Day 7

:00:56. > :01:02.He is always a tough player to beat. He is a great long potter. The most

:01:02. > :01:07.important thing is to maintain good rhythm in the balls. He takes on

:01:07. > :01:15.incredible long shots. Good luck to him. He is a fantastic talent and

:01:16. > :01:25.good for the game. Sometimes meal bought himself down and plays too

:01:25. > :01:34.slow. I think he is better if he quickens his game up and place to a

:01:34. > :01:43.quicker speed. He would much rather lose their frame to an attacking

:01:43. > :01:51.pot than attempting a difficult safety shot. Good afternoon from

:01:51. > :02:01.Alexandra Palace. It is a huge building covering seven 1/2 acres.

:02:01. > :02:03.

:02:03. > :02:10.It was then named after the then Princess of Wales. 140 years on, it

:02:10. > :02:19.is still a centre of entertainment. Now, we reach the semi-final stage

:02:19. > :02:25.of the BGC Masters. As you will see very shortly, it is guaranteed to

:02:25. > :02:31.keep bottoms on seats. It features two of the most exciting and

:02:31. > :02:36.charismatic talents in the game. It features Judd Trump against the

:02:36. > :02:43.charismatic Australian, Neil Robertson. It is full to the brim

:02:43. > :02:51.today to see a match which is effectively the third and the taut

:02:51. > :02:54.between these two fellas in that ranking events. The net in the

:02:54. > :03:04.World Championship, the UK Championship last month and now, of

:03:04. > :03:24.

:03:24. > :03:34.Here is how they got to the semi- In the end, it is Judd Trump who

:03:34. > :03:49.

:03:49. > :03:59.It has been a terrific display, but in the end, Neil Robertson proves

:03:59. > :04:07.

:04:07. > :04:17.I think Ronnie has all of them actually looks a wee bit

:04:17. > :04:17.

:04:17. > :04:27.intimidated today. Judd Trump progresses into the semi-finals,

:04:27. > :04:32.

:04:32. > :04:42.The battle of the left-hander's goes to the Australian, Neil

:04:42. > :04:43.

:04:43. > :04:53.Robertson. He goes through to the semi-final, 6-4. What have you made

:04:53. > :04:56.

:04:56. > :05:01.of Judd Trump this week? It is all good. When he went 3-2 behind again

:05:01. > :05:07.Stuart Bingham, a few alarm bells were ringing. But he recovered very

:05:07. > :05:17.well. He did not really wet wet or Ronnie O'Sullivan even get to the

:05:17. > :05:18.

:05:18. > :05:23.table. I commentated on Neil Robertson's first match. His long

:05:23. > :05:32.game was not quite up to scratch. But when you get in amongst the

:05:32. > :05:36.balls, he was fantastic. But it was a bit scrappy the other day and

:05:36. > :05:44.there were a lot of tight frames that you might have expected Mark

:05:44. > :05:54.Williams to win, but it was actually Neil Robertson who did. As

:05:54. > :05:57.

:05:57. > :06:06.we saw, he was mucking about with the tip of the cue lot. But the one

:06:06. > :06:11.word I was hearing in the studio yesterday was revenge. Yes, Neil

:06:11. > :06:21.Robertson has expectations to go from strength to strength and he

:06:21. > :06:26.has got a great personality around the table. I am delighted to be

:06:26. > :06:33.joined by a former UK champion John Virgo and six times Masters

:06:33. > :06:41.champion, Stephen Hendry. Can you give me an insight into the

:06:41. > :06:49.emotions of the players at this time? You can almost sniff the

:06:49. > :06:58.title at this stage. Some like judge, who has just won the UK

:06:58. > :07:02.Championship, will want to win this and want to win the world title.

:07:02. > :07:12.Now, Judd Trump beat Neil Robertson and the way to the UK Championship

:07:12. > :07:17.and is grabbing all the headlines. How do you counter that. And I

:07:17. > :07:27.think that will just inspire Neil Robertson. He is playing a man at

:07:27. > :07:28.

:07:28. > :07:36.the top of his game. I think it will be fascinating match. We each

:07:36. > :07:44.we do you think it will go? Just the way he is playing, you cannot

:07:44. > :07:51.opposed Judd Trump. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, what an

:07:51. > :07:55.afternoon we have at the BGC Masters at Alexandra Palace. Two

:07:56. > :08:05.world-class players, just one place up for grabs in the tomorrow's

:08:06. > :08:40.

:08:40. > :08:50.final. Without further ado, Let's And please welcome the player who

:08:50. > :08:50.

:08:50. > :09:00.has taken the world of snooker by a storm, here comes Judd Trump!

:09:00. > :09:26.

:09:26. > :09:34.You must be getting used to this type of reception. How do you feel

:09:34. > :09:38.after beating Ronnie O'Sullivan? All this there, it was a big win

:09:38. > :09:46.for me to be Ronnie in front of his own fans, but this is going to be

:09:46. > :09:56.just as tough. I and his opponent, one of the best long potters and

:09:56. > :10:01.the game. The 2008 champion of the world. He beat Mark Williams in the

:10:01. > :10:11.quarter-final yesterday to make his first appearance in the semi-finals,

:10:11. > :10:14.

:10:14. > :10:24.it is the Thunder from Down Under, Neil Robertson!

:10:24. > :10:36.

:10:36. > :10:43.MUSIC: "Heart Of Courage" by Two Neil, you are a proven big-time

:10:43. > :10:53.performer and the sort of challenge is why you play the game? Yes, it

:10:53. > :10:55.

:10:55. > :10:59.is absolutely tremendous. Ladies and gentlemen, Neil Robertson! As

:10:59. > :11:09.you heard, Neil Robertson has had to put a new tip on his cue

:11:09. > :11:15.

:11:15. > :11:19.overnight. Will this affect him? Well, as a player, I did not like

:11:19. > :11:29.to put a new tip on because I thought it sometimes affected the

:11:29. > :11:29.

:11:29. > :11:39.ball and put on wanted side on it. Yes, sometimes it can take and the

:11:39. > :11:57.

:11:57. > :12:07.Oswell to work in. But it should be JOHN VIRGO: The tremendous

:12:07. > :12:33.

:12:33. > :12:37.atmosphere. This for a place in the STEPHEN HENDRY: After beating Mark

:12:37. > :12:40.Williams yesterday, Neil Robertson in the studio stressed the

:12:40. > :12:50.importance of getting off to the strong start and putting Judd Trump

:12:50. > :12:57.

:12:58. > :13:07.He could not risk going back to the baulk end because of that red over

:13:08. > :13:14.

:13:14. > :13:24.The one to the right hand side of the black would be an option if you

:13:24. > :13:38.

:13:38. > :13:48.He went for it, but as you see, the way he played it, he was trying to

:13:48. > :13:57.

:13:57. > :14:07.make sure he did not leave anything That is nice for his brand new tap.

:14:07. > :14:12.

:14:12. > :14:22.Two shots in an already to from Its sound soft. I know he has only

:14:22. > :14:54.

:14:54. > :15:04.played two shots, but it sounds Yes, the dreaded spongy tip. He

:15:04. > :15:32.

:15:32. > :15:42.Whoever put that upon has done me I once put one on. Never again! He

:15:42. > :15:50.

:15:50. > :15:57.is having a look at this. It is a Good pot. I can tell you the

:15:57. > :16:07.difficulty of that shot. Bridging over a ball and from that distance,

:16:07. > :16:09.

:16:09. > :16:19.he could not have argued that better. -- cued that better. But he

:16:19. > :16:30.

:16:30. > :16:38.The others like problem you can have with the new chip - I am not

:16:38. > :16:48.going to bore the audience all the with talk of the type - is that you

:16:48. > :17:04.

:17:04. > :17:09.Yes, he caught the red that he wanted to, but just not full enough.

:17:09. > :17:19.It is not a touching ball. If it had been, the referee Brendan Moore

:17:19. > :17:24.

:17:24. > :17:34.Neither player will want to get involved in this tipped tapping.

:17:34. > :17:45.

:17:45. > :17:55.He tried to get back to the baulk end. He do it just did not generate

:17:55. > :18:12.

:18:12. > :18:22.the pace. Judd Trump is taking this It is always difficult playing at

:18:22. > :18:25.

:18:25. > :18:35.that pace. Is it my imagination, but the last few safety shots,

:18:35. > :18:46.

:18:46. > :18:56.neither player has managed to get Just at the moment, may be a bit of

:18:56. > :19:10.

:19:10. > :19:12.Yes, the always recover the table before the semi-final and final. So,

:19:12. > :19:22.maybe the piece is slightly different, but it will not take

:19:22. > :19:54.

:19:54. > :20:04.At last, someone get near the baulk As Stephen said, the players are

:20:04. > :20:05.

:20:05. > :20:11.just getting the feel of everything. This is the view. As you can see,

:20:11. > :20:19.he cannot hit the main bunch. The only one he can hit directly is

:20:19. > :20:29.this one and the bottom right hand cushion. And it is hard to play

:20:29. > :20:40.

:20:40. > :20:49.He is just coming off the top cushion first. He has left a red

:20:49. > :20:54.along the top cushion, but that is not an easy pot. Yes, and even if

:20:54. > :21:04.he took that on, he would not be on a colour afterwards, so not

:21:04. > :21:06.

:21:06. > :21:16.bothering. Now, he will be trying to put this up back behind the

:21:16. > :21:24.

:21:24. > :21:34.There is a reminder. The first to six frames goes through to the

:21:34. > :21:41.

:21:41. > :21:51.In Neil's first two matches, his long potting has not been as good

:21:51. > :21:52.

:21:52. > :21:58.as normal. It is usually one of the strongest aspects of his game. He

:21:58. > :22:08.might take this on, as long as there is a path back to the baulk

:22:08. > :22:12.

:22:12. > :22:22.Yes, there is not a lot to choose between them as regards long

:22:22. > :22:33.

:22:33. > :22:43.potting in this tournament. They He just got that a bit thick, which

:22:43. > :22:50.

:22:50. > :22:55.took the pace of the white ball. average safety shot from Judd Trump.

:22:55. > :23:03.These are two players who really do not want to be playing safe. They

:23:03. > :23:13.want to be going for the pots. There is a path here to screw

:23:13. > :23:17.

:23:17. > :23:26.around off to cushions. It will That is too long pots he has gone

:23:26. > :23:36.for an too long pot he has got. There are settling no concerns

:23:36. > :23:36.

:23:36. > :23:46.about that up. He argued that It will be interesting to see where

:23:46. > :23:58.

:23:58. > :24:08.the pink is going to go. It goes on the black spot. Maybe that new to

:24:08. > :24:28.

