Day 1 Masters Snooker Highlights

Hello, a very good evening to you.

Welcome to highlights of day one of

the 2018 masters. The action got

underway with Mark Selby, world

number one, three times, and Masters

champion, taking on the Welshman

Mark Williams, himself twice a

Masters champion. Sell the setting

for victory when he had a kick,

Williams came to the table and won

frame nine and ten to set up a final

frame decider. Let's revisit that in

the company of Dennis Taylor and

Stephen Hendry.

COMMENTATOR: Does he put some

fantastic long balls.

He has rescued

the situation with some excellent

long pot. That was a shocker,

really.

really.

The Rekik long pot there.

Playing for the four corner. Yes,

very good. -- terrific long pot. No!

Can you believe it?

That's a beautiful shot.

And the pink is in, the Welsh

potting machine has made a terrific

comeback and he takes the match by

six frames to five.

I am happy with

the way I played, I played quite

well. I think Selby played quite

well as well, not too many balls

missed, and a lot of good

well as well, not too many balls

missed, and a lot of good breaks, a

couple of clearances here and there,

and overall I think was a really

good match that could have gone

either way.

I knew that last red, if

it dropped in, the match was mine,

and it was a do or die shot, you

have to commit to it. If you roll it

in, great, unfortunately for me it

did not come out well.

I am going

the right way, a of quarterfinals,

semifinals. I just to plough on the

key player in the way I am and see

what happens.

It is hard to take a

lot of positives when you have

played well and lost. You just have

to go back to the drawing board and

the working hard and if you keep

playing like that you would lose

many matches.

Great disappointment

for Mark Selby, but what a fine win

for Mark Williams. He now has to

wait until Thursday for his quarter

final match. This evening was all

about Mark Allen taking on Luca

Brecel, making his debut here,

nicknamed the Belgian bullet.

nicknamed the Belgian bullet. The

last time they met was on the 2015

Shanghai Masters, which Allen won

5-3. But just take a look at the

seams.

seams. Brecel turned up with two

queues, he said he wanted one for

safety play and he wanted one for

potting. It seemed to be working,

because Brecel raced into a 2-1

lead. We join it in the fourth

frame, early stages, commentary from

Ken Doherty and Joe Berger. -- John

Virgo.

Commentator good shot was. He knew

the earlier incident, the one that

could hold him for the black, and a

little unlucky that the second red

just nudges the black off its spot.

Otherwise he would have been ups and

really perfect on the black. As it

is, I'm not certain what red he can

get on off this black.

He obviously thinks if he can just

get past the pink, but has he gone

far enough? Looking at his body

language, I would say no.

Well, he did. Excellent pot.

And there are not that many loose

roads to play for so he may play a

cannon onto the main bunch. Trust a

little bit to luck.

Well, he has got the red to the

corner but he is badly hampered

here.

Couldn't have played that much

better. Good shot.

better. Good shot.

Yes, and the red

just above the black in-line does

pot. He has decided to go down for

the red below the black. Played that

pretty well.

A bit short, but a chance to go into

the pack of Fred Snell.

the pack of Fred Snell. -- the pack

of reds now. Didn't play it with a

lot of confidence. Just managed to

drop in.

APPLAUSE

He has got an angle on the blue.

Drop the blue in, red at the bottom

of the pack, the loose one, pots.

It is OK. He is going to need at

least one more split from a fuel of

those roads -- a few of those reds.

Yes, so after this, there's only one

more red. You can see it just to the

right of the black. And he has left

himself low on the black so he might

as well play the cannon now. He

should still be on the open red. And

that was a better way of playing it,

bit more positive. All right, he is

probably not on the one to the same

pocket as the black, but he has won

to the left middle. And now that

should be end of frame, and they

should go into the mid-session

interval all square.

interval all square. It is hard to

pick a winner.

Yes, it is good

stuff. As soon as the frame is out

of the way, he will be concentrating

on trying to make the first century

of the evening.

That secures the first frame. Let's

see if he can make a century.

He has already made 36 entries this

season. The total losses and was 36.

336 career centuries.

APPLAUSE

Mark Williams made a 135 in this

afternoon's session. Could equal

that by taking the black in all the

remaining six colours.

remaining six colours. But of course

the importance for Mark Allen is he

goes into the interval at 2-2. So

the best-of-7 when they come out.

Both players looking in good form.

