0:00:34 > 0:00:39Good evening and welcome to highlights of the fourth day of the
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Dafabet Masters at Alexandra Palace. We will feature the concluding match
0:00:43 > 0:00:47of the first round between John Higgins and fellow Scots, Anthony
0:00:47 > 0:00:56McGill.But let's bring you up today between the encounter between Shaun
0:00:56 > 0:01:02Murphy and Ali Carter.
0:01:13 > 0:01:27COMMENTATOR: yes, to reflect shot. He is favourite for the frame now.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32What a strike that was, he hits those so well. His head stays
0:01:32 > 0:01:40absolutely still.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44absolutely still.Wonderful shot. They go to the mid-session interval,
0:01:44 > 0:01:51Shaun Murphy leads 4-0.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Shaun Murphy leads 4-0.Played it positively, made sure he got
0:01:54 > 0:02:04position. He's definitely going for it.Needs to get it. And got it.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09Here is the blue for that song. Well played. Very well played indeed. It
0:02:09 > 0:02:14is now 4-2.
0:02:16 > 0:02:29is now 4-2.Great breaking long pot. It is there.Yes!Tremendous shot.
0:02:29 > 0:02:40He's now only one behind, 5-4.It is miscible. He made that look a lot
0:02:40 > 0:02:49easier than it was.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52easier than it was.I don't think Ali Carter is going to carry on and
0:02:52 > 0:03:00he's not. He offers his hand and Shaun Murphy wins 6-4 and is through
0:03:00 > 0:03:07to the quarterfinal. It was going so well. Top players do
0:03:07 > 0:03:12what they do, they don't give up and this is the second biggest
0:03:12 > 0:03:17tournament on the planet. Ali played nicely after the interval. I missed
0:03:17 > 0:03:24a couple and he capitalised. I don't have a great record against him. The
0:03:24 > 0:03:30score shouldn't have been 4-0 and I thought, I can only lose from there.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Here is your chance to win, what can you do and fortunately I managed to
0:03:34 > 0:03:41pull it out the back, but it's not always like that.Sean is normally
0:03:41 > 0:03:44very one dimensional but he changed his game plan. He knew he had to to
0:03:44 > 0:03:54beat me. Match Luke, I think my game is probably better than his. I am
0:03:54 > 0:03:57struggling this year. But they turned it round, had a good week
0:03:57 > 0:04:02last week at Coventry. I am competing against the best players
0:04:02 > 0:04:08in the world, so lots of positives. A good win for Sean and he will meet
0:04:08 > 0:04:13Judd Trump in the quarterfinals on Friday.And so a battle of youth
0:04:13 > 0:04:17versus experience, John Higgins making his 20 for the periods at the
0:04:17 > 0:04:24Masters against Anthony McGill, a first timer at Ally Pally.
0:05:19 > 0:05:27John Higgins took a 2-0 lead before Anthony McGill dug deep in frame
0:05:27 > 0:05:36three. Your commentators are Dennis Taylor and Stephen Hendry.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59COMMENTATOR: This red coats back to the left corner. The cue ball has
0:05:59 > 0:06:07gone into the the reds.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11gone into the the reds. The fact he could get a thick enough contact,
0:06:11 > 0:06:19good shot. Second chance in this frame.
0:06:45 > 0:06:52I know this shot you play Stephen. You would pot the black, cannon into
0:06:52 > 0:07:01the bunch of roads.As long as he hits the left-hand side of the pack,
0:07:01 > 0:07:07there is no danger of not being on one.
0:07:15 > 0:07:24He knows he still has another form more red is available.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33He could have played this one little bit better. Might still be able to
0:07:33 > 0:07:38pot this and run through for the black. Has to be careful with a
0:07:38 > 0:07:43little nudge.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49little nudge. OK, played it well. Just two more red is available and
0:07:49 > 0:08:00then he has got to get a cannon.