:24:28. > :24:35.it is a bit over reactive at the He did not have any second thoughts

:24:35. > :24:45.about playing the ball and if he could get his hand on the table. It

:24:45. > :24:51.

:24:51. > :25:01.is so awkward, he is refusing the He would have liked to have caught

:25:01. > :25:13.

:25:14. > :25:23.Court the red he intended much too thin. A poor safety shot. Neil

:25:24. > :25:24.

:25:24. > :25:31.Robertson comes to the table with the nice easy starter. OK, the pink

:25:31. > :25:41.will go back onto its own spot after less, but it will remain in a

:25:41. > :25:52.

:25:52. > :26:02.He has just over done it slightly. The pink will definitely go to the

:26:02. > :26:04.

:26:04. > :26:14.left-hand corner. He was wanting to play for the black, but as you see,

:26:14. > :26:14.

:26:14. > :27:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:27:30. > :27:40.the angle he has got is going to He has not got the cue ball in

:27:40. > :27:45.

:27:45. > :27:55.He is just having a look at what will happen if he pots the pink and

:27:55. > :27:58.

:27:58. > :28:05.cannons into these two reds to the right of it. Not, he never looked

:28:05. > :28:15.comfortable. It was a great chance to win the frame, but he never had

:28:15. > :28:34.

:28:34. > :28:41.He is on the black, but he is going to have to find a path for the cue

:28:41. > :28:46.ball in and out of the baulk area. But whatever you do, do not forget

:28:46. > :28:56.to pot the black. That is exactly what happened there. He was more

:28:56. > :29:19.

:29:19. > :29:24.concerned with the cue ball. What would you say? Everybody was

:29:24. > :29:34.expecting fireworks from these two great players, but it has not

:29:34. > :29:51.

:29:51. > :29:55.lifted off yet. He could play the The brown is safe, the pink is on

:29:55. > :30:05.the cushion, the black at the wrong end of the table, so we could be in

:30:05. > :30:11.

:30:11. > :30:21.Yes, just looking at the situation, a 34 point lead for Neil Robertson,

:30:21. > :30:31.

:30:31. > :30:35.He would like to have played a shot to push the red behind the yellow

:30:35. > :30:40.and sticker in behind the yellow, but he has got too much angle for

:30:40. > :30:50.that shot. Tapping the table. The shot that Judd played was pretty

:30:50. > :30:51.

:30:51. > :30:55.He has the option of taking the red next to the yellow on, but Judd is

:30:55. > :31:05.a bit rusty at the moment, and he does not want to give him an easy

:31:05. > :31:22.

:31:22. > :31:32.It is in Neil's interest to keep He is having a close look, but it

:31:32. > :31:52.

:31:52. > :31:56.That is an excellent shot. That is It is appreciated by his opponent

:31:56. > :32:02.as well, a little tap on the table from Neil Robertson. He could not

:32:02. > :32:07.have played that better. No, he hit that absolutely dead straight, dead

:32:07. > :32:17.straight cueing, and that that pace, you have to have a fantastic cue

:32:17. > :32:27.

:32:27. > :32:31.It is going to be tricky to hit this. With the two red near the top

:32:31. > :32:41.cushion, he could maybe lay on them and leave it safe. The right hand

:32:41. > :32:42.

:32:42. > :32:52.of the two near the top cushion, as He was hoping for a glancing blow

:32:52. > :32:54.

:32:54. > :32:58.on the red in the middle of the That is not going to be easy. I

:32:58. > :33:06.think he will be just trying something, a little bit of an

:33:06. > :33:12.experiment. Yes, he would rather miss the red, rather than go to

:33:12. > :33:22.thick straight away. Now he has got some idea of how much side he needs.

:33:22. > :33:34.

:33:34. > :33:44.I expect him to get a lot closer I would expect in to hit it this

:33:44. > :33:59.

:33:59. > :34:09.And you were right, Stephen, and that was a very good escape,

:34:09. > :34:09.

:34:09. > :35:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:35:11. > :35:18.Well, a trade mark along pot, and considering he was slightly

:35:18. > :35:23.hampered by the black, that was top-drawer. Now, will he take the

:35:23. > :35:27.black on? It is no more difficult than the red he has just potted. If

:35:27. > :35:33.he was to knock it in, a chance to win the frame. I think there is

:35:33. > :35:42.every reason to take it on. Yes, it is similar to the blue earlier. You

:35:42. > :35:52.mentioned, if he was not hampered, He is not going to take the brown

:35:52. > :35:57.

:35:57. > :36:07.That contact stopped the wide reaching the blog cushion. Yes, he

:36:07. > :36:25.

:36:26. > :36:29.may regret that. A chance of a pot Well, we never expected a scrappy

:36:29. > :36:35.start, and I can assure you that it will not be like this for long,

:36:35. > :36:39.because both these players are too good for this. But sometimes the

:36:39. > :36:49.balls just dictate the way a frame is played out. This is an example

:36:49. > :36:50.

:36:50. > :37:47.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:37:47. > :37:56.He played the red nearest the Just over the 26 minutes mark in

:37:56. > :38:00.this frame! Tier of the best part as in the game -- two of the best

:38:00. > :38:10.potters in the game, and they have only accumulated 47 points between

:38:10. > :38:16.

:38:16. > :38:22.OK, he has got the black, but it is not going to be the easiest shot to

:38:22. > :38:26.pot the black and get the cue ball back down to this end of the table.

:38:26. > :38:32.He would prefer to be playing the green, but that might be a little

:38:32. > :38:42.bit thinner than he would like. 28 points is the lead. Still a

:38:42. > :38:49.

:38:49. > :38:59.He has got the extension out, he is going to play the black, but his is

:38:59. > :39:17.

:39:17. > :39:22.That was very difficult to do from that situation. But the black goes

:39:22. > :39:32.on its spot, so that is the black, the blue, the pink against the

:39:32. > :39:32.

:39:32. > :39:42.cushion, the brown against the It is looking more and more like a

:39:42. > :39:52.You did say that Neil was saying how important he thought a good

:39:52. > :39:52.

:39:52. > :40:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:40:43. > :40:48.He knows his chance will come. He He is keeping it tight. He could

:40:48. > :40:53.have had a shot to nothing, screwing it right back to baulk,

:40:53. > :41:03.but he has chosen to keep it in the long grass. An opportunity now for

:41:03. > :41:04.

:41:04. > :41:08.Judd to bring the blue and black But the black runs safe, and he has

:41:08. > :41:16.left a chance of a pot for Neil Robertson. He caught that safety a

:41:16. > :41:26.The way he has been put in long balls in this frame, I would expect

:41:26. > :41:31.

:41:31. > :41:41.him to get it. I do not think he No, he hasn't! 100% long part

:41:41. > :41:41.

:41:41. > :42:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:42:56. > :43:05.So 36 points in front, now just 51 He is playing a tough frame, Neil

:43:05. > :43:15.Robertson, a tremendous match Yes, he is determined not to let

:43:15. > :43:15.

:43:15. > :43:23.Judd get into any sort of rhythm in Judd trying to make things happen.

:43:23. > :43:28.And that could have cost in his frame. -- cost him. I mean, you

:43:28. > :43:38.want to win every frame you play, but I do not think Judd will be too

:43:38. > :43:41.

:43:41. > :43:51.disappointed to see the end of this He still needs one more red. This

:43:51. > :43:53.

:43:53. > :44:03.blue will put him 42 points in I was never a fan of these frames

:44:03. > :44:13.

:44:13. > :44:23.myself. If Neil wins, get it over You'll have to suffer a bit longer,

:44:23. > :44:40.

:44:40. > :44:47.and other safety shot coming up. -- Neil was trying to tie at the pink

:44:47. > :44:51.and black, but he has not done so. Well, he needs two reds and two

:44:51. > :44:56.blacks, but there is a chance now, a little bit of hope in this frame

:44:56. > :45:00.for Judd. The reason I say that is because once you get down to the

:45:00. > :45:04.last couple of reds, and particularly because he has got the

:45:04. > :45:08.snooker as well, there's light at the end of the tunnel. With four

:45:08. > :45:12.red against the cushion, you think, even if I get a chance, I cannot do

:45:12. > :45:18.it. But now he will be thinking, if I get a chance, I can win this

:45:18. > :45:22.frame. Yes, he has got to be careful here. There is only one

:45:22. > :45:27.safe ball, the brown, so things would be tied up if it were re

:45:27. > :45:37.spotted. If he can get two reds and two blacks, he would be right back

:45:37. > :45:43.

:45:43. > :45:53.Good hit, very good hit. Of course, no value in putting a red unless

:45:53. > :46:02.

:46:02. > :46:12.you can get position on the black. As I say, he needs position on the

:46:12. > :46:14.

:46:14. > :46:20.black Iffy is going to play any Something like that! What a shot!

:46:20. > :46:30.What a shot that was. We see certain shots and say they deserve

:46:30. > :46:32.

:46:32. > :46:42.to win a frame, but this is a tough No, a pity. A pity, but it was a

:46:42. > :46:42.

:46:42. > :47:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:47:35. > :47:38.tough black, and that will be his Well, that is another. It was a

:47:38. > :47:43.long drawn-out affair which joke nearly 36 minutes, but that will

:47:43. > :47:47.not bother Neil Robertson. He wanted a good start, he has got it,

:47:47. > :47:51.1-0. Yes, a very cagey opening frame, I

:47:51. > :47:55.wonder how much that is due to the fact that we have a new cloth on

:47:55. > :48:00.the table. We can show you the late stages of that last night when they

:48:00. > :48:05.were putting the finishing touches to it. Yes, before the semi-finals,

:48:05. > :48:09.a brand-new clock, brand new cushion covers as well. -- Col. The

:48:09. > :48:13.tension that is put into it can always alter slightly. The cloth is

:48:13. > :48:17.probably from the same role, but we do not know how much they stretch

:48:17. > :48:22.it over the cushion covers and the bed of the table. And it does

:48:22. > :48:26.appear that the table is playing a fraction slower. More importantly,

:48:26. > :48:31.once the ball comes off a cushion, it seems to be playing slow as well,

:48:31. > :48:35.which can be difficult for the players to judge safety shots. The

:48:35. > :48:39.brand new cloth as a bit of a sheen on it, and when the spin on the

:48:39. > :48:43.ball goes on to the cushion, it's sort of traps it a bit, and the

:48:43. > :48:47.spin is still there. From a player's perspective, overnight

:48:47. > :48:52.that is tough to get used to. Neil has the additional factor to

:48:52. > :48:55.compute, the new tip. His long potting looked very good, probably

:48:55. > :49:00.better than with the old tip! There was one shot in particular you

:49:00. > :49:05.thought might have showed a reaction. The other thing to put in,

:49:05. > :49:11.the imponderable, is that the clock can be slower but more reactive.

