Day 7 Masters Snooker

Weir and the rather grand at Alexandra Palace this Saturday

night for the second of the semi- finals in this BGC Masters. The

relocation to North London seems to have instilled a new attitude and

her semi-final us tonight. John Higgins has won it twice, but felt

he was going stale at Wembley the last couple of years. And his

opponent Shaun Murphy has hit the wall each time he has reached the

semi-final. He will play this court in what is a repeat of the

memorable World Championship final It was a struggle. We played in the

final when it was the gritty affair. I just managed to come out and talk.

They may be Ronnie 10-named in one This tournament has been the worst

tournament for me. I used to love coming and washing this tournament

as a teenager. I won the qualifying event to play, beat Marco Fu and

should have beaten Stephen Henry but bottled it. But I have never

I have only beaten him a few times. I beat him on my way to winning the

World Championship. His strength? Everything! His weaknesses?

Nothing! When Shaun Murphy is flowing, I do not think anyone hits

the ball better than him. You have to just try and keep him off his

rhythm. I have been practising very The John Higgins versus Shaun

Murphy. It is an enticing semi- final in prospect. There has been a

lot of talk about who the best player in the world is. When you're

talking about the favourite for any tournament, John Higgins name has

to come up. These are the big events, these are the ones he wants

to win. One the other hand, Shaun Murphy has never been the No. 1 in

the world. If you where his coach, Paul we due do to try and move him

up to the next level. I am not sure, because you do not know what he's

doing in practice. He said he was going to take a leaf out of Judd

Trump's book and be a bit more aggressive? Yes, maybe he has

decided to do that to increase his Please welcome, he is the pride of

Manchester, he is "The Magician", Shaun Murphy

MUSIC: "It's A Kind Of Magic" by Queen

And his opponent, one of Scotland's finest sportsmen. The winner of 22

ranking events. He is aiming for his 5th appearance in the final.

The reigning world champion, "The Wizard of Wishaw", John Higgins!

MUSIC: "I Am The Resurrection" by Stone Roses

Seven wins to John Higgins and 5 win is to Shaun Murphy in their

meetings will stop the first to six frames and the winner. We will join

Dennis Taylor and John Parrott in the commentary box.

DENNIS TAYLOR: Do you think he got a bat with a little bit of

authority? I thought he was just going to all were 10. That is the

way to play that. He deserves If he drops this in here, he has a

very big area to go into the pack. He has got a red over the centre

and would be very unlucky not to be on one. He preferred to take the

most red first. He could have gone into them and,

if it went wrong, he still had that one over the right middle. Terrific

amount of lead per inside there. That was to make sure he got on the

right side of the blue. "The Magician" is on the march. This is

a great start for Shaun Murphy. That look like a little bit of a

kick. But Shaun is not bothering to The red left the bed of the cloth

there. He is fully focused and did not want to bother interrupting

play. There is only one more loose red

and then he will have to try and open the pack up.

Yes, he would like that shot again. The way the pack is, they will

really split open. They will really Tell you what, he does not miss

Key shot coming up. 31 points in front.

He could not have hit that any OK, here is a little unfortunate

that the black is covered in to both of the bottom pockets. But he

can go back for the blue. He could actually just won the frame using

He was a little bit from with that one. There is no problem getting

back down the table from the yellow. He can come down the left-hand side

of the blue. There is enough reds in a line there. There you go. Well

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That may be just a little awkward. As I mentioned previously, the

black is covered in to both of the bottle pockets. It is not so easy

Well, he has spotted two of them and finished on the blue. He is the

wrong side of it, but he just a dull little bit too lot. He could

Yes, the black covering both these bottom pockets has made his break a

lot more difficult. But he is John Higgins has still not pot a

double yet. If he can get the first two frames and without him even

scoring, he will be pretty happy. He needs the blue and one more red

John Higgins has seen it all before, but he cannot have been expecting

Shaun Murphy to come out of the That was absolutely as long as the

match goes on, he will not you one better than that. That was

absolutely superb. Fantastic. Great He can move their red, but he was

able to drop in behind it. One yellow, three browns, six blues

He has got the chance of a century. He nearly made one in the opening

He can make the century without And this will be over 200

unanswered points. John Higgins has thrown to sit there and watch him

knocking all the balls and. You could not ask for a better start

than this. That is his 222nd professional

Crowd. It was certainly appreciated by this Alexandra Palace crowd.

