Day 3 Masters Snooker Highlights

Hello. Geej. Welcome to Alexandra Palace and the 2016 Masters.

Tuesday, a very big day for snooker fans here at this iconic venue.

Shortly, we will see world No. 1 Mark

Shortly, we will see world No. 1 but we also saw the return of one of

the great British sportsmen. ANNOUNCER: Here comes the rocket,

Cheer It is great for the game he is back

playing again. I am hoping he turns up and does the job. He is quick and

entertaining for the crowd. An exciting player to watch. You can't

be a snooker fan and not lick Ronnie. I am hoping it will be

6-nil. It means two former world champions,

England v Wales. This was a cracker going right down to the wire. Steve

Dennis and Dennis Taylor are your company state tors. Ronnie is at the

table trailing 28-1. I like that shot a lot. That was

quite clever from Ronnie O'Sullivan. He is 27 behind. He didn't want to

be using this back end behind the black as a safety zone and wants to

get the game back to normality and he picked out a very good shot

there. He really did. he picked out a very good shot

there. He really did. Mark Williams can obviously see the left-hand side

of the pack, but what he is frighened of doing is opening up the

reds. He does need to get the cue ball bang on the cushion if he is

going to play back down the table. He is having a quick look at the top

of the table to see where it is safe. You see, there are all sorts

of shots available to him. That was such a clever shot that he picked

out there, Ronnie. It really was. I am not sure if Mark Williams is

considering playing a very small half ball to keep it on the top

cushion. He is studying it up and perhaps he is disregarding that.

That is a weird plant to be even considering. I think he's just got

to play a half-ball safety and hope it doesn't open the reds up. I can't

see any other shot. The cue ball is going to come back down to roughly

behind the yellow. He's just got the hope that the balls don't go into a

pot all position. It is like a risk. He is summing up a risk. Not the

3-ball plant, the weird plant. Madness. The weird plant would have

to be to knock the red to snare the cushion onto the pink to make the

plant. He can't see an easy safety shot. Surely independent. Surely

not! LAUGHS

. No. That is what Jo thinks of the plant. That was definitely the wrong

choice. He thought long and hard. Boy, what a shot

It was always pushing to the top cushion. Surely the safety shot

would have been a better option. Well, he knew if he pulled that

tough plant off, he could have won the match. Ronnie O'Sullivan.

ANNOUNCER: Turn the phone off, please. Somebody's phone goes off.

It has been terrific all afternoon and someone has forgot to switch the

phone off. ANNOUNCER: Can you turn the phone

off, please. I was just going to say if Ronnie

O'Sullivan can just keep it It seems a strange thing to

say with a player lick Ronnie O'Sullivan and all he's won in the

game, but even the greatest player in the game suffers from a little

bit of pressure at times. He might well need that last red on the side

cushion. Well, everyone was looking forward

to this match. They were looking forward to Ronnie O'Sullivan coming

back after that eight-month lay-off. But, I didnt think we were going to

get a fabulous match like this. It really has been very special. You

see, little things like that cannon, well - he's just about OK, but that

is a bit of a stretch. APPLAUSE

He made it look easy! It will be fascinating to see how he

goes about moving that difficult red that Steve mentioned. He's got to

get an angle in the last second-last red and flick it into play and be

guaranteed a book. It is as simple as it could be, really. Under the

circumstances, he's still got to play the shot right. Perhaps a

little bit wider than he would have wanted. If he can at all flick this

red into play, he will do. He's got to do it from the green.

APPLAUSE He needs to pull up. He doesn't want

to be straight on the green, otherwise he can't get to that red.

A little bit of angle. And what a shot he's played

54. He was almost straight! CHEERING

On the green and he forced it over to knock the reds out. That was a

fabulous shot. So Mark Williams fought long and hard about that

plant that he took on. LAUGHTER

He is saying to the referee the yellow has got the come back up

again. What a match we've had here. Mark Williams has been superb.

