Day 5 Masters Snooker Highlights

Hello, good evening. Welcome back to

Alexandra Palace and highlights of

the 2018 Dafabet Masters. We have

reached the quarterfinals. Coming

up, the best of the match between

Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams.

First, let's show you what happened

when Ronnie O'Sullivan, seven times

winner at the Masters, took on

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen. Well,

the Rocky capitalised on -- Ronnie

O'Sullivan capitalised on a mistake

to take the first, but the Northern

Irishman made it 1-1. We join it in

frame three.

No. It wasn't easy.

Just a couple of reds available at

the moment.

It's just a bit awkward. It's not a

good chance just yet.

Well, he could play a little cannon

on the reds just above the black, or

he could play for the loose red, if

he wishes.

There is one more loose red

available, just to the right of the

pink spot, into the bottom right

corner pocket.

Not straight enough on it. That is

why he was shaking his head. He

wanted to be straight on this red.

Watch the cue ball. It could go in

the left middle. No, he judged it

nicely. And he has a nice angle on

the blue.

Must need a nice angle on the blue

now to go into the pack, because

gnome or lose reds available. And he

has judged it to perfection. One

nice split and the frame will be at

his mercy. Has he got it? Is this

red on into the bottom right-hand

corner pocket? He is having a quick

look, and the body language suggests

that it is. Their use yet. -- there

you see it.

This time, a quick look at the

scoreboard to see how many he needs.

Well, he only needed one more red. I

don't think he played to cannon

that. He played to slip past the

reds and leave the one to the right,

which would have been an easy pot to

secure the frame again. He did not

intend to cannon that.

I think he

has been lucky and he has knocked

the plant on. There is a bit of

distance between the reds, but...

Well, he got away with that one.

That was very fortunate.

Well, the next shot will open up the

reds. But it looks like he is

screwing back for the blue. The

white was close. It is OK. In fact,

he really got into that. He has gone

further up the table, but that will

do very nicely.

do very nicely. And he is throwing

the gauntlet down for Ronnie

O'Sullivan, who just missed a red

when he was typed on the cushion. --

tight on the cushion.

65 break in the previous frame. This

was the one that Ronnie missed.

We have had 20 centuries this year

in the Dafabet Masters. He has made

357 centuries in his career, Mark

Allen, one of the great

break-builders of the game. And that

is another one. Superb performance

from Mark Allen here.

from Mark Allen here. That is

certainly going to make this

quarterfinal very, very interesting

indeed.

He knew the black was in. Oh, it is

not in. It doesn't matter. He lost

the opening frame but then he had

breaks of 65 and that magnificent

break of 115, and Mark Allen leads

Ronnie O'Sullivan to- one.

STUDIO: Wonderful scoring from Mark

Allen, the 21st-century of the

tournament so far. Into the next

frame.

He has hit it far too thin, because

there is a red near the left corner

and Mark can pot that and get onto

the black. If this shot works out,

an early opportunity in this fourth

frame.

He played it well.

Mid-session interval coming up after

this frame. What a result that would

be, if this man could go there 3-1

in front, after losing the opening

frame.

Not only that long pot, Dennis, but

have a look at the little kiss,

knocking the red away from the black

spot as well. And purposely played.

So that it would open up the black

into both corner pockets. A double

whammy. Excellent shot.

He would like to get one of these

reds below the black out of the way.

He has an angle to do that now.

Just a little short with the cue

ball. Still can just about hold it,

I'm sure. Just about.

He is looking good, Denis.

Yes, totally different action to

Ronnie O'Sullivan, as Steve Davis

was saying. A little short, does not

pull the cue back that far. It is

very effective on these fast cloth

is. He finished a little awkward

there.

Good recovery.

I am sure a lot of this packed house

in Alexandra Palace came along

thinking Ronnie O'Sullivan was going

to carry on the way he played

against Marco Fu. That was an

incredible session. But in snooker,

it can change from day to day. And

the reason it is one of the most

difficult sports to play is that

only one player can play at the

table. In golf, if your opponent

it's a good shot, you can hit a good

shot. In this game, if you make a

mistake, you are sitting in your

seat. And this is a terrific

performance from Mark Allen, it has

to be said.

Quite cleverly took the

pink out of the way there, because

that opened up those two reds. He

just covered that red there. He did

not mean to kiss into the other red.

That is why he was shaking his head,

because that red was open and by

nudging it slightly, he can't pot it

now.

So this is Ronnie's, you would have

to say, last hope in this frame.

It is a tricky red for Mark Allen

but if he gets it, you will win the

frame. It is there.

frame. It is there. Good break,

this.

A lot of the spectators might be

surprised, but none of the players

will be. They know what he is

capable of, this player.

He can relax now and see if he

cannot in another century. -- see if

he cannot in another century.

