Day 7 Masters Snooker

He is always a tough player to beat. He is a great long potter. The most

important thing is to maintain good rhythm in the balls. He takes on

incredible long shots. Good luck to him. He is a fantastic talent and

good for the game. Sometimes meal bought himself down and plays too

slow. I think he is better if he quickens his game up and place to a

quicker speed. He would much rather lose their frame to an attacking

pot than attempting a difficult safety shot. Good afternoon from

Alexandra Palace. It is a huge building covering seven 1/2 acres.

It was then named after the then Princess of Wales. 140 years on, it

is still a centre of entertainment. Now, we reach the semi-final stage

of the BGC Masters. As you will see very shortly, it is guaranteed to

keep bottoms on seats. It features two of the most exciting and

charismatic talents in the game. It features Judd Trump against the

charismatic Australian, Neil Robertson. It is full to the brim

today to see a match which is effectively the third and the taut

between these two fellas in that ranking events. The net in the

World Championship, the UK Championship last month and now, of

Here is how they got to the semi- In the end, it is Judd Trump who

It has been a terrific display, but in the end, Neil Robertson proves

I think Ronnie has all of them actually looks a wee bit

intimidated today. Judd Trump progresses into the semi-finals,

The battle of the left-hander's goes to the Australian, Neil

Robertson. He goes through to the semi-final, 6-4. What have you made

of Judd Trump this week? It is all good. When he went 3-2 behind again

Stuart Bingham, a few alarm bells were ringing. But he recovered very

well. He did not really wet wet or Ronnie O'Sullivan even get to the

table. I commentated on Neil Robertson's first match. His long

game was not quite up to scratch. But when you get in amongst the

balls, he was fantastic. But it was a bit scrappy the other day and

there were a lot of tight frames that you might have expected Mark

Williams to win, but it was actually Neil Robertson who did. As

we saw, he was mucking about with the tip of the cue lot. But the one

word I was hearing in the studio yesterday was revenge. Yes, Neil

Robertson has expectations to go from strength to strength and he

has got a great personality around the table. I am delighted to be

joined by a former UK champion John Virgo and six times Masters

champion, Stephen Hendry. Can you give me an insight into the

emotions of the players at this time? You can almost sniff the

title at this stage. Some like judge, who has just won the UK

Championship, will want to win this and want to win the world title.

Now, Judd Trump beat Neil Robertson and the way to the UK Championship

and is grabbing all the headlines. How do you counter that. And I

think that will just inspire Neil Robertson. He is playing a man at

the top of his game. I think it will be fascinating match. We each

we do you think it will go? Just the way he is playing, you cannot

opposed Judd Trump. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, what an

afternoon we have at the BGC Masters at Alexandra Palace. Two

world-class players, just one place up for grabs in the tomorrow's

final. Without further ado, Let's And please welcome the player who

has taken the world of snooker by a storm, here comes Judd Trump!

You must be getting used to this type of reception. How do you feel

after beating Ronnie O'Sullivan? All this there, it was a big win

for me to be Ronnie in front of his own fans, but this is going to be

just as tough. I and his opponent, one of the best long potters and

the game. The 2008 champion of the world. He beat Mark Williams in the

quarter-final yesterday to make his first appearance in the semi-finals,

it is the Thunder from Down Under, Neil Robertson!

MUSIC: "Heart Of Courage" by Two Neil, you are a proven big-time

performer and the sort of challenge is why you play the game? Yes, it

is absolutely tremendous. Ladies and gentlemen, Neil Robertson! As

you heard, Neil Robertson has had to put a new tip on his cue

overnight. Will this affect him? Well, as a player, I did not like

to put a new tip on because I thought it sometimes affected the

ball and put on wanted side on it. Yes, sometimes it can take and the

Oswell to work in. But it should be JOHN VIRGO: The tremendous

atmosphere. This for a place in the STEPHEN HENDRY: After beating Mark

Williams yesterday, Neil Robertson in the studio stressed the

importance of getting off to the strong start and putting Judd Trump

He could not risk going back to the baulk end because of that red over

The one to the right hand side of the black would be an option if you

He went for it, but as you see, the way he played it, he was trying to

make sure he did not leave anything That is nice for his brand new tap.

Two shots in an already to from Its sound soft. I know he has only

played two shots, but it sounds Yes, the dreaded spongy tip. He

Whoever put that upon has done me I once put one on. Never again! He

is having a look at this. It is a Good pot. I can tell you the

difficulty of that shot. Bridging over a ball and from that distance,

he could not have argued that better. -- cued that better. But he

The others like problem you can have with the new chip - I am not

going to bore the audience all the with talk of the type - is that you

Yes, he caught the red that he wanted to, but just not full enough.

It is not a touching ball. If it had been, the referee Brendan Moore

Neither player will want to get involved in this tipped tapping.

He tried to get back to the baulk end. He do it just did not generate

the pace. Judd Trump is taking this It is always difficult playing at

that pace. Is it my imagination, but the last few safety shots,

neither player has managed to get Just at the moment, may be a bit of

Yes, the always recover the table before the semi-final and final. So,

maybe the piece is slightly different, but it will not take

At last, someone get near the baulk As Stephen said, the players are

just getting the feel of everything. This is the view. As you can see,

he cannot hit the main bunch. The only one he can hit directly is

this one and the bottom right hand cushion. And it is hard to play

He is just coming off the top cushion first. He has left a red

along the top cushion, but that is not an easy pot. Yes, and even if

he took that on, he would not be on a colour afterwards, so not

bothering. Now, he will be trying to put this up back behind the

There is a reminder. The first to six frames goes through to the

In Neil's first two matches, his long potting has not been as good

as normal. It is usually one of the strongest aspects of his game. He

might take this on, as long as there is a path back to the baulk

Yes, there is not a lot to choose between them as regards long

potting in this tournament. They He just got that a bit thick, which

took the pace of the white ball. average safety shot from Judd Trump.