Yes, I didn't think it would be a

slow match, OK, we have had a cup of

frames going over 20 minutes but you

just know the nature of the way they

will play they will attack. And it

is just bubbling up nicely, best of

11, first six remember. So still a

possible seven frames to come after

the interval. And this to equal the

highest break of the tournament so

far. Mark Williams made a 135, Mark

Allen has made a 135! Absolutely

superb, so lots to look forward to

taking it into the mid-session

interval, two frames apiece.

Into the next frame, Selby to play

and there is no -- Brecel to play

and there is

and there is no -- Brecel to play

and there is no score.

Now a good chance for Mark Allen.

Would not expect him to miss that.

They say sometimes how an interval

can affect a game. That was an

unexpectedness.

What a shot he has played there.

That has messed up the black. He

didn't intend for that to happen but

when putting this red he could get

on that. So it is not too bad.

Got to be careful of that red. It is

close to the left-hand side cushion.

Now, under normal circumstances you

say play a little stunner to the

red, but he is slightly hampered

here. He will just cue past the red.

So there is value in playing the

cannon. And he is just about OK. Red

to the right middle. It could have

gone wrong.

He may have to take the red after

potting this blue, the one close to

the yellow pocket.

It has gone wrong again. Cut the

Bijlow on the blue.

You can only

assume he had already made contact,

he was trying to bring into play and

maybe holding for a ball colour.

Whatever, he has not played the best

positional shot.

He has still not recovered the

situation. You would think yellow

would be his choice of colour but a

bit of work to do with the cue ball

to get nicely on the next red.

Making hard work of this.

I think he has just about on the red

above the pink, and if he is that is

an excellent shot. The flies back.

Perfect angle now on the thing. The

red just above the pink, just cannon

that of former left-hand side,

doesn't have to play it with too

much pace. Just make certain you get

the cannon nicely. Played it

perfectly.

perfectly. And of course bringing

that red into play, now he has

brought three reds into play. This

is a great chance to take the lead

for the first time in the match. He

has always been playing catch-up.

Played that well. He would have been

a little bit disappointed not to

leave himself with a better angle on

the pink, but he played well enough.

And judged the cannon off the black

and finish nicely on the blue.

Yes,

judged that wonderfully well. 57

ahead, 55 remaining.

ahead, 55 remaining. Red colour red

would be enough. This is good stuff.

He played a series of wonderful

little nudges and cannons around the

pink and black to keep this break

going.

Trust quickly caught the pot

success, 95%, that is very high.

Made a break of 135 in the frame

before the mid-session interval.

before the mid-session interval. If

this next shot goes right, he could

make another century here. Not

quite. But that will be enough.

Strikes the front. He leads by three

frames to two. So for the first time

in the match Mark Allen goes in

front. Let's show you what happened

in the next frame.

Brecel the break and trailing by 39

points. Goes without saying he needs

to make the most of this

opportunity. Should have had an

angle on the blue at least.

angle on the blue at least. With

that black being tight against the

top cushion he needed the blue and

pink in the middle of the table. A

bit of work to do with the cue ball

now.

The cue ball needs to run, and it

has done. Slightly hampered by the

yellow. May have to take the green.

He would love to play the pink. But

the green gives him the easier

positional shot.

positional shot.

He played that very

well, indeed. He may go back up for

the pink or blue. You will need that

red that is closest to the

right-hand side cushion if he is

going to win the frame from this

visit.

A quick glance at the scoreboard, 51

remaining, no value whatsoever in

trying to pot one of these reds and

bring it in. OK, if you get position

on the think you can bring into

play, fair enough, but don't try and

bring into play of the red. Because

you are not certain of being on the

colour.

Yes, just put a circle on

the line, if you can get the cue

ball somewhere in the circle you

will have a nice angle on the pink.

And now he can take the red out from

the side cushion, pot the pink. If

the red doesn't go over the centre

pocket he will always be on the red

below the pink spot but as long as

the cue ball gets away from

depression... Oh.

Where is the cue

ball going? Where is the cue ball

going?!

going?! Well, that is amazing, just

a trace of right-hand side, a

fraction too much side and use all

the way it checked. Unlucky to go in

off.

So Mark Allen now just looking for a

red and a colour.

red and a colour. Could have played

that better.

Now, what sort of an angle is he

going to get on the colour here? He

is on the green. That looks to be

the best for to pot and screw behind

the red. It would be a bit risky to

try and move it. Well, he tried to

move it.

move it. 30 points the difference,

35 remaining.

Just wanted to Mr yellow the cue

ball.

ball. -- to miss that yellow. Left a

chance for mark. No. Surprising.

Quite a long way away from that pot.