:49:11. > :49:14.This pink into the centre, a little screw back, it really fizzed. Even

:49:14. > :49:18.Neil was surprised by how far that came back. You do not know with the

:49:18. > :49:22.tip until you start going out and playing, how soft it is, what the

:49:22. > :49:28.reaction is, but his long game, that is the best he has hit the

:49:28. > :49:32.ball all week. And Judd Trump? it was a tough first opening frame.

:49:32. > :49:36.If you were looking for a way to keep Judd Trump under wraps,

:49:36. > :49:40.scrappy frames would be the order of the day, but that is not what

:49:40. > :49:45.Neil has come to do. It is just the way the first frame unfolded.

:49:45. > :49:49.Obviously, no player likes to play scrappy frames. A slight delay

:49:49. > :49:54.getting back for the second frame, a totally packed house, or to

:49:54. > :50:04.people just coming back into the arena, but we are off now. -- one

:50:04. > :50:14.JOHN VIRGO: Neil breaking off, it looks like he has got the pace of

:50:14. > :50:21.

:50:21. > :50:28.the table, judging by the length of Neil will take six frames like that,

:50:28. > :50:32.win 6-0 and go home quite happy. Yes, he will. As I say, I would

:50:32. > :50:37.agree with Steve Davis, I do not think he wants to make it into that

:50:37. > :50:47.kind of match, it is not his style. No. But he is probably more adept

:50:47. > :50:56.

:50:56. > :51:00.at winning a frame like that than Well, the red in the middle of the

:51:00. > :51:10.table is in a potable position, and we know that Judd does not turn

:51:10. > :51:18.

:51:18. > :51:21.Well, that is unlucky. He thought the only red he could leave was the

:51:22. > :51:29.one he was playing, it looked to have run safe, and it has kicked

:51:29. > :51:37.one out of the cluster. Judd always likes to play them with pace. If

:51:37. > :51:42.you hit them that hard, there is a It always looks worse when you miss

:51:42. > :51:52.a shot like that. If you play that soft and miss it, it just does not

:51:52. > :51:53.

:51:53. > :52:03.Anyway, he is in his seat, and Neil Robertson get the first chance in

:52:03. > :52:09.

:52:09. > :52:18.He will be running into other reds here, so he will have to try... Can

:52:18. > :52:22.he run-through for the black? He In nudging that second red away, he

:52:22. > :52:32.has made another available into the left corner. He has got a nice

:52:32. > :52:42.A choice of reds to the right corner, so a decent opportunity to

:52:42. > :52:47.

:52:47. > :52:57.I do like Neil's aura and authority around the table, he looks full of

:52:57. > :52:57.

:52:57. > :53:50.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:53:50. > :53:54.Well, I think there is possibly one red that is available into the left

:53:54. > :54:04.corner, but he has got a nice angle on the black. I would be surprised

:54:04. > :54:05.

:54:05. > :54:09.if he does not try to develop reds Well, he has tried to, but I do not

:54:09. > :54:19.think he has developed anything at all. He just caught the reds a

:54:19. > :54:20.

:54:20. > :54:30.It is five reds, five blacks. We will not be seeing any maximums

:54:30. > :54:32.

:54:32. > :54:38.here. It will be back to the long In 2004, I remember it well, when

:54:38. > :54:41.he first played here, and he came here as a wild card from the

:54:41. > :54:46.qualifying competition. He played Jimmy White in his first-round

:54:46. > :54:52.match, had to say he was a bit raw in those days is an understatement.

:54:52. > :54:57.All he was was a potter, and Jimmy comfortably beating in his first

:54:57. > :55:07.appearance here, but, boy, as he improved in those seven years that

:55:07. > :55:11.

:55:11. > :55:16.He has become, since then, well, world champion and one of the best

:55:16. > :55:20.all-round players in the game. even at shot, he gave it a lot of

:55:20. > :55:24.thought, where he wanted to put the cue ball. A lot of players,

:55:24. > :55:28.including myself, would be guilty of just aiming for the baulk

:55:28. > :55:38.cushion without looking for the tricky place. He will be forcing

:55:38. > :55:44.

:55:44. > :55:48.He did. Where is that cue ball going?! REFEREE: Foul. He is

:55:48. > :55:57.unlucky, and Judd might be thinking, what is happening here? I cannot

:55:57. > :56:07.get my hand on the table, and I keep missing the pots and running

:56:07. > :56:07.

:56:07. > :56:50.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:56:50. > :56:56.in-off. He has just got to keep his Well, near the baulk cushion, but

:56:56. > :57:03.not tight against it, and there is a red on. Judd is desperate to get

:57:03. > :57:13.the ball into the pocket and start But it is just not happening at the

:57:13. > :57:20.

:57:20. > :57:25.moment, and that could be a very He caught it much to fall. Name --

:57:25. > :57:32.Neil came to the table with a 44 point lead, and the reds couldn't

:57:32. > :57:42.be better situated. The first frame took just over 36 minutes. I do not

:57:42. > :57:42.

:57:42. > :59:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:59:09. > :59:19.think this one will be going for A good example of what Steve was

:59:19. > :59:21.

:59:21. > :59:31.talking about after the last frame. That cue ball just not going as far

:59:31. > :59:41.as Neil expected. But no problem there. It will maybe only last Adie,

:59:41. > :59:48.

:59:48. > :59:58.It will be alright on Monday. This to go 73 ahead, with only 67

:59:58. > :00:13.

:00:13. > :00:20.He is only potted three balls in the match so far. As we say, when

:00:20. > :00:30.you are sat in that seat you do not score any. But the credit for that

:00:30. > :00:39.

:00:39. > :00:49.has to go to kneel. He has limited Judd to long pots. Report success

:00:49. > :01:17.

:01:17. > :01:24.Still possible century break on. You need to be up to 73 points

:01:24. > :01:34.before you come to the colours, which with the 27 am all for the

:01:34. > :01:44.By Sir we do not think he is experiencing any problem with the

:01:44. > :01:44.

:01:45. > :01:54.tip, it Stephen. In general late, he just looks very good round the

:01:55. > :01:59.

:01:59. > :02:09.table, very confident. We were saying earlier, no pun intended,

:02:09. > :02:14.

:02:14. > :02:20.that Judd had been stealing Neil's thunder. I think all the publicity

:02:20. > :02:30.that Judd is getting, right place all, disguises the fact thing

:02:30. > :02:38.

:02:38. > :02:48.you'll is actually the higher Now, the remaining colours for

:02:48. > :03:23.

:03:23. > :03:32.As sepia but break. His third of the tournament. That frame did not

:03:32. > :03:38.take very long. Just over 13 minutes. As you have been hearing,

:03:38. > :03:48.things have not been tip-top with the Australian's cue in the last

:03:48. > :03:53.

:03:53. > :03:57.couple of days. Let us take a look at that. He is using this shiny

:03:57. > :04:07.card. He does not want to use something rough like sandpaper, in

:04:07. > :04:12.

:04:12. > :04:15.case it damages it. Tell us about this type you have just Bouton.

:04:15. > :04:25.got a pit on last night and then went to my local snooker club to

:04:25. > :04:33.practise. How does it feel? It felt fine and my own table, but

:04:33. > :04:42.obviously any take a bit of getting used to on a new cloth here.

:04:42. > :04:45.long does it usually take you to be used to a new tip? Yes, it is not

:04:45. > :04:52.we for five days, but we're obviously going to have to just get

:04:52. > :04:57.out there and see what happens. appears to be experiencing very few

:04:57. > :05:05.problems. Could you explain Steve how difficult they could be an

:05:05. > :05:10.compared with something else? does not like a tennis player

:05:10. > :05:20.having a new racket, but more like maybe the springs or any Rolls

:05:20. > :05:23.

:05:23. > :05:31.Royce. The players tend to have the hard tap, so they can get an

:05:31. > :05:41.immediate feel for it. Now, Neil Robertson has had to do things in

:05:41. > :05:56.

:05:56. > :06:06.double-quick time with that up, but JOHN VIRGO: We're expecting to see

:06:06. > :06:16.

:06:16. > :06:26.There is a red and the top there. I am not sure whether he can get past

:06:26. > :06:27.

:06:27. > :06:37.the yellow to actually pot that. I think he can get to the potting

:06:37. > :06:44.

:06:44. > :06:52.Ingle. But it looks like he is just I think he intended to run that red

:06:52. > :06:57.into the black. This game is so frustrating sometimes. Judd has

:06:57. > :07:04.come to the table thinking he had an easy starter and now the cue

:07:04. > :07:14.ball has rested right-on the brown. But it isn't. He has finished

:07:14. > :07:39.

:07:39. > :07:45.perfect on the blue. This is his Just looking at the way the balls

:07:45. > :07:55.have been potted. Neil Robertson has potted many more, 57. But that

:07:55. > :07:57.

:07:57. > :08:02.is just the way the frames have panned out. He overran the shot

:08:02. > :08:12.last time. Can he lever myself a bit more straight on it, so he can

:08:12. > :08:13.

:08:13. > :08:21.hold for the black. Yes, just manage to. He would love to get on

:08:21. > :08:31.the register the right of the black. -- the red to the right of the

:08:31. > :08:42.

:08:42. > :08:52.black. This is OK, so long as he Yes, he could do it comfortably.

:08:52. > :09:10.

:09:10. > :09:20.Now it is John's chance to show was As well as his obvious ability and

:09:20. > :09:30.talent, he has got a very good temperament. It looks like he has

:09:30. > :09:46.

:09:46. > :09:56.just wait his memory clean of what He decided to play the cannon, but

:09:56. > :09:58.

:09:58. > :10:04.it has not worked out. I do not blame him for going into them.

:10:04. > :10:11.Unless he plays a very risky pot, I cannot see this break continuing.

:10:11. > :10:19.And he is just plain the safety. He will be a little bit disappointed

:10:19. > :10:29.there. Another inch or two on that cue ball. This was the cannon. It

:10:29. > :10:30.

:10:30. > :10:40.just got into them just a bit too much. Neil was a bit fortunate

:10:40. > :11:04.

:11:04. > :11:14.Normally, if you catch one of the baulk colours, it means you have

:11:14. > :11:16.

:11:16. > :11:26.not at the very good safety, but He red to the left of the pack is

:11:26. > :11:59.

:11:59. > :12:07.the shot to nothing. But he has got Good shot. He has got to be a

:12:07. > :12:17.little bit careful here. He just has to make sure he does not run by

:12:17. > :12:20.

:12:20. > :12:30.them when he comes off the side cushion. That is fine. He has left

:12:30. > :13:06.

:13:06. > :13:16.This is the telling safety shot. I think he may have snookered should

:13:16. > :13:26.here. He has got to be careful here. This is not a straight for word the

:13:26. > :13:46.