0:08:05 > 0:08:12He is looking at the bunch. He needs to go into the pack from this black.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17He may feel he can play for the red that's in the left middle. Go into
0:08:17 > 0:08:25the pack from the blue. Depends on the angle here. I think this angle
0:08:25 > 0:08:33is decent to go into them. He has got the loose red as a little bit of
0:08:33 > 0:08:42insurance.
0:08:42 > 0:08:49insurance. He couldn't have hit that any better. He deserves to be on an
0:08:49 > 0:08:56easy red and he is.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11Look at where the reds are and keep your concentration, Anthony. Cruise
0:09:11 > 0:09:17to victory in this fourth frame. Has done well from 2-0 down, great
0:09:17 > 0:09:25clearance from the previous frame.
0:09:58 > 0:10:05John Higgins was starting to dominate the match. Won the first
0:10:05 > 0:10:16two. As it is, every chance now it is going to be 2-2, a couple of more
0:10:16 > 0:10:24pots would be enough. Pink and one more red, to make absolutely certain
0:10:24 > 0:10:34of this fourth frame.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Somehow, I was expecting this from Anthony McGill, because he does
0:10:49 > 0:10:54enjoy the big stage and there is none bigger than this. Just the one
0:10:54 > 0:11:00table, almost 2000 people in. As you said, he has grown up watching and
0:11:00 > 0:11:03loving the game and he will have watched the Masters so many times
0:11:03 > 0:11:09and here he is out there and he will be two frames over with the twice
0:11:09 > 0:11:13winner of this title, John Higgins.
0:11:28 > 0:11:39He has given John a bit to think about in the interval.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41about in the interval. John looked to be cruising along in this match
0:11:41 > 0:11:48at 2-0 and then as Dennis said, he missed the pink, which probably
0:11:48 > 0:11:58would have won him the third frame. He needs this difficult red to give
0:11:58 > 0:12:06himself a chance of making his 122nd century of his career. Playing
0:12:06 > 0:12:13left-handed and he looks good playing left-handed.
0:12:13 > 0:12:21playing left-handed. Some players switch hands and they look awkward,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25but Anthony, it looked natural to him. Looks like he is a left-handed
0:12:25 > 0:12:34player.
0:12:48 > 0:12:55The 20th century in this year's Masters.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Masters. His nine this season, he made 19 last season. And this one
0:12:59 > 0:13:06coming at just the right time for him.
0:13:06 > 0:13:19him. Always nice to show a big crowd like this how well you can play.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31Two very quick frames by Anthony McGill to the midsection interval.
0:13:31 > 0:13:39He will be very pleased with his performance.STUDIO: That was the
0:13:39 > 0:13:4420th century of this year's tournament. We will pick it up with
0:13:44 > 0:13:50John Higgins 14 points behind.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03COMMENTATOR: I don't know if he got bad contact, but that was a poor
0:14:03 > 0:14:09shot. Bad misjudgement. He potted the red thick into the right-hand
0:14:09 > 0:14:20side of the pocket. This isn't easy. Got a good angle. No. He is under at
0:14:20 > 0:14:34the moment, John Higgins. He has lost his concentration completely.
0:14:46 > 0:14:53Slight heavy contact, but he is OK and he's straight on the black. He
0:14:53 > 0:14:59has plenty of loose reds to play for. Although having said that, they
0:14:59 > 0:15:08are all covering each other, but there are a few that are available.
0:15:09 > 0:15:17He could have played this one a little better.
0:15:17 > 0:15:25little better. Wanted to be further out into the table than this.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40Good recovery. That was played to perfection.
0:15:42 > 0:15:48perfection. Those six reds are all blocking each other.
0:15:48 > 0:15:54blocking each other. Just the one at the back. He will be disturbing if
0:15:54 > 0:16:02you opt the reds, so it is important he gets the cannon and doesn't leave
0:16:02 > 0:16:14himself hampered on the black.
0:16:14 > 0:16:22What a chance now. It is hard to see where he can go wrong from here.