This is looking good. Lining up the

cue ball right behind the.

If the red had been a bit closer to

the collected would have been more

favourable for Luca Brecel, but

straightforward snooker to get out

both from Mark Allen. Got to be

careful he doesn't want to leave it

on, he could just nestle onto the

red off the side cushion.

Good fit. But he has left it on.

Good pot. Nicely on the brown. The

black will be the important ball

here, John.

Absolutely.

here, John.

Absolutely. Made much

easier by virtue of the fact the

pink is close to the black but that

black will still want potting. But

it is funny, sometimes you think

you're lucky to get one or two

chances in the frame. Both players,

whoever loses this frame will feel

as though they have missed a trick

here.

here. Usually I say the key shot is

from brown to blue, but with that

pink being close to the black, it

shouldn't be a problem, but whatever

happens it will be a tough black.

That is a live that short of pace.

He does have the angle on the pink

and knock the black of the cushion,

can't drop behind it from this. So

he just needs a half Paul, called

the offer black. Oh, he has played

that wonderfully well. That is a

fantastic shot. Black to steal the

frame. What a frame it would be.

Then it goes! Magnificent.

Then it goes! Magnificent. Needed a

couple of bites at the cherry, got

there in the end. He levels the

match up once more. Marc Bolland 3-3

Luca Brecel.

Wonderful stuff, so

Brecel levels it up. Frame seven

lasted 31 minutes but it was Allen

who edged in front again. Frame

eight we go.

Never a good thing to catch the blue

on the way back to book

that is a terrific pot. He is

actually on the brown.

actually on the brown. Yes, good pot

that. And still, good long pot

success from Mark. 80%.

How he would love to be a

particularly these two reds to the

left of the black. Has to be a

little bit careful with this first

one.

one. Obviously this red that is on

the left side of the table will pass

the black to the right corner. But

not the angle to play for the black

into the opposite corner, so going

back up for a blue or colour. Who

thinks he can get on the other side

of it, oh and he did, good shot.

Looked like he had the wrong angle

there, for a moment.

He did play for the red that's just

to the left of the black, just

overran it slightly, but he's got an

alternative.

Just lost the cue ball slightly

here.

Played that well. Played it very

well.

He's left the lovely angle on the

black. Deep screw into the pack.

He didn't play the screw, but tried

to play a delicate little cannon,

but didn't get on the desired red

into the bottom right-hand corner

pocket, but he's got this red to the

left centre. Touched down nicely.

Nice touch.

Still not ideal.

Just looking for

another 32 points from this visit to

get to the snooker is required

stage.

I think he is overrun that slightly.

Could be on the break.

APPLAUSE

Well, break 45, he'll be

disappointed not to win the frame

from that position.

How costly will that be? A long way

away with the pot and because he

was, that's why he ran into the

second red.

Yeah, obviously this red just to the

right of the green will go.

Just one good positional shot here,

from Green, up to his next red. He

decided the black would be perfect.

Less margin for error, trying to get

on one of those reds.

Just needed to go a few more inches

with the cue ball, just to make this

a formality. He can pot the reds,

but he's got to go back up towards

the blue, just stretching slightly.

He'll be disappointed with that.

Yeah, I know it's easy after timing,

but he should have got the rest.

He's overstretching.

His cue ball needs to run and it is

doing.

APPLAUSE

He still didn't find Bolt cushion,

which was essential with that type

of shot. -- the baulk cushion. And

that's why. Left a chance of a thin

snick, which he wouldn't have been

able to play if the cue ball had

been tight on the baulk cushion.

Taking that opportunity to put the

green out of commission. . Has a 57

point lead, a possible 75 remaining,

but a couple of reds to Mark Allen

and that would be the end of this

frame.

He just can't find that baulk

cushion can't Luca, and he's left a

pot one here.

APPLAUSE

It will be on the brown.

And now looking for one more red and

this red will put him 63 points

ahead, which is 59 remaining.

APPLAUSE

It just seems to be one of those

matches at the moment that every

time Mark is to the table, he's got

a chance of a pot.

Well, when Luca

can get back to the table, well,

barring snookers, Mark Allen is

going into a 5-3 frames lead.

So Luca Brecel concedes the frame.

There is indeed a 5-3 frames lead.

He needs one more for a place into

the quarterfinals. He leads Luca

Brecel, 5-3.

REFEREE:

Thank you, frame nine, Luca

Brecel to break.

Frame nine under

way and I'd suggest the only way

Luca Brecel is going to get out of

this match is to up his game. He's

had chances, but the last couple of

frames, he's just gone a little bit

loose.

