Day 1 Masters Snooker

This is London Calling. It was from the top of Alexandra Park in north

London the first regular television programmes were urged 77 years ago

on the BBC. -- were aired. They are calling the top snooker players to

assemble here for the bet their Masters. -- or the Masters.

extraordinary young player. 24- year-old Steve Davis. He has the

one he wanted. Just look at that ball. Words escape me. Stephen

Hendry hung on and hung on and hung on and as won by it nine frames to

eight. That is in. No! A tremendous cheer for the young player from

Wales. Congratulations to Paul Hunter as he wins his third Masters

title. Higgins clears it to snatch victory on the final black. Ronnie

O'Sullivan, the most talented snooker player we have seen, he

produces the business. He may attempt the double to clinch this

year's Masters. It is right in the middle of a pocket. It has been a

remarkable comeback. This is lovely to see, it really is. You champion,

Neil Robertson. Happy new year to year. Welcome to Alexandra Palace

where the Masters first moved here 12 months ago and it was a huge hit.

Anyway it has been staged in the capital since 1975, the Masters has

made riveting viewing, particularly on those cold January afternoons.

Only the very best, most on the form players get to play in the

event. It is invitation only. Stick with us on BBC Two and we might be

able to get you in. Can Neil Robertson become the fourth man

ever to defend this title? He needs for the 2011 champion Ding Junhui.

-- he needs. Mark Allen will play Mark Davis. He is back after 10

years. A UK runner-up last month, Shaun birth rate meets Ricky Walden.

This will be ready's second match. -- Shaun Murphy. John Higgins plays

Ali Carter. The new UK champion Mark Selby faces Stuart Bingham. He

has the better record of matches. A Welsh play-off. Mark Williams has

won twice. He plays Matthew Stevens. There will be a Scottish person in

the final. Will it be Stephen Maguire or Graeme Dott? The London

crowds love the flamboyant players. Judd Trump plays Barry Hawkins. As

usual, a fantastic line-up for the Masters. No Ronnie O'Sullivan but

marvellous matches ahead. Today's match, Ding Junhui against

Robertson, it is a top -- is the top 16 players. Mark Selby has a

toff -- have a tough one. My Exelby is the man to beat. -- Mark Selby.

I thought he was going to win the tournament at one stage. He is up

against John Higgins. He turns to save his best form for this season.

This is the one the top players want to win. You're playing against

your peers. Some entertainment responsibility for Judd Trump.

is the people's champion. His is a great tournament for the top 16.

Plans are afoot for the game to change. Let us concentrate on the

present. We have a sell-out tour. They have come to sample that

special one table feeling the Masters always provides from the

get go. This afternoon, they will see the two men who have bad for

this beautiful trophy for the last couple of years. Neil Robertson got

his hands on this 12 months ago, right here at Ally Pally. Ding

Junhui won in 2011, the last time it was staged at Wembley Arena.

Ding Junhui was on red hot for me then. It is a mystery why he has

gone off the boil in the last few months. -- red-hot form. 18 years

of age, the second youngest player to lift the UK Championship trophy.

When we first saw Ding Junhui and win it the Championship at such an

early age, winning three ranking events, the only other player to do

that was John Higgins. Everyone thought, this is something very

special. It is pandemonium here. There is no doubt about it, the

final against O'Sullivan was amazing. Ding Junhui came on the

crest of a wave. He turned up thinking it was going to be

business as usual. But he ran into O'Sullivan and dismantled in front

of everybody. It came as a big shock. My art Selby officers handed

congratulations. -- Mark Selby. Somebody who has such a good

Somebody who has such a good technique will be a contender

because you have to play well to beat him. There are no half

measures with Ding Junhui. I think what happens, you get a few knocks

along the way. He looked impervious at first. We all know snooker,

apart from being a technique game, there is a lot in the mind. Ding

Junhui is the loser this time. cannot get into his Psyche at the

moment. When he first came, he had a wonderful work ethic. He would be

in the club 11 hours a day. I think he asked to go back to that. But

the hour was in, come in on the best possible form you can. If that

is not good enough, start again from scratch. The main thing I like

about Neil Robertson his he is a big occasion player. He has won so

many tournaments. The bigger the occasion, the more he is up for it.

A he will not be scared of anybody or the venue. If the World

Championship becomes bigger, prize money wise, potential worldwide,

that will not faze him. She thrives on it. A round the table, he has

attitude. You may like it or not, but you know he is not scared of

you when you play him. If you are not mentally strong, you will feel

like the underdog and like a little boy. A I like it when he gives the

fist and all that. Snooker players complain about that sort of thing

but if you watch tennis, they do it after every point. I love to see

that killer instinct, that will to win. He reminds me of me when I was

younger. I do not want to talk about it too much. When I walk

around the table, looking at old footage, I look like I was arrogant.

He has got a bit of that as well. He values himself. In any sport,

you have got to have it. I think too many snooker players cower away

and do not want to show their true emotions at the table. Neil is not

afraid to do that. He has every shot in the book. Would you not

love his cue power? His long game is phenomenal. It is the best I

have ever seen. You can play a safety shot, P Askew balls in bulk.

It is the road effort. -- he has skewbald. There are no witnesses.

All the players have such a high standard. That takes her extra to

win tournaments and he has that. has already won ones. I would not

put him passed it to win it again. It is our newly married M C.

Congratulations. And New Year but the same great atmosphere here at

Ally pally. Welcome to the Betfair Masters. It should be an absolutely

brilliant start to one of the most prestigious tournaments in snooker.

Please welcome one of the most exciting players on the circuit,

twice a UK champion, winner of five ranking titles in all. He won the

last Masters at Wembley. A national hero in China. Enter The dragon,

Ding Junhui. A wonderful reception. Great

memories from the epic triumph at Wembley. This one is going to be

tough. It is always a tough game in the Masters. I have a good memory

from Wembley. I hope I play well today. I am sure you well. Ladies

Please welcome his opponent, one of the best long potters in the game.

He has become one of the most formidable opponents on the circuit.

Champion of the world in 2010, here comes the defending Masters

champion from Australia, the Thunder from Down Under, Neil

Another wonderful reception. What a run it was here 12 months ago. It

was flawless. It was probably the best I have played from start to

finish in a tournament. I have got a tough match against Ding Junhui.

There is no better way to kick of the tournament. The best of luck.

Ladies and gentlemen, Neil Robertson. Masters is your perfect

Television Companion up this winter's afternoon. It is the best

of 11. We have John Virgo and John Parrott in the commentary box.

