Day 8

:00:46. > :00:50.Welcome to historic Alexandra Palace, perfect for our live

:00:50. > :00:53.coverage of the Masters. This People's Palace was purpose-built

:00:53. > :01:00.for entertainment and that is exactly what you're going to get

:01:00. > :01:04.today. The atmosphere of this place is electric, and even though local

:01:04. > :01:14.favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan exited earlier in the week, this London

:01:14. > :01:18.crowd are passionate about snooker. Expect the roof to be raised today.

:01:18. > :01:23.These are the guys who have had the crowds flocking here this week. The

:01:23. > :01:29.Masters is open only to the top 16 players so big names are guaranteed.

:01:29. > :01:33.They have not let us down with entertainment. Today two of the

:01:33. > :01:37.biggest stars of the game will be battling it out. They will be

:01:37. > :01:43.battling it out for part of the Triple Crown and one of the biggest

:01:43. > :01:47.tournament in the world, the Masters. I was fortunate enough to

:01:47. > :01:54.win this on six occasions, but today we will see a brand new name

:01:54. > :02:01.engraved on the trophy. Prepare to be entertained. Good after noon.

:02:01. > :02:07.Masters Sunday in January, in front of the capital crowd. 10 minutes to

:02:07. > :02:10.go until the start of this Masters final. We will find out who will

:02:10. > :02:15.become the 20th man in the history of this great event to win a very

:02:15. > :02:20.special title, and the first to do so at Alexandra Palace, Allen new

:02:20. > :02:27.venue for the tournament. The rivalry has the makings of a

:02:27. > :02:37.classic because it is England against Australia. Shaun Murphy

:02:37. > :02:42.meets Neil Robertson. Look at the delight on his face. It is great to

:02:42. > :02:49.be in the final after my World Championship win. I have had a lean

:02:49. > :02:58.spell since so it will be fantastic to kick-start another run of

:02:58. > :03:03.victories. There is only 20 odd people who have ever won this

:03:03. > :03:08.championship since it started, only seven who have won the world UK and

:03:08. > :03:13.the Masters, so it is a small group. You can't be invited in, you have

:03:13. > :03:20.got to win your way in. If I can do the business, it will be pretty

:03:20. > :03:24.massive. When Shaun gets going, he is almost impossible to stop. When

:03:24. > :03:29.he gets into good scoring positions, he can score as quickly as anyone.

:03:29. > :03:33.He is a class act. He was a big roar when he first started but he

:03:33. > :03:38.has developed into an all rounder and has this massive record of

:03:39. > :03:44.never having lost in a major final. I am hoping to change that, between

:03:44. > :03:49.you and me! They are both former Crucible champions and both have an

:03:49. > :03:54.attacking style and swagger around the table. In the year that they

:03:54. > :03:59.will both turned 30, they have both achieved so much already. Shaun

:03:59. > :04:04.Murphy was a world champion at only 22, the second youngest in history,

:04:04. > :04:14.and Neil Robertson is already one of the most successful players ever

:04:14. > :04:20.

:04:20. > :04:30.When you see some people walking around the table, you take an

:04:30. > :04:32.

:04:32. > :04:38.instant dislike to them. That look of arrogance, it reminds me of...

:04:38. > :04:43.Stephen and Neil. If it is a complement. He definitely has an

:04:43. > :04:50.aura about him when he is walking around. I have said a couple of

:04:50. > :04:55.times that Neil has become quite a prolific winner. If you win three

:04:55. > :05:00.tournaments in a season, you have had a fantastic season, so such an

:05:00. > :05:08.improved player, I think. From five or six years ago. Now, just a

:05:08. > :05:16.proven winner. When you are playing the likes of me, you know he will

:05:16. > :05:19.not crumble. No, I have known Neil quite a few years now. He moved to

:05:19. > :05:25.Leicester and we lived together for a period of time when he was first

:05:25. > :05:30.on the tour. I used to practice with him a lot, and back then he

:05:30. > :05:35.was a great potter, still is today, but used to push the boat out too

:05:35. > :05:39.much. He has even said that to me, that that is why he probably fell

:05:39. > :05:45.off the tour because he was taking on too many shots. The last few

:05:45. > :05:49.years he has won the World Championships, proved what a class

:05:49. > :05:54.player hears. I could switch the TV on and you would know if he was

:05:54. > :06:00.winning or losing because he has a great temperament. Dropping off the

:06:00. > :06:07.tour a couple of times, we know the storyline. What happened that

:06:07. > :06:11.changed your game around? I think in some ways I was a late developer.

:06:11. > :06:16.One of the problems I had was living in Australia and not playing

:06:16. > :06:20.with a lot of world class players. The standard of amateur snooker in

:06:20. > :06:24.Australia is very high but it is a completely different level to

:06:24. > :06:28.playing with professional players. Something I lacked was there I was

:06:28. > :06:34.always flying over from Australia to the UK, and playing tournaments

:06:34. > :06:39.with very little match practice. It changed to me when I moved to

:06:39. > :06:44.Cambridge in 2003, when I was practising with Joe Perry every day,

:06:44. > :06:52.and players like Mark King. I was learning a lot of match snooker.

:06:52. > :06:56.fancies the job. In an interview, it is always positive. No moaning.

:06:56. > :07:01.What he has got that I am most just about, you think you have played a

:07:01. > :07:07.decent safety and he will pot it and take the white ball the way

:07:07. > :07:11.back to the baulk. The correct answer to this is there is no point

:07:11. > :07:16.in improving, I am perfect as it is - but what part of the game would

:07:16. > :07:22.you improve? Probably my biggest focused this season was to improve

:07:22. > :07:27.my consistency. Watching somebody like Mark play in the last two

:07:27. > :07:32.seasons, he is always in the semi- finals and finals, I have been a

:07:32. > :07:36.little bit inconsistent. I can win a tournament and then go quiet a

:07:36. > :07:46.few tournaments. This season was just to practise really hard and

:07:46. > :08:00.

:08:00. > :08:05.try to get to the later stages as I tend to be at the front of things.

:08:05. > :08:13.I wouldn't say I am a leader of people but I have probably got a

:08:13. > :08:18.bit of OCD. I was born in the wrong era. I would like to have been

:08:18. > :08:23.around in the 30s, pin-striped suits, gangsters in New York. That

:08:23. > :08:26.would have suited me down to the ground. I think I will always be

:08:26. > :08:31.just a little bit fat, I am not bothered to tell the truth. I am

:08:31. > :08:37.trying to lose weight and be healthy, I am running the Sheffield

:08:37. > :08:41.half marathon with a few other lads, but I am happy with myself. I am

:08:41. > :08:46.teaching myself piano, learning languages, trying to fill my time.

:08:46. > :08:50.It takes a second to say please and thank you, but you would be

:08:50. > :08:55.surprised how many people forget about it. Just to say thanks to

:08:55. > :09:00.somebody. I'm not too good at getting over things when they have

:09:00. > :09:05.gone wrong, which is important as a snooker player because things are

:09:05. > :09:10.going wrong all the time and I don't cope with that very well. I

:09:10. > :09:19.am a passionate person, I care about it. It is my biggest laugh,

:09:19. > :09:24.and when it goes wrong it hurts. We are in very good hands and the

:09:24. > :09:28.commentary box this afternoon with former UK champion John Virgo and

:09:28. > :09:33.has six times winner of this event, Stephen Hendry. What makes the

:09:33. > :09:37.Masters final so special? Obviously we are at a brand new venue, new

:09:37. > :09:43.for everybody, but it is still the best in the world competing and you

:09:43. > :09:48.want to prove yourself. John, what has impressed do so far about the

:09:48. > :09:52.form of our finalist this week? They have both had good start and

:09:52. > :09:57.they have built on Mark. That will not happen today because somebody

:09:57. > :10:00.will have a bad start so it will be interesting to see how they react.

:10:00. > :10:06.On the performances so far, you would have to say the best players

:10:06. > :10:11.are here. Neil Robertson has never lost a major final, and as for

:10:12. > :10:17.having -- heavy scoring - Shaun Murphy has had six centuries this

:10:17. > :10:22.week. The scoring is so important these days, you must win frames as

:10:22. > :10:30.quickly as possible in one visit so I will be going with Shaun. I agree

:10:30. > :10:34.with Stephen. Stevens set the bar with attacking play. I have noticed

:10:34. > :10:38.Shaun Murphy is attacking a bit more and it is a fine dividing line

:10:38. > :10:42.whether they go in or not, but if they do I would agree with Stephen

:10:42. > :10:49.and go for Shaun. The house is waiting for the final to get under

:10:49. > :10:52.way. Good afternoon, ladies and

:10:52. > :10:57.gentlemen. After seven days of world class and Snooker it is time

:10:57. > :11:01.for the big one. Welcome to the final of the Masters. Both players

:11:01. > :11:05.waiting at the top of the stairs are on their first final here, so a

:11:05. > :11:15.new chapter of snooker history is about to be written at Alexandra

:11:15. > :11:26.

:11:26. > :11:30.Palace. Without any further red do, Please welcome a class act on and

:11:30. > :11:36.off the baize. What a week he has had, knocking out the world number

:11:36. > :11:40.one, the reigning world champion, on his route to the final. A world

:11:40. > :11:50.champion, a UK champion, here bidding for the ultimate snooker

:11:50. > :12:21.

:12:21. > :12:25.hat-trick - the pride of Manchester, And his opponent, an Australian

:12:25. > :12:30.whose attitude on and off the table has endeared him to audiences

:12:30. > :12:36.around the world. Are simply superb long potter who has never lost a

:12:36. > :12:41.major final. Sinks ranking event titles in all, including the world

:12:41. > :12:48.championship in 2010. Beating Mark Williams and Judd Trump en route to

:12:48. > :12:58.this final, can you hear the rumble - it is the thunder from down under,

:12:58. > :13:20.

:13:21. > :13:30.A great atmosphere in the room. The best of 19 frames today, eight to

:13:31. > :13:36.

:13:36. > :13:42.play this afternoon. Settle back Shaun Murphy just waiting, as usual,

:13:42. > :13:50.for the opposing player to fill his glass with water. When you are

:13:50. > :13:55.first out, you're all right. You have already filled your glass.

:13:55. > :14:02.Smiling right now but that will soon be forgotten, the best of

:14:02. > :14:12.enemies. Yes, a packed crowd here. I have been very impressed with his

:14:12. > :14:23.

:14:23. > :14:31.then you at Alexandra Palace. The Eight frames will be played in this

:14:31. > :14:41.first session this afternoon, and the remaining frames played to a

:14:41. > :15:01.

:15:01. > :15:11.Of course, being best of 19, 10 is the target to lift that wonderful

:15:11. > :15:20.

:15:20. > :15:24.Just catching the brown, which has left the cue ball on the baulk line.

:15:24. > :15:29.Stephen, both of these players seemed to have had very good starts

:15:29. > :15:36.to the matches but it will be interesting to see if one gets

:15:36. > :15:44.behind. Yes, so important in a final. He would love to get off to

:15:44. > :15:54.a good start. The last thing you want to be doing is chasing. I used

:15:54. > :16:03.

:16:04. > :16:12.to think you can always win the Has he been lucky? Don't think so,

:16:12. > :16:22.left a nice easy starter for Shaun Murphy. He thought it would be a

:16:22. > :16:29.

:16:29. > :16:36.A typical first shot really. Getting into the cue ball far too

:16:36. > :16:45.much, which is why he is so close to the blue. I think the adrenalin

:16:45. > :16:55.was pumping. Hit that far too hard. As I mentioned yesterday, one of

:16:55. > :17:00.

:17:00. > :17:08.the best players in the world with That's how good, he avoided the

:17:08. > :17:14.commentator's curse! Once again, a fraction too far. He played for the

:17:14. > :17:24.red to the left corner, he is not on it. If he is not on that, it

:17:24. > :17:33.

:17:33. > :17:43.A little bit disappointed but I understand, as I say, first frame

:17:43. > :17:48.

:17:48. > :17:54.Neil has got a tough safety shot but he will be delighted that last

:17:54. > :18:04.shot only cost him for points, especially the way Shaun has been

:18:04. > :18:24.