This is the honours board, where you can see John Higgins appears

twice. Now, that was not the start he was looking for, but can he turn

things round? As we join it, he is At that point, I thought it was

then, but just at the end, it Actually, if he had just screwed

that back for the black, I think he would have knocked it down. I think

it was just as he was playing with Now, they are all available. What a

body blue this would be for John Higgins if he were to lose the

The balls may be set up like a practice routine, but you cannot

practise been in the semi-final of I think he got a kick. He is not

bothering about it. That they fill This makes the spot a lot more

difficult, because he is going to can in the pink. But everything at

the moment is going rate in the That was well struck. But

everything is going slightly awry as well. He would love to be

He did have a shot on the brown around the ankles, but he is

sticking with the blue. He was playing the soft tannin. That was

That was a little beauty he has I tell you what, Shaun had better

clean up from here, because if he does not, he will absolutely kick

This is the best I have seen Shaun Murphy plane for quite some time.

He is having a another look at the scoreboard. But all he has to do is

bought the lot and he will be three It should be plain and simple, but

he has overscrewed it. A little bit of adrenalin there. Up and down the

Slightly wrong again on the yellow. He thought he had this frame in the

bank. He was only a couple of pot Four frames will be played before

the mid-session interval. He has This has been a fabulous effort. OK,

the chance presented itself, but He has over done that and is going

to be close to the cushion. There is a little bit of pressure on this

black. He has been cueing well and Not a problem. John Higgins the D

break of 62, but Shaun Murphy clears up and now leads by three

A real steal by Shaun Murphy and a great start by "The Magician". Now

enter the last frame before the REFEREE: Foul, and a miss. John

Yes, that was a poor shot from Shaun Murphy. He should have been

nestling up behind that and not He has got to make sure he gets

plenty of screw on this to get the Safely negotiated the cannon on to

Good cueing there. That was a fine shot. They are very difficult on

That little spell of tactical play The beauty of this is that he only

needs that last awkward red on the side pocket. He can just sit behind

For all his great break-building this evening, there was a poor shot

from Shaun Murphy. He probably did not anticipate John Higgins winning

the frame from it, but he gave them The interval will be a little bit

better for John Higgins. If he had been four frames behind, Shaun

Murphy would have been completely in the driving seat. In fairness,

John Higgins did not come many chances in the first couple of

frames. Shaun Murphy hit breaks of He had the chance to win frame

But he is just showing that he A very high standard. At tactical

frame and it is John Higgins to Windsor frame he badly needed. He

goes to the mid-session interval 3- 1 behind. Now, we have managed to

catch the players up and they're coming back into the arena. Now,

the race for the six frame DENNIS TAYLOR: Another packed house

here at the Alexandra Palace. John Higgins breaks off he has left a

possible long pot for Shaun Murphy I think he missed one shot in the

Now, is their possible shot to nothing? Noel. He is having second

JOHN PARROTT: I do not blame him for that. The brown been off it

There was not all that much tactical play in the opening four

frames, just that last frame, or the balls all started to go bit

The black going on to the cushion and the pink been tied up makes it

all a bit more awkward, so we could be in for another bout of safety

Excellent shot from John once again. Once again, not simply just trying

to get the cue ball back behind the baulk line, but deliberately

Has he stuck a red up? He needed if then contact and missed it

completely. But I think everything is covered. There could be a

possible plant. That looks like that could be needed. There is

every chance he could do it back for the blue. He has just got to be

careful he does not screw back into A good shot that. Getting the pink

back in play. Available to a couple That black is very tricky along the

top cushion and with the two reds, with the one being lined up, there

Ooh! He took his eye off the pot He was putting more concentration

into the cannon there. I thought, he has missed this. This is now a

very good chance because he has the pink and blue in the open and the

His chance is now a lot better than it would have been. He has gone

slightly wrong here so he will have to play the blue into the baulk

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And now the two reds closest to the And there's a very recognisable

face there. From Coronation Street, one of my favourites. I've been

watching it since I was a little boy. The corner shot is doing OK

Dennis, you need a hobby! Can't DENNIS TAYLOR: That was surprising

from John there. Just shows you can He got into that too much. This new

cloth went on. It is maybe slightly slower than the previous one but

getting plenty of action. They really are superb, the tables,

It looks as if the only possible ball now is the yellow after that

kiss on the pink. Shaun is pretty good with the rest and doesn't miss

many shots with that implement, which some players on not all that

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He has missed one. Has he got away Eggborough shot to play there for

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He plays as well, flips them into the corner. And they are not easy.