We could not start of the year with There is something very special

about the Masters. You have to earn your position here. People are

The break shot was a little bit short. I am wondering if Neil

Robertson can just get past the That is what every player is

There is a fantastic ride as well. -- fantastic crowd. Wembley had a

great atmosphere but this arena is set up and looks just as good. It

Didn't go in with any pace. But could have gone wrong. He made

He got a bit lucky there. He played the cannon on the other red and it

There is a slight angle on this blue. He could attempt to come

I can only assume he thinks there They you go, not always

straightforward. It looks like the reds were close together but there

Foul. Always a possibility but a It through the cue ball out a

Just asking whether it is a free ball. The does not look like a free

ball to me. You cannot be snookered by another red. If we just circle

that red... It is other reds that stop him hitting that. No way that

Neil is arguing, could he get past the pink? The extremity of that red

they are pointing to. I can only hit the black, can't I? The does

not look like a free ball to me. The referee is explaining to Neil

Robertson, which he should not have to, he is saying it that red was

not there, he could it both sides. Neil is saying he cannot get past

the pink. He is saying, trust me, Neil! And Neil Robertson thinks he

is right. Using my commentator's I, I definitely do not think it is a

free ball. He thinks the pink is stopping him hitting the rent on

the immediate right. -- the red. They is no colour preventing you

from hitting. That is the argument. Neil is saying the pink is stopping

him from hitting a -- from hitting the outside of the red. The referee

is not having it. And they do not blame them. You do not have to have

the cue ball that close to the yellow. We are coming up to three

minutes. The referee has got to be strong. I think it is the right one.

This is one of those instances where you have to play a safety

shot here. You have to be careful because you know you will open the

back a little. He has accepted the APPLAUSE played it well. Good

It is too risky for Ding Junhui to take on. I think it was the main

feature of last year's performance when Neil Robertson was champion,

He has forced an error. Pretty poor attempt, that was. He has given him

an easy starter. The black is So back in. This is a very good

He will be disappointed if he does not claim that the frame at this

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

That was not quite as intended. He will be running into other reds.

He is looking to see what contact he will make with the other red.

Play the screw shot, I think that He could not be certain that would

work. But he has given himself more No problem going in and out of

Just looking for three reds. That would be enough to clinch the first

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

He leads Ding Junhui 4-2 in the He really does cue the ball

Finish the frame off properly, gave Ding Junhui no hope, keep his cue

Neil Robertson played the plant a You can never say that is really

unlucky because the middle pocket is always there. That was the only

Gravity took over. There is still Just a bit unlucky there to be

That was unlucky. A good start from the defending champion. Ding Junhui

had one chance and did not take it. Neil Robertson looks very good as

he takes the opening frame, 1-0. Neil Robertson settling in. Are we

are settling in to our studio. These men have nine titles between

them. When we look at the likes of Neil Robertson trying to become the

fourth man in history to defend his title, you have done it, Stephen.

Why is it so difficult? It is always the top 16 players. It is a

always the top 16 players. It is a tough tournament to win. You have

to play your best. You cannot get away with a lot of matches playing

below your best. What is your take? You cannot afford, with the quality

of player, to be slow from the get go. With the standard generally in

Sicher, it is on the rise. Sometimes, you can ease your way

into the tournament. You should not be able to do it at the Masters. It

does depend on the day, the standard. We have to that great big

occasion players. -- two great big occasion players. Of the two, Neil

Robertson is the proved occasion I suppose that is a fair comment.

Neil Robertson Bond the World Championship, Ding Junhui is yet to

do that. The key is, he needs to get his hand and on the table and

start scoring. That is where he is That was a half chance. He will be

He played it confidently enough, but of course by playing it

confidently he left the cue ball short -- short of the baulk line.

It leaves a pot to either corner pocket. You do not want to leave

this lad too many long pot plum Beautifully struck. You can see the

distances to the cue ball and the object ball had to travel to the

pocket. Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy, for me, or the two best

It is safe to say he is in form. Another beautifully played shot.

If you're going to try and nudge off the cluster, you have to try

and stun into them a little bit. Lost control of the cue ball.

are good news is, it is a natural angle, the bad news is, he has

missed the pot. He did not play with a great deal of confidence

there. That is surprising, it was a Ding Junhui knew that the black was

partially covering the right hand side of the table for a safety shot,

but I don't think he has covered an escape down the left-hand side of

the table. No real pressure on that He has misjudged the path of the

red, but having missed the yellow looks to have got a good length.

But this red is pottable, but not Good pot, good cueing. The cue ball

could have done more -- the cue ball could have done with being

more of the table. Excellent cueing of the ball, but unfortunately the

wrong side of the blue. A difficult shot to get back to anything Mike.

-- and red. REFEREE: But you can't run away,

please. -- could you put your If he is on this red to the right

corner, that is a brilliant shot. He has forced an angle out of that.

You could see Ding potting to widen the angle to make sure the cue ball

went round to the black. He has played a couple of shrewd per but

shops. -- superb shots. He deserves to make a break. The opening has

He has such a simplistic way of going about it, Ding. His cue

action just looks as if nothing could go wrong with it. Very

Just looking a few shots ahead to see if the two reds around the pink

There is a loose red. The plant is A possibility of the plant, those

two reds just below the pink, but he could play for. The other

alternative is to leave an angle on the colour to try to go into the

reds and bring more into play. It depends on how he sees it. He knows,

and I feel, that this is a very important visit for Ding Junhui. He

did not have a chance in the first He has to be careful here. If he

plays a stun up into the two reds, he could run behind another red and

I think he was a little worried about that. He just caught it a

little bit too full. He needed to catch it half ball on the left-hand

side, and it would have been perfect. But he may be able to get

to this red to the right centre. He would rather play in the right

centre of and the far right corner. The red to this right corner pocket,

well, he would be using the spiders, and I don't think he can get to the

cat. He will have to play it to the far right corner. A big shot, this.

Maybe he thinks he can get to the He has underhit fat, to me,

slightly. A little tension in the arm, to me, not fully committed to

that shot. He did not have confidence on that, did he? He

could very well have played the screw back and come back from the

black, but he did not have confidence on that one, Ding.

decent opportunity, and he did not He could not tell there the cue

ball would finish there. He was trusting to luck, and it is not

He will be having a look down in Aside from his potting and cueing

capabilities, he is an exceptional tactician, a Neil Robertson. The

Considering he gave it a lot of thought, that is as poor a safety

shot as you will see him play. The cue ball should have been paid

against the baulk cushion. -- pate against. He has not put a lot of

pressure on this safety shot for Ding. I do not think he can play

the pot, because I cannot see a way he can get the cue ball back to

He caught it a little bit too thick once again. He is just a boat

reaching the baulk line, rather than the baulk cushion. I also

think the cue ball came off a little slower there. It is

obviously a brand new table with brand new cloth on it, and

A pretty good effort to, from Neil. It has been a very difficult at

shot on these super-fast cloths. It is a two-cushion escape for Ding

He has badly misjudged that. What a chance he has given him. He got it

down very quick to play that, didn't he? I think it needed a

little more thought. Looking at the position of it, it did not look

like a natural two-cushion escape, to me. He has given Neil Robertson

a chance. Is it a frame-winning one? He will have to knock some

He is slightly hampered by the virtue of the fact he is left-

handed for the once down this end It is not a straight forward run to

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

Pot the pink, flip the red boat and He did not play that very well. He

There are a couple of ways to play this, but the one thing you do not

want to do is bring the two reds together in the open. I would be

playing the red near of the corner pocket. Will this be hard enough?

Well played! And no touching ball, which is an advantage. You would

think playing at that speed he would have left it touching. Had it

been, the referee would have called It is in these situations, John,

that you feel that Neil Robertson has just got that tactical edge.

Can Ding get out of these little problems and get the next chance?