:18:24. > :18:30.Much too thick. I suppose it is better at the ball turned, but

:18:30. > :18:40.there is still a red on to the left corner. I think he can swing the

:18:40. > :18:45.

:18:45. > :18:53.cue-ball background the back of the That is handy. That is very handy,

:18:53. > :19:03.a lovely little flick off the blue. He may decide to play the blue and

:19:03. > :19:11.

:19:11. > :19:16.It was such a big target, he will be disappointed he didn't catch

:19:16. > :19:26.them more fully than not. He certainly wasn't aiming for the

:19:26. > :19:50.

:19:50. > :19:57.right hand red of that cluster. It Go into them again, Stephen? He has

:19:57. > :20:05.a big angle, so go into the pack if only to stop the pace on the white.

:20:05. > :20:14.Nobody could have foreseen that, that was unlucky. To knock that red

:20:14. > :20:21.in, it was six inches away from the pocket. It would have been a tough

:20:21. > :20:26.pot this commission Mark Waugh at a lovely opening now for Neil. Shaun

:20:26. > :20:31.has had the first chances, but it is Neil who comes to the table with

:20:31. > :20:36.the reds split, having made the most mistakes so far. It was the

:20:36. > :20:46.dreaded run of the ball which stopped Shaun in his tracks, now he

:20:46. > :21:22.

:21:22. > :21:32.will sit in his seat and suffer. Overdid it slightly but in all

:21:32. > :21:45.

:21:45. > :21:49.honesty he should have been better When you are a bit edgy, as both

:21:49. > :21:56.players obviously are, you want to play a couple of nice positional

:21:56. > :22:06.shots. A couple of shots in a row in perfect position soon settles

:22:06. > :22:12.

:22:12. > :22:22.Even a shot as simple as that. The fact he is perfect on the red will

:22:22. > :22:31.

:22:31. > :22:41.And again, he will have to use the three reds to kill the pace of the

:22:41. > :22:49.

:22:49. > :22:59.white. Concentrating that much on the cannon, he took his eyes off

:22:59. > :23:17.

:23:18. > :23:26.the pot. An edgy start from both It is one of those frames, John,

:23:26. > :23:31.were whoever makes the last mistake will be the one who is punished.

:23:31. > :23:35.always get the feeling about this type of frame, that if you win it

:23:35. > :23:45.you put the mistakes to the back of your mind. If you lose it, they can

:23:45. > :23:53.

:23:53. > :24:03.Obviously if he was more straight on the blue, he would play for

:24:03. > :24:09.

:24:09. > :24:19.I don't think he meant to kiss that red. Still got a red to the right

:24:19. > :24:44.

:24:44. > :24:50.All square on points. Trying to bring these reds into play, and he

:24:50. > :24:55.has sneaked round the back of them. The only possible red will now be

:24:55. > :25:02.hampered by the yellow. I don't blame him for playing the cannon.

:25:02. > :25:12.No, it was the right shot. Give him another 10 shot at that, I bet he

:25:12. > :25:12.

:25:12. > :25:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:25:55. > :26:01.That's careless. Has the blue come I suppose in a way it wouldn't be

:26:01. > :26:09.the hardest red to cover. You could push this red down and use the pink

:26:09. > :26:19.and those two reds as a cover. It wouldn't be the easiest safety shot

:26:19. > :26:23.

:26:23. > :26:29.He played to move it. Unlucky to knock the black in, but I don't

:26:29. > :26:39.think that would have been my choice. A fee played the plant dead

:26:39. > :27:01.

:27:01. > :27:05.weight he would have covered it, Nicely played. Didn't have to do

:27:05. > :27:10.much with the cue ball to get position on the brown, but he still

:27:10. > :27:17.needs these reds next to the pink if he is going to win the frame at

:27:17. > :27:21.this visit. It will not be easy but he has played an excellent

:27:21. > :27:26.positional shot. If he can leave himself a nice angle - that is why

:27:26. > :27:36.he is coming round the table, just looking at the angle he would like

:27:36. > :27:56.

:27:56. > :28:00.That looks perfect. If this goes Unlucky. I don't think the red

:28:00. > :28:07.passes the blue, and this red into the left corner is a little bit

:28:07. > :28:13.tricky. He still needs both the reds. Could have worked out better,

:28:13. > :28:21.that. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but he has an easy

:28:21. > :28:26.snooker if he hits this red full in the face. Feb you can say it,

:28:26. > :28:31.Stephen. You are in the commentary box now! But yes, the snooker looks

:28:31. > :28:41.to be the shot. The red is risky and I think he is taking your own

:28:41. > :28:56.

:28:56. > :29:01.Both percentage wise, without doubt the best shot. If we were a few

:29:01. > :29:06.frames into this final, he might have taken that red on, but the

:29:06. > :29:13.first frame is so important. That is why, as we said, taking a

:29:13. > :29:23.percentage route. Yes, and what made this a little bit different is

:29:23. > :29:28.

:29:28. > :29:37.that red by the blue, at the moment, I don't know if Neil Robertson will

:29:37. > :29:41.want play on that red near the blue. It looks like he will do. Always

:29:41. > :29:51.difficult to judge getting out of the snooker when the cushion comes

:29:51. > :30:12.

:30:12. > :30:22.JOHN VIRGO: he has got to play this deadweight or else he could leave

:30:22. > :30:30.

:30:30. > :30:40.the red. If he hit it as he likes, He has missed it. That will be

:30:40. > :30:50.

:30:50. > :30:58.What a difference that makes. Now, Shaun Murphy just requires one red

:30:58. > :31:08.and a colour. But he has had a bit of practice. You think he has to

:31:08. > :31:08.

:31:08. > :31:18.hit it this time. And that diversion from the middle pocket

:31:18. > :31:26.

:31:26. > :31:32.has made it safe. He will settle Now, will Shaun Murphy it fancy the

:31:32. > :31:42.long straight one? No, he is opting not to. He is taking the cautious

:31:42. > :31:47.

:31:47. > :31:57.He needs their brown to come to his rescue. I am not sure that it has.

:31:57. > :32:10.

:32:10. > :32:20.And even if he did not get on to a colour, there was always going to

:32:20. > :32:41.

:32:42. > :32:51.I would not be refusing this. But he is. Neither player is taking any

:32:52. > :32:52.

:32:52. > :33:02.Yes, we said the same air earlier when Shaun Murphy refused a pot.

:33:02. > :33:18.

:33:18. > :33:25.Had it not been the first frame, I It looked as if he was close enough

:33:25. > :33:35.to the green to prevent the one cushiony skate, but he was not. But

:33:35. > :33:40.

:33:40. > :33:50.This red will pot past the black. It is not easy. But there is an

:33:50. > :34:03.

:34:03. > :34:13.He is now the new favourite for this frame. He needs a colour and

:34:13. > :34:28.

:34:28. > :34:38.Of course, if he pink was on its spot, you would think this was a

:34:38. > :34:41.

:34:41. > :34:51.OK, been left handed, the pink is on the right hand of the table for

:34:51. > :35:07.

:35:07. > :35:17.He's going to pot the blue in the middle and come off the top and

:35:17. > :35:39.

:35:39. > :35:47.Last night, we saw a similar shot from John Higgins. The one thing

:35:47. > :35:51.you do not want to do is get into their shot too much. John Higgins

:35:51. > :36:01.did exactly the same last night, when it looked for all the world as

:36:01. > :36:14.

:36:14. > :36:24.He is trying to get the white in He could not do that. OK, he has

:36:24. > :36:39.

:36:39. > :36:49.got the white safe, but there is no It has just bounced off the baulk

:36:49. > :36:57.

:36:57. > :37:07.I thought for a moment that was not going to reach the side cushion. It

:37:07. > :37:11.

:37:11. > :37:21.I thought he would come off the top cushion first and send the pink

:37:21. > :37:22.

:37:22. > :37:28.But this is a mistake from Shaun. He was trying to force around the

:37:28. > :37:38.ankles and should have made a better jaw of it than that. But

:37:38. > :37:46.

:37:46. > :37:54.Neil Robertson needs both of these You would not think Shaun Murphy

:37:54. > :37:58.will be getting another chance. In goes the black. It was a frame

:37:58. > :38:08.which was packed with errors. But it was Shaun Murphy who made the

:38:08. > :38:10.

:38:10. > :38:18.last one. Neil Robertson takes the Neil Robertson has been very good

:38:18. > :38:27.in that respect all week. John Parrott is with me in the studio.

:38:27. > :38:37.Taking a watching brief in the cues own is Steve Davis. I think he is

:38:37. > :38:45.

:38:45. > :38:55.Well, he was almost showing off! If you have got any comments for Steve,

:38:55. > :38:59.

:38:59. > :39:07.Now, at regarding the build up to this final. Both of them had heavy-

:39:07. > :39:15.duty semi-finals yesterday. Yes, all this there they both had great

:39:15. > :39:20.results. Neil Robertson got revenge on Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy, to

:39:20. > :39:30.beat John Higgins any time is fantastic, but two beaten in the

:39:30. > :39:31.

:39:31. > :39:35.semi-final of the Masters was Now, Shaun Murphy has lost the

:39:35. > :39:45.first frame in three out of his first four matches, but gone on to

:39:45. > :39:46.

:39:46. > :39:50.win. But what do you feel about his shot selection? Yes, it was one

:39:50. > :39:55.paid you want to put the pink slightly lower than the cue ball.

:39:55. > :40:03.But he went round the ankles and mishit it. I agree with what the

:40:03. > :40:08.guys were seen in the commentary box, up when you are playing

:40:08. > :40:12.someone who is playing high-quality match play like Neil Robertson, you

:40:12. > :40:22.know that if the frames go very scrappy, and Neil Robertson

:40:22. > :40:43.

:40:43. > :40:49.JOHN VIRGO: That looks like a He was having a look to see if

:40:49. > :40:59.there Read would actually cotton to the middle pocket. He cannot get

:40:59. > :41:17.

:41:17. > :41:27.Deciding to just come off the side There is that red. I do not think

:41:27. > :41:40.

:41:40. > :41:50.He got down as if he was going to play this, but he is now having

:41:50. > :42:25.

:42:25. > :42:35.second thoughts. There is a few Cheers, guys! John Virgo rocks! I

:42:35. > :42:46.

:42:46. > :42:56.STEPHEN HENDRY: They must have heard juicing in the other day. --

:42:56. > :43:09.

:43:09. > :43:19.He did not play that very well. He hit the brown fill in the face. A

:43:19. > :43:30.

:43:30. > :43:35.dangerous thing to do, with the Nice cueing. That was worth

:43:35. > :43:45.mentioning, because when you have to put more piece into the shot, it

:43:45. > :43:46.

:43:46. > :43:56.He will not be that happy with the shot. He is a lot closer to the

:43:56. > :44:09.

:44:09. > :44:19.There is always a danger that, when you're not in position, you say to

:44:19. > :44:29.

:44:29. > :44:34.There was the option of playing for the red at the end of the cluster.

:44:34. > :44:44.He has played for it, but once again, he is a bit tight on the

:44:44. > :45:04.

:45:04. > :45:14.But no problem. This time, surely He aimed very low down on the cue

:45:14. > :45:17.

:45:17. > :45:27.ball. I think the stunned Short is Yes, the white seems to go forward

:45:27. > :45:35.

:45:35. > :45:45.He did not play the pot. He tried his best to get back to the baulk

:45:45. > :45:46.

:45:46. > :46:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:46:29. > :46:38.end of the table. But he has not This is his view of it. He

:46:38. > :46:48.attempted to just nestle into these two eggs. That was careless. --

:46:48. > :46:48.

:46:48. > :46:58.these two reds. That was careless. He will have another go and they

:46:58. > :47:05.

:47:05. > :47:15.would be surprised if he did not I think he just has to get slightly

:47:15. > :47:28.

:47:28. > :47:38.Now, could he actually see any red full ball. Let us listen to the

:47:38. > :47:43.

:47:43. > :47:49.referee here. Let us hear what he Not, he did not give him a warning,

:47:49. > :47:54.so obviously he could net not get through to hit a red full ball.