No. Difficult and he makes them look so simple. Tough shots, these.

He just needed that red and this is typical of John Higgins. 3-0 behind

and all of a sudden, he will be It is amazing, isn't it, John? Even

with the experience he has, John Higgins didn't even concentrate on

the blue. He still remains the favourite but he could put himself

through the mill a bit here. He should have this one done and

dusted and ready for frames six. He needed one snooker to tide but

A chance to put the red and then the black and disturb the two reds.

He could give himself a chance of getting the snooker in a couple of

He might have to come off the side cushion, however, and off the two

roads. If anybody has the cue action for it, it is certainly this

He decided to play it the other way. He made sure of the pot that time!

Didn't even bother about the cue He has won the last two and John

Higgins is now just one frame behind.

HAZEL IRVINE: And it is a pretty high-profile guest list we have in

here tonight. 13 titles between them. What is your assessment of

what we have seen so far? A pretty fast paced five frames or so?

don't think we would say it is the best both can play but John has

managed, as he does, to claw his way back. He is fantastic at that

and you never beat him. But when you look at Shaun Murphy already

this week, he went 4-1 up against Martin Gould and 5-1 up in his next

match. Yes. Job done for him. You can only get off to a good start.

John Higgins is a different prospect and we know full well his

fighting qualities. You know at 3-1 you are not home and dry. The best

of nine you would think you were in a good situation but he knew he.

Against it against John Higgins. Yes, and it will be interesting to

see how this develops. We have been looking at the form and progress of

these men since they met at that World Championship final and this

is a test or the two of them. -- DENNIS TAYLOR: The blue might be

Beautiful cueing. Absolutely pinpoint cueing from John Higgins.

Boy! What a good shot that is. He has got an angle on the back to

stun up from the pack. -- on the Hmm, not sure he can take this on

from the middle. A bit of a shot to nothing but it all depends on the

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angle. He just didn't catch that A little awkward now with two rigs

up at the other end of the table. - - two reds. Can he take the cannon

Excellent pot, beautifully controlled. A little flick of the

pack. No need to go into the pack here. He has two reds on the right

Just looking at that bunch, I am not sure if the pink passes the

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He has got an angle on the black It is difficult to see from this

angle. Hawk-Eye might give us an idea. The brewer looks tight. The

As you say, they are a beautiful bunch to go into from the blue, and

Ideally, he would like to be able to play the red to the right and

come back for the black in the same It has just finished a little

awkward because the natural angle... I don't know if poppy can avoid the

black and the red and leave the back of the same pocket. -- if he

If you can't find the gap, he somehow has to get the cannon

And he has found that gap. Beautifully played. This was

excellent. You have to hit it hard enough just to follow through the

ball but not too much to get backspin. He is cueing in this

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break as he did in the first couple But just showing what a great

temperament he has. 3-0 in front and he is coming right back with

Yes. I think his cue action underway he goes around it... --

and the way. Very easy on the eye Ooh! I think what has helped here

is the new cloth. That slid in-off percussion. As the cloth gets worn,

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He needs the black for his third In for black goes! -- the black.

Shaun has made four in total mile. He has made this looks so easy with

Yes. Very confident, crisp cueing There you go! A little bit of a

So he has not got a pot all the balls but he is now 4-2 in front.

HAZEL IRVINE: Century number four of the week and he looks very

comfortable as a front runner. You're making mention of his

prowess with the rest? Yes. The last one he put it was phenomenal.