:13:46. > :13:54.Good shot. Well, I am saying good shot, but I think Neil Robertson

:13:54. > :14:04.the sounds were looking to see if that red will pass the pink. Nor, I

:14:04. > :14:04.

:14:04. > :15:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:15:10. > :15:19.think he would have played it by He was using the blue there to kill

:15:20. > :15:20.

:15:21. > :15:30.the pace on the red. It gave any good passage back to the baulk area.

:15:30. > :15:35.As long as the court that ball full it was always going to go back.

:15:35. > :15:45.put a bit of pressure and that safety shot. He has court that a

:15:45. > :15:48.

:15:48. > :15:58.It means that Neil can get his hand on the table. This is the type of

:15:58. > :16:09.

:16:09. > :16:18.He will not be too disappointed where he has finished. You can see

:16:18. > :16:28.he was preparing for a big screw back. These make me pots more

:16:28. > :16:49.

:16:49. > :16:59.difficult, the more power you have In this case, he was trying to

:16:59. > :17:31.

:17:31. > :17:41.screw off the pink to get the white He looked at playing safe off the

:17:41. > :17:41.

:17:41. > :17:51.bread to the left of the black. He as good a good target at the ball

:17:51. > :18:00.

:18:00. > :18:06.came, with the green, brown and He just concentrated on getting a

:18:06. > :18:16.good length with the cue ball. He is hoping to force a mistake from

:18:16. > :18:39.

:18:39. > :18:49.I do not think the bottom to red of the four or a plant to the bottom

:18:49. > :18:55.

:18:55. > :19:01.left-hand corner. He is just plain Again, as he has done a few times,

:19:01. > :19:11.he caught the safety shot a bit thick. But again, he has been lucky.

:19:11. > :19:31.

:19:31. > :19:41.It is the tricky safety shot, this. It was half an attempt at the pot

:19:41. > :19:41.

:19:41. > :19:51.and that was not a bad guess on the green. It was a tricky situation,

:19:51. > :19:58.

:19:58. > :20:08.but he will be happy with the He has just got to keep patient,

:20:08. > :20:08.

:20:08. > :20:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:20:53. > :21:03.Judd. He may push the boat out once REFEREE: Foul, and a miss. Judd

:21:03. > :21:08.

:21:08. > :21:18.Judd Trump do not even take a look. I thought there was a possibility

:21:18. > :21:35.

:21:35. > :21:38.he could have but by that other red As you see John, if he takes us on,

:21:38. > :21:48.this is not going to be any more difficult than the one we could

:21:48. > :21:53.

:21:53. > :22:00.have got a minute ago, when he did The one advantage here, of course,

:22:00. > :22:10.is that because the cue ball went in the pocket, Judd Trump has the

:22:10. > :22:16.

:22:16. > :22:24.ability to to the free ball where That should be the frame clincher.

:22:24. > :22:34.He will feel a lot better now. I do not care who your, you do not fully

:22:34. > :22:42.

:22:42. > :22:52.relax until you get that first 62 points in front. One more red

:22:52. > :22:57.

:22:57. > :23:07.and a black will leave it Neil There was a bit of pressure on that

:23:07. > :23:17.

:23:17. > :23:27.first red. If he had missed it, he Neil Robertson has nothing to have

:23:27. > :23:44.

:23:44. > :23:50.The this cheque, Judd's brother. He is looking a bit happier now. That

:23:50. > :23:58.is the thing about snooker. You can be sat out for a while. But credit

:23:58. > :24:08.to Judd, he has been shot of opportunities, but he has looked

:24:08. > :24:32.

:24:32. > :24:42.He lost to play one of these exhibition shots, to please the

:24:42. > :24:53.

:24:54. > :25:03.crowd. And why not? And that is a Look at the way it arced round

:25:04. > :25:39.

:25:39. > :25:49.And the Hang on! I do not think it is going in this time. Judd Trump

:25:49. > :25:57.

:25:57. > :26:05.has got his first frame on the I am down here in the cues own. We

:26:05. > :26:13.just sort Judd falling down there when he got there first break of 44.

:26:13. > :26:21.It is very difficult to Albany flat pack and they will show you why.

:26:21. > :26:31.You're having to use a lot of topspin off the bottom cushion. Now,

:26:31. > :26:37.look what happens - you miss the pack completely! When the balls are

:26:37. > :26:47.so tight together. You see what happens - the white get stuck in

:26:47. > :26:48.

:26:48. > :26:52.the red. Now, be will just try it once more. Look what happens. When

:26:52. > :27:02.they red the a bit looser, you see the way the white can break through

:27:02. > :27:07.

:27:07. > :27:17.them. Well done for soldiering on! You'll never be my one. People were

:27:17. > :27:20.

:27:20. > :27:27.asking me how you broke off and I did it and missed the entire pack!

:27:27. > :27:37.What do you think of joy and there? Yes, he is clearly feeling a lot

:27:37. > :27:48.

:27:49. > :27:58.more comfortable and was JOHN VIRGO: This frame will be the

:27:59. > :28:02.

:28:02. > :28:12.difference between it either been 3-1 or 2-2. How will it unfold? He

:28:12. > :28:27.

:28:27. > :28:32.he played it beautifully. Nicely on the blue. I would say he has to go

:28:32. > :28:42.on to the pink here. He has got a perfect angle to split them all

:28:42. > :28:49.

:28:49. > :28:59.The fact that the black is only available into one corner pocket

:28:59. > :29:05.

:29:05. > :29:15.might have put him off that shot. High can only say that I would have

:29:15. > :29:24.

:29:24. > :29:32.been into then there, and I think Well, they are over now, that was a

:29:32. > :29:42.lovely shot. The cute that really well. -- he cued. Always a danger

:29:42. > :29:43.

:29:43. > :29:46.of leaving the white too-tight on He does not have to do a lot here

:29:46. > :29:56.with the cue ball, just drop the black in for a red into the same

:29:56. > :29:57.

:29:57. > :30:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:30:51. > :30:57.He has just over and a fraction. -- over andrun. To the extent that he

:30:57. > :31:07.may play the red that his closest to him to the left middle. He

:31:07. > :31:14.

:31:14. > :31:24.played for a choice of reds, but he No problem getting a nice angle on

:31:24. > :31:31.

:31:31. > :31:36.And now he is on a choice Havanese two reds to the right corner. -- of

:31:37. > :31:45.these. Taking the first frame out of the equation, which was a really

:31:45. > :31:52.scrappy frame, he made a 14 break in the second frame, then 100, and

:31:52. > :31:58.then Judd Trump replied. -- 48 break. Both players look to the

:31:58. > :32:01.cueing well when they get into these situations. -- Look to the

:32:01. > :32:08.cueing well. But you can only have one man at the table at any given

:32:08. > :32:12.time. I have just had a look to see if there is a gap in the middle of

:32:12. > :32:22.the Taxi can go through to get onto the blue. I don't think so, he will

:32:22. > :32:27.

:32:27. > :32:37.go right through the pack. -- the It is fortunate that red has come

:32:37. > :32:52.

:32:52. > :32:59.up to the baulk end. He may have to He played it nicely. It is all

:32:59. > :33:03.about getting the pace right here, just rolling in. He will bounce off

:33:03. > :33:07.the top cushion to play for the black. There are loose reds, I do

:33:07. > :33:17.not think he has to play a cannon to bring red into play at the

:33:17. > :33:18.

:33:18. > :33:28.Yes, the two reds that are furthest to the left, he will play a little

:33:28. > :33:45.

:33:45. > :33:55.Obviously the red at the top of Yes, it does, and he has come on

:33:55. > :33:56.

:33:56. > :34:00.it's nicely. -- he has come on it nicely. Funnily enough, speaking

:34:00. > :34:04.about the venues, the first time we have come to Ally Pally, but it was

:34:04. > :34:14.the same at Wembley. We are a little bit further away from the

:34:14. > :34:14.

:34:14. > :35:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:35:31. > :35:35.table in the commentary box than we He has never been in any danger at

:35:35. > :35:39.any point. He had that shot where he had to go through the pack, but

:35:39. > :35:49.that was his only chance of going wrong. Apart from that, he has

:35:49. > :35:53.Well, he will be a little bit disappointed that he was not better

:35:53. > :36:03.on the pink. He would have liked to have made another century break,

:36:03. > :36:09.

:36:09. > :36:19.but he will need a good shot to Judd Trump concedes, so they go to

:36:19. > :36:23.the midsession interval, and the Impressions of what so far has been

:36:23. > :36:28.a very controlled performance from Neil Robertson. If you were looking

:36:28. > :36:32.to be a matchplay snooker player, that has been exemplary. He has not

:36:32. > :36:37.put a foot wrong. His safety play, when he has lost position, there

:36:37. > :36:42.has always been purpose to his safety play. 100% has been given to

:36:42. > :36:47.every ball, absolutely top-class. Looking at the statistics, in terms

:36:47. > :36:53.of long potting success, 70% Bob Neill, 30% for Judd Trump, and that

:36:54. > :36:57.tells its own story. Yes, and so from the perspective of getting in

:36:57. > :37:02.amongst the balls, which is something that Judd usually built

:37:02. > :37:05.his game on in some respects, it is nice if that is high for him, but

:37:05. > :37:08.sometimes the potting percentage can be dependent on the type of

:37:08. > :37:12.shot they are getting. But generally, I think Neil Robertson

:37:12. > :37:16.has controlled and dominated the session. He will be delighted,

:37:16. > :37:20.especially considering the Brand New Tip, going into the unknown.

:37:20. > :37:23.Nobody would like to have to change halfway through the tournament.

:37:24. > :37:27.was talking very confidently about plain Judd Trump when he came into

:37:28. > :37:32.the studio yesterday, and he said it was not as other players have

:37:32. > :37:35.not had chances against Judd, albeit that he is a frightening

:37:35. > :37:40.prospect. He has a controlled way of thinking about the situation,

:37:40. > :37:44.different from a few years ago. cannot say that it is always going

:37:44. > :37:50.to go to script, but he has had a game-plan, no doubt about it. If

:37:50. > :37:55.you got a poor start, he would steamroller you. It is the same

:37:55. > :37:59.sort of thing with Judd. If I can get a good start and a foothold in

:37:59. > :38:03.the game, he is thinking, play hard snooker, he can score, he is not

:38:03. > :38:07.doing that deliberately, but for the safety shots, let's play a

:38:07. > :38:14.proper one. Every ball has been given 100%, I cannot emphasise

:38:14. > :38:19.enough how good that has been. big a test for Judd now? Well,

:38:19. > :38:23.obviously, it is hard from behind. Sometimes it shows more character.