These are two players who really do not want to be playing safe. They

want to be going for the pots. There is a path here to screw

around off to cushions. It will That is too long pots he has gone

for an too long pot he has got. There are settling no concerns

about that up. He argued that It will be interesting to see where

the pink is going to go. It goes on the black spot. Maybe that new to

it is a bit over reactive at the He did not have any second thoughts

about playing the ball and if he could get his hand on the table. It

is so awkward, he is refusing the He would have liked to have caught

Court the red he intended much too thin. A poor safety shot. Neil

Robertson comes to the table with the nice easy starter. OK, the pink

will go back onto its own spot after less, but it will remain in a

He has just over done it slightly. The pink will definitely go to the

left-hand corner. He was wanting to play for the black, but as you see,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

the angle he has got is going to He has not got the cue ball in

He is just having a look at what will happen if he pots the pink and

cannons into these two reds to the right of it. Not, he never looked

comfortable. It was a great chance to win the frame, but he never had

He is on the black, but he is going to have to find a path for the cue

ball in and out of the baulk area. But whatever you do, do not forget

to pot the black. That is exactly what happened there. He was more

concerned with the cue ball. What would you say? Everybody was

expecting fireworks from these two great players, but it has not

lifted off yet. He could play the The brown is safe, the pink is on

the cushion, the black at the wrong end of the table, so we could be in

Yes, just looking at the situation, a 34 point lead for Neil Robertson,

He would like to have played a shot to push the red behind the yellow

and sticker in behind the yellow, but he has got too much angle for

that shot. Tapping the table. The shot that Judd played was pretty

He has the option of taking the red next to the yellow on, but Judd is

a bit rusty at the moment, and he does not want to give him an easy

It is in Neil's interest to keep He is having a close look, but it

That is an excellent shot. That is It is appreciated by his opponent

as well, a little tap on the table from Neil Robertson. He could not

have played that better. No, he hit that absolutely dead straight, dead

straight cueing, and that that pace, you have to have a fantastic cue

It is going to be tricky to hit this. With the two red near the top

cushion, he could maybe lay on them and leave it safe. The right hand

of the two near the top cushion, as He was hoping for a glancing blow

on the red in the middle of the That is not going to be easy. I

think he will be just trying something, a little bit of an

experiment. Yes, he would rather miss the red, rather than go to

thick straight away. Now he has got some idea of how much side he needs.

I expect him to get a lot closer I would expect in to hit it this

And you were right, Stephen, and that was a very good escape,

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Well, a trade mark along pot, and considering he was slightly

hampered by the black, that was top-drawer. Now, will he take the

black on? It is no more difficult than the red he has just potted. If

he was to knock it in, a chance to win the frame. I think there is

every reason to take it on. Yes, it is similar to the blue earlier. You

mentioned, if he was not hampered, He is not going to take the brown

That contact stopped the wide reaching the blog cushion. Yes, he

may regret that. A chance of a pot Well, we never expected a scrappy

start, and I can assure you that it will not be like this for long,

because both these players are too good for this. But sometimes the

balls just dictate the way a frame is played out. This is an example

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He played the red nearest the Just over the 26 minutes mark in

this frame! Tier of the best part as in the game -- two of the best

potters in the game, and they have only accumulated 47 points between

OK, he has got the black, but it is not going to be the easiest shot to

pot the black and get the cue ball back down to this end of the table.

He would prefer to be playing the green, but that might be a little

bit thinner than he would like. 28 points is the lead. Still a

He has got the extension out, he is going to play the black, but his is

That was very difficult to do from that situation. But the black goes

on its spot, so that is the black, the blue, the pink against the

cushion, the brown against the It is looking more and more like a

You did say that Neil was saying how important he thought a good

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He knows his chance will come. He He is keeping it tight. He could

have had a shot to nothing, screwing it right back to baulk,

but he has chosen to keep it in the long grass. An opportunity now for

Judd to bring the blue and black But the black runs safe, and he has

left a chance of a pot for Neil Robertson. He caught that safety a

The way he has been put in long balls in this frame, I would expect

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

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So 36 points in front, now just 51 He is playing a tough frame, Neil

Robertson, a tremendous match Yes, he is determined not to let

Judd get into any sort of rhythm in Judd trying to make things happen.

And that could have cost in his frame. -- cost him. I mean, you

want to win every frame you play, but I do not think Judd will be too

disappointed to see the end of this He still needs one more red. This

blue will put him 42 points in I was never a fan of these frames

myself. If Neil wins, get it over You'll have to suffer a bit longer,

and other safety shot coming up. -- Neil was trying to tie at the pink

and black, but he has not done so. Well, he needs two reds and two

blacks, but there is a chance now, a little bit of hope in this frame

for Judd. The reason I say that is because once you get down to the

last couple of reds, and particularly because he has got the

snooker as well, there's light at the end of the tunnel. With four

red against the cushion, you think, even if I get a chance, I cannot do

it. But now he will be thinking, if I get a chance, I can win this

frame. Yes, he has got to be careful here. There is only one

safe ball, the brown, so things would be tied up if it were re

spotted. If he can get two reds and two blacks, he would be right back

Good hit, very good hit. Of course, no value in putting a red unless

you can get position on the black. As I say, he needs position on the

black Iffy is going to play any Something like that! What a shot!

What a shot that was. We see certain shots and say they deserve

to win a frame, but this is a tough No, a pity. A pity, but it was a

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tough black, and that will be his Well, that is another. It was a

long drawn-out affair which joke nearly 36 minutes, but that will

not bother Neil Robertson. He wanted a good start, he has got it,

1-0. Yes, a very cagey opening frame, I

wonder how much that is due to the fact that we have a new cloth on

the table. We can show you the late stages of that last night when they

were putting the finishing touches to it. Yes, before the semi-finals,

a brand-new clock, brand new cushion covers as well. -- Col. The

tension that is put into it can always alter slightly. The cloth is

probably from the same role, but we do not know how much they stretch

it over the cushion covers and the bed of the table. And it does

appear that the table is playing a fraction slower. More importantly,

once the ball comes off a cushion, it seems to be playing slow as well,

which can be difficult for the players to judge safety shots. The

brand new cloth as a bit of a sheen on it, and when the spin on the

ball goes on to the cushion, it's sort of traps it a bit, and the

spin is still there. From a player's perspective, overnight

that is tough to get used to. Neil has the additional factor to

compute, the new tip. His long potting looked very good, probably

better than with the old tip! There was one shot in particular you

thought might have showed a reaction. The other thing to put in,

the imponderable, is that the clock can be slower but more reactive.