His scoring is the big difference between the two players. What is

the difference between this week and the rest of the season so far,

Steve? I haven't seen a lot of him this season. He went to Brazil... I

think I was on the plane home. A lot of players are vying for the

same trophies and they are cueing up in the line. Who is to say Shaun

Murphy is playing any better in this tournament than he does and

the others? He has just got off to good starts and converted them. On

another day, things might not have gone right and the other guy is

good and he is out of the tournament. Psychologically for

both players, this move to Ally Pally seems to have given them a

real zest and lease of life, particularly Shaun? Yes. He is

loving the crowds and the occasion. He is always a big occasion player

but he is looking as comfortable as above. This is a fantastic venue

and a full house. It is more intimate than the Irina or the

conference centre, which was not sprawling but was over or ring to

players. -- to the arena. He feels this venue is more gladiatorial and

he likes the crowd being close. And they are joining in pretty

vociferously! It is pretty DENNIS TAYLOR: I certainly agree

with the boys. It is certainly a more intimate venue. At the

conference centre, you are a long way away from the table and there

of flowers and all sorts around the table. -- there are flowers. It is

The quality of his scoring this evening has been excellent. 69

The referee's normally know what is going on in the tournament. -- the

referees. Brendan said he felt Shaun Murphy was playing the best

and they are a pretty good judge, because they are out there,

And, incidentally, Brendan will be refereeing his first ever Masters

final. He will be looking forward Such a good shot. Very difficult. I

thought Shaun had played a good shot to get the ball close to the

A pretty attacking shot from Higgins. In fact, usually the white

stops when it hits the pink but... Look at the white. But it stopped

and then spun right back. He was That might have looked easy but it

The championship when John came back against Mark Williams and won

the last four frames and it has been said that under pressure,

there is no a better man than this Yes, allied to his great ability is

the grit and determination and a will to win. Even when he is up

against it, he simply refuses to go Now, what has he spotted in the

middle of that bunch? How about That is the stunt run-through. It

is very difficult to play. He I think this afternoon Ken Doherty

were showing you in the studio that shot. You hit the ball in the

middle. Watch the white. It stops All, he took his eye off the pot.

He was more concerned with the cue ball. He does not do that very

That like prove to be a distraction. And not a bit bad kiss on the brown

either. If he can get the angle when potting the black to go into

the red. He needs a touch of left- hand side. Let us see if he can

Not bad. He has developed to a three more red. Now, can he

negotiate this and get back onto It was a little bit surprised by

his choice of shot. I thought he had a slight ankle and could have

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Just coming round to have a look That was a pretty poor miss by

Shaun Murphy's standards. I expected him to get the long red.

As I said, he played it in a And if you make mistakes like that

against John Higgins, he will John is thinking a couple of shots

ahead and seen what is available in If there was not a lot, another can

That is all it needed. The snake shop will develop the other reds.

He just has to make sure he pushes Yes, it was one which needed to be

He missed a black similar to this a John's prayers break in the matches

62. But even then, he did not win the frame as Shaun Murphy came in

and cleaned up with the 6th the You're looking at one of the

greatest break-builders the game has ever produced. He has hit 494

century breaks. The leader is Stephen Hendry, who is in the

studio, who has hit just about 750 centuries. Ronnie O'Sullivan is in

second place. He is round about the This is coming at just the right

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time for John Higgins and his He tried a pink because there was a

possible century. He does not get it, but makes a break of 50 name

This is typical of John Higgins. That was a surprising us from Shaun

Murphy. I was surprised he did not play the shot that you said, John.

Yes, it looked to me as if he could have run through all for two

cushions. It looked in natural angle. I thought he would just for

But what a break there was from John Higgins. It was not an easy

opening pot. But that is what the REFEREE: Frame No. 8, Shaun Murphy

Now, he is a bit shot with that break off shot. The yellow has not

He has the choice of dropping the son and plane for the black or

coming back up the table. He would have liked to hold for the blue, so

that he would have the shot to He was forcing a bit. It was not

the correct angle to go into the pack. It did not seem a natural

Yes, it looked a little tight, but a surprising mess, none the less. -

It looks as if he is taking this on. And he was trying to go on the pink

or blue. But look what has happened. If that black pots, he has got the

angle to actually get over there in line with it. That is the shot but

I think he can play. Anywhere over that side and he will be on the

Yes, you can see the and that it goes. That is what he played for.

