Day 6 Masters Snooker Highlights

Good evening. The final weekend of the Dafabet Masters is always

exciting. Here it in north London, we set about completing our

semifinal line-up this evening. We had two former world champions. One

of them is the reigning World Champion as well, Stuart Bingham,

the man who stand the sport last May after winning that world title after

20 years of trying. He was up against four time World Champion

John Higgins. We will reflect on that match later. But they knew they

would have to go some to match the incredible standards of the match

this afternoon in the other quarterfinal. It featured Judd

Trump, the 26-year-old from Bristol, against the inform Neil Robertson

from Melbourne. He won big back-to-back titles before

Christmas. But he knew that overall he was lagging slightly in the

overall record against Judd Trump. This was a repeat of a memorable

Masters semifinal four years ago. But this contest surpassed

everything that had gone before. JOHN PARROTT: This has the makings

of a classic match. Has he got the double? He has! Judd Trump marches

on! 2-0! Clean as a whistle! And that's it. A 139 - highest break of

the tournament. Two apiece. Interval. And he has played it

absolutely perfect. Well played! Very well played. He struck that

absolutely beautifully. Judd Trump has got two centuries already in

this match. And this will be Neil Robertson's second. Top quality.

Still all to play for. 4-4. It was now a best of three frames

contest. What a wonderful match so far, with four centuries, including

that 139 from Robertson. But stand by - in frame nine, things were

about to get even hotter. Where is the Red Bull going? It just

shows you the difference. That one he could not float in. So, first

chance, Judd Trump. STEVE DAVIS: Beautiful. Hit so

crisply. Given himself the chance to win and be the most important frame

of the match so far. Whoever wins this has two bites to get over the

line. Early days of course, John, but if

you were going to place balls all over the table, there is always the

possibility of a 147. But I think winning the frame is a prime concern

first! JOHN VIRGO: Absolutely. He was a bit

disappointed not to get a better angle on this red, Judd. There is

other ones available but of course they are missable. The red into the

right corner would be the one to play for the black, obviously. But

he must feel he can get onto the black quite easily. Slightly awkward

cueing. It is going to be Longbridge. But he is happy that he

will be able to control it. Screw between the two reds, is that the

plan? Well, it is risky. Yes, he has gone for the blue. The frame is the

priority. Not a great shot. No, it was just a bit awkward. Hard to get

the topspin. If he goes in and out of baulk, he will have to avoid the

kiss on the green. Decided just to roll it in. Good cueing needed on

this one. So, this could be the key to the frame. Right in the heart of

the pocket! Never any doubt! Not ideally placed on the black. Needs

some action on this cue ball - which is not a problem for him. But I

don't think he has judged the pace right. Got away with etched. I was

going to say, it looked for a moment he would be nothing. But I think he

has got a choice of reds. You would think the one to the left middle is

the better one. He is playing the one to the right. Right in the heart

of the pocket. And now back in perfect position.

He did not hit that in the middle of the pocket. Once again, a nice

little nudge. This is not the red he played for, I can assure you. Not

wasting much time here. Letting his ability and natural talent do the

work. This is what you practice for. So that when it comes to the match,

you can flow. Average shot time for Judd Trump in

the match is an astonishing 16 seconds per shot. He is just not

finding perfect position at the moment. He should have been straight

on the pink. He got a fortunate case on the red. But he is only a few

pots... That's OK. But does the black girl? And I don't think it

does. And if it doesn't... It is very tight. He will have to play the

pink - and there is pressure on this. If it goes in, it is a frame

winner. If he misses it, it is a chance for Robertson to

counterattack. Tremendous shot! We are seeing some snooker today,

Steve! Shot of the match so far. So easy to have missed that through

tension. In goes the black. Snookers

required. And if we're thinking about it, Neil Robertson made a 139

in frame four. There is a possible 141 on here.

Marvellous performance here by Judd Trump. This is really going to set

the next frame up nicely. If he can convert this into a

century break, it would be five centuries in nine frames. Oh!

century break, it would be five shot. Could have just done with

running past the pink. But if he plays the pink, he has still got a

running past the pink. But if he 141. -- he has still got a 140 on.

His third century of the match. Sensational stuff from The

Juggernaut Of. Red, black and had to the colours for the highest break of

the tournament. He knows that because he sat in his chair and

watched Neil Robertson make the 139 in the fourth frame. Right in the

middle of the pocket. Just the six colours standing between Judd and

the high break. I don't know if it is all this

practice over Christmas which Judd was talking about with Ken - is it

paying off here? And of course a double whammy for Neil Robertson -

not saying this break will stand by the end of the tournament, but he is

more or less taking ?10,000 out of new Robertson's pocket here, if he

can pot these remaining three balls. Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!