:38:23. > :38:26.Interestingly, these two players are the only ones who have come out

:38:26. > :38:31.in the papers and interviews and said, I think I am a better player

:38:31. > :38:35.than I was before. These two players fancy themselves as the

:38:35. > :38:38.real deal, and quite rightly so has well! This could be one of the

:38:38. > :38:42.hottest tickets in the future of the next couple of years. It will

:38:42. > :38:45.be a rivalry that will grow and grow, because they do not mind

:38:46. > :38:55.talking about each other. Judd will say, if the speed up a bit, they

:38:56. > :39:08.

:39:08. > :39:13.will continue to win. Let's reveal I think I'm quite a nice person.

:39:13. > :39:19.Yeah, I am a good listener, willing to listen to people and give people

:39:19. > :39:23.advice and stuff like that, you know. My mum always gives me a call

:39:23. > :39:28.before every match, that is kind of like the thing. It doesn't matter

:39:28. > :39:36.what time it is, whether it is 4am, she will always leave a message for

:39:36. > :39:40.me would give me a call. You want me to do it? Seriously? OK! Look

:39:40. > :39:45.out! My friend and I've worked out how to do it when we were about

:39:45. > :39:51.eight years old in school. I am quite lazy, I forget did his stuff.

:39:51. > :39:57.I do not do it on purpose, I just forget. I love playing video games.

:39:57. > :40:04.Oh, I just love escaping and, yeah, I can play games for 10 hours

:40:04. > :40:09.straight, no problem. Pretty much before the World Championships is

:40:09. > :40:14.the most nervous I have been. I had a whole country believing in May,

:40:14. > :40:24.and that was a lot of expectation, a lot to carry on my shoulders. --

:40:24. > :40:28.

:40:28. > :40:32.Yes, the Australian would love to add this title to his growing

:40:32. > :40:34.collection. If you, like many others, have resolved to get fit

:40:34. > :40:40.this new year, and it is traditionally a time when everyone

:40:40. > :40:43.says they will but then don't, that is not quite true in snooker,

:40:43. > :40:47.because Steve Davis and Shaun Murphy amongst others have vowed

:40:47. > :40:51.they will become fit enough to run a half-marathon in April. They are

:40:51. > :41:01.not just doing so for the good of their health, it is in the name of

:41:01. > :41:05.

:41:05. > :41:09.I think it is very useful to have some level of fitness, put it that

:41:09. > :41:13.way. Doctors will tell you that ethernet the blood is, the faster

:41:14. > :41:18.the decision comes from the brain, because it travels through the body.

:41:18. > :41:21.The feeling good factor is very important. If you feel good about

:41:21. > :41:25.yourself, there's more of a strut your step, and that can help

:41:25. > :41:33.positive thinking, which is the most important part of winning at

:41:33. > :41:37.I cannot think you need to be fit to play snooker, but I think it

:41:37. > :41:41.helps, and in all walks of life it helps. As the standard gets higher

:41:41. > :41:46.in the game, everybody will be looking for the edge, and it could

:41:46. > :41:51.be the extra 1%. If you are physically fit, your brain is fit,

:41:51. > :41:56.long matches, World Championship, on your feet a long time, it can

:41:57. > :42:00.only help. Coping with the pressure of top sport, one of the ways

:42:00. > :42:05.around it, obviously, is being physically fit, fit enough to make

:42:05. > :42:11.a decision under pressure. Do I go for the long red in the top corner

:42:11. > :42:15.when it is 60-40? Do I go for the pin or play for the middle of the

:42:15. > :42:21.green? These are the decisions you have to make been a stressful

:42:21. > :42:25.situation, and a fit body will help. It won't make it easier, but it

:42:25. > :42:29.will help you make a better decision under the stress. If you

:42:29. > :42:32.look back at the record, the best players in the world were probably

:42:32. > :42:39.also the fittest. They may not have been into thickness specifically,

:42:39. > :42:46.but I think they could keep going longer. It is something I wish I

:42:46. > :42:52.had got into a long time ago. have you been?! Come on, we are

:42:52. > :42:57.going down there and back again! have just started an hour training

:42:57. > :43:00.regime, the World snooker running team, for the share bill half-

:43:00. > :43:10.marathon in May. We are running in support of the Paul Hunter

:43:10. > :43:12.

:43:12. > :43:21.Well, at least his arm looks fit, Stevie! You have done a half-

:43:21. > :43:24.marathon before. It is a special cause. This is for the Paul Hunter

:43:24. > :43:30.Foundation, and the mission statement, there was a lot of money

:43:30. > :43:35.paid into a foundation during his last months to try and raise money

:43:35. > :43:39.to cure him, but when it was decided that it was not going that

:43:39. > :43:44.way, unfortunately, that money was decided by Paul to be put into a

:43:44. > :43:50.fund to help get kids off the streets to play snooker, get people

:43:50. > :43:54.back into clubs. So it has continued. There is only so much in

:43:54. > :43:58.the pot, and every time we do something, it is a bit more of a

:43:58. > :44:06.drain. We are always looking for ways to build the pot up again, and

:44:06. > :44:10.this seemed like a great way. A few of the players, Liam Highfield,

:44:11. > :44:14.Peter Ebdon, we want to make the team as big as we can. We have got

:44:14. > :44:18.four months left, and hopefully we can raise enough money through a

:44:18. > :44:22.website. If you go to the Paul Hunter Foundation now, there are

:44:22. > :44:25.some details on how to be part of the team or where to stick your

:44:25. > :44:30.money. You can always pay directly to the Paul Hunter Foundation.

:44:30. > :44:35.Training going well? I am doing at least one minute on the running

:44:35. > :44:40.machine now! It is a good minute, though. Good luck, I will sponsor

:44:40. > :44:43.you a fiver at least! We mentioned Shaun Murphy, and he is going to be

:44:43. > :44:48.starring in the second of our Masters semi-finals this evening.

:44:48. > :44:52.In fact, the match this evening has echoes of the biggest occasions,

:44:52. > :44:56.the World Championship final, because in 2009 John Higgins played

:44:56. > :45:06.and beat Shaun Murphy for the third title of his career, and he has

:45:06. > :45:11.since gone on to win it again. It Winning two Masters, a good

:45:11. > :45:15.achievement, but I can just remember winning the first time. I

:45:15. > :45:19.think through my four matches, I really, really struggled. Me and

:45:19. > :45:29.Ken played in a final, it was a gritty affair, and I just came out

:45:29. > :45:30.

:45:30. > :45:33.The other time I won it, that was probably my highlight since I have

:45:33. > :45:40.been playing in the Masters, really, one of the biggest tournaments you

:45:40. > :45:44.This tournament has been the worst tournament on my CV. You know, that

:45:44. > :45:51.is it! I used to love coming and watching this tournament as a

:45:51. > :45:55.teenager, I used to come every year. I won the qualifying event, beat Fu,

:45:55. > :46:05.but I bottled it, and I have never had a decent win here. Until this

:46:05. > :46:06.

:46:06. > :46:11.I have only beaten in a few times. I beat him on my way to winning the

:46:11. > :46:21.World Championships a few years ago. What are his strengths? Everything!

:46:21. > :46:25.What are his weaknesses? Nothing! On the snooker table, once he gets

:46:25. > :46:29.going, I do not think anybody hits the ball better than him in the

:46:29. > :46:34.game. Each used the ball beautifully. It is going to be one

:46:34. > :46:38.hell of a game to try to keep them off is written and messing about,

:46:38. > :46:48.and hopefully I can play decent as well. I have been practising very

:46:48. > :46:50.

:46:50. > :46:54.hard before the event, and maybe And we will be on now with that

:46:54. > :46:58.second semi-final at 8 o'clock tonight on BBC Two, and I hope he

:46:58. > :47:03.will join us for that. I think, guys, both of these players figure

:47:03. > :47:08.new venue, new start. They're kind of banking on that. A amazing to

:47:08. > :47:11.think how good they are, OK, John has won, but ridiculous that Shaun

:47:12. > :47:16.has not. Especially when you have been a UK and world champion,

:47:16. > :47:20.having a venue that you do not like. The key will be the tactical side.

:47:20. > :47:23.Both are great scorers and everything, but when they have

:47:23. > :47:26.played, John has always had the edge tactically overdrawn,

:47:26. > :47:31.certainly in the final of the world championship he gave him a lesson

:47:31. > :47:35.in tactical play. That is the key for me. I remember three years ago,

:47:35. > :47:40.it is 2012 already, when Shaun said that John basically tied him up in

:47:40. > :47:45.knots in what was an 18-9 victory in the final. What has changed in

:47:45. > :47:48.the interim for Shaun's game? think he has tried to look at the

:47:48. > :47:51.safety and tactical side of the game, but all the sudden we were

:47:51. > :47:55.doing the interview a couple of days ago and he was asked about

:47:55. > :48:00.Judd Trump, and he said Judd Trump is pushing the bars slightly higher

:48:00. > :48:04.and he was actually learning from Judd. He said he wanted to be more

:48:04. > :48:08.aggressive again. Yeah, perhaps some styles suit players. I know

:48:08. > :48:13.John Higgins can play any type of game, but some players prefer to

:48:13. > :48:17.play three, attacking snooker. tactical side, we are talking about

:48:17. > :48:20.one of the best was ever play the game. Shaun Murphy is very, very

:48:21. > :48:25.good, top-class compared to everyone else, but John Higgins is

:48:25. > :48:27.a master, he is in the top that has ever played the game, so that is

:48:27. > :48:33.why we are being a bit pernickety bringing it up, but that is what

:48:33. > :48:36.you have got to do for John Higgins. That is at 8 o'clock, as I say. We

:48:36. > :48:42.have had quite a few tweets from you asking for more demonstrations

:48:42. > :48:46.from Ken, and he is groaning at the prospect, I think! This one is from

:48:46. > :48:50.Rab Perry, he says, could you please demonstrate or explain the

:48:50. > :48:55.different outcomes between a stern run-through and a slow shot with

:48:55. > :49:01.top-spin? I think I might get is at the first time to, but we will have

:49:01. > :49:06.a look. Slow run-through, pretty simple. Top of the cue ball, as you

:49:06. > :49:09.run through all the black. The same can be said while playing the red,

:49:09. > :49:14.but when you stun and run through, watched the cue ball. It stops and

:49:14. > :49:19.then continues on. Same sort of outcome, but a little bit more

:49:19. > :49:24.power, middle of the white, you see the white continue one. That is a

:49:24. > :49:27.stunt through and a follow-through. Keep it simple, that is the way! We

:49:27. > :49:32.are nearly ready for the second part of this semi-final. Everybody

:49:32. > :49:35.is just milling around, having had a little bit of a refreshment. They

:49:35. > :49:41.are all coming back in, this huge crowd, and it is taking a bit of

:49:41. > :49:51.time. Let's reflect a little bit on the inner workings of Mr trompe's

:49:51. > :50:01.