This pink into the centre, a little screw back, it really fizzed. Even

Neil was surprised by how far that came back. You do not know with the

tip until you start going out and playing, how soft it is, what the

reaction is, but his long game, that is the best he has hit the

ball all week. And Judd Trump? it was a tough first opening frame.

If you were looking for a way to keep Judd Trump under wraps,

scrappy frames would be the order of the day, but that is not what

Neil has come to do. It is just the way the first frame unfolded.

Obviously, no player likes to play scrappy frames. A slight delay

getting back for the second frame, a totally packed house, or to

people just coming back into the arena, but we are off now. -- one

JOHN VIRGO: Neil breaking off, it looks like he has got the pace of

the table, judging by the length of Neil will take six frames like that,

win 6-0 and go home quite happy. Yes, he will. As I say, I would

agree with Steve Davis, I do not think he wants to make it into that

kind of match, it is not his style. No. But he is probably more adept

at winning a frame like that than Well, the red in the middle of the

table is in a potable position, and we know that Judd does not turn

Well, that is unlucky. He thought the only red he could leave was the

one he was playing, it looked to have run safe, and it has kicked

one out of the cluster. Judd always likes to play them with pace. If

you hit them that hard, there is a It always looks worse when you miss

a shot like that. If you play that soft and miss it, it just does not

Anyway, he is in his seat, and Neil Robertson get the first chance in

He will be running into other reds here, so he will have to try... Can

he run-through for the black? He In nudging that second red away, he

has made another available into the left corner. He has got a nice

A choice of reds to the right corner, so a decent opportunity to

I do like Neil's aura and authority around the table, he looks full of

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

Well, I think there is possibly one red that is available into the left

corner, but he has got a nice angle on the black. I would be surprised

if he does not try to develop reds Well, he has tried to, but I do not

think he has developed anything at all. He just caught the reds a

It is five reds, five blacks. We will not be seeing any maximums

here. It will be back to the long In 2004, I remember it well, when

he first played here, and he came here as a wild card from the

qualifying competition. He played Jimmy White in his first-round

match, had to say he was a bit raw in those days is an understatement.

All he was was a potter, and Jimmy comfortably beating in his first

appearance here, but, boy, as he improved in those seven years that

He has become, since then, well, world champion and one of the best

all-round players in the game. even at shot, he gave it a lot of

thought, where he wanted to put the cue ball. A lot of players,

including myself, would be guilty of just aiming for the baulk

cushion without looking for the tricky place. He will be forcing

He did. Where is that cue ball going?! REFEREE: Foul. He is

unlucky, and Judd might be thinking, what is happening here? I cannot

get my hand on the table, and I keep missing the pots and running

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

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

not tight against it, and there is a red on. Judd is desperate to get

the ball into the pocket and start But it is just not happening at the

moment, and that could be a very He caught it much to fall. Name --

Neil came to the table with a 44 point lead, and the reds couldn't

be better situated. The first frame took just over 36 minutes. I do not

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

think this one will be going for A good example of what Steve was

talking about after the last frame. That cue ball just not going as far

as Neil expected. But no problem there. It will maybe only last Adie,

It will be alright on Monday. This to go 73 ahead, with only 67

He is only potted three balls in the match so far. As we say, when

you are sat in that seat you do not score any. But the credit for that

has to go to kneel. He has limited Judd to long pots. Report success

Still possible century break on. You need to be up to 73 points

before you come to the colours, which with the 27 am all for the

By Sir we do not think he is experiencing any problem with the

tip, it Stephen. In general late, he just looks very good round the

table, very confident. We were saying earlier, no pun intended,

that Judd had been stealing Neil's thunder. I think all the publicity

that Judd is getting, right place all, disguises the fact thing

you'll is actually the higher Now, the remaining colours for

As sepia but break. His third of the tournament. That frame did not

take very long. Just over 13 minutes. As you have been hearing,

things have not been tip-top with the Australian's cue in the last

couple of days. Let us take a look at that. He is using this shiny

card. He does not want to use something rough like sandpaper, in

case it damages it. Tell us about this type you have just Bouton.

got a pit on last night and then went to my local snooker club to

practise. How does it feel? It felt fine and my own table, but

obviously any take a bit of getting used to on a new cloth here.

long does it usually take you to be used to a new tip? Yes, it is not

we for five days, but we're obviously going to have to just get

out there and see what happens. appears to be experiencing very few

problems. Could you explain Steve how difficult they could be an

compared with something else? does not like a tennis player

having a new racket, but more like maybe the springs or any Rolls

Royce. The players tend to have the hard tap, so they can get an

immediate feel for it. Now, Neil Robertson has had to do things in

double-quick time with that up, but JOHN VIRGO: We're expecting to see

There is a red and the top there. I am not sure whether he can get past

the yellow to actually pot that. I think he can get to the potting

Ingle. But it looks like he is just I think he intended to run that red

into the black. This game is so frustrating sometimes. Judd has

come to the table thinking he had an easy starter and now the cue

ball has rested right-on the brown. But it isn't. He has finished

perfect on the blue. This is his Just looking at the way the balls

have been potted. Neil Robertson has potted many more, 57. But that

is just the way the frames have panned out. He overran the shot

last time. Can he lever myself a bit more straight on it, so he can

hold for the black. Yes, just manage to. He would love to get on

the register the right of the black. -- the red to the right of the

black. This is OK, so long as he Yes, he could do it comfortably.

Now it is John's chance to show was As well as his obvious ability and

talent, he has got a very good temperament. It looks like he has

just wait his memory clean of what He decided to play the cannon, but

it has not worked out. I do not blame him for going into them.

Unless he plays a very risky pot, I cannot see this break continuing.

And he is just plain the safety. He will be a little bit disappointed

there. Another inch or two on that cue ball. This was the cannon. It

just got into them just a bit too much. Neil was a bit fortunate

Normally, if you catch one of the baulk colours, it means you have

not at the very good safety, but He red to the left of the pack is

the shot to nothing. But he has got Good shot. He has got to be a

little bit careful here. He just has to make sure he does not run by

them when he comes off the side cushion. That is fine. He has left

This is the telling safety shot. I think he may have snookered should

here. He has got to be careful here. This is not a straight for word the

Good shot. Well, I am saying good shot, but I think Neil Robertson

the sounds were looking to see if that red will pass the pink. Nor, I

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

think he would have played it by He was using the blue there to kill

the pace on the red. It gave any good passage back to the baulk area.