You see, 32 ahead. 62. And Ronnie now will play the

winner of Mark Selby and Ricky Waldon. They play this evening. It

doesn't matter about the brown. Mark looks at the scoreboard. He is

deciding whether to take hands. He is having a think. He has not

finished quite yet. The Rocket is in the next round. That is one of the

snookers. APPLAUSE

Well, the brown is heading over the corner pocket. He needs four

snookers at the moment. It has been three years since Mark has been here

in the Masters. He doesn't want to leave just yet.

APPLAUSE He will get the handshake. He turns

to Ronnie O'Sullivan and congratulates The Rocket. It has

been a fabulous match. These two players have put on a fantastic show

here this afternoon at the Alexandra Palace. In the end, Ronnie

O'Sullivan, well, he is back and he takes the match six frames to five.

Well done the both players. APPLAUSE

In a way it was not an easy merchandise, but in another way it

was a kind of not a bad draw in a way because we both know each other

so well. So we know - I know what shot he is going to play and he

knows what I am going to play, so we kind of feel comfortable playing

each other, I think. It probably would have been hard if I had to

play someone I wouldn't have known their game as well. What a superb

match and fantastic to see O'Sullivan back here at Alexandra

Palace. Ronnie now will play the winner of our featured match this

evening, Mark Selby world No. 1 taking on Ricky Waldon. This is the

13th meeting between these two. Walden reached the finals in the

Masters. I played him at Wembley. Ricky won the wild card match and we

played each other. I think I beat him that year. We have played a lot

in other tournaments as well. More or less grew up together through the

junior ranks and great friends off the table. A fantastic lad and

fantastic player. He is like O'Sullivan in a way. He plays on

rhythm. When he gets on a roll he can steam roll in. Even though I

haven't won anything this year, which has been a little bit

disappointing, at the same time the standard is high - nobody has ady

vine right to win anything - it is not like I have been playing

drastically bad. I lost in the UK to the best player on the tour at the

moment. I am not too disappointed, but it would be nice to turn a

semifinal into a win. This is a big test for Ricky Walden. We join in

Frame 1. Seleka is behind. Jimmy Hendrix and John Vir go are in the

commentary box. A great pop. Ricky made a big mistake leaving him even

a half chance at that and it could be very costly. A tremendous pot,

though. Good cue ball control. Just overskewered it having the use the

rest. You wouldn't have thought it would cause him a problem.

He will have to play a little cannon on the pink, potting the red.

Towards the middle pocket. He won't be playing this with a lot of pace.

After this red, he needs a good angle on the pink. The remaining two

reds on the left-hand side of the table are slightly awkward.

Doesn't want to be straight on the pink. In actual fact, he's run too

far. He just wanted to run past that red.

If he had run past it, he might have had a chance. This one on the

cushion, that is very difficult. 25 points behind. He keeps looking

over. I don't know if there is some noise coming from somewhere.

Yeah, a good shot. He played it. CHEERING

Cheer In such a way he gave the ball every

chance to drop, but I don't think he is ideal on the black. Any firmer

and that red probably wouldn't have gone in. He just got a slit angle on

the black, but I don't see how he can get good on the red. He

certainly can't cannon it. He will take this on, you would have

thought because when you get an opportunity like this, it really

would punish Ricky Walden if Mark was to win the frame from here. He

is having a quick look at the score board. 17 points behind.

Oh! Tremendous shot! APPLAUSE

But once again, he is not going to go down on the black, but what a pot

that was. And by the looks of it, I don't think he can get close to the

yellow off the black. 44. When you get a chance like this,

you usually go for them. I am not certain there is value in playing

this yellow. It is a very difficult shot. He is looking to play a cannon

on the green. If he hit across on the left-hand side, it could send

the yellow up this end of the table and you would fancy him getting the

snooker. Looks like he only has eyes for winning the frame at this visit.

Tough shot, this. Oh, fantastic!

APPLAUSE 36. That is a tremendous shot! I

think the groan goes to the middle. Goes to the corner as well.