:50:01. > :50:06.I would like to think I was quite laid-back and just easy going, I

:50:06. > :50:11.would say. I don't take life too seriously, just enjoy it. At the

:50:11. > :50:16.start of my career, I was slightly nervous, but have died won China,

:50:16. > :50:25.the nerves went and there is more enjoyment now. -- but after I won

:50:25. > :50:29.China. I just enjoy it a lot more now. The worst of any, I would say.

:50:29. > :50:34.If you go in my hotel room after an hour, there is just clothes

:50:34. > :50:37.everywhere, it is shocking. The 1980s, I was saved. There was a lot

:50:37. > :50:42.that happened in snooker with Stephen Hendry and Stephen Davis

:50:42. > :50:47.First coming on. You make friends in any kind of sport and you get on

:50:47. > :50:53.with some players better than others, but you have just got to

:50:53. > :50:58.play the table and block out here you are playing. The world was just

:50:58. > :51:04.a completely different experience, getting to the final, just the

:51:04. > :51:09.coverage, how much people supported me was a good feeling. For kids

:51:09. > :51:17.that have grown up, you have got to enjoy what you were doing, love the

:51:17. > :51:21.game all there is no point in And as the vault shuts, the players

:51:22. > :51:29.make their way back to the table here for the second part of his BGC

:51:29. > :51:34.Masters semi-final, and Judd Trump has not really been as severely

:51:34. > :51:38.tested since the UK final against Mark Allen, who was always on top

:51:38. > :51:42.in that one. To survive an onslaught from Mark Allen, he has

:51:42. > :51:51.got a lot of work to do here, and this would be a supreme test of

:51:51. > :51:56.JOHN VIRGO: Yes, Hazel, and I think it goes without saying that he will

:51:56. > :52:01.be looking for a good start. He got a good length with the cue ball,

:52:01. > :52:06.but the red is sticking out, a possible pot to the left corner for

:52:07. > :52:16.Neil Robertson. When he comes to the table, a few latecomers heading

:52:17. > :52:40.

:52:40. > :52:46.He always knew he was going to find a path back to the baulk End, but

:52:46. > :52:55.the red nearly went with the cue ball, and it is possible. --

:52:55. > :53:02.Right in the heart of the Parkhead, and this grant-giving Judd every

:53:02. > :53:12.encouragement. -- Write in the heart of the pocket, and this crowd

:53:12. > :53:17.

:53:17. > :53:27.He has just overdone it slightly. Just about on this red to the left

:53:27. > :53:29.

:53:29. > :53:33.corner, but it is thinner than he Not a problem, and I think he can

:53:33. > :53:39.just get past the blue to pot the green. He would play the blue if it

:53:39. > :53:49.went, but I do not think it does. A nice angle on the green, though. He

:53:49. > :53:54.

:53:54. > :54:04.It is all about line and length. He has got a good line, and the

:54:04. > :54:08.

:54:08. > :54:14.As the great Willie Thorne would say, he was playing for an area, a

:54:14. > :54:24.choice of two reds. The cueing was lovely, straight line right up the

:54:24. > :54:28.

:54:28. > :54:33.Well, if he has got the right angle, this is a shot he will attend. --

:54:33. > :54:37.attempt. He decided to make certain of getting on the red. I am

:54:37. > :54:47.surprised he did not play a little cannon there just to nudge a few

:54:47. > :54:56.

:54:56. > :55:02.Yeah, he played to get low on the black there, because as Ken showed

:55:02. > :55:12.us so well, it was quite a flat- pack. He has got enough power to

:55:12. > :55:16.And it is an easy power as well, isn't it? He just plays it so

:55:16. > :55:26.easily, pushing that you through to get the maximum amount of spin on

:55:26. > :55:27.

:55:27. > :55:37.It is almost like two golfers, one hitting the ball 50 yards past the

:55:37. > :55:40.

:55:40. > :55:46.Well, that did not go in the middle of the pocket. I am wondering if he

:55:46. > :55:55.is on the red that he intended to play here. He has not gone down the

:55:55. > :56:01.Well, he is looking at the possibility of the plant, but look

:56:01. > :56:11.at the gap between the two reds. He could play it, because he would be

:56:11. > :56:16.

:56:16. > :56:26.Easy enough safety. But he is desperate to keep this break going.

:56:26. > :56:32.

:56:32. > :56:42.And that, I would say, maybe pushing the boat out slightly, but

:56:42. > :57:00.

:57:00. > :57:05.I think the top red in the middle of the table is definitely potable

:57:05. > :57:11.to the left corner. I think he may consider playing it if he thought

:57:11. > :57:21.he could avoid kissing into another ball, but the danger ball for Neil

:57:21. > :57:26.

:57:26. > :57:31.is the one that is on to the right He went for the pot, but the

:57:31. > :57:35.problem is, when you miss it by that far, you lose the cue ball. He

:57:35. > :57:41.tried to make it into a shop for nothing, but, as you see, he did

:57:41. > :57:51.not get anywhere near the pot, and the cue ball ran loose, a nice easy

:57:51. > :57:51.

:57:51. > :57:57.The only danger Neil has got in this match is being drawn into the

:57:57. > :58:07.game, and that was slightly risky. He is 3-1 at, keep Judd under

:58:07. > :58:08.

:58:08. > :58:18.Yeah, not the best positional shot, that. He needs a good shot on this

:58:18. > :58:21.

:58:21. > :58:25.That was tough. Well, that mistake from Neil Robertson has only cost

:58:25. > :58:35.him one point, and the way the balls are situated, one good

:58:35. > :58:37.

:58:37. > :58:42.positional shot here and this frame The easiest red, obviously, is the

:58:42. > :58:52.one to the right middle, but it is all about trying to get position on

:58:52. > :59:00.

:59:00. > :59:10.He might even play this red he is close to into the top right-hand

:59:10. > :59:11.

:59:11. > :59:21.corner. No, he is trained for the middle. Well, he actually played a

:59:21. > :59:25.

:59:25. > :59:31.He is, as you said, he could not guarantee position off the red

:59:31. > :59:41.which was going into the middle. He is a little bit fortunate to be a

:59:41. > :59:41.

:59:41. > :00:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:00:58. > :01:07.bit this good on the black. A good Obviously, the only problem red is

:01:07. > :01:17.the one on the E Wright cushion. Being a left-hander, he will have

:01:17. > :01:22.

:01:22. > :01:31.to use the rest when he comes to Came very straight on the black

:01:31. > :01:41.there. When you end up straight on the balls, it does restrict you own

:01:41. > :01:43.

:01:43. > :01:51.the positional side. He is now not on the right side of the blue. It

:01:51. > :02:01.is almost straight, so he cannot it close to the intended next red. But

:02:01. > :02:34.

:02:34. > :02:44.this poem will make the points all Solid pot, but once again, a little

:02:44. > :02:53.

:02:53. > :03:03.He did not want to nestle on their red. He was OK, he caught it fully

:03:03. > :03:08.

:03:08. > :03:16.It was not a clean pot, of which is why he just struggled to get on

:03:16. > :03:26.this red. But that was a bad contact. There are few things more

:03:26. > :03:27.

:03:27. > :03:34.or irritating than that when you're Yes, he just wanted a good angle on

:03:34. > :03:37.the black and once again, he has come a bit straighter. The white

:03:37. > :03:47.ball is also closer to the side cushion and that makes this more

:03:47. > :04:12.

:04:12. > :04:17.I still expect it can to get that, but was made much more difficult by

:04:17. > :04:27.the fact that he had to raise the but of the cue to get down a much

:04:27. > :04:30.

:04:30. > :04:40.Judd Trump has got a nice angle here. He could play to disturb this

:04:40. > :04:42.

:04:42. > :04:52.red. He has got a perfect angle to either do that or simply sit in

:04:52. > :04:54.

:04:54. > :05:04.behind it. It may be OK, if he red will pass the boat into the top

:05:04. > :05:17.

:05:17. > :05:23.Right into the heart of the pocket. But he could have done with the cue

:05:23. > :05:33.ball running through a few more inches for him to then get perfect

:05:33. > :05:58.

:05:58. > :06:08.position on the yellow. It is not You could not play the shot much

:06:08. > :06:17.

:06:17. > :06:23.better than that. Absolutely superb. The only slight problem. I am not

:06:23. > :06:33.sure if the brown will pass the black. But the way he has played it,

:06:33. > :06:44.

:06:44. > :06:49.Now, with a ten-point lead, just a blue is needed. Neil Robertson had

:06:49. > :06:59.a chance to pinch this frame. What a big frame this is turning out to

:06:59. > :07:06.

:07:06. > :07:16.be. So, just this to go 15 ahead, I know we say it so many times, but

:07:16. > :07:28.

:07:28. > :07:38.As you say, he likes to hit the ball is in at pace, but he should

:07:38. > :07:53.

:07:53. > :08:03.Yes, maybe at the last second he And he is on the pink. So, Judd

:08:03. > :08:14.

:08:14. > :08:18.Trump is steering a 4-1 deficit He will be kicking himself. The

:08:18. > :08:28.tremendous green to get position on the yellow. It looked as though he

:08:28. > :08:32.was going to take the frame. It looked as if the margin would be

:08:32. > :08:42.three disappointment for Judd Trump, but Neil Robertson will be

:08:42. > :08:49.

:08:49. > :08:59.He is, such a significant finish to that frame. Now, Kane, the blue is

:08:59. > :09:02.

:09:02. > :09:09.the key shot here. Did he twitched on that? In the context of the

:09:09. > :09:13.match, that could prove to be turning point. He used to much

:09:13. > :09:20.power. He only needed the blue, because there would have left Neil

:09:20. > :09:26.Robertson needing a snooker. Now, these are shops where you have to

:09:26. > :09:31.stay very still. If you use too much force, you can get movement in

:09:31. > :09:40.the cue that you do not want. That is what Judd Trump did. He just

:09:40. > :09:50.switched on the back row and that cost him. Yes, let us just have a

:09:50. > :09:51.

:09:51. > :09:58.look at this. Ken reckoned he back arm twitched. Yes, he was not as

:09:58. > :10:06.still as he normally is. Yes, he was maybe also just stretching a

:10:06. > :10:10.bit too much and was not totally comfortable on the table. The

:10:10. > :10:19.question of how hard he hits the ball is an ongoing question. He

:10:19. > :10:28.does give them a real Warwick. But it does give the ball every chance

:10:28. > :10:38.Now, Neil Robertson requiring two more frames for a place in the

:10:38. > :10:53.

:10:53. > :11:03.JOHN VIRGO: Good break off, but a red pokes out. It will make you

:11:03. > :11:21.

