Day 4 Masters Snooker Highlights

Good evening. Welcome back to the 20 17th Dafabet masters. We will show

the best of the action between tonight's match between Shaun Murphy

and Barry Hawkins. The prize at stake, and meeting between Mark

Selby and Mark Williams. Two former Masters champions. They met this

afternoon, and we had another nailbiter. This was a tale of two

Marks, it was also a tale of to halves. It was Williams who got the

first frame on the board after a long tactical battle. After that,

Selby started cooking up a treat, first at the highest break of the

tournament, 139. He took the next, got his second time in three frames,

for a 3-1 lead. He was strangely out of sorts after his half-time cuppa.

It was all square, no laughing matter for the jester. The Welshman

should have taken the lead, how costly this green proved? Williams

only had his to -- had himself to blame he many

other chances, could not take them. He trailed 5-4. His temperament came

to his rescue, levelling the match. Just when you look like curtains for

Selby, a terrible kick ruined Williams, much to the horror of his

wife. When Selby sniffs a chance, he is like a dog with a bone. Not a

pedigree performance, but just enough. An excellent 89 followed,

the Triple Crown dream stays alive. Edging through, 6-5. I'm thinking, I

am out of the tournament, played fantastic start of the match, Mark

played well to come back in, shut me out to a degree. Related chance. I

had one red in the middle, horrible shots, had to go for it.

Unfortunately, Mark had the kick, if he does not get it on the blue

committee wins and one visit. I have had plenty of good luck in my

career, when I was young, 25, 30. At this moment in time, I'm getting a

lot of bad luck. Towards the end of matches. I can take that, what

difference does it make? I had my lucky years ago. Having bad luck

now, that his life. Well done to Mark Selby. Almost there with the

quarterfinal line-up for the 2017 masters.

I have beaten him a couple of times, he beat me last time in a big

tournament, in the World Championship. He hammered me by all

accounts. Phenomenal in that match. I have to be out of my game tonight.

He's a great player all round really. Nice to know that more times

than not, things have worked out well for me against Barry. Some good

matches over the years. Thinking back to the world semi-a couple of

years ago, played great snooker, could have won the match in three

sessions. Did not. All that does not really mean anything. Head to heads,

to the players, don't really count. When you walk out and play, it will

just be Barry against myself, first man to six wins. Sometimes there is

no safe place on the table. If those long balls are going in, he is near

enough unplayable. Very attacking, scores very heavy. If the long ones

are not going in, he tends to keep going for them sometimes. That is

when you get your opportunities. A matter of taking them really. I

cannot worry about him too much. Just focus on what I'm doing.

Hopefully can play to my best. The 2015 Masters champion, Murphy

leading the head to heads, 7-1. Barry's only win coming in 2013, the

UK championship. The year he made the Crucible final, only to lose to

Ronnie O'Sullivan. We joined the action in frame one. Shaun Murphy to

play,, tree from Dennis Taylor and Ken Doherty.

COMMENTATOR: Red over the right corner. That turned out very nice.

Amazing how the brown was over the one pocket, the red over another.

All of a sudden, not a fair chance. If he can control the Duke ball,

should finish on pink, or blue. -- the cue ball. That is just about

perfect. Great positional shot. So difficult to control the cue ball

there. He has missed it. Well that was just

a lapse in concentration. No kick from just not ready to play the

shot. Shows you, if you don't give it 100%, you can miss the easiest of

shots. Little lapse in concentration from Shaun Murphy.

Taking a chance there. Wanted to bring the black into play. Not quite

sure where the reds would finish. Leaving half a chance for Barry.

Coming down to see whether this red pots. I'm sure it does, if not the

one above it will, as well. Just about perfect there. Barry

played fantastic snooker here last year. In the final never gotten

looking. Ronnie beating him 10-1. This frame safely in the bag now.

Not that many pots from securing it. Just one more red. That'll do.

Making it as awkward as possible, the cue ball tight on the cushion.

Should not be a problem though. He had a chance to get right back

into this opening frame, but Barry Hawkins who will take it. You would

say he has taken it in bits and pieces. I cannot remember who sang

that, back in the 1960s. The Dave Clark Five. Came to me at the last

moment. Does not matter that that's red.

Needed a couple of chances, but will be quite pleased. Shaun Murphy

missing a sitter of a red. Barry Hawkins takes the opening frame.