:47:55. > :48:04.Otherwise, he would have been warned, because after three misses

:48:05. > :48:14.

:48:14. > :48:24.when you are not snookered, you Well, we just don't have time to

:48:24. > :48:28.

:48:28. > :48:38.So, he just tried to play a containing safety, and all things

:48:38. > :48:42.

:48:42. > :48:46.considered, I think he has done a I think sometimes the referees

:48:46. > :48:56.don't fully explain it to the players and assume that they know

:48:56. > :48:56.

:48:56. > :49:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:49:42. > :49:52.Too thick. He has left the red on The black is tied up and the pink

:49:52. > :50:01.

:50:01. > :50:11.is tied up. He has got to try and In an effort to do that, it caused

:50:11. > :50:11.

:50:11. > :51:03.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:51:03. > :51:13.Now, this has opened a frame-up. That is an excellent safety shot

:51:13. > :51:15.

:51:15. > :51:25.I was watching Neil Robertson walking down and having a look at

:51:25. > :51:33.

:51:33. > :51:37.But he got it much too full. Now, the table is in a much better

:51:38. > :51:47.position for break-building opportunities. The black is now in

:51:48. > :52:01.

:52:01. > :52:10.It is Shaun Murphy that gets a good chance now. The black is certainly

:52:10. > :52:20.available into the bottom left-hand This is the sort of opportunity

:52:20. > :52:28.

:52:28. > :52:38.that he was grabbing with both It is always nice when you have to

:52:38. > :52:42.

:52:42. > :52:52.play that shot that you have the He can now play this unscrew off to

:52:52. > :53:03.

:53:04. > :53:08.He decided to play for this red, because I think this is the one

:53:08. > :53:12.that is stopping the black potting into the bottom right-hand corner

:53:12. > :53:22.pocket. The black will now be available in to both of the bottom

:53:22. > :53:27.

:53:27. > :53:35.Anyway, there is plenty of room for He will want to win the frame at

:53:35. > :53:45.this visit. He had a few chances in the first frame. The Balts are

:53:45. > :54:02.

:54:02. > :54:06.perfect here. This is a real Those to red so near the top

:54:06. > :54:16.cushion a just cause in a little bit of a problem. He does not want

:54:16. > :54:21.

:54:22. > :54:31.He has under had that slightly and two I do not think he can stay on

:54:32. > :54:39.

:54:39. > :54:49.the black. But that was a decent That could have gone wrong, but he

:54:49. > :54:52.

:54:52. > :55:02.Neither player has had the cue ball on a string when they have been in

:55:02. > :55:17.

:55:17. > :55:27.I do not think the pink will re- spot on its own spot, so it will go

:55:27. > :55:27.

:55:27. > :56:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:56:16. > :56:26.27 points the lead. These two reds with colours will leave him 46

:56:26. > :56:46.

:56:46. > :56:56.But it will not be over until he That looks inch-perfect to me. The

:56:56. > :57:09.

:57:09. > :57:19.split will put and 43 in front, Yes, there was a chance of

:57:19. > :57:26.

:57:26. > :57:31.developing both of them, but they do not think he is on anything now.

:57:31. > :57:39.I am not saying the pinky earlier was a wrong shot, but he if he had

:57:39. > :57:49.stayed on the black, Neil Robertson would now be requiring a snooker.

:57:49. > :57:49.

:57:49. > :57:59.The referee has called a touching He would loftily a snooker on both

:57:59. > :58:08.

:58:08. > :58:18.He will be disappointed with that. Do not get me wrong, it was not an

:58:18. > :58:54.

:58:54. > :59:01.easy shot, but was an opportunity He did not feel he could do

:59:01. > :59:08.anything else, but it has been covered by the blue. In an ideal

:59:08. > :59:17.world, he would stun this red near him up the table and snooker Shaun

:59:17. > :59:27.Murphy behind the yellow. If he plays the pot and does not get on

:59:27. > :59:37.

:59:37. > :59:47.the black, he will require a That was a big ask, and that is

:59:47. > :59:49.

:59:49. > :59:57.surely end of frame in favour of The first frame was a scrappy

:59:57. > :00:07.affair which took 23 minutes. This is only just less than 20 minutes,

:00:07. > :00:15.

:00:15. > :00:25.but a bit more solid snooker, This match has all the makings of

:00:25. > :00:35.Certainly wants these early nerves go from the cue arm, we are going

:00:35. > :00:58.

:00:58. > :01:02.The brown did not going, but it did not matter, the frame was over

:01:02. > :01:06.before then, so both players have had a chance to settle. We are in

:01:06. > :01:11.for a cracking match, I do believe, but that was better from Shaun

:01:11. > :01:16.Murphy, who will sit a lot more comfortably at 1-1. An interesting

:01:16. > :01:21.thing. We have two eyes, but we only see one picture, so when you

:01:21. > :01:26.are playing snooker, there is a problem. Where do you put your eyes

:01:26. > :01:30.over the cue? You would think the middle, one either side. That is

:01:30. > :01:35.how Shaun Murphy thinks, but Neil Robertson has another wave. He is

:01:35. > :01:39.completely over his right eye. The question is, has Neil Robertson got

:01:39. > :01:43.a dominant eye? Or is that the way he has just got used to playing the

:01:43. > :01:48.game? The question also is, if Neil Robertson has a dominant eye, and

:01:48. > :01:54.everybody has one, then why hasn't Shaun Murphy? They should not be in

:01:54. > :01:57.the middle! I could not agree more, talking about a dominant eye, and

:01:57. > :02:03.the fact that Shaun does not actually cue the way most other

:02:04. > :02:08.players do. How did you do it? How did you see it? I am, and left eye,

:02:09. > :02:14.which is similar to John Virgo, who is in the commentary box. -- I am a

:02:15. > :02:19.dominant. My right eye is pretty poor, I used my left eye. As John

:02:19. > :02:23.visibility begins to decline with age, and it comes to us all, but

:02:23. > :02:27.has that impact on a snooker player? Are there any dramatic

:02:27. > :02:33.examples of it? I found it took a little bit longer to focus on the

:02:33. > :02:38.longer shots, just a little bit longer. When you were 18 or 19, he

:02:38. > :02:42.will do it straight away, but in your 30s you have to look up and

:02:42. > :02:45.take a little bit more time. problem about Shaun Murphy sighting

:02:45. > :02:50.the ball at that point. Your impressions of that last frame,

:02:50. > :02:54.John? He started scoring like he has been all week. His scoring has

:02:54. > :03:00.been superb, and he strikes the ball so beautifully with that cue

:03:00. > :03:04.action. When I came here this week, people said, last 16, he will win?

:03:04. > :03:14.Quarter-final, semi-final, the final, I don't know, and you employ

:03:14. > :03:16.

:03:16. > :03:24.JOHN VIRGO: To be fair to John, I do not think many of us know,

:03:24. > :03:30.because it is such a closely I think what will be the test for

:03:30. > :03:34.either player, if it does a couple of frames behind. As I said earlier,

:03:34. > :03:42.both players in their matches have always had a leader and a little

:03:42. > :03:46.bit of a cushion to rely on. Or it could just go frame for frame, and

:03:46. > :03:56.then it is about to hold their nerve in the closing stages better

:03:56. > :04:29.

:04:29. > :04:34.than the other. It could be that Both players had a go at a long

:04:34. > :04:44.ball, both players quite a distance away, but Neil has been the unlucky

:04:44. > :05:04.

:05:04. > :05:12.There we go, that is picking out what Steve is said. To me, he is

:05:12. > :05:17.looking through the right eye there. Certainly, you would think the

:05:17. > :05:27.dominant eye for Shaun is the right eye. Only Steve Davis could get us

:05:27. > :05:49.

:05:49. > :05:55.involved in this! I know, leave me Well, he went into them very

:05:55. > :06:00.aggressively, but has he been unlucky? He would settle for just

:06:00. > :06:05.rolling the red to write medal, but I do not think he can do that. --

:06:05. > :06:09.Write Middle. Very unlucky, he went in well, and they seemed to be

:06:09. > :06:15.opening up nicely enough. He found a decent gap. I suppose you could

:06:15. > :06:21.say a little bit more pace required, but he is unlucky if he is not on

:06:21. > :06:25.the red to the middle, and he is not. Yeah, if you asked him, the

:06:25. > :06:30.cue ball went exactly where he wanted it to. Very unlucky not to

:06:30. > :06:33.be on a red. Sometimes you go into the pack and you do not hit then

:06:33. > :06:43.the way you want, and you still have a moan that you do not deserve

:06:43. > :06:51.

:06:51. > :06:56.to be on one, but he played it Well, he had to settle for the

:06:56. > :07:00.safety and it is... Well, good length for the cue ball, but he

:07:00. > :07:06.could leave this red to the right corner. Although having looked at

:07:06. > :07:11.it, it is very straight. If it had a slight angle, you could see Neil

:07:11. > :07:21.trying to force the cue ball back at the table, but he can only roll

:07:21. > :07:33.

:07:33. > :07:37.this in dead weight if he plays the Are a fraction to the right, and it

:07:37. > :07:41.would have followed him with the white as well. He would not touch

:07:41. > :07:45.been too disappointed by that. one thing was to get the red away

:07:45. > :07:49.from the corner pocket. That is why I always stress the importance of

:07:49. > :07:53.getting good length with the cue ball near the baulk cushion,

:07:53. > :08:03.because if he had his hand on the table, he could have screwed back

:08:03. > :08:18.

:08:18. > :08:22.or anything. But once you are tight, Well, that is a pretty good safety.

:08:22. > :08:27.I do not think there is an escape route down the left-hand side. If

:08:27. > :08:31.he plays down the right, he has to be very wary of the red near the

:08:32. > :08:41.cushion. It could be a blocker for anything that is not quite hit

:08:42. > :09:07.

:09:07. > :09:15.Well, he found a good bath and a decent length, excellent shot. --

:09:15. > :09:24.could have. So a spot of bother, found a good escape route. OK, it

:09:24. > :09:28.looks as though this red to the left corner is on. Possibly a

:09:28. > :09:38.slight angle on it to pot it and play for the black, but it is a

:09:38. > :09:47.

:09:47. > :09:57.dangerous shot. If he goes for it, Well, he did not even hit the red

:09:57. > :09:57.

:09:57. > :10:01.on the right side there. A long way Sometimes you can hit them better

:10:01. > :10:11.than that, not going and get a double kiss. I do not think he has

:10:11. > :10:37.

:10:37. > :10:47.Good shot, imperative that he covered the red near the baulk line,

:10:47. > :11:01.

:11:01. > :11:06.If he had come off that side cushion and hit the red half-ball,

:11:06. > :11:16.he would send the red up this end and leave the cue ball up that end.

:11:16. > :11:16.

:11:16. > :11:22.That is pretty good. Well, there's always a red that seems to get

:11:22. > :11:28.knocked out. It was looking very good, and then all of a sudden a

:11:28. > :11:38.red came out, and it is going to the right corner, leaving him

:11:38. > :12:08.

:12:08. > :12:18.perfect on the black. There is That was well judged, inch perfect

:12:18. > :12:34.

:12:34. > :12:41.Already, with a 29 point lead, I expect him to win the frame at this

:12:41. > :12:45.visit, the way peoples are situated. I suppose the only downside was the

:12:45. > :12:55.pink and blue being together. But with the black available into both

:12:55. > :13:17.

:13:17. > :13:27.corners and the reds nicely in the Definitely the quicker of the two

:13:27. > :13:27.

:13:28. > :13:36.in amongst the balls, Shaun Murphy. There you go, five seconds per shot,

:13:36. > :13:39.quicker than Neil. Some of that is due to the fact that Neil has not

:13:39. > :13:49.been in ideal positions, so he has had to think about things more, but

:13:49. > :14:06.

:14:06. > :14:15.Well, for the first time, he has just run slightly out of position.

:14:15. > :14:20.He could not play for the black off He will have to go for a baulk

:14:20. > :14:30.colour, and once the cue ball has to travel distances, things can go

:14:30. > :14:39.