Well, looking at that angle, I think you would rather to play it in the

corner than the middle. At least you have got the object ball in the

pocket in your eyeline. It makes the pot a little bit easier and play for

the brown in the middle. APPLAUSE

It was always on the side. Once again, I think it was just - any

harder and it might not have dropped. What a clearance this would

be. APPLAUSE

Points are now all square. He needs blue and pink.

How the frame has turned around. A great shot on the blue.

CHEERING And he only needs the pink. This is

unbelievable! Well, you will not see any better

clearances than this. APPLAUSE

Tremendous! Absolutely tremendous! Ricky Walden 52 played a

counter-shot and how much Seleka has cleared up there with 71, only he

knows. Fantastic! 1-nil Mark Selby. John Virgo absolutely loved that and

it was a fantastic opening frame from Mark Selby. Into Frame 2, he is

back at the table trailing by 8 points.

APPLAUSE This was just an incred ill cue. He

got the work on the cue ball right in the middle of the pocket. --

incredible cue. He got the work on the cue ball right in the middle of

the pocket. As you said before, John, he had a big job to get it

behind the blue ball there. He was punished when he didn't.

I think he just about landed on a red here. I am not quite sure that

this is the red he played for. He will settle it for it. He has just

looked to see if he can find a little gap in between the red just

below the one he is playing the main cluster.

He had no option and these blacks are tricky. OK, the advantage he's

got he only has to drop it in dead wait. He doesn't have to play it

with any pace. It is a natural angle to come off the cushion for the red

close to the cow bull now, but they are very missable, these. Never a

doubt. Good shot. APPLAUSE

He may just be playing a little can Nine News here. You can red -- you

can see the red to the left of the corner there. I think he's potted

the pink in the wrong side of the pocket. Exactly. I mean the cannon,

as it turned out, would have been perfect, but he didn't hit the pink

in the middle of the pocket. APPLAUSE

OK, he missed a blue in this frame, but Stephen said at the time that

was because he was overstretching. 26.

He did well to force the angle there to come off the top cushion. He will

have to go for the pink this time. He is just having a look to see what

is available. If nothing is available, he may decide just to

play a little cannon into the cluster. Still going up for the

pink, but try to dislodge a few reds on the way up there. He didn't feel

as though it was necessary. 35. Not the biggest target. It has to get a

full-ball contact or he could lose a cue ball to either ball pockets.

Yeah, he played that well. Any half-ball contact here, as he goes

into the bunch, he will lose a cue ball. He caught that red practically

full in the face. I would be surprised the way he is

cowing if he doesn't win the frame from here and it came from that

incredible long red, John. Yeah. As did the first frame.

Yep. Tremendous cueing. Never looked in doubt right in the heart of the

pocket. So that black now puts him 48 points

in front. Red and Ricky Walden you need snookers.

He had his chance. Just got out of position when he was in the

black-spot area and then didn't play a particularly good safety. Mark is

thinking about this. He just needs a red and a colour. I wouldn't

overcomplicate it. That now puts him 55 points in

front. Just 51 remaining. I am sure if he pots this red now, we are back

to the table for Ricky Walden. He looks very confident, Mark Selby.

Playing at a good pace. 78. Sometimes he is maybe a little less

confident. He gets bogged down and plays a lot slower and more

defensive snooker, but this is excellent. 79.

He's on the groan. The brown obviously doesn't pass the blue to

the far left corner, so he has a screwer with shot. He just had the

right angle where he could do it, but just underrescued it slightly.

Brown and blue for the century. Well played! Terrific opening. He

has made the rest look pretty simple. He's potted some wonderful

balls. Plus-size

CHEERING Well, flawless. Ricky Walden, who

led the first frame, and then lost that from nowhere. He had to sit

that one out and it is the world No. 1 and three types champion Mark

Selby who leads 2-nil. That frame lasting over 11 minutes. Seleka

looking for an early finish and he won the next with breaks of 66 and

43, into Frame 4, Seleka to play and there is no score. -- Selby to play

and there is no score. That spolt his long-pot success.