He's giving too many chances to his

opponent.

Of course, what can turn that around

as if you get in and make a

frame-winning clearance, then you

feel a lot better about yourself.

He's looking at this ball plants,

right above the black to the left,

down towards us for the corner

pocket. He had a go from a didn't

turn the red coming up over this

right-hand side, but it looks like

he's covered it.

Yeah, I just looked

at Luca's face and there you see,

not happy.

You've just got to hang on in there

in moments like this and hope you

get a chance.

APPLAUSE

That was a terrific pot landed

perfect on the blue. There are

couple of reds to play for and maybe

that's what he'll do. He's got the

perfect angle to go and smash

everything into the open. That's

what he decided to do. You always

need a bit of luck and that's OK, as

long as you've got a red to

continue. He's got a choice of reds,

one to the right corner, one to the

left middle.

If the black bumps into

the left-hand pocket, which it does,

what a chance now to win the frame

and indeed the match. There is a

beautiful split on the blue.

This is normally where he's so good

at placing nice little stuns and

nudges into reds, for his next

colour.

There's his target, get the 71

before his opponent needs the

snooker.

snooker. These are nice little shots

that he's good at, just stunned the

black in, get the cue ball into the

reds, nicely played. That's really

open things up now.

It's going to be hard to see him sit

down from here.

Yeah, probably by

the time he finishes, be about two

and a half hours. It's gone a bit

scrappy, but well, you look at the

pot success and you see the main

reason. 92%, against 85%.

reason. 92%, against 85%. Luca

Brecel has had his chances. He'll be

disappointed. He's never beaten

Mark. They've played on three

occasions, we commented on that

earlier. It looks for our money now

is if we'll have to wait for another

opportunity, but he is a talent,

this young man from Belgium.

Played that positional shot

perfectly. Red, red, all that's

required. --

required. -- red colour red, all

that's required.

that's required. Made a break of

135, which equalled the highest

break of the tournament so far. If

he takes all blacks, there's a

possible 145 on here. Now, that

could take some beating.

That would

be a good target. This all came from

that wonderful long red and indeed

the split from the blue. Couldn't

have played the blue winter the pack

any better.

any better. -- the blue into the

pack any better.

The game has really come down to the

scoring. Mark Allen's scoring has

been much better quality than Luca

Brecel.

APPLAUSE

Superb century. He's been asked to

make the 145, but it won't be for

the want of trying.

Yeah, we always say at this level,

when you've got chances you have to

try to win frames in one visit and

Mark Allen has done it more in this

match than Luca has. Luca has only

made one break over 50, that was a

65 in the first. In the meantime

Mark Allen had made 86 in the

second, 135 in the fourth, 72 in the

fifth. 120 and counting, 145, it

would be a big target for anyone to

beat. Oh, what a shame!

APPLAUSE

But he will be pleased. Luca Brecel

has yet to beat Mark Allen and in

the end Mark Allen, although he

wasn't at his absolute best today,

when it mattered he produced and he

runs out, well, you could say a

comfortable winner, by 6-3 frames.

Pretty solid. There were one or two

I probably should have got that I

missed. It would have been nice to

get a but I set a target for the

high break, but I'm happy to

get a but I set a target for the

high break, but I'm happy to be in

the

get a but I set a target for the

high break, but I'm happy to be in

the next round. I don't know if I

improved as a whole but I feel my

game is in better shape this time

than it was last year, but on any

given day you can play great and you

can play bad and I still need to

work on it and I'm trying hard to

work on it but while I'm in a good

place mentally and I feel my game is

in good shape, I'll make the most of

it.

Mark Allen, the

in good shape, I'll make the most of

it.

Mark Allen, the first

in good shape, I'll make the most of

it.

Mark Allen, the first man

through to the quarterfinals on the

top half of the draw. Ronnie

O'Sullivan, the defending champion,

starts on Tuesday, and all Scotland

clash as Higgins takes on McGill.

Ding Junhui, the 2011 champion,

starts later today. The bottom half

of the draw, Judd Trump, Shaun

Murphy, Barry Hawkins, always tricky

matches. That's the beauty of the

Masters. Mark Williams proving

anyone can beat anyone, not knocking

out Mark Selby. That's it from us

for but snooker Extra follows this

programme. It's Mark Selby against

Mark Williams in full, a cracking

match. We are back later today, as

Ding Junhui gets his Masters

campaign up and running against Ryan

Day. We'll see you at 1pm. Goodbye

for now.