:14:39. > :14:49.57 points is the lead now. I think he can run through here for the

:14:49. > :14:53.

:14:53. > :15:03.He and this black and one more red would have secured a frame.

:15:03. > :15:19.

:15:20. > :15:27.Pot the red to go 66 ahead with So Neil Robertson knows he is not

:15:27. > :15:33.going to get anything out of this frame now. Shaun was nicely on the

:15:33. > :15:43.green, which means Neil, even if he had a chance, would not come back

:15:43. > :15:44.

:15:44. > :15:52.to the table, and it is unlikely Yes, an early warning sign for Neil,

:15:52. > :16:02.65 in the last frame from Shaun, 64 and counting here, so he does not

:16:02. > :16:08.want to let Shaun get into his Yes, and I suppose worrying

:16:08. > :16:13.slightly for Neil Robertson and his fans that he has had a few chances

:16:13. > :16:20.but his highest break is only 30. He knows he will have to improve on

:16:20. > :16:30.that. No panic yet, best of 19. There will be a midsession interval

:16:30. > :16:41.

:16:41. > :16:48.after this frame. So time, after Is probably one of the best players

:16:48. > :16:53.in the world with the rest. -- he is. Well, tremendous shot with the

:16:53. > :17:03.rest! I have got to be honest with you, I never really noticed, but I

:17:03. > :17:08.

:17:08. > :17:12.see where you are coming from. He Yeah, why he does well with the

:17:12. > :17:19.rest is that his cueing action is almost identical to his cueing

:17:19. > :17:24.action with his bridge Hand, which a lot of players do not do. That is

:17:24. > :17:33.the way they say to play with the rest. As you say, it is almost the

:17:33. > :17:43.same as when you get your hand on Now, this blue for a terrific

:17:43. > :17:45.

:17:45. > :17:52.Well played! Very well played. Just one knows positional shot is all it

:17:52. > :17:59.took, and it wasn't that bad. His gathering a head of steam here. The

:17:59. > :18:07.cue ball needs to slow up a touch, slowdown, slowdown! Oh, what a

:18:07. > :18:11.shame! Anyway, we got the century, and that will suit Shaun Murphy.

:18:11. > :18:16.Neil Robertson, just a little bit to think about, it is early days,

:18:16. > :18:22.but it is 2-1, Shaun Murphy. Just days there of a chance, and

:18:22. > :18:28.you will make his 7th century of the week. -- just a sniff of a

:18:28. > :18:35.chance. Stephen said about keeping his head perfectly still, but the

:18:35. > :18:37.cue goes through like a laser. There are various theories on how

:18:37. > :18:41.to cue the snooker ball, some people what to be compact, the

:18:42. > :18:45.close in. He has practised for hours and hours, he can take it

:18:45. > :18:49.back as far as he likes in a straight line. When he comes

:18:49. > :18:55.through, there is no effort in it, and there is plenty of work on the

:18:55. > :19:00.cue ball, beautifully cute. In 2005 he basically blasted everyone off

:19:00. > :19:03.the table, going for all of his shots as a 120-1 outsider, a

:19:03. > :19:07.qualifier, and everyone said, he cannot keep playing like that, and

:19:07. > :19:14.he has modified his style a little bit. The EC more echoes of that

:19:14. > :19:19.kind of form now? -- do you see? think we can see more of that. It

:19:19. > :19:24.was a ridiculous display in 2005, he went for everything, but he is

:19:24. > :19:29.close to it. Scoringtwice, this is the best I have seen for a long

:19:29. > :19:34.time. He did the same thing as Martin Gould and Mark Selby, he

:19:34. > :19:38.seems to love to be a front runner. What makes him so strong in that

:19:38. > :19:45.position? He is just in great form. He cannot always know when you are

:19:45. > :19:48.going to have that form, you just have to go with it. He has come

:19:48. > :19:52.here through various events, played himself into great form, and this

:19:52. > :19:57.week he is hitting the ball as good as I had seen him. He has got to

:19:57. > :20:02.make the most of it. And from Neil Robertson's point of view, not a

:20:02. > :20:12.guitar break. He will want to go into the interval at 2-2, you do

:20:12. > :20:19.

:20:19. > :20:29.not want to be behind from the JOHN VIRGO: Well, a decent break

:20:29. > :20:32.

:20:32. > :20:36.off, you have got to say that now Not on this occasion. Yes, the

:20:36. > :20:42.break-up has become such an important shot in the game of

:20:42. > :20:52.snooker nowadays. -- break-off. All the players are so good at potting

:20:52. > :21:11.

:21:11. > :21:20.Well, a terrific opening red. Now then, can he get his hand on the

:21:20. > :21:30.table and score heavily? He himself a bit of confidence? -- give

:21:30. > :22:09.

:22:09. > :22:15.Well, how many times do we see that You think, should I play the run

:22:15. > :22:19.through all the screw shut? And the cue ball invariably finishes tide

:22:19. > :22:23.against the cushion! He is very straight on his black, so unless

:22:23. > :22:29.there is a red he can get on just by rolling the black in, it is

:22:29. > :22:38.difficult. Oh, and he has missed the black anyway! Does this red go

:22:38. > :22:48.to the right Medal? -- metal. Well, it does, but he hit the black so

:22:48. > :22:59.

:22:59. > :23:03.badly that this red is now A terrific pot. OK, he is unlucky

:23:04. > :23:13.not to be on the black, but that shows you the confidence that Shaun

:23:13. > :23:17.is playing with, no hesitation. That was a tough pot. As I say, not

:23:17. > :23:27.on the black, but he can certainly get through to the blue. He is just

:23:27. > :23:39.

:23:39. > :23:46.having a look at what reds are Well, it is a good effort. He has

:23:46. > :23:51.just overran it a little bit. I think he was thinking he may be on

:23:51. > :24:01.a red to the left middle, there you go, but as you can see, he has run

:24:01. > :24:21.

:24:21. > :24:27.He has made a good job of that, Yeah, good weight, to snooker

:24:27. > :24:37.someone from that position. Well nigh impossible! But he has

:24:37. > :24:42.

:24:42. > :24:52.Not touching ball. If it had have been, the referee would have

:24:52. > :24:58.

:24:58. > :25:08.A big day of the referee, of course, his first ever Masters final, a big

:25:08. > :25:23.

:25:23. > :25:28.moment. Piers from Sheffield, the Well, I was going to say, he caught

:25:29. > :25:35.that safety a little bit too thin, but that is a bonus. He tried to

:25:35. > :25:44.find the baulk cushion, really. But he caught it a little bit too thin

:25:44. > :25:54.off the baulk cushion, snooker behind the green on Wall reds. --

:25:54. > :25:59.

:25:59. > :26:04.As he made a mistake here? Has he Well, there is a red in line with

:26:04. > :26:13.the cue ball, but are they too close together. They are very close

:26:13. > :26:23.The referee will be keeping a close eye on this one, looking for the

:26:23. > :26:24.

:26:24. > :26:34.I will tell you what, that was a heck of a shot, that was. I mean,

:26:34. > :26:37.

:26:37. > :26:41.to get that amount of run-through. Yes, I bet the referee had his

:26:41. > :26:45.heart in his mouth there, he didn't want to have to make a dodgy

:26:45. > :26:55.decision in the final, his first Masters final. He has refereed

:26:55. > :27:03.

:27:03. > :27:13.Yes, I think with that shot of Neil, it was the advantage of being a

:27:13. > :27:17.

:27:17. > :27:27.left-hander. I would not have Obviously, this red just above and

:27:27. > :27:33.

:27:33. > :27:40.to the right of the black will go Not perfect. Every time he has been

:27:40. > :27:48.into there, he has struggled with his positional play. Over 19 frames,

:27:48. > :27:51.you cannot keep putting yourself in What makes this shot a little bit

:27:51. > :27:55.more difficult, the yellow is not on its part, but it is in the path

:27:55. > :28:00.where he would like to send the cue ball. If he decides to come down

:28:00. > :28:06.the right-hand side of the table... Playing below, that cuts out that

:28:06. > :28:16.problem but still a good shot needed. -- the yellow. It is all

:28:16. > :28:34.

:28:34. > :28:41.about the line and length. The cue That is one of the best position of

:28:41. > :28:46.charge he has hit today, a tough shot from the jaws of the pocket.

:28:46. > :28:56.He would like to go into the two reds below the blue fall in the

:28:56. > :29:09.

:29:09. > :29:14.Now then, how does he play this? Does he play it with pace, or does

:29:14. > :29:24.he feel he does not need to inject that much pace into the cue ball?

:29:24. > :29:39.

:29:39. > :29:47.He needs to be on a red, that is That is pretty good. It is not

:29:47. > :29:52.banned. I thought it might go slightly wrong. He appears to have

:29:52. > :30:02.the perfect angle, so does not have to do much with this. But he needs

:30:02. > :30:25.

:30:25. > :30:35.Played it confidently and the frame He will now be looking to level the

:30:35. > :30:42.

:30:42. > :30:46.match at 2-2. Actually, I think he missed the cannon, but he missed it

:30:46. > :30:56.by so far, that he may be was not even going for it in the first

:30:56. > :31:08.

:31:08. > :31:14.That is now his highest break of You would expect a lot more during

:31:14. > :31:19.the course of the match. In fact, it would not surprise me if he hit

:31:19. > :31:29.a century break here. He is just checking with the scoreboard to see

:31:29. > :31:34.

:31:34. > :31:38.If he stayed on the black, it would leave him with 79 points after all

:31:38. > :31:48.the reds had gone and then the 27 points for the colours would get

:31:48. > :32:11.

:32:11. > :32:16.It means both players have now settled in and got used to the pace

:32:16. > :32:26.of the table. They have got rid of these a genius that where apparent

:32:26. > :32:44.

:32:44. > :32:54.in the first frame, particularly. - As long as you have reached 73 by

:32:54. > :33:07.

:33:07. > :33:10.the time you get to the course, you As a left-hander, I always feel

:33:11. > :33:20.that the yellow is the easiest ball to get on, because you have a much

:33:21. > :33:23.

:33:23. > :33:30.Yes, you can always get your hand at on the table. And he will want

:33:30. > :33:40.to clean up these colours and get a century. He will want to sure Shaun

:33:40. > :33:42.

:33:42. > :33:46.Murphy that if he makes any Yes, it is the psychological game

:33:46. > :33:56.and he wants to sure this packed crowd at the Alexandra Palace that

:33:56. > :34:04.

:34:04. > :34:12.Shaun Murphy made 102 in the last This will be the 20th century break

:34:12. > :34:22.of this year's Masters. Any doors. 102 from Shaun Murphy - anything

:34:22. > :34:24.

:34:24. > :34:32.you can do, I can do better. 2-2 at Impressions of the way that Neil

:34:32. > :34:38.Robertson has dug in? As I said yesterday, I have seen him play

:34:38. > :34:44.better, but I have not seen him compete better. This week, he has

:34:44. > :34:51.been magnificent in that department. He has gone up an extra gear and

:34:51. > :35:00.made that century break. In the early part of that match, Neil

:35:00. > :35:04.Robertson seemed fractionally off or any positional sense at first?

:35:04. > :35:12.Yes, when Shaun Murphy is and the balls, everything has looked a much

:35:12. > :35:16.easier. But he is in their competing and now starting to score.

:35:16. > :35:26.And as John Virgo said in the commentary, we should be in for a

:35:26. > :35:28.

:35:28. > :35:36.cracker. A few of the press boys have apparently had a bet that

:35:36. > :35:46.there will be six centuries in this match. It was 22-1. We have now had

:35:46. > :35:48.

:35:48. > :35:55.two of them. We will keep an eye on Now, we saw a few shots off the

:35:55. > :36:03.cushion. First thing, do not panic if you're on the cushion. Firstly,

:36:03. > :36:10.make sure that you shock the cue very good all round the tip. OK,

:36:10. > :36:20.this is a bird's-eye view. We are told to keep the cue as level to

:36:20. > :36:21.

:36:21. > :36:29.the table, as parallel to it, as possible. The trouble was, this is

:36:29. > :36:39.what happens. But I say you should check the cue up in the air, so you

:36:39. > :36:46.