The next chance could be the frame- He has left this red onto the

Pretty tricky, if he decides to take this on. I think he is doing

He is playing great replies, trying That is one way of playing it. If

you play that with pace, duplicate but the open red up the table and

leave those two together. Once again, he is deciding just to

It is a situation where sometimes you would not mind leaving the edge

of a red for your opponent to go at, that way you put a bit of pressure

Now Ding needs a good safety shot. An important one at the end of the

Of course, with Neil Robertson been such a good long potter, it puts

pressure on every shot you play. It just shows you, Ding Junhui taking

the option of pitting his opponent back in, which he can do when he

made a foul shot. He obviously does not fancy the cross double their

with that the red. ABC thinks the black is under way. He can play

I'm surprised he turned the shot Once again, much too thick. He just

cannot find that baulk cushion. Well clear near it. -- nowhere near

An excellent pot, but he will be far from happy with that positional

far from happy with that positional play. You can see the safety

play. You can see the safety success there, Ding's is 44%. I did

not think it was that high. He has not found the baulk cushion this

afternoon. It is early days, but that will have to improve, that

percentage. Good news for Ding, Neil Robertson has lost position

Would you be tempted by the pink, John?

I think the way he is controlling the safety side of this frame, I

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

won't be tempted by the pink. I Now, maybe have a chance for Ding

to get the advantage in this tactical battle, for the first time.

If he can get his cue ball back to the baulk end, he would like to get

it behind the brown. I don't know if that is a possibility. He is

obviously concerned about leaving the red, but try and get a good

That just gives the initiative back Neil Robertson is certainly in the

driving seat in this tactical exchange. Every time Ding comes to

the table there is a problem. That is the whole idea of safety play,

naked as difficult as you can for your opponent. Looking at this red

on the left-hand side, there is a slight angle. It is a bit of an

all-or-nothing shot, but if he can just get past the blue, he has to

be very careful not to make contact with the red on the left-hand side

Fair play. I will give him seven Neil's just looking at the cross

double on the red on the right hand I mentioned earlier those are like

shots do nothing come and he was He would have loved that cue ball

to have stopped a couple of inches closer to the cushion. Can he

That was absolutely spot on. I did not think he could reach it at

Not a good start from Ding Junhui. He had a chance early on in this,

did not make the most of it. In the tactical side of this frame he has

never looked like creating an opportunity for himself. I don't

think he will get another opportunity in this frame. It is

all about getting position on the yellow. If he does that, frame over.

This is a lot trickier than it looks. There are a couple of ways

of playing it, pot it and run round the angles, or play ate rice and

low on the cue ball and try and Just the blue needed to go 21

points in front with only 13 Just the start the defending

champion was looking for, and a two fist pumped, that is how much he

his psyched up for it. He is happy with his day's work so far. He

leads 2-0. It is safe to say he is pumped up

for the defence of his title, we were discussing his form in the

last frame. A really tenacious attempt at that one when Ding

established a lead early on. Yes, and especially on day one of

the event, when you do not feel as if you have your teeth into it.

Certainly, everything is just getting going for as here. He has

to be on the ball from round one, and looks to be completely fired up.

Let's look at one of the key moments in this frame, added was

early on, but Ding was in, and suddenly there was a good pot on

the pink from Neil Robertson. Yes, from Ding's perspective, he

bowled the pink into the corner pocket, the green pocket, then he

had a look behind it to see if it had a roll of. There was a question

of whether it had rolled off a bit, added is hard to know whether it

did, but he played it slowly, rather than punching it. Even

though the cloth is very fast, UDC the top players hitting the ball

firmly, and it is something that over the years we have learned to

do. I'm sitting next to a gentleman who probably pushed the boundaries

further on that. Talking about punch, Steve, that is quite a saw

one to lose early on. The way he played at the red was not as

positive as he would like. He is more of a puncher when he is

confident. I don't think he has beaten Neil when they have played,

so maybe he feels under pressure. Ding has not had a good season so

his confidence will not be high. That is a very good point, and

since 2007 they have played four times and Neil Robertson has won

all of them. You are top players, I don't know how much of those sort

of statistics play on your mind, if at all. You can have players that

you have a mental barrier against. It seems every time the you play

them they play well against you, for some reason. Ding has not

played well this season, he is not 100% confident, he has to make a

break quickly, I think. Also, it is very hard to get a run of form

these days, so many players are vying for event. Beggars can't be

choosers, whatever happens during the season, and trying to get a

grip hold is difficult. We should mention that just last month Ding

Junhui did win a smaller event in mother well in Scotland, his first

win since February last year. I think that was a welcome win for

him and I am sure it has felt his confidence, but he is in a little

bit of trouble in this opening Ding Junhui is up against a serious

competitor. Neil Robertson is a I thought he nearly had one of

those moments that. If you don't just touch the ground, you fill so

embarrassed. -- touched the brain, He did not think he would reach the

There is a possibility. It is the type of shot most players play. If

he just nestles into the outside, he will leave one to the left

corner. If he goes the other way, he could leave the possibility of

two to the right corner. He has something else in mind but I am not

certain what it will be full stop - Once again, an example of Neil

Robertson keeping the pressure on Ding Junhui. Every time he comes to

the table, he has a problem. He The example you gave is a way out

Foul. Neil Robertson will have a look but he will say, play again,

please. It was not a bad effort, that. It was one of those

situations... He was trying to make four ball contact. He will do well

It was not a bad first attempt. He has nearly repeated it but he has

Foul. He over adjusted that time. There is a red in the middle. Even

if he hits the road, he is not certain to get away with it. --

hits the red. 16 points given away. This is his 4th attempt. You can

That had a bit more pace. Flick the red. It is a pity. He headed a bit

harder, flicked to the red, the cue ball came off the cushion. He has

There is one of bit of good news for Ding Junhui. It looks like the

power through. The flick on the red did not do Neil Robertson any

favours. This is the key is coming I knew it was going to run into the

yellow. I thought the yellow would hold that she -- would hold the cue

ball for this red in the middle. Unlucky. Be is a double whammy.

has the difficult safety shot knife. The difficult not to put the red

over the middle pocket. He has a If he is trying to get back to the

baulk end, he asked to get the cue baize near that circle. He is

looking there at the minute. I think he has a big problem to get

up their. If he throws the cue ball round, he asked to avoid the blue

Just missed it. Well, he nearly fell in the circle. It was a good

effort. Not quite. -- he newly- found. What sort of an angle has

Ding Junhui got on it? You do not Well played. That was an excellent

pot. A good position. He needs to This used to be the situation a few

seasons ago when you never saw him He seems to fall down a few times

now when he is in amongst the balls. Neil Robertson played the top spin

earlier. The cue ball hit the cushion, goes on the blue. It was a

simple chance for Neil Robertson. And much like that makes such a

This is an example. He just had to roll that read Machin and he has

left himself awkward on the black. -- that red in. He is now having to

He has coped with it. He is now back in prime position. You do not

want to be leaving yourself I agree with you. You need simple

The way the match has gone, too- zero to Neil Robertson, if he does

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not make a frame here, he will be Just a quick look at Neil Robertson.

Watch this. He gives it another bump. He is very keyed up for this.