That red looked as though it went. When it was clenned, it was there.

Not in the same place. But you do have to say that Mark was taking a

risk, asking for it to be cleaned. You know, because that proves it.

The referee is not going the get it absolutely to the fraction in the

same place, not all of the time. He played this well. This is an

important frame for Ricky. He knows he has to take these opportunities

now. Nothing but his best, he is going to do.

Just playing this with topspin and a touch of righthand side to follow

the cue bull off two cushions, but didn't cue that ball well at all.

You play it that firm with the righthand side it will push the cue

ball to the left. Not so many can play the righthand

red of the two here. It locks as though he is, so he feels as though

he can avoid a kiss on the second red. And he could.

APPLAUSE And he played it well. Now, is the

red just above the black available? Because that red near the green

spot, I think that goes. It just goes. Well, if it goes, don't get

the red cleaned. Yeah, fair point. LAUGHS

. It looks to me as though it goes,

but Mark isn't too sure. Purposely leaving himself a little

bit Le Saux he can bring other reds into play when he is ready.

What you want is a position on the colour. That is OK. Straightish pink

to the far left-hand corner. He will settle for that.

He is determined the win this visit, Mark Selby because he's been pretty

phenomenal in the first three frames. If he was to lose this frame

3-1 at the interval in the first of six, he certainly wouldn't be happy

with that. He will be determined to win this frame and keep the pressure

on Ricky. He's got an angle on the blue. The

problem is that the pink is slightly away from the reds. Still same

applies, if he hits the pink full in the face the pink will run into the

reds and open them up. If anything, I think favour the left-hand side of

the pink, as we look at it. Is that thick enough? He could have

hit it much better. APPLAUSE

31. The cue ball makes contact with the pink - that was the important

part of that shot. It is a masterclass at the moment. From the

world No. 1. The key here, Stephen, I know you

used to do it here on many, many occasions, particularly in this

event, keep your concentration and focus. Definitely. That is what I

said he would be determined to be 4-nil because when you are playing

this well, you just don't want to let up at all on your opponent. Most

people just say you would be delighted to be 3-1 ahead and it

looks like 4-nil down, but if Mark Selby wants to be on the 3-1 he

would be disappointed with the way he's been playing. For all intents

and purposes now, it looks like 4-nil. You can't really see a way

back for Ricky. The interval can change things.

63 ahead. Still 83 available. Three reds, three colours would be more

than enough. I mean, it doesn't look as though

that is going to be too much of a problem. Just coming up to the one

hour. Just underscrewed that slightly, but

it shouldn't cause a problem. 53. He still screwed back for the pink in

the middle. Well, decided to play it firm. 54.

He's OK H's landed nicely on the blue and this blue will put him 56

points in front. So this blue one more colour required. 67 remaining

at the moment. 59. So red and a colour required. He's just come

slightly hampered. He doesn't really want to play for the black.

60. So this pink to go 63 points in front with just 59 remaining.

97% pot success. And another one right in the heart of the pocket.

Never any doubt. Never any danger. APPLAUSE

Wonderful snooker. 66. From the three-time Masters champion.

Made113 in Frame 2. Frame 1, 71. The last frame, he made a break of 66

and 43. But he's just not come far enough for anything.

CHEERING Anything looks like it will go in at

the moment. 74. Must B Magazine nets in the pockets. The cue ball is out.

-- must B Magazine nets in the pockets. The cue ball is out. A

great attempt. Well, pot this one, Mark! Attention all pockets.

He's played the treble. He's played the treble! It is close, it is

close. Ah, unlucky! APPLAUSE

Well, absolutely superb snooker. You have got to feel for Ricky Walden.

He started the match off superbly but hasn't had a shot hardly since.

Mark Selby goes into interval and must be delighted with his game,

4-nil in front. Superb! This is bringing back nightmares for Walden

booten here 6-nil by Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarterfinals in

2014 and when Selby went 5-nil up, he must have been thinking, "Here we

go again", but he is leading in the sixth frame.