Judd Trump 's third century the match. And not only is it his third

- it is the highest break of the tournament, beating Neil Robertson's

139! Absolutely tremendous! He is now one frame away from a place in

the semifinal. We were in for a decider. Robertson

made a break of 78 to take the match into this 11th frame. JOHN VIRGO: If

Neil plays this red, which he is doing, he has to be careful he

doesn't leave the other red, or a chance of it, to the middle. STEVE

DAVIS:, well that was a risk. It could have gone off as easily as you

like. Cutting the red into the middle

pocket, an element of a shot to nothing, is it? What a shot that

would be. I don't think it's on, surely not. He looked at it. I don't

think he can risk playing back to the baulk end. No. Off another red.

The cue ball goes towards the blue anyway still maybe playing to the

top cushion. He's tried it. What a shot. Unbelievable? What a shot!

Opportunism at the very best. Can he knock this black in? It's not ideal.

It's there. What an opening red. Now, deciding frame, a different

kettle of fish. He gets first chance.

The reds are tightly bunched. It looks like he's got a fantastic

opportunity to get the absolute perfect tangle on the blue, to smash

them all over the table. Has to go as close to its spot as it

can, in direct line with the top cushion. Checking the two reds close

to the pink and not a plant into the corner pocket. Some sort of weird

plant to have happened two shots from now. That wouldn't be great.

Perfect angle on the red to get nicely on the blue. Here's the

smash. Doesn't look as though there's a plant to one of the

corners. So he can go for this full-blooded.

Well, just got a little bit too much backspin on the cue ball. Hit the

red full, but the cue ball went away from the reds. Should have stunned

that into them more than had a little backspin. Help's got a red,

but it's not straight-forward. -- he's got a red, but it's not

straight-forward. That was a brilliant shot. He can count himself

a little bit unlucky he's lost the cue ball to the side cushion. The

the pressure pot on the blue, no guarantee of position either. He

needs to commit. Well, how did that drop? It came out

once, then twice. Robertson must had thought he missed it. I think Judd

thought he'd missed it. Tension. Not in the centre, it was still a

good strike. Judd Trump must be feeling the heat here. This is so

exciting. It doesn't look like he's feeling it though.

A chance now. That opens things up nicely.

Played superb throughout the match. Just got to hold himself together

now for this last opportunity. What a fantastic exhibition of

snooker, from both players. Butch, Judd Trump now has the chance -- but

Judd Trump now has the chance to sew it up. Judd Trump trying to keep the

nerves under wraps. Wraps. There's the Judd family. Judd's father

there, and his mother. It's just looking like he's not

going to miss, you never know if there's a twist in the tail.

He's kept his rhythm up so well. Yeah, fair point. Fair point. It's

easy sometimes to over think it a little bit in moments like this. But

he's obviously not perfect on this pink. Otherwise, he'd have played it

by now. There's the girlfriend, she's new to this game. It's a

terrible watch sometimes. Bit short of pace. First mistake.

Neil Robertson paying close attention. He spotted it. Can he get

position? Can he get position? If that red runs past the middle he

will be on the black. And he's on the black! Neil Robertson fearing

the worse. Bit fortunate there. Oh, another mistake. Quickly coming

round to see if it goes. Surely he's not snookered himself? He needs one

more red. And a colour. If he can swerve it he might be tempted. He

has a Kuyt into the left corner. Oh, he'd be tempted by swerving that.

You can't believe - I mean, Judd couldn't believe when he rolled the

black in he was going to nudge the blue, a swerve. I fancy he gets it.

He does get it. But it needs now the blue. He dropped one

He does get it. But it needs now the before, it nearly stayed out. This

to go 68 points in front with 67 remaining. No problem this time. And

a punch of the air. What a match this has been from both players. One

of the greatest games we've ever seen in Masters history and any

other tournament I've seen. You saw him shaking like a leaf on that. The

pressure got to him. How well did he perform to get over the winning

line? There's the reaction. That's what it meant to him. Now, he just

needs to compose himself and roll this red in. And that will dot the

i's and cross the t's. There is no way back for Neil Robertson now.