Well, what a shame. No century

break. But one visit was all he

needed. He lost the opening frame

but he has played magnificent stuff

to take the next three and he goes

to the mid-session interval leading

Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-1.

And it got

even better. Allen needed less than

an hour and a half to seal a famous

6-1 win over an out of sorts of

O'Sullivan. Allen's third win in a

major tournament over the Rocket,

who will still make the back pages

in the morning newspapers after

giving this interview to BBC Radio 5

Live.

giving this interview to BBC Radio 5

Live.

If I was a football player, I

probably would have missed this game

and they would have put someone else

in form E. In an individual sport,

you have to get out there and do it.

If I had pulled out, there would

have been murder, everyone shouting

and screaming. I thought, turn up

and give it a go. But I am

struggling. I don't know if it is a

virus or whatever, but I have had it

before. It is very difficult when

you are getting dizzy spells. I gave

it a go and was not good enough. If

I had been playing someone that

could not pot a ball I might have

been all right but Mark is too good

to not put him under pressure. I

know people don't take me seriously

but I probably will miss the World

Championships. I came back to

snooker for different reasons. It is

a bit of a time passer for me. I

don't enjoy, listen, I have

explained before, I want to try and

get out of snooker as quickly as I

can. I still play because I have

some fans that love to watch me

play. I will still play a few

tournaments but as far as I'm

concerned, it is probably better to

do a month in Australia while the

World Championships is on. I would

find it difficult at home watching

the World Championships and not

being part of it.

You are saying you

will not play the World

Championships?

Things can change but

it has been on my mind for awhile. I

think the best place to be during

the World Championships would be to

be away. It would be difficult

because it is a good tournament. But

I am not going to do press, media,

17 days, the microscope on you. I

would rather go and play in little

events, under the radar, have a bit

of fun, pot some balls and get my

fix that way. I am not desperate to

win another world title. Unless the

terms and conditions are right for

the World Championships, I will do

something else. I would not want to

be employed by Barry Hearn. He likes

to work you to the bone. I am not

built like that. He ain't going to

put thousands of miles on my clock.

I like a bit of quality-of-life and

I don't do pressure and stress well.

There are other opportunities, and I

really enjoy it and my life has

never been better because of it.

That is just the way it is. If they

want me to play in a tournament,

they will have to come knocking on

my door. If they want me that bad,

come and talk to me. If you don't,

there are other people that will do

stuff with me.

It was a riveting

interview, but let's not forget how

well Mark Allen played.

Congratulations to him, through to

his third semifinal at the Masters.

And so to the second quarterfinal,

Kyren Wilson against Mark Williams,

who has won the Masters on two

Kyren Wilson against Mark Williams,

who has won the Masters on two

occasions. When we left you earlier

on BBC Two, Kyren Wilson was 1-0 up,

close to making it to- zero. He

rapped that up and we join it in the

third with Wilson to play.

Kyren try to get on the black

straightaway. He does not have a

great angle, he will have to force

this.

It begs the question why, when

it will not go on its spot. It will

not be available. It won't go

anywhere, so now pink and black are

tied up.

tied up. So he is going to have to

concentrate on blue and baulk

colours. For the next two or three

reds.

That is not perfect. He played it

with a trace of right-hand side and

it just came off the cushion a

little bit quicker than he thought.

He will have to go back up for the

blue, but those reds near the

right-hand cushion, he has to avoid.

And he didn't. That was a poor shot,

it has to be said.

Well, that's a double whammy. Not

only has he missed the blue, but he

has knocked the pink interplay.

has knocked the pink interplay. --

into play.

He let the cue ball girl a little

bit there. Overscrewed that. -- he

let it go a little bit. Not an easy

chance with three reds at least tied

up. He would do well to win the

frame from here. But you have to pot

the blue first, Mark. As I say, he

has looked so sensitive this

evening. Not the same player who

beat Mark Selby, that's for sure.

We

picked up on that when he played one

or two containing safeties,

frightened to come thick of the

pack. I think he is showing the

young man a little bit too much

respect.

He is worried about him. I

don't know. It is not like Mark

Williams not to be positive playing

this game. He will have to wake

himself up in a minute.

That will help.

I told you he loves

a double earlier on. No surprise to

me that he played that. Obviously he

was concerned about getting the cue

ball back to the baulk end. He has

an angle on the brown. He could run

down for one of the two reds on the

right-hand side of the table.

A good part, that, nice and clean.

He thinks he can get position on the

pink, and he has played it very

nicely. Now, does he popped the pink

off the top cushion and flick the

black out? That should be the shot.

Yes, he played it nicely. And what

looked like an awkward position when

he came to the table, now all of a

sudden it looks like a frame-winning

chance.