Ding Junhui had to bite the bullet Now looks perfect on the black to

Three of these remaining reds would Just another example of slightly

using the cue ball. He is having to He is fine. Not totally confident

He still needs red, colour, red The frame-winning break easily

He could not have played it better. Good shot. There was a lot of

pressure on him this visit. It was He got there in the end. He will be

very relieved. He has got his hand on the table and he has made a

frame-winning contribution. Every possibility of a century. The more

importantly, he has showed his He has reduced the deficit and done

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

This is more like it from Ding Junhui. Superb control. What a

scorer he is when he gets going. There is the century. It did not

matter about the pink. That is going to be the highest break of

the week. That is a timely break to make, having lost the first two

frames. He will be a lot more have been out. -- happy now. When he

lost the first two, you thought he was under pressure. Neil Robertson

was running through the pack. He was unlucky not to be on the yellow.

Played a safety, left the red over the corner. It was by no means easy.

You can see the distances we have got there. Look how far up the cue

has been taken back. Our eyes on the object ball. He hit it

wonderfully. So bloodshot. -- superbly shot. It was a great

effort. He is back in the match. think when you get in amongst the

balls and you run out of position, you can have a tendency to take

your right of the next shot. But he dug in and it was a marvellous

century break. It sets us up for a good match, which we all expected.

It looks like it could be one way traffic after the first two frames.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

Good return. That is the thing at this level, you can play one good

safety shot but you might have to play three or four before you force

your opponent into a mistake. Good It looks too thick. He needs the

yellow to come to his rescue. And it has. It just about has. He has

The majority of the safety shots he has been hitting have been a little

on the thick side. They are not reaching the blog area. -- the bulk

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

area. It has finished in front of Sometimes that is all you have got

to play. He has got himself out of He may be tempted to go for the pot.

But there is no black available. Pink is out of commission. Just the

safety. Imperative you find a place on that baulk cushion. It is tied.

That makes any safety shot for your Not bad. Should have been right

Even so, it has forced a mistake from Neil Robertson. This red will

definitely pass the buck to this right corner. It is a big shot. --

There is a lot of anger or much shot. It is not one you can hold. -

- there is a lot of angle on that Pretty good. Pretty good. But not

He played round the angles which was an even better shot. Pretty

There is a path back to the cushion He has got to avoid the red to the

left of the black. There are two reds on to the plant. I do not know

what he is thinking, does he think he has a chance at aborting one of

He has done it. He played the blunt but I think those two reds went to

the joy of the two reds. That was a bit careless. He should have been

tied behind the brown and then he would have had Neil Robertson in

Ding Junhui wasted a shot there. He would have been in the driver's

seat. He should have been tight Would you believe it? Not for the

first time, we have seen someone make a mistake and then the next

thing they do, they come to the table with a chance and this is a

decent one. It is more difficult to judge how the cue ball comes out of

the jaws of the pocket with the red He could not have played it better.

Beautifully controlled. Excellent shot. The cue ball can make contact

and run away. In sup on the other cushion. This was really well

I think the only downside with potting the black, it is now not

available in either corner pocket. You have to concentrate on the blue

That was handy, that a red potted. It has opened up the path for the

other red. But it is the wrong side of the blue. In was imperative he

got a good angle on a. If he had had a nice angle, he would have had

a chance of playing the cannon. He could have brought the ping into --

He struck it absolutely beautifully. This is how to play shot. Look at

that. Cue right through. Look at the action he got on the cue ball.

He is struggling for absolute There's the point again. If he's

landed on that red, he's had a right result. He has put his hand

at endear -- to Neil Robertson to Yep, lucky to be on it. Not really

Needs a good angle on the blue, sooner rather than later. And that

could be it. That was beautifully struck. One of those you can get

the cue ball too low. But he hit that beautifully. Playing the

little cannon, now. Bring the pink I am amazed. Well, I don't know the

value in that shot. He'll do well to win this frame just chipping

away on the blue and possibly the He has not got that chance again,

Once again, an example of betwixt and between. He is on the left on

that -- the red on the left hand Cue ball the games slightly

underhit. He dropped his head, It is not absolute perfection at

the moment, but he is keeping going. You can see, a very high pop

He has just about made it. And he may just about have the perfect

angle. This time, I am not suggesting he plays the cannon into

the pink, because they read either It wouldn't be a study in cue ball

control, this break, but he is He has been the wrong side of the

blue at least three times in this He has come down, he's going to be

on this red, but that cue ball is much too close to the question for

This could be ended break. I say end of break, but I can't see a

I suppose you could drop it in big You would like to see a: near the

cushion, but can he get it safe -- That was half an idea, but he will

be disappointed. It looked as if it was always going to come. When you

have only got the blue to play with and you just can't find the right

angle on it, it will make the next Quite a few points to play with

here, Neil Robertson. If he was to pot the green, he would be 50

But it is not an easy chance, all three of the reds are very close to

He has left himself a tough part here. Yes, this will chest -- test

He played it well but it wasn't the right angle to develop the black.

If he could have been thicker on the bed, he could have nudged the

He has got to come in and out of baulk. And these last three reds of

Always asking a lot to get back for a red. The priority was the points.

Now a very difficult safety shot. But at least you have still got a

I don't blame him for not try to find the baulk cushion, the most

important thing was to not lead a pot on, because Ding Junhui is

looking for one more red to clinch this frame. There is an interval

The best part of the last shot for Neil was that Ding was forced to

He is certainly not out of this framed. -- frame. He needs the

colour. At the moment, he stands 43 points behind. And after his next

shot, there will only be 43 left on the table, so if he cannot get

through to the blue, he either place the yellow or he plays the

snooker, but it replaced a snooker, -- if he plays a snooker an inch

and we hit it, he can only tie. -- I don't blame him for taking it on,

it was one of those. He had to play it with a little bit of extra pace.

It just puts more pressure on the pot. In honesty, he missed it by

Just this red needed to level it up for the interval. In it goes. So

even though the defending champion raced away with the first two

frames, you would think England we will be going into that mid-session

interval feeling very good about it -- being Junhui. After two, I would

say that Ding looks more on edge, but he will be happier with the

scoreline. Neil Robertson having a look at the score. 50 points behind,

35 remaining. Well, he is going to It looks as though Ding Junhui is

going to get the fourth frame. It He will be keeping this red on the

table. There is always the chance of a free ball and if he can get a

free ball, just a couple of snookers needed. Would you carry on,

50 behind with one red? I don't think I would have done, to be

As a percentage, it must be exceptionally low for someone to

have won the frame 50 behind with But it does happen, of course, and

I think even Neil, that was a half- hearted attempt to get the snooker.

So if Ding just rolls this radiant, It has been a good effort from Ding.

A battling 53 break, you could call it, in this frame. Position wasn't

as it would be, but it didn't put Yes, I suppose what was impressive

about the break was a couple of times we suggested he could have

gone into the pink and bring them into play but he was determined to

get what he could without taking any undue risk. In other words, he

Doesn't matter about the blue, this frame is over. So Neil Robertson,

the defending champion, led 2-0 but being Jan week wins the next two

and they go into the interval all- square -- Ding Junhui.