That could be very costly. I didn't expect him to miss that. Of course,

Mark, if he so wishes and I think he will have to play the left-hand one

of the two, he can carry them into the reds and Britain them away from

the side cushion. Bound to be on the black. -- Bring them away from the

side cushion. Bound to be on the black. He would have liked to have

been a little bit further away from the cushion than he is. This black

is still possible, but just begs the question, can he cope control of the

cue ball? -- keep control of the cue ball?

I think he will settle for that, Stephen. Plus-size

-- APPLAUSE It was kind of a natural angle. If

Ricky had played it, it probably would have kissed the red and not

left it on. So, from a few moments ago, the reds lock pretty safe. You

would have to say now this is a chance to close this match out.

An opportunity, if he so wishes. If he's got the right angle on the

pink, notice the ball in the line. Plus-size Just eight points behind

now. Frame and match at his mercy. On the

left-hand side it is close to the cushion, but it might not cause too

much of a problem. 35. One point for that red on the

left side cushion if he just gets the cue bull virtually touching the

cushion. It is just a matter of dropping the red automatically a

nice ingangle on the black. He may be able to force it. Just

widen the angle and force the cue ball behind this awkward red on the

cushion. That is the problem when you are trying to stun it like that.

You just get a little bit too much stun. He will do well to keep this

in. This is a tricky red down the cushion. That was a real power-stun

run threw but studio much stun. He isying the pot-up, but it is tricky.

Yeah. You would have to say with the pace he is going to play it at, if

he misses it - unless he brings the cue ball and snookers Ricky with the

black - you would say this will cost him the frame if he misses it. It is

there, though, is it? Yep. APPLAUSE

34. Looks to be a natural angle on the black to drop it in off the left

side cushion to leave - maybe it is a little bit too much angle. He may

have to play to the left middle. If he can get in that circle. Well,

I think he snookered himself. It was well short of pace. Maybe he can

just get past the brown. He can. He would have liked to have been

where the circle was. That would have made this red unmissable. 14

points the lead. Yes, good pot!

APPLAUSE I can't see him missing from here.

So it looks like the dreaded whitewash for Ricky Walden.

Yes, it is not his favourite venue, Ricky Walden. He's been beaten 6-nil

by O'Sullivan here as well. The last frame Mark Selby missed a few, but

overall, it has been a very impressive performance tonight.

APPLAUSE Yes, that is it. The applause tells

you. 24 ahead. 22 remaining, but not for long.

APPLAUSE It all started so well for Ricky Walden. First frame Mark Selby

break off. Ricky knocked in a lovely long red and made a break of 52. But

couldn't finish the job off and Mark Selby made an unbelievable 71 break

and then after that it has just been all Mark Selby. It has been a

wonderful performance. APPLAUSE As you said, and as you

know, the winner of this match to play Ronnie O'Sullivan and the form

that Mark Selby has shown here, what a match that could be. A tremendous

performance. A bit scrappy in the fifth but we have forgiven that.

Absolutely superb and there is his wife, Vickie, leading the applause.

He is punching the air. He must be absolutely delighted with the way

he's played tonight and why wouldn't he be? He runs out a winner. Six

frames to nil and he's in the quarterfinal. Very, very pleasing.

Not only because it was 6-nil and the way I played, I would have been

happy just the win even if it was 6-5. The way aplayed scored, more

time than not, every time I got a chance I seemed to punish Ricky. The

first frame, as stupid as it sounded, was key. Ricky looked

comfortable and ran out of positions and I made a good clearance to steal

the claim and that settles me then. Brilliant from Selby. He will take

on Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.

Later today we will see John Higgins in first round action who takes on

Liang Wenbo. Neil Robertson takes on MarcoFu. That is it from us for now.

Snooker Extra follows shortly on BBC One and then we are back with live

coverage on BBC Two as we see John Higgins take on Liang Wenbo. From

all of us here at Alexandra Palace, bye for now.

So, no-one pays tax here? No-one pays taxes.