This pink will put him 18 points in

front. So the last two reds... He

thinks the blue will be easier to

get position on the next red. But it

still means that these last two

reds, with high value colours, and

he would be at the snooker is

required stage.

Now, what sort of an angle has he

got on the black? Not too bad, if he

plays with a trace of right-hand

side. The closer you are to the red

along the top cushion, the better.

At first glance, he looks to be a

little straight on the pink. He

wants to get as close to the red as

he can.

He did play it with the right-hand

side. And the cannon has worked out

nicely. It has worked out a

beautifully. Just this little

awkward shot, maybe because it is

into a blind pocket. You can see the

object ball but you can't see the

pocket. Red and a colour needed.

You

want to drop those in the jaws nice

and slowly if you can. Well, he

potted it so confidently. This has

been an excellent break, it really

has, ever since he had the double

that you mentioned, the cross

double. He has made these into a

very interesting contribution,

that's for sure. It didn't look like

he could clear up. But this has been

superb. OK, he might not clear up,

but it is enough to take a 3-0 lead.

He is sat there with a lot to think

about.

And but for snooker, Kyren Wilson

will have a 3-0 lead over the

champion. -- but for a snooker.

And Mark has said OK, if you like.

And of course, Kyren is not going to

refuse the concession. So Mark

Williams, with one frame to play

before the mid-session interval, is

in deep trouble, trailing 3-0.

Yes,

he is in big trouble and the

Englishman is playing very well.

That's go back to John Parrott and

John Virgo. -- let's go back to John

Parrott and John Virgo.

Cue. Oh!

The

quality of his cueing on those

individual long parts is fantastic.

Each use those as straight as

anybody. That is so tough on the

bottom cushion but it never looked

anywhere else but in. This is a big

shot though.

shot though. Once again, sweetly

struck.

If you were to be critical

of one aspect of his game tonight,

he has not been winning frames with

one visit. But he has certainly

knocked in some wonderful long

parts.

What has been as impressive as

anything... He will not be pleased

with that positional shot. He played

for the pink, believe it or not. He

might be thinking about the blue

now, but he played for the pink.

now, but he played for the pink. He

has competed in the safety game, and

his potting has been better. That is

why he has the 3-0 lead, but this is

a big shot.

Right in the heart of the pocket.

And Mark Williams is staring a 4-0

deficit at the mid-session interval.

That was a poor shot, a total

miscalculation. He did not think he

would be getting the flick cannon

off both balls. And this is granite

tough.

A poor positional shot caught him

out. A let off for Mark Williams.

Can he take it?

Used all the pocket! I think he

thought he had missed it. Now just

having a quick glance at the

scoreboard. With this black, he

would go four points behind. So he

is going to need... Well, the green

is awkward, but the brown awkward as

well. It is not going to be an easy

run to the winning line in this

all-important frame. But he will be

glad of the opportunity.

Well, the shot before the black was

very strange, he just sort of

dropped it in, as if he was making

sure of the red. He should have been

stunning it in and getting a better

angle on the black, for me.

It was

like he was making certain he did

not miss the red, and he left the

missable black. Kyren Wilson still

has the problem with the green and

the brown. That is the only saving

grace for Mark Williams.

This green will make the points all

square.

He was looking to see if he could

play the cannon, popped the green in

the middle and chip the brown out.

He played a dead weight in behind,

probably the better shot. Boy is

this one tricky.

this one tricky.

Yeah, just off the

cushion. Very missable.

But in it goes. He doesn't want to

be too straight on the blue because

the pink is not available into the

right corner. He is looking for blue

and pink to go to the mid-session

interval with a 4-0 lead.

Well, Mark Williams had his chances.

Will he get another? Just the pink

needed.

In it goes. He goes in in a deserved

4-0 lead.

Brilliant stuff from Kyren

Wilson, and he made it 5-0 in the

fifth, thanks to a break of 63.

Let's show you what happened in

frame six. It is Wilson to play,

trailing by 58. Back to John Virgo

and John Parrott.

Good pot. Not perfect. The brown is

going to make slightly awkward

cueing. He is a little thin on the

blue than he would like. The brown

this just where he would like to put

his bridge hand.

Now, he doesn't want to be too

straight on the red to the corner.

He has a choice of reds.

He has a choice of reds. That one is

a danger. He may just flick the

black. The one closest to the corner

looks as though he can run round off

two cushions for the pink into the

right middle. He doesn't have to do

much with the cue ball playing it

this way.

this way. Yes, no problem.

It looked

an absolute natural, didn't it?

Looks like he has come fairly

straight on this pink, so it is all

about the little screw back. He has

to make sure he has position. Hang

on a second, there is somebody

coming down the stairs.

coming down the stairs. Thankfully

it did not put him off. A gentleman

decided he had to go home at that

time.