:36:46. > :36:55.can see a bit more of the cue ball. Nice one. He will do well if he

:36:55. > :37:02.keeps practising! In 1975, the first Masters tournament to place.

:37:02. > :37:12.We have seen some incredible matches down the years. One in

:37:12. > :37:16.

:37:16. > :37:24.particular, 1998, the final, Mark The No. 1 ranked player in the

:37:24. > :37:34.world, Stephen Hendry! Stephen dominated in the 1990s in a fashion

:37:34. > :37:34.

:37:34. > :37:39.we will probably never see again. Mark Williams! Mark was very much

:37:39. > :37:49.her racing start at this moment. He had won some ranking events, but

:37:49. > :37:49.

:37:49. > :38:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:38:34. > :38:44.Hendry is contemplating the pink. This ever have shown what a class

:38:44. > :38:46.

:38:47. > :38:52.the and fluent player Mark Williams Atypical Stephen come back. Having

:38:52. > :39:02.looked out of touch in the last frame, his concentration comes

:39:02. > :39:17.

:39:17. > :39:24.together. Magnificent. He goes back He is left-handed, but will not be

:39:24. > :39:33.able to stretch over that far. This is now a critical pot. He has to

:39:33. > :39:41.commit himself to dropping it in dead weight. He is OK. A great roar

:39:41. > :39:51.from this conference centre crowd. He is going to the mid-session

:39:51. > :40:02.

:40:02. > :40:12.interval trailing by 5-3 to Stephen He is getting very good at those!

:40:12. > :40:26.

:40:26. > :40:36.There is the 100. Mark Williams He is taking these other 21 to the

:40:36. > :41:06.

:41:06. > :41:14.The reds have opened up nicely. He is back in once again. He would

:41:14. > :41:24.have loved to have made another century. But very impressive. He

:41:24. > :41:39.

:41:39. > :41:44.At 9-6 ahead, surely Stephen was He has gone a little bit too far.

:41:44. > :41:54.He is going to have to come right round the ankles to get back on to

:41:54. > :42:20.

:42:20. > :42:27.It was a difficult shot. It was a A mighty roar from the Wembley

:42:27. > :42:37.Conference Centre. Mark Williams is still in this match. He now trails

:42:37. > :43:04.

:43:04. > :43:14.A tremendous roar from the Wembley Two more pots and we will have a we

:43:14. > :43:30.

:43:30. > :43:40.Perfect. Listen to the roar of the A wry smile on Stephen Henry's face.

:43:40. > :43:42.

:43:42. > :43:52.We're going to have the re-spotted He's going to put the black on to

:43:52. > :43:53.

:43:53. > :44:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:44:49. > :44:58.the side cushion. Now, will Mark You cannot get any closer. But the

:44:59. > :45:01.

:45:01. > :45:11.one Stephen is left with. He is It is not 10, but I think you will

:45:11. > :45:15.

:45:15. > :45:25.The scheme has got away from Stephen Hendry. It was not easiest

:45:25. > :45:32.

:45:32. > :45:42.A tremendous cheers. Mark Williams from Wales has never been in front

:45:42. > :45:57.

:45:57. > :46:04.in this final. By a slow roll It was a fantastic victory for Mark.

:46:04. > :46:14.He then won the World Championship and became No. 1 in the world.

:46:14. > :46:15.

:46:15. > :46:24.bet that brought back a few memories? Yes, all of them bad!

:46:24. > :46:33.assume most of the crowd were cheering on Mark? Yes, most of them.

:46:33. > :46:41.Now, looking at that final shot. The black was relatively straight.

:46:41. > :46:51.What was going through your mind? thought this was it, I am going to

:46:51. > :46:55.

:46:55. > :47:05.win the tournament. I still say the You where playing across two lanes

:47:05. > :47:06.

:47:06. > :47:10.of slate. I know about excuses. You are going to play this, but you

:47:10. > :47:18.could not play it too hard, because there was a possibility the white

:47:18. > :47:28.ball could have carried on through into the middle pocket. So when you

:47:28. > :47:30.

:47:30. > :47:38.got down to play this, where you shaking? Absolutely. At what stage

:47:38. > :47:48.when you hit it did you think you had missed it? For actually as soon

:47:48. > :47:55.

:47:55. > :48:05.I missed it in the other side. Williams is going to be at home

:48:05. > :48:09.

:48:09. > :48:17.gloating about this. I can just see If you do joint or commentary team

:48:17. > :48:23.Stephen Hendry, this is the sort of nonsense you have to put up with.

:48:23. > :48:33.Finally, Steve Davis was able to focus on the black ball finish

:48:33. > :48:37.

:48:37. > :48:41.other than his defeat in the 1985 Sport Relief is back and it is your

:48:41. > :48:48.chance to be part of the biggest cheers of support. We want the

:48:48. > :48:55.whole nation to get together and raise a whole lot of cash. We will

:48:55. > :49:03.help the world poorest countries on March 25th. We want one million

:49:03. > :49:11.people to take part. Of course, you can raise money by buying these

:49:11. > :49:17.lovely socks or T-shirts. There will be jaw-dropping celebrity

:49:17. > :49:25.challenges and loss of star studded entertainment. A row over you

:49:25. > :49:35.decide to do it, go the extra mile for Sport Relief. I thing that went

:49:35. > :49:39.

:49:39. > :49:45.John Parrott is already in training for the Sport Relief marathon. And

:49:45. > :49:55.Shaun Murphy is training for a half-marathon. Several other

:49:55. > :49:55.

:49:55. > :50:00.snooker players are taking part, including Steve Davis. Now, we

:50:00. > :50:10.welcome the All Ireland jewel in the commentary box of Dennis Taylor

:50:10. > :50:22.

:50:22. > :50:26.We know that there is going to be a new name won the trophy at the end

:50:26. > :50:36.of this evening. Will it be Shaun Murphy or the Australian Neil

:50:36. > :50:58.

:50:58. > :51:08.KEN DOHERTY: Yes, the atmosphere here has been absolutely electric.

:51:08. > :51:13.

:51:13. > :51:23.The crowds have really turned out It has been building up nicely,

:51:23. > :51:43.

:51:43. > :51:48.hasn't it? In the last two frames, That case on the lock might have

:51:48. > :51:58.left a shot for Shaun. If he had not got that Kenan on the yellow,

:51:58. > :52:19.

:52:19. > :52:29.Yes, it was a great pot. He was very unfortunate to go in-off. He

:52:29. > :52:43.

:52:44. > :52:53.has now left the half chance here Both players are among the best in

:52:54. > :53:09.

:53:09. > :53:19.Bury St cueing. He is a bit unlucky there. This summer red is hampering

:53:19. > :53:20.

:53:20. > :53:26.him and preventing him from getting But he could not Forcett and it

:53:26. > :53:31.looks like he has dropped on absolutely nothing, unless there is

:53:31. > :53:41.a plant owned. It could not have finished more awkward, that last

:53:41. > :53:58.

:53:58. > :54:08.positional shot. So, just a safety Yes, good shot from Neil Robertson.

:54:08. > :54:12.

:54:13. > :54:20.He has covered those reds won the It is a part of his game that he

:54:20. > :54:26.has worked on, Dennis. We saw against Judd Trump that he played

:54:26. > :54:36.very good matchplay snooker. There was top quality safety play. He has

:54:36. > :54:37.

:54:37. > :54:43.certainly improved of the last Yes, John Virgo was talking about

:54:43. > :54:50.it. In his first appearance at the Masters, he played Jimmy White and

:54:50. > :54:54.back then, Neil was an out and out potter. Back then, Jimmy beaten

:54:54. > :55:03.quite easily. But now he is one of the players to beat in any

:55:03. > :55:13.tournament, he really is. He is a very accomplished all-rounder. He

:55:13. > :55:23.showed that there with that very He is certainly one of the greatest

:55:23. > :55:23.

:55:23. > :56:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:56:08. > :56:11.He could not get behind the yellow and brown that time, but wanted the

:56:11. > :56:16.cue ball as close to that top cushion as possible. Shaun has to

:56:16. > :56:22.be careful here that the red does not spring over the bottom right-

:56:22. > :56:32.hand pocket here. That is exactly what can happen. He needed that

:56:32. > :56:45.

:56:45. > :56:49.It has covered the one on the right, Now, I am just wondering if he can

:56:49. > :56:58.hold for the black here. Is he going to take the bull by the

:56:58. > :57:08.horns? He played for the black and played it beautifully. Very

:57:08. > :57:09.

:57:09. > :57:13.He is in the right frame of mind. That is the way you have got to

:57:13. > :57:19.think in this game. You have got to think, if I knock this then, I am

:57:19. > :57:29.going to have a great chance. There is a tendency that players get

:57:29. > :57:50.

:57:50. > :57:56.negative and think, if I miss this, Would you believe it? That is not

:57:56. > :58:06.the position you would want to be in. It makes the black a lot more

:58:06. > :58:09.

:58:09. > :58:19.I do not think Keet even has the angle to just be able to Wollerton

:58:19. > :58:32.

:58:32. > :58:41.That is a good shot. That was the best he could do. He did as well as

:58:41. > :58:51.he could have from a position. The red on the right inside of the

:58:51. > :59:00.

:59:00. > :59:10.table is likely in his way and he That is well played. Very well

:59:10. > :59:38.

:59:38. > :59:48.controlled. He is now back in prime He would have liked to have been

:59:48. > :00:02.

:00:02. > :00:12.The pink spot is not available, so it goes on the highest available,

:00:12. > :00:12.

:00:12. > :00:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:00:53. > :01:00.Well, that was an excellent pot, and he had been very, very unlucky.

:01:00. > :01:04.And you would expect, the way the bunch was scattered, that tight

:01:04. > :01:14.together, that he had to be on one of those red, and that is very

:01:14. > :01:21.

:01:21. > :01:25.unfortunate. That looks like end- And not all that easy to get the

:01:25. > :01:30.cue ball up into the blog area. The yellow, brown and pink are

:01:30. > :01:34.perfectly placed, but he has finished so close to that red, it

:01:34. > :01:39.is difficult to get enough side to get back at the table. If it had

:01:39. > :01:44.been touching, it would have been a lot easier. Even if it had not been

:01:44. > :01:54.touching, he would have to find a path for the way around the table.

:01:54. > :01:55.

:01:55. > :02:00.It could not have finished any Especially with a 48 points

:02:00. > :02:10.advantage, one could split and the frame was his. This is all he can

:02:10. > :02:13.

:02:14. > :02:20.Even then, he has left a possible pot to the left middle pocket, and

:02:20. > :02:26.I think the natural angle will take the white Past the blue. I think it

:02:26. > :02:36.might also miss the green, so if he does pot this and can avoid the

:02:36. > :02:44.

:02:44. > :02:50.blue and the green, he could finish And the brown, well, it is not a

:02:50. > :02:55.lot of use, because it is the wrong angle to get to the red. A good

:02:56. > :03:05.snooker here could be the order of the day with the reds situated as

:03:06. > :03:13.

:03:13. > :03:19.they are, even though he is 47 Yes, quite a clever little shot,

:03:19. > :03:25.because Shaun knows full well, 47 points behind, he wants the green

:03:25. > :03:31.away from the commission if he gets another opportunity. Just looking

:03:31. > :03:36.at it, Ken, there is no shot to lay on a red. Sometimes you are better

:03:36. > :03:44.off just hitting it hard off the side cushion and hoping. How does

:03:44. > :03:48.he land on one and leave it safe? There is no shot on to do that.

:03:48. > :03:58.he may just come off the side cushion inside the green here. Hard

:03:58. > :04:08.as you can, close your eyes and But I think that is his only shot,

:04:08. > :04:17.

:04:17. > :04:22.Has he got one safe? Has he got them all safe? If this red does not

:04:22. > :04:27.pass the one on the pink spot, he has got it relatively safe, and it

:04:27. > :04:32.doesn't. He will take that. There is still a red to the right corner,

:04:32. > :04:42.but that is not the easiest shot in the world. He has had a right

:04:42. > :04:58.