:11:21. > :11:29.wonder how significant that last STEPHEN HENDRY: You can guarantee

:11:29. > :11:39.now he is sitting in his seat thinking about that Bullen. He is

:11:39. > :12:08.

:12:08. > :12:18.The black does not going to be right hand corner. He played for

:12:18. > :12:41.

:12:41. > :12:45.Able to hold for the raid into the The pink will not go back onto its

:12:45. > :12:55.own spot and therefore goes on to the highest available one, which is

:12:55. > :13:22.

:13:22. > :13:29.No way. He always knew that if he played it at that speed and missed

:13:29. > :13:39.that, there was a good chance the pink would cover the pocket for the

:13:39. > :14:06.

:14:06. > :14:10.He has got to be careful when he plays this. He has got to be

:14:10. > :14:20.careful he did not knock a red to the left-hand side of the table

:14:20. > :14:45.

:14:45. > :14:55.But not where he wanted that cue ball to be. This is a difficult

:14:55. > :14:55.

:14:55. > :15:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:15:43. > :15:53.REFEREE: Foul. Judd Trump 1, Neil The first player to reach six

:15:53. > :15:58.

:15:58. > :16:08.frames. The only disadvantage at the moment as the black is tied up

:16:08. > :16:21.

:16:22. > :16:25.at the moment. He would love to pot A heavy contact there. I always

:16:25. > :16:30.think most of them happen because you have not struck the ball as

:16:30. > :16:40.cleanly as you like. Obviously, not all of them. But I think most of

:16:40. > :16:56.

:16:56. > :17:06.Now, is he on the pink? He needs to be. He might just be able to be

:17:06. > :17:19.

:17:20. > :17:29.It is not easy to get on to the The pink spot is still occupied, so

:17:30. > :17:56.

:17:56. > :18:04.it goes back on to the black spot. He has not hit that as hard as he

:18:05. > :18:14.would have liked. He's going to open the red. He just got them a

:18:15. > :18:21.

:18:21. > :18:24.little bit thin. Now, will he take -- and the brown. It looks a

:18:24. > :18:34.natural angle to drop on to their red into the bottom left-hand

:18:34. > :18:57.

:18:57. > :19:07.He did not pot that cleanly. That is why he is a bit shot on pace for

:19:07. > :19:21.

:19:21. > :19:28.Just about developed the raid into the left middle. He is now 42

:19:28. > :19:38.points in front. He will need three of these reds with colours. There

:19:38. > :19:38.

:19:38. > :20:36.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:20:36. > :20:42.You just got the sense that Neil Hitting the bump of the middle

:20:42. > :20:52.pocket is never a good thing. But that Black has covered the bottom

:20:52. > :21:02.

:21:02. > :21:12.It does not cover the entire pocket, but I do not think it is going to

:21:12. > :21:14.

:21:14. > :21:24.tempt Judd Trump into taking this He is having a close look at it. No,

:21:24. > :21:59.

:21:59. > :22:08.Much too thick. Much, much too thick. The trouble with playing a

:22:08. > :22:18.shot like that with left him Slade is that it pushed it into the red.

:22:18. > :22:28.

:22:28. > :22:38.I actually think jaw plea D Wright But he just caught it a fraction

:22:38. > :22:38.

:22:38. > :23:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:23:33. > :23:43.So, this red will put in 56 points in front, with just 51 points

:23:43. > :23:50.

:23:50. > :24:00.He missed the blue in the last frame. It could have made it 3-2 in

:24:00. > :24:09.

:24:09. > :24:19.That is enough for Judd. He concedes. Neil Robertson pushes on

:24:19. > :24:38.

:24:39. > :24:44.and is now just one frame away, he This is the second of the big

:24:44. > :24:53.tournaments. Obviously, the World Championship is the main one and

:24:53. > :25:03.then you have this and the UK Championship. Maybe 51 does not

:25:03. > :25:11.tell the complete story. If he had not missed that blue and made it 3-

:25:11. > :25:19.2, it could be a different story. But he keeps getting chances. And

:25:19. > :25:29.if you keep getting chances, you're going to eventually take them. So,

:25:29. > :25:30.

:25:30. > :25:40.what does the young man from He is full of confidence and that

:25:40. > :25:40.

:25:40. > :26:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:26:25. > :26:31.is going to be tested to the He just looks a little bit

:26:31. > :26:41.frustrated at the moment, Judd Trump. I think he is still in a

:26:41. > :26:49.

:26:49. > :26:55.little bit of shock about missing As Icy, when you have a poor is

:26:55. > :27:05.after getting the cue ball clean, it gives you a bit of time to think

:27:05. > :27:19.

:27:19. > :27:29.and maybe just a little bit too Good pot, but is that not always

:27:29. > :27:43.

:27:43. > :27:53.I am surprised he did not play up for the Blind. He could not have

:27:53. > :28:03.

:28:03. > :28:11.You cannot put it down to one frame. The first frame was a scrappy 1.

:28:11. > :28:15.Neil Robertson was saying that he needed a good start against judge.

:28:15. > :28:25.Sometimes, you play a much we you just do not feel you have ever got

:28:25. > :28:41.

:28:41. > :28:46.REFEREE: Foul, and a miss.. Judd What we have seen this afternoon is

:28:46. > :28:56.what he could match player Neil Robertson his. Even when frames

:28:56. > :29:03.

:29:03. > :29:06.have been scrappy, he has taken his As you say, from his first

:29:06. > :29:16.appearance in 2004, his all-round game is now one of the best out

:29:16. > :29:34.

:29:34. > :29:44.Just looking at that reaction, he was mystified. Not the best

:29:44. > :29:59.

:29:59. > :30:09.position or shot of opening reds He was nicely on the black and he

:30:09. > :30:16.

:30:16. > :30:26.has just got to play flawless That last shot was a bit careless.

:30:26. > :30:26.

:30:26. > :30:36.He won't be happy with that. Has he got an angle on the blue? He needs

:30:36. > :30:56.

:30:56. > :31:06.This time, she is perfect on the blue. He would love to win this

:31:06. > :31:30.

:31:30. > :31:40.frame now, on this visit. -- he is He had to force through but he will

:31:40. > :31:52.

:31:52. > :32:02.be a bit disappointed that he is as For whatever reason, this is not

:32:02. > :32:14.

:32:14. > :32:24.the Judd Trump we have been seeing This game will get you wonder balls

:32:24. > :32:24.

:32:24. > :32:34.run awkward. And that was a great shot from Neil. -- when at the

:32:34. > :33:04.

:33:04. > :33:14.He will be thinking this is a match winning opportunity. Nothing he can

:33:14. > :33:15.

:33:15. > :34:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:34:01. > :34:05.do now. Just sit and hope that he You usually find that when the top

:34:05. > :34:12.players do get an opportunity to take the match, they step up the

:34:12. > :34:22.focus a little bit. Yes. And he has become a complete all-round player,

:34:22. > :34:33.

:34:34. > :34:43.Well! Don't count your chickens! Yeah! I was just about to say, you

:34:44. > :34:49.

:34:49. > :34:59.Well, if you are going to get back from such a deficit, do need some

:34:59. > :35:12.

:35:12. > :35:22.help from your opponent. -- you Neil's turn to be in shock.

:35:22. > :35:29.

:35:29. > :35:35.with a 5-1 lead, he knows he could When you see a bit of weakness in

:35:35. > :35:45.your opponent... Yes. If you don't take the first chance to win a

:35:45. > :36:07.

:36:07. > :36:13.match, it is amazing. Your other That pink has put him 44 points in

:36:13. > :36:23.front with 43 remaining. That mistake, it looks like it has cost

:36:23. > :36:45.

:36:45. > :36:53.Still finding time to play the odd The red is not there but he went be

:36:53. > :36:57.bothered about that. He has got the frame. -- he will not be. Still a

:36:57. > :37:06.mountain to climb, though, trailing 5-2.

:37:06. > :37:11.HAZEL IRVINE: How did you read that Mr shot by Neil? It is difficult to

:37:11. > :37:16.say whether he was trying to straighten that shot up and it did

:37:16. > :37:21.look for the world as though he would clear up. Sometimes he might

:37:21. > :37:26.have got down thinking initially he would play another shot and then he

:37:26. > :37:34.decided, no, I will play the screw shot. And you forget to do what you

:37:34. > :37:39.are supposed to do and pot the ball. The position he is in was such a

:37:39. > :37:47.commanding lead. Is that likely to be a jolt to the system? To some

:37:48. > :37:55.degree. It depends how many chances he gets from here on in. With that

:37:55. > :38:00.much of a lead, the way to look at it would be, if somebody said I

:38:00. > :38:05.would be 5-2 in front, I would have bitten their hand off. That is the

:38:05. > :38:12.way to look at it. But when you have thrown one away, you never

:38:12. > :38:22.feel good in your chair. And you don't want to be going 5-3, 5-4.

:38:22. > :38:45.

:38:45. > :38:54.JOHN VIRGO: He went on to the side of hitting that too thin. But he

:38:54. > :38:58.didn't find the baulk cushion. Always a danger. When you're

:38:58. > :39:08.playing a part of the capabilities of Neil Robertson. But he is

:39:08. > :39:20.

:39:20. > :39:30.If Judd could win a frame in one visit, it would really make Neil

:39:30. > :39:52.

:39:52. > :40:02.A tap on the table from Neil Robertson. An excellent shot from

:40:02. > :40:17.

:40:17. > :40:27.Much too fit and he will be lucky if he doesn't leave this red to the

:40:27. > :40:52.

:40:52. > :41:01.But in it goes. First chance! This pack Alexandra Palace crowd

:41:01. > :41:11.really want this match to continue. From -- fantastic atmosphere we

:41:11. > :41:17.

:41:17. > :41:27.He just can't get that cue ball under absolute control at the

:41:27. > :41:57.

:41:57. > :42:02.Just running out of position As I mentioned before, a great

:42:02. > :42:12.chance to get the frame in one visit. Keep Neil away from the

:42:12. > :42:12.

:42:12. > :42:57.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:42:57. > :43:04.A nice angle on the black. He might And his luck is OK. I don't think

:43:04. > :43:14.he is on a red where he can play for a black. But the frame is more

:43:14. > :43:14.

:43:14. > :43:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:43:59. > :44:02.That showed what he was thinking. He has just got a bit on the left-

:44:02. > :44:12.hand side. The right-hand side would have given him a choice of

:44:12. > :44:22.

:44:22. > :44:32.It looks as though the red just below the pink might go into that

:44:32. > :45:00.

:45:00. > :45:10.A slight rise mile there. -- a He put his hand up and apologises.

:45:10. > :45:11.

:45:11. > :45:13.Or we -- he would have loved to have carried on with the black. And

:45:13. > :45:23.Neil Robertson, store probably thinking about that missed

:45:23. > :45:55.