When I have just been having a laugh in here, Stephen Hendry,

which you have carried on? I would have been in the dressing room long

ago. He would have given up if he was 36 behind. He wouldn't try for

one snooker. And have come at a made a century in the next frame.

An assessment of so far? Ding will be delighted, he was Two-nil down,

Neil giving it the fist on. Ding is not at his confident best, and he

didn't go for that pink, which he would when he was 100% confident

that he will be delighted with the score. Is that how you view it?

made very hard work of it, but he kept on going. Not just this match,

if you analyse what we haven't seen from Ding over the years, we

haven't seen a fighter, as, for example, John Higgins would fight

his way back in two matches and frames and into form as well.

Perhaps that is the one part of the equation that Ding needs to get

right and when he does, perhaps with maturity, we will see the full

package. It is the best of 11, so the first to six will go through

and we will be following it right till the end. But while she were

doing a last-minute Christmas shopping or stocking the booze

cabinet before the New year's celebrations, you might have missed

one of the most significant announcements in snooker for many

years. The news that as of the start of next season in June, the

top 16 players in the world rankings are no longer guarantee

automatic entry into the final 12 stages of most of the big events.

The exceptions of this one and the World Championships. Otherwise,

they will all be lumped together in what they are calling a flat 128-

man draw. They are role in it from round one and it has got everybody

talking. -- all in it. So what is talking. -- all in it. So what is

the rationale? The World Championship, there are

no immediate changes there and the Masters will stay the same. The

changes which we do have a hand in terms of introducing players from

round one will be bringing some very exciting tournaments to the

public. The UK Championships will see a massive improvement in terms

of the standard of play and also in terms of the excitement of the

matches that will be involved. We would like to look at it in terms

of what is happening in other sports. We look at golf, Rory

McIlroy, he is the world No. 1 and he plays in the first round. From

our point of view, the prizes are there and the opportunities for

players to earn more money than they ever have done will be

available. To look at it in terms of one small area, everybody in

that round one, you have to look it as a whole, and all of the

information is out there and there are huge benefits for the sport and

the transition we are going through at the moment to make it even more

global and exciting, more prize money, that will come to the fore.

Some more excitement, more drama, a good development or not? Well, it

does depend on where you are in the game. From the player's perspective,

and everyone you talk to will speak from their own perspective, but

looking at how the game is going to have to go, if it is going to go to

the standard that Judd Trump would like, with more prize money, it has

got to break free up the whole life -- old way, and therefore, as we

speak, no player, the top 16, is bigger than the game. And if you

want the game to progress, you have to make it truly worldwide and

accessible to people around the world from the overseas countries,

and you have got it more prize money in. And to get to the next

level, this is what you have got to do. When it was first announced,

Judd Trump was on Twitter, saying that all of this year's getting

into the top 16 and bad back in round one. There was a hint of

irony. Shaun Murphy was saying that now we will have the best players,

we will see exactly who they are, on current form, not relying on

what they did accruing world ranking points two or three years

ago. Is that a good thing? What the top players have always had an

advantage with his they play in the qualifiers at the venue, so the

qualifiers are a bit more nervous, playing at the TV stages. That the

players are going in from round one, playing in different surroundings,

they have more chance of losing. That is the thing I wouldn't like,

playing in smaller surroundings, with not a lot of people watching.

But now I am not in the game, I think absolutely, go in at around

one! You mentioned that situation with TV. Mark Allen was very strong

with his views, as he usually is, but you were saying he would not

guarantee the so-called top players in the later stages of the event.

Could that be a genuine problem? The top players think that they are

box-office and they are to some degree, but I always think the game

is bigger than the players in many ways. If the game is going to grow,

they and the people who play at grassroots play the game, going to

the clubs, every player is a great player in their rise. You want to

see some good Baines, that is why we have the cream of the crop here,

but ranking events after beyond a level footing -- we want to see

some good players. We cannot have players getting further through in

tournaments, getting not only the prize money from previous years but

extra ranking points, which mean that they start off further through

late tournament for the next season. This is unfair to the new brigade.

You have to prove yourself every time at a snooker table and you

shouldn't get a leg-up. You don't get insurance in other sports like

you do in snooker. He was broadly in favour but I know others are not.

Let's get the opinions of other pundits.

I think it is a nonsense, if I'm being perfectly honest. That is

what people want, an honest opinion. I think that people want to see the

top players. Now, it is OK it, like a golfer, you go away and you play

for hours of golf, but what we're talking about his playing

qualifiers -- four hours. I know from Jimmy White's pointed you, you

play qualifiers in what she could only describe as squash courts --

you could describe. No atmosphere, hardly anyone watching. That

doesn't favour the better players. The better players it to be out in

front of a good crowd, the TV cameras and when your adrenalin is

going, and that is a test for any player, to do it on the big stage.

Looking from the whole perspective, I think it might even be better for

even the top 16 players, because they won't feel compelled or under

as much pressure to play in a lot of the PDC. They won't have to

qualify. If we use the money list, the like of the PTC, with a �10,000

first prize falls that Purse, will be devalued. So they won't have to

play in these events. They can pick and choose tournament and they

won't have to do as much travelling, so in effect, in a weird sort of

way, it might actually help the top 16 players and players of that ilk.

If I was a player, I would hate the idea. When he turned professional,

the one thing you aspire to do as a professional is can I get into the

top 16 -- when you turn professional. Can I get seeded for

the Masters and the World Championships? I understand things

are changing but you have to have a ranking list and you have to have a

top 16 and I think the way it is then currently is fine. I as a

player would hate the change. I think some people think it is a

good idea because they don't play any more but I'm very much of --

mother Lisa. -- paint a moustache on the Mona Lisa. If you are very

good, you will rise to the top of the game. A lot of players a run

the game for the money as well as titles, so keep knocking those

balls and and you can't go wrong. Well said indeed. John Virgo made a

good point about the logistics of the situation. If you have 128 then

plain from round one, you are going to need two venues in the same city

that playing. That is the thing I would object to as a player. A lot

of places, you have spaces for a lot of tables, it is leisure

centres and things like that, and that wouldn't be a great atmosphere.

Plain that for two or three rounds and then going to the venue, there

needs to be some tidying up -- playing. I would not be getting the

buzz in that situation. Some places have the facilities but it does

need to be carefully thought out. If you look at Wimbledon, the

players start later, but they have the short court. The top players

play on the short courts, so they would be a son -- situation where

the would-be share tables. They need preferential treatment in that

respect. Ultimately, although it is not happening now, will this be the

situation for the World Championships in a few years?

think inevitably, yes, but that would mean a bigger venue. That is

what the game must aspire to, began better. And I do know that the

person who is in charge of trying to runs Bequette is trying to make

sure the players can earn as much as possible, and that way his view

is the only way to do that is to try and expand it -- the man who

runs snooker. He is not bad at breaking the mould in that

department. Barry had has certainly done that a few times. I'm sure we

will be discussing that in the coming months. You should get in

touch with us and let us know. This is the 22nd event of the snooker

season so far, so many of them now, since Barry Hearn stepped in and

took over the game. We have had 14 different winners or any of those

events, but as we begin the long run into what the Crucible and the

World Championship, some of the usual suspects, for thoroughbreds

in the game, are beginning to show MUSIC: "You To Me Are Everything"

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

And no wonder he will be added to that list come Sunday night at

Alexandra Palace -- I wonder who. Alexandra Palace was rocking over

the knee when Phil Taylor swept all before him at the oche in the darts,

and this evening, it is the turn of the BDO last in the world final.