0:17:22 > 0:17:28Just got to really keep his concentration, Anthony McGill. He's
0:17:28 > 0:17:32got John Higgins on the back foot, he doesn't want to let him back in
0:17:32 > 0:17:39with an easy chance. That is the thing about the top players in the
0:17:39 > 0:17:45game. You think they are down and out, but even one sniff of a chance,
0:17:45 > 0:17:54and they take it.
0:17:58 > 0:18:05And that is what I mean. Straight on the black. Got to keep control of
0:18:05 > 0:18:13the cue ball. It is just care less. Making it difficult when it doesn't
0:18:13 > 0:18:21need to be. Only needs a couple more reds.
0:18:25 > 0:18:33reds. He hit that very well. He struck that well. Good shot.
0:18:53 > 0:18:59That is going to be four in a row.
0:19:07 > 0:19:19Definitely worrying times now that the two time champion, John Higgins.
0:19:23 > 0:19:31Anthony has 12 ranking titles, the Indian open in 2016. The shoot out
0:19:31 > 0:19:36in 2017, but that is only one frame and a lot of people are surprised it
0:19:36 > 0:19:43is a ranking event, with playing just the one frame, but he has two
0:19:43 > 0:19:51ranking titles to his credit. And he is enjoying himself out there,
0:19:51 > 0:19:56Stephen?Yes, why not. He has won four frames in a row against John
0:19:56 > 0:20:04Higgins. In this magnificent arena.
0:20:18 > 0:20:26He will know there is still a long way to go in this match.
0:20:27 > 0:20:35way to go in this match. It is a pity. But it is another frame one in
0:20:35 > 0:20:41one visit. STUDIO: After losing four frames in
0:20:41 > 0:20:49a row, John Higgins Teddy Bishop in frame seven. -- steadied the ship.
0:20:49 > 0:20:58So it is into frame eight.
0:20:58 > 0:21:08COMMENTATOR: Another excellent cue ball.
0:21:08 > 0:21:19ball. Far from easy. Another test for John Higgins.This is some shots
0:21:19 > 0:21:30he is taking on here, I can tell you. Watch the cue ball...
0:21:30 > 0:21:39He had to get that pot. He is on the black, he deserves to be on the
0:21:39 > 0:21:45black. Absolutely brilliant, to take that on. He wasn't sure what was
0:21:45 > 0:21:48going to happen with the cue ball, but he deserves a bit of good
0:21:48 > 0:21:53fortune.
0:21:54 > 0:22:01fortune.That is what you call bottle, right there. The long red in
0:22:01 > 0:22:04the last frame and then that one there. When you know you are leaving
0:22:04 > 0:22:08the world on if you missed it.
0:22:44 > 0:22:51It doesn't take much with a player of John Higgins' calibre, when you
0:22:51 > 0:22:59let him back in and he gets his focus back. Those two long pots will
0:22:59 > 0:23:12have given him tremendous lift. Three reds, three blacks. And the
0:23:12 > 0:23:19reds are not in a bad position.He has made eight maximum breaks, but I
0:23:19 > 0:23:27remember the first one, he hadn't even made one in practice.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30even made one in practice. If you remember the nation cup when
0:23:30 > 0:23:35Northern Ireland played Scotland and somehow I managed to beat you on the
0:23:35 > 0:23:40pink in a frame and then one frame is against John Higgins. He broke
0:23:40 > 0:23:46off and he made his first ever maximum break. I don't think anyone
0:23:46 > 0:23:57else has done it in one frame match. This is exactly how you want the
0:23:57 > 0:24:04reds. All around the middle of the table. Believe me, he won't be
0:24:04 > 0:24:08thinking about it at the moment. The most important thing is getting back
0:24:08 > 0:24:16on level terms in this match. But just the weather reds are, he almost
0:24:16 > 0:24:21had to play for the black, unless he plays a bad positional shot. It is
0:24:21 > 0:24:28automatic at the moment.£10,000 for the highest break, but no individual
0:24:28 > 0:24:34prize for a maximum break. I know you are not a big fan of that?No,
0:24:34 > 0:24:44don't get me started.