As long as the court that ball full it was always going to go back.

put a bit of pressure and that safety shot. He has court that a

It means that Neil can get his hand on the table. This is the type of

He will not be too disappointed where he has finished. You can see

he was preparing for a big screw back. These make me pots more

difficult, the more power you have In this case, he was trying to

screw off the pink to get the white He looked at playing safe off the

bread to the left of the black. He as good a good target at the ball

came, with the green, brown and He just concentrated on getting a

good length with the cue ball. He is hoping to force a mistake from

I do not think the bottom to red of the four or a plant to the bottom

left-hand corner. He is just plain Again, as he has done a few times,

he caught the safety shot a bit thick. But again, he has been lucky.

It is the tricky safety shot, this. It was half an attempt at the pot

and that was not a bad guess on the green. It was a tricky situation,

but he will be happy with the He has just got to keep patient,

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Judd. He may push the boat out once REFEREE: Foul, and a miss. Judd

Judd Trump do not even take a look. I thought there was a possibility

he could have but by that other red As you see John, if he takes us on,

this is not going to be any more difficult than the one we could

have got a minute ago, when he did The one advantage here, of course,

is that because the cue ball went in the pocket, Judd Trump has the

ability to to the free ball where That should be the frame clincher.

He will feel a lot better now. I do not care who your, you do not fully

relax until you get that first 62 points in front. One more red

and a black will leave it Neil There was a bit of pressure on that

first red. If he had missed it, he Neil Robertson has nothing to have

The this cheque, Judd's brother. He is looking a bit happier now. That

is the thing about snooker. You can be sat out for a while. But credit

to Judd, he has been shot of opportunities, but he has looked

He lost to play one of these exhibition shots, to please the

crowd. And why not? And that is a Look at the way it arced round

And the Hang on! I do not think it is going in this time. Judd Trump

has got his first frame on the I am down here in the cues own. We

just sort Judd falling down there when he got there first break of 44.

It is very difficult to Albany flat pack and they will show you why.

You're having to use a lot of topspin off the bottom cushion. Now,

look what happens - you miss the pack completely! When the balls are

so tight together. You see what happens - the white get stuck in

the red. Now, be will just try it once more. Look what happens. When

they red the a bit looser, you see the way the white can break through

them. Well done for soldiering on! You'll never be my one. People were

asking me how you broke off and I did it and missed the entire pack!

What do you think of joy and there? Yes, he is clearly feeling a lot

more comfortable and was JOHN VIRGO: This frame will be the

difference between it either been 3-1 or 2-2. How will it unfold? He

he played it beautifully. Nicely on the blue. I would say he has to go

on to the pink here. He has got a perfect angle to split them all

The fact that the black is only available into one corner pocket

might have put him off that shot. High can only say that I would have

been into then there, and I think Well, they are over now, that was a

lovely shot. The cute that really well. -- he cued. Always a danger

of leaving the white too-tight on He does not have to do a lot here

with the cue ball, just drop the black in for a red into the same

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He has just over and a fraction. -- over andrun. To the extent that he

may play the red that his closest to him to the left middle. He

played for a choice of reds, but he No problem getting a nice angle on

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

these. Taking the first frame out of the equation, which was a really

scrappy frame, he made a 14 break in the second frame, then 100, and

then Judd Trump replied. -- 48 break. Both players look to the

cueing well when they get into these situations. -- Look to the

cueing well. But you can only have one man at the table at any given

time. I have just had a look to see if there is a gap in the middle of

the Taxi can go through to get onto the blue. I don't think so, he will

go right through the pack. -- the It is fortunate that red has come

up to the baulk end. He may have to He played it nicely. It is all

about getting the pace right here, just rolling in. He will bounce off

the top cushion to play for the black. There are loose reds, I do

not think he has to play a cannon to bring red into play at the

Yes, the two reds that are furthest to the left, he will play a little

Obviously the red at the top of Yes, it does, and he has come on

it's nicely. -- he has come on it nicely. Funnily enough, speaking

about the venues, the first time we have come to Ally Pally, but it was

the same at Wembley. We are a little bit further away from the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

table in the commentary box than we He has never been in any danger at

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

that was his only chance of going wrong. Apart from that, he has

Well, he will be a little bit disappointed that he was not better

on the pink. He would have liked to have made another century break,

but he will need a good shot to Judd Trump concedes, so they go to

the midsession interval, and the Impressions of what so far has been

a very controlled performance from Neil Robertson. If you were looking

to be a matchplay snooker player, that has been exemplary. He has not

put a foot wrong. His safety play, when he has lost position, there

has always been purpose to his safety play. 100% has been given to

every ball, absolutely top-class. Looking at the statistics, in terms

of long potting success, 70% Bob Neill, 30% for Judd Trump, and that

tells its own story. Yes, and so from the perspective of getting in

amongst the balls, which is something that Judd usually built

his game on in some respects, it is nice if that is high for him, but

sometimes the potting percentage can be dependent on the type of

shot they are getting. But generally, I think Neil Robertson

has controlled and dominated the session. He will be delighted,

especially considering the Brand New Tip, going into the unknown.

Nobody would like to have to change halfway through the tournament.

was talking very confidently about plain Judd Trump when he came into

the studio yesterday, and he said it was not as other players have

not had chances against Judd, albeit that he is a frightening

prospect. He has a controlled way of thinking about the situation,

different from a few years ago. cannot say that it is always going

to go to script, but he has had a game-plan, no doubt about it. If

you got a poor start, he would steamroller you. It is the same

sort of thing with Judd. If I can get a good start and a foothold in

the game, he is thinking, play hard snooker, he can score, he is not

doing that deliberately, but for the safety shots, let's play a

proper one. Every ball has been given 100%, I cannot emphasise

enough how good that has been. big a test for Judd now? Well,

obviously, it is hard from behind. Sometimes it shows more character.

Interestingly, these two players are the only ones who have come out

in the papers and interviews and said, I think I am a better player

than I was before. These two players fancy themselves as the

real deal, and quite rightly so has well! This could be one of the

hottest tickets in the future of the next couple of years. It will

be a rivalry that will grow and grow, because they do not mind

talking about each other. Judd will say, if the speed up a bit, they

will continue to win. Let's reveal I think I'm quite a nice person.