Scott Waites against Tony O'Shea, and I can't wait for this one.

Scott, what an opportunity, the biggest match of your life so far.

Yes, there are only two left to the competition, so let's just see if

the best man wins. You have been concerned actual inconsistency at

times this week, but against Richie George, we saw the best darts you

have ever thrown at Lakeside. I took a note of his dad, Bobby.

When he is commentating, he says you have got to get on top of that

person and you have got to bury them, you have got to bully them.

So that is exactly what I did to his lap. It worked wonders for me -

- his lap. People have talked about you as a potential lakeside

champion for a long time, with great performances at the Grand

Slam, but this year, something has clicked which hasn't done

previously. What has been different? By opponents, to be

honest, haven't really put in the best performances that they could

do, which has helped a lot -- my opponents. My game has gone from

sort of mediocre, up and up and up, and hopefully the final, I can

produce my best darts yet. Let's have a word about Tony O'Shea.

His third lakeside final, he arguably is going to be even

hungrier than you -- Lakeside. He has tasted defeat in the show down

twice before. Tony O'Shea is my England captain, and fantastic guy,

fantastic player. He is yet to win a major, I think, Tony and he will

be going out there all guns blazing, he is going to want to win it.

Hopefully I am going to be in the wake of him winning his first world

title. -- in the way. You have been promising this result

and this trophy for a long time. Have you started to dare to dream

how nice it would feel to finish Sunday holding that illustrious

trophy? I have not dared to dream yet, but it is amazing how many

friends come out there would work. My mother, who stands behind the

sofa and the extent where I'm going for a double, she is making her way

down to watch. So it will be good to get up there and win the World

Championships. That is everything that every darts player aspires to

win its and there are two people in it tomorrow and I want to win.

luck. And you. Tony, Your third Leg side final in

five years, here we go again. -- comes let the lakeside. It is

pretty amazing, I wish I had won one before, it would make tomorrow

easier. How much confidence you take on the manner of the victory

over Wesley Harms? It was always going to be hard. He was a great

power last year, he has improved so much this year, said to have -- so

to have beaten him with a set less, I was chuffed with that. It was

great to see you really going for it with your celebrations. You

could tell that even though it were shot welcome here, it still means

so much. A -- even though it is your 12 year here. Every leg when

so much that you try and keep it calm. But when the big finishes

coming, you can't help it sometimes. I try to keep it under control, but

sometimes you can't help it. have been around a long time for

you have achieved a lot. This one is missing, though, and you have

come up short twice before, how conscious IU of that picture Mark -

- how conscious IU of that? It is not me that keeps mentioning it.

The last of months have been fantastic and I am the new England

captain, another milestone, so I have had a good 12 months and this

would have it off nicely. What about Scott, he played brilliantly

in his semi-final and due to know each other's gain Inside Out. It is

It will be a cracking final. To be honest, he has not been in the big

time that long. I have been there 12 years and have still not got

that big. It will be a great game, but I will put everything into it,

and I hope we both play like we can because it will be a great final if

we do that. You have such a sway of support when you are up there,

everyone is willing used to get across the line. What we did mean

to you? I have studied so many times, said at last year in the

final, I said it in 2009, I cannot believe the reaction from the crowd

and it was always getting better. It means so much. It would mean

everything, to be honest. Good luck. Cheers, mate of.

A Rob Walker doing of the interviews last night before he

high killed it to Ally Pally. Tony O'Shea is definitely the favourite

in his final against Scott Waites. The final starts at 5:45pm. Every

match here at Ally pally before this digger feels like a final with

this one-table set-up, and we're looking forward to the second match

this evening at 7pm. It is Mark Davis of Sussex, appearing for the

first time in a decade, up against Mark Allen, from Northern Ireland,

who has come close to landing the I think it went one year, two

Year's, straight into the top 16, which was very impressive. The way

he plays the game, it is very attacking. He builds breaks for fun.

He is a top player. His wrist action is incredible, in the sense

that he generates an enormous amount of spend. There would not be

many players in the game that have the same sort of cue power Mark

He won his first tournament in China, and I think that will put

him up on another level. He is very outspoken, as well. He speaks his

mind, and when he does speak out I think he plays his best snooker, he

would really like to prove people A great player, fantastic talent,

very courageous, but as far as some of the comment see mix on Twitter

and everything, he need -- needs to mend his ways or he will be in

trouble with the authorities. have a lot of sportsmen who say the

right things all the time to please everyone, and I think the sport

needs the sort of cult -- characters were willing to say what

they think. The he will win tournaments, they will share a lot

of tournaments between them, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, in

the next three years. A annual be able to see that much -

- that match starting at 7pm tonight. I'll be back with

highlights at 11pm. But we are back for the conclusion of this one

between Neil Robertson, defending champion, and Ding Junhui, the

winner of the event in 2011. It is 2013, this is where I get my ideas

next up, at the start of January. But legal, it is 2-2, first so six

Don't worry, Hazel, I do not know what day it is. Ding Junhui breaks

He is hoping it is more of the same, very good session before the

There may be a chance here for Ding Junhui, if he can play this red in

the corner, he will be thinking about taking it on. He may be able

to get through to the one in the right corner. Not the best of

safety shots, but I think it is the one to the left corner. No, he

cannot get through to the one in the right corner. The left-hand

side want is OK, if he can avoid a kiss on another red. If he cannot,

He decided to drop it in dead You would not believe you could

play that slowly and not come on That is a poor shot. That is very,

very careless. The only thing you have to do when you play that shot

is a guard against the bump on the middle pocket. To get down and do

It could not have turned out much I agree with you, John, it is

amazing he did not get on the black there. What an opportunity this is

for Neil Robertson. The balls are Well, he used all the pocket there

and in it went. Yes, I think it into a couple of days place here it

might not have happened. These cloths are superfine when they're

just put on and they tend to slide a little bit. The black certainly

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

He wanted the cue ball to be higher I was having a little chat with him

in the interval, he was watching the TV, and he was pretty adamant

that was definitely a free poll earlier in the match. It is funny

how the players are. They don't like to let incidents like that go.

He has not made a great deal of difference in the context of the

A poor positional shot by Neil's The most neglected shot in the game

of snooker, VAT. So important to That was beautifully played. He

knew that when he cannoned the red there was a possibility he could

knock it in the other court -- pocket, if he was not careful.

The pink spot is unavailable, no other spots available, so the

referee putting it as close to the spot as he can in a direct line

I am just wondering whether of the pink is pottable, as well. He has a

choice, he can play this red and cannon into the cluster with a

screw back and be on the pink. A chance to open a few balls out.

He's going to play the run-through Not great.