I don't know what time the

last bus is. Not yet, is it? Anyway,

he will be disappointed with that

positional shot. He has left this

more awkward than it should have

been. It is a delicate little pot on

the red and a little drop cannon on

the black. He will be thinking he

will still be on the pink. But a

delicate shot. Always tricky, those.

It is not a full shot, that is the

problem with them. Someone shouted,

come on, Mark, but he can't get

directly through to the red over the

corner. 45 points, the lead. Red in

a -- and a reasonably sized colour

would win him the frame. And he has

a chance of that now. The pink, to

go 52 points in front with 51

remaining. A good swerve.

A good shot on the pink. Stopped the

whitewash.

There is his son. During the

interval, before the start of the

frame, he came out of his seat and

went down to his dad and gave him a

bit of advice.

Did not matter whether that went in

because Kyren would not come back to

the table. But it did go in. So the

Williams family have a little bit to

smile about. Not bothered about the

black. Mark just wants to get the

next frame under way. Both players

leave the arena. Well, you have to

start somewhere, but it still looks

the impossible dream for Mark

Williams at the moment. You never

know.

Yes, at last, something for

Little Williams to cheer in the

audience. Into the next frame,

Williams leading by three points.

Well, is there a pot on here, with a

path back to Bulka? There may well

be. Well, there was not a path back

to the Bulka cushion, and it was a

dangerous shot to take on.

OK, he caught it a bit thick, but

you can't afford to give nice easy

starters to Kyren. He is just

looking for one frame. And this is a

golden opportunity. Now we will see

how he is feeling.

He would love to get rid of the red

that is below the black on the

right-hand side. And he can do it

now. Drop it in, cue ball off the

cushion and back for black in the

same pocket.

Could have done with a little more

there. Noticeable how quickly he

played that shot.

He will have to go for the blue.

Maybe the pink is available, but you

just feel a more positive strike to

play up for the blue.

He judged the cannon nicely to hold

for the pink. And has developed that

read. Good shot. -- developed that

red.

One of the family of flies is back.

Got to be careful with the cueing

here. Little bit shaky.

Got to be careful with the cueing

here. Little bit shaky.

here. Little bit shaky. I am pretty

sure the red kneed the pink spot

goes through the gap. That is what

he will be playing on.

he will be playing on.

He couldn't

have landed on it better. He is

straight enough to go through for

the black in the opposite corner.

He will be trying like mad to get

this match over with.

this match over with. Give yourself

the easiest, possible results.

He is helped by the fact imparting

this there is a gap for the blue.

Maybe play it with a bit more pace

and go for the pink. But there is a

nice to go through.

Just feel that one more, good

positional shot and the frame and

the match is at his mercy.

He probably could have done without

that flick. He'd have missed the

blue and would have had two options.

That is tight. He seems to think it

will go.

And it does. Good shot.

Well played. That was an excellent

shot.

That could be the matchwinner.

Doesn't have too play any more

cannons. The reds he needs are

available.

available. Inch perfect on the blue.

Nice positional shot.

Read and the colour for a place in

semifinal. In goes the red.

There is Kyren Wilson's parents.

Just the black required. And then it

goes. Right into the heart of the

pocket. Kyren Wilson will surely now

have booked his place in Saturday's

semifinal.

semifinal. And no way back to the

table now for Mark Williams.

It

hasn't been his evening at all, take

nothing away. Kyren Wilson has done

his job. He has taken these

brilliantly well. Great way to

finish the match.

Little bit

disappointed he's not on a red, but

Mark Williams won't be coming to the

table. He will be disappointed after

his victory over Mark Selby. He was

hoping for something better than

this. It was just hit and hope. But

it doesn't matter. Mark Williams

congratulates Kyren Wilson.

congratulates Kyren Wilson. I am

sure he didn't expect it to be that

easy. But you take what is in front

of you. Whatever was put in front of

him, he played by far the better

this evening and he plays for the

first time in a Dafabet Masters

semifinal by beating Mark Williams

6-1.

The key to it was hanging on

and keeping my discipline.

I could sense he wasn't there. I

wanted to keep him under pressure. I

was lucky I caught him on an off

day. First time into the semifinals

of the Masters, on my second

appearance, it is what dreams are

made of. But I will be trying my

best to make sure it doesn't stop

there.

STUDIO: Weldon Kyren Wilson, he will

play either Ryan Day or John

Higgins. Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy

is our next match here. That is it

for now, but coming up after this

programme, extended highlights in

Snooker Extra of Ronnie O'Sullivan

and Mark Allen. We are back with

more live coverage from the 2018

Dafabet Masters as Judd Trump takes

on the 2015 Masters winner Shaun

Murphy. A great start to your

weekend. Goodbye for now.