It has come just a little for. He If he had finished a bit lower on

the black, he can of potted it and But he is just plain from that

He would have played a shot, but do not have the angle to screw back

for the pink. So, he decided that Stone was better than screw. There

is the stunt of the side cushion. That is how to play a difficult

pack. Excellent. The cue ball is now out in the middle of the table

and this is agree Jones. -- and Goodness, he almost missed that. He

But that is careless. He took his eye off the straight for black off

the spot. He missed it by quite That could be a big turning point.

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Yes, Shaun Murphy has to go to work Shaun is just checking to see if

the pink goes into the middle, which would make his jaw a lot

It is not always straightforward at I hope he has not snookered himself

here. He certainly has snookered himself on the intended red. He has

got the one up by the yellow, but there is a bit of pressure on that

This is very important. Yes, you're disappointed with the last shot,

He has been very good and he's long pots of the evening, but there is

more pressure and this one. But That is the stunning shot under the

Yes, it has been a good chance, but The two reds to the writer of the

Slightly overrun for the blue mac. Now, we know he is very good with

the rest. Will he take the black He might do. As Stephen Hendry was

staying in the studio, he thinks this is the best player in the game

It is all about confidence, with Yes, it was all looking so good for

John Higgins and I thought the way he was cueing, it could be 4-4. But

he missed that lack of the spot and it has changed this frame around.

Here it is again. That is an amazing miss. He concentrated on

Yes, he may have thought he was getting a reprieved when Shaun

Murphy managed to snooker himself behind de pink and left himself

with the long red to salvage the break. And it looks as if it is now

going to take Shaun Murphy one Yes, one away from his first ever

Masters final. And if he clashes against Neil Robertson, we are

guaranteed a new winner of the But I would not count John Higgins

out, just yet. Even if he or has to win the last three frames, we know

That is frame ball. This red will I mentioned at the start of this

break that he had to go to work, and he certainly has. This has been

Watch this positional shot here. Have a look at the white. It goes

between yellow and brown. Played to perfection. It gives them the

But I would never count out John Higgins, because of his application

and will to win. But so far, Shaun Murphy's form has been slightly

We have had 17 centuries now in He is a class act, isn't he? In

goes the black. Shaun Murphy has made his 5th century in this year's

tournament. He is now just one frame away from a place in

Superb from from Shaun Murphy. It was a tale of two shots there. The

first of these was this surprising miss from John Higgins? Yes, these

are just do not happen. But he has been put under pressure, because he

knows that if he misses, Shaun Murphy will get in and clean up.

But then Shaun Murphy put himself under pressure? Yes, this was the

great get out of jail shot. It would have been very easy for him

to be in the wrong frame of mind. But Shaun Murphy is very good at

that, been able to just concentrate on the problem in front of them.

John Parrott were saying that he thought Shaun Murphy's form was

just looking slightly more sharp Is it to be a first final for Shaun

DENNIS TAYLOR: Just a little bit shot of pace with the break off

shot. That has dried up the black, but look at the pace on the cue

JOHN PARROTT: At Apple of the table we're from John Higgins. He was

He wants to try and send this red back up the table, to get the frame

He put the red right back into the Yes, very good control of the cue

ball, all the time keeping John That was slightly thicker than

intended and this red will cut into This is the first chance for Shaun

Murphy. With their little touch of side I think he can avoid kissing

into that other red. No, he has played straight into it. He did not

He is a great Cubist, but he will I think he can see enough of the

yellow to play the safety shot, so Yes, he wants to make sure he does

not give John Higgins an easy chance. He wants to make him work

That is pretty good. Surely there is not a gap? Well, he may be able

to get through, but I do not see anyway he comport that. -- can pot

Even red three Jan Verhaas was John really has to play off this

red it is near the cue ball. He It was not quite as intended, but

I think the middle pocket is likely in the way of the shot coming off

Yes, that is the shot and he was thinking of. I think he would have

to go to close to the pocket to pull that off. He might actually

have to go the other side of the He can come off to cushions here

and come into the back of the pack, He couldn't have played that any

A little gem. He has covered everything again. That last shot of

John's was played with swerve and slide and that is how he managed to

get the cue ball where he did. Just The chance is now there for John

Yes. He has finally forced the The master tactician finally got

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He will now try and get the paint Could have been better. It didn't

quite get the cannon as he impended. A great pot. Nice to have an angle

And that is what he has played on, It looks as if the pink and black

are still out of commission, so quite a bit to do before it is a

He has played for the red John mentioned previously, but if it is

dead straight, storm up short on that. He will have to screw back on

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the reverse side. -- still not sure It was fascinating to see how he

would go about bringing that pink into play. Now 35 points in front,

so he doesn't have to worry about the black. He can win this frame

He really is quite remarkable. He has been outplayed and outscored

for quite a bit of this match this You just know he is going to

produce something like this. He has done it so many times, John Higgins.