Yeah, I am a good listener, willing to listen to people and give people

advice and stuff like that, you know. My mum always gives me a call

before every match, that is kind of like the thing. It doesn't matter

what time it is, whether it is 4am, she will always leave a message for

me would give me a call. You want me to do it? Seriously? OK! Look

out! My friend and I've worked out how to do it when we were about

eight years old in school. I am quite lazy, I forget did his stuff.

I do not do it on purpose, I just forget. I love playing video games.

Oh, I just love escaping and, yeah, I can play games for 10 hours

straight, no problem. Pretty much before the World Championships is

the most nervous I have been. I had a whole country believing in May,

and that was a lot of expectation, a lot to carry on my shoulders. --

Yes, the Australian would love to add this title to his growing

collection. If you, like many others, have resolved to get fit

this new year, and it is traditionally a time when everyone

says they will but then don't, that is not quite true in snooker,

because Steve Davis and Shaun Murphy amongst others have vowed

they will become fit enough to run a half-marathon in April. They are

not just doing so for the good of their health, it is in the name of

I think it is very useful to have some level of fitness, put it that

way. Doctors will tell you that ethernet the blood is, the faster

the decision comes from the brain, because it travels through the body.

The feeling good factor is very important. If you feel good about

yourself, there's more of a strut your step, and that can help

positive thinking, which is the most important part of winning at

I cannot think you need to be fit to play snooker, but I think it

helps, and in all walks of life it helps. As the standard gets higher

in the game, everybody will be looking for the edge, and it could

be the extra 1%. If you are physically fit, your brain is fit,

long matches, World Championship, on your feet a long time, it can

only help. Coping with the pressure of top sport, one of the ways

around it, obviously, is being physically fit, fit enough to make

a decision under pressure. Do I go for the long red in the top corner

when it is 60-40? Do I go for the pin or play for the middle of the

green? These are the decisions you have to make been a stressful

situation, and a fit body will help. It won't make it easier, but it

will help you make a better decision under the stress. If you

look back at the record, the best players in the world were probably

also the fittest. They may not have been into thickness specifically,

but I think they could keep going longer. It is something I wish I

had got into a long time ago. have you been?! Come on, we are

going down there and back again! have just started an hour training

regime, the World snooker running team, for the share bill half-

marathon in May. We are running in support of the Paul Hunter

Well, at least his arm looks fit, Stevie! You have done a half-

marathon before. It is a special cause. This is for the Paul Hunter

Foundation, and the mission statement, there was a lot of money

paid into a foundation during his last months to try and raise money

to cure him, but when it was decided that it was not going that

way, unfortunately, that money was decided by Paul to be put into a

fund to help get kids off the streets to play snooker, get people

back into clubs. So it has continued. There is only so much in

the pot, and every time we do something, it is a bit more of a

drain. We are always looking for ways to build the pot up again, and

this seemed like a great way. A few of the players, Liam Highfield,

Peter Ebdon, we want to make the team as big as we can. We have got

four months left, and hopefully we can raise enough money through a

website. If you go to the Paul Hunter Foundation now, there are

some details on how to be part of the team or where to stick your

money. You can always pay directly to the Paul Hunter Foundation.

Training going well? I am doing at least one minute on the running

machine now! It is a good minute, though. Good luck, I will sponsor

you a fiver at least! We mentioned Shaun Murphy, and he is going to be

starring in the second of our Masters semi-finals this evening.

In fact, the match this evening has echoes of the biggest occasions,

the World Championship final, because in 2009 John Higgins played

and beat Shaun Murphy for the third title of his career, and he has

since gone on to win it again. It Winning two Masters, a good

achievement, but I can just remember winning the first time. I

think through my four matches, I really, really struggled. Me and

Ken played in a final, it was a gritty affair, and I just came out

The other time I won it, that was probably my highlight since I have

been playing in the Masters, really, one of the biggest tournaments you

This tournament has been the worst tournament on my CV. You know, that

is it! I used to love coming and watching this tournament as a

teenager, I used to come every year. I won the qualifying event, beat Fu,

but I bottled it, and I have never had a decent win here. Until this

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

World Championships a few years ago. What are his strengths? Everything!

What are his weaknesses? Nothing! On the snooker table, once he gets

going, I do not think anybody hits the ball better than him in the

game. Each used the ball beautifully. It is going to be one

hell of a game to try to keep them off is written and messing about,

and hopefully I can play decent as well. I have been practising very

hard before the event, and maybe And we will be on now with that

second semi-final at 8 o'clock tonight on BBC Two, and I hope he

will join us for that. I think, guys, both of these players figure

new venue, new start. They're kind of banking on that. A amazing to

think how good they are, OK, John has won, but ridiculous that Shaun

has not. Especially when you have been a UK and world champion,

having a venue that you do not like. The key will be the tactical side.

Both are great scorers and everything, but when they have

played, John has always had the edge tactically overdrawn,

certainly in the final of the world championship he gave him a lesson

in tactical play. That is the key for me. I remember three years ago,

it is 2012 already, when Shaun said that John basically tied him up in

knots in what was an 18-9 victory in the final. What has changed in

the interim for Shaun's game? think he has tried to look at the

safety and tactical side of the game, but all the sudden we were

doing the interview a couple of days ago and he was asked about

Judd Trump, and he said Judd Trump is pushing the bars slightly higher

and he was actually learning from Judd. He said he wanted to be more

aggressive again. Yeah, perhaps some styles suit players. I know

John Higgins can play any type of game, but some players prefer to

play three, attacking snooker. tactical side, we are talking about

one of the best was ever play the game. Shaun Murphy is very, very

good, top-class compared to everyone else, but John Higgins is

a master, he is in the top that has ever played the game, so that is

why we are being a bit pernickety bringing it up, but that is what

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

have had quite a few tweets from you asking for more demonstrations

from Ken, and he is groaning at the prospect, I think! This one is from

Rab Perry, he says, could you please demonstrate or explain the

different outcomes between a stern run-through and a slow shot with

top-spin? I think I might get is at the first time to, but we will have

a look. Slow run-through, pretty simple. Top of the cue ball, as you

run through all the black. The same can be said while playing the red,

but when you stun and run through, watched the cue ball. It stops and

then continues on. Same sort of outcome, but a little bit more

power, middle of the white, you see the white continue one. That is a

stunt through and a follow-through. Keep it simple, that is the way! We

are nearly ready for the second part of this semi-final. Everybody

is just milling around, having had a little bit of a refreshment. They

are all coming back in, this huge crowd, and it is taking a bit of

time. Let's reflect a little bit on the inner workings of Mr trompe's

I would like to think I was quite laid-back and just easy going, I

would say. I don't take life too seriously, just enjoy it. At the

start of my career, I was slightly nervous, but have died won China,

the nerves went and there is more enjoyment now. -- but after I won

China. I just enjoy it a lot more now. The worst of any, I would say.