0:24:55 > 0:25:05Looking at the scoreboard, I think actually he forgot he was on it.
0:25:05 > 0:25:12actually he forgot he was on it. It is in the back of his mind.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24Playing for a choice of reds. Just getting the cue ball into the middle
0:25:24 > 0:25:30of the table. He knows there will be a red to either corner, left or
0:25:30 > 0:25:39right.
0:25:58 > 0:26:05He has got a lovely angle on the black. Maybe cannon into the middle
0:26:05 > 0:26:11bread. But the cue ball might not travel forward far enough. He may
0:26:11 > 0:26:20not have the angle to play for the black again.
0:26:20 > 0:26:27black again. He got the middle red and he is perfect.
0:26:32 > 0:26:43and he is perfect.There is quite a buzz now around the Alley Pali.
0:27:01 > 0:27:12He needs that cue ball to travel.
0:27:12 > 0:27:22That is the frame, still in position.And there is a little bit
0:27:22 > 0:27:27of history on here, if he was to go on and make a maximum. It is a long
0:27:27 > 0:27:36way to go, but. There has never been a UK snooker player made a maximum
0:27:36 > 0:27:42in the Masters. Kirk Stevens from Canada, Ding Junhui and Marco Fu,
0:27:42 > 0:27:49three maximum is ever in the Masters.Got to play a good shot
0:27:49 > 0:28:00here. Just drop it in. I think it is a joke there is no special prize for
0:28:00 > 0:28:04a maximum, but to do one in this arena and this atmosphere would be
0:28:04 > 0:28:08incredible.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16incredible.The black seem to straighten up. He will be a little
0:28:16 > 0:28:20bit disappointed, but he won't be disappointed with the way he won.
0:28:20 > 0:28:29That gets him back all square. The Wizard of Oz shard is back again.
0:28:39 > 0:28:46This match started this evening at 7pm. The best of 11 frames. It is
0:28:46 > 0:28:50now down to just the best of three, the first to 6 goes through to the
0:28:50 > 0:28:56next round.
0:29:01 > 0:29:08I do not know if he has got the angle to pot this and get himself
0:29:08 > 0:29:13onto the black. Almost 26 minutes since his last pot. It would be
0:29:13 > 0:29:22special if he manages this.
0:29:26 > 0:29:32STEPHEN HENDRY: He has landed pretty straight on the black. He enjoyed
0:29:32 > 0:29:39it. LAUGHTER. I tell you what, the crowd enjoyed
0:29:39 > 0:29:46it.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02He did have just enough angle. This is an attacking shot. He will have
0:30:02 > 0:30:09to go into the bunch, screw the cue ball back off the side cushion and
0:30:09 > 0:30:12stay on the black in the same pocket.
0:30:22 > 0:30:29The more controlled shot, less space. He played it well. -- less
0:30:29 > 0:30:33pace. This match is boiling up now, Dennis.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46He just cued across it slightly but hang on, has he covered the pocket?
0:30:46 > 0:30:53Maybe not. He was cueing so well but that did not push the cue through in
0:30:53 > 0:30:57a straight line and the red passes the black, so after that brilliant
0:30:57 > 0:31:08opening red... He just didn't push the cue dead straight.Will John go
0:31:08 > 0:31:17into the pack from this red.
0:31:17 > 0:31:24He might go into the pack off the black the way it has finished,
0:31:24 > 0:31:32because he has finished awkward on the pink and blue.
0:31:33 > 0:31:40How is your luck?
0:31:40 > 0:31:49At first glance, it looks like red to write middle.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51to write middle. -- right middle.
0:32:02 > 0:32:08That was strange.
0:32:20 > 0:32:25The green is on but there is a red hampering him, that is why he's
0:32:25 > 0:32:30getting the extension so he does not foul the red. He will have to lean
0:32:30 > 0:32:31over that.