Let's show you what happened in frame two. We join it in the opening

stages, Shaun to play. COMMENTATOR: His safety has

certainly been lacking a little bit so far. Only on the second frame,

but he has played a few very poor safety shots, it has to be said. You

cannot keep leaving your opponent with these sorts of chances.

Just enough room for the black to pass the red.

He may have finished a little straight on this. He has a slight

angle. No problem at all. Enough angle there.

This now turning into a very good chance in the second frame.

Both reds pot into the same pocket as the black. Plenty of reds

available. It was a gift of an opportunity, it has to be said.

For easy red. The five reds Aranda think all covering each other into

the corners and middle pocket. Might be time to play the cannon. If he

was the cannon two reds, would be absolutely perfect. Delicate little

screw shot. That is the one, stunning into the two reds, that

would be perfect. He hit the wrong red. Might just be OK.

Is he a K? The one into the middle, he is just on it. Only just. -- is

he OK? Wanted to be a little bit higher up

with the keyboard there. I think you still OK. He has a red to the right

of the thing. Was not playing for this red.

He few more pots away from securing this second frame.

That was frame ball. A little bit of contemplating to do, Shaun. Safety

not scratch. A lapse in concentration in the first frame.

Straightforward safety shot in this frame giving the opportunity to

Barry Hawkins here is the straightforward shot, did not get

enough side, did not need to be anywhere near that red.

I think it was just miss it. He had half the table to play with to get

the white over towards the brown on the yellow and blue. Just far too

thin. This standard you cannot afford any mistakes that. Certainly

costing him the second frame, that is for sure. Very difficult to make

a century break it. This would be some shots, to pot this, and move

the rents. Great effort. Just hit it as hard as you can.

A good start from Barry Hawkins. Last year's finalist. Leading Shaun

Murphy 2-0. STUDIO: Terrific stuff from Mr

Hawkins. This is what happened in frame three. Barry has already made

a break of 48, and he's back at the table.

COMMENTATOR: Barry Hawkins with that type of shot, I don't think there is

anyone better in the game of floating those in.

geared at cueing. The other one he plays them like that is Mark

Williams. Just floating them into the pocket. -- so good.

He's looking very comfortable out there, Barry Hawkins. You would not

think Shaun Murphy has won seven out of the meeting. Shaun cannot do much

about this. You do not see that often. When to pick the rest up,

knocking the yellow to the side. It was a handball, Dennis. Penalty.

Very rarely He has tried to force a little

smile. So unusual to see it happen like that. Sometimes you just touch

it. I don't know what happened. Let's have a look. He dropped it,

just dropped it slightly. What a steal this would be for Shaun

Murphy. He has plenty of points to play with. Barry Hawkins in the

background, looking at his hand. Just slipped out of his hand. Could

be a turning point. He has a lot of work to do. He has played this

nicely. The red, just below the think we'll pot as well. -- below

the pink we'll . When he pots this, clearing the

path to the think. It is that yellow. I have put three whites in.

Any of those positions, he will be on that difficult last red. Just

wondering whether he could play for the pink into the right centre.

Very interesting to see how he goes about getting to that final red.

Coming around to have a look, he could leave himself on the brown and

pink, to bring it into play. That would really knock it into the open.

Otherwise he would have to leave it in one of the positions. Let's see

whether he plays for brown or pink. It is the Kent.

-- it is the pink. Will he bring it out? Possibly, needs to be judged to

perfection. Did not judge it to perfection. The nice angle on the

pink, so much room behind the red. That is why he thought he could drop

in behind. Where is the red going? I was going to say the only

consolation is the yellow is safe. That will not matter, Barry is 24 in

front. The red and any colour. He let a real good chance go there.

Barry will trace chilly take the frame. Dropping the rest will be

wiped from his memory bank. If he had lost the frame, it would not

hurt. Does not matter about the double. He has the snooker, a bit of

a bonus. STUDIO: Hawkins winning their frame

to go 3-0 up. Murphy will be kicking himself. Hawkins looking for the

early finish. The next frame, there has been no school.

COMMENTATOR: Look at this for a shot. Absolutely delightful. He knew

he could not force that one in because of the red on the cushion.

We have seen him knocking. That cannon was exquisite.