:04:58. > :05:02.Big-shot coming up. A beauty, it is Just have a look at this, how about

:05:02. > :05:12.that? He cued that, so much pressure, knowing that if he missed

:05:12. > :05:19.

:05:19. > :05:25.it, it is framed over. Now he has The red that is not tight on the

:05:25. > :05:35.cushion, just to the right side of the table, that is going to be a

:05:35. > :05:35.

:05:35. > :06:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:06:20. > :06:27.Yes, and this is the type of positional where professionals at

:06:27. > :06:33.this level will be thinking two or Crewe or possibly four shots ahead.

:06:33. > :06:39.There is no doubt what is getting on in his mind, getting a good

:06:39. > :06:43.position on these colours and the red that is close to the cushion.

:06:43. > :06:48.That looks like the only problem ball at the moment. I know he has

:06:48. > :06:57.the angle on the red, but it might be better to get a nice angle on

:06:58. > :07:06.I am not quite sure where he tried to move its there. But he is still

:07:07. > :07:12.Yes, always a bit risky moving a red when potting a red, always

:07:12. > :07:16.better doing it from a colour. And that is what he tried to do there,

:07:16. > :07:22.believe it or not, so it has all gone slightly wrong for Shaun

:07:22. > :07:32.Murphy, he could still cut this in, or can he? Maybe it is too thin. He

:07:32. > :07:41.

:07:41. > :07:46.Well, he has hit its tooth in, so he has led a golden opportunity

:07:46. > :07:56.slip away. -- too thin. He did not get it right when trying to

:07:56. > :08:00.Yes, and now Neil Robertson is in a similar situation. He could try to

:08:00. > :08:04.cannon the other red into play, but he would be taking a chance on

:08:04. > :08:14.where the cue ball would finish. He may rely on a little bit of luck

:08:14. > :08:22.

:08:22. > :08:26.Oh, dear! He nearly potted the I think he thought he might have

:08:26. > :08:33.been going to flick the red and then the black, but he went

:08:33. > :08:43.straight into the black and nearly But those colours are nicely placed

:08:43. > :08:47.

:08:47. > :08:54.to get a sticker in behind. -- If you could see the pain here, it

:08:54. > :08:59.would be straightforward, but I think the blue is covering the pink.

:08:59. > :09:09.There you see it, he can play the pink half-ball off the top cushion,

:09:09. > :09:19.side cushion, a big target to cover this last red. He has gone for the

:09:19. > :09:30.

:09:30. > :09:34.blue. I am not sure why he is not The only reason I can think is the

:09:34. > :09:44.fact that he is 12 points in front, and he may be wants to keep that

:09:44. > :09:50.

:09:50. > :09:54.high-value colour in a safe Oh, he has not fluked it, has he?

:09:55. > :10:04.No. So Neil Robertson can score enough without needing that awkward

:10:04. > :10:14.Shaun just took the chance to bring the black into play, but he did not

:10:14. > :10:30.

:10:30. > :10:36.I think the green may pot into the right corner in a few shots' time,

:10:36. > :10:40.but this hasn't dropped absolutely perfectly for Neil. No. If he had

:10:40. > :10:45.been straight on the brown, it would have been straightforward,

:10:45. > :10:49.but he has not got the perfect angle on his brown to get on a

:10:49. > :10:59.yellow nicely. He is looking to see if he can drop it in and nudged the

:10:59. > :10:59.

:10:59. > :11:09.low towards the left-hand corner He could also possibly play a

:11:09. > :11:17.

:11:17. > :11:22.cannon on to the pink and green. It Yes, and if he plays for the gap,

:11:22. > :11:32.he could quite easily snooker himself. If he tries to pot the

:11:32. > :11:33.

:11:33. > :11:40.brown and goes into the gap, so a He has played for the gap. If it

:11:40. > :11:50.pulls up, he is OK. I say he is OK, but can he get to the green? That

:11:50. > :12:02.

:12:02. > :12:12.is the problem. Well, he may be Well, he has played to leave it for

:12:12. > :12:43.

:12:43. > :12:47.Beautifully played! Never easy into Well, we have just had two century

:12:47. > :12:51.breaks in the two frames before, not in this one, but it was quite

:12:51. > :12:57.an exciting frame. Shaun Murphy had his chance, but the Australian gets

:12:57. > :13:01.himself into the lead, 3-2. Yes, the first time he has been in

:13:01. > :13:05.the league since the opening frame, and I know you have been watching

:13:05. > :13:09.this match avidly, your impressions of the way it has been going so far.

:13:09. > :13:14.As befits the final, both players are vying for table time and

:13:14. > :13:19.getting a fair bit each. We had seen in some of the other matches,

:13:19. > :13:23.one player would get off to a good start, so for the fans it is nice

:13:23. > :13:27.to see this, it makes it more of a game of chess in the mind. It is

:13:27. > :13:32.exactly that, there has been a fair bit of to-ing and fro-ing. Key

:13:32. > :13:38.shots in that one? We say chairs with balls, there was a mistake and

:13:38. > :13:42.Shaun Murphy's shot, and that first and you think it is going to go in,

:13:42. > :13:48.but this is the one that loses in the frame. -- at first hand. He

:13:48. > :13:51.tries to bring the black into play, hoping the red goes safe, and there

:13:51. > :13:56.was still plenty to do, but Neil Robertson made a good clearance of

:13:56. > :13:59.got enough of the balls to take the frame. Both players realise they

:13:59. > :14:05.are in the kind of form that they will be able to pounce on any

:14:05. > :14:09.mistake. How does that dictate your thinking when you are making shots?

:14:09. > :14:12.Ah, well, you just play the table, you play the shot. You are happy

:14:12. > :14:16.that you are in good form, you would not have got to the final

:14:16. > :14:20.otherwise. New line aware that the other guy has been playing pretty

:14:20. > :14:24.decent as well. -- You are aware. If you have not watched too much of

:14:24. > :14:28.the other half of the draw, you might wonder whether your heart was

:14:28. > :14:35.playing a better standard, but I think they both know that they are

:14:35. > :14:45.pitting their wits against somebody of equal stature. It is Robertson

:14:45. > :14:50.

:14:50. > :14:55.once again with his nose in front, DENNIS TAYLOR: He has not quite got

:14:55. > :15:02.the cue ball close to the cushion, so it has left a possible shot to

:15:02. > :15:07.nothing. I think he can avoid the black iffy parts this. -- if he

:15:07. > :15:11.parts this. He made sure that he did not cannon the black, but he

:15:11. > :15:21.has cannoned the brown. Having said that, this red into the right

:15:21. > :15:21.

:15:21. > :16:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:16:02. > :16:06.Very evenly matched, as we said. In all departments, I suppose, the

:16:06. > :16:10.safety success rate, Shaun is just slightly ahead, the pot success

:16:11. > :16:20.rate, just 1% is the difference, and when you get into the 90s you

:16:21. > :16:41.

:16:41. > :16:45.4% is the difference with table An interesting one, Neil Robertson

:16:45. > :16:52.scoring less points than Shaun Murphy, but he has a one frame

:16:52. > :17:01.That was an awkward safety for Shaun Murphy, hampered by the brown,

:17:01. > :17:05.and it has given a chance. Shaun had a very tough shark indeed there.

:17:05. > :17:15.That is almost dead straight, Neil could do with screwing the white

:17:15. > :17:18.

:17:18. > :17:22.Look at that, look at the power, he has got too much, and that is

:17:22. > :17:28.probably the new tip. I was talking to Anne at the midsession interval,

:17:28. > :17:35.and he has had three tips put-on. - - Neil. This one felt really good,

:17:35. > :17:40.but it is probably too good if you get that sort of action on it.

:17:40. > :17:45.Because the tip that he used, I do not know what it was, it usually

:17:45. > :17:55.took two or three days to get used to a new one. Normally they are

:17:55. > :17:56.

:17:56. > :18:06.quite soft, hard they? It does take a few days. -- aren't they? One of

:18:06. > :18:30.

:18:30. > :18:35.the lads at his club cut the tip in I do not think those two are a

:18:35. > :18:40.plant, Neil is having a look. Maybe they are, I am not sure. They are

:18:40. > :18:50.not too far away, but I do not think he can see enough of the

:18:50. > :18:50.

:18:50. > :19:00.He is prevented from hitting the first red as he would need to make

:19:00. > :19:04.

:19:04. > :19:10.Oh, he has put the red over the middle, that is careless. That is

:19:10. > :19:15.very careless. There might be an in-off to the corner pocket, but

:19:15. > :19:19.that red should not have been going anywhere near there. That has

:19:19. > :19:25.confused kneels lightly. He did not anticipate that one finishing over

:19:25. > :19:35.the middle. -- that has confused Neil slightly. It is all about the

:19:35. > :19:45.

:19:45. > :19:51.cue ball. He has got to avoid the Not quite sure whether the yellow

:19:51. > :20:01.passes that round here. No, it doesn't. -- the brown. He has the

:20:01. > :20:08.

:20:08. > :20:14.possibility of the green, but it is He has played all week in a very

:20:14. > :20:24.positive frame of mind. That is why he is taking this green on. But it

:20:24. > :20:24.

:20:24. > :21:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:21:27. > :21:31.That has finished nowhere. It was awkward, that, he could not play a

:21:31. > :21:36.cannon on the two reds that were close together, he decided to go

:21:36. > :21:46.into than, and he got plenty of action, but he could not spin the

:21:46. > :22:19.

:22:19. > :22:29.white any further, the two reds Oh, that has rocked back, is it

:22:29. > :22:34.Well, it is certainly touching one of them. The referee was just

:22:34. > :22:38.pointing out which one it is, Brendan Moore doing a great job in

:22:38. > :22:45.his first final at the Masters. He has been looking forward to it all

:22:45. > :22:55.week. But even though it is a touching ball, there is no easy

:22:55. > :22:59.

:22:59. > :23:09.path through all those reds to get He is having to use the other end

:23:09. > :23:42.

:23:42. > :23:47.Yes, ideally, Neil Robertson would like to get the cue ball as close

:23:47. > :23:52.to the baulk cushion as possible, possibly behind the brown to try

:23:52. > :23:57.and block the reds down the right- hand side of the table. But he is

:23:57. > :24:01.looking to put it in the green pocket as well. I think they are

:24:01. > :24:11.just sitting so awkwardly that he cannot get the cue ball over behind

:24:11. > :24:13.

:24:13. > :24:23.That is about all he could do, get it as close to the jaws of the

:24:23. > :24:30.

:24:30. > :24:36.Yes, that is an excellent pace on This red close to the left hand

:24:36. > :24:42.side cushion is probably easiest to play the safety off, just a half-

:24:42. > :24:46.ball. But he has got to be careful, that red will be going into other

:24:46. > :24:53.reds, and he does not want to knock anything over towards his right-

:24:53. > :25:03.hand pocket. It is always very difficult when the play from the

:25:03. > :25:04.

:25:04. > :25:12.Well, he nearly knocked the black in, but he has got a good cue ball.

:25:12. > :25:22.There was a couple of choices to get back, and the only downside to

:25:22. > :25:58.

:25:58. > :26:04.that one was the black has gone Yeah, the fact that the Greene is

:26:04. > :26:10.on the side cushion, the black and the other cushion, OK, the red are

:26:10. > :26:20.nicely placed, it is an awkward frame, and we might see quite a bit

:26:20. > :26:20.

:26:20. > :27:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:27:08. > :27:13.of tactical play here just to sort If either player leaves an attempt

:27:13. > :27:17.at a long red, there is still no colour available. I mean, a couple

:27:17. > :27:27.of reds will go to this left corner pocket, but where would the colour

:27:27. > :27:30.they? -- Be? He is looking at the one past the black, but he will be

:27:30. > :27:40.attempting to screw back to the safety zone also. That is what he

:27:40. > :27:40.

:27:40. > :29:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:29:14. > :29:24.was thinking of, but I think he has Where is this red going? Where is

:29:24. > :29:39.

:29:39. > :29:49.It is not straightforward to pot that red. Over the corner pocket.

:29:49. > :30:20.