If you go in my hotel room after an hour, there is just clothes

everywhere, it is shocking. The 1980s, I was saved. There was a lot

that happened in snooker with Stephen Hendry and Stephen Davis

First coming on. You make friends in any kind of sport and you get on

with some players better than others, but you have just got to

play the table and block out here you are playing. The world was just

a completely different experience, getting to the final, just the

coverage, how much people supported me was a good feeling. For kids

that have grown up, you have got to enjoy what you were doing, love the

game all there is no point in And as the vault shuts, the players

make their way back to the table here for the second part of his BGC

Masters semi-final, and Judd Trump has not really been as severely

tested since the UK final against Mark Allen, who was always on top

in that one. To survive an onslaught from Mark Allen, he has

got a lot of work to do here, and this would be a supreme test of

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

be looking for a good start. He got a good length with the cue ball,

but the red is sticking out, a possible pot to the left corner for

Neil Robertson. When he comes to the table, a few latecomers heading

He always knew he was going to find a path back to the baulk End, but

the red nearly went with the cue ball, and it is possible. --

Right in the heart of the Parkhead, and this grant-giving Judd every

encouragement. -- Write in the heart of the pocket, and this crowd

He has just overdone it slightly. Just about on this red to the left

corner, but it is thinner than he Not a problem, and I think he can

just get past the blue to pot the green. He would play the blue if it

went, but I do not think it does. A nice angle on the green, though. He

It is all about line and length. He has got a good line, and the

As the great Willie Thorne would say, he was playing for an area, a

choice of two reds. The cueing was lovely, straight line right up the

Well, if he has got the right angle, this is a shot he will attend. --

attempt. He decided to make certain of getting on the red. I am

surprised he did not play a little cannon there just to nudge a few

Yeah, he played to get low on the black there, because as Ken showed

us so well, it was quite a flat- pack. He has got enough power to

And it is an easy power as well, isn't it? He just plays it so

easily, pushing that you through to get the maximum amount of spin on

It is almost like two golfers, one hitting the ball 50 yards past the

Well, that did not go in the middle of the pocket. I am wondering if he

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

Well, he is looking at the possibility of the plant, but look

at the gap between the two reds. He could play it, because he would be

Easy enough safety. But he is desperate to keep this break going.

And that, I would say, maybe pushing the boat out slightly, but

I think the top red in the middle of the table is definitely potable

to the left corner. I think he may consider playing it if he thought

he could avoid kissing into another ball, but the danger ball for Neil

is the one that is on to the right He went for the pot, but the

problem is, when you miss it by that far, you lose the cue ball. He

tried to make it into a shop for nothing, but, as you see, he did

not get anywhere near the pot, and the cue ball ran loose, a nice easy

The only danger Neil has got in this match is being drawn into the

game, and that was slightly risky. He is 3-1 at, keep Judd under

Yeah, not the best positional shot, that. He needs a good shot on this

That was tough. Well, that mistake from Neil Robertson has only cost

him one point, and the way the balls are situated, one good

positional shot here and this frame The easiest red, obviously, is the

one to the right middle, but it is all about trying to get position on

He might even play this red he is close to into the top right-hand

corner. No, he is trained for the middle. Well, he actually played a

He is, as you said, he could not guarantee position off the red

which was going into the middle. He is a little bit fortunate to be a

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bit this good on the black. A good Obviously, the only problem red is

