
:02:52. > :03:02.after making a break of 66. That's the highest break in this
:03:02. > :03:10.
:03:10. > :03:20.The standard continues and Neil Robertson puts himself one frame
:03:20. > :03:44.
:03:44. > :03:50.We've got a decider. Cracking stuff It was Neil Robertson that gets
:03:50. > :03:57.himself into the semi-final. He takes the match 6 six frames to
:03:57. > :04:00.five. We played well. Overall, I think 80% of the match
:04:00. > :04:06.was fantastic. It is hard to take positives right now. Maybe I will
:04:06. > :04:10.look at it later and see where I went right and where I went wrong.
:04:10. > :04:16.It good to know I am competing with top players. There's a little step
:04:16. > :04:22.extra I need to take. It was great stuff.
:04:22. > :04:29.The fifth final frame decider of the week. Robertson and Allen put
:04:29. > :04:36.on a show. Top that Higgins and Murphy. That is what they attempted
:04:36. > :04:46.to do this evening. They have squared up on numerous occasions
:04:46. > :04:55.
:04:55. > :05:02.When it comes to every event, he's one of the favourites.
:05:02. > :05:05.Probably the best we've had in the game.
:05:05. > :05:10.It's only the best players in the world in this event. This
:05:10. > :05:16.tournament has such a history. Probably second only to the World
:05:16. > :05:25.Championships that make it so important. We're all trying so hard.
:05:25. > :05:30.I think it was obviously 2006. 2013 - it would sound good to do that -
:05:30. > :05:36.the hat trick. I like to think there's a chance
:05:36. > :05:45.that some day I could hold all three BBC Majors. I've got another
:05:45. > :05:50.Higgins leads by eight to six, including that world final. 30-
:05:50. > :05:55.year-old Murphy is the benefit of a special memory here 12 months ago
:05:55. > :06:01.when he beat the Scot in the semi- finals. Tonight Higgins moves into
:06:01. > :06:06.a 4-1 lead. Things were looking good for the
:06:06. > :06:11.Scot, but Murphy claimed frame six to move two of his lead. Murphy on
:06:11. > :06:21.a break of 40. It is Hendry alongside John Virgo in the
:06:21. > :06:31.
:06:31. > :06:35.I don't know! That was ambitious to say the least.
:06:35. > :06:45.I can only assume Murphy doesn't think there's a plan. If he did,
:06:45. > :06:46.
:06:46. > :06:56.there's no reason to play that shot I have been comment taiting now on
:06:56. > :07:09.
:07:09. > :07:19.the snooker for too many years to He's got a lar type of angle. Will
:07:19. > :07:49.
:07:49. > :07:55.he play for the plant? It can't go If you hit the first red, as we
:07:55. > :08:05.look on the right-hand side, it will push the second red over to
:08:05. > :08:05.
:08:05. > :09:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:09:05. > :09:11.Didn't want the kiss on the blue, He wanted to be near the side
:09:11. > :09:21.cushion to play that. Didn't like the way he finished.
:09:21. > :09:28.
:09:28. > :09:33.Shaun Murphy will get another I don't believe what I'm seeing
:09:33. > :09:43.really. It's not unlucky. Those pockets are always in the same
:09:43. > :09:43.
:09:43. > :10:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:10:30. > :10:37.They have to raise their game considerably if they have a chance
:10:37. > :10:47.of winning this competition. A gap again, John. I told you,
:10:47. > :11:15.
:11:15. > :11:20.The brown might just make it As I say, the brown was just about
:11:20. > :11:30.where he wanted to put his bridge hand. Not only has he missed it,
:11:30. > :11:42.
:11:42. > :11:52.he's stuck it up. That could be his They won't be happy with that shot.
:11:52. > :12:06.
:12:06. > :12:10.The shot for the red was a terrible shot. Yes, it really was. He has
:12:10. > :12:20.knocked the brown in a more awkward position. He's not got the perfect
:12:20. > :12:24.
:12:24. > :12:34.He held it somewhat. When he attempts to pot the green - the
:12:34. > :13:01.