:30:20. > :30:27.He does have the red into the That was staff. It might have

:30:27. > :30:33.looked easy, but when you have that distance between the two balls...

:30:33. > :30:43.He wasn't far away. He may have covered the one to the left but

:30:43. > :30:53.

:30:53. > :31:03.It might be easier to get the one to the right. The colours are all

:31:03. > :31:12.awkward on this table. And there's no guarantee that an attempt at the

:31:12. > :31:18.red to the right-hand pocket would mean he can get back up the table.

:31:18. > :31:28.He might be able to avoid the reds closest to the pink spot. Hopefully

:31:28. > :31:33.

:31:33. > :31:43.he would land on the yellow or He hasn't and he needs the cue ball

:31:43. > :31:45.

:31:45. > :31:55.to slow up. What a situation. That was a tough pot to take on for the

:31:55. > :32:02.

:32:02. > :32:12.Not a great deal to think about here. You either take the pot on or

:32:12. > :32:31.

:32:31. > :32:38.A problem now for the Australian. He might have to think for a while

:32:38. > :32:48.about this shot. If he plays off the side cushion, he will do well

:32:48. > :33:07.

:33:07. > :33:15.to hit that red there between the REFEREE: A foul and a miss.

:33:15. > :33:21.That can always happen. The new tip has been so good for Neil. But you

:33:21. > :33:31.can always miscue. Have three, he hasn't done any damage to his new

:33:31. > :33:45.

:33:45. > :33:55.In the final against Mark Williams, he took the same shot and took a

:33:55. > :34:03.

:34:03. > :34:13.He was in a top spot to try and get close to that. Not quite sure why

:34:13. > :34:45.

:34:45. > :34:51.he didn't take the red out of baulk That was the position, but look on

:34:51. > :35:01.where the cue ball was. He could easily have potted that. Very

:35:01. > :35:07.

:35:07. > :35:14.The only problem with taking the pink here, it could tie it up.

:35:14. > :35:24.Maybe not. The pink could still be available in to the right-hand

:35:24. > :35:35.

:35:35. > :35:45.corner. But does he have that angle He should have been able to but not

:35:45. > :36:07.

:36:07. > :36:11.A terrific recovery and it is amazing - he can and that shot over

:36:11. > :36:17.the middle pocket and it did not matter where poppy finished with

:36:17. > :36:27.the cue ball. He would have that back. Mind you, a good pot on the

:36:27. > :36:29.

:36:29. > :36:39.red. So he probably deserves to Oh! Can you get your breath? Look

:36:39. > :36:51.

:36:52. > :37:01.of where that has finished. A tough I don't think the one next to the

:37:02. > :37:17.

:37:17. > :37:23.pink goes to the right corner. If you hit the pink and the red at

:37:23. > :37:33.the same time, it is a foul ball. But there did not look to be much

:37:33. > :37:35.

:37:35. > :37:45.in that. Just the red first. Good replay. And good from the referee.

:37:45. > :38:00.

:38:00. > :38:06.We have had the two century breaks but also tension creeping in. This

:38:06. > :38:12.is a big day for these two boys. One will be crowned champion at the

:38:12. > :38:22.end of the day's play. It is just a matter of, who will grab hold of

:38:22. > :38:53.

:38:53. > :39:03.this match by the scruff of the A big frame for Shaun Murphy here.

:39:03. > :39:32.

:39:32. > :39:42.Eight frames to be played in this session. And then a possible 10

:39:42. > :40:02.

:40:02. > :40:10.Yes, I think both players will feel coming into these eight frames, any

:40:10. > :40:20.advantage going into the session, either would be happy with.

:40:20. > :40:32.

:40:32. > :40:39.Anything above would have been a We have got a packed house here at

:40:39. > :40:43.Ally pally. The crowds have been fantastic for the last week. And a

:40:43. > :40:53.greater amount of snooker to be played in this final. Still can't

:40:53. > :41:06.

:41:06. > :41:16.Maybe Neil Robertson could have opened up a two-frame advantage

:41:16. > :41:42.

:41:42. > :41:52.He only needed that red. And a quick glance at the scoreboard, so

:41:52. > :42:27.

:42:27. > :42:33.the brown to make absolutely Neil nods to the referee and

:42:33. > :42:40.concedes, so nothing to pick between these two players. Shaun

:42:40. > :42:43.Murphy is level at 3-3. HAZEL IRVINE: And this is becoming

:42:44. > :42:48.increasingly hard fought, particularly in the frames where

:42:48. > :42:53.the black, blue and pink were safe and there was a pink from Shaun

:42:53. > :42:59.Murphy which was a key shot? Yes. And we see the player that makes

:42:59. > :43:03.the last error is the one that goes on to lose the frame. And it was a

:43:03. > :43:08.frame of errors. But from Shaun Murphy's perspective, that frame

:43:08. > :43:18.was just as important and valuable as the 100 and to break he made.

:43:18. > :43:18.

:43:18. > :43:25.And that is the way to look at it. -- 100 and to break. You just have

:43:25. > :43:27.to graft away sometimes when the balls don't go right. And it is

:43:27. > :43:33.something that Neil Robertson in particular has learned over the

:43:34. > :43:41.last couple of seasons, because he was very much all-out in his

:43:41. > :43:46.attack? Yes. We saw a couple of typical Mark Williams frames and

:43:46. > :43:55.his game was one of the best I have seen, and Robertson outdid him, so

:43:55. > :44:01.he has really applied himself very well all week. If you stick another

:44:01. > :44:05.one on the ball to your name, your fine. Sometimes the players that

:44:05. > :44:09.making look very easy win a number of frames in a relaxed, comfortable

:44:09. > :44:14.manner, and they don't have much practice at winning a scrappy

:44:14. > :44:17.frames, so sometimes it takes them a while to have get to enjoy in

:44:18. > :44:23.that type of snooker. But as players get older, they usually

:44:23. > :44:29.start to understand that there is a sort of beauty in a scrappy frame

:44:29. > :44:32.as well. Not necessarily for the fans! For the general public. But

:44:32. > :44:37.for the snooker fans, when we have had opinion polls on the snooker

:44:37. > :44:41.they like, it is surprising the number of people that like the

:44:41. > :44:46.tactical battle as opposed to the century break after century brick

:44:47. > :44:56.type of snooker. So you have to play all types of snooker to win.

:44:57. > :45:00.

:45:00. > :45:10.And your chances are a lot less if you don't have age B again. -- 8 B

:45:10. > :45:14.

:45:14. > :45:18.game. There was a purpose there every time in those scrappy frames.

:45:18. > :45:22.An Mullins that it is of more interest to see how players cope

:45:22. > :45:29.with it than the others. That is where you can judge what is going

:45:29. > :45:39.on. It is turning into a very hard fought final, as we have been

:45:39. > :45:46.

:45:46. > :45:55.saying. This is the penultimate DENNIS TAYLOR: Not a bad pace with

:45:55. > :46:05.the break-up shot. A possible red, which is the one he is looking at.

:46:05. > :46:11.

:46:11. > :46:21.If it goes in, he could get himself Pretty good effort. A little smile

:46:21. > :46:21.

:46:21. > :47:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:47:16. > :47:20.there. He knows he cued that very I am surprised he played that

:47:20. > :47:30.because it has knocked the blacks safe. He could have taken the

:47:30. > :47:42.

:47:42. > :47:49.chance of opening up the reds. Now That is bringing the red up as well,

:47:49. > :47:59.but even if poppy can get through to it, there is no black to play on.

:47:59. > :48:22.

:48:22. > :48:28.He has now knocked the blue safe. It hasn't worked out too bad. He

:48:28. > :48:38.can pot the green and those three reds to the left of the pink do

:48:38. > :48:50.

:48:50. > :48:54.popped into the bottom left-hand The pink spot looks occupied so

:48:54. > :49:04.that is the only chance he will have, with the pink going on to the

:49:04. > :49:10.

:49:10. > :49:20.But, hey, there is nothing wrong with winning a frame with reds and

:49:20. > :49:27.

:49:27. > :49:37.One thing about his position is that he will try to keep the pink

:49:37. > :49:41.

:49:41. > :49:51.on the black spot as long as I can see another possible four,

:49:51. > :50:07.

:50:07. > :50:17.With the two at the back of the bunch, when he clears one, it will

:50:17. > :50:34.

:50:34. > :50:44.He left back a little bit short on the position side. Now it is a

:50:44. > :50:54.change of plan. If teapots this and screws back, he will probably freed

:50:54. > :51:04.

:51:04. > :51:14.The fact that he's a left-hander will make its right meet you --

:51:14. > :51:25.

:51:25. > :51:35.slightly easier, but he will That is a beauty. Excellent shot.

:51:35. > :52:08.

:52:08. > :52:18.A couple of these reds go into the The pink spot is still held sober

:52:18. > :52:18.

:52:18. > :53:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:53:20. > :53:25.pink will go back on the black spot. He has got to be careful again. He

:53:25. > :53:35.has run into reds and that could open up the pink spot again. That

:53:35. > :53:40.

:53:40. > :53:46.is just what he is contemplating He has overscrewed that. He needs

:53:46. > :53:53.to finish lightly on the green. He hasn't, so he will probably tuck in

:53:53. > :54:03.tight behind the green. And this is the angle he is faced with. Plenty

:54:03. > :54:09.

:54:09. > :54:19.of cue power to pot miss and screw What about that for a bit of cue

:54:19. > :54:29.

:54:29. > :54:36.I thought this would be a scrappy frame with the blue and black safe.

:54:36. > :54:46.He has have two greens and six pinks. He is not far from clinching

:54:46. > :55:03.

:55:03. > :55:13.Probably because he was on the cushion most of the time when he

:55:13. > :55:27.

:55:27. > :55:37.This has been an excellent break A terrific effort from the

:55:37. > :55:49.

:55:49. > :55:56.Australian. Every credit to him for It is not often that you see this.

:55:56. > :56:06.He decided to develop the black but the frame is safe. Why not try and

:56:06. > :56:14.

:56:14. > :56:19.Paint is his favourite colour! What an effort from the Australia. --

:56:19. > :56:24.pink it is his favourite. HAZEL IRVINE: Does one more frame

:56:24. > :56:32.to be played this afternoon in the session. If you are waiting for Ski

:56:32. > :56:40.Sunday, it will be after this session. It will be along very

:56:40. > :56:44.surely with Graham and Ed. Always worth waiting for. That was tough,

:56:44. > :56:48.particularly without that -- with the black out of commission?

:56:48. > :56:53.Exceptionally difficult. When you look at the table, you thought it

:56:53. > :56:58.would be a scrappy frames. To make a break from there was superb.

:56:58. > :57:05.Mostly pinks and Greens? A bit of everything and seriously good

:57:05. > :57:10.cueing. Brilliant to make that break like that. Impressions,

:57:10. > :57:15.Steve? Yes, Neil Robertson has every part of his game in good nick,

:57:15. > :57:18.really. And it is the nice thing about her player with a good,

:57:18. > :57:22.balanced game. They can play tactically and then break out of

:57:23. > :57:29.that and get into way frame and a rhythm very quickly. And some

:57:29. > :57:34.players struggle to do that. That is one thing... He has had

:57:34. > :57:40.criticism for being slow, quite wrongly, in my opinion. I don't

:57:40. > :57:45.think he is a slow player. But he can mix it when he wants to.

:57:45. > :57:50.momentum of this match has swung to and fro. Murphy started more

:57:50. > :57:58.strongly in early part of the match but Neil Robertson has hung on and

:57:58. > :58:08.clung on. If you wins this frame, he will be very happy with his

:58:08. > :58:10.

:58:10. > :58:20.DENNIS TAYLOR: Will we be all square going into this evening's

:58:20. > :58:31.

:58:31. > :58:41.Does that red pot, the one he missed? It looks to be very close

:58:41. > :58:46.

:58:46. > :58:51.Both have played well through the week here but probably Shaun Murphy,

:58:51. > :59:01.the standard he has produced has been quite remarkable. Some of the

:59:01. > :59:02.