Amazing opening. He would like to get rid of the red just above the

black to the right. Cannot do that on this occasion. Having a look to

see whether there is a pathway back to the blue. Not sure he can pot red

and stay on the black. At its case would have liked to be

in straight on that blue. Could have used them think all the red

free-macro next to it. -- could have used the pink.

Could have played that it better. Cannoning the other side, the pink

side. Played to hit the pink fourball. -- full ball. He still has

a red, is hampered a bit. If he pot this red, not guarantee good

position. If he hits agree. When you are playing reasonably well, you get

that sort of Karen. The slight angle, he needs to get some action

on this. -- the cannon. He managed to get the

cue ball up past the blue. What a chance now.

Created by that first fantastic shot. You won't see many better than

that opening red come to flick that a red away from the black. You just

don't see many better positional shots than this. Tough enough pot,

but to judge the cannon with enough side, that was perfection.

Is he going to get a chance in this frame? Before the mid-session

interval. A long way back from 4-0. At least it is first to 6. As long

as your opponent needs a couple of frames, you are in with a chance. Is

he going to get a chance in this frame, that is the question.

He cued that one up nicely. Nice action on the cue ball, back, in a

straight line. He would love to get on the two reds to the left of the

black. Or the green to the right of the black. If you can get on those

two reds, can play for the black. That is inch perfect.

That thread just above the blood to the right, it's the one who would

like to get rid of next because that will open up the black into both

corner pocket. -- black to the right. He looks like he would win

the previous frame with one visit until he missed the rest. Almost

pinched the frame but you can't really see where he could go wrong

here. Already 48 in France, he would have to do something careless to not

secure this fourth frame. It doesn't have to stay on the black, could go

for the blue here if there is any element of risk, he feels he can get

off the black on this one. Nicely played. Hampered but that doesn't

matter. Just has to drop the black in and he is on the road.

It's all looking very good for Barry Hawkins at the moment. He got to the

final last year so he enjoys playing at Alexandra Palace, he didn't enjoy

the final which we lost 10-1 to Ronnie O'Sullivan but it's looking

good here. Gone a little bit too far from the

blue. He's only a few pots away from securing this fourth frame. And I

wouldn't be surprised if I don't see Sean heading to the practice room

because when he missed that easy early read it seemed to turn

everything around and he hasn't got any fluency going at all. Yes.

CROWD CLAPPING I'm sure he will try to loosen up

because he has not had much table time.

Short of the cue ball here. You can see the table time, Murphy at 29%.

71% for Hawkins. We have seen in the past intervals

have changed matches many times. That is what Shaun will certainly be

hoping for. Barry will be hoping for a possible century. That would make

him feel pretty good. We have had 17 century so far.

That might just have spoilt a century break. It's close. It might

still going. Didn't get the flu, read but Shaun Murphy goes to the

mid-session interval, I'd tell you what Barry Hawkins will be

delighted, he leads the former champion by 4-0. Barry Hawkins

runner-up here at the Masters last year, can he make final this year,

he is playing well enough and it is a horror show for Shaun Murphy so

far, can Hawkins make it 5-0? Couldn't play better positional shot

than that, the pink spot will be covered. That will tie the pink up

on the black spot. Unless he has an angle on this pink, he could play a

cannon into the red on the pink spot. He has the angle, he could

push the red away from the pink spot if he wishes.

Didn't attempt it. That's not the best shot in the world because the

pink will block the path of the red to the left corner pocket. OK he

will be on red into the right-hand corner but it would be awkward.

That's a big extension he has put on the quay there. -- cue. Just so

awkward here. He has to be careful and make sure that he doesn't foul

as he did in the previous frame that almost cost him.

Try to put the yellow and swing that cue ball around the three cushions

and maybe get the red to the right of the pink.

This looks absolutely perfect excellent shot. Perfect. What a

fantastic shot that was. Worth another look because to finish on

the red as you said, the pink was only available to one part as you

can see from the picture but that was superbly judged. And every

chance now to take another frame. Shaun Murphy, it's one of those

situations where you just cannot get involved in the match. He has never

been whitewashed at the Masters. He has played here 12 times before. A

winner in 2015. Barry has only beaten Sean on the

one occasion. Shaun has won several times against this man so he has

that slight foot in his head, it is all about the match you are playing.

-- thought. Is that going to run far enough? Just about.