:13:01. > :13:05.It was in, it was out, it was in - it stayed out! Just have a look at
:13:05. > :13:15.this. I think a lot of people on the right-hand side thought it was
:13:15. > :13:25.
:13:25. > :13:30.If that cue ball had just stopped four inches short, John Higgins
:13:30. > :13:36.would have had a big problem here. It's still not straightforward
:13:36. > :13:41.safety. This is a massive frame for Shaun
:13:41. > :13:47.Murphy. As you say, as long as your opponent is two frames away from
:13:47. > :13:50.the winning line, there is a margin of error. Once they get within one
:13:50. > :14:00.frame, well, you just can't make any more mistakes. This brown will
:14:00. > :14:00.
:14:00. > :14:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:14:55. > :15:05.It was OK hitting it. He could not John Higgins is still fuming from
:15:05. > :15:20.
:15:20. > :15:30.He has come too far. The only good thing is he does not meet the black.
:15:30. > :15:39.
:15:39. > :15:44.Good shot! Excellent pot! There was pressure on that. John Higgins will
:15:44. > :15:48.be kicking himself. He had a chance on the last red. It cost him and
:15:48. > :15:58.Shaun Murphy is back in it although he still trails, 4-3.
:15:58. > :16:04.HAZEL IRVINE: with a break of 77, from 1-4 behind, Shaun Murphy has
:16:04. > :16:14.climbed back to 4-4, so it is the best of the grief. It is Higgins,
:16:14. > :16:52.
:16:52. > :17:02.the double Masters champion, who is He will be looking at an angle on
:17:02. > :17:05.
:17:05. > :17:10.He needs the other reds into play. I wonder if John has worked out the
:17:10. > :17:16.pink will not go back on its pot but might go on the blue spot so he
:17:16. > :17:22.might use it to bring other reds interplay? Interesting to see you
:17:22. > :17:32.where the ping goes. Will it go on the blue spot? It does. He is
:17:32. > :17:59.
:17:59. > :18:04.He used the pink to go into that He had to play this with lots of
:18:04. > :18:10.pace to make sure the cue ball came away from the reds. I don't think
:18:10. > :18:20.the black pots to the left corner. It makes this positional shot a lot
:18:20. > :18:20.
:18:20. > :19:03.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:19:03. > :19:09.He played for the pink left centre As John has done so many times in
:19:09. > :19:19.his career, he has looked down and out last couple of frames,
:19:19. > :19:19.
:19:19. > :20:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:20:05. > :20:13.Now he seems to have come to life That was a poor shot. He didn't get
:20:13. > :20:18.into the cue ball enough. Question is, has he got second prize? Can he
:20:18. > :20:28.cut it into the right corner beyond the pink? If he can, it is not as
:20:28. > :20:30.
:20:30. > :20:40.bad as we thought. And I think he But he has overcome tip, has see?
:20:40. > :20:40.
:20:40. > :21:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:21:21. > :21:31.So, he is going to need after this black and other two of these
:21:31. > :22:09.
:22:09. > :22:19.The fact he is using the extension on his cue, his position is not
:22:19. > :22:39.
:22:39. > :22:49.He chose to go for the blue, but I thought that was a more difficult
:22:49. > :22:59.
:22:59. > :23:09.As soon as it jumped into the air, he wasn't going to have enough pace.
:23:09. > :23:19.
:23:19. > :23:23.Now, can he had enough, no red? -- Is it too sick? Amazingly enough. -
:23:23. > :23:33.- is it too thick. It is unbelievable sometimes, the run of
:23:33. > :23:55.
:23:55. > :23:59.To hit the yellow and sneaked And there is nothing you can do.
:23:59. > :24:09.That air of resignation on his face because he knows that is the end of
:24:09. > :24:46.
:24:46. > :24:50.Shaun will be sitting in his chair This red will keep Shaun in his
:24:50. > :25:00.seat. And it is there, so there will be no return to the table for
:25:00. > :25:03.
:25:03. > :25:09.John Higgins now one frame away from applies in the semi-final.