With other players, you would think, they don't have much chance.

Stephen Hendry said about this man, just don't know when you have got

One of those three reds near the This has been a fabulous break, it

really has. The balls have been tricky and lined up awkward. He has

managed to keep wheedling one out Yes, in view of what Shaun Murphy

has thrown at him. And John Higgins has taken it all in his stride. And

there is the difference. His many fightback has just started. -- Mini

It was always going to be very difficult. John Higgins won't worry

about that. He did what was needed and won the frame with one visit.

But still one behind at 5-4. HAZEL IRVINE: Well, as we said, you

never, ever count this man out of it. That was vintage John? Yes. A

frame-winning 69 break and he just has his nose in front at 5-4. He

has got a terrier-like attitude. Perhaps he is a rottweiler as well!

And Shaun must be sitting out there thinking, what must I do to beat

him? Yes. I remember at The Crucible, John Higgins didn't play

as well as he can play through the whole championship but he does it

time and again and comes back. Shaun Murphy is going to have to

play perfect snooker to come over the line. It is something you

cannot teach - this coaching where you work on technique and then as a

sports psychologist, working on your state of mind, but to have the

heart is something you cannot teach. You two both had it in abundance

because you have won so many titles and produced similar quality

performances. What was it at this point in the match, when your back

was at the wall, that took over? trigger unconsciously goes off and

you spot into life. That is exactly what has happened here. Shaun

Murphy is still clearly in the ascendancy and needs one more. Will

DENNIS TAYLOR: He needs one more. Will he get it? As Hazel says.

We have been at the Ally Pally for almost a week now and it has been

fabulous all week, but the one thing missing is a last-frame

decider. We have never had a 6-5 yet. Will that change this evening?

John didn't play that red passed He would probably be tempted to

play the red above the pink here He has got to play a few better

safety shots than that, to try and force John Higgins into making a

That's a bit Peacey from John as well. Both players are looking for

the baulk cushion. -- a bit pacy. Yes. A lot of players play things a

bit thinner with a lot of side so they don't open the pack up so much.

But Shaun is very positive around That makes John's safety more

difficult. These are horrid. You have to get these nice and thin. He

He is looking at what would be available if he played the white

with the red. Not a nice situation. I am not surprised he is scratching

Well, after all that, he chose to play the drag shot, and halfway

down, I didn't think it would get It is amazing how many times it

spins with the track. That is a John has obviously left this quite

He has played to the side cushion but he could expect to see himself

down the bog area. Hello? Does that go to the red? A mistake from Shaun

Murphy? Ooh! It is tight! Merry. -- That looks pretty good to me.

he has left Shaun Murphy virtually The red to the right-hand pocket is

what is causing all the trouble in this frame. And now he has Court of

the red... How does it finish? -- The last safety shot of John

Higgins was very positive because That is just what he has done -

missed the blind pocket. He has definitely stop them up here.

seemed to play that a bit quicker. I thought he might have taken a

From the other angle, it looked as though the red did go past the pink.

Well, this is all you want. A good He has won every frame on a first

visit. But this would take him into his first final. Let's see how he

John Higgins knows that when Shaun removes this red, it clears the

black into both corners. Will he Twice a winner of this great

He is showing us what a class act he is. The boys in the studio said

he has made three centuries - and 86, and 89. He was only one frame

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

ahead. Canny close this match out He has one used red on the left but

also a good chance to go into the He will have to move some of those

The five words below the pink will be the key to his success. -- 5

The cannon would have been the key to end John Higgins' Masters this

year. But it hasn't worked. Not quite all over just yet. Yes, and I

know he is a little unlucky but he did have a shot off the blue to go

into the pack and open them up. He decided to pick the loose reds and

leave it till a little later. A bit unlucky but he could have done it a

A very good break at 55 that puts him in the driving seat in this

frame that he needs to get through to the final. But as we keep saying,

The other thing is for Shaun, he has no insurance policy. The

Just looking at the reds around the pink, he will need a few of those.