Yes, I know everybody has a different opinion on that shot. I

always preferred the screw shot myself. Particularly there, when it

was obvious he was going to hit the pink. This pink will pot. Although

it is a thin one. It clearly passes the black, but it is a difficult

pot. It is not very often I would

question Neil Robertson's shot choice, but I will do it with that

one. It was virtually impossible not to be on the ball playing a

It is a better safety, because that pink and black are there. In trying

to get back to baulk, Ding Junhui has to catch this just right. Catch

it too thick and he will run into If anything, so far in this match,

that has been Ding's Achilles heel, hitting the ball thick on his

safety shots. He has looked at the red on the

left-hand side of the table, but it is that close there is definitely

Just missed the pink. And the red has gone in. That is a bonus. He

was more interested in getting the As you see, it did not going

directly. Two-cushion escape here, with pace. He pleaded very well.

Just caught it a little too thin. But when you were snookered, try

and leave as much distance as you can between the cue ball and the

object ball. That is what he has done.

By is one of the shots the modern Don't blame Ding for playing it

that way. He was obviously trying to remove that red from the side

cushion to give him a chance of making a Kentra clearance, but not

a great cue ball. -- countered He just float slows in with no

problem whatsoever. His long potting is sublime. -- he just

floats those in. Right in the heart Just this red needed to go 56

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

Well, it did not matter, the frame was over. Ding Junhui made a

careless safety early on, and that was the catalyst and always kept

Neil Robertson in control. He is back in front, 3-2.

It is all about fractions, this game. Ding Junhui rolled the red in,

did not get on the black, and now what he is faced with is what

looked like a pretty straight forward safety shot, John. He has

two things to guard against here - you don't want to play off the

black to thin so that you can under red above it. The most important

one is, the middle pocket bumper. It will always be there, it will

not move, as long as you play it to miss that bump, you will be fine.

He doesn't, chips the red up towards the middle pocket and gave

Neil Robertson a chance to make 46. In these sorts of frames, you get

that feeling that, if Neil Robertson does get in first, he can

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

protect his lead a lot better than Well, take that one. Is he on the

He will just about get through to it. What a tremendous opening red

Talking about Neil Robertson's cueing - cue will not see much

better than that from Ding, that Would you believe it? After a shot

like that, he goes and misses a simple black. How many times do we

see it, though? He has his eye on where the cue ball is going to

nudge the red and took his eye off This was that opening red, close to

the cushion, just off straight, right in the heart of the pocket. I

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I a couple of shots here for me might. He could play the dump shot,

up and down on the left-hand red, but he will play the red closer to

He's still just cannot get that pace on the cue ball indoors safety

shots, not consistently. -- in those safety shots. It makes it so

much easier for go opponent to play a better safety. Looking at the

position of the balls, this is not If he catches this red wrongly, he

could knock the black in. A you're going to play that one, you have to

hit it very often and let the side swing the cue ball round. If you

hit that at a natural angle, it I don't think he can visualise the

red going past the black into the He has had a look to see if he can

play safe down the right-hand side of the table, the red just above

Ford does that mean, John? What is this? Foul and a miss, John Parrott

four. There you go, someone can remember

That makes a change from, where is Talking about where is the cue ball

going, and a nice red shirt, as REFEREE: Foul and a miss.

Well, he was worried about knocking reds onto the black before, this

time he has potted the black directly. Amazing. Has he left a

pot on? A possible plant? There is quite a distance between these two.

This is not a certainty by any means. The but he is very good at

He is an exceptional player that these type of shots, he does not

miss many. Well, the form books could you in

good stead there, John. -- stood you in good stead. What a chance he

The black is only available into one corner pocket, but that will

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

not bother him at the moment. It is A little bit surprised with that

shot, maybe he has a touch of angle, he can stun it round to make sure

This is where he is at his best, Ding Junhui, are amongst the balls

He is slightly hampered on the one he would have liked to have been on,

the red that is on the same pocket as the black. He is settling for

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No great surprise that this is a good match. Top 16 players and the

world, both exceptionally capable, great competitors. I am sure we

will see quite a few thrills through the week. Matches going 26-

5, 6-4 will be very prominent, I Red, cholera, red is what is needed.

-- red, colour, red is what is This red would put him 71 in front

Well, gravity took over. I think the frame is over, it is just a

case of whether Neil Robertson would have thought about coming

Not the best of contacts there, but what it is proving to me in this

match is that both players, if they get a chance, are capable of

And that always put pressure on And how we got into this break was

bizarre, we didn't expect to see I agree both players are looking in

very good scoring form and that is going to make for a very good match.

This was it. The way he threw his arms up, he felt as if it rolled

off. You haven't got to put a little trace of side on to close

Every time you play that shot, why does it always finish like that?

But in it goes, and he is on a His second century of the match.

I've Always Fair with Ding Junhui that if he starts to score, then he

is a very dangerous opponent -- I Is a lot more fluent than the first

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

century break and he made -- that The one thing you have got to say

about Ding, he is so understated, but absolutely deadly. Yes, in the

balls, along with John Higgins, the best to out there. Every shot, the

positional play his pinpoint. have got to stop you. Ding Junhui

missed the black off the spot, the most glaring error in the match so

far. If Neil Robertson had cleared the balls up, we would be saying,

he has gone! Acid was, the table rolled off for Neil Robertson -- as

it was. Patrick tee shot, perhaps, and the next minute, we are raving

about him -- a tricky shot. What is going on? It is 3:30pm on a Sunday

afternoon... Neil Robertson is steaming in his chair, the table

Roy Allsop, he is in bits. The it definitely rolled off? The way Neil

Robertson jumped up with his arms in the air, yes. For all of your

protestations, it does give us a rather nice situation. Three frames

apiece, and we are getting into the nitty-gritty. I agree with John

Virgo, when Ding is scoring, he is very hard to beat. And two chances

a frame though, you only needed the one. He is not going to say

anything, we had better get back. JOHN VIRGO: I think both players

have now settled down and it is now I have been impressed with Ding, he

went two frames down, Neil Robertson came out and Harvey gave

him a shot in frame five -- hardly gave him a shot. But look at a pop

success for both players. -- the JOHN PARROT: On today's showing, it

is hard to see why Ding is doing as badly as he is in the rankings.

People are right to playing brilliantly against him or he has

not been doing his stuff -- either. On today's showing, he is not far

away from being very, very good He would like that one back, though.

So careless. So close to the reds, to overhit it as much as he did. I

don't care if he can get through to a red in the right corner, Neil

Robertson. If he can, you know he will take it on. He should never

Phone the police, he has missed a long ball. I think he was trying to

hedge his bets. Most of the long pots he has gone for, he is fully

There is a bed on here to the right corner -- red on. He may just be

able to get around the back of the He didn't fancy it, he just played

Have or you are trying to do when you play that shot is make sure the

cue ball is tight on the cushion -- Just having a look at the baulk end.

As long as he covers the red just to the left of the yellow, he

should be safe. But he has to make He has played that well, played

that very well. That is as good as safety as he has played so far this

afternoon. Yes, and everything seems to be improving with Ding

Junhui. His scoring is very good. That safety shot is much improved.