Neil Robertson has been the player of the season, but Judd Trump has

proven, when he's on form, he can beat anybody. It's taken, John, a

performance of this magnitude to knock Neil Robertson out of his

winning ways. Fair point. Neil Robertson, most of the season, has

been looking unbeatable. But, this boy is so talented. As I say, at the

World Championship last season, OK he lost in the semi-final to Stuart

Bingham I thought his all round game had come up a notch or two. He

wasn't attacking all the time. Which was probably a little bit of a

weakness. Well, now just dotting the eye's and crossing the t's -- i's

and crossing the t's will it be six centuries in 11 frames? What a

strike rate that is. Unbelievable. Four centuries for Judd, if he can

do it. What a beautiful strike, again. Can't hit the Balkh better

than this. -- Balkh better than this. -- bal

much better than this -- ball. As good a break as you will see to win

a match. The opening red was superb and to hold himself together, after

all that's happened, what a credit to this player. Yes. If he was

suffering from a slight lack of confidence, could amming into this

tournament, he won't any more. He's the real deal. There's no doubt

tournament, he won't any more. He's about that. And, as

tournament, he won't any more. He's taken this type of performance to

beat Neil taken this type of performance to

century of the match. taken this type of performance to

absolutely sensational. A standing ovation from everybody in the

Alexandra Palace. That was one of the greatest matches you will ever

Alexandra Palace. That was one of see and one of the greatest fin

beishes see and one of the greatest fin

Trump, I take my hat off to you. What a performance. Neil Robertson

was good, but Judd Trump was just that little bit better. He's in the

semi-final. He wins a classic 6-5. It was superb game to be involved

with. Me and Neil played very well. It was sad to see a loser in the

end. I think we both played well enough to beat anyone else on the

day. I think we both dragged each other on it turned into a great

game. In terms of the overall standard, in terms of matches played

at the Masters it's the highest quality match ever played here in my

opinion from two players playing well. It takes someone playing like

that to beat me. Have you to hold my hands up saying - well played. One

of the most enjoyable games of my career. I tried to really enjoy

that. I think that's why I didn't feel too much pressure. Normally I

put pressure on myself to winch I expect to win everything. Today I

tried to enjoy it and played very well. Six centuries in 11 frames,

history making. It has never happened before in professional

snooker in a best of 11 frames. A good natured exchange on social

media between the two players afterwards with Neil Robertson

saying very well played, fantastic match. It is going to be an

interesting match when Judd takes on Barry Hawkins in the first

semi-final tomorrow afternoon. So, follow that John Higgins and Stuart

Bingham. That is what the two champions were attempting to do this

evening. This was a different kind of match they knew that Ronnie

O'Sullivan awaits them in the semi-final. Nervy with errors thrown

in. 2-2 at the interval. Highest break of 60 from Stuart Bingham.

Here they are in frame five. The Scot on the break. Commentary from

Ken Docherty and Dennis Taylor. DENNIS TAYLOR: He's over cooked that

one. The pink is blocking the path for one. Another red can go, as you

can see, but I'm not sure if he can avoid the reds to get onto the

black. A little cannon might leave him on either pink or black. No.

That was the previous shot, when he screwed back. This is a terrific

chance for Stuart. Although he's 45 behind, that could disappear

rapidly. A big pocket this, this red is

unmissable with the other red over the pocket. It'll probably go in

direct, but you couldn't miss it because of the other red. Where it

was situated. It's going to be costly that miss

with the rest. I think he took his eye off the pot here. He was

concentrating more on the cannon onto the red, and that just

distracted him somewhat. You could not place these reds any

better with your hand. Perfect. It is all about composure now.

And from a psychological point of view, Ken, this is going to be a big

boost for Stuart. He was sitting in his seat and he would have thought

that John would score enough to win the frame. And all of a sudden, he

has got a fantastic chance to go back into the lead.

Yes, when you win this type of frame, when you're 40 or 50, 60,

behind, and you clear up to win, it gives you a great boost. What it

does as well - it really hurts your opponent. A bit of work to do just

yet. Just come fast file for the blue. Will have to take the green.

-- just come too far. But wanted not go into the middle of the pocket,

for sure. But he is OK. -- that did not go into the middle of the

pocket. Controlled the cue ball nicely. This is really good frame

for Stuart Ingham to win here. Best frame of the match so far.

Yes, it has been a good break from Stuart here. Now, a little

exhibition shot to try to get onto the black. He does not have to

bother about it, but he wants to try and cut it in as well. Well, a

little trick shot. There are six pockets, it might go in one of them.

He will be absolutely delighted, though. It is a chance he did not

think he was going to get. And Stuart Bingham, who had never

been passed around one in the Masters before, perhaps making a

decisive move towards his first semifinal. Into frame six we go now.

DENNIS TAYLOR: The player who can drop in behind one of those colours

will gain a big advantage. Well, there is a different way of playing

a safety shot! Both players having a good...!

KEN DOHERTY: Surprised you did not spot that one, Dennis!

I think he can see enough of this red. And he might be able to have a

go at the pot. It is a free shot because the white will automatically

come down towards those colours again. It would be a bonus

come down towards those colours went in. And there is the bonus! And

he is a bit unlucky. He can pot the brown but he cannot avoid the cannon

on the yellow. And somehow he has got to get back towards the black

and red. He cannot get round so he is just

playing the snooker. And it is not a bad snooker!

I don't know if he can swerve it enough this time to miss the middle

pocket. Yes, he is raising the butt of the cue.

Another turning point in this match. Because the colours are all

available. What is he, 15 behind? Yes, he does not have to do much.