Delicate little screw shot, as long as he doesn't get the White tight on

the cushion he will be OK here. Just the pink now. The frame ball

and that sin again. That's another frame. The miss read with the left

into the corner pocket has cost. An awful lot to think about. The

loneliest seat in the world at times. In the arena, a fabulous

crowd, it has been packed out for most sessions and you just can't get

to the table. That's the tough part about this game, we've all been

there. You are looking forward to a good match against opponent and it

just doesn't happen. You start feeling a bit embarrassed, you want

to show and to show what you can do and it is all one-way traffic at the

moment. We saw exactly what happened to

Barry in the final last year, he played so well to get to the final

and then just won one frame against Ronnie in the final so he knows what

it feels like. Sean is one of the best break-builders in the game and

his highest break has been 36. That was in the third frame. It has to be

said, Barry has played top quality matched here the safety has been

good, his long parting has been excellent. And his break-building

has been OK to. Barry's highest break came in the

last frame, a break of 89 but has also had a break of 79 on frame two

and a couple of 40s. I'm sure Barry wasn't expecting to be leading 5-0.

It's not often you see Shaun Murphy miss a very comfortable shot but

that's what he did and he sat on a seat by Barry Hawkins made a

beautiful 85 break and is now one frame away from a place in the

quarterfinals. 5-0, who would've thought it. The snooker we have had

here has been top class and this is a magnificent performance from Barry

Hawkins. Although I should tell you that Hawkins once led 5-0 against

Nigel Bond in the 2014 UK championship and lost 6-5. Surely

not again. Absolutely not because as Dennis mentioned, Shaun has never

been whitewashed at the Masters and pulled one back to make it 5-1. The

big question now of course is can Barry seal the deal.

That is a poor shot. He has left the red for the middle, he took that pot

on and I thought he would play the safety behind the black book that

was tough. This is a chance for Barry Hawkins.

He will give itself a great shot for the match with this. It all depends

on the case. If this passes the pink he's perfect. If it doesn't then the

other one is slightly awkward. I think that maybe just goes,

certainly in-off the left jaw. Not much work to do with the keyboard. A

nice little kiss. The way the red sat around the pink. The one in the

open now as well, will it be enough? A quick glance at the scoreboard

there. Just to work out what he needs. On reflection you just have

to say Shaun will have to chalk this up as a bad day at the office. Just

one of those days. He never really got going did he? And he missed that

very easy read and that was in the second frame? The first. It

unsettled him, it definitely unsettled him.

The fact he got that thread after missing, it was easy enough for the

blue and I don't know what happened. Didn't get a kick. And the perfect

angle and another quick glance at the scoreboard, he can pop the black

and sly parser to read for the opposite corner pocket. -- past the

red. When you think Barry has only beaten Shaun on one occasion and

Shaun has won on seven occasions, this is quite a victory against the

former champion. And Shaun, the gentleman that is will come forward

and wish Barry all the best. And the rest of the Masters but as Ken said

it is what he : a bad day at the office.

From Barry's point of view, a very solid performance. He will be

looking forward to playing the world champion. I mean it doesn't matter

about that. There he is wishing Barry all the best. He never got

going from missing that thread early on and once again wishing Barry all

the best. In the end Barry Hawkins with just the -- was just far too

good for Shaun Murphy. The comfortable win. 6-1. It is never

comfortable until you win so like felt pretty good to know. Played

some decent stuff so to get 6-1 win is a fantastic result. Made some

good breaks, the anything I didn't do was make a century which would've

been nice but overall it was about getting a result and I'm delighted.

You work or your career to get into the top 16 and then get invited to a

tournament like this so you want to stay as long as possible. It's a

fantastic atmosphere, all the big crowds, live on the BBC, one of the

biggest tournaments you want to be here as long as possible. You don't

know how long you will place you have to relish moments like that.

You do indeed so we have our quarterfinal line-up for the 2017

Masters. That's it from us but smooth texture

follows this programme and then we're back at 1am for live coverage

for the Dafabet Masters, what eight tournament this is turning out to

be. The Alley Pali roof will be raced for Ronnie. Goodbye for now.

If it ever came to pass that Mr Corbyn were the Prime Minister,

Well, I think we're a basket case now. Have you seen Southern Rail?

Have you seen the National Health Service?

And we'll be more of a basket case once she triggers Article 50.

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