the one on the E Wright cushion. Being a left-hander, he will have

to use the rest when he comes to Came very straight on the black

there. When you end up straight on the balls, it does restrict you own

the positional side. He is now not on the right side of the blue. It

is almost straight, so he cannot it close to the intended next red. But

this poem will make the points all Solid pot, but once again, a little

He did not want to nestle on their red. He was OK, he caught it fully

It was not a clean pot, of which is why he just struggled to get on

this red. But that was a bad contact. There are few things more

or irritating than that when you're Yes, he just wanted a good angle on

the black and once again, he has come a bit straighter. The white

ball is also closer to the side cushion and that makes this more

I still expect it can to get that, but was made much more difficult by

the fact that he had to raise the but of the cue to get down a much

Judd Trump has got a nice angle here. He could play to disturb this

red. He has got a perfect angle to either do that or simply sit in

behind it. It may be OK, if he red will pass the boat into the top

Right into the heart of the pocket. But he could have done with the cue

ball running through a few more inches for him to then get perfect

position on the yellow. It is not You could not play the shot much

better than that. Absolutely superb. The only slight problem. I am not

sure if the brown will pass the black. But the way he has played it,

Now, with a ten-point lead, just a blue is needed. Neil Robertson had

a chance to pinch this frame. What a big frame this is turning out to

be. So, just this to go 15 ahead, I know we say it so many times, but

As you say, he likes to hit the ball is in at pace, but he should

Yes, maybe at the last second he And he is on the pink. So, Judd

Trump is steering a 4-1 deficit He will be kicking himself. The

tremendous green to get position on the yellow. It looked as though he

was going to take the frame. It looked as if the margin would be

three disappointment for Judd Trump, but Neil Robertson will be

He is, such a significant finish to that frame. Now, Kane, the blue is

the key shot here. Did he twitched on that? In the context of the

match, that could prove to be turning point. He used to much

power. He only needed the blue, because there would have left Neil

Robertson needing a snooker. Now, these are shops where you have to

stay very still. If you use too much force, you can get movement in

the cue that you do not want. That is what Judd Trump did. He just

switched on the back row and that cost him. Yes, let us just have a

look at this. Ken reckoned he back arm twitched. Yes, he was not as

still as he normally is. Yes, he was maybe also just stretching a

bit too much and was not totally comfortable on the table. The

question of how hard he hits the ball is an ongoing question. He

does give them a real Warwick. But it does give the ball every chance

Now, Neil Robertson requiring two more frames for a place in the

JOHN VIRGO: Good break off, but a red pokes out. It will make you

wonder how significant that last STEPHEN HENDRY: You can guarantee

now he is sitting in his seat thinking about that Bullen. He is

The black does not going to be right hand corner. He played for

Able to hold for the raid into the The pink will not go back onto its

own spot and therefore goes on to the highest available one, which is

No way. He always knew that if he played it at that speed and missed

that, there was a good chance the pink would cover the pocket for the

He has got to be careful when he plays this. He has got to be

careful he did not knock a red to the left-hand side of the table

But not where he wanted that cue ball to be. This is a difficult

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REFEREE: Foul. Judd Trump 1, Neil The first player to reach six

frames. The only disadvantage at the moment as the black is tied up

at the moment. He would love to pot A heavy contact there. I always

think most of them happen because you have not struck the ball as

cleanly as you like. Obviously, not all of them. But I think most of

Now, is he on the pink? He needs to be. He might just be able to be

It is not easy to get on to the The pink spot is still occupied, so

it goes back on to the black spot. He has not hit that as hard as he

would have liked. He's going to open the red. He just got them a

little bit thin. Now, will he take -- and the brown. It looks a

natural angle to drop on to their red into the bottom left-hand

He did not pot that cleanly. That is why he is a bit shot on pace for

Just about developed the raid into the left middle. He is now 42

points in front. He will need three of these reds with colours. There

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You just got the sense that Neil Hitting the bump of the middle

pocket is never a good thing. But that Black has covered the bottom

It does not cover the entire pocket, but I do not think it is going to

tempt Judd Trump into taking this He is having a close look at it. No,

Much too thick. Much, much too thick. The trouble with playing a

shot like that with left him Slade is that it pushed it into the red.

I actually think jaw plea D Wright But he just caught it a fraction

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So, this red will put in 56 points in front, with just 51 points

He missed the blue in the last frame. It could have made it 3-2 in

That is enough for Judd. He concedes. Neil Robertson pushes on

and is now just one frame away, he This is the second of the big

tournaments. Obviously, the World Championship is the main one and

then you have this and the UK Championship. Maybe 51 does not

tell the complete story. If he had not missed that blue and made it 3-

2, it could be a different story. But he keeps getting chances. And

if you keep getting chances, you're going to eventually take them. So,

what does the young man from He is full of confidence and that

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

is going to be tested to the He just looks a little bit

frustrated at the moment, Judd Trump. I think he is still in a

little bit of shock about missing As Icy, when you have a poor is

after getting the cue ball clean, it gives you a bit of time to think

and maybe just a little bit too Good pot, but is that not always

I am surprised he did not play up for the Blind. He could not have

You cannot put it down to one frame. The first frame was a scrappy 1.

Neil Robertson was saying that he needed a good start against judge.

Sometimes, you play a much we you just do not feel you have ever got

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

what he could match player Neil Robertson his. Even when frames

have been scrappy, he has taken his As you say, from his first

appearance in 2004, his all-round game is now one of the best out

Just looking at that reaction, he was mystified. Not the best

position or shot of opening reds He was nicely on the black and he

has just got to play flawless That last shot was a bit careless.

He won't be happy with that. Has he got an angle on the blue? He needs

This time, she is perfect on the blue. He would love to win this

frame now, on this visit. -- he is He had to force through but he will

be a bit disappointed that he is as For whatever reason, this is not

the Judd Trump we have been seeing This game will get you wonder balls

run awkward. And that was a great shot from Neil. -- when at the

He will be thinking this is a match winning opportunity. Nothing he can

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

do now. Just sit and hope that he You usually find that when the top

players do get an opportunity to take the match, they step up the

focus a little bit. Yes. And he has become a complete all-round player,

Well! Don't count your chickens! Yeah! I was just about to say, you

Well, if you are going to get back from such a deficit, do need some

help from your opponent. -- you Neil's turn to be in shock.

with a 5-1 lead, he knows he could When you see a bit of weakness in

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

match, it is amazing. Your other That pink has put him 44 points in

front with 43 remaining. That mistake, it looks like it has cost

Still finding time to play the odd The red is not there but he went be

bothered about that. He has got the frame. -- he will not be. Still a

mountain to climb, though, trailing 5-2.

HAZEL IRVINE: How did you read that Mr shot by Neil? It is difficult to

say whether he was trying to straighten that shot up and it did

look for the world as though he would clear up. Sometimes he might

have got down thinking initially he would play another shot and then he

decided, no, I will play the screw shot. And you forget to do what you

are supposed to do and pot the ball. The position he is in was such a

commanding lead. Is that likely to be a jolt to the system? To some

degree. It depends how many chances he gets from here on in. With that

much of a lead, the way to look at it would be, if somebody said I

would be 5-2 in front, I would have bitten their hand off. That is the

way to look at it. But when you have thrown one away, you never

feel good in your chair. And you don't want to be going 5-3, 5-4.

JOHN VIRGO: He went on to the side of hitting that too thin. But he

didn't find the baulk cushion. Always a danger. When you're

playing a part of the capabilities of Neil Robertson. But he is

If Judd could win a frame in one visit, it would really make Neil

A tap on the table from Neil Robertson. An excellent shot from

Much too fit and he will be lucky if he doesn't leave this red to the

But in it goes. First chance! This pack Alexandra Palace crowd

really want this match to continue. From -- fantastic atmosphere we

He just can't get that cue ball under absolute control at the

Just running out of position As I mentioned before, a great

chance to get the frame in one visit. Keep Neil away from the

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A nice angle on the black. He might And his luck is OK. I don't think

he is on a red where he can play for a black. But the frame is more

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

That showed what he was thinking. He has just got a bit on the left-

hand side. The right-hand side would have given him a choice of

It looks as though the red just below the pink might go into that

A slight rise mile there. -- a He put his hand up and apologises.