0:32:43 > 0:32:53He has played it well. It needs to keep going.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57keep going. He wanted to be straight on the red to the left of the bunch
0:32:57 > 0:33:05of reds and he could have rolled through for the black, but that is
0:33:05 > 0:33:11not available now.
0:33:11 > 0:33:18not available now. He found the gap nicely and this looks to be perfect.
0:33:18 > 0:33:26He has also found a deer. --
0:33:34 > 0:33:43gear.And I think it is Top Gear.
0:34:21 > 0:34:27A couple of years ago I was in Poland with Ken Doherty and watching
0:34:27 > 0:34:33John, he was playing in China in the final with Stuart Bingham, and
0:34:33 > 0:34:36invitational tournament, and he made three centuries in a row to clinch
0:34:36 > 0:34:43the final.It shows you what he can do when the pressure is on. And he
0:34:43 > 0:34:56has done it from 4-2 down, with breaks of 67 and 81.
0:35:12 > 0:35:18It is amazing the change in body language, John Higgins. From where
0:35:18 > 0:35:25he went 4-2 down.
0:35:35 > 0:35:44The way he is striking the ball now, with so much more authority.
0:35:59 > 0:36:09There is no need to play any cannons.
0:36:10 > 0:36:20Has he hit that hard enough? Looking at his expression, he has left it
0:36:20 > 0:36:27very tight. I thought he could hold for the other one at the back. He
0:36:27 > 0:36:33will have to play this with left-hand side to straighten out red
0:36:33 > 0:36:42up.I thought he would play for the red closest to the black.He has a
0:36:42 > 0:36:57lot of side on this. And he has played it well.
0:37:07 > 0:37:15It is amazing that shot, the normal swerve you raise the cue. But the
0:37:15 > 0:37:19little bit of side squares up the potting angle.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37A quick glance at the scoreboard. A little bit early for that. He will
0:37:37 > 0:37:44need a few more pots.
0:37:45 > 0:37:52Those two reds near the pink spot, I'm not sure if one is available
0:37:52 > 0:38:00into the right middle pocket.
0:38:00 > 0:38:07into the right middle pocket. 15 front. He needs one off them and he
0:38:07 > 0:38:11has the perfect angle on the blue to cannon those two. He would be very
0:38:11 > 0:38:19unlucky not to be one.Ideal to hit right in the middle of the two,
0:38:19 > 0:38:28which he has done.
0:38:55 > 0:39:06Well... He is coming to the table but barring snookers, John has got
0:39:06 > 0:39:14himself one frame in front. STUDIO: Just one frame away from a
0:39:14 > 0:39:26place now in the quarterfinal. Leading 5-4.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40DENNIS TAYLOR: John Higgins is faced with a red and we have seen him
0:39:40 > 0:39:50knock a couple of these in. 41 points behind, can he knock a third
0:39:50 > 0:39:59one in? The previous was similar to this.
0:39:59 > 0:40:07this. Where is the cue ball going? It will be awkward. He might have a
0:40:07 > 0:40:13slight angle on the yellow to get back up to the reds. He has to get
0:40:13 > 0:40:19past the blue spot at the least. I think he has enough angle to stun
0:40:19 > 0:40:23up.
0:40:34 > 0:40:41He might have to run through for the blue. He is OK, he's perfect! I
0:40:41 > 0:40:49thought he was covered on that. He is perfect. This is a chance. To get
0:40:49 > 0:40:52right back in this frame, a frame that will take him into the next
0:40:52 > 0:41:02round.
0:41:06 > 0:41:16Somebody just sneezed. Very untimely.If he wins the match from
0:41:16 > 0:41:20this visit, from 4-2 down, it has been the story of three fantastic
0:41:20 > 0:41:30long pots from the left-hand side pocket.