He has got the angle to pot the red. I don't know if poppy can avoid the

cannon to go on to the blue... If He could tuck them up here. What

would you do, John? A much- neglected shot these days. People

go behind the colours and then you have a counter clearance and you

The only problem is, he hasn't got There is a free shot for Shaun

Murphy - the one to the right of the pink. He can take that. He has

got this straight one up past the yellow, guaranteed a good position,

Maybe he should have taken the other as a shot to nothing because

there was no pressure on that one. Why has he played that red? I agree

with you 100%. The other had virtually no pressure on it. And a

That last attempt was pure tension. He knew the importance of it, that

Stephen Hendry in the studio was asked, what is it when you are

under pressure? And has that triggered on off -- and he said

that something is triggered. Has that trigger on off in John

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 54 seconds

That brings it further into play A couple of key shocks coming up.

Getting nicely on the yellow in a way that he can get back onto the

And that looks about absolutely Could we possibly have a war first

That pink is far enough away from So, the key shot here. He needs to

storm off the top cushion and get Well, it is owned for the corner.

It is not an easy one, but he can come back for the black. This to

No, where his beeping going? It is going rate over the corner pocket.

It will be a very believe Shaun Murphy who saw that pink going over

that pocket. Bennett go is! What a terrific night for Shaun Murphy.

John Higgins made a spirited fightback, but in the end, Shaun

Murphy is a winner by a 6-4. He goes through to his first Masters

Can gradually she has to Shaun Murphy. He was made to work very

hard for that. It was down to that missed the pink By John Higgins.

Yes, he just done the wrong test on the pink and finished with a very

For all the world, we thought we were going to have the first final

frame decider this week? Yes, and this was all after Shaun Murphy

went for what we thought was a bit close to madness by taking on that

red when he could have played a shot to nothing. Occasionally,

Shaun Murphy does not have the street ways of John Higgins. But he

makes up for that with his sporting. He here he is. Congratulations. We

will gauge your emotions. This is a tough game! I do not need to train

Paul was a light fitting in the chair watching him clean up?

can have your moments of safety, but there comes a time when you

I were is not going to turn it down. If it goes in, I am pretty sure a

win. All of a sudden, John Higgins wobbles the pink. You do not jump

I jot my cue and dropped it and someone in the crowd shouted it

But it is a dream come through. Three centuries you have made, but

even then, did you ever feel comfortable? My will, I have played

in so many times and been head against him that you know he is

always going to come back at you. It is like these two guys here,

they never let you rest easy, which is why they were such great

You'd did something that a lot of great champions to, which was to

get off to a flying start? Yes, we were chatting that I had not

actually need that many great starts this week. You have always

told us that this is one of your favourite events and how special as

it for you to have finally made it to the final? Yes, I love the game

and I would have sat at home watching it. To have a chance to

win the trophy is a dream come true. We talk this week about you

becoming the 8th player to do their career triple crown of the World

Championship, the Masters and the UK Championship. What would that

mean? Yes, I get paid well and you can buy certain things, but that is

something that money cannot buy. Just to have a chance of completing

that can and slam of titles is immense. I think we will sure a bit

from this afternoon. This is how Neil Robertson got across the line

against Judd Trump. This is the moment he got across the line. The

frame did one for a few more minutes and Neil Robertson exacted

some revenge for two recent defeats by Judd Trump. And he was pointing

at several Judd Trump fans and the audience. He felt they were rather

unsporting towards him during the match. I just wondered how you

fancy the prospect of playing Neil Roberts on? He you're actually

leading him 6-5 any head-to-head matches. Is there a game plan you

will have or are well used and we just play it as it goes?

standard has just gone so much higher, but having said that, Neil

Robertson did take his time today and slowed the game down. He was

slow getting it is cheering even slow pouring his drink into his

glass. I think he did a number on Judd Trump. What do you expect from

this final tomorrow, gentlemen? think we will see snooker of the

highest degree and two people who are cueing the ball beautifully.

shown has shown, he is probably cueing the ball better, but this

will be a tremendous match. We will be back on the air at 10 minutes to