He is getting confident. He is Left it on to the middle. It is

tricky, it is not as easy as it may look, but it is definitely the

I'm a bit surprised, I thought he would get that, the form he has

been in. He is an exceptionally good middle pocket player. So a bit

Well, it looks as though it has run safe. The idea of that shot, if you

get the part in the jaws of the pocket, then there is no danger,

but once that red was going back to what the cue ball in the baulk end,

it could have left it. -- actor Now, can he get past the brown to

the potting angle? Be any reason I mention it is I think it is the

only shot he has got to play. -- Brilliant try. Fabulous cueing, it

was very tight. You couldn't get I'm not surprised he missed that

Add the Brett off now in his safety play -- a little bit off. It was

that in the early part of the match that seemed to be giving him the

advantage. But Ding Junhui, without having to do much, comes to the

table. A fairly easy starter, it is I'm surprised he played it like

that. It was a little stunned through rather than the screw.

don't think he has control that. -- He is playing the yellow, so he can

obviously not get through to hit Good shot, because he has covered

the red on the right-hand side of He will be pretty happy with that

result. It wasn't how he played it. One of two signs at the moment that

Neil Robertson is feeling it a That is a terrific pot. He had a

shot not too dissimilar and you were not surprised he missed it

because it was tricky, that one was as well but didn't he plays

confidently? Normally, you would play that and try and get the cue

ball back to the vault end, and he has landed perfectly on the blue. -

Another really well played shot. He knew that red would be the ball

that stopped it, so he played the You just got the feeling there, he

looked to have landed perfect on that red, but he just stopped and

thought about it as though he didn't want to played for some

reason. I just get the impression at the moment that psychologically,

going ahead seems to be a big thing in this match. Both players are a

little edgy, they have missed one or two shots, not quite right. It

is a long way to the winning line, being 4-3 in front, but it does

seem to be a psychological aspect of this match at the moment, making

That could have worked out better. If he plays the yellow, he is going

to be hampered by the blue. If you are right-handed, you would play

the green and not even think about The only advantage with the shot is

he doesn't have to do a lot with That was a much better positional

shot and it looked. He had to guard against snookering himself behind

We know there is no problem with He just didn't hit that red into

the pocket where he would have liked, he wanted to avoid the kiss

on the second red. This pink is tricky. It needs a good shot to get

on the red. You assume he will play for the red that is near the top

He held for it but he didn't get the pink. Yes, and he tried to play

that in a way that was going to leave the pink in the jaws of the

pocket and cover it if he missed. They are never easy, those, when

If Ding can just popped this red and still have an angle to be able

to pot the pink, he may be able to Beautifully played. Ditto.

Absolutely beautifully. And this could be the key to the frame. He

has let himself the angle on the pink. It is still thinner than you

would like, but I'm certain with lots of left hand side, he can get

that cue ball running into the main bunch in the middle of the table.

I was just about to say, it wasn't the greatest actor going to. If you

hit the back of it, you leave the cue ball their -- the greatest pack

Unlucky to finish there, but it was He is having a close look here. Is

It is there! That is an absolute You said in the last frame, he is

very good at plants. There was enough of a gap that made

admissible. But right in the heart A choice of friends here. -- reds

here. If he plays the low one, he could hold for the pink in the left

middle. If he plays the other one, almost straight on, he could stun

it for the blue. But when you are playing the blue, you have got to

get the right angle, otherwise it He has decided to play up for the

blue, and that needs to run on a lot. And it hasn't done. I don't

blame him for refusing those two red Fareham -- reds. But he could

It made light of a very difficult Dear me. He missed that by the

proverbial. Didn't get through that shot at all. He just click on it. -

But at the moment, Neil Robertson It looked as though he was going to

Fu kit, but the green has come to He would like to live -- like to

move that red away from the left corner. But I'm not sure how he can

The worst thing happened, he missed the pot and brought those reds away

from the side cushion. The last If this red was in the first couple

of games, I would fancy him very strongly, but at the moment... I do

think she is struggling a little bit. A good pot, though. He needs

to re-establish himself in this Just checking to see the angle. If

he drops the blue in, 1 other red, He decided take the chance and open

If he can't get through the gap, he is very unlucky. And looking at

that, well, I think the only way he could get through to part that red

is to play a swerve, using lots of right hand side. But even if he

potted the red, would he be on a But he will have to play this work,

I don't think he can get through I think if he had an alternative

safety shot to keep that red are He may be forced into having to

play this pot. Unless he can find somewhere in the baulk area to hide

the cue ball. Yes, if it is just a case of swerving it to pot the red

and then play safe. But if he tries to get up to the baulk end, he is

looking to see if he can hit the red on to the pink and the pink on

Well, at least did missed the red away from the corner and that was

his main concern. He was unlucky Well, I was just about to say what

a good pot that was and he just got into it too much. Trying to stun it

round and got too much back spin on the cue ball. No real harm done,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

but he would like to have seen the Their problem, of course, Neil

hitting this cluster of four reds - Don't blame him for that, the last

thing you want to do is open the It is going to require a good

positional play, whoever gets the chance that this frame, with the

Where has the cue ball gone? That is a careless in-off, you have to

You used to get three for that in billiards. Is that the new

catchphrase, "Warehouse the cue ball gone?"? -- Where has a cue

He will have to change that shirt. I think the reason he is

considering this red, he doesn't really want to bring those four

He decided to try and get back to the baulk end. It is not a bad

effort, particularly with that little flick off the brand. --

round. He does he remind you of? He reminds me of Neil Robertson. It

And he will be looking a lot happier now that Neil has not been

We will be getting the smile out of him now, it might be something that

young lady said to him. What a pot I just wonder if any of those reds

He has missed it, and he thinks He thought the top one of the four

would go, but how many times do we say it and how many times do we see

it? Thinking about position and forgetting about the shot in front

of you. Never expecting to miss a green like that. But he is not

really on this red, I don't think. I dodged ll whether he is tempted

by this. It is actually a very awkward shot into it hate pocket.

It is a do-or-die shot. -- into a So far the longest frame of the

match,, up to 28 minutes. It might not last much longer if Ding Junhui

can knock this long red in. Not the best from Neil Robertson. One good

Well, he did not fully commit, but he got the red. He hedged his bets

by screwing back to the baulk end. I don't blame him, but it makes the

pot a little more difficult, the more pace you put into it. But he

will be happy now. He always knew he would be on the green, it was

just about to judging the pace to get on that red in the middle of

the table. The most awkward aspect is the two reds on the top cushion,

because neither of them are pottable. They have to be disturbed

The first priority was to get on He could have stunned back for the

blue and thought about the cannon, but he does not have a good angle

on this thing would. Can he trip this red of the middle and play a

cannon? He would be unlucky to stick himself. I don't know whether

He tried it. He did, added has not come out too

bad. He has flicked the black and finished ideally on the blue to

stun down to cannon on these reds. What a flick of the black that was.

If this goes right, it is a frame- Well, it could have gone better. It

could have gone a lot better. OK, a Decision time, which would you

prefer, the one in the left middle or the left corner? I think I would

prefer the one in the middle. And it is there! And perfect on the

blue. The blue will put him 18 points in front. After the blue,

red, cholera, yellow would be This just needs to bounce a bit, he

doesn't want to finish tight on the cushion. He would not expect him to

miss, but it is more awkward than it should have been. Nothing Neil

Robertson can do now. He has played a few loose safety shots in this

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

This yellow to go 26 put backs in Not perfect on the green. Only one