The cue ball is going up towards the blue. Just drop this red in. It

might be worth taking this on. If he can play it nice and softly

and give the red chance to go into the pocket. Well, it was well worth

taking on. He needs a good bounce off this cushion.

It is not great forward. If he takes the green, he is going to cannon

into the brown. If he screws back, when putting the

pink, he will definitely cannon the green. Just wondering if he could

get enough left-hand side on it to try and almost switch it. No, he

could not avoid the green. The yellow would pot but there is no

value in it. Better off just playing the snooker.

This is pretty easy to hit, but can he get it safe?

REFEREE: Foul. Stuart Bingham, four. But could be costly. One good shot

here. He has a big margin for error to finish on the green. Anywhere up

past the blue. This will give John Higgins

something to think about, Ken. Yes, another frame he should have won

early on. He stole the last frame, Stuart Bingham.

Well, he has come far enough. Straightforward in and out of baulk.

It is just the pace of the cue ball he has got to watch here.

In it goes! And for the first time in this match, a player has taken a

two frame gap. Stuart Bingham, the World Champion, leads for Hysen two.

-- leads 4-2. HAZEL IRVINE: John Higgins finally

found some form to get it back to 5-3.

He has got some work to do here. I like that shot, though, Ken, because

the pink will come back onto its own spot again. That was a clever shot.

Just coming round to have a look at the red and black. He is thinking a

few shots ahead. Then try and leave an angle. He is little bit straight.

Well, if he does go on to score enough here to Clint 's -- to clinch

this match, he started it with one of the shots of the tournament, it

has to be said. That opening pot was fabulous.

I think he has got a nice angle on the pink now. Yes, after putting

this one, he could move the red away from the black.

Moving the red away, opening up the black.

And all the time, Dennis, he is building a nice lead. I think he

surprised John with that opening pot as well. They do not come any better

than this. That was fantastically worked out, it really was. He is

looking like a World Champion now, is Stuart Ingham. -- Stuart Bingham.

It is getting a bit more difficult now. It looks as if he may just have

to cannon, which will help the situation. 52 ahead, 5-3 in front.

He will play Ronnie O'Sullivan if he can clinch this frame - and we know

what he did to Ronnie in the World Championship quarterfinal. Now, it

has gone wrong. It is going to have to be a very tough pink, if he even

thinks about it. He might even decide to push the pink safe, or the

black. I think the pink safe would be the best choice. He is just

having a little think about it. I think the pink safe and a good cue

ball. REFEREE: Pink ball.

A nice 48 break. He has left attempt for John here. Will he take it on?

-- left a tempter. That could be the end. Having said that, not whether

red has gone, right next to the black. But he can get onto the blue.

He is not all that many pots away from securing this match. That might

have been John Swinney last shot in this year's Masters. -- John's last

shot. Well, he may be OK. He has just got to screw it back a little

bit and he has got that easy red to the left of the pink spot. That was

a useful notch on the blue. KEN DOHERTY: This red, and John

Higgins will need snookers. And he had not beaten this man since 2012.

He has beaten him on two occasions altogether. John has won eight

times. This is revenge for his defeat against John in the Masters a

few years back. Has to be careful who does not touch

the black. Yes, it was a couple of seasons ago that John Beattie

Stuart. Two snookers needed at the moment. So he is not risking fouling

the brown with his waistcoat. Well, barring two snookers, it is

the world champion that is going through to the semifinal to play The

Rocket tomorrow night. HAZEL IRVINE: And John did not get

them. Higgins was unable to find his rhythm tonight. It is Stuart Bingham

who has gone into his first Masters semifinal in what is his seventh

appearance in this great event. As Dennis

appearance in this great event. As against Ronnie will be a repeat of

The Crucible quarterfinal last year, which Stuart won and went on to take

the world title. Yes, over the moon to beat John

Higgins in the quarterfinals of any tournament. It is a special. Looking

at the head-to-heads, he was 8-2. So it is nice to put a dent in that. It

was not great before the interval, but I felt like I stole a few frames

and made some good clearances to win the match in the end. I was watching

this afternoon, and at the end of that, Mr Hendry said he fancied John

really heavily. That was all I needed, someone to doubt me. That

gave me that extra 10% or 20% that I needed to keep myself going and win

the match. Yes, great win for Stuart . and here is how it looks in

tomorrow's semifinals. An all English line-up. Judd Trump at 26,

by far the youngest man left in the competition, by some ten years.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, in his first major event of the season, has an

intriguing rematch with Stuart Bingham. So that is your Saturday

sorted, and indeed ours. We will kick things off at one o'clock in

the afternoon with the first of those semifinals. And we will be

with you all the way through until we have unearthed this year's

Masters finalists in the evening. We will be with you again very soon.

Good So, no-one pays tax here?

No-one pays taxes.