:45:55. > :46:05.opportunity in the last frame. -- At the moment, a possible 146 on

:46:05. > :46:05.

:46:05. > :46:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:46:52. > :47:02.Nine blacks spoilt by the one pink He decided to bring those two

:47:02. > :47:14.

:47:14. > :47:20.No red and a pity and you can hear what the crowd here thought. Can

:47:20. > :47:23.Judd Trump keep producing that quality? He needs to. He still

:47:23. > :47:27.trails 5-3. HAZEL IRVINE: The momentum in this

:47:27. > :47:32.match is beginning to swing the other way. Just describe the

:47:32. > :47:39.quality of fabric we saw, John? He's caused so quickly and all of a

:47:39. > :47:47.sudden, it is 5-1, 5-2, 5-34 stop Neil needs to collect his thoughts

:47:47. > :47:52.now. He has got to stem the flow because if he wins this one, it

:47:52. > :47:56.could seriously be game on. Absolutely. And towards the end of

:47:56. > :48:01.that frame, everybody was moving towards the edge of their seats.

:48:01. > :48:06.Judd had to go for the pink. What would you have done? He did the

:48:06. > :48:11.right of thing. He hasn't just thrown caution to the wind. He is

:48:11. > :48:14.still in control. It is very important that if you go behind,

:48:14. > :48:19.there our players that stops enjoying the process once they go

:48:19. > :48:23.behind. Judd Trump certainly doesn't want to go out of this

:48:23. > :48:33.event so he is giving it everything. He is still a pale but he has given

:48:33. > :48:35.

:48:35. > :48:42.himself a chance. How valuable his experience in the game right now?

:48:42. > :48:48.It is essential. You have got another three bides of the cherry

:48:48. > :48:53.so you're in control. -- bikes of the cherry. He needs to get that

:48:53. > :48:59.chance to finish off. It is great to see the crowd enjoying

:48:59. > :49:04.themselves, too? Yes. I am sure they want Judd to come back into

:49:04. > :49:08.the game. Great respect generally, I feel, in the crowd, that wherever

:49:08. > :49:12.we played, for the new players coming through, there was a time

:49:12. > :49:16.when they may have had their favourites and that was it, but now

:49:16. > :49:20.there are so many different players in the game that they love watching

:49:20. > :49:26.them all. And we see so many good pairings that everybody loves the

:49:26. > :49:32.balance of the difference in those. And even the different styles of

:49:32. > :49:38.players. There isn't a boring game any more. The top 16 players have

:49:38. > :49:43.earned the right to be here. There is not a bad match. But four left-

:49:43. > :49:48.handers in the top 10. Surely that has not been the case before, that

:49:48. > :49:56.at the very top of the game we have so many lefties? We don't see it so

:49:56. > :50:04.much in golf or darts. And don't you think they look great? I always

:50:04. > :50:14.think left-handers look fantastic! These two. A feast of left handers.

:50:14. > :50:26.

:50:26. > :50:29.And Ronnie is no bad hand in that JOHN VIRGO: there is a choice of

:50:29. > :50:39.rides to the corner pocket but because he has such good length

:50:39. > :51:14.

:51:14. > :51:24.with the cue ball, he needs it. -- A misjudgment there. But the brown

:51:24. > :51:25.

:51:25. > :52:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:52:22. > :52:26.It will be interesting to see what Neil Robertson plays here. He could

:52:26. > :52:36.probably, that red to the left middle or will he settle for a

:52:36. > :52:48.

:52:48. > :52:55.scrappy type of frame here? And It is always important to get the

:52:55. > :53:05.white tight in those safety shots, which Neil hadn't done. So an easy

:53:05. > :53:25.

:53:25. > :53:35.Now you can see the advantage.Can't play a screw shot back. -- and Neil

:53:35. > :53:37.

:53:37. > :53:47.He can't get a cue ball to the right which would cover the left

:53:47. > :53:53.centre. Not many safe areas of the table here. Basically, he is

:53:53. > :54:03.looking... Is there anything he can roll up to and not leave a pot on?

:54:03. > :54:19.

:54:19. > :54:29.He might think he can leave it save there, but has he? Can Judd get

:54:29. > :54:29.

:54:29. > :55:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:55:24. > :55:34.He has got it! So, Neil Robertson But it is a test of his character

:55:34. > :55:53.

:55:53. > :55:58.because he knows one mistake and he Not quite far enough down the table.

:55:58. > :56:08.He is still on this red but if he had been straighter, it would have

:56:08. > :56:32.

:56:32. > :56:38.been a formality. But he found a CROWD: ooh!

:56:38. > :56:45.Slightly awkward cueing but... He cannot afford to miss anything and

:56:45. > :56:55.he should not have missed that. He missed a blue when he should have

:56:55. > :57:08.

:57:08. > :57:18.made it 3-2. Will that be the bane He will be sat there so

:57:18. > :57:56.

:57:56. > :58:01.Well, he can obviously get through to pot the blue. I think he might

:58:01. > :58:11.have played for green and brown here but is he far enough to be on

:58:11. > :58:11.

:58:11. > :58:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

:58:58. > :59:08.I think he has got a choice of certainly two or three reds. Play

:59:08. > :59:37.

:59:37. > :59:42.Really danger with plain that Kevin is that he is slightly hampered

:59:42. > :59:52.here. There is a danger that you can put side it on the ball when

:59:52. > :00:31.

:00:31. > :00:37.Good pot. Did not try to do This black will put Neil Robertson

:00:37. > :00:47.five points in front. Judd Trump are sitting there wondering if he

:00:47. > :01:07.

:01:07. > :01:11.has played his last shot in this you could not ask for the reds to

:01:11. > :01:21.be in a much better place than this and with the pink and black in the

:01:21. > :01:25.

:01:25. > :01:29.open. It is just a matter of them He can get the evening off and

:01:29. > :01:39.watch the other two players sweat it out and get ready for the final

:01:39. > :02:06.

:02:07. > :02:16.The red next to the yellow is easily available into the top

:02:17. > :02:48.

:02:48. > :02:51.He is a little bit closer to the But he cued it nicely. Well, he

:02:51. > :03:01.would have liked to have been on the green so he could have played

:03:01. > :03:10.

:03:10. > :03:20.Good solid pot. I would suggest now that was the key shot to this frame

:03:20. > :03:33.

:03:33. > :03:43.It does not look as if it is going to be for Judd Trump at this year's

:03:43. > :03:47.

:03:47. > :03:51.Neil Robertson has been saying he he has been making a good start to

:03:51. > :04:01.matches and it does make a big difference. It whose pressure on

:04:01. > :04:12.

:04:12. > :04:22.You have got to hand it to the Australian. Just this red and Judd

:04:22. > :04:39.

:04:40. > :04:49.There you go off. You have got to That is how much remained to him.

:04:50. > :04:50.

:04:50. > :05:00.He has taken a few beatings from Yes, Judd Trump has been getting

:05:00. > :05:01.

:05:01. > :05:11.all the publicity recently and he Judd Trump is coming back to the

:05:11. > :05:14.

:05:14. > :05:24.table with 49 points in arrears, He does not want the red to go over

:05:24. > :05:26.

:05:26. > :05:36.the corner pocket unless he covers He has given it a shot, but it is

:05:36. > :06:16.

:06:16. > :06:26.He did not get the snooker, but knocking the pink near to the black

:06:26. > :06:33.

:06:33. > :06:43.Judd Trump has got to keep this red it on the table - and safe, of

:06:43. > :06:54.

:06:55. > :07:01.course. There is no value in And now the blue has gone into a

:07:01. > :07:11.nice position for snookers, as well. There are chances, if he gets the

:07:11. > :07:36.

:07:36. > :07:43.opportunity. But still three He has not got it safe. If this

:07:43. > :07:53.goes in, it will be handshake time. He has just not performed as he has

:07:53. > :07:57.

:07:57. > :08:04.done so far this season. Ingle is the red. That will conclude this

:08:04. > :08:14.match. Neil Robertson is in the final. Every credit to him. As they

:08:14. > :08:28.

:08:28. > :08:33.said, Judd Trump, just off the pace. That is it. Judd Trump and

:08:33. > :08:43.deregulation Neil Robertson. And look at the delight on Neil

:08:43. > :08:54.

:08:54. > :08:58.Robertson's face. He is in the Congratulations to Neil Robertson.

:08:58. > :09:08.He talked about revenge against Judd Trump and he has exacted a bit

:09:08. > :09:10.

:09:11. > :09:19.of that today. I thought that was a fantastic all round performance. As

:09:20. > :09:24.the match play display, that was of the highest. The way Judd Trump

:09:24. > :09:29.plays the game, he will have matches like that. He adds sparkle

:09:29. > :09:39.to every tournament and if he continues to play like that, he

:09:39. > :09:44.

:09:44. > :09:54.will win a few. Paul was the key to Neil Robertson's win? What, here he

:09:54. > :10:02.

:10:02. > :10:07.comes. Congratulations, I think that you enjoyed that. There where

:10:07. > :10:17.a few people that come and watch and who cheers when he gets lucky

:10:17. > :10:22.

:10:23. > :10:32.shots and things like that. I do not appreciate behaviour like that.

:10:33. > :10:34.

:10:34. > :10:41.If you hear a voice, it can be annoying. The sort of cheers when

:10:41. > :10:48.he flux balls to try and get to me. To lose a little bit about your

:10:48. > :10:58.performance. We were saying how control due look. What was your

:10:58. > :10:59.

:10:59. > :11:05.game plan at the start? With playing with a new type, I was just

:11:05. > :11:15.wanting to quickly adapt to the conditions. It was also a brand-new

:11:15. > :11:17.

:11:17. > :11:22.clock. But I got a brilliant up on the cupid on for me. It was

:11:22. > :11:32.interesting, because he kept going for pots and kept missing, missing,

:11:32. > :11:40.missing. I thought I played really good matchplay snooker and scored

:11:40. > :11:50.well when I was in. At 5-1, the only downside was that Mr bought

:11:50. > :11:59.into the middle. And John Major pay for it? Yes, I just took my eye off

:11:59. > :12:08.the red for a minute. He had a good chance and thankfully, he missed a

:12:08. > :12:17.couple of shots. Now, looking ahead to the final, six out of six in

:12:17. > :12:21.major finals. You must take a lot of confidence from that? Yes, but

:12:21. > :12:29.all this let is going to be very tough. Both Shaun Murphy and John

:12:29. > :12:37.Higgins of won everything in the game. So, either opponent, it is

:12:37. > :12:44.going to be a huge battle. He we will see you tomorrow. Very well

:12:44. > :12:50.played today. That was a fantastic match for the first of or semi-