:25:09. > :25:17.Disappointed with that shot, but 47 in front with 27 remaining, I am
:25:17. > :25:22.sure there will be a concession and there is. Shaun Murphy, he missed a
:25:22. > :25:26.blue, that is what pressure can do and now John Higgins has taken
:25:26. > :25:31.advantage and he is one frame away from a place in the semi-final.
:25:31. > :25:36.HAZEL IRVINE: Even though this has not been a vintage display by John
:25:36. > :25:46.Higgins, he finds himself in sight of an 8th Masters semi-final of his
:25:46. > :26:04.
:26:04. > :26:13.career. Can he get over the line? A poor safety shot can cost either
:26:13. > :26:23.player the frame. To make things about that shocked - took the safe
:26:23. > :26:57.
:26:57. > :27:07.red off the cushion and also there That red has gone into the middle!
:27:07. > :27:23.
:27:23. > :27:33.John Higgins has the chance to win Just has to sit there now up and
:27:33. > :27:55.
:27:55. > :27:59.wonder if he is going to get back In an ideal world, he'd love to pot
:27:59. > :28:09.the red next to the pink and bring for pink into play, but I don't
:28:09. > :28:48.
:28:48. > :28:58.He could do just that. A quick That was just a bit of movement in
:28:58. > :29:21.
:29:21. > :29:31.Even though there are three reds in the open, John will be planning the
:29:31. > :29:34.
:29:34. > :29:39.way he is going to move the red by He would like to play it when there
:29:39. > :29:49.is another red available. So if the cannon doesn't come off, he has
:29:49. > :30:13.
:30:13. > :30:21.Well, would you believe it! How many times do we see it?
:30:21. > :30:26.Concentrating so much on the cannon, take your eye off the pot.
:30:26. > :30:34.Unbeliefable! That is something we're not used to see --
:30:34. > :30:38.unbelievable! That's not we're used to seeing with John Higgins. Very
:30:38. > :30:48.unusual. It's his time to sit there and wonder whether he's going to be
:30:48. > :30:55.
:30:55. > :31:05.take on the a decider. It could be Played nicely. Won't need the
:31:05. > :31:23.
:31:23. > :31:33.awkward black. A quick glance at It's all about pace. Just got to
:31:33. > :32:03.
:32:03. > :32:10.Well, you would be surprised if he's not punished for that now and
:32:11. > :32:14.we'll go into a decider. Murphy, who keeps looking at the score
:32:14. > :32:24.board, as snooker players do, but he needs up to the blue to take us
:32:24. > :32:36.
:32:36. > :32:46.It's unlike John Higgins to let someone off the hook. Again, he
:32:46. > :32:50.
:32:50. > :33:00.looks at the score board. You're They have not put the yellow and
:33:00. > :33:35.
:33:35. > :33:42.And John Higgins had his chance to clinch this. 13 remaining. He needs
:33:42. > :33:48.to pot this pink and he does. We're going to go to a decider and John
:33:49. > :33:58.Higgins will be disappointed. He had his chance. Will he get a
:33:59. > :34:07.
:34:07. > :34:12.Well, a warm handshake between the two players, as is customary before
:34:12. > :34:19.a deciding frame. You can never predict a deciding
:34:19. > :34:28.frame. It is one pot, one little bit of
:34:28. > :34:38.Murphy, having been down will be the happier of the two to have this
:34:38. > :35:16.
:35:17. > :35:26.I think he hit red as he wanted to hit it, but put too much pace on
:35:27. > :35:46.
:35:46. > :35:51.the ball. He's left a chance of a pot to the
:35:51. > :35:54.left corner. The problem is, where does the colour come from? It's a
:35:54. > :36:03.risky pot. As you say, I think he's going to be the more positive of
:36:04. > :36:09.the two. Now, does the yellow come to his
:36:09. > :36:19.rescue? It has for the one in the baulk area. Is there another one
:36:19. > :36:37.
:36:37. > :36:41.APPLAUSE Cue ball. Oh!
:36:41. > :36:45.Well, good pot. Didn't go in the heart of the pocket. That's high he
:36:45. > :36:55.didn't catch the pink, as he expected and nearly went in the
:36:55. > :36:55.
:36:55. > :37:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:37:48. > :37:58.It's unlike John to react like that. He obviously put him off. He's
:37:58. > :38:11.