0:42:10 > 0:42:16Just a couple of reds are awkward. The one near the pink I do not think
0:42:16 > 0:42:22will pot and the one near the cushion, so a still long way to go
0:42:22 > 0:42:27in this frame. It will be some clearance if he can clinch it, the
0:42:27 > 0:42:37way the balls are situated.
0:42:39 > 0:42:44I think if he gets the angle on the black he will play the cannon on the
0:42:44 > 0:42:50red next to the pink.
0:42:50 > 0:42:56red next to the pink. He knows if it does not come off, there is every
0:42:56 > 0:43:05chance of there being the loose... Well, he did the one thing that was
0:43:05 > 0:43:11going to pull him out of position, hitting it full ball. If he hits the
0:43:11 > 0:43:21red half ball, it was knock -- not quite full ball.
0:43:30 > 0:43:38APPLAUSE
0:43:38 > 0:43:41A fantastic pot. Control of the cue ball. A lot of
0:43:41 > 0:43:53players would have hit that 100 mph and hope to be on something.
0:43:57 > 0:44:05Will he tries to drop in behind the difficult red? He tried it from
0:44:05 > 0:44:10there and the cue ball is close to the corner. He tried to cannon the
0:44:10 > 0:44:15red out from that position. He thought he had a good enough angle
0:44:15 > 0:44:21to screw back and nudge out the red. Not a bad choice, he would have been
0:44:21 > 0:44:28unpicked macro, or black. But he misjudged it. Now we are -- he would
0:44:28 > 0:44:37have been on pink or black. Now we are in for a tense frame.If you
0:44:37 > 0:44:41leave the cue ball near the yellow pocket, you are there.
0:45:11 > 0:45:19Quite clever to push the blue said. He knows he can win the frame
0:45:19 > 0:45:22without the blue but he knows if Anthony gets a chance will need the
0:45:22 > 0:45:32difficult blue.
0:45:36 > 0:45:41He did not hit it hard enough and has left John Higgins with a similar
0:45:41 > 0:45:47shot. He has potted about five like this. But this has got added
0:45:47 > 0:45:55pressure. This could give him the match, if it goes in.
0:46:10 > 0:46:16He was planning a headache smack that is quite amazing. He put the
0:46:16 > 0:46:20blue safe and got an unintentional cannon on it.
0:46:27 > 0:46:31It has been a cracking, absolutely cracking match between these two
0:46:31 > 0:46:40very talented Scottish players.You would have to say tremendous
0:46:40 > 0:46:47character John Higgins has shown from 4-2 down. The red he potted
0:46:47 > 0:46:57with no safety was phenomenal. He potted one in this frame.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00potted one in this frame.Just the brown needed. Anthony McGill, first
0:47:00 > 0:47:08time at the Masters, has put up a fabulous performance.
0:47:16 > 0:47:21But in the end of the Wizard of Wishaw has waived that magic wand.
0:47:34 > 0:47:44Well played. The best of friends. Smiles all around. Another cracking
0:47:44 > 0:47:49match at the Alexandra Palace and, in the end, John Higgins, who has
0:47:49 > 0:47:56won the title on two occasions, goes through to the next round.I am
0:47:56 > 0:48:01buzzing to beat Anthony. When I was 4-2 behind it was not looking good
0:48:01 > 0:48:06and he was hitting the ball well and dominating me. To come back to beat
0:48:06 > 0:48:12him 6-4, I am buzzing. I knew it would be a dogfight to get over the
0:48:12 > 0:48:19line. Over the moon to come back and win because at 4-2 it was not good.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22STUDIO: We are down to the last eight and this is the quarterfinal
0:48:22 > 0:48:32line-up...
0:48:46 > 0:48:50We should not be surprised there are more great matches to come.And some
0:48:50 > 0:48:56of the legend still involved, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark
0:48:56 > 0:49:02Williams, Shaun Murphy.We have highlights of Shaun Murphy and Ali
0:49:02 > 0:49:10Williams, Shaun Murphy.We have highlights of Shaun Murphy and Ali.