Or we -- he would have loved to have carried on with the black. And

Neil Robertson, store probably thinking about that missed

opportunity in the last frame. -- At the moment, a possible 146 on

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 76 seconds

Nine blacks spoilt by the one pink He decided to bring those two

No red and a pity and you can hear what the crowd here thought. Can

Judd Trump keep producing that quality? He needs to. He still

trails 5-3. HAZEL IRVINE: The momentum in this

match is beginning to swing the other way. Just describe the

quality of fabric we saw, John? He's caused so quickly and all of a

sudden, it is 5-1, 5-2, 5-34 stop Neil needs to collect his thoughts

now. He has got to stem the flow because if he wins this one, it

could seriously be game on. Absolutely. And towards the end of

that frame, everybody was moving towards the edge of their seats.

Judd had to go for the pink. What would you have done? He did the

right of thing. He hasn't just thrown caution to the wind. He is

still in control. It is very important that if you go behind,

there our players that stops enjoying the process once they go

behind. Judd Trump certainly doesn't want to go out of this

event so he is giving it everything. He is still a pale but he has given

himself a chance. How valuable his experience in the game right now?

It is essential. You have got another three bides of the cherry

so you're in control. -- bikes of the cherry. He needs to get that

chance to finish off. It is great to see the crowd enjoying

themselves, too? Yes. I am sure they want Judd to come back into

the game. Great respect generally, I feel, in the crowd, that wherever

we played, for the new players coming through, there was a time

when they may have had their favourites and that was it, but now

there are so many different players in the game that they love watching

them all. And we see so many good pairings that everybody loves the

balance of the difference in those. And even the different styles of

players. There isn't a boring game any more. The top 16 players have

earned the right to be here. There is not a bad match. But four left-

handers in the top 10. Surely that has not been the case before, that

at the very top of the game we have so many lefties? We don't see it so

much in golf or darts. And don't you think they look great? I always

think left-handers look fantastic! These two. A feast of left handers.

And Ronnie is no bad hand in that JOHN VIRGO: there is a choice of

rides to the corner pocket but because he has such good length

with the cue ball, he needs it. -- A misjudgment there. But the brown

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It will be interesting to see what Neil Robertson plays here. He could

probably, that red to the left middle or will he settle for a

scrappy type of frame here? And It is always important to get the

white tight in those safety shots, which Neil hadn't done. So an easy

Now you can see the advantage.Can't play a screw shot back. -- and Neil

He can't get a cue ball to the right which would cover the left

centre. Not many safe areas of the table here. Basically, he is

looking... Is there anything he can roll up to and not leave a pot on?

He might think he can leave it save there, but has he? Can Judd get

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He has got it! So, Neil Robertson But it is a test of his character

because he knows one mistake and he Not quite far enough down the table.

He is still on this red but if he had been straighter, it would have

been a formality. But he found a CROWD: ooh!

Slightly awkward cueing but... He cannot afford to miss anything and

he should not have missed that. He missed a blue when he should have

made it 3-2. Will that be the bane He will be sat there so

Well, he can obviously get through to pot the blue. I think he might

have played for green and brown here but is he far enough to be on

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I think he has got a choice of certainly two or three reds. Play

Really danger with plain that Kevin is that he is slightly hampered

here. There is a danger that you can put side it on the ball when

Good pot. Did not try to do This black will put Neil Robertson

five points in front. Judd Trump are sitting there wondering if he

has played his last shot in this you could not ask for the reds to

be in a much better place than this and with the pink and black in the

open. It is just a matter of them He can get the evening off and

watch the other two players sweat it out and get ready for the final

The red next to the yellow is easily available into the top

He is a little bit closer to the But he cued it nicely. Well, he

would have liked to have been on the green so he could have played

Good solid pot. I would suggest now that was the key shot to this frame

It does not look as if it is going to be for Judd Trump at this year's

Neil Robertson has been saying he he has been making a good start to

matches and it does make a big difference. It whose pressure on

You have got to hand it to the Australian. Just this red and Judd

There you go off. You have got to That is how much remained to him.

He has taken a few beatings from Yes, Judd Trump has been getting

all the publicity recently and he Judd Trump is coming back to the

table with 49 points in arrears, He does not want the red to go over

the corner pocket unless he covers He has given it a shot, but it is

He did not get the snooker, but knocking the pink near to the black

Judd Trump has got to keep this red it on the table - and safe, of

course. There is no value in And now the blue has gone into a

nice position for snookers, as well. There are chances, if he gets the

opportunity. But still three He has not got it safe. If this

goes in, it will be handshake time. He has just not performed as he has

done so far this season. Ingle is the red. That will conclude this

match. Neil Robertson is in the final. Every credit to him. As they

said, Judd Trump, just off the pace. That is it. Judd Trump and

deregulation Neil Robertson. And look at the delight on Neil

Robertson's face. He is in the Congratulations to Neil Robertson.

He talked about revenge against Judd Trump and he has exacted a bit

of that today. I thought that was a fantastic all round performance. As

the match play display, that was of the highest. The way Judd Trump

plays the game, he will have matches like that. He adds sparkle

to every tournament and if he continues to play like that, he

will win a few. Paul was the key to Neil Robertson's win? What, here he

comes. Congratulations, I think that you enjoyed that. There where

a few people that come and watch and who cheers when he gets lucky

shots and things like that. I do not appreciate behaviour like that.

If you hear a voice, it can be annoying. The sort of cheers when

he flux balls to try and get to me. To lose a little bit about your

performance. We were saying how control due look. What was your

game plan at the start? With playing with a new type, I was just

wanting to quickly adapt to the conditions. It was also a brand-new

clock. But I got a brilliant up on the cupid on for me. It was

interesting, because he kept going for pots and kept missing, missing,

missing. I thought I played really good matchplay snooker and scored

well when I was in. At 5-1, the only downside was that Mr bought

into the middle. And John Major pay for it? Yes, I just took my eye off

the red for a minute. He had a good chance and thankfully, he missed a

couple of shots. Now, looking ahead to the final, six out of six in

major finals. You must take a lot of confidence from that? Yes, but

all this let is going to be very tough. Both Shaun Murphy and John

Higgins of won everything in the game. So, either opponent, it is

going to be a huge battle. He we will see you tomorrow. Very well

played today. That was a fantastic match for the first of or semi-