:38:11. > :38:21.having to play this one with the It looks like he'll run into
:38:21. > :38:21.
:38:21. > :40:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:40:15. > :40:25.Back in prime position. What a He has a nice angle here.
:40:25. > :40:25.
:40:25. > :41:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:41:29. > :41:37.I think he'll take it - it's a big The position cost him. It would be
:41:37. > :41:42.a bonus now for Shaun Murphy if he could get past the blue in the
:41:42. > :41:48.baulk end. He'd like to get to that one and he can get to it.
:41:48. > :41:58.It's the one I favour myself, but... He's going for this one. Can he
:41:58. > :42:06.
:42:06. > :42:16.There's a lot of pressure on this one.
:42:16. > :42:16.
:42:16. > :43:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:43:10. > :43:15.Isn't it incredible, this game, It's all about fractions. Now, is
:43:15. > :43:25.he going to play for the red along the top cushion now? He's going to
:43:25. > :43:28.
:43:28. > :43:33.It was the positional shot before off the red that created that
:43:33. > :43:37.problem. It's in your mind that it should
:43:37. > :43:41.never be there. I think here he got a big bounce
:43:41. > :43:51.off the cushion. He was telling me in the interval that the cushions
:43:51. > :44:06.
:44:06. > :44:16.Wouldn't surprise you, would it, John Higgins doesn't want to look
:44:16. > :44:35.
:44:35. > :44:45.at the table now. There's nothing APPLAUSE
:44:45. > :44:45.
:44:45. > :45:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 60 seconds
:45:43. > :45:53.He'd like to be straight on the He can get past the yellow, I think.
:45:53. > :46:01.
:46:01. > :46:11.He has, he has pleaded inch- He would have liked to have been on
:46:11. > :46:17.
:46:17. > :46:25.the brown and he will have to roll He needs up to and including the
:46:25. > :46:35.pink for a famous victory. Against one of the hardest men in the game.
:46:35. > :46:36.
:46:36. > :46:40.John Higgins has missed a few chances that will really hurt. They
:46:40. > :46:50.say the key shot is from brown to blue but that is when you need the
:46:50. > :47:02.
:47:03. > :47:12.black. Surely, he is not going to Just slightly the wrong side of the
:47:13. > :47:23.
:47:23. > :47:28.Yes! It is there! It was not the match we expected. There wasn't
:47:28. > :47:33.vintage, there aren't the highlights, but, boy, didn't they
:47:33. > :47:38.give us the drama? John Higgins is disgusted with what he has done but
:47:38. > :47:46.Shaun Murphy, thumbs-up. He is over the moon! He is in the semi-final.
:47:46. > :47:51.He looked down and out at 4-1, but he wins, 6-5. I wasn't massive lump
:47:51. > :47:55.-- massively disappointed 4-1 down. I felt my mistakes were magnified
:47:55. > :48:01.because he had me in trouble all the time. It is difficult playing
:48:01. > :48:05.shots from the long grass. I've seen so many matches of the great
:48:05. > :48:10.players. I walked to the table and I thought, right, son, let's see
:48:10. > :48:15.what you've got. Tonight was enough, fortune at leave.
:48:15. > :48:23.HAZEL IRVINE: This is the year of the comeback. Yet another never-
:48:23. > :48:28.say-die performance. This is our semi-final line-up. That bears an
:48:28. > :48:34.uncanny resemblance to last year's final. Neil Robertson takes on the
:48:34. > :48:38.man he beat in the final, Shaun Murphy. Whilst we sort out the
:48:38. > :48:42.other semi-final line-up tomorrow, the world No. 2 Judd Trump will
:48:42. > :48:48.have to chip away at the lump of Scottish granite that is Graeme
:48:48. > :48:53.Dott. Whilst Mark Selby, fresh from that astounding comeback last night,
:48:53. > :48:58.takes on Mark Williams, who had an equally improbable Inst -- escape
:48:58. > :49:05.in his opener. Snooker extra will be well worth watching after this.
:49:05. > :49:12.It is Robertson this is Alan. Otherwise, we will be on later