:59:02. > :59:07.best snooker I have seen him play But can he convert that in the

:59:07. > :59:16.final? He is up against a very gritty Australian who wants this on

:59:16. > :59:24.his CV very much. He has been world champion. He has been in six finals

:59:24. > :59:34.and has won every one. Quite a record. We saw what his match

:59:34. > :59:40.

:59:40. > :59:46.against Judd Trump meant to him. Years, nothing wrong with showing

:59:46. > :59:51.your emotions are urn, the first man to do that was the man with the

:59:51. > :00:01.pony tail, Peter Ebdon, he used to shout around the table, so that

:00:01. > :00:18.

:00:18. > :00:21.celebration was a mini Peter Gordon While we are watching this little

:00:21. > :00:28.tactical battle, we can show you what it meant to Neil Robertson

:00:28. > :00:38.when he beat Judd Trump. And he was looking at the crowd, nothing wrong

:00:38. > :01:11.

:01:11. > :01:15.with showing your emotions like He has got a bit of a chance, Shaun

:01:15. > :01:25.Murphy, although the pink is awkward, the black is near the

:01:25. > :01:39.

:01:39. > :01:44.cushion. I'm not sure if he can Good cueing there. OK, it is still

:01:44. > :01:54.a little bit awkward, he asked to play it with a little bit of pace

:01:54. > :02:01.

:02:01. > :02:11.That was a better shot than it looked, very, very tricky on the

:02:11. > :02:41.

:02:41. > :02:51.Just coming around to see whether that red at the extreme right of

:02:51. > :02:54.

:02:54. > :02:58.the pack will go into the bottom I will tell you what, Ken, it has

:02:59. > :03:08.been a good standard, this final, both players making century breaks,

:03:09. > :03:17.

:03:17. > :03:21.good tactical play, not that many He did not come high enough for

:03:21. > :03:27.this red into the corner, but the red of the right of the pack will

:03:27. > :03:31.go into the right send-up. He would have loved to be a little bit

:03:31. > :03:41.straighter on that to screw back for the black. He may have to go up

:03:41. > :03:48.

:03:48. > :03:54.Well, he has held for the pink into the Left Centre, but I'm not sure

:03:54. > :04:04.whether he has an angle to bring more red into play here. Oh, that

:04:04. > :04:04.

:04:04. > :04:14.is an excellent shot, Suva shut! He had to force the end of the pink. -

:04:14. > :04:24.

:04:24. > :04:33.Still on the pink, trying to maybe hold for the black also there.

:04:33. > :04:42.Shaun in fact did hold the highest break for a while, 139, until Judd

:04:42. > :04:50.Trump made a break of 140, to be superseded by Ronnie's I break of

:04:50. > :04:55.141, �15,000 for the Highbury. -- high break. Absolutely nothing for

:04:55. > :05:00.a maximum if you make it here at the Masters, I think they use the

:05:00. > :05:10.maximum break now, it is a roll over, �5,000 in a ranking event. If

:05:10. > :05:16.

:05:17. > :05:21.it is not won, it carries on and I will not mention it again, Ken,

:05:21. > :05:26.the days of the beautiful sports car for the maximum break when you

:05:26. > :05:36.missed the black off the spot. cannot remember it, Dennis! I did

:05:36. > :05:38.

:05:38. > :05:48.not like that car anyway. It was Now, does this red go into the

:05:48. > :05:55.

:05:55. > :06:05.right centre? He has gone slightly Shaun marches around the table,

:06:05. > :06:10.

:06:10. > :06:20.He has thought hard about this one, he knows the importance of it, 46

:06:20. > :06:24.

:06:24. > :06:28.points in front, over one minute's He finished up playing it because

:06:28. > :06:38.of the position on the pink, and he was only going to leave the red

:06:38. > :06:51.

:06:51. > :07:01.Well, if Neil can leave the cue ball exactly where the red is now,

:07:01. > :07:17.

:07:17. > :07:27.Yeah, he did not quite hold it as he intended. There is a path back

:07:27. > :07:31.

:07:31. > :07:41.down the table as long as Shaun Well, he got almost a half or

:07:41. > :07:48.

:07:48. > :07:58.contact, so that is a mistake. -- Let's have a look, he hit it a bit

:07:58. > :08:02.

:08:03. > :08:06.thick, but he has been fortunate to He is just looking to see if he

:08:06. > :08:13.could possibly avoid the black, but it looks a natural cannon onto the

:08:13. > :08:16.black. Maybe, if he does take this one into the right corner, he was

:08:16. > :08:26.looking at the possibility of cannoning into the black. Change of

:08:26. > :09:03.

:09:03. > :09:08.Is OK. -- he is OK. The blue will Well, what a chance. Shaun Murphy,

:09:08. > :09:18.had he not that long red in, would definitely have levelled at 4-4. --

:09:18. > :09:22.

:09:22. > :09:27.Yeah, he will be fearing the worst, sitting in his chair there. A great

:09:27. > :09:37.opportunity for a counter attack from Neil Robertson. He knows he

:09:37. > :09:43.

:09:43. > :09:45.should have won the frame at that Once again, he has just got to be a

:09:45. > :09:55.little bit careful when he plays the cannon that he does not slip

:09:55. > :10:08.

:10:08. > :10:18.out of position. That is why he is He may elect to get the black back

:10:18. > :10:49.

:10:49. > :10:59.That would certainly make things a Neil has been travelling back to

:10:59. > :11:09.

:11:09. > :11:14.His lovely wife and their son Alexander Park coming this evening.

:11:14. > :11:24.His wife is a Norwegian, I think he spent a little bit of time there

:11:24. > :11:27.

:11:27. > :11:37.Now, can he get that two-frame advantage? They are there for the

:11:37. > :11:37.

:11:37. > :12:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

:12:22. > :12:27.taking, can he held himself The shot that Shaun played in the

:12:27. > :12:33.end, he thought about for over a minute, he thought it was the safer

:12:33. > :12:43.option, but he has got to sit there, and he knows that Neil is quite

:12:43. > :12:50.

:12:50. > :12:55.The back red parts, and that clears the path for the other one. He is

:12:55. > :13:05.OK if he drops this in. What a massive frame this could turn out

:13:05. > :13:08.

:13:08. > :13:12.to be Paul Neil Robertson if he These are the type of frames that

:13:12. > :13:22.really hurt your opponent. Shaun, for all the world, looked like he

:13:22. > :13:27.

:13:27. > :13:37.was going to win that frame at that And this is the long red he missed

:13:37. > :13:49.

:13:49. > :13:59.He is just sitting there thinking. Now, this is not quite as easy as

:13:59. > :14:13.

:14:13. > :14:18.it could have been. No problem with Well, he has just come up a little

:14:18. > :14:28.bit short. He played to leave a nice, easy polluted justice done it

:14:28. > :14:29.

:14:29. > :14:33.in and leave a straightforward Can you believe it? He took his

:14:33. > :14:38.high off the easy pot of the blue because he did not get on it as he

:14:38. > :14:42.intended, so can you believe it? Shaun Murphy was thinking, I am

:14:43. > :14:46.definitely going to be two frames behind, the concentrated on what he

:14:46. > :14:51.was doing with the cue ball and forgot about the pot. It is amazing,

:14:51. > :15:01.the number of times it happens. The only consolation is that the blue

:15:01. > :15:02.

:15:02. > :15:10.He gets right across the table. He played to miss the blow and leave

:15:10. > :15:16.the green for the other corner. It is getting tense out there. Yes,

:15:16. > :15:24.and can he pot this green, cannoned into the blade -- blue and hold the

:15:24. > :15:34.cue ball for the brown? It is very He may be able to use the ball to

:15:34. > :15:38.stop the cue ball going up the Well, this is just pure tension now

:15:38. > :15:43.from both players. They know the importance of this final frame of

:15:43. > :15:47.the session. Shaun was handed a lifeline. He played to leave the

:15:47. > :15:57.green for the other corner and cannoned into the blue. But the

:15:57. > :16:06.

:16:06. > :16:13.Neil is 12 points in front, so if he could pot the green and brown,

:16:13. > :16:18.Shaun would need a snooker, so it could play a key role. It looks as

:16:18. > :16:24.if you've got right in behind it, you could drop it in, but that is

:16:24. > :16:28.what Shaun is faced with before he gets a chance to do that. Well, the

:16:28. > :16:38.green is far away from the cushion, maybe Shaun can get in behind it

:16:38. > :16:43.

:16:43. > :16:48.Well, there is a possible pot, he can avoid the pink and black. It is

:16:49. > :16:52.a big shot to take on, but it could give in this frame. I'm not sure

:16:52. > :17:02.whether he would cannon the pink if he attended the pot. He might

:17:02. > :17:10.

:17:10. > :17:20.Yeah, looking at the angle, if he did play it with any pace, it would

:17:20. > :17:20.

:17:20. > :17:30.If he fails, the blue is safe, Dennis. It would be worth having a

:17:30. > :17:36.

:17:36. > :17:43.No. That is apt, he has played a cracking shot here, he really has.

:17:43. > :17:53.-- that is a beauty. An excellent attempt, not quite a snooker. Shaun

:17:53. > :17:53.

:17:53. > :18:03.can see the screen. -- this green. An excellent attempt, but this is a

:18:03. > :18:11.

:18:11. > :18:15.Very difficult, as you say, Ken, to get a snooker behind the black. You

:18:15. > :18:25.would automatically double it up towards the right corner pocket.

:18:25. > :18:31.

:18:31. > :18:38.How is your judgment? Quite good! The pink may be the snooker. Very

:18:38. > :18:42.well played. As you said, the green was going towards the corner pocket.

:18:42. > :18:52.Look at how well he held the cue ball. He took a chance, but it has

:18:52. > :19:01.

:19:01. > :19:04.Well, believe it or not, it is a similar shot the other side of the

:19:04. > :19:13.table for Shaun Murphy. He is looking to see if he can get the

:19:13. > :19:21.gap. It is slightly easier to get What they shot this could prove to

:19:21. > :19:25.be. Oh, a long way off! Where is the green going? Well, the blue is

:19:25. > :19:30.into play, and that is not bad, because it will block the pocket

:19:30. > :19:39.for the green. There you can see it, well, everything is happening here

:19:39. > :19:49.It is as if it is a little bit embarrassed after that attempt, but

:19:49. > :20:03.

:20:03. > :20:09.Well, he could try and ship the green. I'm not sure whether Shaun

:20:09. > :20:13.has a problem with his tip there. He could possibly check the green

:20:13. > :20:18.and get the cue ball back up towards the brown. That is a

:20:18. > :20:24.possibility. The one thing he has got to be very careful of here,

:20:24. > :20:28.just making sure that the green is safe. He does not want to take a

:20:28. > :20:38.chance of knocking it around the table. He has to make sure the

:20:38. > :20:55.

:20:55. > :21:00.That is the shot he has played, and Well, just a little bit sticking

:21:00. > :21:05.out, he is a fraction away of getting a good snooker there. But

:21:05. > :21:15.the only problem is, if he flicks his green, he could leave it on for

:21:15. > :21:32.

:21:32. > :21:42.He would have to knock the green on to the side cushion, because of the

:21:42. > :21:52.

:21:52. > :21:57.Oh, that doesn't look good to Naval Staff -- to me. I do not think he

:21:57. > :22:07.intended to hit it that they. 12 is the difference, just green and

:22:07. > :22:39.

:22:39. > :22:49.Well, Neil Robertson made an earlier break of 60, but Shaun

:22:49. > :22:49.

:22:49. > :22:59.Murphy could quite easily have Blue to make absolutely certain of

:22:59. > :23:13.

:23:13. > :23:18.It does not matter whether it drops on not. It has been a fascinating

:23:18. > :23:21.session, these two players are giving us a great final, but that

:23:21. > :23:25.made century breaks, but in the end Neil Robertson will be delighted to

:23:25. > :23:30.have taken that last frame, and he goes into the evening session

:23:30. > :23:34.leading 5-3. Well, the thunder from Down Under

:23:34. > :23:40.is rumbling, but can the magician make that then they go away? That

:23:40. > :23:44.was a big steel at the end. Certainly was, application was

:23:44. > :23:49.fantastic, great matchplay. A weird for a late-night? Oh I do not know,